Indy / Unsigned Power Metal Bassists and Bands

shadowmac · #1 08-16-2009, 08:35 AM

Hello All.

This thread is aimed primarily at hard rock and metal bassists / bands.

My project (HEDDA) just launched it's web-site and MySpace pages and released a digital EP - the hard-copy will be in our hands in a couple weeks. I describe our style as "European Power Metal with Progressive Moments and Tendancies" (i.e. Kamelot, Firewind, Masterplan, Balance of Power, etc.). The style I am referring to is influenced by Maiden, Priest, Queensryche, Savatage and Fates Warning with a little "Styx / Asia on Steroids" thrown in for good measure.

We are a Milwaukee, Wisconsin based band. I am curious to learn how many peers (Indy / Unsigned power metal projects) I / we have out there in close proximity to us and across the globe; I am always interested in networking, good conversation and hearing great new music.

WISZDOMSTONE is another power band from our general area with a recent release, "Rise", and the WS guys are long-time friends of ours - good stuff if you like the power metal style, check 'em out.

I'm looking for others...

Are there any bassists out there in TB land (particularly in the mid-west, though as I said, I am interested in across the globe feedback) that write and play this or a very similar style?

Jamie Mac

DoomandHeavy · #2 08-16-2009, 11:52 AM

My band plays with a traditional sound like Maiden and Slough Feg, but with a lot of Hellhammer/Celtic Frost and Candlemass esque parts. Unfortunetly, we don't have anything completed yet.

shadowmac · #3 08-16-2009, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoomandHeavy

My band plays with a traditional sound like Maiden and Slough Feg, but with a lot of Hellhammer/Celtic Frost and Candlemass esque parts. Unfortunetly, we don't have anything completed yet.

Frozen Michigan...Nice! Celtic Frost influence seems natural!

By the way, I checked out the site in your signature - VERY cool.

Anyone else out there?

DoomandHeavy · #4 08-16-2009, 08:12 PM

Thanks Shadowmac! I love your tone on those sampler tracks. You use the low B very well, and your playing reminds me of a beefier Eddie Jackson. Keep it heavy, and keep it true!

Also feel free to join Metal Sessions the site needs more bass players, especially talented ones like yourself.

shadowmac · #5 08-18-2009, 09:03 PM

WOW! Very VERY kind words DoomandHeavy. I am a huge fan of Eddie Jackson, but never realized how much he influenced my playing until I listened back to our roughs - and I always thought that his tone was awesome. I am utterly flattered to be mentioned in the same breath. Thank you...I'd leave now, but my head won't fit through the door!

So here's a little story about Eddie J.

HEDDA's singer, John, won a competition and got to sing a song with Queensryche when they were here in Milwaukee. I did the engineering for the submission that got him the gig, so he asked me if I wanted to go with him - I REALLY was dying to go, but told him that he'd better take his wife (if he ever wanted nookie again). BUT, I told him to ask Eddie to pass the torch and tell me how he gets his tone. Well, Eddie (according to John) kind of smiled and said its all the work of great engineers and moved the conversation in another direction. Secretive son of a gunn. I know that he lists his gear here and there, but (and this I admit is weird), I love his tone, but I'm not a fan of his gear - if that makes any sense!

Thanks again Doom, you made my day!

Jamie Mac

P.S. You can hear the full versions on our MySpace Page. http://www.myspace.com/heddatheband Thanks again, JM

shadowmac · #6 08-23-2009, 09:10 AM

There have got to be more metal bassists around. C'mon guys, chime in.

Byzcat · #7 08-23-2009, 07:54 PM

Well, strictly speaking, I'm a bedroom player, but, hey, metal...

snail · #8 08-24-2009, 08:56 PM

Shadowmac your tunes sound great! The bass sounds great, and some great guitar work too. I love all kinds of metal, but I'm looking to get more into death/folk metal types of bands (once I find the right one). Stuff like Necrophagist, Ensiferum etc. Folk metal is great. Blends my two favorite types of music: Celtic music and metal =)

Currently just trying to beef up my skills in my bedroom.

shadowmac · #9 08-25-2009, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snail

Shadowmac your tunes sound great! The bass sounds great, and some great guitar work too. I love all kinds of metal, but I'm looking to get more into death/folk metal types of bands (once I find the right one). Stuff like Necrophagist, Ensiferum etc. Folk metal is great. Blends my two favorite types of music: Celtic music and metal =)

Currently just trying to beef up my skills in my bedroom.

Hey Snail, I appreciate the comments. I too am a big fan of Celtic music and if you listen to more HEDDA stuff, you'll certainly hear some of that influence, though I use it sparingly.
Check out WOLFSTONE - "The Half Tail"; WOLFSTONE is a Scottish band that does half originals and half traditional folk songs with a rock flair. I don't get impressed easily, but I saw them do 1/2 of a song during a sound check at Milwaukee's Irish Fest many years ago and I IMMEDIATELY bought that album. I saw them that night and went back to see them again the next!
On the power metal front, AVANTASIA and EDGUY (both Tobias Sammett projects) have many celtic influenced moments as does AYREON.

Beef-up those chops man! However, I suggest playing with other musicians; I know a guitarist who puts on headphones and plays along with entire RUSH albums note-for-note. The problem is when he takes off the phones; he has chops, but his timing is terrible. If you can't find other musicians make sure you rehearse to a metronome. Just my two cents.

Good luck and thanks again!

Mac

shadowmac · #10 08-31-2009, 11:31 AM

Anybody else doing power, prog influenced projects? I was hoping to find numerouse new (unknown to me anyway) bands on this thread.

JM

DoomandHeavy · #11 08-31-2009, 12:10 PM

Aye Shadowmac have you listened to Cauldron Born, Pharaoh, and Slauter Xstroyes? If you haven't, I thinked they'd be right up your alley.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_kbAML0DB0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J23Yk24gWiw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPhiD2AjK3Y

zagralin_arf · #12 08-31-2009, 01:00 PM

My band Evenfall is currently going through a huge overhaul which has left me and the singer/guitarist Shmoe the only remaining members and all we do is write now. Got some good stuff we plan on recording once we get the band back together.

Check it
www.myspace.com/evenfallmetal

DoomandHeavy · #13 08-31-2009, 01:08 PM

Zagralin I just listened to your band's song God of Betrayal, killer stuff! Has a really good 80's vibe to it.

zagralin_arf · #14 08-31-2009, 01:10 PM

Thanks! Thats exactly what we go for! What did you think of my harp imitation on the bass halfway through?

sawgydawg · #15 08-31-2009, 02:01 PM

www.myspace.com/empirianband

heavier, but midwest and are influenced by nwobhm and metalcore

BlackMetalAkaz · #16 08-31-2009, 02:05 PM

Black Metal, very Hellhammer and Mayhem influenced. Maybe some Xasthur too.

www.myspace.com/PsychicHorns

DoomandHeavy · #17 08-31-2009, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Thanks! Thats exactly what we go for! What did you think of my harp imitation on the bass halfway through?

That was my favorite part! What are actually doing there though? I can some harp-like tones on my six stringer, but I like your sound even more. Also, does the guitarist/vocalist like Angel Witch? He sounds just like Kevin Heybourne.

zagralin_arf · #18 08-31-2009, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoomandHeavy

That was my favorite part! What are actually doing there though? I can some harp-like tones on my six stringer, but I like your sound even more. Also, does the guitarist/vocalist like Angel Witch? He sounds just like Kevin Heybourne.

I actually have never heard Angel Witch...I don't know if he has either! I always thought he sounds like Klaus Meine from the Scorpions...you should hear him rock it at Karaoke!

As for what I'm doing I'm just tapping out chordal harmonies of the progression, and I'm just using my Fender Jaguar through my rig I have listed in my bio, minus my BSP...here is a video of me actually recording it...it was a bitch to get down!
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu...deoID=44076912

DoomandHeavy · #19 08-31-2009, 09:29 PM

Sweet video! Your jam room looks just like the place I rehearse at (guitarist's basement). Keep up the good work, and check out Angel Witch!

zagralin_arf · #20 08-31-2009, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoomandHeavy

Sweet video! Your jam room looks just like the place I rehearse at (guitarist's basement). Keep up the good work, and check out Angel Witch!

Thanks man!

Thats actually the studio we used to record the demo...it was our producer's basement turned into a home studio. It had a bar in it!

I'm gonna go check out some Angel Witch now!