Egnater Artist:Oedipus — Heavy rock band from Los Angeles
Stephen Cohen @OedipusSC Tweeted: "Got major props from the sound guys at @theroxy for my tone. MAJOR credit goes to @egnateramps. Absolutely love the Armageddon amp head.
Oedipus seems pre-destined to kill convention and marry progressive heavy rock with a theatrical twist that most certainly makes their sound rise high above the dull roar of mainstream modern rock. This Los Angeles based power trio have taken the hyphenated genre model of such acts as Tool, Clutch and 311 and created their own hybrid that embraces the theatrics of contemporaries like Muse, Coheed and Cambria and System of a Down. In fact, legendary producer Sylvia Massy (Tool, System of a Down, etc.) mixed seven songs on Oedipus' 2008 record "Covetous" after seeking the band out.
Welcome to the return of a rock n roll intelligentsia. A decade ago, bassist/singer Jeremy Haffner founded popular Downtown LA art gallery/event space Hangar 1018; where he created a thriving crossover scene between modern art and live music. This led to relationships between Oedipus and such acclaimed and high profile artists as Bob Dob, Seamus Conley, and Tim Peterson; who respectively provided original cover artwork for the band's two independent releases, 2006's "Humbility," 2008's "Covetous" and a self-titled European release out in October 2010 on MyMusic Records. Together with guitarist Stephen Cohen, who formed the band with Haffner as young teens; and Midwest ex-pat Keith Larsen on drums who joined in 2004, they managed to accomplish an impressive list of feats for an unsigned band. Oedipus has recorded and self-released three full length albums and two EPs; they've self-booked and promoted several U.S. tours; played in support of Capitol Records artist Hurt, DreamWorks artist The Apex Theory, Guitar Player Magazine "cover artist" Rafael Moreira, most recently rocked shows with Warner Bros./Sire Records artist Foxy Shazam.
For over a decade Oedipus has been one of LA's best kept secrets, from their roots as an underground progressive Rock favorite, to achieving status as an international Rock Powerhouse with massive success in Europe in 2010, when Polish radio giant ESKA ROCK added their single "Tres Las", which went on to top the Polish Rock charts, and became the genesis of FIVE #1 Polish Rock Singles, followed by repeated visits to Europe, their last trip including a performance at the Ursynalia Festival, where the band performed at Poland's biggest open-air festival, alongside Korn, Guano Apes, Alter Bridge, Simple Plan and more. They will return to Ursynalia in 2012 alongside Slayer, Billy Talent, Mastodon, Limp Bizkit and others.
Further cementing their position in the forefront of the international Rock World, both "Tres Las" and "Jack and Ginger" were included on the inaugural Polish editions of the hit International compilation "Now: That's What I Call Music!" in league with artists including Ke$ha, Snoop Dogg, and Katy Perry.
The band signed a world-wide record deal in 2011 with THC Music / Rocket Science Records / Sony RED which released Oedipus' full-length album "Vicious Little Smile" on March 13th, 2012. Legendary Def Leppard / Manraze guitarist Phil Collen recorded a guest appearance for the upcoming Oedipus LP, contributing lead and rhythm guitars to the track "FINAL MACHINE".
"We had built up a mutual admiration through our label, who also releases Phil's MANRAZE project, and the idea came up for him to play on a track, and miraculously, it ended up happening. It turned out amazing, we couldn't be happier or more honored. Phil is such a legendary and spectacular talent, and we were all just blown away with how cool and naturally it came together," says Oedipus bassist/vocalist Jeremy Haffner, a sentiment echoed by Collen.
"I loved the track as soon as I heard it. These guys have got phenomenal energy. Playing on it was a blast, and I look forward to hearing the rest of the album," Collen said.
Produced by Darian Cowgill (Sleeping Giant, Middle Class Rut), Vicious Little Smile formally releases several of the LA trio's international hits including "Tres Las", "Burn It Down", "Gimme a Chance", which have already received airplay in over 30 countries including Poland, Germany, South Africa, Russia, Croatia, and the US. The band will return to Europe twice more in 2012, and follow up with a US run in April with Zero 1, the hard rock project featuring actor/comedian Hal Sparks.
If knowledge equals power and you add heavy guitars, intricate bass, thunderous drums, melodic vocals and the kind of self-starting spirit that will stop at nothing; you've got a meteor headed straight between your ears, and with Oedipus' momentum picking up more speed every day, heads up… it'll probably hit you sooner than later.
