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Meanwhile in Burbank...
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| Meanwhile in Burbank... | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| EP by | ||||
| Released | April 18, 2015 | |||
| Recorded | February 2015 | |||
| Genre | Heavy metal, hard rock | |||
| Length | 25:38 | |||
| Label | Roadrunner | |||
| Producer | Stone Sour | |||
| Stone Sour chronology | ||||
| ||||
Meanwhile in Burbank... is an EP by American rock band Stone Sour, released on 18 April 2015. It consists of five cover songs from bands that influenced the members. It is the first Stone Sour recording to feature guitarist Christian Martucci and bassist Johny Chow.
Development
[edit]Stone Sour started working on the album February 2014. Guitarist Josh Rand stated, "Back in February of 2014 while Stone Sour was touring, Corey approached me about Stone Sour doing a cover of the Metal Church song "The Dark" for the movie Fear Clinic. I thought it would be cool not only to record "The Dark", but the five cover songs that we had played on that tour. The idea was not to shy away from a song because it was popular or pick a band that most people might not have heard, but to pick ones that truly meant something to one of us at some point in our life."
Marketing
[edit]The album's cover artwork was revealed on March 2, 2015,[1] while the track list was revealed the following day.[2]
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "We Die Young" (Alice in Chains cover) | 2:33 |
| 2. | "Heading Out to the Highway" (Judas Priest cover) | 3:49 |
| 3. | "Love Gun" (Kiss cover) | 3:32 |
| 4. | "Creeping Death" (Metallica cover) | 6:36 |
| 5. | "Children of the Grave" (Black Sabbath cover) | 4:48 |
| Total length: | 21:18 | |
Personnel
[edit]Stone Sour
- Corey Taylor – lead vocals
- Josh Rand – guitar, backing vocals on "Creeping Death"
- Christian Martucci – guitar, backing vocals on "Love Gun" and "Creeping Death"
- Johny Chow – bass guitar, backing vocals on "Creeping Death"
- Roy Mayorga – drums, percussion
Additional musicians
- Jason Christopher – backing vocals on "Creeping Death"
- Andrew Kline – backing vocals on "Creeping Death"
- Carl Reather – backing vocals on "Creeping Death"
- Melissa St. John – backing vocals on "Creeping Death"
- Mike Taft – backing vocals on "Creeping Death"
- T.J. Frost – backing vocals on "Creeping Death"
- Zak St. John – backing vocals on "Creeping Death"
References
[edit]- ^ "Stone Sour To Release 'Meanwhile In Burbank…' Ep Of Covers In April". Blabbermouth.net. March 2, 2015. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
- ^ "Stone Sour". Stonesour.com. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
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Meanwhile in Burbank...
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Background
Stone Sour's career context
Stone Sour was formed in 1992 in Des Moines, Iowa, by vocalist Corey Taylor, guitarist Josh Rand, bassist Shawn Economaki, and drummer Joel Ekman. The band built a local following through performances in the Midwest but entered a hiatus in 1997 when Taylor joined Slipknot, allowing the group to focus on Slipknot's rapid ascent in the heavy metal scene. This pause lasted until 2002, when Stone Sour reformed with an expanded lineup including Slipknot guitarist Jim Root, releasing their self-titled debut album that year and establishing a parallel career for Taylor outside of Slipknot.[6] By 2013, Stone Sour had evolved significantly, releasing House of Gold & Bones Part 1 on October 22, 2012, followed by Part 2 on April 9, 2013, marking the band's first venture into concept albums centered around a narrative of personal struggle and redemption.[7] These double albums represented a creative shift, blending hard rock with theatrical elements and acoustic tracks, while achieving commercial success with both entries charting in the top 10 on the Billboard 200. The project showcased the band's maturation, incorporating multimedia components like a companion novel and short film to deepen the storytelling. In 2014, following the House of Gold & Bones cycle, Stone Sour maintained momentum through an extensive U.S. headlining tour with support from Pop Evil, performing across venues from January to February.[8] The year also saw internal shifts, notably the departure of guitarist Jim Root in May 2014, creating a transitional dynamic within the band as they navigated lineup changes and future directions. During this touring period, Stone Sour incorporated tributes to influential acts, including live covers of Black Sabbath's "Children of the Grave" at select shows, reflecting their rock roots amid a busy schedule.[9] This era of evolution and activity culminated in the Burbank Duology, a side project of cover EPs born from jam sessions at drummer Roy Mayorga's personal studio, Room 237, in Burbank, California.[2]Announcement of the Burbank Duology
On October 5, 2014, Stone Sour announced via their official Facebook page that they had begun recording a covers EP in a Burbank, California studio, teasing it as the first installment of a duology titled the "Burbank EPs," intended as homages to the bands that shaped their sound.[10] The initial reveal emphasized the project's playful nature, with the band entering the studio shortly after wrapping their previous album cycle to pursue something lighter and more experimental.[11] The duology consists of cover EPs paying homage to influential rock and metal bands that shaped Stone Sour's sound. Frontman Corey Taylor described the EPs as a "love letter to all the bands that influenced us," highlighting their role in paying homage to rock history and allowing the band to step away from original material for a fun, pressure-free endeavor that celebrated their musical roots.[11] Taylor further noted that the covers provided an opportunity to "walk in the footsteps of your heroes" and reconnect with the joys of being music fans.[11] Following the release of the first EP, Stone Sour announced plans for two more in the series, including Straight Outta Burbank... and No Sleep 'Til Burbank..., though the third was never released.[12] The announcement sparked immediate excitement among fans, who expressed enthusiasm for the band's nod to classic rock influences and began speculating on potential tracklists based on earlier interviews where members like Taylor and guitarist Josh Rand had cited favorite songs from acts such as KISS and Metallica as key inspirations.[2] This buzz underscored the project's appeal as a refreshing departure, aligning with Stone Sour's post-House of Gold & Bones desire for creative variety.[11]Production
Song selection
The song selection for Meanwhile in Burbank... centered on tracks that held deep personal significance for Stone Sour members, reflecting the music that shaped their artistic development rather than aiming for obscurity or mainstream appeal. Guitarist Josh Rand explained that the choices avoided shying away from popular songs or lesser-known bands, instead prioritizing those that "truly meant something to one of us at some point in our life." This approach ensured the covers paid homage to foundational influences, with the EP limited to five tracks to maintain a focused tribute suitable for its Record Store Day vinyl release format.[1] Corey Taylor, the band's vocalist, has long cited Black Sabbath as a pivotal influence on his vocal style and the heavier, doom-laden elements in Stone Sour's sound, making their cover of "Children of the Grave" (from 1971's Master of Reality) a natural fit to honor that legacy. Taylor has described Ozzy Osbourne's impact as foundational, stating, "Without Ozzy Osbourne, there'd be no me," underscoring how Sabbath's pioneering heavy metal riffs and dark themes informed his own songwriting and performance approach.[13] Similarly, Alice in Chains' "We Die Young" (from 1990's Facelift) was selected for its grunge-era intensity, which resonated with the band's early Des Moines roots; Taylor has noted that Alice in Chains changed his approach to songwriting.[14] The inclusion of Metallica's "Creeping Death" (from 1984's Ride the Lightning) highlighted guitarist Josh Rand's personal fandom, as he has named Metallica his favorite band, drawn to their thrash precision and epic storytelling that influenced Stone Sour's heavier compositions. Judas Priest's "Heading Out to the Highway" (from 1981's Point of Entry) and Kiss' "Love Gun" (from 1977's Love Gun) rounded out the selection, evoking the high-energy arena rock and hard rock swagger that Taylor and Rand encountered in their formative years, emphasizing pre-1990s rock to distinguish the EP from its sequel's broader scope. In interviews, band members noted omitting other favorites to align with this personal narrative, ensuring each track contributed to a cohesive story of "hidden influences" that ran parallel to their original material.[15][16]Recording process
The recording sessions for Meanwhile in Burbank... took place at Room 237, drummer Roy Mayorga's home studio in Burbank, California.[2] The band entered the studio in October 2014 to lay down the five cover tracks, following an announcement on their official social media channels that recording had begun.[17] These sessions marked the first Stone Sour release featuring guitarist Christian Martucci and bassist Johny Chow.[3] The EP was captured live to preserve the raw, energetic essence of the band's rock performances, emphasizing a direct and unpolished sound.[18] This minimalist live approach contrasted with the more layered production of Stone Sour's prior studio albums, allowing the group to reinterpret the selected classic songs through their modern heavy rock lens—adjusting tempos and vocal deliveries while retaining essential riffs from the originals.[19] Lead vocalist Corey Taylor guided the vocal arrangements, infusing personal influences from the source material into Stone Sour's style.[2] The EP was produced by Stone Sour, with recording and mixing by Jay Ruston.[3]Release and promotion
Marketing strategies
The marketing efforts for Meanwhile in Burbank... centered on leveraging media announcements, podcast interviews, and the exclusivity of Record Store Day to generate anticipation among rock and metal fans. The campaign began with frontman Corey Taylor revealing the project's title and concept during an October 2014 appearance on The Jasta Show podcast, where he described the covers album as a low-pressure outlet for the band to pay homage to influential artists like Metallica and Kiss, emphasizing its fun, inspirational nature without the intensity of original material. This initial disclosure positioned the EP as a celebratory side project, building early buzz through Taylor's personal anecdotes about the band's long-held desire for such a release.[20] In March 2015, Stone Sour escalated promotion with a detailed press release announcing the EP's tracklist and its status as a limited-edition vinyl exclusive for Record Store Day on April 18, highlighting covers of seminal tracks by Alice in Chains, Judas Priest, Kiss, Metallica, and Black Sabbath to appeal to enthusiasts of classic rock and metal. Guitarist Josh Rand contributed to the narrative in accompanying interviews, recounting how the recording originated spontaneously during the band's February 2014 tour, which helped frame the EP as an organic extension of their live energy. This timing capitalized on Record Store Day's established platform for independent music discovery, encouraging fans to visit physical stores and fostering a sense of urgency with the limited pressing.[21][2] Fan engagement was further amplified by integrating the covers into Stone Sour's ongoing tour performances, where songs like "Creeping Death," "Love Gun," and "Heading Out to the Highway" were played live during their previous North American outings, allowing audiences to experience the interpretations firsthand and sparking word-of-mouth interest ahead of the release. Audio previews of select tracks, such as "We Die Young" and "Heading Out to the Highway," were shared in early April 2015 via music outlets, providing targeted digital snippets to heighten excitement without full spoilers. These tactics collectively emphasized the EP's roots in the band's touring history and musical influences, drawing in core listeners through authentic, performance-driven promotion rather than broad advertising.[21][22]Release details and formats
Meanwhile in Burbank... was released on April 18, 2015, by Roadrunner Records, initially as a Record Store Day exclusive vinyl EP, followed by a digital download version shortly thereafter.[23][1] The EP was issued in standard digital format comprising five tracks, available worldwide on platforms such as iTunes and Amazon Music.[23][24] A limited-edition 12-inch vinyl pressing was produced for the occasion, with variants including white with black marble for Europe (limited to certain quantities) and black splatter for the US, but no deluxe edition was offered.[3] Physical vinyl copies were distributed primarily in North America and Europe through select record stores participating in Record Store Day.[3][25]Musical content
Overview of covers
Meanwhile in Burbank... is a covers EP by American rock band Stone Sour, consisting of five tracks drawn from influential acts in heavy metal, hard rock, and grunge genres. The selections blend aggressive heavy metal riffs, grunge-infused vocals, and alternative rock dynamics, reflecting the band's stylistic roots while applying a polished, modern production that enhances clarity and intensity without straying far from the originals.[26][27][28] Stone Sour reinterprets these classics by maintaining core melodies and structures but infusing their alternative metal aggression, particularly through Corey Taylor's distinctive vocal delivery, which adds emotional weight and a contemporary edge. For instance, the cover of Metallica's "Creeping Death" aligns seamlessly with the band's sound, featuring enhanced production and standout guitar solos that amplify the track's thrash intensity while preserving its biblical fury. Similarly, KISS's "Love Gun" receives a heavier treatment with altered drum patterns and denser riffs, transforming the playful original into a more aggressive rock statement.[26][27][28] The EP achieves thematic unity as a homage to the classic rock and metal influences that shaped Stone Sour, serving as a bridge between these foundational sounds and the band's evolved alternative metal identity, distinct from their studio albums of original compositions. This tribute format highlights the enduring impact of bands like Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, and Alice in Chains on Stone Sour's aggressive, riff-driven aesthetic.[2][21] Clocking in at a total runtime of 21 minutes, the EP's structure prioritizes brevity and punch, with track lengths ranging from 2:33 to 6:35 to deliver focused, high-energy tributes that capture the essence of the source material in a compact format.[29][30][31]Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Original artist | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "We Die Young" | Cantrell | Alice in Chains | 2:33 |
| 2. | "Heading Out to the Highway" | Halford, Downing, Tipton | Judas Priest | 3:48 |
| 3. | "Love Gun" | Stanley | Kiss | 3:31 |
| 4. | "Creeping Death" | Hetfield, Ulrich, Burton | Metallica | 6:35 |
| 5. | "Children of the Grave" | Osbourne, Iommi, Butler, Ward | Black Sabbath | 4:48 |