S-Arena did a feature on The High Crusade! Even if you don’t understand Japanese it’s still a good watch.

Also The High Crusade will be doing a show November 19th @ the Lake Effect Festival at Blondie’s in Detroit!

It’s not out of the realm of ordinary that professional wrestlers delve into projects outside of wrestling, with music and movies being near the top of the list.

The latest wrestlers to follow their musical interests are Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin, TNA’s Motor City Machine Guns, and ex-TNA star Petey Williams.

Shelley, Sabin and Williams, along with friends Adam Tatro and Chris Plumb, are known as The High Crusade and, on September 7, released their debut CD, It’s Not What You Think.

The band members recently conducted a Q & A session with SLAM! Wrestling and tackled such topics as balancing wrestling and music, Dixie Carter’s feelings on the subject, groupies and following in the footsteps of past wrestlers-turned-musicians.

Click for the interview

When I first heard that three current and former TNA wrestlers had recorded a rock album, I knew I had to hear it.

Knowing wrestlers before had recorded music CDs (Kamala, old WWF stuff, Randy Savage to name a few), maybe I could say I was skeptical at first, but after listening to The High Crusade’s It’s Not What You Think with Alex Shelley, Chris Sabin and Petey Williams making up three of the five members, all skepticism dissipated.

Shelley provides the vocals for the band, while Sabin plays bass and Williams the guitar. Adam Tatro (drums) and Chris Plumb (guitar) are the non-wrestling members of the band and are longtime friends of the TNA guys.

It’s hard to compare the band’s music to any one established band, but at times, I got reminded of bands like Rage Against The Machine and Nirvana, but not one band stuck out in my mind. Maybe not being able to think of a definite sound for these guys just means they have a sound all their own? I’ll go with that.

The CD is just 38 minutes long and I wish it was double that. From the opening riff on the first track, “Fangs Like Knives,” I was instantly hooked. This CD is the type of music you roll down the windows on your car and jam on the way home from work. At least, that’s what I’ve been doing for the past couple weeks.

Being from Michigan like Shelley and Sabin, track No. 9 is my favorite — a song called “Woodward” in homage to the main road in southeast Michigan that stretches from Detroit to Pontiac. Just a great tune here.

Track No. 5, “Flight Fight” is definitely Rage-esque with its opening bars and sweet bassline. That’s what makes this disc so addicting. It has a taste of other bands, but has a unique feel that at least I have never been able to relate to.

The music even, and this is not a bad thing, has a feel for five rockers just getting together in a garage or studio and just having a jam session. I love that kind of feeling.

Another great thing about this 12-track CD is that it is strictly music — no connection to wrestling is mention or even inferred.

The CD, which goes on sale September 7, is available at the band’s website. It’s highly suggested, no, demanded that you grab a copy. You won’t be disappointed.

Look for SLAM! Wrestling’s Q & A with the band members next week.

TRACK LISTING

Fangs Like Knives
Break Into Pieces
Whatever’s Real
Ch. 11
Flight Fight
Fall In Line
The Brim
Tied To The Tracks
Woodward
Pay The Fine
Can’t Be Satisfied
Right In The Middle

The High Crusade here’s everything you’re going to get in your preorder. only 75 packages will be made. these shirts and screenprinted posters will never be reprinted! the price will be $50 + shipping. will you be one of 75 people in the world to own this awesome stuff? we hope so!

The High Crusade preorders will be up tomorrow morning! that means sometime between 10 am and 12 noon, eastern time in the US. are you as excited as i am?

The High Crusade we’ll be announcing where to order tomorrow morning. that page will include all details about how long preorders will take, when to expect them, and rules for ordering (they’ll be available for exactly 1 week, no longer, unless they sell out, & we are kindly asking that orders be limited to 1 per customer so it is more fair to everyone).

The High Crusade big announcement coming soon about when the album will be released, as well as when preorders will go on sale. i can tell you all now that preorder packages will be in a limited number, will include a cd signed by the entire band, a limited edition shirt and screenprinted poster featuring the album art, and maybe one or two more little goodies. those will be on sale in about three weeks. stay tuned!