Glam-rock powerhouse Blessed By A Broken Heart has announced today that vocalist Tony Gambino will be leaving the band for personal reasons. Stepping up to the mic to replace him will be current guitarist Sam Ryder, who brings with him Gambino‘s full endorsement.
“This is one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make,” Gambino said in a videotaped message which can be seen below. “But I recently decided to leave the touring life so I can stay home with my family. With that said, I have some exciting news — I’m super stoked to announce that Sam Ryder is going to be stepping in as lead vocalist, and I couldn’t be more honored to have anyone else take my spot. Sam is a world-class musician and vocalist and I have nothing but confidence in him.”
By filling the “vacant position of singer from within, the international shred-metal group can ensure fans of a fluid, flawless transition into the next era of Blessed By A Broken Heart‘s music. Driving that point home is the release of a previously unheard track, Out Of Control — featuring vocals from the newly promoted Sam Ryder — that illustrates in no uncertain terms his talent and capability as the band’s new frontman.
“Tony is my best bud,” says the Essex, U.K.-based Ryder. “Duty is calling him right now and he’s gotta do what he’s gotta do, but the show must go on. We have some great fans and they should know that I ain’t about to let anyone down! Come bang your heads and sing some rock n’ roll. That’s what this is all about, and believe me — we’re just getting started.”
The launch of this new chapter comes on the heels of the band’s third album, Feel The Power, which was released this January on Tooth And Nail Records. The lauded, high-octane, release is the follow-up to the band’s celebrated 2008 album Pedal To The Metal [Century Media], and finds Blessed By A Broken Heart shrugging off past metalcore trappings in favor of something more heartfelt. Like any artist with a notable body of work, Blessed has experienced a near constant evolution over the past eight years, in some part due to lineup changes, but mostly due to a stylistic progression away from pure metalcore in favor of more traditional metal and hard rock. One listen to Feel The Power confirms that not only is this not the same band that recorded “All Is Fair”, but that that very fact is their saving grace. Staying ahead of the curve and distancing themselves from the pack is the key to Blessed By A Broken Heart‘s longevity, and the reason the new album will resonate with even the most veteran headbangers.
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