Sodapop Magazine November Issue #11 by Sodapop Magazine

PEOPLE MUSIC LIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AND WHATEVER THE F**K WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT Issue #11

SODAPOP MAGAZINE November 2014 Issue #11

STAFF Editor In Chief: Edwin Monico Music Director: Cody Middleton Copy Editor: Jessica Monico Spanish PR: Alex Monico Graphics: Gian Bautista

Writers: Illich Alexander Staff Photographers: Sara Barnett, Billy Ward Contributors: Angel Aguilar, Edgar Bautista

INTERNS Charlie Mirador

Jacob Pulido

COVER Photographer: Billy Ward Model: Kyara Tyler

Photography and articles belong to their respective photographers/writers and are used by Sodapop Magazine with permission. No reproductions are authorized without permission from Sodapop. Any questions, comments, and/or concerns can be directed to contact@sodapopmagazine.com

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CONTENT

Letter from the Jefe Sunday Morning with Mariah Pansy Division Shiver Twins De La Tierra Kyara Tyler Michelle Terris Monetary Muse Day of the Dead Photographer Jaime Chan Music Reviews Halo The Human SODAPOP MAGAZINE

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Letter From The Jefe

This issue was super fun to finish because of all the people involved in making it. Cody Middleton, our Music Director, is awesome and finds musical gems left and right. I’m stoked having that dude on board and that he is providing the magazine with awesome reviews of bands. We now have contributors who will from time to time write for us. This issue they wrote about Day of the Dead and some really cool bands. I shot this month’s “Sunday Morning Girl” and it was a blast working with her. Also, this month we have Kyara Tyler on the cover of Sodapop, which was shot by our awesome brother-in-arms, Billy Ward. I recommend just fast forwarding to that section first, and then reading the magazine. Charlie Mirador is doing his San Francisco thing and, as always, it’s fun to see what crazy shit he gets into on the street. Have I mentioned how much I love the people who are willing to cut their teeth for this 11 month old magazine? People have come and gone, but everybody who has provided something to the magazine has left a lasting impression. So stay positive friends and submit something to us. We will do our best to feature it because without you, there is no Sodapop. Do good and good will come to you and everybody around you. By the way, how was Halloween?

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Sunday Morning with Mariah

Mariah is a pleasure to look at and even cooler to work with. She’s willing to get wet, dirty, and drink some forties on a moment’s notice. I shot Mariah in a loft in Fresno that I once lived in and it was blast. I had an old box of 80’s rock band tees that we went through until we found the coolest ones. We drank Mickey’s and talked about life. The end result was this: Armored Saint, Mickey’s, and an unconscious tribute to my cool father. So enjoy and listen to Armored Saint . -Edwin Monico

Sodapop: What are you currently into? Sodapop: If you could be anywhere right now, where would you be? Mariah: I guess I’m into art, makeup, cooking and baking. I love pizza, beer, Mariah: Roaming the streets of a my dog, and a bunch of other stuff. foreign country. Either in Switzerland, Japan, or Spain. Sodapop: Favorite movie? Sodapop: Do you listen to music? Mariah: Step Brothers and all of Quentin Terrantino’s movies. Mariah: Yes, but not the shit on the radio. Sodapop: Do you like wearing clothes? Sodapop: Speed or speed limit? Mariah: No, I’d rather be naked. Mariah: I speed just a little. Sodapop: Love or that other thing…? Sodapop: Did you ever watch 500 Days Mariah: I’m in love! of Summer? Sodapop: Do you drink? Mariah: Only beer and I’m currently on an IPA kick. Buy me some Lagunitas and I’ll be your friend forever.

Mariah: Yes, Zoey is hot as tits! I think the meaning behind it is cool too. Sodapop: Anything you want to say? Mariah: This magazine is awesome.

Sodapop: Favorite cartoon? See more of Mariah on Instagram Mariah: Right now, I like Adventure Time.

@_mariahe_

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Pansy Division

Punk with a Gay Conscience

Written By: Angel Aguilar Photo: Lauren Bilanko

Historically, punk music has been the music of the disenfranchised and the misfits. One group of disenfranchised and misfits that is often overlooked is the LGBT community which is further complicated by prejudice and stereotypes. Amongst those stereotypes, there is the idea that gays only listen to pop divas and show tunes, but believe it or not, gays do like and play rock and roll and punk music like the Bay area’s punk band, Pansy Division. For many, adolescence is one of the toughest periods of their life. It is a transition period where not only do you experience major physical changes, but psychological changes as well. For many gays and lesbians, this is the time where they begin to face the demons about their sexuality. Some are able to accept it and are brave enough to come out and be who they are. Others fear being ridiculed by their friends and family. Others fear being disowned by their families and others are affected by the religious teachings imposed on them. People who feel alienated often turn to art or music as a way to get their feelings out or to feel that they are not alone. Unfortunately for gays, there are very few artists who sing about the issues the LGBT community go through. Most music associated with

young gays is dance and party music. Growing up as an openly gay musician in San Francisco, Jon Ginoli was into rock music and feeling alienated from the gay scene because he was not into the dance or party scene. Jon decided to create his own rock band and began playing solo sets under the name Pansy Division. In 1991, Jon put an ad in the San Francisco Weekly looking for other gay musicians who were into “The Ramones, Buzzcocks and early Beatles.” Chris Freeman, a transplant from Seattle, replied and became Pansy Division’s bass player. Jon and Chris hit it off from the very beginning. They both had the same sensibilities and understood each other, as well as the message they wanted to get across. After going through several drummers, the band finally found the ideal drummer in the hands of Luis Illades in 1996. Luis spent his teenage years growing up between Tijuana and San Diego. He finally settled down in San Diego for his late teens and early 20’s. Like Jon and Chris, Luis was also not into the music surrounding the gay scene, so he played in different straight rock bands. After Luis joined the band, they realized that in order to compliment Luis’ drumming style, which was much louder and hard hitting, they

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needed another guitar to tighten up the sound. They began the search for a second guitar player soon after. They were first joined by a gay friend of the band, Patrick Goodwin, and they became a foursome. For a while it worked out well, but Patrick’s heart was really into heavy rock music and he eventually left the band. In 2004, Joel Reader, a straight guitar player who played with drummer Luis Illades in The Plus Ones and The Avengers, joined the band. In the beginning, the band toured all over California. In 1993, Pansy Division was signed to Look Out! Records and released their first album, Undressed, and took off on their first national tour. Along with other bands, they became part of what was called the “queercore movement.” One of the things that made Pansy Division endearing to fans is how they sang about issues gay people could relate to. Song titles like “Groovy Underwear,” “Horny in the Morning,” “Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly Fond of Each Other,” or their version of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit," which was changed to “Smells Like Queer Spirit" and others gave the band a sense of sincerity, honesty, and bravery as they touched on subjects that many were afraid to touch. At the same time, that honesty might have held the band back from becoming better known because major record companies would not take the chance on a band that sang about taboo subjects. In 1994, Green Day asked the band to open for them on their Dookie Tour. This gave the band, and the gay

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punk movement, which was now called â&#x20AC;&#x153;queer punk,â&#x20AC;? a boost. Pansy Division was even featured on MTV along with other gay bands. In the early 2000â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, Rob Halford, lead singer for Judas Priest, met the band and even joined them on stage at the San Diego Gay Pride Festival. Pansy Division has recorded 6 studio albums as well as several compilations and live recordings. As time went by, the band members gained experience and matured, and so did their music and lyrics. In the beginning, the lyrics were raw and unapologetic. As they got older, the songs became a little more refined, the subject matter more grown up, but it still had that honesty that characterized the band from the very beginning. After many years of endless touring and working in the studio, the

band decided to take a break and try out new things. All members went on to other projects, but wanted to continue keeping the band alive. Although the band members all live in different cities, the band still gets together to do short tours and festivals. They have kept the spirit of the band alive and the fans still continue to follow the band. Their music still resonates as lyrics are timeless. There are always new generations of young gays who are trying to find themselves and can listen to their music while knowing that they are not alone.

Visit their website at: www.pansydivision.com

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Shiver Twins

Written by: Cody Middleton

Started as a two-piece in 2013, these guys still have a new baby smell, but don’t let that deter you from checking out these up and comers. Having recently added two members and relocated to Seattle, WA from Juneau, AK, they already have an impressive list of accomplishments for a band that’s barely a year old. They’ve been enjoying recognition from parties both familiar and unfamiliar with the release of their latest single entitled ‘Drained’. In addition to having released a single, these guys have already undergone a hardship that few young bands make it through. From personal experience, I can say that relocating to or from anywhere in Alaska can be

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a daunting task, made much more daunting for a group of musicians trying to further their careers. However it seems as though the move has been beneficial. They have a show coming up at the Charleston in Bremerton, WA in December and already have plans to start recording their full length album next year. I, for one, hope to hear a full length album of the unpolished indie rock that their single alludes to. Be sure to keep an eye on these guys as they progress. Their single can be heard on their Bandcamp page at:: theshivertwins.bandcamp.com.

De La Tierra In Their Own Words Written by: Angel Aguilar

When Sr. Flavio (Fabulosos Cadillacs), Alex González (Maná), Andreas Kisser (Sepultura), and Andrés Jiménez (A.N.I.M.A.L. / DMente) announced they were getting together to play what they loved, which was heavy metal, many laughed. People thought they were just pompous superstars doing a pet project for their amusement, but when their self titled album, De La Tierra, came out, it debuted at #1 on the iTunes Latin Rock charts in the United States, Argentina, and Colombia. Soon after, the critics began to pay attention. The critics were still skeptical, but De La Tierra proved themselves when they gave an explosive performance at the Vive Latino festival in Mexico City. The band was invited to open up for Metallica on their South American tour and the fans went crazy over the band. The South American press began to realize that De La Tierra was for real. “One of the year’s most powerful shows, featuring riffs that are consistent with metal tradition worldwide,” stated Rock & Click Futuro 88.9 from Chile. “De La Tierra disregards rain and hail and delivers a powerful performance... A project like De la Tierra’s makes everyones jaws drop,” said Club NME in Brazil. “The essence

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of metal is in the hands of these four rock veterans who are called upon to perform,” announced Rolling Stone, Argentina. De La Tierra was set to begin their first American Tour last August, but had to cancel the tour the day before their first gig at the Fonda Theater in Los Angeles due to medical problems and the eventual surgery of singer Andrés Jiménez. Due to scheduling issues with previously arranged De La Tierra dates and their commitments to their original bands, the band was not able to reschedule the tour as originally planned. They will, however, be playing two shows in the U.S. They will be playing at The Studio at Webster Hall in NYC on November 9 and The Roxy in Los Angeles on November 10th. Since the announcement of De La Tierra becoming a band, I have had the opportunity to interview singer and guitarist Andrés Jiménez and drummer Alex González a couple of times. Here’s a recap of those conversations.

Angel: How did this project come together? Andres: We first started talking about

it about 8 years ago. Our bands (A.N.I.M.A.L. and Maná) would often play in the same cities. Alex and I would always visit each other and talk about heavy metal music, which we both love. In our conversations, we would always say that we should put a band together and we just left at that until that last Maná tour in Argentina when Alex finally said, “Let’s do it, and put our band together.” And here we are. Angel: Was it easy to find the right members to join you, in this case, Andreas and Sr. Flavio? Alex: Andreas had played with Maná at the Rock in Rio Festival, so we had become friends. All it took was a phone call and right away he said he was in. Andres and I had always been

Photo provided by DLT PR

great admirers of Sr. Flavio and have been friends with him from the very beginnings of our bands, so we called him up and he didn’t hesitate to join.

Angel: How did you come up with the name “De La Tierra”? Alex: We decided we were all going to come up with a name and then we would choose the best one. Andreas Kisser came up with “De La Tierra” (From The Land). He told us it signified what the band was about, Latin America, the land where we come from and where we have carved out our careers. We loved the whole idea right away. Angel: Since all of you come from different backgrounds, was it easy to

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find a common ground as musicians? Andres: The beauty of this band is that we are all fans of metal and these guys are master musicians. We wanted to experiment and try different things, which goes perfectly with our varied backgrounds, since we wanted to try different types of metal. Angel: Tell us about the recording process. Alex: It was a very quick process. We left our egos outside of the studio and we just began to work. In five days we had half of the album done and later on we knocked out the rest of the album in three days. It was a very intense, productive, and super fun process. Angel: When you guys made the announcement that you were getting

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together, a lot of people were very skeptical. What did you think about that? Alex: We never paid attention to what people were saying because most of it was ludicrous. We never had the intention of creating a “super group.” We’re just four friends getting together to play music we love. Many people are close minded and are not open to new ideas. We can’t change that, but a lot of the people who were initially skeptical, now like what we have done, so we are happy. Angel: What did you think of the crowd’s reaction when you started playing live? Alex: The first few shows we did were very important because people could now see and hear that we were for real. Seeing the reaction from the

crowd was just an amazing feeling. When we opened for Metallica in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Paraguay, the Metallica fans took us in as one of their own. We are very humbled by the support of the metal community, including the critics. Angel: Tell us about your experience opening for Metallica. Alex: It was an amazing experience and certainly a high point of my professional career. We were treated like family by the band and their crew. Andreas had shared stages with Metallica with his band Sepultura, so there was already a connection there and it was great to hang out with the band. I hope we can do something together again in the future. Angel: With the success of this first album and tours, are there plans for a

new album? Alex: Yes, we are working on ideas for a new album and hope to have it out by the end of 2015. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had a great time recording and playing together, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a great chemistry on stage and we definitely want to keep it going, but we have to work it around our original bands and projects. It takes some careful planning and maneuvering. After their appearances in NYC and L.A., De La Tierra will continue their tour through Mexico. As their schedules permit, they will reschedule their tour of the U.S.

Check out more of De La Tierra http://delatierramusic.com

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Kyara Tyler

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By Billy Ward SODAPOP MAGAZINE

There is just something about Kyara Tyler that caught our eye when she responded to our instagram post about being on the cover of Sodapop Magazine. Maybe it was her dreamy eyes, or possibly her flawless body. Nonetheless, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re stoked that she came through and our in house photographer Billy Ward got to spend some time with her. We hope you enjoy the spread and read the small interview down below.

Sodapop: What is fun and rewarding about modeling? Kyara: Modeling requires you to bring your A game in several respects. I work out hard to have a good body. During shoots you have to communicate and have your creativity going. The most rewarding thing is seeing solid, inspiring images for all your hard work Sodapop: What do you dislike about modeling? Kyara: Once in a while, especially if someone is being critical, it can feel like perhaps people get to see too much of you. However, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all an illusion. Some images represent very little of who I am as a human overall. If someone makes an offhand comment, I remind myself that everyone is entitled to their interpretation of an image. Sodapop: How would you describe working with the photographer? Kyara: Working with Billy is amazing. He understands me and we have common artistic sensibilities and goals. Sodapop: What are you likes and dislikes?

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Kyara: I enjoy a long day of productivity, followed by a gym session, and a bubble bath. Sodapop: Favorite movie? Kyara: Interview with a Vampire. I always loved that version of sad romance. Sodapop: What's on repeat? Kyara: I train in circus arts, so I constantly feel like I am climbing up one apparatus or another! Sodapop: If clothing were optional, would you still wear clothes? Kyara: Probably not. Part of my personality enjoys the exhibition of being naked. Sodapop: Anything else you would like to say? Kyara: World Peace... (Drops Microphone) See more of Kyara on Instagram: @thekyaratyler

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Michelle Terris www.michelleterrisphotography.com

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Model: Daniela Osorio

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MOMENTARY MUSE by

Charlie mirador

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Day of the Dead

Written by: Edgar Bautista Photos: Edgar Bautista

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CELEBRATION OF DAY OF THE DEAD IN MEXICO BEFORE THE ARRIVAL OF THE SPANISH

November 1. The second celebration, which is dedicated to adults, is on November 2. The celebration for the dead adults was timed to coincide with the Catholic feast of All Souls Day. In order for Spanish priests to achieve the conversion of ancient cultures into Catholicism, they created negative myths about their Gods and (Pre-Hispanic Mexico) their beliefs. For example, the land of dead, Mictlan, was compared with If you celebrate Day of the Dead hell. Furthermore, this handling of the and don’t know why you have to ancient traditions is also an example add the four elements of life (earth, of how Mexican people managed to wind, fire and water) to your alter, you keep their old customs alive under the don’t know the meaning of such an Spanish yoke, despite evangelization. amazing, ancient celebration. We, at Taking advantage of the interest in Sodapop Magazine, did some research manipulating, the Spaniards had and here are our findings. indigenous parties to convert to Ancient inhabitants of Mexico in Catholicism. Mexicans adapted and pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, such thus ensured that the festivities of as the Aztecs, Mayans, Purepechas, deaths were not taken as pagan. Nahuatl and Totonacs, had a polytheist way of seeing life. They believed that their Gods were always linked to nature and their rituals were based on their harvest calendars. However, during the colonial times their beliefs radically merged with the European culture and the Catholic religion. The earliest history of these ceremonies date back to approximately 1800 BC (Colonial Mexico) as indicated by a mud mask from Tlatilco, in the outskirts of Mexico City. After the Spanish conquered In the early days, these festivities Mexico, they established the feast of were presided over by the goddess All Saints and All Souls, which was Mictecacíhuatl, known as the ‘Lady solemnized from 827-844 by order of Death” (Santa Muerte) wife of Pope Gregory IV. In order for Christian Mictlantecuhtli, Lord of Mictlan or land evangelists to achieve their objectives, of the dead. This important celebration they wiped out entire cultures. The starts 20 days before the big holiday, survivors of those cultures with strong or harvest day. The first celebration, roots were not easily evangelized. which is dedicated to children, is on Thus, the evangelizing priests decided

CELEBRATION OF THE DEAD AFTER THE CONQUEST

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to mix some indigenous traditions with their catholic teachings and thus reshape Catholicism. It assigned the fixed dates of November 1st and 2nd in the Christian calendar for this celebration. The Days of the Dead have become a true national holiday, which extends throughout the Mexican territory, Central America, and South America. It is also deeply rooted in the Latino culture residing in the United States (especially the South West). The pain, sadness, and mourning for loved ones who left the world of the dead, are interspersed with colorful, holiday joy that characterizes the Mexican humor, which can laugh at their own tragedy to lighten your sorrow. In California and the South West of the United States, celebrating Day of the Dead is a Mexican tradition that has nothing to do with Halloween, which is a harvest celebration that has a Celtic origin. The fact that Day of the Dead has survived this long and penetrated our culture is due to the huge commercial deployment, publicity engendered in Hollywood films and broadcast television, and a society driven on consumerism. In contemporary Mexico, the character â&#x20AC;&#x153;Catrinaâ&#x20AC;? by Jose Guadalupe Posada is one of the most commercialized symbols of the season.

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CELEBRATION OF THE DEAD IN MEXICO TODAY (Symbolisms) Each geographic region of Mexico has traditions and way to express the conception of the cult of death. Their unique and original activities vary according to the Mexican States, customs of the town, the socioeconomic status of the family, and overall culture. However, on each celebration we can see the mix of cultures and derived features, elements of pre-Hispanic ritual, and elements that the Christian religion brought to the New Spain by the missionaries of the colonial times. It is important to understand that the feast of the dead has different meanings to the inhabitants of large cities, and for people in rural communities. At home, an altar is improvised with religious images, the mirrors are covered with photographs of the deceased, all on a white tablecloth which was defoliated marigold. The people then place food and candles, or oil lamps, that burn all night. The censer of clay occupies an important place. There is burning incense to cleanse the atmosphere and the way the souls of the faithful departed. It is understood that the deceased only take the essence of the food when they arrive. This is a belief that is also practiced by the Egyptians. For the vast majority of the Mexican peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pagan-religious

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celebration to mark the day consecrated by the Catholic rite of the faithful departed, unfolds amid a strange and bewildering mix of offerings, rituals, liturgies and celebrations in all towns, villages, and cities of our country. Death has a singular sense among the Mexican

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culture. During the celebration, candles and symbols increase in number and variety. Fields, where the remains of the deceased are located, are illuminated by the presence of innumerable people carrying the colorful offerings. Transit becomes a chorus of whispers, under the sky. The

offering can not be missed. It varies according to the State of the Republic, but the most common dishes are: mole, chocolate, tamales, pumpkins blemish, pan de muerto, and sugar skulls of different sizes that usually carry the name of the deceased and their families. Besides the offerings, skulls, and symbols in the celebration, Day of the Dead has also become a theme for artists to write songs in different traditional music genres. Corridos have also dealt with death, some tragic and horrifying works, and some funny and entertaining ones as well. Theatre is not the exception. During this season the well-known play, “Don Juan Tenorio” (written by the Spanish José Zorrilla) will be presented in theaters all around the country. Several tombstones, especially old

cemeteries, like those in Tepeyac and San Fernando in Mexico, are true samples of mortuary poetry. Day of the Dead is a culturally rooted celebration to pay tribute to our deceased through art, music, theatre, and unity. Don’t forget to catch this celebration.

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PHOTOGRAPHER

Jaime Chan

www.jaimechanphotography.com Instagram: @JaimeChanPhoto There is something enchanting about Chan’s work. We really can’t define what it is, but we love it. Go check more of Chan’s editorial work on his website. We promise you won’t be disappointed.

Model + Stylist: Jackie Marlowe @ Pinkerton Model & Talent Instagram: @JackieMarlowe AGENCY: Pinkerton Model & Talent www.pinkertonmodelandtalent.com

MAKEUP + HAIR: Gladys Edith Instagram: @GladysEdith8 LOCATION: Newport Beach, CA SODAPOP MAGAZINE

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Electric Wizard

release ‘Black Masses’ was a huge disappointment from a band that is Time To Die I’m not sure if it was intended for almost always on their game. Whether this is true is a matter of this album to come out around the same time as Halloween when these opinion, but I am of the belief that it wasn’t a bad album. Not great, but not guys first started making this record, terrible. What it actually felt like was but it worked out in their favor. Any Electric Wizard record is right at home a gun goning off half cocked. ‘Time to Die’ is the result of the band during the fall season. The days are becoming more proficient at the getting shorter and the trees are undressing to their skeletons while the twists and turns of their creative path. stereo coughs up some of the tastiest What’s fresh here is every bit as important as what’s traditional and riffs I’ve heard all year. The things that EW offers material that you can always made Electric Wizard so groove to. interesting to me are their heaviness What most fans of EW will like and their riffs. This record makes no about this release is its return to form exceptions on either front, offering up in no small part to the glory days of another doomy slab of evil sounding their career. Though it isn’t another riffs. The stoner stalwarts can chalk ‘Dopethrone, it maintains a respectably this one up as a success. Not to the doomy atmosphere throughout and same extent as their career defining riffs heavy enough to shift the Earth release ‘Dopethrone’, but a solid off its axis. Adding to the doom, they success nonetheless. keep the typical subject manner in line It has been generally agreed with their old.-Cody Middleton upon that Electric Wizard’s 2010

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Interpol

Minus the Bear

El Pintor

Lost Loves Minus the Bear’s sixth effort comes to us as a collection of B-sides, the oldest of which date back to Planet of Ice era. Even the casual fan of the band knows that they’ve undergone a bit of a decline post Planet of Ice, but that didn’t dissuade me from hoping for another ‘Highly Refined Pirates’. Instead, I got a few tracks that had been trimmed from their ‘less interesting records, polished to a semi-shine, and dumped on to a format of your choice. To say that the songs are uninspired would be redundant at this point, but I guess I have to say something about them. As a teenager, I loved ‘Menos el Oso’ and ‘Highly Refined Pirates’ for the amount of catchy tunes that were crammed on each album. On a certain level, they speak to the teenage psyche in ways that their later albums pretend to remember. I’ll keep checking out their new releases in the hopes of hearing a former glory reclaimed, but in the meantime, I can’t recommend this one. -Cody Middleton

I’m actually really stoked that I got to review this album this month. Why? Well, for a multitude of reasons. Lately, it seems as if I find music that’s either really great or really bad. Not a lot of in-between for albums that are good to listen to when cleaning the house or for the occasional drive. ‘El Pintor’ supplies me with just what I’ve been looking for. I’ll confess to not being a huge Interpol fan for several years, but I really loved ‘Turn On the Bright Lights’ and ‘Antics’ when I was in high school. As their career progressed, or decline some might say, I became less interested and stopped following them. So, all this to say, it was a very pleasant surprise to spin this with the expectation of another boring album and end up getting an album reminiscent of their better work. Interpol’s latest effort isn’t their best. That’s not to say that it’s bad, because it definitely isn’t, but go in to this without the expectation of having your hair blown back. -Cody Middleton

Caribou

Godflesh

Our Love

A World Lit Only by Fire

Of all the albums I’ve reviewed for this issue, this one continues to fight a battle with the band I chose for my feature review as my current favorite. I was unfamiliar with Caribou before hearing about this album from a friend. The tunes are infectious by way of dance and beauty. The light, cooing vocals over the rhythmic thumping of the beat and the synthesizers make this an album to deem ‘essential listening’ in 2014. Tracks like ‘All I Ever Need’ and ‘Dive’ showcase the highlights of the album. Underneath it all, but still very much prominent in the sound, is an R&B element that can’t be denied, lending even more beauty to the product. You would be doing yourself a great disservice if you slept on this album. It’s right up there with the best of them for 2014. -Cody Middleton

Industrial metal is a very tricky concoction. The heavier you go, the trickier it gets. Godflesh should be commended for this sole reason: they didn’t make complete asses of themselves. When I think of industrial music, I think of Nine Inch Nails and Ministry. When I think of death metal, I think of Cannibal Corpse and Obituary, just to borrow a couple. What I can’t really wrap my brain around is a successful blend of any of those bands I’ve just mentioned across genres. What Godflesh has produced is very heavy industrial metal. On one hand, you have the driving industrial drum beat accompanied by heavily distorted guitars. On the other hand, you have these belligerent vocals and incredibly low ends that turn the sound in to a veritable juggernaut. I won’t say that this belongs in every metal fan’s collection, but it’s certainly worth a spin or two. -Cody Middleton

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Halo The Human SODAPOP MAGAZINE

Photos by: Edwin Monico

Halo was a last minute treat that we just had to jump on. He was opening up for Twista (you know, that dude that rapped with Jaimie Fox and Kanye). I’ve been following Halo ever since I saw him perform at Catacombs, a festival that is held once a year in one of the best underrated cities, Fresno, California. This is where Halo comes in, he supports Fresno, and Fresno supports him. He has a slew of mix tapes and a current LP titled Goodboy. Halo is all over the place. He even has a special french fry blend that can be found at a Fresno eatery named Popolo’s Pizza (Ask for the Halo pizza fries). With a vast repertoire of work, Halo, battles with differentiating himself from the big cities around Fresno. San Francisco and Los Angeles do their own thing, and Halo does Fresno. With a cult following in Fresno, Halo raps by nobody’s rules and stays true to himself and the artists around him. This night he opened enthusiastically for Twista and co. and held the attention of an opening crowd. That’s a talent few hold in a world of Iphones and Instagram. Dropping the beats was DJ Rekwel, a cool cat that synchronizes with Halo beautifully. He did his set and thanked the crowd. Check out Halo The Human and don’t miss out on a Fresno breakout. From Halo’s own verse off of “I know” on his Goodboy release, “being real is a pay cut” -Edwin Monico http://HALO-theHUMAN.Com/

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