NEWS
*TODAY'S PICKS*
FEATURED MUSICIAN
ALEXIS VON KRAVEN
FORTY FOOT ECHO
IS BACK!
2024
BAND OF THE YEAR
XFEARS
CANADA'S TOP BAND
IRON KINGDOM
Q&A WITH
WHISKY OF BLOOD
INDY ROCK NETWORK'S
PICKS TODAY
January 23/25
SONGS
VIDEO
INDY ROCK RADIO
FEATURED MUSICIAN
THIS WEEK IS
ALEXIS VON KRAVEN
This week's featured musician is Warmachine's Drummer extraordinaire, Music Producer, Clinician and Speaker Alexis Von Kraven. This guy is a beast, top of the pile drummer. He comes with a mass amount of experience and incredible work ethic.
BangerTV: "Alexis von Kraven started his drumming career by playing covers during his childhood. In his teens AVK became a session musician and then started playing for different musical theatre plays as well as touring internationally. Alexis has recorded over a couple hundred albums of different musical genres and whenever he plays metal, he literally melts the face of his skin off. Alexis is currently drumming for the following acts: Hollywood Monsters, Eternal Halloween, Heavens Fire and more and uses and abuses: MAPEX Drums, D’Addario Accessories, Evans Drum Heads, Puresound percussion, Los Cabos Drumsticks, Eccentric Systems (Buzzkill, Quick Torque Cams and Flat Headz), DX drumbags, GS custom heads and Jelly Drumpads."
You can catch Alexis at https://www.facebook.com/alexisvonkraven
and Warmachine at https://www.facebook.com/WarmachineCAN
FORTY FOOT ECHO'S
song, MILES AWAY spins
all day Thursday January 16th on:
WELCOME BACK
FORTY FOOT ECHO
Known for their chart-topping hits and memorable TV placements, including One Tree Hill, Forty Foot Echo has shared stages with rock icons like Three Days Grace, Nickelback, Theory of a Deadman, and Breaking Benjamin. Their music is a seamless fusion of classic rock grit and modern pop sensibilities, earning them a dedicated following, as evidenced by a loyal fanbase and a strong streaming presence.
In response to new fan growth and the undeniable chemistry of their new lineup, Forty Foot Echo is back in the studio, crafting their most anticipated album to date. The new record promises to honour its roots while exploring fresh, contemporary sounds that reflect the evolution of both the band and the genre.
Forty Foot Echo is re-engaging with fans across multiple platforms with a slate of singles, music videos, and new content on the way. For long-time listeners, the heart of their music remains the same – passionate, anthemic, and undeniably raw. But for newcomers, the band's return offers a compelling invitation to rediscover what makes Forty Foot Echo one of Canada's most enduring rock bands
The journey is far from over. Forty Foot Echo is back, louder, bolder, and ready to make its mark on rock music once again. Stay tuned – the echo is just getting started.
2024
BAND OF THE YEAR
Murilo Barim
Bass
He started playing bass when he was 16, after discovering a bass that was kept in a church he attended with the youth group. The bass looked a lot with one of the basses of Steve Harris from Iron Maiden, one of his great idols. Since then, he never left the bass studies, either alone or with some teachers. Murilo always played metal on several bands. Influences: Iron Maiden, Metallica, Rolling Stones, Ozzy Osbourne, Helloween, Cliff Burton, etc.
Nando Cavaccini
Guitars
Nando started his musical studies at the age of 15, studying popular guitar and classical guitar. His professional life started in 1999, playing in theaters and concert halls along with great artists and bands from various musical genres. He has been teaching acoustic and electric guitar since 2004 through private lessons and music school. Influences: Van Halen, Pantera, Iron Maiden, Yngwie Malmsteen, etc.
Gabriel Carvalho
Vocals and Keys
He started in music at the age of 10, initially self-taught playing the keyboard. At 11 years old began his studies in classical piano and went through some music conservatories. Since 2001 acts in music as a keyboard player and in 2009 he also started his career as a vocalist going through several bands so far. Influences: Mozart, Bach, Rush, Van Halen, Marillion, Queensryche, Deep Purple, Artension, Symphony X, Queen, Dream Theater, Stratovarius, Megadeth, Nevermore, Testament, Evergrey, etc.
Douglas Polents
Drums
He started in music at the age of 14, initially self-taught playing drums in the church. At the age of 16, he started his studies with classical percussion and passed through some music conservatories. Since 2006 he has been working in music as a drummer playing in several bands. In 2020 he received the incredible mission of being a drummer for the band XFEARS which he has been dedicating to account for the work done by the band. Influences: The Police, Rush, Dream Theater, Aerosmith, RATM, etc.
XFEARS is a Brazilian Prog Metal band. The band was formed in 2002. XFEARS has the goal to produce new heavy and prog metal music for the fans of these styles all over the world. The debut album, The First, is out now!
The main purpose of the band, is to deliver good music for everyone, trying to make the world a bit better and enjoyable. The band with its five members, deliver songs filled with great harmonies and keyboards textures but not letting aside the heavy guitars, basses and drums, followed by lyrics related to daily subjects, fears, thoughts, and life-based poetry.
XFEARS is kept with passion and enthusiasm, the band stands for the love of music and for the love of Metal! In a world where music is so predictable, XFEARS put the members’ hearts through the songs, delivering a real message for the audience. Please, enjoy our Youtube, facebook, Instagram and all social media and pages related to XFEARS.
Listen to our songs, they are all available! This will help us to reach more people and make our music go ahead keeping our dreams live!
2024
CANADIAN
BAND OF THE YEAR
Chris Osterman
Lead Guitar / Lead Vocals
Leighton Holmes
Bass Guitar
Megan Merrick
Lead Guitar
Max Friesen
Drums
CONGRATULATIONS
IRON KINGDOM
Inspired by legendary pillars of heavy metal such as Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Helloween, The Scorpions, and Rush, this four-piece is well known for their energetic and electrifying stage presence, as well as intricate musical melodies that bring listeners back to a time when heavy metal was in its prime.
https://www.facebook.com/ironkingdom.official
Q&A with
WISKY OF BLOOD
1-Why did you form? How did the idea come to be?
Hello everyone, We had another band with Phil, ELLIPSIS which was having a declining career and I really wanted to get back to my original influences, 80's hard rock! So we decided, 3 members of ELLIPSIS, to create WHISKY OF BLOOD to compose songs completely different from the Psycho Metal of ELLIPSIS Initially, we made this band for fun and we saw that people were receptive and the first album sold very well, as did the second. Today, we're coming back to stay!
2-How would you describe your sound in five words?
Rock n roll, Melody, Power, Values, Fun
3-Your upcoming album, how do think it will be received by fans?
It’s the album of maturity which was produced in Grenoble and mixed and mastered in Sweden by Staffan Karlsson who produced: Arch Enemy, Spiritual Beggars, Meshuggah, Dream Evil.... Diablesse Of Revolution is very varied and will surprise more than one !
4-What kind of listening experience is trying to give fans with this album, its singles?
To feel good, to have emotion, to want to be more and more in the world of Hard rock! ;-)
5-How is the writing process for the band?
I bring or Phil a riff or an almost entire title and we work on it with the rhythm and I put solos and vocals when it's not Phil who puts solos, we really have a natural side of composition, we've known each other since a long time, so everything is done by feeling
6-Are any of the band members known on the local scene from any other bands?
Yes :
Lord Whisky : Ellipsis, Rising Steel, Venus Syndrome, Thalia…
Phil The Animal : Ellipsis
King Of Ricqles : Monkey Bizness, Ex-Charlie’s Frontiers Fun Town
Swindler : Ex-Blackburst, Ex-Stone Shelter
7-How did you decide on the tracks for this album? How much more music can fans expect?
By feeling, we choose the titles that make us vibrate and which correspond to our state of mind
We had 1 or 2 more titles that we are keeping for the next album, slightly different songs with big choruses
8-What can people expect live from your band compared to other bands?
We have a dancer with us who puts on a show! We give Whiskey to the fans, the show is very energetic and quite crazy, everything is possible in a W.O.B concert.
9-Where do your lyrics come from? What inspires your writing?
Life, women, alcohol, rock n roll, enemies, friendship....
10-Are the songs a collaborative effort?
Yes, we have 2 guests Chris Holmes (Ex-W.A.S.P., Mean Man) and Steff Rabilloud (Rising Steel, Urgent), it's an honor to have Chris Holmes a legend and Steff with whom I play in Rising Steel
11-Does the band have a main songwriter?
I compose all the lyrics and vocals and we share the composition of the songs, particularly on the guitars with Phil
12-How does the music affect the lyrics and vice versa?
I believe that there is a sort of osmosis directly between one and the other
13-How would you describe the evolution of the band’s sound?
We also worked on our sound with the new bass drums, I also changed equipment
14-Name the Top 5 band influences of the band/ Top 5 Bands that your band sounds like that fans like.
Mötley Crüe, Wasp, Cinderella, D.A.D, Van Halen…
15-What metal genres influence you as a band the most?
Mainly, hard rock and glam rock 80s
16-Describe the album as a whole
As I said previously, this album is more mature and more varied than the previous ones with a more powerful and precise sound! If you like hard rock, rock n roll, bands like Motorhead, Motley Crue, Van Halen, Cinderella, W.A.S.P.....You'll like it!
17-Describe each song track by track
DIABLESSE OF REVOLUTION is a French name : She-devil in English, I like mixing several languages…
Interview with Lord Whisky