Blog
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36 HOURS IN NASHVILLE
Before “social distancing” was trending on Twitter and the live music industry closed down, I ventured to Nashville to catch some music. -
Symphonic Metal Opera ‘Valcata’ Released
October 18th 2019 — Today sees the release of Valcata — a new independent symphonic metal opera album. The project features a staggering ensemble of eight lead singers (four female and four male), each portraying a unique character through the lyrics. It was produced online in its entirety and features musicians from around the globe, including both emerging and established artists. The album is the work of composer Oha Cade who is based in Brooklyn, New York.
“Everyone involved worked extremely hard on this album. It’s a dream come true to finally share the whole story with the world!”
Taking a fresh approach to the genre in 2019, Valcata is an elaborate work that exhibits a superabundance of influences while sustaining a sharp and ferocious energy.
Check out and support Valcata at the links below:
Valcata on Bandcamp
Valcata on iTunes
Valcata on Google Play
Valcata on SpotifySign up for the newsletter at www.valcata.com.
Follow the project on social media:
www.valcata.com
Facebook.com/ValcataProject
Instagram.com/valcata_official/TRACKLIST
1. Stars
2. Our Quest
3. The Turning
4. Horror Machine
5. Life and a Million
6. 3-2-1
7. Beyond
8. Escalade
9. The Termination
10. Valcata -
3-2-1 Lyric Video Released; Single Now Streaming On Spotify
The independent symphonic metal opera project Valcata has released a lyric video for their lead single, 3-2-1. The song showcases four out of the album’s eight vocalists — Angel Wolf-Black (Vivaldi Metal Project), Mary Zimmer (Helion Prime), Hadi Kiani (Gereh) and Kenneth Élan (Acoustic Dreams). The video details the lyrics as sung by the characters, against a background of dark sci-fi-inspired imagery. Watch it below:
3-2-1 is now available for streaming on Spotify.
Valcata was produced online in its entirety and features musicians from around the globe, including both emerging and established artists. The album is the work of composer Oha Cade who is based in Brooklyn, New York.
Pre-order Valcata on Bandcamp or iTunes and get the tracks Horror Machine and 3-2-1 instantly. These tracks can also be streamed in full on Bandcamp.
Pre-order on iTunes (get a discount and 2 tracks instantly)
Pre-order on Bandcamp (get 2 tracks instantly)
Pre-order on Google PlayFollow Valcata on social media:
www.valcata.com
facebook.com/ValcataProject
instagram.com/valcata_official -
Valcata Album Teaser Trailer Revealed
A teaser video has been released for the upcoming symphonic metal opera Valcata. The teaser gives a glimpse into the variety of voices and musical styles on the album. Listen to the teaser below!
Valcata was produced online in its entirety and features musicians from around the globe, including both emerging and established artists. The album is the work of composer Oha Cade who is based in Brooklyn, New York.
Pre-order Valcata on Bandcamp or iTunes and get the tracks Horror Machine and 3-2-1 instantly. These tracks can also be streamed in full on Bandcamp!
Pre-order on iTunes (get a discount and 2 tracks instantly)
Pre-order on Bandcamp (get 2 tracks instantly)
Pre-order on Google PlayFollow Valcata on social media:
www.valcata.com
facebook.com/ValcataProject
instagram.com/valcata_official -
Symphonic Metal Opera ‘Valcata’ Due October 18th 2019
Artwork by Andy Pilkington
On October 18th 2019, a new independent symphonic metal opera will be released. Valcata is an album that features a staggering ensemble of eight lead singers (four female and four male), each portraying a unique character through the lyrics. The album was produced online in its entirety and features musicians from around the globe, including both emerging and established artists. The album is the work of composer Oha Cade who is based in Brooklyn, New York. Taking a fresh approach to the genre in 2019, Valcata is an elaborate work that exhibits a superabundance of influences while sustaining a sharp and ferocious energy.
Sign up for the newsletter at www.valcata.com for updates on teasers, singles and pre-orders!
Like and follow the project on social media:
www.valcata.com
Facebook.com/ValcataProject
Instagram.com/valcata_official/TRACKLIST
1. Stars
2. Our Quest
3. The Turning
4. Horror Machine
5. Life and a Million
6. 3-2-1
7. Beyond
8. Escalade
9. The Termination
10. Valcata -
Metal Blade announces new ARCH/MATHEOS album
Arch / Matheos reveals details for new album, ‘Winter Ethereal’; launches video for first single, “Straight and Narrow”
In progressive metal circles, the names of guitarist Jim Matheos and vocalist John Arch are spoken with due reverence. With the former having been a driving force in Fates Warning for thirty-five years, and the latter the original front-man of that band, they also have a single seminal work under the Arch / Matheos banner, 2011’s Sympathetic Resonance. In 2019, they have reunited to follow that record up with Winter Ethereal, a more stylistically varied and perhaps deeper collection that explores a lot of sonic territory over the course of nine immersive tracks. “This stems from both of us trying to step out of our comfort zones a bit, sometimes voluntarily, sometimes being pushed,” states Matheos. “Having worked together so many times, it would be easy to fall into the same way of doing things, and I think we were both interested in exploring some new areas.” Arch concurs and adds: “Each song is notably different from the next, and nothing sounds repetitive. It is not a concept album, but somehow after a full listen from start to finish, there does seem to be continuity between the songs that I can’t describe. At over an hour long, I think the fans will agree that it is a full listening experience.”
Winter Ethereal will be released May 10th on Metal Blade Records. A video for the song “Straight and Narrow” is available now for streaming. Watch the video and pre-order the album in various bundle packages at metalblade.com/archmatheos
Winter Ethereal will be available in the following formats:
-digipak-CD
-black / white marbled swirl (US exclusive – limited to 700 copies)
-clear w/ blue smoke (US exclusive – limited to 300 copies)
-180g black vinyl (EU exclusive)
-blue / red marbled vinyl (EU exclusive – limited to 300 copies)
-ice blue marbled vinyl (EU exclusive – limited to 200 copies)
-white vinyl (EU exclusive – limited to 100 copies)
-white / black marbled vinyl (EU exclusive – limited to 400 copies)
* exclusive bundles with shirts, plus digital options are also available!
Upon completion of Sympathetic Resonance, the duo neither declared it a one-off work nor planned on making a follow up, and rather than force anything, they waited for the right timing to present itself, opening the door for a sophomore release. Having commenced writing for the record in the spring of 2017, nothing included was at any point destined for a Fates Warning record, and everything was penned specifically for Arch / Matheos. This contributes to the record’s distinctive feel, and had it not come so naturally, there would be no Winter Ethereal. “The way we work together is no pressure, no deadline, at least until we get close to recording,” says Matheos. “We allow ourselves a lot of time and flexibility to see if we even have anything to say. That’s first and foremost. We start by writing, and if things start shaping up and we’re excited and inspired, we keep going until we’re confident that we’ll be able to do a whole record.” Rather than reform the full line-up of the first record – made up entirely of Fates Warning members – this time around, the duo favored mixing things up with a variety of contributing musicians. “We decided that it would be a good idea to use a different lineup and hopefully avoid a lot of the confusion created around the first record. At the same time, we didn’t want to give the impression that we were forming a new ‘band’ that would be touring/recording beyond this current record. With that in mind, I thought it might be an interesting idea to have a few different rhythm sections across the record, to give things a different feel and sound under the familiar top layer of vocals and guitars by John and I.” This lineup comprises both present and former Fates Warning drummers and bassists – Joey Vera, Bobby Jarzombek, Joe Dibiase and Mark Zonder – plus other noted musicians, such as the legendary Steve Di Giorgio (Death, Testament, Charred Walls Of The Damned), Cynic‘s Sean Malone, and renowned drummer Thomas Lang.
While not a concept album, Arch asserts that “anyone who takes the time to read the lyrics will probably connect with a recurring theme touching on the mysterious weight or flight of human emotion that leaves us with more questions than answers.” In the context of the title, rather than referring to the season, Winter was chosen for having “certain connotations sometimes associated with it, such as isolation, a withering to rebirth”, and with Ethereal meaning “not of this world, or otherworldly”, there came a “meaningful marriage between the two words that best summed up the theme of the album”. For the most part, Arch’s lyrics come as a reaction to the music Matheos presents him with, letting the thoughts and feelings evoked dictate the direction. Enjoying listeners making their own interpretation of his lyrics, he typically does not go into detail about specific tracks, but as an example of the direction he was drawn, he references “Pitch Black Prism” and the many influences that went into shaping it. “The impetus for this song started with seeing images of dolls left behind at the schools and homes near the Chernobyl nuclear reactor disaster. Many weeks of research into the personal accounts and survivors’ testimonies led me deeper into curiosity. I was halfway into the song when I stumbled across a documentary called ‘The Russian Woodpecker’, which inspired a larger twist on the direction of meaning. However, it wasn’t until I saw a post from a Chernobyl survivor named Yuri, who was one of the musicians employed by the Russian Government sent with his bandmates and a ballet dancer into the heart of the disaster to entertain the dying, that the song became complete.”
Making the most of contemporary technology, almost all collaborators tracked their parts in their respective home studios, while guitars and vocals were laid down at Matheos’ studio with him handling the production. Working this way was conducive to creativity and a process that was most agreeable to both Arch and Matheos. “For me, having the freedom and drive to work in isolation is one of the things I like best about recording,” says Matheos. “It allows me to experiment, and often fail, without feeling inhibited or constrained. That said, John offered a lot of encouragement, whether remotely or in person, and pushed me into directions I wouldn’t normally go.” Matheos was similarly supportive when it came to Arch laying down his parts. “I really enjoy the studio situation, mainly because it feels like home,” the vocalist states. “It is a low-key relaxing environment, Jim is behind the console, and I’m behind the mic, and no one is pushing anyone. Whatever creative differences we have, we work out with compromise. I appreciate Jim’s patience while I’m tracking vocals because it can be brutal at times. It’s also cool because I get a front row seat watching Jim track his guitars, sometimes late into the night ’til we both run out of gas. We are longtime friends, and a couple shots and laughs at the end of a long day make for some good memories.”
One thing is certain, with Winter Ethereal, fans of Arch / Matheos will feel that the long wait endured for new music has been worth it. The natural manner in which it all came together makes it all the more special. “Sometimes after being away from something for a while and having life experiences to draw from, you feel you have something to say or offer. Music has always been the best medium for me to express what sometimes words alone cannot, and the timing for this record was just right,” Arch asserts. When it comes to the words he would most readily apply to the album, he immediately goes to “unpretentious, emotionally driven, and, sometimes, the hard truth. ‘Sympathetic Resonance‘ had many of these elements, but I think ‘Winter Ethereal‘ does it with more breathing room, giving the listener time for reflection.”
Winter Ethereal track-listing
1. Vermilion Moons
2. Wanderlust
3. Solitary Man
4. Wrath of the Universe
5. Tethered
6. Straight and Narrow
7. Pitch Black Prism
8. Never in Your Hands
9. Kindred Spirits
Arch / Matheos online:
https://www.facebook.com/archmatheos/
https://twitter.com/archmatheos -
Interview with CHLOE TRUJILLO/Artist,songwriter,wife of METALLICA Bassist, ROBERT TRUJILLO
Cry Of The Wolf Magazine Interview Questions for CHLOE TRUJILLO
Wife, Artist, Mother, Musician. CHLOE TRUJILLO has seen and done it all and continues to push boundaries to bring her unique artistic vision to life on many fronts. You may know her as the wife of METALLICA Bassist ROBERT TRUJILLO, but CHLOE leads a life all her own dedicated to the pursuit of artistic value and connection in a chaotic world.
Thank You for taking the time to do thisTell us about your upcoming album.I’m actually working on 2 at the same time…Take us through the writing process.Usually when I paint is when I start “hearing” melodies and words, and thanks to nowadays technologies, I can just record my ideas immediately on my phone and keep painting. Later on I listen to my ideas and put together a song.Sometimes though I would be more traditional and play some chords or single notes on piano or guitar or bass and start my writing process that way. I also write poems which become songs.
In your ears, what makes a perfect song. What key elements does it have tohave?For me to like a song, it has to have an edge to it, no matter the style of music.
As an artist do you feel a piece of artwork or a design is ever truly finished or does it evolve?An artist decides when a piece is finished, but to me it’s always the hardest decision to make…I still re-work and transform pieces from years ago…Art can always evolve…That’s why I like deadlines, it forces me to “finish” a piece.
How do you balance family with being an artist/musician?Luckily my whole family is artistic, whether it’s music, art or design! And I grew up that way too, so I have some experience on being the daughter and grand-daughter of artists and now the wife and mother of artists.Still, it’s not always easy, and balance never really exists. When my husband is on tour, I am like a single mom and have to juggle school, kids activities, house work and work. But I wouldn’t change a thing, I get inspired by my children all the time and I love that we are all creative!
Any subject matter you would not write about?Not really….
How did you get involved with MUSICIANS WITHOUT BORDERS?Well when I started this collaboration with the guitar strap company, we wanted to give back, I researched a charity that has something to do with music, as I truly believe music is a powerful healer! I found out about Musicians without Borders and their amazing work on providing music education in zones of conflicts and decided to donate proceed from the sales of those guitar straps to them. They then came to me to design their 20th anniversary t-shirt and I agreed to design it and to become an ambassador for them, spreading the word on their work, trying to expand their potential in helping many lives.
Do you feel politics is something artists should weigh in on?I am not a politician, but I think art and music is stronger than politics, and brings people together in harmony.
Obviously your involved with social media platforms. Do you see this medium as ultimately positive for an artist or is it something else?Social media is weird…It’s great as it gives everybody a platform to present themselves and their work to a whole lot of people, it gives us artists a certain independence, but it can also be a trap. I see too many friends addicted to this thing, and so much that they are counting how many likes they’ve had every day, trying to post to get even more likes, more followers instead of focusing on their craft…I’ve been there…and I catch myself! It’s a crazy vortex that can lure you in easily….
What has been the most challenging aspect of being a musician/artist?Not knowing what tomorrow will provide…It’s a very solitary work, being in the studio all day, not having direct feedback on your work, continuing no matter what…Keeping the faith and staying on it… Even with music, I write on my own, and yes I do get together with other musicians to finish a song, but even that, we are never sure what will come out of this collaboration?Believing in yourself and your work, it’s very hard! Plus no one is there to tell you what to do, it’s freeing, and it’s amazing to be free, but you have to be sustainable, make sure you sell your art or your music to survive…and that’s another hard part…I am not a sales person or a marketer, and most artists aren’t…
What got you first involved in music?Music has always been part of my life! It has always helped me survive through the toughest times… My grand father was a touring singer, my parents were listening to a whole lot of music, mostly heavy rock, they always used cool music for their runway shows. Then I became a teenager and really got into grind core and death metal, I started hanging out with the punk rockers in the Paris metro, quickly became friends with venue owners, musicians, roadies, music fans…and they became my extended family in a way…That’s a long story…
Being a metal magazine, we have to ask: favorite Metallica song?It used to be Leper Messiah. There are now tons of new ones that I love…it’s the most difficult question…
Anything you want to say to the fans?Fans are the best! They keep the art and music alive! I am a fan too!Thanks againThank you!
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