BLOTTED SCIENCE mastermind Ron Jarzombek publishes instructional video ahead of European EP Release‏

October 28, 2011 - BLOTTED SCIENCE guitarist/mastermind Ron Jarzombek (WATCHTOWER, TERRESTRIAL EXILED, SPASTIC INK) has released an instructional video for the song 'Cretaceous Chasm' from the band's "The Animation Of Entomology" EP which can be viewed at this location http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVyUHFl0iB8 . In it, the guitarist explains the application of the twelve-tone system devised specifically for the writing process of the EP, which will be the subject of a forthcoming DVD, titled "Dissecting Bugs."

States Jarzombek: “I’ve been mentioning this ’12-Tones In Fragmented Rows’ system in interviews and it seems that even non-musicians are interested in it, so I put together this video to give listeners some insight on how it all works. I thought it would be best to break this all down into its most basic theoretical form, and play examples of its use. I chose to post the basic guitar tracks to "Cretaceous Chasm" because it is the simplest song on the EP and is the easiest to grasp theoretically. The song will also appear first on my upcoming instructional DVD, "Dissecting Bugs", where I will go in-depth with all of the 12-tone theory, and play all guitar parts on all songs from the EP. Things do get a bit complicated when melodies and solos are laid on top of the note groups, but we’ll get to all of that good stuff on the DVD." More information about the sample video, including the transcription/tabs, can be found athttp://www.ronjarzombek.com/CretaceousChasmTab1.html

"The Animation Of Entomology", which also features the talents of bassist Alex Webster (CANNIBAL CORPSE, HATE ETERNAL) and drummer Hannes Grossmann(OBSCURA, TERRESTRIAL EXILED), will get its European release via UK-based Basick Records today, November 28. The follow-up to the band's highly acclaimed 2007 "The Machinations Of Dementia" full-length album was produced and mixed by Ron Jarzombek and recorded in San Antonio, Texas; Tampa, Florida; and V. Santura's (OBSCURA, TRIPTYKON) Woodshed Studios in Landshut, Germany where the drums were cut. Mastering duties were once again handled by Jacob Hansen (VOLBEAT, DESTRUCTION) at Hansen Studios in Ribe, Denmark.

BLOTTED SCIENCE online:

http://www.ronjarzombek.com/BlottedScience.html

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Blotted-Science/78922582770

http://basickrecords.com/bands/blotted_science

Creataceous Chasm video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKkn-YjYmCA

Vermicular Asphixiation video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRYpsCsjnXk

Ingesting Blattaria video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mE-VP83nBno

Pravus

Pravus are a Progressive Death Metal band from Guildford, Surrey, whos Music is a mix of both Mastodon and Opeth, with parts of Cannibal Corpse and Nile thrown in for good measure. If you put progressive Metal, Death Metal with a light sprinkle of acoustic beauty into a blender, you would come away with Pravus.

Their music ranges from death metal blast beats with Danny and Richard’s insane vocals before meandering into progressive territory with Danny showing there is more to the man than hair with his beautiful voice and playing.

Pravus consists of Danny Page (Guitar/Vocals), Richard Vincent (Bass/Vocals), Iolo Hughes (Drums) and Paul Gill (Guitar)

Having recently rounded out the year headlining The Star in Guildford for their charity gig, the band are currently recording their debut EP which is due to be released sometime next year and are looking to smash open some new eardrums with gigs coming up in the new year.

This is definitely a band to look out for in the next year.

More info on the band can be found here.

http://www.facebook.com/pravusofficial

A preview of one of the tracks on their upcoming EP can be found here

http://pravusofficial.com/

Painted Black- Cold Comfort Review

Painted Black are a mix of My Dying Bride and Opeth, and it is quite literally a pairing made in heaven (or hell as it were). The music is depressingly gloomy and heavy. The mix of piano led movements which are depressingly haunting and the heaviness of the guitar parts make this a very interesting mix.

The mix of progressive and gothic metal makes this a hauntingly beautiful piece of art which I would love to listen to in a dark room with the curtains pulled and lights off. With lyrics such as Frozen Images, were the only thing I had, to keep me struggling conjure up images of a bleak depressing landscape where you’re sitting in a room with nothing in it but a lonely chair. Cold Comfort is definitely an apt name of this album, it is depressingly sad, but gives a comfort.

The musicianship on this album is without fault and the mix is absolutely perfect which makes this album an absolute definite must have for anyone who is into their prog music and their gothic music.

Overall I cannot find fault with this album, would recommend it to anyone who wants some beautiful gothic music with a hint of prog in their as well. My one warning is just don’t listen to this music when depressed!

10/10 

Basick signs THE ALGORITHM and SKYHARBOR!

BASICK RECORDS is extremely happy to welcome two exciting new international acts to its ever expanding roster: French electro-metal producer THE ALGORITHM and Indian progressive metal band SKYHARBOR!
The signing of these two new acts further cements BASICK's reputation as a solid choice for some of the world's most progressive and forward thinking artists.


The brainchild of talented producer Rémi Gallego, THE ALGORITHM infuses modern metal breakdowns with a menagerie of electronic subgenres such as IDM, chiptune and breakcore to concoct his own potent style of fiercely heavy music.
After a successful premiere of his live show at this years Euroblast Festival, Rémi will now be focusing on playing more shows around Europe, including a BASICK showcase in London, scheduled for early next year.

THE ALGORITHM will release a new single ‘Tr0jans’ (which includes new versions of the tracks ‘Isometry’ and ‘Antikythera…’) and a new, as yet untitled album via BASICK in early 2012.
More details to follow.
Stream the track ‘Isometry’ from the forthcoming single here:
http://soundcloud.com/basickrecords/the-algorithm-isometry


Starting out as a simple bedroom studio project, guitarist Keshav Dhar has seen SKYHARBOR quickly evolve into one of India’s hottest metal prospects, with huge admiration coming in from some of the biggest names in metal worldwide.
An astonishing amount of buzz also surrounded the bands first ever performance at the Bacardi NH7 Festival in Pune, India earlier this month, where they played to over 1,000 people and were one of the weekend’s highlights.

The long awaited debut album from SKYHARBOR promises to be a landmark release for the Indian independent music scene, in no small part thanks to the incredible number of international guest appearances it will see, including the likes of Marty Friedman (ex Megadeth), Daniel Tompkins (ex TesseracT), Vishal J. Singh(Amogh Symphony) and Sunneith Revankar (Bhayanak Maut).

SKYHARBOR will release the debut album ‘Blinding White Noise: Illusion & Chaos’ worldwide via BASICK in early 2012.
More details to follow.
Stream the track ‘Celestial’ featuring Marty Friedman and Dan Tompkins here:
http://soundcloud.com/basickrecords/skyharbor-celestial-edit


http://basickrecords.com

The First give away a signed Les Paul guitar, merch and goody bags in Sink or Swim EP pre-order prize draw

Cambridgeshire melodic rockers The First are getting into the Christmas spirit by giving fans who preorder their new “Sink or Swim” EP a chance to win a Les Paul guitar, signed by the band.

The first 100 pre-orders will be entered into a prize draw for the guitar, with four runners up winning an exclusive The First T shirt and a Small Town Records goody bag. And as if that wasn't enough, ALL of the first 100 pre-order copies will be individually hand numbered and include a signed post card.

The First explain:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrMZKLvVask&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

The EP is The First's first release since the highly acclaimed “Swimming With Sharks” album released in 2010 and concludes a crazy 2011 which has seen them tour with Mandrage, Deaf Havana, Lower Than Atlantis, and make an appearance on the Rock Sound stage at Hevy festival.

The video to single 'Kicks' will hit the TV channels this November.

Sink or Swim is available to pre-order as of this week, so get in there now for a chance to win one of the great prizes and guarantee a copy of the hand numbered edition! Sink or Swim will released on 4 December on Small Town Records.

Chimp Spanner to release 'All Roads Lead Here' EP on 6 Feb 2012

Progressive metal multi-instrumental virtuoso Paul Antonio Ortiz, aka Chimp Spanner, will be further raising the bar of the sonically epic with the release of his stunning new 'All Roads Lead Here' EP on 6 February 2012, via the pioneering BASICK label. In addition to the CD and digital formats, a strictly limited edition clear transparent vinyl version will be available, with the exclusive addition of the 'Supereroremix' EP.

'All Roads Lead Here' features six new tracks, which in true Chimp style, range from the luscious and beautiful to the twisted and sinister, with the stunning three-part centrepiece 'Mӧbius' showing off his immense talent for gripping arrangements. And as expected, the EP flows like a groove driven atmospheric sci-fi soundtrack, as Paul himself explains:

"I'm really happy with how the EP turned out! It was kind of hard at first to find a sound that progressed and evolved nicely from At The Dream's Edge', but I think making some of the songs a bit darker helped to set them apart from all the glossy futurism of the previous album. The three part song, 'Mӧbius', is still spacey and sci fi inspired (as you can tell from the awesome artwork by Daniel Wagner), but it's also got some more personal themes going on too. I hope you guys enjoy this record - I can't wait to get out there and play it!"

The vinyl exclusive 'Supereroremix' EP features remixes of the opening track from the critically acclaimed 'At The Dream's Edge' album by a diverse collection of producers – Chuter, TimfyJames, The Algorithm, and Tanuki. With versions ranging from ambient chill-out to driving drum n bass, this is a powerful and unique collection of tracks; a must listen for all those with a taste for rocked up electronica. Check out The Algorithm remix here:

http://soundcloud.com/basickrecords/chimp-spanner-supererogation-7

'Dark Age of Technology', taken from the EP, will also be available on Basick Records' exclusive Amazon sampler, which will be available for free on www.amazon.com from 12 December.

Chimp Spanner hit the road throughout Europe with prog-metal legends Cynic from 3 December, and five signed advance vinyls will be available at each show on a strictly first come first served basis - get there early to avoid disappointment!

Tour dates:

Sat 03.12.11 The Village, Dublin, Ireland.

Sun 04.12.11 Limelight, Belfast, UK.

Mon 05.12.11 The Underworld, London, UK.

Tue 06.12.11 Trix, Antwerp, Belgium.

Wed 07.12.11 Baroeg, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Thu 08.12.11 Divan Du Monde Paris, France.

Fri 09.12.11 Kiff, Aarau, Switzerland.

Sat 10.12.11 Rock'n'Roll Arena, Romagnano Sesia (NOVARA), Italy.

Sun 11.12.11 Gala Hala, Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Mon 12.12.11 Arena, Vienna, Austria . 

Tue 13.12.11 Club 202, Budapest, Hungary. 

Wed 14.12.11 Randall, Bratislava, Slovakia.

Thu 15.12.11 KD Kyje, Prague, Czech Republic.

Fri 16.12.11 Cassiopeia, Berlin, Germany.

Sat 17.12.11 Kleine Freiheit, Osnabrück, Germany.

Sun 18.12.11 Templet, Lyngby, Denmark. 

Mon 19.12.11 Hafenklang, Hamburg, Germany.

Tue 20.12.11 P60, Amstelveen, The Netherlands.

Silent Screams- When it Rains Review

When a press release even mentions Killswitch Engage or the metalcore scene I generally go straight on the defensive and am wary about the music as I have received some very generic metalcore bands through.

However Silent Screams managed to surprise me by being pretty damn good, with some heavy riffs that pound the listener’s ears. It mixes clean and heavy sections as well and they have more of an edge to them than the majority of metalcore bands. It seems like they stray more into a bit of death metal territory before jumping back in with the clean singing. This mix makes the clean side of the music a lift and makes it seem like there is more of a juxtaposition between the two.

The one thing that puts me of slightly about the music is that the screamed vocals seem a bit muddy in the mix, which seems to dampen the overall effect. Would have been better for me if they cut through a bit more.

However the clean vocals more than make up for this and are definitely the highlight off the album for me. They incorporate soaring melodies over some crushing riffs.

If you are after some good strong Metalcore- look no further. However if Metalcore isn’t your thing this is probably an album you won’t be picking up anytime soon. Overall a damn good debut album and will definitely be looking forward to see what they do next.

7/10