In the vein of local music, arts and entertainment we are glad to debut our first local film related interview at hurdcore.com as we discuss the upcoming premiere of Saving Winston with director Shane Hawks. Saving Winston is a family-friendly drama about a troubled teen that finds redemption through her faith in God and the rehabilitation of a rescue horse. The film was shot and produced locally in Eugene, Oregon and will premiere Friday, October 21st at First Baptist Church of Eugene (3550 Fox Meadow Road).

When you attended school at the U of O, did you set out with the goal of getting into movies?
Shane Hawks – Director I’ve always loved movies. When I was 8 years old, I found out that there was a person called the director who made the movies. From that point on I knew what I wanted to do. I graduated from Oregon with a degree in Telecommunications and Film and for almost 20 years I’ve been pursuing this dream.

Do you remember the first film(s) that peaked your interest in pursing film as a career path?
SH Two films definitely had the biggest influence on me. For my 8th birthday I saw Star Wars for the first time in the theater in 1977. It of course had a huge influence. But when I was 12, I watched 2001, just on my family’s TV with commercial breaks and everything. This was when the light really turned on, I finally realized that films could also be works of art.

Your first films are in the horror genre, what about your process makes your perspective in this domain unique?
SH My early projects where all very surreal and “artsy” horror films. They never really found an audience, mainly because they were too “artsy” for the horror crowd and too horrific for the art house crowd. But I did learn how to make films on a small/micro budget.

The core of the story of “Saving Winston” intertwines the lives of a troubled teen girl and a rescue horse, how much of the background for the story is based upon real characters/experiences?
SH Jodi Johnson wrote the screenplay and she had experience as an actual horse trainer. So as we were working on new drafts of the script, I was encouraging her to put in as much of her real horse training knowledge as possible. That type of experience is priceless for a script. As far as the interpersonal relationships go, I believe Jodi based the ideas loosely on a few experiences she had, but probably 90% was created.

How did you come across the script and at what point did it become clear that this was a movie you wanted to be involved with?
SH This is a very long answer, so I’ll do my best to give you the shortest version possible. My wife and I were living in L.A. and my last film “Naomi” (which we put all our own money into) did nothing to improve my filmmaking career. I figured I would never make another film again. So when I hit rock bottom, God was there for me. I came to the realization that if I ever had the chance to make another film, it would only be for His glory. And not 3 weeks later, an old friend of mine who is also an aspiring script writer, Jodi Johnson, contacted me to let me know she was finishing a new Christian screenplay. That was 3 years ago and the script was Saving Winston.

Who are the key players in getting this movie off the ground?
SH Jodi, not only because of the screenplay, but also because she had contacts with people that owned horses and horse stables (all used in the film). My wife, Carrie who also served as a producer. Without her support and faith, Saving Winston would have probably just stayed on the page. Our investors who believed in our abilities enough and the message we were promoting to get involved. Victoria Emmons and the realism she brought to Ashley’s character. The list can go on and on. This might sound cheesy, but the biggest player was the Lord. This was my 4th film and I know what can happen to derail an independent film from ever being completed. We had countless miracles happen that not only allowed this project to be completed, but to also succeed.

“Saving Winston” is a family friendly film which is a little bit of a step away from your previous films which are notably darker, what is most important to you when writing, directing and/or producing a film?
SH When you make low budget films, you have to wear a lot of different hats. I’ve been lucky and learned how to not only write, direct, and produce, but also shoot, edit, and (for my earlier films) do special make-up effects as well. But I always felt that if I could only choose one, it would be to direct. I really feel that is my strength.

There is a certain stigma that comes with “Christian Films” which many writers, actors, directors and producers are making great strides to overturn, what have you seen in regards to the obstacles that positive movies face in the current entertainment climate?
SH I really feel the tone of Christian films is the biggest obstacle to overcome when trying to reach a bigger audience. It seems a lot of people feel Christian movies are just silly. Because my past films dealt with serious subject matters, I did my best to keep the tone of Saving Winston serious and as realistic as possible. It does have a happy ending but we didn’t shy away from the realism of a troubled teen’s journey.

As a writer-director, who/what do you see as some of the greatest impacts in the world of independent films with a positive message?
SH It’s almost impossible to not mention the Kendrick Brothers and what they have done to elevate the independent Christian market. I would also like to mention Terrence Malick and his new film Tree of Life. It is truly a masterpiece and a must see for anyone who considers themselves a film lover.

Whether films or any other line of business, budget is always a concern. What do you believe are the key lessons you have learned in making a quality low budget film that carries a positive message?
SH Use new technology. Just a few years ago, the equipment I used would have cost over $250,000. Today you can get a great HD camera and editing system for around $10,000. It’s still expensive, but not out of reach. I shot Saving Winston with the Canon 5D camera and it produces some of the best looking HD images I’ve seen. For the first time in film history, technology has leveled the playing field. So now it’s one’s own creativity that is the biggest obstacle.

The premier for “Saving Winston” is this Friday at 7pm at First Baptist Church of Eugene, where else can those interested see or purchase this film?
SH This is the only local screening we are planning at this point, but if successful, we may have others. Saving Winston was released on DVD early this month. It is available right now on amazon.com and most other Christian and Non-Christian websites that sell DVDs. For more information, please visit www.savingwinston.com

What other projects do you have in the works and when can we expect to see your work on the screen again?
SH We have a few ideas in the works right now. I’m working with Jodi on a new script called The Eddy Line. It’s a story of redemption that takes place in the world of recreational rafting and kayaking. We hope to shoot it on the Rogue River. But at this point, we’re not quite sure where the Lord will lead us next.

Saving Winston from Pure Flix Entertainment starring Victoria Emmons, Meghan McCabe-Habrat and Austin Kearney is directed by Shane Hawks, written by Jodi Johnson and co-produced by Jodi Johnson and Carrie Hawks. Find out more about the movie and how to get a copy at www.savingwinston.com

Fans of BTA will recognize Clifton as the face of your ASG “Beard Skull” guitar, but for those who don’t know, how/when did Clifton become a part of the band?
Count Seth – Guitars & Keys Clifton’s origins are part of a cloudy history. It’s difficult to cut through the legend and myth that surround him and come out with a clear grasp on the truth of who Clifton is or where he comes from. His involvement with the band started during our “Bring Your Own Beard” Tour, for which he allowed himself to be on the poster. After that, we seemed to just get along and we’re very thankful he chose us to represent to the world.

Is there any fear that Clifton needs to settle down, that he may get a big head after all this exposure and go diva on the band?
CS Not at all. It’s inherent in beardskulls to maintain humility even in the most glaring of spotlights. Beardskulls are by nature hardworking, magical, humble and terrifying. Clifton couldn’t rebel against those elements of his nature even if he wanted to. That’s why he’s a perfect fit for us: he’s teaching us how to be what we should be. One could say that he has become the archetype, while we are still just Becoming The Archetype, haha.

In addition to your input on the design, what components did you select to go into this guitar and why were they important to you?
CS One of the big elements there was the ability to get the guitar with EMG pickups. I’ve played active EMGs for the vast majority of my time with BTA and I think they give a great sound for heavy music, especially through a 5150-style amp. A lot of the other elements are standard to ASG models. But part of the reason we agreed to do a model with ASG was their commitment to quality and style. I particularly like their headstock. At this point, creating a unique headstock that doesn’t look ridiculous is very difficult. But they did it and that impresses me.

Do you remember your first guitar-lust moment, when you saw the guitar you just had to have?
CS Haha, that’s happened a couple times. When I first started my other band, Anchors, I was jolted with a passion for hollowbodies. I remember walking through guitar stores on the road and picking up Gretsch after Gretsch and playing it. But those were always too expensive so I had to settle for an Ibanez artcore series, which are good hollowbodies for the price.

But even before that, I do remember having a love for Jackson guitars. The reversed headstock and EMG pickups and a Floyd Rose bridge w/ whammy bar. That was certainly guitar lust. But it’s now nothing but a memory because I’m not that fond of Jacksons anymore. BTA plays ESPs and they’re great, so I have no reason to want a Jackson. But I still love hollow bodies and I still pick one up sometimes and play with it and imagine the spirit of Brian Setzer oozing out of the f-holes and working it’s magic on my strings.

When in the studio, do you assemble the same menu of guitars that you use for live performances or expand everything to achieve various sounds?
CS We use a pretty vast array in the studio. We usually use Gibson Studios to record rhythm tracks. They’re just really beefy and solid. The the lead guitarist (whether it was Daniel or Jon or Alex) would use their favorite personal guitar for the solos. I used a couple different things for the parts I would play. On Breathing Light, I used a Telecaster. I enjoy those things as well. Loads of fun. Live, we use nothing but ESP and they’re great.

With the pursuit of the ever deepening sound in your genre in particular, what adjustments are you making in the equipment and writing process to keep the balance between heavy and crisp?
CS We always remind ourselves that the brain is the best tool you’ve got for achieving excellence and crafting beauty. So we rely on our mind a lot, but we also depend on our producers to give us good advice. That’s a big reason why Dichotomy and Celestial Completion sound so good: Devin Townsend and Matt Goldman were invaluable in knowing which amp to pair with which cab and microphone to get a great tone. Then we’d mess with string size and occasionally which delay pedals or whatever that we were using. Because we know what’s good on stage and we’re learning what sounds like us in the studio, but a good producer knows how to get the sound you’re looking for and we’ve been very fortunate to have those producers for our last two albums.

ASG is making custom guitars at an affordable price, do you have any words of wisdom for fans of yours that will grab the “Beard Skull” and lock themselves in the basement to try to become the next shred master?
CS Haha, yeah I believe I do. Mainly, every guitar player should remember that playing solidly is the most important thing. Anyone can play fast. If you don’t believe that, look up the thousands of youtube videos of 12 year old kids sweep picking their brains out. Playing steady and staying in the pocket is much more difficult because it requires discipline and not just frenetic energy and muscle spasms. Also, pay attention to tone. Don’t go onstage without understanding your amp and pedals. Make sure you’re getting the best possible tone out of your gear. And finally, BE CREATIVE! Yes, you can learn from others and follow in their footsteps. But then use what you’ve learned and make it your own. That’s where you can find fulfillment in music.

There seems to always to be a deeper meaning to everything you do as a band, with the recent release of the video for Magnetic Sky how happy were you with the finished product for your elaborate concept?
CS I’m extremely pleased with how everything turned out with Celestial Completion. Both the music, the lyrics, the production, the flow of the album, the photo shoot, the concepts of the two videos (The Magnetic Sky and Breathing Light) and all the interviews I did in support of it. It was a well-planned and coordinated effort to pull off an interesting and true image of ourselves. I began thinking about all those things while we were in the studio and as I saw how the lyrics were coming together and how we all felt as a band, I started crafting a concept of what we could wear, what theme we could do for our photo shoot and what concept we could pull of for our music video. It was a lot of fun and I think people saw that. We wanted our music to be heavy and intense but still retain the energy and fun that we had in making it. People seemed to feel that. We’re humorous people that don’t take ourselves too seriously and we wanted that to come across in everything related to Celestial Completion. That’s a big reason why Clifton has stuck with us for so long now.

Your latest release, Celestial Completion (Solidstate Records), overall is perhaps your most expansive as far as incorporating your diverse tastes in music, what feedback are you getting from fans as to how they are enjoying the diversity in sound?
CS Our fans understood the diversity for the most part. We had a couple people that kinda balked at the ska section in Cardiac Rebellion, but other than that, our instrumentation was accepted very well. We like to roll the dice sometimes and put bits of ourselves into the music that may not normally go into heavy music. We’ll always be an experimental and musically diverse band, but I think CC is about as crazy as we’ll get with world instruments. Our next album is going to be a lot of experimenting with sounds on guitar and keys. We’ve realized there’s a world right there in our traditional instruments that can be explored and we can discover some incredibly unique sounds right there without having to bring in a sitar and trombone. So look for that on the next album: interesting, fun sounds on the guitar and keys and vocals mixed with our progressive metal base. Oh yeah, and go buy “Beardskull!” right now!

ASG aka Artist Series Guitars is now taking reservations for the “Beardskull” guitar starting at $449.00 ASG has partnered with bands the likes of Becoming The Archetype, Demon Hunter, Bleeding Through, Asking Alexandria and more to provide guitar enthusiasts with excellent playability, custom features, unique designs at an affordable price. Click “Beardskull” now to get your Clifton inspired Becoming The Archetype Custom Guitar on reserve today!

In many ways hip hop has become a caricature of itself, where so many rappers are playing and singing hard but living soft. Not to say that the “hard life” is a desirable style, but it is inspiring to meet someone who has walked the dark roads, found the light and works through music and motorcycles to help others to change course. Whether its hitting the road with the Gorilla Gospel MC, writing rhymes cast in real life for Gorilla Gospel Records, or speaking in venues from prisons to schools with Gorilla Gospel Ministries, Todd G is putting his life story and talents to work to bring good news where it can change lives. Todd G’s latest album, The Light, is available now stacked with 11 tracks of the signature method and message of Gorilla Gospel Records featuring artists such as JB The Don (A.K.A. Preacher J), KB The New, Cool Nutz, Arjay, J-Philly, Michael Kay, Hi-Q and more.

People often hear Christian rapper and are quick to dismiss it as second class to “real rap”, how do you maintain the essence of hip-hop and share a positive message?
Todd G: I have always just rapped about my life and what I am going through. I did that as a secular rapper, and I now do that with the music I make as well. I just put the truth as I know it above everything else and record. Like Cool Nutz once told me, “There is no recipe for being real, you just are or your not.” That’s what’s up.

You are proud and ready to share your life story with others, what did it look like in your life when you first felt God moving in your life?
TG: When God first began to move in my life I didn’t want to move with Him. I had been in a groove of negativity and crime for so long that I was more comfortable there. But, God is bigger than that and had other plans for me. All the credit goes to Him because I pretty much didn’t do anything but obstruct His plans.

How do you keep fresh in your pursuit of Christ and the purpose you believe He has designed you for?
TG: I follow what we call the three legged stool. Three things: Prayer, Reading His Word, and fellowshipping with other believers. I feel like you gotta practice all three with consistency in your life to maintain balance – like a three legged stool. If things start going haywire, I can usually pin point it back to one of those areas lacking in my life. Me, personally, I gotta read my Bible everyday. Even if it’s only for a few minutes. It’s necessary, for me….and as far as His (God’s) purpose, I find that you gotta slow it down pretty often, get away, get in the quiet away from all the noise of the world that keeps us distracted. God will speak to you, it’s our job to get to where we can hear Him…Word?

Where do you draw inspiration from and who keeps you accountable to your purpose?
TG: I have a Men’s Group Bible study that meets each Tuesday. It’s basically an accountability group. I also lift weights with a guy that helps me be accountable in the gym and in life…I get inspiration from Church, The Bible, other believers, and sometimes from music. I just listened to a Lecrae album the other day and it was major as far as getting spiritually “fed”.

Gorilla Gospel is one aspect of what you do, for those who are unfamiliar with these efforts – what is Gorilla Gospel and what are you and your team doing through this medium?
TG: Gorilla Gospel is our ministry, record label and MC (Motorcycle Club). We put out records and the club is a 501(c)(3) non-profit entity where we ride hard and help our brothers get assimilated back into healthy lives after prison, crime, drama, whatever. It’s a brotherhood for guys like us who are headed towards the right direction and want to make our lives and the world better. Give, rather than take. My Gorillas have done a lot of taking. Now we give back. I still travel and do speaking engagements as well.

You’ve been involved with Northwest hip-hop since 1989, what have been some of the most significant changes you have seen in the scene?
TG: Shoot, the Northwest has went from a few rappers to a few rappers on every street. That’s cool. Although it does tend to get a bit over saturated and at times the over all quality of the music suffers. Home studios were the best and worst invention ever for Hip Hop. But I will say that I love the Northwest and I represent that culture and vibe world wide, literally.

You have performed locally, nationally and internationally, what are some of the fondest memories from touring outside of your base here in Oregon?
TG: My fondest memories of touring are the first time I performed over seas in a huge venue. The crowd couldn’t even speak much English but thousands of kids were chanting my name, thanks to the Norwegian host leading them, and I stood back stage holding my cordless and tried not to cry for real. I was overwhelmed with where God had taken me to share what He has done in my life and I knew in my core I really didn’t deserve it. A second chance, a second life. It was crazy. Then I went out and chopped it up! It was good. My second tour over seas “Gangsta Boogie” with Cool Nutz was amazing. We had so much fun every day and Soren, who was the chief editor of Source Magazine came with us to cover the tour for the magazine…let’s just say before we even touched down on foreign soil, the flight attendants had asked us more than once to quiet down. We argued about who the greatest rappers ever were almost the entire flight! All in good fun though. *Next time you interview Nutz, ask him about turbulence above Greenland. Now THAT’S a story.

To Die For Records is your own label, when did you start TDFD and who do you work with to produce music?
TG: To Die 4 Records was started by me, Balou The Sasquatch and Tone Only back in 1999 to release Lisa Towner’s self titled debut CD. After that, Tone went to prison for murder and we moved out of the R&B game and got back into rap. We knew that market better and we had tried to market a pop/r&b project through hip hop channels and avenues and it quite honestly didn’t work. It was fun though. Then we put out Northwest Game the Compiliation – back when independent records actually sold with very little promotion. The rest is history.

The Light is your latest release dropping in 2011, will this be classic Todd G or do you have some new elements to unleash with this album?
TG: The Light is out now. And it is an album I am very happy with. It is a bit more aggressive in parts, but again, it is very true to where I am at right now. All my records really document the time and season of life I am in. Chopper Music is Gorilla Gospel album #7 and it’s crazy! It’s like hardcore west coast rap for new school bikers mixed with my testimony and our club biz. It’s cool. At least I think so. lol.

What else is in the mix for Todd G in 2011?
TG: This year we are going hard with the motorcycle club. We just got back from the Laughlin River Run in Nevada and we are on a roll. We got a lot of runs and events coming up soon. Check out www.gorillagospel.com for the updates.

Todd G (Hip Hop – Porltand, OR) latest album The Light (Gorilla Gospel Records) is available now at CD Baby, keep up to date at www.toddgministries.com

Hurdcore.com is local music, local art and local entertainment. Local music reviews, interviews, event promotion, art and entertainment collaboration. Whether hardcore, punk, indie or rap. Check in throughout the week, friend us on myspace and join us facebook.

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8

Portland, Oregon based Fallstar takes a unique approach to the heavy music genre, delivering ambient infused hardcore on the very non-traditional label Come and Live Records. Teaming with the likes vision fueled standouts such as C&L and Veil Arms Clothing, the members of Fallstar are giving their music away while still cutting albums, hitting the road and growing a devoted fan base in the heavy music scene. As crazy as it sounds, many bands, fans and businesses want to be a part of something bigger than money alone and in doing so find a way to survive with their art and mission intact. Special thanks to Jameson Ketchum of Cadence PR for setting up this hurdcore.com interview with Fallstar bassist Bryan Ratzlaff as the band releases their debut album Reconciler. Refiner. Igniter. on Come and Live Records.

So every band looks forward to being signed by a label. At any point were you guys thinking, “Yes! We’ve finally been signed by a label – wait, they want us to do WHAT?!”
Bryan Ratzlaff – Bass: Ha Ha. Yes, there was definitely a point where that was going through our minds. But honestly we never worried much about the concept of giving out music away for free. Of course there was the question of, “How are we going to make any money and live on the road if we give our music away as a gift?” In the end we all agreed to go where God wants us, and every one of us felt a heavy push in the direction of Come&Live! If God asks us to go into an organization that asks that we give our music for free then he will make a way for us to support ourselves financially.

What about C&L made this the right fit for you?
BR: The biggest difference in C&L! is that it really isn’t a traditional record label. We learned quite a bit about the music industry and how labels work through shopping out R.R.I. And we found that most times those labels are nothing that we want to be a part of. We as individuals and as a band don’t care about making excessive amounts of money, and for the most part every label we talked to cared a whole lot. Not that wanting to make money is a bad thing, we just believe that the vision of C&L! is much more in tune to the Fallstar’s vision. We want to spread the message of Jesus, and we want to do that by playing music, from the beginning C&L has always wanted to support us in doing just that.

How do you approach the aspect of your lives where you would like to be living off of the music?
BR: I personally am just taking that step by step. I think it would be unwise to count on making enough money to live comfortably just by playing music, but I don’t believe it to be impossible. For now everything that the band makes just goes back into the band, weather it be to pay for new merch, and recording, or paying back band members, nobody is pocketing anything yet. All the guys have some alternate way of making money weather it be a regular job, or selling their blood plasma. Maybe some day Fallstar will be able to pay all of our bills but for now we are all just excited to be able to travel and play the music that we love.

Reconciler. Refiner. Igniter. are all adjectives in reference to Christ, what about these particular attributes stand out to you?
BR: These three words are really the process in which we have seen Jesus come to the aid of people who want his help. First he welcomes us back to himself with open arms, erasing all the bad things we have done and makes us clean. This part is pretty rad, there is actually a physical relief when we come back to God, like you just dropped a set of weights you didn’t know you were carrying. Then we are refined by God, as soon as we come back he starts working on us, straightening out all of the kinks and dents we have accumulated over the years. And finally “Igniter” is describing the way God’s spirit in us reacts with our souls. It is very close to the way a fire consumes a pile of wood, but instead of using us up and turning us to nothing, when God ignites souls we see men and women become something that never would have surfaced without God.

Are you Christians who make music that happens to also be Christian in tone or do you purpose to use your music as an expression of your faith?
BR: We write as an expression of our faith. People usually write about what impacts them the most, many times that will be girls, romantic relationships, politics etc. But what we have seen in Jesus blows all of those things out of the water. We have all seen how knowing God heals hurting lives and fixes broken families and we can’t help but write about that. We would be doing ourselves and everybody a disservice if we were to write about anything less.

How has music been a vehicle for growing in your personal faith?
BR: For me being in Fallstar and playing shows has been my church. The experiences that we have had with other people, and being on the road are what have grown me the most. I worry about very few things these days. I’m not scared about how I am going to make money in the future. I’m not phased when a wheel breaks off of our bus the day before we go on tour. We have had more crappy things happen to us than I can count, but God always brings us out of us in better shape than we were in before. It has been proven to us that we are taken care of.

Did you grow up in church? How/when did Christ become something personal for you?
BR: I grew up going to church. Every single Sunday for 19 years I would go, but my faith only became really my own a few years ago. I wanted to see God for myself, I had heard all about him in church and from my family, but I never really saw or felt anything that I could say was definitely God. So a while ago I decided that I needed to see him for myself. Chris speaks a lot about how each of us in the band had to find God on our own, what I did was go into my closet with all the lights off and started praying, asking God to show up. I resolved that I wasn’t going to leave that closet until I got an answer, and I got one. That is when Jesus became real for me.

Do you remember the first album/song that sucked you into the influence of heavy music?
BR: The Agony Scene – We Bury Our Dead at Dawn. When I was 13 I got a Solid State records sampler when I bought a shirt of some Tooth & Nail band that I really liked. I put the CD in and was blown away. I had never heard anything that moved me the way heavy music does. The level of energy and passion inside of heavy music got me instantly hooked.

What were the events and circumstances that lead to the formation of Fallstar?
BR: Fallstar has a crazy story. There have been more members in the band than I can count on two hands, and looking back, the chances of the current lineup being in same band together are really very low. I didn’t even play an instrument until I joined Fallstar. Jason lived in a tiny town called Monmouth 70 miles away and was told by a mutual friend to try out. Cody met a friend of ours through Craigslist and was in 2 different bands when we met him. Somehow everything worked out to where we can all play music together.

Is there any significance behind the name Fallstar?
BR: The name Fallstar comes from a story about Chris’ and my dad. A few years back he learned some pretty horrible things about his past and his family and really wanted a fresh start. So he decided that he would change his last name to disassociate himself from those things. Our last name is Ratzlaff, which if spelled backwards is essentially Fallstar, which he now goes by. We saw that as a beautiful illustration of how Jesus takes us and changes us and gives us a clean slate to start over.

Fallstar (Hardcore/Ambient – Portland, OR) is: Chris Ratzlaff – Vocals; Jason Brown – Guitar; Justin Hagg – Guitar; Cody Carrier – Drums; Bryan Ratzlaff – Bass. Their debut full length album, Reconciler. Refiner. Igniter. is available now on Come & Live Records. Keep up to date with the band via their facebook and download their album for FREE at comeandlive.com.

Applying the hurdcore.com spin to album reviews, band bios and artist interviews. Covering local metal, hip-hop and indie artists and events from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California, Illinois and far beyond. Interviews with local bands posted every Sunday, friend us on myspace and join us facebook.

What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, but loses his soul? - Jesus

These metal nerds may enjoy long discussions about science and philosophy over making it rain or smashing hotel rooms, but when it comes to deep, dark and cerebral metal there is none fresher than Becoming The Archetype. Clifton, BTA’s bearded skull mascot, and the boys have once again rallied together to hammer out 11 tracks of face melting metal mayhem that will leave your body bruised, your mind sweating and your appetite for something epic awakened, if not exhausted. With the release of Celestial Completion on Solidstate Records, Becoming The Archetype has once again raised the bar for authentic, brutal and invigoratingly heavy music. BTA’s signature sound weaves a beauty into the brutality accompanied by a complexity of tonal components that few bands of the dark genres are willing to attempt.

There’s picking up a guitar, there’s jamming as a band then there are the dynamics of layers within music, harmonies, subtleties and various tweaks that take something from good to epic. As a student of music and a band that has made a mark in pushing your sound, what are some of the intricacies of the writing process that the casual fan may not be aware of?
Seth Hecox – Guitar/Keys: We put a ton of thought into each song and really work to refine it. Songwriting is a bit lost in the heavy music scene and we’re focusing on that a lot lately. It’s not as easy as it seemed at first. But it helps that we have so many instruments at our disposal. And as if we didn’t have enough already, we brought in horns, violin, sitar and female operatic vocals!

When do you know if you’ve gone too far and the band has ventured into the territory of too processed, too produced, too epic or too technical?
SH: That’s a difficult one. The best defense against any error is to be aware of it and constantly judge yourself to see where you stand so you know when you’re approaching an overkill. I will also say that being extreme in almost any way is usually acceptable in small doses. The problem is when you get too extreme in one facet for an entire album. Then you really risk being one-dimensional.

You’ve had some success with instigating social trends (ie beard-core) and the scene is primed for a shift in creative expression that it can again beat to death a thousand different ways – do you think BTA will be the instigator of a new trend of Metal-nerds?
SH: Haha, I sure hope so! You know, I think a lot of our fans and general metal fans were secretly nerds already, just like we were. We figured we’d come out of the nerd closet and reveal ourselves and people are quickly identifying with that. Being the Kings of Nerd Metal is a nice title and we’ll wear the crown as kindly as we can.

With the release of Celestial Celebration, what are some of the messages or themes you hope listeners will grasp?
SH: Well you’ve already picked up on one. Some favorite band hobbies are reading, playing card-based Role Playing Games and watching Big Bang Theory and sci fi movies. Those activities made their way into the album musically and lyrically. We’re also all about having fun and not dwelling on the negative. Those themes are also evident in both the music and lyrics of Celestial Completion. Who needs more drama and worry and negativity in their lives? Isn’t life already full of enough regret and sadness and frustration? We think so. That’s why we’re giving our listeners a release from that both with the CD and our live shows.

Seagrave and Invisible Creature put a killer package together for the album, what is meaning behind the cover?
SH: Yeah, Dan really did a great job didn’t he? Basically, the painting on the cover is a picture of the overall concept of the album. Celestial Completion is about the great things that happen at the end of the world. When this world dissolves or even when your personal world crumbles, there is a moment of promise. There is a revealing of yourself that doesn’t happen otherwise. That transcendence and completion is what we’re longing for and it may look terrible in the physical world, but it can be beautiful spiritually and mentally and emotionally.

You all are still working a variety of jobs while continuing to push forward with the music, have you learned any new secrets to monetizing the music or are you still in the developmental stages of becoming profitable musicians?
SH: We have secrets but you’ll never get them from us! Never! If every band knew how to make literally dozens of dollars like we do, everybody would be scrambling to be in a band, wouldn’t they? And that just wouldn’t do. No, not at all.

Some of the treats that are accompanying this album include an RPG based music video, metal-ska cameo by Five Iron Frenzy, Nerds of Metal promos, and a whole host of tricks–how have you been able to keep a fresh approach to faith and music?
SH: Faith is always relevant. Because it’s bigger than us, it never grows dull to those that jump in and submerge themselves. Most things in this world grow stale rather quickly because they’re so small! So meaningless, really. Yet we love to worship them. Amazing, isn’t it? But spirituality and faith are larger and more eternal than we can understand and for that reason, they continue to be vibrant in your life after countless experiences and discussions. And music is a powerful doorway to spiritual truths. I think about those things and marvel that I get to participate!

“How Great Thou Art” was an inspiration to many who believe the worship songs in the heavenly realms are more BTA than Gaither, how seriously are you considering a hardcore/metal worship album?
SH: Haha, we’ve considered it quite a lot, actually. But it’s just something that has to happen naturally. If we force it, it’s gonna come out all wrong. We’d love to do an EP of hymns, but we only wanna do it if it’s gonna be hi quality juju, ya know?

Have any other bands mentioned they would collaborate with you on this effort?
SH: Not yet, but I bet we’d find some willing partners. Suggestions?

You mention this last trip to South Africa as having left a particular impression on you as a band, what were some of the most meaningful experiences you had while on tour there?
SH: Well, standing on African soil is pretty powerful in itself. Aside from that, the tour was handled in such a way that we were able to join in with a community of ministry that already existed there. It’s something special to be able to join in and work side by side with others that have the same goal, especially when they’re on the other side of the globe.

Jason seems to have been blessed with the natural metal voice, has the voice developed over the years of was it truly a gift that just bellowed from day 1 at the mic?
SH: Reports at the hospital indicate that Jason was born fully bearded and screaming like a banshee. It’s certainly a marvel of modern birthology, to be sure.

There is a lot up in the air right now as far as the NFL negotiations go between players and owners, what is the BTA and Solidstate Records relationship like right now – have you recently renewed your contract with them or is that coming up soon?
SH: We don’t anticipate a lockout for the 2011-2012 season of BTA. The player’s union has found some common ground with the front office of T&N and a long-lasting and fruitful relationship is anticipated. Unless they extend the season to 18 games…

Becoming The Archetype is (Metal – Georgia): Seth – guitar, keys; Duck – drums; Jason – bass, lead vocals; Alex – guitar, vocals. Latest full length release Celestial Completion on Solidstate Records dropped March 2011. Keep up to date with band at the BTA Website (www.celestialcompletion.com)

Hurdcore.com is open to new partnerships to promote local music. Contact us to discuss opportunities for album reviews, event promotion or content management – hurdcore@gmail.com (be specific in subject line). Keep rocking local, friend us on myspace and join us facebook.

I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. – Jesus

Hurdcore.com encore interview with Tacoma, Washington based Death Metal band Devils Of Loudun. The Devils of Loudun bring a core of rapid paced melodic death metal masterfully blended with serpentine vocals and keys that transition from creepy to elegantly macabre. Read the full hurdcore.com interview with Devils of Loudun from 2010.

Best place to eat in Tacoma? 1) Red Hots – best hotdogs in the world; 2) King’s Teriyaki Wok – best Asian food ever and right down the street from our practice space. 3) Special mention to Carls Jr. How would you describe your sound and what you’re about? A giant demon pooping out an army of skeletons into your ear…or…a combination of dark, melodic, modern, death metal and old school speed and epic metal with a sprinkle of Orchestral and symphonic music. Topped with a cherry of Cannibal Corpse. Has performing music increased your personal enjoyment of music or soured it? The energy and intensity of playing live metal music in front of a crowd only increases our drive and passion for our musical endeavors. Current trend in music/scene that bugs me…? Auto-tuned singing, techno interludes, and bands that pollute their music with distasteful, repetitive breakdowns. BUT there are many bands that use breakdowns tastefully.

Currently reading… Under the Dome – Stephen King; Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past Players Guide; The Art of War – Sun Tzu (yes, really). Currently watching… TV – The Wire, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Seinfeld and Californication. Favorite movie… Dune (1986). Top 5 songs in my personal ipod right now? Kurenai – X Japan; Reeling In The Years – Steely Dan; Ichipher – Dark Tranquility; Mask of Sanity – Children of Bodom; Chased Through The Woods By A Rapist – Waking the Cadaver. Any crazy pre-performance rituals?
Consuming copious amounts of liquor. Translation: Long Island Ice Teas all around. Craziest thing that happened to you during a show? During our 2nd show ever, we were playing El Corazon in Seattle and some kid in the crowd got one of his teeth knocked out in the mosh pit. It was pretty intense for it being our 2nd show ever. A runner up event being the time at Hell’s Kitchen in Tacoma when three drunk girls unexpectedly climbed up on stage with us and starting dancing to our music and in the process turned off guitarist Scott’s power strip shutting off his entire rig in the middle of a song. A pretty ridiculous situation really.

Devils of Loudun (Death Metal – Tacoma, WA) is: Guitar – Scott Hermanns, Bass – Jamey Pierson, Drums – Hosbo, Lead Guitar – Drew “Tuelshed” Tuel, Keys – Ben Velozo, Vocals – Grant Loudun. Keep up to date with shows, songs and news about their upcoming release at the DOL Myspace.

Local bands, artists and events from Northwest and Midwest. Hurdcore.com is promoting local music, art, entertainment and related news from our base in Eugene, Oregon and Moline, Illinois. Whether hardcore, punk, indie or rap. Check in throughout the week, friend us on myspace and join us facebook.

Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. Proverbs 3:3

Hurdcore.com is “fans supporting local music.” To refresh your memory on the year that was in 2010 we offer these recaps of interviews, reviews and events. Reconnect with the best of local and national music that shared bits of themselves through the medium of hurdcore.

Interview with Joshua Moore of We Came As Romans We Came As Romans joined forces with Equal Vision Records to release their debut full length album “To Plant A Seed.” These Michigan natives have embedded themselves into the fabric of the metalcore nation by combining creative brutality, personally connecting with fans and non stop touring.

Interview with Duck of Becoming The Archetype The members of Georgia based metal band Becoming The Archetype continue to helm a battleship of brutality that combines conviction with talent, grassroots craze with an international following as well as an epic metal sound with melodic progressions. With sticks ready for battle, BTA drummer Duck took some time to share his perspective on life, music and chasing the dream.

Interview with We Move Mountains With a blistering blend of beauty and brutality, We Move Mountains besets their fans with bowel rumbling breakdowns, blood curdling bellows and get-your-booty-moving melodically interwoven beats. Their message is sincere and overall positive as their music continues to mature with the members of the band. Hailing from Maple Valley, WA, We Move Mountains is continuing to build on their foundation of musical innovation through the release of their debut album “Brought Up In A Hurricane.”

Interview with City of God City of God is a five piece collaboration of aspiring musicians rising from within the local Portland, Oregon music scene to pursue their dreams of global hardcore dominance.

Interview with Bring Me Solace While Bring Me Solace is fairly new to launch upon the Portland area melodic/progressive metal scene, it doesn’t take long for fans to recognize the degree to which these gentlemen are dedicated to developing their sound. Blending technical savvy with dynamic metal and lyrics pregnant with philosophical pursuits, these Portland based musicians are preparing to release their debut EP “Nomadic Refuge.”

Interview with Mourning For Memories Mourning For Memories is a Washougal, WA based thrash/hardcore band that is bringing a positive message in a heavy package.

Review: Bradley Hathaway – A Thousand Angry Panthers Hathaway has long been known for his prowess as a lyricist, having showcased his talents as a poet while touring with some of the largest names in the indie rock and hardcore scenes across the country. Panthers utilizes periods of tonal monotony consistent with vocal trends in the folk underground as this four song EP expresses an emotic range that toys with shades of serene acoustic elegance while building towards its anthematic yet tempered finale.

Hurdcore Recap 2010 Part 4

Applying the hurdcore.com spin to album reviews, band bios and artist interviews. Covering local metal, hip-hop and indie artists and events from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California, Illinois and far beyond. Interviews with local bands posted every Sunday, friend us on myspace and join us facebook.

What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, but loses his soul? - Jesus

Hurdcore.com interviewed the Medford, Oregon metal heads of Tallboy earlier this year on the eave of the release of their debut full length album, This Logic Will Destroy Us. As a reconnect to the band and this latest release, hurdcore offers ONE MORE w/ Tallboy (Metal – Medford, OR) or you can read the full interview with Tallboy 2011. This Logic carries a bit of rework on a few classics from their previous EP and an onslaught of new material, capturing the speed, angst and skill that has made Tallboy a fan favorite on stages throughout the state of Oregon. Catch a hard copy of This Logic Will Destroy Us at local distributors in Medford, digital copies online or catch them live.

One unforgettable experience as a performer that taught me volumes about music… Playing with Papa Roach was an incredible experience. They are an extremely personable and professional bunch. Strangest place that you draw inspiration from? Going to the store with my son and people watching. Humanity never ceases to amaze me. Most bizarre thing that happened to you during a show? I’d have to say it was the highly intoxicated headbanging fan girl who kept hitting me in the crotch with her flailing hair while I was onstage. Currently reading…baby food nutrition facts. This Interview! Currently watching…Big Bang Theory, Cartoons, and various cooking shows, The News. Top 5 songs in my personal ipod right now? Stone Temple Pilots – Crackerman; Five Finger Death Punch – Far From Home; Tool – Aenima; Killswitch Engage – End of Heartache; Billy Joel – Piano Man. Any crazy pre-performance rituals? Duct taping on my shoes and shorts. What has performing music taught you about life and music that you didn’t see as clearly before? Singing is such a personal experience. It has taught me courage and responsibility to our fans. I’ve learned to accept all forms of opinions – whether positive or negative, they all have helped shape us into what we are today

Where will “This Logic Will Destroy Us” be available for fans to purchase (will it be on iTunes)? Yes, the album will be on ITunes as well as locally. Our awesome sponsors, the Bomb Shelter, Play’N'Trade, and The Store will all have the CD for sale. Hopefully you will be able to find it at Best Buy also!

Tallboy – Metal (Medford, Oregon) is: Jimmy Roberts, Angel Alvarez, Kevin Kaufman, Brandon Cregan, Justin Bullen. You can find Tallboy through Facebook, Myspace, cdBaby, Reverb Nation, iTunes… Their debut full length album, This Logic Will Destroy Us is available in hardcopy locally and digitally almost everywhere.

Hurdcore.com is “fans supporting local music.” Reppin’ local by teaming with artists, fans and venues to celebrate local efforts. Hurdcore covers metal, hip-hop, pop and rock from Eugene to Seattle to Davenport and beyond. Stay tuned to hurdcore.com, friend us on myspace and join us facebook.

The Kingdom of God is near! Turn from your sins and believe this Good News!” - Jesus

Jew Jersey has long been recognized as one of the fertile grounds for developing hip hop talent, that said growing up in such an established arena does not mean every performer who tags himself as “rapper” will realize his dreams. While many rail against “the scene” it is the proving grounds upon which every artist must begin his grind, or as stated by our latest interviewee, hip hop artist GDP, “If you’re a rapper and it is seeming like an uphill battle, maybe that hill is trying to tell you something.” GDP has worked with hip hop allstars the likes of Young Zee, RZA and Wu Tang while also building a diverse following with the punk hardcore scene working with bands such as Trap Them and Blacklisted. GDP’s latest full length album Useless Eaters (Run For Cover Records) is infused with lyrical depth and fistfuls of sass with an honest perspective that lurches on the dark side. Teaming again with long time collaborator and fellow Slangcorp alumnus Pistol, GDP prepares to skate and perform through America as his latest tour brings him into Portland, Oregon at the Ash Street Saloon on April 21, 2011. Special thanks to Jerry Graham @ The Musebox for setting up this interview and continuing to promote local music.

What does GDP stand for?
GDP: Getting Donkey Punched

Growing up in New Jersey were you always around good hip hop and encouraged in your performance pursuits or is rap and uphill battle in your hometown?
GDP: I was around a lot of good hip hop growing up, Newark is a hip hop mecca as far as I’m concerned. I am fortunate enough to make music with some of my earliest influences out of Jersey. If you’re a rapper and it is seeming like an uphill battle, maybe that hill is trying to tell you something.

Do you remember the first artist/album that grabbed your attention and set you down the path of hip hop?
GDP: I got into hip hop really young. I remember The Box was a local television station that you would call in and pay like $2.95 to request a video and then they’d play it. Got into a lot of cool music that way. My man Papi Pere’z older brother Jacob was always playing Nas, Wu Tang, The Fugees were huge when I was in elementary school, by middle school I started really doing my research.

You recently completed the “Fxxx The World Tour” – are you an equal opportunity hater or are there certain people/things that set you off?
GDP: GDP is committed to equal hate opportunity without unlawful regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, predisposing genetic characteristic, gender identity, gender expression, domestic violence victim status, military or marital status or arrest/conviction records.

As you travel, what have been some of the most inspiring and/or fun places to perform hip hop?
GDP: California is always a fun time, Canada is beautiful, New Mexico too. Looking forward to Oregon round 2, last time show got ruined and it was a lot of driving but I skated Mt. Hood and it was sick. Getting to ride my skateboard in new places is also excellent.

Your latest album “Useless Eaters” has been described as a loose concept album touching on the end of society. Is the album apocalyptic or more your take on what is wrong with things?
GDP: A little bit of both, not complaining just explaining. Humans are a selfish breed and we deserve whatever we have coming to us.

The album is the upside down cathedral, you have a song “No Gods” and your personal website is embedded with 666 – do you and religion have a history?
GDP: Me and religion go way back. Ever since I realized Santa wasn’t real I knew I wanted to go to hell.

How did you get involved with Slangcorp and what made this rap-pack a good fit for you?
GDP: It was just the next logical step as Division East Records was about winding down. Peace to Division East. Pistol put the pieces together on Slangcorp, connected the dots if you will. We were all friends and collaborators beforehand and now Slangcorp is where we showcase that. Go to Slangcorp.com for some of the best hip hop music available.

You are pretty open through your music about drug use, when did drugs become a part of the life cycle for you?
GDP: Everything is a drug; oxygen, opium, water, whiskey. Pick your poison.

What is your approach to writing, composing and producing music – what are you trying to accomplish with your brand of hip hop?
GDP: The songwriting process is different every time but my approach is ferocious. What I’m trying to accomplish is total world domination.

What do you see as the main disconnect(s) between commercialized candy rap and real hip hop?
GDP: Technology has really blurred the line between the ‘mainstream’ and the ‘underground’. I try not to concern myself with those sort of things and I know neither do the people I make music with. Popularity has never been an indicator of talent or ability in terms of artistic expression but perhaps the main difference is that the commercial cats are making ends meet off ghost-wrote garbage while some of the best rappers I have ever heard are living like paupers.

GDP (Hip Hop – Newark, NJ) recently released his latest full length album “Useless Eaters” on Run For Cover Records. Keep up to date with GDP and NJ local hip hop through slangcorp.com.

Local bands, artists and events from Northwest and Midwest. Hurdcore.com is promoting local music, art, entertainment and related news from our base in Eugene, Oregon and Moline, Illinois. Whether hardcore, punk, indie or rap. Check in throughout the week, friend us on myspace and join us facebook.

Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. Proverbs 3:3

As a follow up to our full length interview with The Ghost Inside , hurdcore.com offers this encore follow up with TGI vocalist Jonathan Vigil. If the you missed the interview in its entirety The Ghost Inside Interview from late 2010 fresh off their tours stops in the Northwest and the release of their full length album Returners on Mediaskare Records.

If you had the orb of metal regeneration, what local band from your younger days as a LA scene kid would you resurrect? The Misfits. I know they aren’t from LA but I would love to see them at their prime with Danzig all scary and stuff. So sweet. The first CD that I purchased was…? The Offspring – Smash. For me music is… Expression. Current trend in music/scene that bugs me…? Elitism. Currently reading My iPod. Currently watching All the Harry Potters over again in anticipation for the new one coming out. Favorite movie? Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind. Top 5 songs in my personal ipod right now? Taken from my top plays on my iTunes: Deftones – Diamond Eyes; A Loss For Words – Stamp Of Approval; The Format – The First Single; Break Even – October 27th; The Spill Canvas – All Over You. Any crazy pre-performance rituals? Getting naked in the trailer putting on show clothes together. Haha. When I am on the road the comfort/food/thing I miss most is…? My bed. My Friends. My Family.

The Ghost Inside (Metalcore – Los Angeles, CA) is: Johnathan Vigil – Lead Vocals; Aaron Brooks – Guitars, Backing Vocals; Zach Johnson – Guitars, Backing Vocals; KC Stockbridge – Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals; Jim Riley – Bass, Backing Vocals. Their latest full length album “Returners” is available on Mediaskare Records.

Hurdcore.com is “fans supporting local music.” Reppin’ local by teaming with artists, fans and venues to celebrate local efforts. Hurdcore covers metal, hip-hop, pop and rock from Eugene to Seattle to Davenport and beyond. Stay tuned to hurdcore.com, friend us on myspace and join us facebook.

The Kingdom of God is near! Turn from your sins and believe this Good News!” - Jesus