Seven Hours After Violet have unveiled their first single, “Paradise“. That group are spearheaded by System Of A Down bassist Shavo Odadjian and also feature vocalist Taylor Barber (Left To Suffer), guitarist/producer Michael “Morgothbeatz” Montoya (Winds Of Plague, etc.) ‘American Idol‘ runner-up Alejandro Aranda (aka Scarypoolparty) on guitars/vocals, and Winds Of Plague, etc. drummer Josh Johnson.
A video for this introductory track was shot by director Adam Mason, with Odadjian assisting in the creative direction. Addressing the song, Odadjian offered:
“The song opens the album and showcases the various dynamics we explore throughout which makes it the perfect introduction to Seven Hours After Violet. I’ve been making music for over 30 years, I wanted to do something super heavy, but melodic and come back to my roots. Until this band, every side project I’ve done has been outside of the walls of heavy music. I steered away from anything heavy because System Of A Down is heavy.
Once I got I started with Seven Hours After Violet, I had to let go of that. I said ‘let me go with my gut and do what I’m best at.’ For the first time ever in my career, I just said, ‘as long as I love it, I don’t give a fuck what anybody else think’ and that was extremely liberating. Seven Hours After Violet is the result. It’s my favourite thing I’ve done since System and I can’t wait for the world to hear it.”
Speaking on the video that accompanies the track, he offered:
“The video for ‘Paradise’ is a little trippy, it’s a little psychedelic, it’s a little dark and beautiful all at once. We shot it with only two takes per band member, but despite those restrictions, I think we made a really cool video.”
He also addressed the launch of his new Sumerian Music Group imprint label, 1336 Records:
“I didn’t just want to sign the band to a label, which is why we signed the deal with Ash Avildsen and Sumerian. I now have my new imprint called 1336 Records. It gives me a lot of creative control and also the ability to bring other acts that I find interesting on board later in the future, so I’m really excited about that.”
Avildsen, who heads up Sumerian Music Group, stated:
“System Of A Down is one of the most important and influential bands of my generation, as well as one of my all time favorites. When I first heard Shavo was putting together a group of young cutting edge musicians around him to form a new band, I immediately got excited just as a fan to hear what it was. After a first listen of Seven Hours After Violet and seeing who the metal group of Avengers he assembled around him to play in it, I knew it had to be on Sumerian.
So I pursued it hard and after one epic lunch together at the Sunset Marquis, Shavo and I were creative business partners ready to unleash the next great thing in heavy music together. I am humbled and honored he has chosen to team up with Sumerian to launch Seven Hours After Violet and 1336.”
As previously reported, the band’s live debut has been scheduled for this year’s return of the now Avildsen-affiliated ‘Mayhem Fest‘. That event will be held October 12th at the Glen Helen Amphitheatre in San Bernardino, CA.
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