Hello everyone. Been awhile. Although we have a ways to go, I will try to pop in and give updates regarding the forthcoming Artizan release: The Furthest Reaches Part 2: The Gaia Effect. The follow-up to the sci-fi metal opera: The Furthest Reaches, released in 2015. Holy cow. Is that right? TEN years ago?? My arms, legs and NECK say: "Oh yeah, that's about right!" 
Anywho, I just finished the first drum sessions with Jim Morris, down at new new and most definitely updated Morrisound Studio's in Tampa. What a terrifically comfortable, creative vibe the new studio has. Just perfect. Jim and I are writing all of the material together: over seventy minutes of Artizan 2.0. Best way to describe it is a little more of everything: catchy, soaring melodies (both lyrically and musically), a bucketload of gnarly riffs, and hopefully, a an immersive, captivating, compelling story to grab you by the hand and take you somewhere fantastical and inspiring. I have never really considered Artizan as "proggy", but I am confident those of you who have an appetite for, let's say, 70's classic prog rock, will certainly be delighted. Jim's writing is most definitely pushing my percussive abilities. And I am good with that -- having a blast with the creative process! Oh! And Jim is mixing the project in DOLBY ATMOS. Incredibly IMMERSIVE soundscaping. Itunes will support the Atmos mix.
We will be tracking drums in separate sessions, as there is a mega-load of stuff to capture. I completed five songs in the first, with at least one more two-day session coming up. Vocals with Artizan singer, Tom Brade, will be tracked at Colorado Sound. Pretty cool, as I first worked with Jim way back in 1990 at that studio for the Leviathan EP. Not too long after he and his brother, Tom Morris, worked on the legendary Crimson Glory release 'Transcendence'. Many stories were told!
REALLY fortunate to procure the vocal talents of a slew of uber-talented artists: Matt Barlow, Ray Alder, Stu Block, and the angelic Sabrina Valentine (Seven Kingdoms). Everyone delivered! Kinda cool that it just happens to be the first release in which Matt and Stu appear together. Not on the same track. But back-to-back! I crafted the lyrics specifically for each, trying to showcase their strengths. Jim added a glorious chorus melody to Stu's track that really takes advantage of his particular range. Matt simply crushed it. And Ray? Wow. We captured that trademark dark, smoky, silky smooth style that he exudes. Ray has really found a new strength in his "maturing' instrument. They are all unique characters in the saga of The Furthest Reaches. And each have their own track. It's a lot.
I want to thank Tim Henderson for running the press release. Was also pleasantly surprised to see Blabbermouth pick it up.
Time for another double espresso! More to come.
You can check out the Artizan back catalog here: https://artizan.bandcamp.com/
FULL press release here: https://bravewords.com/news/artizan...ure-matt-barlow-stu-block-ray-alder-and-more/
Anywho, I just finished the first drum sessions with Jim Morris, down at new new and most definitely updated Morrisound Studio's in Tampa. What a terrifically comfortable, creative vibe the new studio has. Just perfect. Jim and I are writing all of the material together: over seventy minutes of Artizan 2.0. Best way to describe it is a little more of everything: catchy, soaring melodies (both lyrically and musically), a bucketload of gnarly riffs, and hopefully, a an immersive, captivating, compelling story to grab you by the hand and take you somewhere fantastical and inspiring. I have never really considered Artizan as "proggy", but I am confident those of you who have an appetite for, let's say, 70's classic prog rock, will certainly be delighted. Jim's writing is most definitely pushing my percussive abilities. And I am good with that -- having a blast with the creative process! Oh! And Jim is mixing the project in DOLBY ATMOS. Incredibly IMMERSIVE soundscaping. Itunes will support the Atmos mix.
We will be tracking drums in separate sessions, as there is a mega-load of stuff to capture. I completed five songs in the first, with at least one more two-day session coming up. Vocals with Artizan singer, Tom Brade, will be tracked at Colorado Sound. Pretty cool, as I first worked with Jim way back in 1990 at that studio for the Leviathan EP. Not too long after he and his brother, Tom Morris, worked on the legendary Crimson Glory release 'Transcendence'. Many stories were told!
REALLY fortunate to procure the vocal talents of a slew of uber-talented artists: Matt Barlow, Ray Alder, Stu Block, and the angelic Sabrina Valentine (Seven Kingdoms). Everyone delivered! Kinda cool that it just happens to be the first release in which Matt and Stu appear together. Not on the same track. But back-to-back! I crafted the lyrics specifically for each, trying to showcase their strengths. Jim added a glorious chorus melody to Stu's track that really takes advantage of his particular range. Matt simply crushed it. And Ray? Wow. We captured that trademark dark, smoky, silky smooth style that he exudes. Ray has really found a new strength in his "maturing' instrument. They are all unique characters in the saga of The Furthest Reaches. And each have their own track. It's a lot.
I want to thank Tim Henderson for running the press release. Was also pleasantly surprised to see Blabbermouth pick it up.
Time for another double espresso! More to come.
You can check out the Artizan back catalog here: https://artizan.bandcamp.com/
FULL press release here: https://bravewords.com/news/artizan...ure-matt-barlow-stu-block-ray-alder-and-more/