Apocalyptic Lovers: Local Middle School Choir Rocks On New Album

Apocalyptic Lovers: Local Middle School Choir Rocks On New Album

YOUNGSTOWN, OH – Local 80s rockers, the Apocalyptic Lovers, will release their new album in 2024. The outfit of four musicians (Champion, Hubbard, Liberty Township, and Akron, Ohio) is currently working on the follow up to their previous release, Redemption Volume 1, mixed by legendary producer, Michael Wagener.  Founding member and drummer, Dave Hope said it seemed impossible to outdo their last album. Hope states, “We scrapped our original plan for the follow up album per the suggestion of our lead guitarist, Sean, and instead wrote all new material. In fact, we are finishing up a couple songs as I speak. With the recent retirement of Mr. Wagener, we are in very good hands with local music and studio veteran Josh Roman at the helm of Mindrocket Recording Studio.”

Among the new songs, Hope said a couple called for “a little icing on the cake.”  “I don’t want to put too much out there just yet, but we have two fantastic songs that I wanted to add a children’s choir to. You know, something similar to what Pink Floyd or the Pretty Reckless have done,” Hope states. “I’m sure it could be done with AI, but I’m all about organic – the real thing. I was an intervention assistant for a year and a half at Liberty Local Schools, so that is how the kids choir idea came about.

“I was in band all throughout middle and high school, and man do I wish I had an opportunity like this back in the day. Because I worked at a school recently, I also thought it would spark some young imaginations. Some kids dream of being a pop or rock star, but how many even know about recording studios and working in the music industry? My guess is not many,” Hope continues. “This led me to put out a soft ask on social media. Lucky for me, I tagged Michael Summers, who is currently the band director for the Liberty Local School district just outside of Youngstown, Ohio. In doing so, Michael had a friend reach out to him wanting to learn more about the project.”

“I’ve now had the pleasure of working with Megan Keown, the choral director at Austintown Local Schools. I quickly brought her up to speed on who we are and what I wanted to do with the songs, and she was all in. Permission slips were sent out when school started, a bus was booked, and the kids are all set.”

The 7th and 8th grade Austintown Choir is scheduled to head to Mindrocket Recording Studio in West Middlesex, PA in late October to cut the two tracks. Mrs. Keown recently invited Mr. Hope to meet with the choir after several rehearsals. Hope states, “To be honest, I was surprised at how excited and engaged they were. We aren’t Taylor Swift or whoever else is hot right now, so I wasn’t sure how the kids would receive me, but they were just awesome. They had already had a couple rehearsals and I was blown away with how good they sounded. I am really looking forward to getting them in the studio and hearing them record the songs. I’m most excited about the song I wrote with Sean and Rob about moving my family from Phoenix, AZ back to my hometown, Youngstown, Ohio. The song must resonate with the kids because they were still singing it in the hallway after class let out.

“Another neat experience for the kids is that we will be filming them in the studio so they can be in the music videos, too. Again, another opportunity I would have loved as a kid. I mean, who thinks about growing up to be a music video director? Hopefully one of these kids will and will be successful at it, too.”

For more information, and to keep posted on the adventures of the choir at the recording studio, check out ApocalypticLovers.com or follow them on social media.

About the Apocalyptic Lovers:

We invite you to put on your oversized headphones, sit back, and close your eyes. As the needle hits the groove of the record, the Apocalyptic Lovers’ music takes you to a time when arena rock and music videos ruled the airwaves.  As their latest release, Redemption Volume I blasts through your system, you will find yourself immersed in the early 1980s metal scene via the infamous Sunset Strip of Los Angeles. This is due in part to the vintage mix of legendary rock and metal producer, Michael Wagener (Motley Crue, Queen, Ozzy, Dokken, Metallica, Skid Row, etc.) and his years of creating what the world now knows as the 80s LA Metal Scene or the Decade of Decadence.

Skipping a few tracks (or years) ahead, the Apocalyptic Lovers deliver the same ferocity that blew up teenagers’ bedroom speakers across the world with the likes of Def Leppard, Dokken, Ratt, Tesla, Scorpions and Ozzy Osbourne. The Apocalyptic Lovers’ lyrics and music may have matured over the years, but there is no denying they embody the soaring vocals and shredding guitars that defined an era of rock and roll.

With a massive new album slated for 2024, the Apocalyptic Lovers plan to forge with venue-crushing shows that signal the rebirth of an era of music we all know and love. Stay tuned!