Black Valentine (LA)
Los Angeles, California, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2013 | SELF
Music
Press
- …kick-ass musicians…it’s a unique amalgam of classic, prog, glam and metal –– every inch of which rocks. Can’t say we’ve heard rhythm guitar that gnashes as powerfully as [Frank] Yanno’s…will impress music supervisors"
- Music Connection Magazine
- The Constant are rockers from Van Nuys, California who have ignored a lot of what is modern and 'happening' on radio…(Their Music) is an intense, brash, burst of power induced rock-a-rama. Revolving around the heavy riffing guitars of Frank Yanno, [a] band like The Cult springs to mind for pure angst, aggression, and pile driving riffs. Evidence of this comes in the shape of hard-hitters 'The Other Side Of The Room' and the intense riff-happy 'Chain Of Events'…'Falter' sees them close to tripping up on a cortisone injection of musical fuel. 'All Or Nothing' keep[s] the seventies rock groove happening, and tracks like 'Perfect Failure' and 'Darkly Sunny Days' have that 'trippy' vibe… for those wanting to reinvest into retro seventies rock played with 21st century vim and vigor…Well done chaps!
- Glory-Daze.com
[the Constant] debuts with an album filled with eleven modern power rock songs with a retro-character…in which the groovy and heavy guitar riffs from Frank Yanno stand out. This band is rockin' [and] simply does what it wants without compromising to 'the market'. This makes the Constant-style kinda hard to describe, but influences from Led Zepplin, The Cult and Saigon Kick are recognizable.
- Aardschok
Discography
NINETIMESTEN
The Letter
Sometimes Things Just Happen
Lost in the "Everyday" (unreleased)
Photos
Bio
Black Valentine Bio
Could Black Valentine’s origin be a product of the Stars aligning? Fate? Destiny? Whatever you call it, it shouldn’t have even happened- but it did.
It started when Jeff Knemeyer sold everything and moved from a small town in Washington State to LA. By pure chance he was walking down the street when he met Jesse Wolff who was working on his Truck. Jeff stopped to talk with him because he had a Truck just like it back home. They became fast friends with Jeff eventually renting a Room from Jesse.
Cut to Brian Rutkin and Frank Yanno who were looking for a Singer for their band tHe CoNStAnt- who enjoyed a small amount of success in the LA Scene but never seemed to find the right Voice. After holding several auditions they thought they had found their man, but there was one singer left pacing the outside hallways of the rehearsal studio. The question was, do they let him audition or tell him the bad news?
After a quick decision, Jeff Knemeyer walked in the room with a readiness and vigor that surprised everyone. The music was cued and Jeff began running through the songs with a power and presence the guys had never thought was possible.
Now the final decision had been made! But Jeff’s voice changed everything. They could no longer call themselves tHe CoNStAnT. Taking the title of one of their songs, Black Valentine was born. They immediately began working on all new material and were almost finished with their Debut Album when their Drummer at the time had to leave for personal reasons.
Back to the drawing board- this time searching for a Drummer with no success. They were out of options when Jeff’s Roommate Jesse asked if he could Audition. Jeff didn’t even know he played Drums!! The rest as they say is history.
Black Valentine is a true testament of perseverance, hard work, and dedication and the countless hours of writing has paid off with their Debut Album World Gone Wrong.
Drenched in attitude, these 13 Tracks inject emotions that range from Aggression and Anger to Hurt and Pain to Sorrow and Loss to frustration and discontent from Political, Economic, and Religious Corruption. Each Track literally screams what most of us have felt and thought- wrapped up in perfectly accessible and catchy Songs delivered with exceptional Musicianship.
The Songwriting is direct and crisp and the Production Standards are well beyond what you'd expect from a Major Label Release, let alone something Independently Recorded.
The Attitudes from these Songs are brought to an even higher level thru their incredible Live Performances. And Black Valentine is just getting started. Though their Debut Album has just been Released, the Band already has it's eyes set on their next Recordings.
Black Valentine is not a Band to be missed. With plans to support their Release by playing anywhere and everywhere, Black Valentine will bring their brand of raucous, loud, and electrifying performance to the stage.
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