General Tso (band)
Encyclopedia
General Tso is an underground American ambient metal band formed in 1974. Their sound has evolved to combine elements of stoner rock
, ambient metal and sludge metal
into what fans call ambient elevator metal. The band is most well known for being an early proponent of Truetone
ringtones.
A 2009 Metal Edge
magazine interview confirmed that General Tso will enter the studio in May 2009 to begin working on their next studio album tentatively entitled Half of 1500: SMD. Two additional tracks entitled Hurricane Destroyer and Bricks and Rust were recorded in late 2009 while jamming in Pittsburgh. Rumors are circulating regarding an accompanying tour, but have not been confirmed by the band or management.
During a show at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Denver, the band announced their new album Weed and Booze would be released in 2011 and include the previously unreleased track Crab Rangoon.
tape trading
circle. The band later re-recorded this single for their 2006 Best of the Tso album. The band continues to see a strong fanbase in both Eurasia
and South America
.
The band received moderate radio airplay in 1989, mostly on college radio stations, with their cover of Metallica's
song For Whom the Bell Tolls
.
Stoner rock
Stoner rock or stoner metal is a subgenre of heavy metal, combining elements of psychedelic rock, blues rock, traditional heavy metal and doom metal. Stoner rock is typically slow-to-mid tempo and features a bass-heavy sound, melodic vocals, and 'retro' production...
, ambient metal and sludge metal
Sludge metal
Sludge metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that melds elements of doom metal and hardcore punk, and sometimes incorporates influences from southern rock, stoner rock and grunge. Sludge metal is typically abrasive; often featuring shouted vocals, heavily distorted instruments and sharply contrasting...
into what fans call ambient elevator metal. The band is most well known for being an early proponent of Truetone
Truetone
A truetone is a ringtone which has been encoded with a sampled audio format such as MP3, AAC, or WMA. It is also referred to as a mastertone or realtone....
ringtones.
A 2009 Metal Edge
Metal Edge
Metal Edge was a magazine covering heavy metal music published by Zenbu Media. It was founded in the summer of 1985, during the height of Glam metal's success.Both Metal Edge and its sister publication, Metal Maniacs, ceased operations in 2009....
magazine interview confirmed that General Tso will enter the studio in May 2009 to begin working on their next studio album tentatively entitled Half of 1500: SMD. Two additional tracks entitled Hurricane Destroyer and Bricks and Rust were recorded in late 2009 while jamming in Pittsburgh. Rumors are circulating regarding an accompanying tour, but have not been confirmed by the band or management.
During a show at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Denver, the band announced their new album Weed and Booze would be released in 2011 and include the previously unreleased track Crab Rangoon.
History
The band recorded their first single "Komodo Dragon" which eventually gained attention in the undergroundUnderground music
Underground music comprises a range of different musical genres that operate outside of mainstream culture. Such music can typically share common values, such as the valuing of sincerity and intimacy; an emphasis on freedom of creative expression; an appreciation of artistic creativity...
tape trading
Tape trading
Tape trading is an unofficial method of distribution of demo tapes encompassing musical genres such as punk, hardcore, and extreme metal. The practice which was most prevalent during the 1980s and 1990s, also saw people distribute recordings of live music shows...
circle. The band later re-recorded this single for their 2006 Best of the Tso album. The band continues to see a strong fanbase in both Eurasia
Eurasia
Eurasia is a continent or supercontinent comprising the traditional continents of Europe and Asia ; covering about 52,990,000 km2 or about 10.6% of the Earth's surface located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
.
The band received moderate radio airplay in 1989, mostly on college radio stations, with their cover of Metallica's
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
song For Whom the Bell Tolls
For Whom the Bell Tolls
For Whom the Bell Tolls is a novel by Ernest Hemingway published in 1940. It tells the story of Robert Jordan, a young American in the International Brigades attached to a republican guerrilla unit during the Spanish Civil War. As an expert in the use of explosives, he is assigned to blow up a...
.
Touring
General Tso maintains an ambitious worldwide touring schedule, which often includes unscheduled performances at small venues under assumed names. Due to the complex structure of the band's music, they prefer to play short sets and generally do not repeat night to night. According to the band's Official Facebook fanpage, they recently performed the track "Acer Siropus" for the first time in 11 years during a sold out show in Quebec.Discography
- Komodo Dragon (1974)
- Dirty Gallop (1979)
- Ancient Chinese Secret (1988)
- Best of the Tso (2006)
- Half of 1500: SMD (2009)
- The Land of Bricks and Rust (2010)
- Weed and Booze tentative (2011)