Monday, June 24, 2013

Anthems Of Imperium " INTERVIEW"


                              ANTHEMS OF IMPERIUM



INTERVIEW :

1. First of all, what do you think people should know about Anthems Of Imperium ?

We want people to know that we are here really, we put a lot of hard work and dedication into everything we do, we have worked as a band for the past year just writing songs and feeding off each other to make something we consider great. We just want our music to be heard and some honest feedback because we always strive to play better and perform better. We don’t just do it for ourselves, we do it so we can reach out and connect with others and hopefully relate to them through our music and maybe even empower them to stand up for what they believe in.


2. How did you decide on the name for the band?

It took a lot of time to decide on a name we feel the name gives the image of songs that are upbeat and melodic yet powerful and heavy. Anthems of Imperium means “songs of dominate power” and we try to keep that meaning in every song we do.

3. Where you guys close friends before the band came about?

Some of us knew each other before, as we looked for the right members we brought in friends and former members of previous bands that we were in, and knew that they would take the time and dedication to make something happen. Over the past year we have became closer and our more like a family and as we get closer as a band we become better as musicians.

4. What drove each one of you guys to music and the desire to be in a band?

Women and Alcohol! Just kidding well some of us ;), but we all have probably the same motivation and influences to do so, just like so many others and that is having a good time and making something out of nothing. It’s amazing to just have a band, some of us just started as a hobby and became something more, but the feeling you get when you find some fellow musicians and click and are able to just go on stage together and get a response from the crowd and even starting a mosh pit is undeniably a insane feeling and still keeps us going even on the down time between shows, we work on new material just for that purpose, that’s what it’s all about not money or being signed its about people getting something out of what you create and that’s what feeds the desire to be in a band.


5. What genre of music do you label your band?

We came into this band without a genre in mind but as we progressed and used each other’s different styles it turned into a sound of its own with each song having its own feel. If we had to label ourselves we would have to say Metal/Metalcore, we normally just say metal but there are so many different styles of metal it’s good to see that, but categorizing ourselves coming from such different backgrounds is hard to do sometimes.

6. How many songs have you put out and do you have any links to EP's or Albums?


As of now we have just two songs that we have had recorded in studio since March and released. We have many that we play live, and we have enough to basically do an entire album it’s just a costly process and are working on doing one song at a time because it’s just how we have to do it, releasing an entire album would be a major accomplishment, but it is costly and we just have to take all the money we earn from shows and merchandise goes to keeping our gear going and towards more studio time. Links for our songs and as we make more songs can be found on facebook, Soundcloud, and Reverbnation to listen and download these songs, also have a couple lyric videos on YouTube.

http://www.facebook.com/aoimusic

https://soundcloud.com/anthemsofimperium

http://www.reverbnation.com/anthemsofimperium

http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-mUsLsMd2fHc1kA91bYmIA


7. Do you have any hobbies away from the band?

We all have jobs and families and use most of our free time towards our band not a lot of time for hobbies. Our guitarist Joey is trying to get his apprenticeship to be a tattoo artist and is probably the only interesting hobby in the group, but Jesse does all our lyric videos and fliers so the digital thing is kind of his hobby.

8. Where does Anthems of Imperium mainly play their shows and what is your favorite venue to play?

We play anywhere there are ears listening and appreciate any venue giving a metal band a chance there are limited venues it seems for metal bands locally but the few that do in our area like The Hideaway, The Casbah, Poor Richards, and The Mecca Lounge are highly respected by us for letting our band and other metal bands from the area come out and perform. We just got our 6x10 trailer and we are about to head out of town and state on weekends for now so hopefully we will find a lot of venues that can be added to our favorites list.


9. I know it is tough being in an Unsigned Band. What are some of the obstacles you face?

It's tough as a new band making our debut because there are so many great bands out there so it is just trying to find our way to stand out in the crowd, we do work giving out demos inviting people to shows, sacrificing a lot of time and money for what we feel is a good cause, and that is making our music heard. Most troubles can be summed up by financial but we don’t worry about that we just worry about the next song the next gig and improving ourselves as we go. Time is always a factor we have a lot of responsibilities so we can’t just go on tour and leave everything like jobs and family so we have to play it by ear and keep moving forward and in the down time just practice and work on new material.

10. Is it tough to find time to practice? Where do you practice?

We practice mainly at our vocalist’s house in his Den, but occasionally a couple of us get together at someone else’s house to play. It is very tough to work around five schedules to get together but luckily have a dedicated group of guys who make plenty of sacrifices to get together whether it is all of us or a combination of us.


11. What would you say is the one band that introduced each one of you to ROCK or METAL?

We have all summed it down to Metallica, Cradle of Filth, Alvin and the Chipmunks, Ozzy, Children of Bodom.

12. The song "The System" is the track you sent me to be on Struggles from the Pit, is that the bands favorite?

" The System "


No, each member has his own favorite song that we like. The reason we picked The System for struggles from the pit because it is our newest recording and believe it gives a good representation of us and really would like to show our appreciation for consideration to be on the compilation, so thank you from all of us at AOI \m/

13. Are you working on any new music?

Always, with five members who all write in our band there is always new material being worked on and new songs being inspired every time we play, Currently we are working on our new song “Call to Arms” and it is turning into just an amazing song it’s still only about 90% complete but we will have it done in enough time to debut at our next show and possibly will do it for our next studio track.

14. Who does most of the recording and mastering for your music?

We always go to Troy Whitson from the Sound Asylum and he does an amazing job and is a great guy all around, there are many recording companies around but we always have to go to Troy he works hard and is patient with us and always gives us the sound we want.

15. Is there a strong Rock and Metal presence in your area of Tennessee?

There are many talented bands from our area and a lot of them are rock and metal! We always show our support and do shows with many of them and are good friends with many. It is so good to see how many good bands are in our area and one day people might see that Tennessee isn’t just country and bluegrass but an all around hot spot for Metal and many genres of music.

16. Where can fans purchase any Anthems of Imperium merchandise and what items have you guys created?


Right now we have available stickers and shirts and they are all located in our web store at http://anthemswebstore.bigcartel.com/ this is our first run of shirts we are printing we spared no expense having our artwork graphic done by Bloodboy and he is an epic artist all the way from Germany and hope to do more with him in the future. We are also going to have another graphic done by our good friend and endorser that we have had with us from day one Daniel from Drella Apparel and Stiff Kitten designs who has done all our logos including the one on our shirt print and stickers, we highly recommend his work to anyone.

17. How important is it for the band to be signed one day? Could you be unsigned with thousands of fans that truly support the band, be added to big tours, sell lots of merchandise and be happy?

We think it would great to be signed one day just to know that you have the skills to be backed by a label that thinks you have something worth backing, but it’s not as important as having people just appeal to what we’re doing and our music we don’t need a label to do what we love and we don’t need to be famous we are here to make music and we’re in it for the long term. Most successful bands have been together for years and some take years to write albums and nobody says a word about their label they know them as the band that made that awesome album or song and we want that, even if it is just a few people if we do that we have accomplished something.

18. Lastly, I want to say it was a honor having Anthems of Imperium on the Compilation "Struggles from the Pit” Volume 2 .Your sound is Incredible. Do you have any closing thoughts you would like to add? 

Just that we really appreciate The Pit Unsigned and what you are doing for us and all the many other talented unsigned artists and feel privileged to be featured on Struggles from the Pit - Volume 2 \m/ We hope that you keep an eye on us and what we have coming because we have only just begun and we are not stopping anytime soon!



                            You Can Also Find The Band On :

               Struggles From The Pit Volume 2     





                            The Pit Unsigned


Tuesday, June 4, 2013

ALL FALL DOWN INTERVIEW


                           ALL FALL DOWN



   Throwing down out of Greensboro NC, this 5 piece Metal band has a sound that becomes intertwined in your love for music. Although the band is Unsigned, you can tell they are destined for greatness. They work hard and put a massive amount of effort in every thing they do.Not only will you enjoy their music,but they have also help put together one of the most fact filled and entertaining Interviews I have ever had the chance  to publish at The Pit Unsigned. I was recently able to ask the bands some Questions and find out what is going on with the band now,about their past and what to look for in the future.I HOPE YOU ENJOY!!!!!!!

MEMBERS:

  • Jacob Vox - VOCALS
  • Brandon Teague - GUITAR / BACKING VOCALS
  • D.J. Malice - GUITAR
  • J "STITCH" Hawk - DRUMS
  • Alex Matelski - BASS / BACKING VOCALS

INTERVIEW:


Describe the sound of your music.

Alex : Two Guys Metal Reviews once labeled us as “an entry level prog act; whose epic and twisted compositions combine a variety of genres for a final sound that is beautiful and mystical”. I think that sums it up pretty good: prog metal for the average metalhead.

Brandon : Sounds like if Batman fought Godzilla while James Hetfield narrates it. At least that’s what I’d like people to think it sounds like.

Jacob : A flashback to 90’s metal with a touch of modern hardcore.

DJ : I think our friend Karl Rekus put it best. “Sounds like someone grinding a rusty chainsaw through broken glass while taking your daughter’s virginity in the back of an 86’ Oldsmobile while parked on the edge of a volcano.”

: Our music sounds like a culmination of all of our musical inspirations combined. Pantera, Kiss, Metallica, Black Sabbath, Tool, Mudvayne, Staind, Papa Roach, Killswitch Engage. Stuff like that.

How did the name of your band ALL FALL DOWN come about?

Brandon : That’s a funny story, actually. When the band was just getting started, it was named Perplexity. We quickly realized…that sucked. So we got into the habit of tossing around names at practice. We never came up with anything good. So one day after practice, we decided that we’d go home, think of the most “horrifying” thing we could, and try again next practice. When I went home I started talking to my sister and Dad about it (and J was there, too). They said we should try something that was 3 words so it would be easily chant-able at shows. The lines “think of the most horrifying thing you can” kept popping in my head, and I couldn’t help but think of the movie Little Nicky. There’s a scene where Mr. Beefy is snoring and it sounds like little kids singing “Ring around the Rosie” & Nicky’s room-mate says “that is the most horrifying thing I have ever seen.” I imitated that and got a good laugh when my sister hopped up and screamed “THAT’S IT! THAT’S THE NAME! ALL FALL DOWN! A-F-D!” I ran it by the guys, and it stuck.

Are the members in the band today the same original members from when the band was started?

Brandon : Well, yes and no. We broke onto the scene in 2011 with the current lineup, but we actually officially started in 2004. So in that sense, J and I are the only original members left. I played bass originally & J’s always been on the drums. We had a lot of lineup changes, gimmick changes, & internal conflicts that made it really hard to get off the ground back then.  Jacob joined in 2009, followed by DJ in 2010. That’s when we started getting into the groove of things & started developing the “AFD sound”. When Alex joined, that’s when everything fell into place. That’s when we started doing shows on a regular and became a “functioning band”. To me, that’s when we started. That’s pretty much how everyone feels.

What drove each one of you guys to get into music and pursue a dream of being in a band?

Alex : My mother always sang growing up, and I would sing too, along with all the soft rock and 80’s music on the radio. I really started to get into music in my teens, both listening and an interest in performing. Music has always made me feel more complete, more stable. So naturally, I pursued that good feeling. Eventually my mother convinced me to let her buy me an instrument for my birthday (I didn’t want her to because our money was always tight when I was growing up), and after learning to play, I got very tired of playing along with other people’s music and started working with musicians online. That wasn’t very rewarding, though... I needed other people to help me with music, to put out what I heard in my head, something to help fuel my creative desires and express what I hold inside. And as long as I still draw breath and can do so, I will continue to write music because of how much it completes who I am and helps me express what I feel.

Brandon : I grew up in a very musical household. None of us were musicians, but we all listened to all sorts of music. My dad turned me on to the classics; Black Sabbath, Metallica, Iron Maiden, stuff like that. But he also listened to stuff like Stevie Ray Vaughn, Jethro Tull & Eric Clapton. My mom listened to stuff like Genesis & Aaron Neville. I got tore up with 80’s music from my sister. My brother; who I gotta say is my main influence, listened to a lot of 90’s music. Stuff like Pantera, Soundgarden, & Alice in Chains. So I got hit from all angles. I wanted to be a part of something I loved so much & influence people like I was influenced.

Jacob : My brothers played a big part in why I do what I do. They used to listen to a lot of different metal bands. My brother Josh used to play bass & I got into it to kinda bond with him. I would pick up his bass from time to time. That didn’t last long though. I noticed that I was singing more than anything & I thought “what the hell. I’ll try this for a while.” It turned into a passion. I joined my first band when I was 13, played my first show 2 days after joining, got hooked, never looked back.

DJ : I guess it came from me watching bands when I was younger. The brotherhood of it; the family aspect of it. It’s a weird thought that 5 people with different backgrounds can come together and make something so powerful. I wanted to be a part of that.

: My uncles Martin and Tommy are my inspiration. They have played drums for longer than I’ve been alive; they always enjoyed playing and I enjoyed watching them just as much. My uncle Martin had an old snare drum and he gave me a pair of sticks to beat on it as a young boy. He even won a bet because of me once. He bet one of his buddies that his 2 year old nephew could do a drum roll that he just played. He called me in, set me on his lap, and told me to play that thing we practiced on a few times, and I played it, and he won $50. But when I really showed interest and motivation to play drums at 15 he bought me my first real kit. It was a set of red Rogers drums. Since then I’ve gone through a lot of sets and even more cymbals. As for what drives me as a musician, I just love playing drums. I love being pushed to my limits physically and musically, and trying new things. And I’m very fortunate to play with a group of talented guys that I consider to be my family.

Who does most of the song writing in the band?

Brandon : We all take part in every song, but Alex has been the primary song writer lately. Our bass player writes most of our music. Scary thought, huh?

Alex : … It’s only scary when you think about it. I actually really enjoy writing the music. Everyone else tends to dislike it at first, but they warm up once I let them spit shine their parts. They also tend to complain about how complicated my songs are… Oh well. We’re progressive metal. Progress.

What all venues have you played and which one is your favorite?

Greene Street Club in Greensboro, The Somewhere Else Tavern in Greensboro, The Other Place in Burlington, The Berkeley Café in Raleigh, The Clubhouse in Greensboro, The Garage in Winston-Salem, Corner Pocket Billiards in McLeansville, & Easy Street in Thomasville.

Brandon : Well, everybody knows that The Somewhere Else Tavern is our home away from home. We all love that place. I personally really like The Berkeley Café. Good times, good people, good beer. But I gotta say my favorite venue is The Garage in Winston-Salem. It’s the epitome of the “hole-in-the-wall” venue.  It’s one of those places where you can be like “I used to go see blah-blah play there before they got big for 5 bucks”.

Jacob : The Other Place in Burlington is my favorite. It’s the memories attached to it. In my mind, playing there was one of our best shows ever. It’s right up there with Greene Street. I’d love to play there again.

DJ : Probably Greene Street. The one time we played there was the best crowd & best sound we’ve ever had.

Alex : I actually love everywhere we play for different reasons… if I had to choose just ONE, I’d have to say Berkeley. It just feels like the essential underground metal venue. Too bad it’s downsizing soon.

: Wow, this is a hard question. I’ve really enjoyed playing all of these places. I’ve gotta say SWET, though. Growing up, that was the dream gig. For me, I had just heard so much about it that it just became legendary in my mind. So when we finally got to play there, it was awesome. It’s just as good as the first time every time we play there.


 RIVER JORDAN




Do you guys get to practice much and where?

Brandon : We try to practice weekly at The Man Cave. It’s a place so secret; we cannot give away its location.

Jacob : It’s a place so secret; even I don’t know where it is!

Brandon : We basically practice in J’s closet.

Alex : Wouldn’t it technically be his dining room?

DJ : No, the dining room IS the Pool room.

Brandon : I don’t know what the hell it is. All I know is that it’s attached to his room & he hangs his clothes in there.

DJ : J’s house is a fuckin maze.

Brandon : It really is.

: You guys are just lucky I let you play in my maze.

Have you been able to put out any merch for your fans?

All Fall Down - We’ve got shirts, bumper stickers, & CD’s for sale, but you gotta come to our shows to get them! That’s the catch!



I know you guys put out an album late last year, what kind of feedback did you get from it?

All Fall Down -Well, naturally our fans love it (or at least say they do, family and friends do that sometimes), but overall, for a first CD, it was pretty well received.

When you play live shows, which song off that album do the fans seem to love the most?

All Fall Down - Sudden Epiphany. Partly because it’s heavy as hell and partly because they know it’s the last song we play! Although our new song Parasite has quickly become a crowd favorite.

Are you working on any new music?

All Fall Down - Constantly! We’re all just very picky & are always challenging ourselves (or Alex is), so it takes a while to get songs how we want them. But guaranteed, our new stuff is gonna blow people away.

Have you been on any tours and if not, what is the farthest you guys have traveled to play a show?

All Fall Down - No tours yet. Farthest we’ve been is Raleigh but we’re working hard to fix that.

I have noticed that there is an insanely amount of talented bands coming out of your area of Greensboro, why do you think this is?

All Fall Down - Because it’s Greensboro & there’s nothing better to do!

What about shows, do you have any booked in the near future?

All Fall Down - We’re playing at Greene Street for The Battle For Mayhem Festival on June 21st and we have a show booked at Easy Street with Mindjakked on July 27th. Gonna try to book some shows at S.W.E.T & The Garage in-between. We’ve been hitting up venues like crazy lately trying branch out. We really wanna make it back to Raleigh & maybe Charlotte this summer! When the opportunity comes, we’ll seize the crap out of it!

What does the future hold for All Fall Down?

DJ : If we keep working hard & keep our confidence, I think the future looks really bright for AFD. Perseverance is the key. If we keep doing what we’re doing and give 110%, we’ll be fine. And we’ll definitely write more kickass music.

Jacob : Well, hopefully, all our hard work will come to a head. And one day we’ll be standing on a stage in some coliseum with thousands of people shouting “A-F-D”.
That….. and beer.

Brandon : Victory. We won’t accept anything but. We’re too damn tenacious to give up and too stubborn to lie down. You try to step on us and we’ll bite your fuckin ankles. To me, this is only the beginning. We’re gonna keep going full throttle. It’s no cake walk, but it’s worth it. I’m in it for the long run & I think the future of AFD is gonna be a story worth telling. “This is our time; this is what we do.”

Alex : More music. Whether we make it or not, we’re staying at it and doing what we love and want to do. No one can take that from us but us. So as long as each one of us still has the drive and the strength to go on, we’re going to keep on until we make it or… die… or otherwise give up.

: Gotta agree with B; victory. Pure and simple. That’s it. More gigs, more fun, more great experiences doing something that I love. No matter what the future holds for All Fall Down, I’m gonna enjoy every minute of it, because I’m playing music with my brothers.

I just want to say thanks to you guys for taking the time to do this Interview and wish you the best of luck in the future.

All Fall Down - Thanks! It’s always fun doing interviews! Maybe someone will read this and NOT think we’re crazy! -Highly doubtful, though!


           
                                   



LINKS:

  1. FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/allfalldownafd
  2. REVERBNATION - http://www.reverbnation.com/allfalldownafd
  3. EMAIL - allfalldownafd.band@hotmail.com

                                    THE PIT UNSIGNED