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Friday, August 29, 2014

Jennifer Cihi's Honorary Talent of Being the Original Singer of Love and Justice!


Jennifer Cihi is an American singer/actress who's  performed on Broadway at a young age, done projects in the line of television, commercials, jingles, and animated films and series, one of which is one of Japan's most iconic since its debut 20 years ago, known only as Sailor Moon! She was indeed the singing voice talent behind that blonde haired school girl, the protector of love and justice herself Sailor Moon! Jennifer Cihi took some time to talk about the success of the series as well as her own back story on her life with all of the projects she's worked on within the past, present, and future timelines.


1. Can you introduce yourself, tell me what you do, and can you give those who aren't familiar with who you are a brief summary?

Jennifer: First Hi Natalie, nice to chat with you over the phone, my name is Jennifer Cihi, I am the singing voice of Sailor Moon that was recorded back in the 90's as well as filmed in the 90's. I now live in Nashville but at the time I had lived in Los Angeles during that project. I also have been a singer for many years now, that was just one of the cool projects I had did, while in Los Angeles I had done other projects like jingle works and was on a TV show for Nickelodeon called Roundhouse around the same time as Sailor Moon. Just lived in Los Angeles for a long, long, long time worked for Disney, did all kinds of projects, toured with a girl group and bands in the 90's then moved to Nashville. Oh gosh 12 years ago and I am still singing now, I can't believe I am in the 40's and I am still up there shaking, rattling, and rolling haha!

2. Would you say that you're a solo artist or involved in a band and you perform regularly or do you just sing for various songs here and there?
Jennifer: Yeah I have never been like "Jennifer Cihi the Artist" going back to the 90's I was shopping around for a record deal with this producer friend of mine, who was writing songs with at the time, during my 20's just getting any recording contract was really hard back then and is now, but at least now you have the internet where you don't even need a record label, you can become famous and very successful without the need of the middle man. But I never really went that route, I was always working for a big company or other corporate bands, but the whole Jennifer Cihi tours and shows that wasn't really for me.

But I did get to do so many other equally as fun and neat jobs, and make my living as a singer for 30 years. My first big project I may have not told you was I was a part of the first national tour of the Broadway show for Annie in 1978 playing the role of Pepper at 10 years old. That was a big job back in the day, Annie was that big show every girl wanted to be in, one of my cast members was  Molly Ringwald, so she's the one that was the big household name and became the most famous as an actress. To this day, I still talk to her sister we recently got reconnected through Facebook, which can be a good thing or a negative thing but not yet for me. But no I was never an "artist" that just wasn't supposed to be my path.

3. Have you written any other music or do you write your own music?

Jennifer: Yes, yes, yes, I have done that before but actually currently going to be working on a project, when I had moved to Nashville, I was introduced to this organization that is off the subject of performing and entertaining, but it's a very important cause in my life because I've been affected by it in my family, but what I am trying to do here in the next couple of months is to use the singing to help other people with mental illnesses like ADD, Bipolar, Depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Anxiety, all of those things that's affecting or has affected people.

Look at Robin Williams he was probably dealing with a mental illness or depression his whole life and he was so successful and he thought that death was the best option for him. So I've been touched by that because I've dealt with depression before but I've pulled through and now I am doing great, but there was a time many years ago where I wasn't, so I wanted to go and learn everything I could about it. I am involved in an organization here and writing some music and will possibly do some public speaking to high school and college people because I feel raising awareness for any kind of mental illness, people need to feel that there is hope for it. To just not end up like Robin Williams and many other people on this planet go and commit suicide.

That's what's really important to me, and I just feel that my signing and all the famous things I have done in the past and I have pulled through it, I want to give those people knowing that they can do it. That they're not thinking that "Oh know I'm doomed" or "I can't do it" it's raising awareness. So I am now currently planning a schedule of speaking publicly at high schools and colleges, where I am writing music for that, just writing from my heart and experiences and passion for it. So that kids and people that catch it early on, they can get help and not deal with it for the rest of their lives or in the worse possible way of committing suicide.

That's a very important project I have been working on for the past 4 years now. Which has gotten lead into the right direction with this public speaking approach, which is going to matter the most. I've had my 15 minutes of fame, doing all of these shows, conventions, and expos for the fans, but this subject matter is what's being hidden and it sounds scary but it doesn't have to be. You can get help so that's what's going to be continued most definitely.

4. Why do you think your voice is so suited for Anime based work?

Jennifer: Oh gosh! Well when I lived back in Japan in the 80's I was working for Tokyo Disneyland and singing in one of the bands that they had. A producer saw me and wanted an American singer for this project called City Hunter that was my first project I had done, where I got paid to sing a couple of songs, now that wasn't really considered anime that was in the 80's that was an animated movie because in Japan animation is HUGE as you know. So I did that first then came back many years later, I think I wasn't thought out by anime, I think I had just fell into it. When I auditioned for certain projects maybe they liked me because of the sound of my voice or me having a young sound. So from that I moved on to other projects, then toured with these bands I worked with then I revisited Sailor Moon years later for these conventions and expos so no one could get a hold of me. So I am glad I found out about it and it's neat to see it and was a fun project of doing those songs from the 90's that people still look up too.

5. Do you remember what you were doing when you got the call to come on to do the singing role for Sailor Moon?

Jennifer: That's a funny story. Sailor Moon wasn't Sailor Moon yet it was just a cartoon from Japan and they needed someone to sing the songs for it. So me being in my 20's I thought alright they will pay me and I will do  it and it was fun. After doing that first album, Sailor Moon had not been aired in America yet so we did not know me or the producers or any of the other girls, including this other girl Sandy Howell , we were just like this is a cool project and songs so we didn't know Sailor Moon would become this iconic character. Many months later, I did see it on TV and thought "Hey that's the cartoon I had worked on" it's so neat that it's on TV.

So at the time I was making sure I was still working, then it went off the air after a number of seasons but they then asked me to come back for some more album projects, where they had changed the producers a couple of times and make the music different. Then it went away and I went away not keeping up with it. After signing the contract with Dic Entertainment I wasn't being paid for it so I had moved on to do other projects. Then years went by and this sound guy I was working with here in Nashville, had asked me "Hey weren't you that singing voice for Sailor Moon?" because they had Googled me and said "Did you realize what she's become?" I was like "No?" I had moved from Los Angeles where it got filmed and created and produced so I lost track of all that and it just blew up like The Beatles and the people are really crazy for anime.

6. Did you know what or who Sailor Moon was at the time?

Jennifer: No we didn't know because it was in Japan and living there previously it was not out yet. I knew what Hello Kitty was and other products but not Sailor Moon. It's like Star Trek no one knew what it was or how big it would become but now 40 years later Star Trek conventions are happening with those guys participating. So it's the same with Sailor Moon but it seems like she's just as big as it sometimes. People are all crazy for it, the cartoons, cosplayers, gaming, it's a whole world for a lot of voice over work, singers, and just do their creative craft.

7. What made you want to be a part of Sailor Moon?

Jennifer: It was just a neat job, doing a lot of recordings, for commercials, like Mattel and Barbie and was the Hot Pocket singer for 20 years having sung that Hot Pockets jingle. I was doing a lot of work, getting calls, and back then if it paid and was a neat project why not? We had no clue Sailor Moon would be what it is today, that was 20 years ago, we didn't have a clue that this is what would happen. I am grateful now I can meet different types of people.

8. At this year's Anime Expo 2014 edition, you partook in a mini concert where you sung 5 tracks from the TV series Sailor Moon. What was it like to relive those songs and what was the experience like being surrounded by the fans of the hit TV show.

Jennifer: Well what's really cool is that I got to invite my nephew who lives in LA and is a professional musician to play with me, he's 20 something years younger than I am. So since I was in Los Angeles I already knew people there, so when I got involved with the Anime Expo, I had told them that a live band is way better than recorded music. Obviously I had done smaller cons and played with other bands. But here the fans were way more in on knowing Sailor Moon, knowing the words, it felt humbling and surreal to me.
Being this average person I had felt at that moment that I was like Katy Perry or Adele. Those 300-400 people had really grabbed their emotions seeing something I had sung 20 years ago, still had a life to it.

A lot of those people were in their 20's or older, so seeing that the fans are still loving the songs and the anime that has such value to get the same reaction to it is just amazing. I had some girls come up to it telling me that "This song helped me through this break up" or "I was bullied and it helped me heal" or "It helped me not commit suicide". This is why I am a singer, music helps me and everyone else, it's like my own therapy and it's kept going since I started doing it. I am grateful that I got to be paid doing what I loved to do. It would have been nice to have been like Katy Perry or Adele having that status but that wasn't meant for me. In my own world, I have had my own moments and being there it was very humbling even though those songs were from 20 years ago.

9. Would you consider doing a touring run performing just the Sailor Moon songs with a band if you had the chance too or is that just a convention and expo sort of thing?

Jennifer: The only problem is that there isn't very many to play except maybe 8-9. So in a situation it would be yes but I would need to add more songs for the fans and the time like a real concert making it an hour long. Only showcase I've done was around 40 minutes but I just don't know if it can happen or not.

10. How many of the Sailor Moon soundtracks did you contribute too?

Jennifer: There was the first Sailor Moon soundtrack then there was Sailor Moon and the Scouts Lunarock, then there was another one that was more of a poppy sound where I did a cover of song by The Beatles called "I Want to Hold Your Hand". There was about 3 total but a lot of them were compilation albums.

11. Out of the songs including the one's you sung, which would you say is your favorite and why?

Jennifer: "It's A New Day", is fun and uplifting and I am a very encouraging spirit and help others. "My Only Love", the ballad that everyone can relate too and I can sink my teeth into had more guts and feelings to it. Those are the ones I liked the best.

12. For those songs selected for you to sing, did you write those songs yourself or were those already pre-written and you just sung along?

Jennifer: They were pre-written by different people so I was hired to only sing for them, I would have made more money if I had written them though wouldn't I? Haha!

13. What are your thoughts on the original series being re-released and the Crystal series?

Jennifer: How do I think about that? It would have been nice if they had re-involved all of us to come back again, but I understand why they didn't. They probably wanted to update it and make it fresh and different for the new fans after listening to us for the past 20 years. When I was at the Anime Expo they had a showing of the new series, but I had a panel and signing so I didn't get to see it. I know they have a lot of younger voice over people that did it, I've seen the panel with the Japanese people, I had nothing to do with the voices which doesn't bother me, but the one's I did work with who I am meeting now, I am sure they would have liked to come back. I don't think they are using the same music and are using different music. I am seeing from social media comments about loving the original but they like the new one too and it's okay that it's new and having new songs, so I get why they had new people so I had my own time with it and I know I am the original no one else can be that but me.

14. When you were done working on the Sailor Moon project at the time, did you keep up with the show and see how it turned out or have you not gotten around to watching the series as of yet?

Jennifer: I did watch a lot of it but again not sure if they sell the original DVDs but I think the fans have the reboot of it. At that time I did not have time to sit down and watch it because I had my own life to live. So I love learning from the fans on what's happening with the show and the series. I don't even own a TV in my house because I don't like the new TV shows and I am not a TV watcher and do other stuff. One of these days I am going to go back and watch it, but I have seen the one's the one's featured in. That's why I always go to my fans because they know it from the inside out and are so into it. It's very cool to see how passionate these people are about it after all these years.

15. Besides this year's Anime Expo 2014, will you be appearing at any other conventions or expos for this year or next year?

Jennifer: I am going to The Malta Comics Expo in Italy in Europe in October near Halloween, Sukoshi Con on September 6th, then the Daycon Clarksville on September 20th. I like doing a lot of local conventions, traveling takes a lot out of you and but luckily for me I am still in good form and voice. I am working at a lot of other one's that are also in the works.

16. What else can we expect to see from you in the future?

Jennifer: I am doing the motivational speaking being passionate about that and doing a live concert most likely with a live band or recorded music. So that will be going on for the next 5 years of my life, making a different for other people. Then did some project with the Memphis Boys doing some shows with them coming up, then do sessions of other stuff with music, and conventions just doing what I do.

17. Any last words for the friends and fans out there?


Jennifer:  I guess what I can say, is to all of the fans that like the projects I have done. I am very grateful to keep performing for them and thankful that they have supported me with my singing and I am grateful for it. I am going to keep on singing until I get pushed off the stage or die whatever comes first haha! Thanks for the interview!

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Jamie Cullum's Announces New Album and Tour


Jamie is really excited to share the full details of Interlude, the jazz album featuring Laura Mvula and Gregory Porter, released on October 6th 2014 through Island Records.

The new album is a collection of twelve tracks, cribbed (mostly) from the earliest days of jazz, recorded simply in one room, with incredible musicians, like it used to be. Interlude was produced by Ben Lamdin and recorded live in the studio with twenty musicians, in just three days total.

About the new record, Jamie said: "I just thought Interlude was a perfect title for the album 'cause this is genuinely my first proper jazz record. I can pretend that I've made albums like this before, but I haven't...Names like Alice and John Coltrane, Nina and Billie and Sarah - they're all touchstones for 'Interlude'."

Interlude is now available to pre-order on Jamie's store HERE and will be available from other retailers on Monday, September 1st. Pre-order now and get a download of 'Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood', featuring Gregory Porter, and a limited edition signed picture with the Deluxe album. **

The deluxe edition includes a DVD of Jamie's full performance at Jazz à Vienne and an exclusive photo booklet containing tour and studio pictures taken by Jamie himself and Leica photographer Michael Agel.

TRACKLISTING:

1. Interlude
2. Don't You Know
3. The Seer's Tower
4. Walkin'
5. Good Morning Heartache (feat. Laura Mvula)
6. Sack O' Woe
7. Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood (feat. Gregory Porter)
8. My One And Only Love
9. Lovesick Blues
10. Losing You
11. Out Of This World
12. Make Someone Happy

Deluxe edition DVD filmed at Jazz à Vienne Festival

1. The Same Things
2. Get Your Way
3. Sack O' Woe
4. Interlude
5. The Seer's Tower
6. When I Get Famous
7. Walkin'
8. Pure Imagination
9. Lovesick Blues
10. Don't You Know
11. Don't Stop The Music
12. All At Sea
13. High And Dry
14. Losing You
15. You And Me Are Gone
16. Mixtape
17. Gran Torino

Jamie is also announcing a handful of intimate Interlude shows. Jamie and his big band will be squeezing into the venues below. Tickets are limited so don't miss out. Further Interlude shows in other countries will be announced shortly.

TOUR DATES:

17/09 - UK, London, Ronnie Scott's (19:30 and 22:15 sets)
18/09 - UK, London, Ronnie Scott's (19:30 and 22:15 sets)
07/10 - Germany, Berlin, Passionskirche
08/10 - Germany, Berlin, Passionskirche
28/10 - Holland, Amsterdam, North Sea Jazz Club
29/10 - Holland, Amsterdam, North Sea Jazz Club

The Rabid Whole Release "Don't Stop Now" Video


The Rabid Whole released a new video for their song "Don't Stop Now". Check it out HERE.

Glass Delirium's "Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) Journey Cover Video Released


Denver based alternative rock band Glass Delirium have released a shot for shot music video parody of the Journey classic "Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)". Check it out HERE.

Goatwhore Goes a Touring


New Orleans' favorite metal legion, GOATWHORE, will embark upon another bout of live headlining invasions next month. Set to launch in Houston on September 15th, the band will trounce fourteen cities including five shows supporting death rock/horror punk legends, Samhain!

In November, GOATWHORE will bring their sadistic anthems overseas for a European incursion with headliners Dying Fetus. The extended trek embarks on November 8th in Liege, Belgium, and will march through nearly four dozen metropolises, coming to a close on December 20th in Leer, Germany.

TOUR DATES:

9/15/2014 Fitzgerald's - Houston, TX
9/16/2014 Tomcat's - Ft Worth, TX
9/17/2014 Launchpad - Albuquerque, NM
9/18/2014 Club Red - Tempe, AZ
9/19/2014 The Wiltern - Los Angeles, CA w/ Samhain, Kyng
9/20/2014 The Warfield - San Francisco, CA w/ Samhain, Kyng
9/21/2014 Rotture - Portland, OR
9/22/2014 Crocodile - Seattle, WA
9/24/2014 Sunshine Studios - Colorado Springs, CO
9/25/2014 Riot Room - Kansas City, MO * late show
9/26/2014 The Rev Room - Little Rock, AR
10/29/2014 Electric Factory - Philadelphia, PA w/ Samhain, Midnight
10/31/2014 The Howard Theatre - Washington DC w/ Samhain Midnight
11/01/2014 Best Buy Theater - New York, NY w/ Samhain, Midnight
11/08/2014 Fonck - Liege, BE
11/09/2014 Turock - Essen, DE
11/10/2014 11er - Frankfurt, DE
11/11/2014 Beatclub - Dessau, DE
11/12/2014 Meet Factory - Prague, CZ
11/13/2014 Rockfabrik - Ludwigsburg, DE
11/14/2014 Lido - Berlin, DE
11/15/2014 Dynamo - Eindhoven, NL
11/16/2014 Exhaus - Trier, DE
11/17/2014 Audio - Brighton, GB
11/18/2014 Clwb Ifor - Bach Cardiff, GB
11/19/2014 Cathouse - Glasgow, GB
11/20/2014 Voodoo Lounge - Dublin, IE
11/21/2014 Sound Control - Manchester, GB
11/22/2014 Slade Rooms - Wolverhampton, GB
11/23/2014 Garage - London, GB
11/24/2014 Divan Du Monde - Paris, FR
11/25/2014 La Dynamo - Toulouse, FR
11/26/2014 Escenario - Santander, ES
11/27/2014 Hard Club - Porto, PT
11/28/2014 Penélope - Madrid, ES
11/29/2014 Estraperlo - Club Badalona, ES
11/30/2014 Paloma - Nimes, FR
12/01/2014 Le Tremplin - Clermont-Ferrand, FR
12/02/2014 Kiff - Aarau, CH
12/03/2014 Circolo Colony - Brescia, IT
12/04/2014 Backstage - München, DE
12/05/2014 Blue Hell - Budapest, HU
12/06/2014 Gala Hala - Ljubljana, SI
12/07/2014 Flying Circus - Cluj-Napoca, RO
12/08/2014 Jet Rock - Sofia, BG
12/09/2014 Club Rockstadt - Brasov, RO
12/10/2014 Collosseum - Kosice, SI
12/11/2014 Viper Room - Wien, AT
12/12/2014 Rockfabrik - Nürnberg, DE
12/13/2014 Voxhall - Aarhus, DK
12/14/2014 John Dee - Oslo, NO
12/16/2014 Nosturi - Helsinki, FI
12/18/2014 Debaser Medis - Stockholm, SE
12/19/2014 Kaiserkeller, Große Freiheit - Hambur, DE
12/20/2014 Zollhaus - Leer, DE

exist†trac​e Releases Video for "World Maker"


Japanese all-female rock band exist†trace revealed their new music video for the title track from their upcoming album WORLD MAKER. WORLD MAKER will be released September 24. The CD+DVD limited edition comes with 2 music videos, "WORLD MAKER" and "Spiral Daisakusen".

TRACKLISTING:

01. WORLD MAKER*
02. ダイアモンド (DIAMOND)
03. スパイラル大作戦 (Spiral Daisakusen)
04. JUST ONE
05. Imagination*
06. Feel*
07. SHOOTING STAR*
08. アンティークドール (Antique Doll)
09. くちびる (Kuchibiru)
10. RAZE*
11. 長い夢の終わりに (Nagai Yume no Owari ni)*
12. VOICE*
*=previously unreleased

Previews of all tracks are available at exist†trace's website: http://www.exist-trace.com/release/12.html

exist†trace has been performing a series of monthly one-man lives this year, titled “Gekijyou Spiral”, along with a co-headlining Japan tour with Take Ambulance, slated to start September 7. exist†trace will close out the year with a special one-man live “Gekijyou Spiral FINAL - WORLD MAKERS” on December 14 at Shibuya TSUTAYA O-WEST.

WORLD MAKER CD pre-orders (worldwide) at JRockShop (http://jrockshop.com) and Archangel Diamond (http://archangel-diamond.com).

Check out the video HERE.

ALEXA FERR COVERS TINASHE'S “2 ON”


Toronto, ON -Rugged Pop Artist Alexa Ferr has released a cover of Tinashe ft. Schoolboy Q's “2 On.” Stripping back the original song of it's Electro-R&B elements, Ferr has put a unique spin on the Top 40 hit. Featuring 2deepin on guitar and vocals, his collab on the cover track makes it theirs. In addition, Ferr's voice truly shines best as Best Fan put it, "it defines a confident artist who isn’t afraid to stand on their own." Listen to their cover HERE.

Alexa is currently in the studio, working with a variety of producers, including The Invaders (Josh Levi, Blake McGrath, Ashley Roberts) and Matthew "M Dot" Finley (memorable from his role in Disney's Camp Rock 2) who is featured on her very first single "Fell" (Dauman Music/Universal Music Group) on a follow up to her debut EP Lipstick On The Glass.

TOUR DATES:

August 30th: 8th Annual Black and White Pre-Mixer Showcase -333 Live in Los Angeles, CA
August 31st: The Viper Room -Los Angeles, CA
September 18th: Voodo Lounge In The House of Blues -Sunset Blvd -Los Angeles

The Persevering Promise Announces The Halloween Party Tour


Standby Records Presents The Halloween Party Tour with Consider Me Dead, Catching Your Clouds, The Paramedic and The Persevering Promise. The tour is set to start on October 11th in Mesa, AZ at The Underground. Check the full tour dates below.

TOUR DATES:

10/11 Mesa, AZ @ The Underground
10/12 Riverside, CA @ Clash City Studios
10/13 Van Nuys, CA @ White Oak Music
10/14 Bakersfield, CA @ Jerry's Pizza
10/15 Orangevale, CA @ The Boardwalk
10/16 Portland, WA @ The Tonic Lounge
10/17 Bremerton, WA @ The Charleston Music Venue
10/18 Seattle, WA @ El Corazon
10/19 @ Yakima, WA @ The Lair
10/20 Spokane, WA @ The Hop
10/21 Boise, ID @ The Shredder
10/22 Salt Lake City, UT @ The Loading Dock
10/23 Colorado Springs, CO @ Sunshine Studios
10/24 Albuquerque, NM @ Gasworks
10/25 Las Vegas, NV
10/26 San Diego, CA @ Woodys

Wrongchilde Releases Video for "Slow"


Wrongchilde releases new video for the song "Slow". Check it out HERE.

INSIDE METAL: THE PIONEERS OF LA HARD ROCK AND METAL” DOCUMENTAR​Y FILM SERIES


THE CREATORS OF 'INSIDE METAL: THE PIONEERS OF LA HARD ROCK AND METAL” DOCUMENTARY FILM SERIES, WHICH FEATURES THE BIGGEST NAMES OF '80S METAL, OFFERS METAL FANS A CHANCE TO BE INCLUDED IN THESE HISTORICAL MOVIES THOUGH FANBACKED

The early '80s metal scene in Los Angeles has become legendary, as it spawned such worldwide headliners as Mötley Crüe, Ratt, Dokken, W.A.S.P., and originally, Metallica (before the latter relocated to San Francisco). And the new documentary, 'Inside Metal: Pioneers of L.A. Hard Rock & Metal,' chronicles the entire scene.

Directed by Bob Nalbandian and produced by Metalrock Films, 'Inside Metal' features all-new interviews with countless bands and artists that thrived on the scene, and tell its story, first hand. To ensure that this killer documentary receives the attention it deserves, a fundraising campaign has been set up at WWW.METALROCKFILMS.COM - which will help strengthen the film's distribution, marketing and promotion.

This groundbreaking movie features exclusive and candid interviews with members of Metallica (Lars Ulrich), Ratt (Stephen Pearcy), Dokken (Don Dokken), Quiet Riot (Carlos Cavazo), W.A.S.P. (Chris Holmes), Megadeth (David Ellefson), Great White, (Jack Russel), Y&T, (Dave Meniketti), Stryper (Michael Sweet) and Armored Saint (Joey Vera).

'Inside Metal' is about giving fans the real inside story from the behind the scenes world of metal and hard rock with in-depth interviews, ultra-rare concert footage and photographs, and an original music score from that era; in this no-holds-barred, never before seen, recollection of untold stories.

To check out some sneak previews, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlzWl795u0E.

Early feedback has been exceptional, including renowned video director Jonas Åkerlund (who has worked with the likes of Metallica and Ozzy) raving, "This film captures an era that catapulted metal into the spotlight and takes the audience on a wild ride down memory lane. After watching it I wanted to get in my time machine and experience those days for the first time. You’re hit with a potent nostalgia, a time I thought we couldn’t get back, not until I saw this film. I can’t get enough of this shit, what an amazing film to watch over and over again, well done!"

Metalrock Films ask - and want - real and serious metal fans to be a part of this historic documentary and spread the word that this was the scene where it all began, ground zero.  "Our Fanbacked campaign will raise the direly needed financial support to bring this film to one and all in the US and Internationally in order to pay for the marketing and promotion to get it noticed by the general public. We want to bring this film to your theatre, town, bar, club and living room! Unite and support us. We have created some one of a kind opportunities for our friends and fans to participate with us in birth of this film. Get your name on the screen and let the world know that you support metal and the bands that create it. Help us tell the story of the music you love and let the world know you love it. Join in the festivities of our, and your, accomplishments by being at the premiere of the movie and interact with the artist that participated in its creation. Commemorate your participation with a plaque, t-shirt, poster or other limited edition merchandise items that says 'Metal Rules.' Keep checking back as we add more tasty premiums."

And thanks to you and your donation, 'Inside Metal' will finally get the true story of the scene heard - worldwide!

To make a donation, go to:

WWW.METALROCKFILMS.COM

www.fanbacked.com

Requiem Releases Title Track "The Unexplainable Truth"


Requiem has released the title track for their song "The Unexplainable Truth" which can be heard HERE.

Requiem for the Dead Changes Name, Announces Album Details and More!


Requiem for the Dead formerly known is now known as just plain Requiem fronted by former singer of I Am Ghost Steven Juliano. But that's not all that's changed for them, they have gone on to get signed with Cleopatra Records (E1/Universal) with their new album, "The Unexplainable Truth" hitting stores everywhere October 28th, 2014! The album artwork and tracklisting can be seen below with you able to follow the band via Facebook HERE and their own website HERE.


TRACKLISTING:

1. Intro- Gather Round the Spoken Pile
2. Say Hello to the Devil for me
3. Where the hell did all the romance go?
4. The Unexplainable Truth
5. Sticks & Stones & Her Lovely Bones
6. Coma
7. The Broken
8. Goodbye Beautiful
9. Tall Tales of a Vermicious Knid
10. The Crown
11. Now or Never Days
12. Empty Beds in Hospital Rooms
13. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
14. The Big Shakedown

Asking Alexandria's "Moving On" Video Released


Asking Alexandria's new video for their song "Moving On" has been released and can be seen HERE.

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

GERARD WAY ANNOUNCES FIRST SOLO U.S. TOUR


Fresh off his weekend performances at the Reading and Leeds festivals in England, former My Chemical Romance frontman Gerard Way has announced that he will hit the road for a string of U.S. tour dates in October performing songs from his upcoming solo debut album, Hesitant Alien, which will be released on September 30th by Warner Bros. Records. Way will also perform four shows in Australia for the Soundwave Festival in February 2015.

TOUR DATES:

10/12 - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore
10/13 - Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour
10/14 - Los Angeles, CA - Fonda Theatre
10/17 - Philadelphia, PA - Trocadero Theatre
10/19 - Boston, MA - Paradise Rock Club
10/20 - New York, NY - Irving Plaza
10/22 - Sayreville, NJ - Starland Ballroom
10/23 - New York, NY - Webster Hall
02/21 - Adelaide, AUS - Soundwave Festival
02/22 - Melbourne, AUS - Soundwave Festival
02/28 - Sydney, AUS - Soundwave Festival
03/01 - Brisbane, AUS - Soundwave Festival

Stars in Stereo Releases New Video for “Leave Your Mark”


Stars In Stereo have released their new video for the song "Leave Your Mark". Check it out HERE.

INORAN GOES ON TOUR


INORAN has just announced his ASIA TOUR 2014 to be held in November. While LUNA SEA is holding their first nationwide tour in fourteen years including 32 shows in 16 cities, INORAN, as a solo artist, set out for overseas as well.

TOUR DATES:

INORAN B-DA Y LIVE CODE 929/2014 – B-DA Y BASH!

9/21(Sun) Osaka BIGCAT
9/22(Mon) Nagoya ElectricLadyLand

BIRTHDAY EVE NIGHT

9/28(Sun) Shibuya Kokaido

NO NAME? MEMBERS’ LIMITED LIVE

9/29(Mon) Somewhere in Tokyo

Arms and Sleepers Announce New Album "Swim Team"


Arms and Sleepers, composed of Boston duo Max Lewis and Mirza Ramic, revealed itself to the world almost a decade ago. In that time, the group has put out a total of 18 releases, collaborated with dozens of prominent artists (Tom Brosseau of Fat Cat Records, Philip Jamieson of Caspian, Ben Shepard of Uzi & Ari) and worked on numerous remixes (Caspian, Helios, Ef, Tape Deck Mountain, and others). The project has taken Mirza Ramic, the live performer of the duo, across North America, Europe and Asia over the past 8 years, attracting worldwide attention and garnering widespread appreciation from all corners of the industry.

2014 marks the beginning of a new chapter for Arms and Sleepers, with the release of their first new album in over three years – entitled Swim Team – scheduled for October 28th via Fake Chapter Records. Building on the ambient sound of their previous work while taking their music in a fundamentally new direction, Swim Team sees the duo taking bold creative steps and coming into full focus. “The album is definitely a departure from our previous releases – it has more to the point, concise compositions with a lot of focus on beats and different synth sounds,” says Ramic. And songs like Swim Team and Hurry Slowly perfectly embody the band’s new and amped-up sound.

Inspired by childhood obsessions in the 80s, Swim Team draws from instrumental hip- hop, R&B-influenced instrumentation and a wide range of electronic music to capture nostalgic moments. Despite a relatively short running time of 35 minutes, the album manages to deliver a wide range of intense emotions through its tapestry of intricate melodies and upbeat rhythms. More importantly, the new album fulfills the longing we have had for new music since the release of the band’s critically-acclaimed 2011 album The Organ Hearts. Swim Team is a compelling album characterized by a beautiful blend of lush textures, complex beats, and subtle harmonies which illustrate the duo’s growth and pursuit of invention and reinvention – becoming their most dynamic album yet.

TRACKLISTING:

1. Unbound
2. Swim Team
3. Hummingbird
4. Tiger Tempo
5. Mingus Mapps
6. Forever Only
7. Nobody More Than You
8. Ghost Loop
9. Hurry Slowly
10. Better Living Thru Chemistry
11. Tetro

My Own Ghost To Release Debut Album "Love Kills"


On October 10th, 2014, the Luxembourgish/German band My Own Ghost releases their debut album "Love Kills" via Secret Entertainment. The songs by My Own Ghost can best be described as dynamic pop rock, with a throbbing groove laid out by Michael's drums, Joe's bass and two powerful guitars. The melodic, yet powerful female voice wraps the 13 songs into a softer shell. The album is furthermore marked by electronic influences, leading to an interesting mix. All the members of My Own Ghost contribute to the songwriting, creating thus a vast variety on "Love Kills" due to the musicians' different backgrounds, ranging from pop to metal. Having taken in charge most of the recording and mixing on their own, My Own Ghost relied on Markus Teske from Bazement Studio in Germany, renowned for his quality work on albums of Vanden Plas, Symphony X, Spock's Beard and Patrick Rondat, to record drums, execute an additional mix and to sign responsible for the mastering of the album.

My Own Ghost has been founded in 2013. Joining Fred Brever, Joe May and David Soppelsa in this ambitious project are vocalist Julie Rodesch (Providers, Seven Days On Fire) and German drummer Michael Stein, best known for his work with Red Circuit. In no time, the band hit the stages of Luxembourg and already had a stint in the UK, playing amongst others at the famous Dublin Castle in Camden Town. After their return to Luxembourg, the quintet opened for the likes of Ivy Quainoo and Isaac Roosevelt.

 "Love Kills" is the outcome of countless hours devoted to songwriting and countless hours spent on the meticulous recording of the album, combined with the determined will and skills of five musicians, ready to go all the way. From the energetic opener "Crimson Ground" to the anthemic doublebass-driven "Intoxicated", the songs on "Love Kills" take the listener on a journey from the electronic beats of "Beautiful Mistake" and "Broken Mirror" to the piano-driven rock of "Silence" and the first single "Crystal Ball", via Cure-influenced danceable songs like "Lost" and "Bad Love". After having penned a deal with Secret Entertainment from Finland, My Own Ghost will promote the album by touring through different European countries, starting with a planned tour through Germany in October 2014 with a show at Berlin's Sage Club already confirmed at this stage.

 TRACKLISTING:

1. Crimson Ground
2. Lost
3. Waiting In The Wings
4. Crystal Ball
5. Bad Love
6. Beautiful Mistake
7. Silence
8. Free Fall
9. Pathways
10. Broken Mirror
11. Born In Fire
12. Mute
13. Intoxicated

9ELECTRIC SET TO UNLEASH NEW EP


Hollywood’s 9ELECTRIC have officially announced September 2, 2014 as the release date for their hotly anticipated Control EP. An eclectic mix of electro-industrial rock, Control offers a little something for everyone to dance to and even includes a special guest appearance from Heidi Shepherd of BUTCHER BABIES on the single “Bullet Tooth.” EP Artwork designed by Anthony Clarkson.

"We are stoked to release our EP CONTROL to the world! This release has many of the most popular songs that we’ve been playing as we’ve toured the country this year. We hope you all love it as much as we do and we’ll see you on the road as we continue our summer tour and again later this fall!" adds 9E vocalist Thunderwood.


TRACKLISTING:

1. Time Bomb
2. Bullet Tooth (Feat. Heidi Shepherd)
3. Feel This
4. Goodbye
5. Under Attack
6. Control

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Dope's ‘Selfish’ Video Released


Dope has released a new video for the song "Selfish". Check it out HERE.

THE CONTORTIONIST RELEASES VIDEO FOR "LANGUAGE"


THE CONTORTIONIST have debuted an all new music video for their latest single "Language I: Intuition". Directed by Corey Norman, this is the first music video installment from the band since they debuted the rapidly watched "Dreaming Schematics" video released in 2012. Check out the video HERE.

SKELETONWITCH's "Unending, Everliving" Video Released


Skeletonwitch has released their new video for their song "Unending, Everliving". Check it out HERE.

UNEARTH ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM AND NEW TOUR DATES W. DARKEST HOUR ANNOUNCED


New England Metal pioneers UNEARTH have announced Watchers of Rule to be released via eOne Music on October 28th, 2014. Produced by Mark Lewis (WHITECHAPEL, DEVILDRIVER), this marks the band's six full length LP in their decorated sixteen year tenure. Lewis also produced the band's previous release, Darkness in the Light in 2011.

This time, the band is heading out with friends DARKEST HOUR on the Hell or High Wattage Tour with CARNIFEX, ORIGIN, I BREATHER and fellow label mates BLACK CROWN INITIATE in support. Click here for all tour dates. Vocalist Trevor Phipps adds a final message for their fans:

"Greetings heavy metal enthusiasts! We here at Unearth industries are all whipped up about the phenomenal tour package you see before you. Come see some of the realest motherfuckers in the game do what they do best. Delivering top shelf metal that's heavier than a mountain of manatees straight to you face from high atop 1-4 foot stages. So fuel up on Coco Pebbles and Jäger and come get wild!"

TOUR DATES:

10/13 Montreal, QC - Les Foufounes Électriques
10/14 Ottawa, ON - Mavericks
10/15 Toronto, ON - The Opera House
10/16 Joliet, IN - Mojoes
10/17 Rochester, NY - The Montage Music Hall
10/18 Worcester, MA - Worcester Palladium / Rock And Shock fest (No BCI)
10/19 New York, NY - Studio at Webster Hall
10/20 Springfield, VA - Empire
10/21 Covington, KY - Madison Theater
10/22 Winston Salem, NC - Ziggy's

BUTCHER BABIES Announce Details for upcoming 'Uncovered' EP


Taking a page from heroes METALLICA and GUNS N' ROSES, Los Angeles breakthrough metal act, BUTCHER BABIES, have recorded an EP of cover tunes that will surely please fans of the band, as well as fans of the artists that performed them originally. Titled Uncovered, this EP will be released on September 30 in North America (October 6 in Europe) and features the following five tracks:

TRACKLISTING:

1. Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers
2. They're Coming to Take Me Away
3. Don't Give a Fuck
4. Crazy Horses
5. Pussy Whipped

BUTCHER BABIES' Carla Harvey (vocals) comments: "It was a blast recording songs that we have been fans of our entire lives and putting our spin on them. We all chose a song that had some significance to us. My pick was 'They're Coming to Take Me Away' by NAPOLEAN XIV because I have a vivid memory of my stepdad, who I considered completely insane, playing it over and over again on his car stereo when I was a pre-teen. The song is about being taken away to a mental institution. I can still see him tapping his fingers on his steering wheel to the beat..."

BUTCHER BABIES' Heidi Shepherd (vocals) adds: "As an eight or nine-year-old little girl, I used to rummage through my parents' albums and 8-tracks looking for some cool music. In hopes that my parents had at least a little bit of good taste, I would play every single song looking for something that I could latch on to. That's when I came across 'Crazy Horses' by THE OSMONDS; it was the heaviest song I had heard at that age. I would play that song over and over and over again, I was addicted. To this date, it's still one of my favorite songs and reminds me so much of growing up in Provo, Utah."

In regards to BUTCHER BABIES' cover of THE OSMONDS' "Crazy Horses", Donny Osmond comments: "When we released 'Crazy Horses,' we were pushing against what THE OSMONDS were known for, but it became a greatest hit. The BUTCHER BABIES have reinvented this song in a creative and innovative way -- and that's what music is about. Now...What if I had recorded 'Puppy Love' like this?"

Monday, August 25, 2014

WAYNE STATIC Announces Co-Headline Tour with Powerman 5000


WAYNE STATIC the founding member and leader of Evil Disco innovators Static-X will be hitting the road this fall on a co-headline run with Powerman 5000. American Head Charge will provide support on most dates. The tour will kick off November 6th in Waterloo, IA and is currently scheduled to run through November 30th in McCallen, TX. A complete list of dates can be found below.

TOUR DATES:

11/6: Waterloo, IA @ Spicoli’s Rock Garden/Reverb*
 11/7: Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon
 11/8: Kimberly, WI @ Savagefest @ Tanner’s Entertainment Complex
 11/9: Fort Wayne, IN @ Piere's
 11/11: Joliet, IL @ Mojoe’s
 11/12: Cleveland, OH @ Agora Theater
 11/13: Flint, MI @ Machine Shop
 11/14: Syracuse, NY @ Lost Horizon
 11/15: Stafford, CT @ Palace Theater
 11/16: New York, NY @ BB Kings
 11/17: Baltimore, MD @ Baltimore Soundstage
 11/19: Wilmington, NC @ Ziggy's
 11/21: Atalnta, GA @ 120 Tavern
 11/22: Winston-Salem, NC @ Ziggy's
 11/23: Knoxville, TN @ The International
 11/26: San Antonio, TX @ Backstage Live
 11/27: Tyler, TX @ Clicks
 11/28: Houston, TX @ Scout Bar
 11/29: Dallas, TX @ Trees
 11/30: McCallen, TX @ Metropolis

FOR TODAY RELEASE NEW VIDEO FOR “MOLOTOV”


For Today have released their new video for the song "Molotov". Check it out HERE.

Ransom and the Subset Releases Song "Anna"


Ransom and the Subset are an alternative rock band full of harmonies and magnetic power-pop chords, and soaring keyboard riffs that build incessantly memorable arrangements designed to keep listeners coming back. They dynamic sounds of Ransom and the Subset is a collaboration between Porter and the best musicians he knew; producer and multi-instrumentalist Brian E. King (Guitar/Bass/Keys) and Grammy-winning engineer Ducky Carlisle (Drums/Background Vocals).

Together they deliver a dynamic blend of heightened pop sensibilities and modern rock influences that appeal to a wide breadth of audiences. In between recording in Boston and New York, Porter sought the talents of a number of other musicians, crafting an album full of beautifully orchestrated instrumentation that never stops giving.  Famed producer Keith Olsen says, “Stunning guitar arrangements and well-crafted, infectious songs: Ransom and the Subset is right on the mark. RanDair—the singer/songwriter behind the project—is a clever writer, talented singer, and the sound and production of his debut album No Time to Lose is simply as professional and as high-quality as you can get.” The fun doesn't stop there, “No Time to Lose” is a delicious alternative rock-pop album that delivers one heart stopping track after another.

Check out their latest single "Anna" off their debut album "No Time To Lose" HERE.

TRAPT RELEASE ACOUSTIC VERSION OF #1 HIT “HEADSTRONG”


TRAPT is proud to release their new, acoustic version of #1 hitting track “Headstrong on Loudwire today. Scheduled for a September 23rd release via Crash Collide Records, ‘The Acoustic Collection’ will feature acoustic adaptations of some of their biggest hits. Fans can now pre-order the album on iTunes HERE.

"The Acoustic Collection" really focuses on the songs we have written throughout the years. I think by stripping every song down to the basic instruments, it really allows the emotion in each song to be felt. We have played acoustic sets at radio stations, meet and greets with fans and have even done a few full acoustic shows and with each performance, our fans asked for an album of acoustic songs. I really feel like we delivered exactly what they had in mind. This album is definitely the most organic sounding album we have ever done for obvious reasons. We were able to create an album that breathes and moves without the aid of too much production, just natural instruments the way they were meant to be heard." - Chris Taylor Brown

TRACKLISTING:

 1. Headstrong
 2. Echo
 3. Only One In Color
 4. Contagious
 5. These Walls
 6. Ready When You Are
 7. Black Rose
 8. Waiting
 9. Lost Realist
 10. Made Of Glass
 11. Too Close
 12. Who’s Going Home With You Tonight
 13. Love Hate Relationship

Check out the acoustic version of "Headstrong" HERE.

Miss May I's "You Want Me" Video Released


Miss May I releases new video for their song "You Want Me". Check it out HERE.

Slipknot Reveals Album Details and Releases New Song and More!


Slipknot's upcoming fifth album entitled ".5: The Grey Chapter" being a possible prequel to the previous albums, is out via Roadrunner Records on October 21st 2014. The album's artwork, tracklisting and new single off this album called "The Devil in I" can be heard HERE with the artwork and tracklisting below. But that's not all Slipknot is up too they will be taking part in their own music festival called Knot Fest as well as touring alongside Korn and King 810. Find out where and when also below!

TRACKLISTING:

1. XIX
2. Sarcastrophe
3. Aov
4. The Devil In I
5. Killpop
6. Skeptic
7. Lech
8. Goodbye
9. Nomadic
10. The One That Kills the Least
11. Custer
12. Be Prepared For Hell
13. The Negative One
14. If Rain Is What You Want

TOUR DATES:

OCTOBER:

25 San Bernardino, CA Knotfest
26 San Bernardino, CA Knotfest
29 El Paso, TX El Paso County Coliseum
31 Dallas, TX Gexa Energy Pavilion

NOVEMBER:

1 Corpus Christi, TX American Bank Center
2 San Antonio, TX AT&T Center
4 Little Rock, AR Verizon Arena
5 Oklahoma City, OK Chesapeake Energy Arena
6 Omaha, NE CenturyLink Center
8 Madison, WI Alliant Energy Center
9 Sioux Falls, SD Denny Sanford Premiere Center
11 Denver, CO Denver Coliseum
19 Baltimore, MD Baltimore Arena
21 Nashville, TN Bridgestone Arena
22 Lexington, KY Rupp Arena
23 Ft. Wayne, IN Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
25 Moline, IL iWireless Center
26 Kansas City, MO Sprint Center
28 Rosemont, IL Allstate Arena
29 Detroit, MI Palace of Auburn Hills
30 Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre

DECEMBER:

2 Reading, PA Santander Arena
3 Camden, NJ Susquehanna Bank Center
5 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun
6 East Rutherford, NJ Izod Center
7 Boston, MA Paul E. Tsongas Arena

Friday, August 22, 2014

ATRUM TEMPESTAS GETS SIGNED


Nordavind Records is proud to announce the signing of Finnish Atmospheric Black Metal unit Atrum Tempestas, adding that the band’s debut full-length Néant is already scheduled for an October release.

 Here’s a commentary from the band on the signing: "We are glad to announce that we have signed to Nordavind Records for the release of our first album. Needless to say, we are very excited to be working with Nordavind Records, who, with their continued support, will give our music a fitting home. We can hardly wait for you to hear and see the fruit of this partnership, and hope for positive things to emerge in the future for all parties involved!"

Hailing from Finland, Atrum Tempestas is a stormy, yet tranquil trip into atmospheric black metal, drawing influences from styles like funeral doom and post-rock. Since its foundation in 2007, Atrum Tempestas' music has been shifting from deliberate minimalism to alluring soundscapes and from thoughtful examination to bursts of emotionally charged passages. Lyrically “Néant” derives both from personal experience as well as more abstract themes of loss and nature, being the band's first foray into crafting a conceptual whole.

American's Mike and Jim One Frightening Duo


American are a frightening enigma, one of those musical projects that were birthed at the outskirts of everything, at the very edge of existence, within a remote wasteland of complete anti-human introversion and detachment. Nothing is basically known about the band outside of the fact that it is formed by two obscure and recluse Virginia locals who get together cyclically to craft the meanest, most vile, putrid and desolate blackened cacophony they can materialize from their evil-corroded minds.

It goes on to say that no touring or any kind of live activity and the complete reclusiveness of the duo have further enhanced the obscurity that shrouds the band, paving the way for a listening experience of their hideous sonic craft that is absolutely daunting as it howls from depths unknown. The duo known as Mike and Jim partake in discussing their latest "Coping with Loss", giving the rundown on it's inner being's and just what else they have in-store.


1. Please tell us about the history of your band and its members.

Mike: I write a lot of the music, play guitar and bass, and do some vocals & noise shit.

Jim: I do vocals and drums, along with power electronics stuff as well.

Mike: We started writing and recording in my basement in 2010 while we were in high school with no intention of releasing anything.

Jim: We always kind of did it for our own pleasure.

2. You went with the name, American, why was this your name of choice? Does it have to deal with our government and politics or does it surround another meaning?

Mike: To be honest, we don’t want to talk about where our name came from. It’s a personal matter.

3. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?

Jim: We’re from Virginia, but live about 3 hours away from each other.

Mike: I live in the mountains in Winchester and he lives in the city in Richmond. Lots of bar bands in Winchester. Guttermouth played there once but I threw my back out and missed their show.

Jim: Richmond is cool. There’s a lot of different music coming out of there, mainly hardcore. There’s a good metal scene as well and a quiet noise scene. As for bands, check out Unsacred, Holy Land, Bastard Sapling, and Lil Ugly Mane.

4. What lyrical theme do you guys use in your music? What message do you want to send?

Jim: We want to instill a feeling of hopelessness and complete loss. Our lyrics are very personal and we do not intend on putting much, if any, of them out.

5. What bands have influenced your band and its sound?

Mike: Definitely Wolves In The Throne and The Body. Bands that are just as focused on the atmosphere as the music itself. Fast shit in general really though. Good riffs. Pantera riffs forever.

6. Is there any story or concept behind the Coping With Loss title?

Jim: I wrote the majority of the lyrics while transitioning into veganism and it all has to do with my disdain with the human race.

Mike: I just tried writing from a personal place, but that only gets you so far when writing music. To be honest, I was just listening to a lot of Bastard Sapling and was really feeling it.

7. Who produced Coping With Loss and what was it like working with them?

Jim: We worked with Anthony Vi, the same guy we recorded our split with Crone with.

Mike: Anthony is the only person behind Crone and is more of an enigma than anything else.

Jim: Anthony is the only other person we know who understands our vision and craft. He’s helped us so much and has pushed us to new heights every time we work with him.

Mike: He’s a miracle worker.

8. Who did the cover art for Coping With Loss and how much input did you have on it?

Jim: Kevin from Sutekh Hexen did the art and it’s just out of control. He blew us out of the water. Very easy to communicate with.

Mike: We were able to convey what we wanted and he just made it happen. Unbelievable.

9. Select two songs from Coping With Loss and what inspired the lyrics.

Jim: Solace is all about my irrational fear of death not being the end. Ritual is about systematic oppression in America.

10. How did the signing with Sentient Ruin Laboratories occur? What have they brought to the table for you guys that made you stick around and be a part of their family?

Mike: Mattia hit us up in November 2013 asking if we were interested in getting involved with a then untitled label.

Jim: We had just decided to try and write a full-length album so that was really good timing.

Mike: Mattia has allowed complete creative control and that’s hard to find. I think we’re pretty difficult to work with.

Jim: We want to be in control of our music as a whole and he let that happen. We were able to take as long as we wanted and that’s a big deal to us

Mike: The fact he let’s outsiders remain outsiders is wonderful.

Jim: His band Abstractor is great. The shit they’re working on is going to kill you.


11. What are your upcoming touring/show plans?

Mike: I’m looking to move to Richmond next year. We’re already starting to build a live band.

Jim: Anthony Vi is the only confirmed member so far.

12. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?

americanx.bandcamp.com

sentientruin.bandcamp.com

Mike: We’ll have merch soon enough. Tapes are up for pre-order on Sentient Ruin’s site.

13. What is it you'd like a listener to remember the most when hearing your music for the first time?

Mike: The emotions it made you feel as a result.

Jim: How depressed you really are.

14. What can the fans expect to see from you in the future?

Jim: We’ll just keep falling further and further into obscurity.

15. Any final words of wisdom?

Mike: Keep on truckin’.

Jim: Don’t depend on anybody.

Machinae Supremacy's Robert is or isn't a Phantom Shadow?

Machinae Supremacy's video game inspired sounds, melodies, and way of creating music really captures that genetic approach. They have been around for quite sometime now and have upon them their sixth album called "Phantom Shadow". Frontman vocalist Robert Stjärnström talks of that release and future activities.


1. Can you give those of us who aren't familiar with Machinae Supremacy a brief history of the band and can you please describe your sound for those who have yet to hear your music?

Robert: We’re an alternative metal band from Sweden, and we play metal turbocharged with old-school video game sounds and influences, that kind of 8-bit gnarly blippediblopps and tones some of you remember from the pre-hifi-era of computers and video games.

2. Your band's name is Machinae Supremacy, why did you want to go and call yourselves this title and what does it refer too?

Robert: It was a cyberpunk reference, augmented with some Latin just to make it more interesting. The basic idea was to refer to the supremacy of machines over humans. Can be interpreted in the context of fiction as well as in real life science and technology.

3. What are your impressions of the metal scenes in your hometown and in Sweden as a whole?

Robert: We do have a few really good bands in Sweden but I feel as though metal is an export product, still. Swedish people in general don’t seem all that interested to be frank, and sure, the really internationally big bands attract big audiences at festivals and such, and luckily I believe metal fans are more loyal than fans of most other genres, but in our home town, there is no metal scene at all.

4. Why did you want "Beyond Good and Evil" as your single and video of choice and why use a live performance as your concept instead of a typical concept video.

Robert: We’re working on a video for the song “Renegades”, which is more complex than usual and it’ll take some time to finish. We pushed out “Beyond Good and Evil” using footage we already had in order to have something out and available in time for the album release.

5. Could you describe your song writing process? What comes first the music or the lyrics?

Robert: The music comes before the lyrics, but the idea of what a song should be about is usually either already there (thought not connected to any music yet) or is born at the same time as the music is conceived. We usually get most of the base parts of a song in place before finalizing the lyrics, and sometimes we rearrange, transpose or drop and replace parts of songs to make it work better. It’s a very iterative process for us, and it involves a lot of files being sent back and forth (we rely heavily on Dropbox for this).

6. Can you tell us how this album differs from the previous ones? What can we expect and what is the message behind it?

Robert: It’s our first concept album. We've had stories in our songs before, but this is the first time we use 16 tracks to tell one coherent story, which itself is part of a greater saga. The story has many subtleties amidst a violent and strong core message, but the main takeaway could perhaps be that good and evil isn't as simple as black and white. And being a force for good is still possible even if your reasons are not altruistic.

7. What would be the cinematic equivalent of Phantom Shadow?

Robert: Perhaps a mix between Equilibrium and Enemy of The State.

8. Is it important for you to paint visual pictures with the songs?

Robert: Yes. We tend to look at our music as more than what you hear. There is a substance, a story or sometimes just a message, but still it’s something that we hope will inspire images and feelings in our audience.

9. What does Phantom Shadow mean to you all?

Robert: We try to challenge ourselves with every release in some way. To do something we haven’t done before. This time, we made a concept album with a singular story being played out from beginning to end. And we, personally, feel it turned out pretty great, which means this album marks a new stepping stone for us with regards to how we create and piece everything together. We also brought in more collaborators than ever before, so the album really is bigger than before, in every way. We’re very proud of it.

10. How did the idea of wanting to take video games and infuse it with music making? Would you say that your style is similar to that of PowerGlove?

Robert: A Swedish company, Elektron, empowered me to do so by providing a synth based on the old Commodore 64 sound chip. It’s called SIDStation. I bought it and started making music. When I met Jonne, one of our guitarists as well as co-founder of Machinae Supremacy, he brought the heavy riffs into the equation and here we are.

I’m sure fans of PowerGlove might enjoy Machinae Supremacy and vice versa, but if you’re an avid metal fan you’d probably describe the sound of both bands quite differently in spite of the obvious common inspiration and influences for both bands.

11. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?

Robert: Spotify, iTunes, Google Play, our website and wherever your preference brings you. You should also check out the games we've done, in particular Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams, and Jets’n’Guns. Both are awesome games, you’ll enjoy them.

12. What is it you'd like a listener to remember the most when hearing your music for the first time?

Robert: That it’s got substance. It’s atmospheric yet playful, powerful but without taking ourselves too seriously. And the lyrics have meaning, they’re not just words placed after one another to fill a musical void. And ultimately that there are no filler songs on our albums. We don’t make one or two good songs and then just fill the rest with mediocre material, as is still sadly so common in most music.

13. What else do you have planned for the rest of this year into next year?

Robert: We’re touring in Europe and Russia, and we’ll be working on the soundtrack for an upcoming video game called “For My Brother” by Crooked Tree Studios. We start 2015 with headlining MAGFest in the US and then our European tour continues.

14. Any last words for the friends and fans out there?

Robert: Sharing is caring. Remember to tell your friends about us. Thanks!