NYS Music 20​13

Author: Upstate Metal

  • CIRCLE THE SUFFERING Destroys the Fusion Room on Live EP

    After hearing Circle The Suffering’s new live EP, Live at the Fusion Room, I now firmly believe that every single band should record a live EP. While many bands show excellence in the studio, where they are allowed to make a lot of mistakes until the final product sounds good, being able to show that kind of unison and tight performance as a band in a live recording is a whole different ballgame. Circle The Suffering does just this with their new EP, which is up for free download. It almost makes me wish that it had a price for download, because it would be worth every penny.

    CTS comes out swinging with their epic MMM (Melodic Metal Masterpiece), “Apollo”. In four and a half minutes, this song feels like three different songs in one, and takes you on a journey like an epic tale told through brutally melodic metalcore. The transition between songs is seamless, and each song shifts styles in a manner that is cohesive and exciting. “One Deceitful Day” keeps up the momentum, and is followed by the single, “Above All”, and the EP concludes with the onslaught that is “Quicksand”. Throughout all four songs are shifts in musical style, which include, but are not limited to, melodic metalcore, super heavy breakdowns, insane guitar riffs and drum fills, and quick bursts of rap-influenced vocals. The constant changes add variety to the sound of the band, but does not make them wishy-washy in any way. From the second they take the stage, you know who these guys are and how heavy it’s going to get.

    Since the last time I reviewed CTS, they have improved tremendously. They were never bad, but they had some room to grow and improve, and boy, did they ever. Their vocals have come a very long way, particularly in the screams. They were powerful and guttural, never faltering for a second. The clean vocals were also good, but not quite as much, getting drowned out once in a great while. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the music, as the whole band sounded tight and together the entire time. There was one instance where a guitar amp seemed to go out, but it was recovered quickly. The drums are in time, the riffs are shredding, and the rhythm is killer. Everything gels very well into one cohesive unit, which is no easy feat for a live recording.

    Overall, Circle The Suffering’s new live EP is melodic metalcore at its finest. If this is how good they sound live, then their studio recordings are going to blow us away. They’ve certainly stepped their game up, and have proven themselves as a force to be reckoned with in local metal. I couldn’t think of a better way for them to present themselves to the world than with Live at the Fusion Room.

    Go “like” Circle The Suffering and download their EP here: https://www.facebook.com/CircleTheSuffering

  • Interview: YOUNG BLOOD

    The lights begin to dim and the mixed chatter amongst the crowd turned into screams and cheers of excitement. A familiar drumbeat fills the room and the people begin to clap with the rhythm. Concert attendees sing along to the classic rock song “We Will Rock You”, famously performed by Queen. The new faces on the stage continue to encourage the audience to sing along. They then begin to play what they had in store for their elated fans. Entrancing melodies transfer from instruments to fans and fill ears and souls with the unique sound of Young Blood, a band that emerged from the shadows and captured the hearts of many music lovers. As fans surmounted, intrigue arose regarding the band and its origin. Who is this band? Where did it come from?young blood

    Young Blood is a rock/alternative band from Rochester, New York, that recently toured with pop punk/alternative band Yellowcard. Together the five members, Ben Dean (lead vocals), Joey Arena (guitar), Chris Klumpp (guitar), Corey Baiera (bass), and Bryan Struczewski (drums), have released two singles on their YouTube account (“Little Vices” and “Chemicals”).

    Upstate Metal’s Kate Drexel had the opportunity to interview the band’s guitarist and founder of the band, Joey Arena.

    Upstate Metal: How did you come up with your band name?

    Joey Arena: I came up with the name years ago, actually. I’ve always been young at heart, you know, and everybody wants to live forever, and be young, and I think I fear may grow old, but I want to choose to stay young as possible on the inside…so kind of having that young blood.

    UM: How did you meet each other?

    JA: Chris [Klumpp] and I have played together before, and all the other kids were just people we kind of knew through friends of friends or in passing. We wanted to play with fresh faces that we’ve never played with before and everybody was a friend of a friend of each other, and we were kind of random about it, picked a bunch of random talented dudes.

    UM: How long have you been together?

    JA: Chris and I have been together for about five months of planning this and the approach we wanted to take on this, like having Ben [Dean] in the band. Bryan [Struczewski] got into it about three months ago and Ben got into it about two months ago, and Corey [Baiera] is the newest, he came in about a month ago. This is the original lineup so we kind of just pieced this puzzle together with no rush because we wanted to find the right people for the right job. As this lineup, I guess I would say a month and a half. The idea of the band had been brewing for about five months.

    UM: Who are your inspirations?

    JA: That’s such a difficult answer because we have tons of inspirations. We grew up from different backgrounds, which is cool. Ben is a very indie person; he likes a lot of weird music. Bryan used to play in a lot of hardcore bands, stuff like that. Chris is like…I don’t know…we all just come from really different backgrounds. Then we all come together and like the same bands, like we love, like stuff that we grew up on through high school heartbreak, like Garbage, Taking Back Sunday, Berlin, and 30 Seconds to Mars, and all of these awesome bands. But individually we come from different places. I love 80’s music; I’m a huge 80’s rock person. My mom raised me on Bruce Springsteen and stuff like that. I picked up a guitar because of Nirvana, because of Kurt Cobain. I have a sick obsession with Kurt Cobain.

    UM: How did you manage to be a part of the Yellowcard tour?

    JA: We knew they were going to be taking on another band and our manager is friends with their booking agent. We gave them our new music that was unreleased, and everybody dug it, and that was like, “yeah, come on tour with us.”

    UM: When do you think the album will be out?

    JA: We are currently in the studio, finishing up the rest of the tracks. We’re hoping to get it finalized no later than early summer but we are shooting for the spring, but that can go anytime because we just got bunch of choices that fell into our laps. We wanted to take the rest of February off to finish getting the demos organized so we can finish recording those. At the same time, we can’t pass up tours; we are a very tour hungry band, we love to live on the road.

    UM: Where do your song ideas come from?

    JA: Musically, I do most of the songwriting. Like I’ll structure out a song and the band will put like two sentences to it, like once we bring it into the studio. Whatever emotion I’m feeling, I will put it through the guitar, which is kind of weird to say that, like how; obviously, singers whatever they’re feeling emotionally will be put in lyrically. Well, I do that with guitar; if I want a more aggressive song because I’m feeling aggressive or I’m feeling anxious or if I feel like I want to write a love song. It goes as far as what I am feeling musically. Lyrically, like “Little Vices” is really cool as far as what Ben put out, like his experiences…he can explain it a lot better than I can because his lyrics are like crazy. Lyrically, its kind of like he wants to have this relationship with this girl no matter who can stop him, like if fate isn’t bringing them together, he’s not going to believe in fate- that type of thing. It’s not going to stop these two people from willing to be together. A lot of people blame the Devil or God for things not happening. This song is like “you control your own life, you control your own actions. If you want something bad enough, just do it yourself. You’re the only one who can get in the way.” Then there’s “Chemicals”…it’s along the same line as the other song but it’s really about this person who is possibly the worst individual we have ever met in our entire life. It makes for a good song.

    UM: What does your music reflect about you guys?

    JA: When we write how we want our music to portray us, we are all over the wall, we are rock and roll, no genre, no sub-genre, we are just music. We don’t want anyone to put a title on us or put us in a category. We push the envelope in certain spots but we bring it back, to common grounds, to the common listener. We are really just writing for ourselves, we play music because it’s what makes us happy. And if there are fans that understand that and there are fans that can relate to our lyrics, relate to that feeling because everybody feels love, hate, sadness, happiness, everything, and we just want to put that into our music so that when someone puts our record on its literally an emotional roller coaster. We want something for everybody and because not everybody wakes up happy, not everybody wakes up sad, not everybody wakes up angry, there’s some kind of feeling for everybody.

  • FORSWORN Continue Their Sound Evolution with “Repercussions”

    Over the years, Forsworn have gone through a lot of changes. Originally As The Sky Falls, they have underwent numerous shifts in the lineup, and have evolved in sound every time they’ve went into the studio. However, one thing has stayed the same throughout the years, and that is their undying anger, attitude, and passion. Honing a new sound on their latest single, “Repercussions”, Forsworn demonstrate that they are still as angsty as ever. This song definitely presents the band in a whole new light, and their style has adapted as well.Forsworn

    Rating: ***1/2

    This new single displays a transition into a slow, heavy, metalcore style with punk-metal influence. It is stripped down to basic power chords that ring out with dominance and power. They come out swinging with this song, delivering angry lyrics with powerful vocals. Just when you think it’s going to do one thing, it changes. In the middle of the song, the guitar comes in with some Tom Morello-style riffing. This was a very healthy addition to the song, adding some variety and even more excitement to the sound. The breakdowns in the song aren’t really breakdowns, but more of a slower run-through of the verse. In a sense, the whole song is almost like one big breakdown, but with more melody and even more anger.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=bbZvrao5ypQ#!

    Some may be disappointed in their new sound, clinging to the sound of their popular sophomore EP, Here’s To Your Failure. Others are embracing this new sound and are welcoming the new stage of Forsworn’s growth as a band. Those who have gotten the chance to see them perform their new set live have given them positive feedback. I think some of their fans are having a hard time with this new style because they haven’t seen them perform it live yet. Having seen it twice, I can honestly say that these guys sell it up there and own the stage, as they always have. Of course, they’ve recently lost three of the original members of the band, and things must be very different now. However, they show no intention of stopping.

    Love it or hate it, Forsworn demonstrate with their new song that they are going to do what they want. If you like what they are doing, they can promise you a killer show. They are loyal to their fans, but will not be told what to do and what songs to play. They have shown, as they have many times, that they will not be stopped on their path of musical destruction. Whatever you think of their new style, you can’t deny that Forsworn are a passionate, talented band that will continue to drive themselves to greatness.

    Check out Forsworn here: https://www.facebook.com/forswornband

  • PIERCE THE VEIL Return to Upstate Concert Hall with MEMPHIS MAY FIRE and More

    After an explosive tour with a deadly lineup, Pierce the Veil are returning to the Upstate Concert Hall in Clifton Park on March 24th with some equally impressive support. On Halloween of 2012, PTV came to Clifton Park with the help of Sleeping With Sirens, Tonight Alive, and Hands Like Houses. Now they’re coming back with the help of Memphis May Fire, letlive., and Issues. This promises to be an incredible show that mixes some very different styles of music. It’ll be a night of high energy and killer performances, all covered by us here at Upstate Metal.

    ptv

    Pierce the Veil:

    After the massive success of their third album, Collide With the Sky, on Fearless Records, Pierce the Veil has been on the road non-stop and traveled across the world in support of the album. Known for their high vocals, experimental alt/rock-metal style (which they refer to as “Mexicore”), and high-energy live shows, they are bringing it all back to Upstate New York for the second time in six months. They’ve been both praised and criticized for the direction they’ve taken on this new record, as it has evolved from the sound of the first two. Either way, bad reviews of their live shows are hard to come by, and they are a worthy headliner for this powerhouse show.

    Memphis May Fire:

    Rise Records veterans Memphis May Fire were just at the Upstate Concert Hall on January 29th and The Lost Horizon in Syracuse on February 2nd with For Today and others on the Fight the Silence Tour. They’re coming back to continue supporting their third album, Challenger, as one of the heavier bands of the bunch. With their melodic metalcore sound, MMF are ready to blow it up again on stage with what promises to be an explosive performance.

    letlive.:

    After being signed to Epitaph Records in 2011, longtime prog/post-hardcore veterans letlive. are touring all over the country. They’re playing some shows with up-and-coming band Issues around the area, and this is one of them. This is an exciting addition to the show, as they provide a blend of heavy postcore with slightly pop punk hooks and pure metal riffs. Their unique sound will complement the rest of the bands well, but are definitely standouts on their own.

    Issues:

    Tyler Carter’s (in)famous new rapcore/metalcore band, Issues, is opening the show. After leaving the band Woe, Is Me as their clean vocalist, Carter’s new project has been met with praise as well as criticism from fans of Woe, Is Me. This band is much different from Carter’s previous band, and is an interesting  departure from it. Combining rap beats and metalcore sound, Issues brings an eccentric sound to the table for the wide array of styles for this show. Love them, hate them, or undecided, they are definitely worth seeing to determine how you feel about this controversial and unique band.

    With a variety of sounds and styles, this concert is going to have something for everyone. Make sure you don’t miss your chance to see four great bands all under the same roof!

  • Review: MURDER BY DEATH in Ithaca

    Tuesday night at the The Haunt in Ithaca, NY saw two great bands play: Murder by Death opened up for headliner Man Man. I had seen Murder by Death play in Rochester about 7-8 years ago, and was now excited to hear where they’d taken their music. I was also looking forward to checking out what kind of sound Man Man were bringing to the table.

    Anyone that isn’t familiar with Murder by Death should know that they are more of a blend of alternative and indie rock music. Throw in the amazing talent of Sarah Balliet on the cello and you have yourself a force to be reckoned with! When he was up on stage singing, Adam Turla poured his heart and voice into the music and successfully drew everyone in the crowd into each note of every song. Murder by Death had a great list of music set up for us to enjoy, such as some of their early music like “Until Morale Improves”, “The Beatings Will Continue”, and “To My Hill” which is off of their most recent album Bitter Drink, Bitter Moon.

    Coming up next was Man Man, and they instantly impressed me with their music. Man Man put on an interesting show, and all of the fans were loving every second of it. The vocalist, Honus Honus, put on an alien mask for the intro song and gave the audience everything they were expecting with his singing. The music was definitely intriguing and was reminiscent of Mars Volta in a way.Their music was very compelling and I am definitely looking forward to listening to more of their music! From start to finish, Man Man put on an amazing show; the audience had fun and had a great time, and I got to experience new music that I will definitely explore!

    Overall, the combination of Murder by Death and Man Man was an excellent experience. For anyone who has access in the near future to any of their shows, I highly recommend putting on hold any plans that you have and go see their shows! You will not be disappointed. If you have not experienced indie rock or experimental rock to the fullest and are looking to explore these two genres, go see these two great bands play and get immersed in their music!

  • Review: ACIDIC, NONPOINT and HINDER in Providence, RI

    Friday night Acidic, Nonpoint and Hinder rocked Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel in Providence, RI, where staff member, Kate Drexel, was lucky enough to catch the show.

    hinder nonpointThe murmurs of the crowd died down as the lights dimmed and the first band, Acidic emerged from the shadows. The lights shined upon them and they launched into their opening song, “Drive Thru”. They performed very high-energy songs, in which their lead singer, Mike Gossard, openly admitted that their songs are about girls, to which the crowd cheered very enthusiastically. Through the speedy setlist, they got to the song that got everybody singing along; The Beatles’ hit “Come Together”. Gossard maneuvered through the crowds while singing this classic hit. They ended with one of their originals, “Strata Red”.

    The expectation of Nonpoint grew as the number of fans increased. Finally they arrived on stage, performing their first single off of their new record, “Left For You.” The craziness of the fans intensified as mosh pits began to form, and with them, what most fans dread, being pushed around. However, this was definitely the perfect music to mosh to. Colorful lights brightened the small venue, and it made the fog rolling on the stage very vibrant. The dedicated fans belted out the lyrics as the band was singing them. During the set, they did a metal cover of Phil Collins’ hit, “In The Air”; some fans put their hands up in a spiritual matter whereas others continued to mosh around. They ended their set with “Alive and Kicking” – which had the crowd chanting the words very enthusiastically- and then the grand finale, their 2005 hit, “Bullet With a Name”. After that excitement was over, the crowd was finally ready for the main event, Hinder.

    The crew began to remove the previous band’s equipment in preparation for Hinder. Once moved aside, underneath the drum kit was a banner that read: HINDER. The fans cheered wildly, and some drunkenly began to chant the band’s name. After waiting for what seemed like an eternity, the lights suddenly shut off and the venue was swallowed within the darkness. From the darkness, came a familiar voice, one everybody has been looking forward to all night long, the voice of Austin Winkler: “PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND…LET ME FUCKING HEAR YOU!” Flashing lights accompanied the pitch-blackness, then finally the band all came out at once. Their opener, “Up All Night”, most certainly had the crowd going wild. Winkler began to make his infamous flamboyant moves to the rhythm of the song and the crowd was instantly put under his spell using his powerful, magical voice. The vibrantly colored lights continued to brighten the room and decorated spotlights danced on the walls. The crowd bounced their rocker horns to the beat of the music. After performing the club-beat-like single off of their new record, “Ladies Come First”, they played a more mellow song, a familiar heartbreaking song, if you will, “Better Than Me”. This one definitely tugged the ladies’ heartstrings, some of them got fairly teary-eyed, as they heartily mouthed the lyrics and swayed to the gentle melody. Suddenly, the mood changed drastically as the lights turned off then white flashes revealed Winkler’s shape and location. He did his infamous scream and began to sing the crude lyrics to the first song off of their third record, “2 Sides of Me”. Then again, another radical adjustment was made as the crew placed two wooden stools in the center of the stage, where drummer Cody Hanson blew everybody away by showing up with an acoustic guitar, sitting in the left seat and Winkler sitting on the right. They performed two songs acoustically, “Get Me Away From You” and “Thing For You”. Yet again, Hinder altered their quiet tunes to more hard rock with the occasional ballads. After performing “All American Nightmare”, they played their infamous hit, “Lips of an Angel”, to which Winkler created a game for everyone to sing along louder than him. Of course that was a success. They ended their set with three songs, one of them being the first single of their latest record, “Save Me”, as well as “How Long” from their first album. In the final song, “Get Stoned”, Winkler encouraged the crowd to harmonize with the band and before finishing off the song, he gave credit to his fellow band members. Once the song was over, they left the stage, leaving the crowd begging for more, but clearly the fun had ended.

    All things considered, the concert had a very energetic vibe. The crowd was pumped and ready for a fun evening, thanks to the outstanding two opening bands. The setlist for Hinder was most definitely a roller-coaster with the dramatic changes in songs, but it was a wild, fun one. Because of the small venue, there was an unquestionable connection between the bands and their dedicated fans. A plethora of moments stood out, yet it would be hard to determine which one stood out the most because they were all so amazing. Yet again, this was another unforgettable night.

  • Review: P.O.D., THREE DAYS GRACE & SHINEDOWN in Glens Falls

    Three Days Grace and Shinedown rocked the night Saturday, February 23 in the small town of upstate New York, Glens Falls at the local venue, Glens Falls Civic Center. Supporting this co-headlining tour was the over twenty-year old nu metal band, P.O.D. (Payable on Death). With the departure of Adam Gontier and the stories being shared online, everyone was dying to see what temporary lead vocalist for Three Days Grace, Matt Walst, had in store for us.
    The mixed chatter amongst the crowd died as soon as the lights dimmed, letting everyone know that the fun was about to begin. P.O.D. started off with one of their latest singles, “Lost in Forever”. Through the speedy set list, “Youth of the Nation” brought out the youth in the crowd as they bounced along with the beat – some crowd-surfed, as others waved their arms around to the rhythm of the song. The following song, “Alive”, really filled the arena with a lively aura as the bright, colorful lights hit the audience’s glowing, joyful faces and shining down upon this incredible band. P.O.D. ended with Sublime’s biggest hit, “Lovin’ Is What I Got”, which got everyone in the whole venue to sing along.

    The anticipation for Three Days Grace’s arrival kept building up as the crew set up the stage with a backdrop of a post-apocalyptic city in ruins. A sign stood there with a drape covering what was really behind. They continued to place objects like HAZARD barrels, and then the fog machine began to work its magic. Smoke began to roll across the vacant stage and the quiet background rock music grew louder and then changed to Rage Against the Machine’s hit “Killing In the Name”. The crowd began to bob their heads along to the beat, singing along, all having no clue what was about to occur next. The music was cut off as the whole venue was enveloped in darkness. The mysterious sign’s lights flickered and the drape fell, revealing a sign that read “WELCOME TO FABULOUS LAS VENUS NEW YORK.” The music changed to an eerie song sung by Nancy Sinatra, “Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)” along with the sound effects of a rainstorm. The stage lit up with a blue hue, and the rain sounds ended as drummer, Neil Sanderson, emerged from below and sat behind his kit. Next to arrive was keyboardist, Dan Rosenoer, who sat in his perch next to Neil. Following Rosenoer was lead guitarist, Barry Stock, then finally, the Walst brothers, bassist Brad and Matt, emerged from the shadows. Matt stepped up to the microphone, preparing for their cue…the anticipatory silence with the exception of the wildly cheering fans. Neil started the rhythm of the beginning song, “Chalk Outline”, as Barry did his guitar riff, and the pyro brightened up the venue. The excited fans sang along with Walst, as he began to show off his vocal talents, blowing us all out of the water. The song ended with Walst doing a high jump from the platform below Sanderson’s kit as the nearby barrels shot up flames. The crowd continued to sing along to all of the songs from the setlist as well as crowd surf, jump up and down, and have the time of their lives. Following “The Good Life”, Neil and Dan did a piano and drum solo together. Then after Dan exited the stage for a brief break, Neil stayed on to do his legendary drum solo. Filled with wild beats, this began the encore of the band’s setlist. The final two performances were a Limp Bizkit cover, “Break Stuff”, featuring the band’s tour manager, Shawn Hamm, and “Riot”. Overall, it was a killer performance!

    After clearing the stage, it was Shinedown’s turn to blow us all away. A banner was raised in front of the stage bearing Shinedown’s logo. The eagerness of the crowd rose with every ticking minute, wondering what their arrival would bring. Finally, the background music was cut, darkness swallowed the venue, and behind the banner was a brightly lit computerized orb. The banner dropped and a series of videos appeared on the screen, all of which blurred together. Then the drummer began to hit his beats as a series of colorful lights washed over the excited faces. The stage, then the voice they’d all been waiting for emerged from an unknown location. Eyes of eager fans searched wildly to see the rest of Shinedown on a stage in the middle of the venue. The lyrics of “Enemies” invaded fervent ears then suddenly stopped, as front man Brent Smith, guitarist Zach Myers, and bassist Eric Bass are escorted to the main stage where they finished the number. The following song had everyone clapping along to the beat of the drum as Smith encouraged them and a familiar guitar riff accompanied the rhythm, then the crowd all sang along to the highly energized track, “Devour”. The rest of the setlist went by fairly quickly and each had its own soothing melody. Taking a break from the calming music, the next familiar tune to fill our ears was one that famously promoted The Expendables, “Diamond Eyes”, a sea of voices chanting “Boom-lay, boom-lay, BOOM!” The high energy returned, having everyone jumping to the rhythm, pumping their rocker horns, and singing along with the lyrics. Shinedown continued their acoustic setlist, with the exception of “Sound of Madness”, bringing back the energy. They covered several songs acoustically, including Lynyrd Skynrd’s “Simple Man”, all performed on the center stage. The setlist ended with their latest record’s leading single, “Bully”, a fantastic way to close the evening.

    All in all, the concert was incredible, filled with lively spirits of the crowd and the perfectly balanced setlist leaving the crowd in high spirits. Various moments stood out, all equally amazing and mind-blowing. Most importantly, was the strong connection between the bands and the ever-adoring fans, one that carried on throughout the evening. This certainly was an unforgettable night.

  • High Dive Horse Interview

    hdh (1)

    When I put out a post that I was interested doing written interviews, one of the inquiries was from Tim Fields of High Dive Horse. I was excited about this, because I always enjoyed reading their Facebook posts and seeing their pictures with the horse head masks on. This was one of my favorite interviews because I love when a musician has a sense of humor.

    Steve Strader – First off how many members are there, four or five? Does it depend on the songs you guys play or just the availability of the group?

    Tim Fields – We currently have four members: myself (Tim Field) on drums, Adam Vlassis on bass, Drew Sweeney on guitar, and Chad Seyer on guitar/vocals. We are actually looking for a 5th member for lead vocals… Hint hint.

    SS – What was the inspiration behind your name? Is one of the members a jockey or involved in taking care of horses?

    TF – The inspiration behind our name was actually from the previous drummer of the group. He suggested the name and said we can say it is for protesting animal abuse, or something like that. And yeah, I think Adam likes horses. He is weird like that.

    SS – How did you guys come to form?  And when did the magic happen?

    TF – The band actually formed through a series of Craigslist ads. Adam always jokes about the first time he met Chad by saying “It was a successful Craigslist meeting because I didn’t get raped.” I think it has been over a year.

    SS – Who are some of your influences?

    TF – Influences range few and far between for our band. As for myself, I grew up on the “Wannabe Punk”, as the rest of the band calls it, consisting of Sum-41, Blink-182, and New Found Glory. However, I started to get into Metal and things like that. As of right now, my biggest influence is Nate Felty of Leylines, a local Syracuse band. Check them out. As for Adam, Chad, and Drew, they are all influenced by Lagwagon, Bad Religion, NOFX, Bad Astronaut, and Rise Against.

    SS – How is the success going for your street team? I mean the prizes you guys are offering: carrying your equipment around, a band member’s used bath towel… Who wouldn’t jump on that!

    TF – Our street team is so successful, it has five members: four of the band members and Chad’s cat, the panther. That’s about it. Who doesn’t want to rub my feet after a kick-ass show? Seriously.

    SS – On Valentine’s Day you said to expect big things soon; what kind of things can we expect in the near future?

    TF – The big things that are planned is the album, and we are going to begin playing shows again pretty soon, as the album is coming to a wrap.

    SS – I see that you guys like PBR! What words do you have for the hipster a**holes who hijacked the image of it?

    TF – To anyone who hurts PBR, you will die.

    SS – The horse heads in your photo albums are very comical. What caused you to use these horse heads?  Is it just a gimmick to go along with you name? What’s the story behind it?

    TF-The horse heads we use in our pictures for Facebook is kind of a play on our name, of course. It is comical to have pictures of people doing stupid stuff in a horse mask, am I right?

    SS – How does it feel to not be nominated for a Sammy?

    TF – MAN, I cant BELIEVE we were not nominated for a SAMMY after only playing, what, like four shows? Haha!

    SS – Adam, if someone were to open your fridge what would they find?

    TF-If you opened Adam’s fridge, it would be lined with Tofu and vegan stuff. Extra firm too. Oh baby.

    SS – Tim mentioned your album will be coming out soon. What has the creative process been like? I saw on Facebook you had to do multiple takes on the drum tracking. What have been the highs and lows making it? Remember, don’t spare any gritty details either!

    TF – Oh boy, the album. Well, we are recording it and producing it through Boilerplate Records, as Chad owns part of it. We recorded guitars, bass, and vocals down in his basement, and then transferred the studio to my house for the drum recording – the worst part… Drums suck to record. But overall, it has been a very fun and creative process, but one I would not want to go through all the time. I can speak for everyone on that.

    SS – Anything to be seen or heard from High Dive Horse in the near or distant future?

    TF – Expect the album! Thanks for interviewing us!

    SS – The pleasure was all mine, looking forward to seeing you guys in the future!

    Give them a like on Facebook; there are a few tracks there for download. Then head over to the 315 Street Team page and give us a like. I have Video interviews on my YouTube channel which is located in the “About” section. Support the scene and if you see these guys are playing, go and wile out!

  • HateBreed, Shadows Falls, and Dying Fetus Show

    Saturday I decided to venture out into Syracuse with a good buddy of mine. We had decided to stop by the Westcott Theatre in Syracuse to catch the HateBreed show. When we arrived, I realized Razor and Tie did a great job mixing it up for this particular tour – it’s not everyday you see three of the biggest influential bands from three different genres on the same tour.

    For those of you who enjoy the sometimes trippie, sometimes death metal sounds of the likes of Between the Buried and Me and Animals as Leaders, you will be truly satisfied with the band The Contortionist. These guys showed a lot of season for a bunch of guys who barely look of age to drink. Complete with synths and sub drops they definitely gave people a taste of what was to come.

    By now the hall was beginning to fill up, probably in anticipation of one of the biggest and most influential Death Metal bands out there right now. Dying Fetus has been around since the early ‘90s and certainly showed that very early on. I was just a bit skeptical at first seeing that they were only a 3 piece, but the music was well thought out and as full as any band. I also enjoyed the duel moshpits during their set.

    Next up, Shadows Falls, yes these guys know their metal. When I think of the Boston Mass. Circuit , one the first bands that comes to mind is always Shadows Fall. This was the first time I actually got to see them play live – I was like a kid in a candy store. They opened with some of their newer material, with some classics thrown in there. I was absolutely drawn to them. They are a must see band out there right now. As far as the performance goes, Brian Fair and Jason Bittner stole the show. Every time Brian did a windmill with his 4 foot long hair I got a little jealous (considering I’m way too thin on top to grow mine that long and look that good), and his voice was right-on all night. Then I was drawn to Mr. Bittner, with stellar timing all night long and him standing up behind the kit – yeah he puts on a show.

    The headliner of the night, HateBreed, was another first for me. I’m not really into hardcore. I just cant get into all the ninja kicking, trying to beat someone up in a pit, crap that those crowds do. But it’s the quintessential HateBreed, it’s a no-brainer. First off, tight as hell ( local bands should take note). Second, Jamey Jasta, their singer, had my attention from the get go. This guy knows how to control a crowd – he had everyone beat on that night for sure. They also played some of their best stuff off of Rise of Brutality. I now understand why their new album, The Divinity of Purpose, is number 1 on the hard rock charts. It was amazing to see this band, who I remember listening to in the mid ‘90’s(thinking yeah they are ok ), really knock my socks off. So, for me, HateBreed has my vote for the band of the night, and in reality they should, they are the headliner. Anyway, it was a great night of metal and hardcore at the Westcott. Don’t be afraid to check out any of these bands on their next trip through; all of them are well worth your money. Also check out the Westcott for some great up-and-coming shows. Horns Up till next time m/
    – Fred Marriott

  • Band Profile: LOWKEY

    I had the opportunity to sit down with Lowkey (Newark, NY) this weekend at Fusion in Syracuse, and got down and dirty with them. For those of you who don’t know them, where have you been? They got together in 2003 when metal was making its triumphant comeback. They have not changed their style, nor succumbed to big management… yet. Through many line-up changes, these guys have not stopped pushing one bit. The changes they say “were for the better of the band”, which I would have to agree with. They always impress, and out of a fluke of chance encounters, they have formed a solid metal orchestra.

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    The thing I enjoy about the metal scene is the realism of it. You say to a band “Hey, I’d like to interview you for a feature”, and they say “come on out to our van, we will smoke, drink some beers and talk”. That, to me is the brotherhood the other scenes are lacking right now.

    The band currently consists of Sean Augustus, “Pickles” (Brian Belcher), Jay, and Matt Huff. The members are spread out over Upstate New York. As Matt explained, “the professionalism of the band is what has kept them together over the years, they have all done side projects in other bands that didn’t work out, but they are all very passionate about this band.” Lowkey has a little bit of thrash, “stoner” metal, and death metal mixed into one bag. What else is stashed away in the bag, I’m not saying. Among their influences are Lamb Of God, Godsmack, In Flames, Led Zeppelin, Deftones and even The Grateful Dead.

    When they write a new song, it starts with a simple jam, and they build off it. Each of their members write their own parts in the process. The band mates also own Hage Entertainment together, which brings bands from the neighboring states to Upstate NY every summer to celebrate Hage Fest. This coming summer marks the 7th year in a row that they have at least 100 submissions to play. They started the festival for the sake of the scene. They wanted to help the other bands in the metal/hardcore scene to have some place and a crowd to play in front of and gain exposure. During the interview, they continued to let their very loyal fans into their van, to witness the interview, along with sharing a few beers and good times. I asked them about their upcoming release, Forward. With two albums already under their belts, Backstabber and Red Moon, Forward promises to be their most brutal release to date. They record at Nitro Blast Studios with the respected Jeff Barrett engineering and producing the albums. They have known Jeff for most of their careers in music. He has a knack for being able to capture the “Lowkey” sound. The Studio is located in Geneva NY, a backroom studio, described by the members of Lowkey as being “one of the best recording studios in the state.”

    The boys in Lowkey shared with me some of the highlights of their last tour in 2012, as Sean said “crashin’ and ridin’”. With great support by fans, letting them crash at their homes and feeding them so they didn’t starve. But the most memorable moment was probably when Pickles crashed their brand “new” 1979 van. Luckily, no one was hurt, and they look back and laugh about the incident now. During their 2010 tour in Texas, a bartender after a gig gave them a case of vitamin water to help them survive on the road for a couple of days. Along the way they’ve meet some of their personal heroes, too. They genuinely appreciate their fans that sometimes send money on tours, and radio stations like The Metallic Onslaught that give them playtime. They’ve tried big management, but have found they like having complete control over what they do and how they do it. However for the right price they might think about making another deal. Jay says “he does this for the fun.”
    Lowkey is a very tight-knit family that helps each other during the tough times and celebrates the good times. Be on the lookout for Forward to be released between March and April. They really strived to make the album as close as you can get to catching them live. If you haven’t checked them out yet, you can find them at www.facebook.com/lowkeyny and www.reverbnation.com/lowkeyny. For booking info go to www.facebook.com/hageentertainment.