Niki N. Phaser

            Since his departure from Placebo, in September 2007, drum virtuoso Steve Hewitt hasn’t been slacking off. Helped by friends and family, Hewitt has started a new musical project. The band is called Love Amongst Ruin. This will also be the name of their debut album. Yes, that is correct, an album is already on the way. It was recorded at the Moles Studio (Bath, UK) in the spring-summer period of 2008. Paul Corkett, who produced The Cure’s Bloodflowers, among other noteworthy stuff, was invited to work on some of the tracks. It’s not the first time Hewitt collaborated with this producer. Paul Corkett also produced and engineered Placebo’s Black Market Music. The mixing was done overseas, at the prestigious Bernie Grundman studios in Los Angeles by Brian Gardner, whose discography is as eclectic as can be: from 2Pac to Red Hot Chili Peppers to Barbra Streisand.

            Currently, Steve Hewitt is putting the ‘finishing touches’ on the band’s line-up, as most of the musicians involved in the recording sessions are members of other bands and unable to commit long term to Love Amongst Ruin. Rehearsals are on the way, but before the band premieres any new music, there is still the issue of finding the right management and a label. Knowing that, studio-wise, Steve Hewitt wasn’t restricted to playing only drums for Placebo, one cannot help wondering what this new project of his will sound like, especially since he’s also doing vocals for his new band. For more info, check his:

MySpace Page 

Muse finally announced a release date for The Resistance, their new album. It is the 14th of September this very year. Even before there were any solid news about their new musical efforts, fans were buzzing at the possibility of the boys working on new material. Then, details slowly emerged and it seems they are planning to break the moulds once again, threatening us with “the hardest song ever” or big orchestral manoeuvres, never before seen. Considering their past, I think we should take them seriously and brace ourselves for some postmodern progressive rock.

Even drummer Dominic Howard is complaining about the size of these new things. Talking about learning to play the new setlist live he ponders “That should take a while“. No doubt about it, the wait will be worthwhile. The release date being in the beginning of the autumn and grand tours to follow, we are entitled to be expecting a single this summer. Hopefully, they woun’t break the moulds so much, as to not release a single. In fact, a free download is also in the fashion nowadays. Let’s hope they know that.