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BIG WRECK ANNOUNCE FEB 19 RELEASE FOR LONG-AWAITED NEW ALBUM ALBATROSS

BAND SIGNS WITH ZOE/ROUNDER RECORDS FOR FIRST NEW ALBUM IN 10 YEARS

ALBUM FEATURES THE NO. 1 ROCK RADIO HIT, “ALBATROSS”

Critically acclaimed rock band BIG WRECK have signed with Zoe/Rounder Records for the U.S. release of their long-awaited new album, ALBATROSS. The album is set for a February 19th release.

Co-produced by Big Wreck vocalist/guitarist Ian Thornley and Eric Ratz (Billy Talent, Cancer Bats) and executive-produced by Nick Raskulinecz (Foo Fighters, Rush, Alice In Chains), ALBATROSS was released in Canada earlier this year and debuted at No. 5 on SoundScan’s Top 200 Album Chart. The album’s early success was fueled by its blistering lead single/title track “Albatross,” which held the No. 1 spot on the Canadian rock radio charts for six weeks.

The album and single were also big winners at the recent CASBY Awards in Canada, earning “Favorite New Album” and “Favorite New Single” honors. CASBY winners are determined by fan voting via the website for popular Canadian rock station, 102.1 The Edge.

When we last saw Big Wreck, the band was touring in support of 2001’s sophomore album, The Pleasure and the Greed. Outside pressures and a major label machine whose parts were no longer in sync led to a band break-up one year later. It was a disappointing end for the group, who had formed in Boston after Thornley and guitarist Brian Doherty met as students at the Berklee College of Music. After several years of gigging around the area, the band signed a record deal and released debut album In Loving Memory Of… in 1997.

So what led to the reunion? The simple answer is the rekindled friendship between Thornley and Doherty, who hadn’t spoken in years. “I just missed him,” says Ian. “I called him just to hang out but of course knew the chemistry would be there.” Brian echoes the sentiment: “We got together and started doing the same things as when we first met, on both a personal and musical level. It seemed to make complete sense.”

Returning to that place where like-minded musicians communicate is to return to the wellspring of inspiration and creativity. With Big Wreck, that translates into an outpouring of rock music direct from the subconscious heart, and lives in the interplay of controlled horsepower and unbridled virtuosity. Big Wreck remains faithful to the Big Rock playbook but isn’t necessarily interested in the “so big it will eat your children” flavors of today. “I went for all the good stuff that’s missing on rock records these days,” says Ian in describing the recording process. “I wanted to avoid falling into the formulaic cookie-cutter trap. That’s not going to interest me so how can it interest the listener? I have to go with my gut, which means longer songs, intros and bridges which explore strange territories, more room for breathing and a different dynamic range or sonic palette altogether.” While contemplating the studio sessions, Ian was listening to Dire Straits, Fleetwood Mac and Thin Lizzy, finding a love of the textures in clean guitars against dry drums to create a sonic backdrop that’s rare today.

One listen to ALBATROSS and it’s clear that Big Wreck is picking up where it left off. There’s no mistaking the voice, the virtuosity of playing or the pen with which it was written. Ask Ian Thornley if Big Wreck of 2012 (rounded out by guitarist Paulo Neta, drummer Brad Park and bassist Dave McMillan) is the Big Wreck that called it a day back in 2002 and he sees this as a natural extension. “It’s still the same thing,” he says. “I’m still looking to get off and get that feeling. I’m still searching for the perfect thing. I hope I never find it.”

Big Wreck will be touring Canada with Theory of a Deadman from Nov 16 through December 18, to be followed by a U.S. tour in early 2013.

Fans can also download a free copy of “Albatross” via the band’s website, www.bigwreckmusic.com

Check out Big Wreck’s video for “Albatross” below!