Adrenaline Mob: Men Of Honor – new album

ADRENALINE MOB, also known as Uomini D’Onore, are back with new album called ‘Men Of Honor’, albeit without drummer Mike Portnoy (who is currently busy drumming for THE WINERY DOGS, one of his numerous projects). First album ADRENALINE MOB recorded with the new (albeit veteran) drummer TWISTED SISTER's A. J. Pero, was produced by vocalist Russell Allen (SYMPHONY X) and shred extraordinaire/guitarist Mike Orlando at Orlando's Sonic Stomp Studios. Their first worldwide release on Century Media Records (Elm City Music covered the band's North American distribution until now), also featuring DISTURBED's bassist John Moyer, was released on February the 18th, 2014 in North America and is due on February the 24th in Europe. The band feel strongly about themselves (“Regardless of what’s changed, we are men of honor, and we will honor this entity until we die. We’re tight like brothers. This is a musical gang. The message is to stand strong with ADRENALINE MOB.”), and they want you to feel strongly about their new record (“I want everyone who listens to this to feel psyched,” conveyed Orlando, “I think it’s going to leave everybody with a variety of emotions, and there’s nothing better than getting a reaction.”). ‘Men Of Honor’ awaits your order here (CM Distro USA) and your pre-order here (CM Distro Europe), on iTunes, Amazon etc:

“The album blows open the doors of the arena with a massive show-starter intro, before ADRENALINE MOB does what its namesake suggests and engages in criminality… However, they do it with ball-outs, in-your-grill energy and oomph. The intro turns into ‘The Mob Is Back’, which is the most testosterone infused, groove and knuckle NICKELBACK song never recorded. Yes, I said it. Metal elitists can kiss my distortion pedal. … On and on the record goes with one air-drum frenzy, riff-fueled, meat and potatoes heavy rock and roll track after another. It is what one would expect from an elite group like ADRENALINE MOB. Listening to ‘Men Of Honor’ there is a sense of putting on your favorite classic band T-shirt and broken-in jeans: There may not be much new here, but what you get is fulfilling and makes you remember what you love about hard rock. The album goes from pedal-down metal to emotive and poignant moments flawlessly, and it flows with seamless continuity and soaring individual performances. In short, ‘Men Of Honor’ kills it!” [Examiner's Rustyn Rose – more here]

Although officially founded in 2011 in New York, USA, according to some reports singer Russell Allen and drum wizard Mike Portnoy knew that they would eventually work together ever since Portnoy had handpicked SYMPHONY X to play on MEGADETH's “Gigantour” in 2005. Next, Portnoy insisted SYMPHONY X tour Europe with DREAM THEATER in 2007:

“In the back of my mind, I always knew I’d love to be in a rock band with Portnoy because neither of us had done that previously,” [revealed Allen, apparently with a smile] “I watched DREAM THEATER every night, and I thought, “This guy is a rock drummer in a prog band!” He never failed to steal the show, and his energy was infectious. I was inspired by it.” [Allegedly, Portnoy was also watching Allen closely while they were on the road:] “Doing something together was inevitable.” [Portnoy somberly added:] “This is a new band with a new sound and a new beginning. Forget what everyone has done in the past. I’ll cherish and look back on my 25 years in DREAM THEATER with great pride, but it’s time for me to begin this next chapter.”

(And quite a few next chapters have begun for Portnoy since - but let us return to the matter at hand:) With the addition of guitarists Mike Orlando and Rich Ward (STUCK MOJO) and bassist Paul DiLeo (FOZZY), the group released their self-titled EP in 2011, followed by their debut album titled ‘Omertá’, which was released in 2012 through Century Media Records/Elm City Music. The 11 “bruising hard rock anthems” featured on the album landed position number 62 on the Billboard Top 200, selling over 6600 copies its first week.‘Covertà’, the follow-up EP to ‘Omertà’ came next in March 2013, turned out to be the last ADRENALINE MOB recording with rhythm guitarist Rich Ward and bass player Paul Di Leo, as well as with founding member drummer Mike Portnoy, all of whom left the band due to scheduling conflicts with their other bands. ‘Covertà’ peaked on Billboard Top 200 at position number 173.

ADRENALINE MOB features: Russell Allen - vocals, Mike Orlando - guitar, John Moyer – bass and A.J. Pero – drums