First of all, a huge, huge thank-you to Axe, and everyone at SongPlanet....the Staff and the Artists here...for a great site...and to all the SongPlanet DJ's for all of their support in helping to get AVALANCHE music heard...and to all of the listeners who take the time to give us a listen. You guys are the best...THANKS!

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AVALANCHE is defined by Webster's as: "an unstoppable natural force"...and this all-original rock band certainly seems to fit that definition...overcoming the odds to produce some of the very best original hard rock anywhere! With an unorthodox strategy for success in 1978 (which included 18 months of intense rehearsals, their own record label, $75,000.00 worth of state-of-the-art stage gear, and a record on over a dozen New England radio stations for three months...all before ever playing a live gig) Avalanche's debut show was attended by over 3500 people..and the band was immediately playing to sold-out shows and standing room only crowds wherever they appeared. Within a month after their first gig, AVALANCHE was headlining in large club venues, and shortly after that, the band was opening tour dates and sharing concert stages on AC/DC's "Highway To Hell" tour, as well as with DERRINGER, and THE PAT TRAVERS BAND. They were also considered as a tour opener for TOTO's First U.S. Tour. A tight and well rehearsed rock-n-roll machine...this band did whatever was necessary to bring studio-quality hard rock to the live-concert stage...and they did it without the support of a major record label. Now recording again, with all the surviving members of the original lineup...here is the first new AVALANCHE music in over twenty years...as well as some of their old music too, (most of the recordings have never been available before). AVALANCHE continues to defy the odds with their staying power and persistence...and by remaining "unstoppable"...they are here NOW....for you to sample and enjoy! ........GOLDEN SUN RECORDS.


ALL AVALANCHE MUSIC CAN BE PURCHASED RIGHT HERE....RIGHT NOW!

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SONGPLANET ARTIST OF THE YEAR.....(2005)

"My personal picks for the SongPlanet Artists that most impressed me (FEMALE and MALE) in 2005...are without question...MARIA DAINES....and AVALANCHE....the consistency and quality of these artists is simply outstanding...based on the quantity and quality of the material submitted by these two artists...they were the only two possible choices, really."

Mike Kohlgraf (The Germinator)...SongPlanet Radio HEAD DJ (Excerpts from his Christmas Eve, 2005 "Saturday Night Rocks" radio show).


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SONGPLANET ARTIST OF THE YEAR....(2005)

"AVALANCHE is the band I have selected as my personal pick for the 2005 "SongPlanet Artist of the Year". It is always a really hard decision...trying to choose favorites out of such awesome talent...there are so many great and deserving artists here...many of them are personal favorites of mine...and I wish I could pick them all...but this year, AVALANCHE got my vote."

Terry Martin...SongPlanet DJ and CEO of StormSurge Studio and Indiehitz
(Excerpts from Terry Martin's December 27, 2005 'THE TOP TEN PICKS OF 2005'... "A Storm is Brewing" Radio Show).

"In my opinion...this band (AVALANCHE) is a "must listen to" for anyone who likes "Rock and Roll" at its best"....

(Excerpts from SongPlanet DJ Terry Martin's Web Site).

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STEVE GILMORE REVIEWS: AVALANCHE: ARTIST OVERVIEW

SongPlanet Head DJ Mike Kohlgraf...has introduced me to some very fine new rock artists, but none of them have impinged on my sensibilities more than AVALANCHE, whose appearance on Mike K's show was nothing short of groundbreaking...it was a "blinder" performance...a session par excellence...and hearing a live experience like that sealed my interest astronomically. With a production quality that should win awards in its own right...it's as fresh as "today's milk"...but with extremely comfortable nods at the classic rock treatments of years long ago...(AVALANCHE)...exemplifies just how good real rock can be...Even the most cursory listen will show you that these guys mean business...Lyrically, musically, and production...faultless...what it does show...in no uncertain terms...is just how professional and together these musicians are...(music) so well presented that it should be a politician.

"It'll Come Back and Haunt You" is brand new...and a track from their recently completed double CD set "COMPLETE AVALANCHE"..."Haunt You" is my kind of track...although for my money, it has more in common with STYX or KANSAS than Ted Nugent....

..."When You Smile" is much more my kind of Rock Beast." With a rhythm line that would have fit in perfectly with a BOC or BOSTON album...this is one of those "sing along" kind of tracks that peppered the late 70's and 80's....I've played this track in loads of different musical setups....from soft headphones to loud and wall-shaking...and I have to say..."When You Smile" held up it's end well enough for me to want to keep it...and oh yeah, the guitars are WAILIN'.....

And, finally, we come to the apple of my eye, a track I would normally run a mile from and it's such a nod to Mike Foster's considerable talent as a guitar totin' Rock God, that I even contemplated giving it hard disk room. Recorded at fellow SongPlanet DJ Terry Martin's StormSurge studios,"SongPlanet Blues" is a completely acoustic track that show just how good a guitar player this guy is...and should give you a real good idea why that initial "Avalanche Live" session was so mind boggling. "SongPlanet Blues" is a direct descendant of that night's activities...Technically a "walking blues", Mike's intricate guitar figues will keep fellow listeners transfixed while the rest of us oiks will just be amazed at how powerful and involving one man, one voice and one acoustic guitar can be. It is, of course, a pean to our Saturday night get togethers (even it if doesn't mention me) and lyrically it will give you a good idea why normal radio is - to quote the track - really lame."

AVALANCHE..."Not your normal rockslide".

Steve Gilmore...London, UK....November 5, 2005
(excerpts from STEVE GILMORE REVIEWS: AVALANCHE)
Steve Gilmore
SG Reviews - The Blog
Soundclick * Songplanet * MP3 Unsigned * Acid Planet * Indiehitz * Vitamin C

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"It sounds as good today as it did back then....crank your speakers up until your ears bleed!! You will thank yourself for it.....because it doesn't get any better than this if you love Old-School Rock And Roll."

Pink Jimi Photon (JIMI POCIUS)...Rockville, Conn...January 13, 2005

Excerpts from Artist Page...............SongPlanet.com

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STEVE GILMORE REVIEWS: AVALANCHE: "THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED"

Gotta admit that when I first saw this title being put forward, I had a sense of doom, gloom, despondency and despair. I know that's actually four senses (as it were) but hey, I'm a drama queen, what can I tell you? Not because I thought The Road Less Traveled was going to be a bad track...with Avalanche that wouldn't be possible. A so so track maybe, but never anything less than highly professional. That professionalism comes from the band being together for thirty years this year. Nope, my conniption was about the title of this track, a name I had ascribed to one of my own upcoming releases, and it led me to a few choice words wiv me ol' mate Serendipity. Not to mention a couple of hissy fits in the direction of Avalanche Still, ferk it, s'all good innit? Regardless of what my own particular panty twist is at the moment, just playing an Avalanche track will soon dispel a bout of grumpy gruff. The reason is twofold: Avalanche are the ultimate rock animal, red in tooth and claw. The second reason is the one I mentioned before, the total dedication to getting it right - every time.

First time, I bet, that an avalanche can be considered consistent eh?

It helps that the sort of rock you like is the kind that has spawned all the memorable American rock bands, because Classic Rock is what Avalanche delliver; the sort you can picture in action as the track plays. Having said all that, The Road Less Traveled takes a while getting to the real meat and potatoes (Edit: he means keeeerrraaannggg) but once you get there all is forgiven. It's the part of this Avalanche I like the best. For example, the track starts with a whole acoustic section; redolent of the American style of rock. But when the band put the pedal to the metal, in the chorus, they show the massive pair of rock stones that endear them to an old rock freak like me. I defy you, o gentle reader, to give this a spin though, and not find yourself going down the road singing it to yourself...and if you get in a car and drive you are f****** for life.

The combination of drums, bass and twin guitarists is irresistable enough, I'd be glued from "note one." Take that thought one step further...and combine it with the skill and experience of this four man band and blend it all with some awesome songwriters such as Mike Foster and Mark Easton, and there is no way this track could fail. At least within its genre, and certainly IMHO, it's as commercially viable as anything else you are likely to hear on the face of the Earth. If you are not aware, I expect more from artists I have respect for, and I am highly critical of anything out of place - and believe me I do look hard. I couldn't find anything whatsoever I didn't like about "The Road Less Traveled" in a professional manner; and it hits a couple of personal emotional buttons too. The song is about the band's thirty year history and is a track full of the truth known to more musicians than the miniscule amount of artists that manage the task of being 'stars. Well, in my world...stars are people who affect me directly and personally....and no real world music comes close.

MUST HAVE Classic rock.

Steve Gilmore....London, UK October 7, 2007.

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STEVE GILMORE REVIEWS: AVALANCHE: THE GOLDEN SUN

Amongst the many anniversaries being celebrated right around now...is the anniversary of the formation of Avalanche. Here is a sign that a good band - like a good marriage - is forever, because this year marks the 30th year of Avalanche's existence. Yep, thirty fekkin' years, so obviously not much chance of an overnight success there, then. Keeping a band together and alive over the amount of time isn't just a feat of endurance - although it certainly is that too - it's also an act of selfless love...putting the band before pretty much everything else. Now though...in this digital age where music is piped into your ears direct from the internet...being a live, working band is surely...well past its "sell by" date? Well, in some ways I guess it is, as Avalanche have been finding out for themselves. Rock will never die, but I'm afraid live rock performance - at least outside of the major leagues - may well be in its last days.

This song, according to Avalanche guitarist and songwriter Mike Foster, is older than the band...being originally written in 1972...and then recorded with this band in 1979 on 2 inch, 24 track tape...along with the original Avalanche bass player, Charles Calmese (who had earlier found fame and a couple of Platinum Records with the Steve Miller Band's "Fly Like and Eagle" and "Book of Dreams" albums). The GOLDEN SUN really is a golden oldie. Especially seeing that Charles Calmese died in 1988, in a car accident...this is a little bit of rock history. Previously unheard...(the original tapes have been damaged over the years...and are not in very good condition according to Mike F) this track should in no way count as being representative of where Avalanche, as a band...are right now. (BTW...where they are right now is a very nice position indeed, and they are rocking it for all they are worth as a quick listen to - say - EXCESSIVE will show you.)

In common with the time it was written...THE GOLDEN SUN is an epic rock track...sprawling out over thirteen and a half minutes...and for an old hippie like me...it is still strangely timely. In other words...it sounds pretty much like the Avalanche I have come to know and love, albeit with a slightly sunnier outlook...but hey, we all thought we had the answers back then, didn't we? It is an extraordinarily clear recording...especially considering all the caveats Mike Foster loaded onto its shoulders...and I honestly doubt whether anyone but himself will ever notice those problems. For the rest of us lucky bar stewards, here is a slice of Avalanche rock that has so much depth...you may very well find yourself drowning in it. As good as it is instrumentally (as you would expect from Mike F, Calmese and the equally talented Easton Brothers)...this is also a terrific song...and had I heard it way back then...I would have been a fan of this band from the "get go." As far as Rock goes...bands have come and gone on Soundclick and I have had me "Rock Funnybits" tickled a time or two....but ever since Avalanche came along...they have been my staple "holder of the flame." I would agree that this track is a bit of a rock "noodle"...(but things were back then)...it's more the style that existed...rather than a bunch of musicians showing off how good they are....and Avalanche would never have to do that live. They would be too busy having fun and making us...their audience...happy campers. At this point...I have listened to this whole track all the way through at least seven times (at the time of this writing) and I know this is going to take me forever to wear out.

A "MUST HAVE" slice of Rock History, and even Highly Recommended Rock for those less rabid than myself.

Steve Gilmore...London, U.K....March 18th, 2007.

Steve Gilmore
SG Reviews - The Blog
Soundclick * Songplanet * MP3 Unsigned * Acid Planet * Indiehitz * Vitamin C

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INDIE ROCK CAFE...."THE INDEPENDENT"....REVIEWS AVALANCHE

"Ever since I started visiting SongPlanet.com there has been one artist that has stood out from all the rest. His name is Michael Foster (affectionately known there as "The NAV"). This one musician has proven himself as a monster songwriter and guitarist....My interest and respect for him as a musician has only increased with every new song he has posted....

"EXCESSIVE" required nearly 300 Studio-hours of mixing...to get it the way 'THE 'NAV' hears it...."SongPlanet Blues" is another example of Michael's unique talents as a guitarist. His Acoustic picking rivals any Mainstream Artist on the market today....His latest creation.....entitled "I Believe"... opens your heart to the sensitive side of "NAV"...leading you to drink from the 'Avalanche cup' one more time"...He is not alone in his creations, however...and "NAV" gives credit where credit is due...including Mark Easton (Avalanche's other talented Guitarist/Songwriter) and to all others who contribute to Avalanche tracks" (including Barry Easton on Drums...and Michael Corsini on Bass).

"Please take the time to enjoy this Mondo-Good player" ....

Terry Prong....August, 2006.
Indie Rock Cafe
Excerpts from Terry Prong's article "Avalanche" from "THE INDEPENDENT" (PAGE 3...2nd Edition-2006)
Published Quarterly in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

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STEVE GILMORE REVIEWS: AVALANCHE : EXCESSIVE

Although my own musical sphere is usually more esoteric than most musicians, my abiding and eternal fascination has been for the Devil's Own Music - ROCK. I cut my musical teeth on this genre over thirty years ago and I still look forward to a good head banging session wiv me mates over at Mike Kohlgraf's "SATURDAY NIGHT ROCKS" radio show on Songplanet. Like me, Mike K is also a consummate rock animal, mixing the roughest of blues with Texas hardcore, and out and out heavy metal as if they were designed to be slammed together in the roughest of fashions. Both of the tracks I am starting off this month came from my exposure to them on this most listenable of internet radio shows and both feature artists I have reviewed before: Christopher Martin Hansen and Avalanche.

I don't know for the life of me why Avalanche are not on Soundclick, but either of the two sites I mention above should get you to their output. "EXCESSIVE" is a brand new, hot off the press recording...and it blew me away when Mike played it on SNR, and so I automatically singled it out for a review on the strength of that ONE listen. Not only have I been schooled in this genre since it first came to light...I've also been a record producer/engineer working solely with this type of material...so it covered two of my favourite passions - high octane rock performance and classic rock production techniques. Both of which are on on display in this excellent track, giving us the smallest glimpse of just how electric this band could be live.

A further bonus has to be the quality of frontman Mike Foster's leads, his class vocals and - more than anything else - his songwriting ability. There's a sense of the classic about this track in a great many ways...and I am (stupidly enough) reminded in both performance AND sound of the "Wildman" himself, Mr. Ted Nugent. I was lucky/unlucky enough (depending on one's level of deafness) to work on a couple of tours with the ol' hunter himself and there is a lot about this track that reminds me of his work. It's powerful, energetic and classy enough to stand out in any rock crowd - particularly lyrically. The lyrics were written way back in 1985*...but you wouldn't think that on first hearing them...they are as relevant now (more so maybe) as they no doubt were then.

Since their incredible debut as live performers on Mike K's SNR Radio Show, Avalanche have supplied me with lots of great rock experiences...but none that will better this.

"MUST HAVE" Rock.

Steve Gilmore August 5, 2006
London, UK/

*(A correction here...The lyrics were written in June, 2006.)

Steve Gilmore
SG Reviews - The Blog

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STEVE GILMORE REVIEWS: AVALANCHE: TIME IS A WASTIN'

Speaking of which, do you ever think you are drowning in a fall of rock? Michael Foster, Michael Corsini, Barry and Mark Easton certainly are, but they are used to it...because that's what they do for a living. Rock the joint, and often. I've already written a fair bit about this band on Soundclick, which is really good because they have only just joined the SC site so now is your chance to catch up. Regular readers will be only too well aware of my rock animal credentials and my liking for this particular band's interpretation of the genre. Classic, guitar based rock is what Avalanche is all about...but underlying that is a sharp eye to a song's basics - the hallmark of a performing musician. Have a listen to "EXCESSIVE" (August 2006) which I gave a "MUST HAVE" rating to... to see what I mean.

So, here's another month and I get a choice of two tracks, so which to review? I plumped for Time Is A Wastin' because - to me - it exemplifies exactly why I rate this band. "BIG" is the key word here. Big fekking drums, big fekkin geetars and a vocalist who knows what the word "soul" means. Time Is A Wastin' borders on the clever-clever....clever and on a couple of fronts, and I mean that in a good way. The constant stuttering, chord changing of the guitars of Mark Easton and Mike Foster's lead shows a tightness that can only be achieved by musicians who understand how to play together; all ably pinned to the floor by a classic bass and drum combination.

Time Is A Wastin' is billed on Avalanche's Soundclick page as being 'Southern Flavoured'...and by crikey that's a very accurate description. The instant the guitar/hi hat combination hit my ears, I was up to my eyes in homily grits, and cattle the size of France. So it stands to reason if you like either Avalanche or Southern Rock, you will gobble this bad boy right up. If you have no idea what I am talking about, think ZZ Top, with a dash of Johnny Winter and Ted Nugent to spice up the works. Rock...red in tooth and claw...and in the rudest of health... in Avalanche's capable hands.

Excellent Southern Rock from the "Old School"...HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Steve Gilmore...London, U.K....October 21, 2006

Steve Gilmore
SG Reviews - The Blog
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STEVE GILMORE REVIEWS: AVALANCHE: AIN"T NO HIDING IN A DIGITAL WORLD

Good God is it that time already? Didn't I already review this?? How come everything comes up Avalanche all of a sudden? Have I been NAV-alated?? Mind you, when you have 30 years of being a band under your belts you are going to be able to do things other bands can only wish for. The reason Avalanche have such a high profile on the sites they hang out in is as simple as ABC; they know exactly what to do and how to do it. The string of classic tracks they have released over the last couple of years is ample testimony to their total professionalism, and a sad, sad indictment of how short sighted the music business can be. As I said before, since coming to Soundclick the band seems to have hit on a new audience and they truly deserve the recognition that means - at least from their peers.

Hey, every little bit counts.

Just as an indication of how professional they are, take a look at Mike Foster's (lead guitarist, cook and bottle-washer) production notes at the bottom of the lyrics page. Remember the old saying you can't teach an old dog new tricks? Bollocks to that. Not only are these old dogs learning new tracks, they are mastering them at a prodigious rate. It's a given then, that any Avalanche track will be as close to the real deal as you are ever going to get on the internet - no matter what site you hang out in. Alright, it helps that you have a healthy appetite for class American rock, as well as liking songs that have more to verbalise than riches and bitches. Whichever way you look at it, I would bet you are not likely to hear anything quite this good (sound and performance) anywhere else. And that, my bewildered breddren, is Avalanche's greatest asset.

I've always had a liking for the more traditional forms of rock and I cherish the bands I do find who embody not just the music, but the ethos of what the music is all about. Like all fine traditions, it's ultimately about storytelling; except the musicians get to cavort around like dickheads while wailing their particular strain of the genre. That's the other area that Avalanche have always scored big with me, they have a way of getting straight to the point that is heartening. Digital World could be an unreleased track from any other the early bands who experimented with electronic sound, notably the Who which this initially reminded me of. It's classic style and arrangement on served to reinforce that impression; especially in the stop-start chorus. Regardless of my own clearly obvious bias, I'd defy any one of you to tell me that this isn't worthy of the rating it so justly deserved.

Avalanche. Bury yourself in it. MUST HAVE classic rock.

STEVE GILMORE.....London...U.K. Sept. 14, 2007

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All Avalanche Tracks from the 2-CD SET COMPLETE AVALANCHE! are available for purchase separately in 192 KBPS mp3 versions...RIGHT HERE...RIGHT NOW!

Digital Versions of COMPLETE AVALANCHE!... (2-CD SET) can be purchased "separately" (CD#1 or CD #2) or as a "Complete Set" in 192 KBPS mp3 Form from our SongPlanet.net page. (Digital Albums available in late 2006.) Go to http:songplanet.net/Avalanche

AVALANCHE's new album..."SPRING THAW" featuring all new AVALANCHE music recorded since 2004...will be available here in Digital mp3 192 KBPS form...in December, 2006.

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For more information on AVALANCHE...or to immediately purchase WAV CDs of "COMPLETE AVALANCHE!" (2-CD Avalanche Anthology 1979-2005) or to place advance orders for WAV CDs of AVALANCHE: "SPRING THAW" contact :

Mike (NAV)...Navlanch@aol.com

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Detailed Chronolgical and Historical Information about AVALANCHE can be found by visiting:

Our Journal

This link is to a Journal/Autobigraphy written by Avalanche Leader Michael Foster...and chronicles the AVALANCHE years in great detail...as well as events leading up to them. It has been selected three times as a Worldwide "Featured Screen" by AOL Entertainment for AOL "Music Talk".

This link takes the reader to the first Journal entry. There are three or four entries that provide background information into Michael's musical journey...which began to get serious in 1972...when he began touring with Blues Legend and Grammy Award Winner Buddy Guy, at age 20. This journal is best enjoyed when read from the beginning...and in chronological sequence. To advance the Journal in "chronological sequence"...just "click" on the title of the "next" entry...found in the upper right of the "Red Strip"found on each entry. This Journal is a "work in progress"...the writing is still ongoing. All the early Avalanche years with the original members (1977-1980) are detailed completely. Information about Avalanche's reformation in 2004 is..as of yet...still unwritten in this Journal. It is "chronologically" complete up to the mid 1980's.

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All inquiries from Booking Agencies, Concert Promoters, Management Agencies, Record Labels, Producers, Book Publishers, and/or Investors are always welcomed.