Helforstout
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Helforstout

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"Helforstout is kicking it into high gear"

It was in high school back in 2009 when Helforstout first formed — and it was for fun, something to do. But band members realized they were onto something, and they became serious, and so they needed to make some choices. They decided to focus and put energies into their band and see where it might lead.

“The music scene is in a very exciting state right now,” says lead guitarist Jeremy Jacobs. “With the Internet being such a huge resource, we as musicians have the ability to reach out to the entire world. I think it’s a real blessing that I’m in a group that gets to play such fun, challenging material, but still has an awesome fan base, usually it’s just one or the other.”

“And if you’re not having fun, why do it?” adds lead vocalist Gabe Brown. “When the crowd is into it, they’re having fun, and you’re having fun — there’s nothing like it.”

Other band member are Joe Brown on rhythm guitar, Matt Moss on bass and vocals and Dan Russell on drums.

The music that Helforstout performs is a blend of classic rock with a little grunge/’90s sound.

“We are playing the music of heroes and favorite bands,” Jacobs says. “We’re heavily influenced by the bands that have withstood the test of time, the biggest influences probably being Led Zeppelin, Soundgarden, Foo Fighters, The Who, Pearl Jam, AC/DC, Black Sabbath, etc.”

“Yet it’s hard to describe who we sound like,” Gabe Brown says. “When we write our original tunes, we don’t try to sound like anybody — but we probably have a little of the same stuff as our influences — heavier classic rock.”

Helforstout is on the road right now in North Dakota and Minnesota on its first tour. And members are having a blast — it’s not just a bunch of friends and people from Cedar Rapids at the shows — they’re working hard and playing at places where no one even knows how to say their name.

“But last week, in St. Cloud, Minnesota, we were at the tiniest bar possible — we had to duck our heads to get on stage,” Gabe Brown says. “A guy walked in, looking for some live music — he said, ‘Hey, I know you guys. I’m a fan!’”

Gabe Brown’s recent experience on the TV show “American Idol” has certainly given them some additional visibility. There was a huge blast of publicity they initially received after the show aired, especially locally. Since then, they’ve been gaining more and more support. But getting on the show was a fluke, Brown says.

“It was a slow day. I was at home, reading the paper. I saw that something called the ‘American Idol Bus Tour’ was gonna be in Iowa City. I thought I’d go check it out. I figured it was a tour of idol stars — might be fun to go check ’em out. But after standing in line, and getting in, I quickly figured out, nope, it’s a tryout. And I was already there, and I figured it might be fun to give it a try, so I went for it,” he says.

It went well. He ended up doing three auditions, including Iowa City, Chicago and his TV appearance in Hollywood.

He returned home and Helforstout kicked it into high gear. The group is not only touring, it is writing original music and recording. It just released its first full-length all-original album. Go to Helforstout.com where you can listen, stream from Spotify, purchase from iTunes or just order a hard copy.

- See more at: http://hooplanow.com/2013/06/20/helforstout/#sthash.MGh8FVj2.dpuf - Hoopla


"Silence has broken in Iowa as five piece rock band Helforstout are making their mark with their debut album!"

Influences from classic rock legends such as Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath mixed with modern influences such as Black Stone Cherry and Foo Fighters can be heard clearly in this rock fuelled debut album.

An eclectic selection of songs from the hard-hitting rockers definitely settles well with the listener, particularly songs such as So Tell Me that was very flowing and gave off the vibe that you can most certainly relax to, this than smoothly transforms to the upbeat rock song My Getaway that I find myself dancing to. The mixture of influences and genres of rock very well on this album; driving guitar riffs, powerful vocals and great melodies create the whole rock and roll package for this band.

My personal favourite track on the album is Jeep Ride. It contains the key ingredients for the perfect rock song; catchy riff, incredible vocal work and a melody that I won't forget for a long time.

Overall a great debut album from Helforstout, this album will definitely be a hit this summer. If you like hard hitting vocals, slick guitar riffs and great original rock tunes than this is the album for you.



Stand out tracks: Jeep Ride, Getaway and Wharf

For fans of: Soundgarden and Black Sabbath - Loud-Stuff.com


"Silence has broken in Iowa as five piece rock band Helforstout are making their mark with their debut album!"

Influences from classic rock legends such as Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath mixed with modern influences such as Black Stone Cherry and Foo Fighters can be heard clearly in this rock fuelled debut album.

An eclectic selection of songs from the hard-hitting rockers definitely settles well with the listener, particularly songs such as So Tell Me that was very flowing and gave off the vibe that you can most certainly relax to, this than smoothly transforms to the upbeat rock song My Getaway that I find myself dancing to. The mixture of influences and genres of rock very well on this album; driving guitar riffs, powerful vocals and great melodies create the whole rock and roll package for this band.

My personal favourite track on the album is Jeep Ride. It contains the key ingredients for the perfect rock song; catchy riff, incredible vocal work and a melody that I won't forget for a long time.

Overall a great debut album from Helforstout, this album will definitely be a hit this summer. If you like hard hitting vocals, slick guitar riffs and great original rock tunes than this is the album for you.



Stand out tracks: Jeep Ride, Getaway and Wharf

For fans of: Soundgarden and Black Sabbath - Loud-Stuff.com


Discography

Single (w/video): My Getaway, available on YouTube.

Album (CD or download): Helforstout, available on Pandora, Amazon, iTunes, CDBaby and www.Helforstout.com

Tracks available for streaming via www.undergroundmusic.fm:

I Know You More, All Rails Lead West, Crosshairs, My Getaway, Sport of Kings, and Can I Escape?

Photos

Bio

Helforstout taps into an inner force as ancient and primeval as the Scandinavian roots of the band's name. The quintet was founded in 2009 by brothers Gabe and Joe Brown, with Matt Moss joining soon thereafter. In 2011, Jeremy Jacobs and Dan Russell filled out the roster and bar and club walls soon began to feel the wrath of the group's sonic assault.

In 2012, Helforstout recorded their first full length album. The eponymous record was released on May 25th, 2013. The eleven original tracks embody both the band's classicist rock 'n' roll roots as well as their modern musical favorites, such as: Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, The Who, AC/DC, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Foo Fighters, Audioslave, and Wolfmother. Upon their album's release, Helforstout embarked on a month-long tour throughout Iowa, Minnesota, and North Dakota. Currently, the band continues to play shows about the Midwest and is writing new material for a second release.

To date, Helforstout remains the premier band in the Cedar Rapids area and is quickly spreading throughout the rest of Iowa and the Midwest. Helforstout has been featured on multiple local radio stations as well as many online underground websites. The band's self-titled debut album is available on iTunes, Spotify, Pandora, and many other major online music outlets. With every performance, the band leaves a memorable impact, be it with new fans or rabid stalwarts who've seen the band dozens of times.

Future plans for Helforstout include writing and recording new material, touring with larger acts, and potentially soliciting backing from a label.

What sets Helforstout apart from other bands is their aggressive and powerful sound, which is accompanied by a matching stage presence and energy level. These elements link together to give the listener a musical experience that is both reminiscent of big name vintage rock bands and current powerhouse modern acts. Visually, the band elicits a commanding presence with their stature, being that all members stand above 6 feet tall. This creates a larger than life persona which is only further emphasized by their powerful music and stage presence.

Plug in. Turn on. Rock out with Helforstout!