Hive Mentality out February 22, 2019 via Upstate Records
Pre-Order Beginning January 11 Here
Watch a New Album Teaser Here
Born out of Troy, NY’s infamous hardcore scene, BRICK BY BRICK – featuring Mike Valente (Guitars), Andy Parsons (Bass), Ray Mazzola (Vocals, ex-Full Blown Chaos), and James Muller (Drums) – have relentlessly cultivated their reputation as a staple force of hybrid hardcore metal. Solidifying and reviving their sound in recent years with the addition of Mazzola on vocals, the band’s perspective is fresh with formidable intent.
BRICK BY BRICK return in 2019 with their seventh studio album, Hive Mentality – an onslaught of brutal ferociousness. The album is scheduled to be released on February 22, 2019 via Upstate Records, and will be available to pre-order via major digital retailers beginning January 11. Visit the pre-order landing page here: www.upstaterecordsny.com
Produced by Jason Bourdeau, the album was recorded at Overit Media in Albany, NY, with mastering by legendary Alan Douches of West West Side Music.
Raising a massive middle finger to the establishment, Hive Mentality is a battle cry to all that is wrong with the world, yet signifying that all is right with heavy music convergence. Epitomizing the tone of the title track “Hive Mentality”, track guest Jessica Pimentel(Alekhine’sGun vocalist, Orange is the New Black actress) seethes “Get the fuck out of the way or get trampled,” with a ranting rage. Based upon true events, track five, entitled “Bar Is Open”, sums up BRICK BY BRICK flawlessly in their declaration of, “We live to drink/We love to fight/We bring the party/Rage through the night.” That statement is further emphasized by none other than guest vocalist Tony Foresta (Municipal Waste, Iron Reagan). The Acacia Strain‘s Vincent Bennett further exudes the savagery of Hive Mentality with his vocal spot on “In The Ruins”, before the album reaches its apex with a blistering rendition of
Motörhead‘s “Iron Fist”, a sonically-heated kick like a belt of Jack that Lemmy himself would have savored and tipped his hat to.
Vocalist Ray Mazzola says, “It was an honor to have our guest vocalists join us for this album. We wrote it knowing all along that Tony from Municipal Waste/Iron Reagan was going to sing on ‘Bar Is Open’, and it turned out that a few of the more thrash-edged songs were inspired by him. Vincent of The Acacia Strain agreed to redo an old tune of ours, ‘In The Ruins’, that was featured as a limited edition run that he collaborated with us on. It needed to be heard internationally. Last but not least, Jessica Pimentel from Orange Is The New Black/Alekhine’s Gun was a perfect choice for the middle rant on ‘Hive Mentality’, portraying anger from a woman’s perspective.”
BRICK BY BRICK brings one metal riff after another, interwoven with slamming breakdowns and a relentlessly rhythmic battering. Hive Mentality transcends beyond genres – it embraces the angst within each soul from any heavy music scene and brings solace to every metalhead, muscle head, hardcore kid, and old school punk who’s been internally bleeding and eternally screaming in defiance.
Hive Mentality track list:
“Hive Mentality” featuring Jessica Pimentel
“Bad Sign”
“Toe to Toe”
“Battleground”
“Bar Is Open” featuring Tony Foresta
“Never to Wake”
“In The Ruins” featuring Vincent Bennett
“Slave to the Grind” (Skid Row cover)
“Iron Fist” (Motörhead cover)
“Brick by Brick exemplifies a working-class band.” – New Noise Magazine
“Brick by Brick has a long and storied career which reads like a documentary on all that’s upstate and heavy as fuck.” – RadioRadioX
“When it comes to by the number, blue-collar heavy hardcore there isn’t a need for a whole lot of innovation and Brick by Brick understands this. And that’s not a thinly veiled shot at the band. If you want to hear aggressive music firmly anchored in tradition, you will find it…” – PunkNews
BRICK BY BRICK has shared the stage and/or toured with many notable artists such as Anthrax, Hatebreed, Shadows Fall, Biohazard, Agnostic Front, Madball, The Acacia Strain, Sick Of It All, and many more. The band has also appeared on many festivals, including New England Metal and Hardcore Festival, Black n’ Blue Bowl, Tsunami Fest, Breast Fest, Motorcity Fest, Toughlove Fest, Florida Rules fest, and more. Building upon their performance resume, BRICK BY BRICK will perform at select shows this winter – see below for all current dates.
BRICK BY BRICK upcoming shows:
12/21 – Poughkeepsie, NY @ The Chance Theater (w/ Cro-Mags, Murphy’s Law + more)
12/22 – Waterford, NY @ Chrome (w/ The Acacia Strain, Recon + more)
2/22 – Clifton Park, NY @ Upstate Concert Hall (w/ Dying Fetus) Hive Mentality Album Release Show
Upstate Records online:
BRICK BY BRICK promo photo by Jim Wertman
