hammer it home all the way.”

The power and energy that TSOS bring to the stage is amply demonstrated by the fact that

they were sought out by Capital C Productions to be the main New Zealand support act at

Rock to Wellington, where fans of heavy numbering over 25,000 per night were treated to

their brand of uncompromising rock assault.

Their debut album Heed to the Voices was originally an NZ-only independent release,

which went down so well with fans that it was re-released worldwide in late 2012 by AllGood

Absolute Alternative Records, garnering positive reviews pretty much across the board. "As

good as it gets" to paraphrase but one.

The Symphony of Screams derive much of their motivation (and sound) from a desire for

uncompromising artistic honesty. There’s nothing gimmicky about these guys. Translating

the fist-pumping energy of their live set to record is a driving force when the boys step

offstage and into the studio.

Guitarist/vocalist Te Matera Smith, who hails originally from the UK, is a former member

of British rock outfit Sundog who were signed to Sony Records UK. Sundog recorded

extensively at the iconic Channel House studios, Bristol, which basically served as the base

for the entire ‘Bristol sound’ group of artists which included Massive Attack and Tricky. And

while we’re talking pedigree, guitarist/vocalist Russell Hansen was one of the original

members of NZ metal royalty 8Ft Sativa.

The new album (release date 28 June 2013) is Radio Candy, and the material that would

eventually become TSOS’s sophomore effort was all but hammered out soon after the

release of Heed to the Voices. However, with drummer Mike ‘Bones’ Coney flat out

attending to the demands of his double life as grip on productions such as Spartacus and

Dawn of the Dead (to shamelessly name drop but a few), and Te Matera (Matt) Smith

beavering away producing other artists at RedRoom Studios, it’s been too long since fans

had a new ‘The Symphony of Screams’ album.

Quick Facts:

- TeMatera's UK Band ‘Sender’ are also on Triple A Records.

- The band are based at RedRoom Studios in Helensville, Kaipara.

- TSOS signed to Triple A Records in 2012.

-Mike ‘Bones’ Coney runs a film grip unit and has worked on many of NZ's seminal movies.

- Russell Hansen was a founding member of 8Ft Sativa, then went on to form Hollow with

fellow TSOS band member Karl Moore.

- The band formed when TeMatera rented Bones’ house. The tenant and landlord became

friends and formed the band. Russell followed, introduced by a mutual friend after Hollow

disbanded. Karl Followed three months later.

- At Rock to Wellington after playing their set, TeMatera came down to watch Ozzy…

Pausing mid head bang, he realized he was stuck in a mosh sandwich between TVNZ’s

Mark Sainsbury and Sharron Osbourne… “Now that’s a head F*ck!”

-The Band got their name from a gun fanatic film unit Gaffer... who casually mentioned to

Bones that if he were to open fire on the Set (they were filming in a cave), “it would become

a Symphony of Screams”…. Ok then…….