Staff Recommendations: (April 13th, 2012)

Let’s see what everyone’s been listening to this week. Do you have any good recommendations for us?

Jordan

Corelia

I saw the vocalist of this band filling for in Travis Richter after he departed The Human Abstract (RIP) last year. They are quite possibly the most talented and underrated unsigned band out there.

Periphery

Like most people, I didn’t care for this band until they put out their Icarus Lives EP. So excited to see this band on Monday.

Strychnia

They’re on hiatus now but had a strong debut for being unsigned. You can hear their entire full-length album for free by clicking here

Chiodos

While not exactly underrated, Bone Palace Ballet: Grand Coda has been dominating my playlist.

Christian

In Mourning

Great experimental death metal band, their album The Weight of Oceans is filled with great riffs and great vocals. Each song lasts past the 4 minute range, but doesn’t overstay its welcome.  There is a lot of variety in their album, from cleaner, calmer sections, to some great heavier parts accompanied by equally great screaming.

Ever Forthright

An experimental metal band; similar to In Mourning. Their self-titled is an incredibly full album. Great use of cleans and harmonies. Also makes great use of variety in their album, excellent lead guitarist. They are a band that will appeal to a variety of people.

Polar Bear Club

To mix things up: Polar Bear Club.  They’re a wonderful modern day punk band. There is not much to say about them, other than listen to them.

Structures

Canadian band Structures, just an incredibly crazy band.  I have listened to their latest release Divided By, nearly daily.  The production is a bit too high, but they do work with their 7 String Guitars. The screamer is no slouch either, and the clean vocals thrown in compliment their songs so well. They are a very talented group of kids.

Enter Shikari

I recently caught them on their tour with LetLive and At The Skylines. I’ve been a fan of these guys for a very long time now, and they do not disappoint with their latest release; A Flash Flood of Colour. As the front-man Rou said it at the beginning of their almost two hour long set “Abusing music genres worthless boundaries since 2003”. What he says is true, they do abuse the boundaries, yet they do it with sophistication and class. I urge every band that wants to use dubstep in their music to take notes, because this is how you do it.

If These Trees Could Talk

Wonderful post-rock/ambient band. I reviewed their newest release, so I should not need to explain why people should listen to them. Just Do It.

Wolves

And finally, Wolves. A technical metal band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Energetic and angry;  it’s just so beautiful. Head to their facebook page to get a free download of their EP “Dying”.

Note: If any band members would like to participate in our guest spot for recommendations on Fridays, feel free to hit one of us up for an open spot.

Interview: Stray From The Path

Thomas, the guitarist of Stray From The Path (one of the best hardcore bands on the scene) talked with Kill The Music to discuss their new music video, his view on the current music scene, and his thoughts on Warped Tour.

You guys just filmed a music video; any hints as to what song it is? Is it one of the three songs with guest vocalists?

Tom: It is one of the 3 songs on the record that has a guest appearance, and yes they will be in the video. That’s all I’ll say!

What is your opinion on the current state of the music scene?

That’s a difficult question. I usually judge it by “am I mad all the time or stoked?” lately I’m stoked. This week alone lots of great records coming out, lots of great tour packages together and I didn’t re-new my alternative press subscription, so I’m not as angry. A lot of people have bought our new record, more than we expected, so I’m stoked on music and the people.

Growing up, how was the scene back home in Long Island?

Growing Up? Phenomenal. Local bands would sell out shows, and the bands were so good. Any tours that came into town were in small clubs….I saw Norma Jean, Bleeding Through and Every Time I Die in a fucking garage. I saw American Nightmare and Poison the Well in a cafe! Shit ruled…but it is coming back, for awhile long island was AWFUL, but now it’s really great.

Would you guys play Warped Tour if you got offered a spot even though you’d be out of your element surrounded by bands like the ones in iMember?

We are trying very hard to get Warped Tour. The kids that like these bands, like them because the scene that they know are the Warped Tour bands. We want to infiltrate and show kids that there is more out there than characters, gimmicks and Black Veil Brides. Our element is where the people are, we want to tour with everything, from underoath to terror, we have no restrictions, just as long as we feel we have a purpose on the stage.

Who are a few bands that you feel everyone should be listening and/or not listening to right now? Like say, the bands you call out in iMember…

Should be? Structures new record is amazing, Counterparts new record is amazing, Backtrack, Close your Eyes, Sights and Sounds, The Contortionist.

Shouldn’t? Do I have enough space? Haha..no there is a fine line between calling out and shit talking…and shit talking is juvenile….so I’ll leave it at that. You know the bands that suck, fake, weak, full of gimmicks, characters…it’s endless. But one thing we want to avoid is judging the people that actually enjoy that music. We aren’t elitists, and it would make us dick suckers to make fun of someone because of what they listen too. We just want to open their eyes and ears and show them our opinion that they are being deceived, lied to, and in a sense…stolen from. A lot of our fans listen to Asking Alexandria or Attack Attack just as much as Deftones or terror….last thing we want is to make them feel like we are making fun of them. 

Is iMember aimed at any bands on your record label? (Sumerian)

The song was not aimed at anybody specific…not even Attack Attack. We used that clip because it is evidence that these people in these bands don’t have a single clue of what this scene is about. The bands are everywhere .

I think this would make a great tour: The Chariot, Stray From The Path, The Ghost Inside, Cancer Bats, and Your Demise. What do you think of it?
We have toured with all those bands except YD. Would be a fantastic time for sure. 

Speaking of which; I read somewhere that you’re doing a US Tour with Norma Jean, Lower Than Atlantis, and Close Your Eyes. Can you confirm or deny this and give us a timeline of when this tour takes place if it’s actually happening.
Yep and Oh Sleeper; this winter. 

What’s the top five most well received songs generally when playing a show?
Damien, Negative and Violent, Fraudulent, Rising Sun, Mad Girl. 

In your opinion, which is the best run venues from a production and band point of view?
Great question; there is The 7 Venue in Douglasville, GA….great venue, great staff…not the best sound, but it’s coming around for sure. The Loft in Poughkeepsiee, NY, and Kingdom (formerly Alley Katz) in Richmond, VA. Those come off the top of my head. 

Last question; pick two songs; one from your catalog, that you want new fans to check out after reading this interview. And one song from any band/genre.

I would say…. Damien or Bring It Back To The Streets. Those are my personal two favorites off Make Your Own History and Rising Sun, and from any band; Be Quiet and Drive from the Deftones. Put on a good pair of headphones and turn the song up as loud as it can go, and enjoy. One of my favorite musical experiences.

After The Burial and Veil of Maya co-headlining tour dates

Tour dates for the Crush Em All 2 Tour—which is co-headlined by After The Burial and Veil of Maya and also features Misery Signals and Within The Ruins—have been announced. The trek, which begins September 21 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, will also feature appearances by Structures, Your Memorial, Volumes and I The Breather on select dates. More shows will be added; meanwhile, check out the confirmed shows below.

Sep 21 The Intersection Grand Rapids, MI
Sep 22 London Music Hall London, Canada
Sep 23 Blind Dog Windsor, Canada
Sep 24 Mod Club Toronto, Canada
Sep 25 La Tulipe Montreal, Canada
Sep 26 The Met Pawtucket, RI
Sep 27 Northern Lights Albany, NY
Sep 28 Altar Bar Pittsburgh, PA
Sep 29 Crocodile Rock Allentown, PA
Sep 30 The Gramercy Theater New York, NY
Oct 01 Jaxx Springfield, VA
Oct 03 Masquerade Atlanta, GA
Oct 06 Warehouse Live Houston, TX
Oct 07 Trees Dallas, TX
Oct 08 The White Rabbit San Antonio, TX
Oct 09 House Of Rock Corpus Christi, TX
Oct 10 Jakes Lubbock, TX
Oct 11 Launch Pad Albuquerque, NM
Oct 17 Ace of Spades Sacramento, CA
Oct 18 Hawthorne Theater Portland, OR
Oct 19 Studio Seven Seattle, WA
Oct 21 The Generator Prince George, Canada
Oct 22 Avenue Edmonton, Canada
Oct 23 Republik Calgary, Canada
Oct 24 Manny’s Billings, MT
Oct 26 Sokol Underground Omaha, NE
Oct 27 Blue Moose Iowa City, IA
Oct 28 Bottom Lounge Chicago, IL
Oct 30 First Avenue Minneapolis, MN