''Special Ops

Special Ops Invade Canadian 2008 Tour Dates!

Montreal, QC. (Top40 Charts/ Special Ops Official Website) - Hard Rockers Special Ops invade Canadian tourdates as part of their Bringin The Madness cross Canada tour. While on the loud front Special Ops will be taking over various Canadian cities with each conquering moment on the current dates announced.

May 2, 2008 - Zaphods 27 York Street, Ottawa, Ontario
May 5, 2008 - Park Theatre 698 Osborne Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba
May 7, 2008 - The MultiPlex., Lloydminster, Saskatchewan
May 8, 2008 - Walkers Nightclub 255 3rd Ave S, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
May 9, 2008 - The Mead Hall 10940 -166a Street, Edmonton, Alberta
May 11, 2008 - Sound Entertainment, 3rd avenue.
Prince George, British Columbia
May 12, 2008 - The Media Club, 695 Cambie Street, Vancouver, British Columbia
May 14, 2008 - BC Transplant Foundation Benefit Concert, 31150 Blueridge Dr, Abbotsford, British Columbia
May 16, 2008 - The Thirsty Dog, 6219 Centre St. NW., Calgary, Alberta
May 17, 2008 - The Gate, Lethbridge, Alberta
May 23, 2008 - The Zoo, 160 Osborne Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba
June 7, 2008, - The Underground, 41 Catharine St., Hamilton, Ontario
June 28, 2008 - Club Social, 810 East Main Street, Welland, Ontario
July 19, 2008 - Bar St Laurent, 5550 St. Laurent. Montreal, Quebec

As Special Ops are winning the battlefronts with their recently released album Phase 2: Amidst The Madness. These musical snipers have been spreading their protest songs to get their message out, that they are a rock band that will eventually take over the world with their musical dictatorship. It has been 2 years since the release of their first album Phase 1: In Search of Madness, which sold over 1,000 independently through online sales and touring Canada on numerous occasions. The new album Phase 2: Amidst the Madness is now available at HMV, iTunes & CDBaby.com.

We have risen from being privates to being real generals in our rock domain, says Special Ops guitarist & Vocalist Akbar Johnson

The new album is a mix of new metal and hard rock similar to styles of both Hell Yeah, Mudvayne & Nickelback. With a double vocal attack on most of the tracks, the new album keeps you interested with a creation of Kevlar vest rhythm and ear piercing lead guitar ability that sets the ranges apart from each attacking song.

This new album is an anger-focused perspective of dealing with life's harsh realities but is also about evolving and growing as a person, says Special Ops vocalist Abe Froman.

As Phase 2: Amdist the Madness gains massive attention on radio across Canada. There's no stopping Special Ops on each Canadian tour date. Special Ops have converted their hard rocking dramatics and full stage ensemble assault into an adaptation of fist rising casualties wanting to join the Special Ops training tactics.

Special Ops has emerged to become one of the most sought after outfits in an age where bottom heavy distorted elegance is found to consort with ethnically infused infectious rhythms. Thrusting with a double barrelled vocal assault and securing with a well-armed rhythm section, it is standard operational procedure for this joint task force to be moving to higher ground.

With quick and accurate bombardment, they have been able to blow away North American audiences using a fully equipped live musical attack. Singer Abe Froman with a style of his own and a stage energy that needs to be seen. Bassist Waldo Thornhill and Guitarist Akbar Johnson's accuracy of a sniper and vocal balance followed by the pounding power of drums by Clarence Mcgillacutty for their second album setting Special Ops apart from the rest. The group has gained recognition by means of their unique chemistry which functions in creating their cutting edge music. Their influence stems from bands reminiscent of Alice in Chains, Guns n Roses, Metallica and blends to form a sound that is curiously enchanting to the human ear. Their sound is a blend of Nickelback meets System Of A Down, and Nirvana. - Top 40 Charts

April 2, 2008

Self-described as a mix of Nickelback-meets-Metall...
Self-described as a mix of Nickelback-meets-Metallica-meets-Rage Against the Machine, the six-year-old Special Ops hails from Montreal. Their high-energy shows and protest songs, including a couple of studio albums (Phase 1: In Search of Madness and Phase 2: Amidst the Madness), have established them as a musical presence in Montreal. Now, they're taking the tunes across Canada, including a show in Fredericton on April 5 at Vixen's.

The Brunswickan: So why protest music? Was that something you always wanted to write?

Akbar Johnson: Anger. [Laughs.] Well, it started off- I'm very cynical in terms of the public and the way governments run things and politics and relationships, and I like to point out what people don't see, including what people don't see about themselves, if that makes any sense, try to take an angle that no one else has used before. But the protest seems to be pretty popular lately.

B: Yeah, there was just a huge anti-police-brutality protest a week or so ago, right?

AJ: Welcome to Montreal. We're always protesting. I had a meeting, actually, a business meeting that day, for the band.

B: Where did you come up with the name, Special Ops?

AJ: That is four guys racking their brains as to what the hell we're going to call this music, and it was around 2002 so you can imagine how fresh the Iraq war and Kuwait and all of it was...it was all over the news, and the term 'special ops' just kept popping up on TV, and we thought, wow, that's a good name.

B: So do you write a lot about Iraq and that whole atmosphere?

AJ: Maybe on the first album. One, it was everywhere, and two, we're all from ethnic backgrounds... and when we try to cross borders it's always the colour police...we're no strangers to that. It's a big problem with regular travel. If you have a work visa, and you're a band, they sometimes outright won't even let you through.

B: What's your inspiration for writing?

AJ: Nina Simone would be good inspiration, I know she's a whole different genre, but...Joe Satriani, who's again melodic, not typewriter rock, but I guess the whole politics and all that, it comes from the whole grunge era, that was my heyday. Growing up and having Nirvana and Rage and all the fuck-you songs, that's when it really hit, because everyone else...the real mainstream was just doing the real lovey-dovey [music], 'I have long hair and makeup', which is unfortunately coming back.

B: Coming back? What do you think is next for the scene?

AJ: The scene will always change and will always revolve around itself. It loops. It's a constant rubber band in a sense that it expands and comes back. Things will always be commercial to a certain level, and underground to a certain level. When you have things � ska exploded at some point, and before that, ska was underground, and who the hell thought ska would have come back? We just know the rock stuff because it's in your face...people get bored of one thing, and they find the next thing. The question is, who's the next Nirvana or the next band who's going to be the next big thing?

B: And who is it?

AJ: I don't know. Definitely not bands like Hedley or anything like that, because it's all said and done. What kind of genre? To be honest with you: rockabilly, psychobilly. I think that whole thing is here to stay. I like the Necromantics a lot. That's my thing, but I think it's here to stay because I've been looking around and seeing more and more bands pop up, and more and more people are supporting the look and touring and getting in. It's about fucking time something else came up.

B: What's it like making music in Montreal?

AJ: Montreal is a very awesome city, because you have a little bit of everything and anything. You can go from super popular in one day to � people can really see through the bullshit here. They'll look at you and say, 'who the fuck are you? Why should I come and support you?' They'll take the time to research and they're finicky...it's not liking going to a small town, where people are desperate for any band that comes in...[But] in Montreal right now, people are sick of the politics. The whole indie thing is back, the whole electro pop rock, beepbeep thing is going on, and they're sick of [politics]...because, fuck, it's been going on since 2002.

B: So what do people think of you guys across the country?

AJ: It's a different response everywhere. Quebec [City], it's all about the politics, Ontario they just want to have fun. Every province � I can't say for New Brunswick yet, I'll find out this weekend � it's so different, because this country is so wide and has a relatively small population, and there are concentrations in every province...they've got their own subculture, I guess. It's fantastic. You gotta read it, you gotta know where you're going or how to treat it. When you're going to Calgary, you don't tr - The Brunswickan-Ashley Bursey-

"The Special Ops squad hits heavy with bonecrushing bass end sounds as the clear vocals and shrapnel of the guitars arc from the area of impact, ya gotta go see 'em live!" --Metal Canvas CHUO 89.1 FM, Al "Carnage" Carnival - CHUO 89.1FM-Ottawa

Montreal's Special Ops Deploy On A Mission Of Rock

By: ChartAttack.com Staff: Pete Richards

You may have already heard Montreal's Special Ops without even knowing it.
The Montreal rockers have gained recent attention nationwide for their opening
theme song to the Sid Cycle Show, which airs weekly on Global, Showcase, Spike
TV and Mentv and reaches two million viewers weekly. In addition to "Anger Is
Creeping" being used as the show's opening theme, the program exclusively
features Special Ops music throughout.
"We basically wrote him the theme song and the rest of the soundtrack from season
one is all us," says guitarist/vocalist Akbar Johnson. "We just finalized the meeting
yesterday, and the second season is mostly the second album as well."
Johnson, who uses a code name due to his involvement in the Special Ops' self-proclaimed mission to "take
over the world with their musical dictatorship," is extremely stoked about the band's second album. Phase 2:
Amidst The Madness has sold a couple thousand copies in its first month. Johnson claims the TV has played a
big part in helping Special Ops further spread their musical propaganda.
"Turnout has increased, web hits have increased, MySpace listening and friends adding. We're not shy to say
that he's helped us with the exposure a lot.
"When Sid came along, we just kind of hit it off. We had no problems because the people who watch his show
are kind of the same as the people who would like our music, so we hit it off so well. He's got over a million
viewers when his show airs, and he's never shy to say, you know, 'music by Special Ops or theme song by
Special Ops.'"
The group will push their agenda during a Dec. 16 show at Hull, Quebec's Le Bop. Here's what Johnson says
people can expect:
"Our mission is to entertain people, rock their assess off and just take over the scene, man. Slowly, one after
another, they will all succumb.
"Naw man, honestly, we're the kind of guys who realize that music and playing live shows is all about
entertaining people and communication. If you can't communicate or you can't entertain, then obviously you're
not doing your job right."
Special Ops are already working on their third album, in what has only been a two-year career, while still
promoting Amidst The Madness. A Canadian tour is in the works for May.
�Pete Richards - Chart Attack.com - Pete Richards

"Special Ops toe the company line through 10 tracks of slickly produced, chorus-heavy, radio-ready metal that oozes youth rebellion, angst and tormented urban decadence at every turn� Special Ops will appeal to many."- Steve Lalla, Hour - Hour & Ottawa Express-Steve Lalla

SPECIAL OPS
By: Croydon DeMello

Inspiring, Hypnotic and Loud is the music that comes from a unique band out of Montreal called 'Special Ops'. This week at the Circus Room in Kitchener, Special Ops delivered a set wild enough to leave a person furiously ecstatic and in spirits that make you want to hear more of this strange but beautiful music.

The band has come a long way with since their first 5 song E.P from 2002 entitled "Better Off." Since then, they released their first Album "Phase 1: In Search of Madness" and have just recently launched their second album "Phase 2: Amidst the Madness." Consisting of Abe Froman on Vocals, Akbar Johnson on Guitars/Vocals, Waldo Thornhill on Bass and Clarence Mcgillacutty on Drums, the four-piece section delivers a monster sound that is a wall of heavy distorted guitars and backed up by a tremendous battery of grooves.


"We came to Toronto and worked with Murray Daigle of MDS Recording Studios", says Akbar Johnson. "He has worked with Not By Choice, Cauterize, Flatline and new upcoming talent. We wanted his sound on our second album. He even got Liam Kileen (Not By Choice) to come in and play drums on some of the tracks on the album."


Special Ops New AlbumWith the advent of the second CD out, Special Ops plans to take the show even further by taking their music outside of Canada. "The tour for our first album had us going from East to West Canada. We've now got a lot of response from UK and Europe and would like to play our music there."


To change the face of new Metal/Rock is a great feat alone, but Special Ops has proven that with hard work and reverence to the music you enjoy making, that the 'New Music' is but a natural by-product of the precise chemistry of people who come together and pour into the music their very souls.


For more information on Special Ops check out www.opsmission.com or their MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/opsmission - By: Croydon DeMello

"Special Ops is on their tour across Canada to promote their album "Phase 1: In Search of Madness"�I believe the madness is in Manitoba!"
- Crystal McKay, Backstagewinnipeg.com - - Crystal McKay

"This four man killing team has flourished into professional hit men of the rock scene. Loaded to the teeth with an arsenal of songs from their debut album, this group is ready to blow up."
- Da Miss, Montreal Music Scene - Da Miss

CANCER CANCELS SPECIAL OPS INVASION OF CANADIAN TOUR DATES!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC- April 29, 2008

CANCER CANCELS SPECIAL OPS INVASION OF CANADIAN TOUR DATES!

Due to the unfortunate event of Special Ops bassist Waldo Thornhill being diagnosed with colon cancer just days before the Special Ops "Bringin The Madness" cross Canada tour was to kick off on May 2nd in Ottawa. The decision to cancel all May tour dates has been made.

"This is really a difficult moment for me, I really wanted to do this tour, but on the advice of my doctors I must remain in Montreal and do treatment. Says Thornhill. "It was a life or death choice for me and I want to thanks the fans for understanding and I look forward to my return to the stage."

The dates that will be performed from the scheduled tour are the following:

· June 7, 2008, - The Underground, 41 Catharine St., Hamilton, Ontario
· June 28, 2008 - Club Social, 810 East Main Street, Welland, Ontario
· July 19, 2008 - Bar St Laurent, 5550 St. Laurent. Montreal, Quebec

"It's a difficult choice for the band as a whole, were so close like a family and have this happen to one of us it just shocking, but I know the music will heal us all." Says SO guitarist Akbar Johnson.

Bassist Waldo Thornhill will be entering treatment and is thanking the support of family, friends and fans for this difficult time.

"I'm going kick the ass out of this cancer, who does it think it is creeping into my bum." Says Thornhill.



For more information on Special Ops please visit:
-NDG ENTERTAINMENT
-Special Ops-
http://www.opsmission.com or www.myspace.com/opsmission
mp3 -"Anger Is Creeping" http://www.mediafire.com/?j9jt1ylltyj
MEDIA KIT-http://www.mediafire.com/?h0mbty1lmzs
PRESS PHOTO - http://www.mediafire.com/imageview.php?quickkey=tyzgcxhdlnz&thumb=4


- 30 - - Asher Media Relations

“Montreal’s Special Ops incorporate a sizeable dose of nu metal into their sonic identity.” - Aaron Small -
Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles
- Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles- Aaron SMall