Published: Absolute Underground #54 October/November 2013
Ereb Altor is a three-piece swedish band that used to be called Isole until about 2004 or so. They changed their name and started recording demos. Several small EP's have been made until we get to this one. If you've listened to any of them you'll notice this newest one has a heavier, blacker feel to it. They've decided to go full-on Bathory with it...not that that's a bad thing at all.
It starts of with an epic nine minute track called "Fire meets Ice". And it shows the influence and the feeling of the album right away. The feeling of Scandanavian folklore is everpresent In it from the beginning."Nifelheim" tells the tales of daunting sea voyages and the gods who helped them suceed. The pace of all these songs is a slower, story-telling manner until "My Ravens" with it's quicker riffing and rythym. After that it's back to the telling of tales and odes to lost viking warriors. The second last song is "Post Ragnarok" and it's fast pace pace is a quicl change. It's got the blackest feel of the whole album and a great pace and drumming. The album finishes well with "Our legacy", if you're going to listen to one song to get a feel for the album I would say this is it.
If you like metal in the folky or viking feel, you'll be into this one. It has a total Bathory feel to it if you encompass all of Bathory's music. It's worth checking out because all of the EPs from this band are hard to find and I don't think they'll be leaving Europe anytime soon. If they do I'll go see them.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.erebaltor.com/
Sunday, 17 August 2014
Noctis666 Lucifer Rex review
Published: Absolute Underground #54 October/November 2013
This likely isn't going to be a very comprehensive review of the Noctis 666 festival as I missed parts of it but I'll try, I didn't get out for any of the Thursday night shows bcause of travelling from the coast. From what I heard though BOLZER and STRYKER were the standouts of that night.
I finally got my ass in gear on Friday afternoon and set out to find friends for a pre-game. Getting to the Ramada and seeing the whole lobby and sidewalk full of metalheads from pretty wicked and seemed to scare a few people. After shots were had and change was found it was off to the train. We all showed up in time to see PAGAN ALTAR who I am not really familiar with. The band played really tight through an instrumental song when I first got there. Unfortunetaly as soon as the vocals started in the next song I totally lost my taste for this band. Good music but I couldn't take the vocals. So it was off to the beer garden to wait for GORGUTS to start. For a busy place the beer lines moved pretty fast, everyone was happy and pounding tall cans of pilsner. I made sure I had a perfect view for GORGUTS because I've wanted to see them for years. I think their set was only slated for 40 minutes so they started fast and kept it up. I'm no expert at their songs but they played songs from Obscura up to Colored Sands. It was intense and Luc Lemay interacted with the crowd like the legend he is. REVENGE and their style of Canadian black metal was up next. The set was intense the band was really into it. This was the perfect set-up for BLASPHEMY. This is a band that has 30 years of urban legend behind it. We've all heard the rumours and stories about these guys. What was unfortunate was I couldn't hear the whole band. I tried a bunch of different places in the hall as did a lot of other people I saw. They looked really good and the vocals were good in the spot that I could hear them but then I was off to the afterparty. It was a blur.
Saturday started with stumbling out of bed to find a bunch of texts. Most of tthem centering around "how much can we eat and drink and not miss SACRIFICE?' We succeeded in just that, catching a shuttle and being there in time to have my balls fondled by security. SACRIFICE seemed really excited to play, I guess they hadn't played Calgary in 20 years. I've really only heard most of their early work so I was totally into this set. Next up was POSSESSED and lets just say Jeff Becerra slays harder in a wheelchair than a lot of vocalists do standing. Heads were banging across the hall as this band ripped through some classics. The only time I've really ever heard of GIRLSCHOOL is when Lemmy talks about them. I was pleasantly surprised by their brand of fun 80's guitar rock. Not one of them looks or sounds as old as they are. They were the one band that didn't fit in at a metal festival but that was a good thing. Thirty minutes of fun and not taking yourself too seriously.*SCENE MISSING* Through the sound of Jager shots and university girls I heard someone say that CARCASS was starting soon. I've never left a group of girls so fast. The current lineup is their best in a while. Jeff Walker works the crowd into a frenzy and then the rest of the band helps deliver crushing brutality. They went old, they went new and they even played songs off that album you say you don't like. We all wished for an encore but didn't get one. A large part of the crowd showed up at Vern's in time for the belligerance that is OH SHIT! It looks like their skill is starting to catch up to their egos. The bar was in fine form and a fitting end to the Noctis fest for another year. Everything wasn't perfect but I wouldn't trade it away. I had a wicked time with a lot of good people. Wristbands, cracked hands and bruises. Blood, sweat and beers. I only wish it wasn't the last year.
Michael F. Carnage
This likely isn't going to be a very comprehensive review of the Noctis 666 festival as I missed parts of it but I'll try, I didn't get out for any of the Thursday night shows bcause of travelling from the coast. From what I heard though BOLZER and STRYKER were the standouts of that night.
I finally got my ass in gear on Friday afternoon and set out to find friends for a pre-game. Getting to the Ramada and seeing the whole lobby and sidewalk full of metalheads from pretty wicked and seemed to scare a few people. After shots were had and change was found it was off to the train. We all showed up in time to see PAGAN ALTAR who I am not really familiar with. The band played really tight through an instrumental song when I first got there. Unfortunetaly as soon as the vocals started in the next song I totally lost my taste for this band. Good music but I couldn't take the vocals. So it was off to the beer garden to wait for GORGUTS to start. For a busy place the beer lines moved pretty fast, everyone was happy and pounding tall cans of pilsner. I made sure I had a perfect view for GORGUTS because I've wanted to see them for years. I think their set was only slated for 40 minutes so they started fast and kept it up. I'm no expert at their songs but they played songs from Obscura up to Colored Sands. It was intense and Luc Lemay interacted with the crowd like the legend he is. REVENGE and their style of Canadian black metal was up next. The set was intense the band was really into it. This was the perfect set-up for BLASPHEMY. This is a band that has 30 years of urban legend behind it. We've all heard the rumours and stories about these guys. What was unfortunate was I couldn't hear the whole band. I tried a bunch of different places in the hall as did a lot of other people I saw. They looked really good and the vocals were good in the spot that I could hear them but then I was off to the afterparty. It was a blur.
Saturday started with stumbling out of bed to find a bunch of texts. Most of tthem centering around "how much can we eat and drink and not miss SACRIFICE?' We succeeded in just that, catching a shuttle and being there in time to have my balls fondled by security. SACRIFICE seemed really excited to play, I guess they hadn't played Calgary in 20 years. I've really only heard most of their early work so I was totally into this set. Next up was POSSESSED and lets just say Jeff Becerra slays harder in a wheelchair than a lot of vocalists do standing. Heads were banging across the hall as this band ripped through some classics. The only time I've really ever heard of GIRLSCHOOL is when Lemmy talks about them. I was pleasantly surprised by their brand of fun 80's guitar rock. Not one of them looks or sounds as old as they are. They were the one band that didn't fit in at a metal festival but that was a good thing. Thirty minutes of fun and not taking yourself too seriously.*SCENE MISSING* Through the sound of Jager shots and university girls I heard someone say that CARCASS was starting soon. I've never left a group of girls so fast. The current lineup is their best in a while. Jeff Walker works the crowd into a frenzy and then the rest of the band helps deliver crushing brutality. They went old, they went new and they even played songs off that album you say you don't like. We all wished for an encore but didn't get one. A large part of the crowd showed up at Vern's in time for the belligerance that is OH SHIT! It looks like their skill is starting to catch up to their egos. The bar was in fine form and a fitting end to the Noctis fest for another year. Everything wasn't perfect but I wouldn't trade it away. I had a wicked time with a lot of good people. Wristbands, cracked hands and bruises. Blood, sweat and beers. I only wish it wasn't the last year.
Michael F. Carnage
Lightening Swords of Death-Baphometic Chaosium Metal Blade Records
Published: Absolute Underground #51 April/May 2013
Lightning Swords of Death from L.A. has released their first new material in about 3 or 4 years. Some people thing they are too mainstream because they have toured with Danzig and are signed to MetalBlade but I disagree. I don't think you have to be on an obscure label that only releases 666 copies to be a good black metal band. It doesn't really seem like they do anything except what they do for themselves. Either way this is their second release on MetalBlade.
The title track starts it off with a good bit of atmosphere. Keeping it mid-tempo throughout the whole song. For "Acid Gate" and "Psychic Waters" they speed it up a bit and you can really hear the Marduk influence. Autarch's chanting on "Acid Gate" could give people chills, not me of course but some people. Then there's a breif instrumental that sound a lot like the background music in an old horror film. You know the part where the chick from the 70's is wandering through a basement about to find true evil? After this I think the album really comes together. The last 4 songs are the best 4 in my opinion. "Chained to Decay" has a good grinding quality throughout the whole song, not really ever speeding up but keeping you interested.I would have to say "Epicyclarium" would be my favorite songs on here. It's the longest one too at almost 8 minutes but it has some great tempo changes and I just like the feel of it.
Overall I think this is a pretty solid album. It starts well and ends well and there wasn't a song on there that I didn't like at all. Each song has great drumming and there is solid guitar work to be heard at several points. I'm a sucker for a good riff and was happy to hear quite a few. It all had a pretty evil feeling to it which I think is the point of the genre. Of course in the end I'm not one of those black-metal guys so I might not know what I'm talking about. They do have a video that's pretty easy to find so I'm sure anyone can locate their music on the internets. They look to have a pretty DIY attitude so they'd likely appreciate the $10 if you bought a CD. In my uneducated and nearly pointless rating system I guess I'd give this one 4 goats out of 5.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.facebook.com/lightningswordsofdeath
Lightning Swords of Death from L.A. has released their first new material in about 3 or 4 years. Some people thing they are too mainstream because they have toured with Danzig and are signed to MetalBlade but I disagree. I don't think you have to be on an obscure label that only releases 666 copies to be a good black metal band. It doesn't really seem like they do anything except what they do for themselves. Either way this is their second release on MetalBlade.
The title track starts it off with a good bit of atmosphere. Keeping it mid-tempo throughout the whole song. For "Acid Gate" and "Psychic Waters" they speed it up a bit and you can really hear the Marduk influence. Autarch's chanting on "Acid Gate" could give people chills, not me of course but some people. Then there's a breif instrumental that sound a lot like the background music in an old horror film. You know the part where the chick from the 70's is wandering through a basement about to find true evil? After this I think the album really comes together. The last 4 songs are the best 4 in my opinion. "Chained to Decay" has a good grinding quality throughout the whole song, not really ever speeding up but keeping you interested.I would have to say "Epicyclarium" would be my favorite songs on here. It's the longest one too at almost 8 minutes but it has some great tempo changes and I just like the feel of it.
Overall I think this is a pretty solid album. It starts well and ends well and there wasn't a song on there that I didn't like at all. Each song has great drumming and there is solid guitar work to be heard at several points. I'm a sucker for a good riff and was happy to hear quite a few. It all had a pretty evil feeling to it which I think is the point of the genre. Of course in the end I'm not one of those black-metal guys so I might not know what I'm talking about. They do have a video that's pretty easy to find so I'm sure anyone can locate their music on the internets. They look to have a pretty DIY attitude so they'd likely appreciate the $10 if you bought a CD. In my uneducated and nearly pointless rating system I guess I'd give this one 4 goats out of 5.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.facebook.com/lightningswordsofdeath
Bastard Sapling-Dragged from our restless trance Forcefield Records
Published: Absolute Underground #51 April/May 2013
Bastard Sapling are black metal from Richmond, Virginia. Doesn't exactly seem like the place where frostbitten satan would find musicians. Makes me more think of colonial theme-parks or civil war re-enactments but hey, I don't judge. From what I can tell they have released two EPs and this is their first full length even though it only has four songs on it there's a little more than 40 minutes on here. There's also only 500 copies available so I'll only be working with a digital copy.
It all starts off with "Prophesy born from dismal terrain" it's a good start. Straight up black metal in my opinion. A pretty good first song with a solid tempo that gets your head moving. This is before the band starts to get really experimental. "Cold winds howled across the desolation" is a perfect name for how the next song sounds and how it feels. You definitely get the feeling of desolation. Lots of atmosphere and bleakness from start to end. Dare I say it's also got some tasty guitar riffing. This really has a mid-90's black metal feeling to it, kind of like early Ulver. Constant drumming keeps the pace while guitars meander in and out. The vocals are howled and growled over the soundscape. Right about the middle of "The apex of suffering" I started to get the Bathory tingles. That feeling where you think you're getting the exact ancient warrior feeling that the artist was trying to give you. Maybe that's just the brain damage talking, but that's the feeling I get with the last two songs. The album ends better than it starts. Slow, droning and atmospheric.
I've listened to this album dozens of times now and I really enjoy it. It's black metal in a way that hasn't been done a lot in the last 15 to 20 years. If you like the atmospheric sound layering of Ulver or maybe Hate Forest this is something you would be totally into. All the songs were full, and this might be a bad word for this genre of metal, and catchy. I'll continue listening to this, even if I just have it on in the background. I have no idea where to find and of their limited releases but the internet is wonderful that.
Michael F. Carnage
https://www.facebook.com/bastardsapling/info
Bastard Sapling are black metal from Richmond, Virginia. Doesn't exactly seem like the place where frostbitten satan would find musicians. Makes me more think of colonial theme-parks or civil war re-enactments but hey, I don't judge. From what I can tell they have released two EPs and this is their first full length even though it only has four songs on it there's a little more than 40 minutes on here. There's also only 500 copies available so I'll only be working with a digital copy.
It all starts off with "Prophesy born from dismal terrain" it's a good start. Straight up black metal in my opinion. A pretty good first song with a solid tempo that gets your head moving. This is before the band starts to get really experimental. "Cold winds howled across the desolation" is a perfect name for how the next song sounds and how it feels. You definitely get the feeling of desolation. Lots of atmosphere and bleakness from start to end. Dare I say it's also got some tasty guitar riffing. This really has a mid-90's black metal feeling to it, kind of like early Ulver. Constant drumming keeps the pace while guitars meander in and out. The vocals are howled and growled over the soundscape. Right about the middle of "The apex of suffering" I started to get the Bathory tingles. That feeling where you think you're getting the exact ancient warrior feeling that the artist was trying to give you. Maybe that's just the brain damage talking, but that's the feeling I get with the last two songs. The album ends better than it starts. Slow, droning and atmospheric.
I've listened to this album dozens of times now and I really enjoy it. It's black metal in a way that hasn't been done a lot in the last 15 to 20 years. If you like the atmospheric sound layering of Ulver or maybe Hate Forest this is something you would be totally into. All the songs were full, and this might be a bad word for this genre of metal, and catchy. I'll continue listening to this, even if I just have it on in the background. I have no idea where to find and of their limited releases but the internet is wonderful that.
Michael F. Carnage
https://www.facebook.com/bastardsapling/info
Interview with Paul Shields of Chosen
I want to start this interview by saying thank you. I haven't had the opportunity to interview a band from Ireland so I know next to nothing about the Irish metal scene.
If you’re interested in the Irish metal scene there are two great websites you can check out:
www.metalireland.com and http://irish-metal.blogspot.ie/
AU You moved to Vancouver for a year and then back to Ireland. Was that just to record this album or was there more to it?
DM: We came back to Ireland for two main reasons: to record our debut album but also because we knew our stay in Canada was limited to just 12 months based on the type of visas we had. So, from the outset we knew we had a year to make the most of our stay.
AU Have you ever thought about adding another member to the band or do you think it would take away from what you have built sound-wise?
PS: Given all the various line-up changes we experienced and the set-backs they sometimes cause, to take on another member yet again could see history repeating itself. Perhaps, this band was just meant for the two of us, as we work extremely well together and are on the same page, musically, as well as in personality, outlook and aspirations. So, yes, I think to take on any other members would invite potential problems down the line.
AU I noticed there were a lot of quiet intros to songs, what were some of the instruments used on this album that were out of the ordinary?
DM: We utilised a number of different instruments to try and enrich the overall soundscape. While they’re not too out of the ordinary, we recorded a fiddle, as well as some synths and other sound samples.
AU Would you ever move to Canada again or are you going to try your chances in Europe?
PS: We’re quite happy here in Ireland to be honest. While we thoroughly enjoyed our time living in Vancouver, there is no reason for us to move back there or to move to any other part of the world for that matter. One of the main reasons we relocated to Canada was because we couldn’t find a stable line-up in our own country. But now that we have that matter permanently taken care of, it makes little sense to uproot our lives once again just to live in another city, especially when you consider the fact that music can be accessed from virtually anywhere in the world. With the internet being 24/7, the promotion of music is no longer subject to location like it once was.
AU What's something special you can tell us about your hometown?
DM: I come from a town called Drogheda (pronounced, draw-heada) which is over 800 years old and is situated in an area full of archaeological buildings. Quite a number of historic events have taken place here throughout the centuries. There is also the preserved severed head of Saint Oliver Plunkett which has been on public display in one of the town’s churches for almost 100 years. It’s creepy looking.
AU This is an album you're releasing yourself, is that something you want to continue even if it does really well?
PS: Self-releasing is something we have pretty much done since the outset and while lots of bands still aspire to sign to a record label, even in the age of the internet, it’s not something we are pursuing. The reasons are to do with wanting to have full control over our music, image, touring commitments, etc., but also because of 360 deals becoming the norm. It’s hard to see what a label could hope to offer a niche band such as ourselves in exchange for a massive chunk of the profits. I get why people equate success to being signed but all it really amounts to is a bank loan with lots of terms and conditions, all of which rests on the probability of becoming commercially successful.
AU What are your plans for the rest of your day?
DM: Right after this, I will be getting back to studying for my upcoming Irish Law exam, which is part of a Social Care course I’m currently doing.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.chosen.ie/
Chosen-Resolution
Published: Absolute Underground #51 April/May 2013
Chosen is a band from Ireland that has released a bunch of EPs over the last 8 years but now finally has a full-length out. They're only a two-piece but any metal fan knows that that sort of line-up can totally work out. The thing I usually like about a two-piece band is that it usually has a great groove to it. It forces the guitar and drums/percussion to work together in a way it doesn't usually in a full band.
The whole thing starts with a decent intro as usual, it lasts about a minute before the metal begins. The second song has a shorter intro followed by some clean vocals and then growling and solid riffing. The formula plays through the 3rd song with a first minure and a half of classical guitar. Maybe it's just me but I can see a lot of Meshuggah influence in this. They seem to be trying to pack as much as they can into every song here. There's a lot of the time changes in the songs. I'm not using this as a detriment at all. "Asch's Paradigm" is full of changes and harsh then clean vocals, fast then slow rythym. It's a pretty cool song actually.
Throughout the album they have a mix of clean vocals and growling and a mix of tempos. It seems most songs mix it up and will have a blend of styles. Instead of having a fast song with harsh vocals and other slower ones with cleaner vocals they seem to make sure every song does this. It's not like it's a bad thing as each song is pretty good and these two guys have a lot of talent. I could see how people would not like this approach too much, To some people these sogs might seem a little too busy but in the end it's an album I'll listen to again. I think my best advice with this one is that you'll have to listen to it more than a few times. I haven't decided yet whether or not it's a regular release or one of those hidden gems that will just grow on you over the first week you listen to it. I guess I'm going to have to figure that out.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.chosen.ie/
Chosen is a band from Ireland that has released a bunch of EPs over the last 8 years but now finally has a full-length out. They're only a two-piece but any metal fan knows that that sort of line-up can totally work out. The thing I usually like about a two-piece band is that it usually has a great groove to it. It forces the guitar and drums/percussion to work together in a way it doesn't usually in a full band.
The whole thing starts with a decent intro as usual, it lasts about a minute before the metal begins. The second song has a shorter intro followed by some clean vocals and then growling and solid riffing. The formula plays through the 3rd song with a first minure and a half of classical guitar. Maybe it's just me but I can see a lot of Meshuggah influence in this. They seem to be trying to pack as much as they can into every song here. There's a lot of the time changes in the songs. I'm not using this as a detriment at all. "Asch's Paradigm" is full of changes and harsh then clean vocals, fast then slow rythym. It's a pretty cool song actually.
Throughout the album they have a mix of clean vocals and growling and a mix of tempos. It seems most songs mix it up and will have a blend of styles. Instead of having a fast song with harsh vocals and other slower ones with cleaner vocals they seem to make sure every song does this. It's not like it's a bad thing as each song is pretty good and these two guys have a lot of talent. I could see how people would not like this approach too much, To some people these sogs might seem a little too busy but in the end it's an album I'll listen to again. I think my best advice with this one is that you'll have to listen to it more than a few times. I haven't decided yet whether or not it's a regular release or one of those hidden gems that will just grow on you over the first week you listen to it. I guess I'm going to have to figure that out.
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.chosen.ie/
Xul Interview
Published: Absolute Underground #51 April/May 2013
Interviewee: Levi Meyers (Vocals)
AU: As far as I can find XUL is the name of a programming language or maybe a mayan word, I'm clearly missing something. What's behind the name?
LM: Well to be honest, the first time we ever came across the name was in the Behemoth song “XUL”. We mulled around a couple other names, but after researching that XUL in Sumerian, meant “evil”, we thought it fit the type of music we were writing. We get the Ghostbusters thing: “There is no Dana, only Xul!” a lot. People used to chant it at our super early shows, but it kind of died out.
AU: How many years of jamming did it take before you started to record anything?
LM: We recorded an EP in 2010. We recorded it in Wallace's basement, so the quality wasn't great, but it got our music out there. It took us around a year to write some new songs and record Malignance. I'm not even sure where our EP went, it's probably out there somewhere.
AU: Have you guys ever felt the need to move to Vancouver or a larger city to get more notice or are you happy with what you are accomplishing in Vernon?
LM: We've been discussing a move to Vancouver next year, but a lot can change in a year. We'll have to see how things go. We are happy with what we have accomplished while living in Vernon, but I think a bigger city could help us play more shows to larger/ newer crowds. It is nice to be the out of town band in some situations, but it'll have to happen eventually. Regardless, our plan is to tour as much as possible.
AU: Your influences are clear, what have you guys done in order to stand alone apart from other bands that are already established?
LM: We're all pretty critical of each other. If something sounds blatantly similar to another band, we'll change it. There is a line between an influence, and a template, and I think we've done a good job of not falling into another band's template. Sometimes it can be frustrating when you write something you think is unique, but then when you present it to the group, someone says “ That's a -bandname- riff!” Then follows a moment of cussing said band because you've been listening to them for the past month and somehow it seeped into your subconscious!
AU: You haven't played too many shows yet, is there a show or a venue that has been a clear favorite so far?
LM: I really like the Pawnshop in Edmonton. It has a pretty awesome stage and a lot of crowd space. The sound was sick and there was a decent turn out. There was actually like an even ratio there. I should also mention Armstrong Metal Fest. We are playing there this year for the fifth time. July 19th and 20th. Two days of camping, beer and metal... is there anything better? If you haven't been there, it's something you have to experience for yourself.
AU: I'll assume that maybe opening up for Absu in April could takeover as your favorite show, how much excitement do you all have for that show?
LM: It's pretty fuckin' amazing. We can't believe we are actually going to be sharing the stage with a band as legendary as ABSU!! I'm gonna try not to make a fool of myself around them. It's hard to not fan boy it up around such wicked bands, but I find the ultimate advice is this: when they aren't Absu, they're just regular dudes...you know?
AU: What's your food and liquor of choice when you're on the road?
LM: Pilsner and Wendy's! Marlow makes some homemade apple juice and cranberry juice that we never hit the road without. One shot of that cranberry juice can cure a hangover. Oh, and beef jerky.
AU: Do you guys want to get some beers before the Absu show?
LM: Always. You buyin? (kidding)
AU: Wicked, titties and pilsner
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.xulmetal.bandcamp.com/
Interviewee: Levi Meyers (Vocals)
AU: As far as I can find XUL is the name of a programming language or maybe a mayan word, I'm clearly missing something. What's behind the name?
LM: Well to be honest, the first time we ever came across the name was in the Behemoth song “XUL”. We mulled around a couple other names, but after researching that XUL in Sumerian, meant “evil”, we thought it fit the type of music we were writing. We get the Ghostbusters thing: “There is no Dana, only Xul!” a lot. People used to chant it at our super early shows, but it kind of died out.
AU: How many years of jamming did it take before you started to record anything?
LM: We recorded an EP in 2010. We recorded it in Wallace's basement, so the quality wasn't great, but it got our music out there. It took us around a year to write some new songs and record Malignance. I'm not even sure where our EP went, it's probably out there somewhere.
AU: Have you guys ever felt the need to move to Vancouver or a larger city to get more notice or are you happy with what you are accomplishing in Vernon?
LM: We've been discussing a move to Vancouver next year, but a lot can change in a year. We'll have to see how things go. We are happy with what we have accomplished while living in Vernon, but I think a bigger city could help us play more shows to larger/ newer crowds. It is nice to be the out of town band in some situations, but it'll have to happen eventually. Regardless, our plan is to tour as much as possible.
AU: Your influences are clear, what have you guys done in order to stand alone apart from other bands that are already established?
LM: We're all pretty critical of each other. If something sounds blatantly similar to another band, we'll change it. There is a line between an influence, and a template, and I think we've done a good job of not falling into another band's template. Sometimes it can be frustrating when you write something you think is unique, but then when you present it to the group, someone says “ That's a -bandname- riff!” Then follows a moment of cussing said band because you've been listening to them for the past month and somehow it seeped into your subconscious!
AU: You haven't played too many shows yet, is there a show or a venue that has been a clear favorite so far?
LM: I really like the Pawnshop in Edmonton. It has a pretty awesome stage and a lot of crowd space. The sound was sick and there was a decent turn out. There was actually like an even ratio there. I should also mention Armstrong Metal Fest. We are playing there this year for the fifth time. July 19th and 20th. Two days of camping, beer and metal... is there anything better? If you haven't been there, it's something you have to experience for yourself.
AU: I'll assume that maybe opening up for Absu in April could takeover as your favorite show, how much excitement do you all have for that show?
LM: It's pretty fuckin' amazing. We can't believe we are actually going to be sharing the stage with a band as legendary as ABSU!! I'm gonna try not to make a fool of myself around them. It's hard to not fan boy it up around such wicked bands, but I find the ultimate advice is this: when they aren't Absu, they're just regular dudes...you know?
AU: What's your food and liquor of choice when you're on the road?
LM: Pilsner and Wendy's! Marlow makes some homemade apple juice and cranberry juice that we never hit the road without. One shot of that cranberry juice can cure a hangover. Oh, and beef jerky.
AU: Do you guys want to get some beers before the Absu show?
LM: Always. You buyin? (kidding)
AU: Wicked, titties and pilsner
Michael F. Carnage
http://www.xulmetal.bandcamp.com/
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