DESCRIPTION:
BIO: Throughout the past two decades, Huntington, WV musician John Lancaster put in a fair share of hours fronting and playing guitar in local bands such as Guru Lovechild, Earth to Eros, and Cincinnati's Semi-Automatic. But perhaps his most recognized project was with one time Century Media recording artists Chum, who successfully merged crushingly heavy riffs with hook laden yet soulful melodies courtesy of Lancaster's vocals. Chum had a well received yet relatively short run but still managed to capture the attention of a few name folks in the music industry as well as some of their respected musical peers. As time rolled on through the post-Chum era and projects came and went, all became gradually quiet on Lancaster's musical front as he devoted more time and energy towards his budding family.

In July of 2010 after a couple year hiatus with music (and three kids later), John returned to the fold with his first solo album titled "Phantom Moon". Approximately 3 years in the making, "Phantom Moon" features guest appearances by Josh Adkins (Abdullah, Erase the Grey), Dave Angstrom (Asylum on the Hill, Hermano, Supafuzz), Jude Blevins (Satchell, Hyatari, Skinfork), Bud Carroll (Bud Carroll and the Southern Souls, American Minor), Elwood Francis (Prunella Scales, Abusement Park, Control Freak), Aaron Grubbs (Science for Children), Daniel Johnson (Let the Guilty Hang), Rusty Knight (In Stereo, Earth to Eros), dUg Pinnick (King's X), Barry Smith (Earth to Eros, Hybrid Zero), and Matt Wolfe (Scrap Iron Pickers, Byzantine).

The heavy and melodic sound that Lancaster has been known for is still evident throughout the 14 tracks of "Phantom Moon", yet dynamically speaking he pushes the envelope a bit further and flirts with a more textured approach -- an approach that was taken on out of necessity according to Lancaster. "In a band or collaborative environment, in order to be diplomatic and to have everyone somewhat on the same page, it is easy to eventually paint yourself into a corner with a specific sound, overall vibe, or songwriting formula," said Lancaster. "What was exciting about finally getting around to this solo project was that there were no boundaries or pre-conceived notions of how this thing should sound, which was a refreshing change of pace. It was a satisfying outlet for me and I look forward to doing this again in the near future."