One of Staten Island's biggest hardcore/metal bands, A Wake Providence, released a lyric video for their new single,"Psycho," which is off their upcoming EP Insidious. The track features Davis Rider of Immortalist lending screams to the song.
To put it simply, the song is brutal. It kicks you in the face, and then curb stomps you as you get up. It has all the heavy guttural noise AWIP is known for as well as the insane chug chug of the guitars, china ridden double bass breakdowns.
Thematically, the song is very dark as the American Psycho inspired song talks about becoming the monstrous thing they hate. The song look inward to failure and life choices that essentially self inflict pain and torture...you know, light stuff.
Metal heads Dying Eyes of Sloth are back and reuniting November 17th after a few away in various projects such as Incognito Theory and InDisguise. They re-released and remastered their 2010 EP, Book of Blood. Listen to it and purchase it for $4 at - http://dyingeyesofsloth.bandcamp.com/ Also available are pre-sale tickets for the reunion show - http://dyingeyesofsloth.com/ Show info - Dying Eyes Of Sloth will be playing with "SIX FEET UNDER" and "JUNGLE ROT" at Dingbatz in Clifton, NJ. Advance tickets are $25 and $30 day of show. All those who pre-order will be given a free download code for the EP as well as entered in to win a free t-shirt and physical EP.
Backfire simply put is a rock band, but if you listen deeper and uncover the layers of their music you'll discover hints of classic rock, 80s metal, and new alternative.
Consisting of Vincent Lane (vocals), Andrew Ahne (guitar), John White (guitar), Carl Giacalone (bass/vocals), and Jay Nichols (drums), they just released their first EP, Prisoner of War.
The EP opens up with "Prisoner of War" which calmly transitions into fast paced metal guitars reminiscent of an 80s metal band. Lane is telling a story about not giving up and pushing on. About two and half minutes into the song, a nice instrumental section complete with solo and dueling guitars and a quick drum fill fit nicely into the last chorus.
"One O'Clock"comes in soft then switches to blaring guitars and heavy tones. The effect on the opening vocals are very good and the chorus is tight. Again, more guitar solos and more metal! Solid start so far.
"Regret" is probably the catchiest song on the demo and has my personal favorite chorus. "My regret is what kills me, my regret is undaunted..."as gang vocals chime in. I'm also really digging the harmonic "woah-o's" at the end. It adds a little dynamic and diversity to the music.
The next track, "Trifling Whore," slows things down a bit and is more of a ballad in the beginning. The meaning of the song is pretty self-explanatory and yet has an epic vibe to it. The song shows great maturity in the band as they are able to mesh their signature sound along with something slightly different.
"The Few, the Proud, the Forgotten" sounds like it is the most single worthy track on the EP. It has a little bit of something for everyone and a strong chorus. It has a climatic build towards the end that has Lane belting out the finals words of the song.
Overall the Prisoner of War EP is a solid first effort for the boys of Backfire. They take familiar sounds and make it their own. Lane has a great almost classic type of voice. The guitarists Ahne and White shine most with steady and consistent riff work throughout. Be on the lookout for these guys!
Finally the wait is over! Hard rock band Spoken is back, and they are bringing the noise with their newest release, Illusion.
Prior to Illusion, which will be released on February 12th, Spoken hadn't released an album since their self-titled in 2007. However, that time gap hasn't been all idol time, the band has been working on the album since 2010.
"We've always been a band that tours nonstop, and we live in three different states. Writing music is sometimes difficult with that equation. There's been a little time between records, but we've never slowed down as far as being a band. You can expect better songwriting on the new record. We approached this record differently than we have the other records. We did the new record with Jasen Rauch, (Brian HEAD Welch, Disciple, RED, and more)," said singer Matt Baird in a previous interview on here.
'Illusion' Cover
Spoken has always been a band that has varied in styles musically. Their first couple of albums were rap/metal reminiscent of Rage Against the Machine, while their next few were more post hardcore before naturally maturing to a refined metal sound. Illusion takes the best of their previous formulas and infuses it with poppier hooks and catchier choruses.
Illusion kicks off with powerful guitars on "Stand Alone." The verses are yelled as Baird is forcing them through a controlled and synchronized scream to go with the music. The chorus then switches to more of a melodic section before he flips it back to screaming.
"Beneath the Surface" starts off very much like the first track; with dual guitars blazing and screaming vocals. Following the same formula as "Stand Alone," the chorus features sung vocals. There's a cool little underwater effect placed throughout the song that adds just the right amount of filter 'beneath the surface.'
The next track in "Don't Go." Heavy guitars open up, but the verses are more of an aggressive singing. The chorus is layered with strong melodies, "Close your eyes and remember me the way I was before...Just stay with me and we can weather the storm," powerful lyrics.
"Through it All All" is the first song on the album that switches gears and also their first single. It's a bit mid-tempo and has a nice blend of guitar work and what sounds like subtle piano or guitar. It positive with a message with the hook proclaiming, "Though our hearts have been broken, we've been burned by the flame/We will rise from the ashes again!"
"More Than You Know" showcases a poppier side of Spoken. The vocals are a bit whispery at times, and again are layered with fantastic harmonies. Overall it's just a solid song touching upon the subjects of self worth and self admittance.
Flowing perfectly from the last track, "Remember the Day" has a soft tone but a big feel. The recording itself has a grand quality, heavy guitars and booming vocals. Spoken does a superb job in capturing a "rock ballad" with this one.
Bang, que the noise, "Shadow Over Me" adds the jolt back into the album after the two-track lull. Adversely, this song is the first time where Baird screams over the chorus and sings the verse. The bridge into the drop out/outro is nicely done as well.
To sum up the song "Accuser" simply... it's heavy. Everything about the song is gut punchingly heavy and it's awesome, especially the metal breakdown part towards the end!
"Take Everything"is a track that could probably be another single because it has a very commercial sound, and a clear relatable focus. "My heart is yours for the taking," could be about a girl or in the case of Spoken's Christian roots, a reference to the forgiveness of God.
"Tonight" slows it back up and is about feeling alive and making a declaration of change and using one moment, 'Tonight,' to transform and "leave it all behind." A great message of encouragement in an easy package.
Next up is the softest track on the album, "Calm the Storm." Again, another powerful song with an inspirational chorus. "Be the hope when the world is crashing down/Come wrap your arms around me/Calm the storm inside me." The song is a cry out to God for his comforting touch to get through any situation.
The title track, "Illusion," finishes up the album with a burst of energy just like in the beginning. Back is the screaming, back is the harmonic melodies, and on come the gritty guitars. "Illusion" matches "Stand Alone" musically as it follows similar guitar patterns, and even starts the same with the faded in sound. The song ends with Baird's chanting as guitar feedback overcomes it.
Through and through, this album is a great welcome back for Spoken. The production is great, the vocals are on point, and the heaviness is brutal with some solid standard rock tracks sprinkled in. Illusion takes the listener through ups and downs as far as sonically, with bouts of heaviness, ballads, and midtempo coming in clusters. Spoken has certainly evolved through the years and with this latest transformation, they are going the right way.
Who are you, what do you do, and how important is music to your life?
My name is Matt Baird. I sing for the band Spoken. Music is extremely important to my life. I feel that God gave me a small amount of musical ability, and I've dedicated my life to serving Him with music.
How has Spoken changed as a band from the mid 90s until now, and was the growth inspired by YOU as a band, or the ever changing music scene?
We listen to all kinds of music, we've had several band members over the years, and our tastes in music have changed. We feel like we are in a place musically that shows all sorts of influences. We play music we'd like to listen to.
Many fans don't know about Spoken's rap/rock roots. Do you guys still perform any of those songs from the first two albums?
(Haha) We haven't played those songs in several years, but we loved playing them at that time. It was current, and we enjoyed that time of our career.
Matt Baird
Did you consider yourself a rapper, or just a versatile vocalist who rapped? Do you still have some rap bars left in the tank?
Oh no, I never claimed to be a rapper, and didn't desire to be. I just happened to really like bands like Rage Against The Machine, P.O.D., Downset, and 311. It just came across in our music. And there's absolutely no rap left in the tank...
Many online places say once signing to Tooth & Nail you guys hit your stride with 'A Moment of Imperfect Clarity.' In my opinion I think your biggest progression as artists was 'Echoes of the Spirit Still Dwell.' How do you feel about this album and am I on the right track, especially since you re-released it?
I'd agree with both opinions. "Echoes" was a pivotal point in our career. It was an album of prayers put to music. Tooth & Nail was a great chapter for Spoken. We entered the studio basically a new band. Jef (guitar) and I were the only original members at that point. The new guys (Aaron, Brandon, and Ryan) were a HUGE part of the writing process. It was all around a great process. As far as re-releasing "Echoes"... it wasn't available on itunes, so we decided to have a label called Alien Patrol release it digitally. I've known the guys over there for 15 years or so. It was a good way to promote the label, and to get the record on itunes.
Spoken's last two releases were pretty different from each other, was this intentional or the way the music flowed?
All of our records have been written based on our place in life, whatever we were feeling at the time, whatever we may have been dealing with. We've always wanted to be stretched musically. Nothing was intentional on those records as far as "let's make this record different."
After prolonged breaks from making music like you guys are currently on, was it tough to get back in the studio, and what can we expect from the new album?
We've always been a band that tours nonstop, and we live in three different states. Writing music is sometimes difficult with that equation. There's been a little time between records, but we've never slowed down as far as being a band. You can expect better songwriting on the new record. We approached this record differently than we have the other records. We did the new record with Jasen Rauch, (Brian HEAD Welch, Disciple, The Wedding, RED, The Letter Black). Jasen basically became a band member (not an actual member) throughout the two years of writing and recording this record. It was a perfect fit for the band that we are now.
On some of your earlier music, I almost consider your music to hardcore worship. Where do you draw your inspiration for your lyrics and how much is God's hand in your lyrics?
In Spoken, inspiration comes from anything and everything. There are songs on the new record about God, confusion, bitterness, love, performing live, Evil, etc. God is a part of our lives, so He will come through no matter what. There are times when all of us wish Jesus would walk in the room, put his hand on our shoulder, and say "It's going to be ok." There's a song on the record about exactly that. There's a song on the record that is written about the tornado that hit Joplin MO last year.
What would you tell someone who won't give Christian themed music a chance because of the "label" and do you find it difficult to be original and yet Christ centered at the same time?
If music is good, it's good. If a band is terrible live, writes terrible songs, sings about terrible things, and act terrible....I'd say don't listen to that band.
What is in the immediate future for Spoken, and is their anything the fans should brace themselves for?
The new record is done, we have tours lined up, and there are several things that will be announced soon. We'll see you on the road.
Anything else you'd like to add?
Thanks for caring about Spoken - Matt Baird.
InDisguise is a mixture of sounds ranging from Volbeat, Godsmack, Stone Temple Pilots, and Black Label Society. They are currently taking New Jersey by storm and were recently on the Johnny P show performing and being interviewed. Check it out around the 44 minute mark.
InDisguise is currently in full rotation on the Metal Mayhem Radio Show by Matt O'Shaughnessy on WVOX 1460am. Metal Mayhem will also be world premiering their album Ashes Divide when the album is finished.
August 25th InDisguise will be performing with Pool of Thorns at Dingbatz.
InDisguise's debut album, Ashes Divide is coming along great according to vocalist Dave Incognito. InDisguise begins vocal tracking after their July 28th show in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
The show is a benefit concert called, "Sounds for Scoliosis 4." Also in development is the band's TV appearance on "Late Night with Johnny P," which airs this month on Fios and Cablevision, July 26th. Lastly the band is asking you to vote for them as they have currently entered the top 10 in a contest they are in. Help them get to the top three in order to perform August 8th at the NJ State Fair as finalists to
win.
InDisguise just got finished up with doing the first War is Hell show at Dingbatz May 5th. The War is Hell series of shows were designed to unite local musicans and friends. These shows were the creations of DevilGod promotions and Morbidian productions. The three main bands are as followed: InDisguise, Fever Vein, and Bound Alive.
DevilGod is run and owned by Mykill Vittoria who is also the lead singer of Fever Vein, and Morbidian Productions is owned and ran by Jay Prussack and Dave Incognito of InDisguise.
InDisguise's debut CD, Ashes Divide, will be out later this summer.
Fever Vein is getting ready to release their EP, Bound Alive, and they just put out a killer new single, "Relive."
I.D. will also be on the Late Night with Johnny P Show June 28th.
lookout for themlive in the coming months!" - Tim Louie from the Aquarian
First Singles
I.D.'s first album, Ashes Divide will be coming out summer 2012, self-released on Dave Incognito and Jay Prussack's own record label Morbidian Records.
How did you guys come up with the name of the band? Actually, our drummer came up with the name first and we all liked it. Even though we don’t practice any Voodoo or Hoodoo, we believe and respect both, since it’s not only a culture, but also a religion. While in a way we’re a tribe, the term ‘terror’ doesn’t usually apply…
When did the new singer join the band, and how did you find him in Texas?
Well, actually, we didn’t find him in TX, but it was like three months when he had moved from TX to NJ when we found him. He joined us in November 2008. He’s originally from California, but his life brought him to TX and then to NJ and to us eventually. Those eight months of searching for the new singer and frustration of going through 30 something singers were totally worth it when we got him.
Is there a story about the departure of the old singer, or would you rather not talk about it?
I’d rather not say much since it ended bad and he ruined it for us and himself. I’m still angry about it, since we were very close to making it big with a good deal…
What's the background of everyone in the band and what are your major influences?
Everyone is coming from different bands, origins and backgrounds. I came from Istanbul, Turkey to the US ten years ago to pursue a musical career. I had made three thrash-metal albums with my band “Ascraeus” in Turkey before coming here. Our influences are mostly coming from life, melancholy, dark, aggressive, emotional issues and also different music types that we listen to.
What's the biggest show you guys have played? I think that would be WASP or Biohazard shows last year.
What's the bands biggest rock star moment and what is the biggest failure?
Biggest rock star moment is VTT being welcomed like rock stars by West Virginia and Oklahoma during our US tour last year. The biggest failure was going all the way Chicago for two shows in the winter in the middle of a blizzard and they sucked. Chicago is a great place to play, but our plan was wrong.
Why should people listen to VTT?
We take what we’re doing very seriously. It's really a mixture of different styles. We don't limit ourselves when we write our music. We always pour everything we have and everything that we have becomes our music. It is meticulous, grueling, stressful and insightful, but it’s all worth it at the end. We do work hard on our music and give a great, rocking, entertaining performance at every show.
What's in the future of the band and where do you see yourselves in 5 years?
We did some serious touring through the Midwest and southern states last year in addition to many local shows and now we’re working on new material and recording demos in our own rehearsal studio to prepare a new release for summer 2011. Our sound and style have been changing a little bit though, [moving] towards more industrial/goth/metal. We’re also working with Kenny Colgate and Romulus X Records now, and Billy Graziadei (Biohazard) might be producing our new record again like he did for the previous one.
In the mean time, we’re still doing some shows in the East Coast and we’ll probably go on another full length US tour this summer. We’ll also do some shows with the one and only BIOHAZARD soon, during their new US and European tours in 2011.
And in five years, other than packing big venues just by ourselves, we’ll be nominated for a Grammy…
How big is the band's following, and in what ways do you guys continue to grow?
Not sure, but good enough to make the clubs and venues that we play happy. But it’s very scattered, since we’ve spread ourselves too much throughout the years and now working on region by region at least and being more strategical. We do use everything possible on the Internet and also we’ve been working with serious marketing agents (Skateboard Marketing), promoters (Just Rock PR) and publicists (Freeman Promotions), which we believe will pay off in the long run.
Anything else you want to add? Thank you very much for your support and to our supporters out there, please keep supporting us at the shows which are more important than buying our product…and be ready for an incredible new recording!
Locked is a New Jersey based Metal/Hardcore band consisting of: Jess (Vocals), Greg (Guitar),Rick (Bass),and Ralph (Drums). Forming around 2002, Locked has two demos CD's out- Locked (2002) and Demolition (2005). In 2009 after a two year hiatus, the band recorded an EP as well, Back to War.
The following interview was with Locked vocalist, Jess Volina.
Any significance on the name of the band?
Not really, when we started out we were really more death metal sounding. I was a "Corpsegrinder mimic" for a while but the lyrics never really reflected that. We didn't want to be pigeon holed as a DM [Death Metal] band or anything. "Locked" sounded strong and short, Greg (guitars) came up with it and it just stuck.
You said, "We aren't trying to reinvent the wheel, for metal. "So what makes the band's style distinctly yours?
I think one of the big things that makes our style distinct is that we could give two sh*ts about what anyone else is doing. A lot of newer or younger bands seem to be trying to out do each other in the way of "who is more brutal." Some of those bands are incredibly talented...and some of them just sound jumbled and I don't hear a lot of structure. I think Locked takes the best elements from different sub genres of metal and hardcore and just writes what we want to hear. There is without a doubt an old school vibe or should I say, "a more traditional" approach to a lot of our song writing. I think the combination of all those elements keep Locked a little bit different than some of the current bands out there.
What was the reason for the long hiatus, and why did you come back?
Man, a few things. We've been around awhile and initially there was a short hiatus due to everyone just being burnt out. I think song writing stopped being fun...thats going back. We reformed once and got a great reception and everything was cool. 2009 came around and we wrote and recorded the Back To The War EP. Basically as soon as recording was finished our drummer flaked out and it took literally three years to find a drummer that could hang. We could write a book on drummer auditions. Having said all that, we really never went away. Even when the bass player who appears on the recording left there was a time Greg and I would practice with drum tracks off of a lap top just to keep our chops. Then we got really lucky with Rick comming in on bass and it was the three of us and a laptop. Finally Ralph came in and really as soon as he learned the material, we started booking shows. We've always wanted to write and play, I guess it gets harder to find committed indivduals as you get older....and very hard to find a drummer who can play double bass correct!
Did you lose any fans, gain fans, keep fans: because of the extended break?
I think a little of both. With how fast music works especially with the internet these days, if you "take a break", unless you've made a serious mark like say...what V.O.D. is doing, you can be forgotten pretty quickly. There were always myspace hits and stuff like that...but being out of the loop it really got quiet.
How did it feel to be back, and describe to me the energy? How was the reception?
F***ing fantastic! The energy was f***ing insane. I felt like I was an original member of KISS or Sabbath. Dingbatz in Clifton has phenomenal sound, a true sound man and a great stage. The minute I heard the feed back of the guitar and saw people in front of me it was just nuts. We got a really great reception. In between every song there was plenty of cheers and applause. People were moving and just feeling it and when I hopped off the stage I had nothing but hand shakes and hugs....I didn't go to sleep until 6 A.M. that morning due to the energy. A great, fun night and I cant wait to be back there on the 12th.
Is there a band that you guys aspire to be like?
Anyone who sticks to their guns and gets recognition for their hard work and creativity. Muscially we pull influence and inspiration literally everywhere, but I don't think we try to sound like anyone. I've always admired bands that had a "crew" or a scene. You look at all the great Tampa DM bands from the early 90's and there was a scene with bands hanging out, playing on the same bill etc. Look at the unity in NYHC, the support factor with the hardcore scene in general...Hell look at the early Black Metal bands comming out of Norway back when. It would be nice to have a "family." I guess I would aspire to be a band that can offer and gets support from fellow musicians within heavy music.
Any particular reason for changing members throughout the years, or would you rather not talk about it?
Well, you heard the drummer story. It boils down to committment. We've had the pleasure of writing and playing with some really talented musicians that were also cool people. For whatever reason they just couldn't commit. It was never intentional to have line up changes.
How's the "new style" different from your music in the past?
The EP is the "new style." I guess you're reffering to. First, I can tell you it's just a lot tighter. We've upped our game and came into our own, but you gotta understand that EP is kind of old for us now. The stuff we're working on right now? It's gonna bury that f'ing EP. It's just as tight, we're pushing ourselves harder and there is no sign of it slowing down. When the "new" new stuff comes out...jaws are gonna drop.
How did you guys all get together?
Initially I had placed an ad in the Aquarian looking for a death metal band. I wanted to be a straight forward DM band. Greg answerd the ad and the two of us jammed in the studio. The rest is pretty much history. On a side note, a drummer had answerd the ad as well and it was a guy named Jay. When we were still working out the kinks Jay went on to form the DM band Ominous. Locked formed and was very different than what Jay was going for. Either way the early days had us crossing paths a lot, playing shows together, etc. Jay actually would fill in for us at rehearsal a few times. Finally we got our sh*t together and became a full band. Ominous are good dudes, wish 'em' the best.
Anything else you want to add?
Thanks for putting this thing together man, any press is good press. If any young dudes are reading this...go out and get yourself some classic metal and hardcore. Put the damn guitar hero down and start a band!(Haha) The more the merrier...create a scene and support each other. Also, we will be returning to Dingbatz on March 12th on the bill with Merauder and Generation Kill (Rob Dukes/Exodus).
The music industry is a funny place, but sometimes no one is laughing. Nothing about music is stable, and just because you love a sound- doesn't mean every one else will. It is these people who realize that sometimes change is good, and essential to prolong the life of their dreams. This is what happened to New Jersey rockers, Dave Incognito and Jay Prussack, founders of Metal band, Incognito Theory.
The two best friends have played together throughout countless bands over the years. Prior to Incognito Theory, they had mostly played death metal. There last band was called, Dying Eyes of Sloth, but it became evident that they needed to throw their death metal roots behind them. "When you play for the death metal scene, you play for a certain group of people. We want to broaden our horizons, be universal, and be more well known," said frontman Dave. Guitarist, Jay sees this transition as something different, "I'm still into the heavy stuff. This is something different, like a challenge."
Dave Incognito
So what exactly is this new sound like? Upon listening, it is easy to hear hints of Disturbed and Godsmack intertwined. "It's a melting pot of a lot of stuff...powerful metal overtones with melodic vocals," Jay said. It's all the grunge nu metal goodness you like with influences of their roots. "We are trying to reinvent the wheel...[we have] great showmanship, talent, and honesty," Dave said excitedly.
As previously stated, the music industry is a tricky place. Perhaps Jay says it the best when referring to the new goals of the band, "You just have to stand out from the crowd. Grab bits and pieces of stuff, and be unique enough." Another theme for the band is originality. This is what Incognito Theory is looking to bring to the table- a little bit of the old, and a little bit of the new.
But before they could set up any goals, Incognito Theory originally started as a solo project by Dave. He put out one album called, Forsaken. Flash forward about a year or so, and now Incognito Theory consists of Dave and Jay, and most recently; bassist, Erik Reynolds and drummer, Rob Goellner. Upon joining the band, Dave and Jay immediately penned their first single, "This Present."
For these two the collaboration wasn't too difficult because of their passion and love for music, and the like-minded-ness they have in taste. Dave's influences include an all-star lineup of vocalists like: Dave Williams, Scott Weiland, Gene Simmons, Bret Michaels, and Dani Filth for his metal vocals. Jay is really into old school thrash and power metal like: Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Slayer, Metallica, and Cannibal Corspe.
Some of their biggest moments as musicians have occured together. They played a 40 Below Summer, reunion show with God forbid and Ashes for your Enemy. It was a huge show because these bands where big locally. "We knew a lot of people at that show," Dave said. As far as capacity wise and venue wise, the biggest show they have played was at Starland to a crowd of about 1000. They had about 140 people there, and only had two weeks to sell tickets. Jay says one of his biggest rock star moments was "...going into a solo I dropped the pic. I played the rest of the song with my fingers, and nobody even noticed...that's rock and roll," he said laughing.
Jay Prussack
The writing process for Incognito Theory varies with the moment. "Sometimes I write the lyrics and show Jay, and he just figures it out," Dave said. "It's a progressive thing. Dave pieces lyrics to what I've written, or I construct around what he has written," said Jay.
For the immediate future, they plan on taking a break in December and then finishing up the EP this winter. Jay does all the recording himself, and says "There is still a lot to do." The EP is scheduled to be released in early 2011 and it will be called, Silent Pain.
"We plan on taking this to the next level. It's all about the music, this is Dave, Jay, Rob, and Erik- complete," said Dave. "I play music for the love and everything that goes into it. The band has promise, so lets achieve something," said Jay. "Let's build a following and not stand still."
