Californian American ‘ambient metal’ outfit Deftones already worked fans into a frenzy when they announced they’d be heading to Australian shores as part of promoting their latest album, Koi No Yokan. 

The Californian band added extra dates by popular demand to their May tour of Australia, and now frontman Chino Moreno has more great news for fans by revealing plans for his new side-project, featuring members of post-metal titans Isis.

Palms is the name of the new Los Angeles based quartet, which features the powerful, emotive vocals and lyrics of the Deftones vocalist up front, backed by bassist/keyboardist Jeff Caxide, drummer Aaron Harris, and guitarist/keyboardist Clifford Meyer, all members of highly esteemed Isis, who announced their demise in 2010 shortly after their final tour.

As CBS News reports the new band have already completed their self-titled debut, self-mixed by drummer Aaaron Harris, self-produced by the complete Palms lineup and set for release on June 25 via Ipecac Recordings.

Moreno debuted an unmastered mix of the song ‘Tropics’ on his online broadcast channel for Mixlr. “Being a huge Isis fan I’ve always dug the moods these dudes convey with their sound,” said Moreno. “I am excited to combine my sense of creativity with theirs, and to have fun doing so.” “Being a huge Isis fan I’ve always dug the moods these dudes convey with their sound… I am excited to combine my sense of creativity with theirs.” – Chino Moreno

As Loudwire points out, Moreno had previously discussed the new project in October last year, saying that the ex-Isis members had “recorded this music a long time ago, almost a year ago, so musically it’s been its own thing and I only got asked to do vocals on it not too long ago by my buddy Aaron [Harris],” said Moreno. “It’s not really a thing I rush on. Any of the projects I do, I don’t have to do them. I do them strictly because it’s fun to make music with friends,” he added.

Indeed Moreno is no stranger to side-projects and collaborations, he’s been a previous member of one-off Deftones spin-off, Team Sleep, and their selft-titled album of 2005, which the vocalist is also part of the trio (with Shaun Lopez and Scott Chuck) that make up the symbolically named †††, who released two self-titled EPs in 2011 and 2012 respectively, with a third mix of electronically-infused rock due later this year.

The self-titled release from Palms joins a long list of eagerly anticipated international releases due in 2013. Including the latest from Parisian indie popsters Phoenix, the fifth LP from New Yorkers The Strokes, the new Fall Out Boy releaseDaft Punk’s long-awaited fourth studio albumDavid Bowie’s first new album in a decade, and anticipated releases from the likes of Vampire WeekendYeah Yeah YeahsBlack Rebel Motorcycle Club, and The Knife’s 98 minute opusShaking The Habitual.

This comes alongside the strong collection of great Australian releases due this year including the Cat Empire’s latest, the second album from Melbourne twosome Big Scary, The Drones’ tour backed I See Seaweed, and a heap of new albums from the likes of Bernard FanningBirds of Tokyothe AMP shortlisted Hermitude, Hilltop Hoods, Airbourne, Boy & Bear, Matt Corby, Washington, Super Wild Horses, a heap of new material from Pond.

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