iMusician Digital - digital music distribution
“From the city to the streets”
1. Kill City (a 1977 album by former Stooges vocalist Iggy Pop and guitarist James Williamson)
2. Kill City (a nickname for a now demolished wooden house block based in Kallio, Helsinki at the end of the 70’s, where an active punk-/rock-scene was based in before moving to Lepakko, but that’s another story)
3. Hill Street Blues (an American serial police drama on TV in the 80’s)
4. Kill Street Blues (the debut album from Helsinki-based Finnish hard rockers Sonic Roots released 3. February 2010)
These guys were born in the 70’s, grew up as teenagers in the metropolitan area of Helsinki in the 80’s to tunes laid by Black Sabbath, Metallica, Guns N’Roses, Hanoi Rocks, Misfits and AC/DC among others as well as getting wasted and laid along the way, made a bad reputation for themselves in the 90’s by their obnoxious behaviour, paid their dues in the new millennium and is now ready to take the world by storm with the new decade. These are the guys who made their teachers go crazy and their schoolmates go wild.
Self-proclaimed soulful hard rockers from Helsinki, Sonic Roots release its first full length album “Kill Street Blues” on 3. February 2010. A single-cut for the song “Obscene Medicine” will be published as a digital release and is available in selected stores on 20. January 2010.
To celebrate the release of the album the album’s release-party is held at night club Virgin Oil Co. on 6. February 2010. A free advance listening party is being held at Club Prkl on 28. January 2010 (between 7-9 PM) along with a rare acoustic performance. A free all ages live performance is being served for customers at Levykauppa Äx in Helsinki on 4. February 2010 (showtime 6 PM).
Sonic Roots’ “Kill Street Blues” is the first rock-release from the bands’ record label 3rd Rail Music, previously known for releasing high-quality and reputable hip-hop records in Finland. If these genres seem to have radical differences at first glance, it is the groups “no bullshit”-approach where they hold common ground. Sonic Roots makes music which kicks the listener to its butt and balls. This is an attitude they share with other acts from this highly respected Finnish hip-hop -label.
It is safe to say "Kill Street Blues" delivers a kick-ass load of uncompromising and honest rock’n roll and hard rock influenced by such groups as Black Sabbath, AC/DC and Queens of the Stone Age among others. The album features also noteworthy special guest appearances by acclaimed Finnish rockers such as Jyrki 69 (The 69 Eyes), Niki Rock (Barbe-Q Barbies) and Pasi Koskinen (Ajattara, ex-Amorphis) among others.
Way before Sonic Roots its members have been active for years in the Finnish rock-scene with several albums under its belt by bands such as Spiha, Gandalf and Chaosbreed. Before “Kill Street Blues” Sonic Roots have released two self-financed releases, an ep “Firstborn Child” (2006) and a single “The Power Of Need” (2007) and material from these releases have been published on compilations both domestically (Tuhma) and abroad (Mama Trash).
Besides performing in Finland the band has played shows in Germany, Hungary, Estonia and Croatia, gaining a reputation of being a very strong live act as a result. In December 2007 Metro, a daily Finnish free distribution magazine released in Helsinki Metropolitan Area published a story of rising Finnish bands. Under the headline "Sign them too!" Sonic Roots was presented for approx 310 000 readers as being known for their “elemental live shows”.
Nevertheless, don’t make the mistake of leaving this gem untouched, because “Kill Street Blues” might be the best Finnish hard rock debut album since the debuts by Hanoi Rocks and Smack. Rest assured: this is kill street blues from the shady alleys, decadent afterparties, massive hangovers and streets of Kill City anno 2010.
These guys might never have had the chance to experience Kill City, but living and breathing the streets of Helsinki - or as some like to call it, Hell-stinky - make “Kill Street Blues” a true and vivid account of living and rocking in Kallio, Helsinki with its prostitutes, dope-dealers and sleazy bars from the next generation to the new decade.
The release party for “Kill Street Blues”, dubbed as “The Night of Rap’n Roll” is being held at Virgin Oil Co. on 6. February 2010. The opening acts for Sonic Roots include hip hop acts Steen 1 and Jontti & Jodarok as well as fellow rock hoodlums God Given Ass. Tickets cost 5 euros, must be at least 18 years-old to gain entry.
For more info contact 3rd Rail Music (tommi@3rdrailmusic.fi) or Sonic Roots (sonic.roots@hotmail.com).
(Biography updated 19.01.2010)
BELOW Sonic Roots performing NEW SONG “Twisted Soul” at Roots Fest 3 in On The Rocks, Helsinki on 14.09.2008.
ROOTS FEST 3
BELOW Sonic Roots performing “Poison Wine” at Trash Fest II pre-party in Semifinal, Helsinki on 19.03.2009.
BELOW Sonic Roots performing “Trashy Morning” at Trash Fest II pre-party in Semifinal, Helsinki on 19.03.2009.
BELOW Sonic Roots performing "The Power Of Need" at Mama Trash-event in Gloria, Helsinki on 18.10.2007.
BELOW Sonic Roots performing "Poison Wine" at Mama Trash-event in Gloria, Helsinki on 18.10.2007.
BELOW Sonic Roots performing "Shadow In Your Heart" at Mama Trash-event in Gloria, Helsinki on 18.10.2007.
BELOW Henry Lee Roots' ferry jam with friends at Viking Line's M/S Gabriella on November 10th 2007.
BELOW Björn Again Electric recording Pharaoh's Don't Sleep Tonight for Sonic Roots' debut album 29.01.2008.
BELOW Henry Lee Roots acoustic jam at secret location on October 6th 2007.
BELOW Sonic Warland's acoustic jam at secret location on November 23rd 2007.
BELOW Henry Lee Roots' käpäytys @ Sonic Roots rehearsals 05.01.2008
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BELOW mobile phone videoclip of "Power Of Need" from On The Rocks, Helsinki on August 18th 2006.
