Musicians Institute recently caught up with former NEVERMORE guitarist Jeff Loomis and Portland, Oregon studio musician Keith Merrow to discuss networking and inspiration. Jeff and Keith talk about how networking opportunities allowed them to work on their current project, CONQUERING DYSTOPIA. Check out the clip below. CONQUERING DYSTOPIA is mixing its debut album at Audiohammer Studios in Sanford, Florida with Mark Lewis (ARSIS, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, WHITECHAPEL, DEVILDRIVER, DEICIDE, SIX FEET UNDER). A spring release is expected. The recording lineup for CONQUERING DYSTOPIA's first CD is completed by Alex Webster (CANNIBAL CORPSE) on bass and Alex Rudinger (THE FACELESS) on drums. Says CONQUERING DYSTOPIA: "We feel that we have a very cool and unique band lineup, which will make for a memorable album for the listener." Loomis previously contributed a guest guitar solo to Keith's second full-length instrumental album, "Awaken The Stone King", which came out in January 2011. According to his official bio, Merrow's extreme style of guitar playing is a unique blend of traditional metal with a dash of obscurity. In May 2009, he released a self-produced EP titled "Lonestar Transcend". The six-song instrumental effort was a compilation of songs that were first heard on Merrow's YouTube page, where he posted play-through videos of the songs. Just six months later, in November 2009 came "The Arrival", which marked Merrow's first album that he wrote from start to finish. Loomis and drummer Van Williams announced their departure from NEVERMORE in April 2011 due to personal differences with singer Warrel Dane and bassist Jim Sheppard. Their replacements have not yet been announced.
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