Singing dreams may start in the shower, but once you’ve stepped out of the security of home and suited up for the stage, how do you keep your dreams from washing down the drain? All over the world there are bands who are emerging from behind the roll up door, to light up stages upon their local scenes, possibly even touring through their home states and if fortunate enough to embark upon national or international ventures. For love of music, for conviction of a cause or simply to chase the Benjamins, whether these artists are mega stars, start ups or somewhere in the middle, they share in the same challenge to keep the fire burning internally and bridge a connection with potential fans. The music landscape has become a hyrid of evolution utilizing the best of both traditional music powers in combination with user friendly technologies such as social networking and variations of pro tools. How does a band who stands in both worlds, a band who is neither an internet phenom nor a corporate chemistry experiment, continue to push itself to harvest the best of its internal creativity and build upon the foundation of support from a seasoned label? 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. Whether you are a fan or an artist in the grind, words from a veteran of the scene can encourage and challenge, especially from a man who wants to, “help you unfold your dang arms.”

As you look back on your discography, do you enjoy each release as its own monster or do you hear more of a progression towards what you’d like Becoming The Archetype to be?
Duck I would have to say yes to both. I like each album for what it is, but I love to hear how we have developed as song writers as well as entertainers.

To my ears, Becoming The Archetype has been on a steady ascent towards more of an epic sounding metal, there is a depth to your music that boasts both maturity that honors your roots and a perpetual growth that is challenges your genre. Who have been some of your influences that have shaped your approach to music?
Duck Individually we all listen to all kinds of things. This means we bring every kind of sound and colour to the table. We enjoy country, hip-hop, jazz, classical, and metal. As far as the epic metal, we are influenced by: Extol, Opeth, Dream Theater, Living Sacrifice.

Do you remember the first metal album you ever listened to?
Duck I think it was Embodyment: “Embrace the Eternal”, I just couldn’t get it out of my head. Either that or Living Sacrifice: “Reborn”.

Do you remember the moment when you decided you had to get the metal out of your system and the only solution was performing?
Duck I always knew I needed to perform, but metal came in around 2000.

Without a doubt in my mind your song “Ransom” was my favorite song from 2009 – from the haunting opening keys to the climactic chorus, “My hands have taught me terrible things, His hands have set me free!” I’m always enthralled with the depth of conviction that comes across in your lyrics especially when paired with your creative brutality.

Have you reached a place as a band where you can get the instruments to transfer all of the components you are attempting to express –where do you feel Becoming The Archetype is at in terms of mastering the communication process through music?
Duck I think that for the most part we have. Music has a way of expressing what we cannot say with words. If anything we have said many things already with our music that we do not have the vocabulary to express.

Last time we spoke, Count Seth was rather prolific in stating,

“Music is a portal to something deep within yourself. Other things can take you to those places, but for many people, music is the strongest connection to that place in their heart where the mind can’t enter. When you hear a certain riff, your heart feel like it gets pushed over two inches in your chest and there is no explaining it. That is what you try to do with a song. If your music doesn’t have that effect on a substantial amount of people, you’re doing something wrong.” (see hurdcore.com interview w/ Count Seth of BTA)

How have you seen your music connect with fans – are you at a point where you carry enough swag with you that connection is almost automatic or do you still have to work to get the crowd moving?
Duck That is a good question. The answer is a “yes” and “no”. At our shows there are always those who would not care how well we played and they would be blown away, in a manner of speaking of course. And there are those fans who are always positioned to go either way. I feel like I am that way too. I like the challenge of having to win people over. But, that assumes that they can be won. The world is fast becoming a place of cynicism. It is our language and currency. It is almost the norm for people to pay to go to shows only to go and fold their arms. I also admit to being that way. I hope that with our material, especially our new stuff where we can help people get back to when they thought things were cool. Or maybe they will just have fun. I am not sure how well that covered all of that question but it was certainly on my heart. We want to help you unfold your dang arms.

In the vein of observing the connection between artist and fan through music, I have a question that is perhaps pseudo-psychological…I recently finished Warren Wiersbe’s “50 People Every Christian Should Know” where he observes that Great Awakening preacher Jonathan Edwards, “Would first aim for the heart and move the affections before trying to instruct the mind.” I don’t believe Edwards nor Wiersbe argue for the power of formula over the Spirit, yet a principle is observed. Whether you group heart/affections or you treat this as heart, affections and mind distinctly, there is a perceived formula for connection with people:

HEART –> AFFECTIONS –> MIND.
In observing artists connecting to/with fans through music, would you say the channel is as simply normative as something like:
BEAT (music) –> ENERGY (performance) –> CONTENT (lyrics)?
Duck That is a very intricately worded question! Simply put, people are drawn to authenticity. So, if our spirit and heart are obvious and authentic; people are more willing to see and hear our words and thoughts. We have been captivated by grace and His kindness leads us to repentance. The fans for the most part are like a mob sometimes and when a fraud is spotted they quickly expel them. This taken to mind and heart; we should aim to be the best at all things that we do and do them with all of our hearts. They will see our good works and give Glory to whom it is due.

From what I understand, you have all taken more of a hands-on approach to editing and production, what is the writing and recording process like for Becoming The Archetype? Which comes first the music or the lyrics?
Duck The music certainly comes first. Sometimes the lyrics are not even all of the way complete before we are most of the way done recording the album. I think it is the setting of the studio that really lets us open up. The writing process is different for almost every song. For the most part however, one of us will come up with some riffs or a song skeleton. That person will bring it to practice or record it. We will all listen together and try whatever they envisioned and then elaborate from there. Sometimes it goes differently.

I know you have been playing at least one new riff at shows, where are you at in terms of preparing to head to the studio with new material?
Duck As of right now we have the skeletons of approx. 11 songs. A skeleton consists of a few riffs with some variation and some suggested transitions. We typically run through all of the ideas in pairs and then add one member at a time. It is a lot of fun but admittedly very exhausting.

Dudes! South African Tour in September 2010 sounds incredibly exciting. This will not be your first trip overseas but will be your first tour in that continent, what do you know about the state of metal in South Africa?
Duck As far as I know thy have a scene down there. Our message boards and sales reports tell us that they want us soon. We want them back. I really do not have much information on their scene but I know there are some pretty good bands coming out of there.

Metal can be pretty cut throat in America, have you found that fans are more or less receptive to Becoming The Archetype in places like Europe?
Duck Everyone in Europe has been amazing. I think they jump at the opportunity to come see us there because they don’t take us for granted. We are not just over there all the time.

What have been some of your favorite spots to play overseas?
Duck I love playing in Norway, Germany, Denmark, I really love them all.

Who have been your favorite mates overseas?
Duck We have so many friends over there it is so hard to think of who to name. Tobe our European tour manager, all of the guys from Sub-scene Norway. So many good memories flooding my brain right now.

Coming from local band to blazing trails with the Solid State crew and storming across the globe, how has the music scene changed over the last few years?
Duck It has changed through the sway of the internet. When we started it was a big thing but you still had to play whenever you could. Now, some of these bands are coming out of the woodwork it seems by virtue of Facebook and Myspace and other social networking sites.

How do you stay fresh in your approach to music?
Duck We stay fresh in our approach by branching out. We love to dive into other genres. We also try to lear other music and play with other people. It keeps us from getting musical cramps.

Do you remember your first show, your first tour, your first studio session?
Duck I remember our first and last everything. Our first show was a battle of the bands in which we were booed and mooned. Our first “tour” was mostly Virginia. That is a long story. And, our first real studio was with a guy named “Steve”. He was awesome and I realized then that I loved recording.

You are based out of Georgia, what were the early days for BTA like?
Duck The early days of the band consisted of collecting ourselves every Sunday at my house to practice and write. We practiced whether we needed it or not. I think that was god for our work ethic. We also played any show we could get onto, including some really awkward moments with Youth groups and New Years parties.

How has being a part of Solid State benefited what you want to accomplish as a band?
Duck Being on Solid State was what I wanted to do since I figured out what it was. That is the honest truth. It was a dream come true. They have let us do anything we wanted with the songs that we wrote and albums we have prepared. They have paid for us to record with some of the best in the business and bailed us out numerous times from the side of the road. They also give us killer distribution and promotion. What more could you want?

What were some of the highlights in 2009 for Becoming The Archetype?
Duck Playing the festival circuit is the highlight of almost every year for myself and the band collective. But, I would say that since we got to go to Europe that had to top it. That tour flat wore us out but, I would do it again in a second.

What are you looking forward to most in 2010?
Duck We look forward to this super busy summer. We are touring with some upstanding fellas. We are also heading to South Africa which has blown my mind a few times to think about.

You’ve been very straight forward in your lyrics and clear about your faith as a band. What do you do personally to keep your faith fresh, especially when on the road?
Duck Well, I read the scriptures daily and keep accountable with someone at home. I use the “Little Book of Hours” and the Lectionary to guide my studies. I also listen to podcasts and teachings from my favorite thinkers, as well as try to spend adequate time in silence.

Do you do anything corporately as a band to keep each other on point?
Duck To keep on point we like to play sports with each other and other bands. We also like to attend movies pretty regularly. Sometimes if a member is making bad decisions we lock them in the trailer with another member in the dark and they fight it out. You know the usual stuff.

As it relates to faith, who have been some of your greatest times of fellowship with other Christian bands?
Duck Some bands that have effected us are Showbread, the Overseer, Extol, Mortal Treason. There are also so many others. We have been blessed to have some really amazing tour mates over the years and sometimes even the bad stuff teaches us allot if we are in the right posture.

Is it ever a struggle to get tunnel vision and only grow as musicians? How important is it to develop as an individual, and what do you do to ensure you aren’t just defined by your music?
Duck I don’t think so. Honestly, it is easy to put your instrument down for a bit when you get home from a trip. But, your life is not something you can step out of in a realistic sense. Being an individual is what makes a band good. We each have a totally different approach to almost everything. Those differences file everything that we do down into the unit known as BTA. We each live our own lives and have interests and social circles that the others don’t fit into. I believe that is extremely healthy

Becoming The Archetype > Metal/Hardcore > Georgia > Solidstate Records
BTA’s third full length album with Solidstate, Dichotomy is available now wherever most records are sold – see BTA on Solidstate or BTA Myspace for more info and tour dates.

Becoming The Archetype is: Jason – Vocals/Bass; Count Seth – Guitar/Keys; Duck – Drums; Alex – Guitar.

For more information on local music, band interviews, concert updates and promotional content. Local bands, artists, concerts, venues, tours and events from rock, hip-hop, metal, pop, punk, hardcore, acoustic, indie, organic, progressive, funk, rap and more. Stay tuned to hurdcore.com, friend us on myspace and join us facebook Hurdcore is open to partnerships to promote local arts, music and entertainment as well as advertising opportunities – hurdcore@gmail.com – be specific in “subject” line.

My first introduction to As I Lay Dying came several years back when murmurings about the band quickly turned into fandemonium, some of those discussions centered around whether a Christian based band could be THAT good while others wondered if they were REALLY Christians at all. It seems every few years there comes a band that soars beyond categories and genres to make an imprint upon those beyond their core fan-base who wouldn’t typically be interested in a similar band’s sound and/or message, As I Lay Dying has definitely been one of those rare groups. With the release and accompanying tour for their 5th and latest full-length album, The Powerless Rise, it’s near inconceivable to fathom of a more-better-er As I Lay Dying, yet comments from band members and early reviews all seem to indicate that these San Diego based metalcore gents have raised the bar yet again. We recently had a chance to complete our first phone interview and incredibly enough it was with with bassist and background vocalist Josh Gilbert, a young man who is foremost a fan of music and just happens to be a member of one of the hottest as well as one of the most grounded acts in all of music. Take a moment to peer behind the curtain with us and if you haven’t already, get yourself a copy of The Powerless Rise by As I Lay Dying!

So, you are from Birmingham, Alabama, how did you get hooked up with this band based out of San Diego, California?
Josh Gilbert I’ve been playing metal or hardcore music ever since I was 14 or 15. The last band [This Endearing] that I was in won a contest for The Cornerstone New Band Showcase. It’s a contest where the fans vote for bands from all over, the top 6 get to play at Cornerstone and we won 3rd place. We had a new drummer and he had met the guys from the band [As I Lay Dying] when he was working with another band on Pluto Records. This guy Eric who worked for Pluto Records and also did A&R for Metal Blade sent a demo to Tim Lambesis, but nothing really came of it at the time. Our band soon broke up due to two members getting signed for another band that they were in. When Clint left As I Lay Dying, Tim called Eric who suggested me and it ended up that Tim called me for a tryout. I flew out to San Diego and they offered me to go on sort of a tryout tour, as they had done with a few other guys previously, and they decided to offer me the spot as bassist for As I Lay Dying.

Are you still living in Birmingham and commute to California or have you since moved to San Diego?
JG When I first started with the band, I drove out and lived there for about the first year and a half but we’re always on the road with touring and I would go home after tours. It didn’t make sense to keep a place in San Diego where it’s more expensive while I was on the road so I moved back to Birmingham for about another year and a half. When we started recording this new album [The Powerless Rise] I moved back to San Diego.

We all love the rumble of the earth that comes from a great baseline but not everyone appreciates the art/science behind the instrument. How do you approach writing and pushing yourself as a bassist?
JG There are so many different bassists and approaches to styles, there’s a fine line between being interesting and taking away from what the guitars are doing. As I Lay Dying, especially for this latest album, at times has five or more layers going already, so there are some areas where we lead into a song with just the bass and drums or a few flavor licks but doing so without taking away from the other elements and layers. Pre-2007 the albums had bass primarily played by the rhythm guitarists for the recordings. For the 2007 album [An Ocean Between Us] the parts were pretty much already written, so I learned the parts and played them. With this album we did a lot more with the bass and playing with things like leads so that’s been cool but nothing too crazy, I’m not looking to be on the cover of Bass Player magazine or anything like that. [laughs]

You primarily stick with the 4 string base, have you ever played around with 5 or 6 string models?
JG I really don’t know all that many metal or hardcore bands that use 5 or 6 string basses, I mean there are bands that use them but not that many who actually use them. I mean, there are some people that do and I totally respect that, like Alex Webster of Cannibal Corpse or like Les Claypool of Primus. I respect people that want to use them but it’s pretty rare that they get full use out of it and you can only go so low, something crazy like Drop Z tunings or whatever. People say they need to tone down but there aren’t that many tunings that require an extra string or people who actually get the full use out of that extra string or something that you couldn’t do with a 4 string.

The two things I keep hearing about this album, The Powerless Rise, are that it will be heavier and that you all are excited about the layering. In working to improve your sound, are you mindful of the balance between the drive to experiment with your sound and keeping an edge to what makes your sound unique – were you all conscientious during recording to push your sound without losing it?
JG I really don’t think so, it’s not that we’ve changed the sound. The layering best describes the vibe-ier songs from the last album [An Ocean Between Us] like Forsaken. So it’s not like we’re changing the sound but getting more of that Pink Floyd esque layering and leads. Our songs are still to the point, we won’t have any 8 minute songs or anything, but really worked to bring out the feelings and bring out more of the elements that were part of the last album.

I’ve read/heard that Tim and you dedicated a lot more time to the vocals as well to finely tune the sound that you wanted for this album.
JG For the vocals we spent a lot more time on them than we did in the past but not in the sense that we changed anything. In the past we would spend less than a week and they were more rushed, now we spent at least two and a half weeks of legitimate pre-production. We even recorded two months ahead of time to get more of a feel and work out the kinks with the choruses. For the last album we were writing choruses as we were recording but with the preparation we experimented more with singing, the takes were so much better and stronger.

So your part has a lot more to do with the melodic and singing elements? How did the extra time dedicated to vocals play out with the recording?
JG Yes, my vocals are all singing, I don’t do any of the yellier or screamier parts. Again, nothing is really changed for the sound just the singing and guitar parts were more planned. The vocals match the melodies rather than by chance and not as rushed, so not a change in sound as much as making the vocals much more of a focus.

You’ve been involved with music from a young age, so aside from you talent and love for music, what keeps you grinding?
JG I couldn’t imagine not being interested in music. In this band, we all are fans of music, even this last Tuesday we all ran out to get the new Deftones album just because we love music. I never been like, “I’m bored so I’m just going to pick up a guitar.” It’s just what I am programmed to do and even outside of it being an occupation I can’t imagine not being involved with music in some way.

You all have been pretty forward about your beliefs, even in your previous bands you personally have made your message an emphasis. How have you seen/heard your music making a difference?
JG There have been all kinds of crazy stories that we hear about, of course Tim [Lambesis] hears a lot more of those, but stories of the lyrics to our songs helping people in some similar struggle or saying something like, “Your music convinced me not to kill myself.” In a less direct way, which is important to me, we try to go on tour with bands that don’t share the same beliefs as we do in our band. I’d say most of the bands we tour with don’t share or agree with what we believe. We’re want to be “just dudes”, rather than becoming someone’s friend just to get “your moment” where you can harvest their soul for the Lord or something. I think people see past that kind of agenda and sense that you’re out for your motives rather than just being someone’s friend which is more effective. Every now and again there will be a band or dudes who don’t share our beliefs but will say something like, “You surprise us with how you are, not making us feel awkward about what we are doing.” I think just being dudes it’s the first step to making a change in how people perceive things and it’s better than just beating people over the head with something.

In the vein of making a difference with your music, is there a theme or meaning behind The Powerless Rise?
JG The first thing that you see on the album is the artist’s depiction of our original idea for the cover. There’s an upside down crown, which whenever you turn a symbol upside down it’s usually a sign of disrespect. Like if you don’t believe in Christianity and you turn the cross upside down or when people don’t agree with countries they turn their flag upside down. Our lyrics address how the focus of people is on having money as the key to political or social power, where that is all we are striving for in America and really all over the world, not just America. Like somehow if you have money and power that will equal happiness. The title for this album comes from the song Upside Down Kingdom. The whole message is about simplicity, but simplicity is seen as like a small house and only having one TV – God forbid. It may not be a glamorous life but more value on simplicity would bring us closer to a community rather than just being about ourselves, cars, houses or money. This record sort of calls that out, calls ourselves [in the band] out, on putting merit in things that really don’t matter.

Man, you guys have played everywhere, on some of the largest stages nationally and internationally, will this be your first time to Oregon [on Tuesday, May 18th at The McDonald Theatre in Eugene]?
JG Since I’ve been in the band, we’ve been to Oregon a few times. I know we did like two shows there and at least one stop with the Warped Tour a couple years back which I think was in Portland. I think this will be my fourth trip to Oregon with As I Lay Dying and probably the eighth time or so for the band.

As I Lay Dying has been all over the world with stops in places like Indonesia, Singapore, Europe and more, do you have a favorite place to tour overseas?
JG I think if we had a favorite, other that being in the states, it would have to be Germany.

What makes Germany so special?
JG The fans over there just go nuts about metal. It’s the only place that I know of where hard music and metal top the charts and the fans are so enthusiastic.

When you are overseas are the crowds different from fans here in America? Do you ever look out into the crowd and see moves that just blow you away?
JG No, not really. It’s pretty much the same as far as new dances, I wish there were unique or crazy moves in other places like a human triangle or something but everything is pretty much the same. Especially with the internet, everyone can see what everyone else is doing.

Whereas some bands seem to wrestle with whether to be public about their faith and defining themselves, you’ve been pretty upfront with your position as a band. What do you do personally to keep your faith fresh, especially when on the road?
JG A lot of us have churches that we go to when we are at home and we all used to bring our personal Bibles when on tour but now with the internet there are so many tools and internet Bibles where you can just find what you are looking for so much faster. You can find basically anything on any topic and its really useful. There will be times when we are stressed and we’ll all sit down and talk, not always like a Bible study, but sometime we’ll do that depending on what is needed. Again, with the internet you don’t have to scour the Bible to look for something, not that that doesn’t matter or isn’t good, but when you are on the road there is so much going on and being worn out so having that easy access is huge.

As I Lay Dying > Metal/Hardcore > San Diego, CA > Metalblade Records
The Powerless Rise available now nearly everywhere – Metalblade, Best Buy, Hot Topic, iTunes…Currently on tour with Demon Hunter, Bless The Fall and War of Ages (see AILD Myspace or AILD Website for more info and tour dates)

As I Lay Dying is: Tim Lambesis – Vocals; Phil Sgrosso – Guitar; Josh Gilbert – Bass/Vocals; Nick Hipa – Guitar; Jordan Mancino – Drums. If you are new to As I Lay Dying, fan favorites include Nothing Left and 94 Hours or for a more melodic feel, check out Forsaken – or just take the plunge and get yourself The Powerless Rise!

OREGONIANS – As I Lay Dying w/ Demon Hunter, Bless The Fall and War of Ages on Tuesday, May 18, 2010 @ The McDonald Theatre. May 16 @ The Knitting Factory in Boise, Idaho and May 17 @ The Knitting Factory in Spokane, Washington.

For more information on local music, band interviews, concert updates and promotional content. Local bands, artists, concerts, venues, tours and events from rock, hip-hop, metal, pop, punk, hardcore, acoustic, indie, organic, progressive, funk, rap and more. Stay tuned to hurdcore.com, friend us on myspace and join us facebook Hurdcore is open to partnerships to promote local arts, music and entertainment as well as advertising opportunities – hurdcore@gmail.com – be specific in “subject” line.

In an iTunes era, where we consumers pick and choose our playlists from a virtual buffet of musical offerings, a day full of local metal ought to inspire even the most casual of fans to sample a exhibition of live local music. Savage Fest was not only a stage featuring a perpetual onslaught of metal, hardcore, progressive, melodic and a whole host of other -core local artists, The Camas Courthouse served as a theater showcasing the finest of Washington and Oregon skull melting rock. As hurdcore.com continues to team with local artists, agents and venues to promote what is happening in your neck of the enchanted musical forest, we hope to inspire an army of fans who don’t just observe but who participate in the best of what music has to offer. We are fans supporting local music and it was our great pleasure to get our metal on with the bands who performed Saturday, April 24th, 2010 for Savage Fest at The Camas Courthouse (hopefully the first of many).

Local acoustic favorites Jack Devore and Andy Hokanson (drummer for If All Else Fails) opened Savage Fest with back-to-back intimate sets. Both utilized the emotional tone of the acoustic with great skill and each had a commanding presence of their voices, Jack the quieter of the two would hit higher notes in stride without straining whereas Andy’s sound had a distinct pop-edge. Mourning For Memories was first up to bring out the brutal, operating with a youth and energy that make it clear that these dudes are developing a chemistry in their sound that won’t soon be forgotten. Mourning for Memories brought with them a significant segment of the local crowd and introduced the savage throngs to what will heretofore be distinguished as hello-kitty-core (note pic). On a day full of metal, scheduled for nearly 10 hours of back to back riffs, shreds and breakdowns, the diversity of what blossoms under the “metal” umbrella was already a feature note. Transitioning from thrash to popcore with Portland based Chin Up Rocky, mixing elements of pop, screamo, punk and what many are calling post-hardcore. Chin Up Rocky carries a positive if not happy tone that still has enough bite to induce you to get low.

The first and only band of the night to have two members dedicated exclusively to vocals was local hardcore/death metal quintet Edessa, sharing duties with guttural and serpentine screams. Edessa taps into the sound of old school hardcore bands such as Point of Recogniton with a proper mix of current dynamics to have already attracted for themselves a devoted local following. The band that perhaps traveled the farthest, hailing from Maple Valley, Washington also introduced the Savage Fest crowd to an apt use of simple props by backlighting their set with floodlights to create an ambiance that brought the band seemingly in full 3D into the crowd. We Move Mountains turned the mayhem dial up to 11 with a forceful combination of energy, creativity and dark mystery enough to be the backdrop for any number of Burton-esque films, inciting the crowd with cryptic incantations such as, “I’m normal. I’m normal. I swear to God, I’m normal.” While we at hurdcore.com may be slightly prejudice being that We Move Mountains was one of our first interviews (see WMM Interview), an experience with self described “catchy melodic McDonald’s-core” will be enough to get any bi-pedal creature fiending for more of their fierce riffs and spaztastic live performances. Look for more of We Move Mountains as they just wrapped shooting their video for popular song “Dan Nettekoven Snakes the Win” and a full length album to drop later this year.

Portland, Oregon doomsday death metal brought its local rep in Daematta who is in a period of transformation to break from a self-perceived pigeoning in the bland “name-your-core” mix of local artists and into a more distinct blackening of their metal roots. Savage Fest continued to showcase the best of heavy local music introducing the crowd to a band that was so dialed in as a professional act that perhaps the only pieces missing from this Portland thrash/metal band was a tour bus and personal roadies. Almost Is Nothing has the presence of master, gear legitimate enough to make even the casual fan salivate and a sound so shred-tastic that the only question remaining is whether your face or the dueling fret boards will last long enough to complete an entire set of this audio assault. Even the casual fan can see that Almost Is Nothing is on the brink of greatness, those who have the opportunity to witness them live while they remain at this level of public recognition should realize that it won’t be long before rocking with AIN won’t come at such a bargain.

Bring Me Solace is fairly new to launch upon the Portland area melodic/progressive metal scene, yet it doesn’t take long to notice a care to their sound the reaches far beyond a fashionable title. In the span of a 30 minute set, the bassist for Bring Me Solace walked, jogged and ran through every inch of his six-stringed fretboard multiple times, part symphonic Jedi mixed mixed with the shear brutality of Paul Bunyan dropping his behemoth axe through a withering forest. Longview, Washington based Upon Departure is another band that we at hurdcore.com had a previous interaction with, interviewing them in late 2009 as they began working on their latest release (still in the works – see UD Interview). Live, the riffs of Upon Departure oozed with some of the heaviest breakdowns of a day full of metal madness. Firmly grounded in their hardcore/metal roots, the young men of Upon Departure continue to challenged themselves to expand the experimental aspects of their music venture.

With an impressive local following and a willingness to experiment with intriguing harmonic concepts, as Focus On The Skyline continues to hone their craft and perform together they will acquire the synchronicity needed to produce a crisper edge to their sound. And The Sirens Sang appears to be on the fast track with live performance laced with a blue collar creativity that both imprints their set into the recesses of your memory as well as begs the question what they might be able to assemble with a larger budget. The largest band of Savage Fest by numberic standards, rocked double axes with bass, rapid drums, thoroughbred keys and a team approach to vocal responsibilities in addition to the designated throat. And The Sirens Sang literally filled the comfortable stage of The Camas Courthouse while flooding the crowd with an impressively polished sound that brandished a full-time commitment to exploring the potential of Key-core (or as my good friend aptly remarked, “It’s like Anberlin on a massive dose of steroids”). Combining skill, creativity and an unparalleled work ethic with most members holding responsibilities in multiple music related ventures without losing a step in the progression of And The Sirens Sang.

To my own dismay, I awoke the morning of the long awaited Savage Fest with a throbbing headache and bronchitis-esque cough. I held out as long as possible but illness and responsibilities at home lured me away from witnessing the combined brutality of local favorites Aleen, Settle’s Idols and the pit-masters of Portland, Proven. On a day full of metal at its purest, hardcore at the grassroots ever accelerating through the local atmosphere, and yet still “fans” balk at the opportunity to experience the music with abandon. Every major band started somewhere and whether you are a fan of a particular band or genre, the thrill of a live performance is a display of those who have dared to put their dreams in motion. Keep rockin’ local and when I see you next, let’s get moving!

GET DOWNZ TOUR to kick off at The Camas Courthouse (89 C Street, Washougal, WA) June 19, 2010 featuring And The Sirens Sang, We Move Mountains and Upon Departure – Tour runs North and East through Washington and then South from Eugene, Oregon (June 28th – rock with hurdcore.com!)

Check out the bands from Savage Fest:
Jack Devore (Blues, Camas, WA)
Mourning For Memories (Thrash – Washougal, WA)
Chin Up Rocky (Happy Hardcore, Portland)
Edessa (Hardcore – Camas, WA)
We Move Mountains (Metal – Maple Valley, WA)
Daematta (Death Metal, Portland)
Almost Is Nothing (Thrash, Portland)
Bring Me Solace (Progressive, Portland)
Upon Departure (Metal – Longview, WA)
Focus On The Skyline (Post-hardcore, Camas, WA)
And The Sirens Sang (Screamo, OR)
Aleen (Screamo, WA)
Idols (Death Metal, Seattle)
Proven (Metal, Portland)

At times the hardcore music genre can seem like a state sponsored fishing hole, with an annual stocking of nameless bands drawing both avid fans as well as the fresh-from-Walmart posers looking for the next big catch only to find that soon after opening day the crowds die down and many of those dream catches were less than advertised. Demon Hunter continues to break the mold both musically and creatively, each year further endearing their die hard hunter-core to the mission of “storming the gates of hell” while simultaneously expanding their fan base by blowing the minds of those joining the hunt for the first time. With a complexity to their music that bears the edge of projects long deceased (note Training for Utopia) they continue to wrestle the sharpest melodic elements and fuse them with components that are just plain brutal. Demon Hunter has forged a sound which causes listeners to sing along, enticed by a depth in content, conviction and tonal package that will keep pits circling long into the night. To a large degree, Demon Hunter is a reflection of its lead singer and founding member, Ryan Clark, who is both a dominating presence as a creative mastermind as well as a man of clear convictions yet also a very private and humble individual. The Clark brothers have crafted a brand in Demon Hunter that serves as a model for successful marketing in the indie music scene without selling out your personal or musical values. Ryan continues to carry the mantle after his brother Don decided to step away from his role within Demon Hunter at the end of 2009, but this “newly” formed Demon Hunter will continue to challenge, inspire and motivate global hunters to carry their convictions forward, cowering to no one.

Are you originally from Seattle? How much do you enjoy local culture there and how has the local scene helped you get to where you are today?
RCI was born in Southern California, raised in Central Oregon and Northern California, and I moved to Seattle almost exactly 10 years ago. I love Seattle. Not every aspect of it, but it’s certainly my favorite place on earth. It’s an incredibly diverse city, and there’s never a shortage of things to do. Mountains an hour away, on the ocean, Portland and British Columbia 2 hours away, thriving arts and music scene. On the other side of the coin, I do hate the bleeding-heart hippie culture (which is massive here) and all of their phony compassion (honestly, they’re like the angriest, coldest people on earth), but truly, living in a city with such adversed ideals to my own makes for great lyrical material. I don’t have to go very far to see and understand who my enemies are.

If I recall correctly, you were raised as PKs (Preacher’s kids), what was that like growing up? Your music has never been “church music” by any stretch, were your parents always supportive of your music or have they grown into Demon Hunters?
RC Yea, that’s correct. When we were growing up, it was a love/hate thing for sure. Especially in our teens, we were probably more uncomfortable with the idea that it wasn’t cool or whatever. That’s just how kids are… some of those kids take that mentality into their adulthood and stay bitter at the church, and some are able to see it for what it is. I think that usually comes down to two factors: how your “church” experiences were (how great/terrible the people of said church were), and the effectiveness of parenting. If you attended a legalistic, judgmental church… chances are you are going to have a very jaded view of church or Christianity in general.

Our parents were awesome. They instilled values in us without being overbearing. It took them a little bit to get used to the style of music that we became so involved in, and the aesthetic that followed, but their real concern was in regard to our character. They’ve come to really appreciate our music and they’re extremely proud of what we’ve done.

The metal power duo of Clark & Clark (Ryan & Don) have been together since birth, how did this evolve into your earlier musical ventures such as Training for Utopia?
RC Well, our musical tastes progressed at a very similar pace… we liked old hip-hop growing up (Beastie Boys, Grandmaster Flash, Run DMC, etc.) and when we were in our young teens, we were turned onto punk rock by some friends (Pennywise, Bad Religion, Face To Face, etc.), around the same time, we were also getting into metal (Pantera, Sepultura, Metallica). Punk and metal gave way to hardcore… and that was really the scene that we dove into.

I started a hardcore band called Focal Point in 1993 and we were signed in 1995… shortly after, Don started a noisy hardcore band called Training For Utopia. After one tour, Focal Point was ready to hang it up, and ironically TFU had lost their singer at the same time. I assumed the vocalist position in TFU, and that was the start of about 15 years of doing music together.

The Clark brothers have a deep portfolio of music, especially when it comes to styles as you’ve ranged from hardcore, industrial and now metal. While Demon Hunter retains a thread of heavy lyrics and music with an edge, each progression seems to have a dynamic sound all of its own. What is different about your perspective on life and music that has come to craft the sound for Demon Hunter?
RC I would really chalk it all up to a disinterest in being “cool” or “current,” by way of maturing through a vast number of flash-in-the-pan trends. In the past, we were definitely wrapped up in whatever was happening at the time, and that was fine. However, from the very beginning with Demon Hunter, it was our goal to do something that didn’t fall under the umbrella of a fleeting scene. The fact that Demon Hunter happens to have a broader appeal than our previous projects has nothing to do with selling out our own musical tastes. Our influences are almost solely from the 90′s. The music that we create with Demon Hunter is out of pure love for a particular sound and style. The progression that you hear from record to record is just a natural maturity process- finding our style, and honing it, building upon it.

There was a hiatus from music, at least front-lining in a band, between Training For Utopia and your resurgence as Demon Hunter, was there some burnout in performing and touring with music? What got the wheels turning for Demon Hunter?
RC The biggest factor was moving to Seattle. TFU was kind of falling apart, due to a shift in priorities… and we really had to wait to get our feet planted in Seattle before feeling comfortable enough to start playing again. The desire to write and play music was/is always there.

You’ve been successfully involved with several facets of music outside of performing, from Asterik Studios, to Invisible Creature and art direction for Solid State and Tooth & Nail. Did you set out to be involved with graphic design professionally or did this aspect of your creative nature develop more organically?
RC The visual art career for me was a very organic thing. I’ve always enjoyed drawing, painting, etc. but when I got to be an adult, I didn’t really know what to do with any of it. My brother had been designing for a number of years… and when we moved to Seattle, I really started taking an interest in graphic design. Shortly after I’d really started dabbling in design, a job opened up in the T&N art department. Although my knowledge at the time was VERY limited, Brandon Ebel (owner) took a chance on me and gave me the job. I’ve been the art director here for over 9 years now. Asterik Studio and Invisible Creature both happened while I’ve been here at T&N… they’ve all kind of coincided together.

Demon Hunter takes a pretty balanced approach to music, you guys hit the road hard, but you seem to take your time between tours. Is this a calculated approach to music or more a reflection of your other commitments?
RC Our lack of constant touring has everything to do with our non-band commitments, however, this schedule really worked in our favor. I think a lot of bands tour too much and become somewhat played out. Kids get tired of seeing them every few months and they lose interest. With us, it’s become such an event when we play live, because it’s so seldom. And this means that a lot of fans show up when we play, because if they don’t, it’ll be a while before they get another chance. I don’t think it would work for every band, but this has been a really successful formula for us.

Aside from your hands-on work with art direction at Solid State, you’ve been personally involved in recognizing and developing upcoming bands such as Becoming The Archetype and The Ascendicate. Do you seek out these relationships or as a fan of music are there bands that just grab your attention and you can’t resist promoting?
RC There are a few bands over the last 10 years that have really grabbed my attention… and I felt that if I didn’t reach out and make something happen, nothing would. So despite my job not being that of an A&R rep here at the label, I’ve kind of assumed that position from time to time, in order to work with these bands that I’ve really believed in. Brandon (Ebel) being so cool and trusting, has allowed me to wear that A&R hat from time to time. All-in-all, I’m just a huge champion of the label, and I love the ability to contribute in any way.

This album and tour will showcase a revamped Demon Hunter, most notably the absence of Don, what has been the biggest impact of this transition musically and how hard was it to fill the voids? We definitely want to respect your privacy, are you willing to elaborate any on why Don chose to step away?
RC Absolutely. Don’s reasons for leaving are not necessarily a private matter. It was essentially a shift in priorities. He runs Invisible Creature, and it was getting harder and harder for him to close up shop to tour or record. For me, I’m able to take time off from work, and come back and jump right back into the saddle. For him, it was a real risk when he left each time, hoping that the phone would start ringing the day he returned. Add 2 kids to that equation (the only kids of anyone in the band) and his decision had become a really clear one.

You’ve noted that The World is a Thorn explores greater depths in both technicality and brutality, even elaborating earlier this year, “We’re definitely still working with the DH formula of groove-oriented heavy mixed with melodic… but the heavy is usually faster this time around. And the melodic tends to be a little darker, little moodier.” (Interview w/ Indie Vision Music) What excites you most about the progression in sound that will be heard on this album?
RC I feel like this album is a very natural progression for the band… but in the least boring way, if that makes sense. In other words, we’re a band that isn’t going to stray terribly far from the overall style that we’ve created over the years… but at the same time, we obviously like to keep things interesting with each record. I thing the songs on this record are extremely solid, well-written, well-executed, and are the best version of Demon Hunter to date.

You’ve crafted a PR blitz with 50 Days of Demon Hunter and a tour that includes As I Lay Dying and War of Ages, 2010 is looking like a big year for DH, does the band have any more tricks up their sleeve?
RC Well, at this point we’re just anxious to get out on the road. That’s all that we have on our radar at the moment… but I’m sure we’ll be brainstorming some new ideas very soon.

From The World is a Thorn your song “LifeWar” is basically an autobiographical retrospective on your life, yet most of your music is very personal, is there a song that stand out to you from this album?
RC That song stands out a lot to me, actually, because it is a little more personal and autobiographical. Songs like Tie This Around Your Neck and Collapsing are also stand-out tracks to me. I feel like those songs were maybe more inspired than others.

Your beliefs as a Christian have always come across in your music, what do you do to keep your faith fresh?
RC As for my faith, I do my best to read as often as I can. I get a lot from the Bible and a handful of other books. The last book I read was called The Mortification Of Sin, which was great. I also like to surround myself with like-minded people… but I have a lot of non-Christian friends that, believe it or not, really allow me to understand why I believe what I do.

“Collapsing” shares some of your perspective of living and sharing the gospel with others, in a sense you admit that many are not receptive to the truths that you hold dear yet you believe it is still important to be active in proclaiming truth. How do you approach sharing your faith as an individual (outside of Demon Hunter) and as an artist (through DH)?
RC With DH, it’s easy… I write it, sing it… you can listen or not, but I’m going to wear my beliefs on my sleeve. That’s my platform to do so, and that’s what you’re going to get. That’s the beautiful thing about being in a band- No one has to ask your opinion and you can give it anyway.

With daily life, it’s much more about getting on a personal level. I’m usually not one to speak directly into someone’s life before knowing them. I think people see that as intrusive, and are easily turned off by strangers telling them how to live. Now, I do believe in a generally black and white guideline for living… but if you have a relationship with someone, then you may gain their trust, understanding, respect… and I think you’re much more likely to meet them on an effective level.

Demon Hunter > Metal/Hardcore > Seattle, WA > Solidstate Records
The World Is A Thorn available now nearly everywhere – Solidstate, Best Buy, Hot Topic, iTunes…Currently on tour with As I Lay Dying, Bless The Fall and War of Ages (see DH Myspace or DH Website for more info and tour dates)

Demon Hunter is: Ryan Clark – Vocals; Jonathan Dunn – Bass; Yogi Watts – Drums; Patrick Judge – Guitar; Ryan Helm – Guitar

OREGONIANS – Demon Hunter w/ As I Lay Dying, Bless The Fall and War of Ages on Tuesday, May 18, 2010 @ The McDonald Theatre. May 16 @ The Knitting Factory in Boise, Idaho and May 17 @ The Knitting Factory in Spokane, Washington.

For more information on local music, band interviews, concert updates and promotional content. Local bands, artists, concerts, venues, tours and events from rock, hip-hop, metal, pop, punk, hardcore, acoustic, indie, organic, progressive, funk, rap and more. Stay tuned to hurdcore.com, friend us on myspace and join us facebook Hurdcore is open to partnerships to promote local arts, music and entertainment as well as advertising opportunities – hurdcore@gmail.com – be specific in “subject” line.

At hurdcore.com we have the privilege of meeting and introducing our fellow fans to the hardworking bands throughout our great nation. Whether these bands will remain as local treasures or others will find/make their break and forge a deep run though the several layers of entertainment success. Will Breitner has distinguished himself as one of the hardest working musicians at the local level in the Portland area, spearheading several bands, each with their own unique identity, collaborating with like minded musicians to promote local shows and pioneering his own effort to enable grassroots artists to begin the recording process. On Saturday, April 24th, 2010 Mr. Breitner will be organizing and performing with several other local artists in an all day metal extravaganza for the first Savage Fest to be hosted at the Camas Courthouse in Washougal, Washington. This event will showcase some of Washington and Oregon’s finest metal bands while simultaneously demonstrating what hard work and local collaboration can produce. Join the hurd and come get your metal on!

Is the Camas Courthouse an actual functioning courthouse?
WB Yes it is. It sometimes makes shows difficult actually because on Fridays you can only rent it out after 5pm.

Will SAVAGE FEST be indoors or outdoors?
WB It will be indoors

What can you tell us about the venue, why did you choose this site?
WB I chose the venue because the room is a little smaller, perfect for getting in around 150 kids and having a really intimate atmosphere where the bands can be directly interacting with the fans and friends who are at the show. There is an actual stage in the venue, but it is only about a foot off the ground, so like I said, the bands are right up in your face which is awesome as a listener.

For those, like myself, who are unfamiliar with Camas, WA – what types of food selections are there and how nearby to the show will they be?
WB Well there are a few options. Right next to the venue, there is a Burger King, Subway, Starbucks & Chevron and then if you go about a mile into the actual town of Camas you have Burgerville, Dairy Queen, Top Burger & more gas stations.

Even though this is an all day metal extravaganza, there is quite a range of sub-genres within that metal umbrella which will be on display, tell us some about the music and performers we will be seeing?
WB Well I like my shows to be diverse so you aren’t seeing the same band 18 times in one day and kids don’t get burnt out after the third band and decide to leave or something. I have two acoustic acts, a couple of rock acts, some metalcore, some straight up thrash metal, and then of course some death metal thrown in the mix. I think that diversity makes for an awesome show.

How did you select the bands and the lineup, are these all bands you know personally?
WB I selected the bands because they are pretty much all close friends of mine and great people. There isn’t a single band on the show that I haven’t worked with before and haven’t performed with before.

You are an impressive young man who wears several hats within the local music scene. You perform, promote, record and what else are you involved in?
WB Haha well thank you very much! I just try to do everything possible to put the fire back in our scene basically. I try to help my friends’ bands with getting endorsements and bigger shows and out of town shows and whatnot because I love music more than anything in the world. Me and my best friends that compose my main band …And The Sirens Sang are working on making a more professional studio, then I will be starting my own label to help smaller bands be heard and get merch and tour and stuff. We also will be doing management, local show booking, tour booking, and someday screen printing and professional CD printing. All local, all cheap. I believe that every band deserves a chance to show the world what they’ve got, but unfortunately for bands, the industry is a cash cow and everything costs so much that most bands can barely make it out of their home town, let alone put out a professional CD and merch and whatnot. I want to call it “Siren Industries” hahaha

You are currently involved with at least 3 bands that I know of, but you had mentioned maybe as many as 6? What bands are you actively playing with now and in what capacity?
WB Well my main band is called “…And The Sirens Sang”.
We are working extremely hard right now preparing for 2 summer tours as well as about 20 shows around Washington & Oregon in the next couple of months and that band takes up most of my time. Me and three of the guys from that band are working on a side project called The Leper Legion, which sounds like The Black Dahlia Murder, but with everything that Sirens is doing in preparation for tours and to make our band as professional as possible we just don’t really have time right now. Another thing I’m working on is a project that sounds like AFI because they are the reason I started playing music. I’m doing it with Brady Johns, who is also in Sirens. Just a fun project that is a tribute to them. I have an internet based two member band called “The Assyrian Sonata“, which is on a stand-still because the other member is going into the National Guard so we have to wait about a year before we can do anything more with that but we have a full length written and demos on our myspace page currently. I have a rap project that’s for fun called “Slug Stompaz” with my brother and the guitarist Will Terada of Sirens. And I have my solo project.

Your also have a music studio (Siren Studios), is this your daytime job? From your comments the main purpose of your studio is to help grow young artists, how do you go about recording?
WB It is indeed my daytime job but I see it as more of a hobby because of how much fun I have doing it! I just wanted to try my hardest to create a place where bands could come to record an EP without spending a thousand dollars that still turned out well. First, we lay out all of the click tracks for every song so that the album will be perfectly on time and not fluctuating or anything. Then we record a scratch guitar track for the drummer to play to. Then drums, then bass, then guitars, then vocals. If there are any additional instruments such as piano or something we do those also before the vocals.

With your diverse efforts, are you at a point where you are able to “live” off of music?
WB In a sense, yes. I make pretty good money recording bands, playing in my band, and booking shows. I make enough to pay rent and have just barely enough to live off of and that to me is living the dream. It’s more than I could ever ask for and I am incredibly grateful for all of the support from my family and friends that make it possible for me to pursue this versus forcing me to go to college or whatever.

From whence came the idea for an all day metal festival?
WB Well I love metal. All kinds. I love all kinds of music actually haha I just wanted an awesome event where great bands could hang out and party with like-minded musicians and just have an awesome time. It’s somewhat of a “I know how hard you work to be in a band, so I want you to play my awesome show and have a great time” festival haha

Who are you partnering/working with to make the Savage Fest happen? Who is there to help you run the show especially when you are performing
WB My good friend Brady Johns who plays keys for Sirens runs a booking agency called “King Arthur Booking” and he has also done a TON of awesome shows, so I’m bringing him in to help run sound as well as oversee everything. While we are playing we have a few friends who will be handling the door and everything else.

What got you into metal, who were some of the most inspiring bands for you growing up?
WB As far as metal goes, it was always bands like Slipknot, Metallica, Ozzy, Megadeth and Pantera back in 7th grade. My favorite band, however, has always been AFI and I don’t think that will ever change. “Sing The Sorrow” inspires me every single day to get better as an instrumentalist, composer and singer.

Who are you listening to now, what is in your top 5 on your ipod?
WB AFI, Emarosa, The Black Dahlia Murder, Isles & Glaciers, and Rose Funeral.

How did you get into playing and performing? How do you keep your skills sharp and continue to grow in your craft when you are busy with so many things?
WB Honestly, the first time I heard “Miseria Cantare” by AFI I knew that I belonged playing guitar on a stage. I just love performing music that I have worked countless hours on and having people react to it, for the most part, in a good way. And it’s all about staying busy! I practice playing songs on guitar that I can’t play so that eventually I will get them down and better myself as a musician and I am always working on writing music in genres such as hip/hop, country, pop and rock that I normally wouldn’t play in so that I don’t get stuck in a box so to speak and I am able to progress versus write the same song every time. Me and the dudes in my band are also always working on our vocal harmonies with an acoustic guitar to keep our voices strong and fresh.

What do you enjoy most about music – writing/performing?
WB DEFINITELY performing. Don’t get me wrong, I love writing. But the feeling of actually playing a song that you’ve spent months fine-tuning is what being a musician is all about. It’s truly the best feeling in the world.

Do you just like music for itself or would you say that there is a meaning in or through or even beyond the music that inspires you to press forward in what you are doing?
WB As far as meaning goes, I write our albums about heartbreak, loneliness, abandonment and other human issues that are very close to home with me but I write them in story form so it kind of plays out as a whole big story as the album progresses. So yes, the material is very heart-felt by me and it is very touching for me to play the songs live because I write them in times where I am the weakest and it is a great release to sing it in front of a crowd and have them singing back, possibly even going through the same things that I was.

SAVAGE FEST
Sat 4/24/2010
Camas Courthouse
89 C Street
Washougal, WA 98607
18 Bands // $10
11AM – 11PM

Band Lineup – order subject to change:
1. Jack Devore (Blues, Seattle)
2. If All Else Fails ( )
3. Mourning For Memories (Thrash – Washougal, WA)
4. Edessa (Hardcore – Camas, WA)
5. Daematta (Death Metal, PDX)
6. Apsis (Progressive, PDX)
7. Ashlynn (Hardcore – Kelso, WA)
8. We Move Mountains (Metal – Maple Valley, WA)
9. Upon Departure (Metal – Longview, WA)
10. Almost Is Nothing (Thrash, PDX)
11. Chin Up Rocky (Happy Hardcore, PDX)
12. Bring Me Solace (Progressive, PDX)
13. And The Sirens Sang (Screamo, OR)
14. Aleen (Screamo, WA)
15. The Leper Legion (Death Metal, OR)
16. Idols (Death Metal, Seattle)
17. Proven (Metal, PDX)

For more information on local music, band interviews, concert updates and promotional content. Local bands, artists, concerts, venues, tours and events from rock, hip-hop, metal, pop, punk, hardcore, acoustic, indie, organic, progressive, funk, rap and more. Stay tuned to hurdcore.com, friend us on myspace and join us facebook Hurdcore is open to partnerships to promote local arts, music and entertainment as well as advertising opportunities – hurdcore@gmail.com – be specific in “subject” line.

To be honest, we were a little shocked when we received a response from Ivan de Prume as this is by far the most decorated rock artist we have interviewed to date. In reverse chronological order, Ivan’s accomplishments include: radio host for Metalopolis on Rock 101.1FM KUFO (Portland, OR), currently playing with metal bands Healer and Kreep and, oh yeah, former drummer of White Zombie. This is a man who has taken a seat at the top tiers of the metal world, headlining with his band mates and rubbing shoulders with mega stars the ilk of Pantera, Slayer, Danzing…and on. Ivan hasn’t just dreamed, he’s taken his dreams by the throat and conquered them, continues to dream and even takes time to share his dreams with those still gaining traction in theirs. I am blown away by the passion, humility and depth of content that Mr. de Prume has shared with hurdcore fans, get ready for a roller coaster ride through the bowels of metal…

You used to drum for White Zombie, how long were you with the band and what was that experience like?
IDP The experience was incredible… full of challenges and rewards, twists and turns… I was only seventeen when I joined the band back in 1985 and quit in 1992. I put everything I had into the band and took it all the way to the top! It was one of the greatest achievements I have been a part of. I am very proud of the work I did with them.

What were some of the highlights for you personally during your time with Zombie?
IDP The greatest moment in the band for me was finally getting Rob Zombie to appreciate heavy metal music! It was always a struggle for me because he would make fun of bands I appreciated and loved such as Metallica and Slayer. But then one day on tour he was driving and suddenly asked for my Metallica “Ride The lightning” cassette tape. He played it all the way through and from then on he instantly changed. He played it over and over again! I was so floored. We quickly began writing songs with a fatter guitar sound and the band took a quick turn away from being a noise metal band and began shaping its Metal flavor that quickly brought the attention of the metal scenes wherever we went. I was so happy to see my metalhead friends rocking out to us instead of the old Lower East Side art scene which really wasn’t me! Chris Williamson from Rock Hotel Promotions placed us to open for Danzig and from there we opened for Slayer and their fans ate us up! What more can I ask for… We toured with many kick ass bands I loved to listen to such as Testament and Pantera. And I must say my greatest memory was playing those shows with Pantera and hanging out back stage with Dimebag Darell.

What I loved about the band was all of our dedication to our common goal. That led to the creation of the album that hit the band big-time, Le Sexorcisto Devil Music Vol. 1

Any plans for a White Zombie reunion tour that you are aware of or any discussions about de Prume being the victim of some gruesome death in one of Rob’s upcoming films?
IDP hahaha… No plans right now…

Are you still actively drumming, if so what are some of the other acts that you have worked with?
IDP I had many project that came and went since White Zombie. The two bands that are still at the forefront are Healer and Kreep. After leaving White Zombie, I began envisioning a new sound, musically, for many years but it wasn’t easy to create until I took it upon myself to form the band Healer. I wanted to bridge some musical elements from different corners of the globe… This sound came into fruition with the album “Awakening” that I co-wrote, played drums/percussion, engineered, produced, mixed and financed in my own home recording studio and it was a fantastic experience. I also play with Kreep and we just released an album last year called “Lead Us Not”.

Is Metalopolis your baby? How did you get involved with the show?
IDP My wife Stephanie was making calls to radio stations to get my band Healer played and she landed on Chris Patyk, former Operations Manager at KUFO, who asked if I have ever been on the radio. She was confused and said, he is always on the radio with his band White Zombie. He answered, no what I meant was, has he ever hosted a show, do you think he would be into doing a metal show? and she answered, he would be great at that! So, we set a start date for March 7, 2009 and its been awesome ever since.

Metalopolis is aired locally in Oregon on Rock 101.1 FM KUFO, does your show have syndication outside of Oregon?
IDP We are working on that as we speak!

For those who may not have heard your show what is Metalopolis?
IDP “METALOPOLIS” is a weekly radio show hosted by myself burning up the airwaves in Portland, Oregon on Rock 101.1 FM KUFO and you can catch the party streaming around the world online at kufo.com every Saturday night from 10PM – Midnight Pacific Standard Time! You can hear exclusive interviews with the legends of metal such as Rob Halford from Judas Priest, Jason Newsted x-Metallica, Max Cavalera from Soulfly and many more… Although the show plays a lot of metal on the harder side, we do play all styles of metal as long as its good music. We play bands that are on top of the world to the bands that are unsigned and starting out with a kick ass demo. We cover metal beginning from the late ’60s to fresh new releases… As long as it falls in the metal genre and its just good music, I will play it….

What are some of the best and worst changes that you have observed as part of the the metal scene over the last three decades?
IDP Its changing all the time… I feel we are about to hit a new level in music…. I think it has changed for the better as far as technique goes but not as far as creativity. I have have never seen drummers playing so fast with these blast beats and double bass while staying in time and all. With technology bands over the past twenty years have the ability to sound perfect live and in the studio using click tracks and pitch correction but the song writing has suffered for most I have seen. I think this will change because nothing stays the same and aren’t we dying for something new and fresh! We all know it and I think this band will come and will steel us all away… possibly take us to that far away planet!

The topic of defining what is “metal” can be a heated subject for many. For you, who have been some of the quintesential metal bands?
IDP Wow, that’s a good one… Every band that you hear on Metalopolis! hahaha…These are the four songs I picked that shaped me as a metal head from a Metalopolis theme show we did a couple weeks ago…
(1) Iron Man Black Sabbath Black Box: The Complete Original 1970-1978 [CD 2] – Paranoid 5:59 2004; (2) Where Eagles Dare Iron Maiden Piece Of Mind 6:13 1983; (3) For Whom the Bell Tolls Metallica Ride the Lightning 5:10 1984; (4) Raining Blood Slayer Reign in Blood 4:58 1986

Who of the newer acts spike your attention and seem to embody a healthy evolution within metal?
IDP Amon Amarth, Soulfly, Lamb Of God.

Are you an Oregon native? If not, what brought you to Portland?
IDP No! I was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. Then moved to Los Angeles for fifteen years. I moved here because it kicks ass out here… the bottom line is that I find it fulfilling to all my needs and desires to stay alive and be happy. The most basic is cleaner water and cleaner air and after 15 years of being deprived of that in Los Angeles… I am in heaven in this juicy land of life. I find an undercurrent of an incredible scene here, great talent and the level of creative, weird, wild and different energy is very much needed when you are an artist in a community. New York and Los Angeles has had that spark in the past but I just didn’t see it anymore. I travel all over all the time for projects and I enjoy heading back to Los Angeles and New York and they are still great cities in my eyes.

How metal friendly is Portland and How does it rate against other cities for metal-mania?
IDP I must say it has one of the best metal scenes in the country… Especially now that we have Metalopolis!

We often hear tidbits in the news of actors and sports stars
residing in Oregon, who are some of the music figureheads that you are aware of who call Oregon home?
IDP I found a few in Portland… Art Alexakis, member of Everclear, Black Francis, musician, and founder of the Pixies, Brad Wilk, Portland-born drummer of Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave… check out this site [for more]

Aside from Metalopolis, what else are you currently involved in?
IDP I have an awesome wife and three kids. I am owner of Burningsound Studios where I produce and engineer bands. I just remixed a KMFDM song Never Say Never off their latest release Blitz. It has just been released on their new album called Krieg and the song has been titled Never Say Never (Naughty Habit Mix by Ivan de Prume). Healer and Kreep are in the writing stages at this time for future releases.

How did you get into drumming? Do you remember the first song that you ever learned on the sticks?
IDP I just always loved them! There was this hippie dude that lived in my house when I was like 12 years old! He helped me pick out my first drumset and taught me a couple of beats! Other than playing along with songs on the radio, I think the first song I learned with a band was my Junior High School Band class performance with a song called “Blue Rock”

What were some of the key lessons and/or techniques that helped you as a beginning drummer? What are some tricks that you utilize now to keep your skills sharp?
IDP Counting, and starting very slow so your coordination can develop! Now what I like doing to help me stay in shape is simply playing along to different tracks and playing left handed. Also applying accents you hear in songs to different limbs and drums, such as playing a part in a song only on one drum while keeping the pulse with the high hat or kick drum… or playing accents with the kick drum and high hat while keeping a solid rhythm on the toms or ride!

Best and worst experiences performing a live show?
IDP Best show… wow so many great ones… recently it was on our last Kreep at a benefit show called Blakefest in Idaho to raise funds to take a young girl who was dying of cancer to Disney Land before she went cause that was her last wish… This girl who was sick was doing cartwheels on stage and became the bands number one fan! Our guitar player gave her his guitar! Worst show… ahhh lets not go there… I think it was a White Zombie show when we thought we were going to be killed by Skinheads in Chicago

(Question CYCLONE) Any song that gives you the most trouble live? With practice and preparation I found nothing is a challenge live! If I had an extra $1000, the first piece of equipment that I would purchase for the band is? New crash cymbals. Trend that you have noticed that you will never join? Dora back packs. Currently reading interview questions, listening to the kids fighting in the other room! and watching myself turn into my dad. Any crazy pre-performance rituals? I like to be alone stretching, and getting myself in a space visualizing and playing the entire show from beginning to end! When you are a diva/rockstar the three things that you will demand be in your dressing room are? A personal assistant, who can hopefully do everything from laundry to chiropractic techniques, my wife and kids but in a separate suite so I can focus, and healthy fresh meals and drinks for after the show! Band you have shared the stage with that blew you away? Pantera and Slayer. Top 5 songs in your personal ipod right now? Amon Amarth Twilight_Of_The_Thunder_God, One Soulfly, Preacher’s Daughter 3 Inches Of Blood, I Wizard Smoke… they change every day!

HUGE Thanks to Ivan de Prume of METALOPOLIS, listen in every Saturday at 10PM-12AM PST on 101.1FM KUFO (Portland, OR) or online at kufo.com. See website for instructions on how to get your band airtime on Metalopolis! Listen or see Ivan play live with bands Kreep and Healer.

For more information, interviews and updates for live local music concert tours. Local bands, artists, concerts, venues, tours and events from rock, hip-hop, metal, pop, punk, hardcore, alternative, acoustic, power pop, thrash, R&B, soul, reggae, indie, heavy metal, organic, progressive, funk, death metal, rap and more. Stay tuned to hurdcore.com, friend us on myspace and join us facebook Hurdcore is open to partnerships to promote local arts, music and entertainment as well as advertising opportunities – hurdcore@gmail.com – be specific in “subject” line.

Hurdcore:Midwest set out this evening to observe a performance by a friend of hurdcore, Quad Cities, Illinois based rock/metal band Eleven Fifty Two. One this night there were two items of distinction the bands performance, which is one of (if not) their first as well as the beautiful and spacious venue in Davenport, Iowa known as The Redstone Room – both a first for hurdcore.

Eleven Fifty Two boast a heavy rock sound with a creative blend of metallic riffs and full bodied melodies. For only their first performance, EFT has a great stage presence as several of the local patrons noted, “Did I get here late, are you sure this is the opening act?!” Eleven Fifty Two is one of those bands who sounds as good in recording as they do live and translates their passion from live performances to their recordings. These are good looking dudes, which always helps when you are a local upstart working the grassroots of the bar circuit. There were several moments in between songs where the band displayed their presence with comical interactions, even when they were still working out the kinks with a few misfires from members of the band starting before the whole was ready.

This four piece hard rock/metal band is poised for regional dominance in the Illinois and Iowa local rock scenes. As described by the band,

Our music is pieced together with hard hitting drums, heavy guitars and a mix of rock and thrashy riffs that’ll get you stomping along.

Keep an eye out as Dustin [Vocals/Guitar], Mike [Guitar/Backing Vocals], Erik [Percussion] and Steve [Bass] continue to develop their live act. Stay up to speed with Eleven Fifty Two by checking in on their MySpace or check out video of the show at Hurdcore on Youtube – 11.50.2.

Unfortunately family duties beckoned from seeing the other acts for, but the venue itself was a highlight for the night and hurdcore looks forward to returning for many shows to come. The River Music Experience got its upstart in June of 2004 as one of seven pieces of the Davenport, Iowa’s River Renaissance supported by state, county and local government ventures as well as private investors, which was passed in 2001.  RME’s approach is multi-faceted exhibiting the heritage of Mississippi River music, with a specific emphasis on the Quad Cities creative history.  River Music Experience has hosted live bands, artists and performers from all genres while expanding their promotion and influence in local music through a variety of educational programming.

Our Mission: The River Music Experience (RME) exists [as a not for profit 501(c)3] to give Quad-City residents and visitors opportunities to experience America’s music, and most especially the music of the Mississippi River, through live music performances and programs which nurture, educate and inspire musicians, and music appreciators.

In short…The RME is a nonprofit helping build the Quad-City music scene through diverse live music and unique educational programming.

With a total space of over 31,000 square feet, The River Music Experience operates the bottom three floors of a historic five story building in the heart of Davenport, Iowa.  On the second floor is The Redstone Room, which serves as RME’s live music venue and boasts a full calendar of local and national artists from various genres.  Mojo’s serves as the RME’s spacious coffee house and Community Stage, with a collection of books, CDs, music as well as a calendar of local, regional and visiting artists offering live performances and open mic nights several nights a month.  Within the spectrum of RME’s instructional approach is an education based recording studio, The Sound Lab, and other successful programs like Rock Camp USA and partnerships with West Music to provide instrumental music lessons.

The River Music Experience is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization governed by a volunteer Board of Trustees and managed by a professional staff. Contact us at 877-326-1333 or visit them online

River Music Experience
131 West 2nd Street
Davenport, IA 52801-1828
(563) 326-1333
www.rivermusicexperience.org

If you hear the beast rumbling into a town near you, get yourself to the venue for Upon Departure is on their way – but keep your eyes open, because they might need a lift (ha ha). Ever pushing to evolve their sound and bring a mind blowing performance, Upon Departure may be the only band able to go from intense to melodic and happy in 2.5! Renewed by a lineup overhaul and the addition of elements that with expand their sounds, Upon Departure is set to record and will be assaulting venues throughout Oregon, Washington and beyond with their metal mayhem.

HC Is there any significance or story behind your name? We know Upon Departure started with Lowen’s sticks and Justin’s riffs, looking back, how has UD evolved in the past 2 years and what have been some of the most significant changes?
UD - (Justin) Our name came from a few different concepts. We really just wanted to start something new, do great things collectively with our talents, and be able to get out in the world and upon departure go anywhere we wanna go and take our music to its heights.
- (Lowen) First of all our member change, but more importantly our music has become more dynamic. We have definitely found our specific sound since our last EP.

HC The Upon Departure bio mentions that there have been several lineup changes since starting the band in 2007, with some of the recent being your founding drummer (Lowen) stepping out to take on guitars and acquiring a new drummer. How has the depth and diversity of talent shared amongst your members benefited the band? Does it ever make the writing process harder?
UD - (Lowen) We can all play each others instruments for the most part, so when someone has a new idea it can flow pretty easily out for us to hear. We all have different influences also, which helps give us a diverse sound I think.
- (Trevyn) It seems to me that the writing process is much easier! We all are very versatile musicians, which helps us bounce ideas off each other when writing new material.
- (Adam) I feel that Lowen is where he belongs, behind the guitar, it was easy since him and Justin wrote most if not all the music in the beginning anyways. This way, it leaves our best musicians exactly where they need to be to give the best performance and talent.

HC For those who are unfamiliar with Upon Departure’s set, how would you describe yourself? What can
we expect from a UD show?
UD - (Trevyn) We are a powerhouse! At least thats what we’ve been told. Everyone came to see a show, and we’ll give you a show! No matter if you like our music or not you will remember us long after the show is over.
- (Justin) Performance wise, Brutal!!!! ‘nough said HA.
- (Brandon) Very intense, powerful and crazy performances… We try and throw it down harder every show, so that the fans don’t get bored with the same ole’ same ole’.

HC UD wants to be a band that doesn’t just create music to jam to but music that you can feel, what does that mean to you as a band as you write/perform and how have you seen fans responding to that mission?
UD - (Adam) Well when we write music, we go through a lot of different sounds, but we know when something feels right. We’ll stick to a riff and expand on that till we have a rough sound for a song down, then each practice we fine tune it.
- (Justin/Lowen) We’ve both been here since the start, and since then our fans have grown strong and true, and everywhere we go we have someone whether a metal head or not that enjoys our music and our performance. We get people all the time that are just “in awe” about us. And the feeling we get from that response is epic.

HC The band lists itself as Metal/Hardcore/Experimental – what is the experimental element of Upon Departure? How has the recent addition of keys enhanced UD?
UD - (Justin) Metal is pretty self explanatory, along with the hardcore portion of our music. The experimental part is where people get confused… We added the keys/synth to acquire a more full sound and to add expression and more emotion to our music. And besides that, we are not your typical band when referring to our writing style. The normal basis is intro; verse: chorus: verse II; build up; chorus and so on… we don’t particularly follow these modern techniques. We are all about how we think the song should, and the reaction we think we will acquire from the techniques we use for transitions and how we could go from intense to melodic and happy in 2.5!! and we all effin love it!
- (Brandon) The experimental part of the keys is how Dan uses them to our advantage such as adding something super mellow over something super heavy. There for making the perfect experimental melody to rock out to.

HC Upon Departure is set to record mid Nov (09), will this be a full length or EP? When can we expect to see the album available? What is new for this album?
UD - (Trevyn) It will be the start of our full length, we are recording it in stages. We have around 4-5 songs ready to record this coming November. Then we hope to finish up sometime early next quarter. We feel that doing it this way our fans get to hear what our current line up sounds like and so they will have some newer tunes to enjoy before we release them all. We are trying for a late summer release but if everything runs smooth we could be looking at releasing it in late spring. We are trying to add more melody without changing what our fans have come to love.
- (Brandon) It will be just as Trevyn says, we are starting with 4-5 songs of intense crazy heavy music. These new songs are going to be really good and we are all super excited to see how our fans react towards our new stuff and style. Plus the brand new line up.

HC Where are you currently grabbing inspiration from and how has this been affecting your music?
UD - (Adam) well I know that most of the band uses The Devil Wears Prada and like minded bands for inspiration, with a couple of us having influences from the Black Metal scene in Europe.
- (Justin) along with relevant bands, I also take a lot of inspiration from most bands in the rock genre even from the early 70′s and 80′s. They started the metal scene, so I believe you can’t leave out their knowledge.

HC Where can those interested best connect with Upon Departure to find out about news, releases and tours?
UD - (Trevyn) We have a lot of sites that we are currently apart of, but the best way to get all the info right away would be through our myspace profile (like most bands nowadays). It is constantly updated and one of us is usually always logged in to answer questions or to comment back. We also send out bulletins for any and up coming shows also for merch updates.
- (Justin) People can also check us out on our YouTube channel, we have several live videos posted there. It gives people a feel for what we do.
HC Upon Departure is currently based out of Longview, are you all natives?
UD - (Trevyn) I have lived in Rainier, OR most of my life. For those of you that don’t know where that is, it’s right across the river from Longview, WA. I just recently moved the Longview/Kelso area about 2 and a half years ago.
- (Lowen) Yes, for the past 19 years I have lived in Longview, except for the four months that I lived in Kelso.
- (Adam) I actually grew up in Toutle about 10 miles N. of Longview. I joined the military and lived all around the country for almost 4 years then moved back with Dan, now I live with my girlfriend in Longview.
- (Justin) I was born in Longview at the Peace health hospital. I lived in Kelso til I was 2, then my family moved to Kalama where I resided until 2004/2005 when I moved into Longview to finish high school. I lived there until just a few months ago now I have moved back to Kalama with the love of my life!
- (Brandon) Born in Portland, my family moved to Death Valley for a few years then moved to Texas. I have lived in Washington for a couple years now.
- (Dan) I was born in Wichita, Kansas. My family then moved to the Toutle, WA area. For the last 3-4 years my residence has been Longview.

HC Have you played more shows in Vancouver or in Portland? What do you enjoy most about the local music scene? Who have been some of the funnest bands and venues to play with?
UD - (Trevyn) I guess you could say that we’ve played in Portland more. We are just now breaking into the Portland scene and we hope that it doesn’t stop there!
- (Adam) I like playing with We Move Mountains the most I think, but that is because I have only played a couple of shows with the band so far.

HC Favorite place to eat in Vancouver?
UD -(Adam) Golden Tent!!!

HC What are the weapons (instruments) of choice for Upon Departure?
UD - (Trevyn) I currently use a Ampeg B410HE 4×10 paired with a Fender Bassman 250 Head, along with a ESP F-105 Bass and a Fender Percision Bass.
- (Lowen) Right now I’m Using a Epiphone SG, with a Ibanez 50W Toneblaster amp. Looking to upgrade soon!
- (Adam) Gretsch Drums with Tama heads, 5B Vic Firth drumsticks, Pearl and Tama hardware, and GP cymbals, about to upgrade to Zildjian Pro ZHT cymbals
- (Justin) Currently running a Marshall 1/4 stack valve state combo. Fender Squier Stratocaster and Epiphone gothic “V”. by the end of the year should be grabbing up a Marshall half stack with 200w head. Or a Line 6 head and half.
- (Dan) Rocking a Micro Korg Synthesizer/Vocoder, and I am currently trying to resurrect my Korg M1 Music Station.
- (Brandon) Shure Microphones!!!!

HC What have been some of the most important lessons for you as an aspiring artist? Any words of wisdom for those wanting to pursue their dreams of music stardom?
UD - (Trevyn) I think that one of the most important lessons is to be respectful toward EVERYONE! Bands, venue owners/staff, promoters and the fans. Don’t treat anyone like dirt just cause you had a bad day, a string broke in the mid of a song or you feel that you messed up on one of your songs so bad that others will look down on you. Those are the people that are going to help you throughout your career. Oh and always bring along extra guitar picks! Never know when you’ll run out.
- (Lowen) Never lose your drive for playing music. You might get to play for a full crowd, when other times there might be 4 people there to see you. Either way, just go out and show that you love doing what you are doing. Just have fun.
- (Adam) Always have fun and bring your A-game, you never know who is watching you!
- (Justin) Never give up. There is so much talent out there. Just remember its not all about how fast or how much over all skills you can show off. Its all about a good solid sound and to have as much fun in doing it as possible. Also don’t let a new idea throw you off, go with it. It may turn out to be more than you hoped.

HC Any funny and/or scary stories from recent shows or tours?
UD - (Trevyn) Well, we were heading down to Portland on the 27th of October, to play the PacTour Finals. When our van broke down right as we were getting off the on ramp to I-5. We ended up pushing the beast (if you’ve seen our van you’ll know BEAST is the perfect term) back down the on ramp, across 5 lanes of traffic only to end up in a Burger King parking lot. After we called a few friends we got a small army of people to meet us at this BK to unload the van and divide the equipment (along with all of us) into 4 separate vehicles.

In an ever expanding effort to expose and inform, we are pursing interviews from local bands, helping aspiring artists to connect with a broader base of listeners so that they can be converted to devoted followers. Again, through the miracle of MySpace, we were able to conduct an email interview with the articulate and insightful Aaron of Seattle based metal band 7 Horns 7 Eyes.

HC What inspired the name of your band?
7H7E It comes from the Bible, where in Revelation 5:6 it describes Jesus as a lamb with seven horns and seven eyes. Throughout the Bible, the number seven is used to connote completeness or perfection, so in this case, the seven horns describe that Jesus’ power is complete and perfect, and the seven eyes that his knowledge and vision are complete and perfect. It really is just a statement about the nature of God.

HC When did your band go from the dream stage to actually putting tracks down and going on the road?
7H7E This band is made up of members who have played in previous bands, and it actually spawned from the death of a previous band, so it was never actually at a purely “dream stage”. However, it officially began in March of 2006.

HC How would you describe your musical style?
7H7E We are definitely a metal band. Our music is dynamic, polyrhythmic at times, generally ambient, often quite epic sounding, and overall quite heavy.

HC Where are you at currently in terms of writing and/or releasing an album?
7H7E We begin drum tracking for our debut full length in just a couple weeks (late April 2009)!

HC Where can those interested best connect with you to find out about news, releases and tours?
7H7E Myspace has been our most effective tool of communication thus far, which also links to all other relevant internet locations (merchandise, YouTube, etc.): http://www.myspace.com/7horns7eyes

HC From the concept of your band, the makeup of its members and the lyrics of your songs, would you say that there is a prominent theme (i.e. religious, political, philosophical, etc)?
7H7E Our lyrics are written from a Christian perspective, and cover various subjects that we have either dealt with personally or can somehow identify with.

HC Where are you currently grabbing inspiration and/or frustration from and how has this been affecting your music?
7H7E The musical tone has largely been affected by Meshuggah (to a certain degree), as well as bands like Opeth, Swallow The Sun, and Strapping Young Lad. Lyrically it’s harder to pin down, although hearing a good sermon definitely helps!

HC What have been some of the most important lessons for you as struggling-artists?
7H7E I’m not entirely sure how to best answer this question, although we have definitely learned that in order to have the best chance at success, we need to be like-minded and transparent with each other in every way possible.

HC Are there any favorite/funny/scary memories from your current tour that you’d like to share?
7H7E We are not currently on tour, although when we played at Creation fest 2008 in George, WA our transmission overheated, and the fluid boiled over and caught on fire while we were crossing the Cascade mountains. We were very close to losing the entire van, and perhaps the trailer full of gear as well! You can view our three-part Creation video blog at http://www.youtube.com/7horns7eyesofficial

HC What has been your favorite tour stop so far? What new foods have you discovered (scary or good)?
7H7E we have not yet embarked on an actual tour, although four of us drove our van down to the NAMM convention in Anaheim, CA last February and enjoyed a few In ‘N’ Out burgers, which we do not often get to eat!

HC What has been the most challenging part of taking your band public?
7H7E We’ve encountered some criticism in regards to trying to pair Christianity with metal, but for us it’s a position that occurs comfortably and naturally, so it’s difficult to legitimately criticize.

HC Any words of encouragement for aspiring bands?
7H7E Write original music, approach all that you do with professionalism, and seek like-mindedness in band members’ goals and desires.

Becoming The Archetype (BTA) from their outset have set a high bar for what we will call technical-brutality. With this third offering, Dichotomy, they have added the elements of the enigmatic (a taste of Danny Elfman goes hardcore) and again taken their music to another realm of eardrum battering fantastic-ness.

The men of Becoming The Archetype have fashioned a medium that is solid in its execution and a beacon in the sincerity of its message. If you took your grandma to a worship service led by Becoming The Archetype, either the headbanger within would erupt or she would pass out, especially when she hears the BTA rendition of the classic How Great Thou Art.

Hardcore and worship is something that is close to my heart, understand that BTA is not a “worship” band, but one of my fondest worship experiences was when I attended my first Becoming The Archetype show. I believe it was also the first Young Bloods Tour produced by Solid State Records where I saw them at Chain Reaction in Anaheim (CA). You too will enjoy BTA whether you experience them live, in album or even partaking of some tasty In-N-Out. I recommend all of the above as these are good dudes with some great music.