Tuesday, September 30, 2014

GoPro, a HERO Once More with HERO 4

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HERO4 Black: 2x the Performance of the Previous Black Edition GoPro, now featuring 4K30, 2.7K50 and Ultra High Speed 1080p120 Frames per Second Video Capture

HERO4 Silver: Professional Quality Capture with Built-in Touch Display Convenience

GoPro, Inc., enabler of some of the most immersive and engaging content ever created outside of a professional studio system, has unveiled the HERO4, the highest performance line of capture devices the company has ever made.

The HERO4 is available in two editions, HERO4 Black at MSRP $499 and HERO4 Silver at MSRP $399.

GoPro's Emmy® Award-winning imaging technology combines with enhanced ease-of-use and powerful new features such as 4K30, 2.7K50 and 1080p120 video capture (Black) and built-in touch display convenience (Silver), to make it easier than ever for consumers to self-capture and share stunning, professional quality content of their favorite experiences.

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HERO4 Black delivers 2x the performance of its best-selling predecessor and now captures cinema-quality 4K video at 30 frames per second (fps), 2.7K video at 50fps and 1080p video at a blistering 120fps, virtually eliminating rolling shutter in most scenarios while allowing for time-bending slow motion effects. HERO4 Black also features an entirely redesigned audio system that captures high fidelity sound with 2x the dynamic range of previous models. Additional enhancements include improved image quality, low light performance, highlight moment tagging and an improved user interface that allows for easier discoverability and access to key features and controls. The HERO4 Black is simply the highest performance GoPro yet.

large_Hero4Silver_Cluster_01HERO4 Silver delivers the same professional image quality as HERO4 Black less some of the higher performance video capture modes including 4K30, 2.7K50 and 1080p120. HERO4 Silver includes a brilliant built-in touch display for those who value convenience and ease-of-use over the no-holds-barred performance of the HERO4 Black.

 

The new HERO4 line will be available October 5 on GoPro.com and at select retailers worldwide.

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“For the past twelve years, our passion has been to make it easy for people to self-capture jaw dropping, professional quality footage of themselves engaged in their favorite activities,” said GoPro Founder and CEO, Nicholas Woodman. “That passion led us to embark on our most ambitious design and engineering effort ever, and the result is nothing short of the ultimate GoPro—the HERO4 Black. We can’t wait to see what the world captures with it.”

The flagship HERO4 Black builds upon GoPro’s Emmy® Award-winning technology to deliver the next level of GoPro image quality, versatility and performance:

· Incredible ultra-high definition 4K video at 30fps allows for life-like video capture as well the ability to extract 8.3 megapixel video stills to use as photos

· Faster* high resolution frame rates of 2.7K at 50fps and 1080p at 120fps

· 12MP magazine cover-quality photos at burst speeds of 30 photos per second

· Updated user-interface with improved discoverability and access to key camera controls

· 50% faster Wi-Fi* combined with Bluetooth® delivers enhanced GoPro App performance and improved power management

· MSRP $499

For more information visit the HERO4 Black product page

“A common pain-point is deciding between capturing video or photos of an experience,” remarked Woodman. “Each frame of4K30 video is similar to an 8.3 megapixel photo. The result is that users can simultaneously capture eye-popping 4K30 video and impressive 8.3 megapixel photo-like video stills at 30 frames per second when using HERO4 Black. It’s one of the many wild capabilities of this impressive new device.”

The HERO4 Silver sets a new precedent for convenience and ease-of-use with GoPro’s first built-in touch display. In addition to many of the same great new features in the HERO 4 Black, the HERO 4 Silver, a key feature is the Brilliant built-in touch display allows for easy camera control, shot framing and playback and the Professional quality video capture at 2.7K30, 1080p60 and 720p120. And is a stunning bargain at the MSRP $399.

For more information visit the HERO4 Silver product page

As the most advanced GoPro cameras yet, the HERO4 Black and Silver share powerful new features that expand what’s possible with a GoPro.

Protune™, now for photo + video.

For those who prefer to take manual control of their GoPro to maximize versatility and performance, we’ve expanded our professionally minded Protune mode to include Color, Sharpness, ISO Limit, and Exposure controls for both photo and video capture.

New settings for after dark.

Whether you’re shooting the Milky Way or a campfire hangout, Night Photo and Night Lapse allow you to capture stunning images of ultra-low-light scenes with customizable exposure settings of up to 30 seconds.

Mark your best moments.

HiLight Tag enables you to mark key moments with the push of an on-camera button while recording, making it easy to find, playback and share your favorite clips in GoPro Studio or with the GoPro App. You can also HiLight Tag using the mobile GoPro App or the new Smart Remote accessory.

QuikCapture speed and convenience.

QuikCapture makes it easy to power on and record with the press of a single button. When enabled, a single press starts video capture, while a press and hold engages Time Lapse photo capture.

High-performance audio.

A totally re-designed internal audio system combines with a state of the art microphone to capture clean, high fidelity sound with 2x the dynamic range of previous models.

In addition to this new line of GoPro cameras to the GoPro Family of products, there are New Mounts and Accessories that Help You Capture and Share Your World more effectively and in vibrant action images and video. October 5th also marks the availability of these new GoPro mounts and accessories:

Smart Remote – Control your GoPro from up to 600’ (183m) away with the wearable and waterproof remote. Conveniently mark key moments as they happen with the Smart Remote’s HiLight Tag button when paired with a HERO4 Black or HERO4 Silver.

The Handler – A compact floating handgrip that is lightweight, ergonomic and durable, The Handler is perfect for handheld shooting during any activity.

New BacPac accessories – A new and improved Battery BacPac provides almost twice the battery power over the camera’s internal battery alone. And a new LCD BacPac provides improved touch and swipe performance when used with HERO4 Black.

 

GoPro Video

GoPro App and GoPro Studio

GoPro has made several updates to its popular GoPro Studio desktop editing software and mobile GoPro App in conjunction with the new camera lines. GoPro Studio makes it easy to import GoPro footage from your camera to your computer to create professional-quality videos. GoPro Studio features GoPro Edit Templates, template versions of some of GoPro’s most popular videos. All you have to do is replace the original GoPro video clips with your own favorite clips and the editing style that has made GoPro famous becomes your own. GoPro Studio now supports the HERO4’s HiLight Tag feature, making it easy for GoPro Studio to identify your videos’ best moments thereby allowing for faster and more convenient editing. Also new to GoPro Studio is Flux™, a powerful ultra-slow motion and speed ramping tool that enables the dramatic time-shifting effects GoPro has become so well known for. Want to highlight a particularly awesome moment in one of your edits? Flux that thing and share it with the world.

The GoPro App for mobile not only gives you instant access to the GoPro Channel and all of the incredible content that has made it the number one brand channel on YouTube, it also gives you full control of HERO4 Black and Silver and allows for quick and easy changes to any mode or setting. Expanded GoPro App support for HERO4 also includes support for HiLight Tagging while recording, as well as searching for tags during playback. As always, the GoPro App also allows for shot preview, playback and sharing of your favorite photos and videos via email, text, Facebook, Twitter and more.

GoPro is committed to inventing innovative tools that make it easy for people to self-capture and share engaging and immersive experiences with others.

Learn more about HERO4 line and the entire GoPro ecosystem of software and accessories at GoPro.com, or visit your local retailer today.

*Than previous comparable HERO3+ models.

More info at http://gopro.com, and follow their social media connections at Facebook, YouTube and Instagram


Sunday, September 28, 2014

iRig Pads : The ultra-portable, universal MIDI groove controller

iRig Pads : The ultra-portable, universal MIDI groove controller for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch and Mac/PC now available!

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IK Multimedia, the leader in mobile music creation apps and accessories, today announced its shipping iRig® Pads, the full-featured, ultra-portable MIDI groove controller for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch as well as Mac and PC. It's the perfect companion for the mobile electronic music producer on the move: Now you can make beats, grooves and mixes anywhere you go.

Effortless portability

iRig Pads is designed to be effortlessly portable. It's smaller than an iPad and less than 1" thick - it's the smallest groove controller in the market. It has a slim, compact form factor and it's lightweight, which means that it can be slipped into any iPad or laptop bag or backpack and carried around with ease. For maximum portability, iRig Pads is a low energy consumption device - it draws its power directly from its host device and does not need a power source to be fully functional. It can be used with iPhone, iPad and iPod touch via its included Lightning cable (30-pin connector sold separately) without the need of an adapter as well as Mac and PC via its included USB cable. *iRig Pads are currently being tested for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus compatibility.

Extreme versatility, custom controls

At the heart of iRig Pads is its 4x4 grid of 16 velocity-sensitive, backlit multicolor rubber pads. Each pad lights up in multiple colors - red, green, orange and every shade in between - depending on the velocity of your playing and the MIDI information sent by your chosen music app or software.

But iRig Pads does more than your average mobile pad-based MIDI controller. Its full spread of controls - two knobs, two buttons, one slider and one pushbutton rotary encoder - let you get creative. All controls are MIDI assignable and customizable: Up to 16 distinct MIDI maps or "scenes" can be saved, which allows for full control of apps and software on stage or in the studio. iRig Pads comes with 6 pre-programmed scenes designed to work with many of your favorite apps and software right out of the box.

Apps for Beats, Loops, Decks and more

To help you get in the groove, IK is working to make iRig Pads the ultimate controller for beats, loops and more by adding support for a growing suite of powerful apps and software. iOS users will be able to make beats out of the box with the included SampleTank® free, and they'll soon be able to control grooves and launch loops with GrooveMaker® 2 free for iPhone and iPad and remix their preferred tracks with DJ Rig™ free.

On Mac/PC the included SampleTank 3 SE (worth $99.99/€79.99), available as a standalone and a plug-in virtual instrument for every major DAW, includes over 6.5 GB of sample contents, 400 instruments and 150 MIDI patterns, for a complete music production workstation, out of the box (coming soon as download from the IK user area). In addition, by registering their iRig Pads, users will be able to receive The Grid, an exclusive and free additional collection of 50 instruments (800 samples) and 50 MIDI patterns - designed exclusively for beat makers and groove performers who use iRig Pads - for SampleTank on iOS and Mac/PC (a value of $9.99/€7.99 for iOS and $39.99/€29.99 for Mac/PC).

The SampleTank Free App is available from the App Store on iPhone, iPad and iPod touch or at www.appstore.com/sampletankfree

The SampleTank App is available from the App Store on iPhone, iPad and iPod touch or at www.appstore.com/sampletank

The GrooveMaker 2 Free App is available from the App Store on iPhone, iPad and iPod touch or at www.appstore.com/groovemaker2free

The DJ Rig Free App is available from the App Store on iPhone, iPad and iPod touch or at www.appstore.com/djrigfree

And that's only scratching the surface - iRig Pads is also fully MIDI class-compliant, which means you can use it and customize its controls for use with virtually any MIDI-compatible app such as FL Studio Mobile, iMPC Studio and GarageBand or Mac/PC software such as MPC Studio, Ableton Live, Maschine, GarageBand and more.

Pricing and Availability

iRig Pads is now available from music and electronics retailers worldwide for $149.99/€119.99 (excluding taxes) as well as on the IK online store. Thanks to its generous feature set, included content value and universal uses for iOS devices as well as Mac and PC, iRig Pads offers the best quality to price ratio of any MIDI groove controller on the market.

For more information, please visit: www.ikmultimedia.com/irigpads


Saturday, September 27, 2014

Judas Priest Fans - This One's For You!!

 

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4-hour Metal God Radio Special unleashed on WVOX's Metal Mayhem

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Friday, October 3rd from 6-10pm EST worldwide on WWW.WVOX.COM and 1460 AM!

A comprehensive Judas Priest meltdown only on WVOX, spanning songs from the bands entire career and catalogue.

Plus a special VIP interview with Rob Halford!

 

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Friday, September 26, 2014

Oddbody’s Brings the Solstice to Dayton

mike Ritchie From The Pit – Music and Show Reviews

By Mike Ritchie for Xombiewoof Magazine

Saturday September 6th, could be seen as a night when the perpetually moving solstice of change and evolution in the Dayton scene was showcased on the Oddbody’s (www.facebook.com/Oddbodys) stage. The young, upcoming new blood opened followed by the established former instrumentalists with a new voice and the scene veterans played direct support to the national headliners.

crus02The origins of Crucifixation spawned when guitarist Max Mobarry and bassist Shane Tucker finally got a chance to jam during the summer of 2012. A few months later the two, along with vocalist Eric Bucio started jamming discovering a mutual love of intense metal music. Eric suggested they form a band and Crucifixation (www.facebook.com/Crucifixation ) was brought forth onto this earth. After a year-long search, they were contacted by drummer Jorden Garberson, who became the man behind the kit. They’ve assembled an onslaught of brutal thrashing metal honoring the greats and destroying those who stand in the path of their unholy Crucifixaters.

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Playing hard and banging harder they tore into their set playing with an old school Sepultura meets early 90’s Florida death metal roar, throwing buckets of adrenaline and fury on stage. Opener Infestation carried the militaristic march of the young soldiers hitting with the first wave of heavy artillery. Redemption brought the slow, evil, seething technical death thrash slowly slithering towards you. Breastflesh cracked the bones, softening up the anatomy for the pluck pounding and Cannibal Corpse lyrics. Max Mobarry was definitely Puckin’ Around waving his long crimson red windmill mop at hurricane speed as they played homage to the game on ice and any other hockey masked guy prone to violence. What could be their future Toxic Waltz, Stand Up and Thrash had a nice bass groove with some Slayerish riffs and an almost boogie feel. Bucio delivered screams, growls and some spoken word vocals. Besides Death, Cannibal Corpse and Six Feet Under it’s fitting that Morbid Angels in there as Mobarry could be the younger doppelganger of Erik Rutan.

zuel01Zuel  (www.facebook.com/pages/ZUEL/212784892089384 ) now has the voice of Brandon Hawk, a younger Dan Lilker in appearance, and they started with No One Has Partied Here in Years, aka Johnny. They bring the hardcore belated hangover shoveling it in with bulldozer guitars, a bit of Fear Factory industrial tools, some sweet melodious Death courtesy of Uncle Chuck and some Morbid Angel signature guitar slides providing the musical diary and building blocks of a madman’s metal puzzle. Unfettered aka Year Long sounded like Opeth falling down an open air spiraling staircase, smashing into an ascending Mastodon during a lightning storm. Whisper in the Ear aka 1984 had a nice descending mental melody and deliriously mad, dark mood.

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They finished with Take Kindly/Endless Rapture and The Flaws We Seal as Secrets. Keep updated on these multi-stylistic noise makers often seen at Hanks Pub, Oddbody’s, Blind Bob’s and on top of tall buildings being shot by proton packs.

forces of nture 01One of Dayton’s hardest working/scene supporting bands Forces of Nature (www.facebook.com/forcesofnatureband ) played the stage under the Oddbody’s banner for the first time cranking out metal meal riff-muncher Magnus Lee as Tate Moore summoned his inner cookie monster and accompanying serpents tongue. We took a lovely stroll through piles of death and carnage caused by one man’s madness and wrath or your favorite conqueror, tyrant or serial killer of choice. The Godsey’s, Jimmy Rose and Johnnie Wallace gave the Forest of Corpses life; Moore gave mutilation and anguish a voice.

forces05They played the stalking chainsaw wielding killer in the woods past midnight pace of Mary Hates Herself. It’s a wonderful life, live it loud and play it with metal. Quote, the Forces of Nature, Nevermore. Throwing Fists in the pit, it’s hit or miss, till you get your ass kicked for being a dick. Wallace continues to shine against two powerhouse guitarists bringing Dimebag’s spirit to the bass. They gave a loud reminder that we’re all dwellers on this Black Earth. A set mostly taken from the new Dark Ages CD ends with A.S.O.T. questioning God and country’s need for martyrdom and some seriously weird, creepy s**t descending down the walls as blood runs up.

From the air, heat, sand and dirt of Florida’s early 90’s death/thrash metal explosion spawning Death, Deicide, Obituary and Cannibal Corpse among many others comes the Solstice (www.facebook.com/Solsticefl/timeline). sol06Founded by drummer Alex Marquez (Malevolent Creation), Rob Barrett (Cannibal Corpse) and Dennis Munoz (Iniquitous) and newly recruited Ryan Taylor (Atomik) on rhythm guitar and vocals they brought three records of speed and thrash to the stage. Taylor brought the noise Vio-lence to the forefront starting with an Age of Quarrel song from the Cro-Mags.

sol03Starting from 1992’s self-titled debut, they dove straight into the darker side of the mirror on Netherworld. Upon the wastelands arose a true unholy decimator of all that’s conquerable with a Cataclysmic Outburst. The land of the free, pulled by the strings of filthy politicians, must be Cleansed of Impurity. By any means necessary. Aberration asks how much pain can we possibly bear with such a young soul. They send some respect to the Bronx, pounding with 44 Caliber Brain Surgery to the head, Demolition Hammer style.

solstice02Plasticized, your aging body is rotten as you’re rolled up into a corner and forgotten. The Eternal Waking of one’s inner self to a world of inner consciousness and dreams. They took the first page from the steamrolling / wrecking ball guitars and banging bass book of Pray and played the title track prophesizing the triumph of science over the hypocritical elements of religion. Survival Reaction, seeing red as the instinct to survive kicks in, at all costs.

They play a Peter Steele tribute Carnivore style and possibly one of the reasons Playgirl called. When one is six-foot-seven, size matters. They end with the weak, aging mind Transmogrified by dementia and loss of faculties.

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First Crucifixation, Forces of Nature, feature images courtesy of Tom Wilson www.facebook.com/jebenezzer.law?fref=nf

All other images by Mike Ritchie www.facebook.com/mike.ritchie.338?fref=ts

Read more from the pit articles and reviews by Mike Ritchie on his web site www.coveringthescene.com

Editor’s Note-On Saturday September 20th, for the 8th straight year Forces of Nature volunteered their time, working with event coordinator Jeanette Monaghan, performing at the Wright Pat Air Force Base Marathon. They played a non-stop, six-hour (7am-1pm, with pre-dawn setup/5:30 am sound-check) gig positioned near the last leg of the course. They banged and thrashed as over 15,000 runners went by, many raised the horns in respect and gratitude for the extra effort, adrenaline and energy to the finish line of the 26 mile trek. When the set-list started getting low their ‘late morning’ creativity-caffeine kicked in with adlibs and jams coming up with new material. Tom Wilson along with event supporter Kelli Wilson also made the early morning base trip making sure the heavy metal patriotism was documented. After playing all morning and a brief break Mr. Godsey spent the evening at Oddbody’s working security for the Nonpoint show.

 

 



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Thursday, September 18, 2014

Exodus Singer Steve "Zetro" Souza Featured Live On WVOX's Metal Mayhem This Tuesday!

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Legendary Exodus vocalist and frontman Steve "Zetro" Souza will tell all about the bands forthcoming Blood In, Blood Out album and Fall tour with Slayer and Suicidal Tendencies and more this Tuesday during a special WVOX Metal Mayhem interview with host Matthew O'Shaughnessy at 9:30pm EST, which can be heard globally via WWW.WVOX.COM and 1460 AM locally.

 

Blood In, Blood Out is the famed San Francisco Bay Area's tenth studio album and will be released via Nuclear Blast Records.

 

 

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"Another thrashing honor to have one of metal's most ferocious, innovative and powerful singer's return to WVOX", says host Matthew O'Shaughnessy.


Sunday, September 14, 2014

Legendary US Thrashers AFTERMATH Invade WVOX's Metal Mayhem This Tuesday!

mathmathmathSkull-cracking Chicago powerhouse Aftermath have been successfully active since 1985 and this Tuesday at 10:20pm EST, Greek-born singer Kyriakos Charlie Tsiolis will make his debut on Matt O'Shaughnessy's WVOX Metal Mayhem show in New York, heard worldwide on WVOX.com and 1460 AM. 

In the beginning of their career, the group's demos catapulted them into all of the top metal trades around the world. Their Words That Echo Fear demo was voted one of the Ten Best Demos Of The year.

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To date, Aftermath has issued three demos including Sentenced To Death, Killling The Future, and Words That Echo Fear. As Well as 1994's Eyes Of Tomorrow, 1986's When Will You Die vinyl release and 2011's 25 Years Of Chaos Box Set.

Metal Mayhem is airborne every Tuesday from 9-11pm and Friday between 6-10pm EST and can be viewed from anywhere in the world on live webcam  from studio 1A at WVOX.com.


Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Brownout Presents Brown Sabbath – A Lighter Shade of Darkness

10546964_10152390018073751_7207409046657625740_oXombiewoof Magazine Interviews Beto Martinez from Brownout about new album Brownout Presents Brown Sabbath.

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Album Review and Interviewed by Joseph Timmons

Brown Sabbath is the alter ego of Austin-based psych-funk collective Brownout who delve deep into reinterpreting the catalog of metal godfathers, Black Sabbath. I want to start with the fact that this is not just a cover album, or even a close rendition, this album is a triumph of masterful composition and performance. I have heard some great covers, but this is so much more. Brownout has taken several tracks made famous by the masters of Metal, Black Sabbath and has rearranged and infused strong and hypnotic ethnic rhythms and Latin flavors to create a Funk / Metal sound that is wholly unique.

“Hand of Doom”, featuring The Black Angels’ Alex Maas on vocals, is the debut single that was first released last May as limited edition, colored splattered 10-inch vinyl with “The Wizard” as the B-side on the Ubiquity Records label. The full-length album, Brownout Presents Brown Sabbath, soon followed this past June to a much anticipated popular release.

Researching the band’s past interviews, Brownout guitarist Adrian Quesada was quoted “The Brown Sabbath idea started out like everything else we do, half inside joke, half psychotic. It was an overly ambitious attempt at challenging ourselves as musicians;” Adrian also commented “Bridging the gap between our music and Black Sabbath is not as far of a stretch as it might seem though. Sabbath was not only heavy, but soulful and funky in their own dark way. Half the band grew up as metal heads too, so it came naturally. The experience is already beginning to influence our next album of original music.”

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Brownout, an 8-piece outfit formed ten years ago by members of Grammy Award-winning Latin revival orchestra Grupo Fantasma, since then Brownout evolved into a musical force all its own. After garnering their third Austin Music Award last year, the band has continued to produce music that is unflinchingly progressive, while evoking the classic influences of artists such as WAR, Cymande and Funkadelic. They’ve performed at events including Bonnaroo, High Sierra Music Festival, Pickathon, FFFFest, Bear Creek Music Festival, Utopia Festival and Pachanga Fest, while regularly touring the U.S. Brownout’s also served as a highly in-demand backing band for artists including Prince, Daniel Johnston, GZA and Bernie Worrell.

cover-artWith its latest recording, Brownout Presents Brown Sabbath, they remain true to the darkness, bombast and fuzz of Sabbath’s sound, while re-imagining the music with greasy Afro-Latin horns, hypnotic percussion and psyched-out, rare-groove improvisation. Every music critic and magazine or journal of music has found this group and the album to be a phenomenal and we anxiously want to see what could be coming next.

As for our review, Brownout Presents Brown Sabbath is a tribute to the legendary music of Black Sabbath, while also being an introduction, and for some of us “old timers” a reintroduction to Urban Groove / Funk Progression. Brownout Presents Brown Sabbath has the presence of a greatest hits or anthology album yet is both fresh and boldly expressive in its originality. By nature, cover songs / albums are all too often renditions of songs that wormed their way through top “40 Pop” or that great song that got way too much airplay and are now done so often they’ve become grotesques of their former selves, leaving the listener wanting to avoid ever listening to it again. Or worse yet, there are some songs that have been done so often, that you can’t remember who originally did the song. Brownout Presents Brown Sabbath has the following songs in its joyfully creative Vinyl Grooves – Wizzard, Iron Man, N.I.B., Black Sabbath, Hand of Doom, Into the Void and Planet Caravan. Now, another great feature of this is some of the songs are instrumental in their entirety, allowing this group of talented artists to truly work their magic on us, allowing the energy of the music and rhythms to flow gracefully from the speakers, and the vocalist while having amazing talents in his original works, does a flawless rendition of Ozzy’s singularly unique voice, while not “trying” to sound like Ozzy. It is no wonder that Ozzy himself has been a great supporter of the bands performances.

Brownout’s discography includes three previously released albums including Homenaje (Freestyle Records 2008), Aguilas & Cobras (Six Degrees 2009) and Oozy (Nat Geo 2012). Presently on tour, Brownout is filling every seat and gaining an even larger following in support this fourth studio album.

The members of Brownout are Gilbert Elorreaga, Mark Gonzales, Greg Gonzalez, Josh Levy, Sweet Lou, Beto Martinez, Adrian Quesada and John Speice. In our interview we have the pleasure of speaking with Beto Martinez for a look into the “behind the scene” point of view at the what, why and when of the inspiration of this album.

How did you get your start in music?

“I grew up near the border in Laredo Texas; I lived in an area where you heard mostly Mexican / Latin Music and “Pop” Music. I have always loved Rock & Roll; I remember my first album was Metal Health by Quiet Riot, soon after I was listening to bands like Sabbath and Metallica. At 13 I got my first guitar, I started practicing and soon after I met my bassist. We’ve played music together for years, we would play in my garage, a couple years later the band formed and we started playing gigs. It’s been fun and I really find I am lucky to be doing music professionally. We play in several bands but this lineup is the core of our music, we want to be versatile and do what we love.”

First question about Brownout Presents Brown Sabbath, Why the music of Black Sabbath?

“We wanted to create from music we respected and wanted to perform, this started really as a “one off”, we had not intended to do an entire album, once that came to be, we decided to choose music that we had to get right. Once in the studio, this album really took off and became a lot more than we had intended.”

 

Brownout Presents Brown Sabbath- Official Video

The songs you chose for Brownout Presents Brown Sabbath are the major hits of Black Sabbath that, in my opinion would be highly scrutinized. Why did you select the songs you did on Brownout Presents Brown Sabbath?

“Well, we felt that these were the best to do, the original Black Sabbath songs had a natural groove to them, they lent themselves to our style and we felt that we could give them our own twist that would be well received. So far we have not been wrong. For instance, our Saxophonist and Horn’s really went to work and it blows people’s minds live. Some the use of horns and other percussion elements added a special power to the groove.”

Thinking now about the recording process, in the studio, was the recording of this album what you thought it would be, or was there a transformation in material once you started working it?

I would have to really hand this one to our Drummer, his work was inspired and he took the complicated rhythm structure and the sound to a new level. The whole band worked to create a sound that would be fluid, not overthought. In fact, much of it was very natural.

So how has the national tour been so far?

Great, the tour has had fantastic turnouts and enthusiastic crowds. We had stated on the west coast, we are now in east coast and working the way back. Every show has been great. Admittedly, this was not an album we thought we would be putting so much into and we had late bookings. We have no international dates yet, but who knows, may happen.

Does Brownout, have any other tribute style albums planned, say Beatles or Led Zeppelin?

No, not at this time, we want to concentrate on our original material, we do put covers into our sets, but we are a group that wants to be recognized for our own music.

ep-cover-artI am a big fan of Album Art, your cover for Brownout Presents Brown Sabbath is really cool and has a nostalgic reflection to it, how did you get this caver done?

The album cover came together kind of by chance and worked great, it was an in house designer, and we felt it really portrayed what we wanted. The photo is from an old photo shoot we did a long time ago and the label has a great art team, we like it.

What do you see as the biggest help on the promotion and public response to Brownout Presents Brown Sabbath?

We’ve had some great support from public radio and the news media both locally and nationally, college radio and the really great independent stations. As far as the public, wow, it is really fantastic to look out from the stage and see all the people, I’m in a great band doing some great music, and it’s getting better each time we play.

Our special thanks to Beto Martinez for this interview from the road as the band is heading back west and to Brownout for recording an album that is powerful, inspiring and expressive. You can find Brownout Presents Brown Sabbath on Bandcamp and iTunes, additionally, follow Brownout on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Soundcloud, and their website. You can also find them at their label’s website Ubiquity Records - http://www.ubiquityrecords.com.


Monday, September 8, 2014

DEVILMENT: JACKASS Star Featured on Debut Album, Third Episode of Official Album Interview Series Online!

 

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Witch County England's finest, DEVILMENT featuring the master of horrors, Dani Filth (CRADLE OF FILTH, TEMPLE OF THE BLACK MOON), have announced that Bam Margera (MTV JACKASS, Viva La Bam, FUCKFACE UNSTOPPABLE) will be featured on the band's upcoming debut album, The Great And Secret Show, which is scheduled to be released on Halloween 2014 (October 31).

Margera can be heard duetting on DEVILMENT's cover of the MIDNIGHT OIL classic 'Beds Are Burning' which will be included as a bonus track on the limited first edition of the album.

Commented Bam: "Having known Dani for a while now, and having him sing onstage with me at my wedding in Iceland last year, when he asked me to be a part of a song DEVILMENT were covering, I naturally jumped at the chance. The original track was awesome, this new interpretation of it is even better and I am just stoked to be a part of Dani's new band's stuff, which in all honesty f**king rocks like a muthaf**king f**k!“

Added Dani Filth: "It was actually on my birthday last year when the idea came to me to cover this track, as for some strange reason I kept hearing it being played on the local radio station and subsequently, a few times when I breezed into petrol stations and food stores. I've always liked the song since hearing it in my teens, as I think it's very anthemic, and CRADLE OF FILTH have always been known for undertaking wacky songs and bastardising them to our own twisted ends, so with my birthday epiphany bursting upon me, I put the idea of covering the tune to the rest of the band... to a positive response. As for my good friend Bam Margera, I thought it would be cool for him to demonstrate his vocal prowess by returning a favour, for he'd had me sing with him (strangely enough, ANATHEMA's 'Sleepless') at his wedding ceremony in Iceland last year and I thought it a top notch way to get him back in style! He didn't require much persuasion... In all seriousness, it was a challenge and as a band we have given the track a slightly more psychotic edge, courtesy of pounding drums, hypnotic bass, industrial-esque guitars and a wicked keyboard melody lending it a John Carpenter/Tubular Bells 'Exorcist' vibe. Plus of course there's the vocals!"

DEVILMENT also have released the third episode of the official album interview series. Check out Dani, Daniel and Lauren talking about how the band met: http://youtu.be/osuDOM_VroU
The band, consisting of Dani Filth (vocals), Daniel Finch (guitar & samples) Colin Parks (rhythm guitar/lead guitar), Nick Johnson (bass guitar), Aaron Boast (drums), Lauren Francis (keyboards & vocals) recently signed a deal with Nuclear Blast Entertainment.

The Great And Secret Show was recorded at Grindstone Studios in Suffolk with producer Scott Atkins, who has previously worked with the likes of CRADLE OF FILTH, BEHEMOTH, AMON AMARTH, SYLOSIS and GAMA BOMB. The artwork (see below/attached) was created by legendary Drake Mefestta.

The band’s first single ‘Mother Kali’ can be heard here: http://youtu.be/Il61bCC4g3w

The first episode of the official album interview series can be watched at http://youtu.be/CZ9BNnIduls
The second episode can be watched at http://youtu.be/RF2e_tJFO_s


The Great And Secret Show tracklist:
01. Summer Arteries
02. Even Your Blood Group Rejects Me
03. Girl From Mystery Island
04. The Stake In My Heart
05. Living With The Fungus

06. Mother Kali
07. Staring At The Werewolf Corps
08. Sanity Hits A (Perfect) Zero
09. Laudanum Skull
10. The Great And Secret Show
--- Bonus Tracks
11. Beds Are Burning (MIDNIGHT OIL cover)
12. Psycho Babble
13. Even Your Blood Group Rejects Me (Motion Picture Soundtrack)

DEVILMENT will be touring for the first time later this year and have announced a string of live dates with LACUNA COIL and MOTIONLESS IN WHITE. Dani Filth also makes a guest appearance on the latest MOTIONLESS IN WHITE single ‘Puppets 3 (The Grand Finale)’ which can be heard here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDix79LuVF8

LACUNA COIL - MOTIONLESS IN WHITE - DEVILMENT

  • 31.10.14 UK Bristol - Anson Rooms
  • 01.11.14 UK London - The Forum
  • 02.11.14 UK Glasgow - 02 ABC
  • 04.11.14 UK Manchester - The Ritz
  • 05.11.14 UK Birmingham - The Institute
  • 06.11.14 LUX Esch/Alzette - Rockhal
  • 08.11.14 D Wiesbaden - Schlachthof
  • 09.11.14 NL Utrecht - Tivoli
  • 10.11.14 B Hasselt - Muziekodroom
  • 12.11.14 D Hamburg - Gruenspan
  • 13.11.14 D Cologne - Essigfabrik
  • 14.11.14 D Berlin - C-Club
  • 15.11.14 D Herford - Club X
  • 17.11.14 D Munich - Backstage
  • 18.11.14 CH Pratteln - Z7
  • 20.11.14 I Bologna - Zona Roveri
  • 21.11.14 I Treviso - New Age
  • 22.11.14 I Rome – Orion
  • 23.11.14 I Milan - Live Club

You have been warned.

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