He guys, I got this off of Infernal Combustion, basically you Heavy metal humor site and its hilliarous. http://www.roadrun.com/infernalcombustion
With their fifth album, Enemies of Reality, in the can and about to be released, Seattle's acclaimed metal act Nevermore finish up their contract with indie powerhouse label Century Media. Though the band has become one of the biggest and most well-known on the company's roster, relations between the two parties have soured to the point that the band has made their desire for a new home publicly known.
Some observers have claimed that, due to the failing rapport between band and label, Century Media has shortchanged Nevermore a bit in matters of production and promotion. I don't know where this rumor got started, laughs US label chief Marco Barbieri. Nevermore are one of our flagship bands, and we have a job to do we'll provide as much support as we can, just like we always have.
While the band spent weeks holed up in Texas with producer Andy Sneap to produce 2000's Dead Heart in a Dead World, the label kept the band at home, working day jobs in Seattle, during the recording of Enemies of Reality. Hey, it was for the good of the music, Barbieri insists. They're a dark, brooding band, right? There's nothing but dry air and bright sunshine in Texas. They need to be somewhere gloomy and rainy. In fact, we decided not to put them in some plush, swanky indoor studio where the edge might be dulled from their hard-driving music we rented the parking lot and had them record out there, in the urban chaos. Hey, we saved a lot of money, but that's just a nice bonus the important thing is what's best for the music.
We're used to rolling with the punches, so we did our best anyway, muttered vocalist Warrel Dane, fighting off pneumonia at a local homeless shelter. When they said we had to use [Queensryche/Dokken producer] Kelly Gray, we were all a little skeptical because we'd never worked with him before. But he actually took a pretty 'hands-off' approach to our sessions so hands-off, in fact, that we just called him from a pay phone in the parking lot, and if he was home and not too busy, he'd give us some advice, or listen to a few seconds of a song before hanging up on us.
Barbieri also insisted on exploring ways to really capture the raw essence of the band on tape, refusing to sign for expensive digital recording gear. Too many bands lose their passion and soul in the coldness of digital, he pointed out. By having Nevermore use this broken reel-to-reel recorder I found at a flea market, we kept the organic power of their music intact!
The State-Of-The-Art Gear Used To Attain The Stellar Production On The New Nevermore CD
The promotional campaign for Enemies of Reality will be similarly unorthodox. Rather than the usual blitz of promotional CDs, glossy photos, slick color ads and expensive telephone interviews, Century Media has persuaded a local third-grade class to draw pictures of the band, which will then be left on the doorstep of LA nightclub The Viper Room. Lots of important people go there, Barbieri points out, and, assuming they'll know who these 8-year-olds were trying to draw, they'll be intrigued enough to create that all-important 'buzz' about the band. Instead of promotional CDs, Century Media street team members are being mailed lyric sheets and asked to loudly sing songs from the new album on street corners hopefully a few journalists will be driving by and hear them, and we'll get some reviews that way.
Warrel Dane's Official Press Picture (Drawn By Caitlin Reed, Age 8)
Obviously, no label would use all these killer, outside-the-box ideas for a band they didn't intend to fully promote, Barbieri insisted, signing off on an initial pressing of 160 copies of Enemies of Reality. Obviously, we'd prefer it if they had stuck with us and signed a new contract that's a no-brainer. But if they plan to seek their fortune elsewhere, the least we, as a supportive, caring label can do, is to send them off in style, and really show them what we think of their decision.
While the band have a full slate of European and US touring planned for Enemies of Reality, fans are advised to remember that all dates are subject to change at any moment, according to sources strewing tacks under the tires of the band's van and swiping all their guitar cables.
- Keith Bergman
With their fifth album, Enemies of Reality, in the can and about to be released, Seattle's acclaimed metal act Nevermore finish up their contract with indie powerhouse label Century Media. Though the band has become one of the biggest and most well-known on the company's roster, relations between the two parties have soured to the point that the band has made their desire for a new home publicly known.
Some observers have claimed that, due to the failing rapport between band and label, Century Media has shortchanged Nevermore a bit in matters of production and promotion. I don't know where this rumor got started, laughs US label chief Marco Barbieri. Nevermore are one of our flagship bands, and we have a job to do we'll provide as much support as we can, just like we always have.
While the band spent weeks holed up in Texas with producer Andy Sneap to produce 2000's Dead Heart in a Dead World, the label kept the band at home, working day jobs in Seattle, during the recording of Enemies of Reality. Hey, it was for the good of the music, Barbieri insists. They're a dark, brooding band, right? There's nothing but dry air and bright sunshine in Texas. They need to be somewhere gloomy and rainy. In fact, we decided not to put them in some plush, swanky indoor studio where the edge might be dulled from their hard-driving music we rented the parking lot and had them record out there, in the urban chaos. Hey, we saved a lot of money, but that's just a nice bonus the important thing is what's best for the music.
We're used to rolling with the punches, so we did our best anyway, muttered vocalist Warrel Dane, fighting off pneumonia at a local homeless shelter. When they said we had to use [Queensryche/Dokken producer] Kelly Gray, we were all a little skeptical because we'd never worked with him before. But he actually took a pretty 'hands-off' approach to our sessions so hands-off, in fact, that we just called him from a pay phone in the parking lot, and if he was home and not too busy, he'd give us some advice, or listen to a few seconds of a song before hanging up on us.
Barbieri also insisted on exploring ways to really capture the raw essence of the band on tape, refusing to sign for expensive digital recording gear. Too many bands lose their passion and soul in the coldness of digital, he pointed out. By having Nevermore use this broken reel-to-reel recorder I found at a flea market, we kept the organic power of their music intact!
The promotional campaign for Enemies of Reality will be similarly unorthodox. Rather than the usual blitz of promotional CDs, glossy photos, slick color ads and expensive telephone interviews, Century Media has persuaded a local third-grade class to draw pictures of the band, which will then be left on the doorstep of LA nightclub The Viper Room. Lots of important people go there, Barbieri points out, and, assuming they'll know who these 8-year-olds were trying to draw, they'll be intrigued enough to create that all-important 'buzz' about the band. Instead of promotional CDs, Century Media street team members are being mailed lyric sheets and asked to loudly sing songs from the new album on street corners hopefully a few journalists will be driving by and hear them, and we'll get some reviews that way.
Obviously, no label would use all these killer, outside-the-box ideas for a band they didn't intend to fully promote, Barbieri insisted, signing off on an initial pressing of 160 copies of Enemies of Reality. Obviously, we'd prefer it if they had stuck with us and signed a new contract that's a no-brainer. But if they plan to seek their fortune elsewhere, the least we, as a supportive, caring label can do, is to send them off in style, and really show them what we think of their decision.
While the band have a full slate of European and US touring planned for Enemies of Reality, fans are advised to remember that all dates are subject to change at any moment, according to sources strewing tacks under the tires of the band's van and swiping all their guitar cables.
- Keith Bergman
