Aghora

Hey everybody! Back with another post on a band that arose from the ashes of CYNIC:

Aghora

Genre: Progressive/Jazz Metal

Formed: 1995 in Miami, Florida (USA), active

Members:

Santiago Dobles - Guitar (also in Cynic)
Alan Goldstein - Bass
Diana Serra - Vocals
Giann Rubio - Drums
Sean Reinert - Studio Drums (also in Cynic, Gordian Knot, Anomaly, Portal, Sean Malone, formerly in Death)

Former:
Sean Malone - Bass (also in Cynic, Office Of Strategic Influence, Anomaly, Clockwork, Gordian Knot)
Charlie Ekendahl - Guitar (also in Mendacity)
Richard Komatz - Drums
Jonathan Orriols - Guitar
Danishta Rivero - Vocals
Andy Deluca - Bass
Ian Hayes - Drums
Alex Meade - Guitar

Discography:

1998 - Demo
1999 - Demo
2000 - Aghora (album)
2005 - Dual Alchemy (demo)
2006 - Transitions (compil.)
2006 - Formless (album)

Aghora is a progressive metal band formed in 1995 by Guitarist Santiago Dobles, rising from the ashes of pioneer Progressive Death Metal band CYNIC.
As their name indicates, the lyrical and artwork theme is focused on eastern philosophy (Aghora is a a particular school of Hindu Tantra).
In 2000 they released their first album, self titled Aghora, recorded in 1999 with Sean Malone, Sean Reinert, Charlie Ekendahl, and Danishta Rivero - so 3 members of Cynic were in the band at that time.
In the last 6 years the band has undergone various lineup changes and had been recording and working on their new album Formless that was just released.
I recommend you check em out if you're out for something that's not new, but unique - I'm not the biggest fan of female vocals, but they really create a style of their own!

Links:

Aghora Official Website
Aghora @ myspace.com

Videos @ youtube.com:

Some taps/legatos played by Santiago Dobles:


Aghora playing "Atmas Heave" live in Miami:


Acoustic Song at a radio station in Florida:


Sean Reinert & Santiago Dobles recording "Kali Yuga" in 1999:


Bands already featured:

Abstract Shadows
Adagio
Behold... The Arctopus
Cellar Door
Chaoswave
Circus Maximus
Dream Theater
Into Eternity
Nevermore
Pagan's Mind
Spiral Architect
Symphony X

(just search this blog or look in the archive for the band you're interested in - scroll up to the top)

Behold... The Arctopus

Hey everybody!
As promised, I'll now cover a rather unknown band that definitely stands out of the crowd and is treasured by insiders: the instrumental NY three-piece...




Behold... The Arctopus

Genre: Progressive Technical Instrumental Metal

Formed: 2002 in New York City (USA), active

Members:

Mike Lerner - Guitar
Colin Marston - Warr Guitar (also in Dysrhythmia, Byla, Infidel?/Castro!)
Charlie Zeleny - Drums (also in Blotted Science)


Discography:

2002 - We Need A Drummer (demo)
2003 - Arctopocalypse Now... Warmageddon Later (demo)
2005 - Nano-Nucleonic Cyborg Summoning (EP)
2006 - Orthrelm/Behold... The Arctopus (split)


Behold... The Arctopus was founded in New York City during the late months of 2002, with Colin Marston on Warr guitar and Mike Lerner on electric guitar. Without a drummer, the pair went searching for one through numerous advertisements in local newspapers and auditions. During this time without a drummer to supply the required acquisition, Colin spent months programming the drums with the demo tracks he and Lerner had already written and recorded. Two songs, "We Need a Drummer" (which became "Alcoholocaust" on their following debut Arctopocalypse Now... Warmageddon Later EP) and "We Still Need a Drummer" ("You Will Be Reincarnated As An Imperial Attack Spaceturtle", also on their subsequent debut EP). A bootleg titled "We Need a Drummer" with both of these demos has being circulating the web with no official release of both the original demo tracks currently available. After over a year without a drummer, they stumbled upon a New Jersey local named Charlie Zeleny, who after merely twenty minutes of jamming with the band was accepted as a certified member. Zeleny comprehended the band's conceptual techniques quickly, having perceived the programmed drumming sheet music from the We Need a Drummer demo songs and finally recorded them in 2003 for their debut EP, released by Epicene Sound Systems. The cover was designed by Daniel Rizer. This was succeeded upon in 2005 with their EP "Nano-Nucleonic Cyborg Summoning", consisting of three new songs showing major developments.
It was by now Behold... The Arctopus were nationally touring with other tech metal orientated acts like Colin's other band Dysrhythmia, Yakuza, Time of Orchids, Kayo Dot, The Dillinger Escape Plan and Orthrelm, with whom they later released a Split EP with
In 2006 they were signed to Black Market Activities/Metal Blade and on August 22 the same year they released a full-length album, "Nano-Nucleonic Cyborg Summoning (reissue)", combining their two EPs "Nano-Nucleonic Cyborg Summoning" and "Arctopocalypse Now... Warmageddon Later" and a full live set.
In a recent radio interview with Garry Way, Colin mentioned that a new Behold... The Arctopus album is in the works with "five songs written and three songs learnt". It's set for release in mid 2007.

Charlie Zeleny is also part of the band "Blotted Science", a technical all star project featuring Ron Jarzombek and Alex Webster from Cannibal Corpse. I'll cover that as soon as they reveal more info bout the whole thing...

Links:

Behold... The Arctopus Official Website
Behold... The Artcopus @ myspace (listen to 4 Songs here)

Videos @ youtube.com:

"Alcoholocaust" live:


"Transient Exuberance" live:



Bands already featured:

Abstract Shadows
Adagio
Cellar Door
Chaoswave
Circus Maximus
Dream Theater
Into Eternity
Nevermore
Pagan's Mind
Spiral Architect
Symphony X

(just search this blog or look in the archive for the band you're interested in - scroll up to the top)

Nevermore

Hey everyone!
Please excuse the fairly long pause I took - I was busy with stuff that kept me from sitting one for a good hour. But now I'm back with a post on a more popular band:

Nevermore

Genre: Progressive Power/Thrash Metal

Formed: 1992 in Seattle, Washington (USA), active

Members:

Warrel Dane - Vocals (also in Sanctuary, formerly in Serpent's Knight)
Jeff Loomis - Guitars (also in Sanctuary, formerly in Experiment Fear)
Van Williams - Drums (also in Pure Sweet Hell)
Steve Smyth - Guitars (formerly in Testament, Dragonlord, Vicious Rumours)
Jim Sheppard - Bass (also in Sanctuary, formerly in Alice In Chains)

Former:

Guitars:
Pat O'Brien (also in Cannibal Corpse, Chastain, formerly in Ceremony, Monstrosity)
Tim Calvert (also in Forbidden)
Chris Broderick (Jag Panzer) - live guitars in 2006

Discography:

1992 - Utopia (demo)
1994 - 1994 demo
1995 - Nevermore (album)
1996 - In Memory (EP)
1996 - The Politics Of Ecstasy (album)
1999 - Dreaming Neon Black (album)
2000 - Dead Heart In A Dead World (album)
2000 - Believe In Nothing (single)
2003 - Enemies Of Reality (album)
2005 - This Godless Endeavor (album)

After the disbanding of Sanctuary, Warrel Dane, Jeff Loomis and Jim Sheppard decided to found a new band, adding Van Williams to the line-up and naming it Nevermore.
Founded in the epicentre of Grunge at it's high time, Nevermore persisted as a metal band and were recognized by Neil Kernon, a producer now famous for having worked with bands like Judas Priest, Queensryche, The Rolling Stones and Cannibal Corpse (what a mix!), who produced their self-titled debut, which eventually scored them a record deal with Century Media Records.
They subsequently recorded "The Politics Of Ecstasy" (with Pat O'Brien) and "Dreaming Neon Black" (with Tim Calvert), then switched to recording with Andy Sneap and recorded "Dead Heart In A Dead World".
While they had risen to worldwide fame amongst different parts of the metal community, Nevermore was encountering problems: Century Media cut the budget for their coming album, so they had to stay in Seattle and hired ex-Queensryche guitarist Kelly Gray - probably the biggest mistake of their career.
Kelly Gray completely destroyed the sound quality of "Enemies Of Reality" (my favourite Nevermore album), which, was still quite well-received though. The guitars sounded indefinite, the drums like plastic buckets and frying pans.
Also, Warrel Dane was beginning to suffer from his constant alcohol consumption.
But he eventually managed to become sober and improve his voice.
Century Media, facing the fans' criticism about the sound, then gave the band money to re-mix the album.
They gave it to Andy Sneap, who gave the album a whole new dimension.
Shortly after, they added their live guitarist Steve Smyth to the constant line-up.
They then recorded their best received album to date, entitled "This Godless Endeavor". The press gave it full ratings and declared it album of the month with almost no exceptions.
However, another setback followed: Steve Smyth was diagnosed with kidney failure on April 30th 2006. All live activities of 2006 had to be managed by Chris Broderick.
Luckily, Smyth received a kidney transplant in December 2006 and is already feeling a lot better.
In my opinion, Nevermore is a band that has a place in metal history. Their sound is unmistakable, and their combination of blazingly fast soloing and mind-bending riffs with Dane's operatic voice and a certain catchiness makes them stand out from the crowd.
If you like metal, and you enjoy your metal unique, definitely check them out (if you don't have already!)!

Links:

Nevermore Official Website
Nevermore @ myspace
Nevermore @ purevolume

Videos @ youtube.com:

Nevermore: Chris Broderick & Jeff Loomis Guitar Solo Duel


Jeff Loomis demonstrating the first riff of "Ambivalent":


The video clip to "Born":


"Enemies Of Reality" live at Wacken 2004:


The video clip to "Final Product":


"This Godless Endeavor" live at Wacken 2006:


Nevermore in the studio:


Bands already featured:

Abstract Shadows
Adagio
Cellar Door
Chaoswave
Circus Maximus
Dream Theater
Into Eternity
Pagan's Mind
Spiral Architect
Symphony X

(just search this blog or look in the archive for the band you're interested in - scroll up to the top)