Los Angeles heavy rock heavyweights FIREBALL MINISTRY announce the special vinyl reissue of their 2003 classic "The Second Great Awakening" this May 22nd, as part of Ripple Music's "Beneath The Desert Floor" reissue series.
"LA's Fireball Ministry have been of the most dependent, if not exactly prolific, acts to come out of the late 90's stoner rock movement." — Metal Injection
Fireball Ministry has truth and rock n’ roll valor imprinted in their DNA, with a mixture of East Coast and Midwestern roots stirred into their California melting pot. From the outset, the band has aggressively steered clear of pretension. They move ever forward with a clear focus on bottom-heavy tunes, channeling timeless hard rock without falling into the traps of mere imitation or novelty. As such, they have earned the respect of many fellow artists and a legion of dedicated fans has built in their wake.
Their sophomore album, 2003’s "The Second Great Awakening" was produced by Nick Raskulinecz (Rush, Foo Fighters, Alice In Chains) and initially released on Nuclear Blast Records. The album lineup is James A Rota II on guitars and vocals, Emily J Burton on guitars, Janis Tanaka (former L7) on bass and backing vocals, and John Oreshnick on drums. It features an exclusive artwork created by cult comic artist Dan Brebreton of "Nocturnals" fame. The album is now seeing an exclusive LP reissue through Californian label Ripple Music, which features the European bonus track "Dark Descend" for the first time on a vinyl reissue.
Sabbath-soaked rhythms, Priest-worshipping melodies, and no-nonsense Thin Lizzy mayhem collide in the Hollywood, California band, a group that has humbly but confidently flown the flag for rock authenticity since the hard-partying year of 1999. The list of legendary icons that have invited Fireball Ministry to share their stages reads like a crucial discography of desert island riffs: Blue Oyster Cult, Uriah Heap, Alice Cooper, Judas Priest, Slayer, Danzig, Anthrax, Rob Zombie, Motörhead, Dio, and Zakk Wylde’s tribute trio, Zakk Sabbath. They’re an essential part of the festival landscape, regularly appearing at crucial events like Psycho Las Vegas and Motörhead’s Motörboat cruise. The WWE and the people who made Sons of Anarchy are among the true believers who’ve adopted Fireball Ministry anthems as battle cries in their programming.
For nearly two decades, a subversive clandestine cadre of true believers from all walks of life has spread the good word about the band. Fireball Ministry asked an important question with their debut in 1999: Ou Est La Rock? In 2001 they released an EP on Small Stone Records, FMEP. Four years later, the rumble rang louder from the underground, with MTV News taking notice of The Second Great Awakening (Nuclear Blast).
Their Rock Is Not Our Rock (Century Media), released in 2005, was recorded at Dave Grohl’s 606 West studios, and like their previous album, produced by genre legend Nick Raskulinecz (Rush, Foo Fighters, Alice In Chains). In 2010, Fireball Ministry released their self-titled fourth studio album Fireball Ministry (Restricted), produced by Andrew Alekel (Clutch, Fu Manchu), followed by Remember the Story in 2017 (Cleopatra Records). The band remains determined to define success on their own terms, forging ahead with lives free from artistic compromise. Never forget to Remember the Story.
Album lineup
James A. Rota II – Guitar, vocals
Emily J. Burton – Guitar
Janis Tanaka - Bass, Backing Vocals
John Oreshnick – Drums
Fireball Ministry links
Website⎪Facebook⎪Bandcamp⎪Instagram
Ripple Music links
Website⎪Facebook⎪Bandcamp⎪Instagram
