Fall Of Envy's Poetry Jam: The Interview

Writing comes in many formats, essays, stories, reports, and then the simple tasks like creating a poem either in song format or regular format whatever works best for you. It just so happens that the powerhouse quintet known as Fall Of Envy have chosen to use poetry on their debut LP "Poetic Rage." Embracing within the lyrics and melodies used to craft together a well rounded piece of music. Fall Of Envy spoke to me briefly about their band’s success about how the formation of the band came into effect sending their dreams into overdrive.



1. The name of the band Fall Of Envy, is interesting to say the least and sounds as if there is a story behind it. Where did the name come from and what is the story?

Michael: We get this question a lot. The name comes from our personalities and how we all have a common dream and desire. And although we are determined to be successful at what we do, we never want to be a band or people that are envious of other's success and status. So the name is derived from the determination we have to follow our dreams, but we refuse to have this success by trying to take it from someone else. Hence the name Fall Of Envy.

2. Can you briefly summarize how the band formed and what you do in Fall Of Envy?

Greg : The Band formed back in mid 2005. My brother Tommy (Lead Guitarist) and I had played in several previous projects throughout Florida, but moved to Orlando because of the up and coming music scene here. I ran into Michael Baker (lead vocalist) at a Starbucks, one day here in Orlando. I had known Michael from one of his earlier projects called Liquid Vinyl, which I was big fan. We arranged to all jam out soon after. Immediately, things gelled and Fall of Envy was born! Though we did go through a few name changes early on. A few months later, Michael recommended we talk to drummer Brandt Frenchmen, also formerly of Liquid Vinyl, to join the band and help strengthen the lineup. Lastly, Brent Venderly joined in early 08 to complete the final arrangement.

3. Your lyrics are infused with heavy detail and raw emotion. What is it that normally gives you inspiration when writing lyrics and is there a concept behind the music you create?

Greg: The lyrics on the album were extremely personal to most of us in the band. We don't really have a set agenda/concept behind all the material, but a good portion of it does tend to mirror things that are happening in our daily lives.



4. Your new album "Poetic Rage," is coming out how has the reactions been thus far? What can fans expect when they listen to your music?

Michael: The reactions to the album have been overwhelmingly great. We've received such a positive reaction to our music and style that we feel very humbled to be doing what we love to do. Currently we are working more material, and bigger and better ways to put on an exciting live show for our fans.

5. How do you think you will affect the music scene you are part of? What are your thoughts on the growing popularity in it as well?

Michael: We hope to have a huge impact on the music scene in a way that not only separates our sound from anyone else, but will mainly help draw more attention to a music scene in Central Florida that is going unseen. There are so many diverse bands that are very talented; we hope that with any success that we have will only shine more of a light on this great music town.

6. You have a music video for the song "Face To My Fist,” can you give a brief summary on how it all came together.

Michael: Well, first off the song is written about MMA fighting and with members of FOE being huge fans we wanted to write a song that portrayed that. We met a great guy, Mark Moorer with Pitcher Point Productions, and he approached us about doing a video. After discussing different options we decided to use Face To My Fist for our first video since it had such great energy. We were then lucky enough to have Ben Saunders of the UFC, who by the way is in their new video game, agree to be part of the production. We shot everything in 1 day, in a warehouse, and Mark did everything with one camera and some great editing. We are looking forward to our next video very soon.



7. Many of your songs are so hard and intense that I am sure they translate well into a live setting taking on a whole new life in front of a live audience. How does it make you feel when the emotion and power that you envisioned in the recording studio, come to life while playing in front of a crowd?

Brent: I think we really see it the other way around. We are amazed that the emotion and power we poured into our songs while writing and rehearsing, and pour into the songs at every live performance actually translates through in the recording. First and foremost, we are a live rock band and really take pride in every live show. We love being up on stage playing more than anything. Justin Thomas did an amazing job of capturing that in the recording studio and making sure that the recorded songs painted the picture so to speak. But, if you have not seen the live show yet, you are missing a huge part of who we are and what we love to do. It is where everything else stems from.

8. What are the upcoming plans for Fall Of Envy?

Brent: Probably first on everyone's mind is touring; we all really want to get out on the road and play some great venues in front of some great fans. Secondly, write the follow up to Poetic Rage. Even though it is new to most people, we are ready to get the next one in the works and bring out some new material. Other than that I think just continue to be ready for any opportunities that come our way and promote, promote, promote, and play more shows. That is really when we are at our best.

9. How has MYSPACE and the internet impacted your band and do you think downloading helps or hinders the artists?

Brent: MySpace is an amazing tool for us and bands in general. We have a ton of fans today that 10 years ago would never had known about us unless we were signed and accepted by mainstream radio. It is direct distribution/marketing/promotion to your fans. It is immediate, 24/7 and there has never been a promotional tool available like it. It has kind of leveled the opportunity "playing field" for unsigned bands. As far as downloads go, I am not sure if downloads help or hinder, and I am not sure if anyone truly knows yet. There are definitely two sides: Anyone can get your music anywhere anytime whether a record company is behind you or not, and anyone can get your music anytime whether it is paid for or not. The lack of money from CD sales has changed the business A LOT and I think it really remains to be seen what the "new" music business is going to look like.

10. What is the toughest lesson you ever learned in the studio and on the stage?

Tommy: Well, I think we learn something new every time, it's an ongoing, natural progression! As far as the studio goes, I think it's important to keep an open mind at all times because you may go into the studio with a clear cut idea of how you want a particular song’s to sound but then take a completely different approach altogether. As far as being on stage, we have learned (through many many shows), that you always have to keep in mind, the reason you're there is to perform! That means keeping the focal point on the audience.....keep their attention at all times, make them feel involved, get them so amped up to be at your show that they forget about everything else going on in their lives at that particular moment!!!!

11. What bands would you like to tour with and who has been your favorite to tour with this far? Any particular reason?

Tommy: We have been fortunate enough to share the stage with some incredible bands (Papa Roach, Sevendust, Nonpoint, Buckcherry....who are all great bands and great guys, by the way) just to name a few! I'm not sure we necessarily have one particular band we would like to tour with in general. We're just looking forward to the opportunity to hopefully get on a national/international tour at some point and continue to show people what a good rock show is all about!!!!

12. Every band has its musical influences. What are some of the other bands and artists that have greatly influenced you guys and your music?

Tommy: There's a whole laundry list of bands who have influenced us but a few that come to mind are: Sevendust, Chevelle, Alice N Chains, Breaking Benjamin & of course, Milli Vinilli....they had mad lip syncing skills lol!!!

13. What's your reaction when/if a fan told you a very meaningful statement such as "Your music changed my life?" Has this ever happened to you?

Brandt: This happens to us on a regular basis and this is why we play music! We are so honored to have the ability to inspire people and help them fight obstacles such as cancer and depression and anything there going through at the time. We strive to change people’s lives with our music.

14. All of that passion that you play with must be tough on you physically. How do you prepare for the physical demands of a tour?

Brandt: Sleep, diet and lots of exercise!!!!

15. Anything else you'd like to add?

Brandt: Sure do....... Music is not a factor a thing in the world, but a meaning constituted by human beings. . . . . To talk about such experience in a meaningful way demands several things. First, we have to be willing to let the composition speak to us, to let it reveal its own order and significance. . . . Second, we have to be willing to question our assumptions about the nature and role of musical materials. Last, and perhaps most important, we have to be ready to admit that describing a meaningful experience is itself meaningful.

Fall Of Envy Writes Poetry?

"Poetic Rage," who ever knew that poetry could embrace such raw emotionally energy. But then again doesn't everything nowadays? This type of poetry is presented by modern rock n'rollers Fall Of Envy, speaking their mind through the depths of their hearts and souls through 11-tracks of aggression from the inside out. "Smoking Gun," shakes, rattles, and rolls everything up having the instruments gather all their riffs, solos, and tempo beatings and work together as once powerful force field of destruction. Having break-through guitar solos that just bash right against the vocals and drumming back-beating action sent out. Whereas the title track comes in and mellows all the aggressiveness away instantly, making this track be one you can raise your lighter too and just go with the flow.



“Face To My Fist,” takes over the intense side again and gives you exactly what you want, quoting plain and simple “If you want it come and get it.” Having you the listener get exactly what you want which is what? Hard, but fast racing rock n roll! Fall Of Envy sends out all the right connections and emotions while listening to “Poetic Rage,” it gives you the source of what goes on behind the microphone. Showing the true feelings of what it’s like to be considered a real rockstar.

Daybreak Ends Goes Acoustic

When it’s time for the day to come to end do you ever sit back and wonder what would happen if the day had the mind of its own? Sounds to me like this day is turning out to become a Daybreak Ends, which is also the band’s name that tends to suit them quite well. Making their name known around the county and around the world little by little they took their music to a lower level going acoustic playing a mini set at the local Hot Topic where their drummer also works. Full filling their musical mission of being musicians and getting not only their music heard but their name as well. Their set list consisted of three tunes two of the three coming off their LP "Perfect Tragedy," and having them play the first two tracks off it acoustically made their music sound totally different. Breaking away from that raw in your face energy that is presented on their LP and latest EP "The Self Unseen," and going the mellow route is a total rock n'roll. The band themselves Greg vocalist mentioned during the set himself "acoustic is not our style," while his fellow band mates laughed. Overall it was a good small show and the real adrenaline rush plans to progress during their live shows while they're out on the road.

Lo Pro's Comeback

Six years have gone by since the whereabouts of modern rock n roll act Lo Pro. Now they so happened to reappear and make their music once again available to its listeners. Lo Pro performed at the Whisky in Hollywood and threw out a 45-minute set up consisting of old and new material. That got the crowd dancing and bobbing their heads to the beat of the music instantly. While interacting with the crowd is a common method for all concert performances Lo Pro’s vocalist absolutely loved every minute jumping and screaming his heart and soul out through every song played. Some tunes that got the crowd really entertained included “Sunday,” “Texas,” "Breathe," "Today," "All I Have," among other tunes that were highly entertaining. Lo Pro not only put on a good show but briefly spoke to the audience mentioning that not so far away a follow-up is in the works leaving off exactly where the band left when they started. So all in all Lo Pro is a combination of rockstars that just love what they do and deliver their music full on no matter who may be listening in or in this case watching.

Daybreak Ends @ Hot Topic Burbank 5-28-2009

Lo Pro @ Whisky 5-27-2009

The Seven Gates Interview

The Seven Gates saw the light of day in the middle of year 2005, born from the ashes of outstanding underground four musicians were to rise up to bring back to life the Angel Of Suffering and guitarist Adrien was the one chosen for the task.



1. The name of the band THE SEVEN GATES, is interesting to say the least and sounds as if there is a story behind it. Where did the name come from and what is the story?

Adrien: Well, at first, thank you for noticing this. Actually, we wanted our name to be the reflect of the music we play: powerful, dark, ironic and full of anger.

2. Can you briefly summarize how the band formed and what you do in THE SEVEN GATES?

Adrien: We started in 2005 and basically, it was Vincent and I who found a drummer and then another guitarist. Later on, Adrien joined in as the true guitarist of The Seven Gates and then Kevin, who is a hell of a drummer! Vincent plays bass and does the vocals, and I'm also a guitarist.

3. Your lyrics are infused with heavy detail and raw emotion. What is it that normally gives you inspiration when writing lyrics and is there a concept behind the music you create?

Adrien: Not really.... I write lyrics about what irritates me, what upsets me, what pisses me off about human nature. But we're always on the dark side of any matter, because this is our nature, our philosophy. Death metal is a true way of life, I think.



4. Your new album "Angel Of Suffering," is coming out how has the reactions been thus far? What can fans expect when they listen to your music?

Adrien: We are a death metal band, so they're going to hear death metal! For the moment, the responses have been pretty good so far, we're quite happy with this.

5. How do you think you will effect the music scene you are part of? What are your thoughts on the growing popularity in it as well?

Adrien: If I knew, I could tell, but for the moment, I haven't got the remotest idea! Anyway, our goal is simply to write and play the music we enjoy, no matter what people think, you know? This is a extremely egocentric pleasure, and after that, if someone likes it, fine! But I'm very enthusiastic about our songs, regardless of if we shall become "tomorrow's band" or not.

6. You guys are from France what is the local music scene like there? Any bands you'd recommend?

Adrien: Sure! Give a listen to our friends from Offending and Mithridatic, these are killer outfits! Many good bands are poppin out here and there.

The Seven Gates - The Serpent's Wheel


7. Many of your songs are so hard and intense that I am sure they translate well into a live setting taking on a whole new life in front of a live audience. How does it make you feel when the emotion and power that you envisioned in the recording studio, come to life while playing in front of a crowd?

Adrien: Haha! Nice question! Yes, you are absolutely right! The feeling is intense! Releasing power and getting a raging response is the most insanely intense experience you can have as a band! I just love it!

8. What are the upcoming plans for THE SEVEN GATES?

Adrien: We are being in an European tour setting process, and should also play across France later this fall. Also, we're working on new songs that should be hundred percent better than the previous ones. To tell you the truth, we just finished writing a brand new track yesterday with my band mate Adrien, and are very excited about it!

9. How has MYSPACE and the internet impacted your band and do you think downloading helps or hinders the artists?

Adrien: Myspace and internet in general are very useful as a media. It did help a lot finding shows dates and a label. As far as downloading goes, well.. I guess you can not avoid people to do so, but I'm not sure it does help the band to have their albums downloaded in their entirety.

10. What is the toughest lesson you ever learned in the studio and on the stage?

Adrien: "Never take anything as granted".

11. What bands would you like to tour with and who has been your favorite to tour with this far? Any particular reason?

Adrien: I guess I'd love to tour with bands I listen to, like Hate Eternal, Nile, Behemoth.. And I enjoyed playing with Offending, Mithridatic, Brutal Rebirth, Blazing War Machine and many more... also, Goddamn were cool to play with, they are nice guys and do their stuff 100%.

12. Every band has its musical influences. What are some of the other bands and artists that have greatly influenced you guys and your music?

Adrien: Well, I think guitarists like Tony Iommi, Randy Rhoads may have been an influence to me.. Also bands like Slayer, Possessed, Repulsion.. But I have been listening to many different things until now, and I can not tell that Chopin, Mozart or Beethoven haven't been subconsciously acting on my musical ideal!



13. What's your reaction when/if a fan told you a very meaningful statement such as "Your music changed my life?" Has this ever happened to you?

Adrien:Yes it did. It's cool to hear.. At this point, you can tell yourself that your inner fire burns through music! But actually, our music also changed OUR lives! For real.

14. All of that passion that you play with must be tough on you physically. How do you prepare for the physical demands of a tour?

Adrien: Yes it is pretty much of a challenge to play our tracks.. but it's a lot of fun to perform! And it requires a long warm-up time before we play.

15. Anything else you'd like to add?

Adrien: Thank you very much for your interest in The Seven Gates! Come and meet the band on stage! This is where lies the truth. Rage!

Operation Down Interview

The infection has begun. What could be entertaining than a raging infection that could possibly spread and spread with no cure available? Well there is one cure to solve this problem, why not listen in to some metal music worthy of your time. Presented by some doctors who learnt from the very best thats why you are now in the hands of the Operation Downfall team and their about to spill their guts all over you. The entire band conducted an interview with me after their set in Los Angeles at the Cobalt Cafe.



1. The name of the band Operation Downfall is interesting to say the least and sounds as if there is a story behind it. Where did the name come from and what is the story?

Mike: The story I came up with three name and that was the coolest one and that’s the story so no real story for that one.

2. Can you briefly summarize how the band formed and what you do in Operation Downfall?

Mike: Vocals/Play Guitar
Chris: Play Drums
Eric: Bass Player
Bobby: Guitar/Vocals
Mike: How we formed a brief history, I met up with a couple of guys and started playing and line-up changes happened here and there and Bobby and I kept on going Chris came in and then recently Eric came in about 5 months ago and we got a pretty strong line-up and we don’t plan on going anywhere.

3. Your lyrics are infused with heavy detail and raw emotion. What is it that normally gives you inspiration when writing lyrics and is there a concept behind the music you create?

Eric: It’s been great, everyone likes it spreading the infection and getting a lot of positive responses.
Chris: There is a story behind the album so if you buy the CD you get to hear the story and people go and show up at our shows and we’re really proud of the reaction of it and got some new stuff we’re writing up for the next album. So how’s that?



4. Your new album “Virulent,” is coming out how has the reactions been thus far? What can fans expect when they listen to your music?

Bobby: All the reactions thus far have been going well. All the kids are enjoying our music.

5. How do you think you will affect the music scene you are part of? What are your thoughts on the growing popularity in it as well?
Bobby: We’re trying to be unique there are a lot of bands on MySpace and we’re really hoping that the kids enjoy the music and we go out and practice and just do our thing.

6. You guys played the California Metal Festival in Anaheim how did that go?

Band: We were there but didn’t play it, maybe next year we’ll have to wait and see.
Eric: I was there handing out demos, but we didn’t play.



7. Many of your songs are so hard and intense that I am sure they translate well into a live setting taking on a whole new life in front of a live audience. How does it make you feel when the emotion and power that you envisioned in the recording studio, come to life while playing in front of a crowd?

Mike: We try to put on a intense show, I mean recording ya know all the time in the world, we try to bring the medical theme into the live show and on our MySpace as well. The blood bags on the drum sets, just trying to get as aggressive as we can live. Just playing out as much live energy as we can and play as hard as we can, playing off each during our performances.

8. What are the upcoming plans for Operation Downfall?

Band: just play out as much as we can, build up our fan base and branching out more and we’d like to do a tour and we had one aimed for the summer but work got in the way our jobs and what not hopefully in the Winter, so we’ll see. We are really hoping to do some touring within the next couple of months. Try to get on more tours with bigger bands and then take over the world!!!!

9. How has MYSPACE and the internet impacted your band and do you think downloading helps or hinders the artists?

Mike: MySpace has helped a lot promoting and we try and go promoting on foot but people reply on MySpace, and there are a lot of bands on there as it is. Everyone is on there, so we’re not saying anyone is good or bad (We’re Awesome) but what’s going on with MySpace does get harder for bands to get known and there are some people that get sent messages that say to check out their bands and then you get a response where the person says that “Your band kicks-ass.” As for downloading it increases our popularity and then they go and tell their friends about us so it all works out.



10. What is the toughest lesson you ever learned in the studio and on the stage?

Mike: Studio? We’ve learned a lot from working in the studio, we went in and recorded our album and spent a three day scratch party just recording random tracks but weren’t happy with those and got rid of them. So we went back in and rehearse and there are so many things we wanted to do and so many other things we had learned and picked up it was hard to sit and pick and really focus on it.
Chris: We’ve all learned within the last several months we learned a lot about practice and all the regular stuff bands have to go through and what goes behind the show.
Eric: The importance that I learned is that never play a show unless it is set to go, because shows always get cancelled.

11. What bands would you like to tour with and who has been your favorite to tour with this far? Any particular reason?

Mike: We’d like to play with Lamb of God, Slipknot; another band would have to be Metallica because it’s Metallica.
Bobby: We have yet to tour but when we play shows we got to tell the kids we’re not touring just playing.
Band: White Silence and In Silence, just play a lot of shows with a lot of bands.

12. Every band has its musical influences. What are some of the other bands and artists that have greatly influenced you guys and your music?



Band: Well we all have different ones.
Mike: I like rock like Maroon 5, Gavin DeGraw, and then our drummer listens to real music.
Bobby: I like listening to Tool, I’am a tool put on more of a stage show basically whenever we play.
Chris: I always get asked that all the time about the blood bags on my drum set, from the owner are those going to spill so I got to tell them no it’s just the theme of the band.

13. What's your reaction when/if a fan told you a very meaningful statement such as "Your music changed my life?" Has this ever happened to you?
Band: It’s amazing.
Eric: There is this kid that went back and re-recorded our songs with his own vocals and plans to come out here next month to check us out.
Chris: It’s always nice when someone says something nice about a song so we always try to just focus on the music and that keeps us going.

14. All of that passion that you play with must be tough on you physically. How do you prepare for the physical demands of a tour?

Band: We go through a lot of stretching and then a lot of bands go and look at us “What are they doing?” Oh there stretching no wonder, my neck and body is always hurting.

15. Anything else you'd like to add?
Band: All we have to say is the infection has begun. Thanks for the interview, great questions you really made us think. Why did you make us think? (Laughs)

Operation Downfall - Virulent

Beep, Beep, Beep, Beep, beeps the heart monitor as you're laying on your back staring at the ceiling of a room decked all in white, tubes running in and out of you as you try to move but find yourself restrained, your body starts to shiver as a cold sweat forms on the top of your forehead you begin to couch and realize your coughing up your own blood it sickens you let out a scream then pure silence rings out as the one beeping noise has been deactivated and you find your body floating. Flying through the ceiling of the hospital and on through the clouds into the gates of heaven or shall I say hell? The guard explains briefly what happened to you giving you a summary of your life cycle and then tells you in the end that you just faced an Operation Downfall. So your life was "Out Of Nothing," which comes off Operation Downfall's debut "Virulent," a total of 15-tracks that tells the tale about a man and what he's about to face during his gut retching journey and it looks to me that it's just begun.... Divided into three various sessions each one goes into detail of expressing the story through the form of music which goes off into becoming a very raw energy with such emotion the intensity alone sets the whole environment it being surrounded by a pool of blood simple as that. Each selection offered in each of the sessions indicates on its own formula of music, such as "Spiral Into Darkness," "Bred Of Nothing," "Fate," and the main artist portraying the character himself entitled "Robert Paulsen," all of these tunes have gathered the right materials and bring out that instrumental matter of fast drive over the edge guitar riffing gut retching solos along with drum beatings to match. Whereas the vocals attack the instruments with such force it makes the music that more enjoyable. "Virulent," in itself is a tale of lust, blood, and wisdom and the members of Operation Downfall have indeed brought all of that upon this album, the only thing left in the matter is having a listen. Will you be that listener?

Operation Downfall - Surgery Needed Stat

It’s a clear, cold, evening as your hurrying down the freeway at maximum speed trying to get to your destination on time. When all of a sudden your destination breaks its course and you are on a one way trip to the blood bank or worse the operation table. The ambulance pulling up besides the wreckage pulling your carcass onto the stretcher as your soon wheeled into the double doors of the hospital wing your life on the end of its last cycle. When you find yourself awake and reality sinks in you’re not only in the hospital but you got yourself on the operation table watching your body being pulled left and right, leading this bloodshed to one solution, this is the end of your life. As you feel your body becoming weaker by the minute this operation has become a Operation Downfall.







Indeed that being the name to suite them best this Los Angeles based metal act has brought the blood from the operation state straight to the floors of the many venues across the Los Angeles County. For instance at last night’s event up in the Valley a handful of metal heads from females to males of all ages, came out to support the local metal acts just eager to be heard. One act dishing out the goods was this local metal act known as White Silence and then of course Operation Downfall who blew up the place during their 30 minute set up getting the crowd running in circles all over the clubhouse. "To Be Forgotten," started the craziness going into a total of 8 tunes that were all upbeat and in your face, especially "Robert Paulsen," and "(FATE)." All in all it was a night of total massacre and blood drenching goodness you surely will not want to miss out on, So be sure to catch Operation Downfall on their remaining dates because blood is limited!

Set List:
To Be Forgotten
New Breath
The Architect
Bred For Control
Out Of Nothing
Myth Of Progress
Robert Paulsen
(FATE)

Operation Downfall @ Cobalt Cafe 5-21-2009

Eyes Set To Kill Reaches The Outside World

Who knew that an everyday object such as your eyesight could have the skills to kill? It turns out that this is a true fact, Eyes Set To Kill has returned with a vengeance releasing their follow-up to "Reach," (2008) with "The World Outside," (2009) a combination of 12-tracks of absolute upbeat tones and back-beats that brings out the modern rock n roll sensation mixed together with alternative metal with screamo beatings in between. Some tunes that tend to stick out the most includes "Heights" which has a video to back it up, and other tunes includes "Wake Me Up," "March Of The Dead," "Deadly Weapons," which features a guest vocalist appearance of Craig Mabbit of Escape The Fate that adds a blend of music making Eyes Set To Kill's "The World Outside," album be much more catchy than their previous works. Each of these tunes mentioned contains the absolute mayhem and energy needed that this band dishes out from beginning to end. Eyes Set To Kill displays the mellow driven vocal sides while creating that rough uproar of screamo tones in between that lets the music shack and rattle until the music means nothing more than just a repeating texture of overplayed music. "The World Outside," is a follow-up album that goes beyond the limits of pleasing its listeners and does go beyond "Reach's" standards showcasing Eyes Set To Kill's musical talents on a whole new level.

Taking Back Sunday 2.0

We've all experienced old and new things in our past, present and future occurrences but what if there was something out there that was brought back from the dead in a totally new format; such as vintage cassettes which formed into compact discs and later formed into digital MP3's. Well even though cassettes are out of business and CD's and MP3's are the "in" material, little has changed. Except one thing which makes the old material "New Again," and happens to be the title of the fourth studio album by rock band Taking Back Sunday. Based out of Amityville, Long Island, New York, formed in 1999, current members are vocalist Adam Lazzara, guitarist and back-up vocalist Matthew Fazzi, guitarist Eddie Reyes, drummer Mark O'Connell, and bassist Matt Rubano have released three previous studio albums with their most successful of the trio being "Louder Now," (2006) which sold over 600,000 copies peaking at #2 on the Billboard 200, calling it a close call for "Where You Want to Be," (2004) which was at #3. Not only has Taking Back Sunday expanded their horizons more than one way but has had twelve singles, one extended play, one live album, a compilation album, and then some. The music has caused a massive flood in their career span. But that was then and now their career plans to branch out even further, with "New Again," and features their new guitarist Matthew Fazzi, and the title was chosen because Adam Lazzara felt that they were a "new band." So out with the old and in with the new and with this new album you receive 11-tracks of upbeat modern rock n' roll sensation that keeps your body moving to the beat constantly. Several singles have been exposed since 2008 and have already caused an uproar as it is, "Carpathia," "Catholic Knees," a live version and "Sink Into Me," these three alone set the perfect tone and feel of "New Again." The instrumental work done throughout expresses itself well, allowing all the guitars and drumming method to combine into one format letting the music build upon itself to create that modern riff and out-raging solos Taking Back Sunday are known to establish. While the vocals clearly state that they've made their mark and stand-out loud and clear being clean and out spoken letting the lyrics piece themselves together. All in all Taking Back Sunday's fourth accomplishment is the beginning of something new, let's just say this version of Taking Back Sunday is now known as Taking Back Sunday 2.0.

Aiden's Ticket To Hell

"Did somebody loose a book?" shouts WiL front man of goth punk rock 'n' roll sensation Aiden, the audience replied "No" along with cheers and shouts then WiL remarks "Oh well it’s about God, too bad there is no such thing." as he tosses the book over his shoulder and the band breaks into the remainder of their set. Coming out of Seattle who knew that these intense and aggressive four young talents had what it takes to create such angry music. That is what Will has been asked repeatedly in his current interview mayhem but he responses "I'm not angry, I'm afraid."






Who wouldn't be afraid especially how the current economy is affecting us both health wise and moneywise we will all fall straight to the depths of hell. Never having the chance to witness "The Last Sunrise," was the introduction tune that got the entire Knitting Factory in Hollywood flowing with complete energy, sweat, and tears. As the band broke into a short but simple 45 minute set list that consists of the old, new, and newest mixture of tunes, "The Last Sunrise," "Die Romantic," "Teenage Queen," We Sleep Forever," newest single off their fourth accomplishment "Knives," entitled "Scavenger of the Damned," along with "Killing Machine," that kept the energy impacted and flowing. When their set hit mid-way point the crowd chanted “Aiden, Aiden, Aiden,” as the band freshened up briefly and ran back onto the stage to conclude their set for the night with not one, but two tracks in store.






The audience accepted the band’s departure and continued to rant and rave through the first of the two songs remaining and then hell itself opened up from underneath us as WiL wraps up the night “We are Aiden and we will see you on this summer’s Van’s Warped Tour 2009!” “Now everyone knows what this is right?” as the entire floor split into two half’s everyone awaiting the fun and excitement that awaited the conclusion of the night. As the song broke into “I Set My Friends On Fire,” the two half’s came together smashing against one another some going up into the air while others scrambled to get up off the ground as the band continued to rock 'n' roll their way until the very end. WiL hopping onto the floor while others hopped into the stage singing, dancing and expressing themselves in every way possible Aiden in the end drawing in the intensity that will blaze on until their light is burnt out under the worse circumstances.