FIREKIND

Music From Around The World

GROUP ONE: MELODIC HARD ROCK AND AOR

From York, England, we find multi talented song drawn in by the story, so I stand by that rule of thumb who have a killer catchy ten track CD out now called writer MAGGIE ADAMS, who has a superb catchy when writing my own songs,” she explains to me. ‘What I Have Found Is Already Lost’ that is well worth and diverse fifteen track CD out now called ‘Songs Being a compulsive songwriter Maggie is always checking out and runs in at just under forty minutes For Singers Vol.2’ that is well worth checking out working on a song in her head. “I even write songs long and skilfully explores a lot of different musical and runs in at just under seventy minutes long and in my sleep,” she smiles. “I like it that way! It doesn’t areas. The band are: Jas Morris - Vocals & Guitar, is well worth exploring. The music borders along the leave me with much free time but I do also enjoy Dan Morris - Bass & Backing vocals and Jack Toy - lines of blues based, soulful, acoustic, melodic retro watching animal/wildlife documentaries. I love all Drums. groove based music with male/female duets here animals - to me, they are superior to humans,” she ‘What I Have Found Is Already Lost’ is a deep and there of which Maggie hires to sing her songs. tells me. powerful and melodic song with towering vocals, I Producer Mark Pierce features on songs throughout Maggie is a multi-genre songwriter. “I’m not a love the way the song builds. Beautifully sung from the record as well as various other people. singer. My dream is to eventually have my songs Jas with heartfelt passion that will give you goose ‘You Blow Me Away’ sung by Julie Dorgan is a recorded by established artists, so it’s important bumps. ‘Cry for Help’ offers the same structures has warm catchy track with a classic melodic rock/ that each track is produced to the highest standard. a little more of a modern poppy edge. Americana/organic feel. The vocals on this track Being solely a songwriter allows me the freedom to ‘Sound of Rain’, ‘Coming out Alive’ and ‘Defend’ are massive and filled with emotion, right up there write in whichever genre I choose; without being are superb melodic songs with towering vocals. with Ann Wilson. ‘Wonders Never Cease’ is also a restrained by style, vocal range and gender.” Maggie ‘Defend’ is quite atmospheric with that extra kick and fabulous catchy melodic ditty featuring Mark Pierce has just completed a set of four albums under the superb lyrics. & Sarah Atkin on vocals. Both the fabulous ‘Sail heading ‘Songs for Singers’. ‘No Stone Unturned’ is one of those songs that Around The World’ and ‘Oblivion’ (Mark on vocals for ’Rock & Blues’ is a collection of fifteen songs in show off the bands song writing skills. It’s melodic both tracks) could both easily sit on any Rod Stewart various rock and blues styles. Some have a 70’s Rod and builds up with a classic rock vibe, superb album, that kinda style. ‘Soulmate’ (featuring Pablo Stewart vibe, others exude James Blunt and there’s performances. ‘If There’s Any Reason’ follows a on vocals), is a strong earthy ballad whilst ‘Hello a trace of Bon Jovi, Robbie Williams and Mel C in similar path. God’ (Mark vocals) is another cracking song, very there too. “The selected track for the Fireworks CD ‘Rise Again’ is an atmospheric melodic ditty with a smooth and organic with fabulous vocals with a very is ‘You Blow Me Away’ sung by Julie Dorgan,” she modern edge whilst ‘Adrenalin’ is another impressive seventies feel, think along the lines of Carole King. tells me. song, it is melodic yet has a modern organic feel to One stand out song is ‘Flying With The Angels’ a All of Maggie’s music is produced by Mark it, perhaps a little more progressive with galloping soulful gliding song with superb gentle melodies and Pierce www.revelator.co.uk at his studio in North guitars from Dan Morris, whilst ‘These Are the vocals, very soulful. ‘Its Time To Wake Up’ (Mark on Wales. In January 2015 Thoughts’ is slightly heavier. vocals) follows along a similar route and effortlessly they selected forty four Singer guitarist Jas Morris’ late father was a busy glides along as does the ‘Time Of My Life’ (Pablo songs that Mark had gigging musician so ever since Jas was born; there vocals), which is a more up-tempo and slick. demoed for Maggie over was always a guitar around the house. He remembers Another excellent song with a blues edge is ‘Why the previous five years; the first time he ever saw him play, he was completely Is It’ (Mark vocals), this track is superb, right out of and decided to compile blown away. Jas knew since that moment that being the seventies, I love the way this song builds, whilst them into a series of four a musician was what he wanted to do with his life. “I ‘Love Me Tender’ (Pablo vocals), goes for that blues genre focused albums. think I was about nine or ten,” he reflects. swagger, a superb song with a classic rock blues “We used the title The guitar was boogie feel, upbeat and catchy. ‘Songs for Singers’ as always his first love this best describes what when it came to music, I’m about. We revisited each track and took them up so from an early age MAGGIE ADAMS a notch - by enhancing the arrangements in some, he was heavily inspired selecting different vocalists in others, etc. That took by virtuoso guitarists about 16 months due to Mark’s commitments with like Steve Vai, Satriani, other artists. We ended up with ‘Stage Show’, ‘Rock Hendrix and Jeff Beck. & Blues’, ‘Jazz’ and ‘Acoustic’, and I’m absolutely However as he grew up delighted with the end result,” Maggie explains to and began singing more, me. Jas’ influences and Back in December 2011 Maggie was invited by playing moved over a little to bands like The Police, BBC Radio York to go in for an interview regarding Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and more modern bands like her song writing. “The plan was we’d have a chat Rage Against The Machine, Muse and Foo Fighters.” and they’d play a couple of my songs. I’d just finished Also, my father (who grew up listening to bands like writing a song called ‘White White Christmas’ and Wishbone Ash and Thin Lizzy) was a great influence thought this would be a perfect opportunity to give on me,” he tells me. ‘Thinking’ (sung by Helena Johnson) and it an airing. The problem was that song still hadn’t Jas also love’s to travel, which bodes quite well ‘Seventeen’ (Mark vocals), are both smooth swaying been produced and existed only on paper and on a with being in a band. “One of the reasons why I love songs with fab musicianship and vocals. Whilst Yamaha workstation! touring so much. Films, Sci-fi and anything to do with ‘Too Close For Comfort’ (Pablo vocals) is nothing To cut a long story short - the instrumentation was space also fascinate me! We have a TV in the back of short of superb, the lyrics are superb, again, catchy done by Ben Trigg in London, Mark Pierce travelled the tour-van so we often plow through film after film and smooth, whilst the ballad ‘To Sleep With You’ up from Wales with his equipment to record local on the way to gigs. We are currently working our way (features Mark Gilroy vocals) has a slight Cher vibe. singer Mark Gilroy. It all took place in a room above through the Godfather trilogy, a box set of Al Pacino Maggie Adams worked in retail management a shop in the Shambles in York on the Sunday. Mark classics and the odd Will Ferrell comedy,” he says. for many years and was becoming increasingly spent all day on the Monday mixing and mastering. The band bassist is Jas’ brother Dan Morris; disillusioned. She needed more out of life, and song He finished it at 5pm, we were in BBC Radio York’s they have been writing music together and gigging writing became her means of escape. Maggie is studio at 6pm and the track was played - talk about since they were in their early teens. “Our dad always purely a songwriter (words & music), so she hired hot off the press,” she smiles. taught us to play with feel and passion above all music producer Mark Pierce and his team of expert For the future Maggie hopes that someday some else and to try and keep the old ego in step. On the vocalists and musicians to have them professionally successful singer will record one of her songs. drums is the amazing Jack Toy. We’ve always tried demoed. The first song to be done was an acoustic “Maybe Adele, James Blunt, Ed Sheeran, Rod to write music according to our own tastes which version of ‘Seventeen’. “When I heard the finished Stewart, Michael Buble,” she marvels. “Chance is always the goal I think when you are trying to track I was ecstatic and totally hooked,” she smiles. would be a fine thing - but you can’t stop a girl from be unique. I think our sound is a soup of influences “That was in 2010 and almost fifty songs later I still dreaming. In the meantime, I’ll just keep on writing.” from the aforementioned artists. We absolutely love get the same buzz each time a track is finalised.” Whatever the future holds for Maggie, one thing for performing live and we always do our best to put on Maggie is a big fan of Adele, James Blunt and sure is her song writing skills are inspirational and a great show. I guess we are striving for a sound that David Ford. She also enjoys listening to Jason from the soul, make sure you check her out. has the best elements of classic rock brought into a Mraz, Ed Sheeran, Rod Stewart - and many more, For more info visit: www.songsforsingers.co.uk / modern era,” he explains to me. depending on the mood she is in. The songs on the www.maggiessongs.com The album is a culmination of songs writing over ‘Rock & Blues’ album were inspired by everyday life, the space of a couple years. A lot of the album deals past and present, and they all have a story to tell. “I Based around Newton Abbot and Plymouth in with the recent death of Jas’ father. “He was such a can’t relate to a song with poor lyrics - I need to be Devon, UK, we find melodic hard rock trioFIREKIND , big part in both mine and Dan’s lives. Growing up and THE MUSIC IS OUT THERE 1 FREE WITH FIREWORKS #76 as part of our musical ‘apprenticeship’ we spent years the golf course to release the extra energy and he has have a few fast punk songs ‘Betty Boop’, ‘Subway gigging with him in the same band. More recently he and has gotten good enough to start competing on the Grinder, classic hard rock, ‘Kids of the 70s’, ‘Planet managed Firekind before his untimely death in 2010,” professional circuit. Riff’ and even a few slow ones, ‘Desolation Highway’, he explains. Sweet Crystal are a fifteen time Detroit Music ‘Transformer. The album has been gaining a lot of The album was produced by the amazing Alain Award winning band, two of the more interesting favourable reviews from the British music magazines, Johannes at his studio in West Hollywood. Alain has aspects of Sweet Crystal is their longevity and if you like your rock with tons of swagger, these guys toured with and worked with some of the best in the staying true to their musical styling. “The three of will float your beer boat. The band are: Even Berg - rock scene including Queens Of The Stone Age, Foo us have been playing together for over 40 years Vocals, Kjetil F. Wevling - Guitar, Stig Sætevik - Bass Fighters, Them Crooked Vultures and was a part of and to this day, we don’t “chase” current trends in and Knut S. S. Wettre - Drums the cult supergroup Eleven. The band spent nearly six mainstream music but stay true to our progressive Music is the only months pre-producing the album at home in the UK, arena rock beginnings. The songs are new and fresh job that guitarist Kjetil F. sending their ideas back and forth to Alain in L.A. Once but the sound remains classic Crystal, which our fans Wevling ever had where that was complete they headed over to California and appreciate,” says Marq. it is mandatory to drink recorded the album in just under a month. “It was an The new CD ‘5 Carat Rock’’ is the bands fifth and do drugs. “Not sure amazing experience working with Alain. The bass rig release and is their most powerful and poignant to if that would work as Dan used on the album is the same rig that Nick Oliveri date. ‘5 Carat Rock’ starts bold out of the gate, not only well if I was driving a used to record the epic ‘Songs For The Deaf’ album by five new songs from the band but they also cover a bus,” laughs Kjetil. “That QOTSA. Also, Dave Grohl lent Alain his Vox AC30 for Bob Dylan gospel tune and even reach back to their might also be the reason me to use,” he smiles. early rock roots by Crystalizing a classic Motley Crue so many of us look up to During a festival in Edinburgh the guys were on the tune, showing vast diversity and skilful playing. The guys playing in bands same bill as Eliza Doolittle, Tinie Tempah and Texas (to track ‘Sgt Penney 1945’ is something of a personal growing up, because they can do all the things we name a few). “During the after show party I had had a nature for Marq. “It is an amazing interview from one can’t and live out our fantasies,” he tells me. Kjetil little too many drinks and thought I’d ask Eliza Doolittle of Sweet Crystal’s biggest supporters, broadcast live used to dream about being Jimmy Page or Richie for a hug. Let’s just say it ended pretty embarrassingly back in 1945 from the Pacific front to a Detroit radio Sambora, but that stuff was too damn hard for a kid to for myself, maybe due to the fact that we were in a lift station, highlighting and archiving one soldier’s story, play. That all changed when an older kid at the local and I tried to hold the lift door open, the door alarm amazing and humbling,” he says with passion. skate ranch introduced Kjetil to The Misfits and The went off, I didn’t get a hug and possibly because I This is the bands Ramones. “Their stuff I could actually play! So once I must have sounded like a nerdy schoolboy absolutely first CD since the 80s discovered punk it didn’t take long before I had formed failing at asking out the hot girl in school,” he grins. that they have tracked my first band. “Most of the guys have a similar story. Next up Firekind have a couple tours in the with live drums at Pearl We have all been in bands since we were fourteen to planning stage at the moment including an extensive Sound Studios in Canton, fifteen years old and a couple of us have had success tour around Europe and the US. “We are signed to MI which is renowned for in the past with other bands,” he explains. Kjetil was Possum Records with distribution via Universal in its massive drum sound. in a pop band called Surferosa for almost ten years Australia so a tour down under is certainly in the “We decided to get that and toured the world. The bass player used to be in cards at some point. We are also already writing for sonic firepower on our a grindcore band called Summon the Crows and they our follow up album.” I for one will look forward to tracks. Also producer toured all of Europe and released a few records. The that. As a band their work, is faultless, the song writing Chuck Alkazian played singer and drummer used to be in a garage rock band skills and musical work is of a very high quality and in bass guitar on some of the songs adding his own called Sonic Bandits. Jas, the UK has found one of its best current vocalists. spin to our tunes,” says Marq. Recorded and mixed Razorbats came together almost three years ago Firekind should do well. by uber-producer/engineer Chuck Alkazian (Christina and the guys decided to not have a plan for what kind Check the guys out at: www.firekind.com Aguilera, Asking Alexandria, Mitch Ryder and Pop Evil) of band they were going to be. Razorbats wanted to www.facebook.com/firekind and mastered by renowned mastering engineer Scott just start playing and let the music that they made Hull of Masterdisk (New York). All the drums, guitars guide them naturally. To begin with the band were and vocals were tracked at Pearl with the keyboards more of a pop punk band, but gradually they changed SWEET CRYSTAL and arrangements put together at the bands personal and ended up as some kind of melodic hard rock band. studio Nightcrier Music (also in Canton, MI). Tracking They guys like a lot of different music, but there are was done over the space of four weeks with mixing some bands they all love. Like AC/DC, Ramones, Guns and mastering taking only about another four. “This ’n Roses, Cheap Trick and Aerosmith. In hindsight release came out just over one year since our 2015 Kjetil’s think what they actually did with Razorbats “QUAD” EP, which is the fastest we’ve ever produced was to go back to the bands that initially got them a new CD, producer credits are equal between interested in rock music and started over from there. Alkazian and the band,” he explains. “The band is not a natural continuation of any of our Just this month the guys added two great female previous bands,” he explains. “Rock music today backup singers to their live show and their first is divided into so many different sub-genres and it concert with the band was outdoors. “Just as we seems people forget that most of the old bands that welcomed them both onstage and launched into their have inspired us just wanted to make pop songs with first song, the skies opened up in a veritable monsoon distorted guitars and have a hit record. I can’t really From Detroit, Michigan, we find classic melodic/ of wind and rain, wiping out all the players on stage think of any new bands the last ten years who have progressive rock band SWEET CRYSTAL, who have and stopping the event. We had talked about ‘getting brought the rock fans together, like The Rolling Stones, a superb new eight track CD out now called ‘5 Carat their feet wet’ with us, but this was way more than AC/DC or even Foo Fighters did. Would be great if Rock’ that and runs in at just over thirty minutes long anyone bargained for. Thankfully our next show is there was a bunch of seventeen year old kids in some and is quite a diverse record that mixes up classic 70’s indoors,” he smiles. basement somewhere who could do that again in a style rock along with prog, lots of melodies and synths. More new songs are already being recorded few years,” he smiles. The band have released two full albums, three EP’s for next year’s release, plus a new national radio Kjetil thinks that one of the things that make and several vinyl singles. The band are: Marq Andrew campaign for ‘5 Carat Rock’, new shows and benefit Razorbats different is that the band doesn’t feel the Speck - lead vocals, anything with keys, Bill Blatter concerts to play. “We basically plan to remain exactly need to be different. “I guess that’s why we called the - backup vocals, anything with strings, Steve Wieser - who we are for as long as can. As our trademarked album ‘Camp Rock’, because we’re not trying to do anything hit with sticks. slogan puts it, we will continue to keep Reaching The anything avant-garde or fancy,” he tells me. The band The guys all met right out of high school and World, One Song at a Time,” he concludes. just wanted to make a good rock album full of catchy became fast friends for life. To this day they get Check Sweet Crystal out at: riffs and sing-a-long choruses, and this they have together every week to rehearse record and just www.sweetcrystal.com done as ‘Camp Rock’ is such a fun likeable album, full enjoy each other’s company. Does it get old after four www.facebook.com/SweetCrystalBand of massive addictive songs, carved with the bands decades together? “Absolutely not! We just get better www.twitter.com/sweet_crystal own energetic rock niche. The title is of course a bit with age,” smiles singer Marq Andrew Speck. tongue-in-cheek, Razorbats are not afraid of making Sweet Crystal started out totally influenced by simple, catchy songs and some people might find that the prog rock English music scene of the 60’s and RAZORBATS a bit cheesy, Razorbats are from cheesy, their music 70’s with bands like Pink Floyd, Yes, Genesis, Atomic comes over, how I can say, with a sense of originality Rooster, Uriah Heep all left their musical marks on the as the band are tight and humble people and the songs bands writing and playing. They also listened to a lot are not copy cats, it’s their story, sure people will cite of American bands like Kansas, Journey, Rush and bands like Sweet etc... Razorbats have their own style Spock’s Beard to keep their creative juices flowing. and you will hear this when you play ‘Camp Rock’. This album continues where last year’s ‘QUAD’ record In Norway the artists have become so damn left off, songs of hope and inspiration featuring our serious and introvert, that it’s a pain to watch a lot of signature guitar sounds, synth melodies, straight them. “I blame indie for that! It seems to me that they ahead drumming with just a few chanting monks either don’t feel it’s their job to entertain the audience thrown in for good measure. or maybe they just don’t know how to do it? I’m not Outside of music, Marq is big time into acting saying you have to be Paul Stanley to be in a band with four feature film roles and various television (can you imagine a band with four Paul Stanleys?), but appearances under his belt. Guitarist Bill is into From Oslo, Norway, we find rising classic hard at least pretend you’re having a good time on stage! competitive marksmanship and was recently rockers RAZORBATS, who have a fabulous, very Most of them are not as deep as they think they are endorsed for ISP Technologies, a high-end music catchy and diverse eleven track CD out now called and it’s not like you can’t make meaningful music and merchandiser in Michigan. Drummer Steve takes to ‘Camp Rock’ that is well worth exploring. Razorbats still entertain,” says Kjetil. THE MUSIC IS OUT THERE 2 FREE WITH FIREWORKS #76 ‘Camp Rock’ is eleven songs of melodic hard rock guitar and joining the rock scene. “And here I am those songs you can get lost in, it starts melodic and bliss. Some people say it takes them back to the days today” he smiles. slower and then builds up into a catchy ditty and flows of Scandirock with bands like Backyard Babies and Tom’s inspirations include W.A.S.P, In Flames, back n forth, nice feel, lots of groove and character. The Hellacopters. “Those bands mixed hard rock Manowar, Kiss and a lot of other great bands. ‘The Wall’ is next and kicks off with a glitz of with a bit of punk, so I can see where they’re coming “We have a very wide range of influences; we put guitars. This has a darker feel to it, the vocals are great from,” says Kjetil. He is also happy to see that the everything we like in a blender and mix it up to make and again I love the way the song builds up, seductive, bands slower songs have been compared to bands the sound of TOXICROSE. Good music is good music! melodic and catchy. ‘Sooper Gurl’ continues in the like Hanoi Rocks and The Dogs D’Amore. “So even The songs are about real life in general,” he tells me. same fashion, the chorus is very melodic, it has a though we have a few slow ones we won’t go all Outside of music Tom enjoys watching old horror sexy charisma about it and is another of the albums Michael Bolton on you! One of the guys in the band movies from the 70s and 80s, Romantic evenings and highlights, back in the day this would have been riding went through some hard times when we wrote the being social with friends. “Most of my time is spent high up the charts. album, so a lot of that is in the lyrics. We didn’t realise on music and everything that’s related to it,” he adds. The melodic ‘Tell It it before it was finished, but what binds the album TOXICROSE is a band that got it all. Their sound To The Doctor’ is another together is stories of mental illness, drug abuse and is unique, with heavy skull crushing riffs, raw melodic fine song; I love the story deceit. I guess it affects all areas of your life when ass kicking vocal and massive choruses. “A shocking telling lyrics, the chorus you’re in the middle of it and it sneaks in whether you look that will blow your mind, and we always put on a is catchy and the whole like it or not. But it’s not all doom and gloom! There is bombastic live show,” he adds. band sounds tight and also the story about a guy in New York who rubbed The band wanted full of energy. ‘Ugly’ is up on girls on the subway until he came and didn’t the new album to be a next, this song has more get punished for it because the court ruled that there good variation of tempo edge, again this song is were so many people in there that a bit of dry humping and styles of songs. different, quite organic was inevitable,” Kjetil laughs. “An album that you and captivating with a The band recorded ‘Camp Rock’ at Calmeyer could listen to from the lot going on, quite glammy in parts but addictive. ‘No Studios in Oslo, Norway. A guy called Kai beginning to the end Where’ ends the album and is another fun catchy up- Christoffersen produced it. He won the Norwegian many years from now and tempo ditty, fabulous performances from all the cast, Grammys a few years ago and works a lot with a never get bored. Total the violins on the track give it a southern feel, superb great Norwegian band called Orango. Last summer Tranquility includes ten song. Razorbats released their first EP called ‘Bring It On’ killer tracks of perfection The band are Susan Aquila -Vocals, Six String and they produced it themselves. It took ages to and energy for the fans pleasure,” he tells me. It is self fretted Electric Violin, Rob Tomaro - Songwriter, record and the guys weren’t all that happy with the produced by the band. The drums were recorded at Guitars, Background vocals, Tony Wisniewski - bass sound on it, so they wanted a producer to help them the almighty Audiogrind Studio in Stockholm, and the and Joel Baer - Drums. get the songs sounding the way they wanted and also rest at Saltgruvan Studio, Stockholm. The recording Music has always been a part of singer Susan have another point of view than the bands. “We were process took a bit longer than they had planned. “We Aquila’s life. She started taking violin lessons when really happy with his input, so in January we’ll head had to make it the best we could ever do, u can’t rush she was seven and she knew that she wanted to go back to the studio to record a few more songs. The perfection huh? But it’s worth it now cuz the album into music right away. As a teenager, Susan noticed album took about twelve days to record and Kai mixed turned out just great,” explains Tom. that she would go to school and play symphonies and it,” says Kjetil. “We got a deal with an American label One time the bands tour bus broke down in the be really happy but then she would go home and listen called Self Destructo Records and they have now middle of the freeway. “It was winter time and our bus to rock music on the radio. “So, the music pushed me released it worldwide. It’s a great label for us and they was shaking from the trucks that were passing us in and eventually I had to play the music I was listening have some awesome bands like The Meatmen and full speed. All we could do was waiting to for someone to. I still perform classical music but my heart, more Against the Grain,” he explains. to help us and it eventually we got help. We had to rent and more, is in Rock and Roll,” she enthuses. Next up Razorbats will tour Norway. “We recently a new bus and drive to the show. The funny part about Susan’s musical heroes are Jimi Hendrix and Janis we got a booking agent here, so he’s working his the story is that what cause the problem was a broken Joplin. The ‘Miss Conduct’ album became a necessity. ass off getting us as many gigs as possible. We gas meter, we had no fuel but the meter showed These songs had to come out, as her life was going have gotten quite a bit of airplay on national radio in something else. We could just filled up some gas and through a lot of changes, and so was the music. For Norway and ended the week of release with a live gig be on our way but we had no clue. It was not a funny those of you who heard Susan’s previous CD ‘Broken on the largest youth radio station. It has helped us a lot situation back then but it makes a nice story now for Angel’, you’ll notice that the production on ‘Miss that radio supports us, so a lot more people show up sure,” he smiles. For the future the band will tour as Conduct’ is scaled down and rocks harder. “We’ve at our gigs now. We are also getting a bit of attention much as possible and spread the word of TOXICROSE returned to the roots of rock for this one. It’s about the in Europe and the US, so we have just started planning to the masses. “We want to play and meet a lot of our electric violin, the lyrics, my voice, Rob’s guitar and some gigs abroad. Not sure when it will happen, but beloved fans and later on start working on the next drums, drums, drums,” she explains to me. hopefully we’ll pack up a shabby old van in the spring album,” he concludes. Outside of music Susan enjoys running, hiking, and head out to conquer the world,” he laughs. “We Check the band out at www.toxicrose.org sports, a lot of physical activity. “Hanging with my are also hoping to get a new single out in May and www.facebook.com/TOXICROSE/ dog Daisy. I love to read murder mysteries, forensic play a bunch of festivals next summer. Every little https://twitter.com/ToxicRose_TXR detective and true crime books, and eating chocolate town in Norway have their own festival now, so our cake. I love swimming and water sports, as well,” she plan is to play eight to ten of them. There’s nothing tells me. like a bunch of drunken Vikings rocking out until they SUSAN AQUILA The key part of this band is the musical collapse in their own vomit,” Kjetil laughs. Whatever partnership between songwriter Rob Tomaro and happens next I for one with the band all the rock n’ Susan Aquila. Besides being close friends, they are roll luck in the world. Razorbats are a band to watch, able to communicate with each other’s feelings and if you see the bat sign in the sky above, you know the Rob is able to put them into songs. “The first feature band are in town. that makes us different is that I am fronting the band Check the band out at playing a six string fretted electric violin and singing. http://razorbats.com Also, we have a guitar heavy sound, which is balls to https://razorbats.bandcamp.com the wall,” Susan explains. The new album ‘Miss Conduct’ is a female driven progressive hard rock record and they take TOXICROSE no prisoners. Susan is naturally really proud of the new direction she and her band are taking vocally From New York, we find hard rock solo artist and musically. “We are especially interested in the SUSAN AQUILA, who have a new twelve track CD out possibilities for interplay between the electric guitar now called ‘Miss Conduct’ that is well worth exploring and the electric violin and we are inspired by the duos and runs in at over fifty minutes long. in groups such as Dokken, The Scorpions, and Iron ‘Dirty Delicious’ kicks the album off and is a catchy Maiden. We hope to take this one step farther. Since up-tempo melodic rocker with wonderful vocals and the violin is played with a bow instead of a plectrum, musicianship. ‘Miss Conduct’ is next and is another this opens a wide range of effects it can produce that up-tempo catchy punchy rocker with dynamic vocals are unable to be played on the guitar. Also, the range from Susan, a little raw. ‘Twisted’ is more melodic of my six string electric violin goes down the low F, based with Joplin/Benatar like raspy vocals; it’s got a deep in the cello range, and reaches an octave above little bit of a modern edge to the vibe. the range of the electric guitar,” she says. From the Stockholm, Sweden, we find melodic ‘Gris Gris Woman’ is another melodic ditty, this The album was recorded at Turkey Vulture Studios metal artists TOXICROSE, who have a new ten track is one of my favourite songs on the album, it’s more in Rockford, Illinois. It was co-produced by Rob CD out now called ‘Total Tranquility’ that runs in at atmospheric with a lot going on musically whilst being Tomaro and Jason Z, who owns the studio and was the over fifty minutes long. The band are Andy - vocals, catchy. ‘Lightnin’’ is a looser more organic melodic engineer. “He did an amazing job with the recording Tom - guitar, Goran - bass, Michael - drums track, again the vocals come across gritty where they and the mix,” she champions. Rob is responsible for Guitarist Tom grew up amongst music as a kid, need to be like Janis Joplin, there is a lot of up-tempo finding their signature sound. “It was recorded over a his dad was playing music and his older brother had groove to this song, love the way it builds up. period of over a year, on and off, between June of 2014 a big heart for heavy metal music. When he first saw ‘Why?’ is an energetic and catchy melodic affair and finished in December of 2015. Since I live in New a picture of kiss at an early age, Tom was hooked. He with high powered vocals. As the song progresses York City and Rob and the band are in the Midwest, was so inspired by the sound of the look of the rock there is a lot going on musically with some fab guitar along with T. V.R. Recording Studios, it took a long time music and was drown into learning how to play the playing and keyboard work. ‘I Can’t Tell You’ is one of to complete the project, especially with me travelling THE MUSIC IS OUT THERE 3 FREE WITH FIREWORKS #76 back and forth,” she tells me. friendship, war and also about contemporary world When Susan and the band were on tour in Florida problems. “We are not politicians. We are musicians STEELMADE with Tantric they had been going non-stop for almost and I write about what I feel and what I live,” he adds. a month. “I had been having some back trouble, so I Most of the band are involved in music. Marco is was lying down in the back bedroom of the bus trying a vocal coach, Matt is a guitar teacher and Frank is to relax it for the show that night. My manager and a producer and sound engineer. Luca and Fabry have driver were in front, driving like crazy and arguing jobs outside music. “Everyone has their own private about the directions. They didn’t notice that we were life of course, and we try to spend as much time as about to go over a speed bump at about 40 MPH. I possible, with our family, friends and all the people we screamed as I flew up into the air. The driver turned love and support us, and help us to realize our dreams. to the manager and said: ‘I think I just killed your star.’ Everybody practices sports, like running, tennis, Thank goodness, I was O.K. and the show went on that swimming, and so on, and when it’s possible, we go to night in Tallahassee,” she laughs. the cinema. We love films, and we like to chat about For the future Susan is planning touring, more what we see. recording, concerts, T. V. and radio!! “We have our Like so many of us these days we are all running very cool groove. ‘ own tour bus and we’re not afraid to use it. Also, I around too much and it would be great to slow things Revolution’ is a strong sturdy melodic number am beginning production on three songs that Rob and down,” he explains. with crunching riffs and atmospheric vibe. ‘Love Or A I co-wrote with superstar producer Tony Battaglia, The band began to play together about two years Lie’ is a superb ballad, melodic and up-tempo in style who has had so many mega-hits with artists such ago, in Vimercate a small town north of Milan. “The with great musicianship. ‘Stay’ is a more up-tempo as Shinedown, Puddle of Mudd, NSYNC, and the band as I told you was Matt and Frank’s dream. It was catchy ditty, with strong vocals and groove ,, whilst Backstreet Boys. Recently, we worked with him for a decided that the sound should be created through the the catchy ‘We Are Bizarre’ follows a similar groove. week in his studio and it was a moving and inspiring use of a really strong vocal line, great structure and ‘Without’ is another cool song with a lot going on with experience. He is a genius,” she concludes. all supported by a ‘wall of sound’. The idea was to marvellous bass work, it’s a little more unusual and Check the band out at www.Susanaquilamusicepk. build a rock band with a strong rhythmic section, and retro as is the wonderful ‘Sweet Lady’. This is another com / Susanaquilamusic.com / powerful guitars. It was clear for us, that we wanted of my favourite songs and has a lot of twists and turns, to form a band and write songs with a different style very catchy, poppy, and melodic with lots of groove, BRAIN DISTILLERS CORPORATION and in a different way than most other Italian bands. In whistling and added female vocals. This is where addition, the importance of a really well-defined Live Steelmade really get into their stride, fabulous song. impact was part of the plan from the very beginning,” The groovy ‘Even Gods Have Enemies’ is melodic says Marco. with a modern vibe. Also showing a similar vibe is the ‘Ugly Farm’ is the band’s first album and they excellent ‘Silent Cries’, its melodic, spacey, maybe love all of the ten songs and are very happy with even reminiscent of late eighties Faith No More. the results. The first track, Marvin, is one of Marco’s Melodic and vibrant with a massive groove and fab favorite songs in memory of Marvin ‘popcorn’ Sutton, guitar work in the Marty Friedman vein. The funk vibes probably the most famous American moonshiner. “We are continued on the excellent and catchy ‘Killing Me’. were attracted by his story and his life. And we wrote Which even has a little Geddy Lee feel in the vocal that song, we chose to make a video clip - a very department. funny video clip - and from that point we were inspired The band are Paul Baron (vocals), Jadro (guitar), helping us creates our outfits, our style, the beards Benjamin (bass guitar) and Jochi (drums). and also the name of the band itself. ‘Southern Milf’, Bassist Benjamin’s father Milroy Fernando, was From Milano, Italy, we find heavy groove rockers the last single extracted from the album, is like a sort a Jazz Pianist and Saxophone player. And all his BRAIN DISTILLERS CORPORATION, who have a killer of sequel to Marvin. I talk about a woman that makes brothers played instruments too. That put Benjamin catchy ten track CD out now called ‘Ugly Farm’ that me crazy and treats me like a fool. It has very easy under pressure to learn an instrument as well. He is well worth checking out and runs in at just under lyrics with a really good chorus,” he explains. The started playing the guitar when he was about ten forty five minutes long and is a cracking feisty diverse album features two special guests. Tommy Massara years old. “Later, when I was 18 years old, when had album that also features guests Tommy Massara from from Extrema, who did the guitar solo in ‘Where is real problems finding a bass player I switched to bass Extrema and Stef Burns (Y&T). God?’, and the great Stef Burns, who honored the and stayed there ever since,” says Benjamin. ‘Southern Milf’, ‘I Can Breathe Again’, ‘Where Is band with his magical guitar on the track’ Lost Friend’. From drummer Jochi’s earliest childhood, he God’ (featuring Tommy Massara), ‘Marvin’ (about an The album was produced by Luca Liviero and knew deep inside him, that there was a demand to American moonshiners), and ‘Seam Line’ are groove Brain Distillers Corporation. “Bios music records is play drums. He built his first drum kit with the boxes laden catchy ditties with a melodic edges. Whilst our independent label. It took two years. We finished of his toys. His parents were not so amused over his the excellent ‘The Lost Friend’ is more melodic with writing the songs about a year ago and then we sessions early in the morning at 6am. “First my parents a southern edge and features Stef Burns. ‘Maybe recorded the first session of the album. After one of let me learn to play the recorder and trumpet till I was One Day’ is a diverse number, slower but with a our shows, Luca Liviero, the label’s boss and producer ten years old. Then the best thing of my life. I got a steady growing groove with superb vocals and of the album, offered to record, mix and master all dental brace and so I could no longer play trumpet. performances. ‘The Biggest Crime’, ‘Who’ and ‘The the songs in his own studio. We used the very best That was the start of my loved drummer career,” says Right Way To Go’ all have a more modern alternative equipment. For example, to record and mix the track, Jochi. feel with ‘The Biggest Crime’ having a nice grinding we used an SSL 4000e analog mixer. The album was Guitarist Jadro was power bass sound. released two months ago. We are very proud and we always playing guitar The band are: Matteo Bidoglia - guitars, Francesco can’t wait to begin recording the second album,” he since he was eleven or Altare - guitars, Marco Pasquariello - vocals, Luca tells me. twelve. “I think another Frangione - bass and Fabrizio Ravasi - drums. When the band left in March for the first European reason was my father Brain Distillers Corporationare five guys with tour in a van full of kit, people and enthusiasm, at one because he was a an immeasurable passion and love for music. They stage they thought that they would never make it. “It musician himself but decided to put together their crazy minds and try to has been a really warm winter here and just when we decisive was a concert create an original rock-metal band which is able to decided to cross there Alps we were hit by a snow by Van Halen, as a stand the test of time. “We are not so young now, and blizzard that nearly took us all off the road! Being a solo Edi lay down I just all of us have been in different bands in the past,” crazy group the local police gave us hell about the wanted to also. So I can explains Singer Marco Pasquariello. When Matt and lack of snow chains and how we could have created a say I am very influenced by the first album of Van Frank, the two guitarists, called up Marco, and offered mega accident but …we made it! It made us think that Halen,” he explains to me. him the chance to be part of this brand new band, he BDC is here to stay and who knows…. there may even Since front man Paul Baron was a child he has was both proud and very excited. Then when he saw be a song about this in the future,” he smiles. loved to sing and to entertain. “Since I was a child and heard Fabry, the drummer, and Luca, the bassist, Next up the band want to play as much as possible. it was clear, that music will be a main part in my life. playing, Marco knew that this was the band he was “We want to support our new album and our plan is to I loved it to entertain my family or in front of a mirror, looking for. spread our music as far and wide as we possibly can. I always knew that I’ll perform on stage someday. Naturally the band In the future, we will release 1 or 2 new video clips, I know it’s a hard business but where there’s a will has specific musicand from next month we’ll begin to write the songs for there’s a way, so I hope,” he smiles. “For me singing influences and there the new album. Stay tuned.” and writing songs is a way to bring stories/tales to are differences amongst Check the guys out at: an audience, I can share what keeps playing on my each band member. www.facebook.com/BrainDistillersCorporation mind.,” he adds. “Our common passions www.braindistillerscorporation.com Musically Steelmade are influenced by many are Blues, Metal and different styles and you can already hear it on CD. we love the Rock From Kreuzlingen, Switzerland, we find melodic The songs on the CD are also formed so. “We do sounds of the nineties. rock artists STEELMADE, who have a diverse new not want to permanently bind to a determined genre. This combination of eleven track CD out now called ‘Love Or A Lie’ that For us there are no fences in one genre. We love the influences has made runs in at just under forty minutes long. freedom of movement in different styles,” explains it so natural and easy to write and structure our ‘Desire And Love’ is one of my favourite songs, it Jadro. “For example there are two ballads at the CD songs giving us our ‘sound’: everything seemed to is a catchy up-tempo song, a little heavier with gritty and some heavy or melodic rock songs, from fast to be magically clear! We all decided that one vital vocals coupled with lots of energy. ‘Edda’ is also a slow, sometimes with electronic sounds or back vocal element was ‘to have fun’ and not take ourselves too good song with some interesting atmospheric Eastern singers. In every respect there is not only one musician seriously,” he explains to me. At the moment Marco is influences. It is an instrumental piece, melodic and is in focus (no extended solo parts), everybody is 25% writing the lyrics in the band and he talks about love, progressive with sensational guitar work from Jadro, of the Band and all together we are Steelmade,” THE MUSIC IS OUT THERE 4 FREE WITH FIREWORKS #76 he adds. The inspirations behind the album are the out and runs in at just over fifty minutes long, if you metal festival near touring (Italy). It was the night of people. “Everyone have feelings or hopes, fears and are a reader of Fireworks and love melodic rock Inter vs. Naples FA Cup (Wadda f**k!!!).. well..We experiences.” with female vocals and diversity then you will love were asked by the music service to send the stage Outside of music Paul loves to travel. “I spent time this album. The band are: Ella V’ Storm - lead and plan with a channels list in attached and I secretly in North America. I also like to ride my motorbike. backing vocals, Marco Meljohn - guitars, Colin added an additional “TV channel” to watch the Enjoying life and trying to make the best of each day is Rhodes - bass, the band have also hired various match while playing. In retrospect it was better if one of my life motto,” he tells me. drummers to perform on the album. I didn’t do it because Inter lost 2-1 and I played like Jochi is interested in old cars and travelling around Bass player Colin Rhodes’ life and route shit,” he smiles. the world or spend time with his friends. “I have an into music was a little bit unusual. In 1976 Colin Colin loves to read a lot. “I’ve just read all of old car, built in 1987, there is always a lot to repair, chanced upon the now classic album ‘Rainbow the Game of Thrones books. Also I am a bit fan the electric windows, the sealing’s or problems with Rising’ album. He accidently put the B side on first of the Jack Reacher novels, the only problem is the speedometer, a never ending story,” he smiles. and of course the very first thing that you hear is though that no sooner you start to read them and Jadro is more on the sport side and loves to run and the amazing Cozy Powell’s thunderous drum intro it’s finished because you become so engrossed in book reading. “I’m interested in Philosophy and Greek to Stargazer. “I was absolutely hooked and all I them that time whizzes by,” he marvels. “I’m not Mythology, but my family is the most important have, wanted to do was play the drums but there was just a book worm though; my two real passions are so I love to spend time with my little daughter Edda no way that a ten year old kid from Bradford was motor racing, Formula one in particular and rugby. (4), which I dedicate the instrumental song Edda,” he going to get his hands on a drum kit,” smiles Colin. I’ll spend all day watching either if I could get away explains. Fast forward a few years and Colin is in the Boys with it and my perfect day would be watching Each band member has a different musical Brigade and there is a vacancy in the BB band for Accrington Wildcats run the opposition ragged background. Benjamin’s musical background is highly a drummer. He pestered then to let him have a go and then get myself in front of the tele and watch influenced by funk and jazz. “That’s the reason why and with a little bit of tuition and a hell of a lot of the Mclaren team play catch up with the front we create such diversity in our music. This diversity practice he got into the band and over the next runners,” he adds. will be even greater in our upcoming stuff,” he says. six years they entered shit loads of competitions Storm in a Teacup is a very unconventional One of the big differences within the band is their winning many of them.”We were chosen to be in band. It’s a band formed online which members ages and the origin. Jadro for instance comes from the Pink Floyd The Wall movie ‘Go to Bring the Boys live far away from each other. “We’re a bunch of Croatia at the Balkans, Benjamin’s family has its Back Home and there I am at the front,” he explains professional musicians who liked to be involved in Singhalese origin in Sri Lank. That is a big impact an to me. this project. So we have thingummy playing drums you can hear it in Benajmin’s rhythm and groove. “ am Guitarist Marco Meljohn got into music at high on one track, Joe Soap on the other one and so from Bavaria at the border of south Germany grown school back to the 80s. Marco started playin’ guitar on...it depends on each single track. Not a standard up in a traditional music interested family. If you see at the age of fifteen at first by ear then studying line up I mean. Anyway that’s what I was looking our interesting origins, the different cultures and the music theory, not that different from many other for. Only Ella V’ Storm took care of the whole lead broad range of ages in the band, that is in my opinion musicians. “My very first experience was in singing,” Marco explains to me. “Music is about unique,” explains Jochi. band called Snow Queen in which I was also lead ideas and discussing them until you come up with Their love for music is the main reason why singing (don’t laugh...ok go ahead and laugh! lol). something that you’re proud of and want people to Steelmade make music. “We are four normal boys After a couple of years the band hired a “real” listen to,” adds Colin. express trying feelings, thoughts with music. We have singer and we made a promo CD looking for labels’ The album in Colin’s own opinion is a sort no wish to rock stars, as are musicians and that will interest,” he explains. Unfortunately this didn’t of two pronged attack. In the main the album is not change in the future,” adds Jadro. amount to nothing because of the grunge wave that collaboration mainly between Colin and Marco. All the songs were written within two months. conquered the whole rock music business in those “Usually I would come up with a lyric and if it Benjamin joined the band in mid December when years and killed it. “In those years I had a job as was any good then Marco would get to work on Jochi was already in the studio laying down the drum sound technician and this was very helpful to me. the musical composition and he’d ask me for my tracks. “The bass tracks were scheduled in early I learned a lot about how to produce and record opinion,” he explains. “There were never any January. So I had to put a lot of work into< learning tracks,” he tells me. arguments over the songs because Marco’s ideas all the stuff in just three weeks,” Benjamin tells me. One of Colin’s greatest inspirations was a always seem to fit perfectly the lyrics. The lovely The album was recorded and produced by Kai completely unknown school boy band by the name thing about it is that Marco is so full of ideas that in Kohlekeller Studios near Darmstadt. The process of Topaz fronted originally by a very charismatic even if his first or second idea wasn’t really right from start to finish took about three months. Only in young chap by the name of Darren Palmer aka then he would come up with something else really the late autumn, the band was complete. They laid the Dazzy Dazbourne and one of the most talented quickly and no doubt better than the previous tune. foundation for the songs over the summer and early guitarists Colin have ever met Tim Walker who went What could be said is that there is no real direction autumn. Four songs they got star producer Steve on to play with other bands Bobo and Harlequin. and that’s because we weren’t being precious van Velvet (Falco, Die Prinzen), an old friend of their “The more famous people who inspired me were about everything being loud and heavy but more guitarists Jadro. First, the drums were recorded. Only the magnificent bassists Neil Murray and John light and shade,” he tells me. the sequence and the text of the songs were finished, McCoy (John in particular because he looked like This is an old school album yet filled up with the guitar sounds and bass lines were provisionally he was going to kill you) and of course Cozy Powell different styles...from classic hard rock to modern drafted since Benjamin was quite new in the band. will always be the metal even more. “The challenge was to make all In the studio, the bass and guitar tracks were then boss when it comes to songs sound harmoniously,” says Marco. “I hate elaborated and refined. The guys are naturally very drummers, as far as I’m when artists are written off. Basically this album proud of our first album in which the short time they concerned nobody ever is a trip through the rock music. We have classic developed and recorded it. came close to him as a hard rock tracks such as ‘Lady Doctor’ and ‘Out In his youth over twenty years ago Jochi played driving force behind a of the Blue’ and yet ‘The Sun Will Rise Again’ in a marching band and they had a special weekend band. The bands I loved which groove is funky, or the ballad ‘If’ that sounds training. “I trained for me over a short lunch break. were Rainbow, Black country western after Ella’s vocals arrangements. During that session I killed one of the kettledrum Sabbath, Dio, Saxon, ‘Tarot Lady’ is an experiment to mix the 70s disco skins. After that my nickname was “Paukenkiller” Iron Maiden and Abba,” drums (playing hit hat on the upbeat) with grunge (Timpanikiller),” he laughs. In former bands Paul used he says. If you listen grooving drums and guitars. I,I,I, is drop C tuning to drink lots of whiskey during a gig. “One bottle one to the songs on the album each lyric tells its own ...“fat” and evil just like the rancorous subject of gig was the name of the game. Even I didn’t want story and each of them came from something that its lyric. Pink Champagne and Bad Bad Girl are to drink a lot, I had to, because there was always Colin has seen, heard or experienced. “So they both classic American rock n’ roll. ‘Talking About someone in the audience who brought me a bottle might give the listener an inkling of what was going Love’ ahem... at the bus stop two teenagers were of Jack. But that is something I changed, I still love through my mind on that particular day. I’ll give you talking about a boy met at school. ‘Soo cute!’ ‘ Soo whiskey but I won’t drink that much on stage anymore. an example of “I,I,I” The actual inspiration for that charming’ etc etc... ‘ I do hope he’s going to add It is more important to play a fantastic gig than to be was watching The Jeremy Kyle Show where all me as a friend on facebook!”’ C’mon girls! You higher than the empire state,” he giggles. these people without a full set of teeth scream at f**king kidding me ?! He’s there! He’s real! Ask For the future Steelmade want to play live as much each other,” he smiles. him out to date,” laughs Marco. “OMG... What’s left as possible in several countries. “Especially in the UK, Marco loves all hard n’ heavy bands coming behind? Oh yes! ‘Desert Rose’...in the beginning Russia, Germany and other east European countries from those years. “Although I have to admit that this one was an instrumental track composed for because there are a lot of people who love our music Whitesnake is my favorite band ever. The “1987” lead guitar. A sequence of change “tempo” playing today,” adds Jochi. Nevertheless the guys want to album is a kind of Holy Bible to me and so is ‘Slip along with Spanish and Arabic melodies.” build a fan base in every county. “At the Moment we of the Tongue’. Being a guitar player I must admit It was a hard labor for the boys as this is a are collecting ideas for writing more music. We would that Steve Vai has a big hold on me, it’s easy to self made production. “I have to thank Mr John improve our sound and skills; in the fall of 2017 we like understand it as you listen to our album. Instead McCoy who gave us a boost in making this record,” to record our second album. We won’t develop the lyrics are by Colin Rhodes who’s got a genuine adds Marco. The recordings took us a long long next album in the same way like the first. We want talent in writing ... while I’m very lazy to this. We time because many session players took part in to try more together, more individual account of the have songs about love... about day life...about kinky this album. “I’m used to record all guitar parts at individual characters and bring in our own sound,” stuff. Storm in a Teacup MMXVI (2016) is not a my own studio in Milan but the other instruments Jochi concludes. concept album, we just treat day themes,” he says. were recorded in various towns. I just came up to Check the band out at www.steel-made.com Outside of music Marco enjoys football and Cheddington to attend vocals recordings. I thought his wife. “Yes in second place,” he laughs. “Just that this would have been the last landmark then go Bases around Bradford and London, UK and also kidding ...well not so. I’m a huge supporter of Inter straight to mix and mastering but I was so wrong. Milan, Italy we find AOR/hard rock band STORM IN of Milan my town. I tell you a story about this true It seemed like instrumental parts didn’t “marry” A TEACUP, who have a killer catchy ten track CD love between me and football. Many years ago vocals so that I took it all down and got rid of many out now called ‘MMXVI’ that is well worth checking my ex-band and I had to headline a gig in a heavy plug ins to make it sound much more natural and it THE MUSIC IS OUT THERE 5 FREE WITH FIREWORKS #76 worked,” he explains. obvious following of listening to it,” says guitarist in different bands the guys all ended up together in a All of the music was recorded in Milan and once Georges Bodossian. At this time, music was incredibly three power line up, where each of one introducing that was all done the chaps made arrangements reach and inspirable. There were so many bands that his particular rock style. to record the vocals at a little studio somewhere inspired Ocean, It was Led Zeppelin, King Crimson, Martín’s inspirations are very wide but it is always down south a little bit northwest of London. Ella Cream who were the main inspiration and still is for inside the rock, and mostly rock from the end of the V’Storm was absolutely incredible in the studio the guys in many ways. “Life all around us and our sixties, all the seventies and nineties. It goes from Led and she turned what they thought were great experiences were also a great source of inspiration Zeppelin passing through Black Sabbath, Ramones, songs into what could possibly be called stunningly for the songs,” says George. Motörhead, AC/DC, Guns and Roses, Nirvana and also brilliant.”It was Marco who handled all of the Ocean was born in 1974, they have released four Argentinean rock like Pappo or Almafuerte. “I wanted production duties and I think he sweat blood while albums from 1977 to 1981, different singles, many an album with a mix of seventies and nineties at the he was doing it because every time he thought that renditions, various tours in France, Belgium and same time, and very powerful and consistent songs. he had got it right he listened again and he found Holland as headliner, they opened in 1980 for the The band songs are written more like the nineties, very something else that he wasn’t happy with but he AC/DC ‘s ‘The Highway to Hell Tour’ and in 1981 for hard and powerful with a small trend to heavy metal,” got it right in the end,” adds Colin. IRON MAIDEN’s ‘The Killer World Tour’ (with MORE he explains. So Martín looked for a studio which could When Colin was on the set of Pink Floyd ‘The also for some venues). In 1981, the British magazine reach the recording of the seventies feel and sounds, Wall’, they were asked to march and play to the MELODY MAKER used for the very first time the and Martín found a very old and popular studio named tune of Bring the boys back home on the platform of term New Wave Of French Heavy Metal to describe ‘Sondor’ which has the perfect equipment including the Worth valley railway station (which incidentally Ocean’s music. “This history and our will to continue German neumann microphones from the seventies. is where they filmed ‘Yanks’ and also ‘The Railway mix innovation and old school Heavy Rock, with a What makes the Children’) Anyway, they had to march through touch of progressive music is probably and ‘bien sûr’ band different to other dry ice smoke and they just couldn’t see a bloody our French musical identity,” explains George. During bands is related to thing. “One second I’m trying to come out of the the AC/DC ‘Highway to Hell tour’ in France, the guys the composition the smoke looking all smart and stern and the next I see all members of AC/DC looking at them while they spectrum of rock, hear this aaarrgh and the poor bugger next to me were playing on stage. “Also at the last gig in France, having classic hard has wandered off to the right and slipped off the having Bon Scott sharing glasses with us backstage,” rock, blues rock, heavy, platform. I thought it was funny even if nobody he reflects. ballads, punk rock and else did! This was also the time that I met Bob The new album ‘C’est grunge. Secondly the Geldof who was playing the part of ‘Pink’ and to my la fin … ‘ is a real amazing instruments, besides amazement I realized that he was actually human story. On request of their having a potent voice, and really nice bloke,” smiles Colin. fans the band decided to they all have a lot of relevance, that is why songs have In August 1988 Marco and Fulvio ‘Reef’ Di release a new box of the lots and long guitar solos, the bass is overwhelming Domenico (drummer and f**king glamster lol) were previous albums, tracing and powerful, and drums are very varied and there is having a holiday by seaside when they were asked the history of the band, a song with a long drum solo. “The recording of the to open a gig. “We needed a place to rehearse so then the band was asked album is particular, especially the sound of drums, the that Reef (a genius) told us: “don’t worry guys, I to play on stage by the album sounds and represents exactly the band as it know they have a rehearsal room at the church on organiser of the Paris is,” says Martín. the hill. It’s where some kids are used to go and play Metal French Festival. The new self-titled album is a demonstration of the and the drummer is a friend of mine (pay attention “Unfortunately, Robert, our lead singer sadly passed energy, power and taste of each band members. “It is ‘the drummer is a friend of mine”). Plus, I attended away in 2004 and we had to find somebody to hold a reflection of things I have on my mind that I want to classes at Christian School so they can’t refuse to the flame. As you can imagine this was not so easy. show. It sounds almost like we sound when we play help us’. An hour later and ripped off £ 10.00 (help?) We were lucky and met Stef Reb who perfectly fit our live since it has a raw sound, which it always has been the priest took us to the rehearsal room. After 15 needs,” explains George. the target that I aimed for when recording the album,” minutes a boy came in and asked us “Who are After some rehearsals it became quite clear that Martín explains to me. you? What the hell are you doing’ here? ‘Reef: ‘ the band really enjoyed playing together and they Nipples were finishing a show in a bar and they Don’t worry I’ve been authorized by the drummer started to write new songs inspired by their own were about to collect their payment when the bar and he is a friend of mine’. The guy ‘ Actually I’m experiences. “The choice of the songs of the new owner said he could not pay them because he didn’t the drummer’. Reef: ‘um... don’t you remember me?’ album was done in order to find the right balance have any money. “We were really pissed off and we ‘No, I’ve never seen you before, who the f**k are between the former band and the new band with the told him that unless he let us drink his alcohol we you?’ Moral of the story we were kicked out and new singer,” he tells me”. would fuck him and his place up. He told us ‘alright, £10.00 off,” laughs Marco. The title of this album is ‘C’est la fin … ‘ means but just a few drinks’. We ended up drinking all of his For the future the guys are planning lots of gigs. ‘this is the end’. “It doesn’t mean the end of the road most expensive alcohol and as we were leaving I told “We have a couple of tracks written and demo’s for the band but the end of the most creative Time of him ‘next time we play if you don’t pay us drinking recorded but that leaves another eight tracks still to Rock and Roll since ever and also the beginning of a all of your alcohol will be least of your worries’, and go. Touring dates are a must if we want to progress new story for us with our new singer. Our music could he didn’t say a word. This is the story behind drinkin the album and barring radio play there’s no way rather be classified as a blend of ‘progressive metal drinkin,” laughs Martín. better to spread the word and hopefully gain fans. rock’” and traditional Heavy Rock,” he says. The Next up the band will be recording an acoustic EP. We would absolutely love to record and second album took about two years to release, including song “Altough I will go further into our heavy sound in the album and play to bigger and bigger crowds. I can writing and recording under George’s artistic direction future, I am looking forward to this different approach just see the band on the same stage Deep Purple and production. of making music because I think this is the right choice and some festival on a summer’s day, stealing the Ocean’s next step is to play as much as possible on to widen our music genre and I really want to make entire show like the mighty Thunder did in 1990 at stage to promote our lasted album wherever they can. acoustic stuff,” explains Martín. “Probably the EP will the Monsters of rock when DC and Whitesnake Check the band out at www.facebook.com/ be out soon after July 2016 and in the meantime we were the headline act,” concludes Colin. oceanlegroupe / www.oceanlegroupe.com will be playing as many shows as we can. It’s what Check the guys out at: https://www.facebook. I love and also at the end, playing live in front of an com/Storm-in-a-Teacup-131004413680048/ audience is what makes all of the effort worth it.” NIPPLES Check the band out at www.facebook.com/ Nipples-291955130965899/ref=hl OCEAN SNAKEWINE

From Uruguay we find upcoming hard rocking trio NIPPLES, who have a very catchy new twelve track From Paris we find the excellent OCEAN, who self-titled CD that is well worth checking out, the have a very catchy new ten track hard rock based album is diverse in styles and covers hard rock and CD out now called ‘C’est la fin … ‘ that runs in at just classic groove blues rock through to melodic rock. From Saalfeld/Saale, Germany, we find upcoming under fifty minutes and is sung in the bands native The band are: vocals and bass: Guzmán Martínez, heavy rockers SNAKEWINE, who have a very catchy language Ocean have released five albums and guitar player: Martín Büchner and drums: Federico de and diverse new eight track CD out now called five EP’s. The band are Alain Gouillard - drums, Noel Fortuny. ‘Serpent Kings’ that is well worth checking out. The Alberola - bass, George Bodossian - guitars, vocals Guitarist Martín Büchner got into this world of band are: Vocals: Ronny Konietzko, Guitar: Frank and Stef Reb - vocals music because since he was a kid, all his relatives Vogel, Bass guitar: Sebastian Welsch and Drums: All the members of Ocean grew up in the music and friends used to listen to rock music and Martín Martin Buttke / Buddha. world in the seventies listening the Beatles, Rolling always found listening and playing rock as the coolest At the age of ten singer Ronny Konietzko got Stones, Otis Redding, Jimmy Hendrix, Janis Joplin, thing to do. “The key is to find out, people who fit with some music cassettes from his friends and for Ronny Ten Years After, BB King. “Playing music was the the genre and personality too,” he tells me. After being it was like coming home, like finding the completing THE MUSIC IS OUT THERE 6 FREE WITH FIREWORKS #76 piece. Ronny never stopped listening to metal and area had to be intensively vacuumed before you could else. It’s an album that we actually want to listen to rock since. Suddenly the youngster found a goal, see the upholstery and probably red carpet again. For ourselves. It has riffs, big choruses, heavy guitars some status he wanted to approach and he wanted to this disaster the few guests had to pay even eighteen and clean soaring melodic vocals. It’s everything we become a musician and Ronny followed this thought in Euros entry. But that’s Rock n Roll, or not,” smiles wanted it to be. The songs all mean something to us, an almost religious way. “In the movie ‘Unbreakable’, Ronny. we wrote about our lives and ourselves, it’s nice to Samuel L. Jackson is searching for the hero, and as Check the band out at www.snakewine.de capture a mood or feeling at a certain time and have he found Bruce Willis, he told him ‘You know what the www.facebook.com/Snakewine it immortalized in a song. Hopefully other people can scariest thing is? To not know your place in this world, twitter.com/Snakewine_Band- relate to the songs like we do,” Gary explains. to not know why you’re here.... Now that we know who The band recorded the album at The Ranch you are, I know who I Am.’, for me it was the same with Production House and started the process in October music,” Ronny explains to me. CIRCLE OF REASON 2015, they spaced out the sessions so they had time Bass guitarist Sebastian Welsch got ditched by to sit on it, listen to it and redo/add anything they his first girlfriend for a guy who played the acoustic wanted to do. It was produced by Neil Kennedy guitar. So Sebastian had to prove to himself that he and Daly George. “We’ve worked with Neil a fair could do it too and picked up a guitar. “Playing in the bit before so know we are in safe hands, it was the first bands, it changed the way I saw myself, it was the first time we worked with Daly and he was brilliant, first time I stepped out of the crowd and recognized a great engineer and really went the extra mile for myself as an individual, as someone who can have an us. Highly recommended and such a nice vibe and impact on something. That’s one of the most important friendly environment there. Brad Boatright mastered things for someone growing up. I never thanked her the album, it was the first time we had worked with for this,” Sebastian smiles. him and he was an absolute pleasure and really nailed The inspiration for everything that Snakewine do it. We got everything wrapped up in January 2016,” is the picture of every misfitted character from the says Gary. old rock’n’roll stories. Their new CD ‘Serpent kings From Southampton, UK, we find hard rock band The band always has a good time together. is the bands view on the world through the eyes of a CIRCLE OF REASON, who have a killer catchy seven “Touring is always so much fun and we have such a misfit loner, in almost every single song. “We depicted track CD out now called ‘Faith Or Theory’. The band laugh constantly when we’re touring. Music videos several status of the misfit in general, from not having are: Simon Osman - vocals/guitar, Gary Slade - guitar, can be a lot of fun as well, certainly one in particular found his place in the world to see himself becoming Andy Milwain - drums and Rob Knight - bass/backing we did for the song Themes Amongst Thieves. We his egocentric alter-ego,” says Ronny. Starting with vocals. had this idea that it would be good to shoot a music the songs ‘Breathtaker’ and ‘Son Of a Gun’, you see Circle Of Reason have been playing their respective video with us playing table tennis against pensioners. Snakewine’s protagonist challenging his world ‘she instruments for some time and always wanted to be We pitched it to the director/producer Jake Hawkins wants to take my last breath - come darling, take my in a band and have been in various bands over the from The Red RedVideo Production, and fortunately last breath’ and ‘dropped in this world with nothing but years. Singer/guitarist Simon Osman and guitarist he loved the idea and made it happen for us. I think a wild heart’ to lose everything ‘I lost my ship, I lost my Gary Slade met through work; they were teaching we underestimated their ping pong ability and they girl and all of the things I knew’ from ‘shipwrecked’ children how to play guitar/bass etc., at a small music made us look very stupid all day long by continuously and becoming the serpent king. His most destructive franchise. From there they became good friends and beating us take after take after take, we were lucky to and devilish incarnation ‘[I] drain your life out until you decided to start working together. Gary had a large actually get a point most of the time,” he smiles. stare to stone / observing all man from my baneful amount of music recorded and sent some to Simon, he For now Circle Of Reason just want to get out there throne.’ put lyrics to a song which eventually became ‘Sleep’ and play, play anywhere and everywhere we can to Snakewine’s from the bands EP ‘These Hands And This Mind’. From promote the album. They will be releasing some more music has soul and then on they continued working together and started singles/videos as well and will start writing again character, the band becoming Circle Of Reason. Simon met drummer Andy soon. “We’ll do it over and over again. Hopefully at have incorporated the Milwain through work also at the school where he some point we’ll start working with a booking agent circumstances in which was teaching drums. “At first we got him involved as so we can reach more people and different areas. they grew up inevitably a stand in, but he soon became a permanent member We just want to keep writing, playing and sharing our into their own music with and last summer bassist Rob Knight joined us, we met music with whoever is willing to listen,” he concludes. certain musical values. him through a band joiner website and that’s the story Check the guys out at: “Current musical styles so far,” says Gary. www.facebook.com/circleofreason are not sustainable, Gary has always been a big fan of Mastodon. “The www.twitter.com/circleofreason we have. We are no riffs, the proggyness of them, the structures of their www.youtube.com/user/CircleOfReasonBand group of best friends we are actually very solitary songs can be really interesting and a little different and that manifests itself in the songs and the soul of to a lot of bands,” he tells me. “They are definitely Snakewine,” Ronny tells me. “There are no newer an inspiration. Biffy Clyro also have that prog edge, STORM WARNING Metallica except Metallica and no Guns ‘n Roses. again a little different from the norm, the heaviness We have trained a certain arrogance and really not of the songs, catchy melodies, big choruses and how afraid to put someone’s nose out of joint,” explains he sings over heavy music is great. Matt Bellamy Sebastian. “This one takes us down, we had to do, from Muse is another inspiration, excellent guitarist and that’s important. The good guys get married, the and the way he sings over heavy music and again bad ones fucked. And listen to a good rock band is the melodies, big choruses. A mixture of all that can undoubtedly sex and no marriage with dinner daily by be found in the new album, we wanted to focus on eighteen clock.” making sure we had the live performance in mind first Snakewine recorded their new album ‘Serpent and foremost, so the new material is pacier, riffier and Kings’ at the Virtuose Vibes Studio in Sebastian’s quite straight forward which is what we wanted.” Hometown Dresden. “We had no particular producer Circle Of Reason don’t and wrote -of course- all songs by ourselves, but scream or shout in terms having our sound engineer Niklas Wenzel helping of singing, it’s just what From Port Charlotte, South West Florida, we find us at several points,” says guitarist Frank Vogel. they prefer to do “We are classic hard rock band STORM WARNING, who have “We had some plans for the recording, several song singing over heavy music a catchy eleven track self titled CD out now that runs combinations depending on how fast we get the which isn’t an easy thing in at just under forty minutes long. The band are: Cody tracks on tape, small (four tracks), regular (seven to do without screaming Tyler Daniels - lead guitar, harp, vocals, Joe DeCicco tracks) and grande (nine tracks). We played together or sounding American, - Drums, percussion, vocals, Joseph “Butch” Senna quite well and completely recorded eight tracks in six no offence intended to - guitar, vocals, Randy McCormick - bass, vocals and days,” explains drummer Martin Buttke. anyone out there doing Shawn Murphy - sax, keys, vocals. The bands number one goal is to get bigger and that, but it’s not what Storm Warning have had past experience in better and get Snakewine to an even more professional we want to do. Recent feedback on the new material the industry working many different levels, and and competitive level playing live. Currently the band has been positive and people have said we are a little actually, they all met on stage at an open jam back book gigs all over Germany for 2016 and the band different, and they can’t quite place us in terms of who in September of 2014, They hardly knew each other, are going for some gigs in surrounding countries like we sound like or exactly what genre we are and to never played together before this, but they had such Czech Republic and Poland, and some smaller festival be honest, for us that’s the biggest compliment,” says a great response from the crowd, that they kept the slots. “2016 is starting off with our first music video Gary, “We’re certainly not going to be to everyone’s band on for nearly an hour. for ‚Mean Machine‘; because our local American taste but as long as we are happy with what we are The band are all inspired by so many artists and football team uses it as their intro song and they could releasing and playing, fingers crossed other people groups, Clapton, Beatles, Pink Floyd, SRV. “It would add a nice storytelling aspect for the video. There are will be too. I wouldn’t say we were the most unique really be hard just to pick out one or two, we pride some more very cool songs for an EP later next year band ever because we’re not, but hopefully we have ourselves on our diversity, and that is one of the or another album in 2017 and awesome merch in the that little bit of difference that keeps you intrigued and aspects our fans love about us,” says guitarist Joseph pipeline. Maybe we get a label interested in us, we will listening.” “Butch” Senna. “We have been classified as ‘a see and keep our eyes open,” concludes Sebastian. The album has seven tracks on it and is roughly new twist on old school’ as you will hear on our CD, The band were invited to a recording of a so-called thirty minutes long. The band felt that seven songs Dynamics, tempo change ups, a little of each of our music broadcast. “When we got there, a dilapidated was a good number for this release and also didn’t own style is put into our arrangements,” he says. building presented us with a power generator. The want any filler on it. “We are extremely happy with The new album is Storm Warning’s first baby; it stage area had to be freed by us of debris and dust how it turned out and feel there is a good mixture shows the bands diverse styles and has been getting before we were able to start playing. The interview songs on it to keep it interesting for us and everyone so much positive feedback. “Our most popular and THE MUSIC IS OUT THERE 7 FREE WITH FIREWORKS #76 favourite, which we hear all the time, is ‘I can’t take and their music really influences the guys with what Check the guys out at: www.generalgreed.se / stop listening to it’, just when I think I have a favourite, they do. “I write the songs and then the rest of the http://generalgreed.tictail.com/ the next one comes on and I’m hooked’. It makes us guys bring the magic when we take it into the studio. so happy that our music can touch so many, in such When it comes to the lyrics my inspiration different ways! We are already working on a few more is true story telling. I like to write songs about THE ELEGANT DEVILS projects,” he tells me. experiences from my own or my friends’ lives. This The CD was recorded album is all about love, hate, friends and enemies,” at KDS Studios in Richard tells me. Orlando Florida, (formally Music is Richard’s main interest; he is also a huge Transcontinental sports fan and has made a living as a bike rider during Studios), produced, his late teens and his early twenties. “I’m quite fond mixed and mastered by of endurance sports,” he tells me. “The main event to Andrew Hautzenroeder, follow for me during the summer is the Tour de France. along with their Besides that I like almost every motorsport there is. I assistant engineer Jason follow Formula 1, Moto GP and the Speedway world Blackerby. Released on championships very closely. Formula One driver April 9th, 2016, the band Marcus Ericsson(Sauber F1), and speedway rider spent eight very long days working on this project. Freddie Lindgren both come from the same city as I do From Canada, we find rising modern hard rockers “Both Andrew and Jason had come up with some so those guys are close to my heart and I follow them THE ELEGANT DEVILS, who has an awesome, very unique ideas for some sound and work done on a few as much as I can,” he adds. catchy rocking new five track CD/EP out now called different tracks,” explains Joseph. For example...2 One of the unusual things about General Greed is ‘Guilty Pleasure’ that is well worth exploring. The am outside set up of an amp and some microphones that the band consists of only two people, Andreas band are seriously good players, very tight, and angled in a large alley for Cody to rip up some killer Rosén and Richard. They played together in Richard’s confident with their music coming over as confident melodic leads.” former band Looks Like Lucy, and when ‘Lucy’ split up and exciting. Next up the band will keep on doing what they the guys had a ton of ideas that Richard wanted to put The album is what the band considers a sneak all love doing, keep banging out more new originals on a record. “I started pre-producing and bounced peek at who they are. ‘Lie With Me’ is very heavy with tunes. “We are also in the process of writing a few some ideas with Andreas. After a while we felt that lots of twists and turns, ‘DiveBomb’ is straight up rock songs for someone who at this time we are not at we had some really good material so we decided to track, and ‘Amaranthine’ is the softer side. ‘Just Like liberty to mention his name, but has contacted us get it recorded,” he explains. That’ kinda walks the line of mid tempo and upbeat about “the substance” of our writing on this CD, a past Since the guys tried the traditional way of making with a bit of punch as an accent, and ‘Loaded Gun’ Grammy winner in fact, who has asked us to write a music before- rehearsing things to death, they is a straight forward rock/punk aggressive track. The few for him to possibly add to his upcoming studio decided to go the opposite way by recording what band are Drew James (Vocals, Guitar), Josh Barkley project. We also have a few other irons in the fire. But they wanted the songs to sound like and then take (Bass, Backup Vocals), Rob Frank (Drums, Backup most of all, seeing our fans really getting into what we it from there. “This of course means that we have Vocals) and Jason Deley (Lead Guitar). are putting out, that’s what it’s all about, that’s what to hire people to play drums and lead guitar during Music is the bands way of connecting with people feeds the fire,” he concludes. shows, but we have some awesome people lined up - helping them relive an awesome memory or maybe Check the guys out at: for the job,” he says. put some distance between them and a dark part of www.rockinwiththestorm.com Richard’s aim for this album was to make the best their lives. “Everyone loves music, but everyone loves www.facebook.com/rockwiththestorm and most even debut album since Guns n’ Roses it for different reasons,” explains singer, guitarist made ‘Appetite For Destruction’. “As soon as you set Drew James. The guys got into music so that they that goal you realize that it’s impossible,” he smiles. could find out as many of those reasons as possible. GENERAL GREED “But I believe that you have to aim for the stars to “Everyone in the band grew up with music one way reach the treetops. We certainly made a good album or another - music has always been part of our lives and I am very proud of it. I was fortunate to have the through school, other bands, or just as a hobby. It’s opportunity to work with some really talented and something we all love and have been feeling very professional people during the process of making it,” fortunate to be able to do,” says Drew. he explains. On this album you will hear one ballad The guys in the band are so incredibly diverse, and one power ballad. The other eight songs are musically which comes across on the EP’s song. No really nice rock songs and the last song of the album one in The Elegant Devils has the same inspirations is a cover of ‘Bro Hymn’, the old Pennywise classic. but somehow they have all learned the same lesson “You just have to love that song,” he smiles. in how to tell a great story by playing their favourite The album was recorded and mixed in Studio instruments or singing at the top of their lungs. “Each Seven in Örebro, Sweden. Studio Seven is owned member of the band has gone through their own and run by Ronny Milianowicz who also produced challenges to become who they are and do what Based Örebro, Sweden, we find hard rock band the album. Ronny has a solid background in rock they do. We want to inspire other people to own what GENERAL GREED, who have a killer catchy ten track and metal as the drummer and main songwriter of they’re passionate about and be proud of what makes CD out now called ‘Rectifying for Justice’ that is well Dionysis, Saint Demon and ShadowQuest. Jens them happy,” explains Drew. worth checking out and runs in at just under thirty five Bogren at Fascination Street Studios did the mastering The Elegant Devils minutes long and also borders on the modern edge of the album. “We couldn’t have had a better crew are basically a mutt of rock and it a cracking feisty album from start to for recording, mixing and mastering this album. We - the guys all have finish. The band are: Richard Lööw - vocals and guitar, started recording the first song about a year ago, April vastly different musical Andreas Rosén – bass, drums – hired position 2015. We were done recording around October and influences but it all Unlike most musicians singer/guitarist Richard we released it on Mountain Side Records this April,” seems to come together Lööw didn’t start playing in his teens. His first he explains to me. in a way that they are introduction to playing music was when a friend A few years ago the band were booked to play at really proud of. “I also celebrated his top six position in the speed skating the Swedish Super Moto championships. “We were think what sets us apart world championships by buying a guitar; it looked fun supposed to play in a big party tent by the motor is that everyone in the so Richard bought a bass. A year later he got tired of park,” he says. “Somehow plans got changed and band is a friend - not just the bass and bought himself a guitar and a guitar rig. they moved the party to another location, so far ok, but a casual acquaintance,” says Drew. “That comes It was 2010 that was the deciding year in Richard’s they had forgotten to build the stage. We had to tear across on stage. We’re genuinely having fun spending musical life. He met two guys and they started playing down half the place in order to get a stage to play on, time with people we like hanging around with and together just for fun. Shortly after Richard grew tired we used camping tables, old closet doors, racing tires that’s contagious.” and realised that playing covers was not enough for and whatever we could get our hand on to make a big The guys really wanted each song to be uniquely him. He wanted to write his own music and he then enough stage from nothing. On the way home our tour different and still tie together to some degree. “We formed a band and got to work. “It was good fun and bus started playing tricks with us; all of a sudden our feel it flows naturally and is a good introduction to us we did some really cool gigs, but by the end of 2014 we headlights went out just to go back on again after a as a band,” says drummer Rob Frank. were stuck,” he explains. “We had a pretty big gig as few seconds. This happened eight to ten times during The album was recorded by one of the bands an opening act planned for February 2015 so we dug our two-hour drive home through the night. That was guitarists Jason Deley. “We did all the tracking deep and pulled through it, then we split up.” a real adventure,” he laughs. together as a band with Jay at the helm. Once it Richard’s first true The record has been available for a couple of was all tracked we had Matt Doherty at Boomchank musical love has always weeks now and the guys are quite amazed that it has studios do the mix for us,” explains Rob. “He did an been Iron Maiden, been going so well outside of Sweden. “Right now we amazing job with the tracks we gave him. It was really followed by Guns n’ have a couple of shows planned in Sweden but we nice to have an objective outside influence during the Roses. Since then a would of course like to go on a tour around Europe,” mixing process as well. As for how long the process lot of rock music has he points out. It’s been a few years since Richard last took, it definitely took longer than we would have passed through his ears played in Great Britain so a few shows there would hoped and we learned a lot of great lessons that will and inspired him. When be welcome for the band “There is something special help us with the next project. But it’s out there now it comes to the new about playing rock there. We hope that our CD will sell and we feel that we have something that sounds good album you can narrow in fair numbers and we hope to see a vinyl version of and is an accurate representation of who we are as a the influences down to it soon. Besides that the songs for the second album band,” he tells me. Volbeat, Guns n’ Roses and Green Day. General Greed is in the making, it will probably be released during the The band were asked to play an acoustic set in doesn’t sound like any of the above but these bands autumn of 2017,” he concludes. support of a charity only to have Josh become the THE MUSIC IS OUT THERE 8 FREE WITH FIREWORKS #76 honorary guest judge in a twerking contest. “It was Studios in Hollywood and The People’s Music in all have a shared way to look at and to deal with life. super fun,” laughs bassist Josh Barkley. “Every show Sherman Oaks. “It wasn’t easy finding a studio that During many years spent playing together, tripping we have something amazing and random goes down,” had a grand piano which was very important to me,” for concerts, fighting for their music, all their personal he adds. he says. “So, I started the process at The People’s musical tastes have blended in a style which certainly Drew hopes that more lives shows will come up Music.” Brad got to the mixing stage when he is deeply rooted in 70’s rock from Led Zeppelin, Black next. “We’ve been in hibernation getting this album realized something just was not working. “I sought Sabbath, Deep Purple; Jimi Hendrix, to Cream, Uriah done for longer than we’d planned and it’ll be great out a different studio and producer to work with. We Heep, etc... “As we sing in Italian, our music is mostly to start getting out there and playing again. Having ended up re-tracking a lot of the album including all influenced by Italian rock of those years (Premiata something for people to listen to when they go home,” the vocals, drums, some of the bass, and a lot of the Forneria Marconi, Le orme, Biglietto per l’inferno, he concludes. rhythm guitars. So we kept pretty much just the piano Area). But now we have in some way a more personal Check the band out at and lead guitar and redid almost everything else. I’m perspective when we compose a song,” explains www.reverbnation.com/elegantdevils so glad I did that even though it was very costly and Stefano. The new album ‘Cemento armato’ is EX’s www.facebook.com/elegantdevils a lot of extra work. I would not have been happy with fifth full-length. “The Italian word ‘armato’ means Twitter: @elegantdevils the end result otherwise. The entire process from ‘armed’ too) and is an important step in our pursuit recording to mastering took about six months,” he of a personal musical style,” he tells me. The theme explains. developing all along the album is the hard life in the BRAD SCHECTER One of Brad’s funnier stories is how he met Def outskirts, the struggle to be an individual and not a Leppard’s Phil Collen. “It was almost twenty years number, the conflicts and the fights to state every day: ago. I had just moved to Orange County and I was “We are free; you’ll never make us, as you want, mere working at Starbuck’s. Unbeknownst to me, he was subdued puppets. And all this, in an urban scenery a frequent regular there. My co-worker told me who made of alcohol, violence, drugs, ignorance, racism, he was when he walked in and I just assumed she abuse of power, gangs, crime.” was kidding. I started singing ‘Pour Some Sugar On The band formed in Me’ when he walked up. His girlfriend said, ‘Hey. We 1997 and they have been heard that.’ I replied, ‘I’m sorry, but you really look like strongly determined that guy from Def Leppard. Has anyone ever told you in playing rock and in that before?’ To that he said, ‘It’s alright. Happens all singing in their mother the time!’ Like a fool, I then said, ‘Wow, he even has tongue, often disputing an English accent. This is great!’ I had no idea. After with people who couldn’t From Los Angeles, CA, we find upcoming solo my manager came out and I realized my faux pas, I accept a band playing artist BRAD SCHECTER, who has an remarkable, very immediately went out and apologized. He was so nice rock not sung in English. catchy rocking new nine track CD out now called and gracious. I seriously had no idea it was him at “Our idea was this: ‘Live Your Dreams’ that is well worth exploring. Brad first. I just couldn’t imagine he would be at Starbuck’s Italian is a less melodic and his band are seriously good players, very tight, in Laguna Hills. But, after getting to know him a bit language for lyrics? Perfect! We want to tell about full of energy, with riffs and melodies galore, that we became friends and even jammed together and hard experiences, so a supposed rough language explore many diverse musical areas. The band are recorded,” he smiles. would be a perfect solution,” he explains to me Brad Schecter (vocals, piano, drums, synths, and Brad is currently focusing on marketing, selling, After many years spent struggling in the difficult percussion), Greg Karas (guitars), Drew Allsbrook and touring. “I am still in the marketing phase trying music world, EX have acquired a natural sense of (bass), Danny Balistocky (addt. rhythm guitar and to get as many reviews and as much publicity as urban resistance. “We hate exploiters, improvised bass). Both Greg and Drew also tour with Andy possible,” he tells me. “I’ve sold several hundred musical experts, shallow people who think they have Grammer. units so far, but I have a long way to go. I am seeking something to teach to you, but who unfortunately are Brad Schecter started playing piano at age six management and eventually a label. I plan on gigging the death of music, the opposite of a free life. For us and he was classically trained. Brad later picked up very soon. First I have to get the band together. music is not only passion, but above all consistency, trumpet, and then he gave that up for drums. Finally, Being a solo artist creates some unique challenges. truth, reaction to an upside down society.” Brad started taking his voice seriously. “I played in Obviously, I can’t play all the instruments at once so The songs and the lyrics for the new album show bands all through high school and beyond, first as a I will need to hire musicians. Once I have a manager that strong attitude towards the fucking world we all drummer, then as just a vocalist,” he tells me. Brad and band in place, I hope to start touring and opening have to live in. The whole album is a portrait of the had a catalogue of songs that he had written on piano. up for larger acts,” he concludes. narrow-minded society which we fight every day, a “Just kept them on the back burner. I finally got tired Check the band out at society founded on appearance, money, exploitation, of the rat race of going from one band to the next. I www.bradschecter.com a false society which every day expose injustice and wanted to just do my own thing. It wasn’t enough to twitter:@bradschecter at the same time bully the pushovers. “We hate and be in an original band, it needed to be my own music www.soundcloud.com/bradschecter challenge this will of ruling the freedom of people, as well,” he tells me. because we always had to fight to achieve respect, as Having studied piano for so many years, Brad’s individuals and as musicians,” he says classical influence is irrefutable. The first song on the EX The album was recorded at Opal Arts Studios by album, ‘Bbc’ is an abbreviation for his three favourite Fabio Serra an old friend of the band and a skilled classical composers: Bach, Beethoven, and Chopin. sound engineer who in Italy produced also Spitfire, “I also love classic rock and metal: everything from Epitaph, Bulffrog, Cherry Lips, Methodica, and was AC/DC to Iron Maiden,” he tells me. Brad like simple mastered at Black Dog Mastering Studio Tampa - chords to more progressive parts and time changes Florida - USA, by Andy Bartow. Both guys worked like you hear in bands like Rush and Yes. “I also had on EX’s previous album, ‘Dei’, to their complete a marching band/drum line background which helps satisfaction, and represent two important elements of shape my rhythmic sensibilities. The inspiration continuity within the bands work. “Working with them, behind the album is simple; it’s just my life,” he says. the band never needed to hurry, so it took almost Brad wrote the first song when he was fourteen one year to complete the album: we are not music and finished the last song just a few months ago. professionals, but only addicted to music,” smiles “So this album is everything I have been through and Stefano. experienced the last twenty two some odd years from From Verona, Italy, we find melodic hard rockers The band are currently focused on the promotion the death of my father at age sixteen, to my bouts of EX, who have a superb, very catchy and varied eleven of ‘Cemento armato’ with concerts, interviews, crippling depression, and relationships gone south. track CD out now called ‘Cemento Armato’. The songs festivals and reviews. “We are working on a new But most importantly, never giving up,” he explains. are sung in the bands native language, and makes for video clip (I Shot the Chef): clearly a strong criticism First and foremost, a challenging listen, that is well worth checking out. of the cooking reality shows infesting TV) but we are Brad Schecter is a solo The album runs in just under sixty minutes long, the already pre-producing new songs for the next album,” artist. His band days are songs are diverse and full of wonderful performances he concludes... long behind him. “I have from all the cast, and quite often you find yourself Ex will play the Bannersmans Bar in no problem collaborating getting lost in the music. The band are: Roby Mancini Edinburgh on September the 21st with other musicians, - vocals, Stefano Pisani - guitars, Gabriele ‘Ago’ Check the band out at: but at the end of the day Agostinelli - bass & vocals and Yari Borin - drums & www.facebook.com/expastarock it has to be my way or vocals. www.youtube.com/expastarock the highway,” he says, .For guitarist Stefano Pisani it all began in 1978- “I’m like a director who 79 when he discovered hard rock, listening to some From Warrenton, Virginia USA, we find hard rock gets final cut. But I am Black Sabbath & led Zeppelin LPs. The very inspiration band AUGUST, who have a killer catchy thirteen track always open to new ideas. I think the main thing to play an instrument came from a concert that he CD out now called ‘Street Smart’ that is well worth that differentiates me is my songwriting style. I do saw in Milan, it was September 1980: Iron Maiden + checking out and runs in at just under fifty minutes not really play guitar, so all the parts were written on Kiss! That was the real beginning of Stefano’s love long. One of the interesting things about August is piano first. What I have tried to do is take the best of for playing music and a lifelong love for all things Iron that they have been releasing albums since 1977 with what I like about rock bands and combine it with the Maiden. The band, formed in 1997, they all share the ‘Street Smart’ being their fourth album. best of what singer/songwriters have to offer. I think love for hard music (and for Iron Maiden in particular), The band has released a catchy diverse record, what you get is a unique blend of rocking tunes, but and the guys met music and instruments at different songs like ‘Thunder’ and ‘Tonight’ are fun catchy hard with a very emotional tone and personal lyrics,” Brad times: the ages of Ex’s line-up go from eighteen (Yari, rockers whilst other songs ‘Memories’ and ‘Sitting on explains to me. the new drummer) to fifty one for Stefano. Their love is Top of the World’ show a more melodic retro classic The new album was recorded at Revolution 9 deep love for music and for their instruments, and they rock edge. ‘I Will Survive You’ and ‘Bringing Me Down’ THE MUSIC IS OUT THERE 9 FREE WITH FIREWORKS #76 analog/digital/digital studio and it sounds great,” he me. “I mean, you can have the feeling that some of the AUGUST smiles. lyrics are be a bit sad, but even in those songs there’s In 2013 August started recording with John always something like a positive, vital trace beneath producing and performing. They recorded at least it all. I reckon at the end of the day rock ‘n’ roll is an twenty songs for the ‘Street Smart’ CD with thirteen optimistic genre, because somehow it’s like a burning making the cut. “The routine for this CD was for Jerry urge or energy you need to bring out and share with (drums), Steve (bass) and myself (guitar) to record in the world, and when you do it and connect with the the main studio without headphones or a click track. audience... man, that feels damn good! At least that’s Basically live with the goal of capturing the drums how we feel about it,” expresses Sergio. correctly. Steve and I would overdub our guitar tracks Outside of music the band loves partying, good at a later date. Scott (guitar) would come in as well eating, drinking and women. “Yes, and sleeping, in the as Jeff (vocals) at a later date to record their tracks. morning, if possible. Then, not having hangover at all I mixed all the songs at Dream Traxx as well,” he and spending a warm sunny evening with our people. explains. That kinda makes for a perfect day (and night), doesn’t meanwhile show a more melodic edge with fantastic After performing hundreds of concerts you can it,” he grins. energetic performances, lots of groove. get very comfortable with the show and performing As a band Electric Fence work hard, very hard The band are: John Piette - guitar/vocals, Jerry in front of thousands of people. “On some occasions and they really believe in what they do. “What’s most Bozic - drums, Steve Mindak - bass guitar/vocals and before a show, I would pick one of my band mates and important, we enjoy it a lot! It helps a lot when the Gary Williamson - guitar/vocals and Jeff Bowers - tell the others when we get to a certain part of a song, rehearsal room feels just like home, and when we vocals. usually a fast number, we would all stop and I would play, we’re actually playing with our friends, which is Guitarist/singer John Piette first saw the Beatles introduce the band member still playing as performing how it all started. That’s what being in a band should on American TV in the early 60’s and even though he a solo and the rest of us would walk off stage. So that mean,” guards Sergio. was very young, this new music peaked his interest. kept everyone on edge and yes they could pull it on me The new album ‘Motorkiller’ is an album where Then when The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix and as well,” he smiles. you can find from greasy, groovy, dirty 70’s rock Cream came along, his destiny was determined. Right now August is nearing completion of tunes ‘Stole the Fire’ is a faster classic R’n’R odes Jimi Hendrix was the first guitar dominated music their next CD titled ‘After Midnight’ which will be to love, life, and death with ‘Motorkiller’, a couple John heard and then with Eric Clapton in Cream he released by fall 2016, which features some great new of more melodic summery southern style songs like knew that he wanted to be in a guitar dominated band. songs. August will record a big production video in the awesome ‘What I am’, through to ‘I’ll never turn Growing up in Virginia, southern rock was big and the a large warehouse for the songs ‘After Midnight’ and my back on you’, with some frisky ones like the very twin guitars of the Allman Brothers and the rocking ‘Runaway’’ from the new CD to be released worldwide catchy feisty ‘Black Widow’ with its hints of Van Halen leads of Johnny Winter gave him direction. August is this fall as well, so look out for this as well as checking and AC/DC. and the very catchy ‘Don’t Care’ with its known for hard rock with great vocals and the vocal out ‘Street Smart’ folks. Welcome back chaps. vintage rock feel think Allman Brothers and Lynyrd influence is from John’s favorites Lou Gramm from Check the guys out at: Skynyrd, the vocals on this track are gutsy, this is a Foreigner and Queen and their harmonies. www.augustrockband.com fantastic number dripping in sunshine and tipples. “Constant encouragement from the music industry www.reverbnation.com/augustmusic There are also some darker song such as ‘Red regarding my large catalog of original songs, over Moon Eclipse’ and ‘I Hold My Claw On You’, all the 200, I decided to put August back together and record songs end up wrapped up with some good riffage and some of my tour songs that never got recorded as ELECTRIC FENCE soloing, with a thick, solid base that supports it all and well as the new songs I had been writing. Everyday sometimes even drives the feeling of the song as in experiences give me insight into the songs I write,” ‘Stole the Fire’ or ‘Red Moon Eclipse’. “But I think you he explains to me. better grab a copy and have a good listen to it so you John’s world is dominated by music but being can see it yourself,” he gushes. a single parent of two great kids who are now The new album’s origin has been tough, and has graduating from college; his life revolves around taken a lot of time for the boys, but it’s been fulfilling their activities which included a lot of sporting events process for them as a whole. They recorded it in the which they participated. John also loves bikes and he summer of 2012 at Oasis Studios in Madrid. Right after used to build Harley Davidson custom bikes. all the mixing and mastering process, while the band When August first appeared on the stages of were getting everything ready to begin producing the the Mid-Atlantic area in 1978, they were the only CD’s and all the merch, their singer decided to leave band performing all original rock songs. They were the band for personal reasons. “When something like supporting the ‘August featuring John Piette’ LP and From Madrid, Spain, we find classic hard rock that happens in a band, you can either call it quits only recording acts were releasing records in 1978 band ELECTRIC FENCE, who have a very catchy nine or stand up and shout,” says Sergio. As big fans of especially an entire LP with ten songs. So that set track CD out now called ‘Motorkiller’ that is well Ronnie, the band decided to do the latter and started the stage for how August would be perceived. “In worth checking out and runs in at just under forty looking for a new singer. addition to having very good commercial originals, five minutes long. The record covers all the basis of After a very long period of searching they finally August was a hard rock band with great four part classic seventies hard rock, from blues to southern met singer Jorge Coello ‘Gorjo and quickly knew it had harmony vocals, which and all points in between. Electric Fence have bag to be him in the band. “His voice fitted the songs like a was also not happening loads of energy. glove! I mean, the quest with most rock bands The band are: Eduardo Morales ‘Dudu’ - Bass was long and tough and at that time. As for the guitar, Sergio Gabaldón ‘Hares’- Guitar, backing sometimes we felt quite music, August always vocals, Manolo ‘Vendetta’- Guitar, backing vocals, demoralized but we were rehearses without vocals Luis Maldonado - Drums and Jorge Coello ‘Gorjo’ - strong and in the end so we learn the songs Vocals. we got our reward! So musically which allows It all began for guitarist Sergio Gabaldón ‘Hares after some rehearsals us to get very tight. We when he was a kid and discovered rock ‘n’ roll. From and some gigging we work on all aspects of the moment he heard Led Zeppelin and AC/DC his life decided to re-record the performing the songs. forever. “From that point it’s just a matter of time you voice tracks with Gorjo We take every small detail of a song very seriously,” have the chance to get your hands on a guitar and and mix it all again (we he explains to me. begin trying to emulate those bands you love,” says also added some details and arrangements), and The new record ‘Street Smart’ is an American Sergio. The rest is history, in our case, Electric Fence re-master it as well, sure,” he tells me. The bands phrase pertaining to not being taken or ripped off. was formed as a band of friends back in the early guitarist Manolo Vendetta took care of this second This represents the fact that August is back having 2000’s; though we’ve suffered several (and severe) part of recordings and he also produced, mixed, and survived many years on the road and that John still line-up changes through the years, we’ve never mastered the final version of the album you can listen owns the rights to all his songs. “That’s the reasoning stopped playing and gigging so you can say we’re to now. “He did a great job, we are very happy with the behind the title. I was offered a two record deal with survivors in this crazy world of music,” the guitarist result and very thankful to have such lad in the band, Atlantic Records which wasn’t designed to have a lot explains. we’re really lucky,” he says with happiness. of support and I turned it down. It was hard but at the As individuals the guys have very diverse musical Some years ago the band were invited to play same time, the right thing to do,” he reflects. tasted and have a large common ground where you in Sarajevo (lovely city and people there), and their The band’s shows were very popular and they had can find some classic and modern bands that they host took them to this genuine, half clandestine bar a strong following. “I wanted to bring back several love, such as Led Zeppelin, Hellacopters, Black recreating the communist era in the Balkans. “ of the players from the touring days and record some Sabbath, The Allman Brothers Band, Clutch, AC/ The place was actually called Tito’s Bar- where of the original songs we performed live but never DC, Rival Sons, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Aerosmith, Grand some old men were chatting and drinking rakia, and recorded. I also wanted to record the new songs I Funk Railroad, Blackberry Smoke, “the list is big,” he it all looked like we were in 1985, it was so funny. was currently working on. I was fortunate to have laughs. But funniest of all was, when we were half wasted Jerry Bozic, the original drummer from 1978 and The inspiration behind the album is different for because of the beers and the homemade rakia (that guitarist from the 80’s tour, Scott O’Brien, join me to each song. “We didn´t really have the intention of shit can be strong, believe me!), the bloody Julio record the Street Smart CD,” he tells me. building anything close to a conceptual album or Iglesias, which is a cheesy romantic Spanish singer, After coming off the road in 1999, John opened something like that, but I reckon one might be able began to sound in the radio and it definitely was the an International recording studio, Rugby Road where to see some kind of leitmotiv or at least some sort last thing we would expect to listen in that situation. he produced over thirty five recordings. John now of similar ambience throughout some of the lyrics in We couldn’t believe it as we all began laughing our has his own private studio, Dream Traxx Recording. the album, especially in the darker songs. But it don’t asses off, but clearly nobody except us in the bar www.dreamtraxxstudio.com. “It’s a twenty four track think this is really a dark album,” Sergio explains to understood why,” he giggles. THE MUSIC IS OUT THERE 10 FREE WITH FIREWORKS #76 The guys can’t stop coming up with new riffs and studio in Ft. Worth, Texas. Mixing and some over dubs the band wanted the artwork to be an event as well. stuff all the time, so no matter when you ask them they was done in Cordoba, Spain and it took him almost two They commissioned a friend of to do the sleeve, the always answer that they are packing new songs, and years to record, compile and complete. It’s his fans reverently talented Mikal Dyas, which differs from the this case is no exception. “We still have to work in and playing the guitar that keeps Manny motivated download versions. “It is inspired by a freak show feel some compositions, we need to publish some loose and something that keeps him young heart. and intended to reflect the B movie inspiration behind ends in some other songs but I’d say we could begin Check out www.mannycharltonband.com most of the album along with our frantic stage show. recording new stuff in less than a year, let´s see if we We should also thank the Guernsey Arts Commission manage to. We love to get into the studio, so we really who helped make it all happen,” he adds. can’t wait to do it,” he explains to me. “The new songs THEE JENERATORS Thee Jenerators recorded ‘The Devils Chords’ in are turning out to be a tiny bit heavier than the ones January 2015, in the fantastic Gizzard studio in London conforming ‘Motorkiller’, but you know, that’s how on analogue kit and onto tape with Ed Deegan fiddling new ideas and songs come, you can’t (or shouldn’t) with the sliders. They recorded and mixed the whole always control too much what you create, somehow lot in three days, mostly in one take. “Ed is a real talent it just feels better the more naturally things come out. behind the console; he gets the music and brings a We expect to collect a nice bunch of good songs our new dynamic to the songs on tape,” says Mark. It fans will love for sure,” Sergio concludes. was mastered by Ben Pearce at Edge Mastering in Check the guys out at: Guernsey, who used a lot of vintage gear to get the www.electricfencerock.bandcamp.com tone right. “He ended buying a pair of vintage EQs www.facebook.com/electricfencerocks from LA just to get the tone he wanted. The guy is a http://rockrecords.es/electric-fence legend but he can put me to sleep when he talks about Hertz.” From Guernsey we find rising bluesy groovy band The band want to get this album out on vinyl, MANNY CHARLTON THEE JENERATORS, who have a fabulous, very catchy delays in all the plants means they are waiting to get and groove ridden fourteen track CD out now called their mitts on the real thing which should be out by the ‘The Devils Chords’ that is well worth checking out. time you read this article. “You can buy in download The band are seriously good, tight and full of energy now to warm your interest but this record really is all and a lot of fun and swagger. The band are Mark Le about the big black disc so make a preorder (they are Gallez, Vocals, Stuart Austin, Drums, Garrick Jones, limited to 300 copies!).” Mark wants everyone to hear Sax, Keys, Vocals, Jo Reeve, Bass and Andy Sauvage, ‘Daddy Bones’ at least once, so check it out on our Guitar. CD sampler and get into the band. They have carved Singer Mark Le Gallez has been in bands since their own niche into music world and have released a the 1980s including popular Mod combo ‘The Risk’. very diverse and hugely enjoyable record, check them The Risk toured Europe and America and attracted out and get them played on those dance floors, one a sharply dressed following before returning to to watch. Check the band out at www.facebook.com/ Guernsey, Mark’s homeland. Whilst in Guernsey he theejenerators From Cordoba ,Spain, we find the return of former formed ‘Thee Jenerators’ in 2002 as a tour de force to Nazareth man MANNY CHARLTON, who has new inject some energy into the local music scene and an eleven track CD out now called ‘Solo’ that is well antidote to the mediocre pub bands that were filling RICHIE DAVE PORTER worth checking out and runs in at just under fifty five the circuit on the island. After a few musician swaps minutes long. with local bands the current line-up was put in place For as long as Manny Charlton can remember, he two years ago in preparation to write and record the has always loved music. When Manny left school in fifth studio album “The Devil’s Chords”. The entire the mid 50s he became a huge fan of what he calls band knew each other and had played gig alongside first generation Rock n Roll. Elvis Presley, Buddy each other before the line up of Thee Jenerators were Holly, Chuck Berry, Eddie Cochran. When Manny formed. saw pictures of Elvis with the gold lame jacket, pink The guys are influence by bands such as The Cadillacs and all the screaming girls he knew this Stooges, The Sonics, Billy Childish and The Damned as what he wanted to do. well a bit of Northern Soul, freak beat and psychedelia. Manny is inspired by Elvis, The Beatles, The “If it is foot tappingly fun and makes you want to wig Stones, The Who, Led Zeppelin, Free. “The CD for out, scream and shout we love it,” says Mark. Many of me was the desire to make some great music for my the songs have a B-movie theme or borrow from the From the UK we find classic rock/blues solo artist fans. Having my own studio is great I can just sit down swagger of punk or 50s/60s rock ‘n’ roll. “The album RICHIE DAVE PORTER, who have a very good new ten and record whenever I feel like it...I write and record title is inspired by the once banned, tri-tone chord, as track CD out now called ‘Working Class Bluesman’. all the time and have a huge stockpile of ideas I’ve well as some flared trousers a friend of ours wears,” The record soaks up the basis of hard rock and blues amassed over the years since leaving Nazareth,” he he says. The Northern Soul references intrigued me and runs in at just under forty minutes the longest explains to me. as my lady is a professional Northern Soul dancer so song ‘ No More Hell’ at over seven minutes long. Guitar wise Manny does not really have a favourite I can certainly appreciate that raw element which The band are: Ritchie Dave Porter (acoustic, electric guitar, for recording he uses whatever guitar gives makes the band stand out from the crowd. guitars, cigar box, bass, and vocals), Michael Tingle him the sound that he is looking for. “For live work, I Thee Jenerators are (producer, arranger, drums, and bass on track nine). always fall back on my Les Paul and Marshall set up,” a “foot to the floor” rock Ritchie became involved in music at the age of he says ‘n’ roll band and their eleven when his dad bought him his first guitar. He Outside of gigs end in injury and listened to the Beatles and The Rolling Stones at music Manny is into broken equipment. “Two first and then when he heard the guitar playing of photography and he has hour long ear shattering Jimi Hendrix and Jimmy Page Ritchie was inspired always been an avid sets are not unknown,” to practice really hard. It was Led Zeppelin ‘Two’ that amateur photographer. smiles Mark. In the live blew him away the most because of the excellence “I love all the Digital environment the band of Jimmy Page acoustic and electric guitar playing. software these amazingly cram in many “I would spend every moment practising and guitar days Lightroom and catchy songs into a two became my lifelong passion and it still is,” he smiles. Photoshop are my must hours set. “The band is prolific it never stops writing His musical inspirations are Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, go to, along with all the or revising old material, one of the benefits of having Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jeff Healey, Robert Cray, Johnny cool filters and effects. I a few line-up changes in its thirteen years existence Winter, Eric Clapton, Robert Johnson, Santana, also love movies, and some of the new TV series in the is that music stays fresh,” Mark explains. The guys Freddie King to name a few. He loves the power blues last few years have been fantastic…..things like The have had a few successful singles in the past with of the late sixties and early seventies so much. “The Sopranos, Breakin ‘Bad, Peaky Blinders and Sons of ‘Mystery Man’, ‘Fight the Power’ and ‘Burn the House early seventies were a time of really exciting musical Anarchy,” he adds. Down’ hitting the selves in the right time for the garage creativity that resulted in some of the most wonderful Manny does not really have a permanent band. “If revival in the 2000s. “We have also worked with many and moving blues based rock of all time,” he says. some gigs do come in I have a lot of great players I’m well-known, and lesser known, rock ‘n’ roll icons The inspiration behind the new album ‘Working lucky enough to be able to call on, generally it depends which we like to keep secret. A few skeletons in the Class Bluesman’ was so many things, bad relationships on where in the world the gigs are,” he explains. closet,” he tells me. that ended suddenly and The new album is Manny’s latest bunch of toonz The new album ‘The Devils Chords’ is the first full left Ritchie doubting that that he is happy enough to share with his fans. “I have length vinyl release from the band. It has a song called there were any genuinely included some instrumentals, as requested by a lot of ‘intermission’ that straddles side A and side B which is good women left in this my fans. I’ve also asked a few good friends to guest on intended to make the flipping of the record into part of world. “I think I was vocals,” he says. the event of playing the album rather than a distraction attracted to pretty faces Manny handles the vocals, guitars and bass from it. “The whole album was made with vinyl in more than good heart throughout the record; he is also joined by drummers mind, from the recording, mixing and mastering,” and spirit at the time Steve Froese and Jeff Hason, guest singers Linton says Mark. “iTunes and downloads makes consuming and it certainly woke me Osborne, Randy Lopez, Dennis Davies, John Sinclair music so passive, vinyl is making a resurgence and we up to what a man really and Kim Radbourne and bass players Randy Lopez wanted to show you can still make a record for vinyl needs in a woman to feel and Finlay Cable. that sounds good online not a record for download truly happy and content in life. I did learn that dating The album was recorded mainly in at Manny’s that gets put on plastic,” he adds. Being a twelve inch glamour models doesn’t result in anything deeply THE MUSIC IS OUT THERE 11 FREE WITH FIREWORKS #76 meaningful that has any lasting significance,” he says. and we have the courage to stick with our principles. Outside of music he enjoys science fiction and I would say I’m a hippie that likes harder music just superhero movies and the Conan novels of Robert E as much as I can enjoy the voice of Ricki Lee Jones,” Howard as well as the Batman graphic novels. “I’ve he smiles. been a fan of the Dark Knight since my teenage years Atomic Love Reactor sprouted from a hard rock and still love the artwork and script of those dark and trio called Led Sallat. This band Thomas had together gritty Gotham City stories,” he adds. with their bass player Peter. ALR really started when Ritchie’s love for the acoustic blues and the he came in contact with Fredrik Eriksson through fact that he is very happy to do solo acoustic blues Facebook. “We had some friends in common, and it tours relying on himself and the strength of his own struck me what a fantastic taste in music he had since self composed material rather than being in a band there is nineteen years between us. Of course we had or power trio sets him apart as he is out there doing to meet.” he explains. it all indecently. “I write songs based on real life ATOMIC LOVE REACTOR “This happened while traveling together to see a experiences and this brings heart and emotion to my concert with the band Opeth in Stockholm. Fredrik had songs,” he tells me. Chickenfoot record. just started the recording of his band Dyas of Ashes The album ‘Working Class Bluesman’ is ten The blues retro classic rock vibe of ‘Everything Is first album ‘In The Mirror Of Reconciliation’. They are original contemporary modern day blues and blues Dead’ and the hungry fire ‘ Kiss Of Life’, are super cool a really good Prog-metal band.” rock songs comprising six string unplugged acoustic with front man Fredrik Erikssson putting in stellar like Shortly after they switched drummers, and at this guitar, electric guitar and three string electric cigar Glenn Hughes style vocal performances. The band time it was only natural to bring in Johan Strende box instruments for an album of variety and different shows their diverse side with the almost progressive which had already been serving as stand-in a couple sounds that has been received really well around blues vibe of the awesome ‘Mystery of The Souls’ of times. Johan also played together with Fredrik in the world by both blues and rock broadcasters and close your eyes and you will hear a band at the top of Days of ashes, and earlier bands. The last piece of the blues fans. “The last album was ‘Acoustic Blues EP’ their game. One of the albums highlights ‘Tall Whites’’ puzzle was Anders Olsson on keyboard. “Anders is an and was purely unplugged six string acoustic blues runs in at over seven minutes, its slick, groovy, melodic old friend of mine, and when he first came in to a jam songs whereas this new release has both acoustic with powerful vocals, this ditty is full of swagger. The with us it felt crystal clear,” he says. and electric blues songs so has more colour to the whole album is just filled with diversity. The band put influences in to their music from the sound and although the majority of my songs remain The band are: Fredrik Eriksson - vocals, Thomas 70’s, they then polish it up and makes it sound fresh. acoustic it was great fun to rock out and improvise ”Bellen” Bergman - guitars, Peter Samuelsson - bass, “I honestly don´t know what kind of other things that on my Silver SG Special through my old Marshall 8040 Anders Olsson - keyboards and Johan Strende on makes us differ from other bands, but we have added amplifier,” he explains. drums. principles into our relationship. We talk with each Ritchie has released albums every year as he The bands website also show that they play live, other and not about each other; we have an open had so many songs that he wanted to record with so you have hear a real band and not just some studio dialogue where everybody can say what they feel. We Michael producing. “I am now going to slow down a project, and some of that live energy if filtered back also share everything in the band, regardless of who little on the releases as the quality must remain high into the record. wrote the song or not,” he says. in order for me to feel happy with what is released. I Guitarist Thomas You can see on the album who constructed the need to compose new contemporary blues songs and ‘Bellen’ Bergman was songs, but every piece is as important as the end will release another album when I feel the songs are first interested in music product. “We try as good as we can to share love and good enough to justify another release,” he explains. when he heard The joy in what we play, and we have no real boundaries of “The live shows and the two solo acoustic blues tours Beatles on the radio where to go musically. If we find a good Tango-theme of Germany were excellent experiences with great at the age of four back we would use it even if it’s not musically correct in receptions wherever I performed. I love performing in 1966. “It felt like I’d our genre. I would say we try to be in the frame of solo and going on tour. The feeling of getting on a found the Holy Grail, rock music though. I´m no guitar god in any way, and plane with guitar and suitcase to go on tour abroad and after that I often I would say that I play for pleasure. For a period of is amazing. It is unique and I love being on the road sat by the radio at home time I had unrealistic expectations on myself. I wanted travelling from town to town, city to city and playing listening,” he tells me. to sound like Satriani, but what the heck. I´m a hobby my best.” When Thomas started school, the radio listening guitarist and I have a full time job to take care of. I’ve The album was recorded in various locations. became of deeper interest. He made fake guitars out become better at this, and I´ve stopped comparing Ritchie’s kitchen was used due to excellent acoustic of fishing lines at their summer house and pretended myself to demon guitarists. What makes us differ from sound, the Lickey Hills in Birmingham for that being he was Elvis. His grandmother had an acoustic guitar other bands? It’s our loving pacifistic relationship to with nature vibes and some of the album was which Thomas often used, and she encouraged him ourselves, our fellow humans, and our audience. We recorded in his living room by Michael. “The songs to try to play. are a band that enjoys our time together, and we’re took about six months to write and rehearse and the His grandmother played the guitar, the piano and very happy with this,” he smiles. recording was completed in about three days with just the Dulcimer. “Eventually she told my father: ‘You For Thomas it was a childhood dream to record an me performing and Michael producing. I would record should give him a guitar, he likes to be around it’. album, and he never saw this as anything other than two or three takes of each new song and choose the At Christmas the very same year I got my first nylon a utopia. “Something I’ve wished for, but that would best one,” he tells me. guitar. I was in Nirvana. Around 1977 me and some never happen,” he reflects. The other guys in the band Last year whilst on tour with Alastair Ritchie’s tour friends in school started the hard rock band ‘Itch’. We have been part of different bands and have all released manager they were driving through a forest when a played covers on bands like Rush, Deep Purple, and albums in the past, and from the start Thomas didn’t wild boar ran out in front of the car. “It just stood in Lou Reed,” he tells me. During the late 70’s Thomas put much thought in this. As time passed the urge to front of the vehicle, huge and powerfully built, totally started to listen to Reggae, Ska and African music. record their songs grew inside of him and where they unafraid. We were scared to death, the damn thing At that time they started a rock-reggae band inspired are today it feels natural to record. “We want to reach glared at us and if it wasn’t for Alastair slamming the by The Police, The Specials, and the Swedish Dag more people with our joy. The music has come to us brakes a wild tusked hairy pig would have caused a Vag. “We were active in about five years, and around during a time period of ten years, and that also goes serious or fatal car accident. Whenever I eat bacon it 1990 I quit playing. When I look back at these times I for the lyrics. Some songs were made in the spur of the feels like revenge,” he smiles. really think that I wasn´t particularly good at playing moment; some has more or less been created during Future tours are being discussed for next year the guitar. I mostly took care of the off-beat guitar and jam sessions when someone had an idea for a chorus and there will be solo acoustic blues gigs and festival was the weird guy. I didn´t care much for a deeper or stick, and sometimes even a single riff. We tried to performances. “I plan to release some singles next involvement in music as an art form,” he adds. create a retro feel for this album. Some of the lyrics year too and will be composing and recording new The sources of inspiration are versatile, but of are self experienced, and some are just reflections songs for an album I plan to release in 2018. I’ve course Thomas would want to mention all the amazing about life. A few of the lyrics have a lesser meaning recorded jingles for the USA ‘Main Street Blues’ radio band of the 70´s that they grew up with. “Deep Purple, than others, but they all have a message. We call show and for the UK Nigel Day’s Blues Brunch on NCB Rush, Led Zeppelin, Kebnekajse, Jethro Tull, Judas ourselves warriors of love, and we could probably call Radio so jingles are something that I find enjoyable Priest, Frank Zappa, and The Beatles. If you´re looking ourselves five hippies that like to play hard rock. Our too,” he concludes. to genres I myself are a lot into Psychic rock, and common point of view is compassion, love, humanism, Check Richie Dave Porter out at: Progressive rock like the band Yes. Personally I can really the old peace, love & understanding. We want www.cdbaby.com/cd/ritchiedaveporter5 like any kind of music as long as I can feel it in my to share energy, love, and joy to our audience,” he www.ritchiedaveporter.co.uk heart and there’s a good beat. For example I could tell says with passion. you that I´m utterly fascinated by folk music from Mali. Drummer Johan Strende recorded his part in two From Karlstad, Sweden, we find fresh and exciting This music finds its way right into the core of the heart, days. He was alone in the studio, and the rest of the classic hard rock band ATOMIC LOVE REACTOR, who and it feels very real,” he explains to me. guys humming their songs entirely without background have a catchy groove based thirteen track CD out now Thomas’ beloved girlfriend and cohabitant, and music. “He had them inside his head. Fucking sick if called ‘The Arrival’ that is well worth checking out and of course his family are his biggest inspirations. They you ask me. How talented is that,” he smiles. The rest runs in at just over fifty minutes long. It is a groove have a house near the forest next to a river. He likes has been recorded in different studios at home. “From laded classic rock record with a melodic blues edge to spend a lot of time here. “I feel I can connect with the start we wanted to record everything in analog to and tons of swagger. the meaning and origin of life here. Fresh air that I get the right feeling, but this became all to demanding Songs like the catchy ‘Gone At Last’ and ‘She’s On can breathe, and the forest is filled with berries and in time. Fredrik constructed a recording schedule, Fire’ should be by rights be played by any classic rock mushrooms for me to pick. A canoe to row on the and I recorded most of my guitars together with him. radio station whilst the groove based and melodic water, and I can hear the birds sing. I honestly think Sometimes I sat at home with ideas for a solo that I ‘Release Me’, ‘Atomic Love Reactor’ and ‘Keep Me that I´m a real hippie both in my soul and heart. The sent to him. But we always ended up with the best Alive’, show the band from a song writing point of other guys in the band do all sorts of things from result when he was coaching me to be tighter, and view have the chops, the musicianship is faultless, TaekWondo, fishing and Indian philosophy. The best were constructive in his criticism. I believe that this and these song will be at home on any let’s say part is that we can all be the persons we want to be, made my guitar play level up a notch. On some tracks THE MUSIC IS OUT THERE 12 FREE WITH FIREWORKS #76 Fredrik is also playing some of the guitars due to me performances. Very seventies in style, the song swirls The album was recorded in downtown Milwaukee suffering from eczema in my hands which delayed the around your head and pulls you in with its alluring at Tanner Monagle Inc. with Gary Tanin producing and recording. Fredrik, Peter and Anders recording went groove. ‘Here for the Ride’ is a wonderful song, it’s got Ric Probst as the engineer. Their production company on really smoothly,” Thomas explains. a mod blues feel similar to say The Kinks, Buddy Guy, is called Planet Green Productions. “We got it done The guys are very musical and are used Booker T and Robin Trower, cool song with fabulous within about two and a half months worth of recording to recording. Thomas is the one with the least guitar, lots of energy and groove. ‘Times Is Hard’ and kind of spread out over the summer, and we all were experience, and he had to learn to deliver even with ‘Night After Night’ are melodic atmospheric ditty’s really happy with what it sounds like. Gary and Ric the rec button on. The record has been produced with fab playing and groove, right out of the 70’s, lots have a great ear for music and helped us to get the mainly by Fredrik, but of course in consultation with of mood and swagger as is the catchy fuzzy ‘Just a sound we were going for,” he smiles. others. Bengt Nilsson that mixed the record has also While’ with added psychedelic tones. Sometimes when the band are on the road they been a part in the production. “Bengt is an old friend The album has two stay in a hotel, and they like to have a little fun after the to some of us, and he works professionally composing long songs. ‘Killing Time’ show, nothing too rowdy or ridiculous. “There was this film music. He made the music for some of the most runs it at over six minutes one time where a drunken old guy tried to get into our successful films in Sweden. The most well known are and is a fab diverse room to tell us to keep it down, and I was not having probably the Swedish crime movies FALK, which also song, lots of groove, it at all. Ben and some other friends who were at the have had some success in Europe. He’s a really good very spacey and groove show with us tried to calm him down but the man had producer and mixer. He was more and more involved, driven, fab bass playing. a real problem with me and my face, really adamant and at the end he was more of a co-producer,” he ‘Tired of Love Songs’ about how much he didn’t like me and wanted to kick says. runs in at over nine my ass and all that. His poor wife drags him away and The album is mastered by Håkan Fredriksson at minutes, and is a more we think that’s the end of it. My brother Frank was with Headroom. He has mastered several successful acts up-tempo catchy track a girl he met at the show and got dropped off later and such as Renegade Five, and Broken Door. “We’re very with lots of experimentation and musical changes, when he got back the guy was right outside our door happy with the sound on ‘The Arrival’, and we believe again this is a song that needs to be listened to all the waiting like a creeper. He showed up to the door and that our sound has been captured on record. At the way through as there is so much going on, as it grows asked the guy, ‘Is there a party going on in there?!’ and same time as this happened Fredrik started his own you find yourself getting lost in the delightful musical when I open the door this guy is standing there like record company and we released the album through groove, almost progessive in a rock blues way. he wants to do something! Then my buddy ended up this company. Our Bassist Peter is a graphic designer, The excellent ‘I’m a Fool’ is very retro and blues dragging him back to his own room and luckily nothing and he created the kickass cover for the album, and based with a solid groove, it starts off slow and builds happened, but it was hilarious,” Alejandro giggles. all the cover art. All and all it took a little longer than into a catchy number with superb vocals right out of Right now The Young Revelators are trying to we expected. There were several reasons for this, but the Gary Clark Jnr/Seasick Steve world of modern get out there by opening up for bigger acts at bigger the winning is that we really did this together. To finish blues. ‘Worms’ is pretty much within the same venues than they are normally used to playing, as a project of this magnitude brings a lot of satisfaction, structure, making me think a little of The Animals, well as playing more festivals. “We’re writing more and we learned a lot about how we work as a band, whilst ‘Sausalito’ is a lovely drifting song that sits material and looking to get some tours across America and what to do and expect when we’re entering the nicely alongside bands like The Cadillac Three. going with some other great bands, once things are studio next time.” ‘Lookin’’ has an organic melodic blues rock feel, a little set in stone we’ll have more on that,” he concludes. When the band recorded the song ‘Keep Me Alive’ retro with a lot going on musically. Check the guys out at: for the album Thomas was asked by Fredrik to record ‘All I See’ is a very catchy song with superb vocals www.facebook.com/TheYoungRevelators some overdubs of the main riff in the song. “I was at and groove, nice synths, I love the way this song https://twitter.com/TYRevelators home waiting with exuberant creativity to start the grows, it’s more organic and melodic with strong recording. I have problems to sort out my ideas and I lyrics, and it actually feels current and could do often tend to do too much, or even worse do something well for the band. ‘Martin’ is another cool song quite FULE else. This time I recorded a new riff totally forgetting groovy, funky and atmospheric all in one, I feel some about the overdubs. Happy and proud of my new riff I Hendrix influences on this one. sent it back to Fredrik waiting for his tributes. When The band are: Alejandro Martinez (guitar/vocals), Fredrik brought the files into the project he called me Francisco Martinez (drums), Ben Michalski (bass) up and asked me what the fuck I was doing. I didn’t Guitarist Alejandro Martinez had always wanted understand a thing, thinking I had found the essence to be in a band for as long as he can remember. of the song but when I heard my recordings along Alejandro and his brother started playing together with all the other riffs it sounded like King Crimson on when Alex was about eleven years old. Fast-forward crack. No overdubs, but more like one song sounding to about ten years later and that chemistry has gotten like four songs at the same time. Maybe this isn’t stronger. “For all three of us there is no greater feeling the freakiest thing that happened to us but we are than making the music we love and playing it for five earthy guys, so throwing out television sets and people,” Alejandro tells me. shattering hotel rooms is not our thing, he smiles. Alejandro has a deep love for American blues From Keuruu, Finland, we find hard rock band Within the coming months the guys are recording music, guys like Howlin’ Wolf, Lightning Hopkins, FULE, who have a super cool and catchy nine track two music videos with two different directors. At the Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters…the list goes on and CD out now called ‘In The Machine’ that is well worth same time they will start writing for the next album. he never gets tired of it. His favourite guitar players checking out and runs in at just over fifty minutes long. We also want to play more live than we can at the right now are Derek Trucks, John Mayer and Gary The band are: Jouni Sahiluoto - vocals, Kari Lavila - moment. Unfortunately we don’t have that many Clark Jr. “I guess I was inspired to write these songs guitar, Jukka Lappi - bass, Petteri Virtanen - drums places to play in Sweden. We are most of all a live act, because of things I was seeing around me and things and Antti Heikinmäki - keyboards. and that is how we should be experienced. It would be I was going through, kind of like coming to terms with The members of Fule have been around music for amazing to come to England for a few gigs, and we try growing up and putting myself (the music) out there to all of their lives in one way or another. Keyboard player to perform where we can. We hope that more people see what happens. We just wanted to make the best Antti Heikinmäki had the fortune to have a great music will find us and listen to ‘The Arrival’, and that we get first record we could,” he explains. teacher at the primary school. He assembled a band the opportunity to come out and play for these people. Outside of music Alejandro enjoys food, drinking, when Antti was ten years-old. “He even managed to To make them engaged in our love reactor and make and smoking. “I definitely watch too many cooking get us into studio to record the only few songs we it boils together. Atomic Love Reactor is the answer, shows, don’t know why,” he smiles. “I’m kind of a knew how to play,” says Antti. “That was ‘the spark’, come and join the reactor! nerd and am into science a lot, should be graduating and then came high school, bands and jam sessions, Check the guys out at: www.atomiclovereactor.se next winter with a degree in Environmental Science gigs and having fun with it. Maybe it is ok to say that so anything about natural science is interesting to me. it came some kind of a job when I was studying at Also with the politics in America right now it’s hard university. At least we earned enough money out of THE YOUNG REVELATORS not to be engaged in some form, or nervous about the those gigs to pay the bills. About ten years ago I came state of American politics,” he adds. across a Deep Purple tribute band called Häivähdys To put it simply, The Young Revelators don’t really Purppuraa and we’ve played together ever since,” he care about fitting in. They have stuck to what they do explains. best and make music that they want to hear. “We don’t Fule come from a intend on changing that for anybody. If you don’t like quite different musical rock n’ roll or blues music, don’t listen to us – we don’t background. Their mind,” he says. drummer Petteri has a The new album ‘All I See’ is the bands first full- history with punk music. length recording, with a mix of a couple old songs Guitarist Kari is a metal from their past EP and lots of new ones that they never guy. He also plays guitar had the chance to record before. “We were trying to in doom band called make something that was diverse, with a mix of softer Spiritus Mortis. Jouni has From Milwaukee, Wisconsin, we find classic rock acoustic stuff along with the heavier, high-energy type been singing hard rock, band THE YOUNG REVELATORS, who have a very of music that we’ve made our niche. It was the first blues and folk for a long good new thirteen track CD out now called ‘All I See’ time we featured anybody else playing on tracks with time. Bass player Jukka already did gigs when the rest that is well worth checking out and runs in at just us with saxophone, violin, cello, and piano. Gary Tanin of the band wore diapers. “One time he played even over fifty five minutes long, the songs are blues based (the producer) even added some great organ playing with Tapio Rautavaara, too. I know it doesn’t say much soulful ditties with a vintage classic rock groove feel. on a song called ‘Here For the Ride. It was a totally to you, but it does to us Finns. This summer we went to ‘Lend Your Ear’ is one of my favourite songs, it’s organic and fun process that I think that gets reflected see live acts from Deep Purple, Muse, Black Sabbath a super cool, soulful groove based track with superb on every track,” Alejandro explains. and ZZ Top and we enjoyed them all thoroughly. But THE MUSIC IS OUT THERE 13 FREE WITH FIREWORKS #76 at the end of the day our biggest mutual musical technician got the idea of getting enough drinks to lot as a young writer and Robert Plant’s phrasing truly inspiration is definitely Deep Purple. No doubt,” he the lighting stand so he would be ‘suitably lubricated’ inspired me as well,” he explains. tells me. during the almost two-hour-set we had then. The Outside of music Chase his interests are very Music is not the bands only passion. They all have place was packed and we watched him navigating eclectic to say the least and he is mostly interested in our everyday lives with families and friends and work back from the bar through the crowd with a tray full of nature. “The forest always calls out to me and I feel a and a whole bunch of normal stuff. “I know music is tall drinks. He almost managed to get back to his stand deep, longing connection to it. Whenever I have time definitely at the top three of things we loved to do. when a lady who was sitting nearby stood up. He tried off, I like to go hiking, adventuring and exploring in the Even though 99.9% of making music is something to avoid looming disaster with lifting the tray above his vast forests that my state has to offer,” he explains. quite else like driving around, carrying heavy stuff, head. He almost made it, but just almost. With people Chase is pretty minimal when it comes to exploring and waiting and more waiting, it is a way to have a break sitting by yelling ‘Noooo!’ we watched from stage as just like my seventy six year old dad who is a big hiking from everything else,” he explains. “If you think of he poured all the drinks from the tray onto his head. enthusiast, Chase doesn’t carry huge backpacks and it, making music does not make sense, it is not ‘a For a brief moment it looked like that was what he wear rain gear like most of these other people. “I am reasonable thing to do’, but that is exactly the point. wanted to do. Drinks fell on him making a little fountain a firm believer in just going out there and getting right Not everything has to make sense,” he contemplates. of alcohol with glasses shattering all over the place. in the dirt. It’s keeping me healthy and alive :) Outside Fule are we are a traditional band with vocals, Magnificent sight, I felt sorry for the guy but I have to of that, I really enjoy exploring urban environments as guitars, drums, bass and keyboards playing rock admit that I’ve never laughed harder. But like a pro, well. And at the end of the day, it’s always nice to just music that they start to approach a point where when we started playing, he stayed behind his stand lay back and read a book,” he says. ‘ordinary’ gets ‘extra-ordinary’. Antti does not know till the end of the gig,” Antii laughs. If Chase had his own way he would be able to be what’s going on in other countries but it is said that A famous Finnish composer Jean Sibelius was compared to someone fairly easily but quite honestly in Finland’s rock music isn’t as popular as it used to once leaving home to have a drink at the pub. His wife it’s very difficult for him. His interests in music vary so be. “People like to hear commercially produced up- asked: ‘When you will be back?’ He said: ‘Dear lady, I drastically that all of that influence has just rubbed beat hits and DJ’s playing electronic music rather am a composer, not a fortune-teller.’ “I guess I mean off on him and he has crafted his own style. It’s than loud, progressive rock band with ten minute long we are all open to suggestions. I know that now that reminiscent of many different artists and styles, but songs about the meaning of life and the apocalypse we have proved to ourselves that it is possible to make mostly, it’s new, fresh, organic, simplified. “My varying that is coming. The other day I went to buy a music music that at least we like to hear, that’s what we’ll genre influences show through my music. I have some magazine from local store here in Jyväskylä, and there try to do and try to enjoy every moment while doing it. songs with a blues edge, some with a pop edge, and were none. So in Finland we are in the margin, but I Being born and to live in Finland is a jackpot because some with a Folk edge. I read somewhere the phrase guess that means we are different. The other thing is there are a lot more opportunities than restrictions ‘Rural Hippie’ and it totally stuck with me. I couldn’t that wide musical background we have, I think it is our to do what you want. We have all the musical means find any genre called that so I kind of just made it my ‘forte,’ he says. necessary - we might just use them. Stay tuned,” own. I connect with that title and it resonates with me, The band’s new album ‘In the Machine’ is the concludes Antti. so I think I’ll keep it around for a while. Plus, it’s pretty very first album of Fule. It is a good-ole-rock-album Check the guys out at: www.fulemusic.com funny and playful which is very important. I want to with nine songs, an hour of musical mixture of hard www.facebook.com/fulemusic be taken serious but I don’t want to go through life rock, progressive rock, a teaspoon of blues and a few www.soundcloud.com/fulemusic without smiling, if you catch my drift,” he tells me. unnamed ingredients for a well-informed listener to The EP was released in the summer of 2016 and is figure out, a fantastic and very diverse record. “The 100% independent Chase is an unsigned artist and very whole band took part of the process of making this CHASE BEAIRE proud of it. “I think now is the best time to ‘make it’ as record and I think it turned out very well,” he says. an independent/unsigned artist in the music industry. “For me making a rock album that you can be proud It’s not that I am against labels, but I do however really of has been on my bucket list for a long time, and I feel a strong need to make it on my own,” he says. “I know I’m not the only one. I’m not saying that this is am not opposed to working with labels of any kind, but the best we can do, but it is a decent start, isn’t it,” he I want to be one of the Pioneers of independent artists says with satisfaction. And indeed it is, it’s a cracking coming up. I think here in a few years, all artists on the album and as Antti advises it follows many areas of charts will be fully independent. And this year alone the rock spectrum. ‘No Place to Hide’, ‘Point of No we’ve seen a lot more of it! So if those artists can do Return’, ‘Man Out of Nowhere’, ‘Too Late for Tears’, it, then I intend to as well. This EP will be what takes and ‘End of Innocence’ show how far the band have me there and lets me rub elbows with the important come and are skillfully performed diverse songs, with people in the industry. That’s how I look at it anyway. the difference being that the songs are with soul and It’s a sample of what I have to offer.” not just thrown together like a studio project. What From Mansfield, Ohio, we find solo artist CHASE The EP was recorded in the late winter and early you get is an energetic passion fuelled (excuse the BEAIRE, who has a very catchy laid back organic five spring of 2016 in a local studio that Chase and his family pun), soulful rock record. track self titled CD out now that crosses folk, classic had hands in building. It’s called ‘South Main Studios’ The guys really didn’t know if they could do music rock and Americana with singer- song writer musical and is located on Main Street in his hometown. The on their own because they have been playing for styles and is well worth checking out. Chase is a process took about three/four months to complete, as cover songs for a long time. A few years ago they sat young musician and song writer and he has a huge far as recording goes. Chase went in to track about down and made a decision that they would give it a go. talent, the musical scene as a whole needs younger once every other week or so, and he got it done fairly It took a while for the band to learn to communicate artists like this to keep it moving forward. easily. “I was in no rush at first, but then tension with one another in regards to the demo songs they Growing up Chase Beaire was surrounded by started building and I became very excited towards came up with. “It isn’t so easy to come to rehearsals music and his family was very musically inclined, on the end, so I hit it hard and released the album sooner to play a piece you wrote even if the people you are his father’s side specifically. His dad always played than I had originally planned. Myself, my father, and presenting the song are your best friends. But when in bands and as Chase grew up he was surrounded one of his close musician friends all had a part of this we got the thing going the songs of ‘In the Machine’ by Rock and Roll. “We always went to go watch local process. It is entirely self Mixed and Mastered by us, came pretty easily,” he tells me. bands and support the music scene as a family. So, in the studio that we built,” he explains to me. The album was recorded in two sessions in Pop- one day my dad played a local festival and I was The story behind the song ‘The Gavel,’ all started Artikkeli Studios in Alavus, Finland by Marko Ketola. fortunate enough to get up on stage with him and sing out when Chase was camping in a one room cabin First the boys did three songs in July 2015 and the backup vocals at the young age of seven” he tells me. with his old band in the Azusa Mountains of southern rest on January 2016. With a number of revisions in There was a long car ride home and Chase remembers California a few years back. “We had absolutely no the mixing phase and later in the mastering phase, being so excited that he couldn’t even go to sleep that signal, cell service, or internet of any kind. So I spent all the album was finished in May 2016. “We recorded a night. He told his parents that night, that music is what my time pacing around at night and writing Japanese quite a lot of material live in order to get the sound he wants to do forever. “From then it took off. I started Haiku which is a form of poetry that I became deeply more organic that it would differ from overproduced my own band with my brother, and over the years it obsessed with because of a book called ‘The Dharma computer crap you hear all the time,” he says. They has evolved into me, on my own playing my original Bums’ by Jack Kerouac. In traditional Haiku, the lines did some tracks afterwards, and then they all had the music,” he tells me. are written in a pattern of syllables like 5-7-5. So if chance to sit in the producer’s chair. “I guess I was not Chase’s biggest you pay attention to the syllables of the verses, they the easiest person to get along with my producer-hat musical inspirations are match this form almost perfectly. After I returned on because everyone started to call me Zappa. ‘One definitely The Doors from the mountains, I wrote a little melody on guitar more’. All in all it took us something like four years to and Led Zeppelin. His which happened to match the phrasing of my haiku make “In the Machine”. I hope the next one will come background in music is perfectly! So I wrote the choruses and then ‘The more easily. It was a long journey, and I am glad we deeply rooted in classic Gavel’ was born,” he smiles. did it, but I am sure happy it’s over for now,” he smiles. rock. “I will always As for the future, Chase plan’s on taking music as One of the band members got stuck in the prefer the music from the far as possible. “I plan on touring at least one time in corridor behind fire-safe doors Spinal Tap-style 60’s -70’s over anything. It 2017. I am finishing up with my last year of high school and was rescued accidentally by fire brigade after was such an inspirational however, but when that is through I will continue to an enthusiastic member of our crew triggered fire time back then and music Write, record, tour, and play shows for years and alarm with smoke machine. “We had warm feelings had much more meaning/depth than it does now,” he years to come. I look forward to working with many backstage in Southern Finland that was so small that tells me. Chase however does listen to a lot of new different artists and media outlets in order to reach three people could not sit side-by-side but it still had music and is open to all genres and styles. The album out and extend my audience. As for the distant future a sauna in it. The funniest thing - because it didn’t wasn’t inspired by anyone in particular but more-so I cannot say. I’m no fortune teller but I can say 1 thing happen to me obviously - happened few years ago just some his own experiences. “I wouldn’t say that I for certain. It is all happening. I am working day in and at Häivähdys Purppuraa -gig in Keuruu what can be reflect The Doors or Led Zeppelin as far as the music day out to make this dream of mine come to life and I considered home to Fule. We were getting ready to goes, but lyrically is a different story. Jim Morrison’s have never been surer of it in all of my years of playing play and we were already on stage. Our lightning poetic lyric style and free-verse writings taught me a music. And to whoever may read this, I hope that you THE MUSIC IS OUT THERE 14 FREE WITH FIREWORKS #76 join me for this amazing journey because it will be one says making me hungry. that you never forget. And that’s a promise.” It’s always hard for Wendy to know how Andalusia MIKE WILLIAMS Check Chase Beaire out at: Rose comes across to others. “I think the fact that we http://chasebeairemusic.wixsite.com/chasebeaire are three strong individuals who come from slightly Facebook.com/ChaseBeaireMusic different backgrounds musically - Paul (our drummer) used to play in Skinlab, a groove metal band on Century Media Records, Jeff (our bass player) grew ANDALUSIA ROSE up in the underground punk scene in Buffalo, NY and later moved to Los Angeles where he played in the Flesh Eaters and also has roots in the psyche rock and experimental noise scene, and me, who grew up on classic rock and hair metal with an affinity for the blues - yields a sound that while reminiscent of things past, defies genre. That is a blessing and a curse. At times we are not sure where we fit in. On up-tempo blues vibe, lots of swagger, whilst ‘Truth’ is the other hand, we stand out, and we can play with a short catchy blues ditty with a little statement. The many different styles of bands successfully. There is a solo is a little in the vein of Brian May, circa ‘Let Me strong aesthetic element to the band as well, aided in Out’ from his Starfleet project album. ‘Brain Dead’ has part by using my artwork as part of our visual identity,” a more modern alternative catchy vibe. ‘We Are One’ she adds. is a straight forward classic rock ditty. ‘Beautiful Soul’ From Oakland, California, we find psyche rock The new album ‘First Stone’ is Andalusia Rose’s has the acoustic allure of George Harrison, a nice band ANDALUSIA ROSE, who have a new seven track second release. It came out in 2015 and they pressed characteristic classic pop/rock song. CD out now called ‘First Stone’. The album runs in at it on CD and black, blue, and limited edition splatter ‘Leaving Dystopia’ goes back to that blues rock just under thirty minutes long and is also out on vinyl. vinyl which they did on their own, without the help of a vibe with a slight melodic vibe. The up-tempo ‘I Dig The band are: Wendy Lee Gadzuk - Guitar, lead vocals, label. “We did a crowd funding campaign to help with You’ is an acoustic based, fun catchy up-tempo ditty. Jeff Vengeance - Bass, baritone guitar, percussion, the expense of pressing vinyl, where we took pre- And let’s not forget Mike’s version of John Lennon’s back-up vocals and Paul Jarvis - Drums, back-up orders of the record and sold my artwork, including ‘Working Class Hero’, a cool brisk affair. vocals. the original piece that I made for the cover. That was Mike Williams started playing guitar when he was Music has been a part of guitarist and lead singer fun, because it really connected us to our fans and around fifteen or so. He was listening to The Beatles, Wendy Lee Gadzuk’s life since she can remember. we had to be quite creative, but it was also a lot of Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin. He would play covers She started playing classical piano when she was work! This is the first release I feel that really captures but found himself becoming bored with playing other four and continued until she was twelve, dabbling who we are as a band and the various facets of our people’s music. Mike was far more interested in in violin along the way. Then Wendy caught the sound, ranging from soft and ethereal to heavy doom. writing his own songs. “I love the creative aspect rock’n roll bug. She picked up the guitar and played The album starts with a sound collage called ‘Faith’ of writing,” he says. Throughout the 1980’s he was for a while, but it didn’t stick at first. “When I wasn’t recorded by Jeff that ends with a clip of the opera sending demos out to anyone who would listen. playing, I was always out seeing live music, buying classic ‘Ave Maria’ that segues into the title track,” There were smaller labels who were interested in records, writing lyrics, etc... Music was my world,” Wendy explains to me. the music but nothing concrete materialized and of she tells me. “Wendy started playing bass when she The album recorded in San Francisco at a place course the major labels would not accept any material was nineteen.”I was tired of hearing my roommate called Catacombs Studio by Eric Moffat of Unsound they deemed unsolicited. “I was literally beating the complain about not having a bass player, and I figured Recording. The process took a while as it was their pavement to secure even a publishing deal. Then of I could do it. So I did. I eventually went back to guitar first time in the studio together and it took a bit for the course the time comes when you have to pay the and realized that is what I love. I’ve been playing in band to all to get comfortable. Jeff was also having bills so it was off to a ‘real job’ and the band went its bands non-stop since then, save for a short break a amp issues, Wendy was having guitar issues, and they separate ways,” he sighs. few years ago when I first moved to Oakland from Los all had different schedules they were working around, Throughout the 1990’s Mike and his brother would Angeles. But I’ve learned that I really can’t not do it,” including the owner of the studio. “Sometimes we record original material on his four track Tascam at she explains. could only get in for a couple hours at a time. It took his home studio. “It was weekend warrior stuff. We Wendy grew up about nine months, if I remember correctly, to get it had decided to stop writing to appease other people listening to AC/DC, Black done, but it was worth it,” she smiles. and simply allow our imaginations to flow. We figured Sabbath, Nazareth, When the band first started, they had a guy named the days of pursuing a professional music career was Aerosmith, and Heart. Justin Caucutt playing second guitar with them, who behind us so why not just create and let it fly. Now She also got into punk eventually went on to pursue his own thing. “Paul’s when we listen back to those old songs it brings a rock a little later, but the ex-band mate Snake then joined us on guitar, and smile to our faces and considering the technology classic, blues-based he brought in another person on keys and we were we were working with the recordings came out quite rock stuff is what really a five piece. That didn’t work out musically, and we good. Then in early 2012, after a long layoff, I decided stuck with her. Bands lost both guys’ days before we had a show booked. to brush myself off, write all new material and self- like AC/DC, the Stones, To us, cancelling was not an option, so we went on to publish my music through TuneCore and here we are and Zeppelin made do the show as a trio, with no rehearsal. Surprisingly, today,” he smiles. her dig a little deeper into the blues, and she then everybody there said they liked us much better this Mike was heavily discovered Leadbelly, Fred McDowell, Howlin’ Wolf, way. I had no intention of staying like this, but after influenced by The and Bessie Smith. Ike and Tina Turner have also that show, we decided to try it for a while. And it stuck. Beatles with a particular been a huge influence on Wendy. “I love singers who That, I think, is how we truly discovered our sound. We leaning toward John make you feel with every ounce of your being, from each rose to the challenge. What could have been a Lennon and George your head down to the tips of your toes, such as Tina disaster was actually a major turning point for us,” she Harrison - especially Turner, Steve Marriott (Humble Pie), Dan McCafferty says with relief. George’s solo material. (Nazareth), and Janis Joplin. That inspires me. The For the future Andalusia Rose are in the process of Jimi Hendrix played a big passion of the blues combined with the raw energy recording a new album right now. “We have released role in how he would go of punk sprinkled with a bit of voodoo and magic. two EP’s so far, and we really want to do a full-length. about playing lead guitar. And there is the flip side - Jeff and I have both been We are working on this as our budget allows, which Then of course there was listening to a lot of Hildegard of Bingen recently,” she right now, is a slow process. We hope to have it Led Zeppelin and the multitude of other bands and tells me. The songs on ‘First Stone’ all come from real done by the end of 2016. We’d love to find a way to artists he listened to and who influenced him. The life experiences - relationships of all kinds. ‘Destroyer’ get overseas and play once we have this record out, inspiration for ‘Leaving Dystopia’ came when Mike is about an unhealthy obsession, while ‘Let it Shine’ as we have always thought that our music would go realized years ago that humanity is at a crossroads. was inspired by the passing of Wendy’s maternal over well in Europe and hear that the fans there are “Some might even say in crisis. I wanted to get the grandmother. ‘First Stone’ is pulled from the story in great. So basically our plan is to keep doing what we message out that in order to manifest change we the Bible - ‘Let he who is without sin cast the first are doing - writing, recording and playing live and need to leave the dysfunction behind us and move in stone’ - about stoning an adulteress. “I think we can all hope that we can keep the magic going and spread it a direction where truth, peace and love prevail. We take a lesson from examining the hypocrisy that exists around,” Wendy concludes. need to break away from the paradigm of fear and within our society, and that we may hold in ourselves Check Andalusia Rose out at: get the planet to awaken. There are many ways each as well,” she says with a touch of seriousness. www.andalusiarose.com of us can help to make this shift. For me that vehicle Wendy is also a visual artist. She mixed media www.facebook.com/andalusiaroseband is through my music. I view Dystopia as my personal assemblage work, using found objects such as animal www.twitter.com/andalusiarose contribution toward helping humanity get off its bones, doll parts, and jewellery. “I have also recently collective knees. We can either continue to live a life been working on a series of ballpoint pen drawings. From United States, we find singer/song writer of enslavement or we can unshackle and be who we My work has been on the cover of both of our records, MIKE WILLIAMS, who has a superb catchy and truly are which are divine souls with infinite potential,” and I have created a piece, nicknamed ‘Rosie’ (short diverse ten track CD out now called ‘Leaving Dystopia’ he states. for Andalusia Rose), who has become a part of our that is well worth checking out and runs in at just over For this album the band is essentially Mike with live shows,” she explains Though Wendy does not thirty minutes long. his brother Al contributing the lead guitar track on the practice any sort of organized religion, she is inspired ‘Give Me Love’ is a fabulous song with a super cool song ‘Leaving Dystopia’. Mike had offers from others by religious imagery and iconography, which often vibe, think acoustic Zeppelin with a touch of Hendrix/ to play on the album but he respectfully declined. “As translates into altar-like pieces and invented patron Joplin. ‘Free’ is a superb song with a blues based hard as it was to do that. I had this whole concept in saints. They can be seen here: www.wendyleegadzuk. shuffle, laid back, think Lenny Kravitz, Page/Plant vibe, my mind of what I wanted to put out. So I just went com. “I believe in magic and I also like to bake,” she organic and expressive. ‘Soldier of Love’ has a more with my intuition, stuck to my guns and went solo. I THE MUSIC IS OUT THERE 15 FREE WITH FIREWORKS #76 played all the instruments, programmed the drums songs. The song is up-tempo catchy and melodic with Snail wanted to talk about this strange period of and wrote and sang all the songs; with the exception superb playing. ‘Road To The Sun’ is also melodic life when you’re barely out of your teens and you have of Lennon’s ‘Working Class Hero’ of course,” he says. and atmospheric, I love the way the song builds and to find your way in this world and through this society Mike likes to believe his song writing and the glides along with the superb guitar work. ‘Musical who force you to do things that you don’t necessarily material on ‘Dystopia’ is unique because it’s cantered Syndrome’ is another ditty with lots of character. The want to do to be a part of it. “Like finding a job that you around his desire to write an inspirational album while song is catchier a little more laid back with strong don’t like to buy an apartment and live the same life exposing the societal and cultural mess swirling all melodies and vocals; this one is reminiscent of as most of the people lived. What about your teenage around us. “Something, in my opinion, most artists Coheed and Cambria. dreams? Why giving up your dreams for a life that you and bands are not doing today. There are so many ‘World On Fire’ has a strong modern progressive don’t want and don’t like,” he explains. of us in the world looking to make the planet a better feel, think Coldplay and 30 Seconds To Mars, a very This album is very intimate for Florian because it place and the album attempts to reach out to all catchy song. ‘Fantasy’ is also along the same musical talks about a period of his life where he discovered those that feel frustrated or disenfranchised and to lines with Coldplay influences, very funky song with that he had a choice to make between trying to live his let them know they are not alone and we are making fab groove. ‘The Date’ is a strong song; it’s modern dreams or dreaming his life so he invented a character a difference. I tell friends and family all the time to and melodic with a strong anthemic feel with intense that Florian called ‘the dreamer’ which is himself and pursue truth because truth is absolute,” he tells me. vocals. ‘The Dreamer’ has a strong fun prog feel, one he wrote this album and it helped him to make his The album is Mike’s vehicle to express what of those tracks that has marvellous musical ideas with choice to live his dreams. “At the same time it is also he is seeing in the world and offer up hope and a so much going on, almost dramatic in structure. very common because I think that a lot of people had perspective. “What we have in the world is an ongoing Next up is ‘Miracle’ lived this situation and also a lot of teenagers will be effort by elite control freaks to strip humanity of all the vocals are incredible in the same situation as I was, so it is my way to say dignity by enslaving people through fear and scarcity. on this song, way up to them not to forget their dreams. So ‘the dreamer’ is We have to understand that accepting dysfunction there, soaring vocals, not only me, it is everyone, so dream out loud,” Florian does not make for a better person. We are not here melodic, atmospheric, adds. to live in fear and to be oppressed. That’s a trap very catchy and slick, The album was recorded in Corsica, in a small brought on by ages of incessant indoctrination and superb song that you peaceful village called Valle Di Rustinu where there’s propaganda. It’s time to break the chains and be free. will find yourself getting a wonderful recording studio that belongs to Snail’s Thus, the album is intended to remind people we are lost in. You also get mentor Mr Jean-Bernard Rongiconi who was part of all divine beings capable of so much more than what the same feeling with the most successful Corsican band I Muvrini. “You we have been told we are or ‘allowed’ to be. We are ‘Never Thought Forever may have heard of them because they recorded very powerful spiritual beings with infinite potential,” Know’, again melodic and catchy, lots of changes and a song with Sting,” he tells me. The band came to he states. atmosphere, I love the song glides along, you get that him with three ideas of songs which became the Mike has a small home recording studio and he magic feeling with a lot of the song on this record, they songs ‘Miracle’, ‘Never Thought Forever Know’ and started the project back in May of 2012 and released drift along and pull you in. ‘Growin’ Apart’ is a polished ‘Between Fate and Free Will’, he listened to them and the album in February of 2013. When he decided song with professional musicianship throughout, hats he saw Snail’s potential so he encouraged the band back in late 2011 that he was actually going to do the off to Cédric’s guitar work. I love the way this song to do more. album, he bought a Tascam 2488neo and then had to grows, the vocals and performances are tight and In January 2013 Snail recorded their first track teach himself how to use the recorder. “I go back to full of energy, its get catchier as it builds and is very ‘Miracle’ and that was the beginning of the real Snail the old analog recording days with 8, 16 and 24 track anthemic. band because before that they only played covers tape and wall to wall mixing consoles. The Tascam ‘All You Need Is A Dream’ is beautifully performed, songs in clubs and bars. “Now it was different, we fits on a drafting table I have. The machine is actually soaring vocals and strong lyrics, it has an almost were making our own songs, so we decided to produce quite easy to learn and the functionality is amazing. I Europe melodic ballad feel with Florian singing in fine the album and record it in Rongiconi’s studio,” he already had three songs written before I fired up the form with a mammoth fiery vocal delivery. smiles. It took the band more than three years to make recorder plus I knew I was going to do a remake of The band are Brozzu Florian - vocals, guitar, piano, this record because they had to learn how to record ‘Working Class Hero’ so that left six songs to write Raffini Cédric - lead guitar, back vocals, Cropanese in a professional way and Mr Rongiconi really helped along the way. To my surprise the songs came quickly. Gabriel - drums and percussions and Cropanese them with that. “We are not a professional band, we I was writing and recording in my spare time into the Michael - bass guitar. don’t have any label or manager so we had to find the early morning hours and on weekends. The mixing Singer Florian Brozzu and the rest of the band were time between our own part-time jobs, our gigs in bars and mastering was the toughest part because I’m introduced to music from their families. “They weren’t and composing and recording,” he explains. “ a perfectionist and I kept mixing and re-mixing until musicians, except for Cédric whose father is a guitar So it wasn’t that simple but we learn so much I felt good about what I was listening to. I did most player, but they always listened to music especially about us, about our own qualities and defects, about of the song editing and compression in Audacity,” he rock and roll music from the 70’s,” Florian tells me. the band and the most important thing is that these 3 explains. So the guys spent their entire childhood listening to years of recording helped us find the band’s way, we Mike is currently looking to release a follow-up all the most famous bands that became their source know now that we want to make music for living.” album sometime soon. “I have no specific date set of inspiration many years later in 2009 when they first There are a lot of crazy things that Florian does not though. The next album will be more collaborative started Snail. remember right now but he does remember the one since with Dystopia it was all me with the exception Snail’s musical inspirations are very extensive. night that the band played in south Corsica. “We live of the guitar lead on the title track which my brother The guys love most of the bands from the 70’s like in north side so we had almost three hours of car trip Al put down. So we are talking about doing a joint Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Pink Floyd, Supertramp. after the show to go back to our place. It was four in the release next go around with some additional help They also enjoy American punk bands like Green Day, morning we had finished the show and we were ready from family and friends who asked to join in on the Blink 182, Sum 41, through to U2, Muse, Coldplay who to go back but we were out of gas so we stopped at fun,” he concludes. For more info visit: were their major source of inspiration for this album. a gas station and I don’t remember why they sent me http://laboroflovemusic.com “More recently we discovered a band that we really to fill the gas tank because I was so drunk so I choose appreciate which is Biffy Clyro,” says Florian. the wrong gasoline pump and I started to fill the gas Outside of music all the guys love going to the tank with the wrong gasoline in it! Fortunately for us SNAIL movies. “We used to watch movies at my place which Michael caught me up in time otherwise, we wouldn’t is our best way to relax after a day of rehearsal,” he have been able to go back home,” he laughs. says. “We also like sports. For my part I love to go The next step for Snail now is trying to be more skiing ! We try to spend one week a year, Gabriel and professional, they are going to make more shows in I, in Italy for skiing with our friends.” Corsica and in France so that they can quit their jobs Snail are a Corsican band who plays rock and and make music all day long. “We are also looking roll and sings in English. “That’s not that common in for music festivals so that we can play our album Corsica because we don’t speak English and it’s an live and try to reach more people and labels. And island who has his own culture and music and even of course this winter we’re gonna start composing if people really loves rock and roll music here, the for our next album we already have some ideas and few bands who play in clubs prefer covering songs we’re so excited about it so we are negotiating with rather than making their own compositions,” explains Mr Rongiconi for a record deal to compose and record Florian. the album in his studio so that it won’t take three years From Bastia, Corsica France we find the very The most interesting thing with Snail is that to make it,” he concludes. musically diverse SNAIL, who have a new fourteen Michael, Gabriel and Florian are first cousins. “Cédric Check the band out at track CD out now called ‘Dream Out Loud !’ that is well is like family for us three because we know him www.snail-band.com worth exploring and runs in at over fifty minutes long. from many years before starting the band,” he says. www.facebook.com/SnailCorsica The production of the album is chic and the songs flow So when the band are playing or composing there’s www.youtube.com/user/SnailCorsica with passion and musical radiance. this chemistry in the air that probably come from the ‘Darkness Town Pt.1 and Pt.2’ sets the album off fact that they have all known each other forever From the Cardiff, UK, we find progressive rock and are both skilfully performed melodic ditties with a and everyone does the right thing to complete each artists GHOST COMMUNITY, who have a new six track big sound and vocals. This sets the ambience for the other. “We worked hard on that on rehearsals since CD out now called ‘Cycle Of Life’ that is well worth whole album. The second part has a strong modern the beginning of the band and we keep working on exploring and runs in at over fifty minutes long. progressive feel with towering vocals from Florian. that even now to learn what each other needs to be ‘Mirror Lakes’ is a wonderful track, reminiscent of ‘Pieces’ is a grand song, I get the feeling this is a completed so that we don’t form a band with four Spock’s Beard and has so many musical elements to personal song, and it’s very melodic with strong fiery members but four members who form one,” he says. soak up, it is charming and passionately performed vocals, almost balladic with superb musicianship. I This album is a sort of concept album as Pink Floyd song with outstanding vocals. Another fab song is love the way the song grows, everything is faultless. used to do. Every song from the album is related to a ‘Blue December Morning’, the song writing skills are ‘Between Fate and Free Will’ is one of my favourite theme which is dreams. impressive, the whole track is passionate and glides THE MUSIC IS OUT THERE 16 FREE WITH FIREWORKS #76 middle of writing an album, I listen to very little music John Paul Vaughan. He was someone that he had GHOST COMMUNITY and especially rock based stuff as I find it a distraction worked with about twenty years ago in a band called therefore, folk music and classical music are my main ‘Unbroken Spirit’. After that band split we lost contact listening choices during that time,” he says. and reconnected around the time of the split of The As for the inspiration behind the album and Reasoning. John Paul has such an amazing gift. Such the songs, lyrically, there are some very personal a range, such a presence and, he is the consummate moments there but applied in an ambiguous way... front man. When he came in to sing over some demos, The overriding theme is about hope, overcoming we knew this was the guy for us and luckily, John Paul adversity, realising that there is a big wide world out felt the same way. He is a larger than life character, there and that we are all in this together. “We all need he fills the room when he enters and, he has a very, each other to make this beautiful world of ours work,” very wicked sense of humour. It has been great he tells me. Matthew really does believe that we reconnecting with this geezer. The band as a unit is so are living in a very self-centred world but the reality tight, so much fun and so musical. We actually hang is that without each other, we are nothing. “I think a out as friends as well which makes us even stronger along with thrilling performances from all the cast. bit of social awareness, an awareness of the greater and, closer. It’s a real gang and I love that.” The track ‘Ghost Community’ also offers the same good and the awareness of what a wonderful place The new album ‘Cycle of Life’ was recorded all smoothness, a little more up-tempo, again superb we live in would go an awfully long way to hopefully over the place. The drums were recorded in London, musical performances, particularly the guitar work, bringing a bit of harmony to a very fragile and troubled the electric guitars, bass and half the vocals were this track is very catchy. The title track ‘Cycle of Life’ era that we are currently experiencing. I know from recorded at Matthew’s studio, the acoustic guitars is melodic bliss the vocals and melodies are superb recent personal experience that I wouldn’t have were recorded at Simon’s studio and the keyboards and epic, yet smooth and silky, running in at over gotten though my stuff without my close family and were recorded at Moray’s studio. The other half of fifteen minutes. It’s like Dream Theater in places and friends but also, the process was aided because of the vocals were recorded at Bruce Soord’s studio other times the melodic story telling velvetiness of the kindness of “strangers”. By that I mean, people that produced and mixed the album. “These days it’s Marillion. that I have met via music, people that I don’t “hang” kind of rare to all be in the studio together though it The atmospheric ‘Rise Up’ has a fab groove; the out with on a regular basis, who could see the pain I is something we want to do hopefully, for the next music is faultless and takes on many sonic twists was going through and selflessly, reached out. That record,” he tells me. and turns. The way the track builds up is superb, the blew me away. It’s not hard to be nice, to care and that The whole process from start to finish took the band sound tight together, very melodic with towering was proven to me. This all tied in with the theme of the band around eighteen months to complete. “That may vocals reminding me of Steve Balsamo’s performance record,” he explains. sound like a long time but in real terms, with the way on the Kompendium album, whilst ‘Anything and Outside of music, Matthew enjoys leading a pretty things were, it is amazing it got written at all. Anyway, Everything’ is a complex atmospheric ditty. simple life. “I love hanging out with family and friends. once we had the songs in a ‘finished’ state, they The band are Jake Bradford-Sharp - Drums, I love social interaction and the adventures that were handed to Bruce who did a brilliant job with the Matthew Cohen - Bass, Moray Macdonald - those connections bring. When that’s not happening record. It was a pleasure working with him. Bruce and Keyboards, Simon Rogers - Guitar and John Paul I love nothing better than chilling at home watching I worked very closely together. We discussed what we Vaughan - Vocals. films, reading books (history and biographies mainly), were looking for and then he would fire rough mixes For bass player Matthew Cohen it all started with cooking (I love being in kitchen with some beer and back at me to see if we were reading from the same a song, that single nugget of joy that lead to buying an good ingredients), playing bass just because I can and page. Once the core sounds had been established, I album, which leads to discovering bands, which leads not because I have to for work plus, I’m a huge F1 and basically left him to it which was such a new thing for to gigs, which leads to wanting to be on stage, which international rugby nut. A couple of months ago a few me to do as like most writers, we are control freaks. leads to buying your first instrument, which leads to mates and me started a monthly curry club which is a I had the ultimate veto on things but I never used it. years of frustration trying to learn it, which leads to right old laugh. I could eat curry every day (I don’t by Bruce knew what I / we were trying to achieve and joining a band, which leads to playing your first gigs the way) - nice and spicy food is the best. Aside from he took it to another level for us. His knowledge, and the rest, the rest you can work out from there. that, I’m a bit of a cat and owl fanatic too,” he purrs. patience, skill and work ethic is something to be In all seriousness, Matthew’s ‘obsession’ became Ghost Community was born back in late 2014. admired. I learned a lot from this guy and when it serious after getting his first Iron Maiden record, It was meant to run side by side with Matthew’s comes to the next album, I hope he has the space in seeing Rainbow live in Cardiff and then, witnessing previous band but when that split, Ghost Community his ever increasing schedule to be able to do that for the magic that is Iron Maiden on the ‘Powerslave’ became his main focus. “It was always meant to be us. A very satisfying and happy experience plus, his tour. “That was when I really knew I wanted to play a freer writing experience than my old band and I am 5.1 mix is STUNNING,” he smiles. bass and create music. I had no idea how I was going pleased to say, that is the case. I always knew that One time on the road Matthew met Adrian to do it or where to begin but when I got my first bass Jake (Bradford-Sharp) on drums was going to be the Edmondson at one his ‘Bad Shepherd’ gigs. “I was and a guitarist friend taught me “Another One Bite The guy that came with me from my previous outfit. We invited by the wonderful Troy Donockley. I don’t Dust”, I was utterly hooked. The rest is history and I’ve have a real connection on and off the stage. I love normally get very star struck but on this occasion, never looked back. It’s been a funny journey and yes, playing with Jake. He is such an exciting drummer I was dead nervous. I was such a huge fan of ‘The it is a crazy world but, it is wonderful in every sense. who is inventive, classy and rock solid,” he smiles. Young Ones’ and ‘Bad News’ so this was a real fan There is nothing like it,” he smiles. The guys just lock and groove so well together boy moment for me. Anyway, I was a few sheets to the Matthew’s firstand when you listen to ‘Cycle Of Life’ you will hear wind (Dutch courage) and finally, I got to meet Adrian. musical inspirations the chemistry. “I couldn’t imagine not having him on I had my ‘Bad News’ CD in hand and was ready to were Iron Maiden, stage with me,” he says. Matthew then set about try and be as cool as possible. As soon as he started Deep Purple, Queen, approaching some musicians that he had admired asking some questions about Cardiff and music, my Black Sabbath, (early) for a long time and thankfully, they agreed to be a mind went to mush. I froze. I had no clue what to say. Whitesnake, AC/DC and part of this musical venture. “Simon (Rogers) on Troy saw what was going on and just laughed so hard. Jeff Wayne’s ‘War of guitar is a player I had seen a few times (with Also I have never felt such an idiot in all my life. Nothing the Worlds’. He is still Eden) and I loved his style of playing, his feel. He is I said made sense. All semblance of intelligence left a huge fan of all of the a guitarist’s guitarist. A very clever player and such me. I died for days afterwards. I told taxi drivers what aforementioned. From a cool, calm character to boot. When he wants to had happened, I told everyone, I Stopped strangers on there, like any music turn it up a notch, he does and it’s so great to watch. the street in the desperate hope they wouldn’t laugh at fan and musician, you are always searching for new He’s also, a great showman on stage. He, like the me and would understand but alas, the response was music, new bands and over the years, many have entire band, has turned out to be a very close friend. always the same. I was mortified. If situations like that come and gone. “I remember the first time I heard Moray (Macdonald) was someone I had known of for arise now, I try and avoid any contact in case history Marillion’s ‘Misplaced Childhood’ and Dream Theater’s a while,” he explains to me. repeats itself. I’m so scared of it happening again. It ‘Images & Words’. Those two albums completely Matthew actually helped Moray get the job as the has happened a couple of times since but not on that turned his world around like the first time he heard, live player for Godsticks. “He was my first port of call scale, thankfully. There was another time I became all Maiden, Queen and Deep Purple. “All of those bands when it came to looking for a keys man. He’s got such fan boyish with Mikael Åkerfeldt of Opeth fame at an have remained a constant in my life. Other bands that a great feel and man; can he rip out those lead lines. awards ceremony but I’ll leave that, for another time,” I really fell in love with were / are Led Zeppelin and He loves technology, knows how to handle it and can he laughs. Yes. I was a late starter when it came to these bands make adjustments on the fly. He’s the dark horse of The future objective of Ghost Community is to but they really are something that I can’t do without on the band. He comes across as this mild mannered be a live, touring outfit. The band deliberately hasn’t my sound system. Pop music is also a big influence on character but then he just lets loose and it’s brilliant booked a load of gigs because they weren’t sure how me. There is nothing better than a hook, a catchy tune, to watch and hear. Then we get to the singer situation. the album was going to be received. “We knew we an awesome ear worm. It’s also rather good to cheesy Initially our singer was the wonderful Marc Atkinson had made an album that we were proud of and that dance too,” he explains. (Riversea). Marc was involved in the early demo we felt would connect with people but until it is out There are so many groups that hold an important stages but as things progressed in terms of our goals there, you never really know,” he explains. “We’re place in Matthew’s heart (too many to mention here) as a band, Marc realised and honestly stated, that due not egotistical enough to think that just because we but he does find himself enjoying finding new music. to his solo commitments, there would be a difficulty have been in fairly successful musical situations “My faves recently are, Flying Colors, Tesseract, in co-ordinating both bands as far as live work was before that this band and its music would be received Amplifier, Katatonia, Opeth, The Pineapple Thief, concerned. We totally understood and appreciated as well as it has. We always said that we will let the Godsticks, Cats In Space, Big Wreck and Riverside the honesty. He still appears on the album on the song, fans do the talking. If they loved it, we knew we had a to name but a few. To be perfectly honest with you, “Ghost Community” which I am really chuffed about solid basis to move this forward and if not, we would these days I love listening to much mellower music as after all, we are all in this together,” he says with listen and accept their judgement. To get the kind of such as Martin Simpson, Atoms For Peace, José satisfaction. response we have from the fans, has simply floored González, Winged Victory For The Sullen, Dead Can When Marc told the guys about his leaving, us. It has given us that impetus to up the game on so Dance, some classical music etc. When I am in the Matthew’s first and only call was to the ‘vocal tart’, many levels,” he adds. THE MUSIC IS OUT THERE 17 FREE WITH FIREWORKS #76 The band’s experience at Planet Rockstock in 2015 their debut album released in 1974. The only change Jethro Tull, King Crimson, Pink Floyd, Rush, UK, Led and their recent shows in Norway, confirmed that they is that they added Mats on keyboards for their third Zeppelin, and YES. We all loved it, but we wanted have something very special in terms of the connection album...”All of us who are involved in this band also to grow creatively and as a band. In February 2014, within the band and with the people watching Ghost comes from the same small village of Saltsjobaden Downing Grey morphed into the modern cinematic Community. “By the way, I’m not saying that everyone 15km southeast of Stockholm…and have known each prog rock band Circuline,” says keyboard player bloody loves us, of course they don’t but I am saying, other since early teens…that includes also Olle who Andrew Colyer. the response exceeded any expectations. Anyway, it’s does the lyrics and Johan who does the album covers One of drummer Darin Brannon’s biggest all about getting out there on the live circuit now and and back projections when we play live,” he explains. influences has been Phil Collins. Not only as a writing the next album which, we have started already. Seaside Air is Trettioariga Kriget’s first album with drummer but as a songwriter. His style of playing has Our live show is being tweaked all the time to make it English lyrics since their pre-debut album ‘Glorious been absorbed into Darin’s drumming DNA and that an engaging, entertaining and rocking experience, for War’ which was recorded in 1970-71 but not released comes through in his playing. Andrew is classically all. As a consequence, the confidence in the band is until 2004. “We decided to put more emphasis on the trained and he loves pianists/keyboard players from increasing with every rehearsal. It’s an utter joy to be vocal side this time since. We are three singers in the the prog, jazz, and rock worlds. “I also had young a part of Ghost Community and long may we continue band and wanted to explore that side a bit more, but aspirations of being a film composer,” he tells me. down this road of exploration, musical creativity and without losing the complex instrumental passages Rhythm guitar Billy’s earliest influences were fun because, for the first time in as long as I can which we are so well known for. The first four tracks Rush, whilst lead singer Natalie Brown comes from remember, it genuinely is so much fun. We’re all in this also form a mini suite with autobiographical roots,” he a jazz-pop and musical theater background. Guitarist together. Passengers get on board and welcome to explains. Beledo is also classically trained, and has been the Cycle of Life,” he concludes. Stefan is the main song writer in the band and playing rock, jazz, and fusion for decades. “So it’s Check the band out at together with Olle who does the lyrics they started quite varied. Darin and I both dream about music, www.ghostcommunity.co.uk to write the first songs in the summer of 2014. so who knows where that comes from. A lot of times www.facebook.com/ghostcommunityHQ Preproduction rehearsals started in the autumn of 2014 we just get in a room and start jamming, and musical www.twitter.com/GhostCommHQ and the band started to record in June 2015. As always bits just start emerging, which we record. Then we they produced the album themselves even though work on honing the arrangements until it’s something Dag (drums) was the one who was most involved in we can agree on for the song structure,” Andrew TRETTIOARIGA KRIGET the producing. “He has produced many successful explains. Swedish artists as well. He also did the mixing of the Because the guys album. The album was recorded at Soundtrade and have all been in the Atlantis studios in Stockholm. Both are big and well entertainment business known studios in Stockholm,” says Stefan to varying degrees for In the mid 70’s the band were on the way to a show years, everyone in the in a remote town in Sweden. “We were late and driving band loves movies, quite fast…The band transport of choice in Sweden television, and theater. during that time was a Chevrolet Apache with a trailer “We all appreciate the behind where we kept our equipment…Suddenly our creative process and roadie was fighting with the steering wheel to keep collaboration, from the us on the road and managed with great difficulty to script writing, to the stop our vehicle…..of course we were all scared to acting performances, the lighting, cinematography, From the Saltsjöbaden, Stockholm, we find death….we all went out to see what had happened… costumes and makeup, and the score,” says Andrew. progressive rock artists TRETTIOARIGA KRIGET, who It turned out that we lost one of the wheels on the “I’m passionate about natural health. I’m always have a new seven track CD out now called ‘’ that prog trailer…we all went into the forest to search for the trying to get everyone to drink plenty of water, eat in a fans will enjoy. The album runs in at under forty five wheel…..but it was getting a bit dark and we could not healthy way, get more sleep, and take their vitamins. minutes long. The band were formed way back in 1970 find it…must have been quite a funny sight….a rock We want to be around for years to come, and too many and have a released a whopping ten albums. The new band in the forest looking for a wheel. We managed of our great artists have left before their time.” album ‘Seaside Air’ has been getting a lot of positive to call the promoter of the show who did send another Circuline have two lead singers, and three-part feedback. van where we could load our equipment and get it harmonies. There aren’t many bands who are doing The band are Stefan Fredin - Bass guitar, vocals, to the venue….so we did the show in time. The day that these days. Circuline are intentionally trying to rhythm guitar and main song writer, Dag Lundquist after we went back to continue our search for the be a ‘Crossover Prog’ band, because they want to - Drums, percussion, vocals, occasional violin, wheel….and we could not believe it….but we found reach as many people as we possibly can with their recording engineer and producer, Christer Åkerberg - the wheel…..we did put it back on the trailer again music. “Hopefully we’re ‘progressive’ enough for that lead guitar, Olle Thörnvall - lyrics, harmonica, Robert and could continue our tour,” he smiles. audience, and ‘mainstream’ enough for the rest of the Zima - vocals and guitar, Mats Lindberg - keyboards Next the band will do some selected concerts to rock world. We try to make the arrangements fun, and saxophone, Johan Gullberg - artwork mastering, promote the album. “We don´t do touring anymore. interesting, technically challenging, and have variety drums. We toured so much during the 70s and 80s really. At amongst the songs, so that we retain the listener’s Main man Stefan Fredin had always been drawn to our age you should not make too many plans,” he attention throughout the album,” he explains to me. The Beatles. Discovering them around ten year’s old laughs. “But hopefully there will be another album…. “Many bands we have heard have the same ‘sound’ feeling like a new colourful world had opened up for totally different than this…I already have some all the time, whether live or on an album. We all get him. He was then dragged into the explosion of rock ideas,” he concludes. bored with that approach, so we do our best to work music that happened in the late 60s with psychedelia Check the band out at www.trettioarigakriget.com with a broad musical palette.” and bands like The Doors, Grateful Dead, Pink Floyd, The band have done their best to take people Jefferson Airplane. “Also not forgetting the blues on a musical journey, with plenty of heavy and light explosion in Britain with bands like Fleetwood Mac, CIRCULINE parts, pretty and dark sections, powerful vocal Cream, Jimi Hendrix etc…The message of much of performances, ‘proggy’ instrumental bits, keyboard this music was that anyone could actually start playing and guitar solos, varying rhythmic grooves, and and form a band. So when I was twelve I started to strong band arrangements. “We’ve been fortunate take guitar lessons and then when I was fourteen I to have some really great reviews already. There did take up the bass guitar forming Trettioariga Kriget are ten tracks, with seven vocal songs and three when I was seventeen,” Stefan explains to me. instrumental pieces. Randy McStine returned as a He is inspired as songwriter, and did a great job with the melody lines already by The Beatles and lyrics. Billy, Natalie, and I worked very hard on and the psychedelic the vocal arrangements and Darin and I crafted the West Coast bands and instrumental parts. We’ve released the first official the English progressive video, ‘Forbidden Planet’, which shows us having fun and metal bands like King in the studio recording with Godzilla. You’ll have to Crimson, Led Zeppelin, From New York, we find the very diverse check it out on YouTube to see what I’m talking about,” Deep Purple, Pink Floyd, CIRCULINE, who have a new ten track CD out now Andrew advises. Genesis, and Black called ‘Counterpoint’. Prog fans will love this, and the The first album ‘Return’ had four vocal songs, Sabbath. “Also a very album which is the bands second record runs in at just four instrumental pieces, and was a little over forty obscure American band under seventy minutes long. The band are Andrew minutes. This new album ‘Counterpoint’ is over sixty called ‘Touch’ inspired us very much in the beginning. Colyer - (keyboards, vocals, sound design), Darin seven minutes, so it’s over 50% longer. Circuline also They only made on self titled album unfortunately. The Brannon - (drums, percussion, keyboards), Natalie have seven guest guitarists! Randy McStine (The inspiration behind this new album is very much this Brown - (lead vocals), William “Billy” Spillane - (lead Fringe), Matt Dorsey (Sound of Contact), Doug Ott village, Saltsjobaden, where we all if grew up. The vocals, rhythm guitar), Beledo (lead guitar) and Paul (Enchant), Stanley Whitaker (Happy the Man), Ryche nature and sea around this village,” he tells me. Ranieri (bass) Chlanda (Renaissance), Alan Shikoh (Glass Hammer), Outside of music Stefan loves to ski which he had All the members of Circuline started singing and and Alek Darson (Fright Pig) all recorded outstanding been doing since his childhood. He also loves to travel playing instruments at a young age. Some of the guys performances. “Our new guitarist Beledo joined the and has spent many summers at his favourite place were encouraged to continue as musicians, some band in January and played on four tracks; one is a called Bodrum in Turkey. He also enjoys reading, art, were not. They all persevered in their own way on blistering solo. Because of this, our palette of styles politics and taking long walk with his best friend and a professional or semi-professional basis until they has grown considerably since the first record. We fellow band mate Olle. came together in the progressive rock tribute band, love it, and hope you will too,” he smiles. One thing which is really unique about Trettioariga Downing Grey. “We would perform three-hour shows Darin and Andrew recorded the album at their Kriget is that they have had the same line up since of Emerson Lake & Palmer, Genesis, Gentle Giant, studio, The Cave, in upstate New York. They tracked THE MUSIC IS OUT THERE 18 FREE WITH FIREWORKS #76 all of the drums, percussion, keyboards, bass, vocals, going to be the same after that. Peter bought a guitar ‘space ghost’ which made for a humorous addition and sound effects there. The guitar players recorded and within a year was in his first school band called to the box set for ‘The Cromlech Chronicles’ album,” their parts remotely in their own studios, in New York, ‘Problem Child’, a rock covers band with some of their Peter grins. New Jersey, California, Maryland, and Tennessee. own original material thrown in. After many twists This year has been Sendelica’s tenth anniversary “Alek Darson did a great job of mixing the record in and turns in the world of music over the next few with lots of gigging and a plethora of releases in UK Los Angeles. Dan Coutant at Sun Room Mastering decades he ended up founding Sendelica in West (Ziggy Stardust 7” & The cromlech Chronicles LP), here in New York put the final touches on the record. Wales and was quickly joined by bass player Glenda Germany (Live at Imerrhin LP) and Italy (I’ll Walk With We as a band produced the record on our own Inner Pescado. “It literally was us playing a type of music The Stars For You LP). “Our ‘The Cromlech Chronicles’ Nova label,” he says. that we had both loved as youngsters, we rehearsed album has already sold out and next release is a Just a few weeks ago, Circuline were driving completely for fun, with no aspirations or ambitions, German re-issue of our ‘Pavilion Of Magic’ album due home from their CD release party at the New Jersey but it kind of got out of hand,” he laughs,. “Here we out in September (Sunhair Records) which is being ProgHouse, in Andrew’s van. “Billy and Natalie were are ten years later enjoying it all more and more each given a deluxe 2LP treatment with bonus tracks. We riding with me, and of course the rest of the van was year,” he tells me. start touring again in July and in August we will be so packed full of gear that you couldn’t see out the The whole band ensconced in Mwnci recording studio working on windows. At 2:00 am, on empty Interstate 287, we brings a lot of different our next album, a two LP ‘yin & yang’ monster,” he suffered a blowout on our right front tire. But it wasn’t influences to the melting concludes. just a blowout; the wheel came off the axle!! While pot of Sendelica, from Check the band out at www.facebook.com/ doing seventy miles an hour (113 kilometres per hour)! world music to Jazz, from Sendelica-191174294239796 As we continued down the highway on three wheels dance to Canterbury https://sendelica.bandcamp.com/ and one brake drum rotor for about half a mile, lots of scene. Peter’s own loves pretty sparks were flying off in all directions. Luckily are very wide spread, no people and no gear were harmed. We were over a from classic krautrock [BROTHER OF MARS] hundred miles from home, but fortunately our manager and 70’s rock, especially only lives thirty miles from where we broke down. We Japanese 70’s music on had the tow truck take us to his house, at 4:00 am. We through time to bands like Massive Attack, Portishead, never found the missing wheel,” he grins. Sigur Ros, Acid Mothers Temple, and so on and so on. Professional audio and video recordings were Their music draws on many influences but most captured from the recent live performance at the 13th importantly those influences are just the starting international Rites of Spring festival (RoSfest), which blocks of what Sendelica do, we’ve tried to bring it all is being edited now for a CD/DVD release. “We’re screaming and kicking into the 21st Century. It would performing at the Liberty Music Fest in Philadelphia be boring to just try and copy what has gone before, in August, and have dates planned for Cleveland, a pointless exercise, to reproduce is human, and to Detroit, Binghamton and Albany in New York, as well create is divine. And I think we bring a bit of humour as a Milwaukee-Chicago-St.Louis run. We’re booking to the table to. We drop in a few musical references dates now for England and Europe in April 2017, and here and there, both in the music (the outro of Black From Italy, we find [BROTHER OF MARS], who looking at Japan and South America for fall 2017. We Widow Man being one obvious example) and some of have an awesome, very catchy and very diverse ask that every prog and rock fan in the world please our actual song titles definitely have a bit of 70’s retro new eight track CD out now called ‘Welcome To My listen to this new album, just once. If you like it, please humour in them. We like pushing the envelope a bit, Breakdown’ that is well worth exploring for fans of sign up for our mailing list on our website, and come taking references from the past and giving them a progressive rock and general rock. The album is full out to one of our live shows,” Andrew concludes. Sendelica twist,” he explains to me. “The other thing of wonderful music, beautiful theatrical melodies Check the band out at http://circulinemusic.com/ that our fans seem to love about Sendelica is our and vocals throughout, just listen to ‘Acceptance’ a www.facebook.com/circulinemusic diversity, we’ve never been afraid to mix up genres... jaw dropping musical experience that is packed with https://twitter.com/CirculineMusic if the music takes us in a particular direction we are feeling and amazing music. The band is actually a solo very happy to go along with the journey,” he laughs. project for multi instrumentalist Mauro Zarattini. Even “Our fans never know what to expect with each new though he is from Italy, Mauro is currently based in SENDELICA album,” he says. London. Peter personally loves all the travelling and this The new album ‘Welcome To My Breakdown’ has fitted in well with Sendelica. “Over the last few talks about numerous characters and life situations: years we have toured the East Coast of America, a depressed person on the edge of suicide, a view toured Russia twice, toured Eastern Europe, played on modern society ruled by money and time, a priest Finland twice and had multiple trips to Germany and who wakes up in Hell instead of Heaven, stories of Italy. Added to that mix we have recorded albums in different women mentally and physically hurt by a USA and Russia. It’s a great way to see the world and world controlled by men, etc... All songs are very we get to see and experience countries with people different and theatrical, with a mix of classic metal, who live in them,” he smiles. “It makes you feel really progressive, ‘70s rock and alternative. Mauro has also engaged with the places we play. My other big love used three guitarists as he wanted a specific playing is megaliths and all things fortean... these topics style depending on the song. continuously feature in the music of Sendelica.” When Mauro was young his dad used to play guitar From West Wales we find progressive psychedelic This was a fairly unusual album for Sendelica, in while listening to ’70s music and his older brother was rock artists SENDELICA, who have a new six track CD that ‘I’ll Walk With The Stars For You’ was recorded a guitarist in a cover band. “We had a small keyboard out now called ‘I’ll Walk With The Stars For You’ that is over a long period of time in several different countries. at home and as I wanted to play with them I’ve started well worth exploring and runs in at over fifty minutes “Some of our albums have been recorded in a couple learning all songs by ear,” he tells me. long. The album is also out on vinyl. of days, in fact our ‘Spaceman Bubblegum’ album was Mauro’s favourite bands have always been Pink ‘Moscow Bunker Blues’ is a catchy up-beat, recorded in an afternoon in a Welsh Barn,” he smiles. Floyd, Aerosmith, Beatles, early Royal Hunt, while in atmospheric, groovy, jazz ditty with wonderful sax “Also, again unusual for us as we are primarily an recent years he has been listening a lot to Ayreon playing. ‘Black Widow Man’ groove based with instrumental band, it featured a guest vocalist in the and Gotthard. And you can certainly hear the Ayreon spacey ‘out there’ vocals and psychedelic effects, form of the legendary Pink Fairies founder Twink. We influences, especially vocally. “Talking about my very pure feel to the track with a little Zappa in there, also have contributions on the album from Nik Turner album, I didn’t really take inspiration from other music; maybe even some early Bowie influences. (flute on Albatross), Virginia Tate, Roger Morgan and being a solo artist means you have total freedom on Next up is a stylish cover of Fleetwood Mac’s several drummers including Geoff Chase and Jack playing whatever you feel,” Mauro explains to me “At ‘Albatross’ and then we get into the albums longest Jackson. It was a long labour of love where we were that time I read a lot about life experiences of women track, ‘I Once Fed Peter Green’s Pet Albatross’ which trying to recreate a classic 70’s rock album while at and took inspiration from people close to me. But in runs in at over fifteen minutes long. It’s another the same time dragging it into the 21st century... but general I think about a subject and play whatever magnificent track with so much going on, lots of suddenly it all clicked and came together with a real comes to my mind,” he tells me. ambience. It’s one of those progressive rock tracks cohesion,” he explains. Outside of music that is quite electric and you can easily get lost in the The album was recorded in three countries Mauro love motorcycles, tracks melodies. I love the way the song builds up, it’s and one track was started in Boston, USA in2008. crafting and designing very spacey with superb musicianship. Lovely and The whole album had a gestation period of seven various stuff with Cad, melodic, quite alluring. years with recording also taking place in a disused which is what give him ‘Dance Stars Dance’ is the second track on the underground bunker in the middle of Moscow (Russia) the finance to eat at the record with vocals. It’s got a particular charm to it, and also in Cardigan (West Wales). The band used four end of the month. very atmospheric with superb sax playing; the music engineers with the bulk of the album being mixed by Mauro personally in general is plush and just pulls you in. Peter and their long term collaborator Aviv, with one wrote, composed and The band are Peter Bingham - guitars & track being mixed by another long term collaborator, produced the whole electronics, Glenda Pescado - bass, Lee Relfe - sax, Colin Consterdine. “It was quite amazing how such a project. “A big thanks Lord Armstrong Sealand - keyboards & theremin and long term project suddenly came together and how goes to Peter Junge from Record Mixing, who Meurig Griffiths - drums. the finished album sounded so cohesive and whole,” beautifully recorded vocals and guitars and mixed all Guitarist Peter Bingham bunked off school at he says with satisfaction. the songs in London, keeping an ‘old style’ approach the age of thirteen to go and see Pink Floyd, it was There have been lots of funny moments on the compared to sterile modern productions,” he says. The the tail end of the ‘Dark Side Of The Moon tour’ and bands journey, a recent one was a communication mastering was made by Maor Appelbaum Mastering he was mesmerized. He quickly followed it up with misunderstanding with their record label Fruits De Mer. in California and the whole process took few weeks, gigs by Gong and then Hawkwind, his life was never “Where the term ‘space goats’ became interpreted as more or less. “Most of the work was already been THE MUSIC IS OUT THERE 19 FREE WITH FIREWORKS #76 done prior the studio and many parts recorded to by love coming up with stories. As a result, every single I’m still rather keen on the idea,” he smiles. myself or the other musicians,” explains Mauro. one of Gandalf’s Fist’s records has been a concept Dean is currently taking a little bit of time off to Mauro recently started working on own so doesn’t album. “We always try and explore a different setting undertake duties as a new parent. “We’re booked in have any great stories about Brother Of Mars yet. “But and in this instance we really wanted something that as the second stage headliners at HRH Prog festival if I look back at the past, I definitely remember the day explored a subterranean world,” explains Dean. The next March so that should be a great gig – we’ve got I left Italy to come to the UK with a previous band, band were also keen to diverge from the stereotypical an awesome set planned and we’re looking forward to driving nonstop with a car and a van packed with all ‘Sci-Fi’ cliché so they tried to incorporate some letting loose some of these new tracks live! In terms our stuff and equipment. It was so full the German interesting steampunk-style elements. “Musically, the of new material, we had the ‘Fist AGM over a few ales police wanted to check it inside but they changed album is a mix of influences, mainly 70’s Prog and 80’s the other week and we’ve got a few ideas buzzing their mind as you couldn’t even open the doors, that NWOBHM, it’s an interesting mix and I think it makes about and it could potentially be even more epic than was seven years ago,” he smiles. for a really dynamic record,” he tells me. ‘The Clockwork Fable’ – you’ll just have to wait and Mauro is currently writing a lot at the moment Outside of music Dean enjoys mainly food and see,” he concludes. and he will probably have enough ideas for two beer occupy most of his waking thoughts. He enjoys Check the band out at www.gandalfsfist.com more albums. “The main problem is always finding science and Literature and likes learning as much as www.clockworkfable.com the necessary time and money to produce them; I he does teaching. By day Dean work as an English would have liked to record more songs but that’s all I teacher – not many of his students are aware of the could achieve, so it’s actually a mini-album and not a obscure Prog band their teacher is in. “I’m pretty HOLY LAMB standard one. Anyway, an EP should be definitely on sure it would utterly bamboozle them if they ever the list by the end of 2016,” he concludes. found out,” he smiles. Dean also enjoys philosophical Check them out at www.brotherofmars.com musings with his colleagues. “Our most recent www.facebook.com/brotherofmars reflection was on ‘what would you rather be, a male slug or a female mallard?’ We have too much time on our hands,” quacks. GANDALF’S FIST Gandalf’s Fist are different in that they are a properly independent band. “We mean that in every sense of the word. We don’t have a record label but we also use our own studios, mix and master our own records right down to posting every last CD. We do that because we love what we do. We create Gandalf’s Fist with the express purpose of making our From Latvia, we find upcoming heavy progressive own favourite album. The members of Gandalf’s Fist rock/neo-classical merchants HOLY LAMB, who have are also Gandalf’s fist’s biggest fans – if anyone else a superb, very catchy diverse new eight track CD out likes what we do then that’s just an added bonus,” he now called ‘Gyrosophy’ that is well worth checking explains to me. out and is the band’s fourth record. Content-wise, The last record Gandalf’s Fist tried to focus on a there are eight tracks on the album: four instrumentals folk aesthetic, encompassing whistles and such from and four songs. It clocks in at around 47 minutes. And Phew, where do I start with this one? From the the likes of Troy Donockley. This time round the guys it explores many musical areas. UK, we find progressive rock artists GANDALF’S had an entirely different mood to try and create, one It’s easy to say why people are planting Holy Lamb FIST, who have an epic new CD out now called ‘The of claustrophobia and industry. “Another difference in with the crowd, and whilst they have prog elements Clockwork Fable’ that is well worth exploring and is is that last time round we told a linear story from there is more to their music than that, one thing they over three hours long over three CD’s, a conceptual start to finish, entirely through song, with this album do have is fantastic songs and superior musicianship effort with over two hours of music and over an hour we created an entire world, populated with socio- with the longest track coming in at just under eight of spoken dialogue, a colossal exertion that can only economic and political systems. We created an entire minutes. But again Holy Lamb can be melodic, arty, be marvelled and listened to if you have a spare fifty page script that allowed us to tell the story in a jazzy, bombastic, within their song structures which afternoon and a bucket load of coffee and turnips to really in-depth way that we’re quite sure hasn’t ever takes them out of the progressive field, they paint a snack on. ‘The Clockwork Fable’ is the sixth release been done before,” he tells me. fab musical landscape that must be checked out and from Gandalf’s Fist. The CD effort was purely down to logistics. The listened to in full to appreciate the magnitude and ‘The Clockwork Fable’ encompasses music and band needed to give themselves enough space depth that this band have to offer. also spoken dialogue between the songs to drive the to be able to tell the story in full without having to As usual with Holy Lamb records, ‘Gyrosophy’ story forward. These aren’t narrative pieces, they’re compromise. “As the script grew we knew that we features a few guest appearances from their friends fully developed characters that have been acted out would have to encompass three CD’s and as such who are also very talented musicians. They did a and performed by renowned professional actors such we were able to shape the narrative into a traditional wonderful job providing their respective parts, and as Mark Benton and Zach Galligan (Gremlins). “On three act structure, most synonymous with Elizabethan I would particularly like to highlight violinist Eva top of that we have guest musicians that provide the drama,” he says. By doing this they were able to have Bindere for her outstanding tone and playing on ‘singing voices’ for the characters within song such each ‘act’ encompass an entire CD, which meant they ‘Down the Memory Hole’. as Arjen Lucassen, Blaze Bayley and Dave Oberle. were able to preserve the story arc and also have a The band are Toms Circenis: drums, percussion, All of whom, I would hope, would be familiar names different ‘mood’ for each act. “Additionally, the length Aigars Červinskis: bass, lead and backing vocals, Juris Fireworks readers,” main man Dean Marsh explains. of the tracks made it a necessity, most of the songs on Rāts: keyboards, melodica, Aleksandrs Voļperts: The story is one of deception and discovery and this record clock in at ten minutes,” he smiles. electric and acoustic guitars, guitar synth and Ansis is ultimately an ‘escape’ story with a few twists and Dean and the guys fund everything themselves Markauss: electric and acoustic guitars, backing turns along the way! Above all though, there are some but they do so within their means. “We only work with vocals, kokle, bass, mandolin. great moments of Monty Python humour in there! We people who understand where we’re coming from with When they were don’t look at the album as a musical, or even a ‘Rock our projects and we can’t thank everyone enough for growing up, it was Opera’, what we’ve tried to do instead is create almost all the work they’ve put in on our behalf! Because we generally considered a a ‘Mind-movie’ for the listener to play out in their head, do everything ourselves our main costs tend to be on cool thing to be in a band. with Gandalf’s Fist providing the soundtrack! the production and marketing side of things – luckily “You did not necessarily Gandalf’s Fist are Dean Marsh - Vocals, Guitars, we have developed a really devoted cult following have to be able to play Synths, Mandolin, Octave Mandola, Bass, Luke who pre-ordered the record, without whom it would your guitar or drums very Severn - Vocals, Chris Ewen - Bass, Stefan Hepe - never have been released,” Dean explains to me. well, but it was quite a bit Drums/Percussion with additional dialogue by Paul ‘The Clockwork Fable’ was recorded at their own of an asset if you could. Barnhill and Zach Galligan. studio, Fist HQ, over the course of a year. Stefan ‘Loudness’ was the key Composer and main recorded his drum parts in Germany, but the rest of word in our early days man Dean Marsh started the record was cut at Dean’s house in Norfolk. It was and it worked to compensate for our lack of skill. the band off actually as mixed and produced by Dean, with Stefan chipping Or so it seemed,” explains Singer and bass player a bit of a joke. He had in and helping with the Drum pre-mixing and some of Aigars Červinskis. Holy Lamb started out as a metal always mucked about the dialogue scenes. “When we recorded the actors, band, but that changed once the band members had creating music and songs or the dramatic sections, we were, thanks to Mark learned a few things about music and made friends ever since he first started Benton; gather much of the acting talent in Appleyard with people who were more educated than any of the playing guitar. With the Studios in Rye, with additional dialogue by Paul band’s founding members. “Our line-up changed too advent of the internet and Barnhill being recorded near Crewe and Zach Galligan and we shifted towards more progressive areas,” he the early days of social recording his parts over in the states in Atlanta. It took adds. “This may sound funny, but at the time we were media, Dean put a few so long to create as we not only had to write songs but unaware that some of the music we loved and were demo ideas online under the false pretence that they also the script! Pre-production alone took us well over greatly influenced by was called ‘progressive rock’ – were from a ‘real’ band called Gandalf’s Fist. “They three months of brainstorming but I think the results you know, the likes of Yes, King Crimson, Gentle Giant, actually started to get some kind of small fan base, speak for themselves,” he says with satisfaction. etc.,,; it was usually called ‘art rock’ in our country,” even though they had ridiculous titles such as ‘The About ten years ago the guys tried to launch Luke’s says Singer. Ballad of Treebeard Transport King’. Over the course pro-wrestling career. “His fighting name was ‘Cajone- Whatever it was, Holy Lamb thought it would of ten years, things have now come full-circle and we Man’ and we made him an outfit, complete with cape be great to develop a unique mixture of metal and now have a fully realised outfit,” Deans tells me whilst and faux-Mexican face mask. He was beaten in his classical woodwind/string instruments such as the munching on a turnip. first bout by a fourteen year old boy from Aberdeen. It flute, violin and cello, and they succeeded to capture Dean has always loved and been fascinated by was muted at our last gig that we should dust off the that on their new album ‘Gyrosophy’. By the time Holy conceptual albums and both Luke and Dean both outfit and it should be his permanent stage persona. Lamb recorded their second album, ‘Salt of the Earth’, THE MUSIC IS OUT THERE 20 FREE WITH FIREWORKS #76 the heavy metal component had almost disappeared to our advantage and revamped the whole material great and the song as a little Rush feel about it crossed and the band were, all of a sudden, pigeonholed as a before restarting the sessions from scratch in with Spock’s Beard. It is also the longest song on the neo-prog band. “Not that we had desperately craved November 2013 with a notable Latvian veteran rocker record at over eight minutes. There are lot of musical it, so we thought there was something we could do to by the name of Leons Sejans at the knobs,” explains textures to absorb and once again I love the way the come up with a sound all of our own. I suppose it is Aigars. song grows. Next up is ‘Andromeda’ another long right there on our third album, ‘Beneath the Skin’, and The band had all the drums tracks re-recorded song, this track has a more traditional melodic prog on the new one, although it’s a little more refined now. at Leon’s home studios, and then Leon re-amped the based feel, its silky with superb melodies and vocals, So the search for uniqueness has been a driving force electric guitar tracks which the band had recorded this is another one of the highlights on the album behind our efforts for a long time,” explains Aigars. on their own. Leon has also recorded the violin and and pulls the listener in. Lastly ‘Terminal Velocity’ is Everybody in the band has a different set of flute parts; Ansis recorded all the vocals and acoustic heavier groove based track, still melodic and flowing inspirations, which is great when it comes to instruments such as the mandolin, 12-string guitar, with character, another long song at over seven interaction, how each band member contributed to melodica and kokle, our national string instrument minutes, I love the way everything builds. the writing and the arrangements. A couple of songs reminiscent of zither. “Our keyboardist Juris took Jeremiah Rouse has on ‘Gyrosophy’ are ten years old, so it was a bit of a care of his own parts and recorded them at home,” always been interested challenge for the guys to keep them intact with the says Aigars. Ansis and Aigars shared the production in music. When he was newer songs. That is where the exchange of band credits on this album. “We did a lot of work putting younger he dabbled members’ perspectives was used to good effect. together the best of multiple takes and taking care around with guitars and “We do not really shut down our ears to the sounds of everything to sound right before it went to Ankara, keyboards however that surround us on a daily basis and, I believe, that Turkey, for the mixdown, which required a few more nothing ever stuck. It helps us expand our musical thinking and creativity,” months to complete. The one and only Jon Astley did wasn’t until he was in says Aigars. “That said, I can spend weeks without an excellent job mastering the album at Close to the college that Jeremiah listening to any music at all. Sometimes you need just Edge in the UK,” he tells me. decided that he really that to give your mind a break, don’t you,” he points This story goes back to 1999 or 2000, soon wanted to play an out. after their second album, ‘Salt of the Earth’, came instrument. “I don’t know what triggered that impulse In regards to the album, there is the Orwell out. “It was our first record that became available but I do remember thinking that I’ve got to do this,” connotation on a couple of tracks, namely, internationally and we happened to garner a few he explains. So he went out with a buddy who had ‘PorkPower’ and ‘Down the Memory Hole’. Those favourable reviews, so there was quite some buzz been a musician for a handful of years and he helped two came together after Aigars had re-read ‘Animal going in the Baltic countries. One day as I was surfing Jeremiah pick out his first guitar. “I bought an electric Farm’ and ‘1984’: it is really striking how he foresaw the Internet I stumbled across a website which said guitar, a distortion pedal and a little amp. After that I what would be going on in this world many years we would be opening for Yes on their next European was hooked,” he says. later. “He was very right when you look at what is tour. We had just begun working with a promoter in the Jeremiah started listening to the band Hum in the happening these days. The other songs on the album Netherlands, so I asked him whether he knew anything mid 90’s and he became obsessed with their album are rather personal, therefore our Bandcamp page about it. He seemed equally flabbergasted and told me ‘You’d Prefer An Astronaut’. He fell in love with the has descriptions to give the listener the idea of what to be patient and wait for Yes’ tour manager to contact dynamics of their songs. Many of their songs weave they are about,” he tells me. us. We are still waiting, you know,” Aigars laughs. back and forth between crushingly heavy, dense Outside of music, everybody in the band has got a Holy Lamb would certainly fancy a spot at an distorted rhythm sections and fragile melodic clean day job that has nothing to do with music. Being skilled international festival or two this year. “We will see sections. “I also really enjoy the sci-fi elements in several areas is certainly not something to complain how it works out,” he says. Before that the band are of both their music and lyrics. But what really got about these days, especially if you’re in a prog band. looking forward to getting their album out on CD. “It me was the sound,” he tells me. At that point they “Besides our jobs, we pay a great deal of attention turns out there are many people out there who prefer were the first band that Jeremiah heard that was to keeping fit, which is an important factor when you the round shiny thing over digital formats, and I am not both heavy and pretty while creating this massive are past forty. Juris and Toms are into snowboarding, an exception. Sometimes you need to touch a thing stereo landscape. “I loved everything about it. Then and most of us cycle to work and back if the weather to believe it exists, don’t you,” he says to me. “We ‘Downward Is Heavenward’ came out and that just permits. Our guitarist Alex is a scientist specialising in also have a few tracks written that did not make it blew me away. Through them I discovered Failure, My chemistry. I have been playing ice-hockey since I was on ‘Gyrosophy’, so chances are they will end up on Bloody Valentine and Swervedriver. Later I discovered a kid, actually trained to become a pro player. Last the next one. Hopefully, it is not going to take another The Life And Times whose ‘Tragic Boogie’ album has year Ansis and I took part in a film project, so it was thirteen years,” concludes Aigars. left a lasting impression on my writing too,” he smiles. great to discover that we were capable of doing some Check the band out at www.holylamb.lv Jeremiah has been influenced by all of these bands acting,” Aigars explains to me. https://holylamb.bandcamp.com and this type of music over time. Two years after he Holy Lamb neither follow any blueprints, nor stick https://www.facebook.com/holylamb.lv/ started playing guitar he picked up his first four-Track to templates of the genre they are thought to belong to. recorder. “Right away I tried emulating Hum’s sound They don’t care if a die-hard prog aficionado says the and structures. I’ve been working on it ever since. The band are not prog enough for his or her liking. “That’s THE QUALITY OF MERCURY album Transmission was inspired by the sound of all absolutely fine and we can live with that,” Aigars of these great bands that I listen to. It started out with smiles. “We are used to pushing our own boundaries one sci-fi love song and evolved as I continued writing and we are going to keep doing just that. I suppose into a whole concept,” he says. the one thing that has to be present in any form of art, Outside of music Jeremiah has way too many in any artist is the ability to attract – or repel – people. interests. “I work in the film and television industry In music, it is often the singer’s voice that turns people as a freelance Director Of Photography. The majority on or off, which also seems to be the case with Holy of my work is in corporate and industrial video Lamb. Not that I am particularly fond of my crooning, production. It’s a great career but usually not very yet there are some people who believe it is the staple rewarding. I would say that outside of writing and of this band. recording music my next great passion is to produce If I were to describe our music in general, I would my own film projects. I have worked on a handful of say that we are building a bridge between the past films, music videos and documentaries that have been and the future of prog as we perceive it today. Come From Nazareth, Pennsylvania, USA we find very rewarding. I would love to do more of my own tomorrow – we will find ourselves one step ahead progressive space rock artists THE QUALITY OF projects while working with my friends. It’s always with a slightly different view behind and before us,” MERCURY, who have a new eight track CD out now a blast when working on a cool project with your he explains. called ‘Transmission’ that is well worth exploring and friends,” he tells me. The band’s previous record came out in 2002, so, runs in at just under fifty minutes long. The band is Even though Jeremiah is influenced by a good as the title suggests, ‘Gyrosophy’ can be rightfully actually based around the multi talented Jeremiah handful of pretty well known artists he believes that he called a come-back album, the important one. Literally Rouse who handles all the compositions. The almost still have a pretty unique sound, one listen to melodic translated it means ‘the wisdom of revolving’, which flows with a whole mixture of styles that need to be progressive atmospheric and dreamy ‘Breathe In implies that Holy Lamb have come full circle after listened to from start to finish; it’s quite a sonic album, Stereo’ on his album will clarify this. “So far, no one being away for some time and then re-establishing with vocal led tracks and fantastic atmospheric has told me that I sound like any one particular band. I themselves as a band of wiser and more experienced musical compositions. love pop hooks and stoner grooves and try to achieve blokes. “I hope that shows when you listen to the new The album launches into ‘Deep Space’, a vibrant these elements within a science-fictionesque wall of one and its predecessor back-to-back,” says Aigars. atmospheric complex melodic progressive song sound. Ultimately I am more concerned with creating “It was so great to meet up and work with violinist Eva with wonderful performances. Jeremiah’s vocals a great soundscape rather than writing a great song. Bindere in the studio again after 20 years – she was are reminiscent of Geddy Lee. Next up is one of my However, I know these intentions will have to change in the band during our transitional period and can be favourite songs called ‘Breathe In Stereo’. This is a in order for me to stay viable,” he explains. actually heard on our debut record,” he says. superbly performed song with lots of character and This album was like an art project for Jeremiah. Recording the new Holy Lamb was a rather flow, melodic, progressive, yet sleek and slightly He wasn’t trying to write something for the masses. lengthy affair, even though the band wanted to take poppy. ‘Deprivation Sickness’ is an atmospheric He was trying to build vast sonic landscapes and was their time as long as necessary to achieve a result that melodic song full of great music that has a slight simply building a story as he progressed through the would make them happy. The initial takes go back to soundtrack effect. ‘The Orion Ascension’ has a writing. Jeremiah wrote and assembled this album as August 2012, when the band booked a studio in Riga heavier groove, the music is complex. Jeremiah’s if he were filming a movie. “I tried to visualize how the and recorded the drum tracks. Due to the recording vocals are superb and the whole song is effortlessly music would cut together and flow if the songs were engineer’s time constraints and commitments to other performed. put to moving images. I was continually watching projects, several months later the band realised that After a short ditty called ‘Time’ the album moves sci-fi movies while writing and recording this album they were stuck and there would be no moving on. into the melodic atmospheric progressive allure of and actually envisioned my own short film with my “The good thing, though, was that we used the time ‘Her Eyes Are The Stars’. Once again the vocal are songs being the soundtrack. This record was created THE MUSIC IS OUT THERE 21 FREE WITH FIREWORKS #76 to listen to as a whole,” he explains. He wanted to ending up as redline intensity,” he says. prog to keep things interesting. “Vocally it’s ballsy create an experience not just a collection of songs. In his earliest musical memories when he was but melodic with lots of harmonies to thicken the “I don’t think it’s absurd to say that these songs don’t five or six years of age & growing up in a household sound,” says Lee. There’s some interplay between have any merit on their own. Sit down in a good stereo with two older brothers multi instrumentalist Nic solo guitars and keyboards for the muso’s and some environment and listen to it in its entirety,” he adds. Thompson was introduced to all the classic rock of surprising moments of gentleness and calm. “The Jeremiah is proud to say that he wrote, performed, the 70s & 80s by his brothers. “So many great bands song lyrics cover topics such as UFO’s, ancient Egypt recorded and mixed this entire album in his home to wrap these young ears around...Led Zep, Black and a fatal car crash...and there’s even some DJ studio except for the drums. He had written and Sabbath, Deep Purple, Hendrix etc and later on to record scratching on the song ‘Dimensions of the programmed all of the drum parts at his home studio bands like Ozzy, Judas Priest & in particular Van Mind’, provided by my good friend Dave Greasley aka but felt that the drums were not organic enough Halen, who are a total one off and turned my world raida75,” he explains. in those mixes. “I am not a great drummer so I on its head..And later on what really influenced my Nic named the title of the album to really make enlisted the help of Kevin Soffera,” he tells me. Kevin eventual writing style, Metallica, Queensryche, the listener feel the drama and journey of the album performed and recorded what Jeremiah had originally Dream Theater and Rush!! Music really is an endless literally. “Every song I think is so different from the programmed at home in his Hybrid Studios. “I was inspiring journey,” he tells me. next that it feels to me like eight chapters, all with there to produce him and work stuff out. It was a great Nic’s major their own atmosphere and story within the lyrics. Our experience and I am glad that I made the decision to inspirations are a real writing styles complement each other so well, that work with him. I integrated his drum tracks back into mixture...from straight it honestly feels effortless most of the time and that my sessions and did all of the mixing in my studio. up metal of Metallica, tells me there is natural ebb and flow to our sound!! Once I got the mixes to where I felt they were pretty Judas Priest, Megadeth There are many twists and turns within this album that strong I then took my recording system over to my to progressive of hopefully will pull the listener in and keep them there,” friend Jim McGee’s Spectrasound Recording Studio. Dream Theater, Rush, explains Nic. I wanted to plug into his monitoring system because Queensryche, Jorn, ARK, The album has been a five year labour of love. It’s his mixing environment is far superior to mine. Jim Symphony X to classic a one hundred percent diy home studio affair. With helped me make a few minor tweaks and then it was rock of Van Halen, limited funds and equipment the guys painstakingly done. This project actually took me a ridiculous seven Led Zep, Sabs etc.. As programmed the drums, recorded everything, years to complete. Mainly because when I first started mentioned previously, through to jazz fusion of Simon mixed and produced it on our pro tools systems. I had just gotten married, bought a house and had two Phillips, Dave Weckl, Steve Lukather...etc... “The “Although we did have it professionally mastered,” children. I’m also a bit of a gear junky so I was always inspiration for the album/songs really is to finally make adds Lee. Lee and Nic both have identical pro tools thinking if I hold off to purchase xyz piece of gear than an official musical statement from Lee and myself,” recording systems and would each record/track our I could make this part sound better. Now I know that he explains. After jamming, writing and performing instruments/parts in their own studios and in a relaxed idea is utter nonsense and detrimental to any project,” together on and off for twenty years the guys set out atmosphere. “No pressure of watching a commercial he explains. to create a very unique and original sound with this studio clock so to speak . . . I think you get the best For the future Jeremiah I definitely want to write band. “For me personally I think we have achieved just results and performances in a comfortable/relaxing and record another album. “I have a good deal of that,” smiles Nic. space, with no tensions as that can be picked up in material and ideas already recorded that I need to Lee love’s the art of song writing and great singers. a recording environment. So we both produce/mix/ work on. I want to refine my sound a bit more. That’s “Melody is where it’s at for me so artist such as The engineer the whole project!! We recorded the first the real quest for me,” he says. “How do I achieve Beatles, Billy Joel, Foreigner, Richard Marx, Magnum two studio albums from late 2011-2015 & recorded the sound that I envision in my head? I would like to where early influences on me,” he explains. As he got them both simultaneously,” Nic tells me. move forward with the same ideals but get away from older he got a bit heavier in his tastes and complexity. Nic was in a band with Lee twenty years ago called having too many long format songs. That isn’t easy for “Dream Theater’s ‘Images and Words’ in 1992 was a Phobia and they performed a smallish outdoor gig me because I really like hooks and grooves. I don’t like game changer for me and set me on a different path in a sleepy south Lincolnshire town called Spalding. introducing a great section to a song and then taking it than the one I was on. This combination of old school “We got set up...great...sound check...great...couple away from the listener right away. It’s something that AOR and new prog came together in this album. At its of beers...great...two or three tracks into our live set I will have to figure out. I really love the recording and core, solid songs with melody with added balls and and I got an almighty smack round the back of the mixing process and can’t wait to seriously get back at chunk...” says Lee. head by a hefty poll that was just behind me that was it. I am going to approach recording my new stuff a bit Outside of music Lee has a family so that takes up supporting the band banner....got a few laughs...that differently for the next project by giving myself more much of his spare time, but when he gets the chance was a shit couple of minutes, but cranked it up and limitations and time constraints. I’ve learned a lot he enjoys mountain biking and exploring the great rocked out the last of the show!! Rock n Roll,” smiles making Transmission and I hope I’m able to translate outdoors, especially the Lake District.” I also enjoy Nic. Lee would always help the drummer set up his that with a new release,” he concludes. amateur woodwork, painting artwork.....and basically large Gibraltar framed kit. “He was skinny and had Check the band out at anything creative,” he says. Nic is into the production/ long blonde hair at the time. On one occasion whilst http://thequalityofmercury.com mixing/engineering side of the music that it really setting up, two old men sat and watched us setting www.facebook.com/thequalityofmercury takes up most of his time, earning tips and reading/ up the kit for an hour. After which one of the old guys https://thequalityofmercury.bandcamp.com/releases listening to interviews with other producers, soaking pulls me to one side, points to our drummer and says all this great info up like a musical sponge. “I’m really to me ‘you lucky sod, your girlfriend has a gorgeous into guitar gear and try to keep track of all the great arse’, that was amusing,’ smiles Lee. REDLINE INTENSITY gear out there with magazine reviews etc...I still The guys as mentioned already have their follow write and practice the guitar two hours a day!! Other up album ‘Apex’ fully completed and awaiting official interests are weight training, reading, movies, comedy release in Nov/Dec 2016. “We’ve also started work on and alternative media,” Nic tells me. a 3rd concept album scheduled for 2017. So lot’s of Redline Intensity are essentially a two man band new music to come. We will also be putting out feelers with Lee and Nic taking care of all musical recording to recruit band members so we can eventually record duties. They started this back in 2007/2008 and as a full band and take it to the live environment. We completed an album demo and got so much positive just hope that people can hear the effort and passion feedback that they knew they were onto something, in our music and like what they hear so we can start to which lead them us to this point in time where they build a fan base,” says Lee. currently have the debut album out and have the “We will continue to push this band hard,” adds second studio album ready for official release in a Nic. “I have written so much material in the last three few months. “We also have fifty percent of the third or four years and Lee is always writing as well, the From Boston, Lincolnshire, UK we find the studio album completed,” says Nic. After the third creative well is thankfully deep due to just being a progressive rock duo REDLINE INTENSITY, who studio album is released, the guys will then be piecing music fan first and foremost...and I’m always inspired have a new eight track CD out now called ‘Journey together the rest of the band to become a live entity. by the music I listen too and just the world of guitar Into Oblivion’ that is well worth exploring and runs in “We are obviously different to most artists as we are a itself,” concludes Nic. at just under seventy minutes long and is the start of duo currently...but the biggest thing with us is that the Check the band out at redlineintensity.com what follows to be exciting process with two more music is unique and I honestly feel we have our own www.facebook.com/redline.intensity records to follow over the next year which are both original sound...which was the objective,” he explains. completed. The band are Lee Sculthorpe - vocals, The lads have worked hard on having a very clear From the Murcia/Spain we find quirky experimental keyboards, drum programming, synth acoustic guitars music identity. “We both write music and lyrics but progressive rock artists PERVY PERKIN, who have & bass, Nic Thompson - electric & acoustic guitars, both come from different perspectives so this makes a new nine track CD out now called ‘ToTeM’ that is bass, drum programming. for an interesting mix of styles and ideas,” explains well worth exploring and runs in at over seventy five Like so many people in the musical world, singer Lee. “We’ve played together so long that I think we minutes long with the longest song ‘Mr. Gutmann’ and multi instrumentalist Lee Sculthorpe grew up instinctively know each other’s style of playing and running in at twenty six minutes long. It is one of listening to The Beatles. He just loved the song know what will work and what wont. The combination those albums where you have to sit and listen and structures and vocal lines and harmonies. He began of these elements makes our sound unique. We soak everything up as there as much going, even playing keyboards when he was eleven years old. always put our best musical foot forward but are some jazzy swing. The band are Dante The Samurai - Lee is 100% self taught but can’t read music. At aged conscious not to overdo it or over produce. So many Guitars and vocals; Juan Tides - Guitars; Carly Pajarón sixteen he played his first gig at school for red nose bands these days sound like clones of each other and - Drums and vocals; Alex Macho - Main Vocals and day. Lee we really didn’t want that in our sound. We simply use keyboards; Aks - Bass and vocals. then joined a band when he was nineteen and our ears and serve the songs. If it sounds good, we This is an innate kinda thing. Drummer Carly started to take music more seriously. “I always wrote go with it.” Pajarón remembers being a child and hums some my own songs and sang. Nic joined my band in 1996 The new album ‘Journey To Oblivion’ is a nice melodies that would come from his head. Music has and we’ve played together ever since, eventually mix of melodic heavy rock tracks with moment’s of always been a huge part of his life and his personality. THE MUSIC IS OUT THERE 22 FREE WITH FIREWORKS #76 with his groove, his own influences, makes the album PERVY PERKIN sound in a different level, as we guitarist had to do the THE LAST EMBRACE bass for the previous album given the situation that the band hadn’t any at the time,” Dante explains. Although he likes the bass lines the band came up with for Ink, having a person dedicated exclusively to that instrument, to start songs or parts with that instrument, that’s a great difference. “Production wise, this album is on a whole new level; we are very proud and thankful to Adrian Hidalgo from Lasting Noise Studios, in Madrid, of how he made the album sound. We always thought that the weak link of the previous album was the production and in ToTeM is totally one of its strengths. It sounds Carly’s father introduced him to some old rock albums awesome,” he says. like ‘Made in Japan’ from Deep Purple which blew his The guys recorded some parts at Lasting Noise From Paris, France we find upcoming organic fucking mind. “In primary school I decided that I would Studio, and some others on their own with their progressive band THE LAST EMBRACE, who have play drums and here we are, and here I am composing equipment at home. “As we didn’t have unlimited an awesome, slick and very diverse atmospheric with great friends, playing gigs with souls that are money, we decided that with our computer programs and complex six track CD out now called ‘The at the exact same level of music implication and and equipment we could do takes and takes avoiding Winding Path’ that is well worth exploring and runs transcendence, it’s beautiful and I feel very grateful to pay extra money, and then carrying our takes to the in at over fifty minutes long. It is an album that you for that,” he tells me. studio to process and mix them with Adrián Hidalgo, will need to sit and listen to, the songs are beautifully Guitarist Dante’s listen’s to a lot of things. “Out the owner of the studio. He produced the album with constructed and there is so much musical experience of the top of my head, musical influences for ToTeM us and he was our guide in many aspects of the mix, to enjoy throughout the album, it’s actually quite could be Tool, Karnivool, Cheeto’s Magazine, Dream we are so glad and thankful to have had him with breathtaking and you can easily fall in love with the Theater, Steven Wilson, Yes, Akira Yamaoka, Aphex us this time. But of course we did some takes at the songs and music and end up getting lost in the purity Twin, Rammstein, Symphony X, Leprous, Bee Gees, studio, like some guitar parts and all the drumming and of the record. The band are Sandy: Singer and Lyrics, Pink Floyd, and a long ass etc. You see, we embrace vocals,” explains Alex. “Basically, we reamped most Olivier: Electric and acoustic guitar, Pierre-Henri aka all we like, and everything can be an influence to our of the guitars and basses. We recorded the album “Coco”: Keyboards, Rhodes, Organs, Pianos, Anthony: music, because we don’t draw any lines, anything can between September 2015 and April 2016, being the Bass, Chris: Drums. be heard in this mad universe of Pervy Perkin: jazz, months of winter and spring the hardest, because we Electric and acoustic guitar player Olivier has disco, dubstep, country, techno, doom metal, opera, wanted to have ToTem completed in spring, so we had always had a strong passion for music that started barroque...We just love music so much,” he smiles. to work really hard to fulfil this aim. But the truth is when his uncle came into his bedroom for the first The inspiration behind the songs, lyrically, are just that we started the composition process in September time at the age of thirteen to fourteen. He had a lot of interesting stories, things that make you think, things 2014, so the whole process of creating the album took CD’s and played the guitar well, so all this new world that Pervy Perkin wanted to tell, feelings that they us a while.” blew Olivier away. He made Olivier discover hard rock wanted to express. “At the end of the day, that is why Whilst on tour around and learn to play the guitar which was his first choice. we are musicians, to share something, to make people Spain there was this one This instrument is Olivier’s passion and has been feel a certain way, to reach their hearts and souls and night where the band ever since and he couldn’t live without. He started move them). That is what good music does, it elevates decided to get back to getting into his instrument at the age of fifteen and he you; and we hope our fans feel that way, we certainly Madrid as soon as they practiced for three or four years playing riffs of Pink try our best,” says Dante. ended the concert, to Floyd, Nirvana, Metallica, Led Zeppelin or Dire Straits Outside the band enjoy sports; videogames, TV save money from the among others. He then met his first bass player Vik in series and films (which is also a huge influence on hotel. “We had liked half 1998 at a gig for the band The Gathering gig and that’s their music); eating; making videos; drawing; reading; deposits of gasoil, but we how The Last Embrace began. “It’s a strange thing to skateboarding; science, philosophy, the human were coming from the say but The Last Embrace is until now my first and only condition. “And the list is always being added to,” north, which is quite far band,” Olivier tells me. says bass player Aks. away from Madrid, and with a lot of mountains. So it is The band’s inspirations come from everywhere, Pervy Perkin are really passionate about their art three in the morning and we’re running out of gas. The from extreme metal to folk, dub, jazz, rock, electro, and they pour their heart and soul in making the best engine of our van is quite peculiar, because if it runs classical music, ost or hip hop among others. “There music they can. “We don’t try to be different from out of gas, it won’t start even if you put gas later, you are so much great artists in all kinds of music, it’s other bands only for the sake of it,” explains singer/ have to purge the system and then refill it. That would endless,” he says. All the band members have keyboard player Alex Macho. “We just try to create art have meant calling someone or the insurance and a common strong interest for progressive rock. that has the ability to move people, putting our effort wait in the cold night (this was quite north, and in a “Consciously or not, I guess prog universe influenced in making something we would love to listen to, uniting very cold April). So there we are, taking every exit with us during the composition of ‘The Winding Path’ all our influences and personal characters. We’re also ‘Gas Station’ on the sign. But they were all closed. We and we all naturally take this artistic direction,” he very passionate playing live, we like to do surprising found out four in the morning is not a great time to find explains. When you listen to the album you will hear stuff onstage, and we don’t have to force ourselves gas stations opened (in fact, out of our experience, elements of old 70’s classics like Pink Floyd, Genesis, to create a certain persona, we just do what we like: none). So we went to like four different stations, some Yes, King Crimson throughout the band’s songs. “We dress ourselves as we want, improvise, do jams, make were right next to the highway, some were deep in also like new stuff too like Porcupine tree, Anathema musical games in which we want the audience to some unknown, abandoned village. And the gas in or Anglagard among others,” says Olivier. The Last participate, etc… The best advice I could give you if running out. We said: ‘next one has to be opened, if Embrace doesn’t try to copy all these bands but they you want to know us is to listen to our records or to not, we cannot risk to go further in the middle of the do create their music on our own terms and they come to any of our gigs, we won’t let you indifferent, I night, on the dark road we can get hit by someone’ assume that progressive rock is the musical DNA of think,” he laughs. (this was because there were no lights on the highway ‘The Winding Path’ the bands new awesome record. The new album ‘ToTeM’ has something special, and it was quite foggy at this time of the year). So we Singer Sandy has a fantastic voice. Her voice it’s a big effort is the structure itself. Five songs glued crossed our fingers and went to the next station. Of is very clear and sweet and more trip hop/jazz than with four interludes, three big epics songs and a lot course, it was closed. And the gas was almost 0. So metal or even rock. “She’s a big part of our originality,” of experimentation involved in this new songs. It’s we left the van in the middle of the dark, closed station says Olivier. But all quite a journey, each song has his unique vibe, each and we put on as many clothes as we could, because musicians complement one very different from the others, and the interludes it was a cold as fuck night and we couldn’t afford to each other and when play a big role, like ‘portals’ between universes . “Not leave the AC on, it would consume the rest of the you listen to the album a double album this time but filled up with music, gas. So we spent three or four hours in the station, there is a sense of better produced music, thanks to our own experience literally in the middle of nowhere, trembling and trying beauty coming through recording and to the great Lasting Noise studio. We to sleep. In the morning Carly found out that ahead of the music as everyone try to improve production and bring it to the next level, us there was another station that was already open, compliments each other. third one has to sound even better, it is a must,” laughs and we could continue our journey. Next time, we’re “I guess we make a more Carly. “This has been an overwhelming experience, staying in a hotel,” laughs Alex. ‘Kinematics’ or ‘climatic’ and all the album has been pictured nicely from Next up the band want to film a video clip and prog than a lot of bands what we thought it would sound like, we have been several videos for concerts. “I guess we’ll take the if you know what I mean. We use real classical able to make a lot of production stuff go way up our majority of the summer off and start writing album instruments to do our arrangements (4 pieces strings, expectations,” he tells me. number three sometime this fall, while still being on flute, and oboe) and some of our songs are written like Musically the new album is a more extreme album. the lookout for new gigs and new ways to promote original soundtracks or pieces of classical music,” The brutal parts are more brutal, the soft parts are ToTeM. Nevertheless, we will be touring again once Oliver explains to me. When you listen to songs like softer. It has sort of a wider range of intensities. Also it 2017 rolls around, and we are all quite excited to see ‘The Field of Minds’ and you will understand what he is more experimental. “Having Alex Macho recording were does Pervy Perkin stand by then,’ concludes is saying. And the band are not afraid to go folk or an composing all keyboards, substituting Ugo Fellone, guitarist Juan Tides. unplugged if they feel it fits the song such as on ‘The who left after the first record, is a huge difference as Check the band out at Fear of Loss’. Their music is a kind of proggy/ambient/ well, he is as brilliant in the instrument as Ugo was, https://pervyperkin.bandcamp.com folk/Jazz rock metal, melodic and atmospheric and but in a completely different way, we could say he is https://es-es.facebook.com/pages/Pervy- beautifully performed by all involved. a more ‘progressive metal’ of a player, while Ugo was Perkin/216528511714447 The band’s new album ‘The Winding Path’ is more ‘classic prog rock’. Also having Aks on bass, a new chapter for The Last Embrace. It is their first THE MUSIC IS OUT THERE 23 FREE WITH FIREWORKS #76 electric work in six years. The previous one ‘Essentia’ permit myself to use musical ‘labels’. He listens to Alexandre and Mark were out on a series of trips, album was entirely acoustic with re-arranged and re- classical and soundtrack music almost every day playing across Mato Grosso do Sul (their state) and at recorded version of old material + three unreleased one example is the game Skyrim’s soundtrack, which one of these shows, when they arrived at the city, they songs. ‘Essentia’ was a nice album to make but ‘The he loves. He also listen’s to Type O Negative, which found out they would be playing on top of a truck, in a Winding Path’ has given the band a lot pleasure to strongly influences the Substelar. They Alexandre square. “The place had already about two thousand really worked and compose with their new members that piano goes well with heavy and distorted guitars. people. We took our thing, set them on ‘the stage’ and Anthony (bass) and Chris (drums). “They are awesome Another influence is Radiohead, that both he and started playing. At the third song the cops arrived, musicians and bring a lot of groove and energy. So Mark are fans of. told us that we couldn’t play more because it was there was a good alchemy between us during all the Other than these disturbing a hospital, two kilometres away from there. working process and I guess you can feel it with the traditional bands, he We tried to turn down a little, but the excitement was final result. I am proud of all our previous albums but likes a lot of Wardruna, so that, not long after, cops were there again, this time for me ‘The Winding Path’ is our more mature, best Solstafir and SigurRós, to arrest us. After a lot of talking, we managed not to written and best produced album ever! The artwork the band is a sum of get arrested, but the place was still crowded. So, we was made by the artist Dehn Sora who did a fantastic this main influences. grabbed the acoustic guitar and the vocals, plugged job both mysterious dark, warm and full of colours,” Another great influence in an amplifier, asked everybody to sit down and made Olivier explains. was his father, Jaime an acoustic guitar, voice and percussion show that The album was recorded/mixed and mastered Miguel Barrera, who is a lasted until dawn. It turned to be one of the best shows during one month by Francis Caste in the Sainte- multi-instrumentalist and in our life,” he smiles. Marthe studio in Paris. Francis is an awesome has three jazz albums Right now the guys are finishing the preparations producer and a great guy. He is mostly known for his recorded and was the guy that taught Alexandre the to record the ‘Acoustic of Substelar’ with five new work with extreme bands like Kickback or Arkhon first notes in the bass guitar, in a progressive jazz songs and, in December, if all works out well, they will infaustus but he is very open and liked immediately and in the way that he played his compositions with record the DVD with six new songs. “Our future here The Last Embrace universe when listening the Alexandre on bass, his dad on guitar and keyboards in Brazil is uncertain, there is no interest of the medias bands demos. “I’d personally wanted to record there and his brother Erik in the drums. He is also influenced in support bands like Substelar, and the ‘covers’ because Francis productions are very warm and by Pink Floyd, Korn, Deftones, Pearl Jam, Rage market dominated the whole country, which makes live,” explains Olivier. “That’s exactly what I was Against the Machine, Charlie Brown Jr., Nação Zumbi, extremely difficult to be booked to play, even with looking for ‘The Winding Path’. You can really feel the Mutantes, Metallica and Secos & Molhados. “Those high quality material. The only way I manage to play vibrations of all instruments of a real band playing are bands that made part of the life of every member here in my town is by producing and promoting the together,” he says. For example the band recorded of our band,” he adds. events, and sometimes when good friends contract on tubes amps or a real fender Piano Rhodes (from Outside of music Alexandre has a degree in Media us to play in their bars. We are ready to record the 1975). “Moreover, most of his equipment is analog. Production and he is a civil pilot. Mark Piazza is in whole ‘Planemo’ album in English, and the only thing He can use technology sometimes but in a good way law school, Erik Artioli is already a lawyer and Lotte stopping us to finish this project right now is money. and that’s doesn’t ruin the feeling of music. It was a Dichof has a degree in music, also working as a music But soon we will manage it. My dream is to play out of fantastic experience to work with him and we’re one teacher. “Think about the work that is to unite all this Brazil, touring through some countries, participating hundred per cent delighted with the sound.” crowd and play! Fortunately, rock always made it; in festivals, but I believe that this is also the dream of The band will continue to tour and work on the rock is the pillar that unites us all. We all want to make every rocker and composer. More than that, I wanna promotion of ‘The Winding Path’ by performing a living from the band, and abandon parallel works to leave a legacy on rock history, even if it’s small, even if electric and acoustic gigs. Then they will start to try focus only on the music” he says. only locally. I know that someday, two hundred years new ideas for a new album. Check the band out at Alexandre has heard a lot in shows, from friends, from now, someone will like our songs and have the www.thelastembrace.fr family and fans, that they can’t compare the band opportunity to listen our compositions, and this is www.facebook.com/thelastembraceband with any other band. “If I take that as a compliment, priceless,” he concludes. https://soundcloud.com/thelastembrace it means we managed to make a pretty authentic Check the band out at www.substelar.com sound. Who likes music with a little space vibe and www.reverbnation.com/substelar some progressive will find our sound interesting; at SUBSTELAR the same time we have heavy riffs, we have lighter music that rests the mind. During the production of the MONROE STRONGBACK album, I’ve always had care to keep the vocals clear, so that at all times people get what the music tries to pass on,” he explains. In 2006 Alexandre was practicing martial arts every day, and when his teacher taught him meditation which took him some years to finally get a grasp of to understand the meaning of it. Together with the teachings that Zen Buddhism and traditional Japanese arts brought him, he started to see the universe in a different way. “Carl Sagan said that we are all made from star dust. The combination of From the Brazil, we find progressive space rock these concepts ended up forming the word Substelar, artists SUBSTELAR, who have a new ten track CD out substance of stars. I googled it, and came up ‘not From Western Connecticut, we find progressive now called ‘Planemo’ that runs in at under an hour found’, and in that moment I knew the name of my rock outfit MONROE STRONGBACK, who have a long and is sung in the bands native language, and is project (that at the time wasn’t yet a band). I’m new ten track CD out now called ‘Stranger Returns’ a superb record that the guys hope to re-record with finishing a book called Substelar. Also made a simple a wonderful musical ride that runs in at under an English vocals at some point in the future. There is a animation about it and published it on YouTube. I love hour long. Monroe Strongback are based around the lack of support for band’s coming out of Brazil, and composing music to movies and theatre. The band talents of multi instrumentalist Bruce F. Singer. what I have noticed over the last couple of years is emerged of the union of the book, the animation and Bruce began writing songs the moment he picked that is a lively scene over there covering all genres my soundtrack compositions. In 2007 we made our up a guitar. He was probably twelve years old and he with a number of superb records coming out of the first show. We are all connected,” he says. had this vintage Gretsch his dad bought him but he country. The band are Alexandre Artioli - musical The new album was ‘Planemo’, means “wandering did now have an amp. Bruce dragged this old reel- producer, composer, bass, keyboard and percussion, planet” – a planet that doesn’t orbit any star and to-reel tape recorder that he found in the basement up Mark Piaza - composer, acoustic guitar and vocals, roams the cosmos alone. “I gave that name since I to his room and plugged into that. “The feedback was Erik Artioli - drums, LotteDichoff - electric guitar. didn’t know where these compositions might lead us. awesome. I played in garage bands, in a jug band, Main man Alexandre Artioli started with music at It’s formed by ten songs, ‘Earth’s Mould’ and ‘Celestial in a Javanese gamelan orchestra. I tried the singer- the age of five, playing classical piano; at twelve years Body’ being from Mark Piazza, and all the others were songwriter thing, the pop music producer thing. But old he had contact with the bass guitar; at thirteen and my own compositions,” he explains. nothing seemed to fit musically for me until I came he had already performed professionally in his city’s The band recorded the album in a newly opened upon a pretty obscure trio from Connecticut called night scene. When Alexandre met Mark Alexis, who studio owned by Alexandre’s friend Julio Quiroz. “The Raisin Hill. Their whole approach to music showed me was at the time playing in a metal band, he joined and studio is new, but since Julio is an excellent guitarist a path I wanted to take. But translating what I heard started to play with him. and we had already played together in some bands, inside of me to music I could release on a CD took a lot They played together for nine years, in a rock band I knew he would make a good job at recording even longer than I thought it would,” he tells me. called ‘Grass’. Unfortunately, the band never recorded though he had little experience – after all, I believe Bruce inspired musically by the Dead. Especially their own compositions, and ended in 2002 and then that having the will to listen is primordial to start their early psychedelic jams. “God Speed You! in 2006, Alexandre and Mark reunited and assembled recording a good work. Production took eight months: Black Emperor was a revelation. Especially in giving Substelar after a ten year gap. “It was really hard I recorded bass guitar, electric guitar and percussion; me the courage to to find musicians that believed in the project. We Mark Piazza the vocals and acoustic guitar; Erik Artioli push the envelope on already had six different drummers and four guitarists. the drums and Lotte Dichoff electric guitar. We had the Monroe Strongback’s Unfortunately, the cult of cover bands kills most of participation of the violinist Petar Krastanov in “The second album, We Are Brazilian’s independent music production. But in 2015 Fall”, of the singer Marina Dalla in ‘Universes’ and, in Creature. Brian Eno: we participated in a festival with forty other bands and ‘Cosmic Death’, the participation of the bass player I wore out a vinyl copy we won the first place, which gave us some “status” Marcos Yallow and my father, Jaime Miguel Barrera. of Apollo. I loved all and, thanks to this festival, managed to produce and Me and Julio did the mix and the master of the album those progressive art record an album,” says Alexandre. in just three weeks, since the launching of the CD was rock groups from the Alexandre is extremely eclectic and does not already scheduled,” he explains to me. 60s. The Moody Blues, THE MUSIC IS OUT THERE 24 FREE WITH FIREWORKS #76 ELO. When I was really young I saw a concert with like Led Zeppelin meets hip hop. And there’s a bonus in Verona, while the other tracks were recorded at Yes opening for King Crimson and Procol Harum, live track as well. After that, I’m thinking of going in Zenith studio of Frank Andiver in Lucca. The band unbelievable, really. But everything inspires me. A the complete opposite direction with a bunch of songs mixed at Zenith as well and they did the mastering lot of my songs come from a phrase I hear that just that infuse some cool jazzier elements into the mix. It’s at Creative studio in Forlì. “We started recording the clicks in my head and says turn me into a song. Like called Too Happy. Come to think of it maybe Monroe drums in summer 2013 and we finished the mixing at I was watching the weather on TV and the reporter Strongback is actually Bipolar. That could explain the beginning of 2015. At the end of 2015 we signed was talking about temperatures and said it would be everything. Or nothing,” he concludes. a contract with the label Andromeda Relix and we in the “teens in outlying areas.” I instantly thought: Check the band out at published the album in January 2016,” he tells me. ‘Teens in Outlying Areas’… that was me playing music www.monroestrongback.com There was another band, not so far from their city, every weekend in my friend Brian’s den. So I set out https://monroestrongback.bandcamp.com/album/ that was called Real Illusion as well. When the guys to write a piece for the new album that felt like a 50’s B stranger-returns first met their producer there was a mess because movie about hopped up teenagers in rebellion against both the bands put their music on web and he could uptight parents. It was almost Freudian,” he explains. not understand why Real Illusion sounded so different. Outside of music Bruce was a Hollywood screen REAL ILLUSION “When we discovered the ‘mistake’ we asked the and television writer for years and some of it was other band to change the name, since we registered great and a lot of it was soul-sucking and he was it legally some years before. They refused and put on one of the successful writers. Bruce had to let that their website a video for kidding us. After watching it go for the most part but he is working with two old we decided to attack them legally and we made them friends, Max Eisenberg and Gib Jaffe, on finishing a take off everything they had on the web. At the end documentary on Erich Von Stroheim and his rise and we keep the name and they had to change it,” Luca fall during the Golden Age of silent films. “I wrote smiles. the script decades ago, it seems, and Gib has finally For the future the band would like to play many put it together. I’ve written a lot of poetry and I’ve gigs, even out of Italy. They are already writing new thought about doing a spoken word album. Oh, and songs and they are thinking to their second album. “In I also teach meditation. I’ve had a practice since my order to increase the possibility to play live, even in the twenties and I began to teach mindfulness for relapse smallest club, we are preparing a complete acoustic prevention about ten years ago. Now I go down to From Italy, we find superb progressive melodic set of the album. Our goal at the moment is to spread Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Centre in Antigua for two hard rock band REAL ILLUSION, who have a super our music and increase the number of followers, not weeks out of each month and work with people who cool diverse well produced crispy nine track CD out only in Italy,” concludes Luca. are fighting for their recovery,” he tells me. now called ‘Impheria’ that runs in at just over forty Check the band out at www.realillusion.it Musically Bruce is past the age when standing on minutes long and covers a whole range of slick www.facebook.com/Realillusion.it a stage in front of an arena of screaming fans means styles with fine musicianship from the whole band. anything to him. Not too long ago he was listening The band are: Luca Pergoraro: guitar, Stefano Negro: to a huge superstar from the 60s share what that keyboards, Marco Beso: drums, Manuel Fabi: voice was like from the inside. “He hated every minute of and Luigi Di Carlo: bass. it. I’m not a performer. I see myself as a composer Everything for the band begun as a joke, they were and recording artist first, as a musician second. I’m teenagers that just wanted have fun after school. They a story-teller without words. I use my music to make started playing punk covers but soon realized that aural movies when I want. And when I don’t want to their road there was only hard’n heavy. After a couple do that, I use it to rock out or touch an emotion, or slip of years the guys begun writing the first original songs down a dark path without glancing over my shoulder,” and they decided to write one whole Real Illusion Bruce explains. album. “We wrote many songs, some of them in He recorded, produced and mixed all his music Italian, but after some years we found our own way at Forty Acre Mountain, which is his home studio. and we wrote the nine tracks of Impheria” explains It overlooks a beautiful lake and the inspiration is guitarist Luca Pergoraro. always close at hand. The process for this album was The bands greatest inspirations came from the similar to his others and really, for each song, it varies hard rock giants of the 80’s, and modern prog-metal From Buenos Aires, Argentina, we find rising quite a bit. Sometimes on this album Bruce got a bit of as well. They also have influences from classical progressive rock band ZAEDYUS, who have an inspiration and threw ideas together so fast that he music. Behind the album there are plenty of different exhilarating six track remastered CD out now called couldn’t even tell you later how they came together, emotions, mostly concerning love, fears and anxiety. ‘Patagonia’ that is well worth checking out. The the title track ‘Stranger Returns’ is an example of that. “The most recurring aspect is the contrast between album runs in at over thirty minutes long with the “The elements all came to fit in it is as much a mystery appearances and reality, kind of real illusion indeed,” longest track ‘ 42°S (The Wake Up Call)’ at over eight to me as it might be you. But the longer tracks, like ’10 says Luca. minutes. It is a concept album; it’s an evocation of 10 10’ or ‘The Circus Under the Big Top’ took a lot of Outside of music many different places located in this last piece of time and effort. The truth is that I set out this time to the Luca enjoys sport of land before the end of the world. ‘Over the Cliff in’ make an album that would let me step into all these course is involved, from particular, represents the void and solitude of the arid different playgrounds; the overriding idea was to just gym to running, rugby soils that stands before the South Atlantic Ocean in have fun. I think I needed that after releasing We and biking as well. “We the province of Santa Cruz. The playing on this track Are Creature, which was so personal and emotional. also are travelling lovers. is inspiring. That EP consisted of three really long compositions Some of us are interested The current line and because it was so challenging it was really in engineering, some in up for Zaedyus is: overlooked. I was blending rock with orchestral graphics. Of course we Ale Brukman: Drums, elements, adding in some effects and viewing it all as are also party lovers and percussion & backing a kind of narrative or movie – a cinemascape as I like we love having a good vocals, Marcela Rotela: to call it. That took a long time and it was a real bear time all together,” he tells me. Lead vocals, Leopoldo to produce and record,” he adds. Real Illusion believe that their trademark aspect is Oneto: Bass, Leandro Bruce was in a band and was maybe just twenty correlated to the fact that each member of the band Tactac: Guitars, Chepe years old at the time, and they were driving to a gig at a has their own musical taste and is an expert of one Laparra: Keyboards, bar in the winter and they got stuck at a train crossing. kind of rock, slightly different from each other, like Roman Peusner: Violin “Not on the tracks – that would be a different story power metal, progressive rock, 80’s hard rock, AOR, and Sebastian Aldea: – but waiting for a freight train to go by. And it turns and classic rock. “When we write a new song all Charango. out to be the Guinness World Book of Records longest these influences can create different shades in a very When drummer Ale Brukman was around eight freight train in history because the motherfucking cars original mix,” he says. years old his mum started taking piano lessons and keep coming and coming and coming. By the time we The new album has many different aspects, but all growing up there was always a piano in the house, can get across the tracks and to the bar, its total chaos of them are connected to the strongest human feelings and Ale and his brothers saw it as the coolest toy ever. in there with fights breaking out, the television blaring, like love, anger, fear, anxiety. “The most important They just wanted to strike down those keys! But that and a bunch of drunks asking us to play Sinatra’s idea that made up the concept, concerns the contrast didn’t happened. His mother decided to send them all greatest hits. You do that enough times and you end between the illusion of the world and what it is called to take piano lessons. So, he studied piano until his up meditating beside a lake and writing the kind of reality. The dismay that every single person feels in big brother decided to move to the guitar, something music no drunk at a bar is ever going to ask a band to very different situations can be considered like a sign, that Ale also wanted to do. He got into the guitar sing,” he smiles. a warning that suggest that actually your life is not world until one day he decided that he should become Bruce is currently working on two new Monroe what you think it is, it’s kind of different,” he explains. a drummer. And that’s when his parents sent him to Strongback albums. The next one is definitely post- The drums and the female vocals were recorded music school. A couple of months into it, he decided apocalyptic. Zombies, the end of the world, the in Verona, while the other tracks were recorded at that music was what he would do for the rest of his whole nine yards and it will be called ‘There Was Zenith studio of Frank Andiver in Lucca. The band life. By then Ale was thirteen and ever since he has Happiness, There Was Love.’ “There’s definitely a mixed at Zenith as well and they did the mastering kept his word. dark sad mood going on there,” he says. “It’s very at Creative studio in Forlì. “We started recording the Inspirations for Ale are many, progressive rock drum and guitar heavy. Pretty sparse and raw in the drums in summer 2013 and we finished the mixing at and metal, bands like Yes, Rush, ELP from the past and overall production. I’ve got a second collaboration the beginning of 2015. At the end of 2015 we signed modern ones like Pain of Salvation, Dream Theater, with “Captain” Morgan on it – a tune called ‘Your a contract with the label Andromeda Relix and we Gordian Knot, Angra, Planet X, among others. “On the Connection with the Server (Has Been Terminated)’ published the album in January 2016,” he tells me. other hand, I truly can’t escape from my academic where he really shows his skills as a rap artist. It’s The drums and the female vocals were recorded musical background, so when it’s time to write, the THE MUSIC IS OUT THERE 25 FREE WITH FIREWORKS #76 rules of harmony, counterpoint and orchestration the concept behind the piece and its theoretical she tells me. are always present, not just to follow them, but very background. “Anytime I was saying the word Being initially devised as a ‘duo’ studio project often to break them,” he tells me. Last but not least, ‘heavy metal’ I was able to hear little leafing in the they have been able to use some great musicians Argentinean folk music brings the distinctive touch background. I felt doomed. However I kept talking… on the album and really work on the arrangements to the bands style. Artists such as Cuchi Leguizamon, for about an hour without any pause, explaining and sound. “We like experimenting with different Atahualpa Yupanqui and Hermanos Abalos became all the nuances of my work, and at some point I felt sonic layers and textures and we also believe in a great influence in Zaedyus music all influences, that, rather than being defending my thesis, I was writing a complete song,” she says. “All the songs on especially for their latest album from 2013 called defending heavy metal. Slowly the classroom started ‘Gifted_Damaged’ have an ending and we consciously ‘Santos Vega.’ However, the influences on ‘Patagonia’ taking me a bit more seriously. By the time I was done decided on no fade outs from the outset. The songs are are definitely on the prog rock side, which Ale was talking, the anxiety for watching the video was very also lyrically written to be visual as well so we hope very into back in the day. “The vocal work and the noticeable. So I pressed play and the music started. to expand on this at the live shows we are planning presence of many keyboards remind me of Yes After the last note, the room was silent, and then the at the moment and in some of the videos currently in with Trevor Rabin. The folk element in this album is applause came. And I felt relief. At the end I passed production.” somehow encrypted, not very noticeable though,” he the exam, happily to me, and graduated. That piece of Paul came up with the concept of the album explains to me. music was Santos Vega,” he smiles. ‘Gifted_Damaged’ but it really struck a chord with Music for Ale is very vast and fulfilling, at least the Zaedyus are currently in the final stage of recording where Rachel was at the time. “I was recovering after way he approaches it; if he is not writing, he is playing their next album. “Dare to say our best album so far,” a seven month stay in a rehab for addiction. I was drums or producing an album, or recording, mixing, says Ale. “It will me a more edgy record; lots more piecing my life back together and many of the songs mastering, etc. “To me all those things are part of prog metal content and Argentinean folk elements resonated with me. When I was singing in the studio, making music and that’s what I do day after day. So for sure. The album will also include new versions of I was singing about having been broken, but also I don’t think I have any other particular interest,” he some songs from Patagonia and Santos Vega. It would about feeling hope and strength, having survived,” explains. “However, I do enjoy a lot of little simple be a very interesting and different album, featuring she tells me. I’m sure every reader can immediately things such as reading books, watching movies, riding female lead vocalist Marcela Rotela and some very bring someone to mind who they would consider on my bike 15 km a day, building things with wood (for powerful guest singers and musicians,” he concludes. gifted and damaged. For Paul the inspiration was example all the acoustic panels and furniture in my Check the band out at www.zaedyus.com.ar Syd Barrett. We shot the cover art to resemble an studio), and I absolutely love teaching.” www.zaedyus.bandcamp.com abandoned room in an asylum and the CD version of Zaedyus has evolved so much since it started. The www.facebook.com/Zaedyus the album comes in a bound book format with all the line-up has been changing a lot, especially between artwork from the shoot. We used Laurence Stevens their first and last album. So, in a way, this band tends as the creative director. He was the guy behind all the to be more about the music itself over the people GLITCH CODE iconic Eurhythmics imagery and really got the concept who plays it. “That being said, you’ll find outstanding of the shoot.” musicians in any Zaedyus recording. Because of the recovery process Rachel spoke For sure, we are not a standard prog metal band. of the album took about two years to make. Paul As you know we’re based in Buenos Aires, Argentina, had most of the music and lyrics prepared and had the furthest south country in the world. And we recorded a lot of the parts such as strings etc. at Dean certainly want people to know it. We don’t want to Street studios in Soho and at his own studio. Rachel be the next Dream Theater or Symphony X, we want recorded the vocals over a three months’ period at to be Zaedyus,” he explains The band let this South Tileyard Studios in London and they mixed it there American cultural diversity influences their music. as well. Mastering was done by the wonderful Barry And that’s the special signature of Zaedyus sound. Grint at Alchemy Mastering in London. Paul produced For example, they may have a charango solo instead of the album and it was mixed by Russell Fawcus. a guitar solo, or they may use two legüero drums along There was one time when Rachel was filming out with double bass, or play huaynos and chacareras as From around London & Weldon we find electro in LA. “The director and I went to a bar at the end of a very progish time signature change, etc... prog rock artists GLITCH CODE, who have a new the day. There was a member of Guns and Roses there At the very beginning Ale had this idea of making twelve track CD out now called ‘Gifted_Damaged’. (won’t say who!) and lots of older couples in really songs inspired in places that he has visited from The band are Rachel Harvey - vocals, Paul Kirkpatrick skimpy outfits. Some of them were smiling at us and Patagonia. So by that time he knew that if he ever - keyboards, Gordon Foley - Guitar, Julian Todd - bass, a few offered to buy us drinks. We thought it was all a made a record with this, it would be called that way. David Williamson Smith - drums, Rachel Dawson - bit odd, until over the mic someone announced that it “Years later, while we were producing the songs for cello and Felicity Hunter - backing vocals. was ‘the annual swingers’ ball’. We left quite quickly,” the album, we’ve got this very prog idea of making Singer Rachel Harvey got a scholarship to a she giggles. Patagonia a concept album and we decided to go performing arts school when she was young, Sylvia The song ‘Glimmer’ is coming out as a single in for it,” he says. “The story behind talks about a boy Young’s. Rachel really came out of her shell there. August along with the video we made with Laurence from San Julian, a little city in Santa Cruz, who, after When she left she joined a rock band and started Stevens and Mark Arrigo. “After that we are filming breaking up very badly with his girl, starts a redemption gigging. She met keyboard player Paul Kirkpatrick another video currently being story boarded for travel through the vast territories of Patagonia. It’s a when they were both playing in different bands at a ‘Mask’ and then we will be rehearsing for some live very simple story that could happen to anyone, but local gig and Glitch Code gradually came together shows towards the end of the year,” she concludes it becomes very deep when you add these mystical from that point. “We both love the buzz of creating Check the band out at www.glitch-code.com places to the tale.” something new and a bit different so we gelled well www.facebook.com/glitchcode ‘Patagonia’ was originally recorded between together and began to evolve our sound over a couple Twitter - @glitchcode 2009 and 2011. What you are hearing today is a 2016 of years to where we are today,” she tells me. remaster with improved sound quality. Now, the Rachel was a die hard rock and metal fan growing conception of this album took a while, there’s songs up. “I was lucky to see Motorhead play as well as PYRAMIDS ON MARS like ‘At Saint Julian’s Bay’ or ‘The Glacier’s Breath’ bands like Iron Maiden, Korn and Metallica. But I that were written around 2005. The album was self listen to whatever comes my way. I’ve lived in South produced by the band and recorded in what today is London for eight years now, there’s so much variety Ale’s personal recording studio, Babaita. in music. Just walking the streets, you pick up on Back in the day Ale was starting as an audio different cultures and influences, which I love. There engineer, so recording the album on his own, it are lots of obscure influences in the Glitch Code sound seemed like a great opportunity to experiment and which is why I think it works so well. Paul is also into get his hands on the faders. “Now, truth be told, rock but also electronica and classical so you can we recorded ‘Patagonia’ using just a 4 input audio pick up on lots of those influences in the synths and interface, a cheap mixing console and some very strings,” she explains. inexpensive mics,” he explains. Although the original The inspiration behind the band’s new album release didn’t sound as they expected, it was the best ‘Gifted_Damaged’ was the connection between they could get at that time. “However, this remastered perceived genius and the often traumatic stories From Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, we find upcoming edition gives justice to the album, it brings to the table behind those they consider to be gifted. “Be it music, progressive melodic instrumental rock artist that polished sound which enhances the musical art, comedy, film etc. those we consider to be truly PYRAMIDS ON MARS. They have just released their content and brings it to another level.” gifted are those who we discover are the most second very inspiring, new CD out now called ‘Echo Ale does not consider himself an adventurer at all. damaged through mental Cosmic’, that is well worth exploring. “In 2013 I was preparing my thesis for graduating as health issues, personal The band are serious, virtuosic players. Very tight, a music composer. By that time I was really tired of tragedies’ or addiction,” full of energy, with riffs and majestic melodies galore, being in music school, and I was kind of worried about she says. which explore many diverse musical areas. One will my thesis, I knew that if I choose to write an orchestral Rachel is currently end up just getting lost as the luxurious melodies suck piece of music I would never end it and therefore I doing a psychology you in such as on the beautiful song ‘Echo Cosmic’. would never graduate,” he tells me. So I decided to go degree. “I left school This track is right up there with Joe Satriani and has a wild and write a concept piece of music for a heavy at sixteen and started lunar cosmos feel and is very melodic. POM are Kevin metal band and Argentinean folk instruments. All my acting. I loved it, but I Estrella (Lead/rhythm guitar), Craig Estrella (Bass). fellows thought that I was absolutely mad, even some reached a point where Kevin wanted to be a professional musician of my teachers did! So the judgment day arrived and I felt like I would regret from a young age. There was no question it was in there I was, in front of the dean, the headmaster, and not exploring my potential in the academic world. I’m his circuitry, what he was born to be. He grew up two composition teachers,” he explains. a year in and addicted to learning. I’m still waiting for primarily listening to Rush and Iron Maiden. But it The exam begun with Ale talking and explaining the lecture on how to read peoples’ minds though,” was when Kevin heard Joe Satriani’s ‘Surfing with THE MUSIC IS OUT THERE 26 FREE WITH FIREWORKS #76 the Alien’, he knew exactly what he wanted to do to pick one up. “Try it in front of the mirror, and see if it musically, and that was to play like him. will fit,” he smiles. KONSUELO BAND “Thus began years of dedicated practice to learn Ilan notes his father Charlie as well as Jimi how to play like Satriani,” Hendrix, Ritchie Blackmore, Jeff Beck, Slash, Jimmy smiles Kevin. Page, Van Halen, Gary Moore, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Kevin’s biggest Atur Godel, Pedro Javier Gonzalez and Vicente musical inspiration, Amigo as influences. “All of them designed a part of however, actually my whole playing, some in their sound, some in their comes from Baroque composing and some by the story of their life.’Out Of classical composers The Rock” is inspired a lot by Jeff Beck, Greg Howe J.S Bach and Antonio & Guthrie Govan, the concept was instrumental and Vivaldi. “Their sense of by this artists it was possible for me to learn how to melody and contrapuntal connect different ideas to a fused one-piece,” he polyphonic approach to explains to me. music. This is what I am attracted to,” he explains to Ilan assembled his band mainly to record his Luciano Nemmo • Drum & Percussions, Davide Irto • me. “music that has multi-dimensional properties pieces, so they are not a band as such, yet. What Guitar and Gianfranco Michele Di Tullio • Bass Guitar. to it.””That, and progressive rock/metal bands like makes this album different from common rock\fusion Guitarist Davide Irto and drummer Luciano Nemmo Meshuggah for example.” albums is the position of the bass and drums. “Since have known each other since Elementary School, and Kevin calls himself the “Joe Satriani of the we are a trio, there is a need for presence behind they started to play together after few years. The North”. Style wise Satriani and Estrella are very the melodic lines. There are fantastic bass solos and guys had a punk rock band, but after a long period similar. “There are not many melodic instrumental outstanding drumming, in a way of communicating of activity they felt that they needed some changes. rock bands out there,” he explains. “Particularly those with the listener’s mind and soul and definitely not as The band broke out and everyone walked their own who can make the guitar ‘sing’ like a ‘singer’ in a band. a show off exhibition,” Ilan explains to me. “Also, the way. In high school time Luciano knew Gianfranco, But for me, a good song is when a listener can walk last two tracks are acoustic - ‘A place for my mind’ is a very good bass player, and proposed to Davide to away humming the melody.” Surprisingly, Kevin DOES a solo piece dedicated to Atur Godel r.i.p, ‘Like father, try and play again making something new, without NOT listen to a lot of guitar music. Inspiration for him like sons’ features family work with my dad, Charlie on a typical standard or genre of music. “We never did comes more from violin, cello, and piano/harpsichord oud, and my brother Yair, on acoustic guitar,” he adds. any cover, but started as a new band who wanted to music. “I hear the guitar more like a violin. Thus, what Almost all of the make new music. Neither I play reflects that,” he tells me. pieces were composed of us knew what we were “Inspiration for Pyramids on Mars comes from my over a two-year period doing but we did! First deep passion for UFO’s, aliens and uncovering the truth of time of recording tries were something of to the world,” he says. “I had a unique UFO sighting the album. At first, Ilan undefined stuff, mixed back in 2014 when an orange/red plasma covered started to record the of riff, arpeggios that craft flew across my back yard. MUFON investigated album from its last piece, won’t sketch together it and deemed it an authentic sighting. I later found so that he would be so fluidly but it was out I was the only one in our city who witnessed it, able to fit the track that just the beginning of a and this was verified by recorded resources, or lack comes before for a good new experimentation,” of.” He said. Kevin met with world respected Ufologist connection. “But later, explains Davide. Grant Cameron who specialises in the alien/musician when most of the album was recorded, the order has Luciano know that it sounds a little weird but connection phenomenon. Grant concluded the craft been changed, since I had a wider variety of ideas he think that his band does not have any musical was in direct contact with him. than I imagined, so the album was rearranged,” he inspirations. “Well, to be specific every member of the “I am here to raise consciousness through my tells me. band listening to different type of music but none of us music of their existence.” He explains. It took just over two years to complete and it was listening to a genre similar to the one that we play,” he Both the debut album of Pyramids on Mars, and all recorded at Papa studio. The record was recorded explains to me. ‘Echo Cosmic’ were written, arranged, recorded, and mixed by Ayal Yishay and mastered by Amit The band just have fun playing it, for example, engineered, and mastered by Kevin. He performed Amrami. For all this period, Ilan has worked mainly as Davide listens to metal/punk music and Luciano all guitars, bass, keyboards, and did the drum a massagist and took all the expenses and produced listens to hip-hop/soul music. “Gianfranco is still not programming. it mostly on his own, but with a lot of good ideas and very clear what he usually listening to. Maybe it’s Make sure to check the band out at advices by his partners for this creation. “Gear was for that reason that we have this sound not so well www.pyramidsonmars.com improved through this time, due to the need of some defined or at least, we’re trying to have it. If we gotta www.facebook.com/PyramidsonMars sounds and technical performances. Choosing to pull out some band names, I can tell you: Focus, Elio & produce it on my own and funding it was an important Le Storie Tese, an Italian band and Calibro35, another consideration for making the album sound the exact Italian band,” he says. ILAN D. SABACH way I want, without compromising,” Ilan tells me. Music takes a good part of the bands interests but I asked Ilan to tell me a wild story from his musical they have obviously our personal ones. Luciano is into career. “While I had no band, no original music, shooting and editing videos. “I like to record music no rehearsals - and it happened. I was fifteen, we videos, promos, or sometimes just create something,” finished ninth grade, me and a few friends played he tells me. “It’s not my job but I like to spend my spare our version to ‘Hey Joe’ at a school party, and for a time in this way. I can surely say that Davide’s most month and a half, I so wanted to perform it again. So, interest is gym. Talking about Gianfranco, in reality, I went to a club with a CD of us playing (had a video I don’t know. Well, he has a cat. Sometimes we plan by a class friend) and booked us. As soon as I walked tryps to spend time together: I think that it’s a really out, I called my musician friends to say ‘Guys, we good time, you know, for the band,” he explains. have a show on August 25TH’. Then, we rehearsed on The band is a trio and they play three typical Michael’s house every day, wrote songs in the nights instruments used in the rock music: guitar, bass and worked on a few cover songs. It was a cool show and drums. Main characteristics is that there are From Tel Aviv, Israel, we find rising instrumental/ and that’s the same Michael playing on the album,” no vocals. “Once we tried to have female singer prog fusion artist ILAN D. SABACH, who has a superb smiles Ilan. but it didn’t work so we decide to remain only an diverse nine track CD out now called ‘Out Of The The new album ‘Out of the rock’ will be lifted into a instrumental band,” Davide tells me. Thanks to that Rock’. As the cover art work suggests, ‘Out of the rock’ live show with some original tracks that do not appear the focus right on the composition creating a unique is a rainbow of songs that varies in its moods, from on the album, with all the participants of this project. sound and Davide thinks’ that every track has a sort warm to cold, from classical to modern, from laughing “It will happen soon, starting in Israel. Except the of fingerprint. “A mark that when someone is listening melodies to seriousness and so on Performing on the official clips on youtube, live videos would come in the to our music says: ‘Hey! It’s Konsuelo Band!!’. Other album is Ilan D. Sabach - guitar, Or Lubianiker - bass, future, more music, merch with my painting for ‘Out of important fact is songs’ name. Apparently there’s no Michael Kedem - drums, Charlie Sabach - oud and Yair the rock’ cover and more, updates can be found at my sense and…that’s true! As we like how the track plays sabach - acoustic guitar. site,” he concludes. as the name of the song sounds like. Every song has The album as an instrumental piece is a joyful Check Ilan D. Sabach out at his own name that represents it,” he adds. listen, throughout the record Ilan takes on many www.ilandsabach.com The new album ‘Quando Imene Te Lo Aspetti’ is the twists and turns, all performed with feeling, as a result www.facebook.com/ilandsabach band’s first album and they are really satisfied about it. the album and the playing at times is simply breath It contains songs that they composed in the beginning taking. If you like for example Al Di Meola and Tommy From Milan, Italy find uprising rising prog/improv and other more recent. “In fact you could notice a little Emmanuelle then you will thoroughly enjoy this record. trio KONSUELO BAND. The band have a fantastic differences of style between the tracks,” says Davide. Ilan D. Sabach started playing as a teenager as new CD out called ‘Quando Imene Te Lo Aspetti’ that Translated it from Italian the album title means, ‘When it was just the age to start playing. It was the most features a whopping fourteen tracks and runs in at you least expect it’. Davide say’s ‘should’ because colourful way for Ilan to express himself. “On this just under an hour long and stretches right across the there’s a word trick between the word ‘imene’ and very designing and moody part of life, when music prog and instrumental spectrum with the longest track ‘meno’. “The right way to say ‘When you least expect becomes more social interest between one to another coming in at over seven minutes long. You just end up it’ is ‘Quando MENO te lo aspetti’. We choose to use and helps to develop interactions,” he tells me. Ilan jamming along with the band and the records grooves. the word ‘imene’ because it means ‘hymen’, giving a was also pushed to musical natively by his father, Konsuelo Band are master players and fuse sexual background to the album. The sense of the title Charlie Sabach, who is a musician by himself. together many styles, you want funk, you got it, jazz? is something like: you could lose your virginity when Ilan was surrounded by guitars in every corner of No problem, prog, you got that to, it’s all here to soak you least expect it...and that is what the cover art the house, so it was just a matter of time and decision up, melodious musical heaven. Konsuelo Band are represents,” Davide explains. THE MUSIC IS OUT THERE 27 FREE WITH FIREWORKS #76 The album was recorded in May 2014 with the music and that was a great place where my rock who react with shock and then with smiles. There’s record coming out officially in November 2015. It has and classical skills could co-exist. My day job then always a small number who looked angry and scurry been recorded in a professional studio near Milan, was working for music publishers. That brought me off. Many often follow us from location to location as Italy. The band recorded without metronome to have into the circle of people working with avant-garde we move through the urban landscape. Many will a very live sound, like you listening to a ‘real’ band composer John Cage. Man, that experience really start dancing or pick up something they can use as playing. “We took only one week to do everything. opened up my ears,” he tells me. makeshift percussion to play along. They’re welcome Regarding who produced, well, we produce it by Whether it’s rock, Bach, or Balinese gamelan, to do so. The music is purposefully instrumental so ourselves and we’re glad to have made it. We had Patrick see’s every performance as a ceremony of that it’s universal wherever the project travels. That really good time in studio and we had a lot of fun with sorts. “Music, to work, thrives on scenes to come so, a lot of young kids will start rapping to the music sound engineers too,” explains Luciano. out of. Many of us are too close to the centre of our with great results. These are all real moments of a Gianfranco does not remember the month or the work to see it for the ritual it is, in an anthropological group of musicians interacting with the public. True, year or even the place or the city they once played sense. Whether intended or not, every performance honest, and priceless, we have transformed the city, at. “I remember only this pub placed in the middle of contains elements of theatre. That’s what interested just for a moment,” he grins. nowhere surrounded by nothing. After the immense me in creating Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Electric Another interest of Patrick’s, a huge interest, is hard work driving to find this place weighed down by Guitars. It began as a processional event for the science. “I’ve created a number of rocking scores the entire instrument and the personal set-up that we Winter Solstice (hence the astronomical pun in its for shows that were about genetics and astrophysics always carry with us we found this place completely name) and really caught on. Since then I’ve brought working with actual scientists. Science lends itself to locked. We called the proprietary and no answer, it to three. For me personally, it was also a revenge of musical structures so naturally. They’re already there other three or four telephone number and no answer. sorts to the hardship we share in building an audience. if you look. The next phase of Tilted Axes will include Despite everything we saw a light inside so we had As musicians we put together a show and hope that music for planetariums. It’s a natural for mobile electric the brilliant idea to climb up the tent, walk along people will come to the venue. With Tilted Axes, since guitars. Most are attached to museums, they’re all the parapet and sneak through windows. I’ll let you we wear and move about with our own portable over the world, and they’re indoors! I won’t have to imagine the fury of the big security guard trying to kick amps, we can go anywhere. We just go and perform worry about the weather for those performances. us out of the pub. For a moment we thought he would where there are already thousands of people. It’s an Wondering whether a Tilted Axes performance was launch us directly through the windows with the instant audience. Every track on the album represents going to take place during a rainstorm, a blizzard, or instrument and everything. During all the performance a different event, a “tilt,” that we performed in that a heat wave, has, no doubt, taken years off my life. we feel the eyes of that big brawny guy on us,” laughs every one contains some new music created for it,” The music for that is already being put together I Gianfranco he explains. look forward to that new work with the group,” he As a group Konsuelo Band are never satisfied. Patrick is interested in anything that can tell a concludes. “This album represents what we are up to this moment. story using non-verbal means. This includes all kinds Check the band out at Assuming that we are in a constant musical growth, of visual and graphic art, design, and architecture for www.tiltedaxes.net/tiltedaxes.html the next project will surely express our journey in example. A well-designed household item can speak www.facebook.com/tiltedaxes the world of inspiration, music and transformation,” volumes. “This spills over into the realm of semiotics explains. Gianfranco. “Using more instruments or and this is a branch of philosophy I use a lot in our putting inside some vocal inserts are just few of work. I’ve written a lot of music for modern dance SEDATE ILLUSION what we have in mind. Even if our trip began with just and for experimental theatre. That last one interests three instruments and a lot of imagination we would me a lot because it’s the only art form I can think of surely consider to let other type of sound and genre to that contains all of my interests under one umbrella: complicate and mix up our current sound in a sort of every aspect of the visual, of music, of movement, fusion music that will cover a large portion of musical of text, live performance, projection, and political style, obviously synthesized in the Konsuelo Band way commentary,” he says. to be,” he concludes. Tilted Axes isn’t a band so much as it is a project. Check Konsuelo Band out at The personnel changes every time they create a tilt, www.facebook.com/konsueloband whether in the USA, Europe, or South America. It draws heavily upon local musicians who learn the music and then add their own cultural flavour. “The TILTED AXES group on the album is made up mostly of what we call the Tilt Core, musicians here in NYC who know the Based around Greece, Corfu and the Ionian music well and can perform it as a small ensemble. Islands, we find progressive metal artists SEDATE We’ve had manifestations of the project that included ILLUSION, who have a new eight track CD out now 44 musicians. That’s a big sound. We use Mini Vox called ‘Glass Delusion’ that is well worth exploring amps (they are a sponsor) so we have all the classic and runs in at over sixty minutes long. amp tones and FXs you’d expect from the electric The band are Vangelis Kakarougkas - Vocals, guitar as an icon. To my knowledge, we are the only Keyboards/Synths, Anastasios Kibizis - Guitars, project like this out there,” Patrick explains to me. Vangelis Glavinas - Bass Guitar and Andreas Performing mobile, and often outdoors, never Alamanos - Drums. yielded any satisfactory recorded representations of It all began for singer and keyboard player the work. Patrick wanted to make a studio recording Vangelis Kakarougkas when he and his friend decided of their repertoire created up until this point. “Even to create music out of left-out ideas of the band they From New York we find progressive rock artists though the tracks are meant to stand on their own, were playing together, Equal Vector, back in 2004. TILTED AXES, who are based around the multi talented the listener could think of the album as one big set They created an experimental album called Sedate composer Patrick Grant. They have a new seventeen of Theme and Variations. Every track is in a different Illusion and it included only instrumental tracks. track CD out now called ‘Music for Mobile Electric style but, if you listen closely, you can hear how there Afterwards, other bands got Vangelis; attention and Guitars’ that is well worth exploring and runs in at just are thematic elements that tie it all together. It’s been the project froze for several years, until he managed to under seventy five minutes long. tricky finding a single genre to file it under, so I chose compose the album 0545 in 2010, adding also vocals in The band are Electric Guitars - Patrick Grant, Matt “Post Progressive” because it means everything and his music. The task became easier then and Vangelis Grossman, Daniel Reyes Llinas, John Halo, Randolph it means nothing,” he adds. created the ‘Illusory Sustenance’ album in 2012. Hudson III, Reinaldo Perez, Nick Didkovsky, Gene It took close to three months to record, spread “Furthermore, I sought for a guitarist, a bassist and Pritsker, Howard Glazer, Anthony Mullin, Larry Simon, over the course of a year. Live gigs and other projects a drummer along with some more musicians, in order Chapman Stick - Jeremy Nesse, Electric Bass - Dan would get in the way. Patrick produced it and he to make my next concept album, What Remains and Cooper, Patrick Grant, Drums & Percussion - John did the editing. “I love the recording process even it was released in 2014. In 2015 we established a full Ferrari, CesarePapetti. though there are longs stretches of tedium. It was band and the creation of ‘Glass Delusion’ took place Main man Patrick recorded into Ableton Live because it gives me great and got ready in 2016,” he tells me. Grant is from Detroit, flexibility in the editing, much more than Pro-Tools. Vangelis inspirations Motown. Besides from Plus, a number of the guitarists, the true shredders began with OSI and hearing a lot of local on the album, sometimes recorded at different times. Chroma Key as a great radio, they also had I needed that flexibility to put it all together as an inspiration. Kevin Moore the CBC and the BBC ensemble sound. The guitarists come from all kinds is a very gifted musician coming through Canada, of backgrounds including with Edgar Winter, Alice and his music was, is which is right across the Cooper, Robert Fripp, as some examples. My engineer, and will be an influence river. Everybody played Garry Rindfuss, came up through the ranks working on Vangelis. Later on, in some kind of band, so with the legendary Phil Ramone at the Power Station many progressive bands crazy is just a concept. in NYC. He’s great. Tracking and mixing were done at such as Dream Theater, Everybody is somebody’s freak depending upon the John Kilgore Sound, Mercy Sound, and in my studio, Symphony X, Ayreon, backdrop they’re pushed against. Patrick grew up all in NYC. I couldn’t be happier with the crew that Katatonia, Leprous, Haken and many more have been with a foot in two worlds. On one he was getting came together for this album,” he smiles. added to the list. “As far as it concerns the album, the prizes for writing classical chamber music since age Since Tilted Axes has performed in a number of musical influence was all of the above I said and the fourteen, and on the other he was playing original cities in a number of countries, that certain of the same concept was influenced by an article I found about the music in post-punk bands developing my chops. “I things happen at each one. “I always say that the best psychological illness, ‘Glass Delusion’, therefore the moved to NYC to study composition at the Juilliard audience member at one of our tilts is one who did title of our last album,” he explains. School and ended up staying there. I found many not know that we were going to appear. They have Outside of music Vangelis enjoys swimming, experimental theatre companies that needed original the best reactions! There’s always a large number especially in the winter and he is a big fan of cycling. THE MUSIC IS OUT THERE 28 FREE WITH FIREWORKS #76 “Also, I am a computer technician and I fix software From Wolverhampton, UK, we find heavy metal truly hooked him on the electric guitar was a Jimi and hardware problems mostly. Recently, I bought artists band THE BLACK HOUNDS, who have a new Hendrix ‘best of’ but he also started getting into Rage a camera and I am trying to take nice photos of EP out now called ‘Gallows’. The band are: Anthony Against The Machine. “At this point - this was around landscapes and stuff, but I it is too early to say if this Wright - Vocals and Guitar, Luke Winship - Guitar, Tom the time that their ‘The Battle of Los Angeles’ album hobby suits for me.” Fellows - Bass and Vocals, Joe Cleaver - Drums. came out. I guess Jimi Hendrix and Tom Morello both Sedate Illusion is a group of four people, who The Black Hounds have all been in bands before, lead me to my first wah pedal, which I bought within 6 are friends at the same time and enjoy spending however this band is the reason why the lads all months of my first guitar,” Matt tells me. time together and they help each other in several continue to play, creating new music and playing live. As a band, their common influences range from different occasions. “As for the band’s music, I’d like “Once you get a taste of performing live you need that Humble Pie to Funkadelic and The Black Crowes. to believe that is very melodic and has meaningful buzz in your life,” says guitarist Luke Winship. Individually though, their palettes are all over the lyrics and at the same time it is strong and tight. The The bands style is influenced by the new wave of place and it definitely results in a fairly eclectic term progressive can describe some technical parts American Heavy Metal, playlist from show-to-show in the van. When the guys placed carefully in our music, in order, not to show bands such as Killswitch write together, they consciously try to focus much that we can play fast or very complex, but to serve a Engage and Machine more on the chemistry and interplay between them all purpose to the lyricism of the song. The songs are long Head. However, they try and how they can best emulate their favourite bands but the listener stays vigilant as the fluctuations of the to make the choruses or records. Bands tend to inspire Palace Of The King music occur pretty often,” Vangelis explains. as catchy as possible. more by method than ‘sound’ and Matt loves hearing The album all came down when Vangelis “If you don’t have hooks a live-sounding album much more than something that accidentally came across an article of the ‘Glass in the songs you’ll never has been over-thought and over-polished. “You may Delusion’. This psychological illness is about some be remembered,” he have heard ‘Black Cloud’ individuals who think that they are made of glass and explains. from our new album; we they would shatter on every step or movement they The Black Hounds had Betty Davis and early make. “This gave birth to an idea of telling a story about formed in 2013 but went through some early line-up Funkadelic records in a man who is trapped in his glass delusion and that his changes which made life a little difficult to start with mind - and we had the psyche (mentality) is vulnerable and fragile like a thin for the guys, that all changed when Anthony joined. idea for a female vocal glass to other people and that he must remain isolated Their first gig with this new line-up was at The Wulfrun even before the song in order to avoid being shattered to pieces if he faced Hall in Wolverhampton no less. “We were the main was finished. We’re an emotional situation. The main concept is revealed support band for Martyr De Mona’s Impera Album really happy that Mahalia in the ‘Glass Delusion’ song, which is the fourth track launch and we were well rehearsed and ready to go! Barnes was available of the album, and there are the other five songs that Stylistically we try to marry heavy riffs with Choruses and keen to sing that one. embrace this concept in their own way,” he adds. that are anthemic, we’ve been compared to many There’s even a hint of Radiohead in the final track ‘Into At first there was a pre production, which was different bands and no two people seem to say the The Black’, which is a much more obscure reference in Vangelis’ own studio and lasted two years of same thing! So I’m guessing that makes us a little for Palace Of The King,” he explains. combining ideas, orchestrating them and recording different in that we aren’t easily pigeon-holed,” says Outside of music Matt does a bit of freelance vocals of how he would like to hear them for each Luke. design work with his spare time. “We have a vinyl- song. At the completion of each song the final process The new EP ‘Gallows’ is then band’s second EP only live release coming out in a couple of months was to add final touches while rehearsing them. following on from ‘Love & Death’ which was very well and I did the cover for that one,” he says. “Keep an “Afterwards, the recording phase took place at Tube received. “The pressure was on to follow up with eye out for it. Music occupies so much of our lives Studios of Corfu in the end of 2015, where the drummer another batch of songs that would take us past what that we have very little time to pursue other hobbies and the bass player recorded at the same time. Then, we had done before.’Gallows’ shows us a year further or interests! I’d say the band member with the most we recorded the guitars, the keyboards and vocals at down the line as a band, we’re tighter, we know our exciting/interesting hobby is Leigh (Maden, guitarist) my studio. At the end of March of 2016, the mixing and strengths and we are starting to bring in different who collects motorcycles and also does quite a bit of mastering process begun and lasted a little less than elements and more complex arrangements. All the waterskiing when we’re not on the road,” he adds. two months,” he explains. songs are quite different and it shows our willingness Half the battle of establishing a band and Vangelis organized a gig at his home town last to try new styles, there’s something for everyone who finding your own sound is discovering what makes September, where it took place at a large square in the likes heavy music in there for sure,” explains Luke. you different from other artists. From Matt’s own center of Corfu. “We were making preparations about The album EP was recorded at Loud Noise Studios perspective, there are very few bands that have the almost everything along with the technicians, so at with Owen, at the time he was based out of JJM patience in this day and age to follow an ‘old school’ some point we had to check the sound! Everything studios in Walsall. “We felt at ease there knowing career trajectory. As a rock and roll band, POTK are was ready to go after some line checks and we were we were in safe hands but Owen also pushed us to not interested in ‘social media stardom’ or a fleeting asked to play a full song to test that everything was do our best. We took 4 days to record the tracks and fifteen minutes of fame. They want to release an right. We checked the song ‘All Will’ and at the middle the mixes came together really quickly. We then sent album a year, tour nonstop and build a family of fans of the song there were a bridal couple crossing the it off to Tom Waltz in new York to master the tracks,” all around the world. “That method doesn’t have an square looking at us and decided to join us on stage! he tells me. expiration date and is something that we believe firmly There, to my surprise, I saw the bride taking ‘heavy Next up the band have a twelve date tour this sets us apart from 90% of bands out there. Most are metal’ pictures while we were playing and there was autumn taking them all over the country, the details of seeking a ‘quick fix’ and expecting things to happen a very funny moment where the lyrics of the song which can be found on their website and social media overnight. In the three and a half years since we went like this, ‘all will die, all shall burn...’ and the pages. “Then we want to go back in the studio for EP started this band; we’ve toured non-stop, released bride stared at me shocked and I said to her, ‘sorry, number three with a view to releasing it before we go two EPs, two full-length albums and have four live but these are the lyrics of this song’ and we continued out on another twelve date tour in the spring. There releases available through our online store. We want playing, while she slowly left the stage,” he smiles. will be a big home coming gig at the end of that tour so to make as much of an impact as possible through Vangelis believes that he won’t stop making more watch this space,” he concludes. sheer weight of quality content and work ethic,” he and more music. “The certain thing is that I love this Check the guys out at: www.theblackhounds.com explains. kind of music and my life won’t stop evolving around www.facebook.com/theblackhounds Amusement is in the eye of the beholder. Failing it as long as I breathe. Sedate Illusion is a big part gear, vans breaking down, illness, missed flights. of my life and surely there are going to be some “Most are stressful or frustrating at the time but more albums. This time I am thinking about the next PALACE OF THE KING usually end up being something we laugh about in concept of the album, I am writing down some ideas hindsight. The most ‘amusing’ experiences we have and composing at the same time. The good thing are often when we’re in a foreign city and partying is that I am independent and I record everything on after a show. We’ve done impromptu DJ sets (blasting my own with the help of the other band members in obscure Australian music through European bars), my own studio, just to have decent demo sound and drank too much homemade moonshine and Sean even then proceed to the actual and final recordings,” he vomited in Gilps’ luggage bag after a particularly late concludes. night in Spain last year,” he smiles. Check the band out at Now that Palace of The King’s new album is out www.facebook.com/www.sedateillusion.gr worldwide, they are out there touring in Australia https://sedateillusion.bandcamp.com/ until the end of September; then heading over to New https://twitter.com/sedateillusion Caledonia for a festival in early October. “Beyond that, we’ll be heading back over to Europe in November/ From Melbourne, we find psychedelic rock December for what is shaping up to be a more THE BLACK HOUNDS artists PALACE OF THE KING, who have a new six comprehensive tour than last year. We can’t wait to track CD out now called ‘Valles Marineris’. The band return to some amazing cities and look forward to are Tim Henwood - vocals , Leigh Maden - guitars, going through a lot of new places this time around. Matt Harrison - guitars, Andrew Gilpin - bass, Sean Looking even further ahead, I’m sure it’ll just be a lot Johnston - keys, Travis Dragani - drums. more touring and a lot more new music. Rock and roll Guitarist Matt Harrison’s parents had a great shouldn’t be complicated,” he concludes. record collection; AC/DC, The Rolling Stones, Bob Check the band out at Dylan and Neil Young cassettes were always in the www.facebook.com/palaceofthekingmusic family car tape deck. At the age of eleven or twelve, www.palaceofthekingmusic.com Matt started finding ‘his own’ music - beyond my parents’ collection - and that was when it became From Sweden we find quirky spacey psychedelic more of an obsessive pursuit. The first record that rock artists BAD ACID, who have a new seven track THE MUSIC IS OUT THERE 29 FREE WITH FIREWORKS #76 keep playing a lot and maybe some more gigs outside Outside of music, Dhesia enjoys drawing (in fact BAD ACID of Sweden. And it’s also nice to keep getting response she made the booklet paintings) and she also loves of our performances and of the record,” concludes reading. “I also play a sport a bit fancy which is the Jonathan. historical fencing (HEMA), especially two-handed Check the band out at sword fencing. A couple of times a week we hit steel www.facebook.com/badacidswe swords in the face each other. It is very relaxing! I https://badacidfuzz.bigcartel.com think it is a martial art very complete both for the body https://oziumrecords.com and mind. I also like to spend time with my two cats. As Freud said: Time spent with cats is never wasted,” she smiles. DHESIA There are some peculiar characteristics within Dhesia’s music that sets it apart. First: no instrument has an accompanying function. Each instrument, from violins to drums, has got its own musical phrase that CD out now called ‘Revelations of the Third Eye’ that is fits with the others and they to the melody. “Although well worth exploring and runs in at over forty minutes guitar, bass and drums are designed as an integral long. The band are Simona Mignola - vocals, Mattias part of the orchestral fabric exactly as violins, double Lundberg - guitars, Victor Wårdsäter - bass and basses and percussion are. In my music every single Jonathan Wårdsäter - drums. instrument ‘Sings’. Music is something that always has been with Peculiar is the use of vocal harmonies that are Bad Acid in one way or another. Though they have often used as an expression of obsessive thoughts varied musical backgrounds. Simona Mignola comes or as real characters’ voices or up to the operatic from Italy circumstances led her to the rest of the choir as in ‘Prometheus’. At last the electronic section band based in Sweden. Guitarist Mattias Lundberg From the Rome, Italy, we find symphonic works like a beating heart sustaining all the orchestral and drummer Jonathan Wårdsäter met around ten progressive rock solo artist DHESIA, who have a new building,” she explains to me. years ago and started to talk about music and realized ten track CD out now called ‘ Cracking Cocoon’ that The new album ‘Cracking Cocoon’ is a record that they shared views on how to make music. “We runs in at over thirty minutes long and is a magnificent talking about Dhesia and about all those people who continued to talk for a very long time about starting a journey through symphonic melodic progressive rock. need to leave behind the shoulders their own past. band together but it took ‘A Caponera Story’ is a beautifully performed It tells about those people who go on to their goals us 8 more years before track, breathtaking with captivating vocals. ‘The Time despite the violence of the world and people. “This is it finally happened. It of My Lies’ is very theatrical in approach, pompous yet an album that talks about madness and hope. About was during the fall of melodic and simplified in structure. ‘L’italiana’ is also rage and love. He talks about disappointment for the Victor and Jonathan’s melodic and sung in Dhesia’s native language and is world and life force. Each song is like a little opera, band Mamont that Bad very cool and ‘L’amour’ is another melodic ditty that with its characters, its world and its story about Acid really hit off,” says glides a long with a fiery performance. everybody’s life. I am very happy with the result of this Mattias. ‘The Voice of the Wind’ is immensely melodic with work in which you really feel what I have in my soul,” The band’s greatest towering passionate vocals. Very symphonic, and she explains to me. inspiration is each other. dramatic as is ‘The Dawn of Darkness’, lots of twists The entire album was recorded at Dhesia’s “Just getting together and turns during this number. ‘Puppet Master’ is a home studio near Rome (Italy) and was entirely self- and talk music and jam is what really keep us going faster catchy rock based ditty, whilst ‘Rumpelstiltskin’ produced. “I have taken care of the arrangements and this was the original idea about our band,” is more complex and proggy based. ‘Prometheus’ is and recordings. I take this opportunity to thank my explains Jonathan. “Then of course we have different a slick and charming slower melodic track, almost musicians (Erdas, Zanzarri, Coluzzi) who participated musical influences, but the ones we share is definitely balladic and wonderfully performed. in the making of the album. I also thank the ‘PA74 Black Sabbath and Hawkwind,” he adds. When Bad ‘Camellias’ is another strong song with superb Music’ who believed in me and released my album,” Acid makes music they don’t really try to sound like vocal performances; again it’s dramatic, operatic she tells me. another band. “We just create a sound we like to and melodic, like a show performance, enchanting. The construction of ‘Cracking Cocoon’ has a create a musical environment that makes us feel Dhesia’s band are Dhesia (Tatiana Caponera) - vocals, particular evolution. “The longest part is the period good. And that feeling we want to project onto the keyboards, Luca Coluzzi - guitars, Andrea Zanzarri - needed to work on myself. Each song reopened listener,” says Mattias. bass and Roberto Erdas on drums. painful wounds in my heart, so write these songs were The band doesn’t really have much interest outside It all started when like wrestling with an angry tiger. When the backbone of the creative world. “Music and art in all its forms is Dhesia was about eight of the pieces was over it took me about two months to really everything for us. Maybe drinking beer would be years old. Her elementary baste the orchestral arrangements. Then my fantastic it then,” laughs bass player Victor Wårdsäter. school teacher enrolled musicians were really quick to register their parties The way Bad Acid makes music maybe different her to an audition for a (two to three days each) and then it took me a couple from how others do it. They don’t sit around and very famous television of months to finish off, to edit and mix,” she says. discuss how to make a song or how a song should be. music festival for kids in Dhesia and her band at one time had to play in “From day one we just pick up our instruments and Italy. The joy of singing a lonely mountain village. “We came and made the play what comes first to our minds. As a result of this, on a stage was so great sound check then we waited for the people. Even in we play really well with each other and we respond that singing became her a very late and in the dark of the night none came, so well to each other rhythms and melodies,” explains life. Then she started to we almost went away when we saw a long stripe of Simona. “And it’s so much fun so it really keeps us play the piano and to write her first songs. “When I fire flames in the distance going down the peaks as going! We don’t want to be the band that plays the saw for the first time a recording studio I was very a column of ghosts. Just later we discovered that the same songs the same way every time. Every time fascinated, so I started going every day, after school, village was so small that had to divide the celebration we play a song, something is different. For me that’s to learn how to build the music, to record and to mix,” with other two villages. In the first village they pray to magic,” she smiles. she tells me. People are often surprised that a woman the Saint, in the second they had dinner and, at last, The album consists of seven songs. “It starts off is interested to the technical side of the music, but for in the third they came to listen to the concert, by foot with an intense trip in the form of our song ‘Inferno’. Dhesia it’s something really fun and interesting. She bearing the lights for the saint. That was strange and We wanted to create the effect of sending the listener then started the first concerts and the first festivals, funny,” she smiles. straight out in space. Slowly throughout the album the including some very important ones in Italy, and some Next up Dhesia has committed herself to the listener get to return to earth with a few sidesteps in collaboration’s with major artists in the Italian music promotion of ‘Cracking Cocoon’ and this will take up alternate realities and on other planets. Our main focus scene. “Now, after some bad times, I feel an artist her time for the next few months. “Meanwhile I’m was to create a sonic environment for the listener to free to express themselves totally and full of plans for already working on a new album. It will definitely be a really go somewhere that they never been before. An the future,” she tells me. more mature and conscious work, but no less intense. epic journey for the mind,” explains Simona. Dhesia has absorbed a lot of the tradition of If I look at a more distant future, sooner or later I The band worked on the album for more or less European symphonic music and Italian opera music. would write music for some good movies and then, a year including the writing process. The recording “This brought me to love orchestral instruments who knows, compose a real opera,” she concludes. process took about three months. They recorded as strings, brasses etc. I always loved the great Check the band out at everything at their rehearsal space that is located ten symphonic musicians as Bach, Beethoven, http://dhesia2.wix.com/dhesia m underground beneath an old slaughterhouse. “We Mussorgsky and opera authors as Puccini, Verdi www.facebook.com/dhesiaofficialpage used the help from my brother who is an educated and Leoncavallo,” she explains. Dhesia is also a fan https://soundcloud.com/dhesia sound engineer. Working in this way we had total of film music composers as Morricone and Zimmer. freedom of how to make the album and we are really For modern music her style is under the influence From Chihuahua, Mexico, we find symphonic happy with the way it came out. The artwork is made of a mixture of rock giants (especially Sting and metal artists LEGATI, who have a new eight track CD by an American artist called David Paul Seymour who Pink Floyd), heavy metal (Metallica, Pantera, Dream out now called ‘Path to Synchrony’ that runs in at over did a great job,” Mattias tells me. Theater, etc.), Italian and English progressive rock thirty minutes long. The band are getting ready for the release party for (Banco del mutuo soccorso, PFM, Jethro Tull, King The album kicks off with ‘Shock’ this is a catchy the vinyl version of their album which will be hosted Crimson, Gentle Giant, etc.) and also Celtic and up-tempo melodic song with wonderful vocals and by their label in Gothenburg, Sweden. “We have a oriental music. “The album title ‘Cracking Cocoon’ musical performances, I love the way this song builds, couple small gigs in Sweden after that. In July we will suggests the feeling behind this record: the rebirth to Lluvia has such a theatrical texture to her voice, go on a tour with our mates in the band Vokonis. We a better life, leaving behind the negative experiences and the musical work is cleverly performed, superb. will play Denmark, Germany and the Czech republic that, too often, attempt to sabotage our dreams and Next up is ‘Where’ this is a heavier more progressive so far,” adds Victor. “Other than that we just hope to our aspirations,” she explains to me. melodic dramatic track with a lot going on. ‘De Visu’ THE MUSIC IS OUT THERE 30 FREE WITH FIREWORKS #76 influences on each member of the band, trigger the front lady she is an carries the song with effortlessly. LEGATI fusion of each individual style and bring Legati a really The band are Félix - Drums, Ger - Bass and distinctive sound Backing vocals, Kee - Guitars, Mario - Guitars and The album name it’s called ‘Path To Synchrony’ Backing vocals, Sergi - Synths and Backing vocals which means the time of collision of each member and Tam - Vocals. of the band was intended to happen in this particular It all happened for bass player Ger when he was exact time to become something remarkable. “The around ten years old. A school friend lent him a video album includes eight songs, well balanced, we have tape from Iron Maiden, it was ‘Live after Death’ so you a combination of different tempos and feelings, every can guess... that show completely blew him away. “I single song it’s really different from each other, but told myself that someday I’d be doing something like always keeping Legatis sound,” explains Edgar. this,” he smiles. However, it has been a long time Recorded mixed and mastered at the bands own since that and, obviously, Ger’s musical perspective recording studio, the guys were really interested in and approach has evolved. “I can definitely say that doing something well thought out. “We have time Mr. Harris is guilty of my playing,” he tells me. is one of my favourite songs, I love everything about freedom and wanted to be really satisfied with the Steel God are open to get inspiration from this song, and it’s catchy, pompous, up-tempo and result. Also it was produce by us. Writhing the lyrics everywhere and everything, novels, mythical stories, filled with soaring vocals and musicianship. The synth composition, music arrangements, art cover, photos day to day situations. For ‘Stoke the Fire’ the band have led ‘Dreams’ is a fabulous energetic neo classical everything that involves the final CD album took us two quite different songs and each one of them is inspired symphonic number with operatic vocals; the whole years,” explains Lluvia. by different events, stories and situations. “We have theme is performed with class. One time Legati were all at the rehearsal, finishing songs with a mythological nature as ‘Mjölnir I’ and ‘New Era’ is a catchy melodic number with fabulous recording some ideas and everything was perfect ‘Mjölnir II’ which are telling extracts from the story of vocals from Lluvia. Next up is the gorgeous ‘Noche until they decided it was time to go. “So we open the the Nordic god. And others like ‘Fallout of Humanity de Luna’, I adore this song, it’s magically performed, door just to find out the car wasn’t there anymore, which is more down to earth describing human Lluvia’s alluring voice pulls you in, it’s a slow melodic and we freaked out and called the police and started struggles,” explains Tam. operatic styled song and is just enchanting. Next is the searching for the car. We were really upset, going one The band all have different hobbies and interests neo classical charge of the up-tempo and very catchy place to another to find out that the car was have been outside of music. Kee likes books and videogames, ‘Oblivion’. The album ends with ‘Whisper Shade’, this taking by a crane, because we parked in the wrong and loves motorcycles. Félix is into model-making track is quite bombastic with fantastic playing and place,” smiles Dany. and slot cars. Mario draws with charcoal, likes to vocals throughout. The band are looking forward to touring soon and cook and write short stories. Sergi loves to travel, Legati are Lluvia Dominguez - vocals, Edgar Hira are taking everything one step at a time. “We need cinema and watching soccer. Ger likes fiddling with - guitar, Dany Avila - bass and Mike Garcia - drums. to finish some details first. We are working on doing computers and enjoys motorsports, and Tam loves to Guitarist Edgar Hira started out listening to bands some promotion of the album. We will work on new code and anything that is related with technology. like Queen, Iron Maiden, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin music, keeping our sound. We are really positive One of Steel God’s strengths is the variety of that instructed as to going in the rock metal world. about the future simply by being doing what we loved musical tastes among members of the band, this “We also have huge interest in classical music and wish is music,” concludes Dany. combined with an absolute respect for all kinds of blues so we started to prepare professionally each Check the band out at musical styles. “If we also consider that there is no one in their own instrument,” he tells me. At a young www.facebook.com/legatimx ‘single composer’ figure and we all participate in the age the members of Legati already have had the www.reverbnation.com/legatimx process of creation ... well, this really extends song experience of joining and creating the first cover composition slightly, but the end result is extremely band, always having the interest on doing their own rich in nuances,” explains Ger. “We do not like music.”As a result of that experience we develop the STEEL GOD labels, I think we don’t fit into any because, as told first feeling and adrenaline rush, for being in front of above, we love to mix a little bit of every single style. an audience, and knew that this is what we wanted to Over the years, I think we have achieved a kind of do the rest of our lives,” he says. compositional style ... Seriously, you have to listen to The bands influences get the full picture,” he says. “Honestly, I do not see are majorly related with the band composing a four minutes direct song. This baroque, classical and is a situation we have to force, ‘Mjölnir II’ happened metal music, artists like this way,” he adds. Joan Sebastian Bach, Steel God’s new album ‘Stoke the Fire’ is a mix of Mozart, and Beethoven new songs and others. “We wrote some time ago, so made a huge impact you will find some different styles in the same album on Legatti’s musical where we work with different influences,” explains taste. “We then started Tam. listening bands like From Barcelona we find melodic metal rock artists The band recorded ‘Stoke the Fire’ at their Hellowen, Nightwish, STEEL GOD, who have a new ten track CD out now rehearsal place with the help of ‘LexGo Studios’. that created perfect combination with the two musical called ‘Stoke The Fire’ that is well worth exploring and “This provided us the most comfortable working styles classical and metal that we loved, we knew runs in at over an hour long. environment for musical arrangements. It was quite a that that was the type of music we wanted to create,” The album starts with a short instrumental theme long process, tracks are long, we are 6 instruments, explains Edgar. called ‘Prologue’ that is quite melodic and dramatic; plus harmonies, etc. It was roughly one year all The inspiration behind Legati’s new album are this leads into ‘Loki’s Laugh’. A charging up-tempo together,” she tells me. more spiritual, related with inner awareness and mind catchy neo-classical driven song with soaring vocals A few years ago in a gig in former ‘Mephisto’ awakening. “Perhaps every person can make their from leading lady Tam. ‘Sawblade’, is a superb (Barcelona) Tam had a small motorbike accident own interpretation of the lyrics and music because melodic driving stirring peace with strong vocals and just a few hours before. “Nothing serious, but it was they are actually made in a way that everybody can playing. almost right before the gig that I came out of the make them fit in their own beliefs, so far for us it’s ‘Mjölnir I - Stormbringer’ is grand, bombastic and medical check-up and arrived to the location,” she the filing of our own spiritual growth that we wanted pompous with fab vocals and competent musical work. smiles. “On this same gig, I fall down the stairs during to capture in the songs and nuance of the music that This leads into ‘Mjolnir II - The God I Am’, this track is an instrumental song and broke my heel, Sergi was start carrying you through the evolution climax and faster and more up-tempo with pumping guitar riffs the only one who saw it and his face was hilarious! I resolution of the lyrics and music combine,” explains and vocals. Next up is ‘Daughter of the Mist’, this song came back barefoot on stage; we all had a great time leading lady Lluvia Dominguez. is one of my favourites, it’s quite operatic and speedy, on that gig! I still have to laugh remembering Sergi’s Outside of music the band members all have straight from the Nightwish school, extravagant and face. Was just kind of an odd day, I am not clumsy, I different activities. “Work and family are a very full of amazing playing and dramatic chants. promise,” she laughs. important part of our lives,” says bass payer Dany The beautifully The band are currently promoting their new album Avila. “Also all of us enjoy doing exercise and keeping performed ‘Epilogue’ is wherever they can. “We have gigs planned for the our mind and body healthy. We like to be in contact which is the last song coming months in Spain. For now only in Spain, but with nature so we tried to preserve and care for it. on the album is laced we are open to any other destinations,” Tam smiles. We often perform activities together and have a good between piano and cello, “After that, we have been already busy composing time. We take pleasure by simply living our lives on the a wonderful instrumental new songs with new sounds and techniques. Of highest level,” he tells me. theme. The melodic and course we would love them to come to light, so who Legati is an independent band, “The most atmospheric ‘Exposed’ knows we might get back into the studio soon,” she important thing to us, is being happy with what we starts off with subtle concludes. do, because we believed, that as long we have that piano parts. It’s another Check the band out at www.steelgod.net feeling everything will fall in to place naturally, and magical song, almost www.facebook.com/Steelgod that’s why,” says Lluvia. The band also recorded balladic. I love the way it grows and I love the way the album in their own studio because they wanted the piano and the guitars entwine with each other Based around Florida and Michigan, we find to be do something without the rush of comply with throughout. power hard rock band SACRED SILVER, who have a schedule. “By rushing things we believed we ‘Fallout of Humanity’ is up-tempo heavy and catchy a new catchy thirteen track CD out now called wouldn’t be satisfied with the result, as much as with fab speedy guitar work. Lastly ‘Unit 4’ is quite ‘Godsplay’ that is well worth checking out and runs we are now. The way the music it’s made, start with complex and progessive, lots of interesting dialogue in at just under forty five minutes long, its full of an idea, develop and growth that idea and finally and performances, speedy and up-tempo with a powerful melodic songs, and singer Brian Carson is we give shape and form and the creation process vintage feel, once again I love the way the song twists reminiscent of Queensrÿche’s Geoff Tate, especially it’s completed,” says Lluvia. The different musical and turn and Tam once again shows how powerful a on songs like the fabulous ‘Soul Destroyer’, massive THE MUSIC IS OUT THERE 31 FREE WITH FIREWORKS #76 here in Michigan and in Florida. Some great musicians necessarily need to involve dragons and otherworldly SACRED SILVER helped us out. On drums we have had : Donny Brown, stuff.” he explains. GJ Grosman, Chris Whited, and Brian Cobert, On Bass 0utside of music Ian likes to read a lot and watch Steve Reich, engineering production skills from Andy movies.”I used to paint sometimes but that’s really a Reed at ReedRecordingCompany Scooby Bush at long time ago. Going on the road and writing music is TimelineStudios and Phil Pluskota,” he explains. really time-consuming especially if you have a day job The album was recorded in various studios on top of that. I can’t really speak for the other guys in in Florida and Michigan and took about a year to the band but I think I think they feel pretty much the complete. Ten of the songs have videos that can be same. A few of us are also participating in other bands seen on their site linked below. and projects so we really have no problem with how to Brian has so many great road stories. “So hard to use our free time,” he says. choose, probably my favorite is the egg trick. We were Astralion never try to be very different from the on the road and playing in Charleston South Carolina. other bands in this genre. The one and only goal Where we were staying there was a kitchen and our they have ever had was writing good songs that vocal perfomance The band are: John Housley - light man “woody” had boiled some eggs. He and maybe would bring some joy to people’s everyday guitar, Brian Carson- Vocals with various other hired John were talking and woody had the egg in his hand life. “The whole idea when we started out was just to musicians. tossing it up and catching it (John did not know it was play melodic power metal. I think it’s very hard if not Singer Brian Carson and his family moved when a hardboiled egg) Woody suddenly smacked John in impossible to invent something completely new these he was thirteen years old and he met John. He played the forehead with the egg. John expected to have egg days, but we’re always trying not to repeat ourselves guitar and said he could teach Brian some chords. He all over but nothing happened, funny. Sort of, that night too much and the fact that we’re listening to metal had a telecaster deluxe, an old acoustic, a strat copy on stage woody gave John an egg and suggested that music from different eras might also have a slight with his name painted between the frets with silver John smack our bass player (art) in the head while he influence on our sound,” Ian explains. model paint. For the young Brian It was the coolest was playing, Of course John thought that would be The album was recorded partly in D-studio, thing ever. John showed him a blues progression and hilarious. While we were playing on stage John pulled Klaukkala, Finland and partly at their own home it blew Brian’s mind. “That night I remember walking out the egg showed art and then quickly and with studios. Later on, the guys mixed it in D-studio with about 2 miles home from John’s through a blizzard great force smacked art in the forehead with the egg. Jarno Hänninen behind the desk. The producing part carrying this $20.00 guitar with no handle on the case. The egg was not boiled. I have never laughed so hard was made by Ian and Hank. “Usually, the production I’ll never forget getting home and trying to play it with in my life seeing the simultaneous look of surprise on is mostly done already at the demo stage, so there’s my hands still frozen from the trip. I was so excited. It both their faces. Please feel free to do this to someone not much to add once we’re hitting the studio. The wasn’t long and John put a band together. Soon after and make the egg trick global,” he laughs. process of making the record lasted for about a year we were at practice staring at each other trying to The boys already have fourteen new tracks on from demos to the final product,” he tells me. figure out who could sing. We played ‘Hold the line’ deck and I am super excited to pound these out. “John Ian has been doing this for quite a while and he by Toto and after singing that I realized that I wasn’t is an incredible talent and the next effort will be even has a lot of funny memories. “Most recently we turned a great singer but I was the best singer in the room. better than the last (always the case in the mind of the up at a gig at Club Semifinal in Helsinki just to find So from there on I have been a singer, and a terrible writer, until someone tells them different) Also John out someone had forgotten to bring the bass gear. guitar player,” Brian tells me. has put together a group of great musicians to record We have had video release parties where the video Brian is not inspired by a particular genre so and support the next album, some of which are on this projector has been missing, instruments forgotten at much as music that makes you feel something. “What SS album. We are showing no signs of slowing down the venue were we’ve played the night before. Things inspires me is music from the gut, the heart. I believe and really just want a chance to be heard,” concludes like that happen to us all the time. Sometimes I think if you can tap into your soul with a direct line out Brian. Murphy’s Law was invented just for us,” he smiles. everything else is secondary,” he explains. “I’m not Check them out at: www.sacredsilverband.com At the moment Astralion are busy writing new sure if that’s right or wrong but I do believe that makes songs for their third release. “We’re also constantly the music true, pure, but not always good,” he laughs. trying to get more gigs to bigger venues. It’s very hard “My inspirations are vast and as singers that are an ASTRALION because Finland has only a few real rock clubs in the influence I’d say the same. I dig singers from Stevie whole country. Our dream would be to get out and play Wonder to Jeff Scott Soto and everything in between Europe I mean Germany, England and so on, but right that is real. You know it when real you hear it. I’m sure now it’s not financially possible for us. All we earn I speak for the band when I say the SS songs come and more goes to the making of records and videos from within and are true in nature. I can only hope the at the moment, but maybe someday, who knows,” he element of truth comes across in the song. I guess that concludes. is my goal, that the songs give an impression, make Check Astralion out at www.astralion.org you feel a certain way,” he says. Brian has a wonderful family who support his WISHING WELL addiction to music. As far as hobbies he like’s old stuff. “The 60s pumped From Finland, we find power metal artists out some cool boats, ASTRALION, who have a new ten track CD out now muscle cars, bikes, all called ‘Outlaw ‘ which is their second release and is kinds of cool stuff. So I out now through Limb Music. The album runs in at have a classic car, Chris just under an hour with the longest song ‘ The Great Craft wood ski boat, and Palace Of The Sea’ at over ten minutes long. The band Harley Davidson that I are Dr. K. Lundell - bass, Hank J. Newman - guitars, enjoy messing around with. Where I live in Michigan Arnold Hackman - drums, Ian E. Highhill - vocals, we get about 4 months of great weather in the summer. Thomas Henry - keyboards So I pack in as much fun as I can ride, boating etc. It all started back in the early eighties for signer Love to jam with other musicians on their stuff, covers, Ian E. Highhill with the New Wave Of British Heavy From Helsinki, Finland, we find uprising hard rock whatever. I am so lucky to have friends close to jam Metal. A lot of bands were formed drawing inspiration band WISHING WELL who have an awesome and very with,” he explains to me. from that movement. Ian just hooked up with one of diverse new nine track CD out now called ‘Chasing The Sacred Silver nucleus is John Housley and them and the roller coaster hasn’t stopped yet. Ian and Rainbows’ that is well worth exploring and runs in at Brian. “John and I both play in different bands aside the band’s bass player Dr. K. Lundell is the eldest in just under forty minutes. Wishing Well are tight, full of from SS. We have a history that spans decades and Astralion, the other three band members are younger energy, with bag loads of riffs and melodies to soak a fantastic friendship musical and otherwise. What’s guys. “So they probably have a different story to tell, up. “The new album is diverse, of course within the unusual is that John is in Ft Myers Florida and I am but what unites us is our passion for melodic metal hard rock context. You have fast songs, slower songs in Michigan which is about 1200 miles away so we music,” he tells me. and ballads throughout the record. One main theme on collaborate via internet almost exclusively. We bounce Ian’s inspirations and influences mainly come ‘Chasing Rainbows’ is positive attitude and willingness files back and forth via Presounus, FaceTime and fly from the 70s and early 80s hard rock and metal acts to face the future despite all the troubles going on in back and forth as much as possible,” he explains. like Rainbow, Sabbath, Iron Maiden, while Hank J. your life and in the world,” explains guitarist and bass The new album ‘Godsplay’ is a collection of Newman Ian’s co-songwriter and guitarist in the band player Anssi Korkiakoski. The rest of Wishing Well songs with a collection of musicians, producers and is more into acts such as Helloween and Stratovarius. are Rip Radioactive - drums, Peter James Goodman engineers. As our first effort the guys were having fun “We try to pick up inspiration for songs from what - vocals and Richard Becker - bass. trying all kinds of things and fine tuning along the way. happens around us, at least when it comes to my Guitarist Anssi Korkiakoski has always loved music Essentially John would write the music send it to Brian lyrics, I try to do that. As ever since he was a young kid. Anssi had an acoustic for vocals. “In preproduction, John’s songwriting an example: the song guitar and a harmonium (pump organ) at home and inspires lyrics and melody lines that sometimes happen ‘Deathphone’ is about the little by little he tried to play them, folk tunes and such in what I call real time. Meaning when the track is danger of being run over at first. His family also had some good albums that rolling I lay down the vocals, lyrics and melody lines at by a car when you can’t that his parents used to listen to, among them ‘The the same time with nothing prewritten. This happened keep your eyes away Beatles’ Greatest’. That’s where Anssi first learned more than a few times on this album. The coolest and from your smart phone. some English. When he was in his teens Anssi used to strangest thing I’ve ever experienced recording. After I mean there’s enough practice simple classical guitar songs, like ‘Romance’, we were happy with the arrangements we would have danger and excitement ‘Bourrée’, ‘Guardame Las Vacas’ and so on. “I still love various musicians sit in on the final recordings both in this world, you don’t classical guitar and nothing touches my soul like those THE MUSIC IS OUT THERE 32 FREE WITH FIREWORKS #76 tunes,” says Anssi. Later he wanted to write songs we will be hearing a lot more from them in the future. different songs on it; the vinyl has two bonus tracks and learned that with The Beatles’ songbook. “My Check Wishing Well out at which not on CD. The CD will contain the whole album first songs were simple pop songs with full chords and www.facebook.com/wishingwell2016 plus ‘Into the Unknown“‘ EP what came out in fall 2015. clean tone, hard rock and riffing came later,” he says. Also Soul Thrower’s ‘The Beginning of Dark Nights’ “WISHING WELL started as my project band outside (2014) is in progress being released within few months HITTEGODS, my other band. Then I found Pete and Rip VAL TVOAR as a vinyl. Looking forward to hold that album in my in the internet and Rick’s an old friend of mine and a hand,” he smiles. long time musical collaborator. It’s my band but every Check Val out at member is very important in creating the Wishing Well http://valtvoar.bandcamp.com sound. I hope that in the future the other guys come up http://facebook.com/ValTvoarMusic with more ideas and we can create a unique Wishing Well trademark sound”, he continues. Anssi’s musical SEDULUS inspirations come from all over but he says that Neil Young and JJ Cale taught him the most important lessons on songwriting. With their From the Tallinn, Estonia, we find alternative rock simple yet great songs artist VAL TVOAR who some of you may recall from the Anssi learned that you band Soul Thrower, who have a new sixteen minute don’t have to be the best EP CD out now called ‘In Light You Believe’ which musician technically, it’s will be followed by an full album to be titled ‘In Light the other things that matter, most importantly feel. “You You Believe ... But In Darkness You Dwell’. Val Tvoar don’t necessarily need complicated arrangements handles all the music and vocals and in the live arena either. Anyways, when talking about Wishing Well it’s he is joined by guitar player Silver Suu, bassist J.B. From London, UK, we find hard rock artists of course the classic hard rock and metal from 70’s and drummer Maik Grüner. SEDULUS, who have a new six track CD out now and 80’s where it all comes from, that music is in my Val Tvoar started to learn piano when he was five. called ‘The Sleepers Awaken’ that is well worth blood,” he tells me. His mom and her girlfriends had a crazy dream that exploring and runs in at over fifty minutes long. The Out of music Anssi’s family is the most important Val must become the new star of classical music. So band are Amit Patel - guitars, Mithun Shah - drums, thing in his life. He enjoys reading, writing and keeping that was his childhood, when others were playing Rich Williams - guitars and Will Wichanski - bass and fit. He is also interested in history and psychology. “I soccer outside then Val was sitting behind the piano vocals. like to read classic novels and then get familiar with all and practicing, hours and hours. When the pimples Sedulus have been friends for years and years, details by surfing the net for more information about started to cover his face he decided that he was going they went to the same schools and lived within five the author and other details of the story. It’s nice and to be a rockstar instead. minutes of each other. They formed a band in high also useful for finding ideas for lyrics and learning all In the 80’s, when Val was ten years old, his first school which over the years had various different sorts of things,” he explains to me. favourite bands were Metallica and Iron Maiden, line ups. After university the guys met up for a jam Anssi would like people to hear that Wishing Well Megadeth, Testament etc. Then the grunge period. and played a one off show. “We enjoyed it so much is a humble and honest band, not pretentious in any “Then I moved to America to see where this amazing we decided to carry on. That was over ten years ago way but serious about their music. Wishing Well is music is coming from. I lived five years in Los Angeles and we’ve been going ever since. We know it’s a rare also a classic rock band and they believe in melodies and got a lot of experience in musically and with thing, but we’re best mates making music in a band and strong feelings, meaningful lyrics, not technical everything,” he explains. together,” says singer and bass player Will Wichanski. skills or studio tricks. “That’s not us. We all share the Outside of music Val enjoys building stuff. “I have The bands musical influences vary which Will find same musical taste more or less and that’s classic a small country side where I have constructed a small really helps. There are definitely some ‘core’ bands hard rock and metal,” explains Anssi. “It’s great we house and sauna. I like making out something from that they all love, but they also have their own tastes don’t have to argue about musical direction because wood - the smell of it. Also got a yard at my home so which mean they all bring different things to the table it’s so clear to all of us. There are enough arguments lots to do there too,” he marvels. when it comes to writing. “I think we’re united in our in a band with arrangements and other details that Val is not that anxious to get a record deal and love of stoner rock and some of the classic bands like go together with it. Our mission is to write songs that that’s why he has courage to do whatever he wants. Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd and I think that can be we like playing together and people like listening to, “If some crazy off beat riff comes out then I’m not heard in our music. Inspiration for the album came simple as that”. afraid to use it, not thinking that maybe it’s too weird from a real desire to finally get a full length release The new album ‘Chasing Rainbows’ was recorded and some big boss from the label don’t like it? Of down and we certainly spent many hours in sweaty in Big Fat Studios in Helsinki with a young but talented course there’s a little pop music inside of me too so rehearsal rooms making sure it is the best possible recording engineer Henrik Sirelä, with whom Anssi that makes a good combo or mixture – pop crazy off album it could be! Some of our interest in science and has worked with a couple of times in the past with beat riff ... sounds interesting,” he smiles. physics,” he explains to me. HITTEGODS, so he knew him and the studio. They Val also likes to mix things. On that album (or Outside of music the guys are into the usual stuff used a total ten studio days between July and October, project) I’m trying to get a mixture - combining stoner from sport, movies and to drinking. “Collectively we’ve one to two days at the time. The band had to redo two music with poppy-metalish-anger-melodic mood to got an interest in science and astronomy, which has to three songs because some arrangements weren’t get a pattern which has unique feeling. On that album made itself evident in some of our song titles. I’m a simply ready in the first place in July plus they had you can hear different moods but still sounding as one. keen gamer however, particularly into my retro games to change keys for some songs to make them more Bluesy, angry, fuzzy,” he explains. and old games consoles,” he adds. suitable for Pete’s register. “That really paid off and I Val likes to do the demos at his rehearsal room. As previously think we got the best out of Pete’s very strong and dark “After being satisfied with the demos I’ll hit to the real mentioned Sedulus have voice”, Anssi says. studio (so far I’ve been using Round Sound Studio) to been best friends for Anssi produced everything on the record with a record the drums,” he says. “Then moving back to many years, growing up little help from Henrik, especially on drums because my rehearsal room where I’ll do the rest of the stuff, together. “We learnt Henrik is a good drummer himself. “I like producing guitars, bass and vocals and boom, back to the studio to play music together. very much, it’s very inspirational and rewarding trying for mixing. I will do all the I think the band is the to get best out of people and equipment,” smiles Anssi engineering too ‘cause product of our friendship with a sense of pride and satisfaction. “Though it was doin’ that I will eliminate and this reflected in our sometimes stressful I must say that this time I really the situation: „again, music both on record enjoyed studio work from pre-production to mixing, please. Again, please ... and on stage. Sedulus there was a great atmosphere most of the time. We again ...“. So I have the has been going for over 10 years with the same line also did some nice things outside the studio,” he adds. unlimited time to create up (save a few fill-ins when people decided to go There’s a small airport close to the studio and my music. No pressure travelling!). This gives us a real sense of unity and we one day the guys went flying on a small plane above or anything,” he smiles. all pull in the same direction to achieve our goals. We Helsinki and the sea. “That was very cool. I did think The reason he has also argue constantly,” smiles Will. of Randy Rhoads for a minute, I admit,” Anssi smiles. created the Val Tvoar Despite the guys having been together for a long Wishing Well are currently promoting the album project is because it’s really hard to make a living with time, ‘The Sleepers Awaken’ is their debut album. and making plans for the future. Anssi says he’s Soul Thrower. The singer, Daner is in US and the rest Will really feel it reflects where they are as a band happy with the way things have gone down with of the band in Estonia.” It takes a lot money and effort and what Sedulus are about, covering all the musical their record label, Inverse Records. “The guys have to make the schedule to get together and at the end ground they play. There are heavy songs, quieter been very supportive and they understand PR and we will play live without Daner. I’ll do the vocals - so songs, instrumentals, ambience and riffs! It’s a marketing. That’s very important nowadays and we that’s not the actual Soul Thrower and people get collection of songs that they are extremely proud of. appreciate their input very much”, Anssi says. The confused, what the hell is that?! I guess Soul Thrower “In the past we’ve been known for liking a jam. This band has a lot of good material in store for the next is more, grown up thing, has its own face and shape. time we tried to be as focused as possible and really album plus loads of ideas to test and arrange. Their With Val Tvoar I don’t wanna have boundaries and I hone into what the songs needed to be. The result goal is to come up with a better album than “Chasing want it to be faceless. Wanna give it more room or we feel is something that is to the point, but does Rainbows”, even though there’s nothing wrong with space,” he explains to me. not compromise the style of music we write,” Will it and is superb record from start to finish. Where The new album ‘In light You Believe ... But In explains. Wishing Well develop to next is anyone’s guess, I for Darkness You Dwell’ will be released in Autumn The band recorded the album with Steve Sears at one think the band have that something special and 2016 as a vinyl and CD. “Both of these releases have Titan Studios in Watford. The actual recording was THE MUSIC IS OUT THERE 33 FREE WITH FIREWORKS #76 done in a week, but the whole process took a lot Cult, Judas Priest, King Diamond/Mercyful Fate, HIM, synthesizers, keys as well as the production and longer. “For better or for worse, we’re not the kind of and many others in the darker genre’s. The inspiration artwork, as artist Brandon is a perfectionist and cares band that will write a song in half an hour, we’ve tried. behind the album and the majority of the songs is an deeply how the music is delivered, from lyric, to music We take our time, to really making sure everything expression of George’s frustration and anxiety over and all points between. Whilst he takes care and is arranged how we want. So you could say that the Love, Life, Government and Social issues, and outside paints his songs like art, he also knows when the song whole process has taken eighteen months to two of music he enjoys fishing, boating, and baseball. is ready and doesn’t over do things, thus his music years,” he says. Killing Tyranny was put together as a serious showcases a wide range of styles and influences that The bands were asked at one time to support Brant project for George, not so much for the others involved, will you keep you interested from start to finish. Bjork in Nottingham. “As with most gigs there was a due to existing commitments. George teamed up with Brandon has had a compulsion towards playing discussion (argument) over who should drive. Mithun Frank Kowalski, they were both in another band prior music since he was around ten years old, when his drew the short straw and hired a car. On the way to to Killing Tyranny called Ironworks. Frank is also a childhood’s country music and hair metal upbringing the show the car broke down, but we managed to co-writer on two of the songs on the CD, ‘Caged’ was interrupted by stumbling over a copy of Metallica’s limp it to town. We called the rental and they couldn’t and ‘Sleeper cell’. What sets the band apart from ‘…And Justice For All’. As a teenager, he fell hard into provide a new car, so instead arranged to have a other bands in this genre is their ability to address the skateboarding crowd where he was exposed to all pickup collect us at the end. With no designated the issues of the day in their blatantly, no nonsense kinds of punk rock, grunge, and electronic music that driver, we could all party and played a great show. manner. “Often throwing the politically correctness to was really out there. Skate videos like Blind’s ‘Video After the show I have vague memories of hanging out the wind. Having a sound that is hard and cohesive yet Days’ and Flip’s ‘Sorry.’ exposed the young musician of the truck handing out stickers to passers by. The able to clearly understand what is going on. Providing to Dinosaur Jr. and Placebo, which opened worlds of car mechanic who collected us was a trooper, putting some melodic tones and harmony in between the ear inspiration and possibilities for Brandon’s own musical up with our drunken selves on the journey back to piercing screams and ploughing guitars with chest adventures. By then, he was fifteen or sixteen and he London,” he smiles. caving percussion,” explains George. had figured out how to use a multi-track recorder and Now the records finally done Sedulus need to get Their new album ‘Martyr’ is collage of George’s started experimenting. Brandon’s steps into the music out there and play it. “We are booking a short tour in personal utter disappointment in humanity. Whether world grew from there, and are somewhat out of his the UK for later in the year and are hoping to hit Europe it is covering Government policies, love, life, religion control. later in the year too. We’re also conscious of how long or social issues. “It is a complete expression of man’s The most consistent source of inspiration since this record took to get down, so we’re definitely going inhumanity, audacity and complete subjugation of its Brandon started making music of his own has been to get straight back to writing. Hopefully the next one self,” he tells me. Placebo, the interplay of bass and guitar in their won’t take quite as long,” he concludes. The album was recorded in San Diego at Capricorn earlier albums. “The adaptations they’ll create of their Check the band out at Studios; it was produced by George and Capricorn own songs, and the fine mix of tremendous energy and www.sedulus.co.uk Studios. The CD took two years to complete. Next up power with emotive harmony gets my guts all tangled www.facebook.com/seduluslondon the guys are starting their live shows for ‘Martyr’ and up,” he enthuses. More and more, Brandon has also https://sedulus.bandcamp.com/ working on the next CD which should be out by the found that Queens of the Stone Age and Dinosaur Jr.’s end of this year. influence him in a major way that has been delightfully Most of George’s musical stories are very normal inescapable. “There’s something about mixing thick KILLING TYRANNY music stories. “Whether it was the hot girl flashing distorted sounds with soothing, almost crooning you during the show, and you forgetting the words to melodies that I latch onto hard,” he adds. a song, to the awkward meeting of the boyfriend after When Brandon first she has flashed you all night. Or it was the equipment had the idea for ‘Dotted malfunctions that lead to complete terror on the stage Legs’, the hope was to to comic relief later. Not all that unusual and to a replicate the raw energy musician and it is part of the gig,” he smiles. and power of a friend’s Frank was a huge Pat Travers fan in 1978 when band Reverend Strychn his ‘Puttin it Straight’ album came out. “Based on Trio, specifically their the cover and back alone I bought the album. I was album ‘Self-Medicated always hanging around a certain used guitar shop at Monkey’. The initial idea this time and was invited to go back stage to see Pat was to create a scathing Travers at the San Diego Sports Arena with a friend live-recorded rock album From San Diego, we find diverse hard rock groove Joe Deprima who worked there, as Pat was opening as a progression from Brandon’s 2013 album ’Sigh’. band KILLING TYRANNY, who have a fabulous, very for Rush. We took along a used Gibson Melody Maker But as the work started to gain footing and he got a catchy thirteen track CD out now called ‘Martyr’ that as this was the type of guitar Pat was playing at the clearer picture of how it was shaping, Brandon didn’t is well worth checking out, the record covers a lot of time to show him. And guess what? He bought it off have any options for recording the tracks the way he ground and personal anguish, musically and lyrically. us right there back stage. I was in awe as this was the intended and he come to believe in the songs that The albums covers a whole range of styles within the first real rock star I had met. Met him a few more times he had written for it, and they deserved more care. rock spectrum and doesn’t go with one style, thus as a as he played the stadium tours, and later became a “So instead, the bite I wanted came through in the whole the record is a refreshing listen and it runs in at friend and his guitar tech when he is on tour out here performance under the more controlled settings of just under fifty minutes. on the west coast USA which he still tours today. Clidesfeld’s older albums, but with the benefit of newer The band are: George Gregory - vocals, Dan Who would have thought that chance sale encounter technology to play with and a much more experienced Waldrop - guitars, Kristopher Towne - bass and would lead to me still working with and knowing him me,” he explains to me. Chase Ehle - drums. The live band consists of George still in 2016,” smiles Frank. As much as Brandon would like to think of Gregory - vocals, Frank Kowalski - rhythm guitars, Check out www.killingtyrannytheband.org Clidesfeld as a band, it’s really more of a musical Scott Moller - lead guitar, Kristopher Towne - bass and www.facebook.com/killingtyranny project. “It’s a really long term musical project that I’ve Chase Ehle - drums. been working on since 2004. I’ve had collaborators From an early age give new direction and introduce new potential since singer George Gregory CLIDESFELD Clidesfeld’s inception, but ultimately it’s been an was exposed to music. independent project borne of compulsion,” he tells me. At the age of five he was “Everything from the writing, performance, recording, singing Elvis, Beatles, and even album artwork is my responsibility. I really Rolling Stones and Bob wanted to make music I’d listen to, and I set out to Dylan. George loved do that.” to sing! He started Part of the thing about Clidesfeld is that Brandon getting more serious has always wanted it to be fairly directionless. “I once he was exposed wanted an open canvas to play around with. It wasn’t to Led Zeppelin, Boston locked into an expected genre because it was called and Aerosmith, and then he wanted to rock. Once ‘Killjoy Facestab’ or something,” he says. Over the George was turned on to Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, years, the project has birthed lo-fi riffy punk rock, Queensryche, Helloween and others he knew that he abrasive and technical electronic, experimental wanted to perform. From Minnesota we find CLIDESFELD, who have a instrumental improvisations, and everywhere in Guitarist Frank Kowalski started playing guitar at fabulous catchy ten track CD out now called ‘Dotted between, mixed and matched, almost progressive in the age of thirteen and he always gravitated toward Legs’ that is well worth checking out, an album that its own way. There is certainly a lot to enjoy with the music, even as a child Frank was obsessed with his borders between classic rock and modern rock, with songs on the album. parent’s record collection. He saw a grade school displays of electronica, thus making for a very diverse ‘Dotted Legs’ is probably Clidesfeld’s first friend play drums to Iron Butterfly’s ‘In A Gadda Da well balanced record. optimistic album. It’s no party anthem, but it rings Vida’ when he was in a sixth grade talent show and The new album is actually Clidesfeld’s seventeenth out a vulnerable enthusiasm to admit when you’re in was blown away. “But hearing the Grand Funk Live record. It’s a fairly heavy alternative rock album, a lot control and when you’re drifting powerlessly, and it album in middle school and seeing Mark Farner more riffy and punctuated with punk and old school celebrates both. “It incorporates my favorite styles bare chested with long hair and an electric guitar I metal influence, while some tracks eschew all of that of playing and progression, is structured almost like was hooked, and my parents were horrified going entirely and ring in the spectrum of softer electronic a story, and is punctuated by kind of an expressive forward,” explains Frank. tones, the music flows with swagger and groove diversity,” he explains. “I think of ‘Dotted Legs’ as George is inspired by bands such as Priest, and grows on you with each play and there is a raw the logical conclusion in following previous album Maiden, Helloween, Megadeth, Queensryche and attitude coming through. Clidesfeld is based around ‘Hyperzoa’, ‘Fall’, and ’Sigh’. They deal with the same Metallica. Frank Kowalski Grand Funk, Led Zeppelin, the talents of multi instrumentalist Brandon Sullivan issues — hopelessness, vulnerability, arrogance, Robin Trower, Pat Travers, Black Sabbath, Blue Oyster who takes care of all the vocals, guitar, bass, drums, distrust — and you can hear them evolve over time. THE MUSIC IS OUT THERE 34 FREE WITH FIREWORKS #76 With ‘Dotted Legs’, they reach an apex from which validate that,” he tells me. The majority of it was they benefit from reflecting on the past and see what THREE SIXES recorded at Digital Voodoo Audio. The guys also it means for the present,” he says. tracked some vocals at Downtown Sound and drums ‘Dotted Legs’ was recorded like all of Clidesfeld’s at Wyman Records, all in the Los Angeles area. “The albums independently by Brandon where he may be at whole process took more than five years which is the time the song needs it. “I handle all the production a story in itself, but it’s finished,” smiles Damien. It myself with gear that I’ve collected over the years. was produced by Marko Olson, with additional co- A lot of the songs were partially formed by the time production and engineering assistance from Tom I’d decided to produce the album,” he says. “Some Biener, Phil Soussan and Arnaud Bascuñana. “We of them were further along than others, and some of had a great team that I think did an incredible job,” he them were rewritten so thoroughly that they were says with satisfaction. unrecognizable from their original starting point.” Three Sixes will soon have a new video for the Just after releasing a really introspective song ‘Truth’ from their latest CD ‘Know God, No Peace’ electronic album called ‘Atlas’ last year, Brandon to be released in the very near future. “As well as new started doing some serious work on ‘Dotted Legs’, Three Sixes are full of energy. The new record merch, free stickers and a few more surprises which starting on October 1st that year. He planned is a metal record for sure, with various elements we will be posting on our website and socials. We will everything out for the record. It was going to be of thrash, industrial, rock, hardcore, punk, death, be returning to the stage Saturday Night, November fourteen tracks. “The scheduling for track recordings black metal, and even techno at times topped off 19th in Costa Mesa, CA supporting Hed PE, with other was pretty rigid. The album was intentionally abrasive. with abrasive lyrics and aggressive vocals. All of shows planned around the same time. Stay tuned. It’s Some really old songs and some fairly unfinished fresh which share common attitudes of anger, darkness going down,” he concludes. ones,” he explains. Brandon had lined up some garage and honesty. It’s big, fearless and it’s real, you will Check Three Sixes out at http://threesixes.com/ spaces to record the drum tracks in. “The preliminary enjoy it. By design, all of the songs are uniquely www.facebook.com/threesixes guitar and bass tracking took too long before the bitter different from each other, which the band takes https://twitter.com/threesixesband cold of late autumn really set in and removed that as great pride in. The band are: Damien- Vocals, Kill an option. I wasn’t in a position where I could afford - Guitar, Johnny - Bass, Konnyaku - Drums and a rehearsal space again like I’d done for Sigh, so it Marko- Programming. uMan ERA meant taking another route.” Growing up singer Damien was an obsessive fan. In November, over Thanksgiving actually and a bit Damien had to be a part of the energy that music gave beyond, Brandon found himself dog sitting for some him and wanted to become a source of it. He took friends for two weeks. “They didn’t have a residence guitar lessons for about a year. Not long afterward, he as they were traveling trade show reps for their was convinced by a friend to stop playing guitar and company, camping in areas they’d stop through, so to focus strictly on vocals and he did. The rest, as they watching their two pit bulls meant them booking a say is history. pet-friendly hotel for two weeks during the onset of Damien inspirations are all over the place. a sharp winter bite. They couldn’t be left alone for They vary from early Kiss, Van Halen and Black long, so I spent a lot of time in that hotel room. I used a Sabbath to The Sex Pistols, Kreator, Venom, Slayer, MIDI controller to write some primary synth parts and Manson, Ministry and N.W.A to even Neil Diamond, program the drums for the songs during my time in that Sarah McLachlan and many others, as well as life hotel,” he tells me. experiences. The other guys are equally as diverse in From Newfoundland, PA, USA, we find groove There, in the stench of stale canine vomit and poop their own ways. As for the record, Three Sixes had the based melodic hard rockers uMan ERA, who have a in a room with two double beds, bedspreads scattered time to use and they did just this. very catchy eight track CD out now called ‘One Blue around the floor, mattresses drunkenly crashed off Damien came up with the name for the record Sky’ that is well worth checking out and runs in at their boxsprings by a pair of young and powerfully and after that, Kill and Marko insisted that it shouldn’t just under fifty minutes long, this is the band’s second excited dogs chasing each other in an insatiable loop, just be the name of the album, but also an epic opus album. The band performers for ‘One Blue Sky’ are: Brandon had his headphones on and tracking and to define the whole CD. Kill then started spitting out Joe Longo - rhythm / lead guitar and lead vocals, Tom retracking over and over. The vocals were mostly killer riffs at a pretty impressive rate. “Afterward, Koop Sr. - drums and vocals, John Zawicki - bass and finished over the winter. Entire songs were written we arranged them with the rest of the tunes and I vocals, Craig McMurray - lead guitar and Chris Shrive and rewritten, vocals were done and redone and wrote the lyrics. This time around though, I wanted to - acoustic guitar. Phil Bickhart has since joined as a reworked and the mix started. “My day job picked up lyrically use less of the metaphors than I had in the permanent member on bass. in a big way and so did my freelance work, so it was a past and stick more with reality,” Damien explains Joe Longo’s musical adventures began at an juggling act between web and print design work for my to me. He wasn’t looking for shock value like he had early age and throughout his school years playing job and some freelance clients, producing an upbeat done previously. Instead, Damien preferred to express drums in symphonic bands, orchestra, and marching pop track for a local bike organization, recording and his disdain for the needless killing, racism, slavery, bands. As a teenager and into adulthood he was editing a video for an international cycling event, and hatred and misleading divisiveness that religion on its involved in many garage bands and projects on the trying to push along the work for the album,” he says. own creates. “Lyrically, this record is the most honest drums playing classic rock and punk. Over the last Brandon then unfortunately ill with an ear infection I have ever written. Having the other guys share my 10 years Joe has become more interested in writing, and a long term flu and could no longer sing or properly opinions made it that much better,” he tells me. recording and producing original rock music. “uMan mix the album. When that cleared up weeks later, he Three Sixes have such a huge range of musical ERA has become the present band project for doing picked up the other projects to finish and finally got diversity that it makes them unique. Some have said so on a more professional level and is the culmination back around to working on the album mix. “It ended recently that the band ‘don’t know’ who they are and of all music I have written and am now publishing,” up taking so long between other ongoing projects that should ‘stick to one thing’. However, Three Sixes he tells me. I quickly mixed and released a smaller piece called has been experimental from its inception and it’s The music of uMan ‘Clarity’, something I’d started as part of something this that makes them stand out. “We prefer not to be ERA on the album larger a year before, just to feel the small relief and pigeonholed and limited to a specific category. The ‘One Blue Sky’ takes motivation of a release.” music in this band is truly created without rules or inspiration from bands When he had a finished mix, the album artwork boundaries and it shows,” explains Damien. such as Led Zeppelin, concepts had gone in four major different directions Ironically, ZZ Top, The Masters of before reaching a place to build from properly. “I’d people everywhere Reality, The Stray Cats, been working on art pieces that were nothing but a are screaming for Rival Sons, and Clutch. collection of bust. But they became jumping off points something different Individual inspirational that I’d never considered before and after a dozen because ‘everything artists include Brian iterations, the concept slowly formed a whole. It was sounds the same’, then Setzer, Jimmy Page, printed by the end of July and released on August the band give them Stevie Ray Vaughn, Johnny Cash, and Joe Bonamassa. 1st, just in time for years of Clidesfeld’s artwork to be something different, “We have set out on both the present album and our displayed in a gallery at my day job,” he explains. they have no idea last album, Bad Decisions, to combine throwback Next up Brandon will be setting up a rehearsal what to make of it melodic blues and rockabilly, roots sound with a hard space with some local musician friends, some of and some say that rock, metal edge,” Joe explains. whom he has collaborated with before, and others Three Sixed have ‘an identity crisis’ because they Outside of music Joe is pretty much a tech guy he hasn’t, and just see what develops. “The idea is to can’t find something to identify the band with. “I involved with security cameras, access control, and create a space to foster an ideation breeding ground think it’s funny. Some get it, some don’t,” laughs POS installs on a professional level but love all DIY of some sort, something I had in plentiful supply a Damien. “The ones who do get it have embraced projects around the house and building his own band few years ago but have lost since moving into a small the diversity, giving us a perfect 10 out of 10 score equipment and accessories. “My wife often finds me apartment. I have some specific ideas in the back of or made comments like ‘They aren’t also some experimenting with something on the work bench and my mind, but I’m leaving room for new things to grow,” generic we sound like 10,000 other bands too’ or is happy that I don’t burn the place down with some he concludes. ‘the work demonstrated by Three Sixes is bold crazy experiment,” he laughs. “I am very fascinated Check the Clidesfeld out at http://clidesfeld.com and shows that the band does not care about the by all retro-tech and really dig anything steampunk or standards imposed often by Rock / Metal’ because sci-fi.” From the USA, we find upcoming alternative we really don’t care, period. It’s all attitudes and it’s Given their influences by various artists and heavy progressive metal band THREE SIXES who real,” he says. bands, uMan ERA have still come up with a cool sound have an awesome and very diverse catchy new Love it or hate it, ‘Know God,No Peace...’ is like of their own that is a fusion of different rock styles. fifteen track CD out now called ‘Know God,No nothing else out there and it seems so far that no two Joe’s own guitar sound is a two amp system to get Peace...’ which takes on many twists and turns and opinions about it are the same. “The early reviews the voicing of both in various combinations of clean THE MUSIC IS OUT THERE 35 FREE WITH FIREWORKS #76 and distorted guitar sounds combined with a touch through to Yes, the album is full of exquisite rousing Solowshow* is a challenge to do it acoustic, and of reverb, delay, phase, and chorus depending on the music; you could almost visualize the music on a still not be boring and not sound like an old-fashioned song. All of their songs also focus on true life stories London stage show musical. singer-songwriter duet. Classical music and metal and and experiences or have to do with controversial It’s an album that needs to be listened to all the way glam rock are much more a reference for the guys subjects and human nature. “So, we have a broad through to fully appreciate such is the diverse musical than other unplugged bands that are mostly singer- sweep of emotion always happening from song to dynamics delivered by the lads. The band are: Mike songwriter style oriented. “The song ‘II’ is about song. I think this makes us a bit different from some Breeze (piano, guitar, vocal, etc.), Leif Astroid (lead ourselves – we are just two in the band, but it is also a bands but the overall idea is to keep it interesting and vocal, keyboard). tribute to Queen and Led Zeppelin etc. who named their add some humour along the way too! Some of our Just like pianist, guitarist, singer Mike Breeze, second albums ‘II’. And we have a song called ‘II’ on songs are just kinda fun to listen to, upbeat, with some his grandma and mother are musical as well. Mike’s our 2nd album,” Mike laughs. comical lyrics! Some of the tracks are darker or even grandma being a respected classical musician (violin The band’s new album ‘Ancient Electricity’ is their sad, but make you think, can things be better for all of player) and violin instructor who wrote her own second album as Solowshow*. “We were not under us,” Joe wonders. small book about violin ensembles and taught lots of pressure to release it and we swore we won’t do a The new album ‘One Blue Sky’ was a bit of a violin players who now live and work worldwide and second album if we haven’t got enough songs that departure from their last album ‘Bad Decisions’ as remember her. She introduced Mike to the world of sound different. We did not want to repeat ourselves,” they did do a bit more with special effects, vocal classical music at first, but she also told him about explains Mike. “Of course our vintage sound can be harmonies, and added over dubs. “We stuck with our Queen and then his passion for heavy symphonic recognized. It’s us. But there are many surprises on mantra of recording the basic songs live, performing glamorous epic rock and metal music started. “My the album. We touched many unusual topics like for as a band. We feel we just get a more realistic feel to mother showed me The Beatles. So already as a child example the phenomenon of convergent evolution the music that way. Also, we brought in some friends I started writing songs,” Mike tells me. “Some of the and what does it have to do with rock’n’roll? We have as guests on the album to add some spice to the mix! It ones I wrote as a teenager were already so good that Thereminvox (Soviet contactless music instrument) was really a great experience and a lot of fun, session we still play some of them at every concert, for example to simulate alien voice. We used balalaika, ukulele, to session, working that way. The songs have a great Sex In School”. mandolin and bricks (!) for special sound flavours. But range of subject matter and our usual storytelling Somewhere in the the focal point is always on the strong material, on the to keep the imagination going track by track. It was 80’s keyboard player melodies. Without good melodies, not gimmicks and great, as well, to finally publish several songs that and singer Leif Astroid’s exotic instruments would help. No gimmicks cannot I had written over the years within that album, in parents asked him what replace the quality. If we did not believe 100% in the addition to some newer ones,” says Joe. he would like to get for new compositions, we would not release this album. The guys recorded, produced, and mastered the Christmas. Leif had no We are a live band first of all and we HAD NOT to tracks for CD2, ‘One Blue Sky’, at SI Studios in Old idea until a friend told release this. But we want to because we are confident Forge, PA. USA; the same place they had recorded for him about a cool thing in what we’ve created,” he enthuses. CD1, ‘Bad Decisions’. “The engineers there are great called ‘keyboard. “I never Leif ironically implies that Solowshow* are at what they do,” he enthuses. “They work with us to heard about something probably not so different from other bands. “Look at attain the results we are looking for. We did go in for like that but I knew that us: You see two common singer songwriters on stage about 8 sessions over several months in 2015 between SKATEboards were the most ‘it’ stuff of that time. So dressed in fancy glamy clothes with make-up in their publishing the albums. We just keep recording songs I told my parents I would like to get a keyboard as a faces, burning fireworks from their instruments while and focus on the ones we want to select for the next Christmas gift,” Leif explains. we throw glitter in the faces of the audience. I think CD concept and theme for mixdown and mastering. We Musically Mike is inspired by bands such as there are thousands of other 2-man bands doing that. always have several in queue for the next album. I would Queen and X Japan as well as glamour, Over-the-top Or not,” he ponders highly recommend SI Studio to anyone who asks.” mentality, at the same time huge deepness of the music Mike produced all of the Solowshow* and Mirror As for memorable performances the best times are and lyrics. “Progressive, yet not too much, and always records, but always with input and advice from Leif those spontaneous moments you just didn’t expect with strong melodies that you never forget,” he adds. and other people in the studio. They started recording or plan on! It’s always an adventure. “Something is And the list goes on... Extreme, Guns N Roses, Mötley new ideas in 2012, just as the first Solowshow* album bound to happen whenever you bring rock & roll into Crüe, Led Zeppelin, Angra, Def Leppard, Metallica, ‘Visuacoustic’ was being mixed. The single ‘The Won’ the picture. We’ve been at this a while now and there’s Megadeth, Dream Theater, Cinderella, Gorky Park... “A came out in 2014 and in 2015 the guys finished the a lot of really cool stories to tell! Listen to our music lot of bands, I like some opera, ballet and symphonic process. “We did not record all the time, we made and you’re bound to hear about some of them! That’s artists and composers as well. Montserrat Caballe, breaks for live gigs, personal life, health issues and what uMan ERA is all about! One way or another we Rudolf Nureyev, Beethoven, Pyotr Tschaikowsky, other things. We only recorded when we felt like it. It is a are all born to screw up and get in all kinds of trouble.” Ludwig Van Beethoven, Mstislav Rostropovich (with decadent process, reminiscent of how X Japan or Guns The band are certainly full steam ahead for their whom my grandma worked) and some others,” Mike N Roses or Def Leppard work for the past many years. next CD and almost near completion. The band have explains. Just the luxury of doing what you want whenever you also just released their new single ‘Evil’, available on Leif enjoys many different styles of guitar music want! We used 4 or 5 studios,” he tells me. CDbaby.com. “I am looking forward to getting several no matter if it´s from the 19th century, 70s, 80s or When Leif was touring in the UK his tour manager more songs I have written over the years finally out for 90s, pop or heavy metal bands. But they all have this asked him what he would like to eat. “I asked for a pizza publication. We have begun working with promotional glam stuff in common. “To give you some names I can without cheese cos I don’t like any kind of cheese or companies to help get our music out there and also mention Bowie, Bach, Debussy, Guns N Roses, Suede, meat. So he went round the corner to the next pizza to play at some new venues. And, we are getting our Cinderella and Queen of course. And sometime even bakery and tried to order my pizza. The pizza baker new bassist Dutch up to speed, for upcoming gigs the German Schlager,” he tells me. “There was no refused to bake a pizza without cheese cos ‘this is and recording sessions! Actually we are playing this forcing behind this album. No one told us how to record not a pizza!!!’. My tour manager tried to persuade really cool private party that Dutch booked us for and it and no one asked for it so we had the freedom to him to bake it, but it ended that he had to fumble out I can’t wait to rock the roof off his friend’s house! It’s produce it like how we felt,” says Leif. the cheese himself before he brought the pizza. After all very exciting and promising, but we have our ups Outside of music Mike enjoys nature, riding bicycle, hearing this I felt very bad that he had to make such and downs like any band. Guess the trick is to stay the aqua parks, science fiction, collecting rock music stuff, circumstances for me but in a funny way I was proud course,” concludes Joe. And he thanks his friend Tom SuperMario and of course cold beer and beautiful girls. of him that he stayed so determined to order that ‘pizza’ Koop, the band’s drummer, for sticking with it through Leif enjoys travelling around the world. Either with for me,’ smiles Leif. thick and thin! his music or with his family. “I collect retro gaming The album is a nice thing to chew on, with the box Check Uman Era out at www.umanera.com consoles and games from the 80s and 90s especially set including a vinyl LP, a CD and a bonus DVD. Now www.facebook.com/UManERA.NEPA from Nintendo. I feel very attracted to women and the focus is again on live gigs. “We frequently play in www.cdbaby.com/Artist/UmanEra sometimes even to a good glass of sweet red wine.” Germany and Russia. Solowshow* are different from just any other band. And we want to conquer new territories at last. UK When they get in touch with bookers, festivals and so would be amazing! The home country of classic rock. SOLOWSHOW* on, the smart ones book the band, and some others America and Japan would rock too,” says Mike. “And say that the guys do not fit any scene. They do not we would play at the craziest places, like on board of a get it that it is the band’s advantage and not a minus. space ship or on a different planet. Why not! As long as Already when Mike was a teenager, looking at all that the technology allows it,” he concludes. crap on MTV, he thought to himself, that if he found a www.facebook.com/Solowshow band, he would found a band that has its own face, its www.Solowshow.veddma.com own sound, and its own style. “What’s the reason for a millionth copy of someone else,” he asks. “We have NICKY BALDRIAN PLAYLISTS #76 influences and we do not hide them. But we do not try to be Queen #2 or Guns N Roses #2 and so forth. We 1. Black Stone Cherry - Kentucky rather are Solowshow* #1! That’s the point,” he says. Fave song: The Rambler Solowshow* play rock songs, some are pretty heavy, but also lots of ballads and neo-classical stuff, 2. Dexys’s Midnight Runners - Let The Record Show Based around Hamburg, Germany and Moscow, however they do it unplugged, without electric guitars Dexys Do Irish And Country Soul Russia, we find the excellentSOLOWSHOW*, who and a big drum kit. Why? Just because they can Fave song: Both Sides Now have a very catchy ten track CD out now called ‘Ancient and that’s how involved with this band. “Things just Electricity’ that is well worth checking out and runs in happened and we felt its right. It’s not a statement. It’s 3. Jimmy Barnes - Soul Searchin’ at just under thirty minutes long. just art. Of course we love electric guitars and drums Fave song: Drowning in the Sea of Love Whilst the duo classifies themselves as glam rock too. We have classic electric rock bands in which we they are unquestionably more musically progressive play as well - Mirror (mine) and The Pleasures (Leif’s),” 4. The Cadillac Three - Bury Me in My Boots and theatrical. Think along the lines of Queen, Styx Mike explains. Fave song: Peace Love & Dixie THE MUSIC IS OUT THERE 36 FREE WITH FIREWORKS #76 5- Tyketto - Reach Fave song: Sparks Will Fly

6. Steven Tyler - We’re All Somebody From Somewhere Fave song: Only Heaven

7. Whitford St. Holmes - Reunion Fave song: Does It Really Matter

8. Hardline - Human Nature Fave song: In The Dead Of The Night

9. Tarja - The Shadow Self Fave song: Eagle Eye

10. Sunflower Bean - Human Ceremony Fave song: I Was Home

11. Heart - Beautiful Broken Fave song: Two

12. The Blow Monkeys - If Not Now, When? Fave song: Think Again

13. Silversun Pickups - Better Nature Fave song: Tapedeck

14. Iamthemorning - Lighthouse Fave Song: Too Many Years

15. Dare - Sacred Ground Fave Song: On My Own

16. The Dead Daisies - Make Some Noise Fave Song: All The Same

17. Red Hot Chili Peppers - The Getaway Fave song: Goodbye Angels

18. Foghat - Under the Influence Fave Song: Knock it Off

19. Blood Orange - Freetown Sound Fave Song: Hadron Collider

20. Blackfoot - Southern Native Fave song: Take Me Home

THE MUSIC IS OUT THERE 37 FREE WITH FIREWORKS #76