For those not in the know, American Tears is an American keyboard trio that released its first record, Branded Bad, on Columbia Records in 1974, it's second, Tear Gas, in 1975, and its final for Columbia, Powerhouse in 1977 before reforming in 2018.

Due to the very well received 2018 release of it's 4th record Hard Core, the band recorded White Flags, released to great critical acclaim in 2019, which kicked it all up a notch.

Formed in the fertile musical environment of Long Island, New York, the band was initially made up of Gary Sonny, on bass, Tommy Gunn on drums and Mark Mangold on keys and vocals.

The band was a power keyboard trio, using keyboards of the day, Hammond organ, synths, mellotron, clavinet, electronic melodica and playing progressive music which showed the bands stellar musicianship.

The band was fortunate to have toured major venues with such bands as Peter Frampton, J. Geils, Alvin Lee, Gentle Giant, Gary Wright, John McLaughlin and many others.

They reached a wide audience and had an impressive show, topped off by Mangold doing handstands on his Hammond while being surrounded by his massive keyboard setup!

Mark Mangold would go on to play and work with Michael Bolton, Cher and Paul Rodgers, penning the hits 'Fools Game,' 'I Found Someone,' and 'For A Little Ride' and many others, as well as forming the bands Touch, Drive She Said, The Sign and others.

Now American Tears have released their brand new album Free Angel Express via Deko Music/12:12 Records, which perfectly showcases the fact that the band has seamlessly continued its journey with keyboard rock here on these 13 pulsating new tracks.

1. 'Sledgehammered'
2. 'Set It On Fire'
3. 'Free Angel Express/Resist/Outta Here'
4. 'Not For Nothing'
5. 'Glass'
6. 'Everything You Take'
7. 'Roll The Stone'
8. 'Blue Rondo'
9. 'Can’t Get Satisfied'
10. 'Woke'
11. 'Shadows Aching Karma'
12. 'So Glow'
13. 'Rise To The Light'
'Tusk (Blood on the Ivory)' [DOWNLOAD ONLY]

Featuring a variety of progressive and heartfelt songs that offer anthemic choruses, lush tapestries, scathing soloing and poignant lyrics, Mangold's vocals have been compared to Joe Cocker, David Lee Roth and even Peter Gabriel down the years, but here on the forthright opener, 'Sledgehammered,' he's just being himself.

That's backed by the one-two, stuttered rock of 'Set It On Fire,' the simply magnificent ten minute opus 'Free Angel Express/Resist/Outta Here,' and then we get the synth-pumpin' euphoria of 'Not For Nothing,' the free-flowing, and the mid-tempo ballads 'Glass' and 'Everything You Take.'

Up next is the drum-led beauty 'Roll The Stone' which is followed by the frenetically-controlled, synth-tastic 'Blue Rondo,' the rocker 'Can’t Get Satisfied,' the atmospheric orchestrations of 'Woke,' the tripping the light fantastic ambiance of 'Shadows Aching Karma,' with the album rounding out on the low key ebb and flow of 'So Glow,' closing on the Organ-imbued, Gospel-inspired 'Rise To The Light.'

Mangold states, “If I can convey and express an emotion, create a thought, a "moment", I'm good. It's music, but it's also life. Gotta let the imagination fly. There was no one to confuse me so I just followed instincts and chased the adrenaline.”

Free Angel Express features: Alex Landenburg (Stratovarius, Kamelot, Rhapsody, Cyhra, ) on drums, with guest appearances by Barry Sparks (UFO, Dokken), Doug Howard (Touch, Utopia, Edgar Winter Band), and Charlie Calv (Angel, Shotgun Symphony).

American Tears - 'Free Angel Express' Purchase Link

American Tears @ Facebook