-Interview- The Switch (3/16/12)

The Switch
Genre: Female fronted alternative rock.
Interviewed on: 3/16/12
From: Tracy, CA
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1. You guys just released “Loose Lips Sink Ships”. What should people expect from it? How has the response been thus far?

The album consists of a very dynamic track listing, from darker more meaningful songs to more upbeat poppier songs. The response has been great! Since we’ve released the album, we’ve recieved endless amounts of postive feedback.


2. How did the name of the band and album itself come about?

We’re called The Switch because musically, we’ve come from totally different backgrounds being, Pop/R&B (Kat) , Classic Rock (Tyler), Post-Hardcore/Pop Punk (Ryan) and the start of this project really SWITCHED up what we were used to playing.


3. Is there a favorite track you like on the album? Is there a theme to the album?

Kat – The Dangerous One
Tyler – Carefree
Ryan – Never Moving Forward

There’s no recurring theme in the theme to the album, BUT, we feel this is a good representation of what we can do for ourselves if we really buckled down and gave it our all! DIY music at its best.


4. With everyone being from bands previously, how has your experience in past bands helped in The Switch?

Without the differing backgrounds, we would never be able to create the sound you’ve heard on our debut album. Although we come from different musical backgrounds, we all share a lot of the same influences.


5. What’s the music scene like in CA? What’s your take on the rock scene in general?

Where we come from, there really isn’t a rock scene other than San Francisco and Sacramento. We’re one of the only bands in our area that don’t fall under the “Indie Pop” genre.


6. Any good show stories?

One of our earlier shows opening up for a Hopeless Records tour/showcase in Stockton, CA. We decided to borrow our friends short (school) bus. After arriving, all the other touring bands flipped out because of surprise. They all had to check out the inside.....


7. What’s your take on music downloading?

As far as iTunes and stuff like that goes, we think its awesome that our music can still be heard without the hassle of printing and manufacturing physical copies of CD’s, however there is still nothing like unwrapping a REAL CD. As for illegal downloads and pirating music. It sucks for local bands like ourselves but if that’s what it takes to sell out shows and have everyone sing along, it’s probably worth it.


8. How would you describe your live show?

We like to open our show with a real attention grabbing, percussive intro and try to keep it very crowd oriented throughout. We keep it fun!


9. What’s next for The Switch?

Shows, shows, shows. We just want to play! We practice our tails off and are constantly writing new material. This summer we really just want to play shows, maybe some small tours and an EP release in late summer/early fall of 2012.


10. Any shoutouts?

First off we just want to thank everyone who has shown this much support in the short amount of time that we’ve been a band. Every play on facebook, every ticket we’ve sold and all the purchases off of Itunes. Those are the things that really keep us wanting more! Our parents definitely deserve a shout out simply because we are constantly in there faces with practicing and shows and everything else. And last but not least, Mike of From The Depths Entertainment. We’ve only been in contact for a few weeks and he’s already starting to make big things happen. Thanks.

New Signing - The Switch

Go check out our newest signing The Switch from Manteca, CA. This alternative female fronted rock band has just released their debut full length album "Loose Lips Sink Ships" on iTunes! Go check them out on March 31 at The Burning Bush in Stockton, CA as they're playing alongside acts such as Deadjack, Make Us Human, and The Somebodys. Pick up their album on iTunes at http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/loose-lips-sink-ships/id510574549?i=510574557&ign-mpt=uo%3D4
In the meantime, ADD them at Facebook - here.

-Review- Invent, Animate - Waves (3/14/12)

Invent, Animate
www.facebook.com/inventanimate
From: Beaumont, TX
Waves
Release Date: 2012
Sounds like: House Vs Hurricane, For The Fallen Dreams




Track Listing:

1. Hieroglyphics 2.0
2. Captive (featuring Brandon McMaster of Crimson Armada)
3. Atmosphere
4. Spineless
5. Abyss
6. Waves

Buy on iTunes here

The first track "Hieroglyphics" is a very hard hitting track with a bit of synth in the background for good measure. It's a track that's in your face the whole time. The riffs and breakdowns towards the end are excellent. "Captive" which features a guest spot from Brandon McMaster from Crimson Armada doesn't disappoint. It has an opening that builds up the track. A breakdown midway through the song leads up to a two stepping part which I'm sure will get the crowd moving. The clean singing is done very well and leads into a tremendous, thunderous breakdown at the end. The mixture of screaming and clean vocals that close out the song mix perfectly and round out a great song.

"Atmosphere" opens with a swift kick to the teeth. This song has a lot going on with clean singing, a transition midway through with driving melodic riffs into a breakdown and an ending with a synthy breakdown. "Spineless" continues with the onslaught of metalcore. "Abyss" is a minute long instrumental. The opening to the last track "Waves" sounds like it could've been in a House Vs Hurricane track. The ending of this track and EP is very Poison The Well-esque. Just like PTW, Invent, Animate is looking to leave their mark on the scene.

Verdict:
With so much metalcore out these days, the best thing to do is be fresh. Invent, Animate does this with being multi-dimensional. They do a lot more than other bands out there and they do it well. With this being just an EP, it's scary to think how good they will be this time next year. If you want your metalcore to be more creative and not generic, then check this out right now!

Standout Tracks-
"Captive"
"Waves"

-Review- The Dissension - Imperium (3/12/12)

The Dissension
www.facebook.com/thedissension
From: Harbor Springs, MI
Imperium
Release Date: 2011
Sounds like: On Broken Wings, Blood Has Been Shed




Track Listing:

1. Cosmic Ultimatum
2. Prolific Con
3. Do It
4. Tyrant (Words Mean Nothing)
5. Scourge Of The Earth

Download here

The Dissension has plans to rip your face off with their brand of technical metalcore. The first track "Cosmic Ultimatum" starts off with a breakdown and goes into Blood Has Been Shed or August Burns Red territory. The track ends with almost an "Forever Scorned" type It Dies Today breakdown. The track chimes in at over 5 minutes but with breakdowns and time changes, the track holds your interest. "Profilic Con" opens with a bass riff and goes into ferocious assault for the next 4 minutes. "Do It" almost sounds like a Pantera breakdown in the beginning. Melody is the tone for the next track "Tyrant (Words Mean Nothing)". The melodic bridge is similar to older Between The Buried And Me. "Scourge Of The Earth" is the last track on the EP and doesn't slow down. It keeps the pace and destruction that the previous tracks had. The headbanging you would do with this EP is sure to give you whiplash.

Verdict:
With comparisons to metalcore pioneers, The Dissension is an extremely talented band that doesn't show any sign of slowing down. With new songs coming out since in "Gladius" and "Coup d'Etat", The Dissension is proving to everyone that they can hang with the big boys and destroy everything in their path. Go listen to the new songs now! They have the songs to get the floor moving.

Standout Tracks-
"Cosmic Ultimatum"
"Do It"

-Interview- Nine Day Fall (3/9/12)

Nine Day Fall
(From The Depths Entertainment)
Genre: Metal akin to Diecast or Machine Head.
Interviewed on: 3/9/12
From: Fairbanks, Alaska
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1.How did the band come together and form? How did the name "Nine Day Fall" come about?

The band formed pretty easily. Bryan and Sean met through their girlfriend's who worked together. Chris is an old friend of Sean's and Alex is Bryan's best friend. Jessie met Bryan through his job and from their the band was formed.

The band's name, Nine Day Fall, is actually it's third name. At first we were called Darkest Omen... only later to be renamed Bayonet, in which we only used that name for about a week before Bryan suggested the name Nine Day Fall. It's meaning comes from the book Paradise Lost by John Milton. It's the number of days it took Lucifer and the other fallen angels to fall from Heaven to Hell.


2. How has the full length been coming along? What can we expect from it? Any set release date/album title?

The album is done and in limbo between final mix and mastering. You can expect heavier music and darker lyrics on the songs not posted on facebook as well as a guest appearance from Brandon Farris, lead guitar player from Live As Lions. There is no set release date due to the matter of finacial difficulty finishing it and we're leaning towards the album title "Paradise Lost."


3. With dual vocals of clean female singing mixed with aggressive male screams, how does the writing process occur? Any good recording stories?

Generally Sean shows up to practice with a riff and between him and Bryan they tend to flesh out most of the songs with one or two riffs to begin with. Chris generally finds the root note and does his thing. As for lyrics, Bryan currently writes all of them and has rewritten a few songs a couple of times. Exiled was a fluke and has stayed pretty much the same since day one, where as "Vendetta" used to be called "Bring the Plagues" and has be rewritten 3 or 4 times.

One weird story from recording was when Jessie was tracking vocals inside the vocal booth she was "attacked" by a falling donut which had been placed on the shelf in the room. How it fell and why it fell will never be known, but ironically the icing that was on it stayed intact and seperated from the donut.

　
4. Who are some of your influences?

We all have a love or appreciation for heavy metal.

Sean likes bands more like Mr. Bungle, Between the Buried and Me, and Mastadon.

Alex really digs Protest the Hero, Amon Amarth, and Killswitch Engage.

Chris is into a variety of stuff from Clutch, Pearl Jam, Mastadon, all the way to random youtube video remix's.

Bryan grew up listening to rap and pop but moved on from there into Dave Matthews Band to Smashing Pumpkins, and eventually ended up listening to Metallica from there and kept going heavier.

Jessie is our diva, she loves anything you can dance and sing to. She's all about pop, but like we stated before... still has an appreciation for heavy metal.


5. What’s the music scene like in Alaska? What’s your take on the whole metalcore scene in general?

Alaska has a diverse music scene. There's lots of folk music here and indie jam-band rock. In the last decade or so we've experienced a more underground rap and metal scene starting to emerge. One metal band from our area, Turbid North, has gone on and started to find success in Texas.

Metalcore to us personally is fun to listen to and fun to see live. The "tea-bagging drops" for guitarist and bassist during breakdowns is a bit over-the-top and so is the "running-man" thing that most metalcore bands seem to do. Also, what's with the syncronized head banging?


6. Any good show stories?

At our second show, just before Jessie's vocal part in "Weaver of Lies," Bryan dropped one of his drum sticks. Thankfully it's an easy part to play with one drumstick, but Alex had taken off his glasses and did not have contacts in, and since he was the only one not doing anything at that time, Bryan got his attention and Sean even pointed to where the stick was. Alex looked right at it, then looked at Bryan and then shrugged and started walking away. Bryan yelled and said "drumstick" and finally Alex caught on and handed it to him just in time for the next part to kick in. Bryan said he was trying not to laugh the whole time watching this all go down and could even see Riley (drummer from Live As Lions) trying to run around and give him a drumstick from the crowd.


7. What’s your take on music downloading?

Downloading music is great. You can reach a mass of people that way. It can hurt the artist, but at the same time it is a great way to be heard. It's just finding the happy medium that is the hard part.


8. How would you describe your live show?

Expect the unexpected. Our first show we ever played, was a battle of the bands. Chris showed up wearing carhartts, Sean showed up in a bright red Freakazoid t-shirt, Alex had a button up shirt on and Bryan rocked a Beatles t-shirt. Everyone expected rock and roll and got an uppercut of metal to their taint. All-in-all, don't judge a book by it's cover.


9. What’s next for Nine Day Fall?

Shows, shows, and more shows. We're working hard to book more shows and we're also in the process of getting some merch lined up for our fans. T-shirts at first and of course our album.

And finally... we are looking for a second guitar and may have found one. We'll let everyone know when we do.


10. Any shoutouts?

Jacob Lincoln at Emerging Warrior Studios for being a patient producer with us and helping us sound amazing. Also, his family for dealing with our noise. Jon Farmer and the rest of Live As Lions for supporting us and helping us out as band. And last but not least all our fans who have supported us up to this point, especially Trevor McWilliams and Robbie Hunt.

-Review- Kill The Coward - Here Comes The Storm EP (3/9/12)

Kill The Coward
www.facebook.com/killthecoward
From: Moscow, PA
Here Comes The Storm
Release Date: 2011
Sounds like: Feed Her To The Sharks, Sea Of Treachery




Track Listing:

1. Here Comes The Storm
2. Can't Understand Normal Thinking
3. You Can't Spell Dream Without Leonardo DiCaprio
4. Voyage Of A Lost Soul
5. CZ
6. D-Will'D
7. Tell Me The Truther

Buy here

The first track "Here Comes The Storm" is strictly an intro that consists of thunderous booms in the background while an organ is playing in the foreground. It sets the mood for what's to come. Halfway through the track erupts a breakdown that's laden with a synth. The breakdown is perfect and really shows off from the get go what this band is capable of.

The track "Can't Understand Normal Thinking" starts off with a breakdown akin to old Emmure or even August Burns Red. The track has a lot going on. There's crushing breakdowns, a tech breakdown and even clean singing. The harmony of the chorus is something that really stands out and mixes quite well. "You Can't Spell Dream Without Leonardo DiCaprio" comes in with high pitched screaming and kicks into high gear which transitions into another melodic chorus with clean singing. There's more clean singing to the song than previous songs. The end of the song hits with a breakdown that is sure to get the floor moving.

The fourth track "Voyage Of A Lost Soul" gets your head banging off the bat. The song brings to mind The Sorrow. The last three tracks while melodic still hold the heaviness near and dear to their heart. The whole EP has a strong international feel to it. Meaning that established bands overseas only sometimes sound this good. If you're a fan of any type of core, check out this EP, you will not be disappointed.

Verdict:
Kill The Coward has a lot going on for them. They have a lot of influences on this EP. Other bands would be lucky to sound this good on an EP. If Kill The Coward keeps doing what they're doing and hones their skills, they will be a force.

Standout Tracks-
"Can't Understand Normal Thinking"
"Voyage Of A Lost Soul"

-Interview- True Will (3/8/12)

True Will
(From The Depths Entertainment)
Genre: Glam rock akin to Foxy Shazam or The Darkness.
Interviewed on: 3/8/12
From: Central, NJ
Facebook Page




1.You guys are set to release your “Insomnia Paranoia” album very soon. What should people expect from it?

Well we originally wanted to come out with a full album because we have more than enough material for one, but we decided we’d break up what would be an album into EP installments. This way we release and EP every couple of months to keep people’s interest. This EP has a little bit of everything though; it shows what to expect from the next two. It has a little bit of thrash, pop, rock, grunge and that’s cool cause we’re all over the place too.


2. The cover and back for the album were some very beautiful shots. Where were the pictures taken and how was the shoot?

The pictures were all shot in The Assunpink in Roosevelt, New Jersey one day. A friend of ours Abigail Schwendeman took them for us. We all drove out there together on this absolutely freezing day, and Roosevelt is a really small town completely surrounded by forests. So we drove out, and along the way we kept passing hunters so the entire time we were taking photos we kept hearing gunshots in the distance and watching deer running all over the place; so quite an interesting experience.


3. Is there a favorite track you like on the album? Is there a theme to the album?

Well the EP is named after the third song on it; Insomnia of Paranoia. That was one of the first songs that we wrote and has already become one of the highlights of our live shows.
As for a theme; across the three EP’s we have planned out, all of the songs deal with the same situation and tell the same story. With the one we’ll be releasing soon, it has to deal with the beginning of a problem and deciding which way to go, as do the beginning of many stories.


4. With Chris and Edward being the primary songwriters, how does the writing process occur with two writers? Is it easier to create a song?

With anything, the more people you involve in any process the harder it becomes because everyone has their own opinion and views, but when we agree on something and it all comes together it turns into something more diverse and complex then we ever could have done on our own. It’s definitely not easier, but it‘s definitely more rewarding.


5. What’s the music scene like in NJ? What’s your take on the whole glam rock scene in general?

Most of the venues in New Jersey are at the shore with a few here and there across the state, but most of the good shows are in Pennsylvania or New York; so pretty much the further from Jersey you go the better it gets. And that’s a real shame because many years ago there used to be music almost everywhere.
Glam rock is usually used as a derogatory term now a days and people imagine guys that look like chicks with big hair. But the early glam rockers were Alice Cooper, David Bowie, Queen and such where there’s a whole production onstage and everything’s bigger and grander than it should be, making a simple rock show turn into a theatrical production. Many glam rock bands now a days are middle-aged men who dress in leather and make up trying to relive the glory days. Everyone in the band is under twenty so we can’t relive anything; we’re just trying to remind people of the basics.


6. Any good show stories?

There are two stories that we’ll never forget. Back in October we opened for Wednesday 13, the front man of The Murderdolls, at The Trocadero Theatre in Philly. And since it’s a large venue we did a big production where Edward shoots himself onstage with the fake blood and everything. So as he’s singing on the floor of the stage “bleeding” to death, there are these girls near the front that start screaming and crying because they think it’s real. So we started thinking “We must be getting good at this!”
And just recently we played a show and Chris has a wireless system for his bass, so he hops off the stage and starts going through the audience until we don’t see him anymore. It was only after the show that he told us that he went to go take a piss in the bathroom, while still playing bass! Our best, most hilarious moments are usually the ones most people don’t know about, until now I guess.


7. What’s your take on music downloading?

We all download music, I mean anyone who says they don’t is just lying, but we as a band don’t illegally download it. For musicians and composers, music is their job and income; you wouldn’t exactly steal bread from a baker. All of True Will still listens to cd’s, but most of us still listen to vinyl. There’s nothing quite like hearing the songs come off the needle and through the speakers because it seems alive. And then of course there’s the sound quality you lose when comparing vinyl to cd to mp3 file. Think of the physical size of a vinyl as a representation of the sound quality; when you compare it to the size of a cd that’s the difference in what you’re losing sonically. And when you compare it to the physical size of an mp3, well there isn’t one.


8. How would you describe your live show?

When a venue permits, as in it’s big enough, we add in the smoke, the actors, the fake blood, and the Romeo and Juliet-like death scene. When people listen to the lyrics and the music and watch the stage show, it tends to make people think mainly two things: “What in the **** was that?” and they start to think about their morals, which not many people seem to do anymore. So to sum it up in simple terms: it’s an energetic, violent mix of beautiful death.


9. What’s next for True Will?

Well our debut EP should be coming up in about two weeks from now. We just played a collaborated show with The Fax Machine Situation, where we all played onstage together on songs so we’d like to try and do more of that with other bands. We’re playing shows almost every week or two and branching out to new venues. And in a few months we’ll be heading back to the studio to record our next release.


10. Any shoutouts?

Everyone who keeps coming out to shows and digging what we’re up to. Anyone we would name knows who they are otherwise it would be a really long list.

-Review- Amongst Carrion - We That Should Not Be (3/5/12)

Amongst Carrion
www.facebook.com/amongstcarrion
From: Newport, UK
We That Should Not Be
Release Date: 2011
Sounds like: Parkway Drive, Miss May I, older As I Lay Dying




Track Listing:

1. Intro
2. Shadows Over Me
3. We That Should Not Be
4. Painted Red
5. The Fear In Her Eyes
6. Snowblind

Buy here

The album starts off with an piano laden "Intro" that soothes the listener while what sounds like thunder is going off in the background. A guitar gently riffs at the end which transitions into "Shadows Over Me". The fast riffs, screaming and melody brings to mind older As I Lay Dying. There's even bits and pieces of the song that could bring to mind The Ghost Inside. The single "We That Should Not Be" hits with a force from the opening catchy riff to the first breakdown. They also shot a video for the song which can be found on Youtube. The song is fast, aggressive and just a good song to get pumped to.

The track" Painted Red" starts off and goes right for your throat. It continues to be brutal and melodic at the same time. It's a very pissed off song. "The Fear In Her Eyes" and "Snowblind" closes out the EP. Both songs keep the pace going with their brand of melodic metalcore.

Verdict:
Amongst Carrion brings very aggressive music to the masses. With bands like Miss May I and I Killed The Prom Queen getting bigger and bigger, it's hard to overlook the talent that Amongst Carrion has. Don't sleep on Amongst Carrion.

Standout Tracks-
"We That Should Not Be"
"Painted Red"

New Signing - True Will

We're pleased to announce our newest signing of Central NJ based melodic glam rock band True Will. Their album "Insomnia Paranoia" is set to be released in a few weeks and will grab the attention of any listener of rock music. With influences ranging from Judas Priest to Meat Loaf, True Will brings back the rock sound with catchy riffs and sky high melodies. ADD them at and be on the lookout for their album "Insomnia Paranoia" coming soon.
In the meantime, ADD them at Facebook - here.

New Signing - Invent, Animate

We're proud to announce our newest signing of Invent, Animate. They're set to release their debut "Waves" EP on March 13 which even features a guest spot from Brandon McMaster (Crimson Armada). With the "Waves" EP it's sure to catapult their brand of catchy melodic metalcore to astounding new heights. Be sure to check them out on March 24 at Redeemer Church in Beaumont, TX as they're performing alongside acts such as Dear You, The Emissary, Imagine Dreams In Action, Divisions, and See Me The Broken.
In the meantime, ADD them at Facebook - here.