Oakland-based artist Thadeus Gonzalez will release his sophomore, self-titled album on July 29th. In the 9-track collection, Gonzalez returns to his hard rock roots with precision and focus. A promo video can be found below.

The album not only illustrates Gonzalez’s intent to tweak the hard rock genre, but also to fuel his live show. Taking cues from his songwriting as well as his dynamic touring band,  “this album will be rad to listen to in your car AND to see live,” he says.

Case in point is “Diamond High”, an explosive track that perfectly displays Gonzalez’s approach to music: intense musicianship, impeccable production, and weighty lyrics. “I was thinking about the saying ‘the grass is always greener on the other side.’ Anything that makes me ooh and ahh only lasts for a short time and I tend to ignore the things that shine the brightest."

A free download of the track is available here. The track is streaming below.

“Stand On Ceremony”, the album’s only ballad, is about not following tradition (religious, political, societal). “Times change, views change; you have to adapt and believe in yourself.”

About his favorite song on the album, Gonzalez explains, “”The Surgeons” is a song about people who cut and remove things from other people's lives for their own gain, whether it's emotional, political or physical.”

Tracklisting:
 
“Diamond High”
“The Surgeons”
“A Murder When I Sing”
“Bite it”
“Silver Inside”
“Bat Snake Tiger”
“It’s A Sure Thing”
“A Real Class Act”
“Stand On Ceremony”

Promo video:

“Diamond High”:

All songs written by Gonzalez except “A Real Class Act”, co-written with Scott Reategui Richards. Guitars and bass were played by Gonzalez, Richards and Dennis Hill. Nathan Walker (Lit) was on drums. Hill (Hagar/Satriani, Lit, Good Charlotte) also produced and Kyle Homme (Matt Costa, Sugarcult, Reel Big Fish) recorded and mixed the record at The Lodge.

Gonzalez earned international critical acclaim with Electric Sister, and has been called “a frontman to watch” with “an arena looking and sounding attitude.” He’s opened for KISS, Mötley Crüe, and Slash. He released his debut solo record, Utopian Society, in 2014. Well-received for being evocative and vulnerable, and for its resistance to genre tropes, it was reviewed as "around each corner a total surprise, which keeps Utopian Society fresh and relevant sounding from track to track."

The new will be available on July 29 at iTunes, Amazon, and other online retailers and at the artist’s site, thadeusgonzalez.com.

Upcoming events include:

July
14 - Oakland, CA - Radio Bar (listening party)
15 - Long Beach, CA - Que Sera
16 - Burbank, CA - The Park
23 - San Francisco, CA - Benders