Was going to wait until Wednesday to premiere this but was tough to sit on this a bit longer…

This is the second single/video from my new album MOOD SWINGS, called “Stranded On Pluto”. Those who purchased the cd said this piece was their second fave, following the first single “Never Be The Sane”. So if you like this, feel free to truck on over to this link to buy the album: MOOD SWINGS

I ordered 100 more copies that should be arriving between Sept 23-28. There’s 16 copies left from the first batch so once those are gone, the wait is on for the next round.

Great problem to have!

MOOD SWINGS still continues to sell. And sell. And so on…and so on…

I just ordered a second batch that should arrive at my doorstep between September 26-Oct 1. Which means once this first wave of CDs are gone, the wait is on.

I’m averaging three to five orders a day. I mail out 10 orders at a time, so as not to piss off the postal workers HA! But they have been very cool with me. They see me walk in with a bag of envelopes and the games continue.

Still working on a second video which should be released maybe mid-September. More interviews coming soon as well.

This is definitely one for the books!

My new album MOOD SWINGS has only been out since Wednesday (August 25) and it’s already selling faster than my previous cd. Granted, I will always be proud of MARBLEHEAD for so many reasons but I did not expect my newest opus to fly out of my hands so quickly.

I’ve been to the post office more times this week than in the last three years!

Some people have already received their signed copies, others are waiting, and more are about to go out very soon. Of course the timing could not have been more strange, as I threw my back out a few days ago. I guess I have to take the sour with the sweet. Still, the show much go on. Or in this case, the trips to the post office must go on.

The first single “Never Be The Sane” has garnered some strong press, being played on various radio stations and more will follow soon. I’ve been doing interviews that will be posted soon. And one question that pops up: “Is that a typo?” No, the song is called “Never Be The Sane” HAHA! Definite play on words but oh so fitting for someone like me.

I am getting nice feedback from some of you about another song that is grabbing your attention. I won’t say which one but I am working on a video for that, and hoping to release it in mid-late September. Everyone seems to have a song they gravitate towards, which is awesome. Each song is different and unique, yet there’s a cohesiveness and a theme that runs through. Not sure what it is exactly but it’s working!

Keep your eyes and ears peeled for more interviews, reviews, videos, whatever happens. It took Judas Priest seven albums to hit their stride, Rush took eight, and Scorpions nine.

Is this my turn now?

Here it is, August 25, 2021…

And as promised, you are looking at the brand-new Steve Bello album entitled MOOD SWINGS.

I am about to sign 40 cds and send them out. Not bad, huh?

If it wasn’t for Michael Sabatini and Jon Hanemann, this music would not have been brought into reality. Joe Lambert also killed with the mastering; this is the best-sounding album I’ve ever heard in my catalog.

Free downloads are off the table when you order this but I will still sign every single copy. You have my word.

Here’s the link: MOOD SWINGS

Digital downloads sold through: MOOD SWINGS (Bandcamp)

Now hop to it!

Pre-orders for MOOD SWINGS have been happening since July 17th, one day after the first single/video for “Never Be The Sane” premiered. I am genuinely surprised at how the new music is being well-received. Been saying over and over how I think I finally wrote something that connects with people. The hardest part about making music is getting people to listen.

They’re listening now.

I had to run to Staples to get more envelopes! I bought 36 originally as part of a sale, so I figured “Why not?” Now I had to purchase 36 more just in case I get inundated with more orders. There’s an excitement that I had not seen since 2011, when GO BERZERK! was released. Don’t get me wrong, there was some good vibes with LAYERS OF TIME in 2015 and MARBLEHEAD in 2018. But this? Well, this is the first time people are saying they like the album title and cover! Again, something connected, something clicked.

But how?

Maybe I shouldn’t question it and just roll along. Being the Scorpio that I am, I always have to find answers. My friend Kristi Enigl, who is a DJ on www.plutoradio.com told me that the album title was “relateable”. Hmmm, I can see that. I won’t go into detail as to how the title happened but when I do interviews, the answer will be revealed.

So let’s see…more pre-orders, more envelopes…that’s a good problem to have.

BTW: Someone asked me “Why do you always say ‘8th album’?” The answer is simple: I am surprised that I’ve gotten to this point. When I did TWISTED METAL in 2003, the last thing I thought of was “Imagine if I made eight albums?” I honestly thought after the third cd JUPITER RETURN, that I was finished. Creativity and inspiration continue to strike so I act on them. So if anyone is bothered that I always say “My new 8th studio album”, oh well!! I will always be proud of that.

And I know you are keeping tabs 🙂

Hard to believe that pre-production for what would become MOOD SWINGS happened way back in the freezing winter this year. Snow and sub-zero temperatures usually bum me out but when music is being brought to reality, there’s no time for feeling bogged down.

Equally hard to fathom is that the album is almost in my hands, which means it will almost be in yours as well. Pre-orders have been coming in nicely, a few at a time, so I feel vindicated. Am I still allowed to be excited at my age? Shouldn’t I feel like this is old hat, run of the mill, “been there done that”?

I guess not.

I still feel that rush of adrenalin when I arrange the order of the songs, compile artwork and see the results come to fruition. And even more heart-racing is sending the results to get everything pressed and packaged. Seeing the box on my front door step will always be a huge thrill, like a kid at Xmas. Nice to know the passion is still there.

Feedback for the first single “Never Be The Sane” has been nothing short of amazing. Apparently this song resonated with so many people, and that’s the key. Connection is what makes music come alive. Even cooler is that people dig the video. Yes it’s trippy, wacky, and fun. Making the video was equally as cool as making the album. Being creative is the best feeling.

And since people ask “When’s the release date”, I don’t want to give a definite answer. Yet, I think maybe possibly kinda sorta August 25th sounds like a nice round number. Who knows? So for now, you can lightly pencil in that date.

So there’s still time to take advantage of getting the free download of MOOD SWINGS while you wait for your signed hard copy. After the official release date, the free offer goes away. One thing that will never go away: I will still sign every single copy sold. Period. You can pre-order through this link:

MOOD SWINGS

Also after the release date is announced, I will have my distributor put the album on Spotify, iTunes, Amazon, etc. I will also put it on Bandcamp. No matter where you get the music, just get it!

Dig yourselves!

The single “Never Be The Sane” has been out for a week and it’s generating some amazing results. Very positive feedback, everyone loving the energy of the song to the trippy video. I think I finally created something that resonated with people!

Whodathunkit?!

Pre-orders have been coming in very nice too. As of last night, there are 20 pre-orders ready to rock. But first, the rest of the album has to be mastered and then the cd artwork layout taken care of. Maybe my memory is getting fuzzy as I get older, but I cannot recall any of my cds generating this much attention. Maybe GO BERZERK! which was released in 2011 (so now 10 years later, history may repeat?)

The song is on the MUSIC page here as well as my Soundcloud and Reverbnation pages. I have not released it on Spotify or other streaming platforms as I want the whole album done and then I will have my distributor share the love.

My 8th album…

Whodathunkit?

“Never Be The Sane” has been out since Friday July 16th.I t’s already been on two internet stations (Metal Euphoria in NY, and Radio TFSC in Germany) as well as over 50 shares on Facebook, a few on Twitter, and a write-up on Brave Words.

Something clicked?!

Jon Hanemann called me yesterday morning and said “There’s an honesty to the music that’s connecting with people.” And he’s absolutely right. I’ve never written any song that was contrived or self-aware, was always as pure as possible. But something about “Never” really resonated with people in such a short time frame. I think the only other time this happened maybe was when “Surfing To Venus” from GO BERZERK! was released in 2011. So here it is 10 years later…is history repeating itself?

One never knows.

Pre-orders have been coming in nicely too; so far I’ve received eleven since yesterday afternoon when I posted on social media about it. Looks like I am back to wearing 14 hats after almost three years of inactivity. As for live shows, people are asking me “Are you going back out?”

One never knows…

For now, I am enjoying the attention the song is getting. Good enough for me!

Yes, after three years of writing, re-writing, tossing songs out, pulling them out of the trash, blah blah blah…

The first single from my upcoming 8th album MOOD SWINGS is out as of today, Friday July 16th at 8am on YouTube! It’s called “Never Be The Sane” and you can find it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oO779Pfa_g

Of course I will post it on the VIDEOS page here as well as plaster it all over social media. As you know, I played all the guitars and bass on it, Michael Sabatini (of Attacker) played drums, engineered and mixed the album. Jon Hanemann, along with Michael and myself, produced it. Mastering is being done by Joe Lambert. When we heard the mastered track, we all agreed that it was pretty huge sounding. You will agree too.

The concept for this video is simple: I chose very wild images ranging from psychedelic to 80s-inspired, as well as other surprises. I had a different idea for the video originally but felt it would have been too time-consuming. This video took two hours for me to piece together, so enjoy!

Still no release date for the full album but safe to say Fall 2021 is a good start.

PRE-ORDER the new album by going to the WHAT’S IN STORE page on this site. Each hard copy will be personally signed. More details in the description next to the album cover. Thanks!!

Mixing for album #8 is DONE!! Mike sent the last two songs for my feedback and approval. I am genuinely pleased with his engineering skills, and of course his drumming too!

So what’s next?

Onto mastering, which is a bit tough to describe. I can say that when a cd is mastered properly, the clarity can be really stunning. Some sound like they are under a bowl of Jell-O, but we are going to make sure this album will sound almost three-dimensional.

And then what?

I have to release the first single! I do not have a release date for the album, and for once it feels good not to apply pressure on myself. Why should I? I’m an independent artist, not chained to a record label where things have to be done yesterday. I would like to get the single (and possible video?) out before the summer is over. If the album comes out in September/October as I keep saying, then great.

We’re getting closer, people…