Music: The Unheard

SPOTLIGHT - Nemesis (Portland, OR)

2013-02-08T20:20:00.000-08:00

For this spotlight, we're going to be taking a look and listen to a band based out of Portland, OR who go by the name of Nemesis. The band is still fairly new, having formed in April of 2011, but you would never assume that. Their music is tight and they sound as though they have been making music together for years.The band consists of: Spencer Tyler - Vocals; Evil Joe - Lead Guitar; Ryan Hansen - Rhythm Guitar; William McIntire - Bass Guitar; Hank Baer - Drummer.

Evil Joe originally sent me a link to the band's ReverbNation page, and I instantly fell in love. You know, there are some bands you get the honor of listening to, and it just clicks immediately...well, Nemesis was that way for me. The first song posted, "Lie In Ruins", has a heavy, in-your-face vibe from the very beginning. It grabs your attention and raises curiosity to hear the rest of the song, and others. My personal favorite of the songs they have posted, is "Noregard". I can't exactly put my finger on it, but that song has so much awesomeness going on! The drums, the guitar, the vocals, the bass...everything. The guitar solo right around the 3 minute mark is a great way to showcase the talent.

Nemesis' music has an intense energy and presence from the start. The songs they have available just seem like a teaser for what's to come. With them still being a "young band", their future looks amazing. The longer they are together, the more their music will grow right along with them. It really makes me anxious to see what the future holds for Nemesis!

As far as musical influences and overall musical taste of the band as a whole, it all comes from bands such as Soilwork, Fear Factory, Meshugga, Bloodbath, Opeth and Behemoth, just to name a few. When asked about the band goals, Evil Joe replied, "We are interested in crafting the most dynamic and heavy metal we can conjure. We are here for our fans and will stop at nothing to make you and your friends our devoted fans!! Look out for us in 2013!"

The bands' love for what they do can be seen in their stage show; which is something I am looking forward to experiencing at one of their upcoming shows. I have heard nothing but extremely positive comments when it comes to their live show. Including the insane amount of energy that resonates from the stage.

This group of guys have the pure energy and drive needed to really take themselves along an amazing musical path. They have played with bands such as Six Feet Under, Dying Fetus and Witch Burn, just to name a few. They also have an upcoming show with Sabaton from Sweden!

UPCOMING SHOWS:
Feb 11, 2013 - Hawthorne Theater (Portland, OR) WITH SABATON!!!
March 9, 2013 - Tony V's Garage (Everett, WA)
March 30, 2013 - Hawthorne Theater (Portland, OR)
April 13, 2013 - Irishtown Pub (Vancouver, WA)
April 19, 2013 - Red Room (Portland, OR)

FOR MORE INFO AND TUNES:
Check out the BAND WEBSITE
Like the BAND PAGE on Facebook
Give their TUNES a listen on ReverbNation

Sell Music online at ReverbNation.com

SPOTLIGHT - Downsiid (Killeen, TX)

2012-12-15T05:32:00.000-08:00

The newest spotlight is featuring a band based out of Killeen, TX called Downsiid (pronounced Downside). This band is actually a new find for myself as well, and no words have the power to convey how excited I am to have learned of them!

First, a bit of background on Downsiid. The band was originally formed in 2000 with the members being primarily Army men based at Ft. Hood, TX. Eventually, line-up changes were necessary due to members of the band being shipped to different locations; which led to the current line-up (Jason "String" Atwood - Vocals; DJ AkirA MC - Vocals, Turntables/Samples.keyboards; B.rich - Drums; Jeff "Spanish" Scottt - Lead Guitar; G. Dell - Rhythm Guitar; Jason Quintero - Bass Guitar) Their first CD was released in 2001 and their second released in 2005. Life and Lies is their most current album, having been finished up last year (2011). The guys worked with producer Roy Z (Judas Priest, Halford, Bruce Dickinson, Sebastian Bach, Sepultura, etc) for that album, and have a YouTube video for their single "Not With Me" off their Life Of Lies album which you can watch here. They are currently working on a new DOUBLE CD called "Sex, Drugs and Rock n Roll" (SxRxRr) which will be available in 2013.

Now, on to the music. I have only heard what is posted on their ReverbNation page (found here), but I was blown away with the first song, No Rain, and could not stop listening. In that song, the singer,
Jason "String" Atwood's, voice just has that raw, powerful sound from the get-go. "The Simple Man" reminds me of Korn. At least, that's the first band that comes to my mind when I hear that song, I could be off, or you may have a better comparison...but right at this moment in time, Korn is who I think of. Though, other songs don't necessarily have the exact same sound. I don't know if I would really compare any of their other songs to the same band, which is pretty damn awesome if you ask me. Downsiid's music offers something new and exciting every song. Take the rap for example. It was totally unexpected when I first heard it, but once I heard it, something just clicked. It made sense...the rap fits in and flows so well with the hard rock tunes, it just belongs there. Period.

After listening to the music they have posted, it really is difficult to choose a favorite song. Yesterday, I could not stop listening to "The Simple Msn" and the snippet for "Bullet Hits the Skin". But tonite, "No Rain" and "Part of You Live..." is currently being played over and over. You can NOT go wrong with any of their tunes, and I know I will definitely be buying a copy of the new CD when it comes out next year!

You can help them out by purchasing merchandise, buying a CD and requesting them at your favorite place to see a show!

FOR MORE INFO AND TUNES:

Visit the BAND WEBSITE
Like the BAND PAGE on Facebook
Follow them on TWITTER
Check out their TUNES on ReverbNation
Subscribe to DOWNSIID on YouTube

Devastation Device (London, KY)

2012-11-12T15:07:00.000-08:00

For this post, I will be spotlighting a band based out of London, Kentucky who go by the name of Devastation Device. The band is made up of 5 guys: Jared Harris (Vocals), Bobby Jones (Guitar), Jordy Davis (Guitar), Wes "Meathook"DeWees (Bass) and Jonathan Martin (Drums). I can describe this band best in two words...headbanging goodness! Really, there seems to be no possible way to stop the inevitable headbanging. The first couple of "big name" bands that come to MY mind when I listen to them, is something like Lamb of God and Fear Factory.

Devastation Device formed in Kentucky in September 2008 with Bobby Jones (guitar) and Jonathan Martin (drums) as founding members. Once they had their members and practice commenced, it was time to decide on a name. There were many names thrown into the mix for possibilities, but Devastation Device stuck. They were all happy with the name, and it seemed fitting for the band and the direction of the music. Jonathan came up with the name from a pro wrestling tag team's (Legion of Doom) signature move.

The band has not had an opportunity to tour with many national acts...yet. One that they mentioned touring with was a band out of Canada called Blackguard. Currently in the works are some shows with THC (Texas Hippie Coalition) and Shadows Fall. So, naturally, I had to ask the guys the top 3 bands they would love to tour with one day. Their answer: "To list just 3 bands we would want to tour with is hard. But here we go...Slayer Because that would just be godamn awesome, Lamb of God because they draw massive crowds...and GWAR strictly for our own pleasure." Their touring as of now has mainly been based around the Southeast, but in 2013, they are more than ready to branch out and are looking forward to touring other areas of the country.

Devastation Device has a CD currently out, which was released in early 2011 called Nation of Extinction. They are currently recording their follow-up CD which will be released in 2013, We Kill. They have a music video posted for their song "Kill the Lights" from the debut CD on their YouTube channel, found HERE. If you are interested in the Nation of Extinction CD, you can find it on 101 Distribution, Amazon and iTunes, which I have links for at the bottom of this post, along with links to other sites for the band.

Now, I have not had the privilege to see these guys live, but would love to one day. They are a great group of guys, and I have heard nothing but amazing things about their shows. Devastation Device's music packs a punch; and they all come together to make something amazing for your ears and mind to enjoy. The tunes are fast paced, heavy and frankly...addicting!

I hope you all enjoy listening to Devastation Device as much as I do!

UPCOMING SHOWS
11/29 - Opening for Texas Hippie Coalition @ Phoenix Hill Tavern in Louisville, KY
12/7 - Union Station in Louisville, KY with Sever This Illusion
12/8 - Berlinz in Bowling Green, KY with Sever This Illusion

LINKS

ReverbNation
Facebook
Band Website
YouTube Channel
CDs, Merchandise, Ringtones (101 Distribution)

Spotlight: Sever This Illusion (Louisville, KY)

2012-10-23T14:59:00.000-07:00

Left to Right: Ben - Bass; Jordan - Guitar; Darren - Drums; Trevor - Vocals; Nelson - Guitar

Sever This Illusion is a metal band out of Louisville, KY. The band formed during the Winter of 2007 and has not slowed down since. They have gone through some line-up changes through the years, but have remained a force to be reckoned with.

S.T.I.’s live shows are not to be missed…EVER! Speaking from experience, having seen them play in Oregon, Washington and Idaho in June of this year, their stage show is incomparable. The energy that all 5 guys have on stage, the interaction with the crowd and the sheer talent all meld together into a show you won’t soon forget! The band has played shows with some amazing headliners, including: Hatebreed, All That Remains, Periphery, God Forbid, Kittie, Dope and so many more; including a Summer 2012 West Coast Tour with Straight Line Stitch!

The debut CD, Unidentified Assassins, was released in the Winter of 2011. S.T.I. will be hitting the studio with the new, current lineup in November to record a 3 song EP to get some new tunes out there for your ears to enjoy, before they record their next full-length record. The new material has a sound unlike any other band I’ve heard before, making the new EP a must have for any metal head!

Unidentified Assassins is a CD that I could listen to again and again. I literally had it in the CD player in my vehicle for 2 months straight. No two songs are alike. Each one packs its own punch of intricate guitar riffs, precision drumming and dynamic vocals; which grab your attention from the first note, to the very last.

The members of S.T.I. play the music they love and have a good time doing so. Their love of music and what they do comes through in the music they play. If you make it to one of their shows, don’t be a stranger! They all look forward to meeting fans from around the country and are some of the most humble guys I’ve ever met. Whether you see them live, check them out on YouTube or buy a copy of the CD, you will not be disappointed!

UPCOMING SHOWS!!!

Oct 26 - Crump Theater - Columbus, In

Dec 7 - Union Station - Louisville, Ky

Dec 8 - Berlenz - Bowling Green, Ky

Feb 3 - Union Station - Louisville, Ky w/ Judgement

Mar 30 - Hanger 18 - Peru, In

More dates to be announced in the coming weeks!!

LINKS (Click the sites below to be taken to that page):

Facebook
Myspace
Twitter
YouTube Channel
CDs, Merchandise, Ringtones (101d.com)
Reverbnation

You can also find their music at jango.com, iTunes, Amazon and Spotify!

Hey there! Allow me to introduce myself.....

2012-10-19T05:14:00.000-07:00

Hello fellow music lovers! I would like to welcome you all to my blog. This is something I decided to start for a couple different reasons. One, I don't have much of a life, and I was in desperate need of a hobby. What better than to start a blog about something you love?! Two, there are countless bands out there who are all amazing, talented musicians who deserve the chance to be heard by the masses. I figure, why can't I be a middle (wo)man of sorts, and bring those bands to you every week or two. I have friends in bands, and I see how hard they work to try to get their music heard. The more I can do to help them, and bands in a similar situation, the better. I am simply a music fan and supporter who believes there are bands out there that you have not heard, and should. Hell, bands I haven't heard of, but will be damn glad I know them now. I am really looking forward to this experience, and discovering so many amazing bands with you!

The plan, as of now, is to feature a rock or metal band every week or two. Whether it be an unsigned local band, or a band signed to a minor label. I am asking that bands who wish to be spotlighted, to send me an email through here, or the FB page for the blog, with the band name, one or two MP3 files of songs you would like featured, Facebook page link and other other sites you use to get your music out there. I will then email bands asking for bio information, show dates, etc. I'll put your band's links and sites at the bottom of your band's post for people who want to hear/learn more. All bands will be reviewed and must meet certain criteria (don't worry, simple stuff like having a decent recording, playing shows, etc. General band activity is necessary). To make all this as fair as I could come up with, I will write each band down on a piece of paper and draw a band randomly to be featured.

Posts will consist of

A song or YouTube video
Information about the band (location, member bios, general info)
Upcoming show dates
Any other info the band may want mentioned
I would eventually like to post a Q and A.

More may be added as time goes on

So there's a quick run down of what to expect from this blog, and how bands can be a part of it. I hope you enjoy the coming posts! Feedback is always welcome, as long as it's not "Fuck Off". :)