Fall Of The Albatross: Metal meets Jazz, meets Funk with a Mix of Chaos!

Fall Of The Albatross is a band that possesses musical qualities that are rare to find within Heavy Music. Through a mix of Heavy Metal, Jazz, and even Funk music, FOTA offers a sonic experience that is original, well though out and extremely spasmic. Add to this the amazing vocal range that vocalist Ray Hodge delivers, and you got yourself ear heaven mixed with hell.

This band offers the listener chunks of meaty riffs, shredded notes, baked in a warm blanket of soulful emotions, garnished with odd time signatures, and covered in a drip of their finest Jazz sauce. Served on a crackling funk skillet to audiences who desire the utmost diversity in their musical palette. It's all of our favorite flavors carefully combined after years of music listening experience.

After their recent performance at the Highline Ballroom for the No Mercy Metal Showcase, in which they go to open the Kittie CD Release show for "I've Failed You", FOTA are ready for bigger and better shows. FOTA recently released an EP entitled "Entanglement", which we recommend you listen to because it will inspire your mind (see below).

- Vital Statistics:

\m/ LINEUP:

- Ray Hodge (Vocal)
- Harold McCummings (Guitar, Keys)
- Colin Ruhwedel (Guitar)
- Anthony Wong (Percussion)
- Robert Anderson (Bass)

\m/ ORIGIN: Queens, New York

\m/ MISSION: Super-Duper-Fun-To-Listen-To-Metal!

\m/ BIOGRAPHY:

Combining the eclectic sounds of the city from which they originate, Fall Of The Albatross creates music that is beautiful and chaotic. Released in May 2011, their debut EP "Entanglement" is still sending shock waves around the world. Their live performances takes its audience through a thrilling, genre defying experience.

Photo credit: Justine Cristle Gilbuena Photography & Steve Lars from Creative Ventures International & Steve Lars on Facebook

Related links:
Fall Of The Albatross
Fall Of The Albatross on Twitter
Fall Of The Albatross on Youtube

Painted In Exile

The first time we experienced the musical power that Painted In Exile represents, it was clear to us that this band based out of Long Island New York, was geared for some head-crushing yet harmonious adventures. What really stands out about Painted In Exile is the energy and unpredictable musical passages that they take the listener on. One minute they are playing some furious Death Metal with very fast parts, the next minute they go into a Jazz interlude. And while all this has been done before, what really sets Painted In Exile apart, is the precision that vocalist Rob Richards possesses when he lays down his lyrics.

Additionally, the band features some very talented professional musicians which understand each musical part and never deliver a wrong note. The Murphy brothers, James on guitar and William on keyboards, combined with guitarist Marc Lambert, drummer Eddie DeCesare and new bass player Connor Larkin, take the listener into a musical joyride. Every part this musicians write, blends in perfectly with Rob's vocals, creating an spectacular potpourri of divine chaos. While Painted In Exile might be hard to understand at first, once you carefully listen to their EP titled "Revitalized", you will find yourself spinning in it over and over again.

While the band works on their full length album, which might be produced by Chris "Zeuss" Harris (Hatebreed, Madball, Shadows Fall, The Red Chord), here is their brand new video for their song "Revitalized". The video makes justice to the talent that makes Painted In Exile stand out from today's flood of mediocre bands. So prepare your ears and eyes to be Painted In Exile! \m/





Related links:
Painted In Exile on MySpace
Painted In Exile on Facebook
Painted in Exile Merch

IMPRINTED by Jo Schüftan (Founder of Horns Up Rocks)

Alex Skolnick: From Jazz to Metal

Alex Skolnick from Testament and the Alex Skolnick Trio, is one of the most well grounded guitarists in Heavy Music. He is one of the founders of the legendary Thrash Metal band Testament and in 2002 he started a musical project called the Alex Skolnick Trio. He has also played in bands such as Ozzy Osbourne and has contributed his talent to many musical projects. You may be wondering how can a musician be so good at playing both Jazz and Metal, when the key in Jazz is to play "quietly" and the key in Metal is to play "as loud as it gets." Does guitar legend Joe Satriani have something to do with this? Does BB. King have something to do with this? We had this same questions, so we decided to find out what makes Alex Skolnick such a diverse guitar player. We also talked to Alex about the contributions of the great Ronnie James Dio to Heavy Music. Here are the results:



Live pictures by: Mitchell Damien Maurer
Additional images by: Alex Skolnick, Tom Couture, J.D. Choi and Newsis

Related Links:
Official Site of Alex Skolnick
Official Site of Testament
Official Site of The Alex Skolnick Trio