Cool story about 2 Metal Kids: UNLOCKING THE TRUTH (their band)

7/13/16 10:41PM
bump.

This is for this band called Unlocking the Truth and I just saw the documentary Breaking a Monster this evening at the Trylon Cinema in Minneapolis. Good film/documentary in a lot of ways.

My criticism of it includes a couple of things

1) Why was there next to no exposure to THE METAL SCENE. The real gauge about their music is really how the Metal scene, Metal listeners, Metal fans, etc take to their music. It seemed good, but we didn't get much of it

2) The whole MAJOR LABEL NIGHTMARE contract, etc. With it seems countless of examples in history of bands signing a deal to a major label and then things go down hill, etc. Why did they do it? I suppose vulnerability/naivete, etc.

And the people at Sony when they signed that contract, especially that woman who kept talking and trying to appease to the naive stereotypes of these kids, lol. BLECH. She, nor more or less all the executives didn't seem to know ANYTHING about Metal, about their tastes, or just the kids themselves.

It's like did they ever hear of an album called The Shaming of the True released by Kevin Gilbert? Or the large numbers of bands who get into legal issues with their label? Prince?, lol.

But issues aside, it is a cool documentary, showing how things can escalate and change almost overnight for just some normal inner city kids who happen to like and play Metal, a style of music most of their peers don't care for.

Their drummer Jarad, I think I liked the most as he seemed the most down to earth of the 3, and also the most about emphasizing their music 1st.

Now their sound overall, in the film I like the 1 single they showed them play live and record in"Monster," but it's clear Slipknot and some of the doom influences have shown up in their newer music, which they just released their debut album Chaos on June 17th. The 1st video for it "Take Control" is kind of a Slipknot tribute, just with the masks.

I actually think in seeing their evolution, it would have been cool if they just were an instrumental band. They'd be more unique musically, just as they are in race/culture, being all-black and kids doing Metal. But had they not, they probably would not have received the exposure they did, which is sad, but true. I suppose seeing someone like Tosin from Animals as Leaders being Black and playing in an all-instrumental band, but gradually getting more popular, would likely have had them take a similar trajectory if they were just instrumental.

Also odd how the dude who helped them get signed and "discovered" and is/was their manager, Alan Sacks, was a co-creator on the TV show Welcome Back Cotter, along with discovering the likes of The Jonas Brothers and I thought he said Demi Levato.






1/13/14 12:57AM
This may be worth sharing, not that so much because it's a story about 2 kids who like and are playing Metal. Which that is all well and good I suppose, namely because their sound reminds me more of some of the thrash and old school stoner/doom metal.

But the fact they are 2 minority kids, being black or African American. And they don't care the fact their peers may not be into Metal.
Is it a stereotype? sure. And would it be good if it changed aka more minorities or just African American kids liked Metal? certainly.

Would I expect to see a lot more kids like them soon? not really, but stories like this can often inspire and surprise people over time.

dredg + The Dillinger Escape Plan Fall (2011) North American Tour?

Traversing post. As it says there, TDEP mentioned dredg early in the year on twitter, and then dredg posted something about TDEP around February. Apparently 1 date or maybe more could see the 2 of them on the bill with Between the Buried and Me (without Animals as Leaders and TesseracT).

However, this is nice and all, without a date in Minnesota, it means very little to me personally. But I would be happy for dredg to get exposed to another, different audience.

I guess when more, including dates and things come, this could be bumped.

Dead Letter Circus with Last Chance to Reason and Animals as Leaders US Tour

Facebook Link
This July we will be touring the US supporting Animals As Leaders with Intronaut, Last Chance To Reason and a very special guest TBA!!!
Let the good times roll!!!


Given I am a Dead Letter Circus fan and they are from Australia, this is kind of rare/significant. Any band from down under or 1/2 way across the globe hitting the States is I suppose.

However, the dates aren't announced and the odds of a Minnesota date are never incredibly high with special/budget-conscious tours.

Last Chance to Reason some folks on the forums have gone sort of apeshit in recent weeks as well. I need to revisit their latest album, but what I remember about it, some good stuff, but it being rather DENSE and almost overproduced. Maybe they don't come across quite like that live.

And Animals as Leaders, well they were better live on the dredg tour, but I still can't claim them to be a favorite of mine. But I'd still be interested to see them.

More to add...

dredg - The Cabooze 11/17

forum posts

just got back a bit ago from the show here in Minneapolis. The played the new song "Upon Returning,".. it sounds promising. I saw Mark for a few minutes after wards outside in the 20 degree weather. He signed my Leitmotif vinyl and I just briefly asked him about the record and he said it's a record that's not very guitar-driven at all. More keys/synths I guess.

March 29th I thought I heard Gavin mention is the date they look for it to be released.

it was good..a bit short for my liking, but of course known going-in. Mark told me he wasn't too thrilled with The Cabooze. I suppose I follow him, but overall the sound worked for where I was straight-back in the 1st row of seating.

For some reason it hit me the bands on the bill seemed totally like a show the Triplerock would book, but the numbers of tickets it demanded is higher than TTR can hold. I wonder if The Cabooze has now become the overflow for larger size shows that TTR wants but can't hold.

Set list (not in exact order)

Ode to the Sun
Same Ol' Road
Pariah
Jamais Vu
Upon Returning (new song)
Sang Real
Saviour
Lightswitch
Down to the Cellar
Bug Eyes

Animals As Leaders, while they still have some of the issues I originally remembered about their studio work, I thought were better than I expected. Good energy and most of the pieces they played had at least 1 2-3 minute section which really worked.

Codeseven, honestly I wanted to get into, but they sounded more or less like a poor-man's version of Strata or Editors. The electronic part of their music was not as notice-able as I recall from the studio albums I checked out. Plus their singer didn't really project too well. Maybe part of that was due to The Cabooze itself. I wish I had been able to at least talk to them and inquire about Telescreen to the members who are with them. And even something with Distrails assuming they know that project since Jared is with Telescreen. But I never saw them after the show.

Circa Survive I didn't stay for which I'm sure sounds shocking, lol.

I meant to as Mark specifically about the older demos and things, but from his comment about the album being less guitar-driven and different, I would be surprised if many if any at all of those older tunes ended up on it. Which would beg the question, will a b-sides release ever come out with them. I did bring up the History documentary DVD to him and he just said it'll never happen (or don't count on it, I forget his exact words).

to add a few more points.

Animals As Leaders: their music isn't exactly instrumental "prog metal" exactly, at least live. It sort of weaves between that, more power-chordy metal, and mathy tones. Which I sometimes like, but the sections they use some of those styles last longer than I'd like, which is still the fundamental issue I have with them. But overall, they are less derivative of 90's instrumental prog metal as I recall, and live they do have more punch and muscle than the album which I just felt was too soft and too prog-jazzy. Now Tosin did have a longer jazz section/solo which again, is nice, but in the mix, I'm kind of against at that length. I will say, I shared a few words for a minute or 2 after wards and he seems like a really nice guy.

dredg should be back in the Spring to support the new record.

The new song just sounded different than most dredg music, but it had some twists and catchy sections that I think could work.

As much as Mark and maybe the rest of the band weren't blown away by The Cabooze, I think a lot of new fans were made at the show.

dredg tour dates supporting Circa Survive, Codeseven, and Animals as Leaders

OCTOBER 16, 2010 STONE PONY ASBURY PARK, NJ
OCTOBER 17, 2010 THE RECHER THEATRE TOWSON, MD
OCTOBER 19, 2010 CAT'S CRADLE CARRBORO, NC
OCTOBER 20, 2010 THE MUSIC FARM CHARLESTON, SC
OCTOBER 21, 2010 THE MASQUERADE ATLANTA, GA
OCTOBER 22, 2010 HOUSE OF BLUES LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL
OCTOBER 23, 2010 REVOLUTION FT. LAUDERDALE, FL
OCTOBER 26, 2010 HOUSE OF BLUES NEW ORLEANS, LA
OCTOBER 27, 2010 HOUSE OF BLUES HOUSTON, TX
OCTOBER 29, 2010 WHITE RABBIT SAN ANTONIO, TX
OCTOBER 30, 2010 WHITE RABBIT SAN ANTONIO, TX
OCTOBER 31, 2010 HOUSE OF BLUES DALLAS, TX
NOVEMBER 4, 2010 HOUSE OF BLUES ANAHEIM, CA
NOVEMBER 5, 2010 HOUSE OF BLUES - SAN DIEGO SAN DIEGO, CA
NOVEMBER 6, 2010 AVALON HOLLYWOOD, CA
NOVEMBER 7, 2010 THE REGENCY BALLROOM SAN FRANCISCO, CA
NOVEMBER 9, 2010 WONDER BALLROOM PORTLAND, OR
NOVEMBER 10, 2010 EL CORAZON SEATTLE, WA
NOVEMBER 12, 2010 THE COMPLEX SALT LAKE CITY, UT
NOVEMBER 13, 2010 THE SUMMIT MUSIC HALL DENVER, CO
NOVEMBER 14, 2010 THE BEAUMONT CLUB KANSAS CITY, MO
NOVEMBER 17, 2010 CABOOZE ON THE WEST BANK MINNEAPOLIS, MN
NOVEMBER 18, 2010 THE EAGLES CLUB MILWAUKEE, WI
NOVEMBER 19, 2010 HOUSE OF BLUES CHICAGO, IL
NOVEMBER 20, 2010 ST. ANDREWS HALL DETROIT, MI
NOVEMBER 21, 2010 HOUSE OF BLUES CLEVELAND CLEVELAND, OH
NOVEMBER 23, 2010 THE CHANCE POUGHKEEPSIE, NY
NOVEMBER 24, 2010 HOUSE OF BLUES BOSTON, MA
NOVEMBER 26, 2010 THEATRE OF THE LIVING ARTS PHILADELPHIA, PA
NOVEMBER 27, 2010 IRVING PLAZA NEW YORK, NY
NOVEMBER 28, 2010 IRVING PLAZA NEW YORK, NY

This is *that* tour that was rumored a few months ago; dredg apparently is not even co-headlining but a support act with those other 2.

The fact is, in 2005, Circa Survive opened for dredg. Reversals like this, are not supposed to happen, you'd think. Yeah I know, Circa Survive is on a major label, and has more fans, blah blah..especially after opening for Coheed, blah blah. Those facts frankly do NOTHING for me and how I feel about this.



"Circa"? as they are so often referred to as by the way. Did I miss something, or did the band change their name? "Circa" is the name of the Alan White (of Yes) and ex-Yes members Tony Kaye and Billy Sherwood side-project. Every time I see someone refer to Circa Survive as "Circa" I want to point this fact out, lol.

But here again, I have to live with the fact this band I am done with. Through, not-interested, and frankly sick as hell seeing their name. I have to deal with the fact they get stuck not only touring, but having one of my favorite bands in dredg, open for them.

I mean they just-won't-go-the-fuck-away will they? In 2007, they tour with Ours. And their crowd at more than one show, treat Ours like shit, throwing quarters and giving them the finger. Their were multiple accounts. All I would have to do is look up some of the history on the Killtheband forum to see.

And maybe almost as bad for me personally, the show in St. Paul that included not only Ours but The Dear Hunter as well, got canceled within a few hours due to someone in Circa Survive's band having a death in the family. Sure, it's sad and understandable for them, but it also meant both Ours and The Dear Hunter plus the other opener who I forget at this time, were not going to be playing that night either.

I had been looking forward to that show for months. And really hoped to get some kind of photo perhaps with both Casey Crescenzo and Jimmy Gnecco together.

All this within a few hours of the start of Thanksgiving weekend for me too.

Then a couple of years ago, with all the effort I put into helping spread Kaddisfly's name and having people hear their monumental record Set Sail the Prairie, they end up getting in some kind of showcase for some major label representatives in NYC. The details and circumstances aren't exactly black and white, but what I have read and seen others say was the label were going to sign 1 band, and it was between Kaddisfly and Circa Survive. And of course Circa Survive is the band they chose.

The parallels to The Galactic Cowboys and Nirvana thing back in the early 90's are kind of scary with that. The label chooses the annoying less-talented band, while the other is left to wane into obscurity.

THIS SHIT IS NOT FAIR.

And now they have dredg, of all bands, a band whose been around a lot longer and they once opened for, ends up opening for them.

Look, I have nothing against the people in the band Circa Survive, as I don't know them personally, etc. I know Anthony Green is a good friend to Casey Crescenzo and I imagine some of the guys in dredg given it was him and maybe some of the other members who I guess discovered the whole El Cielo/Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind thing a few years ago.

I have friends who enjoy their music of course.

And I know some of the members of Circa Survive are fans of bands I like, including Ours, given one of them (not Green) ended up chewing out one of the feeble-minded kids at one of those shows on that tour. Saying they were longtime fans of Ours, etc and I recall he made him apologize at that show. And there was a long-winded apology made by the same member of Circa Survive online, embarrassed by their fan base.

But I don't care for their music. I tried with their new album, and had some optimism with David Botrill working with them. But it didn't matter. I can't stand the way Anthony Green sings. The sound of his voice. The tone of immaturity has not gone away, and frankly, I suspect it may never.

And with that, I am really sick of seeing them left and right, touring-with bands I really am into.

However, it's not to be overlooked, Circa Survive being on this tour is not the only head-scratcher for me. Animals as Leaders being added is another. While I suppose I could stomach their music a bit easier than Circa Survive, there is a reason why their album from last year ended up on my Turkey List from 2009.

And I just checked out the new album from the band Fleshwrought, an album that included Animals as Leaders drummer Navene Koperweis (playing drums and guitar among other instruments). But other than some of the saxophone parts, I don't think I can say much positive about it, including his drums and guitar work.

I mean perhaps their music could be better live, but I'm skeptical. Instrumental prog-metal? I wonder if that drummer-turned-guitarist was trying to replicate the guitarist from Animals as Leaders style on that Fleshwrought album, because there were a few sections that the Satriani/Vai long-winded + pointless wanking sounded all too familiar to me.

It was really fucking boring, not to mention bad 4C and muddy production, and not an album I foresee wanting to listen to again to be honest.

So, dredg, who have been on some cool tours in recent years (even with the RX Bandits debacle from last Summer), are on tour with 2 bands I probably don't desire to give 5 more minutes of my time.

And then there's Codeseven, I guess who could be the wildcard on this tour as I honestly don't remember them all that much from a few years ago when I 1st saw their name. I mean I know/knew them, as they have been a popular band among dredg fans especially, really since I got into dredg back in 2005. I know I checked them out once or twice, but I don't remember enough about them to now know how I feel.

I do know, some of the members are in Telescreen, a band who opened for dredg a few years ago. And Telescreen actually has Jared from Distrails, a band who I really do like a lot, and want to see have a lot more success. But I don't think Jared is with Codeseven unfortunately. Although, maybe they'll be selling Telescreen and/or Distrails stuff at this show given the connection.

I guess I probably should revisit Codeseven now to see, especially given this is some kind of reunion for them I guess. And it may be a 1st/last time to ever see them.