Category 7, is the new band featuring vocalist John Bush (Armored Saint), guitarists Phil Demmel (Kerry King, ex-Machine Head) and Mike Orlando (Adrenaline Mob, Sonic Universe), bassist Jack Gibson (Exodus), and drummer Jason Bittner (Overkill, Shadows Fall). Their self-titled debut full-length will be released on July 26th through Metal Blade Records.
With veteran musicians from so many legendary bands, it’s hard not to think of Category 7 as a supergroup. “I think we’re pretty super,” jokes guitarist Phil Demmel, who has earned mega-metal cred over the decades as a member of Machine Head, Vio-Lence, Kerry King, and has also played as a fill-in road guitarist for Slayer, Lamb of God, Overkill, and others. “Really, I feel like this is a band, not a side project. And I feel like we have written this incredible piece of music, and we’re not done. I’m so proud of the way this came together and the people who were involved. And I think we all feel super positive about this and what else we can do with it going forward.”
Category 7 has created an album that is fresh and familiar. The mixture of NWOBHM, thrash, punk-metal, and traditional metal is cohesive and sonically rewarding, establishing an eclectic musical backdrop for vocalist John Bush’s instantly identifiable vocals. At the same time, the diversity of styles creates its own template that’s ideal for headbanging, moshing, and voluble sing-alongs.
“It’s all about big verses and big songs, and it has a lot of the elements we’ve explored in our other bands,” explains guitarist and main songwriter Mike Orlando.
Take the lead single, the upbeat album opener, “In Stitches,” which commences with piledriving double-bass drums, a feral thrash passage, and a fiery lead before toning down just enough for the distinctive vocals to stand out.
“It gets heavy, it’s thrashy at times, but it opens up in the verses, and then the double-bass drums come in and knock you off your chair, but in a great way,” Orlando says.
Bush further elaborates, “I read an article on an unhoused pregnant woman named Stitches who resided in Los Angeles obviously living a very difficult life that was compounded by mental illness and drug abuse. The encampment situation in my beloved city drives me bats. I balance between serious empathy and complete anger. The combination of imagining her life as well as my own internal turmoil led me to an almost humorous insanity state while writing this scathing album opener.”
The origins of the band began with discussions between Demmel and Orlando of their mutual desire to form a twin lead guitar hard rock unit harkening back to bands of the ‘70s such as Thin Lizzy. Bittner was next to join the conversation followed by Gibson. After composing some early music, it was obvious that the only vocalist that would fit the concept would be Bush.
Notes Bush, “Mike Orlando’s and Phil Demmel’s awesome riffs made writing lyrics over the music a piece of cake. The rhythm tandem of Bittner and Gibson rounded out the sound and the connection felt like it was put together in the stars. Obviously, everyone being a veteran of the metal scene made it that much easier.”
“Category 7” was produced, engineered, mixed, and mastered by Orlando at Sonic Stomp Studios with art and layout by Carlos Fides at Artside Studio (Angra, Evergrey, Kamelot). The record can be pre-ordered on CD and digital formats as well as vinyl in the following color variants:
- Storm Surge (US + EU)
- Sable Smoke (EU – Ltd. 300)
“Category 7″ Track Listing:
- In Stitches
- Land I Used To Love
- Apple Of Discord
- Exhausted
- Runaway Truck
- White Flags & Bayonets
- Mousetrap
- Waver At The Breaking Point
- Through Pink Eyes
- Etter Stormen
