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NEWS
*TODAY'S PICKS*
FEATURED MUSICIAN THIS WEEK IS
BASSIST
JOSE MORA
NEW ALBUM FROM
THE LORDS OF COWTOWN
PLEASE WELCOME
JUPITER CYCLOPS
Q&A INTERVIEW WITH
"NOPROPHECY"
INDY ROCK BLOG #233
INDY ROCK NETWORK'S
PICKS TODAY
December 5/24
SONGS
VIDEO
our FEATURED MUSICIAn is
shumaun bassist
jose mora
Our featured musician this week is Jose Mora, bassist for the masterful SHUMAUN. Jose is a technician, dynamic, tight and powerful bass player. His riffs can be rythmic or progressive and definitely enhances Shumaun's incredible sound. You have to check out Jose and Shumaun's music and get out to a show if you get a chance, great music by extremely talented musicians.
In 2024, Shumaun unveiled their fourth critically acclaimed album, titled "Opposing Mirrors," showcasing a stellar lineup of drummers including the return of Thomas Lang and Leo Margarit of Pain of Salvation, alongside Marco Minnemann from the instrumental power trio, The Aristocrats. For mixing and mastering duties, the band has once again enlisted Brett Caldas-Lima at Tower Studio in France. The band has once again cemented their official lineup with the addition of William Burton on drums.
Shumaun is:
Farhad Hossain: Guitars, Vocals, Keyboards
Jose Mora: Bass
Tyler Kim: Guitars
William Burton: Drums
The Lords Of Cowtown's
ENTERTAINER
debuts tonight at 8pm CST on
Indy Rock Radio: https://www.indyrock.net/indy-rock-radio
Their new album,
“Good LORD! VOLUME ONE
is out on most platforms now!
INTRODUCING
JUPITER CYCLOPS
We will have
"BETWEEN WORLDS"
in rotation starting Thursday November 28th on:
Jupiter Cyclops was formed in 2019 when scene veteran and singer Aaron Peltz (downthesun, On a Pale Horse) relocated from Southern California to the Phoenix desert. What started out as a two-piece doom project quickly metamorphosized into a 4-piece high octane hard rock assault courtesy of guitarist Dustin Lyon’s (Opiate for the Masses) face melting riffs and solos and Jake Melius (Big Wheel Stunt Show) bringing the low-end humping thunder. The lineup was complete with the addition of drummer Kyle Eades (Old Fashion Assassin).
The Cyclops had a simple mission...keep one foot deep in 70’s proto-metal worship and the other foot kicking NWOBHM sounds out of a hot tar pit. Influences run far and wide. Deep Purple, Sabbath, Grand Funk and Iron Maiden with a vested interest in the classic bands that they patched on their jean jackets. Lyrically touching on metaphysical subjects, such as ufo’s, witchcraft, apocalyptic visions, and adding occasional humor into the mix to throw you off their scent. Jupiter Cyclops has been tearing up stages in the Southwest and is ready to bring their brand of rock n’ roll to the masses.
Q&A with NOPROPHECY
https://www.facebook.com/noprophecySG
Why did you form? How did the idea come to be?
The band was formed based on a group of musicians that have the passion for writing music and playing together in a band setting. Every member of the band has always looked up to their own musicians and always wanting to experience to be in one.
How would you describe your sound in five words?
Aggressive, Melodic, Intense , Groove and Dynamic
Your upcoming album, how do think it will be received by fans?
I think fans will be pleasantly surprise by how versatile this album is going to be. From the melodic styles of what NOPROPHECY is known for, to being more experimental and combining various stylistic shifts of various genres of metal. Fans are free to interpret each to their own on how each songs relates to them.
What kind of listening experience is trying to give fans with this album, its singles?
There are so many variations the band incorporates into its songwriting with this album and we believe there is something for everyone. We feel an album should always have a flow from start to finish and that is what we’re trying to achieve with this album. We definitely played around with the choruses more this time, keeping in mind to engage more crowd participation for this album cycle. We want to give the fans a refreshing experience but yet something that is relatable on a personal level.
How is the writing process for the band?
The writing process for this album differs from the EP. With the EP, the band completely wrote the songs before we began the recording, however for this album, the band only prepared 3 full tracks before hitting the studios for recording and the remaining tracks, we demo-ed them and work to its completion during tracking phase. A lot of decisions were made now and then. This gives the band the flexibility to change things around with different sounds and styles to see what fits best for each individual track.
Are any of the band members known on the local scene from any other bands?
We have Akeem playing in a melodic metalcore band, Rise Alive and Sykes with metal band, Dante’s Theory.
How did you decide on the tracks for this album? How much more music can fans expect?
The approach that we set for this album is to experiment as many styles as possible that we can work with and then narrow it down to what works best. We have a mutual understanding within the band to be expressive and open-minded which allows more creativity when working with different tracks for this album. We believe the album should have a multi-dimensional feel to it for the fans to experience the album from start till finish.
What can people expect live from your band compared to other bands?
For our live shows, the band tries to incorporates a fuller sound with backing track accompaniment to elevate people’s experience when they come for our live shows. With Sykes being a full-time vocalist in this new line-up, we can expect more interaction between the band and the audience and to engage in as much crowd participation as possible during our live shows.
Where do your lyrics come from? What inspires your writing?
Since the release of Sorrows single in 2018, the band had planned on the album concept and what will revolve around it. With this album, what inspires the band the most is to create that connection with the fans through the lyrics that was written. Anything that revolves around us - the sadness, the anger, the hope that is lost. This connection amplifies that no one need to face it alone and we can always be there for someone, for everyone.
Are the songs a collaborative effort?
With this new band line-up, it’s a first for everyone working together on the album and with every member contributes their own ideas, this album exceeds in terms of versatility and flexibility in unison and that what makes this album special.
Does the band have a main songwriter?
There was no main songwriter in the band, however, we expand on one’s ideas or composition. Everyone is important to play their role equally in the writing process.
How does the music affect the lyrics and vice versa?
For most of the tracks in this album, the music were composed first before lyrics are added as this gives an overall idea on how the band decides the direction of the track will be. There’s always a storyline in the beginning to spearhead the music composition and with the lyrics added on top of it, it’s an elaborative narration to fit the music.
How would you describe the evolution of the band’s sound?
The evolution of band’s sound really differs from how the band started out. Comparing to the EP which is more dark-sounding, with this album, the sound and the tone that the band is going for is more modern-sounding to stay relevant and it blends well with the vocals for the album.
Name the Top 5 band influences of the band/ Top 5 Bands that your band sounds like that fans like.
Band Influences - Arch Enemy, Trivium, As I Lay Dying, Lamb of God and Killswitch Engage
Band Sounds - Avenged Sevenfold, As I Lay Dying, Bullet For My Valentine, Atreyu, A Day To Remember
What metal genres influence you as a band the most?
On most of the tracks for this album, it’s metalcore with hints of melodic metal, hardcore and thrash metal.
Describe the album as a whole:
This album screams pain and and hits where it hurts the most. It invites everyone to be part of the story as the journey awaits. With crushing new tracks, expect blistering dual guitar solos, intense drums and groovy bass lines with solid vocals to complete the experience!
NOPROPHECY Fun Facts / Story Angles:
1. The album concept As The Bridge Collapses are actually based on every part of a human life and this includes the evolution of our existence. As we grow and co-exist in this world, we are bound to experience things beyond our control and one aspect that this album focuses on are self-worth, undying love and relationships.
2. NOPROPHECY (without spaces) are often confused with an alternative band, NO PROPHECY based in France.
3. The radio effect speech in Japanese at the end of Higanbana are voiceover by Akeem. Akeem learn Japanese language as a hobby and always had interest on Japan culture and country as a whole.
INDY ROCK BLOG
#233
With Paul Denton
The Pocket
Other than being a talented player it is also if not more important to learn how to lock it down, play in the pocket, keep it tight, however you want to describe it. I believe this is the most important part of becoming a well-rounded professional musician. This usually applies to the younger musician as you are learning to grow but I have played with a few so-called experienced musicians that haven't yet found it.
I know when I first started out it took some time to get there. I think the more you play the more you experience the style and ability of your bandmates. It really is simple when you think about it. Listening to not only what you are playing but what the drummer and rhythm guitar may be playing as well. Every part of that rhythm is crucial to locking in and making your band sound tighter. As a Bass player locking in with the drums was great but when you are able to lock in with your guitar player as well it is magic.
Listening to each musician in your band and working together to play within that pocket makes any band sound heavier, cleaner and well-polished.
Other than the thrill of playing live, if I'm in my practice room jamming to selected songs, I seem to get the biggest kick when I feel I'm locked in. It just gives you that excitement and thrill.
I don't think you need to be the flashiest of players, The secret is just to listen. Whether your on stage or in a rehearsal hall just listen to each musician and find that pocket.
Paul Denton