Arts & Entertainment Connexions

TheLiveLine.com – where fans and artists go to shoot the sh** (used with permission from Alternative Revolt Magazine)

One of the hardest working guys I know not only promotes several record companies and a number of artists but he also works for a very cool business, TheLiveLine.com. This company allows fans to call a number and listen to a recorded message left by an actual famous artist of their choice to see what the latest thing going on in their lives is. Not only that, but a fan can also receive a text by the artist of what they’re into or what they’re about to get into. To make it sweeter, sometimes the artist will answer the phone and talk to you if they’re super cool and not super busy. Want to know who some of these artists are? Scott Ian (Anthrax), Dez Fafara (DevilDriver), Burton C Bell (Fear Factory), Maria Brink (In This Moment), and many more.

Not only do they have an amazingly simple and effective idea for promoting businesses, their idea behind fan-to-artist mobile phone interaction is cool and unique which will probably be as important as society has made Twitter. Their press release sounds mighty inviting: “The website allows our talent to create AudioBlogs, and anyone can call them at a number we assign them for FREE. This itself is cool to be able to hear their actual voice, and interact with fans. Fans can even leave voice messages for the Artists, and you never know, the artist may just answer the phone and start talking to you! Every time an artist updates their AudioBlog, a text alert goes out.

Try it for yourself, and give Maria Brink a call for FREE: (877) 306-2742. Who is Maria Brink? The delicious singer of “In This Moment” who also was featured in Playboy.

TheLiveLine.com has an updated version which will go live very soon and you don’t want to miss out on this huge ordeal. You can see a glimpse now at http://www.theliveline.com

What interested me equally was a section they have called “Purgatory.” This is a cool concept where unknown artists get a chance to score a spot with the big boys on the site. Basically, an unknown artist tries to gain 1,000 fans. Until they do they stay in “purgatory” but once they get that number of fans they achieve a spot with the already-knowns. So, to get a bit more understanding here is an interview with someone who knows all about TheLiveLine.com, Scott Holmen.

THE INTERVIEW

Daniel/AR: The idea behind theliveline.com is very cool. It’s been tested for a couple years if my information is correct. What prompted the idea and how did it get moving so fast and successfully?

Scott/TheLiveLine: We were aware that the technology was available but mostly being applied to retail marketing. We approached our parent company with the idea of using their existing technology and applying it to the entertainment industry.

Daniel/AR: Tell me a typical scenario how a fan could benefit from joining.

Scott/TheLiveLine: In addition to getting updates from Artists IN THE ARTISTS’ OWN VOICE, fans on TheLiveLine have access to exclusive contests, promotions, alerts and access to our “Talent Family”.

Daniel/AR: What is the cost to join?

Scott/TheLiveLine: It is absolutely FREE to be a fan or an artist on TheLiveLine.

Daniel/AR: Tell me a typical scenario of how a business could benefit from this. Let’s say the name of the business was Envy Anna Jones or Eggshell White Castle.

Scott/TheLiveLine: The businesses that are coming alongside TheLiveLine see the value of several components that we produce. A business is able to access fans, via their mobile device, which is the most immediate and relevant way to reach their targeted demographic today. We are able to serve highly targeted text, voice and web communications on behalf of these businesses.

Daniel/AR: How would you compare this to Twitter which is what I thought of initially?

Scott/TheLiveLine: We are different than twitter in that we have incorporated an Audio component in TheLiveLine. On twitter, you can’t be too sure who is tweeting on behalf of an artist. Frequently, an administrator is generating the tweets. With TheLiveLine, you are HEARING your favorite artists voice SECONDS after they record their AudioBlog and are provided with a way to engage in 2-way communication with them.

Daniel/AR: When theliveline.com is complete what are all the great things one can expect from visiting it and being a member?

Scott/TheLiveLine: As we continue to build out TheLiveLine we expect to facilitate event based mobile experiences where we are at shows allowing fans to engage with the artists via picture 2 screen text to screen, voting, and providing mobile deals on merch, concessions, etc.
We will be able to provide fans and brands with highly relevant information that they will want based on some of the information that they request. For example, a metal fan will request and get information around metal music, metal merch, metal events, etc.

Daniel/AR: Your “purgatory” is a very cool idea. To what extent will theliveline.com go to make sure these artists get known?

Scott/TheLiveLine: We are huge proponents of the “up & comers”. We have already used our resources to book shows for some of these smaller bands. We truly believe that as Artists see a company in this “Dog Eat Dog” world that you so accurately describe come along side of them and help them with publicity, brand building, management, and bringing them into our network within the entertainment business they will reciprocate by providing TheLiveLine with new content, traffic and otherwise reciprocating. Scratching each others backs if you will.

Daniel/AR: Anything else you’d like to have everyone know?

Scott/TheLiveLine: We would love fan feedback on our TheLiveLine. We would love to know other bands that you would like to connect with through TheLiveLine. This site is meant to cater to the fans so I would hope that they would be generous in letting us know what they want. We will do everything we can to make this site the ultimate site for engaging with artists and gathering information about entertainment.

Daniel/AR: Even though this isn’t an artist interview I’ll throw you a famous question curve ball just the same. If theliveline.com dominated all businesses and could change the way people paid for services what would the change be, would Bill Gates care at all and would it affect the afterlife in any way?

Wow. That is a big question!

1. Ultimately , payment for services would be made by brands that see the tremendous return on getting targeted, relevant information in front of fans on TheLiveLine. This way, fans are only present with information/advertising that they would want to see and advertisers see a high rate of return on their advertising dollars because of this.

2. I hope that Bill Gates would care. If TheLiveLine is “dominating all businesses” we would likely come up on his radar in a meaningful way.

3. As to the afterlife, one can only hope that energy put forth in this life affects the afterlife but I am hardly in a position to speak to these mysteries with any definitive conviction. For now I’ll just trust that if we “do good then good will follow us”.

Daniel/AR: Thank you very much for talking a bit about this amazing concept. Being one for the major and not-so-major artists together in one place is worth telling people about. I wish you all the best.

Daniel C. Morrison aka: The Hit Man

UNDERCOVER SLUT – but just one cover (used with permission from Alternative Revolt Magazine)

OK, so we are featuring a band called Undercover Slut with a sophomore CD released by Offensive records. I instantly wanted to say f*** yeah! So I f***in’ checked them out. When I researched them a bit I was like, what the f***? This group f***ing knows rock and has the worldwide chops to prove it. Plus, they have the word “Slut” in their name so instantly it would cater to the perverts out in the world. I don’t know how I missed them before because they belong in the same category as Marilyn Manson, Slipknot and possibly Rob Zombie, all good music in moderate doses or even larger doses if you want that fix that said bands can offer.

To start things the f*** off with I’m going to use their unique bio which sums them up nicely.
“Welcome to the White Whore era!

UNDERCOVER SLUT (A.K.A. UCS) was conceived shortly before Y2K by Europe’s most hated/agent provocateur extraordinaire/controversial lead vocalist/lyricist: ‘O’, later joined by Divine (guitars), Drag (guitars), Dav (bass) & Fake (drums) in Paris, FR. Unpure, unsafe & untamed being the best way to describe UNDERCOVER SLUT politically incorrect lyrical content & white noise assault on international masses… Decadence & integrity. Hybrid but uncompromised. Superficial while being subliminal. A real violent cross between 21st Century technology, ‘77 punk rock nostalgia, creepy & spooky industrial sounds and a dirty f***in’ glamorous image. A vitriolic vision on today’s corrupted society! Terrified but terrorizing topics, all about real sick reality, sometimes astral projection, rape &/or romance, fornication then destruction, materialism via spirituality, way more paranoia & less blindness, etcetera…”

Basically, unbiased fun looks like. Their CD “Amerikkka Macht Frei” has these awesome credentials: “recorded at the Chop Shop and produced by master Chris Baseford (Rob Zombie, Tommy Lee/Motley Crue, John 5/Marilyn Manson, Genitorturers), assisted by Will Thompson (Rob Zombie) + uncensored “Shadow Song” video filmed by Dean Karr (Amen “The Price Of Reality”, Marilyn Manson “Sweet Dreams”). “Amerikkka Macht Frei” record sleeve photography taken by Dean Karr (Amen “Amen” & “We Have Come For Your Parents”, Marilyn Manson “Antichrist Superstar”, Slipknot “Slipknot”).”

In fact, if I keep going on and on about their success as India artists I’ll wind up quoting the whole myspace page of theirs so instead of that I’ll just put the link there now: MySpace.com/Undercover Slut. There you will read about the many different countries they’ve been to, dozens of famous magazines they’ve been in, the millions of fans they have and so on. I’ll let Myspace do just that and I’ll jump into bed right away with this awesome interview with Undercover Slut.

THE INTERVIEW

Daniel/AR: Let’s go ahead and get this one out of the way although I’m still curious, why name the band UNDERCOVER SLUT ?

‘O’ : UNDERCOVER SLUT is probably the most appropriate name for a band like this.

Daniel/AR: What other things would you do under cover?

‘O’ : As a kid, let’s say hiding razor blades in burgers, morphine in milk shake, enough for an instant OD. That kinda treat for bullies.

Daniel/AR: What about over the covers?

‘O’ : Anything you could think of…

Daniel/AR: How did the band form?

‘O’ : I formed it back in October ‘95 over here in Paris.

Daniel/AR: How did you pull off getting Chris Baseford to produce you?

‘O’ : Some kinda rags to riches story I guess. We started pre-production with that Brides Of Destruction producer, who happened to be a junkie. Everything went wrong til we entered the Chop Shop in LA to record drums. We finally ended up recording the entire album there with Chris Baseford (Rob Zombie, Tommy Lee…), who did a real fine job. “AMERIKKKA MACHT FREI” is definitely the bomb!

Daniel/AR: A question a lot of people always want to know: Who are your influences not just musically but also as inspirations or role models?

‘O’ : Personally I admire characters considered “extreme” such as Louis Ferdinand Celine, Charles Darwin, GG Allin, Wendy O Williams… and alot more.

Daniel/AR: It seems like there’s a lot of angst in your lyrics. Combine that with the way you portray yourselves and it seems like you would have a major influence with your outlook on things. What goes on in your mind when the lyrics come through?

‘O’ : I was born angry, that’s in my blood. Hang out with me and you’ll see me as a real nice person, educated, polite and pleasant to discuss with. But if you take the time to know me better, you’ll discover there’s alot of anger inside of me. Political issues, social issues, ethical issues. That world we’re living in is fucked-up and rotten to the core. Most important people who could change things for the better simply don’t give a fuck. That pisses me off real bad. I cannot write love songs I’m afraid.

Daniel/AR: Let’s try out some lyrics now with the Roses Are Red thing. I’ll go first.
Roses are Red, Violets are blue, I want to bang Latinas too

‘O’ : Bruises get red, rockets look blue, Obama ain’t got no clue!

Daniel/AR: Talk a bit about your overwhelming number of fans worldwide. For an Indie artists, that’s pretty impressive, in my opinion. I guess this would be cool to talk about when you first formed.

‘O’ : Back in those daze, there was no internet, just flyers, fanzines and word of mouth. I gave away self-produced demos to people whenever I was. When signed bands couldn’t draw enough kids at their shows, we were selling-out shows over here because of that manic street shameless propaganda. Nice souvenirs!

Daniel/AR: What image do you want to portray especially with the face paint?

‘O’ : That make-up is some kinda gang thing, like putting on a mask before entering a bank and robbing it…

Read the rest of this review plus see pictures and more at AltRevolt.com

Daniel C. Morrison aka: The Hit Man

TEAM CYBERGEIST – Not just some Dope (used with permission from Alternative Revolt Magazine)

Remember Santana? Remember how he collaborated with famous artists to sing his songs? Well, Team Cybergeist is a collaborated album/tour that does kind of the same thing but with hard rock and heavy metal members. And it works very well.

Dope’s drummer, Angel Bartolotta, decided to get this puppy together to give the hard rocking fans a real treat. Using an arsenal of greats from bands such as Stone Sour, Dark New Day, Sepultara, Saliva, Fuel, Kittie, Soulfly, KMFDM and many more this massive project received mass praise. Check out what some of these well known rockers have said about Team Cybergeist…

“Team Cybergeist is a killer project! The best musicians in the world of loud music on one record. I am stoked to be a part of it with many of my friends!” – Curse Mackey (Pigface)

“One of the best rewards for an artist, is to be able to collaborate with other artists that they admire. I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute to such a killer project.” – Virus (Dope)

“Working with Angel was really cool. Collaborating solely over the Internet was something I hadn’t done with anyone up to that point.” – Jason C Miller (Godhead)

“Working with Angel makes my head bleed – in a good way” – Robin Moulder (TCR, former-Jack Off Jill)

“Working on Team Cybergeist with Angel was great! It was so much fun to have someone say “do whatever you want.” Angel hands over full control to each person and I think that’s when every artist does their best work. Team Cybergeist is the ultimate Metal Unity!!!” – Tara McLeod (Kittie)

“I really support your project… I hope you like the result.” – Raymond Watts (PIG, former-KMFDM)

“I really like it and think it’ll turn out well… I’m pretty excited.” – Morgan Lander (Kittie)

How freaking cool is that? Well, to answer such a question Team Cybergeist released an 18 track CD called “How To Destroy Something Beautiful” in Japan back in November of 2009. It was #1 at the Tower Records listening stations its first week. That means it beat out Flyleaf, Slayer and Rammstein. USA gets a taste of a 25 track sensation with a 25 track, double-disc anytime now, with all songs being different from the Japan album.

To add more wow, Team Cybergeist was voted to play at 98 Rockfest in Tampa, Florida in April of this year. Team Cybergeist itself got 56% of the votes to enjoy an awesome show playing alongside Alice In Chains, Limp Bizkit, Puddle Of Mudd, Sevendust, Hellyeah, Evans Blue, Soil, Smile Empty Soul, and many others. Wanna see some highlights of Team Cybergeist’s set on the official Team Cybergeist YouTube channel? Go to www.youtube.com/user/teamcybergeist. Wanna see some fluffy kittens sliding down a slide? I’m sure it’s on YouTube somewhere too.

I was so excited when bass player, Sally Debauchery, asked me to check them out. I was blown away enough to contact Angel for an entertaining interview. In fact, you are about to read it. In another fact my computer monitor is only a 19 inch.

THE INTERVIEW

Daniel/AR: Wow. Angel Bartolotta. I remember my first live Dope experience, meaning the band performance. LRS Fest in Louisville KY many years ago. In fact, that was the first time I was ever hit in the head with a 20 ounce RC bottle. “Rage” was the name of it. I’m glad it was plastic. In fact, Rage is a good way to describe the adrenaline that pumped out of the band Dope. So my first question is: What happened to transition from being the drummer for Dope to the drummer of Team Cybergeist?

Angel: I’m still the drummer for Dope. And I’m not just Team Cybergeist’s drummer, I’m the founder. It’s my project.

Daniel/AR: Is Dope still together and, if so, are you still part of Dope?

Angel: Yes and yes.

Daniel/AR: Tell us a little about what life was like for you before Dope, during Dope and now.

Angel: I started playing drums when I was 12. Started my first band at 13. When I graduated high school, I joined the band Genitorturers. This was a huge opportunity for me because Genitorturers was one of my favorite bands. I did my first full USA tour when I was 19 years old. Since then, I’ve been a hired-gun drummer. When one band wasn’t working, I’d be out on the road with someone else. I’ve played drums for PIG (members of KMFDM), Crossbreed, Switched, The Undead (members of Misfits), Rikets, and many others. In October of 2006, I joined Dope. With these bands, I’ve toured Europe, Canada, New Zealand, been to Australia twice, and toured the United States more times than I can remember. Playing with Dope has been an amazing experience. Once again, I’m playing drums for one of my favorite bands. Touring with them is great, but the real high for me was when I got to track drums on the new album “No Regrets”. Right now, I’m still the drummer for Dope, I’m working on my Team Cybergeist project, and I still play with other bands here and there. I like to stay busy with music, both in the studio and out on the road.

Daniel/AR: I’m a fan of dreams coming true. I’m still waiting for Salma Hayek to appear in my room. How did you manage to get a dream cast of artists to collaborate with you?

Angel: I’ve spent most of my life on the road. I’ve met a lot of people and made a lot of friends. Team Cybergeist is basically just me bringing the music scene closer together. There’s no competitiveness or egos. We’re all writing and performing for the love of music. I found a team of artists who shared my feeling about this. Team Cybergeist should have been called “Angel And Friends”.

Daniel/AR: What is the meaning or inspiration behind the name Team Cybergeist? I’m guessing that it doesn’t have much to do with Germany.

Angel: The project started out as a solo thing. I was doing all of the music myself. I called it Cybergeist. When I started bringing in different musicians to collaborate with, it became more than just me. It became something bigger. So I decided to add the word “team” to the name. It makes sense. Most of the songs were written and composed using the internet. Cyberspace. Since the artists weren’t physically in a studio together, the word “ghost” or “geist” kind of fits into the picture. So there you go! Team Cybergeist!

Daniel/AR: October 13, 2007 a Limited Edition of “Radiation Romance” was released. Only 200 copies, is that right?

Angel: Yes, only 200 copies. It was my first release. A single with some remixes and bonus tracks.

Daniel/AR: Would that be the official year that Team Cybergeist came together?

Angel: I started the studio project in 2006. The live element came to be in 2009.

Daniel/AR: Will you send me an autographed copy of Radiation Romance?

Angel: If I had any left, yes. But again, they’re all gone. Only 200 copies, remember?

Daniel/AR: Did you see what I did there? Kind of rude wasn’t it?

Angel: It was worth a shot.

Daniel/AR: Can we still be friends?…

Read the rest of this review plus see pictures and more at AltRevolt.com

Daniel C. Morrison aka: The Hit Man

WRATH OF KILLENSTEIN – breath of metal (used with permission from Alternative Revolt Magazine)

I need to tell you about a metal band that has such promise that it was featured in the video game “Brutal Legend.” Yes, the Jack Black voiced game with class, style, action humor and balls. Not literally balls but I’m talking power. This game featured an enormous selection of metal and WRATH OF KILLENSTEIN was in the lineup with a song titled “Ignisis Dance.”

This monster mashing band features a lineup of hard-at-it metal slayers that includes:
Killenstein – Rhythm Guitar, Vocals; Randy Cavenaugh- Bass; Jomar C.- lead guitar; and John “Servo” DeSalvo- Drums. With a stage show that involves a horror/gothic look it helps to get into their music for a more personal experience. If you think they look like goons or goofs, think again. WRATH OF KILLENSTEIN’s music is “dead serious.”

Strangely, yet appropriately in a sense, WRATH OF KILLENSTEIN ‘s early success since storming New York’s metal scene in 2004 came from performing for underground Fetish Clubs and S&M Parties and I don’t mean Santa & Mickey. This created a unique fan base that later allowed for them to play at huge shindigs such as Milwaukee Metalfest and GothStock in Hartford, Connecticut .

Like any metal head you’ll be right at home with punchy riffs, neck twisting hooks and “sinister orchestrations” from a style they refer to as Goth and Prog, Their self titled independent release received critical acclaim and for more success notches on their metal belts they appeared in magazines and heard on radio stations around the world. Even this one. 

ROMULUS X RECORDS is responsible for their latest projects and even though they are hard at work completing their new CD release and a video for the new upcoming track “UGLY” we were kind enough to be gifted with an interview. So, I’ll put away my headphones, move my drink to the other side so I don’t spill it, look at my socks for no particular reason and then get to it!

THE INTERVIEW

Daniel/AR: I know you rock but let me first ask how you felt to be part of such an amazing video game. However, in order to ask appropriately I have to form a question. So, How did it feel to be
part of a huge video game?

K: It was really awesome. The thing that really meant a lot to me was that so many of the bands
in the game I had idolized for years…Sabbath , Priest, King Diamond,
Kiss, Slayer, the list goes on and on. Listening to these albums over
and over again, learning the lyrics, studying the liner notes, just
getting lost in the music and living and breathing metal…and years
later a master list encompassing all facets of metal is compiled ,
billed as the “greatest metal soundtrack ever!” and MY fucking song is
included alongside the some of the greatest metal bands ..it’s an incredible
honor.
When Vivendi games first contacted me about using the song they were
throwing around some of the names they were going to include, Marilyn
Manson, Motorhead, etc I thought ok, they’re going to have a few great
bands then fill in the rest of the soundtrack with a bunch of
unsigned ,shit bands they don’t have to really pay like they do with those
tribute compilation albums. But that was not the case!…pretty much
every band on the Brutal Legend soundtrack is huge.
We are pretty much the only band on there that wasn’t extremely well
known by comparison.
I learned each song was hand picked and put in there with purpose. So it was
a real honor and the game has gotten us more attention than ever.

Daniel/AR: Did you get to meet Jack Black?

K: No, but I’d like to, I think he’s cool.

Daniel/AR: Tenacious D, you better get ready. Alternative Revolt
will be knocking on your door soon, wherever that may be. Speaking of
doors, if you could bust through a door, dive through a window or
follow behind the Kool-Aid man into a wall which would you choose?

K: Ha.. I’ve actually done a couple of those things.
I once punched through a glass window and have a huge
Frankensteinian scar down the front of my wrist ..when I move each
finger on my hand you can see the reattached nerves and tendons moving
under my skin like big deformed elevator cables
.

Daniel/AR: Nothing like presentation! Speaking of, your shows are a
visual presentation that people get into. Did you plan on doing that
right away or did it come about from some other means?

K: To me it’s the only way to be.
It would feel strange and unnatural to do it any other way…I just see it as
showing on the outside what’s going on and how I feel on the
inside. And the stage show should also complement that.
I think when bands say ” let’s come up with some gimmick” and do it
just for gimmicks’ sake you can tell when it’s unnatural and forced and
fake.

Daniel/AR: How did performing the underground Fetish shows come about?

K: It makes perfect sense .. Like attracts like. I’m a filthy pig and the
places we played were filthy shit holes. People walking around nude,
getting whipped, pissing on each other ..it’s like what I picture hell
to be…it was beautiful . The music fit perfectly and the crowd
seemed to like us too.

Daniel/AR: For the ladies out there who crave Killenstein, what is
one fetish you’re not ashamed to admit? For me, I’d have to say
some things that involve Yoo-Hoo. I think it’s made in Heaven.

K: Scat mostly…, bestiality, there’s a bunch of them.

Daniel/AR: A question a lot of people always want to know: Who are
your influences not just musically but also as inspirations or role
models?

K: I like to think I’m made up of little pieces of all those metal bands
I named earlier and more, all put in a blender.
Musically and otherwise.
I was always about metal and the lifestyle, always defended it ,
promoted it , willing to fight over it and tried to represent it best
I can.

Daniel/AR: Talk a bit about the album you’re working on.

K: It seems to be taking fucking forever to get done for one thing ,
partly because of re-working and experimenting, trying things
different ways but I think it will be worth it when it’s finally done.
We currently have Servo recording over what were the existing drum
tracks before he joined the band.
Once I heard him play I knew there was no way I was going to use those
original drum tracks. He just breathes a whole new excitement and
power and dimension into the songs. He’s an incredible drummer, people are going to
be impressed with what they hear on the new recording. Plus Jomar is
whaling as usual…it’s gonna be fierce.

Daniel/AR: How did the name Killenstein come about? Is Killenstein
your real last name?

K: It sounded better than “Wrath of Harvey Lipshitz” so I went with
it.
It’s not my last name…it’s my only name… Like Hannibal, Caligula,
Madonna.

Daniel/AR: Would Killenstein be related to Frankenstein?

K: In a perfect world, yes.

Daniel/AR: What else would a stein be killin?

K: Not sure where this is going .

Daniel/AR: Tell us about your coolest performance experience to date.

K: It would have to be during some of the fetish, bondage stuff going
on…
I could go into a whole sick description and end it with “the
Aristocrats” but It would be redundant.

Daniel/AR: Let’s say a batch of moths started to fly around your
head. You could only kill three, or Killenstein three if you want to
make a stupid joke out of it. After murdering these moths their
spirits sang songs of 3 bands you would like to tour with. Who would
they be?

K: Hmmmm…
King Diamond, maybe Slipknot , Zombie , Mansion …maybe Shakira just
to do bad things to her.

Daniel/AR: Do you even like moths?

K: I wouldn’t have a problem with killing three to hear them sing.

Daniel/AR: You have a line of comic books which is freakin’ sweet.
Tell us about the stories, characters, inspirations, the direction
they’re taking and who all is involved in the artwork. In fact, if
you tell me about it all during this question I don’t have to type
out four more. Will you please?…

Read the rest of this review plus see pictures and more at AltRevolt.com

Daniel C. Morrison aka: The Hit Man

MUSIC REVIEW FOR TAPROOT’S “Plead The Fifth” (used with permission from Alternative Revolt Magazine)

I’m a huge fan of the song “Poem” way back when and, luckily, TAPROOT has pleased me more than any of their other albums. Granted, I didn’t listen to all of them but now that I heard their latest I must insist I pay closer attention to the decade before.

Their latest “Plead The Fifth” has a killer song on the radio that you’ve probably already heard called “Fractured (Everything I Said Was True)” but there are 2 songs on the cd before you ever get to it. Honestly, these first two songs didn’t do a whole lot for me which is ok because once I got to their radio song it was like hearing “Poem” all over again, as far as making me joyful.

You can definitely tell emotion was packed into this cd. You have some awesome crunching guitar riffs, thundering bass, drums that hurt your ears and their unique harmonies. Production value is excellent and the hard rock, point-on lyrics and excellent chord arrangements gave me a surreal dreamy experience. Every song after the third song hit right at home and I found the cd worthy of an entire playthrough which is rare. Tim and Adam Patalon outdid themselves with the production and engineering!

“Words Don’t Mean A Thing” and “Left Behind” could very well be my favorites but it is very hard to pick because “Release Me” grabs me as well. Every other song does something to me. I feel refreshed like I did back when I used music to inspire my comic book drawing. In fact I want to kind of punch something right now.

If you liked their latest radio song, give this cd a listen to. If you liked their older stuff but didn’t quite grab you right then give this cd a listen to. If you like meat and potatoes for music the give this cd a listen to. If you like things flavored strawberry I don’t really care. But if you do listen to this cd while you enjoy the taste. All in all Taproot’s “Plead the Fith” goes in my mp3 player as an entire album with every one of Breaking Benjamin, Chevelle, Ardor and Sick Puppies latest album. Excellent job Taproot, I give your latest album an A!

REVIEW FOR TAPROOT’S “Plead the Fifth” TOUR in Louisville, KY

I need to start this review off by saying “wow!” Every band that performed at Taproot’s show simply banged it out. Everyone belonged. Not one act stood still. The stage was not merely a platform to support weight but a wooden trampoline to represent decibel mayhem.

After nearly 40 shows Taproot was winding down but only metaphorically. Leading up to their solid performance was an ensemble that smoked the stage and simply knew how to rock it out. I got mad at my nearly broken toe because I wanted to hop around as well, to absorb the energy that normally involves a heavy thunderstorm.

First off, there was a local Louisville, KY band called Nothing Wrong. Armed with a lead singer whose face was painted in a Slipknot fashion, a guitarist and bassist seeming to mismatch physically but rock poetically and a drummer that was determined to show why they belonged on the opening stage for Taproot, they did it right. The screams were there, the deep, gritty sound was all action and the energy that busted through the room, especially by the singer, was just what the show needed to open the door. After the show they told me that they have a variety of different musical styles but picked scream metal because of the appropriateness of the lineup. Fair enough. Their performance was an A and their music was just a grade lower for my personal taste. However for heavy hitting metal most would probably give them an A for that. And why not? They scored an opening gig for Powerman 5000 here in November. Rock!

Next up was a band that shocked the crap out of me. If you would have looked on the floor behind me you might have seen crap. They are called Destrophe. This band had the energy I stated previously but had some awesome chord arrangements, effects and quite enjoyable singing ability. To make things better their humble nature poured out into the crowd. It was like being slapped with a steak dinner and steak dessert free of charge. Don’t believe me? One of their fans who called herself their number one fan drove all the way from Rhode Island to see them. Lauren was her name and with her was possibly Destrophe’s number two fan, Nicole. Both paraded proudly and even had their breasts signed by the band. Go Destrophe! I give them a solid A across the board for both music and performance!

Then, after quite a stage presence, a group called Ice Nine Kills hops on stage and pounced around in the same enigmatic glory that Nonpoint gives. Spit, sweat, blood and tears soaked the stage as they murdered the ears on my head. While I didn’t find much variety in the songs, their performance was a solid A while their music was around a B-. However, as I like to state, hard metal fans would slap me for being like that. To them I say, “Sorry. But they did act like the sweat glands of Zeus on stage!”

Then, as if Zeus didn’t want to give me a break he pours out a band called Anew Revolution and again, a mighty show prevailed on stage. With a sound similar to the other bands I have to give their music a B but their performance was another rock solid A. This band was amazing to watch! I couldn’t believe that every band, including Anew Revolution hit such high marks with their sound and energy. How could Taproot top this?

Finally, Taproot took the stage and found a way to close with a magical performance that only outdid the others barely. The reason being was not the music which rocked balls but because of their fan interaction. Unlike most other artists I’ve seen, Stephen was making the hardcore fans nestled up tightly against the stage all warm and cozy by making the girls wet as he looked in their eyes while singing, rubbing people’s heads, fist bumping and playing with hats, and making the guys feel like a part of the band by holding the microphone up to some of them so they could do some screaming parts of Taproot’s songs. Not only that but at one time he took the camera from a woman and filmed the audience from his point of view and then gave it back. He even passed around bottles of water to emphasize the act of sharing most likely to reflect the message of one of the songs.

Nick, their newest drummer of the last two years, was right at home with the band hammering away those poor drums as if his life depended on it. Phil’s performance with the bass was as if his body disappeared and nothing was there but a bass jammin’ out. This guy was way too modest during the rocking interview you read. If I could play bass at a professional level his demeanor would be an inspiration. Even Mike showed he had a pair as he took front and center with his awesome leads and frantic rhythm and giving fan love when he could.

Although not as crappy as blowing his knee out when he used to play hockey, something sucky did happen to Stephen on stage. This guy rocked so hard that he…

Read the rest of this review plus see pictures and more at AltRevolt.com

Daniel C. Morrison aka: The Hit Man

MUSIC REVIEW FOR LUCID FLY’S “the escape stage” EP (used with permission from Alternative Revolt Magazine)

Once again I am pleased after listening to an unsigned artist’s album. You may recall the interview I did with beautiful Nikki, lead singer of Lucid Fly (check out our previous issue if you didn’t.) When I was awaiting their excellently produced CD, both artwork and music, I felt like a puppy waiting for my owner to come home. I listened to the songs on their press kit and knew I had to check out more of them. When the review copy came I wagged my make-believe tail and hurried to give it a listen.

The CD starts out with “dirge,” a song that really gets it going. It is followed by “dramatis personae” which continues to keep me salivating. As the world of Lucid Fly unfolds even further in my ears with songs “alohum” and “back & forth” I start to experience being on a beautiful island with hints of danger and adventure. Then they pull out an epic ending appropriately titled “means to an end.” Sadly, that was the end.

When I finished this thrill ride of a CD I immediately saw why this band is compared to Evanescence which is never a bad thing. They will achieve a rightful place in the national music scene, I feel. On this album every instrument combines to give a solid heavy sound but not so heavy it requires screaming. Pieces of each song tend to pull a little melody and slow the pulse before kicking it back up a notch.

Again I am pleased with another unsigned artist. I did notice that as the EP went on the variety in song variety seemed get that feeling of sameness. I am only a fan of a CD where each song sounds similar if the style is good but it always takes it down a slight notch for me anyway. I say this because I slightly take the grade down from an A to an A- but want you to know that it is damn good! However, discography-wise, this band is a solid A across the board. Check them out immediately at www.lucidfly.com

Read the review plus see pictures and more at AltRevolt.com

Daniel C. Morrison aka: The Hit Man

MUSIC REVIEW – Fateless Tears “The Chaise” (used with permission from Alternative Revolt Magazine)

I know bands strive to have their own identity. As more and more artists blaze the scene, thanks to the internet, you sometimes find that new sound and most of the time you find similar sounding acts. Fateless Tears falls somewhere in the middle.

I can’t help but say that they remind me a lot of Dream Theater and 80’s metal although not quite Metallica par. I hear hints of Megadeth, Helmet and even Prong but with a female vocalist touch. You get the rhythmic, metal guitar riffs and chords, the fast paced drums but you also get a keyboard arrangement that speeds up and down as well. Also, like Dream Theater you sometimes get pieces of a song that rock while other pieces lose their appeal. Then, you’ll get back to an awesome lead guitar or arrangement that puts you back in the game.

The first two songs, “Flicker” and “Halogen Dawn 2” keep a pretty steady pace at reminding me why I wanted to interview them (see the article/interview in this issue.) S. Lee’s vocals are light and adds mysteriousness. I like her approach at mood setting.

Once track 3 comes along I am knocked off balance with “Virulent” which I guess I should be due to its definition (one of my Master Vampires in my yet to be released vampire epic novel is named Virulant.) You have Richard Lee doing his vocal gruffness and, in my opinion, isn’t working for this song. S. Lee comes in later to help out but for me it just doesn’t mix that well. Then we have a change that brings in cool guitar leads and I get back to that vocal combination and it keeps punching at me. I guess it’s as the name suggest.

Heading on to track 4, “Harbinger”, I am introduced to a pretty cool song because it has a bunch of quality changeups with lead scales and rhythms that make me think suddenly I found my way in dream land. I like this one the best so far.

Next up, “Firestorm” has a cool soundtrack intro and I wonder where this cool intro is going to go. S. Lee comes in and it starts to get a little Evanescence like. Then I hear Richard in the background and his gruff voice actually adds a nice element to this song. The movie “Legend” pops into my head but not because of the band Tangerine Dream, which this band sounds nothing like, but because I can see a long journey taking place.

“Cycles” comes after this. It has that 80’s metal feel like the album started out. It’s ok but I’m starting to sense a repetition in style so I head to the next song, Halogen Dawn.

For a softer approach this song is pretty decent. I didn’t find myself wanting to hurry through it. This was one I enjoyed on their Myspace page. Almost my favorite one on this CD so far.

Read the rest of this review plus see pictures and more at AltRevolt.com

Daniel C. Morrison aka: The Hit Man