What does Blackguard do when not touring? (aka the thread that won't die)

[Palabra de Dios]

I also said in this very thread that I actually dig that band and could totally get behind them. They just have a really stupid name so I couldn't remember it. Um I also was a fan of Tyr before they toured the US for the first time.

I'm glad AK is being mentioned in this thread as kind of a subplot to the main plot of whether or not Blackguard will see success.

I think their name is fucking cool as hell. It's Lovecraft influenced. Kind of an obscure reference, but still cool. Way better than some of these goofy portmanteau names that Power/Prog bands come up with, like Instanzia. uke:

 

[eppst1]

Do you know how many times I have skipped Warbringer simply because my first thought when comparing their shows to others is, "Eh, they tour all the time, they will be back"

You know how many times that has burned me? Case in point: Forbidden. The last chance I got to see them was back in '90 with Death Angel - I was leaving for school 3 days before they came to my area. I didn't think it was a big deal because "they will come back." I finally got see them last night after waiting 22 years for them to "come back". If a band comes around I want to see, regardelss of how many tours they are on (I've been able to see Warbringer once) I will go see them. Cause you never do really know when they *will* be back.
I just thought of something while I type this. Bob and Jason live in Chicago - a hotbed of metal tours compared to my wasteland of Columbus. I go to quite a few shows during the year (mostly Cleveland) and the only time I've seen BG was at PP. Maybe where you live is also a function of overexposure?

 

[Diabolik]

Very true Ed, we do get almost every tour, the odd one offs and many many local shows sometimes all in the same night or weekend so we are able to be selective. We have Reggies and Bottom Lounge which host most of the smaller tours and some larger ones. House of Blues which has the larger metal shows. Places like Double Door, Metro, Lincoln Hall also have metal shows every once in a while. The Riv and Aragon also have some. But then we have smaller places like Empty Bottle which has more doom / hipster metal playing. Red Line Tap which host a metal saturday night every last week of the month with locals and some out of towners like Deceased, Ignitor and Zuul.

I do agree Ed, I do think location does have lots to do with it. But on the other end....if I was in a smaller town and Blackguard came 4 times on different tours....I would be more angry since shows dont come around as much and I am stuck seeing these guys again and again and again.

I also have to add something to something that was stated yesterday..... I have missed lots of shows due to the undercard being so bad that it wasnt worth my time to race out and take a day off work to see 1 band play. Working nights I have to take vacation days to see shows so I have to be kind of selective and mostly the roster of the show is what really pushed me to go, unless it is some band that I must see. Say if like Atlantean Kodex came here.

 

[Jasonic]

Good point Ed,
Here in Chicago, there have honestly been quite a few times where bands like Warbringer will literally be on at least two upcoming shows. Same for bands like Mutiny Within, etc. I suppose if you live somewhere that doesn't have touring bands every single week, this topic may never even cross your mind.

No doubt that you can get burned by the "I will see them again"

 

[nomisofsiman]

I also would have to agree with Ed. It's also one of the reasons I probably will never move out of the Chicago area due to how many tours come through. But yeah, being in Chicago probably does add to the fact of bands feeling more overexposed compared to other areas of the country.

 

[dcowboys311]

Hah, someone recently made a thread on the local metal message board about the upcoming Eluveitie/Three Inches of Blood show.

One of the first responses: "No Blackguard?"

 

[Prog_Please]

Hah, someone recently made a thread on the local metal message board about the upcoming Eluveitie/Three Inches of Blood show.

One of the first responses: "No Blackguard?"

I was gonna post that on the thread started here, but I was able to control my sarcastic urges. Isn't that their target audience too?

 

[Pellaz]

I think their name is fucking cool as hell. It's Lovecraft influenced. Kind of an obscure reference, but still cool. Way better than some of these goofy portmanteau names that Power/Prog bands come up with, like Instanzia. uke:

Uh, I think you partly undermined your point by using a really highbrow word like "portmanteau" to diss prog-metal....a traditionally highbrow genre.

 

[Palabra de Dios]

No doubt that you can get burned by the "I will see them again"

But I would want to see Warbringer. I like them. After seeing Blackguard a few times, I'm good on seeing them, until they put out new material that I may perhaps be interested in.

 

[jem777az]

But I would want to see Warbringer. I like them. After seeing Blackguard a few times, I'm good on seeing them, until they put out new material that I may perhaps be interested in.

New material from Blackguard coming soon.
From Blabbermouth:

Since signing with Victory Records earlier in the year, Montreal, Quebec, Canada-based sympho/black/folk/power metallers BLACKGUARD (formerly PROFUGUS MORTIS) have been touring non-stop and gearing up for their next record.

"This is going to be our most dynamic release to date," says vocalist Paul Ablaze. "We're going to have a few slower songs on this album; more headbanging tunes. We're also going to be introducing some new elements to our songs to mix things up a bit. Not to sound too cliché, but we definitely don't want to write the same record over and over again and this record is going to be a great step forward for us."

Set for an early spring 2011 release, BLACKGUARD's new CD will coincide with the band's participation in the SYMPHONY X North American tour, which is slated to kick off April 21 in Philadelphia, immediately after the group's return from yet-to-be-announced European dates.

"It is a dream tour," says Ablaze. "Our band has spent the better part of the last two years on tour to get to this point. We very much look forward to seeing old friends, making new friends and being a part of what will be the supreme springtime event. We want to thank everyone involved for giving us this opportunity and we will not disappoint."

BLACKGUARD is currently on the road with EPICA, SCAR SYMMETRY and THE AGONIST through mid-December.

The band recently announced the departure of keyboardist Jonathan Lefrancois-Leduc and has chosen to remain a five-piece for the foreseeable future.

BLACKGUARD's debut album, "Profugus Mortis", was released in March 2009 in Europe via Nuclear Blast Records and April 2009 in North America through Sumerian Records.

 

[Akumu]

I just saw Blackguard for the fourth time last night, opening for Epica.

They're doing something right. Last time they came here with Epica, the crowd barely moved for them, and the entire front row just stared at them. This time, the audience went berserk. Moshing, crowd-surfing (band members participating and all). Never would have thought to see that at an Epica show. (And the person next to me reacted: "THAT DIDN'T SUCK. I COULD DO WITHOUT THE VOCALS, BUT I LIKED THE MUSIC. THEY WERE FUN.")

Also, they're obviously aware of their reputation as the Ever-Touring Band. When that they were playing their last song, some people went "NOOOOOOO" - and Paul's response was, "Oh, come on! Don't pretend we haven't been here eight million times already!"

 

[AeonicSlumber]

Uh, I think you partly undermined your point by using a really highbrow word like "portmanteau" to diss prog-metal....a traditionally highbrow genre.

Yeah but highbrow in metal is stupid if you ask me man. It's METAL! I get AK is Lovecraftian lore, but it doesn't suit what they're doing. Like Bal Sagoth imo gets away with that kind of over-indulgence if you ask me because A) they re-wrote the book on it, and B) their music suits it.

 

[AeonicSlumber]

You read into that what you wanted to.

It goes further beyond that and you know it.

A constant opening band's sales could quickly dry up, earning them a spot on the list of a label's "Former Artist" list.

(IE - anyone remember BEYOND THE EMBRACE?)

No it doesn't. When Beyond The Embrace was around, the market was very different. On top of that, the fact that you have to ask if anyone remembers them, yet again backs up our argument. The band stopped touring, and stopped putting its name out to fans during a very important time in its life cycle. The band faded away and now we ask that question.

So again, so that I make sure I'm as diplomatic as possible, you are entitled to these opinions, but at the end of the day, you are WRONG. Like I said, you are basically telling Steve Jobs (in b4 you interpret this as me thinking I'm Steve Jobs and missing the point entirely) that the iPod is a shitty product and won't sell because you don't think it's ugly and you don't think the iTunes-requirement is a good idea. You're wrong. The iPod is one of the biggest-selling tech products today and touring is essential for bands to get their product out and get noticed.

Also if your band opens with 5,000 records sold the first week, unless something astronomical like 9/11 happens, chances are the sales won't "dry up." Stop with the conjecture dude.

 

[Diabolik]

when it comes to record sales in the US you cant measure anything off of that because you are missing all the people who order online, ordering from a very small distro, ordering from overseas to get stuff. When you see something like this band only sold 800 the first week. it is a whole different ball game than the pop music genre with album sales. Lots of bands in the metal scene will sell albums over a longer period of time. It is interesting...I was watching this show called "death metal Music" in Discovery ID this weekend. Basically it was a show on how there have been murders tied to death metal bands lyrics and stuff. This professor even came out and said that metal fans are the one musical fanbase that buys CD's and goes to more concerts and any genre of music fan. They are a very dedicated fanbase. I really have no clue where I am going with this....I just got up and figured I would add to the thread.

 

[Claus / Intromental]

Lots of bands in the metal scene will sell albums over a longer period of time. It is interesting...

It sure is interesting, because that's not true ...
Even if you don't believe it, it still is crucial with the first couple of weeks sales for metal releases. After a few months an album is basically "dead". A tour or some crazy publicity stunt can bring sales back in play, (but that goes for all genres), but other than that, an album is practically dead after just a few months.

c.

 

[AeonicSlumber]

It sure is interesting, because that's not true ...
Even if you don't believe it, it still is crucial with the first couple of weeks sales for metal releases. After a few months an album is basically "dead". A tour or some crazy publicity stunt can bring sales back in play, (but that goes for all genres), but other than that, an album is practically dead after just a few months.

c.

Least he admits that he doesn't know what he's talking about at the end of his post.

 

[Diabolik]

It sure is interesting, because that's not true ...
Even if you don't believe it, it still is crucial with the first couple of weeks sales for metal releases. After a few months an album is basically "dead". A tour or some crazy publicity stunt can bring sales back in play, (but that goes for all genres), but other than that, an album is practically dead after just a few months.

c.

not true.....there will always be classic albums that will always sell to new generations of fans. So no one is going to buy any older Blind Guardian, Helloween, Gamma Ray, Angra, and Edguy Cd's after a few weeks after thier release? I guess you do know all since you manage some bands. Basically your statement says that people dont buy older CD's? wow....so how are dealers are ProgPower selling any CD's then? I guess there is no reason to have a dealer room?

 

[dcowboys311]

not true.....there will always be classic albums that will always sell to new generations of fans. So no one is going to buy any older Blind Guardian, Helloween, Gamma Ray, Angra, and Edguy Cd's after a few weeks after thier release? I guess you do know all since you manage some bands. Basically your statement says that people dont buy older CD's? wow....so how are dealers are ProgPower selling any CD's then? I guess there is no reason to have a dealer room?

Wow.

 

[Diabolik]

Wow.

hahahaha. People tend to also forget the slow sellers. Lots of cult status bands dont sell well the first week but have steady sales or people picking their stuff up from strong word of mouth. There are lots of bands like this.....Atlantean Kodex, Slough Feg, Agalloch, and even older bands that get some interest after bands use them as an influence. Look at all the older thrash bands coming back now since there is a huge influx of new thrash...same with NWOBHM and traditional metal bands selling albums again since there is a new wave also happening. Sure it isnt enough to buy a house with but to say an album is dead, not always true.. It may be dead for the 3rd or 4th tier power metal act who does nothing asides a few shows in thier hometown a year then just goes and make a new disc and then plays a few shows and then repeats the same cycle over and over adding nothing new to the genre.

 

[Claus / Intromental]

not true.....there will always be classic albums that will always sell to new generations of fans. So no one is going to buy any older Blind Guardian, Helloween, Gamma Ray, Angra, and Edguy Cd's after a few weeks after thier release? I guess you do know all since you manage some bands. Basically your statement says that people dont buy older CD's? wow....so how are dealers are ProgPower selling any CD's then? I guess there is no reason to have a dealer room?

+

hahahaha. People tend to also forget the slow sellers. Lots of cult status bands dont sell well the first week but have steady sales or people picking their stuff up from strong word of mouth. There are lots of bands like this.....Atlantean Kodex, Slough Feg, Agalloch, and even older bands that get some interest after bands use them as an influence. Look at all the older thrash bands coming back now since there is a huge influx of new thrash...same with NWOBHM and traditional metal bands selling albums again since there is a new wave also happening. Sure it isnt enough to buy a house with but to say an album is dead, not always true.. It may be dead for the 3rd or 4th tier power metal act who does nothing asides a few shows in thier hometown a year then just goes and make a new disc and then plays a few shows and then repeats the same cycle over and over adding nothing new to the genre.

Are you kidding me?
Are you, Mr Diabolik from Chicago, who has just spent I don't know how many pages of this thread to prove how incredibly unknowing of the business you truly are, trying to tell me that what I'm saying is not a fact? Really?
I know I was supposed not to insult people online, but you're just too easy ...

No, people do NOT buy older BG, Helloween, GR, Angra, Edguy etc CD's after a few weeks after their release. NOT IN AMOUNTS THAT MATTER to the label and the people in the "know".
It all has to do with the first month of sales - this is where their label will decide what they are going to (financially) put into touring, if they are going to continue with the advertisement campaigns and so on.
Yes, once in a while you hear of a band/artists (none of those you've mentioned) that will suddenly pick up sales due to somehow "going viral" - yeah, even pre-internet it did happen once in a while - but that is not the norm.

Heavy metal is just like any other genre - the first couple of weeks sales are what matters.
Believe me when I'm telling you this - it is a FACT - f.a.c.t. ... you know what a fact is?

And quit talking about Slough Feg, Atlantean Kodex etc as if they were bands that "mattered" in this discussion - those are bands that do NOT sell anywhere near what you think. Quality bands, yes - quantity moving, no.

c.