Children Of Bodom @ Glass House 10-10-2009
Latest Post
A Darkened Ritual is a Black Ritual: The Interview
Black Ritual is a Southern act with style and craftsmanship blending together thrash with hardcore to create unique melodies that has invaded their hometowns and now wishes to invade you. The band like many has gone through the band bases finding a name, line-up changes, brief touring and most of all trying to land that record deal. Black Ritual has gone through the darkness of Hell itself and has arisen to overcome everything. Leading up to a point on which their bassist (Eddie Cousins) spoke to me about everything the band has gone through and how the darkness came to be known merely as Black Ritual.
1. What type of band are you?
E-rock: We’re a heavy metal band we’re not trying to fit in any genre. We compose songs within the thrash/hardcore/melodies every song we have is totally different in its own unique way. We have a definite southern feel that provides the pride in ourselves to live on. To do what we do playing shows, being full of energy people will notice that quality studio sound and respect you for it.
2. Tell us the brief history of your band.
E-rock: We’ve been together for 6 years and counting right here from Charlotte N.C. Having gone through some member changes but have managed to keep the four original members through that time period. So we feel lucky for that. We are currently working on our second CD which should be out by the end of the year.
3. Who are your musical and non-musical influences?
E-rock: That would be a wide range of acts, Pantera, Testament, Acid Bath, Black Sabbath, As I Lay Dying, plus many more. We are very diverse in our musical influences I believe that’s what let us write the music we love. With every song we create it has its own uniqueness and riff that reminds you of the past, present and future.
4. What are your dreams and goals?
E-rock: We definitely want to take our dreams as far as we can. Get a record deal but mainly we want to hit the road out on the East Coast and then make our way out West until we’ve circled the entire globe. We’d love to go through the hell of touring, bus, food, the whole package deal. We shall of course see what’s in store for the future, and have to work just write music.
5. Who writes the songs, what are they about?
E-rock: As far as lyrics go our singer Chuck writes them all. He writes about real life situations, drugs, women, pretty much your main guy type of material you’d expect to hear from a metalhead. Music wise we usually start with a few guitar riffs then blend them altogether with each person’s ideas or opinion’s on how that song should progress and end.
6. What's your opinion of our President?
E-rock: Well my personal opinion (I can’t speak for them on that) I voted for Obama because I believed it was time for some kind of change in this world. Anything had to be better than what we already had.
7. How do you promote your band and shows?
E-rock: Well we try to do as much as possible - word of mouth--texting, MySpace mostly we try to have radio spots as much as we can. To make big money not just to play in our home town more than once a month or less, we want to keep our fans wanting to come back to see us. The music scene is still building and needs a lot of work. We’ve intended to change as much as possible while we’re still on this Earth playing. Our music can be found at You can find us just about anywhere online, CDBaby.com, iTunes, Napster, Reverbnation, Facebook, Purevolume, and MyXer.
8. Describe your show, visual and musically.
E-rock: Musically we’re trying to sound as good as we can be loud and in your face. We’ve put a lot of pride into our live shows, having the people walking away saying “Now that was a real concert”. Basically we want to rock out as hard as we can – many fans (men) have left the pit with something broken or in pain -like Dimebag Darrel said “If you haven’t left the stage sweating you ain’t done nothing.”
9. What do you think about downloading music online?
E-rock: I think it’s awesome it’s nice for bands well known and locally to have their music available on the worldwide web. It ends up hurting the record labels most of all but who cares about them anyway? If all there out for is to make money off you and then throw you away that’s not what the music industry is about.
10. What's your outlook on the record industry today?
E-rock: Well as I mentioned above, it’s hard to say without actually dealing with them as of yet. But it’s a money scheme I’m pretty sure. Even if it’s harder for bands like us who are not mainstream enough. For instance Top Forty Radio I think is eventually going to be a past time. Just like MTV’s type of music. But definitely for us the metalheads and underground hardcore scene to me it’s all about getting on the road with a bigger act that will pick you up and let you on a tour spreading the word of your name/whereabouts.
11. What's your claim to fame?
E-rock: I don’t know if we have one yet. I think for us it’s being able to stick together through all of the crap we’ve faced thus far. Not going down the lines of breaking up like so many bands tend to do after a year or so.
12. Tell us a story about a day in your life.
E-rock: Well work sucks everyone knows that unless you love the work you do. But to come home and think about what we can do as a band to make a name for ourselves. Think about girls, drinking, and then start it all over again. Two of us have a family, wife, and kids so that’s the number one factor to think about. As for the rest of us, we’re trying to get to that point! Otherwise we’re caught up in practicing, practicing, and more practicing!
13. What inspires you to do what you do?
E-rock: Our dreams, goals, just the love of music we’ve all devoted our whole lives for many years now. Now is not the time to give up. The way our fans feel about us – makes a real difference in a young metalhead’s life. Can’t forget about the love of the stage and that spotlight that shines down making you remember why you’re doing this to begin with.
14. What advice would you give to fellow bands?
E-rock: Get rid of the crazy girl who’s about to break you up. Haha – play as many shows as possible pay your dues and don’t try to go to the top of your game until you have what it takes.
15. What are some of your pet peeves?
E-rock: Oh there’s a lot….. Those types of cookie cutter type bands that can’t be original. Down to fans that leave right after their band performs instead of hanging around and talking to us. Right to bands that just sit around waiting to be paid for their work instead of interacting with the people around them.
16. How does music affect you and the world around you?
E-rock: Music is my life it’s an extreme feeling from good to bad. Everything I do revolves around music in one way or another. No matter if it’d be a Friday or Saturday night, or inside my band’s room the thought of music is constantly streaming throughout my body.
17. What's new in the recording of your music?
E-rock: We have been recording with Jaime King from Winston Salem - he’s worked with Between the Buried and Me, Seneca. All bands who have already gotten signed. So it’s brought our recording sound to a whole new level. We’re very excited about it, being able to see what the future holds for us.
18. What are the biggest obstacles for bands?
E-rock: I think it all depends on where you live. Some cities bands have more opportunities than others. With the well known scenes there, now around here it’s getting people out to shows to support all the bands around. When it comes to Black Ritual it’s the time for the killer. If we had all day to do just band stuff, writing, playing etc, it would make the world a lot different for us.
19. What's the best and worst thing about playing clubs/venues?
E-rock: The best is the people, seeing the fans drinking, having a good time rockin out to your songs and wanting to hang out and talk with ya -“The roar of the crowd." The worst would probably be not making much money for all your hard work.
20. Tell us about your next shows and why we should be there.
E-rock: We’re playing an awesome club in Charlotte called Amos Southend on August 28th. They have done nothing but support this band along with Tremont music hall. If you came to a Black Ritual show you will be hooked. We’ve turned many people over to the dark side.
21. What types of beers do you prefer to drink?
E-rock: I’d have to say Jager Bombs and Budweiser those are the drinks that get the real rockstar bursting out of you making you want to lose your mind from the inside out all night long after a great performance.
22. Any last words?
E-rock: I want to party with you Natalie!. :)
Cerebrum Interview Exposure
The guys of Cerebrum spoke to me recently about the band's formation, their latest album, along with everything else thrown in between to keep the conversation rolling without any need for a break. Catch all the fun exposure below.
1. What type of band are you?
Our label describes our sound as a monstrous collision between old-school technical ethics and state-of-the-art sonics. We like that.
2. Tell us the brief history of your band.
Cerebrum was formed in Athens/Greece around 2002 by Mike Papadopoulos and Jim Touras. Apollon Zygomalas joined in the same year as the lead singer.We released a demo in 2005 and in 2007 we recorded our debut album 'Spectral Extravagance' .On early 2009 we signed a deal with Czech label Lacerated Enemy records and here we are now with the release of the album.
3. Who are your musical and non-musical influences?
Well, our music influences vary alot and include '70s progressive/psychedelic rock, rock n roll, jazz rock, fusion, ambient, folk and of course thrash and death metal ,amongst many other things. Now, the non-musical influences are much much more. Everyday life is our biggest influence..and then you have energy & the universe, and nature, and the animals, and books and dreams and mainly everything around us,within us and above us.
4. What are your dreams and goals?
From the beginning of our creation, we were 3 friends with the same visions and thoughts:to create a band and play the music we like.Since then, energy seems to flow so well within the squad leading us to the present times with the release of our record. We're soon to perform live shows in Greece and Europe and we've already created 90% of the 2nd album, so you could say we are already living our dream with this whole thing! so let's see how things'll roll, hehe!
5. Who writes the songs, what are they about?
Music is written by Mike and Jim.Lyrics are written by Apollon and through them he represents our cosmotheory on life itself based on human values and ethics, our universe and mother nature, perception and reality, altered states of consciousness, dreams and the spirit realm.
6. What's your opinion of our President?
Haha....Well,he's just like the rest of the US presidents-a puppet on a string,manipulated by the men behind the curtains.And what's your opinion of the Bilderberg Group, the Trilateral Commission and 33rd degree free masons?
7. How do you promote your band and shows?
Our label makes the promotion and is soon to arrange a European tour for us. There are also plans for some shows here in Greece in the next couple of months.
8. Describe your show, visual and musically.
Well,we never performed live before,since we didn't had a drummer.Our gigs in Greece are gonna be our first shows ever and we're really looking forward to go out there and transmit some astral sick vibes for you.
9. What do you think about downloading music online?
Well,what can you do about it.It's the future and it's now. Eventually it's a good thing, a thing of sharing and exchanging information.Especially when searching on old rare albums that are out of stock etc. We're all record collectors and still buy music, but it's the new generations that are gonna get used to another way of living, forgetting soon all there is about cassette,vinyl and CDs.
10. What's your outlook on the record industry today?
It's a sick industry, as most of the industries nowadays..It lacks people with good taste I think.Only some small descent labels seem to manage good, while most of the big ones only care about promoting 'cheap' commercial shit and making millions of dollars, manipulating their artists.But that system is soon to change.
11. What's your claim to fame?
Well, normally bands that deserved fame never got it, and vice versa so you cant really claim or expect anything. We just play the music we like and if someones digs it, we're so happy and grateful,that's it!
12. Tell us a story about a day in your life.
There are alot of stories to tell.
13. What inspires you to do what you do?
Our love for music and the miracle of life. This crazy surreal world and reality we live in, this whole universal energy and laws of it, the Oneness in all and the order through chaos.It's so amazing..
14. What advice would you give to fellow bands?
Well we don't think we are in the position of giving advice to anyone. But Being honest with yourselves, chasing your dreams, respecting and loving whatever you do, really helps a lot!
15. What are some of your pet peeves?
Can't think something that really annoy us.Maybe that we don't want anyone to tell us what to do and interfere with our music. haha
16. How does music affect you and the world around you?
Its one of the most important, if not the most important thing in our lives.Creating ,listening and traveling through music is what gives us the energy to go on.
17. What's new in the recording of your music?
As we told you,the second album is almost ready.We hope to release it somewhere within '10.
18. What are the biggest obstacles for bands?
If you don't play commercial music then the biggest problem is to be heard.And the music industry of course, haha.
19. What's the best and worst thing about playing clubs/venues?
There is no bad thing about playing your music in front of people wherever possible,clubs arenas whatever.
20. Tell us about your next shows and why we should be there.
There are plans for several shows here in Greece and an European tour at the end of 2009.We are also trying to arrange something for the Us too. If you like our music or progressive music in general, we think you ll have a good time.geia mas
21. Any last words?
Thank you very much for the interview,hope you all enjoy the album! viva
A Date with a Helsinki Vampire: Jyrki 69 Interviewed
Do you ever wonder about musicians and what secrets lay behind those closed doors after they’ve departed the stage? Well now the time has arisen and the secrets of the Vampire realm have been foretold and the one and only Helsinki Vampires are back from the dead, but not just back, back in blood. Frontman Jyrki69 spoke to me about The 69 Eyes U.S. return along with the undead truth about the current album and his past creations.
1. Welcome back to the U.S., how does it feel to be back in California?
Jyrki 69: It’s awesome, Hollywood in general we consider this our second home, this year we spent over 3 months during the spring time recording our newest album so it’s great to finally be able to come back and play a show. It’s never frustrated to hang out in Hollywood and to have fans recognize you and come up and ask you “What are you doing here – why aren’t you playing a show?” at that time there was no way to do anything but now it’s the time and we’re now in Hollywood, so The 69 Eyes and are back in blood!
2. "Back in Blood," came out last month and it's also your tenth to date, how does that make you feel - do you think your music has grown since when you first started?
Jyrki 69: Actually you’re mistaken there is a little confusion everywhere it’s actually our ninth album, I’m excited to do the tenth album when the time arrives, and we have of course several compilations available but this is our nine studio album. Yes and no it’s the same sources of inspiration remains, the same rock n’ roll life remains, on the other hand of course. We’re better song writers, and I myself have written better lyrics, once in a while you make songs that last a little bit longer than others, like most of the songs within our set list, there are the ones we consider “our classics”. There are so many songs that could be on the next ten year compilation, with the way we’ve grown.
3. Can you briefly tell us about the whole concept for "Dead Girls Are Easy,”?
Jyrki 69: It was pure fun with Bam Margera, it was long lost Halloween weekend, the whole idea the name of the song, I just liked the title when I put together everything it represents the dead girls, these gothic girls who want to be dead and want to be a part of the undead and want to become Vampire girls. The story line is this classic old school 80s theme with this nerdy guy working and something strange happens to him when these Vampire girls come into his life. This video is much like the videos from the 80s – having that rockin style and positive atmosphere - all the videos of today have changed, with the bombs, bugs, a very depressing imagines, I’m a fan of the 80s videos so this video is just like those.
4. What was it like playing on Carson Daily back in 2006 - I'm not sure if you remember me, at that show but I was the girl in the audience who had waved to you, I had wanted to be on the bottom near the stage but couldn't get down there.
Jyrki 69: That was great that was one of those classic 69 Eyes moments that we were able to do that show, and hopefully we can return to those shows, it’s been an honor to be involved with these shows, (Carson Daily) and to have The End Records (US Label) who have done great promotion for us, so I wouldn’t be surprised if you’re watching T.V. that you see us performing, we’ll be able to set something up pretty soon and also the next time you wave I will know it is you.
5. In my opinion I've always pictured you guys doing a U.S. tour with H.I.M. would you ever be able to make that happen - I know you guys toured with Cradle of Filth back in 06.
Jyrki 69: That is something the fans are always asking, but I don’t think the bands are really excited about the idea. If you haven’t noticed the Finnish bands don’t really tour together and I don’t know why but that is something that we should considering doing because the fans keep asking about it. I haven’t heard any rumors so don’t think it’s going to happen anytime soon. As far as I understand the H.I.M. guys are recording their new album, and there are a lot of Finnish bands around here in Hollywood recording their new albums, so every rocker act is here in Hollywood right now and are from Finland so a very busy period for everybody right now.
6. What can you tell us about your comic book "Zombie Love: Vampires, Ghosts and the 69 Eyes"?
Jyrki 69: It’s just a compilation of my old stuff that I drew in the 80s as a teenager, during the night, most teens go out and get drunk for the first time and meet the opposite sex, I was this guy that spent my nights at home watching horror movies and listening to strange rock n’ roll music, like the real nerds Somehow these comics survived and the characters pretty much looks like our band and dressed in rocker appeal and the girls are drama queens so it’s not so far away from the world of the 69 Eyes. So I drew them and they still appear interesting so I put it altogether and that’s the book Zombie Love, and after 25 years, the kids still find this comic book amazing and it’s available at all of our shows so pick up a copy.
7. How about "Route 69," what can be said about that?
Jyrki 69: That’s a photograph book it’s done by this photographer named Ville Juurikkala, the guy who’s been taking pictures of a majority of Finnish rock bands over the years, H.I.M. Nightwish, and us, and back in 06 he traveled with us and took pictures and put out the book and it has pictures of Japan, Finland but mainly it’s about when we first traveled the states and how everything was different, a very big and exciting experience. It’s a great book filled with great memories.
8. Your known around the world as the "Helsinki Vampires", do you consider yourself a Vampire?
Jyrki 69: Well some strange reason I don’t age and I draw people’s attention to me I drive girls crazy especially those that know me. I like to hang out with sunglasses after dark as far as that goes I might be a Vampire but I won’t tell if I’m one or not. But don’t try old school tricks on me like holy water or garlic that won’t kill me. If you really want to destroy me, play me some anti-rock music, Beatles, Faith No More, Red Hot Chili Peppers, if you really want to throw me out of the party and kill me just throw on some bad music that should do it.
9. Anything else you'd like to add?
Jyrki 69: I hope people will have the chance to check out Back in Blood, because I think it’s our best record The 69 Eyes have done and we’re really proud of it. The theme involves Vampires, and the sound is awesome, and it’s interesting that The 69 Eyes have worked with American artists and producers, and a director for the video, it’s just something we’ve always wanted to do. Now that we’ve had the chance to do it, it’s become a great album but not just from The 69 Eyes but in general in the year 2009.
Helsinki Is Alive and Well – Let There Be Vampires: The 69 Eyes Los Angeles Return
When it comes down to a concert what are the events that tend to happen? Well usually a set of bands perform and then there ‘s of course the headliners of the entire evening that perform last late into the night wrapping it altogether around midnight if not later. Then there are of course the party goers who like to relax and share stories and drink to help them feel more at ease, whereas the more heavier crowd set tends to take things to another level and cause an eruption of energetic proportions known as “mosh pits” or “crowd surfers”, in this case a mosh pit had taken place right up front of the minor heavily packed venue known as the Key Club on Sunset Blvd out in the forsaken streets of Hollywood.
But what is a “mosh pit” precisely - well it can be described as a group or single person that pushes other objects out of their way that being their way of enjoying the music. In some cases there are some people at these so-called concerts or as the headliners put it The 69 Eyes “rock show” – so what is there left to do but of course follow their instructions and rock out and have a good old jolly time right? You’re so wrong, at least that’s the deal for me, when the band broke out into those of lines of “rockin out” I did just that and my oh my did I have the best time, minus the little complaints I received but who cares it was well worth it. So as I was saying, I attended last night’s show that hailed to the Helsinki Vampires that had returned to the sunny but lately chilly California terrain.
Taking their Finland inspirations and blowing it totally out of hand - causing the man that brought them here of course Bam Margena to cause even more chaos as he briefly came atop the stage as the band was wrapping everything all together. But before the band could finish lets return to the beginning, of course the usual opening acts did there thing and then the headliners The 69 Eyes, had performed for a solid hour and a half set list that consisted of the new, old, and ancient tracks taking them back to when they first broke out into the music scene. “Brandon Lee,” “Gothic Girl,” “Feel Berlin,” Devils,” and more newer hits “Dead and Gone,” “Dead Girls Are Easy,” and most favorite “Lost Boys,” just to name a few.
Returning back to Bam" Margera comments before the band had finished up for the night, he came up said some words then walked off as the band returned to the stage and rocked out two more tunes before calling it a night, when it was all said and done, the moon outside told what was to become of that night and it was the night the Vampires had returned from the dead.
Setlist:
01. Back in Blood
02. Never Say Die
03. Lips Of Blood
04. Gothic Girl
05. Suspiria Snow White
06. Dance d'Amour
07. Kiss Me Undead
08. Feel Berlin
09. Dead N' Gone
10. The Chair
11. The Good, the Bad & the Undead
12. Brandon Lee
13. Dead Girls Are Easy
14. Devils
15. Perfect Skin
16. Lost Boys
17. Deuce
Written/Photographed By: Natalie Perez
