Fuel The Scene Magazine Issue #9: Winter 2019 by Fuel The Scene Magazine

ISSUE #9 | WINTER 2019

IN THIS ISSUE 3

THE EDITORS’ LIST: KICK ASS BANDS THAT YOU SHOULD ABSOLUTELY BE LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW

Echo2Locate, VISTA, No Takers, Dematus, Haven State, Sorry Sweetheart

COVER STORY: INTERVIEW WITH REASON | DEFINE

REASON | DEFINE “IN MEMORY...” ALBUM REVIEW

INTERVIEW WITH SOMETHING CLEVER

SOMETHING CLEVER “MOMENTS: RED” & “MOMENTS: BLUE” EP REVIEWS

EXTINCTION LEVEL EVENT “HELLBENT” SINGLE REVIEW

ABOLETH “BENTHOS” ALBUM REVIEW

ALTER THE DESIGN “UNDIVIDED” ALBUM REVIEW

DREAM THEATER “DISTANCE OVER TIME” ALBUM REVIEW

PUREST OF PAIN “SOLIPSIS” ALBUM REVIEW

INTERVIEW WITH LO

ILLUSIONS OF GRANDEUR “SONGS OF THE SIREN” ALBUM REVIEW

BRING ME THE HORIZON “AMO” ALBUM REVIEW

OUTLIAR “TASTE OF BLOOD” ALBUM REVIEW

SHUULAK “ALBEDO” ALBUM REVIEW

CREDITS

Thank you to all of our contributors who make this dream possible and are actively working together to breathe life into the live music scene that we all love. You are the fuel that keeps the music alive. Editors | Rei Haycraft, Seraphim Dibble, Kristy Streyle Photographers | Seraphim Dibble, Terie Shaver, Rei Haycraft, Ambler Irby, Kevin McGee, Hannah Lee, Brittney McGuire, Connor Schlosser Writers | Seraphim Dibble, Rose Estrada, Rei Haycraft, Savanah Ruiz, Josh Foster, Lara Watson, Darlene McGarrity, Eileen Keller, Spencer Gilmour Designer | Rei Haycraft / Revenant Images Founded by | Rei Haycraft, Jaton Blaney, and Kristy Streyle Proudly sponsored by | Crim Radio

All band promotional photos submitted to us are copyright their respective owners, please contact each band for more information.

THE EDITORS’ LIST OF KICK ASS BANDS THAT YOU SHOULD ABSOLUTELY BE LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW ECHO 2 LOCATE Alternative Rock from Baltimore, MD

Coming from a mix of pop-punk, grunge, alternative rock and metal influences, Echo 2 Locate formed to create a unique sound and image. Based out of Baltimore, Maryland, Echo 2 Locate was originally formed by Rhiannon Neagle (Vocalist/Rhythm Guitarist) and Mike Pritchett (Drummer) to which they later added Clarke Hildreth and Will Servary to the family.

@Echo2Locate @Echo2Locate echo2locate.com

VISTA

Alternative Rock from New York, NY An electronically-tinged alternative rock band, NY-based outfit VISTA originally formed in late 2015. Comprised of lead vocalist Hope Vista and guitarist Greg Almeida, the band combines both modern alternative rock and electronic influences to create their unique anthemic sound. Most recently in 2018, VISTA released 2 singles “Witch Hunt” and “Born For Blood,” and will embark on the On The Hunt tour in February 2019.

@VISTAband @VISTAband vistaband.co FUEL THE SCENE MAGAZINE

THE EDITORS’ LIST OF KICK ASS BANDS THAT YOU NO TAKERS Hardcore/Punk from Denver, CO

No Takers, from Denver, CO, combine the speed and ferocity of 90s street punk with the passion, intensity and creativity of 80s hardcore. Drawing influence from bands across genres, this 4 piece uses intricate metal-inspired riffs over an unrelenting rhythm section to create an unforgettable sound of their own.

@NoTakersMusic @NoTakersMusic NoTakersMusic.com

HAVEN STATE Progressive Rock from Pittsburgh, PA

Haven State is a four piece progressive rock/ metal band from Pittsburgh, PA. Their unique blend of rock and infectious live performance keeps fans eagerly coming back for more. The band released their debut EP, “Stratus,” in February of 2018 and their newest single and music video for “Finite,” on March 1, 2019.

@HavenStateBand havenstate.bandcamp.com

WINTER 2019

SHOULD ABSOLUTELY BE LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW DEMATUS

Melodic Metal from Pittsburgh, PA Dematus is a three piece melodic metal band hailing originally from Rolla, Missouri and now located in Pittsburgh, PA. Passionate about stunning the crowd with her abilities and talents the band is fronted by Jessica, a wide ranging, screaming and operatic stylist. Jessica also plays lead and rhythm guitar. On the drums, Ryan keeps the band in step with his fierce beats and is a born metronome and self taught bassist, Brian, is undoubtedly the heartbeat and high energy source of the band.

@DematusOfficial @DematusOfficial dematus.com

SORRY SWEETHEART Ska/Punk from Denver, CO

Sorry Sweetheart is Denver, Coloradoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premiere ska-punk band boasting members from all walks of the alternative musical scale: ska, metalcore, jazz, hardcore and punk rock. Their music projects an inescapable lyricism and driving sense of forward momentum, captivating its listeners.

@sorrysweetheartdenver sorrysweetheart.com sorrysweetheartofficial.com

FUEL THE SCENE MAGAZINE

COVER STORY / INTERVIEW

REASON | DEFINE

Rei Haycraft spoke with Charlotte, NC hard rock/metal band REASON | DEFINE as they prepared for the release of their newest album, “In Memory...,” about lyrical and musical inspiration, the poignant nature of the emotional album, the recording process, and what’s next.

For the uninitiated, how would you describe Reason Define and your newest release, In Memory... CAITLIN: Man, that’s really a tough one and I know that we should be able to answer it by now but it is hard because we just play whatever we feel like playing. Someone this weekend said we were like a mix between Paramore and Flyleaf which is a combo that I haven’t heard before. Honestly, we just do whatever we feel like doing whether it’s a piano ballad, a pop punk bop or a heavy hitting breakdown. We don’t fit inside a box.

What would you say makes In Memory... stand out from your previous release? How do you feel that your overall sound has changed since the last album, Far From Strangers? CAITLIN: We wrote Far From Strangers when

we were literal kids. Syd was 12 when we started the band and we sat on a lot of the songs for a long time. We really didn’t know how we wanted to sound or how we wanted to combine all our personal styles together 6

WINTER 2019

when we first started writing. Typical first album/first band growing pains. With In Memory…, I personally feel like we really hit our stride and figured out what Reason|Define sounds like. We pulled from some really deep personal experiences for In Memory… and I think that it shows in the diversity of the types of songs and the topics that we chose to discuss. It is really a giant leap forward from where we were releasing Far From Strangers 2 years ago. Conceptually and lyrically, In Memory… is a darker and deeper direction for the band—can you talk a little bit about that and the concept behind the album? What do you hope that listeners take away from In Memory… as a whole? CAITLIN: In Memory… is a concept album

about the 5 stages of grief. We all went through some really difficult times in the past couple years. I lost my dad in 2016 from a brain aneurysm very unexpectedly and (as these things do) it sent me into a huge depressive spiral. Writing the album was a

really cathartic experience for me. Being able to express what I was feeling and turn it into a positive thing was a really huge step in my grief process. I didn’t really reach acceptance of what had happened until we finished recording. It was a seriously rough time and I wouldn’t have been able to make it out if it wasn’t for the support of the other girls in the band. Everyone experiences loss differently. We all have struggles. We all have doubts. We all hurt for one reason or another. Learning how to heal and going through the grieving process is what In Memory… chronicles. Cherish the times that you have with the people you care about. Turn to your support system when you feel like giving up. There is always hope and you are not alone. We hope that In Memory... brings listeners the same peace that it brought to us. Tell us a little bit about the writing and studio recording process for In Memory...— how did it come together? CAITLIN: We wrote the entirety of In Memory…

in 2 months. We went in with a bunch of

INTERVIEW BY REI HAYCRAFT PHOTOGRAPHY BY CONNOR SLOSSER ideas but no solid plan for anything. We spent every single waking moment that we had working on writing the album. We lived inside of the album for those 2 months and it was emotionally and physically exhausting. We spent a lot of really long nights in our living room figuring out song structures and song order. We did preproduction with Don DeBiase from Studio D who actually recorded our first album so it was really cool to go into the process with him again with different material. We recorded with our good friend Edward Hinson and it was mixed by James Paul Wisner. This was the first time we had worked with that many different people on a project and we were a little nervous because we had really big ideas and were afraid that it would be hard to transfer those through so many hands and end up with the result that we wanted. Ultimately, it worked out really well and we couldn’t be happier with the outcome. In Memory…’s first single to drop was “Pointing Fingers,” can you tell us a little bit about the inspiration for that song, musically and lyrically?

SHELBY: Pointing Fingers is about our experiences with sexual harassment. All of us have experienced assault of some kind and in today’s social climate we feel that it is very important to speak about these topics, not only as musicians, but as women. Pointing Fingers is our way of standing up to our abusers and saying enough is enough.

The music video for “Pointing Fingers” premiered last year and you just dropped the video for your second single, “Mirrors.” What was the filming process like for those videos? Who did you work with? What was the vision and what do you hope fans take away? CAITLIN: The filming process was an emotional one to put it simply. The physical process was actually pretty smooth and easy thanks to Austin Hulesbeck, who recorded the whole Pointing Fingers video. We also worked with Connor Schlosser (obscvre photography) for the Mirrors video, which was also very relaxed. Coming up with the concept for Pointing Fingers was tough because we wanted to make sure we delivered the message well. We’ve all experienced sexual

harassment so the concept was very close to our hearts. Kenzie Veurink was our actress in the video and she did an incredible job in portraying how hard it is to overcome these demons, and also portraying that you CAN do it. Mirrors is such an intimate and vulnerable song, so we wanted the video to also portray that which is why we decided to keep it intimate and simple. “Mirrors” stands out on the album, both musically and lyrically, can you tell us more about that song and its inspiration? SYD: Mirrors is not only different from every song on this album, but also from any song we’ve ever released as a band. In Memory... is designed to have two songs for each stage of grief. Mirrors is the first song for depression. This song is about that moment when all hope seems to be lost. It is for when you’ve hit rock bottom and you don’t have anywhere else to go. We want the people listening to our music to know that we’ve all been there. Every member of this band has been at their lowest point in life and didn’t know how to get up. This song is for anyone going through that right now, and is a reminder that you’re not alone. It is okay to have these feelings, but it is also important to know you can ask for help.

With such an emotive, poignant album it’s hard to single out just one, but for each of you, which songs are the most poignant or cathartic for you? What was the inspiration for those songs? CAITLIN: This is kind of a weird question for

me to answer because the 2 songs that I really had the most feelings about are Waves and All I’ve Got which are the first and last tracks of the album. Both are about the different points of my grieving process dealing with the loss of my dad. Waves is about the moment in the hospital when my family and I learned that he wasn’t going to wake up again. That is the beginning of the denial stage of grief for me. I had no idea what to do with myself or how to cope. I started writing the lyrics for All I’ve Got after I had been fighting through my depression and anxiety for quite a while. One of the original lines that ended up getting cut from the song but I still feel really explains how I feel about the whole situation is “I’ll FUEL THE SCENE MAGAZINE

COVER STORY / INTERVIEW

never lose hope even if it kills me”. At the end of the track, a clip plays of my dad singing and playing piano for one of his original songs that talks about seizing the day and making the most of the time you have. It was sent to me by one of his friends right after he passed. It really stuck with me and our song is a tribute to him.

When it comes to writing lyrics, I’m more of a straight forward writer. I will kinda just write down my feelings how they come out, and then I take it to the band and we all kind of combine our thought vomit to come up with better ways to portray what we’re trying to say. I honestly love that we work like that when writing.

Can you speak briefly about what inspired each of the songs we haven’t already talked about?

Which songs are you the most excited for fans to hear? Which are you the most excited to begin playing live?

CAITLIN: It’s pretty safe to say that every song on this album has a really heavy emotional situation fueling it. Overall, we feel like we did a good job expressing our feelings of loss in each song. The album overall isn’t about a specific type of loss. They vary from loss of a loved one, loss of a relationship, loss of control, or loss of your own voice.

PAOLINA: I honestly am just excited to play all the new material. It’s extremely refreshing to say that I am absolutely in love with every song on this album for different reasons. They’re a lot of fun to perform live! So far my favorite one to play live is Reaper, but it could change honestly because every song has a different vibe on stage.

For Paolina, what is your lyric writing artistic process like?

Reason Define is known especially for highenergy live shows and an undeniable chemistry on and off stage. Has that always been the case or did that connection develop over time?

PAOLINA: My lyrical writing process is pretty simple, and it’s very much a group effort. 8

WINTER 2019

PAOLINA: When we started 5 years ago we didn’t really know each other that well and we were kids that had big dreams and no idea what we were doing. We really are one big family now and I think a lot of that is due to all of these crazy situations that we wrote about for In Memory… and learning to deal with our emotions together. We always have viewed this band as a job since the get go and have worked really hard to improve our communication skills over the years so that we can continue to thrive.

Each member of Reason Define has artistic talents that they bring to the band, supporting the project in different ways. Can you talk a little bit about the ways each member contributes to the functioning of Reason Define? CAITLIN: Sav is our point person for all things money and logistics. We seriously would be lost without her. Syd handles the tracks and keeps us all laughing and in good spirits. Paolina does all of our hair, styling and makeup. We would look like trolls if she

hadn’t taught us how to contour. Shelby and Caitlin run the social media and do the design work for the band but for this album we were really set on making sure that we were all represented in the art making process. Each of us created art to reflect the songs and those pieces were incorporated into the final design. It has always been a huge group effort and we all put our hearts and souls into everything we do. Obligatory gear nerd question: what is at the top of your arsenal right now? CAITLIN: Ya girl loves a Fender jazz bass. For real, I have never played a bass that I love as much as my white jazz bass that I got like 4 years ago. It is my baby. SYD: I recently got a SJC set and have always wanted to be an SJC artist. I’ve always looked up to artists who had their kits and always thought, “one day I’m going to have one of my

own.” This really is a dream come true for me. As musicians and as a band, how do you stay motivated? What do you do when you get discouraged? CAITLIN: The thing that really keeps me going is playing shows. It doesn’t matter where it is or how many people are there or any of that. Just getting to do what I love really motivates me to keep going. It is really easy to get bogged down in the logistics and the numbers and comparing yourself to other people but at the end of the day, the only thing I care about is having fun playing music with my best friends. God, that sounds so corny!

What’s next on the horizon for Reason Define and what can fans look forward to? CAITLIN: We are planning on doing a lot of

What advice would you have for other bands starting out in their own local scenes and what do you think are the most important things we can all do to keep live music thriving? CAITLIN: My best advice is not to try and do

everything yourself. Trust your bandmates to be able to handle things and learn to communicate with them effectively. Network with other local bands and don’t be afraid to talk to people. Social anxiety is real y’all, but power through it! I promise it’s worth it! Any other words of wisdom to share or anything that you would like fans to know? Support local. Support women in music. Support people striving for positive change.

traveling this summer and are trying to play as many different places as possible. Come see us if we are playing in a city near you!

FUEL THE SCENE MAGAZINE

ALBUM REVIEW

WRITTEN BY SERAPHIM DIBBLE PHOTOGRAPHY BY CONNOR SCHLOSSER

REASON | DEFINE In Memory... I

t has been a few years since the release of Reason Define’s Far from Strangers album. In that time, they’ve grown as a band and as people. Their talents have grown further than ever before, as has the diversity of sound in their music. There’s really no way to review In Memory… without diving straight into the album. In Memory… opens with the relatively soft “Waves”. While “Waves” features some fantastically heavy portions, the song overall has a very somber and mournful sound. This is perhaps appropriate to a song with the lyrics “the tide pulls me under I’m drowning in waves”. There is so much more to Reason Define than being heavy for the sake of being heavy. “Waves” and “Forgiveness Again” both demonstrate this in big ways.

WINTER 2019

With the softer introduction songs over, “Innocent” is a roaring hard rock track that pounces on the listener. Between the hardhitting riffs and the lyrics themed around religion and falsehoods, it fits right in with the first tracks. In Memory… broaches a lot of serious topics, and doesn’t shy away from anything, regardless of the track’s musical style. Indeed, as they continue to showcase their signature vocals and guitars through “Reaper”, it becomes even more evident that Reason Define has developed their voice to a fine point. Both songs are a combination of crushing, palm-muted riffs, power chords, and quieter sections paired off with a stunning vocal track that draws you in and entices you to keep listening.

This is important to note, as each track on the album does sound like a Reason Define song. However, none of them sound like a repeat of any others, nor does the album begin to get boring at any point. They’ve managed to create something that is

uniquely theirs, while also not falling back on recording the same song over and over. One great example is the inflection of the vocals during “Inferno”’s chorus and verses, contrasting heavily in style and sound. Another is the soaring chorus of “The Hunter”, where the overall archetypes of the vocalist remain the same while the style varies. They don’t even skip a beat when they go from hard-rock Goddesses to a softer piano song. It is very reminiscent of Stone Sour’s “Zzyzx Rd.” on their Come What(ever) May album. Despite being in between two visceral hard rock tracks, “Mirrors” is perfectly at home and even offers the listener a respite of sorts.

“Impossible Victories” and “Pointing Fingers” are blistering and heavy tracks, and “All I’ve Got”, while ending on a soft note, takes the listener along for a rousing ride. Since demonstrating their capabilities on their 2017 album Far from Strangers, Reason Define has only moved upward. The professional sound of In Memory… is absolutely unmistakable. Despite, or perhaps because of, that professional refinement, the album also shows a lot of heart. It is clear that Reason Define has a strong career ahead of them, and this is only the first floor. Grab In Memory… today at iTunes, Spotify, Play Music, and more!

“Their talents have grown further than ever before, as has the diversity of sound in their music... It is clear that Reason Define has a strong career ahead of them, and this is only the first floor.”

FUEL THE SCENE MAGAZINE

WINTER 2019

FUEL THE SCENE MAGAZINE

INTERVIEW

SOMETHING CLEVER

Rei Haycraft spoke with Adam Nelson (vocals) and Kelly Flusk (guitar) of Charlotte, NC’s SOMETHING CLEVER just prior to the release of their dual EPs Moments: Red and Moments: Blue about the records, their lyrical and musical inspirations, and what’s next on the horizon for the group.

For the unfamiliar, how would you describe Something Clever and your new dual EPs, Moments Red and Moments Blue? ADAM: I’d say Something Clever is that kid that’s finally about to teach the bully a lesson. We’re positive and hard hitting at the same time. Grabbing the listener by the collar and screaming ‘don’t give up!’ And Moments R&B are all over the rock spectrum, you’re sure to find a favorite on either set. What would you say makes Moments stand out from your previous releases? How do you feel that your overall sound has changed since the last album, Season of Light? ADAM: I feel like with our previous releases we were building the playground and this is us playing around with different concepts. Our die hard listeners are still gonna love it, it’s still the same band you like, but just that little bit extra. And with the addition of Lawrence (Lo) West on bass, it’s only gotten better and honestly I think this is the best we’ve sounded. 14

WINTER 2019

Duality is a recurring theme with Something Clever, first with Season of Darkness and Season of Light and now with Moments Red and Moments Blue. Can you talk a little bit about that? ADAM: There’s just something poetic about the dualities found everywhere……..light and dark, evil and goodness, happiness and sorrow, yin and yang. Just like life, there’s ups and downs, and all sorts of opposites. That’s why the theme kept going, and life is just that, moments. A series of moments. And that was the theme, since the works didn’t feel tied to a single story. Each song, just a series of moments. we also wanted to make sure we kept giving our audience content, and not to sequester ourselves for three years and TA-DAAAAA single, album, tour, then silence again. KELLY: Adding on about the title Moments... That’s also why we went with the fish on the cover. A fish, only around for short time, a moment. Then poof, gone.

Tell us a little bit about the writing and studio recording process for Moments. KELLY: The writing process for us (which I am learning now is actually not a very common process) is that we all work off of eachother. We are all very open-minded to each others ideas and that is something that I’ve always thought was important to have in a group and something we have sustained over the years. We almost always give every guitar riff a chance to blossom, or a chorus melody a chance to fit somewhere, and then we decide if we like the bones enough to pursue the song further. With ‘Moments: Red’ specifically I believe each song grew from a guitar riff. ADAM: Just about every song was written and produced at JP Audio Labs with Joe Potts, with a few pieces getting some love by our buddy Jamie King as well. The writing process is pretty much Kelly or Brett or Justin or Lo will come up with a riff, I’ll go ‘ooh shiny’ and then away we go. But I agree with Kelly many times you’ll have bands that have a

INTERVIEW BY REI HAYCRAFT PHOTOGRAPHY BY HANNAH LEE central songwriter...we’re lucky, we have five. The way one member can add to another member’s part with the instrument and we can all harmonize relatively well, we’re starting to create some new things. The music video for the first single, “The Hill,” premiered last year and you’ve already filmed another one, this time for “Rise.” What was the filming process like for those two videos? What was the vision and what do you hope fans take away? KELLY: They were honestly very different days when you compare the two. “The Hill” we were in this old recycle center, and it had just poured rain the night before so there were pools of dirty water around every corner. Good thing the plan was to get dirty in the video! lol! We worked hard that day and were exhausted and filthy at the end of it! With “Rise” it felt like a band day at a videogame playground! At the end of the day I hope “The Hill” video shows our energy and I hope “Rise” shows a bit of our personality.

Moments also includes reimagined, rerecorded versions of two of your most popular songs, “Rise” and “Freaks.” What was it like revisiting those songs? ADAM: Rise was released in a similar fashion to the original, but we were able to secure a national radio campaign and they felt Rise would do well, with all the commercial attention it’s been getting. It was just used on another national tv commercial also, so I guess we’ll see! And it felt odd re-recording Freaks. The whole time I was thinking, ‘This is your chance to fix anything you didn’t do last time!’ and ‘Don’t mess up!’ so hopefully that comes through in the song, haha! KELLY: Yeah, Rise is exactly the same song as before. But we hope that fans understand that we just want the song to stay relevant with all the successes and sync placements we’ve gotten with that song. With the radio campaign in place, we want new fans og to trace it back to our latest releases.

As for Freaks Like You, Adam is right it did feel weird recording it again because it didn’t have that “new” excited feeling you get when you are recording a brand new song. But, the song has changed a lot, has stayed very relevant since its first debut and has proven to be a live fan favorite, so we wanted to recapture that. Are there any songs that are particularly poignant for you? What was the inspiration for those lyrics? ADAM: The vision for The Hill centered mostly around social media arguments, at the height of political…….well, everything. I noticed including myself that a lot of us were becoming mascots of ourselves online, dems and republicans, this versus that, everything became an argument. In the time that I stepped away from that part of social media, I put the words into an urgent message to people to step back before hurting someone, and it became The Hill, as in, is this the hill you want to die on? KELLY: Adam writes all the lyrics, but the lyrics

FUEL THE SCENE MAGAZINE

INTERVIEW to ‘Get With It’ I think really speaks to all of us. It has an overall theme of not subscribing to the life you don’t want to live, setting goals for yourself and working hard to achieve them. I hope fans can relate to it like we do. Which songs are you the most excited for fans to hear? Which are you the most excited to begin playing live? Kelly: My top two favorite tracks would have to be Angels and Demons, and Get With It. You just can’t beat the groove. We’ve already started mixing GWI into the set and I am loving it! Adam: Same. Can’t wait to play Angels and Demons live.

WINTER 2019

Can you speak briefly about what inspired each of the songs? I know there are quite a few interesting stories, including some nerdery. Kelly: If the nerdery you’re referring to is about the song “Always” on ‘Moments: Blue’ you are correct! I believe we had just binged the Harry Potter Series again while we were in the writing season. Next thing I knew Adam was telling me that the song was about Severus Snape. Adam: ‘Superhuman’ allowed me the ability to write a thank you letter to the strong positive females in my life that made me who I am. It’s got some great crowd vocals at the

end that I can’t wait to hear live. The song ‘Angels and Demons’ speaks on the good and bad intentions in us and our desire to be a great version of ourselves and sometimes the world doesn’t let you make that decision easily, with our hero of the story begging to plead his case at the gates. Obligatory gear nerd out: what’s top in your arsenal right now? ADAM: This might be a weird one but I’m building a new mic stand…..with a new design and new lights! Also, we’re looking into some new in-ear mixing gear to help out on stage, gonna be really cool. And dmx controllers. Oh, and Helixes!

INTERVIEW BY REI HAYCRAFT PHOTOGRAPHY BY HANNAH LEE

KELLY: Brett and I are both using the Line 6 Helix. I believe Lo is about to get the rack mount version as well! As musicians and as a band, how do you stay motivated? What do you do when you get discouraged? KELLY: This band has grown into something I would of never imagined 10 years ago. We have definitely been through some very discouraging moments, but you always keep pushing through because its your passion and it’s what you’re built for. I have learned to perserverse and take on whatever obstacle stands in the way. The shows we play are the reward for me for the day to day effort on the

business aspect of it, it’s reminds me “this is what do you think are the most important things we can all do to keep live music why you do this”. thriving? What’s next on the horizon for Something ADAM: Try stuff till you find what works, learn Clever and what can fans look forward to? how to network with other industry pros KELLY: Radio campaign for ‘Rise’ will start soon! The song will be played on radios in secondary markets all across the US! Which we are stoked about. We are trying to up our video content game this year! So expect more videos! We are always working on trying to branch out to new areas, so hopefully we will see you at a show this year.

that recognize hustle, and don’t do it for the money. Do it because you love it. Because you’re gonna burn out unless you love it.

Any other words of wisdom to share or anything that you would like fans to know?

KELLY: I think all our fans know that we love and appreciate them and we hope to hang out at a show sometime this year. Thanks for What advice would you have for other bands the support. starting out in their own local scenes and FUEL THE SCENE MAGAZINE

ALBUM REVIEW

REVIEW WRITTEN BY SERAPHIM DIBBLE PHOTOGRAPHY BY HANNAH LEE

SOMETHING CLEVER

Moments: Red & Moments: Blue

hen Something Clever released Season of Light in 2017, it was easily one of the best releases that year. They combined a multitude of genres into one album that flowed smoothly from beginning to end. Not only did Something Clever demonstrate an ability to write songs in several genres, but they also showed their ability to weave them together. Now, they have released their EP, Moments: Red, and have an upcoming release, Moments: Blue. From the very first moment, Moments: Red grips you by the ears, prepared to drag you along for one heavy journey. “The Hill” starts off extremely heavy and doesn’t relent for even one moment. The song asks the question, “Is this the hill you want to die on?” If that hill is proclaiming this album a worthy successor to Season of Light, then happily. Not only is “The Hill” heavy, but it is catchy and diverse.

WINTER 2019

are the songs heavy, but the diversity of Season of Light is demonstrated in even more detail. The word diverse described “The Hill”, certainly, but also describes every song here. “Angels and Demons” demonstrates this with its wide-ranging stylistic influences. They have taken their ability to write varied songs on an album and used that talent to further enhance each individual song. The last song, “Rise”, is taken from Season of Light.

The superb quality of the EP continues into “Fever Dream”. Something Clever found their voice in Season of Light. In Moments, they continue to refine that voice into something that is completely theirs while still honoring their inspirations. With clear vocals and punchy instruments, there is never a question of how much work they put into it. Not only

Choosing to end on a previously released song for this EP isn’t a bad thing. In doing so, Something Clever has chosen an iconic and uplifting track that ends the entire thing on a really positive note. Ending the album with the chorus “never backing down from a fight” is a fantastic way to close out the first half of the two EP’s. Moments: Red is available now on Spotify, iTunes, and more. Check it out today!

point where it transitions into “Freaks Like You 2.0”’s opening scream.

resh on the coattails of their EP Moments: Red, Something Clever released Moments: Blue. Moments: Blue is another four-track release. With Red ending in the anthem-like “Rise”, Blue picks up without missing a beat in the track “Always”. “Always” is a fantastic played-straight metal track, full of hearty riffs and heavy drumming. Something Clever is known for blending metalcore and emo into a fantastic creation, and Blue continues on that theme. There’s no mistaking that it is a part of Moments: Red, forming a complete album between the two of them. Releasing them as two EP’s, rather than one big album, ends up working really well, though. After Moments: Red, listeners were left with a sense of anticipation. And Moments: Blue takes that and makes the wait all worth it. “Always” was a fantastic track, but Blue takes the energy of that and pushes it even

The rawness of the scream belies the nature of the song. Overall, “Freaks” is possibly the EP’s most mellow track. Not that this means much. When put into a lineup with the other tracks, including “Get With It”, they are all excellent examples of the best that Something Clever has to offer, while also being some of the heaviest tracks in their library.

higher in “Super Human”. Something Clever is somewhat famous for their exuberant stage show, and they know how to carry that back to the studio with them for their studio releases. Between the vocals and guitars, it is easy to feel the energy of a live show, even through your speakers. The track grabs you and pulls you along for the ride right up to the

Now that both parts are out, make sure you pick them up. While Moments: Red and Blue both shine on their own, they play best together. Choosing to release their latest set of tracks as two separate EP’s is, well, something clever. But then that’s the name of the band, isn’t it? Moments: Blue is available on streaming services and music purchasing platforms today!

FUEL THE SCENE MAGAZINE

SINGLE REVIEW

REVIEW BY SAVANAH RUIZ PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF EXTINCTION LEVEL EVENT

EXTINCTION LEVEL EVENT

Hellbent

Through “Hellbent”, Extinction Level Event is showing they are ready to take on the world, three basses at a time. Extinction Level Event is currently working on new music, and plan to have another release in the spring. You can listen to “Hellbent” on streaming services such as spotify, bandcamp, and youtube. You can also find them on social media @ elebandofficial.

xtinction Level Event mixes dark vibes with expressive lyrics to bring a truly heavy experience for lovers of everything progressive metal. Their new single, “Hellbent”, shows that they are ready to come back after nearly four years with a vengeance. This single breathes metal with entombing imagery through talented songwriting and seriously heavy bass work. Lyrics like “Scour the earth and expose a desire/to feed on their weakness and grow” show their true intentions as the band shows clear progression from their earlier works. Extinction Level Event features a unique sound that they achieve through the use of three basses instead of one, and it definitely adds to the truly abrasive sound of the band. While “The Catalyst” introduced listeners to their sound, “Hellbent” takes the sound they’ve created and elevates it to a new level

WINTER 2019

of expertise. This song also speaks to the times, as the theme of “Hellbent” is rebuilding the world and overcoming the “flood of disinformation”. The lyrics are theatrical, but have slivers of truth that listeners can relate to, making the song powerful and well done.

“Extinction Level Event is showing they are ready to take on the world, three basses at a time.”

FUEL THE SCENE MAGAZINE

ALBUM REVIEW

REVIEW WRITTEN BY DARLENE MCGARRITY PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF ABOLETH

ABOLETH B

enthos is the debut album from Aboleth and is a dynamite ten tracks of heart grabbing, sludgy dominance. Aboleths are evil eel-like monsters in the Dungeons and Dragons mythos. This Aboleth, however, hails from Los Angeles and is bursting with such a stripped down talent it’s easy to assume listeners will hear more from this blues metal band in coming years. Blues metal is a fickle thing. It’s been called stoner metal, sludge metal, about ten other things and has been done well by bands like Orange Goblin, Electric Wizard, and Black Sabbath, the band that arguably founded the genre. And while they all have a lot in common as far as chunky bass lines and down tuned grooves, they lack one component that

WINTER 2019

Benthos There are only three people in the band: Brigitte Roka on vocals, Boll3t on Drums, and finally Collyn McCoy on Baguitar. Listening to this album gives such a sense of awe in instruments and talent that it’s surprising to learn there are only three members. Roka (who also is the cover artist) and her whiskeysoaked vocals are reminiscent of Janis Joplin. The ping-ponging from high and sultry to scratchy and guttural to howling in the space of a note is impressive at the very least.

makes Aboleth reign high on the blues metal list: a powerful, formidable female front.

These are good, solid songs that have potential for being timeless. “Fork in the Road” oozes that side-of-the-dirt-road charm with a slow tempo to start and then bursting into a double tempo all the while holding tight to that liquid grit. “Black Box” has

a sort of Danzig-esque vibe to it at first with Roka’s voice in a low croon complimented by that tangy Baguitar. And finally, “Wytches” is anthemic for the first ninety seconds with mostly drums and chanting the chorus which just keeps amping up. It’s definitely a smart choice for ending an album—kind of like a “Whoa, it’s over?” This of course leaves no choice but to hit that play button again and give it another listen.

There are a few debut albums out there that could sit comfortable in a Top Twenty and Benthos should be on one somewhere. It would be no surprise to start seeing their name pop up as openers for bands like Orange Goblin, Electric Wizard, and Mastodon; maybe even the famed Corrosion of Conformity or Clutch.

“Benthos leaves no choice but to hit that play button again and give it another listen.”

FUEL THE SCENE MAGAZINE

ALBUM REVIEW

REVIEW WRITTEN BY DARLENE MCGARRITY PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRITTNEY MCGUIRE

ALTER THE DESIGN F

Gaughan bellows on the hit single, “Feathers.” This anthemic song of unity is gripping at the start and holds on through each chorus. There is a bit of a Breaking Benjamin vibe on this song but not so much that the two could be confused.

rom the steel streets of Pittsburgh, PA, Alter The Design has released their sixsong EP, Undivided. It has an “arena rock” sound with a “small club” feel. The good thing about EPs is that they give a glimpse into the rawness of an artist. The bad thing about EPs is that they’re so dang short. Coming in at a hair over twenty minutes, this one ends just about the time the listener gets comfortable, though this ends up being somewhat brilliant. The band boasts a plethora of talent with the likes of Justin Gaughan (Vocals), Tony Slaughter (Drums), Corey Wile (Guitar) and Curtis Dillie (Bass). Gaughan – also known as JJ – croons on songs like “Inside”, his voice echoing through the cascading melodies and harmonies. This is all complimented by Slaughter’s mellow drumming. The bass line on this one isn’t too evident in the first part of the song but picks up later which adds to the power of this track. One can never go wrong with a strong bass line!

WINTER 2019

Undivided

The intro proves interesting – within a minute there is a clip of JFK’s Declaration of Peace speech from ’61 along with another voice clip afterward. It is an appropriate intro indeed as the songs that follow are messages of determination and adversity. “As you tear out our feathers, expect us to fly with each other,”

Undivided sounds very much like it was released in 2007, not so much in that it sounds old but that it sounds very nostalgic. All in all, it is solid most of the way through and this band has a promising future if they stay true to their core sound. If you like dropped chords, chunky minor tones, and fist pumping heavy rock, this is an EP worth checking out. Alter The Design’s music can be found on their website, www.alterthedesign.com. Also on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, Google Play, iHeart Radio and more.

FUEL THE SCENE MAGAZINE

ALBUM REVIEW

REVIEW WRITTEN BY JOSHUA FOSTER PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF DREAM THEATER

DREAM THEATER

Distance Over Time

Dream Theater, like many progressive bands, are known for the impressive length of their songs. A typical album from Dream Theater has multiple tracks come in at over tenminutes. Distance Over Time only has one track that is close; “At Wit’s End”, at 9:21.

return to a more organic and classic sound was the vision of Dream Theater when they set out to write their 14th studio album. They accomplished their goal with resounding success. Following 2016’s The Astonishing, which was an epic two-disc concept album set is a quasimedieval world that has outlawed music, the band sought to return a more direct riff-driven approach to album construction. As long-time fans of Dream Theater will know, more direct is a relative term when it comes to the prog metal flag bearers. There are plenty of moments for mind boggling drum fills, entire band runs, and their practically trademarked interplay solos between guitar and keyboard. For Distance Over Time however, the arrangements are simpler and the songwriting less mathematical, which

WINTER 2019

leads to many of the songs centered around a primary riff instead of unfolding like a 3-act play. This album is far from a mainstream rock album, but when taken in context with the rest of their vast discography, it is much more digestible than much of the catalog.

When a band has a library of 14 albums, it can be challenging to break new ground or approach things with a completely fresh outlook. Dream Theater continues to astound with their ability to do so. While keyboard is still a major part of the band’s sound, it takes a more standard role in much of this album. Instead of placing busy runs over complex rhythms constantly, the keys spend much more time creating atmosphere and layering each chorus and solo tastefully. Make no mistake, each member has plenty of moments to display their virtuosity, but it is not as persistent or forceful as other albums.

The album opens with “Untethered Angel”, which begins with a creepy clean guitar progression and ends with a slowed down riff that is among one of the heaviest parts the band has ever recorded. “Fall Into The Light” is a good snapshot if the organic feel that the band was seeking. It starts with a very bouncy riff, descends into an emotive solo and finishes with some thrashy shredding that doesn’t feel jarring or out of place. “Pale Blue Dot” gives you all the classic Dream Theater moments you would expect: prolonged voiceover intro, theatrical crescendos, extended solos at

blistering speeds, odd time accents, and of course bringing it all back to a chorus that you forgot was part of this song while you were engrossed in the technical odyssey. For all of the recognition that Dream Theater rightfully receives for their technical prowess, songwriting, and longevity; it is often overlooked that they constantly set the standard for production values in the metal world. Distance Over Time is no exception. The guitar sound is full and clean, the drums are big but not muddled, the bass and keyboards

are discernible at all times, and despite the sheer volume of notes being playing in several sections, you can always tell what is going on. Distance Over Time should be applauded for its sonic quality and attention to detail. Fans of progressive rock and metal will unquestionably enjoy Distance Over Time. For every prog nerd that needs their friends to understand the genius of what they listen to, this album stands as a really good introduction for friends and bandmates new to the genre.

FUEL THE SCENE MAGAZINE

ALBUM REVIEW

REVIEW WRITTEN BY SAVANAH RUIZ PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF PUREST OF PAIN

PUREST OF PAIN P

urest of Pain is a five piece Dutch melodic death metal band that has been tearing up the live music scene for years but is now debuting their album Solipsis after years of work and dedication. Because of the band’s busy lifestyles, this album was put on hold for several years, but like a wine, this album was able to be perfected through the years that this band put into it to make it exactly what they envisioned it to be. Solipsis was self produced by lead guitarist and Purest of Pain songwriter Merel Bechtold, who credits Mantis Audio Studio with helping her. The album was also mastered in October 2017 by Jens Bogren, known for his collaboration with bands like Opeth, Arch Enemy, and Soilwork. Solipsis has been described as guitaroriented by the band, and it shows through the masterful guitar work. Tracks like “Truth

WINTER 2019

Solipsis work is the star of the show, making Solipsis stand out among other death metal records. For those who tend to focus more on vocals, songs like “Terra Nil” and “Crown of Worms” feature guttural harsh vocals that you can definitely headbang to. Because of the hard work that went into Solipsis, every song is its own entity, and has its own feel, but all these sick tracks come together to form a cohesive album that makes listeners want to turn up the volume and really jam out to this amazing LP.

Seeker” and “Trial & Error”, as well as “The Sleep of Reason” blast through your sound systems and provide a truly enjoyable experience for fans of death metal. The other elements of the songs such as the drums and vocals add to the LP, but you can tell the guitar

Though Purest of Pain released their EP, Revelations in Obscurity, in 2011 and a single in 2013, Solipsis really shows the true nature of the band and showcases just how much they care about their work. According to Purest of Pain, Solipsis was “recorded as organically as possible to ensure that the band’s formidable live performance has been captured in the recordings.”

Solipsis meets this goal, and has a feel to it that only Purest of Pain can provide. These songs feel like they are made for the stage, which is something that some albums miss when they are recorded. This album is thought out, polished, and makes a great addition to the music collection of any death metal enthusiast. For more info on Purest of Pain you can check them out on their site, www.purestofpain.com, as well as listen to Solipsis on Spotify, itunes, and more.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Solipsis meets this goal, and has a feel to it that only Purest of Pain can provide.â&#x20AC;?

FUEL THE SCENE MAGAZINE

INTERVIEW

INTERVIEW BY EILEEN KELLER PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF LOGAN ABDO (LO)

One Roxboro musician isn’t looking to stray too far from metal. He’s just looking to spice things up. Well, that’s the plan at least. Fuel the Scene’s own Eileen Keller caught up with Mirada frontman Logan Abdo to talk about his solo work and his EP, Frequencies.

What made you want to do solo work? LA: I’ve always been into other styles of music besides metal. Actually, metal introduced me to electronic, hip hop, R&B, etc. I just started absorbing a lot of it to a point where I found myself thinking, ‘Hm. What if I could go on a different route? What would happen?’ There was only one way to find out, so I did it. What can Mirada fans expect in comparison to your solo work? LA: You can still expect the heaviness and the screams. You can also expect lots of 30

WINTER 2019

electronic and dubstep influence as well. Also, there will be singing on some songs, too. For Frequencies, the last track is “Only Birds Were Meant To Fly” and if you hear a familiar tune, then consider it a sneak preview for the next album. I’m only singing the chorus for that song. Your first performance (as Lo) was at the Somewhere Else Tavern with metal bands Haymaker, Violent Life Violent Death and Basilica to name a few. Are there other bands (not necessarily in the metal genre) that you’d like to share the stage with? LA: Definitely! Messenger Down, The Second

After, Dear Desolate, Valleys, Discoveries, Constellation Atlas, Raimee, A Light Divided, Blackwater Drowning and Through All This Time. Garrett (of Messenger Down) is so good! I’d love to play with him because I wouldn’t feel so alone doing the solo thing. He’s a big inspiration as to why I do it, to be honest. EK: What do you want your fans to notice most about this work? LA: The electronics and how different it is. All the responses have been positive. Some people have said that they think I’m bringing industrial music back. I mean, maybe.

Is there anything you’d like to talk about in your music that you don’t get to talk about often? LA: Absolutely. I get to talk about my views on love, the world, music itself, depression and suicide, etc. I don’t really get to talk about a lot of it publicly, because at the end of the day, opinions are something we all have; but, I feel that people take opinions too seriously. So, why not talk about the serious stuff in a way where it’s not so confined? I mean, because you hear the music: it’s very sporadic and it’s going all over the place. Then, well you have

the vocals and the things I’m saying combined with the music. It can send a more powerful message as opposed to posting about certain things on social media. I’ve seen it from going to so many shows. It’s really powerful and I truly love what I do. I love inspiring people and I truly wouldn’t give up playing music for anything. Get a copy of Frequencies on iTunes, Youtube, Spotify, Google Play, Amazon, and SoundCloud today!

“I get to talk about my views on love, the world, music itself, depression and suicide....It’s really powerful and I truly love what I do. ”

FUEL THE SCENE MAGAZINE

ALBUM REVIEW

REVIEW WRITTEN BY DARLENE MCGARRITY PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF ILLUSIONS OF GRANDEUR

ILLUSIONS OF GRANDEUR

Songs Of The Siren

llusions of Grandeur hail from the city of Lancaster, PA, which historically is known for modest Amish culture, sprawling farms and quiet back roads. Their debut album, Songs of the Siren, released on Toil Records and is a lot of wonderful things, none of them modest. This concept album with layers of melodies and harmonies is powerful in its masculine femininity as it melds like sandy waves that beat a raging volcano into submission. Long ago, there was a siren named Alysia who failed to watch Persephone like she was supposed to. Hades snatched up the unguarded Persephone and made her his wife. Now Alysia, stripped of her wings, has to journey to find Persephone so the both of them can return home. This Greek tale of tragedy intermingles with a fictionalized version of the band, and it has a lot of potential to be exhaustive and overdone. Illusions of Grandeur, however, pull it off with the tight leads and rhythmic riffs along with

WINTER 2019

enchanting as it takes the listener to another dimension musically only to be brought back to fictional reality in the latter part of the track. ‘Three Two Three’ is an immediate tune that gives pause. The vocalist’s tone is riveting as she chants and then breaks into lyrics on this dark ballad. The bass line is prominent on this one as well, which heightens the darkness of the song and the embedded tale. Tragedy is gripping and the band plays that up well.

sultry, transfixing vocals that nail it in such a gruesome beauty that it is difficult to stop listening. The album opens with an acoustic piece (cue storm and water sounds) coupled with a captivating prequel of the tumultuous tale that will follow via song. The mandolin is

There is some soliloquy that distracts from the experience a bit. We know that this tale is through the point-of-view of Alysia, so the speaking parts in first person break the flow of what could potentially be a close to flawless record. Nonetheless, this is a brilliant debut album that should be enjoyed from start to finish without interruption to get the full effect. Pick it up today!

FUEL THE SCENE MAGAZINE

ALBUM REVIEW

REVIEW WRITTEN BY SAVANAH RUIZ PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF BMTH

BRING ME THE HORIZON Amo B

ring Me the Horizon are breaking barriers with the release of their latest album, amo. This album combines the band’s talented lyricism with a brand new sound that is stirring up the music industry one meditated track at a time.

With amo, Bring Me the Horizon also shows a versatility in going from revealing songs to songs that are more joking and tongue-in-cheek. Through using interludes to switch moods, the band is able to smoothly transition from joking songs like “heavy metal” to heart wrenching tracks like “I don’t know what to say” which talks about the feelings the vocalist felt when one of his childhood friends was diagnosed with cancer.

With amo, Bring Me the Horizon makes such deliberate choices that melt together the worlds of rock and pop in order to bring listeners of both genres something they have never heard before. This album is bridging the gap between rock and pop not only through the songs, but the conversations they’re starting. Since the first few singles were released, fans were divided, and artists from multiple genres were very quick to defend the band for changing their sound and making the kind of music they were excited about.

WINTER 2019

While the album has the overall theme of love, songs like Sugar Honey Ice & Tea break away from this theme while still showing the feelings of Bring Me the Horizon. This song speaks about the hypocrisy that they find deep rooted in our society, and does so with a playful catchiness.

While some interlude tracks can be lackluster, amo features multiple transition tracks that listeners will want to listen to on repeat. One track in particular, “ouch”, is a demo-turned-track that gives a very raw, transparent view into very real feelings of heartbreak and betrayal. It also features references from That’s The Spirit’s track, “Follow You”.

Amo shows that bands can evolve and take on new genres without giving up their roots. Through adding pieces of themselves in this album, Bring Me the Horizon shows that they are just as passionate about their music as they were when they first started in 2004. Overall, amo is full of passion, melodic masterpieces, and a new sound listeners will be waiting to hear more of. Amo can be found on itunes, the official Bring Me the Horizon store, and music streaming services. Bring Me the Horizon is touring through April and also can be found of the lineups on music festivals such as Welcome to Rockville and Epicenter Festival. They can also be found on social media @bmthofficial

FUEL THE SCENE MAGAZINE

ALBUM REVIEW

OUTLIAR

REVIEW WRITTEN BY EILEEN KELLER PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF OUTLIAR

Taste The Blood

utliar is a thrash metal band hailing from Apex, NC. This brutal five-piece consists of vocalist Anthony Graham, lead guitarist Ray Currie, rhythm guitarist Rick Ace, bassist Cisco Rivera and drummer Adam Hancock. Their second LP, titled Taste The Blood, was released in July. All ten tracks tell a story of their own, each varying in brutality and length. “Where It Ends” and “Pillars” (the album’s respective fourth and ninth tracks) have music videos to match that brutality. Moving forward, Currie informed Fuel the Scene that he and Ace would be alternating on the lead and rhythm guitars. Taste The Blood is Currie’s last time as the band’s lead guitarist. The band said that 2018 would be a year of significant and positive change for them. Their previous record (which was also their debut album, Provoked To Anger)

WINTER 2019

exactly what they did, as Taste The Blood is primarily rooted in aggressive thrash metal while continuing to showcase an influence from death metal. On the image for a physical copy of the album, one can see that there’s some brutality in the art. It’s more aggressive than the art from their previous album.

was recorded, mixed and mastered by Jamie King. Although the album was a solid metal performance, it left the band wanting to focus on the thrash metal sounds that influenced them more than any other genre. That’s

Taste The Blood, like its predecessor, was also recorded, mixed and mastered by King. Currie stated that they’re “proud of the record. It’s clearly more of our aggressive and relentless materiel that we’ve written and our fans would agree.” It’s sure to please fans who enjoy both the classic and modern thrash metal, stylized from acts such as Testament, Death Angel, Kreator, Overkill and Exodus. If you’re into thrash metal, you should give Outliar a listen on YouTube, and grab a copy of the album, or Spotify!

FUEL THE SCENE MAGAZINE

EP REVIEW

REVIEW BY SAVANAH RUIZ PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF SHUULAK

SHUULAK S

you can see a story being told and tell that each note was thought out. The title track, “Albedo”, concludes the EP with a short ballad that leaves listeners wanting more from this truly top notch band.

huulak have put their talents on full display with the release of their new EP, Albedo. These tracks show passion, skill, and raw artistry. Shuulak is a dutch metal band inspired by alchemy and otherworldly themes, and this shows throughout their outof-this-world tracks! Albedo starts with “Hunter’s Moon”, a song filled with masterful instrumental work. This track will leave listeners with a nostalgic feeling as it reminds them of some of their favorite riffs and instrumentals. After listening to “Hunter’s Moon”, it is clear that this band has a vast knowledge of alternative music and has used it to shape this truly beautiful track. In 2017, Shuulak released concept EP Nigredo, and this release is the perfect follow up, giving listeners a taste of what Shuulak has in store for listeners around the world.

WINTER 2019

Albedo

You can find Shuulak at www.shuulak.nl and www.shuulak.bandcamp.com. You can also stream Albedo on Spotify.

Shuulak handles their own recording, photography, and visual design, and this adds to the level of theatricality, allowing them to create a fully fleshed out concept with matching visuals. Through each track,

“These tracks show passion, skill, and raw artistry... inspired by alchemy and otherworldly themes.”