Let's speak with Darren Michael Boyd (Instrumental Rock/Metal)

Instrumental musicians work different in my eyes. Since they don't use refrains and anything of that kind they need to put in more and different elements to keep the music attractive to the listener.

This fact makes talking to such musicians extra exciting and when the chance knocked at my door to speak with guitarist Darren Michael Boyd I send him some questions without hesitation. Even more because the first song I listened to had sort of healing effect on me. ("Solitary Green Witch" - which you can listen to scrolling further down this interview)

Darren Michael Boyd creates a lot of positive sounds.

Heavy Metal Underdogs: Did you start to play the guitar already before the car accident that seems to be the spark of your solo career?

Darren Michael Boyd: Oh yes, I’ve been playing guitar for as long as I can remember. I actually started out playing drums – I took lessons for a few years. Somehow, I always knew that guitar would become my main instrument. On my solo albums, I play all the instruments, with the occasional exception, but the guitar is my instrumental “voice”. 

Creating this instrumental music has been therapeutic for me, and I hope other listeners feel a similar benefit.

How did you start to write songs at the beginning?

I started attempting to write songs by about age 7, although I couldn’t really play any instruments. It was just part of artistic development, I suppose. Eventually I started to actually form bands and write complete songs by age 15. Back then it was a case of bringing the idea to the band members and hammering it out during rehearsals.

Is there a preference to write songs on your own or in cooperation with other artists?

I love doing both. Obviously writing music for myself gives me 100% creative freedom, but it’s also important to collaborate for educational purposes, and to be challenged. There’s definitely something magical about teaming up with another artist and creating something special together. I should make a point of doing that more!

Do you write music only when you schedule time for it or spontaneously when inspiration comes your way? 

I can certainly sit down at a scheduled time and write with intention, but I do love that feeling of pure inspiration, creating a killer composition that seemed to just float out of the air. Whenever I pick up an instrument I immediately seem to slide into writing mode for some reason, which makes hard to simply “practice”! I just let it happen, I’m in the passenger’s seat along for the ride, giving some directions. I also have notes and voice memos filling up my phone, like most writers, I assume.

Is there a favorite setup you use for writing music or do you put it all together the moment it happens?

I have a modest home studio where I record almost everything. I tend to take all those idea from my phone memos and start fleshing them out when I have a block of time.

Have you never thought of joining a band for a long time?

Yes, absolutely. I have played in bands my entire life, sometimes as a hired musician, sometimes as the leader. Either way, I’m happy to play great songs with great people, for a great audience. If I’m fortunate enough to get a great paycheck too, that’s a bonus haha!

But after my car accident, things had changed once I started to become active again, and I wanted to make things happen instead of waiting around – starting my solo career it allowed me that freedom.

What's coming up next? Any dates you can share with us?

My new album should be released by Halloween – I had some serious technical setbacks, so I’m currently concerned about that particular deadline, but I’m working late nights and crossing all my fingers (when I’m not playing guitar, of course).

I only have one live show coming up, at Avant-Garde Bar in Ottawa Canada on October 10th.

I will be attending the Josie Music Awards in October as a nominee in three categories; Musician of the Year (guitarist), Instrumental Song of the Year (Darkling), and Instrumental Album of the Year (Hexalogy).

The JMA’s are world’s largest independent music awards show, held at the Grand Ole Opry House, in Nashville, Tennessee, so it’s an honour to be nominated. Especially being this weird Canadian instrumental artist, playing “Spooky Surf” and Metal!

Thanks for including me on Heavy Metal Underdogs; it’s important work you do – sharing new Metal with the people! And thanks to the readers, it’s wicked to meet you!

Darren

You can check out the website or Bandcamp page for more details and music of Darren Michael Boyd.

Ninth Sphere looking for vocalist and share album for free

Dallas, Texas based Symphonic band Ninth Sphere have put out their album "Zenith". Ninth Sphere is the brainchild of guitarist Brian Cravey, one of the original founding members of The Browning, and is heavily influenced by artists such as In Flames, Born of Osiris, Betraying the Martyrs and Architects.

I just had a quick listen into the release and it's fantastic. It gives a redemptive feeling. In addition it shares a lot of positive and dreaming vibes. The tracks have a compact duration so they never feel lengthy or make you feel stressed and overloaded with all the noise. Instead the atmosphere constantly keeps intact also the tracks evolve and change inside each other so much. But they can be followed easily because they always keep the focus on one element at a time. I think that's something not to be found out there too often.

The cover of the "Zenith" album of Ninth Sphere, cover art produced by Nick Baxter

I was so surprised to read that you can pick it up for free but I would love to see people leaving at least a donation for this fine recording. You can listen and download it up from Bandcamp, Soundcloud and the band's own homepage.

In addition to this it's surely a great challenge to all vocalists out there looking for something new and fresh to work on. Currently the band is on the outlook for a person to take over the vocal duties.

Therefore the band is holding open, public auditions for a vocalist. To be considered the band is asking for potential candidates to choose a song from the album and make an audition track and/or video. Submissions can be posted to any of the bands social media accounts like Facebook or emailed to ninthsphereofficial@gmail.com

Have a listen to the music right here.

Ninth Sphere is planning a physical re-release of the 'Zenith'  album once a vocalist is found. They have even more plans for the future. Brian Cravey states, "“After leaving The Browning in 2011 and accomplishing some life long goals outside of music, I decided it was time to get back to a music project.

I’ve been writing this material for a couple of years and finally found a few like minded musicians to join the band. Travis is a true visionary artist and he will create the imagery for the band, as well as holding down bass duties. Dylan is a professional live sound engineer and an amazing drummer. We have big plans for this band and tons of music written. Once we find the perfect voice to finish our sound we will take things to the next level. Expect some live shows and videos very soon!"

Corners Of Sanctuary hand out their "Declaration Of Metal"

New Wave of Traditional American Heavy Metal band CORNERS OF SANCTUARY (COS) announces the release of "Declaration of Metal", a comprehensive, retrospective compilation of the band’s music, comprised of tracks from their past five albums: “Breakout”, “Harlequin”, “Axe to Grind”, “Metal Machine” and “Driven Snow”.
Additionally, cuts from their first EP, "Forgotten Hero", and a brand new song, “Hyde No More”, with new drummer Mad T and featuring Of Ancient Descent guitarist John Coonan (former Seeker, Corporate Mass), round out the compilation.

The "Declaration Of Metal" logo, (c) by Corners Of Sanctuary, used with kind permission

"Declaration of Metal" track listing:
1. Only One
2. Juggernaut
3. Bleed With Me
4. Now We Must Live
5. Hellequin
6. On the Hunt
7. A Fist Full of Vengeance
8. Victoria
9. Left Scarred
10. Wrecking Ball
11. Driven Snow
12. Hyde No More

Here are the details of this new release:

“Corners of Sanctuary continues to charge forward. Declaration of Metal is surely a declaration alright; a declaration to keep moving forward and I’m very excited to be a part it,” stated Mad T. who has taken over the drums after a recent departure with Sean Nelligan Mad T also appears on “Victoria” and “Only One”, a song which he co-wrote with COS guitarist Mick Michaels.

“Declaration of Metal” is being made available in two formats: digitally and as a limited print US only cd through March Baby Media. (just click on the link to go to the Corners Of Sanctuary site where you can buy the compilation in mp3 or wave format).

A special mp3 download, which includes two bonus tracks, is also being offered exclusively on Boston Rock Radio’s official website.

As part of the promotional campaign for the compilation's release, a music video for "Victoria" is also being launched. The video, filmed earlier this summer, was produced and directed by AMA Films in the band’s hometown of Philadelphia.


A follow-up video for “Hyde No More” is planned to release later this summer.
COS continues to power on through 2016 with the second leg of their tour appropriately coined The Declaration of Metal Tour in support of their compilation release. The band embarks on a short New England string of shows which includes supporting Marc Rizzo from Soulfy on July 28th and another performance in August at this summer’s Metal Eternal Fest Tour’s Delaware show.

Corners of Sanctuary will begin work on their next full-length album in August which the band plans to release sometime in 2017. COS is also looking to schedule some West Coast dates in the Fall as well as working on a Winter 2017 excursion to Europe.

A COS crowdfunding page has been created to support the band’s touring efforts and is now live at their official website.  Please consider giving some money to keep the band on the road. Fans’ financial support is being gifted with several Official COS Nation Merchandise Packages including autographed photos and CDs, concert shirts, patches and supporters having their names listed on the COS website.

Upcoming shows

July 28 - Firehouse 13 - Providence, RI (with Marc Rizzo of Soulfly)
July 29 - The Cove - Worcester, MA
July 30 - The Bar - New Bedford, MA
August 6 - Oddity Bar - Metal Eternal Fest Tour - Wilmington, DE
August 20 - The New Penny Lounge - Scranton, PA (with Beyond Fallen)
September 9 - Cherry Street Station - Wallingford, CT (with Shallow Ground)
October 14 - Wrecking Ball Fest 2016 - Philadelphia, PA

For the latest band news and show dates, visit their official website and Facebook page.

Eternal Voyager reveals upcoming album details & tourdates

The power metal band Eternal Voyager came as a fine surprise to me. Their old school attempt on metal music and the way they produce their tracks feels great to me in this often overloaded soundscapes of today.

The band logo of Eternal Voyager, (c) by Eternal Voyager, used with kind permission

The band is currently in the studio to record their second album and let's us sneak inside with the following statement from Vocalist / Guitarist Brian Blake:

"We are well on our way into the recording process of our upcoming new second album titled "Darkened Times", which will be mastered by guitarist / producer Stu "The Hammer" Marshall (Death Dealer / Blasted to Static / Zephaniah / Vanlade / Corners of Sanctuary) at his Frontier studio in Sydney, Australia.

We are hoping to release this monster ripping album during this upcoming summer or at the latest in fall 2016. It just depends on when we can record additional drum tracks, even though we have our own studio now, we are not set for drum recordings as of yet.

We also have plans to shoot one or two music videos during the coming months for the songs "Winds of Fire" and possibly the title track "Darkend Times", so we are currently very busy."

In addition the band is going to do a couple of shows starting already in a few days, here are the exact dates:

Eternal Voyager upcoming shows

4/15/16 - The Hexagon - Minneapolis,Minnesota

4/16/16 - EveryBody's Bar & Grill - Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin

5/29/16 - The Hexagon - Minneapolis,Minnesota (supporting Iron Kingdom)

The band from left to right: Mike Durenberger, Jeff Igelsrud, Brian Blake, Micah Devereaux, Kurt Johnson, (c) by Eternal Voyager, used with kind permission

Make sure to follow the next steps of the band by taking a look on their website from time to time or connect with them via Facebook.

If you haven't heard them before here's a track taken from the first album "The Battle Of Eternity" to give you a idea of the band's sound.

We at Metal Underdogs also had the chance to talk to Brian Blake a while ago about the first album and how the band came together. You can find the full interview right here.

Interview with Eternal Voyager (2015)

Introduction

Eternal Voyager came to me as a sort of good surprise. Being someone who grew up with the old classic bands from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal I always loved the old style that these bands represent with their classic songs. Just think of Judas Priest with their Screaming for Vengeance album or Iron Maiden's Piece of mind.

Of course times have changed ever since. It's good to see things evolve - these days productions sound very different, much brighter, heavier and often brutal. But it's always running through my head that I still love the old way of doing records.

Eternal Voyager seems to be the answer to what I am longing for. They keep their traditionell Power Metal in the old fashioned way of songwriting and production. For example there are songs on their album "The Battle of Eternity" that repeat the theme that is presented at the beginning of the track at the very end of it again. I instantly had to think of the old Omen albums again.

Eternal Voyager 2015, (c) by Eternal Voyager used with kind permission

I gave the album some spins and was so curious to find out more about them that I asked the band for a interview. I am glad guitarist and vocalist Brian Blake took the time to answer my questions in a very extended way. Get to know more about how the album came together, the myterious man on the front cover of the album and what they are going to do next.

The Interview

Heavy Metal Underdogs: 
The production on the CD sounds very oldschool. I love this, today's albums are often overproduced in my eyes/ears. I grew up with the old sound so I prefer it. Was the old-school production form something you had clearly on your mind as you went into the studio or how did it all come together?

Brian Blake:
It was a natural thing that happened it wasn’t really planned but it came out that way because of the producer’s style. I too enjoy the old school sound and production to albums. But this time around it was not planned out this way. Of course there are a lot things I would like to change but it captured the songs well enough.

The band underwent a lot of line-up changes and is already around since 1998. How did you manage to keep up the motivation?

It went through a lot of lineup changes for various reasons mostly because many people just didn’t make the cut or ended up with life and musical differences, which is a natural thing that happens. It has never been easy because I have been the original member having to carry the weight of the band through all of it and it was very hard; there were many times that I wanted to give up but I kept going. This new lineup has given me a newfound hope and positive outlook on the future of this band. The album itself finally getting recorded was very motivating and gave me more confidence because prior to that we never had the right people all of those years and I was never successful in getting a good professional recording done.

Did the fans maybe also took part in this by constantly requesting new shows or recordings?

Yes there were a few that followed us somewhat distantly through the years but we made a lot more new fans when the album came out because it was a solid recording . For about 4 years before the making of the album we had a big gap of silence due to lineup complications and member issues.

As for the lyrics of "The Battle of Eternity" - does it have a concept behind it? Is there also a relation to the cover artwork?