Purging the Past on Spotify
Sandstone's latest CD 'Purging the Past' is now on Spotify. If you're not already signed up to Spotify go here Spotify and listen to our new album for free.

Sandstone Purging The Past out 30th October
Sandstone can officially announce that following some spectacular reviews of our self-financed release, "Purging The Past" will be re-released  worldwide by Limb Music on the 30th of October 2009. The new version features new artwork and a complete remixed and re-master by Uwe Lullis (ex Gravedigger Rebellion).

Sandstone sign with Limb Music Products
Sandstone are proud to announce that we have just signed a deal with German label Limb Music Products and Publishing. This is a 5 album deal and our first release will be "Purging The Past" remixed and re-mastered by Uwe Lullis (ex Gravedigger Rebellion).

Limb Music has been existence as a label for 12 years and is one of the leading labels worldwide for Melodic, Heavy, Power, Speed, True, Symphonic and Progressive Metal. The inhouse music publishing company, Limb Music Publishing will celebrate its 20th anniversary next year and looks after bands such as Vanden Plas, Abydos, Tiles, Magnitude 9, Poverty's No Crime as well as most of the label's own artistes.

Label manager Limb Schnoor was already managing bands such as Helloween, Mania, Heavens Gate, Eldritch, Viper, Angra back in the 80s and 90s and was responsible for the establishment of such musical heavyweights as Rhapsody (Of Fire) and Luca Turilli.

The band is excited about our new partnership with such a legendary melodic metal manager as Limb and we're also pretty chuffed to be on the same roster as some of our heroes such as Pagan's Mind and Eldritch.

Purging the Past is scheduled for worldwide release on October 30th.

Metal Deli Rocks out with Sandstone
The Metal Deli is a pod cast site in CHICAGO.
Kimmi at the station is displaying stunning taste :) by playing Sandstone all week.
Please check this out it features some top class metal.
You can click the image below to go and listen to the show.
 

Metal Hammer gives Sandstone an approving 8 out of 10
"It's unlikely we'll hear a better homegrown act this year."
See the full review in our reviews page...

GreekRebels Magazine
After their stunning review of Purging the Past in which GreekRebels magazine described the album as "Perfect!" they have now published an interview with Sean and Stevie. Click below to see the English translation of the interview:

Kerrang! Give Purging the Past KKK
"Packed with compelling guitar work and engagingly written, well performed (if a little too reminiscent of Axl himself) vocal hooks which do make for an enjoyable listen." See the full review in our reviews page...

Metal Observer give 'Purging the Past' 9 out of 10
“Purging The Past” is an album that is excellent by virtue of its versatility; SANDSTONE picks all the right elements of Prog,
Power, Melodic, and Heavy Metal that allow them to create a truly interesting sound. This record is catchy, angry, and complicated
all at once, making for an incredibly unique listening experience. I know it sounds clichéd, but “Purging The Past” is one of those records that truly has everything: great songwriting, awe-inspiring musicianship, and a fresh sound that sounds like a perfect mesh
of the right ideas rather than an embarrassing mishmash.

Bruce Dickinson
Bruce Dickinson adds 'Son Of Carthage' to the Friday Rock Show playlist on BBC Radio 6. It received it's first airing on 27th of February 2009. Rock On Bruce!!

Purging The Past is CD of the year at Concrete Web
Tony Holemans of Concrete Web has given Sandstone's new CD Purging the Past 100 out of 100 and nominated it for CD of the
year. To read the full review click on the link below:

New CD 'Purging The Past' Due out Feb 23rd 2009
Casket Records will be releasing our second CD early this year.
This will feature songs that Stevie and Sean have recorded over the last 18 months. It will be available via the usual outlets. This version of the album has been discontinued as it has been re-released via Limb music

SANDSTONE
If you're hailing from Derry / North Ireland and you're in a band, of course the usual cliché bands spring to mind: Thin Lizzy, Rory Gallagher, Gary Moore, U2... What have all these outfits in common? They're no real Metal bands. Nothing wrong with that - regarding Metal, Ireland still is a bit behind, even today.

SANDSTONE, though, could change this status pretty soon. These four young men have just released their second album, titled "Purging The Past", and have all the necessary prerequisites to be an international success. Their mix of tight Power Metal spiced with a decent dash of melodious Progressive is riveting and reminds you a bit of Fates Warning, Iron Maiden, Queensryche, or even Guns'n'Roses. The latter may be a bit odd, some will say, but SANDSTONE dare and manage the almost impossible, creating a versatile, exciting, and unique style. 2003, the band is established by Stevie McLaughlin (lead guitar) and Sean McBay (vocals / guitar) - and from the start, they are eager to write and play their own material.

Even at this time, both youngsters are already experienced musicians, and, shortly after SANDSTONE has seen the light of day, it is obvious that the chemistry between the two of them is just right. They start recording songs in their own studio, and get better and better at it, improving their skills continuously. Stevie's brother David McLaughlin (bass) and Paddy Flemming (drums) join the two, completing the band. The foursome wants to perform their songs live as soon as possible - which they do, turning SANDSTONE into a household name in the Irish scene very fast. 2006, they sign a deal with Casket Records, and the label releases their debut album "Tides Of Opinion", consisting mainly of material written since 2003. The album, containing twelve songs recorded in their own studio, is very well received by the press, the gist of it being "I haven't heard such an impressive Hard Rock album for a long time".

"Tides Of Opinion" opens a lot of doors for SANDSTONE: they play numerous gigs, and also a tour in England 2006/2007. Even hyper-critical British music magazine Kerrang! is crazy about the band's outstanding live performance. 2008, they start working on the successor of "Tides Of Opinion" - that means less live performances. Once again, the band is recording in their own studio, thus being independent of tight time schedules and pressure - and the new compositions mirror that advantage.

Right from the start, "Purging The Past” is a statement: these young men have matured as a band, and they have honed their songwriting and stylistic skills remarkably. This album is also released by Casket Records and gets brilliant reviews. No wonder LIMB MUSIC is interested in this gifted combo (being a perfect fit for their band roster): the label licenses the album right away.

So, finally "Purging The Past" is released beyond Ireland - with a new artwork, remixed by the band, and remastered by Uwe Lulis (Rebellion, ex-Grave Digger). There is no doubt that "Purging The Past" will cause a sensation. The 12 songs on the album are versatile, catchy and impress you with classy songwriting. The opener "Anymore Lies", for example, emphasizes the band's assets: a heavy track with progressive influences and a great melody line - just like old Fates Warning. "Hiding In The Shadows" once again could be compared to Fates Warning, but also bears comparisons with older Queensryche songs, as does the great, pumping uptempo composition "Fingerprints". Remarkable on this one: Sean McBay's intense, charismatic voice, sometimes reminding you of Axl Rose (Guns'n'Roses), but then again, he's also influenced by his past NWOBHM days. SANDSTONE master even emotional half ballads easily - just check out "Karma", an extremely catchy song with an incredibly intense melody. That's material for the Rock Hall of Fame! Rhythmic "Son Of Carthage" contains cleverly arranged passages à la Iron Maiden. Irate, crispy "The Road To Guantanamo" is an excellent neck wrecker demonstrating the band's modern, up-todate approach regarding lyrics.

The complete album is exciting, its musical versatility meeting even highest expectations. In a nutshell: this young Irish band has everything it takes to be an international success - "Purging The Past" is the best proof of that!

For bookings and more info email stevie@sandstonerocks.com
Check out Sandstone At MySpace