Odin's Court

2009/09/27 - New Material Update! Odin's Court has been busy on the new albums. Although progress has been slow due to members' hectic schedules, the band has made considerable progress since the last update.

Savino has done everything for both albums except roughly 3 songs. John has finished the drums for the acoustic album and done 1 song for the main album. Matt finished all the acoustic guitar for both albums. Matt has done about roughly 10% of the electric rhythm guitar. Matt has started recording mandolin parts for both albums. Rick has done leads for 2 songs on the main album.

No release date has been determined as of yet, but the band hopes for a release some time in 2010.

Various pictures can be found on the band's MySpace.

2009/06/07 - New Material Update! The new D2C Studios has been busy. As such, Matt hasn't had as much time to work on Odin's Court material as he'd like since he's been recording other people. However, he has been working on the new material, and things are going well (though slow).

There is now two albums worth of material:

The first CD will be 13 songs. They are electric with the full band and 100% brand new material. The average song length is about 4:20, and the tunes are more catchy and focused than Deathanity's pieces (which were more "artsy"). The exception is the main track, which is about 19 minutes. This album is the priority, and the band is hoping to get all the recording and mixing done in 2009.

The second CD will be 100% organic: acoustic guitar, drums, banjo, harmonica, mandolin, piano, double bass, and vocals. It will be eight (or so) songs, including various alternate takes from the 13 above, as well as 2 completely new arrangements of songs from Deathanity (you won't recognize them) and 2 new arrangements of songs from Driven by Fate. The band hopes to finish recording in 2009, though the mixing will probably be done after the electric album is released.

Recording for both albums has been in progress since March 2009:

Savino has done keyboard for two of the main album's songs and also finished two of the acoustic songs. He'll be back in the studio later this month to do another 4-6.

Matt has done almost all the acoustic guitar, and will hopefully finish this month.

Craig is officially done with his bass parts. He started in March 2009 and finished his electric parts on 30 March. Matt & Craig spent all day on 6 June recording the double bass. Various pictures can be found on the band's MySpace.

2009/03/01 - New Material: Odin's Court has completed writing the music for the next CD, and the lyrics are in progress. Matt, John, and Craig have started practicing to get the rhythm section down, using Matt's new D2C Studios.

2008/07/20 - DEATHANITY: What the Press Says!: First off, many thanks from Odin's Court! Deathanity is the top selling ProgRock Records album this week (as determined by North American distributor Ryko and ProgRock Records)! So if you haven't gotten it yet, don't get left out - get it now! Visit your favorite brick & mortar outlet or favorite online retailer and get your copy today!

So, what is the press saying about Deathanity? Here is a taste...

"The sound of the group is quite personal with a lot of quality, and fantastic production for their music, very pleasant to the ear, nothing strident, with guitars and smooth refining where all instruments are in a place where you can distinguish each of them with complete ease. In addition, besides some of the traditional instruments of rock and metal and to give more color to their music, they wisely utilize classical pianos and even saxophone, interspersing them with delicious form." >> Read More

"Deathanity could be recommended to fans of Riverside or Evergrey or any other prog-oriented band that incorporates the darker side of the genre into their music." >> Read More

For all reviews in one spot, check out Odin's Court's forum. It will be updated regularly with all reviews as they come out. But don't let the press determine if you like it or not: get the album and check it out with your own ears!

2008/06/09 - East Coast Mini Tour! ODIN’S COURT will be hitting the road with their friends in Dark Empire and Suspyre.

Confirmed gigs include stops at The Knitting Factory (Old Office Room) in NYC and Croc Rock (Cafe Under Room) in Allentown PA.

Odin's Court will be releasing a new album Deathanity through ProgRock Records on 15 July. DARK EMPIRE released its sophomore album, Humanity Dethroned, on 5 May through Killzone Records. SUSPYRE will be releasing their third album, When Time Fades... this September.

Stay tuned for more!

2008/05/25 - Hometown Gig! ODIN’S COURT will play a rare hometown gig in Southern Maryland at Monk's Inn on May 31st! Pink Floyd tribute band Fink Ployd will open the show. This show is 18 and over; it starts at 9:30pm and ends at 2am.

2008/04/25 - ODIN'S COURT signed to ProgRock Records! Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 25 April 2008 – Odin’s Court is a Maryland, USA band that was initially formed by Matt Brookins in 2001. For the first 2 years the band struggled to find their sound, playing covers and originals ranging from classic rock to modern metal and everything in between. Over the years they honed their sound and live show, opening for such notables as Symphony X, Spock’s Beard, King’s X, Kamelot, Enchant and more. They will be opening for Circa on May 2, 2008 in Springfield Virginia.

Deathanity displays why Odin’s Court is difficult to fit into a genre; ambience, dynamics, and soul are combined with complexity, groove, and energy in a song oriented structure, to create a unique, surreal landscape. Including a configuration similar to that of the classic Pink Floyd album Dark Side of the Moon, Deathanity utilizes saxophone and backing female vocalists, and includes a palate scattered with spoken vocal clips and vast ranging sound effects. Special guest vocalists include Tom Englund (Evergrey) and Tony Kakko (Sonata Arctica).

Matt Brookins had the following to say on becoming a ProgRock Records band: "Odin's Court has a rich history. We've done a lot of great shows, put out some CDs, put out a DVD, and had many exciting opportunities along the way. However, we've always had an important element that was missing, and that was the ability for distribution, marketing, and networking on a larger, global scale. Our latest album Deathanity is leaps and bounds above our previous work in terms of maturity, so the time was right to make that next jump, and we're very happy and pleased to be joining the ProgRock Records family. President Shawn Gordon is simply put, one of the most down to earth and humble people I've met in the industry. But don't let that fool you - he has business savvy to match, and I think we're all excited for Odin's Court to be unveiled upon the world!"

"I’d seen the name Odin’s Court floating around for a few years but didn’t have a chance to hear their material, but they sure seemed to be getting some big gigs, so it was a pleasant surprise when Matt contacted me and was interested in working with us. Matts a very talented and determined guy and exceptionally easy to work with, which is becoming a lot more important to me now than it use to, we’re really glad to have him and the boys on board.", Shawn Gordon, President of ProgRock Records said.

"Deathanity" is the ProgRock Records debut release from Odin’s Court and can be found at HERE. An amazing sonic journey that you’re not going to want to miss. The album is available for immediate order and will ship in mid-May 2008 and be available at your favorite brick and mortar retailer on July 15, 2008. Presales are discounted $2 on the ProgRock Records site until the album starts shipping.

2008/04/23 - DEATHANITY Album Cover! ODIN’S COURT is happy to unveil the album cover for Deathanity! Album art was done by Jessica Noir of Gothique Noir Dark Arts. Stay tuned for more exciting news in the coming days, as ODIN'S COURT will announce their label and details on the release of Deathanity!

Also, ODIN'S COURT recently completed a photo shoot with longtime band friend Micah Reese of MaNoR Photography. Photos from this session will soon be turning up on the official webpage, MySpace, and other places.

2008/04/10 - Radio Spot & Circa Show: Odin’s Court will be featured on 97.7 the Rocket Friday, April 11th around 7:30AM EST! Smokin’ Joe (station DJ) will be interviewing Matt and playing a song from the upcoming album Deathanity. If you live in Southern Maryland, tune in with your radio! If you live elsewhere in the world (or even in Southern Maryland), tune in via the web at the Rocket's homepage.

Odin’s Court will open for Circa on Friday, May 2nd at Jaxx in Springfield, VA. Odin’s Court will play songs from the upcoming CD Deathanity as well as old songs. We’ll be joined on stage by our friend Suzanne Warner (backing vocals) of local SoMD party band WildGood. Circa, a Yes-side project (featuring Alan White, Tony Kaye, Billy Sherwood, and Jimmy Haun), will play songs from their album as well as a sampling of songs from every era of Yes! Tickets available here.

2008/01/13 - Guest Vocalist Announcement: TOM ENGLUND!: ODIN'S COURT is happy to announce a very special guest vocalist: Tom Englund (EVERGREY)! Tom will be providing additional lead vocals on one of ODIN'S COURT's new songs called "Mammonific".

Matt had this to say about Tom: "I first heard EVERGREY when their album RECREATION DAY came out. I heard it once and was instantly hooked. They had a great balance of depth, song writing, and technicality, combined with an original sound. Tom's vocals struck me as something that stood out - a solid, technical singer who had a more middle range (something refreshing for their genre), and was also extremely unique and soulful. When I first approached Tom about doing a track, I expected he would be too busy since EVERGREY was recording a new album. However, Tom was super nice and very professional, and once an agreement was reached, he had me his part in less than a week! I look forward to people hearing what he brought to the table."

A previous announcement revealed that TONY KAKKO (best known for his work with SONATA ARCTICA) is appearing on the ODIN'S COURT song "Crownet".

To check out samples from "Crownet", "Mammonific", and other songs, go to the ODIN'S COURT homepage or MySpace.

ODIN'S COURT recently finished their new CD DEATHANITY, a concept album about the direction the human race is taking the planet. They are currently shopping the album to labels.

You can hear the full song "Volatilestial" from the upcoming album on ODIN'S COURT's MySpace.

You can hear the full song "Obesite" from the upcoming album on D2C STUDIOS' MySpace.

2008/01/01 - 2nd Guitarist Position Filled: RICK PIERPONT! ODIN’S COURT is happy to announce our vacant guitar position has been filled by Rick Pierpont (ex-ODIN’S COURT)!

Matt had the following to say about the prodigal son’s return: "When Rick left us, things felt incomplete. ODIN’S COURT is a band that promotes friendship, and over the years we’ve grown to be a close family. Although we had some strong candidates who were both musically gifted and great people, when Rick approached us about returning, we discussed it and could not say 'no'. ODIN’S COURT is complete once again."

Rick had this to say about rejoining ODIN’S COURT: "I always knew we had a special camaraderie, but after a couple of months away from them, I realized how much I missed them. Then when I heard the mostly final mix of the DEATHANITY, I was BLOWN AWAY at the music we had created together! Between Matt's unique but SOLID vocal delivery, the two songs with guest vocals, the many layers of vocals, the solid playing, the overall mix, the details in the production, the concept, the artwork, etc... I just knew I couldn’t turn my back on such an amazing piece of work or my friends any longer. I knew I had to go back to my ODIN’S COURT family." ODIN’S COURT recently finished DEATHANITY, a concept album about the direction the human race is taking the planet. Tony Kakko (best known for his work with SONATA ARCTICA) was announced as a guest vocalist on the song "Crownet". Another guest vocalist will be announced this month. ODIN'S COURT is currently shopping the new album to labels.

2007/12/28 - His Dark Materials: Odin's Court recently posted a remixed version of "His Dark Materials" on their MySpace. Matt had the following to say on the subject: "Hey, everyone! Given the extreme advances in studio equipment and ability I've acquired over the past couple of years, I felt like some of our old material deserved more justice. While it's too time consuming and involved to rerecord everything, I figured I'd take the source material from ReDriven By Fate and remix a song.

Seeing as "His Dark Materials" is in our current live rotation, I figured this would be a good one to have fun with. So, I remixed the music fairly drastically. The vocals are completely new (and different at times), so the song now sounds much better in my opinion - especially considering that the source material isn't on the level of our new (and very professional sounding) recording of Deathanity."

2007/12/27 - New Song "Obesite" Online: Odin's Court has posted another unedited song from the upcoming CD Deathanity online. Surf on over to the MySpace for Matt Brookins' studio D2C Studios to hear the new song. "Obesite" sounds drastically different than the full song currently on the Odin's Court MySpace ("Volatilestial").

2007/12/07 - Guest Vocalist Announcement: TONY KAKKO! ODIN’S COURT is happy to announce a very special guest vocalist: TONY KAKKO (best known for his work with SONATA ARCTICA)! Tony will be providing additional lead vocals on one of ODIN’S COURT’S new songs: "Crownet".

Matt had this to say about Tony: "The first time I heard SONATA ARCTICA, I fell in love. Tony has such lush, unique vocals, and he has an instantly recognizable voice. And the band exhibits characteristics that make them stand out in their genre – infectious melodies, technical musicianship, and diversity. ECLIPTICA and SILENCE are two of my favorite metal albums, so to hear that voice on an ODIN’S COURT song is quite cool for me. With all the growth and success SONATA ARCTICA has seen in the past couple of years, I was honestly shocked and excited when Tony agreed to sing a song on our new CD! Such a nice human being with such a talent is rare. I can’t wait for folks to hear what he brought to the table!"

ODIN’S COURT is currently an independant band in search of a label for their new CD DEATHANITY, a concept album about the direction in which the human race is taking the planet.

2007/12/07 - New Website! The ODIN'S COURT website has been redesigned by Ernie Riviere. If you experience problems, please email the webmaster. Content will be incrementally updated in the coming days.