Interview: Riku (CATAMENIA)

   Catamenia was founded in 1995 in Oulu, Finland, and they are still giving us the delight of great, 'frozen' melodic black metal, spiced up with many great covers of other famous metal songs! Guitarist and backing-vocalist Riku Hopeakoski talked to me a bit more about the band, as well as the upcoming album!

pdn: Hey Riku! Please tell me, how did you come up with the band name? Is there some history behind it or did it just sound good?
Riku: Hey there. The name, Catamenia, was invented by our ex-vocalist and co-founder Mika Tönning. We thought different names through, but somehow Catamenia sounded the best, when Mika said it to us ... so we sticked with it. Shortly after our debut album, we heard it has a meaning and we were totally surprised by that that it's got a meaning, because for us is just a name. After a long thought with the label we decided to keep the name and all, because it purely sounds freaking great!

pdn: I know you are one of the band's founding members, how did you and the other guys meet?
Riku: It was a long time ago, hehe, when I and our ex-vocalist Mika met each others. We moved to Oulu and my mom said there's a lonely boy living right next in the neighbor, so I asked him to come to play some football with my brother, Petri. We got along really well together and when we had the same taste of music, we decided to put a band together and have another hobby among ice-hockey and football. At some point we thought to make it more like a hobby and made a demo, and still nowadays we're on that road!

pdn: Did you have a role model in the process of becoming a musician?
Riku: As becoming a musician, I did not have a role model in the word, but I've always had some icons since I was dreaming of becoming guitarist. It all started when I was a kid, my dad was in his work trip somewhere in Europe, and he thought to buy some music for me and my bro. Guess what? The C-tapes were Iron Maiden and since that I've always listened to rock, metal and everything between it. Of course I listen to everything I like, I do not care which category it is :) Anyways, I would say that my role models came later in my years, like the definite one Dave Mustaine! Also Jimi Hendrix is really close to my heart.

pdn: Cavalcade brought a bit of diversity in the 'catamenian' history. Did your fans react to that change?
Riku: Yeah of course they did react on it, as we already knew it that's going to happen. That just tells that our fans are truly close to us and tells their own feelings about our music, and that's what we respect! Some of the fans liked the change, but some really hated the fact of changing the style so much. But if you listen to carefully the songs, they are not o different ;) Anyways, with the new crew, we're back into basics of Catamenia and back in business!

pdn: Which is your personal favourite cover of all the covers Catamenia had done along time, and why?
Riku: Well, my absolute fav is the new cover on the compilation album, but I cannot say the title of it yet, because I am still waiting the official release info from Massacre Records. But if we let that new one aside for a while, I would say my fav cover would be W.A.S.P.'s I Wanna Be Somebody. Blackie's always been one of my favs ever, so I thought to honor him with my version - some like it, some not :) But when we were suppoerting them once in Romania, we were little bit disappointed that they did not allow us to play the song in our song list. We respected their wish, but nowadays I think we just should have played it, because how arrogant he was after all.

pdn: Who writes the lyrics and what are the things that inspire them the most?
Riku: We all write lyrics together. It's been like that since the beginning of Catamenia and always been like that ever since. Of course one of us get the idea and we start to build something around it. So, in short, every single one in Catamenia has always made their effort in lyrics. Inspire for the lyrics? They just come from a daily life, you find something wrong or something that you never thought about, you just start to write your thoughts on paper, the same goes with itself music ;)

pdn: What bands were your favourites to tour with/ share the stage with so far?
Riku: There's no question about it. About the bands, hard to say, but few to say definitely Finntroll, Graveworm, Equilibrium, Impaled Nazarene and Battlelore. Freaking awesome bands!! Also out of the mainstream bands like Winterhorde, Vuohivasara, From The Void, etc ... we just love to share the stage with everyone, heh. 

pdn:What can you tell us about the upcoming compilation album?
Riku: I can tell that it'll break some barriers, heheh ;) The fact is that we're going  back in time a little bit, but still keeping our own thing in our music. The keyboards bring something new on the new songs, but still respecting the keys on the old songs, and in general, there are no samples or triggers or anything in the sound ... it's freaking pure metal, pure rock! And of course I have to mention Kari Vähäkuopus - again he did a freaking awesome job with the sound at Mastervox Studios.

pdn: Thank you so much for your time! Anything you'd like to add for your fans, friends?
Riku: Just check our site @ catamenia.net and be aware our compilation album will come out in April!

Also, watch out for more news about the compilation album tonight (02.27.2012) on www.catamenia.net and the band's Facebook page !

What is playdeadnation after all?

Since people keep asking me what playdeadnation actually is, it would be fair to give a more elaborate explanation:

WHAT IS PLAYDEADNATION? Playdeadnation was started simply as a music blog, featuring mainly reviews and interviews. I am the only one in control of it, it's my brainchild and I am willing to stay it's single parent, for various reasons.
Why? 
Since most of the media is really nothing more than a joke and the nightmare of artists at times, I want to get into journalism and do it how I think it should be done. Since I find music to be a passion and superior to palpable human pleasures, I have all the respect for people who create it, thus I will always wish to communicate in a fair, civilized way with people, without harrassing them. Will not treat them as a piece of merch on my market, but someone who gave us an escape, a boost: music. Always had a thing for journalism and I thought that, among all the different forms of art I practice, the one of words is a less pretentious one, delivering information to everyone who is passionate enough to soak it up.
These would be my reasons and ambitions in a nutshell and this will soon be all taken to the next level.

Interview: SHAKE WELL BEFORE

   Shake Well Before is a hardcore metal band from Italy, that I have discovered recently and, as stated below, immediately fallen in love with their sounds! Power, energy, brutality and creative videos. They were exremely nice to grant Playdeadnation this interview!

pdn: Hey there! Just so you know, your band is one of those you fall in love with at first audition! How did you come up with the name for the band?

SWB: Hi, first of all we would like to thank you for this interview and your compliments!  Actually there is no deeper meaning behind it. The idea came from our drummer Sbatta. We all had different music styles so our music was like putting different styles together, shake it and you have us. We decided to keep the name also after we changed genre. We know it doesn't sound that good to everybody,but it's just us,SWB.

pdn: How did you guys meet and how did it all start?

SWB: The project started back in 2008 with Simone, Sbatta, Silvio and our former guitarists Albi and Milo. We started with a mix of almost every genre that has nearly to do with metal. It was something between metalcore  and nu metal, but we weren’t good at all at the beginning. Albi was the first one to leave the band because of his studies, then Milo. Sometimes it’s difficult to have a job and play in a band at the same time. We replaced them with Matteo, who played in tribute bands of Slipknot and Rammstein and Alessandro, who is getting graduated in guitar studies and has shecter guitars endorsment.

pdn: It isn't always easy to get started with a band; were there any prominent difficulties you had to face so far?

SWB: Our former guitarists left us, but the band didn't lose any quality. The main problem is that we have to respect our jobs outside of Shake Well Before, sometimes we were forced to cancel dates.

pdn: What were some people/ bands that have inspired you to become a musician and well, to choose this genre?

SWB: We listen to a lot of other stuff from every genre…but you can clearly hear inspirations from bands like As I Lie Dying, Parkway Drive, August Burns Red, may be also some Lamb of God or even Pantera. It was a natural evolution of this band to play this genre.

pdn: Do you have any other meaningful passions, preoccupations except music?

SWB: Music is our main passion that connects all band members. Music is becoming our life, but unfortunatly the music business is not working well and we invest lots of money altough we don't know if it will ever come back. But we deeply believe in ourselves, in our fans and in what we are doing.

pdn: If you could pick any bands to share the stage with someday, who would they be?

SWB: There are too many bands we could mention, of course the bands we mentioned as our inspiration included. But we are happy to share the stage with every band, from the biggest band of the world to the newest underground garage band from our neighborhood.

pdn: What are your aspirations, personally and as a musician?

SWB: As musicians we are trying to get better and better everytime we take our instruments in our hands. We work very hard to play complex riffs and try to give something new although we don't want to change genre. It's difficult to tell what our personal aspirations are. We are all still young and still need to find our way through life. Music is without any doubts the most important thing for us and through music (playing concerts and on the internet) we met a lot of nice people from outside our city and country we would never have met without music. 

pdn: Any plans for the near future? Concerts, new songs maybe?

SWB: We want to make a tour and are working on it. On 30^th  of March we will have the release party of our EP in our hometown, Genoa. The Ep will be avaible in a few weeks on itunes. We are very excited to see what our fan's reaction will be, but we worked a lot on that EP and we are very proud of what came out. We're also working on brand new stuff,probably a full lenght album, probably a new video,  but that's all future stuff

pdn: Thank you so much for this interview, and sincerely wishing you the best of luck further! Any final words you would like to add for your friends and fans?

SWB: You're always welcome! We want to thank anyone who took his time and was interested in reading the interview, we want to thank every fan of ours who believes in us and keeps supporting us and we hope to gain new fans through this interview. 

http://www.facebook.com/shakewellbefore

www.myspace.com/shakewellbefore

www.youtube.com/user/swbmos

Interview: Daniel Columbine

   Daniel Columbine is a professional when it comes to music, with a vast knowledge in the musical field, ex member of Psyclon Nine and founding member of Columbine. He has worked and shared the stage with numerous other artists, and he was very kind in revealing some important moments of his carreer to us, and more!

pdn: Hello, Daniel! Did you come up with the band name for Columbine because of the High School Massacre?
Daniel: Well, yes and no. It was more of a dichotomy thing. My whole life growing up columbine was always a flower (a very beautiful one for that matter). As soon as the massacre happened columbine became just a shooting. Which kind of showed me that people tend to gravitate and aim there focus towards the more negative things in life. Which is exactly what the band always reflected, so we always felt it was a very fitting name. The band never really represented dark and evil things but rather the profound awareness of dark and evil things. We were basically an ink blot that was up for interpretation. That being said, no one ever asked if we were named after the flower...... case in point.


pdn:If so, what is your opinion about that event in a nutshell (causes, effects), and how come you've picked that as the band name?
Daniel: N/A

pdn: I know you used to be a part of Psyclon Nine; what happened there, why did you leave?
Daniel: I was and still am proud to have been a part of there history, it was a great learning and life experience. I met a lot of wonderful people and saw a lot of cool places. As any Psyclon fan knows they have an ever revolving line up, so I was just happy to have had the time with them that I did. As for becoming a permanent member, it just wasn't in the cards for me.

pdn: Also, what happened to Columbine? You've told me only a bit about it...
Daniel: Columbine is officially done. It wasn't because of anyone or anything. The guys and me are still friends and theres no bad blood. It was just time for me personally to take on the next life adventure and try something new. We had a good run and again I'm proud to have been a part of it.

pdn: What are the main things that influence you in your musical projects?
Daniel: For me it's constantly changing, my opinions vary on a day to day basis. I get bored easy and if the musics sounding the same from song to song then I know its time to take a different approach. I've never had a set method in which I write, and I never visualize the
end result until its done. I never set out to write industrial or any genre for that matter its just what came out.

pdn: Also, what musicians inspired you mostly in forming your career, style?
Daniel: That's a tough one.... so many. I've always liked bands that come off as being a whole rather than a group of individuals. I'll also look at musicians and say "I don't want to be like that", There probably the ones who have formed my style and career more than the ones you'll see me front and center row at. For example I'm probably on the opposite side of the color wheel than Justin Bieber. And thats a conscious decision.

pdn: You've worked with many bands, in all different ways. Who was most fun to collaborate with? And who would you like to work with in the future?
Daniel: I honestly have fun working with everyone. I've never really disliked writing or playing with anybody. Some may be a little more fun than others but I'm not exactly gonna put up that list.

pdn: What are you up to in the present, and what are the plans for the near future?
Daniel: Currently I'm working on a new project with a couple of guys, Pat Elmore (producer of columbine/B.M.M.) and Jno (fresh out of the band B.M.M.) which unfortunatly I can't give to many details about. But I can say I'm really excited for this project. Oh and just because I like to tease people, It doesn't sound like columbine.
Thank you Daniel, and I want to apologize for the delay again! :)


http://myspace.com/columbinemusic
http://www.myspace.com/daniel_columbine

Interview: Nicholas Whitfield ( 9TH EVOLUTION)

   St. Petersburg-based politico-agressive industrial rock/ post punk band 9th Evolution brings us the delight of a fusion of driving beats, piano, symphonic elements guitars and vocals altering from gentle to some brutal, unforgiving ones. Frontman Nicholas Whitfield is here for a little talk today!

pdn: Hey Nicholas! How did you guys come up with this name for the band?
Nicholas: The long short of it is since the first day I started writing music , it had going through various names.. The day that the sound,look and style was exactly what I was going for and was 100% me.. It was the 9th incarnation and had evolved.. Hence:9th Evolution.

pdn: Please describe your sounds in a few words!
Nicholas: Like a choir of angels w/ Satan on lead vocals.. Ok, kidding.. I have no idea of to describe it.. Hard ,gritty but very melodic... Also,greatly unpredictable. 

pdn: How did this band grow roots in the first place?
Nicholas: Started in my little apartment and networked..
It's just me so took a lot of time and effort.. We have some really cool fans and have been the leading reason we're ever heard beyond my little circle.. They spread the word better than I ever could. 

pdn: Who writes the lyrics and what inspires them mostly?
Nicholas: I write everything you hear on the album,which of course includes lyrics.. The easy answer is life.. Experiences.
I try to take an approach where it is more story like rather than very literal.. That why the listener may be able to relate to it better.


pdn: And what other bands represent some important musial influence for you?
Nicholas: NIN,Marilyn Manson,PWEI,Beatles,Chris Isaak,Nirvana,Rammstein,Muse,Chopin,Beethoven,Elfman.. It really varies and I draw great inspiration from many amazing artists.. 

pdn: What are your main goals, musically and as a person?
Nicholas: To get filthy rich..  Actually,money is not a driving factor simply cause there isn't any to be made.. It started as a kid playing piano and turned into something bigger.. Hopefully even bigger in the future. By bigger I mean being heard by a larger audience. That is my goal,to be heard,period. 

pdn: You and Jennifer are married, right? Do you think the fact that you are together in a band is an extra boost for your relationship? 
Nicholas: Yes, indeed we are.. 9E was around before I met her, it was actually a huge part of how we met. It has definitely made our relationship stronger. 9E was something very important to me and of course it would be to her but being in the band it makes it her baby too. We're together on and off the stage, wouldn't have it any other way..Also, she adds an amazing element to the band, we the guys in 9E are very aggressive on stage(usually resulting in broken equipment or selves) and to have a beautiful girl being the calm w/in the storm is amazing to watch.. 

pdn: What are the band's plans for the near future? New songs, gigs?
Nicholas: Well, 9E just finished the new album Retro Americana last month.. It is set to be released nation wide April 1st in all the major stores that carry music. We're booking shows for late April and May in Florida to warm up and then branching out from there. VIdeo shoot for The Extinction,world domination and other stuff  

pdn: Thank you for this interview! Any final words you would like to add for your fans? 
Nicholas: Final words to fans? Thank you.. It means the world to me that someone has allowed me to be apart of their life via music. It's amazing. This is who I am and what I do,it is my therapy and my sanctuary.. There is so much more to come, stay tuned! 

http://www.9thevolution.com

http://www.facebook.com/9thevolution

http://www.myspace.com/9thevolution

http://www.vampirefreaks.com/9thevolution

https://www.facebook.com/duffy.laudick

R.I.P. Tonmi Lillman

   This post consists of a very sad announcement. Finnish drummer Tonmi Lillman, formerly member of Sinergy,  To/Die/For, Ajattara, Reflexion and Kylähullut is found dead at the age of 38. The causes of death are unknown to us so far, since this terrible news is fresh, started roaming around on facebook just about two hours ago...


   Rest in peace, Tonmi! And thank you for your music! You will definitely be missed...

How To Destroy Angels - Trent's genius grows another branch

   Trent Reznor, an artist that I am pretty sure doesn't need any kind of massive introduction, gave shape to a new band, announcing it in 2010, with two people he is probably closest to: his wife Mariqueen Maandig and Atticus Ross by his side.  

   While having a well-known history as the only constant member of Nine Inch Nails since the year 1988 up to date, this post-industrial, experimental project is born, featuring Mariqueen's 'softly strong' beautiful voice - as I'd describe it - ,Reznor and Ross coninuing kind of on the same line as they've been known for, for so long. The amount of mystery this band displays through music and visuals carries on the legacy of Trent's creativity with which he always made an impact in promoting his music.
   
   The first single off their self-titled debut EP was a digital one called A Drowning, followed by a video for the song The Space in Between.

   While hoping to soon write a review of this debut material, I am honestly looking forward for the next steps this band will take and the direction in which it will head!

www.howtodestroyangels.com

Interview: Jacko (APOLLO'S CHILD)

   Apollo's Child (formerly The Black Room) is a multi-cultural London based band, with a romantic sound, fusing bohemic vibes from the past with harsh rock and roll sounds of today. Originally finnish lead-singer Jacko Turunen is here with us for a little talk!

pdn: Howdy, Jacko! Please tell me, how did you decide upon The Black Room name for your band?

Jacko: William Blake wrote that:

"When the doors of perception are cleansed, man will see things as they truly are, infinite."

The Doors took their name from this. I'm a huge The Doors fan and I was thinking a name for the band when a thought possessed me. What is behind the doors. A room? How does infinity look like? Infinity is the darkness that surrounds the moment that we are living in right now. The dark space around our life in this time. Opening your mind and seeing beyond this moment. This life. It truly is like going through those doors of perception to that dark space that is the universe. The Black Room without space and time in the house of your mind.

pdn: When and how did you start playing music? Please tell me a bit about that!

Jacko: I've always loved music. Since the day I was born. I went to music school when I was a kid

and actually started my career as a very high pitched soprano in the school choir. When

I hit puberty, and couldn't really sing anymore I started playing trombone. Haha. Out of all 

instruments. I guess I've always wanted to be different. Well anyway, that must have taught

me how to breathe properly into my stomach and gave me the power to sing from multiple

octaves.

pdn: What and/or who were your main musical influences?

Jacko: Everything in life.

pdn: If you could pick any bands to collaborate with or share the stage with, which would those be?

Jacko: If I can pick any bands out of any time, I would have to say. A festival where there would be a feeling like what I think it felt like in Woodstock. A big collaboration of great bands and an audience who knows what is going on in this world.

pdn: And if you could choose any events, where would you love to play? Like festivals or so.

Jacko: Haha. That same festival.

pdn: What other passions and main preoccupations do you have except making music?

Jacko: Hmm... Passions? There are many things I love in this world. All kinds of art that is heartfelt and umm... Women :) Good food and most of all. People that are real and that you know you can trust.

pdn: Which are your main ambitions, goals? The Black Room's plans for the near future?

Jacko: I want this band to be recognized for what it is. Something that is missing from the rock music scene. We have a lot of talent in the band and also so many great bands/players that are coming from this town, that its time to do something about the sad situation that is the current popular music.

pdn: Thank you for your time! Anything you would like to add for friends and fans here at the end? :)

Jacko: A change is coming.. 

http://www.soundcloud.com/apolloschildband

https://www.facebook.com/apolloschildband
http://www.youtube.com/apolloschildband

Quote of the day: Skindred

"Stand for something, or you'll fall for anything!"

Interview: Jape Perätalo ( TO/DIE/FOR )

   To/Die/For is a very well-known gothic metal band from Kouvola, Finland, and they've been rocking ever since 1993 and up to date, and buttering up our souls with harshly sensitive tunes. Lead singer Jape took the time to chat with us today!

pdn:  Hello, Jape! And thank you! I know there was a change regarding the band's name, back in 1999. Why did that happen and what influenced the new name?

Jape: Our lyrics fits better with the name To/Die/For.Before TDF we ere called as MARY-ANN and we played some kind of street rock and roll so it was right moment to change the name of the band when we signed our first record deal. 

pdn: At what age did you start making music, how did all this get initiated for you?

Jape: All of us started playing music when we were little kids. I composed my first song when i was 6years old.I did it with piano.It wasn´t good one :) but i still remember how it goes. I had my first band when i was 12years old, and i guess other TDF members has same kind of history. 

pdn: What were your main influences in becoming a musician? What bands and just things in general?

Jape: Thinking of it now,i guess i wanted to escape somethings...for examble my parents were strongly believers and i hated it. I wanted to take my own freedom. The band which set me on fire was Finnish band called SMACK. I heard their album "live desire" and that was it! no turning back. Also The Doors, The lords of the new church, and Stiv Bator, Hanoi Rocks  etc. These bands are ones to blame.

pdn: You have toured with many bands so far; who were mos fun to tour with? Do you have this one most memorable moment from all the band's history?

Jape: We loved to be on tour with SENTENCED in 2000. Also In Flames guys were very friendly for us. Just these to mention but we´ve met many great people during these years. on our first European tour we stole all beers from In Flames while they were on the stage. They still didn´t get mad at us, but their tour manager did. We did wrong but...shit happens. Once our guitarist didn´t find the stage in russia and intro was playing etc. It happened exactly as on Spinal Tap movie.Spinal Tap is the truth about this thing called Rock and Roll glamour:)  a lot of memories.... 

pdn: Which is your favourite part in the life of a musician, concerts or the studio hours?

Jape: Being on tour, on the way to somewhere and being on the stage and also writing the songs. All which are based on some kind of business Sucks a big time.  Usually i hate to be at the studio too,but while re cording SAMSARA album, i had fun first time. These guys are so great to play with and compose songs with..i love our band right now! All of us loves to be on the stage and on tour most, it is the MOST important thing for us...and that you never write perfect song,that makes you try harder and harder all the time. It is nice!

pdn: There were many line-up changes along the years; why was that, mostly?

Jape: I am almost bored to answer to this question :) Well..some of ex-member joined to our band because of wrong motivation, and had totally wrong attitude. Sometimes we were too busy to check, is someone GOOD for TDF or not. We had tour coming or somethings. All i can say that every line up change happened because of real reason. It felt painful everytime but things just happen. This is the first time we are all equal and on the same line. 

pdn: Who writes the lyrics and what inspires them most of all? What are the main subjects in the sounds and message of the songs?

Jape: On SAMSARA album i wrote all lyrics. This tiime i was influenced about our real lives. There´s not any fantasy things this time. A lot of things happened during 2010 so i wrote lyrics about that. Samara is like a circle of the year 2010. There two songs which are dedicated for my little brother who died in 2010. Also one song about brain cancer which happened near us, also lyrics about how we always had fun even we are walking like on the edge etc. Also one songs which is about freedom and about society and so on...And we never forget this important thing called love. We do not always sing about love between two persons, but also about Love to Nature and how we love our lives etc. There´s many kinda love you see. 

pdn: What are the plans for the near future?

Jape: Writing new songs, trying to get shows and tours as much as possible. Boring ha? :) 

pdn: Thank you so much for your time! Anything you would like to add for your friends and fans, as few closing words?

Jape: have fun, Stay alive and stick around! and CHECK our sixth album SAMSARA! and hope to see you on tour Someday, Somewhere, Somehow. 

JAPE von CroW+ TDF CLAN

http://www.todiefor.fi/

http://www.myspace.com/tdfrocks

Interview: Itse Ruoja Suruntuoja (AJATTARA)

   Itse Ruoja Suruntuoja, formerly lead singer in Amorphis and Shape Of Despair, took the time to talk to us a bit about the well-known finnish atmospheric black metal project Ajattara, which is one of his three active bands at the moment!

pdn: Hey Ruoja! First of all, how did the band name get to be Ajattara? Does it have any particular meaning?
Ruoja: I want it to represent the true nature of my kind, as Ajattara is a goddess of lost in finnish mytology it is the one to lead our way trough purgatory and lies that dualism brings to harash our live's.


pdn: At what age did your passion for music come to the surface and how did you get started? Which was the first instrument you played?
Ruoja: I was born to do this, and if I can trust a words of my allready passed parent's I'dd sang before I could speak..


pdn: As I've seen, there were a lot of line-up changes in the band's history. Could you tell me a bit about that?


Ruoja: I harbring sorrow and everyone is not ready to achieve such misory that my band brings to our lives when you join in. So there's no option but get rid off bad hypocrit influences.


pdn: Who writes the lyrics and what inspires them most of all, what are the main themes and subjects in the songs?
Ruoja: I write the lyrics as I compose all music. I'm inspired by the stupidity of mankind and all the symptons it couse.


pdn: And how come you decided to mainly have finnish lyrics? It is not a really common thing for bands to play in their native language (in case that is other than English), but I like that!
Ruoja: It was a natural decision,it fit's way better than this anglo-saxon blaa blaa that I try to write at a moment.


pdn: Which would be some bands you guys haven't played with yet but would like to someday? To collaborate or share the stage...
Ruoja: pussycat dolls


pdn: What would be your main goal(s), aspirations in life?
Ruoja: To make a better world trough achieve more space to live.


pdn: What are Ajattara's plans for the near future? Tours, new material maybe?
Ruoja: I'm working on a new album and it should be out end of this year..in meantime we do as much shows it's possible.

pdn: Thank you so much! Any final words you would like to add for your fans, friends?
Ruoja: enjoy peace, it wont last forever!




http://www.myspace.com/ajattara
http://www.last.fm/music/Ajattara

Zeromancer : new video!

Zeromancer's brand new vid released this month! Enjoy!

Fear Of Domination: New Video!

                         Fear of Domination video just out of the oven! 

http://www.facebook.com/FearOfDomination

Interview: John Spinelli (Ghost In The Addict)

Ghost In The Addict is the brainchild of John Spinelli, the only official member of the band, being a sole singer and a multi-instrumentalist, merging a multitude of genre into a pleasant, melancholic but powerful result!

pdn: Good evening, John! How did you come up with this name for your project?
John: I had a dream that an extraterrestrial came down and spoke to me telepathically. I don't remember a lot of what I was told - it was telling me about other dimensions and things that I could barely wrap my head around. But I remember that it told me I should stop trying to get a band together and just make music on my own, using the name Ghost in the Addict. I think it was a dream anyway...


pdn: And how did you come up with the idea for this one man band of yours, when did you start making music?
John: I started playing the drums when I was a little kid and I taught myself guitar, bass, and piano as a teenager. I always wrote fragments of music but I didn't really have my own distinctive style. Then one time I took acid on Halloween with some friends and we went walking in the forest. Somehow I got separated from the group and had no idea where I was. I wandered all alone in the dark, lost in the forest for hours and hours. Eventually I came upon an open field with an amazing view of the October sky. I sat in the grass alone that night and had a long conversation with the moon. And that's when I started writing songs the way that I do now. Something happened to me that night and it changed me forever.


pdn: What influences you when you write the lyrics and put your sounds together?
John: I think I tend to be more influenced by life events than I am by music I listen to. The sound that comes out of me is just the sound that comes out. It might be too melancholy or pretty for some people or it might be too dark and moody for others. All I can say is that it's honest. I don't know how to make any other sound besides the one that comes out of me. I have a terrible rebellious streak coursing through me. If someone tells me to go left I'm going to go right. I sometimes think my music is a reaction in that way. I feel like I'm "supposed" to make hard, fast, loud, angry music because I'm a boy. So I make slow, moody, melancholy, emotional music. It's a strange kind of "fuck you" I guess. 

pdn: What are some bands that were meaningful pillars in your life and in the initiation of Ghost In The Addict?
John: There have been a lot of bands and artists that have been important to my life. As a male living in this culture I have always felt the societal pressure to not be emotional, not be vulnerable... to be tough and hard and manly and all that bullshit. I think it's unfortunate. Because of these cultural demands a lot of guys go through life denying a large part of themselves because they've been conditioned to think that it's not cool to be reflective, thoughtful, emotional, and things like that. I think some of the music which really had an impact on me years and years ago were albums like Pretty Hate Machine by Nine Inch Nails, Siamese Dream by Smashing Pumpkins, Disintegration by The Cure... albums where male artists weren't afraid to explore fragile emotions and openly express them despite the cultural attitudes which often force guys to feel ashamed of feeling. I have great admiration for people who feel the full spectrum of emotions and do it without shame. Fuck shame. 


pdn: If you were to collaborate with other artists, who would they be?
John: When I was recording Wishblister I think William Control's album Hate Culture had just been released and I was listening to it a lot. Our music is quite different but I feel like some of the emotion is similar. He's an artist I hold in high regard, in terms of his ability to articulate emotions that are the sort that most people stuff down and never let out. I think there is a certain kind of magic inherent in expressing the things which we are told we should not express. All my life people say "smile!" when they take a picture. They never say "be honest" or "be yourself" - too many people want something phony instead of something real. I love artists who are able to do something real.


pdn: What are your plans for the near future?
John: Right now I am recording the follow-up to Wishblister. I have music written and recorded to over 20 new songs. The next step in the process is to track vocals, which I should begin doing after the first of the year.


pdn: Thank you so much for your time! Any message for the readers that you would like to add?
John: You're not alone. There are lots of us. Let's take over.


http://ghostintheaddict.com
http://facebook.com/ghostintheaddict
http://vampirefreaks.com/ghostintheaddict
http://myspace.com/ghostintheaddict
http://youtube.com/ghostintheaddict

Interview: Matt Gifford (ENCEPHALON)

   Straight from Ottawa, Canada, this wonderful band called Encephalon will bring you some great auditory experience with dynamic vocals and club-friendly beats. In collaboration with Artoffact Records, playdeadnation brough vocalist Matt Gifford over for a chat!

pdn: Greetings! First of all, I would like to ask you, how did you get the idea for this name?

Matt: Heya! Thanks for taking the time to talk – In the Sci/fi RPG (and anime) Xenosaga the “Encephalon” is an incredibly detailed virtual world similar to The Matrix  where people can enter and experience an entirely different dimension.   In medical science “Encephalon” is the technical term, for brain.  Both meanings apply to our music because we strive for intelligence in song writing and to have a sound that is otherworldly. 

pdn: How did you guys meet and started making music together? Was it difficult to get signed?

Matt: Sam and I have known each other since grade 2 and have been messing about with synths, drum machines, and guitar pedals and stuff for almost as long – Alis joined up a few years ago, after she continuously impressed me with her artistic abilities and musical talents.  Sam and I always had a lot of bands but never took anything too seriously due to the fact we were raised in such an isolated part of an already isolated country (Northern Ontario, Canada) and had no hopes or expectations…  Eventually we moved to a bigger city (Ottawa) where there was actually an industrial/goth scene for once and that’s when I started realizing that the music we had been making for years but not playing for anyone was actually on par with (or better than) most of the industrial bands who were touring around at the time.  Getting signed would have come quicker if I knew more about marketing myself – I always had sort of a punk rock attitude where I thought social media and all that comes with it makes everyone sound like a sell-out-poser-attention whore and that it should all be about the music.  I mean, it still should be about the music but if you don’t get in people faces then some other more obnoxious band will just steal your spotlight.

pdn: If you could pick anyone, what artist(s) would you like to share the stage with?

Matt: Hmmmm I want to say Faith No More, The Cure, or Skinny Puppy but then I think it would be so humbling I would shrivel up into a raisin. 

pdn: Who are some people, bands that have influenced your music and motivated you in your path?

Matt: Well the 3 bands I mentioned above obviously.  One of my greatest influences to both my musical tastes and fashion choices is my cousin Christian McFadden whose band Vegasphere was quite popular in Toronto in the 1990s.  They were a glammy/industrial/rock band with excellent vocals and song-writing.  Their first cd was one of my first industrial albums and it still holds a place in my heart with NIN, Ministry, and FLA.  Knowing that it was made by someone in my family always made me want to learn how to do the same thing. 

pdn: How would you describe your sound in a few of your own words?

Matt: Depends if im feeling specific or not: Industrial, EBM, and Synthpop are all ok for broad simplified terms.  Or Post-Industrial-Electro-Alternative-Futurepop works too.

pdn: When will we be able to hear the next material?

Matt: We will release some remixes and one off tracks on compilations this year while we write our follow up.  Possibly even an EP later in the year.  I definetly plan to have the next album done for 2013.

pdn: What are Encephalon's plans for the upcoming year, and even further if such? Regarding tours and such.

Matt: We are currently planning a spring tour of Canada with some other cool Canadian bands but nothing is confirmed yet.  We also just got word of a potential opening slot for a fall USA tour with a really awesome European band who has been a huge influence to us, but I don’t want to jinx it so Im not saying who!

pdn: Thank you for your time! Anything you would like to add for your fans, any final words?

Matt: Thanks for taking the time to read all this!  Stay tuned for more at www.encephalon.ca or like us on the facebook! 


*Purchase The Transhuman Condition here: http://www.stormingthebase.com/encephalon-the-transhuman-condition/

http://www.encephalon.ca