Video: Ólafur Arnalds & Alice Sara Ott - Reminiscence

Streaming: Platonick Dive - Overflow

Band: Platonick Dive
Album: Overflow
Label: Black Candy Records
Year: 2015








Tracklist
01. Spoken Noise
02. Please Dance Slowly
03. Above You
04. From Seattle To Berlin
05. Underground Connections
06. High Tide
07. Mirror
08. Geometric Lace
09. Reverb Overdose
10. Backing Home Boulevard
11. The Best Is Yet To Come
12. Jet-Lag
Streaming

Describing themselves as "silence against noise" the pause-for-a-thought statement couldn't, in fact, be more accurate. The group create electronic tinged post-rock in a beautifully experimental way - with a finished product of brilliantly crafted haunting and ethereal songs to form an outstanding and critically acclaimed catalogue. Already making waves in Europe, it's now time for North America and the rest of the world to take notice and be swept up in the cool as hell soundscapes of Platonick Dive. For fans of The American Dollar and 65daysofstatic.

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Video: Old Man Gloom - The Lash

Album: At Dark - At Dark

Band: At Dark
Album: At Dark
Label: Self Released
Year: 2012








Tracklist
01. Around Dark
02. The Battle Of A Hundred Slain
03. War Against The Storm
04. Strays
05. Blood And Bone
06. Endless
07. Of Wolves
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At Dark is a post-metal band from Sydney, Australia and a side project of two of We Lost The Sea members.

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EP: Tides - Last Rites

Band: Tides
Album: Last Rites EP
Label: Self Released
Year: 2015








Tracklist
01. XII
02. XIII
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Tides was an American post-rock/metal outfit which started out in Plattsburgh, NY, relocated to Boston, MA and then in Providence, RI. Started out as a three-piece band and their debut EP “Resurface” was recorded as such. Tim Fickeisen, a second guitarist, joined in 2006 with the debut of “From Silence” to help recreate the songs live.

These  2 songs in "Last Rites" represent the final creative output of the four individuals who collectively made music under the name Tides. Both tracks where originally recorded in 2009 as reference demos for an album that was never completed.

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Album: 1099 - Young Pines

Band: 1099
Album: Young Pines
Label: Self Released
Year: 2015








Tracklist
01. Memfis
02. Yeager
03. Astoria
04. Palatine Light
05. Man The Harpoons
06. Krystallfabrikken
07. The California Energy
08. Hjorten
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1099 is a band from Trondheim, Norway consisting of Anders Kalland (guitar), Kristian Krokfoss (guitar, piano), Lars-Erik Berg (bass) and Pål Leer (drums, saxophone)live and on recordings they invite good friends to play with them.

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The Inquisition: 041.threestepstotheocean

1. How did you came up with the name of the band? 

If I remember correctly, during a flight, our drummer Davide saw this 3 little islands in the sea and he came up with the name three steps to the ocean. At the time we thought that it was a very evocative/epic/spleen name and we got that. We recently decided to change it in threestepstotheocean (there's not such a difference but we prefer like that) 

2. Do you have a standard procedure of creating a song? Do you just jam around or is there a main riff and the track is build up on it? 

We usually start with a guitar riff then we jam and record everything. If the result satisfies us we go ahead with the structure. When we have a proto-song, we try to arrange it with something that sounds stimulating to us. Sometimes a song grows up fast and without problems, other times we spent months in one arrangement and at the end we decide to delete everything. So it's a long, and often frustrating process. 

3. What are your influences and what kind of music do you hear when you are at home? 

Everyone who made an interview always answer "oh we listen to a lot of music", so to be different I will say that I didn't listen to a lot of music in this period. For the new album, "Migration Light" we took inspiration from something different from the past. We are an instrumental post-something band and we will be forever compared to some historical bands, which we obviously like, but we really tried to do something different from our previous works.

4.Which is the one album that you can't live without? 

I remember when, for the first time, I've heard "Adrenaline" by deftones, Chino Moreno's screams and Carpenter's guitar riffs literally opened my mind. Since then I started listening and discovering heavier music (I was a huge alternative-rock fan) so it's one of the most important albums of my life, not the best, but a sort of turning point in my music background. 

5. What's the first record you've ever bought? 

Probably "Punk In Drublic" by NOFX. I had a lot of tapes made by my friend but "Punk In Drublic" is the first CD I ever bought with my money. 

6. Name a band that you would like to share the stage or tour with? 

NOFX. Just kidding. For example we never played with Lento, it's incredible. But we will, sooner or later. For sure we'll never play with deftones...and we would like a lot. 

7. Did the internet and specially the blogs helped to spread your music around the world? Name a place (country) that you were surprised to know your music has reached to? 

Internet and blogging are huge help for underground bands. From the beginning we tried to use the social networks (Myspace was the first) to do a fan base and the blogs helped us to spread it all around the world. It was the only way to promote ourselves out of our city, we met people who helped us touring around Italy and Europe. Once again, it's very important for us. We reached places like Indonesia, Egypt but we have 16 likes on facebook from Iran...this is quite amazing. 

8. Do you support the idea of Bandcamp where fans can decide the price or services like Spotify? 

When we released Scents we decided to put it on Bandcamp with the "name your price" solution. The idea was a free download but a lot of people gave us money for the download...we were pretty surprised of that. Our goal was to be heard by the largest possible number of people. Spotify is quite different from Bandcamp, for sure it's the main trend right now, but i think it's very cold and impersonal. For Migration Light's release we'll put it for sure in free download on Bandcamp and in streaming on Spotify but Bandcamp is more rewarding for a band like us, compared to Spotify. It's not fair that bands have no chance to get money in any possible way, in my opinion. 

9. Where do you see yourselves in 5 years? 

In our rehearsal room trying to play something that we like, probably being fatter and for sure older. 

10. Is the artwork of an album important nowadays in the digital era? 

The artwork is an important part of the album. For us it's a way to express the concept and the album's mood. We always spent a lot of time for the artwork and usually we make a different version for CD, vinyls and t-shirts. We're currently working at the artwork of "Migration Light", we have some ideas, and we're collaborating with a really good photographer. We really love to collaborate with different artists for each artwork.

11.What's your favorite album cover? 

Celeste's artworks are amazing. The idea and the contrast between the images and the music are pretty cool. I would have had this idea for our albums.

12. It seems that a lot of people are turning on vinyl again. Why do you think that is and which is your preferable media format? 

Vinyl is the best format for everyone who loves everything of an album. The artwork is huge, the sound is unique, I think that the vinyl forces you to listen with attention to the music. But we are also aware that the digital formats are easier to find and to listen in other situations. So we release everything in all the possible formats: vinyls, CD and digital. 

13. What's the funniest story or moment as a band? 

Usually, in a band, the funniest moments happen in tour. This is also for us, especially when someone is particularly drunk or stoned. Francesco for example is very funny in that moments. But sometimes we realize that what we think it's funny, it's just funny for us.

threestepstotheocean are currently mixing their new album "Migration Light".

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Video: Vessels - Echo In

EP: Year Of No Light / Bagarre Générale - Split

Band: Year Of No Light / Bagarre Générale
Album: Split EP
Label: Musicfearsatan
Year: 2015







Tracklist
01. Year Of No Light - Sar Ha-Olam
02. Bagarre Générale & Year Of No Light - Chapelle Ardente
03. Bagarre Générale - Furvent
Download

Year Of No Light (often abbreviated as YONL) is a French post-metal band from Bordeaux formed in 2001. For their début album, Nord, YONL drew influence from several genres, including post-rock, sludge, somber psychedelics and depressive atmospheric shoegaze".[ The second album, Ausserwelt, was not released until 2010 after a significant line-up change in 2008 which established the band as an instrumental sextet, including two drummers and three guitarists. Ausserwelt saw the band's sound develop in the direction of black metal and doom metal while retaining a progressive, post rock feel.

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Bagarre Générale is a bit like running naked in the forest by firing into the air with an assault rifle and two or three acids that dissolve under the tongue. Bagarre Générale is an epic , massive and unreal music with sonic guitars, delivering a terror magma supported by a relentless and insatiable rhythm section.

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Buy the split from musicfearsatan or Bandcamp

The Inquisition: 040.Waypoint

1. How did you came up with the name of the band? 

When we started the band, we decided we wanted to use some sort of nautical term for our band name. After a couple hours of hard Googling, we found Waypoint and it just kinda stuck. 

2. Do you have a standard procedure of creating a song? Do you just jam around or is there a main riff and the track is build up on it?

We usually just jam around, but lately our songwriting has gotten a bit more structured and we start with a main riff and see where it takes us. 

3. What are your influences and what kind of music do you hear when you are at home? 

We're influenced by a pretty wide variety of music. Anything from post-rock and shoegaze to jazz and blues. Here in Jackson there's a bunch of different kinds of bands, so you never really know what kinda of music you're gonna see when you go see a band somewhere. It keeps it interesting for sure. 

4. Which is the one album you can't live without? 

I probably couldn't live without "Come Now Sleep" by As Cities Burn. It's been my favorite album since the first time I heard it. 

5. What's the first record you've ever bought? 

I didn't start collecting vinyl until a few years ago, so my first record was O'Brother's "Death Of Day." The first CD I ever bought was probably P.O.D.'s "Southtown," which still jams just as hard by the way. 

6. Name a band that you would like to share the stage or tour with? 

We would love to tour with O'Brother. We played a show with them one time in Jackson and it was awesome. Really cool guys that make incredible music. 

7. Did the internet and specially the blogs helped to spread your music around the world? Name a place (country) that you were surprised to know your music has reached to? 

Definitely. The internet has a crazy way of helping people find out about your band and it's always surprising. We have had a few people buy merch from us in Australia and I think that is totally insane. 

8. Do you support the idea of Bandcamp where fans can decide the price or services like Spotify? 

For sure. I love getting free music, and any way people can get their hands on our music is a positive thing, whether they paid for it or not. 

9. Where do you see yourselves in 5 years? 

Hopefully not still in college (haha), and out of Mississippi touring full-time. A lot can happen in five years though, so who really knows. 

10. Is the artwork of an album important nowadays in the digital era? 

I definitely think so. I do all of our artwork for Waypoint and I know how seriously we all take it and how important it is to us to have designs that reflect the band, so hopefully other people feel the same way. 

11. What is you favorite album cover? 

That's a hard one. Probably Wild Nothing's "Nocturne" or Title Fight's "Floral Green".

12. It seems that a lot of people are turning on vinyl again. Why do you think that is and which is your preferable media format? 

I think in the digital age where people can pretty much get any album they want for free online, people are realizing that it's nice to get something concrete that you can hold in your hands and see in person. That's why I started buying vinyl. The artwork is cooler, you're actually supporting the bands, and you get the whole experience of listening to a record.

13. How does it feel for a band, to see their first vinyl released? 

It's incredible and really surreal. As big supporters of vinyl, it's something we've wanted to do since the band started. Can't thank John and Spartan Records enough for making it happen for us.

14. What's the most vivid story or moment as a band? 

That's another hard one. All we do is goof around so it's amazing that we get anything done at all. I guess the most vivid story for me that doesn't involve us screwing around is when we played a show with As Cities Burn on their reunion tour. Playing a show with my favorite band ever was a huge deal to me and pretty much all of our friends were there. It was just a really special moment for me. Also I vividly remember throwing up like 4 times before we played because I was so nervous.

Waypoint released their latest EP "Creature Of Habit" on Spartan Records.

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The Inquisition: 039.The Union Trade

1. How did you come up with the name of the band?

Well, we made a huge list, and then kept whittling it down as we were writing our first few songs. One of the tentative names was “The Tuesday Rumor” We for sure were not sold on it; I [Don] went to SXSW just as a fan in 2006. One drunken night at 2am I met a few guys from Band Of Horses and we were talking about bands names, “The Tuesday Rumor” was quickly called a pussy name, they recommended “The Gift” and we were all surprised that it was actually available. That name was added to the running. We later narrowed to The Union Trade. The name itself is actually from a song by Early Day Miners. The reason we settled on it was we felt it embodied the way we wanted to be as a band and how we wanted to make music. The Union Trade really is a collective effort. Everyone has roles, but there's no official band leader, no single songwriter.

2. Do you have a standard procedure of creating a song? Do you just jam around or is there a main riff and the track is build up on it?

For the most part our songs start as a guitar or keyboard idea. Whoever has it just starts playing and the rest of us work out our part. Sometimes the same person has a second part, and we work to connect them. Other times, we realize it fits with some other idea we've had sitting around for a while.We also start every practice by just jamming. As soon as a couple of us are in the band room, we pick up our instruments, usually with out saying much. There's no more magical moment in our band than being the last person to arrive and before you even open the door you hear some exciting new song in the works. You just walk in, pick up your instrument and join in. A few songs have come from ideas we came up with and latched onto during those jams at the beginning of practice.A very few songs have come in with the chord changes mostly done. But everything is put through our collective process and arranged in the band room. Parts and arrangements always evolve and everyone has input in the final product.Except for those few lightening strike moments, we have a pretty slow process that involves coming up with the initial arrangement, recording a one mic demo, listening, sitting on it and revising it over time until we're happy with it.

3. What are your influences and what kind of music do you hear when you are at home?

Influences vary quite a bit between band members, part of what makes our sound a little different from most bands in our genre. Overall the vision is to create musical landscapes that mean something to all of us.Our tastes are broad and these different influences, from shoegaze, and post punk, to early Emo, grunge and indie rock all play their part in making what we hope is our own unique take on instrumental post rock. But we've really all come together over a few instrumental post rock bands we admire and respect, in particular, Mogwai, Explosions In the Sky, This Will Destroy You and Caspian to name a few.

4. Which is the one album you can't live without?

Don: Neil Young “Desire”Nate- For a while now it's been The National's High Violet

5. What's the first record you've ever bought?

Don: It was a tape; NWA “Straight Outta Compton” My first actual record would have been Michael Jackson “Thriller”

Nate: Guns N Roses. Appetite For Destruction. On tape.

6. Name a band that you would like to share the stage or tour with?

Explosions In The Sky, Yann Tiersen

7. Did the Internet and specially the blogs helped to spread your music around the world? Name a place (country) that you were surprised to know your music has reached to?

Absolutely. Most surprising country, Estonia.

8. Do you support the idea of Bandcamp where fans can decide the price or services like Spotify?

This is one of the toughest questions in the industry today. We listen to Spotify and Pandora a lot. As a band, we really appreciate how much streaming services like Spotify and Pandora have helped us get exposure around the world. The royalties are minimal, as Thom Yorke has called attention to, but we appreciate the beer and pizza money I guess. It's also better than someone pirating our music.We're new to Bandcamp. As the founding band of Tricycle Records we went the indie label route before Bandcamp existed - we wanted to control songwriter and publishing rights. But we recently put our entire catalog up on Bandcamp because it is a great community, they let you set your price, and it's another great channel for music fans to discover new music. We use set prices on Bandcamp, I think for some bands letting fans name the price is great, but Bandcamp is just one outlet that we sell music and making vinyl is expensive. We are still waiting for people to pay more than our asking price. Bandcamp even jokes about it putting (your mom) every time they mention name your price in the band dashboard.

9. Where do you see yourselves in 5 years?

Five years from now will have been 14 years since we founded The Union Trade. Crazy to even imagine that. But hopefully we'll be looking back at some amazing place that this album and our music enabled us to travel and play. Hopefully more new music. But I know that we'll be most happy that we got to spend time every week, playing and creating with each other. If that wasn't the best part about it, The Union Trade would have ended a long time ago.

10. Is the artwork of an album important nowadays in the digital era?

Yes. Absolutely. In addition to being the guitarist in The Union Trade, Don also happens to be an incredible visual designer and photographer. Physical music still sells, and we want that experience of holding our art in your hands to make an impact. Thanks to Don, every album by The Union Trade has done that. Even in digital formats, the artwork that goes along with the music can help convey a feeling or add meaning. That is the first album where we included a digital booklet with the iTunes download. There's always been an important connection between album art and music. There's something visceral in seeing an artists interpretation of an audio work. Even in the digital era.

11. What is you favorite album cover?

Don: That would be Yo La Tengo “And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out.” Gregory Crewdson’s photograph was used on the cover and he is my absolute favorite photographer. Conveying that much of a story and surreal, evocative emotion in 1/100th of a second.

Nate: Electric Ladyland - It was the first album I stole from my parent's collection.

12. It seems that a lot of people are turning on vinyl again. Why do you think that is and which is your preferable media format?

Listening to vinyl is an entirely different experience than digital music players, or even a CD. Vinyl is just so much more conducive to full album listening. It's just so easy to hit next on an iPhone. When I select a record, put it on the turntable and drop the needle, I'm going to listen until the flip. I even appreciate and enjoy the songs I might skip on a digital player more on vinyl.I would definitely say vinyl is my favorite format for The Union Trade music. Because we try to craft and album, not singles, and because we love creating album art for our music and vinyl is the classic visual format for album art.

13. What's the most vivid story or moment as a band?

Playing actually goes by so fast, and it’s almost out of body. So, the most vivid memories for me (Nate) are not when we're playing. For me the most vivid are walking around with the band at SXSW in Austin when we were just being music fans and friends in between our shows there.

The Union Trade released their new album "A Place of Long Years" on February 3rd 2015 on Tricycle Records. Personally I think it's a killer album and their best yet.

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Album: Tyler Krug - The Young Mind, The Weary Heart

Band: Tyler Krug
Album: The Young Mind, The Weary Heart
Label: Self Released
Year: 2015







Tracklist
01. The Young Mind
02. Anthem
03. Prisoner Of His Own Citadel
04. Dissolve
05. Who Art Thou, Redeemer?
06. Decay/The Weary Heart
07. Night Song
Download

Tyler Krug is from Atlanta, USA and writes instrumental rock and textures range from dense and distorted to light and ambient. "The Young Mind, The Weary Hearts" is his second release and as it seems Tyler found the recipe to create beautiful solo albums.

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Video: This Will Destroy You - New Topia

Warning: The video might be dangerous for epileptics.

The Inquisition: 038.The Boats (an interview with J. Byron)

 

1. How did you come up with the name of the band? 

We came up with the name after giving titles to the first songs we jammed. For a long time the band was temporarily titled 'instrumental jam project' and then we were naming songs and we called one of the tracks 'The Sea Is In The Boat' and out of that we decided to call the band The Boats. I can't remember who instigated that now, but it felt right. 

2. Do you have a standard procedure of creating a song? Do you just jam around or is there a main riff and the track is build up on it? 

The way we approach creating songs has always been relatively the same...we start with an improvisational jam, with variations on structure and discipline. When we approached recording 'Los Musicos Perdidos', we first improvised and recorded those rehearsal sessions, listened back and began structuring certain songs; such as 'The Sea is in The Boat' and 'Little Black Rays of Hope', while other tracks such as '2 AM' and 'Asylum' were pure improvisational jams. When we recorded Segundo, we mostly improvised, however some tracks we had dabbled with live like 'Hammer Down Your Gentle Sharks' and I also brought in riffs, such as the start of 'There's Not a Fire that can Warm Us' and we would structure the beginning of a track like that and then literally jam the rest. This process gave us the freedom to keep a certain spontaneity with songs, while first laying down a foundation. It was a great idea that worked well. I think the process also comes down to who we are as individual musicians, for instance, Nick's styles and influences can be heard a lot on our debut album 'Los Musicos Perdidos', where I produced 'Segundo', and my styles and influences come through more on the new album. The records somewhat reflect our personal tastes at the time, and yet I believe we still remain a band with our own sound. 

3. What are your influences and what kind of music do you hear when you are at home? 

My personal influences vary from year to year, but I think I can speak for the band when I mention Godspeed, The Dirty Three, Set Fire to Flames and some early Explosions In The Sky....as for my own influences, it is widely varied, lately I'm listening a lot to the new Bjork album, lots of modern classical like Max Richter, Nils Frahm and A Winged Victory For The Sullen. But these influences can change year to year, as I said, I can't speak for what the other guys are listening to right now.

4. Which is the one album you can't live without? 

That's a really hard question because I don't think there's any one album I couldn't live without, there are so many. If I had to choose one and just one I suppose it would be out of Richter's Infra and Nils Frahm's Felt. Both albums send me to other worlds...but if I had to live off just one album that might not bore me ever, it might have to be a Locil record, as he's so minimalist. 

5. What's the first record you've ever bought? 

Probably Metallica's Kill 'Em All on vinyl. 

6. Name a band that you would like to share the stage or tour with? 

A Black Heart Procession. 

7. Did the internet and specially the blogs helped to spread your music around the world? Name a place (country) that you were surprised to know your music has reached to? 

Absolutely. Our first album was spread mainly via blogs and web sites... with fans posting our albums online, we have been able to reach a wider audience. As for a country where I felt surprised our music reached....no where yet. Our music has reached all around the world and I think that's the power of the Internet, so I'm not surprised at all, just very happy when someone buys an album. I think with all the pirated music available now, it really makes a difference when someone supports an indie band like ours. 

8. Do you support the idea of Bandcamp where fans can decide the price or services like Spotify?

Bandcamp is an amazing platform that gives a lot of control back to artists and allows fans to interact more personally with artists, it's been wonderful for us. I'm not really supportive of Spotify, because there are major labels behind it all trying to cash in on the new music revolution, but I think services like Bandcamp really give so much power back to the artist, and are relatively cost effective. I also think a lot of musicians and artists head to Bandcamp first to buy music these days, to support their fellow musicians, which I do myself and totally respect. 

9. Where do you see yourselves in 5 years? 

Personally, I'd like to be producing more bands and creating film soundtracks, which I'm already doing. I'm also a film maker, so I really want to be doing a lot more of that over the next few years. 

10. Is the artwork of an album important nowadays in the digital era? 

Yes I believe it is. Artwork reflects the spirit of the album, it creates an image that listeners can relate to, take Bjork's albums for example. Each one is a work of art, and says something about her music. Segundo's artwork was created by the amazing French artist Karine Pollens and speaks of summer, apocalypse and abandoned cities. It depicts an imaginary future which the music captures, and which I believe she captured perfectly. She's one of my favourite artists and I feel so grateful to work with her. 

11. What is you favorite album cover? 

Probably the cover Melt by Young Magic, because it's so minimal and beautiful but if you want to talk classic, probably Dark Side of The Moon.

12. It seems that a lot of people are turning on vinyl again. Why do you think that is and which is your preferable media format? 

I think vinyl is classic and popular because of very simple reasons: firstly, vinyl was the first opportunity for people to listen to recorded music. It's nostalgia harks back to the 1930's and hasn't lost its appeal. I also believe vinyl is something very special these days because of its tactile nature; the fact that you can open up a vinyl record, physically feel the artwork and wax, there is something very special about that, it becomes a ritual when listening to an album. As a band, we want to release far more vinyl. 

13. What's the most vivid story or moment as a band? 

I don't know, probably a show at a massive church with projected visuals and other amazing special guests playing, back in Melbourne in 2008, I think. It was very special and memorable.

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Video: Jet Plane - Whale

EP: Path Of Might - Path Of Might

Band: Path Of Might
Album: Path Of Might
Label: Self Released
Year: 2015








Tracklist
01. Mountain Of Flowers & Fruit
02. Boar Cult Blues
03. The Trespasser
04. Into The Fold
Download

Path Of Might is a sludge/stoner/progressive metal band from St. Louis, USA and they released their debut EP a few days ago.

For fans of  Mastodon, Intronaut, Neurosis, Crowbar, High On Fire.

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The Inquisition: 037.Ashes & Iron

1.How did you came up with the name of the band?

Chris: It was a song title from one of our previous bands (This Incredible Machine).  We decided that we wanted to go in a different direction musically, so we changed our name to Ashes And Iron.  The song that we took the name from would eventually become "Silens", the title track off our first EP.

2. Do you have a standard procedure for creating a song? Do you just jam around or is there a main riff and the track is built around it?

Chris: Sort of... Usually, we will have some riffs or parts in mind, then we try to construct around those main parts. It doesn't always work out that way. We have skeletons of songs that have been on the back burner for years... We like the parts, but we just can't find the glue to turn it into a song. If we feel like we're not making any progress, we'll set the song aside and work on something else.

Ian: Our standard writing procedure is not having a procedure. As Chris stated, we have many riffs and parts floating around just waiting to find a home. The most difficult part of our songwriting process is finding the ‘part between the part.’

Thad:  Most of the time someone will have an idea for a riff or a part. We’ll jam around on the riff.  While jamming we’ll test where the riff wants to go or how it needs to be changed. If it works with other song ideas we already have developed we’ll see how it wants to fit with those parts. If not, we’ll save it for a later date when we have other parts that will work together. Sometimes, while jamming on the riff new song ideas will emerge. Our process is usually iterative and fragmented. We don’t sit down and write an entire song from beginning to end as our music is not formulaic. We let the music tell us where it wants to go.

3. What are your influences and what kind of music do you listen to when you are at home?

Chris: I'd say as a band, our influences are pretty broad and I can't really pin it to a few bands. I mean, you can hear some obvious ones in our music, but we listen to all kinds of stuff.

Ian: Personally, I’m into music that I feel is real and authentic. And, ‘authenticity’ doesn’t necessarily mean high-brow. Like Van Halen before 1983.  Don’t you like to party?

4. Which is the one album you can't live without?

Chris: Dinosaur Jr – Bug

Ian:  Soundgarden - Badmotorfinger

Thad: None. I don’t have that much attachment to any one album.

5. What's the first record you've ever bought?

Chris: KISS - Love Gun

Thad: well, it was a cassette and I was never really into the band all that much but Red Hot Chili Peppers Mother’s Milk.

Ian: U2 – The Joshua Tree

6. Name a band that you would like to share the stage or tour with.

Chris: Neurosis

Thad: Godspeed You! Black Emperor

7. Did the internet and especially the blogs help to spread your music around the world? Name a place (country) that you were surprised to know your music has reached to?

Chris: Without a doubt. People from all over the world have heard our first EP thanks to music blogs. I was surprised to learn that we have fans in Indonesia.

Ian: Without the internet our music wouldn’t reach out of our practice space. So, of course, having the ability to make our music available and receiving attention from numerous blogs has helped us reach wider audiences like a few fans in Russia.

8. Do you support the idea of Bandcamp where fans can decide the price or services like Spotify?

Chris: Absolutely. It's a great tool to get your music out there. Personally, I don't download music anymore, but I don't have anything against it. I would rather find it at a local record shop, order it online, or pick it up at a show. To me, being able to buy a digital copy of an album with a few clicks of a mouse takes some of the fun out of discovering new music. When I was a teenager, before the internet, I used to love going to record stores and scoring a couple records that I had been searching 3 years for. Part of the fun in discovering new music is the hunt. I think a lot of people are missing out on that today, but I do see the benefits as well.

Ian: While I’m not necessarily a fan of the mp3 digital music format, I am a supporter of music fans deciding what they pay for digital music. Like most artistic things in life, music is relative and what’s sounds great to me may not sound great to you. So, name your price. If you like it, and you’re a true music fan, you’ll probably pay what you consider to be a fair price for the music.

9. Where do you see yourselves in 5 years?

Chris: Who knows... We take things one day at a time. If we're still passionate about what we are doing musically in 5 years, then we'll continue doing what we do. If not, I'm sure we'll all be involved in other projects.

Ian:  I’m sure we’ll always be playing music. Together?  Hopefully.

10. Where have you been the past 6 years? What took you so long for your next release?  

Chris:  We've been busy. Collectively - Three kids, a Master's Degree in Architecture, etc.  We went through a couple lineup changes and it took time for us to figure out where we were going as a band.  I think we are back on track now.

11. Is the artwork of an album important nowadays in the digital era?

Chris: Art is important in every aspect. With music, you can hear it and you can feel it, but you can't see it. I think artwork just ties it all together.

Ian: Art is absolutely important. For me, since I’m first and foremost a music fan, part of the fun of buying a new record is and continues to be pouring over the artwork and the liner notes. I love finding out who created the album artwork and who engineered and mastered a particular recording.

Thad:  I am of  two minds on artwork. Is it important? Not necessarily.  Can artwork be compelling? Absolutely. Unfortunately digital music has in fact diminished the role artwork plays in the perception of a musical piece. I’ll never forget how the album art for L7’s Hungry for Stink perfectly exuded the raw, grotesque sensations I felt while listening to the music. My 12 year old brain was struck with how profound this connection is. I think this synergy of sight and sound is beautifully compelling; setting the stage for the music before you even begin to hear sounds. However, now that physical media is becoming something of a relic, I fear the love I have for album art is not shared by society at large.

12. What is your favorite album cover?

Chris: I have several. One that comes to mind is Cave In - Until Your Heart Stops.

Thad: Limiting this question specifically to album covers of vinyl records that I currently own, Goat - World Music. The crazy, die cut, multi-colored cover is just a psychedelic as the tunes on the record.

Ian: Robert Palmer - Sneakin’ Sally Through the Alley.

13. It seems that a lot of people are turning to vinyl again. Why do you think that is and which is your preferred media format? 

Chris: I think people miss having something tangible. Compact discs have been on a steady decline and something needs to take its place... Why not vinyl? Vinyl is a format that has never really gone away. There's something special about it. I only listen to music when I'm in my car now, so CDs are my personal preferred format. For the band, vinyl accompanied with a digital DL code is our preferred format now.

Thad: I cannot speak to why society at large is rediscovering the joys of vinyl, however I can speak to my own music listening habits. If I am listening to music in my car I prefer CDs over MP3s. CDs still sound so much better, even than FLAC or 320k MP3s, in a car. If I am at home, I tend to listen to vinyl. Listening to vinyl is a type of spectacle, an experience. Plugging in my cell phone and pressing random just doesn’t have the same feeling. In addition to the spectacle of the album art and the embodied actions of moving the needle and flipping the record, I prefer the sound of a record in my home.

14. What's the most vivid story or moment as a band?

Chris: Many years ago, we were playing this show in the middle of nowhere. After the show, we were invited to a house party.  We were all having a good time until some meatheads showed up. We decided that we were going to leave and started rounding everyone up. Our drummer accidentally bumped into one of the guys and things escalated. Next thing I know, we're in the middle of a street fight. Punches and kicks were flying, bottles were breaking, and someone got hit with a bat... I looked around and more and more of these guys pouring out of the house and running toward us. Pretty soon we were completely outnumbered. We had no choice but to make a run for it. Luckily, we all came out unscathed.

Thad: Chris’s story is one of my favorites. My other favorite was when we were in Herrin, Il (a few hours away from our home). After our show, we decided to see what the town was all about. We were walking down the street and heard loud music coming from somewhere. We followed the music and discovered a “house” where multiple bands practiced. Several of the bands were having a party on the second floor. We found our way up to the second floor and made ourselves at home. We did not know any of the people there and they discovered quickly that we were strangers. After telling them that we had just played a show at the local music venue, we were welcomed with open arms. We had a great time hanging out and getting to know these people. One of them was even generous enough to invite us to stay at his home. It was great to find an impromptu place to sleep, as we were in no shape to drive two hours back to St. Louis.

Ashes And Iron released their second EP "The Wind Takes a Side " in December. Be sure to check it out.

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News: Bright Like The Sun's campaign on Indiegogo

Bright Like The Sun's Sophomore Record

Bright Like The Sun is a band from San Antonio, TX known for their affinity for dynamics and use of atmospheric soundscapes.

Finally, vinyl.

We all love vinyl records, the warmth and large scale artwork, the extra time it takes to functionally listen to a record as opposed to some playlist mindlessly shuffling on in the background. We wanted to put our last record out on vinyl, but alas, it's super expensive.That's where you come in.In order to assist in raising funds for a vinyl pressing, we are offering the record up for pre-order. In addition to the actual record, we are offering up a slew of other perks to help sweeten the proverbial pot.We have worked super hard on this album and can't wait to get it in your hands, just need a little help to get it there!

Fund the campaign

Video: Man Is Not A Bird - D.I.P.

The Inquisition: 036.☉ (L'Effondras)

1. How did you came up with the name of the band? What ☉ symbolizes and how it is pronounced?

Pierre L: Many bands names always look a bit ridiculous to us, vain mostly. We wanted something different that let interpretations free to the people. This sign can symbolise many things on different levels : alchemical, astrological, a structure of the universe, etc... We let people free to choose what suits to them. Some see a boob or a Mexican hat seen from above, I don't care. We pronounce it "L'Effondras", which is a place around where we come from, a very dull one where nothing happens. "S'effondrer" in french means to collapse. 

2. Do you have a standard procedure of creating a song? Do you just jam around or is there a main riff and the track is build up on it? 

Pierre L: We don't have a standard procedure. Most of the time one of us come with a riff and we jam around and the final track is completely different with the first idea we could have with the initial riff. The purpose is to let go and to be open with what each member may bring and we move on. 

Nicolas B: Sometimes it will take years to create a new song, and sometimes three hours. It depends also of the length, our mood... 

3. What are your influences and what kind of music do you hear when you are at home? 

Pierre L: Having influences isn't a conscious thing, we try to avoid them. I listen to so many different things (from classical stuff to post-punk with a huge preference for old blues)... The common point with all these different sounds could be the substantial aspect I find in it. I like music when it's pure. By the way people often speak about post-rock trying to define our music, but actually we don't listen to this kind of thing that much. 

Nicolas B: Mainly "rock" for me. I used to listen to a lot of music some years ago. The more i'm getting older, the less i'm listening to music, except classical stuff like Oxbow, Zu, Nick Cave, Cheval de Frise (yes, it's classical stuff for me) or friend's bands. 

Pierre J: Definitely blues .. the old one , the "black" one . These guys (Skip James, Blind Willie Johnson, Robert Johnson...) get the real sound with a piece of wood and a bottle of whiskey, thanks to their music, I found the pleasure to play guitar alone with 2 chords during hours, trying to find the simplest and the most forceful melody... I think it's become to me like a guideline of my way to play music. 

4. Which is the one album you can't live without? 

Pierre L: Is there anybody who even answered to that question? Just one? Impossible. I guess I couldn't live without Erik Satie, Skip James & Kurt Cobain. 

Nicolas B: Mine! even if there are many better albums. 

Pierre J: I really don't know.. 

5. What's the first record you've ever bought? 

Pierre L: The 9th Symphony of Dvorak. My first rock record was the orange live of Nirvana. 

Nicolas B: Hum... Maybe Dorothée, a french singer for the kids. 

Pierre J: Shame on me, I think it was the tape of the soundtrack of Robin Wood By .. oh fuck.. Bryan Adams... At this time I made my own bow and I though Kevin Costner was a real good actor.. 

6. Name a band that you would like to share the stage or tour with? 

Pierre L: Mh... I'd love to share the stage with Swans but I also would freak out because they are so fucking good. 

Nicolas B: Earth, or Nick Cave. 

Pierre J: I'm agree with Pierre and Nico, I'd add PJ Harvey. 

7. Did the internet and specially the blogs helped to spread your music around the world? Name a place (country) that you were surprised to know your music has reached to? 

Pierre L: Yes sure it did! And that's the moment where we thank you to contribute to making that happen. I saw that our sound was heard in Ukraine, Russia, Lithuania, Romania,Turkey, South Africa, etc... And we've been broadcasted on a radio station in Austin, Texas. I'm so glad of it. That's the best part of the internet for sure. 

Nicolas B: Indeed, I saw someone listening to our music on our Bandcamp who was Bulgarian! 

8. Do you support the idea of Bandcamp where fans can decide the price or services like Spotify? 

Pierre L: Both I guess. The most important thing is to be heard and to have the opportunity of touring. If people want to have the record in their hands they pay for it otherwise music is free of course. 

Nicolas B: It seems that Bandcamp just added taxes in 2015. That's a pity for sure but yeah, the most important thing is to be heard if a Japanese, or a Bulgarian wants to. 

9. Where do you see yourselves in 5 years? 

Pierre L: Haha... I don't even wanna know. I hope we will have done better records and we will tour a lot. It's a basic answer. I don't really expect the champagne/cocain/groupies stuff. 

Nicolas B: Pierre told everything. 

10. Is the artwork of an album important nowadays in the digital era? 

Pierre L: Precisely because of the digital era I'd say. It's a natural reaction. 

Nicolas B: Of course. It's the first thing people will see, even before listening to your music sometimes. So you have to be very careful of what do you want to show to the people. 

11. What is you favorite album cover? 

Pierre L: I don't know... Maybe the Earth 2 album's cover, because it figures so well what you gonna hear. Earth use to make good artworks. 

Nicolas B: Meshuggah, or Manowar I guess. All of them. 

Pierre J: I can't say my favourite, but I'm thinking of Wish You were Here, and Animals of Pink Floyd ..

12. It seems that a lot of people are turning on vinyl again. Why do you think that is and which is your preferable media format? 

Pierre L: As the artwork thing it's a natural reaction linked with the digital era and this is my favorite media format of course. 

Nicolas B: For me every way is good to listen to music. It's the implication of people for the band they are listening to that will make them buying the vinyl, or MP3 on iTunes, or download for free. I think it's a very personal reaction. 

Pierre J: Music is air vibrations, I like the idea of creating an object to support it. We press vinyl to create vibrations by a mechanical process, it's the most beautiful frame to put your music on. 

13. What's the most vivid story or moment as a band? 

Pierre L: For me it was when we came back from the studio on our van. I had the feeling that something I live for had been finally made, the first step. It was very relieving. 

Nicolas B: Especially that kind of moments Pierre talked about, when we are connected. It's rare, but it's so important. On the other side, the moment of releasing an album is also a lot of stress and problems. 

Pierre J: Tour ! So many feelings in such a short time...

☉ (L'Effondras) released their amazing debut album in December.

More info:

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Album: Kalpa - Sequences*

Band: Kalpa
Album: Sequences*
Label: Self Released
Year: 2015








Tracklist
01. A Ηidden Ocean
02. Waves Will Rise Over Babylon
03. Perfect Storm
04. False Transmissions
05. Slow Arrivals
06. On Time
07. Off Time
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Hailing from the dry south, Kalpa construct a devastating and at the same time an ethereal soundscape using for this an instrumental approach through distorted guitars riffs , heavy drumming , gloomy melodies and emphatic harmonies. Mainly influenced by acts such as Isis, Cult of Luna, Tool, Neurosis, GY!BE etc, Kalpa developed a personal sound and structure. The band took its final form back in late 2012, has since made numerous, powerful live appearances in Greece's underground local scene and released their debut album "Sequences*".

"Our debut album, Sequences*, is now available for downloading on Bandcamp. Pricing is optional (it could be done no other way in this time and age), though all donations would help us recover part of the expenses involved in this album's making and would be later used towards a physical release.

At this point we'd like to take a chance and thank everyone that made this record possible. We have received lots of unconditional help from most of the people we have crossed paths with so far, for which we are both surprised and grateful. So, thank you and enjoy." - Kalpa

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Video: Cataya - Sombre Sommeil

Cataya is a new post-rock/metal band from the border region of Germany and Belgium. The band is influenced by nature and emotions of their life. This is their debut single/video.

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