Kosmonaut

After a year of seclusion and a seemingly never ending stream of recording sessions, Kosmonaut is set to release their new self-titled full-length album in mid November. Recorded at four separate locations, spanning from Stoney Creek, Ontario all the way to Tyler, Texas, the album features a unique collection of ten songs that showcases the band's versatile songwriting. While the Hamilton-based band found its beginnings as a side project, being influenced by such bands as The Beatles, The Smashing Pumpkins and Weezer, it quickly became each band members’ primary focus, leading to the eventual release of their debut EP, Vostok-1, in the spring of 2006. Following the release, the band spent several months playing shows throughout southern Ontario in support of the effort, opening for such acts as The Junction and Cain and Abel. However, amidst initial planning to record the album in the summer of 2007, the band underwent several member changes and numerous auditions before settling on the current line-up consisting of the brothers Brian Wirth (guitar) and Brent Wirth (vocals/bass), longtime friend and former band mate Mike Ivanco (guitar/vocals), fellow co-worker Joe Mahony (drums) and recently-acquainted James Morrallee (keyboard).

Beginning in August 2007 at the band’s home studio in Stoney Creek, the recording sessions for the album eventually found their way to Sundown Studio in Guelph. Here, the band had the opportunity to work with up-and-coming producer and engineer Jordan Valeriote, who recorded vocal tracks and mixed the album. Mastered by Chuck Carvalho at the renowned João Carvalho Mastering facility in Toronto, the album also features guest vocals by the young and talented singer-songwriter Christie DuPree.

Now with a complete, solidified line-up and brand new album under their belts, the band is set to embark on a string of tour dates across Ontario, eventually making their way to Canada’s east coast in the summer of 2009, to support their newest effort. The self-titled full-length album, which marks a slight departure and newfound maturity in the band’s sound, is scheduled to hit stores and online retailers on November 18th.