2021 Update:
When Bitter Spring Sleeps "Transmigration" is available now at PaganFlames.com and Bandcamp.
VOCALS FOR THE EARS
The following is a sample of the vocal style I've recorded on Star-Thrown. Just vocals, and a bit of space added for atmosphere. The music has been omitted - don't want to spoil the surprise. Here is just an idea of what to expect.
THE NEED TO CREATE
My
reason for writing music has always been the result of an incessant
need to create. To carefully assemble something from a raw idea then
adding layers until it conjures the mood I had imagined or wanted to
experience myself. Multi-track recording is an incredible tool for one
person to evolve their ideas into a competent and cohesive creation.
I
hate it when people ask "why don't you just use other musicians?" Sure,
there's plenty of great musicians, but those musicians have their own
ideas and maybe are better for bands.
In my opinion, bands are about compromise. Each artist has to
compromise their ideals so that they can work together to make a
cohesive whole. This almost always results in compromised ideas. It has
to, or else the band can't stay together, or can't finish the
recording, or whatever. I'm not interested in compromising my ideas,
because I don't need to. I'm not out to please as many people as
possible, but if someone finds my music satisfying, then great.
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| It's necessary to have the right wizards at your disposal. |
2021 Update:
When Bitter Spring Sleeps "Transmigration" is available now at PaganFlames.com and Bandcamp.
IN MORDOR WHERE THE SHADOWS ARE
On STAR-THROWN, I've created extra layers of guitar synth to accompany the vocal harmonies. Since I've been listening to lots of 'In Mordor Where The Shadows Are - Homage To Summoning' CD set, I was very inspired once again to attempt to emulate Summoning's brilliant use of triumphant and grandiose dramatics. So, this time around, the Summoning influence may be even more obvious.
2021 Update:
When Bitter Spring Sleeps "Transmigration" is available now at PaganFlames.com and Bandcamp.
THE SPIRIT OF CREATION
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| My recording "studio" |
I've only ever been interested in composing music. Performing has never been important to me. I've played many shows in previous bands in an era before this style of music really broke in the USA. There was nowhere decent to perform that was not in a major city - which I was never interested in. Too many people, too much traffic. I suppose the scene has improved a bit over the years, but still nothing compared to what Europe has to offer.
Plus, it seemed that no matter how much you rehearsed, or how much faith you put in your band mates, there were too many uncontrollable elements that the music never quite turned out the way I wanted it to. Hauling around huge amps up a set of icy stairs on a winter night just to play your songs for fifteen people who only wanted to hear cover songs and drink cheap beer. That's the American midwest. There's no scene.
Plus, it seemed that no matter how much you rehearsed, or how much faith you put in your band mates, there were too many uncontrollable elements that the music never quite turned out the way I wanted it to. Hauling around huge amps up a set of icy stairs on a winter night just to play your songs for fifteen people who only wanted to hear cover songs and drink cheap beer. That's the American midwest. There's no scene.
2021 Update:
When Bitter Spring Sleeps "Transmigration" is available now at PaganFlames.com and Bandcamp.
A TALE TO TELL
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| My original drawings/ paintings for previous albums |
Anyone
who's read WHEN BITTER SPRING SLEEPS lyrics, should hopefully know by
now that I like to build the songs with a story. On COVEN OF THE WOLVES,
I wrote about a vengeful half-wolf sorcerer who bred thousands of
wolves to take back the wild lands. Also, about a farmer in a distant
future, telling his sons his version of how previous men burned out the world. On SPIRIT IN FLAMES most of songs
leaned even more towards the mythical to continue the story of the
wolves let loose upon the modern world. Their mother, a wolf-spirit in
flames, transforms the modern world into a new vast forest.
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| Yes, I write it all down lyrically, and musically. |
The
concept for STAR-STROWN is much less specific, but all the tracks will
share my belief that nature does not end at the Earth's horizon. She is
merely a part of the universe and all natural matter was previously part
of dying stars. And all of this will someday be destroyed, transformed,
and reformed into new matter. When the mighty Earth is consumed by our
dying sun, everything will be thrown to the universe on a possible path
to rebirth as new lifeforms or merely inanimate matter.
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| My original drawings for SPIRIT IN FLAMES and the Self-Titled albums |
2021 Update:
When Bitter Spring Sleeps "Transmigration" is available now at PaganFlames.com and Bandcamp.
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