Category: EPKs
0 Protected: EPK – The Wring – Spectra (2022)
0 Protected: EPK – The Convalescence – 79 Years (single) (2022)
0 EPK – The Secret Places of The Earth – The Space Between the Stars (2022)
EPK – The Secret Places of The Earth – The Space Between the Stars (2022)
Publicist – Jon Asher – jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
For fans of Pink Floyd, Repulsive, Midwife, Jefre Cantu-Ledesma, Well Then, Goodbye
Album Title: The Space Between the Stars
Release Date: September 23, 2022
Label: Unsigned
Distribution: CD Baby
Thesecretplacesoftheearth.bandcamp.com | YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music | Amazon
The Secret Places of the Earth is a non-linear, live compositional experiment by award-winning Canadian composer, and visual artist Barrett Klesko (All Else Fails, The Order of Chaos, FadeBack Studios United). His first album “Stormwalker” was released in April 2022 to a modest, though enthusiastic fan and critical reception. Described as darkly beautiful, magnetic, and often unsettling, Stormwalker gained momentum with a growing cult following due to its organic live feel and hypnotizing depth. Riding the momentum, The Secret Places of the Earth is offering a second album for 2022 with “The Space Between the Stars” due out on September 23rd.
Album Band Line Up:
Barrett Klesko – Guitar
Discography:
2022 – The Space Between the Stars
2022 – Stormwalker
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The album as a whole (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY) explained:
In a few words: This album is a deep reflecting pool, as it submerges the listener, massages the senses, opens and engages the mind, and relaxes the body.
Track by Track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY) explained:
1. Mother Brain:
In the deepest reach
Thoughts adrift among the stars
Slumber now in peace
2. The Space Between the Stars:
Distance between us
Empty of all but remorse
What could bridge the void?
3. Fragile Futures:
How much time remains?
A future as black as pitch
Life ends in darkness
4. Drifts:
Horizons of ice
Frozen plains devoid of life
Something stirs below
4. Breach:
At the end of days
No one left no one remains
Who speaks outside the door?
Band Fun Facts – Story Angles:
1. As of August 2022, The Secret Places of the Earth has an unreleased catalogue of over 80 songs, which is growing weekly.
2. All songs are recorded on a very minimal rig; few guitar pedals and a looper, no multi-tracking involved.
3. It is impossible to explain this project to others without sounding pretentious about its creation.
4. There has been an immense response to the first album “Stormwalker”, garnering over 20,000 Spotify followers in just a few months.
5. Barrett’s most used effect pedal on this album is a Dr. Scientist Bitquest.
Album Title: The Space Between the Stars
Release Date: September 23, 2022
Label: Unsigned
Distribution: CD Baby
Track Listing:
1. Mother Brain (6:25)
2. The Space Between the Stars (3:12)
3. Fragile Futures (3:01)
4. Drifts (4:52)
5. Breach (3:06)
Album Length 20:19
Album Credits:
– The Secret Places of the Earth (composer, musician) – Barrett Klesko
– Produced and Engineered – Barrett Klesko
– Mastered – Colin Noel @ Electric Treehouse
– Album Artwork by: dianico https://www.fiverr.com/diacinco?source=order_page_summary_seller_link
– Member of SOCAN
– Music is Canadian Content (MAPL)
Album Band Line Up:
Barrett Klesko – Guitar
0 EPK – RivetSkull – Trail of Souls – Samsara (2022)
EPK – RivetSkull – Trail of Souls – Samsara (2022)
“After self-recording and releasing our debut album during the global pandemic, we’ve revisited our songs with professional production that captures the massive sound that fans have come to expect from our live shows.
Recorded at London Bridge Studio (Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, Queensrÿche) and produced by Matt Hyde (Slayer, Deftones, Seether), Trail of Souls: Samsara promises much more than a sonic retouch of the original. The reworked collection features new cover artwork and the previously unreleased recording of a cover of Aerosmith’s “King and Queens.””
For fans of Dio, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Def Leppard, Armored Saint, Deep Purple
Album Title: Trail of Souls – Samsara
Release Date: July 8, 2022
Label: Self-Release
Distribution: Distrokid
Publicist – Jon Asher – jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
Rivetskull.com | Facebook.com/rivetskull | Twitter.com/rivetskull
Youtube.com/rivetskull | Instagram.com/rivetskull
Bandcamp | Apple Music | Spotify | Amazon
Digital Platforms – https://lnk.to/TrailOfSoulsSamsara
It would be easy to call RivetSkull a traditional heavy metal band, but they’re so much more than that. RivetSkull has taken the very roots of heavy metal and forged them into something new and fresh.
Spawned from the same DNA that created the beasts that roamed the dark valleys of Birmingham, the foothills of the Cascades, and the plains of Texas, there’s no denying RivetSkull’s heavy metal heritage. This is hard-hitting music blasted over record store chatter, the buzzing of a tattoo gun, or the revving of a motorcycle engine. But, as any metalhead will tell you, heavy metal is more than just a genre: it’s therapy, it’s a community, it’s a style – and it’s a movement. And it’s always evolving.
RivetSkull has created a modern sound that’s as unique as each member’s influences, from punk to country, from alternative to funk. Listening to RivetSkull, it’s easy to envision the band’s live show: Chad McMurray’s clean vocals soaring over a sea of bobbing bodies in black band t-shirts, Mark X. Plog’s boundary-defying guitar ascending over raised beers and outstretched metal horns, Michael Robson’s emphatic drums and Mark Hopkins’ booming bass rattling the bones beneath black jeans and denim vests.
Like good metal – you’ll feel it in your core as much as you’ll hear it in your ears. All of this is brought to you by a dedicated and hard-working band of brothers. They are RivetSkull and they’re bringing the past into the future.
Album and Live Band Line Up:
Chad McMurray – Vocals
Mark X. Plog – Guitar
Mark Hopkins – Bass
Michael Robson – Drums
Discography:
2022- Trail of Souls: Samsara
2020 – Trail of Souls
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The album as a whole (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY) explained:
CM: It’s got an epic, yet nostalgic feel. Lyrically, I write from the heart about things people can relate to, nothing is contrived. We’re not trying to write a certain kind of song and we’re not trying to portray a certain image. We’re not trying to be a tough, brutal band. We’re just normal guys who like metal, much like it was in the 70s – 80s. I don’t know, maybe we need to bring cod pieces back?
Track by track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY) explained:
1. Crash and Burn
“‘Crash and Burn’ is about the pitfalls of relationships. Though you can try to stay clear of danger, sometimes you can’t help but fall into the same traps. The new recording and production conveys the drive and momentum a song about recklessness should be swimming in. We think we got there with this song and all the others on the album.”
2. Forever
We originally wrote ‘Forever” in 2019 when the world was, once again in a strange place and the US was becoming more and more divided thanks to religion and politics. One year later we would all forever be changed by Covid. Then again in 2022 with more war in the Ukraine, inflation and more political and religious agendas driving yet more distance between all of us. ‘Forever’ refers to the repeating cycle of life’s ups and downs and changes that we forever have to face and come to terms while navigating the waters to get there.
3. Mystified
“Mystified” has to do with fears of stepping out of your comfort zone and sometimes it’s easier to simply take solace by getting high and letting your mind wander to another place. A journey of finding your way out of the dark and into the light.
4. Another Way To Heaven
Another Way To Heaven deals with a number of things. Is there life after death? Is there really a heaven or god? They want to explore other worlds and if there is really a heaven, is dying the only way to get there? Now the ending takes a bit of turn and delves into the impact just one person can have. Known as the “father” of the atomic bomb Robert Oppenheimer’s quote taken from Hindu scripture The Bhagavad-Gita, “Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds,” makes an appearance and literally means the world-destroying time.
5. Narcissus
“Narcissus” touches on world leaders who convince others to do their bidding regardless of cost. Shining light on the repercussions and madness of blindly following narcissists in leadership by speaking from the narcissist’s twisted point of view.
6. Trail Of Souls
It’s easy to become star-struck or think you’re better than someone else. Particularly people close to you. A reminder to not be blinded by the stars in your eyes or forget those that helped you get where you are.
7. It’s Not Enough
Life, however long it may be, is constantly changing and evolving. From birth, youth, adulthood and death, many reinventions happen throughout its course. Do we ever have enough? How much is enough?
8. Kings and Queens (Aerosmith cover)
Aerosmith has always been a crossover band between hard rock and heavy metal. Several of their songs were inspirational to us, but none quite as much as ‘Kings and Queens.’ The original was a masterpiece of drama, intensity, and a showcase of vocal skill. All of the years of listening to that song and growing as musicians are poured into this recording. We’re proud of how it all came together.”
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BAND STORY ANGLES / FUN FACTS:
1. Recorded at London Bridge Studio (Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, Queensrÿche) and produced by Matt Hyde (Slayer, Deftones, Seether).
2. Chad McMurarry trained with Maestro David Kyle weekly for 7 years.
3. Trail of Souls: Samsara album artwork by rock poster artist Justin Hampton (Ween, Pearl Jam, Kiss)
[Download Album Cover | Download Album Lyrics]
Album Title: Trail of Souls – Samsara
Release Date: July 8, 2022
Label: Self-Release
Distribution: Distrokid
Track Listing:
1. Crash and Burn (2:49)
2. Forever (5:24)
3. Mystified (3:45)
4. Another Way to Heaven (7:29)
5. Narcissus (5:01)
6. Trail of Souls (4:04)
7. It’s Not Enough (4:02)
8. Kings and Queens (Aerosmith cover) (5:16)
Album Length: 37:54
Album Recording Credits:
• All songs performed by: RivetSkull
• All songs written by: RivetSkull: Chad McMurray, Mark X. Plog, Mark Hopkins, Michael Robson (except “Kings and Queens, Written by Aerosmith with String Arrangement and Programming by Chad McMurray)
• Produced by: Matt Hyde
• Mixed by: Matt Hyde
• Mastered by: Matt Hyde
• Album Artwork by: Justin Hampton
• Member of ASCAP and BMI – Mark X. Plog and Mark Hopkins: BMI; Chad McMurray, Michael Robson: ASCAP
Album and Live Band Line Up:
Chad McMurray – Vocals
Mark X. Plog – Guitar
Mark Hopkins – Bass
Michael Robson – Drums
0 EPK – Pistacia – Edgy (2022)
EPK – Pistacia – Edgy (2022)
Publicist – Jon Asher – jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
“Our upcoming EP “Edgy” is about different symptoms/aspects of mental illness. The lead single ‘It Was The Cat’ is about self-harm, then the other tracks are about dissociating, and social anxiety. We think fans are going to love our single ‘It Was The Cat’ as our TikTok fans love what snippets they’ve heard so far. Our sound brings elements from 2007-2010 metalcore and we make music for people who miss that amazing era of music. That being said we have modern breakdowns that make you want to mosh.” – Pistacia
For fans Pierce the Veil, Slipknot, Bring Me the Horizon, Motionless in White, Kittie
Pistaciaofficial.com | Facebook.com/Pistacia-104625968817408 | Instagram.com/pistaciaofficial | Twitter.com/pistaciaband | YouTube
Tour Dates:
October 20 – Sovereign – Brooklyn, NY
October 22 – Starlite – Southbridge, MA
October 26 – Millhill Basement – Trenton, MA
EP Title: Edgy
Release Date: October 21, 2022
Label: Self-Release
Distribution: Distrokid
Track Listing
1. It Was the Cat – 4:00
2. N. Hale – 4:00
3. Fake a Smile – 4:00
EP Length: 12:00
EP Recording Credits:
• All songs performed by: Vic Gregg, Theo Chaouat, Ben Sonsire-Cummings, Ron Bernhaut
• All songs written by: Vic Gregg, Theo Chaouat, Ben Sonsire-Cummings, Ron Bernhaut
• Produced by: Erik Thorstenn
• Mixed by: Erik Thorstenn
• Mastered by: Erik Thorstenn
• Album Artwork by: Vic Gregg
EP Band Line Up:
Vic Gregg – Vocals
Theo Chaouat – Guitar
Ben Sonsire-Cummings – Guitar
Ron Bernhaut – Bass
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The EP as a whole (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):
The upcoming EP is about different symptoms/aspects of mental illness. This single is about self-harm, then we have one about dissociating and social anxiety.
Track by Track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY) explained by Vic Gregg – Vocals:
1. It was the Cat is about self-harm and the person or thing that leads you to it most. Whether it is an abuser or an event sometimes things can weigh too heavy on us and we cope in unhealthy ways. Back in the day, when kids has marks on their arms and were asked about it, they would blame their cat. “The cat did it” or “it was the cat.” The cat is that thing or that person that makes life so unbearable you want to take it out on yourself. For me, the cat is a person who I am supposed to love. They took advantage of me all my life and I finally got out and am doing much better. This song has a sick breakdown and the most 2007 chorus since MySpace reigned the internet. It’s catchy and will have you dancing regardless of the dark imagery.
2. I wrote N. Hale about dissociation. Whenever I get over-stressed or put in an uncomfortable situation, I dissociate. It’s never on purpose as a matter of fact I try hard not to. However, it’s still hard to fight. So when that happens I have non-thoughts and my head is just static and I can hear my pulse and that is it. In the track, we have samples of both which perfectly portrays what goes on in my mind when that happens. Ron and I wrote the main riffs for this song together and Ben spiced it up to make it what it is now.
3. Fake a Smile is about social anxiety. I have a hard time making friends and putting myself out there to the world. TikTok has helped me a bit get comfortable speaking, but I still get so insecure whenever I try to talk to someone new. My fear is that I’ll say something dumb and or uninteresting. So I wrote Fake a Smile. The music was all Theo. He wrote this song a few years ago and he pulled it up one day and I fell in love with it. I started to workshop a melody for the chorus and wrote up some lyrics and the song was born. Very nostalgic sound similar to It Was the Cat and brings you back to studded belts and neon monster tees.
BAND STORY ANGLES / FUN FACTS:
1. I write about my own life a lot and my daily struggles living with mental illness. I go into depth about each aspect of my diagnosis and there will most likely be a song for each symptom. Living like this is nearly impossible but I want people to know they are not alone. I want to know I am not alone.
2. The band got together in an interesting way. We all went to the same school and were in an ensemble together. The way our school works is you can take a class that is basically a cover band for a grade. We were in a Pierce the Veil ensemble together and since that class I wanted to keep playing with them all. So I asked them to join me in Pistacia.
3. We played a major music festival with little music out as a band. We played Inkcarceration in 2021 which was especially huge because that festival was Mudvayne’s first show in 10 years. The crowd was insane and to be honest, we crushed that performance. Since then we have been building a fanbase on TikTok.
In late 2019, Vic Gregg founded Gen-Z, an emo-throwback metalcore outfit. Members Ron Bernhaut, Theo Chaouat, Ben Sonsire-Cummings, and Thomson Estabrook complete the aesthetic onslaught that comprises Pistacia’s live show—in the scene’s dearth of energetic performance, the band found their niche, bringing blistering riffs to tight compact venues with pure animus and palpable vitriol. They have a nostalgia-borne affinity for all things emo and maintain a reckless proclivity for gothic imagery and provocative allure. With a marriage between heavy breakdowns, catchy choruses, and pathos-driven lyrics, Pistacia is that edgy, rebellious act you’ve been craving.
Shared stage with:
The HU, Mudfuck, Quarantined, Reapercussion, Survive the Sun, Proxies, Spite
EP Band Line Up:
Vic Gregg – Vocals
Theo Chaouat – Guitar
Ben Sonsire-Cummings – Guitar
Ron Bernhaut – Bass
Live Band Line Up:
Vic Gregg – Vocals
Theo Chaouat – Guitar
Ben Sonsire-Cummings – Guitar
Ron Bernhaut – Bass
Thomson Estabrook – Drums
Discography:
It Was the Cat – 2022 – EP
Hematophagous – 2021 (single)
Loaded Gun – 2021 (single)
Melatonin – 2021 (single)
0 EPK – Matt Miller – Monument of Velocity (2022)
Matt Miller – Monument of Velocity (2022)
Band: Matt Miller
Album Title: Monument of Velocity
Release Date: July 19, 2022
Jon Asher – Publicist – jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
Manager – Extreme Management Group – Mark Kloeppel – emg.markkloeppel[@]gmail[.]com
“With Monument of Velocity, I set out to push my creative limits by not relying on any preconceived notions and let each song unfold as its own entity. Which in turn actually created a stronger continuity between the tracks. By writing the majority of the album without a guitar in hand I was able to think outside the box and come up with more interesting melodies and more dynamic rhythms. This process allowed me to achieve a greater level of melodicism and generate a stronger emotional response.” – Matt Miller
Distribution: Blood Blast Distribution (powered by Nuclear Blast & Believe Digital)
Mattmillerhhakmusi.wixsite.com/mattm | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram.com/mattmiller630
Spotify | Apple | Mattmiller2.bandcamp.com | Amazon | Deezer
“Creating Emotive Responses” – Prog-Sphere
Band: Matt Miller
Album Title: Monument of Velocity
Release Date: July 19, 2022
Distribution: Blood Blast Distribution (powered by Nuclear Blast & Believe Digital)
Track Listing
1. The Fissure (1:01)
2. Abominable Sands (3:13)
3. The Obscurantist (3:18)
4. Monument of Velocity (4:32)
5. Coral Sword (3:27)
6. Sacred Geometry (3:32)
7. Acheron (3:15)
8. Human Race Against Time (3:38)
Album Length: 25:59
Album Credits
– All music written by Matt Miller
– Recorded, Mixed, Mastered, and Produced by Matt Miller at The Kill Box 2022 – Album art by Hand Rot Art
– Guitar, Bass, Keyboards, and Programming by Matt Miller
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The album as a whole (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY) explained:
Monument of Velocity takes you on a journey and makes a bold statement. I like to think of the songs on the album as scenes from a movie.
Track by track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY) explained:
Track 1 – The Fissure sounds mysterious and builds suspense.
Track 2 – Abominable Sands starts off like a race across a vast open space.
Track 3 – The Obscurantist is a story that is full of suspense, twists, and turns.
Track 4 – Monument of Velocity is like a sorcerer casting a spell. Seamlessly changing form and shape.
Track 5 – Coral Sword is a song that was written based upon the creation myth of the islands of Japan.
Track 6 – Sacred Geometry is constantly building up to a new dynamic every time the music changes
Track 7 – Acheron is a joyous expression that slowly turns into something much more prolific.
Track 8 – Human Race Against Time starts off with extremely high tension and represents life passing before your
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Fun Facts / Story Angles:
1. Most of Monument of Velocity was written without a guitar. After the initial riffs were recorded, the rest of the song was written during the notation process.
2. Monument of Velocity initially had a different title and was not going to be a Matt Miller release.
3. Some of the songs were written with vocals in mind and were not going to be instrumental.
4. Monument of Velocity had been recorded for a year before its release.
5. Monument of Velocity was recorded at the same time as the album Only What the Light Allows
Funny Stories:
During the CYBER SHRED TOUR I was telling everyone how lonely I was on stage each night. Performing on a national tour is tough but by yourself is a feat unto itself. Especially having to play with such awesome bands. At the last show in Austin TX at Come and Take it Live I noticed everyone was acting a little differently when I was interacting with them throughout the day and I couldn’t figure out why. As I was onstage letting my intro sample play I noticed everyone standing behind the stage. I gave them the middle finger and thought to myself “alright it’s time to bring it” right as the sample ended everyone from the tour ran onstage and helped me yell my battle cry “It’s Miller Time!” Which was something I adopted at the behest of the Voraath guys. It was ultimately a great idea. As I went into the first song I got a little emotional and I tried not to show it but that act of kindness and camaraderie hit me right in the feels and that is a tough spot when you’re trying to go into full shred mode. Unbeknownst to me the other guys on the tour had been planning this and they executed their plan perfectly.
A cool story from the CYBER SHRED TOUR involved joining Rings of Saturn onstage and performing a solo during Faces Imploding. After one of the shows Lucas had mentioned to me that he really liked my set and they wanted to have me join them onstage and play. I talked to Joel and we got the details hammered out. I spent the 4th of July in my motel room trying to write something that would complement the song and add something to it. At the last show in
Austin TX I joined them onstage and threw down a completely improvised solo and it sounded awesome. I nailed my exit queue and walked off the stage feeling great about getting to jam with these ridiculously awesome musicians and great people.
When the CYBER SHRED TOUR rolled into Indianapolis it was hot. Actually to say it was hot is a complete understatement. The venue seemed like they were unprepared. The AC was broken and there was difficulty with providing running water. Everyone was drinking any sort of liquid they could find. There we all were sitting in this venue with 1 industrial fan and 4 ceiling fans. As the time to open the doors drew near the P.A. started having problems. Everyone was setup and ready to go onstage. As the venue troubleshot the P.A. I was lucky enough to jam with Josh from Voraath, Jake from Distinguisher, and Dominic from Extortionist. Even Brian the Tour Manager jumped behind the kit. We played everything from improv black and death metal to Pantera, Slayer, and Metallica covers
Matt Miller – Photo Credit – Tony Reviere
Akademia-Award-winning producer, engineer, and songwriter MATT MILLER side-steps these industry achievements to embark on something deeply introspective and personal; a transcendent, reactionary and vile personage embodying soaring progressive melodies and captivating crushing rhythms which engulf the listener in black clouds of desperation and shimmering hope.
Drawing upon the gut-wrenching timed-precision of European death metal stalwarts NECROPHAGIST and SPAWN OF POSSESSION, MATT MILLER progressively blends this approach with deep synthetic and symphonic atmospheres like that of DEVIN TOWNSEND, often arriving at surprisingly emotive and heart-clenching metallic passages like that of RIVERS OF NIHIL.
Calling upon other single-member death metal projects such as PUTRID PILE or INSIDIOUS DECREPANCY, the live performance can best be described as a reclaiming and repainting of the earth by a relentlessly sweeping and deranged berzerker appealing to the vast minions of the extreme music. The combination of elements within MATT MILLER distills the traditions of the international metal realm, the progressive atmospheres of modernity, and reactions to a vile world into a single unrelenting persona of despair and vengeance.
MATT MILLER’s first self-produced instrumental EP came in 2017, drawing on influences from classic metal bands such as MEGADETH and IRON MAIDEN to shredders like YNGWIE MALMSTEEN and PAUL GILBERT, while combining a technical death metal approach to create a maximum intensity music with a frenetic and frantic feel and ferocious atmosphere. Since then, and a few releases into this brief career, MATT MILLER boasts 12,000 consistent monthly listeners on Spotify before hitting the international touring circuit. This was garnered from his 2017 EP, the 2021 self-released ‘Decrepit Shed’ LP, the ‘Reekomposer/Decomposer’ covers double LP, as well as the ‘8E’s’ 1980’s themed covers LP.
In 2022 Matt released the formidable original instrumental LP Monument of Velocity on Blood Blast Distribution. Matt also toured supporting Rings of Saturn on the CYBER SHRED TOUR 2022. 29 shows encompassing the continental United States. Matt has released the cover LP Only What the Light Allows through Blood Blast Distribution as well.
Matt Miller hails from the rain soaked northern Oregon Coast; influenced by the natural foreboding environment. Moving into the present, MATT MILLER has joined up with Extreme Management Group to spread a singularly relentless auditory mind-bend.
Discography
2022 – (Aug 5) – Only What the Light Allows (Cover Album)
2022 – (July 19) – Monument of Velocity – LP (Original Material)
2021 – (July 5) Reekomposer (Cover Album)
2021 – (June 21) 8E’s (Cover EP)
2021 – (Feb 2) Decrepit Shed (Cover Album)
2021 – (Jan 13) Decomposer (Cover Album)
2021 – (Nov 12) – MMXVII – EP (Original Material)
Tours and Festivals:
2022 – CYBER SHRED TOUR w/ Rings of Saturn, Extortionist, Distinguisher, Voraath, Matt Miller
Endorsements
Kahler USA, EMG Pickups, GHS Strings, Stevens Cables and Effects Pedals
0 EPK – Obsidian Skies – Saturnian (2022)
EPK – Obsidian Skies – Saturnian (2022)
Publicist – Jon Asher – jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
For fans of Amon Amarth Insomnium Opeth Fleshgod Apocalypse Epica
EP Title: Saturnian
Release Date: October 14, 2022
Label: Self-Release
Distribution: CD Baby
Facebook.com/Obsidian-Skies-109138908535805 | Instagram.com/obsidianskiesband | YouTube
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, working on this EP was one of the things that kept us sane. We went through job losses, large life changes, and mental health struggles during this time. The writing was very therapeutic for both of us and it feels amazing to see this EP come to life. After the breakup of our previous band, it’s great to be able to work together again and produce some of the best work either of us has ever done. We’ve both always seen music as an escape and we bring that into our lyrics. The entire story of this EP takes place on Saturn’s moon, Titan, as humanity leaves a dying Earth and struggles to start anew, echoing the struggles of this pandemic.
We’ve both challenged ourselves with this EP, both as songwriters and as instrumentalists. It’s resulted in something we’re beyond excited to share with the world, an EP that really shows who we are as musicians. From heavy rhythmic sections to sweeping orchestral melodies, we feel we’ve touched on a large part of the musical spectrum with this release.” – Obsidian Skies
[Download EP Cover | Download EP Lyrics]
EP Title: Saturnian
Release Date: October 14, 2022
Label: Self-Release
Distribution: CD Baby
Track Listing:
1. Celestial Age – 6:58
2. Rebirth in the Stars – 11:19
3. Home – 5:52
EP Length: 24:10
EP Recording Credits:
• All songs performed by: Obsidian Skies (Logan Dougherty and Tim Watervoort)
• All songs written by: Obsidian Skies (Logan Dougherty and Tim Watervoort)
• All Lyrics written by: Tim Watervoort
• Produced by: Obsidian Skies (Logan Dougherty and Tim Watervoort)
• Mixed by: Tom MacLean
• Mastered by: Tom MacLean
EP Band Line Up:
Logan Dougherty – Guitars, Piano, Orchestration
Tim Watervoort – Guitars, Basses, Vocals
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The EP as a whole (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):
Lyrically, the EP takes place on Saturn’s moon, Titan. In this story, Earth became inhospitable to life and a portion of humankind left the planet to settle on Titan. After colonizing the moon, society began to take shape. Many people could not let go of the thought of all the people left behind on a dying Earth and began to riot. As a result of this, the military presence on the colony dispatched the instigators and enforced a strong, almost dystopian order on the moon. People were at peace, but were not able to live a fulfilling life.
Musically, in order to convey the story, we avoided a repetitive song structure. The songs move through many sections with motivic references throughout to tie it together. Many different instruments carry the melody, including fretless bass and piano. As a whole, the most technically complex part peaks in the middle of the EP as the story climaxes. Our guitars are tuned in drop C, but we didn’t let that limit the tonal centers that we could explore.
Track by Track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):
Lyrically: In this track, humankind first leaves a dying Earth to settle on Titan, the largest moon of Saturn. Astronomers have predicted that in our solar system, Titan would be the best second home for humanity. The settlers are awed by the sights they see, such as a gas giant on the horizon. It seems that hope has been restored for the human race, but the settlers still lament their former home.
Musically: The track begins feeling more like doom metal with a droning quality. Most of the song is in 6/8, giving it a more flowing feel. Many parts, including the chorus, are more rhythmic, but there are absolutely trance-like sections throughout the song. The song has many instrumental sections, but both clean and harsh vocals are used. Harmonically, the song has many instances of “pivot points”. In the section starting at 4:34, for example, the harmonies pivot around a tremolo-picked “C” to maintain that droning quality.
2. Rebirth in the Stars
Lyrically: Following the events of “Celestial Age”, humanity has established a functioning colony on Titan. People have jobs, life is flourishing, and it seems that humanity will rebuild. However, there are those that cannot look past the fact that these people chosen to live on Titan seemingly abandoned the rest of humanity to their fate on a dying Earth. These people riot against what they see as a facade of what used to be and cause untold damage to the colony. The military power in the colony organizes and quells this insurrection, and instills a very strong regime of order. Everyone is once again at peace, but people do not live fulfilling lives. At the end of the song, a new speaker calls for riots against this oppressive dystopian regime.
Musically: This song has a much darker quality to it than “Celestial Age”, relying heavily on parallel minor chords. Much of the song also has a more technical feel to it, drawing inspiration from Classical era music. The harsh vocals are much faster in this track, giving many sections a very frantic feel. The tempo of the song as a whole is higher as well. The orchestra is featured heavily in this track, with a four-minute orchestral section in the middle of the song. It explores much of the thematic material introduced by the traditional metal instruments. Rhythmically, this song features many changing time signatures and some metric modulation to shift between tempos.
3. Home
Lyrically: This song is less of a story, but more of one man’s lament for his former home and the exploration of his emotions. He begins by expressing that nothing he sees around him in this new place can compare to his lost home. While he may live and breathe here, none of the lands he sees have been “colored by stories and songs”. As the song continues, he notes that while the end of the world took away much of humanity’s achievements, it preserved our stories and our pasts. The song concludes with him acknowledging that he and his peers have a unique opportunity to write new songs about a new home.
Musically: “Home” provides a more intimate setting, beginning with an acoustic guitar. The vocals have more presence in this song than in the previous two and distorted guitars do not enter until halfway through the song. Much of this song feels like one that could be sung around a campfire, thinking of days gone by. When the distorted guitars enter, they serve more to provide foundation than a true featured part to keep with the aesthetic. Harsh vocals are present in this song, but to a much smaller degree than the previous two. Harmonically, this song features jazzy major 7th chords to give it a warmer feel.
=============================================
1. Logan is a data scientist with degrees in Physics, Astrophysics, and Composition, while Tim is a software developer with a Master’s degree in Linguistics. We bring both of these fields into the music in the themes, structure, and performance.2. The entire story of this EP takes place on Saturn’s moon Titan. A large portion of humanity has fled from a dying Earth and is starting anew on a distant moon.
3. This whole EP was recorded in Logan’s bedroom in Colorado, mostly using an Axe FX digital amp simulator.
4. Logan’s first instrument was percussion, but he eventually moved to the piano in high school, and picked up the electric guitar in college to help form our previous band. Tim began as a classical guitarist when he was around 8, then moved to electric guitar in high school. When the bassist of our previous band left, Tim picked up the bass and fell in love with it, moving to six-string and fretless basses.
5. We’re both avid gamers and spend a lot of time together playing games like League of Legends, Valheim, Old School RuneScape, and Minecraft.
L-R: Saturnian | Tim Watervoort (Guitars, Basses, Vocals) | Logan Dougherty (Guitars, Piano, Orchestration)
Photo Credit – Kirk MacDonald
Obsidian Skies was founded amidst the turmoil of 2020 by Logan Dougherty and Tim Watervoort. The two had worked together before, but not since the breakup of their previous band, Endlight, in 2017. Logan and Tim wrote much of Endlight’s music, with Logan on guitars and Tim on bass and vocals. They performed throughout Colorado, sharing the stage with bands such as Unleash the Archers and Archspire until the band’s end. While they remained close friends, Tim and Logan’s musical and professional paths diverged for a time at this point.
During this time, Logan attained a Bachelor’s degree in Music Composition, adding to his Physics and Astrophysics degrees. He released a solo orchestral album, “Kingdom of Sand” in 2017, and had his chamber works performed at the University of Colorado College of Music. Tim completed his Master’s degree in Linguistics and went through an accelerated full-stack web development program. He performed as a vocalist for Oak, Ash & Thorn for a time in 2018, sharing the stage with bands such as Týr and Alestorm. Following this, he focused his musical attention on bass and solo metal work.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit and everyone was stuck indoors, the two looked for a project to work on, half to stay sane, and half to explore a new creative outlet. At this time, Obsidian Skies was born. It started with Tim and Logan sharing parts with each other that they had previously written. However, as time went on, it became a true collaborative writing process, with the two writing each song together. Their first release, “Saturnian”, is absolutely some of the best work either has ever produced.
Both Tim and Logan are influenced by progressive and technical death metal, listening to bands such as Fleshgod Apocalypse, Alkaloid, and Ne Obliviscaris. Composers such as Rachmaninoff, Bach, and Debussy strongly influence Logan, as well as more modern composers like John Williams and Howard Shore. Tim is heavily influenced by folk and melodic death metal bands such as Eluveitie and Insomnium and is inspired by great bass players such as Dominic Lapointe and Linus Klausenitzer.
The music of Obsidian Skies spans many different genres, not all of which are metal. While harsh vocals, fast rhythms, and guitar solos are featured prominently, they do not necessarily dominate. Sweeping orchestral melodies, clean singing, and instruments such as piano, acoustic guitar, and fretless bass contribute to the music to create a melodic and diverse sound.
Lyrically, the band’s themes are heavily influenced by science fiction and fantasy. The story of “Saturnian” takes place on Saturn’s moon Titan. In this story, humanity is forced to flee from a dying Earth, and a portion of the population colonizes Titan. While life is able to flourish there, the people who survived are forced to deal with the emotions of leaving their lost home and the guilt of abandoning those who could not leave the planet.
Obsidian Skies remains a studio band for now, but that has allowed for flexibility in tracking that would have been difficult to achieve as a brand-new live band. “Rebirth in the Stars”, for instance, has multiple sections with four or more guitar tracks and several orchestral layers. Their debut EP “Saturnian” is set to release in 2022 and will deliver an elaborate story with a diverse, but undoubtedly metal, sound.
Obsidian Skies is:
Logan Dougherty – Guitars, Piano, Orchestration
Tim Watervoort – Guitars, Basses, Vocals
Discography:
2022 – Saturnian – EP
GEAR the band uses:
Ibanez 6-string guitar
Schecter Hellraiser 7-string guitar
Breedlove acoustic guitar
Kiesel Vader 6-string fretless bass
Kiesel Zeus 6-string fretted bass
Yamaha piano
Spitfire audio samples
Axe FX digital amp
Rode NT1-A condenser microphone
Cubase 8 Pro
Guitar Pro 7
Finale 2014.5
0 EPK – Aittala – Live To Regret (2022) – Exitus Stratagem Records
Aittala – Live To Regret (2022) – Exitus Stratagem Records
Publicist – Jon Asher – jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
Band: Aittala
Album Title: Live to Regret
Release Date: November 7, 2022
Label: ExSR Records
“Lyrically, the album chronicles a chaotic period of time for members of the band personally as well as the global events happening in parallel. Musically, the songs infuse elements of groove, sludge, traditional, doom and thrash metal but are cohesively woven into the unique Aittala sound.” – Aittala
For fans of Mastodon, Eyehate God, Baroness, Crowbar, Katatonia
Exsrmusic.com | Aittala.com | Facebook.com/aittalamusic | Twitter.com/aittalamusic | YouTube.com/aittalamusic | Instagram.com/aittalamusic
Aittala.bandcamp.com | Apple Music | Spotify
Album pre-order: https://hypeddit.com/aittala/livetoregret
“The band’s sound is difficult to pigeonhole because they incorporate a variety of styles. The common element in all the songs is the potent groove. On tracks like “Black Coffin” and “Afterthought” stoner/doom is at the forefront, while songs such as “Disowned” have a more traditional metal vibe. There are progressive influences on “How Much Longer,” while the closer “Debt” is a piano based ballad. Even with so many disparate styles, Aittala bring everything together into a cohesive whole.” – Heavy Music Headquarters
“I would describe them as an eclectic Doom Metal band, although their sound is a bit tough to define. That’s ultimately a good thing though, and I enjoy the refreshment of something different. My only major complaint is that on some songs, the vocals and lyrics are so drawn out that they become a little boring and you end up waiting a bit for something cool to happen. The good news is something cool usually does end up happening” – Metal-Temple
“In the metal world, bands can start to sound the same and Aittala steps outside of the box. With clear crisp vocals, grinding rhythms and well executed leads, this band is definitely in a league of their own.” – The Metal Channel
“I am not sure how to describe their overall sound. It is certainly dark, doomy at times, but added to it is a thick, sludgy, rhythmic guitar tone that takes on a life of it’s own. Adding depth is Lugo’s bass, which has an old school Metallica feel and the result is something I’ve not heard before. Almost every one of these songs has that metallic, almost industrial sounding groove line which comes through stronger in some songs more than others, but ever present none the less; it lays a foundation for these songs as dense as the darkness itself.” – Rock-N-Review
“Aittala really blends a ton of genres together on this release. The old school metal feel takes people back to their roots of when they started listening to metal in the first place. The doom and blues sounds show the power that riffs can hold and will have your head nodding along with the music. The riffs really set the tone for a dark, fun album.” – Metal Nexus
“It’s not difficult to pin down Aittala’s heavy metal sound. I’m thinking some classic heavy metal like Black Sabbath and then mid-period Metallica, all washed through down-tuned grunge (he started in 1992 after all), with maybe some a stoner or doom metal vibe dropped in. Aittala’s compositions are heavy with large thick riffage and an equally thick bottom end. After this he fills his songs with satisfying traditional, sometimes neo-classical, leads” – Dangerdog
“The mix of Heavy, Power, Stoner, and Doom Metal resulted in a very tasty aural dish” – Thoughts of Metal
“It has a raw, garage band (harkening to when that was a descriptive term, not some app on a computer) charm that certainly makes them a very unique specimen. Their “I play what I want” attitude is evident in every note of each song, which makes it very easy to embrace the energy of the album. For fans of the old school, this album will be a welcome addition to any collection.” – Fuel The Scene
[Download Album Cover | Download Album Lyrics]
Band: Aittala
Album Title: Live to Regret
Release Date: November 7, 2022
Label: ExSR Records
Track Listing:
1. Live to Regret – 2:49
2. Collateral Damage – 3:22
3. War of Attrition – 3:18
4. Saint – 3:35
5. Cannibals – 3:56
6. Betrayed – 3:26
7. Big Brother – 4:45
8. Dancing with Disaster – 3:35
9. Never Forget – 3:36
10. Well Enough Alone – 5:03
11. Juliet (2022 Version) – 5:24
Album Recording Credits:
• All songs performed by: Aittala
• All songs written by: Aittala
• Produced by: Eric Aittala and John E. Wooten IV
• Mixed by: John E. Wooten IV
• Mastered by: Dave Harris at Studio B Mastering
• Album Artwork by: Mariano Pugliese
• Member of ASCAP
Album and Live Band Line Up:
Eric Aittala – Guitar/Vocals
Ali Lugo – Bass
Gary ‘Zeus’ Smith – Drums
=======================================================
The album as a whole:
Lyrically, the album chronicles a chaotic period of time for members of the band personally as well as the global events happening in parallel.
Musically, the songs infuse elements of groove, sludge, traditional, doom and thrash metal but are cohesively woven into the unique Aittala sound.
Track by Track:
1. Live to Regret – A swing metal-inspired track about whether to keep secrets or come clean.
2. Collateral Damage – A hard rock/metal track about dealing with relationship ultimatums
3. War of Attrition – A driving metal song about toxic chaos in a relationship and the struggle to leave or stay.
4. Saint – A modern-day metal ‘ballad’ about the pleasure and pain of a toxic relationship.
5. Cannibals – A thrash-inspired track the tighten grip of governmental monitoring and control
6. Betrayed – A hard rock/metal track about trying to leave the past behind, but it always catches up to you.
7. Big Brother – A sludge metal-inspired song about the devolution/zombification of the human race due to technology
8. Dancing with Disaster – A groove metalesque track dealing with addictions causing a twisted sense of reality
9. Never Forget – A stoner metal-inspired song about dealing with a toxic person
10. Well Enough Alone – A traditional metalesque track about finally walking away from an unhealthy situation.
11. Juliet (2022 Version) – A reimagined version of a 2011 released industrialesque track featuring real drums and guitars (neither of which the original had) that tells the tale of a serial killer and his obsession, Juliet.
==========================================================
BAND STORY ANGLES / FUN FACTS:
1. From Aittala’s second album, ‘Haunt Your Flesh’, there’s a song called ‘Human Waste’ which deals with the daily struggles of life, and for years, it a staple as the second song in their set.
At one particular show at a smaller venue, Aittala is about three-quarters into the first song of the set and the band, along with the rest of the crowd based on the reaction on their faces, started to smell a familiar ‘sewer’ smell that kept getting strong. Apparently, someone decided to ‘blow up’ the venue’s bathroom for everyone’s noses to enjoy. Eric comically made light of the situation and it was a fitting segue into the next song….’ Human Waste’
2. Even though Eric is considered a songwriter by standard definition, he will tell you he’s just the conduit for that combination of words and music to enjoy on this plain of existence at this moment of time by unconsciously interpreting those signals that desire to be a song; the songs essentially write itself through Eric’s vessel.
3. While the band name is Eric’s last name, he didn’t intend it to be a band name or suggest using it. The original version of the band in the early 90s had a vocalist, Tim Mannon, and was playing songs Eric had already written. The newly formed band was searching for a name and, as all new bands do, went through hundreds of different names trying to find one that fit the sound. One day Tim said ‘Why not just use Aittala since we’re playing Eric’s songs and the name was ambiguous and doesn’t lend itself to one particular metal genre’. And it stuck.
4. Right before Aittala went to Europe in 2014, the bassist at the time, Andrew, was prescribed painkillers for an issue he was having. On the first night of the tour, Andrew had no intentions of drinking, but drinking had intentions for him. At some point, someone noticed Andrew hadn’t been seen in a while and he became the subject of a manhunt. Low and behold, someone found Andrew sitting up on the bus toilet. He was motionless with one eye open and one eye closed. For a brief second, everyone thought the worst, but, luckily he was just passed out.
5. Aittala was playing a multi-band show. While hanging out checking out the first band, they see this live wire of a lady running around being crazy.
Ali leaned over to Gary and said “I bet by the 3rd band her shirt is coming off”
No sooner had Ail said that than out came her boobs. Needless to say, they were rather floppy and, when she did put them away, she basically had to roll them up.
After they got done playing and were having dinner and drinks at the bar, she was again shirtless. She basically cornered Ali in his seat and one of her boobs was laying in his chicken Alfredo as she was trying to talk to him. They were pretty sure she had a third-degree burn on her boob from the fresh hot pasta.
L-R – AITTALA Lineup – Gary ‘Smith’ Zeus (Drums), Eric Aittala (Guitar/Vox), Ali Lugo (Bass)
Photo Credit – Formont Photography
The music of AITTALA (pronounced ‘EYE-tah-la’) crosses many metal genres; it’s hard to put it into just one category. The sound infuses elements of classic heavy metal, doom, progressive, power, thrash, and hard rock with lyrics drawing inspiration from the darker side of the human condition. The AITTALA sound has been cited for being unique which is no easy feat in the metal genre.
The first version of AITTALA was formed in 1991 while Eric Aittala was living in Holland. With fellow American Tim on vocals and Dutch bandmates Ed (drums) and Jon (bass), the band became a staple of the Dutch metal scene.
With the release of the 3-song EP ‘Selling Heaven’ in summer of 1993, AITTALA opened for such bands as THE GATHERING and SADIST. Unfortunately, as the demo started to create a buzz in the underground European metal scene, Eric had to return to the US and disbanded AITTALA.
Over the next decade or so, Eric played in numerous bands (TRIBE, MAGNETHEAD, DWELL) and lost focus on AITTALA.
Near the end of the 00’s, Eric decided it was time to refocus his efforts on the AITTALA brand. From 2009 to 2016, AITTALA released 4 full-length albums: ‘Bed of Thorns’ (2009), ‘Haunt Your Flesh’ (2011), ‘Effigy’ (2014) and ‘American Nightmare’ (2016). Each album showcasing a natural progression of song writing and lyrical content but retaining the core AITTALA sound and evolving it.
In 2019, AITTALA signed with Curtain Call Records and released the band’s fifth full-length album ‘False Pretenses’. It was ten brand new songs that not only continued the song writing evolution of heavier but catchy songs, but also sonically. AITTALA used an entirely different approach for the recording, mixing and mastering to create the best AITTALA album to date.
The current lineup of AITTALA consists of Gary ‘Zeus’ Smith (THE FIFTH, ex-MR BLACKWELL) on drums and Ali Lugo (ex-AGE OF DESPAIR) on bass.
They continue to write, record and tour to bring AITTALA to the masses with plans in 2022 to unleash their sixth studio album entitled “Live To Regret” to be released by label Exitus Strategm Records.
“We think the fans will hear the pain and pleasure that went into the creation of this album as well as hear the growth in the songwriting. I wrote this album during a chaotic time in my life. Not only was it during the height of the lockdowns of the pandemic, but I was also in a very chaotic relationship. That chaos fueled my creativity and both musically and lyrically. I was constantly walking on an uncertain tightrope and I never knew was going to break. We hope the fans feel the same pleasure, pain, chaos and passion that I was going through and infused into the songs when they listen to the album and singles.” adds Eric Aittala.
“Live in Regret” will be available on November 7, 2022.
Discography:
2022 – Live in Regret (ExSR Records)
2021 – American Nightmare (remastered) (ExSR Records)
2019 – False Pretenses (Curtain Call Records)
2016 – American Nightmare
2014 – Effigy
2011 – Haunt Your Flesh
2009 – Bed of Thorns
1993 – Selling Heaven (EP)
0 EPK – Whispers In The Maze – Stories Untold: Chapter I (2022)
EPK – Whispers In The Maze – Stories Untold: Chapter I (2022)
Publicist – Jon Asher – jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
For fans of Arch Enemy, Gojira, At The Gates, Amorphis, In Flames
“Our fans will be surprised to hear some of our familiar songs, with a new voice as this is the first time Ben and I recorded vocals for. Poisoning Imagination, as the newest song of the EP, will also show the path that the band is moving forward.” – Emine
“I think this collection of songs is a natural progression and representation of the band’s sound – everyone has their moments to ‘shine’ and be featured, and this is the first time both of our vocalists – Ben and Emine – sing on the record, which has been really cool to see and hear.” – Mike
EP Title: Stories Untold: Chapter I
Release Date: July 29, 2022
Label: Self-Release
Distribution: Distrokid
Facebook.com/WhispersInTheMaze | Instagram.com/whispersinthemaze | Twitter.com/WhispersInMaze | Tiktok.com/@whispersinthemaze | Youtube
Whispersinthemaze.bandcamp.com | Spotify | Apple Music
“I’ll be damned if “Threads Unbind” doesn’t provide an amazing taste immediately. We are treated to just four songs with their debut EP, but they are filled to the brim with everything that I’ve come to associate with a very well done piece of melo-death from the melody that actually sounds good, never disappoints when it goes to pull back before a well-timed punch, and gives us plenty of hints as to just what exactly Whispers in the Maze is capable of.” – Head Banger Reviews
“I am compelled to say that WHISPERS IN THE MAZE certainly outdone themselves here for a 1st attempt, a remarkably splendid slab of enjoyably entertaining talent that pulses with potential & enlightening fulfilment – check it out – melo-death enthusiasts are ensured to get their guaranteed head-banging fix here…a borderline foundation of finesse & fiercely frenzied domination.” – Metal Temple
“The band started off fast, hard, and shoving brutal reality right in your face. I’ve got to say the did a splendid job.” – The Music Below
“Threads Unbind is a promising display of power” – Acta Infernalis
“Threads Unbind is a surprisingly mature effort from a young band and that means melodic death metal fans should put Whispers in the Maze on the radar for their next effort.” – Metal Crypt
[Download EP Cover | Download EP Lyrics]
EP Title: Stories Untold: Chapter I
Release Date: July 29, 2022
Label: Self-Release
Distribution: Distrokid
Track Listing:
1. Poisoning Imagination – 4:37
2. Ink – 5:36
3. Chained Till The Grave – 5:02
4. Behind Your Eyes – 3:56
EP Length: 19:12
EP Recording Credits:
• All songs performed by: Whispers In The Maze
• All songs written by: Music by Whispers In The Maze / lyrics by Ben Bertrand
• Produced by: Dave Sarazin
• Mixed by: Dave Sarazin
• Mastered by: Dave Sarazin
EP and Live Band Line Up
Ben Bertrand – Lead vocals / Fretless bass
Emine Topcu – Guitars / Back vocals
Vitto Oh – Guitars
Mike Berrigan – Drums
========================================
Stories Untold is a melodic death metal record with an emphasis on melodies, elements of black and doom sprinkled here and there, and two vocalists bring a range of different vocal styles. Lyrically, Stories Untold is introspective, with our inner voices doing most of the talking.
1. Poisoning Imagination
Lyrics
This song is about a losing battle against anxiety. Whereas most songs on the topic would generally tell a story from the viewpoint of the person suffering from it, this one is told from the viewpoint of Anxiety itself, personified as a kind of imaginary enemy. The song’s title, ‘Poisoning Imagination’, reflects this idea of self-inflicted harm. I chose this viewpoint as I prefer to sing from a position of strength, rather than weakness and self-pity. The energy is totally different. – Ben
Music
I’m the Tribulation fan in the band, but I can’t help but find that this song has some Tribulation influences somehow. Musically, I find it’s a good companion song to Ink. – Ben
Musically ‘Poisoning Imagination” is probably our most energetic starting song, and I especially like that the vocals start right away. It is also a song that began at the jam space rather than a riff being brought, so it is different in that sense. Despite the lyrics being about anxiety, I find this song fun and highly energetic. – Emine
2. Ink
Lyrics
Written by our original singer Zach Dean, Ink’s lyrics are about the alienation that is organized religion. – Ben
Music
“Ink” starts with a very Middle-Eastern-sounding riff. And given my origins, sometimes I am thought to be behind that riff, but that is not the case! It was actually Zach (our first vocalist and then second guitarist, now of Messora) who wrote that riff. And we actually recorded that song as a single a few years ago. But we decided to rerecord it as the new members added new flavours to the music. We always have the mindset that “songs can change till it is recorded.” We surpassed that with Ink! – Emine
Ink was built around a “middle eastern sounding” riff brought to the jam room by Zach Dean, our original vocalist who also covered second guitar live for a while. The rest grew organically from there. The middle part of the song was later modified after Vitto joined us. You can dig out our old demo recording of Ink if you want to hear the difference. – Ben
3. Chained Till The Grave
Lyrics
Thematically a companion song to Ink and also written by original vocalist Zach Dean, Chained Till the Grave is about the prisons that are pre-formatted belief systems and coming to that realization, sometimes too late… – Ben
Music
Sometimes a riff can wait for years to find a home. “Chained Till The Grave”s intro was written many years ago, but it just couldn’t find the right home until it was played by this band. And the wait definitely paid off. It is not necessarily unique to this song, but I love how the two guitars mangle each other in this song and weave something beautiful. – Emine
Musically Chained Till The Grave has a doomy intro, a chuggy transition, that then goes into a neo-classical tapping part, before ending with a melodic outro. – Ben
4. Behind Your Eyes
Lyrics
Written by original vocalist Zach Dean, the lyrics of Behind Your Eyes are about carrying a self-destructive addiction or mental condition and the urge to succumb to it. – Ben
Music
Behind Your Eyes owes a lot to our former guitarist Amaury and his Gojira influences. You can hear that in the pick scrapes and the bent tremolo notes. An intro saturated with flanger and phaser effects and the clean vocal chorus that could belong in a rock song are other highlights of this song – Ben
“Behind Your Eyes” is the first song I ever recorded lead vocals for. And incorporating clean vocals was a very fun experience for me, and I believe it added something different to its vibe. In terms of transitions, there is a phase difference in when my guitar does a transition and joins the rest of the band. It is almost like “I am behind”—very fitting to the title – Emine
L-R – Ben Bertrand (bass/vocals), Vitto Ortori (guitars), Mike Berrigan (drums), Emine Topcu (guitars/vocals)
Photo credit: Jessy Dwyer – Beyond The Pit
A metal band without borders, Whispers In The Maze gathers its members from all around the world, bringing together as one a myriad of musical influences and creative visions. Their guitars work together to create a lush harmonic soundscape, held up by the melodic rhythm and fretless leads of the bass, all tied together by the precision and groove of the drums. This unique melodic, rhythmic, and progressive blend is the canvas on which the brutal vocals paint images of war, rebellion, hopelessness, and death. Recently recorded their debut EP, with lots of shows on the horizon, they will only continue to create, evolve and conquer, with no plans to slow down. The maze is ever-growing. Lose yourself. Follow the whispers.
Band Line Up
Ben Bertrand – Lead vocals / Fretless bass
Emine Topcu – Guitars / Back vocals
Vitto Oh – Guitars
Mike Berrigan – Drums
Discography:
2022 – Stories Untold : Chapter 1 (EP)
2019 – Threads Unbind (EP)
2017 – Ink (single demo)
1. In 2015, Emine had just moved to Ottawa from British Columbia and Ben from New Brunswick. Both had to leave musical projects behind before moving and both were looking to start anew in Ottawa. They met through a Kijiji ad and discovered a shared interest in melodic death metal, especially the Northern European variety. Along with original drummer Blaze Brdar, they started two bands: Projekt Göthenburg, to cover their favourite classic melodeath tunes, and Whispers In The Maze, to put out their own original music. Projekt Göthenburg allowed them to start playing shows in Ottawa and discover the local scene before the first Whispers In The Maze was even written. Projekt Göthenburg still exists today, although as a completely separate entity and with different musicians. – Ben
2. The first time I jammed with Ben was online, on a (now closed) platform called BandHub. Ben was very proactive and responded to my ad in Kijiji even before he moved to Gatineau. We didn’t wait to be in the same city and started jamming online (in 2015 – way before Covid and online collaborations were not this common), and we have been jamming together since! – Emine
3. I unknowingly had already heard Whispers at some point before actually meeting them – I rehearse with one of my other bands, Dead Culture Society, in the same rehearsal warehouse, so it was serendipitous that I should be answering an ad looking for a drummer for a band located about 100 feet from where I was already rehearsing. – Mike
4. I am probably the only member of the band who cannot listen to doom metal, and I am responsible for the most doomish intro we have in Chained Till The Grave. And I don’t regret it, things turned out great! – Emine
0 EPK – Split Image – Night Hag (2022)
EPK – Split Image – Night Hag (2022)
Publicist – Jon Asher – jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
For fans of Power Trip, Enforced, Dead Heat, Drain, Mindforce
Single Title: Night Hag
Release Date: August 26, 2022
Label: Self-Release
Distribution: DistroKid
Facebook.com/SplitImageCA – Instagram.com/splitimageca – YouTube – Twitter.com/splitimageca
Splitimage.bandcamp.com – Spotify
Psycho Image Tour 2022 – Spilt Image, Psycho Mantis
Aug 26 – Murrieta, CA – The Barn
Aug 27 – Canoga Park, CA- Scotland Yard
Aug 28 – Fresno, CA – Destructive Warehouse
Aug 29 – Sacramento, CA – The Colony
Aug 30 – Anderson, CA – Demented Designs
Sept 1 – Portland, OR – No Fun Bar
Sept 2 – Seattle, WA – Lucky Liquor
Sept 3 – Chehalis, WA – McFilers
Sept 6 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Bee Hive
Sept 7 – Las Vegas, NV – Recycled Propaganda
Sept 9 – Phoenix, AZ – The Blooze Bar
Sept 10 – San Jacinto, CA – La Jungla
[Download Single Cover | Download Single Lyrics]
Single Title: Night Hag
Release Date: August 26, 2022
Label: Self-Release
Distribution: DistroKid
Track Listing:
1. Night Hag – (2:47)
Single Recording Credits:
• Single performed by: Josh Escobar, Joey Sia, Jared Mooney, Nadesha Mariudottir, Christian Sia
• Single written by: Christian Sia, Joey Sia, Josh Escobar
• Produced by: Split Image
• Mixed by: Christian Sia
• Mastered by: Christian Sia
• Single Artwork by: Aslam Bokrit
Single and Live Band Line Up:
Josh Escobar – Vocals
Jared Mooney – Lead Guitar (Left)
Joey Sia – Rhythm Guitar (Right)
Nadesha Mariudottir – Bass
Christian Sia – Drums
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BAND STORY ANGLES / FUN FACTS:
1. We had a difficult time naming the band for quite a while. Joey, Josh, and I had come up with hundreds of names, but none of them were to no avail. This went on for a few months and funny enough one day when I and Joey were on the way home from work the song Split Image from the legendary band Excel played on my playlist. Joey just said, “Why don’t we just name the band Split Image?” I took off my sunglasses, looked at Joey, and replied, “Wait, what did you say?!” It was a eureka moment! Everyone agreed on the name and then Split Image became a thing then literally everyone started hilariously saying, “Split Image… it’s a thing!”It was an inside joke for quite some time. – Chris
2. The songs on Torrent of Illusion were actually written a few years ago during the time I and Joey were in a band called Devastation (aka D.V.T.). These songs were so different from the typical style/structure of the music we played in D.V.T. There was a gradual shift from Hardcore Punk to Metal throughout the years in D.V.T. that the music became so different to the point in where these songs sounded like they could be played by a completely different band. So it feels like these specific songs were meant to be played in Split Image and everything fell into place. – Chris
3. There are three J’s and three Tauruses in the band. The three J’s are Josh, Jared, and Joey. The Tauruses being Josh, Nadesha, and Chris. It seems that a lot of things always work in 3’s! – Joey
4. We all have musical roots reaching back to our parents and grandparents. – Joey
5. Split Image’s early incarnation was actually in 2013 when I used to be a guest vocalist for one song out of D.V.T.’s setlist. – Josh
L-R – Jared Mooney – Lead Guitar, Joey Sia – Rhythm Guitar, Nadesha Mariudottir – Bass, Joshua “Josh” Escobar – Vocals, Christian “Chris” Sia – Drums
Discography:
2022 – Psycho Image (Split)
2022 – Torrent of Illusion (Album) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBe2JCWhuNo
2020 – Facades (Single) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dr8EnLlljDE
2019 – Sulfur Pits (Single) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUm-5XeZx4k
Shared the stage with:
Psycho Mantis, Corpus, Braineater, Iggy & the Rough Riders, Philosopher
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