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Friday, August 29, 2008

Interview: Protest the Hero



bst interviews Protest the Hero

by rob tatum

Recently, bst had the chance to interview Rody Walker, the vocalist from Protest the Hero, when the band hit Denver as part of this year's Warped Tour. We asked Rody about the band's latest album, the current tour, as well as some other things. The following is a recap of one of the most entertaining and honest interviews that we've ever done. If you are interested in learning more about and listening to Protest the Hero, visit the band's official website, and the band's Myspace page.

bst: Please state your name and instrument.

Rody: My name is Rody and I yell like a little girl into a microphone in Protest the Hero.

bst:
Fortress was released earlier this year. How would you compare it to your previous releases?

Rody: Fortress was just a progression of what we were already doing. We are just diving deeper into the wonderful world of heavy metal. More shredding, more melody, less breakdowns.

bst: What was the inspiration behind the album?

Rody: The inspiration was just general brutality, people getting beheaded on the internet, guys cutting their penises off on the internet… have you guys seen that? It’s fucked up.

bst: What were your expectations for the album?

Rody: We didn’t have expectations. We go into everything without expectations because then we can’t be disappointed if people don’t like it. If people are praising it when it comes out, cool, but if they don’t like it, whatever.

bst: Is there anything you would do differently if you could go back in time?

Rody: Personally, I’d give myself some more time to do the vocals. I had two or three weeks to finish it and then we went out for the tour next day. I really needed more time, or more alcohol.

bst: In your words, what makes Protest the Hero different from other metal and hardcore acts? Lyrics? Song structures? Your sound is unique and a refreshing change.

Rody: I think it’s that we don’t have a fear to venture outside the genre of metal. Some people call us pussies for having melodic parts. We listen to a lot of different music, sure we listen to a lot of metal and grindcore, but we aren’t afraid to show our other influences.

bst: Your live show has always been one of the best, what do think separates you from other bands?

Rody:
Right now, I think what separates us is that we don’t really care. A lot of bands are out there dancing and throwing themselves all over the place, and don’t want to do all that. I mean, who wants to hear a band trashing their instruments because they can’t play them? We are more about playing accurately.

bst: I’ve seen you get a negative reaction from ignorant attendees, and you’ve just fueled their fire. Any reason you take this approach?

Rody: I don’t know. It’s hard to say. We went on tour with Dragonforce about two years ago and we got a lot of hatred on that tour. A lot of kids with hair down to their nipples screaming unpleasant gratuities at us and I just don’t take people’s shit anymore. I could care less if some little jerkwad wants to throw a beer at me. Maybe it’s too much self-respect. Some people call it ego, I call it respect.

bst: Obviously Warped Tour has become a staple of the summer and it seems like every year it gets bigger and bigger. Every summer it seems that more and more summer tours and festivals are started. With higher ticket prices, shorter set times, and larger crowds, do you think this has some adverse effect on the music community? Do the shows have any intimacy from your perspective?

Rody: It’s always been a corporate bullshit festival. It’s not a music festival, it’s a shopping mall. It’s difficult to find music with integrity at these festivals. There are some gems, but a lot of these bands are just here to sell t-shirts.

bst: Through the years, the tour has offered a little bit of everything and created some diverse crowds with its eclectic lineups (genres and personal agenda). At times there is tension between the crowds, does this translate back stage? Any memorable moments you’d like to share (good or bad)?

Rody: I’ve almost gotten beat up a couple times by bands that didn’t like me and my big mouth. For me, it doesn’t really translate, if there are people you don’t like, you just don’t talk to them.

bst:
It’s been nearly a decade since mp3’s (Napster) came out and changed the music industry. Dollars and cents aside, do you think the internet and mp3’s have benefited the music community? Or do you feel artists are being exploited?

Rody: I’m a pirate of the World Wide Web. I mean, I think in the long run, the internet will kill the music industry, but what is an industry based on an art form anyway?

bst: How do feel about someone who purchases your album online instead of buying the CD? Downloads it?

Rody: It doesn’t affect us. We don’t make money off record sells. We make money from kids coming to shows or buying t-shirts. I have kids come up to me and tell me they bought our record and say that we just got some money from that. No, the record label just got some money from that.

bst: What do you think is the best part of the music industry right now? What can be done to keep that going?

Rody: I think the best part is that it is dying.

bst:
What do you see as the biggest problem with the music industry right now? What do you think can be done to fix it?

Rody: There are so many slime bag assholes running this shit and they don’t care about the music. Eventually all that poppy shit that they shove in your face, that has nothing to do with anything, will die off. At the end of the day, the only people left will be people who love music and are trying to create something innovative and new.

bst: What are your plans at the conclusion of this tour? More touring? R&R?

Rody: We are taking a month off and then going on tour with Unearth and the Acacia Strain. Then we’re going to Europe with Unearth after that.

bst: Anything else you would like to add?

Rody: Star Trek rules.

bst: Thanks so much for talking with us and answering the questions.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Interview: Every Time I Die



bst interviews Every Time I Die

by rob tatum

Recently, bst had the chance to interview Keith Buckley, the vocalist from Every Time I Die, when the band hit Denver as part of this year's Warped Tour. We asked Keith about the band's latest album, the current tour, as well as some other things. The following is a recap of the interview. If you are interested in learning more about and listening to Every Time I Die, visit the band's official website, and the band's Myspace page.

bst: Please state your name and instrument.

Keith:
My name is Keith and I play the voice instrument.

bst: The Big Dirty was released toward the end of last year. How would you compare it to your other releases? I.e. what was the inspiration behind the album? What did you do differently? What were your expectations for the album?

Keith: We wanted it to be a lot more aggressive than previous releases. You know. Punk as fuck. More of a live feel.

bst: On that note, are there any plans for the next album? Is there anything different you will do this time around?

Keith: We have no plans as of yet. We take it day by day. Once Warped Tour is done we’ll start thinking about the writing.

bst: Obviously Warped Tour has become a staple of the summer and it seems like every year it gets bigger and bigger. Every summer it seems that more and more summer tours and festivals are started (SOTU). With higher ticket prices, shorter set times, and larger crowds, do you think this has some adverse effect on the music community? Do the shows have any intimacy from your perspective?

Keith: I still think they are extremely intimate. We might be further away from the crowd physically but we play as if we were in a tiny club. We don’t dumb the set down. We don’t change who we are. I think most bands on this tour have that same attitude.

bst: Through the years, the tour has offered a little bit of everything and created some diverse crowds with its eclectic lineups. Clearly for up and coming bands (regardless of genre or personal agenda), the exposure is beneficial, but for established acts, what motivates you to play Warped? At times there is tension between the crowds, does this translate back stage? Any memorable moments you’d like to share (good or bad)?

Keith: There actually hasn’t been much tension yet. When you’re on the Warped Tour it’s like you’re attending a party thrown by the cool kids. Our sets are much shorter but we pack that much more energy into them.

bst: Your live show has always been one of the best, what do think separates you from other bands?

Keith: The fact that we don’t take ourselves too seriously. If my mascara runs, ill just learn to deal with it.

bst: It’s been nearly a decade since mp3’s (Napster) came out and changed the music industry. Dollars and cents aside, do you think the internet and mp3’s have benefited the music community? Or do you feel artists are being exploited? How do feel about someone who purchases your album online instead of buying the CD? Downloads it?

Keith: Yes, I certainly think artists are being exploited but I also think that’s the price you pay when you don’t have to work as hard for your millions. Kind of like being a celebrity. You want the good life; don’t complain about invasions of privacy. You want to sell out arenas on your first tour ever, don’t get mad when kids are stealing from you.

bst: Speaking of changing the music industry, your song “The New Black” was featured in Guitar Hero 2. Describe your thoughts on this. Is it harder to play live or on the game? Have you had the opportunity to include any songs in upcoming games?

Keith: I’ve actually never played our song but being in a video game is my childhood dream come true. All I do is play video games. They are my commercial. You want to sell me something, put it on a billboard in GTA (Grand Theft Auto). It’s more prominent than anything.

bst: What do you think is the best part of the music industry right now? What can be done to keep that going?

Keith: I think the best part is the live shows. That’s something that can never be downloaded. Keep the entertainment value up and you don’t have to worry about iTunes putting you out of business.

bst: What do you see as the biggest problem with the music industry right now? What do you think can be done to fix it?

Keith: I see the biggest problem being too many bands think they’re owed too much. Tour in a van. Get robbed. Get in an accident. Then tell me you’re upset you don’t have Gillette razors in your dressing room.

bst: What are your plans at the conclusion of this tour? More touring? R&R?

Keith: For sure, more tour. That’s all we do. Ever.

bst: You guys have gone through more bass players than albums released? Is this just a bad coincidence? Do you think Josh is going to break this trend?

Keith: Josh will break this trend god willing. Everyone gets along with him splendidly

bst: Anything else you would like to add?

Keith: Numbers.

bst: Thanks so much for talking with us and answering the questions.

Monday, August 25, 2008

A Week to Catch Up

Hey Everyone,

Well, with the DNC in town, I've got the week off from work. So between working on the house, I'm going to squeeze in some new content and finish moving the old content. I moved about 15 reviews from the old site this evening and with some luck, I'll have everything done by midweek. I've got 2 interviews to format and those will be up before the weekend.

Keep rockin'.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Spotlight—Meet Me in St. Louis

Sunrise and sunset. Alpha and omega. The beginning and the end.

It’s amazing how some things are gone before you get to appreciate them.

The previous posting I made about the “silent war” on creative hard music was inspired by the band Meet Me in St. Louis. Instead of celebrating a newfound discovery, I’m contemplating a menagerie of “what ifs.” Like so many other creative hard bands, Meet Me in St. Louis broke up without realizing their potential. This break-up served as my personal tipping point.

I’m not going to reiterate what I’ve already said. I will, however, highlight the amazing music this group of individuals made.

So consider this a posthumous edition of Spotlight.

Meet Me in St. Louis was an example of how groundbreaking post-hardcore could still be unearthed, like a nugget of musical gold at the base of a muddy river of blandness and mediocrity. I found out about the English band through my flirtations with Secondsmile and the also-defunct Jairus. The three bands are on the British label Big Scary Monsters. Meet Me in St. Louis had a distinct sound—employing complex time signatures with frenetic guitar work and meandering bass lines. Think post-mathcore.

Borrowing a line from an earlier review I did for a Hot Cross album, Meet Me in St. Louis’ music is an academic listen. But the band still managed to create an approachable sound.

I had been planning to write about the group on BST but never got around to it. Unfortunately, my first article about them will probably be my last. Yet, it’s important to appreciate what Meet Me in St. Louis accomplished during their short lifespan. At least the guys chose to end their experiment quickly instead of picking the popular option—bringing in new band members and risking the complete bastardization of their music.

For now, appreciate the work of Meet Me in St. Louis by watching the video below and by clicking here.

Good luck chaps.

Meet Me in St. Louis—All We Need is a Little Bit of Energon and a Lot of Luck

Review: August Burns Red—Thrill Seeker

Artist: August Burns Red
Album: Thrill Seeker
Label: Solid State
Released: 11/8/2005


BSTscore:
86

Ferocious. There's one word that encapsulates August Burns Red.

Technical, gifted, staccato. More words to describe the band, for good measure.

Consider me a late arrival on the August Burns Red scene. The first song I heard from the band happened to be "Composure," from their second album, Messengers. That 18-wheeled semi-truck of a track blindsided me with an aural barrage that I'm still recovering from today. That's all I needed. I immediately bought Messengers, which led me to buy the band's first album, Thrill Seeker.

I'll review Messengers at a later time. As a bit of foreshadowing, I'll just say that Thrill Seeker is a stronger effort.

So I guess this is a reverse review, if that makes sense.

August Burns Red is a polished metalcore band. The group has it all—complex riffs, ear drum dislodging percussion, complex song structures, and brutal breakdowns. Most songs cease to follow the traditional verse/chorus plan in favor of a more organic flow. Everything makes sense, and the evolution of the music is apropos.

Standout selections include the surprisingly melodic "Speech Impediment," frenetic "The Reflective Property," driving "A Shot Below the Belt," and schizophrenic "Barbarian."

I feel it's appropriate to give the breakdowns a specific mention. Thrill Seeker is littered with them, and they are seismic. Spectacularly seismic. "Too late for Roses" acts as a shining example featuring a minute long blitzkrieg at the very end. It is as impressive as it is devastating.

The musicianship is paramount. Guitars are expertly executed. There are lots of tastefully employed solo-laden sections with an equal palm-muted "chugga chugga" chord representation. The drumming is fantastic with a syncopated style melding just the right amount of power and precision.

The vocals are good. They do their part in contributing to the whirlwind of audio aggression. Thankfully, there is variety in the screaming, from high to low.

While there are definite standouts, Thrill Seeker has solid tracks throughout. August Burns Red didn't break ground on new forms of metalcore with this release. They didn't have to. In a genre that is sorely lacking decent new material, this album stands out as a refreshing surprise.

Musicianship: 95
Vocals: 80
Creativity: 85
Impact: 85

Favorite Song: “Too Late for Roses”

Listen to August Burns Red

 
August Burns Red—"Too Late for Roses"

Friday, August 8, 2008

Review: Cancer Bats - Hail Destroyer

Artist: Cancer Bats
Album:
Hail Destroyer
Label:
Metal Blade

Released:
6/24/2008


BSTscore: 88

Why beat around the bush? This album rocks. The 2nd full length from Toronto’s Cancer Bats, Hail Destroyer is just about everything I could ask for in a hardcore album. The songs are catchy, energetic, and melodic. Using a straight forward approach to their songwriting (similar to the stripped down method used by Across Five Aprils on Life Underwater), the songs flow, keep the listener interested, and beg you to sing along. What else could you want?

None of the musicianship is groundbreaking, but it doesn’t have to be. The southern metal “twang” to the guitars is very reminiscent of Every Time I Die (Buffalo, Toronto, coincidence?). Each time I listen, I catch more intricacies that help with the melody, but you won’t catch clichéd solos or breakdowns; they are subtle and fit with the music. The band does a great job of mixing punk and metal into the songs to give each song a unique identity.

One of my favorite aspects of the album is the lyrics. Slightly twisted, but positive in the same light, the direct messages won me over very quickly. Check out “Deathsmarch” for an example of what I mean. The pop culture references in the song titles get bonus points from me. The vocals sound a little stretched at times, but Liam Cormier has a very clear delivery that makes singing along seem like 2nd nature when listening to Hail Destroyer. There are guest vocals on three songs, including “Harem of Scorpions” which includes Tim of Rise Against.

This leaves me craving more from Cancer Bats. If you don’t have this or their previous full length, Birthing the Giants, I highly recommend that you pick them up as soon as possible. The band’s energetic sound is infectious and will have you listening to this on repeat for quite some time.

Musicianship: 85
Vocals: 90
Creativity: 90
Impact: 85

Favorite Song: “Harem of Scorpions”

Listen to Cancer Bats

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Review: Everclear - The Vegas Years

Artist: Everclear
Album:
The Vegas Years
Label:
Capitol Records
Released:
4/15/2008



BSTscore: 59

I’d be the first to say I was skeptical of a covers album. Rarely does a band release an entire album of other artists’ material and have it leave a lasting impression. This release has a bit of “a way to bridge a gap between albums” feel to it, but at the same time, it serves as a bit of retrospective for the band. For Everclear, The Vegas Years has its ups and downs, but doesn’t feel completely out of place.

After losing a bit of their thunder from the middle to late 90’s, the band has undergone some lineup changes, but with lead singer/songwriter Art Alexakis still in the mix, the band’s sound has largely remained the same. Although these are all covers, the band is able to put their touch on a number of the songs. I think that with the eclectic mix of songs on this album, everyone will find a least one or two songs that are enjoyable. I definitely think the live Van Morrison cover is the best (it captures the energy of the crowd effectively), but other standouts include “Our Lips are Sealed” and “The Boys are Back in Town”. I could have done without the novelty, theme song covers, and a few of the slower songs, but it does offer variety.

Personally, I would say I was underwhelmed by this release. It is not a bad album, but it doesn’t really give me anything to remember it by or a reason to want to listen to over and over again. Everclear is still a solid rock band, even if their peak was 10 years ago. While The Vegas Years may have been a nice change of pace for the band, I hope they stick to their own material for future releases.

Note: All scores are based on the Everclear version of the songs. Lyrics were not taken into account during scoring.

Musicianship: 70
Vocals: 75
Creativity: 55
Impact: 35

Favorite Song: “Brown Eyed Girl”

Listen to Everclear

Pack Your Bags...

Hey Everyone,

Sorry for the 2 week dry spell. I just moved. What a pain in the ass! Anyway, I'm starting to get organized, so you should start seeing some reviews popping up from me here and there. Eddy has been super busy at work, but he has a few things in store for you as well.

Until then, keep rockin.'