New Release:

4.20.2010 Rikets – All American Death Cult

Rikets – All American Death Cult

RIKETS was conceived in 2004, released its groundbreaking e.p., Anything for the Devil, in 2006 and toured relentlessly in its support. RIKETS has shared the stage with some of rocks biggest acts and they prove true to form that there is no stopping this band of modern day road warriors. They have seen tour dates with Korn, Breaking Benjamin, Seether, Flyleaf, Nothingface, Scum of the Earth, Halestorm, and Buckcherry, to name a few.

RIKETS went on to record their first full length album between tours so they could “wear in” the new material live. Featuring five talented guys from the US- Scott (Vocals), Provo (Guitar), Nick (Guitar ), Michael (Bass) and Timmy (Drums). Their debut album, ALL AMERICAN DEATH CULT, releases on April 20, 2010.

Vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, Scott Rose, grew up in different cities all over California and in Cleveland,Ohio, under different conditions in each location.  With few constants in his life, Rose turned to music and acting for solace.  Playing out scenarios that took him outside himself was the first order of business for Scott – including non-speaking roles in films like THE BANGER SISTERS, SHOWTIME, VAN WILDER and BIG FAT LIAR (among others).  His simultaneous exploration of music won out and the acting stopped just as it was taking off.

A lonely person “even in good company,” he admits, Scott has always examined his emotion in song.  Writing and performing in bands in Cleveland and Los Angeles, in his early 20s, he had glimpses of success (a major label deal for a previous project, interest from members of respected bands in the genre), but none of his previous situations felt quite right. “With this band it just feels right,were a group of five guys that are happy to be where were at and we have a good time doing it,sometimes in life when your on a path that’s good for you you can just feel it.And thats how it feels everytime we hit the stage,its natural,not forced and the reaction is there, so were in a good spot right now.  The first pass Rose & Co took at recording music was not quite right for them either, nor was the early lineup.

Through a mutual friend, Scott met Provo – an Oklahoma City-based Recording Engineer who became a stabilizing force in his personal and musical life.  “We finish eachother’s sentences sometimes,” he says of his collaborator.  With Provo, Scott set about finishing the writing of this long-awaited album.  “The first song we wrote was ‘House Of Lies’ when we were staying at this guy’s house we thought was our friend in Ohio,” he explains. ‘Program The Dead’ followed, a shotgun blast of off-time double kick drum patterns and pure anti-system lyrics.

Timmy Braun, the band’s drummer, was invited in 2008 to join the family at Spaun Custom Drums, a home reserved for the likes of the elite of drumming.  Local studio musician from Oklahoma City, Michael Reams, adeptly holds down the low end on bass.  Former member of AMERICAN HEAD CHARGE, Nick Guijano, is the bands second guitar player.  This multi instrumentalist had been friendly with band members for some time and “fit right in” when they were looking to enhance their live sound.

Scott uprooted the original ALL AMERICAN DEATH CULT recording session from where they began in Dallas, TX and relocated them to Ben Schigel’s (SWITCHED) Strongsville, OH studio. Ben’s involvement in RIKETS runs deep “Ben has been there since day ONE.  He’s a motivator, a mentor, a vocal trainer a great creative mind.  I’ve been friends with Ben for years and SWITCHED was one of my favorite bands,” Scott explains.  “Working with him over the years on RIKETS has been cool for both of us because we get to jam together.”

ALL AMERICAN DEATH CULT’s Industrial sound is anything but cold.  Plaintive vocals betray deep emotion in tracks like “Sold Me Out.”  “Hollywood and I have a love/hate relationship – I love to hate her and she hates to love me,” explains Scott.  “This song is my statement on this record. We have been through a lot and have come out the other side.”  Lyrically, “Sold Me Out” is double-talk – a parallel of a tumultuous relationship with a woman and a relationship with fame.   “You were the first drink of wine and you broke me” refers to Rose’s first taste of fame and the bitterness he felt when his love of music had to take a back seat to sales and industry concerns, but could just as easily be about a romantic relationship gone bad.

A familiar track, “Cry Little Sister,” is a cover of a song made famous in THE LOST BOYS (a popular 1987 film).  “I had called up Gerard McMann (original vocalist) who was a email buddy of mine and asked him if we could record his song for our new record,” Scott recounts.  “I wanted him to sing the song.  I didn’t want to fuck up the most perfect song ever, trying to re interpret what this guy felt when he laid it down.” McMann came out and recorded with RIKETS, creating a powerful new version of the acclaimed track.

Through all the hardship, RIKETS has prevailed.  “If we didn’t see the fanbase growing and the dedication of the kids (the tattoos they get of us, how they react to the shows), we would have packed it in.  We just know we have something here because of the fans.  That and our love for the music is what drives us.”   Perhaps this family of fans, is Scott Rose’s full house.