"Well, certainly you should not take it as a way of living, because I think that most people should find their own way of living. By that being said, it's not a mistake of following anyone else, but as far as calling it a political statement, I wouldn't do that, no — certainly not. Take it as seriously as you want it.
I mean, as seriously as you take Bob Dylan — whatever he says — or [Bruce] Springsteen or PINK FLOYD, or whatever… I don't care. But by 'serious,' if you mean that we have rules that people should follow, no, certainly not. Pretty much the other way around." -A Nameless Ghoul
While I have see singles come through my feed about the new Skyharbor album, I was quite happy to see that a worldwide release for their new album "Guiding Lights" which dropped this week (November 10th, 2014)!
For those not aware, I have covered Skyharbor in the past and even had a great interview with lead vocalist Daniel Tompkins back in 2012. Daniel is also part of a popular progressive metal band called TesseracT. His vocals are easily recognizable (I mean, who cannot notice the octave ranges he has) and only adds to the great work put forth by Keshav Dhar. If you are a fan of the ever growing trend of progressive metal, then Skyharbor should be one to add to the collection.
"Guiding Lights is an enthrallingly beautiful album that should help warm the hearts of progressive metal fans as the winter nights draw in. It would be easy to see Skyharbor as a kind of side-project supergroup, but that feels like it sells them short. We can only hope that with all the various commitments the members of Skyharbor have on their collective plates, they are able to carve out the time to keep the band as a going concern." -The Monolith
"We are thrilled to announce that our second record is officially complete, and it is titled 'Guiding Lights'. We have worked incredibly hard over the last two years on making this album the most spectacular effort we could create, and we thank our AMAZING fans for helping bring it to life and take it to the next level! We can't wait for you to sink your teeth into it!" -Keshav Dhar
So to promote the new album, Skyharbor's label (Basick Records) have put the entire album on YouTube for all you fans to saturate, enjoy, and eventually purchase! Check it out below.
Just to show the level of dedication from their fans, this album was done through Pledge Music crowd funding. The band easily reached 164% of their goal and was produced by Australia's Forrester Savell (also done work with Karnivool, The Butterfly Effect, Dead Letter Circus).
"This is very much an album of inspirational, almost spiritual focus. Dan Tompkins' vocals float with delicate poise and appropriate muscle over a cultured haze of driven, ambient guitars. The tonal emphasis of which bring to mind a combination of Stephen Carpenter at his best, blended with the defused excellence of OceanMachine era Devin. It is this coupling, of the highly defined and the indistinct which allow the vocals free reign to mould powerful, emotive lines over the music." -The Circle Pit
So if you are won over by the reviews, tunes, and article here then be sure to show some love and purchase a copy of the album from Basick Record's online store.
While these guys are new to my ears and new to Solid State Records, I am thoroughly interested in Silent Planet. Their debut record "The Night God Slept" is getting smile and good reviews across the board and (personally) has made a great impact on their debut record. Sometimes you have to search for the difference between metalcore bands since they can easily start to flow together. Lyrical content seems to be a driving force for the album with websites like New Noise and Indie Vision Music citing same reasons.
"Apathy was our anchor to a digital sea where you drown in the comfort of our complicity"
"Should I sleep or should I die alone? Life to death or flesh to decompose. You've captured me.
Should I sleep or should I die alone? Should I die alone? Life to death or flesh to decompose."
The songs tell a story and the music goes along perfectly with said story. The guitar tones are heavy driven, the drums are pretty on par with album flow and the overall structure of the album has songs flowing into each other seamlessly. Overall, I have been a big fan of many Solid State bands. So Silent Planet will join my roster of great bands like Haste The Day, August Burns Red, Underoath, Demon Hunter, Becoming The Archetype Living Sacrifice, The Agony Scene, Destroy The Runner, Inhale/Exhale, The Showdown, Oh Sleeper, and Wolves At The Gate.
What a record release day it is! It seems as if the stars have aligned and some of the most anticipated releases of 2014 all cumulate together today so your wallet can explode! haha
But seriously though folks, Pink Floyd, Garth Brooks, Foo Fighters, and Machine Head alone are some of the biggest releases of the year. And it goes to show with critics giving general thumbs up across the board for most of these albums. I have been told by numerous people this week to give these albums a spin and indeed I am looking forward to it.
So I hope you all are as excited as I am. I understand this week is likely going to put a dent in everyone's wallet but for the time and effort they put into it, I'd say the $15-20 price tag will be worth it. So as the old saying goes here on AFGM...band need love and support. So stop off at a local record shop, an online retailer, or a trusted digital source to purchase a copy of these awesome albums. Cheers!
(Pink Floyd - The Endless River)
Although very little about The Endless River is risky by design -- it is one of the most popular bands of the 20th century returning to slowly pulsating aural waves that characterized their biggest albums -- the very shift away from vocals realigns the band with not only Wish You Were Here (which this often resembles) but their pre-Dark Side records for Harvest, undercutting the arena-pleasing aspirations of the Gilmour-led reunion while underscoring how Pink Floyd always were an arty band at their core. Instrumentals are also a savvy solution to the trouble of working with uncompleted tapes -- it's easier to turn them into an ever-shifting suite than to graft on melodies -- but the comforting sway of swelling synthesizers and the soaring Gilmour guitar are sometimes unexpectedly moving. Gilmour and Mason know this is their farewell, so they're saying goodbye not with a major statement but with a soft, bittersweet elegy that functions as a canny coda to their career. -All Music
(Garth Brooks - Man Against Machine)
When Mr. Brooks is most potent on this album, besides his mystic feel-good moments, is when singing about love, usually of the broken kind. On “You Wreck Me,” he’s excellent with the emotionally spent verses, though there’s tension between those and the almost-bright chorus laden with cheapo slide guitar. “Midnight Train” is bursting with dark imagery: “Whiskey bottle on the floor/King James Bible from the drawer/Neither won but Lord they’ve done their best.” -NY Times
(Various Artists - Lost On The River: The New Basement Tapes)
That fact came to light earlier this year when Dylan’s publisher contacted producer T Bone Burnett about a recently discovered box of handwritten lyrics from those sessions that apparently remained unused. So with Dylan’s blessing and the gift of creative freedom, Burnett enlisted Elvis Costello, Jim James of My Morning Jacket, Rhiannon Giddens of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes and Marcus Mumford of Mumford and Sons to act as a sort of Americana/folk super-group that would bring the lyrics to life with original music. -American Songwriter
(Zac Brown Band - Greatest Hits So Far...)
"GREATEST HITS SO FAR..." collects Zac Brown Band's momentous run of 11 #1 Country singles, from 2008's 2x RIAA platinum debut, "Chicken Fried" to 2013's "Sweet Annie" (see below tracklisting). Further highlights include chart-topping classics like "As She's Walking Away (Feat. Alan Jackson)," "Knee Deep (feat. Jimmy Buffett)," and "Goodbye In Her Eyes," as well as such fan favorites as "Whatever It Is," "No Hurry," and "Jump Right In" (from 2012's GRAMMY® Award-winning UNCAGED). -Yahoo Finance
(Damien Rice - My Favourite Faded Fantasy)
As the title track explains nicely, My Favourite Faded Fantasy is a step toward the studio-enriched beauty of 9. Led by winding guitars, the track’s slow-churning six minutes guide us through fragile pianos, satisfying string arrangements and reversed guitars. While it’d be unfair to discount Rice’s sparse lyrics, My Favourite Faded Fantasy leans heavily on arrangements to deal an emotional blow—even early gut-punchers like “It Takes a Lot to Know a Man” and “The Greatest Bastard.” It’s a good look for Rice. These are rich songs, meant to be savored and taken in with repeated listens. -Paste Magazine
(Foo Fighters - Sonic Highways)
Though the idea is enormous, Sonic Highways is another Foo Fighters rock record, first and foremost. Grohl isn’t paying homage to Chicago blues with a hat tip to a defining Muddy Waters lick on the opener “Something From Nothing,” and he’s not calling out D.C.’s go-go scene with a two-minute funkified interlude on “The Feast And The Famine.” That worship is saved for the lyrics, in which there are fantastic clichés and metaphors aplenty.
Grohl’s quest is representative of an enthusiasm—rounded out by some overwrought lyrics—nearly swallowing itself alive, sure, but with Foo Fighters, hating the game seems more right than hating the player. -AV Club
(And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead - IX)
The strongest moments on IX, like on any of the band's albums, are those that manage to create a vast rock sound by building elements up to impressive climaxes before bringing them crashing down. Doing so in such a pummelling manner is rarely the case now, but when it is, it's satisfying, as on the powerful "Lost in the Grand Scheme" and instrumental "How to Avoid Huge Ships." -Exclaim
(Project 86 - Knives To The Future)
This album, while haunting and saturated with emotion and weariness, is also full of hope as evidenced by the title track. “No retreat; there’s nothing behind me. We have no choice; we’re never surrendering! We’ve gone too far to turn back now.” Mark Salomon (Stavesacre) is brought to mind in the slow-paced “Son of Flame” as Andrew sings about the burning flame lighting the darkest day. “Ambigram” is a P.O.D.-tinged track where the singer is reaching out, seeking shelter from the battle. “Meet me in my sanctuary where no enemy will find the key.” There is little doubt where Andrew’s hope comes from in this story. “White Capstone” contains beautiful melody, background vocals and dynamic changes with lyrics addressed to the only one who can give meaning to this battle. -Christcore
(Drowning Pool - Sinner: Unlucky 13th Anniversary Edition)
This album, while haunting and saturated with emotion and weariness, is also full of hope as evidenced by the title track. “No retreat; there’s nothing behind me. We have no choice; we’re never surrendering! We’ve gone too far to turn back now.” Mark Salomon (Stavesacre) is brought to mind in the slow-paced “Son of Flame” as Andrew sings about the burning flame lighting the darkest day. “Ambigram” is a P.O.D.-tinged track where the singer is reaching out, seeking shelter from the battle. “Meet me in my sanctuary where no enemy will find the key.” There is little doubt where Andrew’s hope comes from in this story. “White Capstone” contains beautiful melody, background vocals and dynamic changes with lyrics addressed to the only one who can give meaning to this battle. -All Music
All of the songs on “Bloodstone & Diamonds” have the trade marks you would expect on any MACHINE HEAD album, but it’s the way they are delivered that is different, almost special. MACHINE HEAD are pushing boundaries and trying to expand their rule. MACHINE HEAD are one of the hardest working bands around; this has become very clear over the years. “Bloodstone & Diamonds” is yet another MACHINE HEAD masterpiece. The final song, “Take me Through The Fire” ends the album in style. It sums up the MACHINE HEAD legacy nicely, leaving a want for more. It shows why MACHINE HEAD should be crowned the new kings of Metal. But, there is something different with “Bloodstone & Diamonds”, you can’t help but feel within these 12 songs there’s a hidden intent, it feels like the “Bloodstone & Diamonds” journey doesn’t end here. It feels like MACHINE HEAD are not finished yet, like there’s more to come, and if this piece of work is anything to go by, god help us all, who knows what is coming! All should bow before the kings of Metal. -Metal Temple
(King Diamond - Dreams of Horror)
His trademark banshee vocals are still as powerful as ever, proven when he last played here in the UK 2 years ago headlining the Bloodstock festival to a mesmerised crowd. Dreams Of Horror is a 23 track double CD with a running time of just less than 2 hours covering his 12 solo studio albums. Predominantly, 2 tracks have been chosen from each album and have been mastered and enhanced by King Diamond himself and his long standing lead guitarist Andy La Rocque. The first 5 albums were released via Roadrunner Records and the following 7 by Metal Blade Records and it is Metal Blade who will be releasing Dreams Of Horror on November 11th 2014. This release is an indispensable purchase for new fans to introduce themselves to the inimitable style of King Diamond’s gothic horror tinged metal. -Planet Mosh
(Devilment - The Great and Secret Show)
It is hard to find anything negative about the album. The only thing may be that the songs between the two openers and final title track lack a little bit in power compared to these three songs. But that is only the desperate attempt of a critic to find anything to complain about. The musicianship is solid, the sound (produced by Scott Atkins who was also responsible for the last Cradle Of Filth album) is heavy and powerful and Dani is on top of his vocal performance. Devilment have certainly released a good debut album. Time will tell if Devilment will be more than just a side project of a famous metal frontman. If Dani finds enough time amongst his other commitments and if the live show is as cinematic as the video for ‘Even Your Blood Group Rejects Me’, Devilment have real chance to make it. -Heavy Metal Bands Info
(Job For A Cowboy - Sun Eater)
The album breathes life into the death metal genre as an album that can truly stand alone and be compared to nothing else. Wondering riffs, groove driven guitar segments, solos, and deathly vocals all remain a staple in this JFAC release, but what's new is what happens to be the most attractive. The consistent pace of the album is the un-deniable driving factor in bringing their dependable new sound to a whole new level. There are slower and faster segments, but in all, the album paces itself well. This is a strength. It helps the listener digest, and plow through the tracks at a rewarding rate. After fully feeding on the progress, the listener will be able to remember distinctions and highlights throughout. -Metal Injection
(Silent Planet - The Night God Slept)
Silent Planet embraces the best of Solid State’s musical past to craft an excellent debut. Sure, the band feels a tad generic at times, but the lyrical and musical passion helps elevate even the weakest moments of the record. If you’re looking for the next big thing in metalcore, look no further than Silent Planet. If this is how confident their debut is, the band is clearly trending upward. -New Noise Magazine
EPs:
(ERRA - Moments of Clarity)
I don't really have any qualms with recommending this release. It's a great, functional output of music from ERRA. Part of me wishes that it wasn't so sonically close to "Augment". But on the other hand, I can certainly understand why it is. This is the kind of band that will continue to grow and create outstanding music. It's safe to say this is a great EP from a great band that does not disappoint. You should go ahead and give a listen (if you're not already), especially if Progressive Metal / Metalcore happens to be your cuppa tea. -The Circle Pit
CD/DVD/Blu-Ray:
(Whitesnake - Live In 84: Back To The Bone)
Apart from the obvious aspects of enjoyable listening and high quality of digitally enhanced recordings, Live In ’84 – Back To The Bone is back-to-basics, retrospective release that Whitesnake should have already released a long time ago, as it portrays the era that was a breakthrough for Coverdale and his band in many respects.
All these being facts, no listener can escape the feeling the star that shines the brightest on Live In ’84 – Back To The Bone is Whitesnake’s singer extraordinaire anyway. Love him or loathe him, this band was always about David Coverdale’s mighty voice, trademark microphone twirling and onstage charisma. Back in 1984, he had it all – and the newest Whitesnake release is a clear proof of this fact. -Hard Rock Haven
(Rush - R40)
To the delight of fans, the bonus disc will include all eight songs from the Laura Secord Secondary School show in 1974 which features original drummer John Rutsey. That recording includes two Rush originals “I’ve Been Runnin;” and “The Loser”, as well as their cover of Larry William’s “Bad Boy”, made famous by The Beatles. The bonus discus also features 5 songs from songs from the Capitol Theatre in 1976 such as “Anthem” and “Lakeside Park”, the rarely performed full, 7-part version of “2112” filmed in 1997, “Lock and Key” from the Hold Your Fire tour, as well as footage from the glorious evening when Rush fans got their beloved band inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. -Bravewords
(Heart & Friends - Home For The Holidays)
"Please Come Home for Christmas" is nostalgic and the inclusion of Pat Monahan from the rock band Train is superb, since he elevates this beautiful duet to a higher level. "Remember Christmas" is a tender, piano-driven ballad and "Barracuda" is classic Heart, where Ann's vocals are as powerful as ever. Nancy and Ann deliver soaring harmonies on "Even It Up" and they pay homage to Led Zeppelin on "Stairway to Heaven," a lengthy vocal masterpiece.
Overall, Heart's newest holiday album is fantastic. They prove that they can sing anything and make it sound good (even the phone book). This album is a must for any fans of rock, holiday music, or Heart. They will not be disappointed. -Digital Journal
And if you folks thought my article on the new album "Bloodstone & Diamonds" wasn't enough, Machine Head's label (Nuclear Blast) has graciously given fans a chance to stream the new album in it's entirety! Not that true Machine Head fans need to preview the album before it's release, but damn if I am not excited to crank this album for the remainder of the week. With every album release I am becoming more and more fascinated with this band and their progression. Check out some of my links below for concert photos, past articles, and other MH related stuff. Cheers!
(Album artwork courtesy of Nuclear Blast Entertainment & Machine Head)
1. Now We Die 2. Killers & Kings 3. Ghosts Will Haunt My Bones 4. Night Of Long Knives 5. Sail Into The Black 6. Eyes Of The Dead 7. Beneath The Silt 8. In Comes The Flood 9. Damage Inside 10. Game Over 11. Imaginal Cells 12. Take Me Through The Fire
Produced by frontman and guitarist Robb Flynn with Juan Urteaga, and mixed by Colin Richardson, it clocks in at over 70 minutes through 12 tracks. Bloodstone & Diamonds is, thankfully, bone-crunching in numerous places, but its depth and breadth are considerable, its dark, sometimes menacing vibe crosses the divergent paths of its predecessors, yet is in keeping with their signature sound.
Given its range, variety, and length, Bloodstone & Diamonds is a labyrinthine musical and atmospheric journey full of textural and dynamic twists and turns. At times it's even exhausting. That's hardly a bad thing. Given how closely woven these tracks are, the album requires attention -- and numerous listenings -- to fully appreciate what is on offer. Here Machine Head take one sonic attack and push toward and through the boundaries of another. This set is a major go; it extends the qualitative trajectory of The Blackening and Unto the Locust. -All Music
"No, I've heard that statement a number of times through the decades that I've been in metal. I don't think it is. I think it's absolutely in incredible shape right now. [It's] never been stronger.
I think we're surrounded constantly by new talent and the enthusiasm that surges from new bands of all kinds keeps rock alive and strong, and I think it'll always be that way. So, for me, when I check out the metal sites that I do every day — I check out a dozen metal sites from different places around the world — I see the strength and the power there, and it's tremendously exciting. It's a different world now, for sure, in terms of the way the industry side of the business works. That is a whole new perspective compared to how it was even twenty years ago, with the advent of the Internet, which created an enormous amount of… a change of perspective. It affected everybody in a great way.
So what I'm saying is rock isn't dead. It's alive, it's thriving, and it's exciting." -Halford
So as you all saw a week or so ago that I made a post on a new single from Marilyn Manson. As we all had a feeling that this would lead to a new album (and eventually a new tour that coincides with the album release). Well, after some speculation the shock rocker has announced his plans to release "The Pale Emperor" on January 20th, 2014 via Hell/Cooking Vinyl Ltd.
The dark imagery and raspy vocals are nothing new for Manson as we have heard over the years in songs such as "Sweet Dreams", "I Don't Like The Drugs (But The Drugs Like Me)", and "The Love Song". So when I heard the new single "Third Day Of A Seven Day Binge", I was pretty stoked to hear what the rest of the album is going to sound like. I will be honest, I was less than impressed with some of his previous releases like "Eat Me, Drink Me" and "The High End of Low". His 2012 release "Born Villain" [I thought] brought about the resurrection of Manson with great singles like "No Reflection" and "The Gardener".
So here is the information we have gotten thus far regarding his new album. As mentioned above, it will be released on January 20th, 2014 via Hell/Cooking Vinyl Ltd. Some of the tracks have already been promoted in television shows such as Salem ("Cupid Carries a Gun"), and new box-office film John Wick ("Killing Strangers"). So it's safe to say between those two films and the single "Third Day Of A Seven Day Binge", Manson has done a great job promoting the new album. That and the cameo in the seventh season Sons of Anarchy.
1. Killing Strangers 2. Deep Six 3. Third Day of a Seven Day Binge 4. The Mephistopheles of Los Angeles 5. Warship My Wreck 6. Slave Only Dreams to be King 7. The Devil Beneath My Feet 8. Birds of Hell Awaiting 9. Cupid Carries a Gun 10. Odds of Even
*11. Day 3 (Deluxe version)
*12. Fated, Fateful, Fatal (Deluxe version)
*13. Fall of the House of Death (Deluxe version)
Manson and Twiggy Ramirez have acted as the primary personnel for the direction and creation of the album. Aditional drums, guitars, keyboards, and production have been taken car of by Tyler Bates, Gil Sharone, and Shooter Jennings,
Click on the AFGM hyperlink above to preview the single "Third Day Of A Seven Day Binge" and be sure to pre-order over at iTunes and/or Amazon. I hear you get the single free with the pre-order!
Chatham-Kent has a good history and diversity of music. Being directly involved with my hometown's music scene, I am a firm believer in supporting local artists and musicians to the best of my ability. While living three hours away and covering major label bands, I don't get the opportunity [like I used to] to check out what the next wave of music is for my fellow Chathamites. Thanks to the golden age of social media, I am able to keep up with bands playing shows at local venues and even taking a glance at some of the live performances.
One of the musicians in Chatham-Kent who has a great online presence and social attitude is Thomas Ayres. While only playing bass guitar for four years, he has been involved in many projects around CK, put together shows, create tunes, promote his bands (and others around CK), and seems to be a social butterfly. So what a better person to talk to regarding the new wave of CK's music scene!
Thomas! Do you mind if I do a small spotlight piece on you as a musician?
Yes, for sure! I'd be honored to have to have someone interested in putting me in a musician spotlight section on a website. Thank you for taking any sort of interest! I very much enjoy talking about music, bass guitar related things, and interesting stories, & being a bassist is neat.
So why bass?
Fortunately, I enjoy the writing aspect even if it's for my solo collection. As I find some people just play bass unfortunately to "be in a band" and don't actually write music, or just play open notes/roots. Those bassists throw me off to why they even play bass? Play the god damn triangle guy! Let someone play bass, that actually has ability!
When was the first time you grabbed a bass and decided you wanted to play it?
Back in 2011, I started my first job (as a dishwasher) and saved up a sum of money. A friend actually brought up the idea of learning electric guitar, and mentioned that I should learn a bass guitar so we could jam together. Music was a nice comfortable fun thing. If I could find a way to replicate/make music as well using my hands, I thought that would be a wonderful fun thing to do! After I bought the bass (from a pawn shop, bass was uber crappy but i didn't notice at the time), I played it for about four hours every week non-stop, and consistently. I was always interested to learn how to make more sounds and how to cover other people's music.
So you guys eventually made some tunes together?
Unfortunately me and the feller never actually made any music together, something about us with guitars never added up well, together. But we've both have fun apart doing our own things.
So did you start investing more funds into your equipment?
Over time I bought better basses, as my first one wasn't even live playing-able. Dead notes covered the whole fret board so this was just good for practicing finger stretching, fret spacing, etc.
So what is something music has gotten you to expand on?
I visited Quebec in a mini tour the other week, & if it wasn't for music, I wouldn't have ever left Ontario I'm pretty sure in any sort of interest in other things. That was my first time in my life ever being in a different province then Ontario. And hopefully I visit more places from my time as a 20 year old, till I'm old and brittle.
So I take it you are self taught? Did you take music lessons at all?
I asked a feller to teach me anything about 2 weeks before I bought my first bass. What he taught me was a single scale, tabs consisting of 5 notes, and how to hold a bass right. After a little while he got too busy and had to move to a place out of town, so I had no friends that played bass. From then on I just had to learn by myself. I'd find songs I enjoyed and searched the tabs online (hoping that the tabs weren't brutally scripted).
In grade 11, I had a 3 month music class. The teacher told me I was too slow to learn music theory and couldn't really teach me anything If I slapped anything on the bass, he'd completely dismiss it, so creative wise, there wasn't much room to grow in the class.
I got to play a bass guitar for 30 minutes a day though which was sort of nice at school. The only person that I've picked up some decent techniques from was John O'Rourke. He'd teach me Les Claypool styled slap/mute/pop madness bass playing. However, I would like to seek additional musical help in the future. I'm always all ears for advice!
And you're always looking for more knowledge right?
At some point [maybe when I'm 25] I'll have some more musical theory knowledge down. But for the time being, I just go by patterns that I know comfortably and things that I know sound good. I'm never afraid to attempt new things on the guitar, just in my home though.
Playing live you got to play what you know works for sure. At times I wish I had a teacher teach me what not to bother with at all though, some less wasted time perhaps, but wasted in the name of fun!
What were some of the early songs/tabs you were playing to get the feel for bass licks and such?
The first five days of learning tabs consisted of Black Sabbath ("Iron Man"), Pink Floyd ("Money"), Koji Kondo ("Mario Theme"), Beethoven ("Fur Elise"), and Megadeth ("Peace Sells"). After that it got pretty foggy as I just started learning song after song.
What are some of your influences nowadays?
I'm influenced by a lot of Christopher Wolstenholme (Muse) these days. I also am heavily influenced by Karnivool, Mike Patton projects (Faith No More, Fantomas, Mr.Bungle), the fretless bass work from Jaco Pastorious & Jeff Amment, Justin Pearson (The Locust, Some Girls) projects, and Luca Cavina (Zeus!).
Why so?
I've always thought they had some of the best bass tone & efx usage, so I've sought for newer tones besides a typical dry bass tone much like the influences I have. I think he (Justin Pearson) has got some ridiculous bass tone that he provides as well, pre-sculpted inside of his bass lines.
Forgot to mention, I've always loved Mudvayne and Primus bass lines. Les Claypool and Ryan Martinie are crazy on the bass guitars. I tried to look up there tabs in the early days. The controlled mutes and unrelenting amount of notes threw me off hard. I had no idea how to grasp it but I'm having better luck these days.
Touching bass on solo material, what do you foresee that looking like? Are you looking to orchestrate a band focusing on your as the founding member and creative influence, or looking to something along the lines of Evan Brewer and keeping all the sounds very bass like?
Evan Brewer is wonderful. His work in The Faceless is flawless (although I love his solo work a lot though...perhaps even more). He's got great ideas. I think I may do some completely solo stuff with bass and use a loop pedal to play over top of parts. However as you can see Evan Brewer playing 2 bass guitars at the same time is even more entertaining and talent straining. I may attempt to get my skill somewhere sub-par to his ability.
I may use other instruments however included with the bass as I don't wish to limit myself at all. For now the only thing that I can play fairly well would be so I could see my music in that project being around 95% bass guitar work. I have a makeshift drum kit and an electric SG that I could use to record other parts. I would just need a splitting output pedal so I could plug multiple instruments into my amp to replicate it in a live situation. It may take awhile to get all of the songs in place and album-like construction however.
I have about 8 songs recorded (6 of them in demo stage) but am still looking for pieces that work together more better/are more musically interesting. I'm giving Evan Brewer's "Your Itinerary" album another listen as I type this, and damn its very inspirational. The dude is even better then I remember. Thank you on reminder of his work!
Any final thoughts?
It's been just over 4 years now and I don't think I plan on stopping. I think it's mostly because I am addicted, and new music still entertains me! So I don't see my self being bummed out about making /playing music anytime soon. Hopefully never...
If you live in or around my hometown of Chatham-Kent, be sure to check out the local music scene as it's constantly booming with new musicians like Thomas. You can check out Thomas' work at the following Facebook pages:
You heard that right. These guys did a show on a freakin iceberg! Not the most likely places for a show but a feat to be had nonetheless! "The Defiled turned a gigantic Iceberg into the most unlikely of gig venues in the Greenland Sea recently when Jägermeister Music UK invited the band to perform on top of the floating platform for the Jägermeister Ice Cold Gig – which sees artists put to the test as they perform in unconventional, ice cold conditions.
Braving freezing temperatures and fast flowing ice, the group performed the special set to a host of locals from the nearby town of Kulusuk, who ventured out to the ice field to watch this once-in-a-lifetime experience from an array of fishing boats and leisure craft." -The Defiled
A short but sweet list this week folks. While I am not running home at a racer's pace to pop in the new Bette Midler or Calvin Harris album, I have to give credit where credit is due. Let's take Midler for example. While numbers sometimes to not reflect the character of music, "Midler has been nominated for two Academy Awards, and won three Grammy Awards, four Golden Globes, three Emmy Awards, and a special Tony Award. She has sold over 30 million albums worldwide and along with that has also received 4 Gold, 3 Platinum and 3 Multiplatinum albums by RIAA."(via Wiki)
Harris is in the same boat as far as I am concerned. While he does not have the same amount of awards and sales compared to Midler, in his short time Harris has been nominated for well over 60+ awards and won 16 of them including some high profile ones like Teen Choice, ASCAP Pop Music Awards, NME, Grammy Awards, and more.
So whether or not you are a fan of the music, you can appreciate the talent some of these folks have (even if it's not your thing). So like usual, be a doll and pick up a copy of the album at your local record store, online retailer, or trusted digital source. Cheers and happy Tuesday!
(The Doobie Brothers - Southbound)
In case it wasn’t expressed clearly, I do like ‘Southbound’ quite a lot. It does what a duet re-release of classic songs should do, and re-interprets the music according to the new collaborations. However, I do think that some of the instrumental intimacy of the original versions are drowned in loud, homologous, guitar-heavy instrumentation, which makes the album a bit of an assault on the ears after a few songs. For listeners being introduced to Doobie Brothers for the first time, it does make their music much more accessible to a younger generation, with the overly-produced songs being quite friendly to the modern ear. -For The Country Record
(Neil Young - Storytone)
Throughout Storytone, Young is at once absolving himself of the complexities of blame and remorse, while all the time still feeling them. What is so striking is that the lyrics are so bare and unapologetically whimsical for a man in his late 60s. But, honesty doesn’t always result in great music, and this is a music review. -Paste Magazine
(Bette Midler - It's The Girls!)
Anyone acquaint with the music business would not that it's never easy to being a female in a patriarchal industry. The music business is notorious for objectifying women and exploiting women financially, sexually, spiritually and emotionally. Thus, even though many of these songs have a bubbly zest, underneath them are layers of unspeakable pain. What's most winsome about Midler's take of these 15 classics is that she captures both the outwardly zipper-ish feel as well as the internal turmoil of fame's tortures. -Hallels
(Bob Dylan & The Band - The Basement Tapes)
The scaled-down “Basement Tapes” offered Dylan’s personal pullback from the mania of psychedelic rock just as it was on the ascent. Consider it further proof of how far ahead of the curve Dylan was. Likewise, the music’s attention to the roots of country, folk and blues, through its many cover songs, set the mold for what would become known, decades later, as “Americana” music. -NY Daily News
(Calvin Harris - Motion)
Harris switches things up slightly by featuring his own vocals on the album's best-known single, "Summer"; otherwise, however, the track sticks to his likable, but typical, formula. Harris may have helped popularize the current dance-pop sound, but now that the rest of the industry has caught up, it has become ubiquitous to the point of uniformity. By staying within the safest corners of both pop and dance, he fails to push the boundaries of either genre. -Billboard
(Cavalera Conspiracy - Pandemonium)
Thus largely describes the remaining tracks of "Pandemonium". If there's any criticism of this album (and it's a tiny one at best), it's the general predictability of the songwriting. There are allotments for improvisation, such as the huffing, BLACK SABBATH measures stuck on the tail end of "Insurrection" almost like a bonus track. Like SOULFLY's recent albums, there are exciting and inventive intros that inevitably lead to the same patterns. Fortunately, the thrash is so well-executed on this album, it's never boring. -Blabbermouth
With bands and labels looking for different avenues for revenue, it doesn't really phase me what they are offering nowadays. But this one was something out of the blue I have never heard before. And it's got me tied in mixed emotions. This could be a really good thing or a really bad thing.
Legendary rockers Queensrÿche have now turned to fans not only to fund their new album, but also a full investment in the band. For those that follow Queensrÿche, you might remember some rather nasty split with founding member Geoff Tate and the lengthy lawsuit that followed for right to the Queensrÿche trademark name and rights to some mad $$$.
So as you can check out on their Pledge Music campaign, they are offering a lot of goodies for donating to the cause including a round of golf with the guys, and even owning studio used instruments. But the bottom piece was the biggest eye popper. $50,000(US) will get you a piece action. So for those with an extra 50K (or 56K for Canadians) for investment and looking to be part of a 30 year project, dive on in!
"That's rÿght! Scott, Michael, Todd, Eddie and Parker - Queensrÿche - are on the road. But this is a different kind of show. The band is looking for investors who want to be part of history and join in building the empire. It's a unique way to get involved. In conjunction with the PledgeMusic campaign, this is an opportunity to actually own a piece of the band - well actually it's a piece of the company that is wrapped around the band. But you get it." -Queensrÿche
Now the real question is whether or not this is a good idea. Some fans have looked at this as a great opportunity while others have cited it's nothing more than a cash grab. I find myself indifferent from the situation. Some fans spend thousands of dollars on albums, merch, vinyl, autographs, and more so how is this any worse?
I guess it comes down to your level of dedication from the band. Since the entrance of their new singer Todd La Torre and the release of their self titled album in 2013, the band found themselves back in the limelight and gaining popularity once more. The album sold 13,659 copies in it's first week on the shelves and [as reported by La Torre] has pushed 80,000 copies worldwide. Keep in mind this does not reflect online and digital sales/streams.
So it's time to ask who the hardcore fans are. Do you think something like this will catch on with other bands or does it seem like an avenue less traveled by others?
It was by complete fluke that I forgot to shed a little light on this crappy situation. Over the weekend, most of us in the metal industry learned of the untimely death of Wayne Static (aka Wayne Richard Wells) at the young age of 48. According to the press release by Wayne's publicist, Wayne passed away quietly in his sleep on November 1st, 2014.
“HOLLYWOOD, CA (November 1, 2014) – Today is a sad day in the music industry – Front-man and founding member WAYNE STATIC of STATIC-X passed away quietly in his sleep at his home last night.
The couple [Static & his wife Tera Wray,] was getting ready to leave for a Fall/Winter tour this morning. They were to have left the night before on Halloween, but decided they would head out early in the morning November 1st.
The couple known for partying heavy, had left hard drugs in 2009 and had not touched them since. Static’s first solo album – Pighammer – was a tribute to his new non-drug life and hoped it would help others to get clean from hard chemical drugs.
More official information about his passing will be released in the following days. This is not a drug related incident or an O. D. Please be courteous to his family and wife and leave positive messages.”
As I never met the guy let alone see a performance by Static-X, they were a major influence on me in my youth. I used to push my fellow band members constantly to throw some covers in our set such as "The Only", "Destroy All", and "Start A War". There was always something about that eccentric hair and those very distinct screams made his music very appealing to me. Kind of sucks that I will never get to see the group perform as a whole again.
“I would like to thank everyone on behalf of all the Wayne’s family and myself for all the kind words from all of Wayne’s friends and fans and other bands. Wayne went very peacefully in his sleep and probably didn’t even know that it happened (Which makes me feel better that he wasn’t in pain). It will be sometime before we know why it happened but I will keep everyone informed.
He had so much more to give the world. As his wife, biggest fan, and worshipper, I will keep him alive and finish everything that I can that he has been working on. He will never die and I want to share everything that I can that he has to give to his fans and friends. I will try my hardest to be strong and make him proud.” -Tera Wray (Wayne's wife/widow)
So that being said, I think Wayne would want his fans to remember him by cranking some of his tunes and playing along for those who have an instrument. Chances are I will be fiddling with my guitar this week learning some Static tracks. Enjoy life while it lasts. I am pretty sure Wayne did.
Going through my playlist at the end of a work week is like the toast to the weekend; especially when you have been gone away on vacation for the past week with no contact with the outside world. YouTube playlists and subscriptions coming out my ears so sometimes it's rather hard to follow each upload unless doing a round up such as this. I hope this will make the starting of your weekend energetic, whether you are going into work or escaping from it.
Apologies in advance for those who loathe my video articles but there are just too many great clips out there to ignore. So if you do not have the bandwidth to watch this video, then too bad! Hahaha just kidding. We have a long list of artists today to focus on so take your time and click on their links for more information on album releases, singles, social media, and touring!
So for the slower connections just load the article, go for a coffee/glass of water, return, play and enjoy! This will surely be one of my playlists for the end of the work day and hopefully doesn't keep your eyes glued to the screen for too long. Cheers and happy Monday!
*NOTE: There are hyperlinks in each title in case you want to stream directly from YouTube*
**Please note that this week's round up was quite extensive and therefore did not have all the normal information posted below. Please click on the hyperlinks of each video to find out more about the artist and album releases.**
"Roundtable Rival" is taken from Lindsey's sophomore album "Shatter Me", which was released on April 29th, 2014 via Lindseystomp (independent) Records.
"Speak to the Wild" is the 8 1/2 minute track from Thurston Moore's fourth album "The Best Day", which was released on October 20th, 2014 via Matador Records.
STYG's latest single "Nobody" is taken from their upcoming fifth full length "Disobedient" on February 10th, 214 via Sumerian Records. Presales are available on the link above.
"Babylonian Pandemonium" is the first single from Cavalera Conspiracy's upcoming album "Pandemonium", which will be released tomorrow (November 4th, 2014) via Napalm Records.
If you like what I do, and would like to help me continue my adventure, please purchase some of my music, or a shirt, guitar picks, etc. It all helps! http://www.keithmerrow.com
Instead of providing a fixed number of amp models, BIAS Desktop (AAX/RTAS/AU/VST) represents an entirely new concept: You can virtually design your own amp models with its simple interface, use Amp Matching Technology to capture any tube amplifier, and you can share and download amp models from ToneCloud. -Merrow
"The Last Garrison" is the brand new single from Enter Shikari's fourth studio album "The Mindsweep", which will be released on January 19th, 2015 via Hopeless Records (US).
