Life is full of twists and turns, when the road narrows or throws extra bumps in the path you quickly discover the boundaries of your own ambition as well as the commitment of those around you. Skill alone is not enough to reach the top. Desire by itself will not open doors. As a band approaches the sweet spot where skill, desire and a combined resolve to weather whatever curves may come, then that band begins to climb past the low hanging fruit of convenience and begins the uphill climb of opening doors of opportunity. As the name presumably hints upon, the members of And Came Back Brutal have seen their share of personal and professional trials in the course that has brought them this far. With some serious attention from labels such as Artery, And Came Back Brutal is hard at work to prove they have the drive and talent to make a serious run at bringing some Bearcore into the heavy music scene.

You’ve Recently garnered the attention of labels such as Artery, how did you get hooked up with them and on their radar?
Scott Gallagher (Vocals): I know Artery from when my dad, who is also the manager for our band, represented my sister when she was taking pictures for a lot of local and touring bands for the label. She landed a big gig from Artery and Drop Dead Gorgeous, taking their website and CD photos for Worse Than A Fairy Tale project. We’ve stayed in contact ever since.

What has the process of showcasing for a label been like?
SG: It’s been frustrating at times cuz it’s such a hurry up and wait kind of deal. Playing at the right places with the right people watching took a long time to get us our showcase show. Our manager started working on it a year and a half before we got our first break at the showcase. At Artery’s invite, we recently opened up for the Unearth and Carnifex show and it looks like we will be doing more locally and in Nor Cal with them. During that waiting time, we had to be ready to play at a moment’s notice for any shows that would open up that would help us get our name out and hopefully draw more interest to the band. Bands have to network to build the fan base cuz at the end of the day, that’s what the label wants to see…..big turnouts at your show.

I know your dad has been one of your biggest fans, how huge is that for you to have the full backing of your family?
SG: Its been a big to have the support. Our whole family is involved in music one way or another and we all support each other. Most parents don’t see this genre of music as being anything productive or useful. I love the support and can remember telling my dad I was going to be in a band when I was 12 years old.

ACBB is your second venture birthing from a split of your previous band, did your first incarnation end on good terms?
SG: Yes and no. It was awkward but not terrible. There was not much cohesiveness there.

What did you learn from that experience and how have you kept momentum with forming a new band?
SG: I learned to deal with it as a business instead of personally period!

You’ve been tweaking your line-up, who is And Came Back Brutal and is there any significance to the name?
SG: The significance is we’ve all been a part of some bad bands and some failed experiences in life and just felt that we were ready to take back, put on a new skin and come back brutal.

You all have taken to the label of Bearcore, how did this get started?
SG: We have different types of genres within our own music, the primary genre involves death metal which generally ends on a downbeat, and death core which ends on an upbeat and the background of all of that is we have what we like to call BroMetal which usually has the same rhythmic patterns. When we see the crowd dancing to our music and following the natural rhythm moving their hands to the bobbing rhythms up and down it reminded us of a bear standing with arms up and bobbing it’s head. It was just spontaneously birthed at our 2nd or 3rd concert and stuck.

Where do you grab inspiration for your writing – what are some of your sources outside of the umbrella of hardcore?
SG: We don’t write under typical hardcore. We are inspired by hip-hop as much as we are by any other metal bands. I’m inspired by the emotion and energy of bands like The Acacia Strain, Coheed and Cambria, and The Hives. As far as lyrics, I write about the side of Christianity that we as Christians don’t like to talk about. We can be a very brutally judgmental people. I also feel like I have to write about stuff that kids think about but won’t talk about.

You recently got to go behind the scenes with Chris Penne of Coheed and Cambria, how did that come about and what was that like?
SG: My Dad met him through a project at his work. Once my dad meets someone, he tries to stay in contact with them and such was the case with Chris. He invited us to be a guest at a Coheed show in San Francisco last year. We were able to spend some time talking about the music process and what I could expect along the way. He has checked out our music and has given some feedback which is cool cuz he is on the road so much. Honestly, it was awesome to meet Chris. He’s been one of my idols since Jr High and I have to say he is one of the nicest guys you would ever get to meet.

Youve got incredible range in your vocals, going from straight guttural to serpentine without and strain, what have you found works best to prepare your voice for the strain of hardcore?
SG: Mongolian throat singing is a great exercise. It’s where this type of vocal originated. I’ve been practicing since I was twelve years old and taking it slow along the way. Too many singers blow out their voice before they even get started. I’ve tried to experiment with the different sounds and body positions that it takes to support the range. Also, I want my stage voice to sound like our recorded tracks so it stays consistent.

There are some big shows coming up and I believe you mentioned working on recording as well, what do you have in the works and what are you looking forward to in Summer of 2010?
SG: Yeah we are excited about our future. Artery has given us some direction to where they would like to see us in the spring, so we are working with them to book more shows opening up for the national bands that come through Sacramento as well as booking shows on our own. We are hoping to get picked up on a tour and who knows, maybe one of the bands reading this will dig our stuff and make us that offer.

And Came Back Brutal (Hardcore – Sacramento, CA) is: Scott – Vox; Marc – Guitar; Peter – 7 String Leads; Will – Bass; Eric – Drums. Check the ACBB Myspace for music, concert dates and news.

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

As The Ghost Inside storms into the Northwest on the final leg of their headlining American Tour with First Blood, A Loss For Words, Deez Nuts and Hundreth before hopping the pond to tear through Europe. For those who have come away fans of what The Ghost Inside can produce with just 1 week in the studio, imagine what this band can accomplish with some experience under their belts and three times the studio session. With the recent release of their ode-to-the-road inspired full length release of Returners on Mediaskare Records, fans will again be rocked, challenged and inspired by the grit of this LA based metal quintet. Catch them Nov 7th in Boise at Mardi Gras and Nov 12th in Porltand at Branx. Special thanks to Jerry Graham of Warm Fuzzy Publicity for setting this interview up with TGI vocalist Jonathan Vigil.

Soon you are off to yet another European tour, what has surprised you the most about fans overseas?
Jonathan Vigil (Vocals): Probably their enthusiasm. Fans in Europe and Australia will line up before the show even starts, run up to the front row, and be the last ones to leave. They genuinely love overseas bands and it’s awesome.

Is there a meaning behind the name The Ghost Inside?
JV: No, we just needed a name and that was the only name out of a few hundred that just stuck with us. Haha.

I know the first song that I heard of your was “Faith Or Forgiveness,” which also happens to be your most played song on Myspace with well over 1.5 million plays. Is this your most recognizable song to date? What do you think makes this song stand out to fans?
JV: Yeah. I think it being our first real “single” and the fact that it was our first music video, that it stuck with people.

If I understand right your signing with Mediaskare began when you were still A Dying Dream, as The Ghost Inside did you resign or did Mediaskare stick with you through the transition?
JV: Mediaskare was fully behind the name change. Baron [the owner] was very enthusiastic about the new sound, and the new name. And he’s pushed us very hard since then.

“Returners” hit earlier this year, what did you learn from the process of recording, producing and releasing this album?
JV: We learned that having more time in the studio is a lot nicer haha. We only had a week to record our first record [Fury And The Fallen Ones] whereas we had a little over 3 weeks to record Returners.

In the sleeve of your album you’ve included briefs on each song which creates a much more personal perspective to the lyrics, how important is it to you that fans are able to dig in and take something positive from your music?
JV: It’s the number 1 most important thing to me. I feel like if you have the ability to reach people, that you should have something to say that people can either take with them, or a lesson they can learn to save them from harm. Inspiring people will always go a lot further than songs about violence and hatred. Plus, growing up in the hardcore/punk/metal scene, it always means so much more to me to sing along to a song and I know what it’s about. Lyrics are a big deal to me.

Obviously the band has changed literally with new members, but how has your approach to music and life evolved since the genesis of this band?
JV: I think we’ve just been able to mature over time. When you start touring, and playing full time its real fun but you learn little tricks of the trade along the way to make touring a lot easier on everyone. We are 5 very strong personalities on stage on off, so to balance that in and out of our music to create a better aesthetic for the band comes with time. And I feel like we’re at a good place musically, professionally and personally.

For your song “Through The Cracks” you mention that nothing stays the same and include, “Dear God, my world is ending. As quickly as it starts, everything is gone. And everything went wrong. I’ve spent so much time trying to live the lie.” What are the best and worst aspects of being a professional musician?
JV: The best part by far is traveling. Getting to see the world, meeting friends in every city, state or country you go to. Going to places that most people only get to dream of and not only going there, but playing for people as well. It’s an incredible experience and a great honor for us all. Worst part for me is how stagnant your personal life becomes. You always leave for tour, come back home, and see that your friends and family have progressed more and more and you are in the exact same place you were when you left. That is essentially what our album RETURNERS is all about.

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.

Music news, reviews and interviews posted weekly at hurdcore.com. Partnering with artists, fans and venues to fan the flames of local ambition. Hurdcore supports local rock, pop, hip-hop and metal from Northwest to the Midwest. Keep reppin’ local, friend us on myspace and join us facebook.

There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. – Proverbs 14:12

Challenges in life often are defining moments. When a band goes through a series of transitions it can seriously challenge the tenure and stability of a band, either derailing cohesion or opening the group to a new realm of exploration as they rebuild. Sickciety is taking their own blue collar nature and fusing that with a workman’s metal to craft a sound that resonates within their local scene. The dudes of Sickciety have weathered their share of highs and lows in life as well as music to arrive at this moment where they are knocking at the door of releasing their first album. For hurdcore.com this is a first as we are excited to introduce our first fan inspired/requested interview. Big thanks to the active scene fans in Medford, Oregon as well as the gathering of metalheads that is Sickciety.

There have been some significant changes to the faces of Sickciety, was this a trial that you feel will ultimately make the band stronger?
SICK Of course it will we had to weed out those with commitment issues.

Two of your songs “Creep You Out” and “Weirdo Freak” seem to be pretty personal, are these about or aimed at individuals or more generic observations?
SICK Yes, both songs are very personal almost everything that we write are personal observations in our lives.

Sickciety is headed to (or in) the studio, what do you have planned for this album?
SICK This album is going to define us. I mean as musicians and people and we plan on doing something completely different and have an album where not every song sounds the same.

There is metal and then there metal, Sickciety has that bare knuckles vibe where metal has been a part of the fabric of your lives from early on. If we took a time machine back to the metal roots of Sickciety would we find little metal heads running around in leopard stripes and mullets?
SICK More like a trench coat and combat boots but hiding a Winger album also some of us would have the ripped jeans and a Metallica t-shirt on too tight.

Most music fans in Oregon are aware or at least hear the rumbles of great things emerging from Medford, for those who haven’t experienced your scene what are some of the coolest things you see rising from your midst?
SICK Definitely meeting other cool bands on our local scene. We’re glad to have made friends with Tallboy and everybody knows they are completely blowing the scene up also watching some of these young high school bands like the Abyss and seeing them grow as a band also glad to see that there are a lot more venues to play at.

Sickciety appears to be a blend of sick and society, is this accurate? Is this a political statement of sorts or is there more/less to it?
SICK Yes, it is basically a play on words. We had a list of band names tried out several and Sickciety was the one that grew on us the most

What do you see when you observe our society and how are you using music to help turn the tides?
SICK We see it like this, what society lacks today is heart and pride as well as toughness. I try to put all that into every song and who knows maybe it will spark something in someone. Also letting people know that there are others that suffer and feel the same things that they do so maybe when they are down and hear our music it makes them realize that they are not alone.

What has performing music taught you about life that you didn’t see as clearly before?
SICK I’ve learned that everywhere you go there are rules, regulations, trends and things that bind but with music there is none of that. Music is free form, it gives you back the things we lose as children and you can be whatever you want. Its also a great way to express everything you are feeling and get out inner frustration.

Sickciety is (Metal – Medford, Oregon): Alan G. – vocals; Randy – lead guitar; Rick – bass; Matt Edelmen – guitar; Mike Gutierezz – drums. Check out info on their upcoming album, shows and other news at the Sickciety Myspace

Interviews with local bands posted every Sunday. Hurdcore.com is working with artists, fans and venues to promote music events from Portland to Spokane to Chicago. Whether hardcore, punk, indie or rap. Check in throughout the week, friend us on myspace and join us facebook.

I have come to call sinners to turn from their sins, not to spend my time with those who think they are already good enough. – Jesus

As We Move Mountains prepares for the CD RELEASE of their debut LP this Friday (10/22/10) at Manfest 2.0, we take this opportunity to catch an interview blitz with WMM bassist Nate. The album, Brought Up In A Hurricane, is this band’s shogun challenge to the scene underlings nibbling at the periphery of authenticity, as BUIAH is distinctly raw in the fashion that fans have come to love with indications of growth that will propel We Move Mountains far beyond their local scene in Maple Valley, Washington. Catch the full hurdcore.com INTERVIEW with vocalist Zesty and read the hurdcore.com REVIEW of WMM’s debut LP Brought Up In A Hurricane.

One of our songs that personally means a lot to me? “Sleight of hand”. I means a lot to me because the lyrics really apply to every person in our band. I really can’t help but get into the music because i think its really powerful and just good. If I had an extra $1000, the first piece of equipment I would purchase for the band is A bass cab. I play music because I love music. A lot of people say ” music is my life, without it my life would end.” Not to sound stupid and dramatic like them but I really just love music and love playing it and without it I really don’t know what i would do. Current trend in music/scene that bugs me…All of the bands that think having a bunch of hot dudes in their band makes their music good. Currently reading – I Was So Mad by Mercer Mayer. Currently watching – Breaking Bad. Favorite movie – The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Top 5 songs in my personal iPod right now 1.) “Glass Arrows” – Circa Survive; 2.) “Laces Out Dan” – The Fall of Troy; 3.)”Its Not Safe to Swim Today” – Veil of Maya; 4.) “Mea Culpa” – The Human Abstract; 5.) “Bone Marrow” – Protest the Hero. Any crazy pre-performance rituals? “BIG GAY BALLSACK!” Craziest thing that happened to you during a show? Honestly, once my strap fell off.

[10/22/10] 7PM We Move Mountains @ MANFEST 2.0 (WMM CD Release Show for Debut Album Brought Up In A Hurricane!) HUGE SHOW! – FOOD, MUSIC & HUGE RAFFLES @ Warehouse 91 – 21415 Maple Valley Highway in Maple Valley, WA 98038

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

Harnessing their instruments as ramrods to shatter surface assumptions now entrenched within the conventions of heavy music, Ashlynn is emerging from the foundational layers of their regional scene to unleash their blend of Northwest positive post-hardcore. With the 2010 release of their 5 song debut EP The Existence, Ashlynn continues to build upon their own acclaim while rising with a network of local artists committed to elevating their scene. Hailing from Kelso, Washington these 5 young met are thrashing stages and inciting crowds with danceable beats that carry a distinct edge.

Kendall doubles as player and manager, working with AAP Booking & Management to promote local music throughout Washington and Oregon. What have been some of the key lessons for you in mastering the business side of music at the local level?
Kendall (guitar/vocals) Well I have made a lot of mistakes, and I am still learning so much everyday! But ever since I started playing music I have been booking shows for all my previous bands so its just kinda normal now. But everyone’s experience is so much different when it comes to this kind of thing. I have had good times and really bad times as well. The best thing I can say is, “Just go big!” And learn along the way.

Your debut EP “The Existence” recently dropped, is this simple title an invitation to a hunting party whose participants wrestle through questions of origin and purpose or is the theme significantly more modest than that?
Alex (vocals) I do a lot of thinking and searching my own life when I write. The title is based more around the concept of my writing. Every one of our songs contains a positive message as well as a lot of hidden metaphorical stuff. And I feel very strongly about the things I write about “The Existence” to me, is the passion “existing” within our music.

If you were summoned by the galactic heavy music tribunal to represent your sub-sector of the hardcore genre, what would you propose as the core tenants of post-hardcore?
Kendall As musicians who come from all different musical backgrounds, we don’t really work inside the boundaries of one genre or another. To be honest we couldn’t really tell you what we consider ourselves to be because we just play what feels right. But to answer your question, We feel that the post hardcore label, for us anyway, is to contain aspects of a heavy feel while still giving the listener something ambient or “catchy” to grab hold of.

Ashlynn brings plenty of heavy for fans to dance to but also mixes in elements of harmony and alt-pop, what about your approach and delivery makes your sound unique?
Kendall This is where our different musical backgrounds come into play. Our singer’s vocal style is much different for the music that is very popular in the scene today. We feel our sound hints at a modern style and structure but has a dreamy/ambient feel as the forefront.

Ashlynn

Mikinzi | Myspace Video

From whence does the name Ashlynn derive?
Kendall We were all sitting down one day trying to come up with a band name and “Ashlynn” accidentally came out and it stuck from the start.

“We Are Walls,” has a line which states, “We will never fail if we never try.” What is the inspiration and message of this song?
Alex I approached this song from a sort of “Anthematic” stand point. Being that I wanted a song that got the listener involved by saying “We” and “us”. When people feel that something needs to change, they can’t complain about it if they themselves havn’t tried or voiced their own opinions. That is kind of the quick explanation of what the song means to me.

Playing in a band is a sexy thing to do, yet the truth is that to be this sexy requires a lot of hard work. What do you do as a band to keep the machine running when the energy isn’t automatic?
Kendall Well it really wasn’t a problem until we hit the road for a couple of weeks on our west coast tour. We always had our eyes out for truck stops to shower but even then we didn’t always get to bath, so we always had hats and heavy clothing (Mainly in the night time or when it wasn’t to hot) to cover up the greasy hair and the bad smell. But to be honest half the time we where on tour we still probably where not looking very good haha.

There appears to be a move in music to join with causes or to support certain movements, how important is it to the members of Ashlynn that your music impacts the scene/people around you with something positive?
Kendall Its very important! We are always sending a positive message in our songs. We are not involved with any specific group or organization but we are always trying to set an example and push not only ourselves but our fans and supporters to follow their dreams and be the best that they can be. We also believe that our lives have been bettered with the love and acceptance of Jesus Christ and we try to show that to as much people as possible. We don’t preach or anything and we are all far from perfect, but if the moment and environment is appropriate, we will share how much of an impact God has made on our lives and in our music. But when Alex is writing lyrics he does have a deep thought about what he is saying and is always sending a positive message! So we are always trying to reach out and connect with our fans and let them know that anything is possible and that they are a big reason that we are where we are.

What’s next for Ashlynn, what are you looking forward to as we enter the final months of 2010?
Kendall Overall we are trying to expand our fanbase to everyone and anyone possible! We are also writing new music and will be recording two new songs here soon to start promoting our next EP or LP and to start planning our next tour, maybe make a music video and start shopping and selling ourselves to buisnesses and organizations. We feel our new songs were written much better and have potential to be accepted by many people of all kinds! We are also adding more little things to our live set, like a new intro, interludes and getting more in sync with each other with our performance.

Ashlynn (Post Hardcore – Kelso, WA) is: Alex Johnson – Vocals; Kendall Johns – Guitar/Vocals; Joel Rambo – Guitar/Keys; Dave Thomas – Bass and Grant Rinker – Drums.

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

The young men of We Move Mountains, through hard work and an uniquely deepening intimacy with their fans, have carved for themselves a blossoming legacy of invigorating melodic hardcore. As they prepare for the CD RELEASE of their debut LP this Friday (10/22/10) at Manfest 2.0, we take this opportunity to catch an interview blitz with WMM vocalist Zesty. The album, Brought Up In A Hurricane, will continue the blistering blend of beauty and brutality of WMM which has made the band a local scene favorite. Catch the full hurdcore.com INTERVIEW with vocalist Zesty and read the hurdcore.com REVIEW of WMM’s debut LP Brought Up In A Hurricane.

One of our songs that personally means a lot to me… A Structure, An Offering because the song deals with me seeing my dream to the end, no matter how high the chances of failure are. If I had an extra $1000, the first piece of equipment I would purchase for the band is… A van!!! I play music because… It makes me the happiest guy on earth whether Michael Jackson is screaming in my ear or I’m screaming my heart out on stage with my best friends. Current trend in music/scene that bugs me… Jesi Slaughter. Currently reading? Ender’s Game, again.
Currently watching? Just finished Arrested Development, now The Office all the way through for the seventh time, then the new season of Weeds. Favorite movie?I love That Thing You Do, Sneakers and Back To The Future. Top 5 songs in my personal iPod… Peacock Skeleton with Crooked Feathers by The Blood Brothers; The Companionless and the Contortionist by …And The Sirens Sang; Another Ocean by Michigan Rex; Invade by Within The Ruins; Icarus Lives by Periphery. Any crazy pre-performance rituals? Naw, just vocal warmups! No eating because I get sick and burp a lot or Caffeine because I crash. Craziest thing that happened to you during a show? Every single nosebleed I’ve had onstage. Once, it happened at Studio 7 and the security lady yelled at me! Instruments of choice for WMM? Grape-anade!

[10/22/10] 7PM We Move Mountains @ MANFEST 2.0 (WMM CD Release Show for Debut Album Brought Up In A Hurricane!) HUGE SHOW! – FOOD, MUSIC & HUGE RAFFLES @ Warehouse 91 – 21415 Maple Valley Highway in Maple Valley, WA 98038

Music news, reviews and interviews posted weekly at hurdcore.com. Partnering with artists, fans and venues to fan the flames of local ambition. Hurdcore supports local rock, pop, hip-hop and metal from Northwest to the Midwest. Keep reppin’ local, friend us on myspace and join us facebook.

There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. – Proverbs 14:12

Hailing from the rock rich and rain soaked Seattle indie music scene, Jordan Riley seeks to utilize his talents as a singer/songwriter to positively impact the Northwest with his own blend of upbeat pop rock. As Jordan prepares to release his debut album Identity Crisis, he shares some of the background for his life and message in this exclusive hurdcore.com interview.

You noted in February of this year that you had been MIA for a bit, in a “postcard to mom” summary, what was your time away about?
Jordan Riley After doing over 500 shows around the USA I really needed to take a break. It wasn’t that I was burnt out, rather I just really wanted to take some time to find my inspiration for my album. It was also during this time away that I got the chance to buy my first house and I spent like all my time on it, so it was a good time to just live life for a while.

You hail from musically rich and yet desolate ground, as the Seattle area has birthed the likes of Nirvana, Soundgarden, Death Cab for Cutie (so many more) while also witnessing its share of rock tragedy such as the deaths of Kurt Cobain and Layne Staley. What have you seen as far as music’s ability to effect people’s lives positively and negatively?
JR I have seen firsthand how music effects peoples moods and emotions. Even at my concerts I have seen how music can take someone back to an amazing place in time or can bring them down and remind them of a hurtful past experience. Also while on tour on the east coast a few years ago I was told how there was this lady that was contemplating suicide and she happened to put in my CD in her car and God got through to her and she chose to live and did not go through with it.

What are some of the key struggles that you are hearing from the people you minister to and how have you seen Jesus become the answer in the lives of individuals?
JR The real struggle for people that I see seems to be, what is real and what can people believe in these days. There is so much hurt and pain out there and people are looking for answers and Truth. I have seen that by people simply being real and transparent other people who are struggling find the ability to trust. Its when we are all fake and pretend that everything is well that we end up messing stuff up.

A new Jordan Riley album is on the way, what is the feel and theme you are working on for this release?
JR My album IDENTITY CRISIS is about real life. I decided to no write about fluffy christian stuff that most people cant identify with. I wanted to talk about the good, the band, and the ugly. In this album I deal with my hurt from my past and how i worked through my pain. My hope is that people can relate to some of the things that i went through.

What was your journey into performing as a profession?
JR Well to be honest, still to this day I am surprised that I am a professional Christian Rock singer. I grew up super shy and had zero self confidence. In fact at age 12 my aunt and uncle told me I couldn’t sing and started laughing at me, which tore me up inside. It really was a God thing to take me from a place of hiding in the shadows all the time, to being on stage in front of people all across the country.

Is music the ministry for Jordan Riley Ministries or just one of the heads for this Balaur of good news?
JR I always say that Jordan Riley Ministries is “more than just music” because it really is. Music is simply the vehicle that gets the band and I to be able to come to a city. Yes we put on a concert, and yes we rock, and yes we entertain, but we want people to meet Jesus one on one at the concert. We hope that people come to our shows and have a great time and during the night begin to want what we have, and begin to get real with things in their own lives. I also do a lot of speaking around the country too, so my desire is that Jordan Riley Ministries is very versatile.

As you embark on this mission to share Jesus through life and music, what do you do to keep your faith fresh?
JR I have learned over the years that in order to keep my faith fresh i need to do a few things: A) Take myself less serious and take Jesus more serious. B) Surround myself with other strong Christians who will encourage me and keep me accountable. C) Spend a lot of time just praising God, because when you thank and worship the Lord you take the focus of yourself.

Who in your life helps to inspire you and hold you accountable to the course you believe God has called you to?
JR The four guys in my band are like my accountability partners as well as my producer, who has become a mentor/spiritual dad to me, not to mention the pastors at my church. As far as my biggest sources of inspiration, they tend to be my friends and just the people and experiences that God brings into my life. Because I tend to write songs that reflect or are about my direct experiences I look to the things that God allows me to go through as an inspiration.

Jordan Riley band is: Singer/Songwriter – Jordan Riley; Drums – Jimmy; Guitar – DJ; Keys – Vaughn; Bass – Zhaun. Keep up to date with Jordan Riley at his website or follow on facebook.

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

From the rumble of the guitars to the blitz of cymbals and the beastly screams you’d swear this was a musical assault being produced by fully bearded lumberjacks thundering with axes at the ready through a ripe forest only to discover that these young Quad Cities, Illinois natives at the helm of Searching For Security are men in the making. While some rail against the onslaught of youngsters flooding the music scene, the internet and technology have created an environment where music is truly in the hands of the artists as the grip of traditional music sources is loosening. Whether the evolution of the music industry is altogether the best for all involved is still up for debate, but for those who love to create and listen to music the opportunities are endless. As the universe seeks equilibrium, for every abhorrent evil the likes of Justin Beiber the music gods balance the scales with young brutality emerging to steer a generation in the right direction. Searching For Secruity guitarist Jason Hartley took some time for an exclusive interview with hurdcore.com, we share this with you as they prepare to release their debut EP “Amongst Ruin” with Fidelity Entertainment Group.

In the immortal words of Derek Zoolander, “Moisture is the essence of wetness. Wetness is the essence of beauty.” What is the essence of metal?
Jason Hartley (Guitar) This is always an interesting question, because everybody’s viewpoint of what makes metal is different, for us we enjoy a good breakdown as well as good screaming vocals and moving guitar lines. Or just aggressive music in general.

What is the meaning behind your name, Searching For Security?
JH Our name comes from what we believe man struggles with most, finding security in life. Whether it be through having a good job, being financially set, having a lot of friends, or having faith in something.

November of last year you signed with Fidelity Entertainment Group, how has this partnership helped you as a band?
JH They have done so much for us. They have helped us become more organized, learn how to talk to venues and get guarantees, tour opportunities, produced our first E.P. helping us to give it all to the record and really come out with something we are so proud of and we believe our fans will be proud of.

There have been several members in and out recently of SFS recently and you all have had to take some time to dig deep and decide whether you would all continue with Searching For Security. How has this process strengthened your relationships and the vision of the band?
JH Well like any band we went through some rough times, and it came to the point where we did have to step back and figure out if it was worth it and decide what we would do to fix it. After our guitarist Andrew Cato left we had trouble filling that void. We tried many solutions including Carl switching to guitar and our friend Tyler Mills playing bass. Also we tried becoming a 4 piece with Carl playing guitar and Aris playing bass while screaming. But in the end we picked up Merry Hooligan’s old Guitarist Mikey and its been great since then. He really fits the part well. Through our struggles we have become closer to each other and to our God who blessed us with this band and gives us our drive and purpose. Allowing us now to come back stronger than ever, and ready to hit the ground running.

In any organization there is a constant struggle to get all players working for the same thing, at the same time with the same passion. In your experience as a band and observing others in the music world, what are some of the biggest obstacles to maturing into a cohesive unit?
JH Very good question. The number one thing that we agree on is our purpose, which is playing in this band for God. We believe he gave us our talents and passion for our music and has blessed us with many opportunities with Fidelity, opening for bigger bands, as well as role models to help guide us. We believe if we didn’t do this for God it would be a waste of our time. This purpose itself causes some issues whether it be from churches saying you can’t be a Christian band and play this style of music, or atheists saying you cant be Christian band in this style. We have learned to overcome this by constant prayer and fan support.

What is the current roster for SFS?
JH Our Current roster is: Aris Hess – Vocals; Cole Elliott – Drums & Vocals; Carl Pierce – Bass; Jason Hartley – Guitar; Mikey Youngs – Guitar.

“Amongst Ruin” is currently in the production phase, is there a theme or concept behind this collection of tracks that will combine to form your first EP?
JH Amongst Ruin really isn’t a concept album per say, but it does deal with many issues that burden us, whether it be being captive to struggles or addictions we go through as humans or discovering the purpose of existence. As well as looking around our world and seeing it fall apart into ruins through war, poverty, or just any issue that cause destruction in society.

Who are you working with to record this album and how is the process going?
JH Well, we can proudly say our album is complete and we are so proud of it. Fidelity helped us greatly by recording us as well as producing us completely. They really challenged us, to reach our full potential for the record so we can sit down at the end of the day and no we didn’t hold back.

SFS is locally renowned for pummeling fans with high octane metalcore, in addition to being loud, heavy and fast how would you describe your sound?
JH Well we strive for a different sound by combining heavy verses with melodic choruses and crushing breakdowns.

On Myspace, your most popular song to date is “Captive,” do you find that this is a fan favorite live as well?
JH Yes, this is one of our well known songs. It was one of the originals we wrote when we started. The fans know when to chant with us on this song as well as when to throw down for the breakdown. Its a classic that we will keep around and we cant wait to show the new version from our E.P. now that it has been produced and sounds better. To be honest we hate the version on our myspace because we play it so differently now.

Catch SFS live on 10/25/10 @ Music House – Moline, Illnois w/ A Hope For the Dying. Searching For Security (Metalcore – Moline, Illinois) is: Aris Hess – Vocals; Cole Elliott – Drums & Vocals; Carl Pierce – Bass; Jason Hartley – Guitar; Mikey Youngs – Guitar. Look for shows, news and the release of their debut EP “Amongst Ruin” at the SFS Myspace.

Music news, reviews and interviews posted weekly at hurdcore.com. Partnering with artists, fans and venues to fan the flames of local ambition. Hurdcore supports local rock, pop, hip-hop and metal from Northwest to the Midwest. Keep reppin’ local, friend us on myspace and join us facebook.

There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. – Proverbs 14:12

In preparation for The After School Special Festival to be hosted by King Arthur Booking we took some time with Samuel of KAB to get at the heart of what TASSF is all about. Join King Arthur and some of the best of local metal, hardcore and progressive music from the Portland, Oregon area and beyond as they assemble at The Revolution Room in Camas, Washington on Saturday, September 25th.

Samuel, you currently sing for City Sleeps play bass for …And The Sirens Sang and are booking with King Arthur, anything else (ha ha)?
KAB Well City Asleep is pretty much dead at this point. I’ve just been reworking the songs and making them a little less Pop Punk, so its basically just me doing that now. But other then Sirens I just do solo stuff. I branch out everywhere from like, 50′s cover songs to indie stuff and I’ve done a few electronic/pop styled songs.

How do you stay fresh in your drive to push the music and in maintaining creativity?
KAB As far as keeping it new with booking I try not to book the same bands over and over again. I pretty much just cycle through a bunch of bands who seems to be doing well and mix it up. I also try to give my shows a name that kids can remember, like “The After School Special” or “The Night of The Living Dead” for the Halloween show. In my writing perspective, I just try to keep it as original as possible while staying within the same genre. I’m really into post hardcore, so you could say I’m a bit of a revivalist with that.

The After School Special Festival will be held at Revolution Coffee in Camas, WA – what makes this venue unique?
KAB The Revolution Room is sorta the “home base” per say for Sirens, and its a great friendly venue that I love. I book at Pop Culture (formerly Moxie’s) as well, but its a small venue and The Revolution Room offers the right size for a festival. Its a Christian church though, so I sometimes have problems booking certain bands due to the zero tolerance of vulgarity on and off stage. I love the venue though, and I definitely see it as a huge factor in bringing the music scene back to what it used to be.

Is this your first all day festival?
KAB This is indeed my first all day festival, but I’ve had Will Breitner [And The Sirens Sang] and Brady Johns [King Arthur Booking] helping me out a little as far as do’s and dont’s, so I feel I have a pretty good handle on it.

What inspired putting this show together?
KAB What I am going for with this show is a day where the kids can come out and listen to music and hang out with friends and have a good time and have a nice little break from the first month back in school. I pulled bands from across the board as far as genres go, with a hope that kids that tend to listen to a certain one type of music will be able to experience the other genres of the NW and hopefully come out to support those bands at other shows.

Is there a genre or theme that brings all these bands together?
KAB The general theme for this show is to basically have fun and unwind a little. You’ll find Pop Punk, Happy Hardcore, Death Metal/Deathcore and Post hardcore at this show. Its hopefully going to be a great day for the local scene.

THE AFTER SCHOOL SPECIAL FESTIVAL (9/25/10) – 2PM [ALL DAY] @The Revolution Room (2008 SE 8th Ave. – Camas, WA 98607)

FEATURING SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE BANDS! Get rid of the back to school blues and come out and support some of the NW’s finest locals! Guaranteed to be an awesome time! Bands include (Hurdcore.com alumni w/ links to interviews): Proven, City Of God, Roseway, Boy Named Sue, Her Death & After, Chin Up Rocky, Mourning For Memories, Accrue, Ghosts & Monsters, If All Else Fails, Upon Departure…AND MORE!

Look for more shows from King Arthur Booking in the Camas/Vancouver/Portland area, keep up to speed on the KAB Myspace page and keep your eyes peeled for The Night of the Living Dead KAB Halloween Show October 30th @ The Revolution Room (Camas, WA)

Contact hurdcore.com – “fans supporting local music.” for opportunities to promote your band or event (hurdcore@gmail.com) album reviews, band bios, content management and more. New interviews posted every Sunday, stay in touch by friending us on myspace and joining us facebook.

Come to Me all you who are weary and heavy burdened and I will give you rest. – Jesus

After winning AP Magazine’s fan voted #1 spot for unsigned bands to look out for in 2009, We Came As Romans joined forces with Equal Vision Records to release their first 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. We Came As Romans mixes metalcore, melodic hardcore and even symphonic components to challenge the boundaries of a scene diluted with imitation. As they continue to add experience to their positive fury and creativity, they are building a devoted fanbase that is responsive to the platform they have constructed for their impassioned message of brotherhood and love. Currently on the Band Of Brothers Tour with In Fear And Faith and Upon A Burning Body, catch them locally at Hawthorne Theatre (Portland, OR) 9/27/10 and El Corazon (Seattle, WA) 9/28/10.

Five years ago you planted a seed and now you dudes just aren’t letting off the gas, releasing albums, non-stop touring and personally staying connected with fans. What have been some of the most rewarding moments to come from your incarnation as a traveling band?
Joshua Moore (Guitar): Being able to see the effect that we’ve had on people’s lives through the music that we’ve made is definitely the most rewarding thing.

What are the best and worst parts of being on the road with the same 6 dudes for weeks on end?
JM: It’s like any big family. Of course there will be arguments and disagreements and not everyone is always happy, but overall we’re all happy with what we have together and all appreciate what we have.

In reference to the album title, you’ve stated, “When people hear the album, they might not change the way they think or the way they act right now, but hopefully we’ve planted that ‘seed’, that thought of love, and it can grow.” Where does the love come from for you guys?
JM: I don’t speak for the other guys in the band, but personally, it was just the way that I was raised. Personally, I do believe in God and Jesus Christ, but not everyone in the band does. We’re not a Christian band and the love that we talk about isn’t “Christian” love or anything like that.

“Dreams” was self released while “To Plant A Seed” came through Equal Vision Records, what have been the biggest benefits of signing with a label?
JM: They have just been awesome to work with and have been great and getting our CD nationwide and even internationally, they’re amazing at helping us grow as a band.

We Came As Romans started locally in Michigan, but since dropping your album in late 2009, it has hit iTunes, Hot Topic, F.Y.E., Best Buy and beyond, making you hard to ignore. What has been your approach to music as you continue to push the boundaries of this new breed of melodic/keycore?
JM: Just to keep playing the music that we want to play. We know that at the end of the day, if we’re not happy with the music we’re playing, we shouldn’t expect other people to be either.

One of the funniest fan fueled WCAR questions I have seen, “I must know, what kind of Asian is Eric (drums)?”
JM: He’s Korean.

While music is obviously a huge focus in your life right now, what do you do to ensure that there is balance in your life and that you develop as a total person (not just as a musician)?
JM: It’s really difficult on the road to keep life balanced. Everything is clustered and crazy all the time. There is never a day that went exactly like the day before it, but it’s a lot of self-motivation and self-preservation. Having confidence in knowing who you are and where you stand on life’s situations.

You have stated before that WCAR is not a “Christian band” but you all definitely seek to bring a positive message, what do you hope to accomplish through music?
JM: Exactly what the question states…to bring a positive message for kids to hear, and hopefully influence kids in a positive way.

Hardcore can be as trivial a genre as many others, one of the ironies is that many fans complain that bands sound so much alike and yet the first question most people will ask when vetting a new band is, “Who do they sound like?” When it comes to writing music and tonal creativity, what unique sources have you drawn inspiration from?
JM: I don’t listen to that many bands at all, but I think the most important thing to me is writing a CD where EVERY part of EVERY song is something that we want to play, something that we think deserves and belongs in the song. The first CD I heard and truly thought that about was “Son, I Loved You At Your Darkest” by As Cities Burn. And that CD has had the biggest influence on me, just in a sense of making sure EVERY song and EVERY part is something that needs to be there.

Being from Michigan, what are your predictions for the Detroit Lions?
JM: I’m all about hockey. The Wings rule. Who cares about the Lions.

You will return to Portland on September 27th, what has been your experience with fans on the West Coast?
JM: I love it over there. It’s very far from home and hard to keep in contact with because of the time differences, but the fans are always great.

Our thanks to Joshua and Natalie (Equal Vision Records) for facilitating this interview. We Came As Romans (Keycore – Troy, Michigan) is: David Stephens (screaming); Kyle Pavone (vocals/keyboard); Andrew Glass (bass/vocals); Joshua Moore (lead guitar); Brian “Lou” Cotton (rhythm guitar); Eric Choi (drums). Keep up to date with the band through the WCAR website and get yourself a copy of their latest album To Plant A Seed (Equal Vision Records) which is available through most music outlets.

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