Wednesday, October 16, 2024

Interview with Brett Miller by Daniel Ryan


Interview with Brett Miller by Daniel Ryan

1. How long have you been making music for?
Almost my whole life. I started playing guitar at 10, so now it’s over 30 years later. It’s not going to stop, either!

2. What do you think of LOD music networks stance on cancel culture?
It’s refreshing. I find it ironic that many of the Metal bands that used to hang their hat on “rebellion”, “fight the system”, etc. don’t seem to have much to say about all of this push towards censorship in the culture generally, and music in particular. A lot of ‘em even seem to embrace it, whether it’s humiliating and kicking out of a show someone with a shirt they don’t like, or canceling shows in an entire city or area because of some local law they don’t like. It’s pretty pathetic and weak, actually - definitely not Metal. They think they’re counter-culture, but they’re just doing what giant corporations, totalitarian states, brainwashed “academics”, and huge investment firms want them to do, which is to shut up, cave to some kind of mob and destroy and divide the United States into fractious political and racial groups. If you don’t like someone's music, just don’t listen to it. That’s what I’ve always done, anyway. And if someone has paid to support your band in some way, then don’t kick them out because they’ve got a shirt on you don’t like. If it’s super offensive to enough people, let everyone work it out amongst themselves. Common sense. But it ain’t too common these days.

3. What is your favorite instrument to play on?
Really all that I play for real is Guitar and Bass. And on the 1-900 stuff, DD shreds the bass way better than I could. There’s a lot of keyboard parts and stuff like that in the music, which I write and play, but it’s usually either written out in the DAW (like writing on a music staff), or I just play it in chunks. Same with the drums; I write most of the drum parts from scratch, or will use a part or fill from an EZDrummer library and then edit it manually into exactly what I’m looking for.

4. What acts have you played with before if any?
I’ve released a number of solo records, just under my name (Brett Miller). It’s instrumental Metal Guitar stuff. The way I’d describe it is sort of a heavier version of Joe Satriani or Steve Vai (who were both huge influences on me, by the way!) with a bunch of orchestral elements in a lot of it. The last full album was a while ago, called “Oath Of Dagon”, which is a concept-type record, totally based on the work of H.P. Lovecraft. I partnered with an amazing artist in Argentina named Marcelo Orsi Blanco, and we released the record along with an artbook of Lovecraftian paintings that he did, and crowdfunded it on Kickstarter. Right now though, and for the foreseeable future, 1-900 is my main musical project. I’m very happy with the music, and also love working with the other two guys involved with it. There’s a comic book aspect to it as well, but this time an actual comic - a fictionalized steam-punkesque story, set in the ‘80s and involving the band fighting bad guys.

5. If you had to layout all the bands in order you played in as a timeline what would they be?
A handful of bands in my 20’s that never amounted to much
Brett Miller solo stuff
A side project with a bass player, called Men Of Letters
Composing video game soundtracks, that sort of counts
A short-lived death metal band called Sacrificial Damned
More Brett Miller stuff
1-900

6. What is the coolest experience you have had as a musician?
I’ve had a lot of cool experiences in my life that weren’t necessarily related to being a musician, but specifically music related? Honestly, it would be the compounded coolness of helping all of my Guitar students over the years. I’ve taught a lot of people, all across the World, and that’s been a very fulfilling experience. On a more selfish note, one of the experiences that I enjoy the most is taking part in just pure jamming with people, where you just plug in, look at each other, and go. I haven’t found a ton of people over the years who can or are willing to do that, but it’s a lot of fun, and exciting. Also, I really enjoy the experience of listening to a final master of a song or record, after all the time and effort that goes into making it.

7. What inspires you to keep doing what you do?
Not to sound all pretentious, but as an artist, it’s like you simply can’t not do it. It’s non-negotiable, so that’s the first thing. It’s also a combination of wanting to create the type of music that I would enjoy listening to myself, so why not just create it, and also the thrill of the chase at this point - the challenge of taking the music that we’re proud of, and trying to get more and more people to hear it. With the storytelling aspect of 1-900 as well, the comic books and everything, there’s also this added element of wanting to get that story out there. Because, as fun and ‘80s-inspired as the story is, there are definitely some parables lurking in there about the dangers of the types of insanity that we’re going through as a culture nowadays, the phones, the advancing technology, etc., and how to fight back.

8. If you had to name some influences what would they be?
Here’s a list, non-exhaustive, but off the top of my head: AC/DC, Pestilence, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Carcass, Coroner, Dream Theater, Megadeth, Testament, older Meshuggah, Symphony X, Death, Cynic, Thor, older Devin Townsend, Chris Poland, Hammerfall, Pantera, Manowar…I’d better stop there, or it’ll just keep going! And that doesn’t even include composers like Sibelius, Scriabin, etc.

9. What is your favorite venue you been to or played in?
My favorite venue right now, honestly, is the Sosnoff Theater up at Bard College. It’s a world-class concert hall, and they have a great orchestra there, both professional and student. They perform major orchestral works, operas, etc. I’ve never performed there of course, but it’s such a great venue, and it’s not too far from where I live.

10. To sum up this interview where can we find your latest music and any shout outs to anyone for the readers of Liberty Or Death Music Network.
We want everyone to join the Phone Fighting Force! You can do that over at https://HyperRotComics.com and get access to a lot of cool, behind the scenes stuff as we create the upcoming comic book “Band of Heroes”, as well as the new EP that’s coming out. We just released a new single, ramping up to that, that’s on all the streaming services. It’s called TouchTone Attack, and is pretty representative of what we do, if people want to check it out. For shout outs, I’ll just say thanks Dan, keep spreading the awareness of all these cool bands!


Daniel Ryan, , 4/13/23

Sunday, October 13, 2024

EP Review: Sledgehammer Guillotine "Death by the Hammer" (Conjuring Records) by Dave Wolff

Band: Sledgehammer Guillotine
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Country: USA
Genre: Progressive thrash metal
Format: Digital
Label: Conjuring Records
Release date: August 19, 2024
Omar Guerra, a Texas native who has worked with bands including Dirigiri, Iniquitous and K.O.D. and is currently president and CEO of the indie label Conjuring Records, is one of the co-founders of Sledgehammer Guillotine with Carlos Cereceres.
As his band’s name and the title of their EP suggests, the foundation of “Death by the Hammer” is mostly based on classic/old school thrash, with note progressions constructed similarly to those of Destruction and Kreator in their early years. Sledgehammer Guillotine’s range as a band doesn't end with German thrash, however.
The Mike Sifringer/Mille Petrozza-inspired riffs are given a certain degree of groove by the frequent breakdowns occurring in between the semi-chaotic thrash sections. There are other places where you can hear blast, motifs of power and prog metal, dissonant guitars and tremolo picking, and the ominous undertones of early Death and Pestilence.
The EP's atmosphere brought back memories of when I first saw horror and gore films from the 70s and 80s while discovering thrash bands, and I was reminded of going to a club to see a local band for the first time. This was most likely the subject matter of zombie apocalypses and premature burials, and it brought back memories of seeing local band in clubs. This was probably the theme of premature burials and zombie apocalypses, as well as the cover of Kreator’s “Under the Guillotine” included at the end.
“Cadaver Waltz” features a chorus evocative of early death metal, discordant black metal and a breakdown akin to old Kreator. The musicianship strikes a nice mix between tightness and dirtiness, with the drums contributing linear relentlessness. “Buried Alive” and “Brain Stomp,” in which the vocals at times remind me of Geoff Tate (Queensryche) and King Diamond (Mercyful Fate), are examples of their inspiration in power, prog and American thrash while they enhance their cover of “Under the Guillotine” with blast.
Although Sledgehammer Guillotine is a local band signed to a relatively small label their work goes well beyond that. If they continue to integrate and tighten everything while making it more uniquely theirs, it has the potential to become lethal. –Dave Wolff

Track list:
1. Cadaver Waltz
2. The Guillotines Lines
3. Buried Alive
4. Brao Stomp
5. Under the Guillotine Kreator Tribute

Friday, October 11, 2024

Article: "Music's Evolution in New York City" by Rosemary Sahjaza

"Music's Evolution in New York City"
Article by Rosemary Sahjaza

Music has often been a reflection of societal changes, and the closure of taverns and dance clubs has profoundly impacted its evolution. These spaces historically served as breeding grounds for creativity, where musicians gathered to collaborate, share ideas, and draw inspiration from one another. With their decline, opportunities for spontaneous performances and communal experiences have diminished, leading to a homogenization of musical styles. Instead of the diverse sounds that emerged from vibrant local scenes, we now find a more commercialized musical landscape. The isolation of artists limits their ability to innovate, suggesting that the heart of music's evolution lies in community interaction and cultural exchange.
Goddess Rosemary Sahjaza

Article: "Dark Moon Ritual, October 2021" by Liath Sahjaza

Dark Moon Ritual, October 2021
Article by Liath Sahjaza

Welcome to this month’s Dark Moon ritual. from 2021 repeat she is not able to create one this month but will soon ... and so ... for This month finds us in Libra, which means you might be feeling more talkative and social. Libra is a sign with many positive traits and beneficial energies, so kicking the month off with a healthy dose of Libran energy is not a bad thing.
Dark Moon is the time for closures, to rid yourself of the bad energies of the past weeks and only take what serves you in the future. If you haven’t cut cords, please do so. It truly is a lifesaving practice.
A Libran influence is typically one of balance and peacekeeping. It is the sign represented by a set of scales after all. If you've found yourself struggling with a work/life balance, or with setting boundaries amongst your relationships, this Dark Moon marks a point of reset that will help you recalibrate. It will push you to weigh the value in the things and people around you and find a better alignment in your own life. I hope by now that you all accept that it is truly okay to cut toxic things and people from your lives.
Of course, there is always a flipside of which to be wary. Libra is extroverted, chatty and highly social. With Mercury currently in retrograde and confusing our lines of communication, now is not the ideal time to be embracing the overly talkative or even gossipy sides of ourselves. More than usual, things can be taken out of context. So, while you may feel more inclined to make a snide comment, for the next few weeks, it's best to live by the idea that if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.
For our meditation, I feel the need to go deep inside and search for those cords that need to be cut. As you do this, focus on loving yourself. Be confident that you deserve the best, and therefore need these cords to be cut. As you cut them, focus on resetting yourself. Think of how much better your life will be without these negativities. Stand strong in your power as you place personal boundaries wherever you need them. If there are people you must be around even after cutting them loose, learn to just not react or feel anything when they are around. Yes, you can train yourself to do this. They do not deserve the energy you put into being bothered by them, and you deserve better. Lift yourself up, hug yourself.
Thank you all for sharing this event with me. Much love and dark blessings.
HEOP Liath Sahjaza

Fiction: "LIghts Out!" by Devin J. Meaney

Lights Out!
Fiction by Devin J. Meaney

Jack stared out into the liveliness of the street with disdain. As all the kids walked by in their colorful spooky costumes he couldn’t help his hateful writhing. It was true that if it wasn’t for those kids he wouldn’t be here—as he didn’t “come to life” until he attained his “true” face. But oh—how the knife hurt as his crooked smile and triangular eyes were cut and widened, the hacking and slashing of the plastic orange blade plummeting deeper and deeper with every twist and turn of their wretched little wrists. The kids laughed with festive glee as they carved him into existence for another year, and although Jack’s screams were silent he could hear his own bellows ringing within the confines of his freshly birthed mind right from the start.
Oh, how he wanted them to pay for his suffering. Just like his true face and the sentient existence he learned to hate, if it wasn’t for those kids he wouldn’t have a hot seething flame burning within him.
Jack wondered aimlessly.
What the hell kind of name is Jack anyway?
They gave him the same name every year and placed him on their front porch as a decoration, and as more and more children came to collect the offerings of the night he continued to get lost in his own little world. He couldn’t move and he couldn’t speak. He was nothing more than just a festive ornament, his mind and his thoughts meaning nothing to the oblivious tricksters and treaters of Halloween. He wanted his torment to end, but as the night progressed the chaotic whirlwind that swirled within his fleshy orange cranium continued to seethe and boil as the dim light inside of him flickered on, orange shadows dancing in the blackness that consumed the front porch and all that surrounded it.
For hours his plague pushed forth, and just as he was reaching the peak of insanity, his personal hell nearing completion, he saw three older youths approaching the porch. He knew what was coming next. His mind teetered into a frenzy.
Do it. End it quick, you little wretches…
They picked Jack up from the front porch, and with a symphony of dark cackles they smashed him into the ground. Three good well placed kicks ended him, his vibrant orange guts spilling out into the street. He would be left to rot until he was cleaned from the pavement, and just as his mind flickered back into the direction of non-existence, his hatred exploded into his thoughts just before they were snuffed out for another year.
…Lights out!
But on an endless cycle, he would return the very next year. Year after year his curse continued, and just like the spirit of Halloween, Jack’s seething soul would never truly die—nor would it ever truly “live” again…



Sunday, October 6, 2024

Interview with Leonardo Serrini and Donatella of The Beatersband by Dave Wolff


Interview with Leonardo Serrini and Donatella of The Beatersband by Dave Wolff

“Bad Girl”, a posthumous tribute CD to Joey Ramone and Ronnie Spector was released by The Beatersband in September. Who thought up the idea and what made the band follow suit? How were the tracks selected for inclusion?
The original idea was Donatella's (voice and guitar). The rest of the band liked both Ronnie Spector and Joey Ramone and immediately agreed, thinking it was a great idea to honor their friendship and mutual respect. The nine songs have been put in the playlist in chronological order from 1962 to 2006, referring to the recordings performed by Ronnie.

The Beatersband records a lot of iconic rock and punk songs from the 1960s and 1970s. Do you perceive any stylistic similarities between both periods?
Listening to songs by artists such as Ritchie Valens, you immediately get the perception of his being one of the forerunners of punk. If you listen to the Misfits you understand they were inspired by the music of those years. Michale Graves (Misfits) has often included songs like “Tears of My Pillow” by Little Anthony and The Imperials in his live performances. Even Glenn Danzig, founder of the Misfits, was inspired by Elvis Presley of whom he made a cover album entitled “Danzig sings Elvis”.
“When You Walk in the Room” by Jackie DeShannon was covered by The Searchers, even “If I Had a Hammer” by the American singer-songwriter and folk-singer Pete Seeger was covered in 1964 by the Italian singer Rita Pavone.

What made you decide to form a band covering punk and classic rock? Is there a local market for punk and pop punk scene in your area in Italy?
The idea was born from Donatella (voice and guitar) who has listened to 50s and 60s music since she was a child, thanks to her father who passed on this passion to her. The project was born when she met Leonardo (bass), who already played in a punk rock group (Latte+). The two decided to merge their musical acquaintances.
The punk scene in our area is not very active, especially since after Covid they closed a few clubs. Those still active can be counted on the fingers of one hand, and this also applies to the rest of Italy.

Since there’s not much of an active punk scene in your area, how much work did you have to put into advertising and promoting?
We had to dedicate a lot of time to it. Luckily social media exists, without which it would have been difficult to advertise.

Do you always distribute your albums and singles independently, or do you sometimes collaborate with local indie labels to promote your releases?
We are an independent band. We distribute and promote our music independently all over the world, although for some shipments abroad we collaborate with the American labels Smelly Rick Record, River Monster and Outloud Records, and with Discos Polo of Palma de Mallorca (Spain).

Could you describe your relationship-building process with the labels you identified for distribution and promotion? To what extent do they help the band spread word of their releases?
Our relationships with labels were born through social media, simply by sending our material to be listened to. Their help is important, they manage to promote our music to a wider audience.

You can stream the majority of your work at Bandcamp. To what extent does this site aid the band's outreach outside Italy? Do you also stream on other net outlets?
The distribution of our music is mainly with Bandcamp, It’s helping us substantially. Even the labels listed above do it. It’s also possible to find our songs on Spotify and the best streaming platforms.

The band's approach generally seems to lean towards the ferocity of punk bands such as Sex Pistols and Bad Brains, as well as the Ramones. This is largely due to the drums. In the studio, how much focus and energy are you giving the drum tracks?
The drum parts are a fundamental part of the recording. If the drums didn't play with that sound and intensity we wouldn't be able to give a punk rock mood to the songs since they’re from the 50s and 60s.

How much more challenging has it been to promote your live performances than your recordings? Did Facebook and other websites help you spread the word more quickly?
They are both important. Being a totally independent band we have to look for places where we can perform on the one hand. On the other we try to give new life to songs that are now over sixty years old trying to keep their soul intact. As I answered previously Facebook and other websites have helped us a lot. The internet gives everyone the opportunity to be heard and known all over the world in the shortest time possible.

Were you attempting to recreate the vibe of Ronnie’s songs or incorporating your own style?
We have been rearranging songs since we formed in September 2018, even the songs from “Bad Girl” are rearranged in our style, trying to keep their soul.

Producer Phil Spector has worked with Ronnie and Joey. What would you say about his early contributions to rock music? What personal resonance does his production work have for you?
Phil Spector was certainly a questionable person on a personal level, but nothing takes away his great contribution to rock music, of which we follow the same trend.

Phil produced the Ramones’ album “End of the Century” which was met with mixed reviews. What do you personally think of his work there?
“End of the Century” is in our opinion a great album, even if obviously it has a totally different sound from the previous albums, the hand of Phil Spector is felt being the creator of the Wall of Sound.

Were there any songs Ronnie and Joey collaborated on? What was the extent of their friendship?
They recorded the mini album “She Talks to Rainbows” together in 1999, they were very good friends, Joey Ramone, who loved the female bands of the 60s, and in particular the Ronettes, tried to lift her up when she had been overshadowed by the figure of Tina Turner who was debuting in the same period.

Are you familiar with the song Ronnie recorded with The Misfits for “Project 1950”, namely “You Belong to Me”? Who else has she worked with to your knowledge?
It is a beautiful reinterpretation, we know this album very well. We’ve also rearranged four songs from it, including “Donna”, “Diana”, “It's Only Make Believe” and “Runaway”. Ronnie also duetted with George Harrison and Bruce Springsteen.

You released a cover of Blondie's "X Offender" in 2022. Debbie Harry's original atmosphere seems to be evoked by Donatella, and the version combines pop elements with a street-level punk energy. Why did you decide to cover the song?
It was one of the first songs by Blondie brought to CBGB and it is less inflated than their other songs, such as “Maria”, “Heart of Glass” and “Call Me”. We like it a lot.

The second song on the Blondie single is a rendition of "I Only Want to Be with You" by Dusty Springfield, which is also on your album "Vol.Tre." There's a similar punk vibe to the tracks. To what extent did you work on the album?
It was born as the conclusion of the three albums “Vol.Uno”, “Vol.Due” and “Vol.Tre”. It should have closed the circle of our project of 50s/60s covers.

Do any of your CDs feature covers of The Beatles or Bruce Springsteen? Or maybe any recordings from the late 1960s?
No, but we have in common with Bruce Springsteen the fact that we covered “Then He Kissed Me” by the Crystals. Our CDs are mainly rearrangements of songs from the 50s and 60s, but we have also made a tribute CD (EP) to the Misfits, and “Goodbye Eddie Goodbye”, a song included in the musical “Phantom of the Paradise”.

What was the plot of the musical “Phantom of the Paradise” and how were you inspired to cover a song from its soundtrack?
A young naive singer-songwriter, Winslow Leach, is tricked by the legendary but unscrupulous music producer Swan into sacrificing his life's work. In revenge, the composer dons a new and menacing personality and begins to terrorize Swan's new concert hall, insisting that his music be performed by his most adored singer, “Phoenix (Jessica Harper)”, directed by Brian De Palma. The inspiration and idea came from Timothy, the owner of the label Smelly Rick Records (Arizona/Texas) who wanted to make a compilation tribute to the musical, coming out soon on CD, vinyl and digital format on his label.

Who else is on Smelly Rick Records' compilation honoring “Phantom of the Paradise” besides the Beatersband? What is the anticipated date of release?
We know that the other bands are mainly American but we don't know them, the release date is unfortunately not certain yet.

Do the members of the band watch a lot of musicals? Do other musicals inspire the band to cover songs from the soundtrack?
Donatella watches musicals. The inspiration for the soundtrack of the musical was born from Timothy the owner of Smelly Rick Records.

What songs appeared on your tribute album to the Misfits? Has it been received well since it came out? Are there other punk bands you’ve considered tributing?
There are four, specifically “Saturday Night”, “She”, “Nightmare on Elm Street” and “Some Kinda Hate”. It was well received both for sales, positive reviews and many passages on the radio. At the moment we have not considered other bands, even if the Ramones are present in the album “Bad Girl” and in “Danny Says” also re-recorded by us.

Ringo Starr once said the Beatles were the punk rock of their time in their early years. He said the soundtrack of the film "Backbeat" was recorded by bands that reflected the type of band the Beatles were when they started. Have you seen this film? If so, what are your thoughts on it?
We haven't seen this film, but we will watch it under your advice, you've intrigued us.

Little Steven's Underground Garage, which airs Sunday nights at undergroundgarage.com/, is another good source for information about rock & roll’s punk roots.
We know SiriusXM well even if we can't listen from here to Rodney Bingenheimer playing our songs on the radio. However every now and then we manage to listen to Little Steven's podcasts.

Do you have recommendations for obscure bands that helped pioneer punk in the sixties and seventies? YouTube has a number of videos highlighting these bands.
Little-known bands, they don't come to mind offhand, but we know that punk is an evolution of garage rock that developed in America in the early 60s, later towards the end of the decade garage rock took another turn by exaggerating the salient features of the genre, the epicenter of this music was Detroit where that trend that was called proto-punk was born. Among the first groups that can be considered precursors of punk we think of the Kinks and the Troggs.

Would you recommend material about the history of punk to people who may not have seen them?
We read some books about punk, and specifically we would recommend Johnny Rotten's autobiography, Marky Ramone's “Punk Rock Blitzkrieg”, Dee Dee Ramone's “Blitzkrieg Punk”, Will Hermes' “New York 1973-1977”, Dave Laing's “Punk” and Monte A. Melnick's “On the Road with the Ramones” and the documentary “The Great History of Punk”. The books are still easy to find, and they tell in detail what they want to explain, each with its own point of view. 35) I think punk will have its ups and downs as it always has.

Has the band covered any songs recorded by Patti Smith? Would you be interested in songs recorded by Runaways, Pretenders, or Siouxsie and the Banshees?
We haven't recorded anything by Patti Smith even if we like her, we would like to cover songs by the Runaways. Pretenders, why not!

Does the mainstreamization of punk from the nineties to the present, from grunge to pop punk, have more positive or negative aspects? Since major labels began signing bands, to what extent has the genre retained its sixties roots? In what direction do you think underground punk will go in the future? Do you see punk scenes continuing to grow and inspire more people to form bands?
Punk at the time was much more motivated, it was born as a form of protest and was a way to convey various issues of the time, compared to that of the majors which is much more driven by economic ends. I think punk will have its ups and downs as it always has.

Are you planning to release a new full-length album in the near future? Or do you have ideas in mind for one?
In the future we have the idea of doing something of our own. For the next album we are thinking of making our own songs.


-Dave Wolff

Friday, October 4, 2024

Full Length Review: Ihsahn "Ihsahn" (Candlelight Records) by Dave Wolff

Band: Ihsahn
Country: Norway
Genre: Progressive experimental metal
Full length: Ihsahn
Format: Digital
Label: Candlelight Records
Release date: February 16, 2024
Once again, returning to the well in search of new ground for extreme metal, I find it in the new self-titled release from Ihsahn, the musician known for his work with Peccatum, Thou Shalt Suffer and Emperor. I was caught off guard by the soaring classical piece that opened this album, the first indication of how much Ihsahn has evolved as a musician since I last heard him perform on his solo project.
In 1994, Emperor released "In the Nightside Eclipse" with a sound unmatched by other bands at the time, which gave the genre a much-needed push forward. Not only was the music in your face with scorching guitars and blasts, but it was also massive, majestic, and deep, a vehicle to Norway's pagan past with cold, dead spirits returning to haunt the listener.
Ihsahn is notable for building on Emperor's achievements without adhering to the typical guidelines associated with branching out. After years of staring into the abyss, the abyss is looking into him, bringing out what it has found in the immeasurable depths of his mind and finding the places where it all fits. You’ll find that what's revealed is not all ugliness and nightmare if you listen carefully.
“Ihsahn” features an unconventional, well-balanced, tight-knit blend of experimental black metal and outlandish classical music, with a vocal range that’s equally disparate. The distinctive style he brought to “Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk” and “IX Equilibtium” (Emperor) is still present here, infusing you with that unnerving sensation of all the frigidness of Norway in winter, made all the more chilling by the melody he brings to other verses.
Rather than softening things up, the assonance of the ariose strings and canorous vocals heighten the songs’ eccentric quality, a quality that can only be described as far off the beaten path. Ihsahn’s self-sufficient experimenting achieves a transcendent operatic theme with carnivalesque songwriting, discordant and melodic chords, traditional and uneven metre, unhinged and beauteous passages, jazzy refrains and varying degrees of intensity.
Completely chaotic and lacking any saleable inclinations, “Ihsahn” leaves some of its tracks somewhat unresolved, providing an air of mystery that lasts until the final track leaves impressions of something thoroughly extraterrestrial. The musical canvas on which this is painted, complete with clear production and a burnished resonance, might not appeal to everyone, but if you approach it not as black metal, prog, experimental or anything else, you might see it as Aldous Huxley saw the universe once the doors of perception were cleansed. -Dave Wolff

Lineup:
Ihsahn: All vocals and instruments, songwriting

Track list:
1. Cervus Venator
2. The Promethean Spark
3. Pilgrimage to Oblivion
4. Twice Born
5. A Taste of the Ambrosia
6. Anima Extraneae
7. Blood Trails to Love
8. Hubris and Blue Devils
9. The Distance Between Us
10. At the Heart of All Things Broken
11. Sonata Profana

Thursday, September 26, 2024

Interview with Mach FoX of Zwaremachine by Dave Wolff

Photo by Trista Whitman
Interview with Mach FoX of Zwaremachine by Dave Wolff

What has the band been up to since I last interviewed you early in 2023?
Since we talked last the band suffered a devastating loss when our drummer and dear friend Bas/Dein Offizier passed away in August 2023. He had been battling cancer and in October of 2022 we were able to reunite on stage for what would turn out to be our final shows together. During that time we had discussions as a band on what would be some of the elements of the next album and how to incorporate more of a band vibe on the writing and recording process. In September of 2023 Zwaremachine had some European shows booked and one gig was direct support for Front 242 at a concert in the Netherlands where we had hoped Dein Offizier would be joining us on stage but his unfortunate passing just weeks before that concert meant we would be performing as a duo instead of a trio as planned. Through conversations we had prior to that he had discussed wanting the band to continue no matter what so a decision was made to continue with those September dates. We brought his cap he would wear and his big silver drum on stage and placed them under a spotlight during our set and also honored him with a dedication of our song “Be a Light” with a special video tribute accompaniment.
In early 2023 I began writing and recording demos for the next album and that summer Dbot (Zwaremachine bassist) and I got together to sift through the 20-30 demo ideas and pick the most promising ones to track for the album. By September 2023 we had about fifteen songs and since we had time between some of the European shows I brought some recording equipment and we tracked Dbot's bass parts for eight songs while in the Netherlands. We also released the first single “A Sickness” from the upcoming album in September 2023 with the proceeds being donated to the Dutch foundation Hematon on behalf of Bas Mercx (Dein Offizier) which is a patient organization for people with a hemato-oncological condition. In the video released for “A Sickness” you can see us performing live as a duo with his drum and cap on stage. The sound and stage presence brought by Dein Offizier is something we will deeply miss. As we progressed in the album recording, I had left some spots open for another melodic element in many of the songs. I decided to pull out the guitar which was my first main instrument and try on some of the recordings which pushed the songs into a more industrial rock sound and also replaced some of the synth parts. This led to the decision to bring in additional members Paul K on guitar and Marshal B on electronic drums. Both are Dutch musicians and friends who are adding a lot to shape and sound as we move forward and will perform with me in the upcoming European shows.

I heard you’re releasing a new promotional video around this time.
The video for “Actions and Forces” marks a distinct change and the new line-up and sound. The full band is featured in the video but since we have not yet performed as the full 4-piece band live, we had to get creative with the editing as we have in the past with band members being in different countries. The idea behind the lyrics for “Actions and Forces” is that as we progress further with technology, we become a little less human. This song addresses that point when man becomes more machine than human and what we may lose when that happens. The single will be released on Friday August 30th for free download from our Zwaremachine Bandcamp page and we will celebrate this release with 3 concerts in the Netherlands and Belgium in September 2024.

How were those European dates in September 2023? How did you feel about those shows as a fitting tribute to Dein?
The show with Front 242 in the Netherlands was in a venue near where Bas/Dein Offizier lived so we had plenty of friends and support to get through that one as a duo with Dbot and myself. The set went well but there was a very strange feeling of being disconnected and almost like I was performing on auto pilot and watching as third person... something I never really experienced on stage before. Seeing a lot of our mutual friends in the audience made it easier and harder at the same time as we were all still in shock since he had only just passed very recently. Dbot and I have been playing live together in bands since 2005 so it was a source of strength to have him by my side and we had Dein Offizier's cap and drum onstage to my other side under a spotlight as a way to honor him. Our final song of the set was “Be a Light” and we had a video tribute to Dein Offizier projected behind us which showed many sides of him... he was a great friend and bandmate who we will miss dearly.

What was the process of selecting from the twenty to thirty demos for the album you planned to work on? What criteria did you use to select those fifteen songs?
Some of the demos were only a drum and synth loop and others were completely written and arranged. In the summer of 2023, Dbot (Zwaremachine bassist) and I got together and played through what I had to see if there were bass parts and riffs that could be written and we would also sort the key and BPM of the song. Then I added vocals and worked more on arrangements for the songs we picked from the demos and we recorded some bass parts for about half of those in September 2023. For those fifteen songs we didn't really worry about fitting any genres and just wanted the best songs we could make since we knew the band was in for a bit of a change in sound and line-up.

Who filmed and produced the video for “A Sickness”? Is there a particular reason that song was chosen to represent the next album?
The video was filmed by the band during a live concert in the Netherlands. This is a special mix for the video, and we have another mix version that will be on the album and include the guitarist and drummer we have recently added to the lineup.

Describe the concept and making of “Actions and Forces” video, and how it conveys the changes occurring with the addition of Paul K and Marshal B.
The video was filmed while I was in the Netherlands and we also used live footage from the band performing live in Minneapolis, Minnesota and in the Netherlands. Since we have not yet performed with the new full four piece version of the band we wanted to come up with a way to present everyone in the video, so clips of the other band members were made to look like they were projected on a wall beside me. The idea behind the lyrics is that as we progress further with technology we become a little less human and also what happens at the point when we become more machine than man.
With the addition new members Paul K and Marshal B, we had the opportunity to introduce a new sound with guitars and electronic drums which pushed us more into an industrial rock sound while still holding onto the dark electro and EBM elements.

In the fields of electro, industrial, and metal, technology and its misuse is a popular subject matter. Is “Actions and Forces” able to present the idea in a unique manner with its video and lyrical content?
We intentionally made an effort to not have a narrative or storyline type video and let the electronic and human elements of the song set the mood. The original working title for the song was "Biomech" and that is what informed the lyrical choices.

Is there any song or movie that helped inspire the music or lyrics of this song, or did the band draw their own inspiration?
For this song there was a strong inspiration from the band Killing Joke for the choruses I wrote... their epic song “Love like Blood” was in the forefront of my mind when recording the vocals. The original instrumental synths and electronic drum elements were written by Dbot and I can't speak for his inspirations. I was able to work on the arrangement more once I had the final lyrics written and the guitars were recorded. For the mix it was necessary to carve out some room for the guitars that were played by myself and new Zwaremachine guitarist Paul K. The addition of electronic drums from Marshal B gave a bit more punch and both guitar and electronic drums were recorded and tracked for this song in February 2024 while I was in the Netherlands.

Has Killing Joke been a consistent influence, or were they specifically influential on the vocals of “Actions and Forces?
That influence is coming through more with the addition of guitars on the new album. Dbot and I both really like that band and have considered covering one of their songs in the future.

As I watched “Actions and Forces”, it struck me more as a surreal film than a promotional video. There are elements of videos from the eighties, but the atmosphere is much colder. Did you omit a storyline to emphasize those qualities?
We prefer that style more than a storytelling type video, and we did want the song to be more of the focus. However the style and way it was shot and edited was mostly out of necessity since we had no footage of the full band performing together and I was trying to find a way to present the new line-up.

Did you work independently on “Actions and Forces” or did you work with professional shooters and producers, conveying your ideas to them?
The instrumental was written by Dbot and I did a bit of arranging once the vocals were written. We produced the songs ourselves and the mixing is being done by I and Jason Orris at The Terrarium studio in Minneapolis. Minnesota. USA.

How would you address those who interpret a song about technology as being anti-technology, thus implying that the band writing it is anti-technology?
I think this song is a bit vague in some of those references and probably obvious at the same time. I wanted to keep the message simple...for instance, each verse starts with the same line “Throw the switch” which also inspired the cover artwork by Mark Gerrard. The song is only pointing out the pitfalls of advancing technologies and the last verse even has a glimmer of optimism about these type of situations with the line "Replace my parts, I will Succeed". For me there isn't an anti-technology stand but only a bit of skepticism if left unchecked.

As you view technology at present, what are the pros and cons you see?
In relation to music and probably most everything else, we seem to be losing character and uniqueness. There are many templates and models to churn out songs and art so the genres and markets become saturated and the bar becomes lower. There will always be some who seek out original and exceptional art but I think most are happy with something that sounds or looks like something already popular so it’s easy to recognize and digest.
I see technological advancements in music software and hardware as a way to perform in ways that were previously hindered. The speed at which we can edit and produce music is a great benefit for my style of writing and recording.

Would you say you have more of an organic feel with the addition of industrial elements?
I always consider us an electro-industrial band and more recently the industrial rock elements like guitar have been added. The guitars are blended with the synths to often double them and create a thick texture while not being out front or in your face. I also like to reinforce synth line melodies with a guitar line here and there. We still use heavy synth programming and electronic drums so there’s probably not much of an organic feeling but we do consider the band a bit of hybrid electro-rock since we now have live guitars and bass guitar.

How long did it take to find appropriate guitar and synth sounds to blend those instruments as you wanted?
When I was working on the demos and we started arranging and recording I intentionally left space for additional melodic elements. I planned to add more layers of synths with some arps and melody lines but after pulling out my guitar and trying some parts it became evident that the guitars could fit that purpose better and I really liked that some songs took on that industrial rock vibe. Since guitar was my first instrument it didn't take long to find sounds and record those parts. The “Actions and Forces” song became the first song to feature the guitar of Paul K and myself and the live drumming of Marshal B to fill out the drums that were programmed.

Zwaremachine scheduled some shows for this month. What is your ability to reproduce in live performances the sound you found in the studio?
We will easily be able to create the same feelings and sounds...however I do like a bit of freedom to change up some vocal arrangements in the live set depending on my mood and energy of the crowd. For these shows in September our bassist Dbot will not be able to join us but the sound won't be lacking as we have plenty of low end synths and there is still plenty of energy on stage from live guitar and drums. We are planning more shows for 2025 and the full four piece line-up will be present for those.

Do your audiences appreciate the occasional changes you make to your vocal arrangements?
I doubt many even notice as they’re slight changes to the arrangements, depending on how I'm feeling in the moment. My bandmates and some close to the band may notice, but they aren’t drastic changes and they are able to play the song arrangement as we rehearsed.

Can you let the readers know about any of the shows you've performed this month? You posted about several of them at Facebook, including one at Café The Shuffle at Nijmegen, Netherlands.
Our bassist Dbot couldn't make these dates so we performed these concerts as a trio and 2 of those shows were with Vuduvox which is a band we share our drummer with. The Shuffle is a special place for the band since it is where we played our last show with Bas/Dein Offizier in October 2022.

Are there any other shows from the tour that you would like to mention in this interview? After all the dates were completed, how did it feel to return home?
It was three shows so I call it a mini-tour. With everyone’s schedules with other bands and life commitments we prefer doing a few shows over a couple weekends for our European dates. All of these shows were with bands and DJs we are friends with so of course it was a great time all around. I would always like to do more shows but we have to balance cost and time and plan ahead for 2025 and I am still working on the record so returning home to finish mixing and perform some solo Mach FoX shows was necessary.

In the near future, you will have another event called Dark and Local October. Would you like to reveal anything about this beforehand?
That is a local Twin Cities event put together by my friend Jarvis from the band Absynthe Of Faith to showcase bands in our area. I will be performing a solo set of electro/cyber-industrial songs I have written for the next Mach FoX album.


What is the next move Zwaremachine intends to take? After your tour, are you taking a break to rest or starting to write again?
I am still mixing and recording songs for the next Zwaremachine album. In December I will go back to the Netherlands to record some guitars and drums for some of those songs. We plan to have the album out in 2025 and have already started booking shows for next year.

ZWAREMACHINE LINKS:

-Dave Wolff

Sunday, September 22, 2024

Article: "Mabon balance" by Unknown

Mabon balance
by Unknown
Forwarded by Goddess Rosemary Sahjaza


Mabon is the season of the autumnal equinox. It's a time of year when many of us in the Pagan community take a few moments to give thanks for the things we have. Whether it's our health, the food on our table, or even material blessings, this is the perfect season to celebrate the abundance in our lives. Try including this simple prayer in your Mabon celebrations.


Mabon Balance Rite
Equal hours of light and darkness
we celebrate the balance of Mabon,
and ask the gods to bless us.
For all that is bad, there is good.
For that which is despair, there is hope.
For the moments of pain, there are moments of love.
For all that falls, there is the chance to rise again.
May we find balance in our lives
as we find it in our hearts.

Saturday, September 21, 2024

Interview with Ale Jackson of Torzo by Dave Wolff


Interview with Ale Jackson [bass] of Torzo by Dave Wolff

The members of Torzo are seasoned performers with a range of musical preferences. How long have you collaborated, and how did you take your influences into account?
We've been playing together since 2021, though the band has been active since 2013. Each of us has had a different musical path in different musical genres (rock, blues, hardcore punk, prog, thrash, death and black metal) but all four of us share a passion for hardcore punk and 80s thrash metal, so the crossover we propose came to us naturally. Power, speed of execution are always present in our songs, which come to life in the rehearsal room, where each of us can add ideas for the final draft of the song.

When Torzo originally started off, did they plan to expand? What prior band experience do the members of Torzo have?
Torzo started with a three-piece formation. The classic power trio over the years has had several lineup changes until settling on the current four-piece formation. Fabio our singer and only remaining founding member is always proactive in adding members to the group. Our musical experiences began in the late 80s and early 90s in various hardcore punk and thrash metal bands, but also with rock and alternative groups. Surely all these experiences have served to define our current musical style.

Which alternative, thrash, punk, and rock bands had the biggest influence on the group?
The bands that inspired us and that I hear most often when we meet are the classic Black Sabbath, followed by the American hardcore/thrash scene: Agnostic Front, D.R.I., Corrosion of Conformity, Zeke, Sick of it All, Suicidal Tendencies, Slayer, Exodus, Anthrax, S.O.D., Nuclear Assault. Melvins, Kyuss, Electric Wizard, Helmet and Mudvayne. Equally important for us was also the Italian scene: Negazione, Raw Power, Wretched, Indigesti, Impact, Bulldozer, Schizo, Necrodeath, Upset Noise, Declino, Nerorgasmo... all bands we have in the heart.

How much attention has Italian punk and hardcore received in contrast to the US, the UK, and other countries like Japan? Would you rather Italy be noticed more for punk and hardcore, or would exclusivity be more appealing?
Surely at the beginning of the hardcore punk movement, Italian bands for us had the same importance as bands from abroad. In the 80s in Italy there were as many hardcore/punk fans as there were metal or dark wave fans. The scene was very lively and there were many venues throughout Italy where bands could perform. However, it was a global movement and the bands, even if there wasn't the means of communication of today, were all in contact with each other. In fact our bands had the opportunity to play throughout Europe, the United Kingdom and the United States. In my strictly personal opinion the beginning of the various musical genres is the best moment, when it remains underground in all its energy. Its purity and honesty remains intact, with success these things get lost, so I'm happy with how things went.

Are your lyrics as evocative of eighties thrash and hardcore punk as your music? What categories of topics do you usually cover?
I think our lyrics respect the hardcore and thrash genres of those years. Our songs talk about everyday life experiences and aspects of today's society. Other lyrics are inspired by many films, especially the horror/slasher genres of the seventies. Finally you can find ironic and light-hearted lyrics in a full rock n roll style.

How do your lyrics rooted in punk and hardcore, convey a feeling of realism? What distinguishes them from the jovial rock lyrics you write?
The sense of realism in our lyrics is expressed by describing everyday life, facts and aspects of the current world, getting straight to the point without too many metaphors or abstract concepts. The most light-hearted lyrics are always part of life experiences, describing funny situations or particular characters met during the journey of life. Let's never forget that music is also fun, especially fun.

Which facets of life and society do you write about? When they hear these, can listeners discern that they are personal to the band?
We can say the current world is not in a good period: wars, violence, poverty, greed and egocentrism. I think today's society can offer many ideas for writing lyrics. I hope our lyrics reach people who listen to them.

Which recent occurrences—during the past five or ten years—do you believe are worthy of being written about, criticized, or brought to light?
The world has certainly changed since 2019. There are plenty of situations to describe and bring to light even if fundamentally today's problems are not that different from those of forty years ago. There have always been wars and there always will be, money rules on all fronts, and governments tell us through the media what is convenient for them.

Have you been contacted by fans who told you they found meaning in your songs?
The album has just come out and we haven't had any contacts yet, but it happened to us that at some of our live shows we saw the audience singing some of our songs. The lyrics were received, and this is already a great satisfaction.

Why, in your opinion, have metal and thrash bands—aside from punk and hardcore bands—written about social issues for such a long time?
Well... being extreme genres I think they lend themselves well to these themes. Then someone will have to deal with these themes while keeping in mind that I consider music freedom and everyone should feel free to express themselves as they wish.

What elements of horror and slasher films from the seventies influence your songs, and what about that era appeals to you?
The films of that period did not yet have special effects, they were very dark and raw, based on real feelings of anxiety and fear, and these atmospheres lend themselves well to a context of extreme music.

In your view, what seventies horror/slasher films have withstood the test of time?
Let's say for those who are passionate about the genre, these films have all survived the passage of time. As far as we are concerned, I can mention the film “Torso” from 1973 directed by Sergio Martino, from which our singer finds inspiration for his lyrics.

What was the plot of “Torso” and how did it inspire the lyrics by your vocalist?
“I corpi presenta tracce di violenza carnale” is a 1973 film directed by Sergio Martino. Sergio Martino, an explorer of numerous genres, represents one of the most valid alternatives to the Argentian thriller. Among his crime novels, a prominent role is played by “I corpi presenta tracce di violenza carnale” (aka “Torso”, 1973). Not that the others lack anything, but “Torso” has the indisputable merit of having been one of the first slashers in the world - second only to “Reazione a catena” (1971) by Mario Bava - inaugurating the genre even before the American models of “Halloween” and “Friday the 13th”. Written by the specialist Ernesto Gastaldi together with Martino, “I corpi presenta tracce di violenza carnale” brilliantly combines the classic whodunit with this new genre, making them flow into each other in a natural and exciting way. The band members are all in their fifties; these films are part of our background and therefore a source of inspiration for our lyrics.

Why do you think metal bands and their fans find horror/slasher films appealing to this day?
I really think so, just think that a musical genre like brutal death metal is based almost exclusively on these themes.

You mentioned all the members of Torzo are in their fifties; can you explain why you all chose to remain involved in the metal underground for so long? I assume you consider it something more than a phase.
With our genre I think it is impossible, especially in Italy, to get out of the underground circuit. Surely a greater response would please anyone, but personally the underground is what I have always followed and I am happy to be there.

In preparation for your full length “Spectri”, how many demos did the band record? How did combining your influences help you find your sound?
Before the release of our debut this year, in 2019 an EP called “Castello dell'orrore” was released. You can listen to it on YouTube and it was only released in digital form. This EP was composed and played only by our singer Fabio and our guitarist Aristide. You can notice a different style of sound, very steeped in stoner and prog rock. In 2021 with the entry of Stefano on drums and my entry on bass the lineup was completed and therefore the band took the sound direction we have arrived at today.

Did releasing “Castello dell'orore” solely in digital help Torzo financially? Was it more helpful to record it independently?
As “Castello dell'orrore” was published only on YouTube, it is completely free. Our debut was also self-produced. We are an underground band, attitude and passion for music are our driving force and even if there is no monetary feedback we will continue to play.

Which parts of “Castello dell'orrore” were best suited to the crossover between stoner and prog?
The thing that brings us closer to prog, especially the Italian progressive rock of the seventies, is mainly having kept the vocals in Italian. This brings us closer to the genre; obviously some musical parts of the various pieces and not of one in particular.

In what ways, if any, does Italian progressive rock differ from the progressive rock most people are familiar with?
I don't think Italian prog rock is very far from the genre's canons. It developed almost at the same time as foreign prog, on the “ashes” of beat influenced by the founders of the genre, from the pioneers Procol Harum and Moody Blues to King Crimson, Genesis, Gentle Giant and Van der Graaf Generator. It was perhaps the most important phenomenon in Italian pop music and managed to cross national borders, something very difficult in Italy. Among the most famous bands I want to mention are Le Orme, Premiata Forneria Marconi, Area, Banco del Mutuo Soccorso, Biglietto per L'inferno, Formula 3 and New Trolls besides many others.

Before releasing “Castello dell'orrore” you previewed it with the single “Ballando con il Demonio”. Why was this track chosen?
“Ballando con il demonio” is a Torzo warhorse, probably one of the first pieces written. It was influenced by the various changes in the band's lineup and finally we re-proposed it in a thrash version on the latest album.

When “Ballando con il demonio” was reworked into thrash, how many improvements were made? Were changes made to the lyrics, or did they remain untouched?
Having undertaken a much harder musical direction, for “Ballando con il Demonio” the classic thrash stylistic elements were inserted, fast rhythm with triplets, and a very engaging central mosh part, Fabio's singing adapted very well to this new version keeping the lyrics unchanged.

Does Torzo have an independent studio where the EP and full length were recorded? If so, does recording there allow you to express passion in your songwriting?
The EP was recorded by our guitarist, I think at his home, since he himself is a fan of electronic devices, while for the album we turned to a recording studio in Milan. Fortunately we found a perfect environment for our music in both cases.

What is the amount of recording experience your guitarist has, and how did his experience benefit your recording process?
Our guitarist and our singer have good experience in recording. Specifically, the guitarist is quite experienced in recording while our singer is experienced in mixing. This certainly helped us a lot in the studio to get what we want.

What was the main reason you recorded “Spectri” at a professional studio? At what studio did you record? Did you work with people experienced with metal bands?
We chose to record “Spectri” after having recorded a cover of “Iron Fist” by Motorhead in that studio for a tribute compilation. The studio is a point of reference in Milan for various alternative genres of punk, hardcore and metal. Since we found ourselves very well on a professional and human level we decided to record our debut there. It was definitely the best choice.

What tribute compilation did your cover of “Iron Fist” appear on? Did you record this song in a way that made it stand out from other covers of it?
The compilation is entitled “Bombers: A tribute to Motorhead”, made by various groups from the Milan area. It was released on Spotify last year, but can be found on all platforms. We chose “Iron Fist” by mutual agreement and we covered it naturally as it came to us, remaining faithful to the original. This is the link of the compilation.

Describe the release party the band hosted for “Spectri” and how much advertising was done to promote it?
For the release party we went a bit against the grain. At the end of July we presented the album in a place high up in the mountains with all our friends. We will advertise our album during the concerts we will have the chance to do. We ate and drank abundantly. Apart from a few posts on social networks, it was more of a word of mouth between friends and acquaintances.

How have your live gigs to promote “Spectri” been going since the release party?
We didn't play in August, we had our holidays, the next date will be in Milan on September 21 and we will have some in the next autumn and winter season to promote the album.

The show in Milan is in a couple of days at the time of this writing. How do you anticipate being received while you’re onstage? Will you be playing outside Italy in the autumn and winter?
The next live is a music festival we have been attending for three years. There will be many bands and friends, and the welcome is always great. We don't have any dates outside Italy for now, but we will take them into consideration.

Once your performance dates for “Spectri” are over, what does the band plan to do next? Is there anything you can tell the readers in advance?
We will continue with the formula we have always used. We already have some songs ready and will prepare some more for a new EP or full length. I want to thank you for this pleasant interview, all the readers of Asphyxium Zine and all those who will listen to our album.

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-Dave Wolff