Ashes of Ares teaser

[Traxan]

http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=94143

Features Matt Barlow, Van Williams and Freddie Vidales (ex-Iced Earth) and sounds very IE. Van does the talking in the video. I don't think I've ever heard him speak. Dude's kinda funny.

Is Barlow still a state trooper? Kinda surprised he could do this.

 

[El Stormo]

Not sure if Barlow is still a trooper, but I don't think there's any regulations against singing in a band when you're on the force. Might make the whole touring business difficult, but not much else apart from that. I am kinda curious to see how the album will turn out. I hope they stayed away from the cheesier side of power metal.

 

[Talking Backwards]

If Matt were to grow a beard, he could almost be called Heisenberg.

 

[Traxan]

Well I would think a full time job as a trooper would keep him a little busy and unable to tour.

 

[El Stormo]

Like I said, yeah, maybe, but small US tours should be okay. Or maybe they just don't intend to tour much - although I did see them play on several festivals in the US...

 

[Traxan]

Another interview. I guess Barlow is still a full time cop because live shows will be limited.

----

The Age Of Metal recently conducted an interview with former ICED EARTH and current ASHES OF ARES frontman Matt Barlow. You can now listen to the chat using the Mixcloud widget below.

In addition to Barlow, ASHES OF ARES features Van Williams (ex-NEVERMORE) and Freddie Vidales (ex-ICED EARTH). Due on September 6 via Nuclear Blast Records, the band's self-titled debut album was recorded in part at Morrisound Recording in Tampa, Florida with legendary producer Jim Morris (ICED EARTH, OBITUARY, JON OLIVA'S PAIN, JAG PANZER). It will be made available as a limited CD in a digipak, including a bonus track, as well as in two different 2LP versions.

"Ashes Of Ares" track listing:

01. The Messenger
02. Move the Chains
03. On Warrior's Wings
04. Punishment
05. This is my Hell
06. Dead Man's Plight
07. Chalice of Man
08. The Answer
09. What I Am
10. The One-Eyed King
11. The Answer (acoustic version; bonus track)

Regarding the album title and the cover artwork, which was designed by drummer Van Williams, Van states: "We discussed a few ideas, but once we had developed the band logo, it felt right to use it as the introduction to the band along with the name as the focal point for our first album. The artwork, for me, reflects where each of us has been and how we are coming together from our pasts in this new endeavour."

ASHES OF ARES is:

Matthew Barlow - Vocals
Freddie Vidales - Guitar/Bass
Van Williams - Drums
Gio Geraca - Guitar (session/touring member only)
Dean Sternberg - Bass (session/touring member only)

ASHES OF ARES is a band which represents the culmination of experiences, trials and tribulations of its founding members. Within months of their departures from the iconic metal bands ICED EARTH and NEVERMORE, the trio came together with a renewed drive to create a sound which is a true collaboration of their personal influences, ideas and visions. Armed with the knowledge acquired through years of the writing, touring and recording cycle, and with the support of an army of loyal fans across the globe, ASHES OF ARES is poised to carve out a new legacy and stand alongside those who have helped pave the way.

In an October 2012 interview with Rocket Queen Promotion, Barlow stated about ASHES OF ARES' musical direction: "Well, most folks know what to expect from me, from my work with ICED EARTH and PYRAMAZE. So you take some of that and mix it with Van's brand of cadence and Freddie's riffage… blam-o….it's ASHES OF ARES!!! It's just straight-up heavy metal!"

Regarding the band's future plans, Barlow said: "The reason we are all doing this is for the love of music. We are metal guys and this is what we do. ASHES OF ARES live shows will be limited, but there will be live shows for fans, friends, and family to come to and enjoy with us. We really just want to create music that we enjoy and have that translate to our listeners."

ASHES OF ARES made its live debut on May 17 at the Rock Hard Festival at Amphitheater in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbftEsV-DxE#at=89

Read more at http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/fo...t-in-new-audio-interview/#3ZkxIsUoqXIlAmzc.99

 

[Traxan]

Music video for the first song.

http://youtu.be/lruVaOJcC0s

 

[DreamNeonBlack]

Bought the CD, songs are good. Not impressed at all with the productions. Especially on the drums. Sounds like a glorified demo at best.
Other than that, good stuff! Job well done.

 

[~Lynn~]

Music video for the first song.

http://youtu.be/lruVaOJcC0s

huge phat MEH. I wanted to see pussy and asshole and lightning........not some whiny girl crying.

 

[Talking Backwards]

Bought the CD, songs are good. Not impressed at all with the productions. Especially on the drums. Sounds like a glorified demo at best.
Other than that, good stuff! Job well done.

Good lord the kick drum sounds so artificial. Did they hire Lars to bang on pots and fold out chairs again for the rest?

Completely agree about the production sounding barely above demo quality. Some of the riffs are kind of generic too (although there are some good ones in there as well), and the main standout is Barlow. I've never actually thought he was one of the best vocalists either, just pretty good and the best that Iced Earth ever had for sure.

excerpt from a random review:

The production accomplishes a bizarre middle ground between lacking unity and simultaneously not falling apart, having a lot of the same qualities as a rough take before the mix down, yet somehow keeping the arrangement in the same ballpark like a sculpture held together with Elmer's glue. The guitars are a bit limp and sound like they were chosen from a default setting on a Line 6 Pod Farm interface, while the rest of the arrangement sounds quite mechanical and contrived. Anything lacking in the excitement department, however, is over-compensated for via Barlow's vocals, which go a bit too heavy on the high and low extremities of his range with little sense of build up or organization.

 

[Traxan]

With album sales in the toilet, I have long suspected production quality is going to suffer. Expect more albums like this and the original release of EoR.

 

[Dead Winter]

I prefer the original EoR to the shiny new one.

 

[neal]

Yeah it wasn't all that bad, after a few listen you get used to it, and it fits the mood of the album. EoR is pretty angry.

 

[DreamNeonBlack]

In the end it Should find a balance. The cost of equipment needed to record a great sounding album has declined dramatically. So the budget/recording cost should offset...in theory.
It should be more cost to hire a good producer if one cannot do it themselves.