affiance the campaign full album download AFFIANCE LYRICS. Life, keeps moving on as if nothing happened. With questions we have failed to ask. Convince ourselves that these questions matter, But when we ask they remain unanswered. We all watch in suspense Waiting for the climax, But we've been waiting too long. Our kingdom overthrown and a king, Our king dethroned By the kings of deceit. Reciting out lines made up of lies. Reading the script thinking we're wise. Deep inside the roles you'll find The plot to conquer all mankind. Power doesn't come from the barrel of a gun. A shift that defines our strength, To defy your crushing weight Where justice seeks corruption, And freedom saves the weak. We all watch in suspense Waiting for the climax, But we've been waiting too long. Our kingdom overthrown and a king, Our king dethroned By the kings of deceit. Reciting out lines made up of lies. Reading the script thinking we're wise. Deep inside the roles you'll find The plot to conquer all mankind. And when we ask, they remain unanswered! I'm done reciting your lies. I won't stop until I find the truth. This time I will dethrone you. Power doesn't come form the barrel of a gun. It comes from truth, And we will seek out justice. Your death will not be in vain. 2. You Will Be Replaced. It seems the walls are closing in. The clock defeats another day. With each step we're pushing forth. This is the only way. Your taunts have only increased our pace. You sad men, it's time to be replaced and discarded. Until we collapse or breathe our last. We're fighting as hard as we can to not be forgotten. We're running as fast as we can. To the front lines we live on forever. We've been dismissed and disgraced. Our hands are fit to be tied. Mark my words: I've faced my fears, and now these fists are free to fight. I know the way to freedom, my faults will not defeat me. We know the path to justice, and these walls cannot contain us or persuade us. Until I collapse or breathe my last. We're fighting as hard as we can to not be forgotten. We're running as fast as we can. To the front lines we live on forever. You will be replaced. We're fighting as hard as we can to not be forgotten. We're running as fast as we can. To the front lines we live on forever. We will never be forgotten. Forever. We will never be forgotten. 3. We The Machines. Building the god of technology, Our evolution grants us Passage to a higher plain. A war is waging against humanity. Can we fight them off Or will we forever be. Changed, by our own invention Have we gone too far? Is this our best intention? Have we forgotten what we Who we are? What makes us human If not the soul? You set these gears in motion With no hesitation And this time they won't Grind to a halt. This machine that you've created Will be the one that slays you. We will forever be. Changed, by our own invention Have we gone too far? Is this our best intention? Have we forgotten what we Who we are? Have we forgotten who we are? Our frail bodies were programmed to die. We were destined to decay. So let my body rot away. Lest my soul never takes flight. 4. Bohemian. [feat. Matty Mullins Of Memphis May Fire] You stood before me with empty promises, offering what I don't need. There is no beating heart, just breaking inhibitions. She'll chew you up and spit you out. You say you wear your heart on your sleeve, but you mean only to decieve. You have become my disease. I want back my innocence, but here's reality. All the things you've said, the words that plague my mind. All the skin you bare, burns my eyes. I know all about you, I can see right through you. I've been here before, it will never be over. All you ever brought was pain. Now I'm ashamed to know your name. But never again. Her eyes were locked on mine. And I hate every memory of crossing that line. So now I'll live with this regret hanging over my head. But never again. All the things you've said, the words that plague my mind. All the skin you bare, burns my eyes. I know all about you, I can see right through you. I've been here before, it will never be over. Never again. Never again. I regret of every memory of ever crossing that line Never again. All the things you've said, the words that plague my mind. All the skin you bare, burns my eyes. I know all about you, I can see right through you. I've been here before, it will never be over. I know all about you, I can see right through you. I've been here before. I know all about you, I can see right through you. I've been here before. 5. Peace Of Mind. Trust me on this one I would not steer you wrong Even if I do not heed my own suggestion Before you take flight and soar through the sky Be sure you've learned how to land. Who is pleading for our peace of mind? Why do we complicate instead of simplify? So loosen the noose around your neck. We held you so high But we were crushed beneath the weight Expectations It's the human condition to always lust, to always lust for more Searching in the dark It's time to tame your wandering. Who is pleading for our peace of mind? Why do we complicate instead of simplify? So loosen the noose around your neck. We held you so high. If you're struggling with breathing Can't find your way back home If you find your passions fleeting Look to the truth you hold. Who is pleading for our peace of mind? Why do we complicate instead of simplify? So loosen the noose around your neck. 6. Class Dismissed. Broke and burdened by the debt you persuaded us to bear. Hard and calloused, there's nothing left but animosity. We're slipping through the crack. Our time has passed us, and we will be forgotten if we give up hope. I'm finished being your puppet. I will not take your orders anymore. You'll never know what it's like to labor as we have. It's only a matter of time before we toss you off our backs. I've earned the right to speak and say what I mean. We pave your roads. We haul your trash. We fight your wars. Show some respect. You are nothing without me. You'll never know what it's like to labor as we have. It's only a matter of time before we toss you off our backs. You need to need to know what it's like to labor as we have. It's only a matter of time. It's time to knock you on your ass. When the weight of the world is on your back, feels like your spine could snap. When you fight so hard to stay afloat. Just stay afloat. Don't give up hope! Just stay afloat. Don't give up hope! I'm finished being your puppet. 7. Jericho. Watch the infection spread. What will cease the senseless end to thought provoking reason. They stood in line for you, now they're breaking down your door. This is the cost of treason. We are the smoking gun. Speak now or forever hold your peace. We know who you really are. We've come to collect what's rightfully ours. The judge's hammer falls heavy on those who blaspheme his seat. You are one of those Your heavy head cannot save your ever so shallow heart. They stood in line for you, now they're breaking down your door. This is the cost of treason. We are the smoking gun. Speak now or forever hold your peace. We know who you really are. We've come to collect what's rightfully ours. We are the smoking gun. Speak now or forever hold your peace. We know who you really are. We've come to collect what's rightfully ours. We know who you really are. 8. The Cynic. You defend yourself but you refuse to listen. You won't be spared the conflict and you can't run forever. I won't allow your apathy to cradle you securely. Are you weathered enough to survive the trials of life? Your lips are sealed, your eyes are blind. It's clear you've made up your mind. Like pearls to swine, you are a waste of my time. You can't hide forever. What made you so afraid to seek the truth? Living in denial with your head in the ground. Your lips are sealed, your eyes are blind. It's clear you've made up your mind. Like pearls to swine, you are a waste of my time. You can't challenge others before you challenge yourself. Open your heart and and tear down the self made walls you've trapped yourself inside. 9. The Campaign. Welcome! How nice of you to finally join us. Once more you proven my point ever so clearly It's time to think and get this straight to plan your move strategically We are more than pawns We are more rooks and queens A new kind of loyalty. We are more than light passing through the void of our mind. For it's worth the fight to save the soul of man before it dies. Doubts hand over your head feeding the madness But who will stand with me if you're too scared, too scared to stand at all? Just know that we will never stop until every man is rebuilt Erase the stories we were told. We are more than light passing through the void of our mind. For it's worth the fight to save the soul of man before it dies. Welcome! Just know that we will never stop until every man is rebuilt Erase the stories we were told It's time we write them ourselves! Just know that we will never stop until our warrior are avenged Erase the stories we were told It's time we write them ourselves! 10. Righteous Kill. [feat. Ricky Armellino Of Century] My righteous anger will set us free. I was taught to love but vengeance has found me I gave you the power you have, and now I take it away. Fists clenched and voices raised, we'll bring an end to your reign. If you want it, you can have it. A war is about to begin If you strike me, I will strike back. And this time I will win. So now your days are numbered. And this has come to pass. This can't be real. This time it's real. Face in the dirt with your hands bound behind you. What a fitting end for a coward. What a fitting end for a coward. If I can't rewrite the past then I will erase your future! If I can't rewrite the past then I will erase your future! Fists clenched and voices raised, we are the end of your reign. If you want it, you can have it. A war is about to begin If you strike me, I will strike back. And this time I will win. So now your days are numbered. And this has come to pass. This can't be real. This time it's real. You only have what power you were given. So now I take it away. I can't let you lie. Now I watch you die! 11. Threshold. The time is here that we all knew and feared. Are we strong enough to endure this stand? For the time has come to choose your stance. Will I become another suppressor of man? Am I the same as them? Is it just human instinct to survive and protect what's ours? Is this a vicious cycle, will I become another suppressor some day? Manipulate the people. History is only written by those who win the war. I need to know if I die right here it will not be in vain. Chin up with my heart crying out to the crowd, I fear failure. Gear up for the battle the time is now, I fear failure. Ignorance is bliss. But now I'm more than conscious of the truth at hand. We are no longer prisoners to regret. We have towed this burden far. And the absolute has set us free. There is no turning back. And now we get up off the ground. Stand tall with resolve. We have marched to the beat of a new drum. I now choose to fulfill my destiny. Go and call upon warriors. Do not let this movement die. My final request is to remember that I tried. Music Resource: JBTV. In 1984, Jerry Bryant founded Jerry Bryant TV (JBTV), an hour-long TV show based in Chicago dedicated to the alternative music scene. During its nearly three decade history, the all-volunteer JBTV has featured interviews , live performances , and music videos from rising and established artists of both regional and national significance. Rise Against , Foxy Shazam , Maps & Atlases , Anti-Flag , and The Joy Formidable are among those show in the “2,794 performances and interviews by 336 artists” JBTV has broadcast over the years. The great quality and quantity offered by JBTV makes it a can’t miss resource for those browsing the web in search of new sources for music consumption. JBTV is broadcast in Chicago on WJYS-62 on Wednesdays at 11 PM. The show is also distributed nationally by NBC’s “NonStop” channel on Saturdays at 10 PM. Content is also available for free download from both JBTV Online and Apple’s iTunes store . Album Review: Affiance- The Campaign. On November 13th, the Cleveland metalcore group Affiance released their sophomore album “The Campaign” through Bullet Tooth Records . The new disk is the follow-up to their 2010 debut “ No Secrets Revealed,” which established their place in the metalcore scene through the display of clear technical ability and the fantastic lyrical presence of Dennis Tvrdik . Some critics, however, felt that the record relied too much on the traditional stereotypes of the genre. The Campaign has addressed these concerns and Affiance has crafted a clearly superior product (with the possible exception of the hilarious Rock Band music video for “ Call to the Warrior ” from “ No Secrets Revealed ”) in their second effort. Like the debut album, The Campaign shows no lack of technical prowess, but the new album matches those fireworks with a marked evolution in songwriting across all elements. Tvrdik maintains his commanding voice while putting it to more polished use, breaking out of the typical genre formulae in a way the band hasn’t before, and the guitars cut through the mix with a clarity and precision not found on the debut. The album features guest appearances by several genre heavyweights: Dustin Davidson of August Burns Red (“ Kings of Deceit ”), Ricky Armellino of Century (“ Righteous Kil l”), and Matty Mullins of Memphis May Fire (“ Bohemian ”), a particular idol of Affiance . While Davidson helps start the album off with a bang, the strongest songs are the band’s alone. The frenetic “You Will Be Replaced” and the complex yet powerful “The Cynic” elevate this album to the next level. You could do worse than start your campaign for better music in 2013 by picking up this album. Venue Review – The Southgate House Revival- Newport, KY. When Newport’s venerable Southgate House closed down in late 2011, many in the Cincinnati music scene lamented the loss of one of the region’s best independent venues who had welcomed rising acts such as Jack White and The Black Keys. Its former owners, however, have been hard at work creating a new destination for local and national indie acts of all shapes and sizes. At this year’s New Year’s Eve party, the Southgate House Revival proved ready to take up the musical banner of its namesake. Like the old Southgate House (now being operated under the Thompson House name), the Revival contains a variety of performance spaces in a single venue, in this case the historic Grace Methodist Episcopal Church. The main entrance, a set of sketchy double doors off the parking lot, opens into the former sacristy, now converted into a lounge area for smaller or acoustic acts. This particular night featured the local female Americana duo Riverside Drive , an act well suited for the low-key seating of the room. The bar here was large and attentively serviced, if a bit blatant in flying the hipster flag of PBR, and prices were about average. For local rock or punk acts, the upstairs Revival Room provides a comfortably cramped environment that makes a small crowd feel more alive. Local favorites The Frankl Project put on a slow-burning set on this stage, building complex punk intensity song after song until the crowd couldn’t help but throw some surfers up and move along. The main stage is located in the church’s sanctuary, and the owners wisely chose to keep many architectural features from the building’s past. Stained glass windows (protected by plexiglass) surround the dance floor, while the bar is built around the pipes of the old organ, giving the new venue a historic character. If anything, the space may be a bit too big for the local acts the Revival plans to book most nights; the floor easily held the crowd for this big party date, so a less busy night could feel empty. The size did prove an asset for the night’s bands, ska acts The Green Room Rockers and The Pinstripes , whose music got everyone dancing freely. Midnight showered the crowd with balloons and confetti, suggesting future stage shows could take unique advantage of the venue’s high ceilings and choir loft. The Southgate House Revival has a lot to live up to, but if it can continue to put on nights like these, its place in the Cincinnati scene is all but assured. Concert Review: Foxy Shazam- Covington, KY. Cincinnati is a town with an almost pathological phobia of winter weather. A rare hometown show by Foxy Shazam , however, brought a packed house to the Madison Theater in Covington despite the threat of (gasp) a couple inches of snow. This show, dubbed the Second Annual Snow Show started off with Smoke Signals who delivered an interesting, if inconsistent, set of mathy post- hardcore in the vein of bands like Fall of Troy. Frenetic verses gave way to rather bland choruses that were minor letdowns after the buildup; there was potential, but the band could do with tighter songwriting overall. They were followed by the much more straightforward Lions Rampant , perhaps Cincy’s best-known practitioners of blues rock. Their set felt like a bit of a throwback to the classic era of the Who (or the Guess Who), not a bad feeling by any means, but a somewhat generic one. Their lead guitar lacked the pyrotechnics and unique solos that distinguish one group from another, creating something of a hole in their sound. Automagik, who we recently featured in a local spotlight, then came onto the stage wearing full fur coats and suits and ties, self-consciously wacky in a way that seemed an effort to upstage the famously eccentric Foxy. When it comes to a crazy stage presence, however, a band must fully commit to the act or end up seeming inauthentic. Automagik just didn’t keep up the weirdness; they may have thrown candy into the crowd or done gymnastics over their drum kit, but these zany moments were broken up in a set that didn’t have much flow. The music itself was punchy, energetic, and danceable, but the band will be better served developing its own stage shtick instead of trying to emulate another group. A group, I might add, that has its own presence down to perfection. Eric Nally of Foxy Shazam is a modern-day Freddie Mercury, a wild-eyed bundle of pyrotechnic fervor unmatched by modern frontmen. He seems to have taken the title of the group’s latest album, “The Church of Rock and Roll,” to heart, and his show has a bit of the revival preacher about it: aphorisms like “Life’s too short to worry about the things that make it shorter” and “The best way to stop being lost is to change where you’re going” punctuated crowd pleasers like “Holy Touch” and “I Like It.” All the classic Foxy antics, from Sky’s crowd-surfing keyboard solo to Nally’s mouthful of lit cigarettes, were woven into a nonstop performance. The band has fully bought into their personas, and when they believe, the audience has faith as well. Music Resource: “1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die” Library. Robert Dimery makes a bold claim with the title of his book, and some of his choices may be superfluous. Regardless of individual disagreements, going through the albums he highlights provides a thorough overview of the path of popular music in the Western world for the last fifty years. And now, you can do so completely payment- and commercial-free at a Romanian internet radio station! May seem sketchy, but everything is legit and organized in chronological sequence. Congratulations on not needing to buy new music for the next few months. Editor’s Note: I just wanted to take a minute to wish you all a Happy New Year! I hope those of you who indulged last night make a quick recovery and start looking towards the music the new year will bring us. I’d like to highlight this post for a second as I believe it has the potential to enhance your musical experience in this new year. It is an amazing resource which has the potential to broaden your understanding and appreciation of modern music, there are enough albums here to provide you with an album a day for almost 3 years. Use wisely! Compilation Review: Rise Against – Long Forgotten Songs. Rise Against recently released a compilation album titled “ Long Forgotten Songs: B-Sides & Covers, 2000-2013 .” As the title suggests, the disc is a collection of leftovers, rarities, and covers which weren’t included on the studio albums. As a long-time Rise Against fan, I took the time to break down some of my personal favorites on the compilation, describing just why these tracks are important to the the Rise Against anthology. “ Everchanging ” – This is an acoustic version of a song which originally appeared on “The Unraveling,” the band’s first album. Rise Against was at their rawest and grittiest here, and Everchanging was no exception to the rule. As a result, this song really feels like Rise Against covering Rise Against. Tim McIlrath is able to bring out a completely different side of this song with his acoustic performance. “ Making Christmas ” – Rise Against doesn’t have a Christmas album. This is punk rock, after all; but what could be more punk than covering a song in which the evil forces of “The Nightmare Before Christmas” sing about stealing Christmas from the kids? Okay, maybe it’s a bit more Scandinavian metal. Either way, this track is from a 25th anniversary album of covers from the Tim Burton masterpiece. “ Join the Ranks ” – This was the first song the boys ever recorded as Rise Against: good from the first drop. “ Little Boxes ” – When you think of music on TV, you probably think Jack’s Mannequin on the CW, not Rise Against on Showtime. But when “Weeds” turned to cover versions of its opening sequence, Rise Against was one of the bands chosen. “ Give It All ” – Yes, this song from “Siren Song of the Counter Culture” is one of the group’s most popular. However, this recording, is the one that appeared on “Rock Against Bush, Vol. 1.” I’ll admit, this version made the list for purely personal reasons. Way back in the summer of 2004, I got ahold of this album, instantly fell in love with this very song, and proceeded to belt it out all summer long until I was able to pick up the band’s stuff at Warped Tour. If my relationship with Rise Against was love at first listen, then this was where it started. “ But Tonight We Dance ” – In my opinion, this is a thoroughly classic Rise Against song, with a fast paced verse and big chorus, and definitely should’ve made it onto an album. Unfortunately, it didn’t; I would love to see this song live, so here’s hoping it gets played on a live setlist sometime. “ Sliver ” – If you read our piece on the Onion AV Club, we completely failed to mention this, but Rise Against covered Nirvana in an episode of the web series. A listen is totally worth the time to hear Tim channel his inner Cobain while singing “Grandma take me home!” “ The Ghost of Tom Joad ” – If Rise Against ever shows off, then this eight plus minute jam/Bruce cover is them doing it. They were able to bring Tom Morello, Brian Fallon of The Gaslight Anthem, and Wayne Kramer of MC5 on stage during an Anaheim performance, for what turned out to be an epic jam. The result lasted about three times as long as a normal punk song and provides a great way to wrap up the compilation. The song selection for this album is well done, and in combination with the behind-the-scenes looks given by band members in the accompanying booklet, it tells a deeper story about the evolution of Rise Against and provides great listening along the way. This compilation is an absolute must- have for any fan of the band. Album Review: Melt Yourself Down- Melt Yourself Down. Imagine North Africa: the swirling dunes of the Sahara, the tea-soaked markets of Marrakesh, the anxious happiness of thousands of people living under newly formed revolutionary governments. Mix in a little jazz and a dose of punk (as well as a healthy dose of LSD), and you’ve got a decent description of Melt Yourself Down’s self-titled debut LP . The project was formed in the wake of Acoustic Ladyland, a punk-jazz band that released four albums over the course of the 2000s before breaking up in 2010. Former members Pete Wareham (saxophone) and Ruth Goller (bass) recruited four new and very talented musicians to form Melt Yourself Down . The album opens with a sharp burst of electronics and a thickly accented British voice repeating “1,2,1,2”. The drummer, seemingly angered by this moment of calm, proceeds to unleash a storm of a mini-solo. From that point onward, the album never lets up, each new song an acid-fueled attack on the senses. This is not to say that each song is indistinguishable; for a 36- minute album, this LP is chock-full of absolutely insane ideas. The track “Mouth to Mouth” is particularly frenetic. A slow drone of horns opens up the piece and is shortly joined by the onset of polyrhythmic drumming. The song also features one of the few uses of intelligible vocals on the album (albeit in French). After the drone ceases, the music begins to build slowly, not stopping until it reaches what could be described as the soundtrack to a night of cocaine-fueled clubbing in the middle of the Sahara Desert. The cacophony of horns, seemingly random electronics, and consistently over-the-top vocal delivery are held in line by rock- steady bass playing; the ability of bassist Goller turn the zaniness of this LP into a coherent whole is perhaps its most impressive feature. The horn section that dominates the album is also noteworthy, with some of the sounds produced by baritone player and head songwriter Pete Wareham simply outside my previous experience. However, while most of these sounds are quite interesting, some of them can grate on the ears; the endless honking on the first track is particularly annoying. The same inventiveness and fearless exploration that drive this LP’s best moments occasionally drag it down. For example, the track “Free Walk” is quiet, simple and subdued compared to the rest of album’s polyrhythmic complexity. The song could provide a needed counterpoint to the other cuts, but it has no sense of development; it starts just as it ends. “Tuna”’s ending section is a repetitive mess that annoys rather than envelops me in its soundscape. The electronic work also doesn’t add all that much to the sound, and I feel as if the album would be just as effective, if not more so, if it contained purely live instrumentation. However, Melt Yourself Down is on the whole a solid, fun debut LP from a band that has a lot more potential than what they show here. Rating: 7.5/10. -Contributed by Tom B. Album Review: Aerial Roots- CJ Boyd. Some bands, like Canadian rockers (and recent Hall of Fame inductees) Rush, tour on a regular basis, coming through a given area every other year or so. Some bands, like Tool, can put over a decade between visits to a city. And then there is CJ Boyd , who’s been carting his one-man project across the world nonstop for five solid years. When not playing in venues that range from train overpasses to concert halls, he somehow finds the time to record albums for the Joyful Noise label (home to such indie stalwarts as Of Montreal and Dinosaur Jr.). I recently had the opportunity to see him perform at a house show in Champaign , where I picked up his newest solo release, 2009’s Aerial Roots . Although he dabbles in harmonica, vocals, and percussion, CJ Boyd is first and foremost a bassist, and the album opener “Everytime I Don the Ski Mask” fittingly begins with a solo bass groove. This single riff loops hypnotically, unceasingly beneath the soundscape that slowly unfolds over the start of track. Live, Mr. Boyd performs all his parts using a looper setup, building up his set part-by-part, and the album is constructed in much the same manner. He takes a very post-rock approach to songwriting, with a glacial pace of development and a love of subtle, sustained tone effects, but he doesn’t succumb to the cheap philosophy of buildups that characterizes what is derisively called “crescendocore.” Harmonic and rhythmic intensity replace unadulterated volume as the tool for creating interest over his extended tracks. Gorgeous bass chords and arpeggiations wander into hearing on the next song, “Pensive Pez” (a reference to his unique distribution method of delivering download codes with Pez dispensers). The gestures here are all derived from guitar work, as are many of the bass lines on the album: standard strum patterns, tremolo picking, a “lead” that soars over the looping “rhythm bass.” It’s a rather meditative work, lacking the momentum of the other two pieces on the album, but still a good listen. The closer, “We Know Time” kicks off with considerably more zest, a virtuosic bass duet that resolves into a driving perpetuum mobile. It’s a dark, almost haunted soundscape, and a listener can almost hear the loneliness of the roads the bassist has traveled on his “Infinitour.” It is here where the harmonica makes its appearance, slow sustained chords like the wind breathing past the tour van. Like the opener, parts build and dissolve constantly, maintaining interest, and when the end arrives, it is at a breathtaking set of harmonica chords that never quite seem to resolve. The album is an engaging experience that rewards repeated listening, with bits that were missed the first time suddenly revealing themselves in new ways. Truly, a fine piece of work. Album Review: Affiance- The Campaign. On November 13th, the Cleveland metalcore group Affiance released their sophomore album “The Campaign” through Bullet Tooth Records . The new disk is the follow-up to their 2010 debut “ No Secrets Revealed,” which established their place in the metalcore scene through the display of clear technical ability and the fantastic lyrical presence of Dennis Tvrdik . Some critics, however, felt that the record relied too much on the traditional stereotypes of the genre. The Campaign has addressed these concerns and Affiance has crafted a clearly superior product (with the possible exception of the hilarious Rock Band music video for “ Call to the Warrior ” from “ No Secrets Revealed ”) in their second effort. Like the debut album, The Campaign shows no lack of technical prowess, but the new album matches those fireworks with a marked evolution in songwriting across all elements. Tvrdik maintains his commanding voice while putting it to more polished use, breaking out of the typical genre formulae in a way the band hasn’t before, and the guitars cut through the mix with a clarity and precision not found on the debut. The album features guest appearances by several genre heavyweights: Dustin Davidson of August Burns Red (“ Kings of Deceit ”), Ricky Armellino of Century (“ Righteous Kil l”), and Matty Mullins of Memphis May Fire (“ Bohemian ”), a particular idol of Affiance . While Davidson helps start the album off with a bang, the strongest songs are the band’s alone. The frenetic “You Will Be Replaced” and the complex yet powerful “The Cynic” elevate this album to the next level. You could do worse than start your campaign for better music in 2013 by picking up this album. Metal Mausoleum. Bullet Tooth Summer 2013 FREE Album Sampler! Share this: Like this: Serianna to Headline the Road To The Roots Tour. Serianna just wrapped up in the studio for their new album “ Define Me ” with producer Josh Schroeder, who is responsible for new albums from For Today and The Color Morale . The new music is as heavy as ever and incredibly emotional as their fans have come to expect, much like their latest single “ Deadweight ” released on October 16, 2012. The 13 song album “ Define Me “ will be released early Summer 2013. Guitarist and songwriter Kris Meyer-Ruef commented on the new album, “The Inheritors record was almost 3 years in the making by the time we had the pleasure of releasing it on Bullet Tooth . It seems only natural that at least 4 years since the birth of that record, Serianna is due for serious growth. Over the past year, we have gone through a major line up change and thought hard about the future of our band. It was pretty apparent to any fan of our band before that we were heavily rooted in metal core, influenced by the bands that could riff the tightest and fastest. We operated like a well oiled machine, tight and uniform. But that was just the problem: we operated like a machine. This new record has given us all the opportunity to pour our hearts into our music in a way that we felt was impossible before. Every one of us has a voice, and you will hear that through every song on this record. We went heavier, groovier, darker and more honest. I know deep down that kids are still looking for something real to fall in love with. We genuinely believe these songs are just that.” Singer and lyricist Chris Nutting also commented, “I’m so excited for the world to hear this album because every song has a catchy hook that will get stuck in your head. That has always been a huge selling point for me with the music that I listen to, and I feel that it is such an important element to have in song writing. We wanted to write an album that would not only be fun to listen to, but also be a great experience to see live. You can bounce up and down to just about every song on the record. Each one of us played a role in writing lyrics, pulling influence from past experiences. You’ll be able to relate to these lyrics in one way or another. I couldn’t be more proud of how this album came together.” INTERVIEW: AFFIANCE. We’ve all heard the classic slogan “Cleveland Rocks”. While it may have been a TV sitcom’s introduction/theme song that made that slogan famous some years ago, it will be the metal band based in that fine city known as Affiance that will bring that slogan back and to heavy music reality. What Affiance will also bring back in the process is (and most importantly) what true rock and metal fans long for: melodic metal with soaring vocals and driving guitars. We’ve all heard the classic slogan “Cleveland Rocks”. While it may have been a TV sitcom’s introduction/theme song that made that slogan famous some years ago, it will be the metal band based in that fine city known as Affiance that will bring that slogan back and to heavy music reality. What Affiance will also bring back in the process is (and most importantly) what true rock and metal fans long for: melodic metal with soaring vocals and driving guitars. The band consisting of Dennis Tvrdik (vocals), Brett Wondrak (guitar), Dominic Dickinson (guitar), Cameron Keeter (bass) and Patrick Galante (drums) have just released their sophomore album for Bullet Tooth Records entitled The Campaign and let us be the first to tell you, this one just raised the bar and future expectations in the heavy music world! Not only does the album feature vocal pleasantries and musical melodies from the glory days of old (something lost on most heavy albums of late), it stands every bit as modern and relevant as anything being spoon-fed to the younger music buying masses and dominating end caps at record stores nationwide. RockRevolt™ was able to grab some time with Affiance’ s vocalist and campaign nominee Dennis Tvrdik to talk about the album and the band’s platform to save true rock and metal. We won’t hide our allegiance here; we voted for Affiance in this year’s “campaign”! Interview with Dennis Tvrdik: Rick/RR: Dennis, thank you for checking in with RockRevolt™. Dennis/Affiance: Thanks for having me, Rick! Rick/RR: Here is the question everyone is dying to know before we get to the new album and all other things Affiance . Are you the real reason that Cleveland rocks? (Laughs) Dennis/Affiance: No! Cleveland doesn’t need me to rock; it just needs people like me to get the word out about how awesome my hometown really is! Rick/RR: With this being a major political campaign year, you actually ran a successful one yourself, running on the catchy platform of “Strong” to promote your latest full-length effort, The Campaign , which many metal fans seemed to buy into. Dennis/Affiance: It definitely got some people’s attention. We understand how things work in this business. With us being on an independent label and self-managed, we have to come up with creative ways to promote ourselves. This one just so happened to have everything to do with the album title and the theme of the season! Rick/RR: What type of feedback did you receive from this creative online ad campaign? It is pretty darn crafty and brilliant if you ask me, especially with the release date of 11.13.12 being just one week later! Dennis/Affiance: The vast majority of people like it. It rubbed some people the wrong way and to be honest, I’m glad it did. I don’t expect every person to agree with us or be our fan. There are a lot of people out there I don’t want at our shows because they are a part of the problem with the music scene. We want to be part of the solution. Rick/RR: I couldn’t agree more with your expanded campaign message that stated, “Melody once made metal strong and it will make it strong again”. This does make you a strong investment as you say as well! (Laughs) Dennis/Affiance: We are just fed up with the same mediocre music paired with mediocre, heartless lyrics. What happened to the days when shredders and power vocalist were looked up to? What happened to musicianship and talent? It’s nice to see that a few very talented bands like Periphery and Memphis May Fire are starting to get the recognition they deserve. I really do believe that the next few years we will see talent chosen over image. Rick/RR: Your current single, “Kings of Deceit”, featuring Dustin Davidson of August Burns Red brings home the fact that Affiance is serious about bringing melody driven metal back to the masses! Dennis/Affiance: We chose that song to be the first music video off the album because we wanted to release it on Election Day. How fitting is it that we do a video about JFK assassination and how we may have been misled? “Kings of Deceit” simply is starting the album off by calling out the people who deceive us in an attempt to control our emotions. Also, it’s a dark and serious video and we need to balance out the fact that almost 700,000 people have seen me in my underwear playing Rock band on YouTube. (Laughs) Rick/RR: I can say from being at the first show of your tour this fall in La Crosse, Wisconsin, that fans seemed to really take to the new material. In fact, they were really singing along and throwing it down to the previously released song from the new album “You Will Be Replaced”, which you teased fans with by issuing it earlier this summer prior to the album’s release later this fall. I’m sure that is gratifying to see that. Dennis/Affiance: Most definitely! Even songs like “Kings of Deceit” or “Peace of Mind” which haven’t been out very long are getting great praise at shows. The biggest fear of playing new material is performing in front of a crowd that is just staring at you with a look of confusion. (Laughs) Rick/RR: What type of feedback have you received since the album’s release to the new material and your approach in emphasizing the melody? I’m rooting for you as it is time to move beyond the cookie cutter heavy music we’ve been inundated with for the past several years. Dennis/Affiance: Basically people are saying we have stepped it up multiple notches from No Secret Revealed and I couldn’t agree more. We wrote NSR three years ago, over a year before it was released, so there has been massive improvement in musicianship, song writing, and most importantly understanding who we are as a band. We are a modern metal/metalcore band focused on vocal melody. Rick/RR: You also recorded a killer/updated version of the 80’s hit by Europe “Final Countdown”. First, how did you come to choose this particular song and secondly, why did you choose to only release it as a single on iTunes verses including it on the album? Dennis Tvrdik, vocals. Dennis/Affiance: We chose it because we could actually perform it live! We only want to cover songs that are older and almost everyone knows. We also want to showcase our talent by covering acts that only a few modern bands could pull off. We left it off the album because it’s so cheesy… (Laughs), it didn’t fit with the content of the album. Rick/RR: As a music fan yourself, what bands or songs do you find yourself listening to when you get the chance? Dennis/Affiance: Periphery, As I Lay Dying, August Burns Red, Muse , classical music, 80’s and 90’s music… all kinds of stuff. Rick/RR: You have been tour warriors the past several years. What is the hard music circuit and scene like in your opinion overall? Dennis/Affiance: It’s tough. I want to play theaters and stages that will actually project our style, but instead we play small clubs, basements and floor shows. They can be tons of fun, as long as you can ignore the low quality of sound… (Laughs) On top of that, money is always an issue. You think you have everything planned then BOOM, the van’s water pump busts – actually getting repaired as we do this interview! Especially coming out west, the dates are 8-10 hours apart and through mountains, it will kill your van. But we do it all for our fans, which is by far the best part of touring. Oh, and eating delicious foods from all over! Rick/RR: What is the one question you wish someone would ask you in an interview, but never gets covered? Dennis/Affiance: Singing. No one asks about what it’s like being a singer in a scream heavy scene and it kind of baffles me. It leads me to think that the reason why is because it’s not really respected anymore like it used to be. I never drink alcohol before a set; I drink tons of water and sometimes cannot speak for most of a day to preserve my voice so I can perform to the best of my abilities. I just don’t think it’s appreciated as much as it should be. Front men/women are human instruments. If we get sick our instrument goes out of tune. I guess you would think a human instrument would be pretty interesting, but I could be biased. Rick/RR: Dennis, it has been a pleasure. Now that The Campaign is complete and the fans have spoken, let the next four years bring melody and metal back to the masses via Affiance . I look forward to voting you back into office for another term in 2016! Dennis/Affiance: Thanks so much for having me and the band Rick! Thank you for your vote and I am looking forward to it again at the next election! (Laughs)