GUARDIAN1 releases debut EP, Empire

New band featuring former GUARDIAN members Paul Cawley and Rikk Hart announces release of new EP.  From the GUARDIAN1 Facebook page (July 26, 2011):

“Today we release worldwide our new 3-song EP, Empire. This is a day that’s been over 20 years in the making! It feels good to be making music again. We took a very grassroots approach to this record & we’re both very happy with the new sound. We hope you enjoy the songs as much as we did making them. Take a listen on iTunes, Amazon CD Baby or other digital download sites & let us know what you think! Thanks for being here with us on this special day. May God bless you, Rikk and Paul”

GUARDIAN was originally formed in 1982 by founder guitarist/vocalist Paul Cawley. Paul recruited bassist David Bach in 1982 in Santa Ana, California. Originally named FUSION, the band was joined by drummer Rikk Hart in 1984 and released an independent EP called Rock In Victory that caught the attention of Enigma Records via a high school friend of Rikk’s, Eric Blair. Enigma promptly signed the band to a record contract in 1985. At the suggestion of Paul Cawley and Rikk Hart, the band then changed their name to GUARDIAN.

Rikk Hart recruited guitarist Tony Palacios, and he joined the band in 1986. After many shows on the competitive Los Angeles club circuit, they became a top-drawing act on the Sunset Strip. The band recorded their official debut album, First Watch, with producer Oz Fox (STRYPER) in 1988, with the album releasing on Enigma in 1989. The band toured worldwide for the next year, which saw the departure of Cawley and Hart.

The two reunited in the fall of 2010 and began the process of working on new material. The result is a mix between their original sound and a fresh, more modern and progressive take on the melodic rock they have always enjoyed. The new EP Empire is an energetic blend of the original Guardian sound of the late ’80s and their progressive roots with an infusion of a modern rock sound.