Blog Archives

NEW MUSIC: Modern Metal Frontrunners TETRARCH to Release New Album, Unstable, on April 30 and Watch the Official Music Video for New Single “You Never Listen” - WATCH IT HERE

2/20/2021

After making massive strides at media, radio, streaming and beyond in 2020, breakout metal stars TETRARCH are about to own 2021 with the release of their highly anticipated sophomore full-length album, Unstable, scheduled to drop on April 30 via Napalm Records! The album is available for pre-order in several exciting formats.

Following the release of their latest hit “I’m Not Right” – an anthem that cracked the Mediabase Active Rock Top 30 and has commanded the scene since its release with over four million combined cross-platform streams – TETRARCH have revealed another blazing new single, “You Never Listen”. The earworm ode to relationships-gone-bad, which premiered via SiriusXM Liquid Metal, packs a punch with chunky, breakneck riffs and a sing-a-long worthy chorus, proving it as an accessible yet dynamic knockout.

0 Comments

INTERVIEW: Stephanie Stevens talks with Metal band Seasons about their new single "Killing Season" and how they got the song into the Friday The 13th: Vengence 2 soundtrack, how the band transitioned to a new vocalist & MORE! - READ IT HERE

2/15/2021

0 Comments

By Stephanie Stevens

Attention Horror fans and Metal core and heavy metal music fans! As you all know The latest installment, Friday the 13th: Vengence 2, will be released in the fall of 2021! What you may not be familiar with is a band who has been working their asses off and crafting the brutal and metal core sound for the soundtrack! SEASONS is bringing to life the song KILLING SEASON a song created by the band looking into the perspective of the fictional masked murderer Jason Voorhees from the Friday the 13th franchise. The song is loaded with references to different aspects of Jason and events that happen to the character throughout the movie franchise. The guttural roars and the screeching assaults vocally pummel you. From aggressive fiery musical verse elements to the captivating and searing melody induced chorus makes the song just an adventurous nightmare.

SEASONS formed in 2017 and are from Richmond, VA. Consisting of dedicated musicians that all have a strong passion for performing energetic shows and crafting top-notch influential songs.

I had a chance to speak with the band about working on a classic horror film soundtrack, a new singer and drummer, having a track for the wrestling community and the future of music of this killer band SEASONS.

Q: Give me a little insight on how SEASONS formed and how would you describe the philosophy of the band’s music and the personality of the band?

Nick GK: Seasons formed in 2017 when original guitarists Matt Poe and Matt Gregory decided to form the band. Both musicians had been in and out of bands for years and they decided they wanted to give it a try again. I think the personality of the band would surprise people. I think we give off a really energetic and intense vibe in our shows and music videos, but behind the scenes I’d say we’re pretty laid back. That intensity is brought out when we play because we’re excited about our own music. But behind the scenes we’re pretty relaxed people.

Q: looking at the background of your band some cool shit has happened to you guys in the past but the most recent and probably most iconic thing is you guys just released a song to be featured on the new Friday the 13th soundtrack coming out in 2021. How did that fall into place and had you already had part of the song KILLING SEASON written?

Nick GK: The way we got the opportunity with Friday the 13th is that our bassist Matt (Poe) had been chatting with a guy named Peter Anthony, who had starred in another Friday the 13th film. Peter was the one who got us in contact with Jason Brooks, who is the director of the upcoming Friday the 13th movie. Matt reached out to Jason and basically asked if we could write a song for the movie, and Jason essentially told us to submit something and he would think about it. We didn’t have the song written ahead of time. We wrote the song with the intention of submitting in hopes that it could be included in the Friday the 13th franchise in some capacity. And we are so fortunate that it has been.

Q: What does it mean to you to be able to write a song about an iconic serial killer and where does your mindset have to be to kind of relive a character everyone knows and put your own twist to it?

Mark: A lot of us are horror fans and Randall loves Jason. I started the music with something that sounded brutal for obvious reasons into a softer clean section to give you that calm before the storm. And then at the end my mindset was in the eye of the killer hence the guitar screeches as in a horror movie.

Q: Another new thing about the band is for KILLING SEASON, you put into place a new singer who use to be a drummer. So how did that all happen and did you realize he had such a diverse vocal ability?

A: After discussing our options, we proposed to our then drummer, Randall Sykes, that he take over the duties as the front man. Randall has a great screaming voice and a lot of charisma on stage, and I think we all knew he could do it. We were so excited when he said he’d like to be the front man, and we got to work right away writing the songs that would feature Randall as the singer. We then spent a few months trying out different drummers trying to fill Randalls old position. In the last month, Joshua Woolcott came in to try out on drums, and right away we knew it was the right fit.

Q: Going forward with the new singer how do you feel your music is going to evolve and change and what do you hope to experiment most with having this new asset to your brand and band?

Mark: Randall def. has a different type of voice. His singing can get higher and his screams lower. I think our existing material and what’s to come will be more brutal but also more melodic.

Q: Have you guys been in the studio to record for an EP or full length or are you at ease just releasing singles for now since the music world is still up in the air?

Mark: We have recently been releasing singles as they are mastered but we are trying to work towards a more big picture move so to say.

Q: going back to other awesome stuff that has happened for the band you also had a 2019 track VIOLENCE IS A VIRTUE playing in the wrestling world. How did that feel seeing that on TV and how was the song picked for that particular wrestler?

Mark: Matt had a mutual friend who hooked us up with AEW that made it happen but it’s was pretty cool to see your song so pump that a wrestler wants to walk out to it. Took me back to childhood.

Q: you guys really take a solid focus on the technical side for sound when you’re playing as you can see in a lot of your songs. When you are writing for a SEASONS song what is the most important aspect the band agrees on before even getting into songwriting mode and how long does a general song take to complete for you guys?

Mark: Usually it starts with a riff and sometimes a theme. Matt’s strongest quality is being like a metalcore composer. So we come up with the basic structure and he kinda picassos it all together into what your hear as the finished product. As for time we have worked on songs for monthes until completed cause sometimes we are like “squirrel” to another song and killing seasons was basically written in a 3 hour band practice cause it just flowed.

Q: I love knowing also you guys are very diverse where everyone in the band comes to the table with the structure and writing of songs which I think would bring so much more diversity into the band to experiment. How does it impact you guys as creators and bonding with each other as a band?

Mark: We all like rock and metal but the genres the we all like specifically can be very different so a chord or scale progression that I would put in a song is completely different that one of the other guys would come up with. Also it forces us all to listen to other music we otherwise wouldn’t.

Q: Where do you see the band's biggest growth since your inception to the current day?

Mark: I came into this band right before High Fives music video and since that was our first music video I’ve seen a lot of numbers really go up since then.

Q: Have you guys thought about the day you can play a live show again and if so how do you want to represent your band in a live aspect once things get back to normal vs. what you did in prior years?

Nick GK: Seasons takes a lot of pride in how we play live from both a technical standpoint as well as an entertainment standpoint. If you come to see us, we want you to hear the songs played as well as we can possibly play them, and we also want you to walk away thinking you got your money’s worth. If you come see Seasons, you will not see 5 guys looking at the floor strumming their instruments. We jump up and down, run around the stage, head bang, and jump off our amp cabs. We are excited about our music and we are excited to play it live and we want the audience to share in that excitement. I think when we get to play live again the audience is going to get that energy but to a higher extent. We will be so excited to play live again that the audience will get the energy of Seasons from 2019 but in an even more extreme way.

Q: if you could help inspire one new musician coming into the scene what advice would you give to them and one thing you wish you knew when you were starting out?

Nick GK: The best advice I could give a new musician entering the scene is to just be curious. Learn from the other bands out there and from the other folks in the industry. Knowledge is power in the music business. If a musician comes into the scene hungry to learn and to improve themselves, everything will fall into place for them.

Q: if you could pick the brain of any musician dead or alive today who would it be and what top 3 questions would you ask them?

Mark: EVH

Nick: Sammy Hagar

Q: How has music influenced and impacted your life and what is one thing you can thank music for giving you this far?

Nick G: To me, music has always been a consistent voice in my life, and I have found comfort in that. If you’re going through a hard time, I think there are always songs out there that can bring you comfort and help a person get through what they are struggling with. Music can be a sort of saving grace to a lot of people in that sense.

Q: Inspire other artists and tell us someone who inspires and motivates you and why?

Mark: trust me I am far from “making it” but I was 28 when I joined this band and was like “it’s too late I’m too old I should hang it up” and this happened. So I’d say never give up, never stop playing, and never ever get rid of your gear. And I’m inspired by Jason Richardson every day because he reminds me no matter how good I am there is someone out there who can shred circles around you so PRACTICE!

Connect with the band
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SeasonsRVA
Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/SeasonsRVA
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/seasonsrvaofficial/
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/SeasonsRVA

0 Comments

INTERVIEW: Stephanie Stevens talks with Dead Original singer/ songwriter Paul Wandtke as they talk about the bands debut album, Bought And Sold due out on February 26, what musician Paul would pick the brain of & MORE! - READ IT HERE

2/15/2021

0 Comments

BY STEPHANIE STEVENS

Dead Original is from Chicago, IL featuring singer/songwriter Paul Wandtke (ex Trivium, Rock of Ages) drummer Sean McCole, and bassist Mike Petrasek (Bedlem). Fusing together groove, grunge rock vibes in a straight ahead less is more rock destination. Dead Original is on the verge of releasing their debut album on February 26th, & melodic hooks w/ lyrics for the tortured soul. The guys are promoting the release of Bought and Sold with FREE WORLDWIDE shipping, the album features over 13 tracks written and produced by Dead Original https://deadoriginal.com/merch/boughtandsold. The guys have given fans and the music world a sneak peek of some of the tracks on the album with solid tracks in Restrained, Let It Burn and the most recent single Blasted.

I had a chance to speak with Paul Wandtke about the new record, leaving Trivium and working with fresh musicians in McCole and Petrasek, what they miss about touring and the most fulfilling part of being a musician

Full interview link below or in bio
https://eastcoastromper.weebly.com/interviews.html

Q: How long did it take you guys to write and record BOUGHT AND SOLD and how would you define the overall sound of this new band to fans and the music world just hearing about you?

A: It took about 6 months. It's pretty straight ahead, you'll know what Dead Original is about after a verse and chorus of one song. I engineered it at our music studio at The Music Garage in Chicago, IL, using Logic Pro and an Apollo interface. It was literally 3 months after I had left Trivium. I simply didn’t know what else to do, either find another gig or make new music on my own. To be honest I didn't even know if it was going to work having been a drummer my whole life. But as Dave Grohl says, do it; even if you suck.

Q: Paul Wandtke had drummed for Trivium and bassist Mike Petrasek is currently from Bedlem. To fans who don’t know the process of a band member leaving one band to start another, what kind of emotional toll if any goes through you as you start to build and begin with a new foundation of a band?

A: Being in a band is frustrating because one person that isn’t on board 110% can negatively impact a band. You’re literally only as strong as your weakest link.

Q: The album comes out Feb 26th, 2021 and you guys have released a few singles. Did you have certain reasoning why you put out each single when you did and does each song do you feel build on each other?

A: The release was simply delayed due to the pandemic so we just kept releasing singles!

Q: I love the harmonies vocally in the newest single BLASTED when you guys sit down to write do you find it easier to write lyrics once you have a melody or vice versa and what do you believe is the most important thing about songwriting?

A: As of now, Dead Original was not a collaborative effort for the first album ‘Bought and Sold’, I literally tracked and wrote it all before finding Mike and Sean. Bedlem however is a collaborative effort, Mike and I exchange vocal melodies and lyrical ideas with Bedlem. That’s more of Mike’s vision lyrically and I support his ideas in Bedlem. Sean is a solo artist he’s a great songwriter on his own too.

Q: LET IT BURN was probably the song that made me a fan of the band I love the grungy gritty aspects with a ton of melody. What for you is the proudest moment of that song and if you could define the meaning of the song in 3 words what would it be?

A: I’m proudest of the fact that it is a slow riff but it’s still kind of energetic. I think we are on the cusp of being a generic band by being so simple but we somehow pull it off, especially live.

Q: If you could pick the brain of any musician that has left us who would you want to sit down and just be blessed with their knowledge of the music world?

A: Ray Manzarek from the DOORS because the guy was a genius.

Q: What is the most fulfilling thing for you on a personal level to be able to do this kind of job for a living?

A: Music is freedom whether you’re a fan or an artist of music or both. So for us, it’s the freedom that we feel we are sharing with people and we love that.

Q: I thought it was sweet your fans were concerned about your video making for some of the singles you did for this album. How did you ease the worries and how did knowing people care that much mean to you?

A: It’s pretty cool. We like being connected like that!

Q: recently a lot of bands and artists are talking about cancel culture and being banned or taken off some media platforms! How do you guys view the likes of some of them taking their career on themselves and your view of the canceling of some people’s freedom of speech?

A: It’s all just freedom of speech, if you believe in yourself keep on the good fight in whatever you are fighting for.

Q: The biggest part of touring you miss and what do you think is going to be the biggest thing to shake the rust off once you start doing it again?

A: We miss the free vodka backstage, we never realized how expensive alcohol is until this pandemic hit. On a more serious note, we love playing shows and we miss that!

Q: Empower other artists and give them a piece of advice?

A: We are living in interesting times. There’s so much knowledge out there! Go study/become a musician!

Stay connected to the band
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DeadOriginal/
Twitter https://twitter.com/deadoriginal_
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deadoriginal_/
Website www.deadoriginal.com
Merchandise Purchase Link - https://deadoriginal.com/merch

0 Comments

NEW MUSIC: Modern Metal Frontrunners TETRARCH to Release New Album, Unstable, on April 30 and Watch the Official Music Video for New Single “You Never Listen” - WATCH IT HERE

INTERVIEW: Stephanie Stevens talks with Metal band Seasons about their new single "Killing Season" and how they got the song into the Friday The 13th: Vengence 2 soundtrack, how the band transitioned to a new vocalist & MORE! - READ IT HERE

INTERVIEW: Stephanie Stevens talks with Dead Original singer/ songwriter Paul Wandtke as they talk about the bands debut album, Bought And Sold due out on February 26, what musician Paul would pick the brain of & MORE! - READ IT HERE

Author

Archives

Categories