Monday, July 31, 2017

Audio Drama Review: The Hound Of The Baskervilles (Cadabra Records) by Dave Wolff

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Hound Of The Baskervilles
To be released August 11th 2017
Released for airplay July 18th 2017
Produced by Bleak December, Inc.
Cadabra Records, the independent spoken arts label that released Clark Ashton Smith’s The Muse Of Hyperborea, present a modern adaptation of a timeless supernatural mystery. Cadabra has previously released spoken word adaptations of Edgar Allan Poe, H.P. Lovecraft and Bram Stoker and has since added Roland Topor and Robert W. Chambers to its catalogue. More than a narrative, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Hound Of The Baskervilles is a thirty-five minute audio play featuring accomplished stage and screen actors. In its original form Baskervilles it is part of Doyle’s extensive Sherlock Holmes series, with elements of horror that chill readers to this day. It was serialized in an English fiction magazine called The Strand from August, 1901 to April, 1902. These elements should appeal to fans of extreme metal with occult and supernatural themes. Set in the nineteenth century English West Country moorland of Dartmoor, the original urban legend where many disappearances are said to have taken place, it involves an old mansion reputed to be haunted by its gruesome past, an unexplained death, escaped inmates from a mental asylum, mysterious lights and noises across the moorland and the underworld-spawned presence carrying out a blood curse that has held the Baskerville family for centuries. When surfing Youtube I’ve found radio dramas and audiobooks from the 1950s to the present. The dramas include Sci Fi Radio, Ray Bradbury 13, The Saint Vincent Price Radio Show and more recently BBC Radio. The audiobooks I found include adaptations from Stephen King, Clive Barker and many readings of Doyle’s novel. As with albums, the presentation and acting quality of each varies from adaptation to adaptation. As for this one, the most notable talent in this drama is legendary actor Sir Derek Jacobi as Sherlock Holmes, joined by Anthony D. P. Mann (who penned the liner notes for the Cadabra release) as Dr. John H. Watson, Ilke Hincer as Sir Henry Baskerville, Nikolas Yuen as Mortimer, Amie Bello as Mrs. Barrymore, Barry Yuen as Inspector Stapleton, Lisa Morrissey as The Hotel Attendant, James Hoergerl as The Boy and Richard Boyer as The Policeman. Mann’s narration as Dr. Watson, the actors’ portrayals of their respective characters, the music composed and performed by Brent Holland do their part to draw you into the story. Holmes, who does not believe in devils or ghouls, agrees to investigate the death that occurred at Dartmoor and is confronted with occurrences that challenge his perceptions of reason as he works to solve the mystery. The tone and soundtrack have been compared to the old Hammer Horror movies, and recapture that of the radio dramas I mention above. There are new projects Cadabra has planned for the unsuspecting listener; visit the label’s official site to read about them. -Dave Wolff

Track list:
1. The Hound of the Baskervilles - Part 1
2. The Hound of the Baskervilles - Part 2

Sunday, July 30, 2017

CD Review: ALL OUT WAR Give Us Extinction

Give Us Extinction
To be released August 11th 2017
Released for airplay July 19th 2017
We last heard from All Out War when their Dying Gods EP came out in 2015. Following it is a new full length CD Earsplit promises will crush more relentlessly than anything released through the 90s and 2000s. Aside from a promise that has accompanied a band’s new release countless times, what matters most is if the band themselves deliver and how much. It was 1994 when I acquired another EP of theirs, Destined To Burn. This was when hardcore-thrash crossover was being redefined by Biohazard, Sheer Terror, Madball, Killing Time, Life Of Agony and Merauder. The songs recorded for it; Destined To Burn, Resist and Fall From Grace; would prove instrumental in shaping their identity, starting with their 1997 CD Truth In The Age Of Lies. For a glimpse of the potential they showed and their ability to fire up their audience, watch this clip of their set from Peekskill Hardcore Fest in upstate NY from October 1994 (I was there and seeing it brings back memories). Their albums For Those Who Were Crucified, Condemned To Suffer, Assassins In The House Of God and Into The Killing Fields propelled All Out War to unforeseen heights of popularity in the States and abroad. I should add these bands in their own way adapted the groove of 90s hardcore to overtly post-thrash progressions with a natural ease that attracted fans of both genres and blurred the lines between them. Each of those albums seemed to grow more fervent and volatile without losing sight of the dirty streets and dilapidated buildings that helped influence their early material. The pre-gentrified old New York atmosphere and the streetwise saunter it produced has persisted in making its presence known all the way up to the new album. The years have seen several different guitarists and drummers in the band. The present lineup of Mike Score (vocals), Taras Apuzzo and Andy Pietroluongo (guitar), Eric Carrillo (bass) and Jesse Sutherland (drums/vocals) are growing seasoned since recording Dying Gods. Their efforts as a cohesive unit are strongest in Burn These Enemies, From The Mouths Of Serpents, In Praise Of Leeches, Choking On Indifference (with guest vocals by Straphangers vocalist Emily Muscara), Circling Vultures and Repulsive Premonitions. The scorched earth themes of the lyrics haven’t changed much since Destined To Burn, another characteristic the band has refused to compromise. As a consistent warning to the human race of how things could turn out, the lyrics are made all the more dramatic by the pummeling music serving as a vehicle for them. Emily Muscara also makes a guest appearance on All Out War’s cover of Nausea’s (old school NYC crust punk) Cybergod and Michelle Eddison formerly of Starkweather makes a guest appearance on Carcass Rot. -Dave Wolff

Track list:
1. Give Us Extinction
2. Burn These Enemies
3. Worship The Cancer
4. From The Mouths Of Serpents
5. In Praise Of Leeches
6. Choking On Indifference
7. Carcass Rot
8. Circling Vultures
9. Ingesting Vile
10. Bodies For The Machine
11. Cybergod
12. Repulsive Premonitions

Saturday, July 29, 2017

CD Review: BEREFT OF LIGHT Hoinar

This is my first time listening to the Romanian project BEREFT OF LIGHT, but I must say, whilst listening to this so I could review it, this was an entirely spiritual experience. The combination of powerful black-metal and beautiful melodic acoustics made me cry like a baby. Tears streamed from my eyes as I listened and I was consumed by the beauty that this release inspires. I am a fan of black-metal, but it is not often that the music actually touches me to the point of tears. There is a ton of sadness within this release, but there is beauty within that sadness. Fans of LIFELOVER and maybe SHINING would find this music to be a gem within their musical collection. I have had my own battles with depression and this release made me contemplate my own battles with despair. From start to finish, this was a journey within my own mind. Introspection was key as I wandered deep within my own psyche. The metal was amazing, but as I mentioned before, the acoustics were absolutely beautiful and heart-warming. A descent into my own sanity, this music touches me like most music does not. A must listen for black-metal fans. -Devin Joseph Meaney

Track list:
1. Uitare
2. Legamant
3. Pustiu
4. Freamat
5. Tarziu

Friday, July 28, 2017

CD Review: BESTIAL INVASION Contra Omnes by Dave Wolff

BESTIAL INVASION
Contra Omnes
Shellfire Attack
As I explained reviewing their Repudiating The Power single (2017), Ukraine’s Bestial Invasion is the most radically divergent thrash band to emerge since the genre’s resurgence. The thing about thrash is there is always a band to travel extra miles to give the genre validation that transcends the stereotypes attached to it. For example there was Maelstrom’s (Long Island, USA) monumental It Was Predestined EP from 2008 where they exceeded the potential they displayed on their demos. While few thrash bands I’ve heard can touch what they achieved, now and then a new band shows similar potential to forge new boundaries, breaking those stereotypes in the process. This is one band who will challenge preconceived notions about how metal should sound and a thrash musician's capacity to write as their work becomes more well known. Bestial Invasion describe themselves as technical thrash metal citing Destruction, Raven, Dark Angel, Death, Coroner, Atheist, Toxik and Anacrusis as major influences. We know a list of cited influences can only say so much about what comes of their professionalism and work ethic. And as indicated previously, what I heard on their new full length Contra Omnes far surpasses normal expectations of how those influences can be reinterpreted. Bestial Invasion has been covered extensively since the middle of 2016, from their CD Act Of Retribution to their Trilogy: Prisoners Of Miserable Fate EP (three songs appearing on it; Prisoner Of Miserable Fate, Zodiac: Crime World Mystery and Caligula: Salacious Age; also appear on this album) to their 2017 single to an interview with founding member Metal Priest about his reviews on Youtube and the impending release of Contra Omnes which was still in development. All those releases were reviewed by different staff writers and we all commented on the new directions the band have taken. Read those reviews and check out the releases to experience their originality and creativity firsthand, then check out Contra Omnes to see the latest steps they are taking. They're hard to describe more then this as Bestial Invasion are reaching a pinnacle that defies classification. New songs N.E.V.E.R.M.O.R.E. (written about Edgar Allan Poe), Camera Obscura (Caravaggio Specular Vision) and Numenor (Bonus Version 2017) are a logical progression for a band combining the biting aggression of thrash with the fantasy-driven elements of classic metal and the experimental spirit of prog metal, with death metal and jazz-fusion added. The song arrangements, time changes and additional effects are tighter and the vocals are so high pitched they threaten to shatter crystal. The lead solo in N.E.V.E.R.M.O.R.E. is played with an acoustic guitar and holds its own as well as if it was performed with an electric model. Some of the most notable improvements on the band's part are shown in the guitar solos. The same can be said for the bass solo in the opening section of Camera Obscura (Caravaggio Specular Vision). Following this is Enigma, a brief bass track with background effects adding a sense of darkness to it. The band include two covers: one of Destruction’s instrumental Thrash Attack (with their own lyrics added) and one of Grim Reaper’s See You In Hell that sounds simultaneously tranquil and malevolent. Contra Omnes is a worthwhile chronicle of the band's growth; still I'm waiting for them to record a full album’s worth of new songs. -Dave Wolff

Track list:
1. Inception
2. N.E.V.E.R.M.O.R.E.
3. Prisoner Of Miserable Fate
4. Camera Obscura (Caravaggio Specular Vision)
5. Enigma (Bass Solo)
6. Repudiating The Power
7. Zodiac Crime World Mystery
8. Caligula: Salacious Age!
9. (Technical) Thrash Attack (Destruction Cover)
10. Numenor (Bonus Version 2017)
11. See You In Hell (Grim Reaper Cover)

Thursday, July 27, 2017

CD Review: MISANTHROPE MONARCH Regress To The Saturnine Chapter

MISANTHROPE MONARCH
Regress To The Saturnine Chapter
Independent
When I reviewed this German death metal band’s self-titled debut EP in 2015 I was so taken with their shredding brutality I wanted to hear more. It took Misanthrope Monarch three years to release a follow up, but as they say it was worth the wait. Two songs appearing on the EP (Crushing The Unbeliever and Father Sin And The Hollow Spirit) were re-recorded for their debut full length along with nine new compositions. Released July 7, Regress To The Saturnine Chapter is already receiving massive amounts of praise from fanzines and the band is being lauded for displaying technical precision without overplaying it, or using too much atmosphere, or relying on too much old school influence. This CD speaks of a deliberate, calculated songwriting process designed to hit home with relative simplicity not requiring too many notes written into a guitar progression. An analogy I thought of is a small guerilla force in the midst of a zombie apocalypse taking out one lumbering reanimated corpse at a time, with a single head shot. Just the proper amount of firepower here. Regress To The Saturnine Chapter is a death metal album that doesn’t try too hard to be a death metal album. You can tell this band is different from their name alone, as Misanthrope Monarch is not your typical band name. I found this formula is far more effective in the long haul than giving the listener too much to absorb too early. Winter, Mortician and Dark Throne based their songs on minimalism and the “less is more” approach and it established their longevity while leaving more room to progress and grow. Misanthrope Monarch are not as simplistic as those bands but they do place writing good songs and not songs that are too technical. The production speaks of the same approach on the band’s part and the result is a recording that shreds your brain like a scapel rather than a sledgehammer. These songs are extremely direct and fan feedback on Bandcamp says it’s “death metal as it was meant to be... uncompromising… a perfect blend of… speed and midtempo.” Even the intro doesn’t overstay its welcome. Without effort the band even recap elements of classic thrash arranged within the song structure. I notice a balance between thrash energy and death metal brutality more accurate than other bands have attempted. The guitar solos carry hints of classic metal. One Youtube reviewer likened them to Kirk Hammett but I’d go as far as to cite Iron Maiden. The lead vocals are imposing with sufficient diction to avoid sounding like unintelligible growling. If thinking man’s extreme metal is your speed you should give Regress To The Saturnine Chapter a listen. -Dave Wolff



Track list:
1. Towards The Utopian Kingdom Of Fire
2. Usurping The Throne
3. Crushing The Unbeliever
4. The Brotherhood Of Destruction
5. Dispelled
6. Regress To The Saturnine Chapter
7. Father Sin And The Hollow Spirit
8. Black Sirens Lurking
9. The Omega Embrace
10. Trail Of The Heretic (Maleficium)
11. Cosmic Maze

Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Album Review: NO FUNERAL/LIVID Split LP

Live Fast Die Recordings
I unexpectedly got wind of this split full length through an email from Live Fast Die Recordings, a U.S. label dealing strictly with doom metal, sludge metal, crust punk and experimental noise. The bands who contributed songs, No Funeral and Livid, were chosen to represent the doom and sludge metal scenes in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Just last year No Funeral released their full length Misantrope in digital format, this is available for streaming and purchase at Bandcamp. It was likewise released on two cassette pressings of 100 copies each and a small CD run. Livid’s debut album Beneath This Shroud, The Earth Erodes came out this month through Prosthetic Records, likewise in digital format, CD, vinyl and streaming on Bandcamp. Live Fast Die Recordings was founded last year and at their outset are distributing full length and demo releases from NF and a full length release by another Minneapolis band, Circadian Ritual. These are the first Minneapolis bands I am hearing about of late, and this far two of them are a fitting introduction. I became acquainted to sludge metal listening to Carnivore’s classic LP Retaliation and a few years later listening to Winter the first sludge metal band from Long Island who formed at a time when sludge was barely heard of and has zero popularity locally. Nevertheless I gravitated toward them for being in direct opposition to the easy route to popularity, depicting the apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic in a way that had not been tried. My first impression of No Funeral was much like hearing Winter for the first time. The distortion and feedback laden intro to their song Disease Brought By Depression for example gave me a clear vision of a devastated wasteland with nothing as far as the eye could see except for ruins, ruins and more ruins. If after all this time I could have my imagination sparked by a band I didn’t know about a month ago this was a release worth the time and effort to track down. As the feedback and distortion goes into grimy guitars, heavily distorted bass, piercing drum hits and tortured, rasping vocals it becomes self-evident this is no band for the faint hearted or listeners ill equipped to withstand the agonizingly slow dirges. This cut is a visit to deep depression it may be difficult to recover from. Backing up to the first No Funeral song, Infection, it begins with isolated notes I’d expect from a good black metal or DSBM album. To discover this is the foundation of the entire track was a profound moment. No Funeral is in no way an uninspired Black Sabbath clone; while paying homage to the Sabs they revitalize doom and sludge so well you have to hear it to believe it. Livid’s contribution to this split goes even farther to prove sludge metal’s continued validity. False Hope is an eighteen-minute journey into the innermost cosmos of solitude, emptiness and despair, played with a little more melody and an atmosphere that surrounds the vocals as well as the guitar, bass and drums. It’s a song with repetitive note progressions, but this doesn’t become too tedious as they’re designed to enhance the deep emotions presented. These bands are pure underground with no effort made to become palatable for mainstream consumption. And this split is not a bad start if you want to know more about doom and sludge from Minneapolis. -Dave Wolff

Track list:
1. No Funeral - Infection
2. No Funeral - Disease Brought By Depression
3. Livid - False Hope

Tuesday, July 25, 2017

CD Review: LAVA INVOCATOR Mörk

Mörk
I will start out by saying this album is amazing. Fans of NARGAROTH, GORGOROTH, MAYHEM, and any lesser-known underground black-metal bands are sure to fall in love with this album once they listen to it. The guitars are great and the drums viciously pound along with the intricate bass guitar work. All instruments are ''more than good" but the bass guitar is what jumps out at me the most. I have been listening to underground music for years, and I have found that the majority of black-metal bands are treble oriented, but with this release, the bass is well recorded and highly pronounced, which is a good thing. The vocals range from piercing highs to low-end gutturals, but my favorite vocal work on this album would have to be on ''Totenkamph'' as the change in vocal style was unexpected but highly enjoyable. I have not heard much Ukranian black-metal, but this proves that they can chug along with the best of the best. I highly suggest that you check this album out, as it is a great piece of dark, musical art. I may be getting a bit off-topic, but this is the type of music that makes me want to climb mountains, or alternatively, drink fancy red wine alone in my bedroom as I wear a tuxedo, consumed by the smoke that surrounds me. A ''must listen'' for black-metal fans. -Devin Joseph Meaney

Track list:
1. Awaken
2. Empyrium Et Nihil
3. Gestapofallos
4. Black Dawn
5. Dark Thunder Sky
6. Totenkampf
7. Mörk

EP Review: CERNUNNOUS Self-titled

Self-titled
As it is one of my favorite one-entity black-metal projects, I am very pleased that I can present to you CERNUNNOUS. Horned god of the underworld and pagan god of fertility and the hunt, CERNUNNOUS is sure to tickle your dark-side with bleak riffage, chaotic vocals and well thought-out drum tracks. Unearthed from the fossilized remains of a pagan eon, CERNUNNOUS, the infernal beast cries out ghastly cackles into the night sky. This self-titled EP contains five vicious tracks, each one just as destructive as the last. Did I mention that there will soon be more to come? Yes, it's true. Within the next few months, there will be a new EP. Even darker and more bleak than this. But, whilst you are waiting, enjoy these delightful musical abominations as they are. Pure. Raw. Astral. Enjoy at your own risk, but I promise, the demons will be most pleased. All recordings property of the underworld. -Devin Joseph Meaney

Track list:
1. Darkness Rules The Light
2. Upon Black Wings Of Destiny
3. Behold The Blizzard
4. The Stag Of Seven Tines
5. Horned Is The Hunter

EP Review: SLEEP TOKEN Two

Two
I'm just waking up, and I was sent ''Two'' by ''the masked musical collective'' SLEEP TOKEN. This is far from my normal listening material, but I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this. The tracks are depressingly beautiful in that sense that they spark both positive and negative emotions, warming the heart, yet giving off lonely vibes at the same time. It's hard to explain, in the same way that the bands genre is hard to pin-point. It ranges from soft, beautiful and melodic to heavy and crushing in parts. The band is said to be '' the mortal representatives of the ancient deity known only as sleep’’, led by ''the masked and cloaked figure appointed VESSEL.'' Angelic voice and demonic riffs collide in this deeply unique EP, out now on BASICK RECORDS. Long live the cult of sleep, I hope you enjoy these tracks just as much as I did. The crushing guitar and the gorgeous ambience fit together like two pieces of the same fantastic puzzle. Do you believe in the great deity? I do. -Devin Joseph Meaney

Track list:
1. Calcutta
2. Nazareth
3. Jericho

Sunday, July 23, 2017

CD Review: PREDATOR Born In Blood

Born In Blood
Available at Amazon
As indicated from Damien Lee Thorr’s interview last March, Predator was formed as an alternative to what he perceived as overdone satanic themes in underground metal. Seeing it as mostly a gimmick for shock value since Black Sabbath in the ‘70s. he says Predator was intended from the start to have a reality based outlook. Openly atheist despite their manager’s advice, Damien addresses religion and its present governmental role and push for the separation of church and state. One point of his I relate to is religion is brought into schools to discourage teaching about evolution: a form of controlling young students under religious guises (another example of using religion through legislation is the PMRC and the attacks they launched on metal and music in general). Predator don’t whitewash their views on religion as a means of control; there is more to read if you missed the interview’s first posting. The band formed in Florida in 2007 releasing a self-titled debut in 2009 and Born In Blood in 2011. If you like Iron Maiden, Armored Saint, Agent Steel, Candlemass, Riot and Krokus you should check this out as Predator take a straightforward approach to playing with the same functioning liveliness bands had in the 80s. Listening to Born In Blood is like discovering the classic era all over again, and you often hear classical guitars reminding you of Randy Rhoads’ playing on Ozzy Osbourne’s debut outing. While those bands (with the exception of Ozzy) use lyrical themes relating to horror, fantasy and the occult Predator write Slave, Days Without Rain, Born In Blood and Far Beyond Death which place belief in oneself over blind faith. But unlike early death metal in which the lyrics were written to reciprocate threats of eternal damnation Predator take a neutral approach and allow the listener to decide the weight of their message. There is another song here called Ingrid Betancourt based on the true story of a Colombian activist who was captured and held prisoner for seven years. Back to the musical aspects of the band, Thorr and Victor Meneses’ frequent dual guitar solos are similar to Dave Murray and Adrian Smith; which helps define Predator’s sound as much as the classical guitars. Vocalist Nestor Aguirre has a fitting voice for the material, hitting high notes as John Cyris (Agent Steel) and Joey Belladonna (Anthrax) did in their prime. Bassist Scott Opiela and drummer Ed Greseley form a solid anchor as the band’s rhythm section. The final mix of Born In Blood could have used improvement production-wise but the material is strong enough to shine through it. Predator is preparing to record a live album with a new lineup including Thorr, Meneses, bassist Mike Heremana, drummer Darrin McNair and vocalist Rick Mythiasin (Pantera, Steel Prophet). Visit Thorr on Facebook for news and updates on the band and visit Damien Guitars for information about his custom guitar work. -Dave Wolff

Track list:
1. Days Without Rain
2. Ingrid Betancourt
3. Slave
4. Born in Blood
5. Burn
6. Far Beyond Death
7. XXV
8. Home
9. Die Not My Hopes
10. Bitch
11. Die Not My Hopes (acoustic version)
12. Caprice 16

Saturday, July 22, 2017

EP Review: INHUMAN ENTITY Kingdom Of False Divinity

Kingdom Of False Divinity
This four song EP is the first ever release by Chile’s Inhuman Entity, not counting the advance single for Imposing Inhuman Aberration. Inhuman Entity formed last year and wasted little time composing four brutish songs for Kingdom Of False Divinity. The single for the track mentioned earlier was released last March, two months prior to the EP’s official release. The Bandcamp stream of Kingdom was passed to me by vocalist Raul E. Gonzalez, who is also a graphic designer running an independent company specializing in artwork and logos for extreme metal bands (Raul EGH Artworks & Logos). He is joined by Gonzalo Sanchez (who is also the guitarist/vocalist of the Chilean slam/gore grind band Carniceria Grotesca) and drummer Manu Acevedo (of the Chilean slam/brutal death metal band Hail Caligula). At the time of Kingdom’s release they haven’t hired a working bassist; you’d have to write to ask if the position is still open. As crushing as this is I can imagine how crushing Inhuman Entity would sound performing as a full working unit. The lack of bass admittedly hinders the impact Kingdom Of False Divinity could have, and it’s mostly for Sanchez to carry the songwriting and put the brutality factor across. To be fair Inhuman Entity isn’t the first to record under similar circumstances, and many bands have pulled off the task presenting the material as is. Sanchez’s riff progressions dominate the songs as the lineup seems to have given him reign to write as much as he wanted. He plays with a deep, dark, malevolent sound somewhat likened to Morbid Angel’s Altars Of Madness, only with more distortion. Sanchez helps construct a decent sound as EPs go, and Acevedo’s precise, impossibly quick blast is an important factor in reinforcing his work. Gonzalez’s vocals often head into gore grind territory, utilizing a few different styles when it’s called for. Some of Sanchez’s riffs likewise venture into goregrind territory, which helps give Crucified And Eviscerated and Neron that certain sense of sickness goregrind is known for (think of early Carcass). The lyrics generally range from sacrilegious to pictorially disgusting, as if they’re testing both approaches to lyric writing. In retrospect Kingdom Of False Divinity is a promising start to the band’s recording career. -Dave Wolff

Track list:
1. Crucified And Eviscerated
2. Imposing Inhuman Aberration
3. Neron
4. Monuments Of Putrid Flesh

Thursday, July 20, 2017

Video Review: GRANADA Sincronizado by Dave Wolff

GRANADA
Sincronizado
From their 2017 full length Sincronizado (Satanath/Symbol Of Domination) released June 23
Distributed by Icarus Music/Blacktape Unorthodox Records
Released in June, Sincronizado is one of two promotional videos Granada filmed for their most recent release. The second video for La Serpiente was released this month. The Buenos Aires band got started opening for Black Dahlia Murder as their first performance. In 2010 they released a demo (Tocá Metal, Cagón) which was followed by a steady string of full lengths (Historias in 2012, Apocalyptic Metal in 2013, Prisionego in 2015 and Sincronizado in 2017). As you may have surmised, Granada write their lyrics entirely in Spanish. This is nothing new for South American metal but here it sounds as volatile as the first bands to do so. As Granada was founded by two guitarists (Manuel "Manolo" Mauriño and Guillermo "Guille" Estevez who is also the band’s vocalist) the crunch and groove is laid forward with gratuitous vehemence from the earliest notes. The dual guitars’ cutting, scraping production goes further to express how caustic the band is capable of being. The drums played by Marcos Edwards are more foundational than usual in pushing this cut forward and while Matias Brandauer’s bass is mostly in the background it offers many absorbing variations on the riffs. Edwards and Brandauer played together in another BA thrash band called Khumeia. This band leaned closer to thrash-death metal as opposed to the thrash-groove of Mauriño and Estevez, so those two dole out much brutal heaviness as the rhythm section. The chorus is fetching with a memorable hook. To offer some words about the video, it shows the band playing in a shady setting and fleeting images of what appears to be a deranged taxidermist and his test subjects. It’s unclear who this taxidermist is or what his purpose as shown in the video is, but these scenes rely more on implied violence than outright gore. This video and the video for La Serpiente are at Granada’s Youube site linked above. -Dave Wolff

Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Video Review: BURY THE MACHINES Beneath My Wrath by Deanna Revis

Beneath My Wrath
From their current full length Wicked Covenant (Midnite Collective)
I feel like this video and song shows a bit of the truth of who we all are. The monster, the rage, the WRATH we all have inside. Even if it is well hidden, it is there. Watching this video and listening to the song, you feel like the songwriter is sharing a piece of his tortured soul with you. Like he is pouring out his heart and showing you what devours him, driving him mad. Therefore making you think about your own monsters, feeling your own madness. The lyrics and imagery on this one expose so much of the raw honest truth, and makes you really think and start to feel your own wrath. Bury The Machines is a stoner metal band from Chicago IL, by way of Los Angeles CA. John E Bomher Jr- obscenities, guitar, bass, synth, and vocals. Mark Serpico Jr- drums. -Deanna Revis

EP Review: MUTANK W.H.A.T.S.T.H.A.T.

Boonsdale Records
W.H.A.T.S.T.H.A.T. by MUTANK without a doubt provides the listener with a barrage of short catchy thrash-metal creations. The majority of the songs are short, but the last track D.E.A.T.H is your standard length thrash metal. W.H.A.T.S.T.H.A.T. (We Have Alotta' Thrash Song That Have Abbreviated Titles) is awesome thrash, but I am also hearing some hardcore/punk influences to round it off. I could be wrong. Whilst reading the credits, I noticed that this EP was recorded by TOPON DAS of FUCK THE FACTS. As always, Topon has done a wonderful job on this. MUTANK has provided me with some of the best underground metal that I have heard from QUEBEC in quite some time. As a guy who listens to a ton of grind, the short length of these tracks might appeal to fans of grind. These recordings reeled me in pretty quick. Listen to this EP. Buy it. Make love to it. Pass it down to your children. For fans of thrash and underground metal, this release is sure to pacify any feelings of rage that might be nestled deep within your cranium. Enjoy it (I did). -Devin Joseph Meaney

Track list:
1. L.I.F.E.
2. I.D.I.O.T.
3. P.O.P.U.L.O.U.S.
4. F.O.G.
5. D.E.A.T.H.



CD Review: MORTAL PERIL The Legacy Of War

MORTAL PERIL
The Legacy Of War
Independent
The German thrashers Mortal Peril, based in the city of North Rhine-Westphalia, have been active since 2010, during which time they released the EP Of Black Days and Cruel Alliances (2012) and the full length albums Walking On Hellish Trails (2015) and The Legacy Of War (2016) besides making an appearance on the Metalmessage VI compilation (2015) with Senor Wampo (a track taken from Walking On Hellish Trails). Mortal Peril have gotten rave reviews for drawing from the classic thrash era; here they display the crunch of Exodus and Sacred Reich with the proficiency of Destruction and Death Angel and hints of hardcore and power metal. The Legacy Of War, while retaining a certain amount of their traditional rawness, generally struck me as cleaner and more subdued in comparison to their previous releases, and at first it sounded average. However there are several moments where they hook you with catchy song structure, honest lyrics and a sense of avidity in the vocals that has lasted since Of Black Days and Cruel Alliances. Here the band is apparently endeavoring to push their upgrowth by showcasing their songs in more of a polished format, though I felt they would have carried more weight with production similar to their past efforts. Again this doesn’t reflect on the band’s songwriting or capacity to write as Generation Hate, Psychotic, Air Attack (When Death Flies Silent), War Is Hell, Creeping Apocalypse and Machete illustrates. I read in Damnation Magazine that the band recorded The Legacy Of War with the analog tape method rather than record it digitally; when I consider this it does give the material its organic sound rather than coming across as too polished, For this Mortal Peril get additional kudos for making a decision they felt was right for them and what they thought would best do their material justice. The band has a Youtube profile with a promotional video for Inglorious Bastards (also from Walking On Hellish Trails) and several live clips including Air Attack and a cover of Cro Mags’ Hard Times. -Dave Wolff

Track list:
1. Generation Hate
2. Gladiator
3. Psychotic
4. Air Attack (When Death Flies Silent)
5. War Is Hell
6. Seed of Hell
7. Creeping Apocalypse
8. Machete
9. The Legacy of War



Saturday, July 15, 2017

Single Review: NYN The Apory Of Existence

NYN
The Apory Of Existence
From their upcoming full length Entropy: Of Chaos and Salt, to be released on Vmbrella 8/11/17.
Available for streaming at Bandcamp
Mixed and mastered by Tom "Fountainhead" Geldschläger
I was floored by this track from NYN’s upcoming full length from the first notes. Listening and watching the video all the way through convinced me it’s nothing short of musical genius and I felt instantly inspired to cover it. Entropy: Of Chaos and Salt is scheduled for an August release and when it’s out I am sure it will shatter many perceptions of death metal’s technical prowess. Since 2012 Noyan Tokgozoglu who formed the band did most of the instruments as well programming for a couple releases, including the full length coming out next month. In the vein of prog metal the band’s imagery and lyrical themes are based on wizardry/sword and sorcery fantasy, rather than themes traditionally related to brutal death metal. The themes of their earliest singles and EPs were darker but started becoming more fantasy oriented with the release of the Torrential Flames single in 2014, returning to darker art again with the Equivalence EP released last year. Back to the promotional video, Tokgozoglu plays with a nine-string guitar and his closeup shots show his fingers all over the place as he executes the opening riff. Nothing overly flashy or overly extravagant in these shots, just him in an isolated woodland setting showcasing talent at handling his instrument, a talent that’s undeniable as he plays over a blast beat that sounds inhumanly impossible to keep up with unless you’re well versed in the art of blast. Most of the video shows him in this setting, an unobtrusive presentation in which the only “showing off” is the emphasis on his fretboard work. The guitar appears custom made but you would have to ask him directly if he constructed it. There are keyboards in this part of the song contributing a feeling of deep haunting, as if somewhere in the woodland there is a source of inscrutable power and energy. Tokgozoglu also handles low and high pitched vocals with equal aplomb. A variety of keyboards by Jimmy Pitts appear intermittently throughout the song, riding complex time changes and technical riffs to give it diverse themes. The most effective of these are the cold orchestral accents and electronic themes. Other guitar sounds brought in include an Indian theme appearing midsong. Mixer/masterer Tom "Fountainhead" Geldschläger who plays lead guitar is featured toward the end when his solo comes up. The Apory Of Existence boasts so much sheer speed and dexterity you really have to hear it firsthand to believe it. -Dave Wolff

Single Review: POST MORTAL POSSESSION Ingesting Sewage

POST MORTAL POSSESSION
Ingesting Sewage
From their upcoming full length to be released in 2017
Music performed and recorded at Cerebral Audio Productions by Shane Mayer in May 2017.
Mixed and mastered by Shane Mayer.
When I reviewed their debut EP Possessing Entity a couple years ago, I marveled at the potential I heard from Post Mortal Possession. Mind blown by the band’s sound and professional musicianship, I thought they were well on their way to gaining the attention of indie labels everywhere. That one was released in 2014; in 2015 a second EP Forest Of The Damned was released by the band. Both EPs can be streamed at PMP’s Bandcamp with a song planned for inclusion on a new full length. Whereas the band kicked things off going right into blast at the start, they have progressed toward a fair amount of buildup, bludgeoning the listener with piercing notes, pounding snares, thunderous bass, guttural growls, manic pig squeals and rising tension until the blast comes with unexpected suddenness. In less than a minute PMP prove they are mastering every thumbprint of death metal. The early transition sweeps you into the brutality and darkness of this song almost before you’re aware it’s happening. It lasts a moment but the songwriting illustrates the slow but sure process of maturity that began with Possessing Entity. Shane Mayer who produced, mixed and mastered Ingesting Sewage has an ear for bringing out a DM band’s most brutal qualities. What surprised me most was how naturally tight these trimmings were sewn together, impressing upon all who hear it a climate of guarded discord, presented with such a stable and unbroken technique it seems impossible for a band to reach when they’ve only been active since 2013. Everything from the verses to the guitar solos to the verses again flow together impeccably, so much that the song doesn’t need a repeating chorus to fall back on. The lyrics reflect this talent as they describe in horrid detail the end of the world as only a death metal band can. You’ll be missing out if you pass this up. -Dave Wolff

Friday, July 14, 2017

CD Review: NEUROSIS The Word As Law (Reissue)

NEUROSIS
The Word As Law (Reissue)
Neurot Recordings
To be released August 25, 2017
In the latter 80s/early 90s Neurosis was one of the first bands to emerge from the Bay Area, California punk scene with Operation Ivy, Screeching Weasel and Green Day. And among the first bands to take the crossover pioneered by Crumbsukers, Ludichrist, Cryptic Slaughter and D.R.I. further, discovering new ways to arrange punk, hardcore, pre-alternative and metal into what is called progressive ambient tribal post-hardcore sludge metal. Sometimes classifications tend to be overdone and pretentious, other times it fits what the band evolved into and their resulting impact on music. When the band released their debut Pain Of Mind in 1988 nobody would have suspected they would have grown as radically as they did in the 90s and stuck it out from 2000 all the way to the present. In 1990 and 1991 underground music was changing everywhere, and The Word As Law began their transition. It was a slow process but paid off in the long run as taking their time ensured it would be an honest process. I missed their second full length The Word As Law in 1990 (though I did get to hear Through Silver In Blood in 1996), and again it’s a privilege to hear this underground milestone before its late summer release. To this day it has remained popular on a cult level and in August we get to experience musical history in the making. Rather than adding bonus tracks Neurosis will re-release the album with its original track list, remastered by Bob Weston at Chicago Mastering. The cover art of The Word As Law has been revamped by Josh Graham, the band’s former live visual architect. For those who haven’t heard it, the cover art symbolizes the potency of these songs. Double Edged Sword starts on an isolated note, suddenly exploding into hardcore-based guitar progressions swelling with energy and production likened to 80s thrash. Said production clarifies the breakdowns and innovative songwriting with equal effectiveness, The bass guitars (Dave Edwardson) play a major part in steering The Choice, Obsequious Obsolescence, To What End?, Tomorrow’s Reality, Common Inconsistencies and Insensitivity while following the inventive guitars of those songs (Scott Kelly, Steve Von Till). This album and those that followed establish Neurosis as a success story in terms of rewriting the rulebook and proving other bands can do the same and establish their own identity. -Dave Wolff

Track listing:
1. Double Edged Sword
2. The Choice
3. Obsequious Obsolescence
4. To What End?
5. Tomorrow's Reality
6. Common Inconsistencies
7. Insensitivity
8. Blisters

Thursday, July 13, 2017

Artist/Publisher Interview: KELLY GORDON by Dave Wolff

Interview with artist and publisher KELLY GORDON

We recently met through shock rocker Demon Boy whose upcoming CD you designed the cover for. Tell how this came to be.
Well, I have to start from the beginning. I met the Horror Rock Lord, Demon Boy back in 2014. It was at an event called Eternal Con, located at the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City on Long Island. Before the events of Eternal con, I haven’t heard about Demon Boy nor heard his music and I love hard rock. I’m into Kiss, Alice Cooper, AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses, Queen, Disturb, and even Metallica. I can give you a long list of music I listened too through my years. But needless to say the first time I seen Demon Boy was a promo post on Eternal Con’s event page on Facebook. I was intrigued but did not think about meeting him at all. I was more focused on selling and promoting my artwork. I am a freelance graphic artist and I draw a lot of fan art from Anime fandom. Mostly all the mainstream Anime characters like Dragon Ball Z, Pokémon, Mega Man, you get the point? Plus I self-published my own comic book, “Jus Blaze, Legend of the Fiery Fist!” I was going to promote its second issue which I just finished printing.
So again, I was focused on my artwork. So the first day of the event me and my wife Jennifer who is also an artist arrived and gathered our badges and was told where to find our booth for the weekend event. Amazing how destiny works. Demon Boy was also on the same floor with us. He was right next to the elevator of the floor. When I saw him in person I was very impressed with his ensemble and his entourage. Without an exchange of words with this man, I told my wife, “I guarantee, before the day is over me and this Demon Boy will meet and chat.” And sure enough, we have. He was conducting video interviews with everyone on the floor that he called Demon Boy TV for his YouTube channel. I appreciated him for the compliments for my artwork and assistance he offered promoting my latest comic book during my interview.

What about Demon Boy’s persona and work ethic did you admire?
I liked his style and was fascinated about his background, him being a musician. I thought he was a Cosplayer (laughs). I, who loved Horror fandom and Rock N’ Roll, could not resist knowing more about him. He hooked me up with a CD of his music and I loved his tracks. I Kissed a Dead Girl, This Halloween and my favorite, Ravenous! So I invited him to perform where I work at a local Library on Nassau County Long Island, as a Graphic Artist and Art Director for an event I call EMCon Animefest. It’s a two day convention at the East Meadow Public Library that been running annually for several years now before our shortened summer hours take over. It has all the practical happenings, workshops and celebrity guests you get at any convention and the best part about it, it’s FREE!
We do a Halloween party for teens/patrons each year to help promote the affair for the upcoming event. Demon Boy was truly perfect for such an event. He is truly the Rock N’ Roll Horror Show for our attendees. The light show and the props he brought over, the teens loved it. Demon Boy was even nice enough to make a music video from it as he brought his cameraman to be involved. You can find that on his Youtube channel. It was absolutely brilliant since Demon Boy expressed to me he wanted to reach out to a new broad audience of youths, especially since he is promoting his new comic book. He asked me if I was interested taking over the mantel in becoming his new comic book illustrator. I softly declined since I was way too busy due to other freelance jobs and personal projects. I did a comic book cover for his revamp issues two years ago, but that was the only extent up to now.
This year I had some time to work so when he asked me if I could design his next album cover, and how he wanted it, DEMONIC STYLE with a GRAVE YARD I could not decline. Like I said, I love the Dark arts, Goth and fantasy Hell Bound fashion. It was fun to draw Demon Boy once again. This time I set the level a few notches up compared to the first time I drew him. It was a graveyard atmosphere, with Demon Boy centered with a long slithering tongue, like a snake, holding on to a demonic Goth looking chick. Skully one of his dancers was in the background with ruined tombstones scattered about. Dark clouds and lightening to offer that feel that represents what Demon Boy is all about. It was fun and there will be more artwork of Demon Boy in the near future. Believe it!

When did you begin drawing and designing artwork? Did any artists inspire you around the time you started?
I began drawing at a very young age. I couldn’t even tell you what age I was. But if I had to take a guess, maybe six or eight years old, if not younger. It was introduced to me by my mother. She is not an artist but she did show me how to draw stick figures at the time. Most of my artwork at the time was highly influenced by cartoons mostly. I started designing my own characters and artwork by my preteen to teen years. When I was in middle school I used to get requests from my friends and kids I knew at school on what they wanted drawn. Could have been from an established character on something they wanted personally designed. I also used to draw my own line of comic books. I called it KG Comics with the use of my full name initials. It would mostly be gag humor of cartoon drawing of me and my friends having wacky adventures. They would get a kick out of reading them during lunch period in school. Then I also drew a series of action comic books. Car chases, gun shots with heroes and villains. That was always fun with a little bit of fantasy to go a long way with a lot of imagination.
Back then as a young man I really didn’t look into who were the creators of the cartoons and comic books. I knew what inspired me at the time when I was a young man still drawing and that was the Saturday morning 80’s to 90’s cartoons. I remember getting up as early as 6 a.m. to noon and watch everything from all the local channels before Soul Train came on at noon (laughs). But if I had to give some shout outs, I would mention, Jim Henson first off. His fantastic designs of fantasy of the worlds and creatures he created at such a genius level of puppeteers for that Era. Marvel Comics, like Spiderman, I have to give it up to John V. Romita Sr. and Todd McFarlane for his Spawn series. And of course Kevin Eastman for creating Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. And a huge, HUGE shout out to Ms. Elaine Goldstein my art teacher in high school who took the time to help me get into Fashion Institute of Technology. She wrote me a brilliant letter of recognition and assisted me on my portfolio. She took a very personal interest in me to support me on reaching my goals to become an artist that I am today.

What aspects of the superheroes you were fascinated by helped influence your drawing?
So many come to mind. But to summarize it all to a small package, it was movies as well as comic books. For example, Robo-Cop, the 1980's version not the reboot. Action Jackson starring Carl Weathers. Rappin' starring Mario Van Peebles who plays a rapping Robin Hood who steals from the rich and gives to the poor. The Last Dragon starring Taimak who plays a young black male in New York who knows martial arts and is trying to attain the same fighting skills as the Kung Fu Master known as Bruce Lee. As you can see a lot of the movies I just mentioned stars multicultural characters as the main protagonist and they reside in city landscapes. Just like my comic book, Jus Blaze - Legend of the Fiery Fists also showcase an black male who roam the city streets of Brick City with the abilities to manipulate fire with his fists during street combat. A lot of the stories I write and draw always have an urban feel to them. Growing up, my main characters always were multicultural. I always got enjoyment watching or reading a story that starred a person of another race. It was rare in my days to witness without seeing the thug or underworld criminal cliché black male character. I am happy to see main stream like Marvel and DC take more advancement to introduce more super heroes and protagonists to the audiences.

From what I have read of vampire lore and legends, many of those come from multicultural sources. Goth is also a strongly multicultural lifestyle. Have those ever influenced your work?
When it comes to Vampire Lore and other legends I know they do not originate domestically so I cannot debate on what you mention about it being multicultural or not. But growing up viewing movies, television series as well as illustrations, most characters like vampires were always showcased Caucasian. The Goth style does not define me but I do admire it enough to utilize it as a tool in a few of my designs if needed. Thus reeling back one of my clients, Demon Boy. Even though I am highly influenced by anime, he still hired me and I was still be able to give him those dark horrific traits he loves. From the fangs to the dark classic garments I learn the style through watching a lot of horror movies like Interview With The Vampire with Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt.

An example of this that has gone into comic books and movies (also TV for a brief period) is Blade. Have you seen those movies and caught it while it aired on TV or read any of the comic adaptations?
I know of Blade the character. I never read the comic books, but I did see all the movies and TV series. I was really intrigued with his background story of being a black male Vampire who hunted down other Vampires. Blade being a hybrid or other words "Day Walker" that gave him such an advantage over his enemies.

As another example of what I am referring to, the From Dusk Til Dawn movies and TV series show vampire legend from a Latin/Hispanic point of view, with snake vampires or colebras as they are known on the series. Whether or not you’ve seen it on TV, what do you think of such an idea?
Never seen the TV series but I loved Quentin Tarantino's From Dusk Til Dawn movie. It was raw and edgy and I specifically loved the characters and cultural ethnic design of the Latin Vampires. Also the human cast was not bad at all. They had an all-star team of actors. Just to name a few George Clooney, Cheech Marin, Fred Williamson, the BAD ASS himself Danny Trejo and Salma Hayek as the Vampire Queen Satanico Pandemonium. That’s not all. The movie was entertaining from start to finish. It’s on my top Vampire movies on my list right next to The Lost Boys and Fright Night, the 1980's version, not the reboot. So yeah, I do love the idea. It give the Vampire lore and story a very refreshing setting. It offers a broader ideal of this mythical creature instead of the cliché slick hair and cape version we all grew up with. I would probably have to say From Dusk Til Dawn may have broken the mold on that one. I would surely tell anyone who have not seen it, to please do. They are missing out.

I’ve read a few internet articles about the original creativity and multiculturalism of goth, including some about African American goths. Have you come across any of those while surfing the internet?
I always believed goth was a style of rock music or a style of a person. You know, the black clothing and white pale make up with Frankenstein boots and the smell of lilac incense. I have met a few African Americans who had the traits of being Goth but that is how trends work. Trends do not have gender or race, it just who you are and who you want to be. So looking up or conducting research on such subjects never crossed my mind. I am open to other cultures and styles. Being a black male you would think I would be heavily into rap and reggae. Even though I am into hip hop culture, I am not defined by it. I love rock, I love heavy metal and I even love alternative music. I remember when I was a little kid like thirteen and listened to college radio on my pocket radio. Learned about groups like Guns and Roses, Nirvana, Led Zeppelin and so much more. It opened my eyes to a whole new world for me.

Everything becomes a trend when the mainstream can gain from it, so I prefer working on a grassroots level. I like many different genres (goth, celtic, ska, psychobilly etc) but I don’t preach about being open minded. I just listen to what I like.
It’s like with music, people and friends would expect me to love rap and hip hop because I am a black American but that is not the case. I do love the music and trends but only to an extent. Just because I grew up in that culture I am not stuck in a box with it. I had expanded my mind to other things and drank different flavors of Kool-Aid of life and stretched to other fashions and styles. But only to what relates to me and what I like. I do not consider myself as a member of any culture or characteristic 100%. I am more of an 5%’er to be honest. I am a man who loves buffets not just one choice on the menu (laughs).

How often do you make personal appearances in the convention circuit? What is the yearly extent of your travel?
Since I am an Art Director as a profession at the East Meadow Public Library, I do have a 9 to 5 weekly job. So I’m not dependent on conventions to pay the bills. It’s more of a hobby and to have fun with my peers (the fans) and art colleges to be honest. And to make a few extra bucks isn’t bad either (laughs). I know many artists who DO depend on the convention circuit and travel across the states. Me, I don’t do such travelling to promote or sell my work. The extent I would travel would be New York, Upstate New York and Northern New Jersey. I’ve been invited to out of state cons before but I always decline. I always worry I’ll probably spend more money on travel and hotel expenses alone, then have to worry about making my table money too. So my personal appearances at conventions are limited to a local span than most artists. I hope to someday to have the popularity to be invited as a guest at out of state conventions with all travelling expenses paid. But I can only dream. But the conventions I go to really rock! Shout out to New York Comic Con! Eternal Con! Winter Con! Big Apple Con! Those are the BIG wig conventions I attend. The smaller cons are really fun! Small, and personal and fun! It allow you to really get to know your fans without the rush and loud noise that they cannot hear you when you speak. I mostly do a lot of library conventions like Tosho Con at the East Orange Library. Also Min Con at Mineola Library as well among a few others. I also want to state I also conduct my own small convention called EMcon Animefest. E.M. stands for East Meadow for short. I’ve been organizing this event for seven years as this year on Saturday and Sunday, May 20 to the 21st. A two day event that has all the potential of a real convention. Workshops, lectures, performances, celebrity guests, anime concerts and games and artists alley…the works! And did I mention, it’s FREE (laughs)? We serve the need of the pop culture fandom to our patrons and they get to go to a local two day event convention and dress up in cosplay and meet people with the same interests. It’s a lot of work but well worth it when I get such gratitude from everyone.

How many contacts have you made at the larger and more intimate conventions until now?
I've received many contacts among my travels to other conventions. I'm always looking for the new talent to invite to EMcon Animefest. Larger events, for example New York Comic Con, seem to have more celebrities and groups to go after. If you don't mind waiting for an hour or two, which sucks. And you’re not always guaranteed to get any contact info, not even an email. To name a few, voice actors like Kyle Hebert, Vic Mignogna, and Quinton Flynn. Smaller cons are awesome! Especially if they invite celebrity type status. But even if they do not, you can always meet new talented artists or musical groups. Like I mentioned smaller cons go by a different flow. You can actually breathe and talk to people. Especially when I am looking for commissions at my booth. Less competition too (laughs).

Vic Mignogna is appearing in the fan made Star Trek series Star Trek Continues. If you’ve watched it, what is your take on the acting and filming quality? Are fan run series a good thing in your view?
I only heard about his fan made Star Trek vids but sadly never checked it out. I may in the future though. I think fan run series are fun. But only if they’re done right with the quality and respect to other fans to enjoy. Viewing others’ perspectives and highly imaginative stories or style of your favorite characters. I'm not currently watching any fan made series nor remember any at this point so I cannot offer any referrals.

Did you discuss any possible collaborations with Kyle Hebert, Vic Mignogna, and Quinton Flynn or are these actors you crossed paths with this far? Who are some of the local actors you would consider working with?
Unfortunately nothing has come to pass on anything yet, but it would be an honor to work with any of them. I was just luckily enough to work with them for East Meadow Public Libraries' Anime Convention. I really have no special list of people I would love to work with to be honest; there are just so many and I really do not want to leave anyone out just in case they are reading this, thinking I do not want to work with them (laughs). I want to work with everyone and anyone who would love to work with me. I figure if they love my art style and dig it that’s the first step to begin a beautiful friendship. I worked with Lutenist Christopher Morrongiello. He is an awesome guy. I worked on a CD cover a few years back and print work when needed. He travels cross country and across Europe on tour with his group. I did airbrush and touchup work for a model agency called One Step 2 Model. They would create calendars for expos to promote their clients. And mostly local Rappers, like Lu Rock More, Milot, Corparatz Ent and so many others. I would love to get into more character designs and maybe one day card game designing as well. There were people I met at previous conventions who wanted to work with me but those deals never follow suit. So I am concentrating on more on my stories and character designs for future books I plan to self-publish.

What did you have to work with when you started running EMCon Animefest seven years ago?
EMcon Animefest is an event to celebrate the arts of Anime pop culture. Now, I have to admit EMcon today has got a lot bigger than seven years ago. And of course that comes with age and time. But to be honest this was not my original idea. I really had no vision or plan to create an anime con. Where I work, at the East Meadow Public Library, the head of the Young Adult department at the time wanted me to assists her to create this small con day. I gave her a list on what I suggest as programs, like video game tournaments, anime J Pop concerts, drawing workshops conducted by me, anime screenings and animation workshops and so much more. Only suggestions. Well she was very distressed over the idea where it came to the budget cost so it seemed EMcon was not going to happen. Luckily my Program Director, Mrs. Jude Schanzer loved the idea and found a way through grants and sponsorship to make this happen. To stay at a small frame of budget, I, myself conducted a drawing workshop with the teens. I used my wives character as the icon character for EMcon and since she had just finished publishing her second book, Reign Star around that time I invited her as a special guests alongside other artists I know locally. Rebecca Friedman aka Zanny Lane Graphic Anime who I met at the Big Apple con and other conventions to conduct a hands on animation class. Joe Liotta a speaker who is also an artists did a lecture on Ninja's lore and fantasy. My Program Director knew and invited a Taichi Master Jessi Teasely who came by with his students and did a demonstration outside the library. We also had Anime screenings of various anime's. The Young Adult Department held the video game tournaments with equipped consoles. Then end the day with our cosplay contests. We only had three contestants which was okay since we had only three prizes so it worked out. The Friends of the Library, a volunteer organization group helped out with refreshments for the teens. Our first year in 2011 was very successful. We had received over 250 attendees that day. So we decided to keep it going. The next year we extended to two days.

How much have you seen EMCon grow by word of mouth and advertising since the first time you held it?
When we started back in 2011 we had a rough estimate of 250 attendees that day. In 2016 we sky rocketed up to over 4800. Granted the second EMcon we changed it to a two day event but even on that weekend we had over 750 attendees. So it build quite nicely, especially for what few would consider a Library program. Many people love this convention and have a need to come to it every year. Starting two years ago we have a Queens district high school who has an anime club and they talked to the principal to set up a school bus to transfer them and any teen who is interested to come to this event. This year we had another bus from Yonkers. We get people as far as Riverhead on the Island and New York and New Jersey outside of the Island. When it comes to artists for our Artists Alley I get emails from people reside in Canada. So we are looked at as a professional convention in so many eyes. Patrons of all ages stop me during EMcon to thank me for having this event as they come every year. They truly enjoy the event and I am happy to provide such service.

Has EMCon been covered in local and national press during its run? How much word of mouth exposure has it gotten?
EMcon been covered in local newspapers like the East Meadow Herald for several years and Newsday for two years straight. We were mentioned in digital and paperback magazines like Genki Life and Otaku USA e-News. Social media podcasters have been helpful; the Grindhouse Radio Podcast on IHeart Radio starring Brimstone. Also 1210 AM Radio with a segment program called It Came From The Radio. I do not know the extent of word of mouth, but due to it running for over seven years and the same teens who were going from the very beginning have all grown up and still come and new faces walk through the door every year. I am sure people are talking about the wonderful event. I even had schools from Jamaica, Queens and Yonkers set up school buses to make trip arrangements to this free event. They would have Anime clubs who would talk to the principal and school board to set this up to travel to the East Meadow Public Library. I’ve had teens come to me on my ventures to conventions and know me they would always tell me they can’t wait from EMCon and they will tell their friends. So I’m sure word of mouth is absolute.

Do you want EMCon to be a major Long Island event like Haunt Faire and I-CON? And possibly a major New York event like New York Comic Con?
Not to toot my own horn, but I feel after seven years of conducting this event, I feel strongly that we are at the same level of Haunt Faire and I-CON if not larger. I know a lot of people may underestimate us due to the fact we are just in a library. But we are so much more. Not only are we an educational hub site for the community but we offer a service to provide to our patrons the same quality of programming and guests that we know our attendees will enjoy. We have the experience, the years to back us and the followers who look forward to our annual convention. Our slogan is the "The Largest Growing Small Convention on Long Island!" EMcon offers video game tournaments, drawing workshops with local artists, writing workshops with scholar authors, professionals that are heavily in the pop culture community. We have celebs and musical guests like the original Sailor Venus, Susan Roman, Kyle Hebert and Eileen Stevens and Hitomi Hime J Pop Music artists, Nova Drop and Tha Gata Negra. Preparty to open the two day celebration weekend. Then end the weekend with our cosplay contest where comparison to our three contestants on the first year we have over 50 participants. Do I want it to get big as New York Comic Con? It might be nice but then you forget the bone structure of why we conduct this convention then become a commercialized entity that would lose itself. I have to admit the convention has got to big now that we had to rent a tent to addition for more room. The building we utilize EMCon in has overwhelmed the capacity so there were talks about moving EMcon Animefest to Eisenhower Park if it gets too big. So does EMCon have the potential to reach New York Comic Con status? Only time can tell. But I have informed my director and admins that I will stop at our tenth annual event. Figured it'll be better to end at a high note. 

How much work have you done on your fiction and book projects? How soon do you plan to start publishing?
Well so far I have two self-published books already on sale as we speak. Jus Blaze – Legend of the Fiery Fist! Jus Blaze is an Urban street action packed story about a man with no past and memory with the ability to manipulate fire with his fists during street combat. If you love Dragon Ball Z and Street Fighter with an urban feel, you'll love these issues. I get complimented all the time and I get a following asking about the next issue each year. You can find issue one and two at www.comicfleamarket.com. Look under the Comic Book category and click Anime. You should find my books there. I am working on issue #3 and hope to get it out soon. I have the story board and script ready just have to begin production. Due to having a 9 to 5, marriage, real life, other art projects and having a child, things kind a set me back slightly and slow down my steam to create an entire comic book. Remember, I am a one man army (laughs). I do the writing, the illustrations, coloring, editing, and also front and back cover work. It’s hard work. I have other books in mind I would love to start on, but I have to finish my plate with Jus Blaze #3. Hopefully I will have it out for 2018 EMcon Animefest. Just look out for it.

How much of the storyline of Jus Blaze issues #1 and #2 do you want to discuss before the third issue is out?
I can give you a brief summary of the first two issues. I won’t give out to much so it would be too much of a spoiler for your readers. The story begins at an urban city street of Brick City at night time. We see our main character Jus Blaze standing on top of a project building looking at the city lights in the distance. He would be quiet and surreal as if he was in deep thought. This would be his introduction as he is greeted by gang members who control and run this part of the district. Of course this would be the part Jus Blaze where he would demonstrate his blistering, scorching abilities as he makes waste of his foes with ease. But then he would pass out due to using too much of his powers which takes a toll on him. He would become unconscious and that would give us time for a flash back. You see, the origins of his powers are not explained upfront and will not be as our protagonist does not even know himself why he has these abilities to begin with. What had happened, five years ago was a huge explosion ignited in the middle of downtown that killed hundreds to nearly thousands without any clarification of how or why. Simultaneously it seems our hero has lost his memories and feels for some reason he has his fingerprints all over this travesty as he keeps getting visions of fiery rage and people screaming. So he does not even know if he is a hero or villain at this point of the story. The local government had just played it off as a terrorist act, but we will never know what exactly happened. Huge parts of Brick City are in shambles and still trying to recuperate from the tragic mishap. Poverty and crime rates have grown amazingly high as the people shout out for a hero. Jus Blaze is a lone wolf and would rather have it no other way, but for some reason he is thrown into situations that makes him get noticed and soon the people will have to decide if he is a hero or a menace to society. Also we introduce our female character Wendy who needs rescuing and our main antagonist, Angel “Scar Face” Martinez. Angel is no angel, far from it, as he is known as Psychotic Gangster who is harassing Wendy. One night Wendy is leaving work and is confronted by Angel and his #1 thug Grunt and Jus Blaze accidently runs into the dangerous and sticky situation. So from there Jus Blaze has to decide should he ignore it or become a hero and stop this crime. Of course I leave it with a cliffhanger and you have to see what happens in issue two. Let’s just say it’s sort of resolved in issue two but not exactly. This outburst and confrontation is just round one of many to come. No spoilers but let’s just say, right now he is fighting Gangsters and thugs, but as the adventure continues more imperishable forces will arrive to test our hero’s abilities to the fullest.

How much real life inspiration did you borrow from while developing the storyline of Jus Blaze? Do the characters or settings have any references to reality?
The setting and environment where Jus Blaze roams are urban and ghetto, like scenes from my life when I lived in the South Bronx. Somewhat poverty, graffiti on the walls and brick buildings. I call it Brick City; a few people may get confused that I am talking about Newark. New Jersey. I did not even know they called it Brick City. I found that out through a patron who commented on my book at a convention a few years ago. To me the hardest, most ghetto city in America was the Bronx. I grew up there as a kid to a young adult before I moved to Long Island. I had many trials and challenges as a kid. Bullies, drug dealers and hood folks. There were many homeless people I ran into there. There was a homeless man living under the staircase of the building I lived in. That freaked me the hell out as a six year old boy. Many families including mine that were getting assistance from the government while my mom was going through school to become a registered nurse. I will be making a note of that in my books due to the violent explosion that happened that left many families homeless. I am not stating everyday was a war zone in the Bronx (laughs). Far from it. But I am glad my mother took me and my brother from the city and into the suburbs. All my close friends I grew up with are either dead or in prison. Only a small few who I still keep in contact have moved out. It was a good decision to leave. This explains more of the world I created for Jus Blaze. The characters are another story. Jus Blaze, though he is the main character during this part of the story, is most likely a cookie cut antihero. The loner. The BAD ASS who takes down the bad guy. Some ask if I use any of my personality traits for him and the answer is no. At least not yet as the character has a lot more development that has yet to be done. Too soon to tell, unfortunately. There are some side characters that do. There is a guy named Reiji who is Wendy’s friend and who wears his feeling for her on his sleeve. But of course she does not see him that way. An average black male, pudgy with a good heart. I see myself in him at times and place some sort of similarities appearances wise? The goatee and rings on every finger, the way he dresses, yep, that’s me (laughs). Wendy is a mixture of exes I dated, with my own design. Wendy is being harassed but she is no damsel in distress. She owns the toughest bar in Brick City, welds a sawed off shot gun and is not afraid to use it. She is aggressive but knows how to be a sexy lady when she wants to. Angel was molded from various bad boys I grew up with in the Bronx. Especially this guy I knew in high school who was in a gang called the Latin Kings. He is no longer with us. He was shot and killed before his time. Hispanic, nice long hair and very handsome at times but he would have moments where he would look disgustingly ugly. He had a very small scar by the corner of his right eye. Hence I call my character Scar Face, even though it been overdone so many times. And of course there is a character to set some wisdom and set the tone down a little when need be and that would be Pops! A dirty old black man who hangs out at the bar with Wendy and Reiji. He is more of the comedy relief as he always messes with Reiji on a daily basis. He is based on my father who is an old man now.

How many issues of Jus Blaze are you planning to release as a full story? Is anyone working on the dialogue or artwork with you?
I haven’t really placed any thought on it. The way I’m directing it, it would seem like an ongoing series until the ratings went down (laughs). But if I had to make a logical guess I would have to say maybe the first ten issues would be a FULL chapter. But of course there will be a HUGE cliff hanger that will cause the story to continue as we learn more about Jus Blaze’s origins. I do all the illustrations, writing, coloring, text work, front and back cover art. My wife helps me at times with the writing aspect. This is why it takes so long for production. My apologies to the fans. I still get patrons asking me when the next issue is coming out at conventions. The third issue will be out early 2018.

If Jus Blaze was made into a miniseries, who are the actors you would want to see cast?
For a live action miniseries, I gave thought about it and I would love to choose Idris Elba as Jus Blaze if he was in his prime. I loved his mannerism and body build when he was on the HBO original series The Wire. Even though Jus Blaze is the main protagonist he is sort of a bad ass and Idris Elba played a role of an intellectual business driven drug lord in the series that would have played well. For a current choice, I’d choose Mike Colter as Jus Blaze, due to the fact he is playing a similar character in the Netflix series Luke Cage. Urban settings, wearing a hoodie and jeans fighting gangsters and hoodlum folk. It would make sense but it’ll be like watching the same show. Lance Gross from House of Payne is another choice. He was in that movie Last Fall back in 2012. But it’ll be solely on his body build. My headliner choice is Chadwick Boseman, the Black Panther from Marvel Cinema Universe, Captain America: Civil War. He is perfect. Plus the name since he is so popular due to Marvel, he would bring in the ratings (laughs).
As for the female support character and possible love interest (SPOILER, haga) Zoë Kravitz from Mad Max: Fury Road. Not sure of her acting skills to but she resembles Wendy from my comic book. Also as a second choice, Demetria McKinney from the TV show Tyler Perry, House of Payne. Not only does she have that attitude but she can offer that comedy aspect I would need to make the series fun. As for the first season antagonist, John Leguizamo as Angel Scar Face Martinez. That guy who voices for that Sloth on Ice Age (laughs)? He has played other series roles and when he gets into character he can be very animated. For a quick reference, he played Tybalt in that 1996 Romeo + Juliet movie. The way he played that character would be perfect. If you don’t know it or seen that movie, I suggest you do. They play out the film with the original Shakespeare script in a modern world. Another good choice would be Rick Gonzalez. I love him as Mad Dog in the CW Defy series, Arrow as a vigilante. He still in his prime so it’ll make sense. He would be this hot headed young gangster with a chip on his shoulder. I can literally see that crisscross scar over his right eye and cheek. Last but not least, who I think would be a great candidate to play the role as Reiji would be me! Just joking… Kevin Heart, Marlon Wayne or Mike Epps. For obvious reasons, they’re funny and would offer some classic comedy relief.

I remember John Leguizamo from Casualties Of War, Moulin Rouge and George Romero’s Land Of The Dead, so I know he is a capable actor who can handle different roles. How well do you think he would fill the role acting wise?
I almost forgot about those other roles he played. He was fantastic in Moulin Rouge and Land of the Dead. I remember Casualties Of War with Michael J Fox. Leguizamo didn’t have such a role in that film that he had in the other two films, or nothing I could remember. But to answer your question, I think he could fill the role very nicely because he is animated at times and knows how to be serious and grim when the time is right. Angel Scar Face Jr. Martinez is the main antagonist of the first segment of the story, but not really the cliché gangster villain that wants to show how badass he can be. There are many layers and shades of Angel that are ingredients to make a good cocktail that should have the reader wanting more. He is a man with many demons and had daddy issues while he grew up in single parenting with his mother, and is shunned of his existence by his father who is the original Scar Face Martinez. So all his life he knew of this powerful man who ruled the crime world while he watched his mother struggling and being ridiculed by his father’s followers. To make it worse his mother is a stripper and drug user with horrible parenting skills. He lived in his father’s shadow in poverty all his life. And if that is not the worst of it all, his father is married to another woman, has a son who is younger and is gaining all the devotion he seeks for. So you have to take all this into consideration of his background. Something like this could traumatize his youth mentally and cause Angel to have emotional issues that could sometime cause him to have no cares in the world about any of his actions. John Leguizamo seems to have very youthful facial features that if you looked at him he seems to be a very charming fellow, but the crisscross scars of Angel’s features would of course offer another tale of his characteristics. I mentioned the 1990’s film Romeo and Juliet’ he plays Tybalt who is the cousin of Juliet and rival family of Romeo. As Tybalt he displays the traits that would fit as Angel. Sadistic, brutal, with a keen eye of villainous behavior. In the movie he has an all-out confrontation with Romeo that, spoiler alert, ended with his death. But if you see the movie again you’ll see what I am talking about. Land of the Dead is another prime example of what I would be looking for. In that movie he plays a character named Cholo DeMora and another perfect moment is the conversation he is having with Dennis Hopper who I believe was some sort of Boss or bad guy business man. I am not completely sure, they have a discussion about becoming partners and Dennis Hopper’s character rejects him. That scene is perfect for the confrontation between Angel and his father. I suggest any of your readers to watch these films to get some clarity.

While image has its place, how important do you consider talent and ability when it comes to fulfilling a role? Many movies with actors and actresses cast just for their looks become laughingstock while others with good storylines are remembered.
I kind a feel both has equal importance. You can never satisfy everyone, believe me. No matter how good they look or how well the story is done, there will always be that one who will write a long blog or rant in social media about it. It’ll become an ongoing battle with the fans and critics to be honest. There are few who choose to change the look and story and make an original reboot. Like for example, Death Note, a cult classic that originated in Japan; written by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata. It has a very long manga and anime series plus several live action movie adaptations. Netflix has created their own series based on the manga. If you do not know Death Note, I suggest checking it out. It is about a high school student that is a prodigy of his time who finds the Grim Reaper’s notebook. If you write a person’s name in this book they die. He decides to kill off all the bad people on the planet in hopes to create a new world order. But others in law enforcement just look at this teenager as a serial killer. Of course his identity is mysterious for the detectives, especially one named L who is another young prodigy and attempts to seek him out. So most of the story just becomes a game of chess between these two. The original cast is supposed to be in Tokyo if I’m not mistaken. But the reboot series on Netflix place the cast in America; I think Nebraska. I haven’t seen the series as it is brand new and I do not have Netflix (laughs) The main protagonist who finds the Death Note is named Light Yagami. In this reboot he is named Light Turner. You get the idea. I do not know if this will become a success; we’ll have to wait and see what the critics say.

Do you have ideas in mind for future projects you want to mention to close this interview? Any acknowledgements for people you have worked and collaborated with?
There are several art colleagues I would love to work with but unfortunately schedule conflicts are making it difficult to work with others. But I will say I am happy to announce I will be working on a reboot graphic novel with my wife, Jennifer Scrimenti aka JScribble. She has four books under her belt named Reign Star. It is about a Galactic Princess who had to leave her planet as an infant while her people were annihilated by a Tyrant King named King Scythe. She is a Rubian who has a gem embedded on to her forehead, the standard attribute of her people and the source of her power. The reason the Tyrant is slaughtering them like sheep is he wants these gems as his own. The story mainly follows the Rubian Princess Rainy; every time she is sad or cries it creates a rain shower. Eventually Rainy figures out who she is and attempts to discover her purpose in this new life after the loss of her people. Of course she will seek vengeance upon King Scythe, but before she reaches the “BIG BOSS” of this game she has to go through many trials in life to succeed. The book was self-published in 2007, full colored with over 50 pages. There was supposed to be a fifth book that was never produced. She is unhappy with the art since her skills have much improved since then. She asked for my help doing most of the illustrations as we will collaborate on the book. We do not know when it will be out. We are thinking about creating a Kick Starter page once production has been half way complete. But if your readers want to check out the original tales of Rainy the Rubian Princess they should go to Comic Book Flea Market online, look under comic books and anime to find Reign Star. It’s action packed with a badass chick with a huge sword slashing bad guys. In the first four books she is a child, but the changes we are going to make is having Rainy be in her early twenties with flashbacks of her youth, like Arrow on the CW. It’ll be more epic with a lot of conflict and romance. It’ll be fun to get started. The latest once we begin production would probably be around Halloween or after the New Year. In the meantime character designs and promotional posters are being made to sell or give away with purchases at conventions. Right now it’s all about promoting to get the word out and we hope to get enough backers to invest in this awesome story.

-Dave Wolff