Los Angeles-based hard-rock quintet Lions at the Gate will release its debut album, “The Excuses We Cannot Make,” on Aug. 25, 2023. The band also has released a video for the song “Drain,” directed by Vicente Cordero/Industrialism Films (Black Veil Brides, Cradle of Filth.
Lions at the Gate features former Ill Niño members Cristian Machado (vocals), and guitarists Diego Verduzco and Ahrue Luster (ex-Machine Head), along with bassist Stephen Brewer (ex-Westfield Massacre) and drummer Fern Lemus (ex-Silence the Messenger).
When asked about the themes of this album, which was was produced and mixed by Kile Odell (Nita Strauss, Fozzy, Motionless in White), as well as the subsequent writing and recording process, Machado said: “The topics on this record were deeply personal to me and spoke a lot about the personal struggle that I was going through at the time with the separation from my [now previous] band, a divorce, a custody dispute, and being slandered publicly with lies, but overall wanting a message of persistence and forgiveness …
“The instrumental [of the album] was already great. We tracked one to two songs a day, and [never once did I think] to go back to re-record anything. Everyone in the band has a chance to express themselves creatively, writing individually, but then we all come together to record the album as a unit. In this kind of environment, everyone in the band gets some solitary creativity and then has a chance to speak their mind about all the ideas occurring throughout the entire recording process.”
Speaking about the inspiration behind “Drain,” Machado said: “‘Drain’ is a song about regret and time. There was a time in my life when I wished I could turn back the clock and take all the lessons I’ve learned with me. Many times I wondered if I’d made the right decisions in my own life. Years ago, I lost a family member whom I loved dearly with all my heart. We held her until the very last breath that she took. That was such a life-changing experience, it truly made me see things a lot differently. Sadly, so many years I wasted leading up to that moment, thinking that time would never run out. The regret I felt was so intense, it opened my eyes wider than ever before and led my heart to change. I carry the memory daily, still. Thank God I am now, finally, realizing that perhaps I am not defined by the mistakes I’ve made, I am defined by the lessons I’ve learned in-house. I can apply them to my life now. In the end, it was worth it all.”
Pre-order packages are also available, including options such as a limited number of vinyl and CDs, as well as shirts and hoodies that can be purchased here. Pre-save ‘The Excuses We Cannot Make” here, and stream “Drain” here.
“The Excuses We Cannot Make” track listing:
1. Not Even Human
2. The Climb
3. Find My Way (featuring Tatiana Shmayluk)
4. Drain
5. Bed of Nails
6. Scapegoat
7. Vultures
8. The Ledge
9. Losing Hope
10. Digital Sea
11. My Apology
Lions at the Gate is set to support support Nita Strauss on her summer tour. Click here for ticket information, and see all the dates below.
Lions at the Gate tour dates:
with Nita Strauss
6/13 — Nashville, TN — Exit / In
6/14 — Atlanta, GA — The Loft
6/15 — Greensboro, NC — The Hangar 1819
6/17 — New York, NY — The Meadows
6/18 — Toronto, ON — Horseshoe Tavern
6/19 — Mechanicsburg, PA — Lovedraft’s
6/21 — Harrison, OH — The Blue Note
6/22 — Flint, MI — The Machine Shop
6/23 — Angola, IN — The Eclectic Room
6/24 — Bloomington, IL — The Castle Theatre
6/25 — Madison, WI — Majestic Theatre
6/26 — Omaha, NE — The Waiting Room
6/28 — Denver — The Bluebird Theater
6/29 — Salt Lake City — Urban Lounge
6/30 — Boise, ID — Neurolux
7/1 — Portland, OR — Hawthorne Theatre
7/2 — Vancouver, BC — The Rickshaw Theatre
7/3 — Seattle, WA — El Corazón
7/5 — Sacramento, CA — Goldfield Trading Post
7/6 — Los Angeles, CA — Whisky a Go Go
7/8 — Las Vegas, NV — The Space
7/9 — Phoenix, AZ — Crescent Ballroom
7/11 — San Antonio, TX — The Rock Box
7/12 — Dallas, TX — Trees
7/13 — Houston, TX — Scout Bar
7/14 — New Orleans, LA — The Parish @ House Of Blues
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