A little over a month ago, we introduced the world to Child of the Jackyl, the new band featuring Alesana’s Dennis Lee and Bloodjinn’s Kyle Odell, plus Justin Reich and Scott Shelton, both of Vanisher. We also previewed a clip from the debut song, “Chthonian Descent.” Now we’re proud to premiere the track in its entirety.
“Child of the Jackyl’s first song, ‘Chthonian Descent,’ is a twist on the idea of modern science meddling with areas others consider divine,” Lee explains. “In an attempt to travel through space by tapping into another dimension, researchers unwittingly open a portal to another dimension akin to the Christian idea of Hell. One said scientist is ensnared by one of the entities that come through the gateway, forcibly impregnated, and gives birth to what will end mankind. The whole while her colleagues pray desperately to gods they forsook long ago. Enjoy.”
The band will release their debut EP, Last Son Of Gaia, Winter 2013 on Revival Recordings.
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Formed earlier this year, North Carolina’s Child of the Jackyl features Alesana’s Dennis Lee and Bloodjinn’s Kyle Odell, plus Justin Reich and Scott Shelton, both of Vanisher. “Child of the Jackyl has been a brainchild of mine for quite a few years now,” Lee says. “It started when I was in a rut, trying to find new music to listen to. A majority of the new metal bands I dug up were either breakdown-drenched dribble or lyrically devoid of any message save infantile misogyny. I knew that if I was patient I would find like-minded musicians and be able to produce music that was free of the gimmicky bullshit that has drenched the music scene… and oh, I did. The Child of the Jackyl has been born so prepare to put your horns in the air and bang your fucking head.”
The band will be heading into the studio this winter to record their debut EP, Last Son Of Gaia, coming Winter 2013 on Revival Recordings. In anticipation, they are streaming a clip of a song, “Chthonian Descent,” right here right now. The single will be available on November 13.
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Revolver posted a poll earlier this month, asking our readers to vote on the Song of the Year for 2011, selecting from cuts by artists ranging from pop metallers Steel Panther to the artists behind Revolver’s Album of the Year, Korn. The turnout was unprecedented, as bands rallied their fans to help send their songs to No. 1. Below, you can watch videos for the ones that make up the Top 5 and read a quote from the artist behind the fan-picked Song of the Year—one that garnered hundreds of thousands of votes to push it to the top spot. Let us know what you think of the results in the comments.
5) Falling in Reverse, “The Drug in Me Is You”
4) Avenged Sevenfold, “Buried Alive”
3) Asking Alexandria, “Not the American Average”
2) Black Veil Brides, “The Legacy”
1) Alesana, “Circle VII: Sins of the Lion”
Alesana’s Shawn Milke on Being No. 1
“On behalf of Alesana, I would like to thank our fans for displaying their undying support in helping to make ‘Circle VII: Sins of the Lion,’ the sixth chapter of our Dante Alighieri–influenced concept record A Place Where The Sun Is Silent, the Song of the Year at Revolver magazine’s website. In this chapter, our protagonist, the Wanderer, plunges hundreds of feet below the Earth in an attempt to rescue the beautiful and haunting woman he has been chasing, the Temptress. He comes face to face with an unspeakable horror, the Fiend, as he finds himself submerged and trapped in a boiling sea of blood.
“It is an incredible honor to be recognized not only by our fans, but also by the staff at Revolver. It was already a surreal feeling to be included on a list of such talented musicians and songwriters, but to walk away crowned the winner is something for which we will be eternally grateful. A special thank you to Epitaph Records, The Artery Foundation, and our amazing team of loyal followers at the Alesana Army and Alesana Art.”
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Revolver‘s 100th issue hits newsstands on December 13 (but it’s available here right now), and, in addition to our list of the 100 Greatest Living Rock Stars, it contains our list of the 20 Best Albums of 2011. We’ve already announced that Korn have taken Album of the Year honors for their innovative and controversial electronic-music-infused LP, The Path of Totality, but you’ll have to read the issue to see the other 19 records that made the cut. In the meantime, we’re asking you to choose 2011′s Song of the Year. We’ve put together a list of the biggest and baddest songs in hard rock and heavy metal below (all of which were released as singles in 2011, even if some originally came out previously), all you have to do is pick the best. And feel free to vote as many times as you want–until the poll ends on Monday, December 19. So without further ado, getcha pull!
UPDATE: Find out the results here!
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Post-hardcore group Alesana have released a video for “Lullaby of the Crucified,” off their latest, A Place Where the Sun Is Silent. The track is the final song in the “First Act” of the record, which is a concept album based around Dante’s Inferno. Let us know what you think of it in the comments.
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North Carolina melodic hard-rock outfit Alesana are releasing their new concept album, A Place Where The Sun Is Silent (Epitaph), on October 18. In anticipation of the record, they’ve unveiled the clip below for new song “Sins of the Lion.” Check it out, and let us know what you think in the comments.
You can catch the band on the Motel 6 “Rock Yourself To Sleep” Tour on the dates below:
10/13/11 Worcester, MA, The Palladium
10/14/11 Philadelphia, PA , Theatre of the Living Arts
10/15/11 New York, NY, Irving Plaza
10/16/11 Clifton Park, NY Northern Lights
10/17/11 Buffalo NY, Xtreme Wheels Skatepark
10/18/11 Millvale, PA. Mr. Smalls
10/19/11 Cleveland, OH. Peabody’s Downunder
10/20/11 Pontiac, MI. The Crofoot
10/21/11 Chicago, IL. Metro
10/22/11 Sauget, IL. Pop’s Denver . .
10/24/11 Denver, CO. The Summit Music Hall
10/25/11 Salt Lake City, UT. The Complex
10/27/11 Seattle, WA. El Corazon
10/28/11 Portland, OR. Hawthorne Theater
10/29/11 Sacramento, CA. Ace of Spades
10/30/11 San Francisco, CA. The Regency Ballroom
11/01/11 Lancaster, CA. Allied Arts Cedar Center
11/03/11 West Hollywood, CA. House of Blues
11/04/11 Pomona, CA. Glasshouse
11/05/11 San Diego, CA. Soma
11/06/11 Tempe, AZ. Marquee Theatre
11/07/11 Tucson, AZ. Rialto Theatre
11/08/11 Albuquerque, NM. Sunshine Theater
11/09/11 El Paso TX. Club 101
11/10/11 Dallas TX. The Door
11/11/11 Houston TX. Warehouse
11/12/11 San Antonio TX, White Rabbit
11/13/11 New Orleans, LA. House Of Blues
11/14/11 Birmingham. AL. Zydeco
11/16/11 St. Petersburg FL. State Theatre
11/17/11Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Revolution
11/18/11 Orlando, FL. The Club at Firestone
11/19/11 Atlanta, GA. The Masquerade
11/20/11 Raleigh, NC. Lincoln Theatre
North Carolina–based sextet Alesana have reveled that their new album, A Place Where The Sun is Silent (Epitaph), will be released on October 18. The melodic hard rockers have also released the track listing for what is being described as a “powerful concept album”:
Act One: The Gate
1.The Dark Wood Of Error- 2:13
2.A Forbidden Dance- 3:53
3.Hand In Hand With The Damned- 4:36
4.Beyond The Sacred Glass- 6:03
5.The Temptress- 4:21
6.Circle VII: Sins Of The Lion- 4:09
7.Vestige- 2:58
8.Lullaby Of The Crucified- 4:48
Act Two: The Immortal Sill
1.Before Him All Shall Scatter- 0:54
2.Labyrinth- 4:04
3.The Fiend- 3:57
4.To The Vanity Faire- 4:37
5.The Wanderer- 1:37
6.A Gilded Masquerade- 4:35
7.The Best Laid Plans Of Mice And Marionettes- 5:35
8.And Now For The Final Illusion- 3:43
In support of the record, the band will be headlining the Motel 6 Rock Yourself To Sleep tour from October 13. Full dates below:
10/13 Worcester, MA, The Palladium
10/14 Philadelphia, PA , Theatre of the Living Arts
10/15 New York, NY, Irving Plaza
10/16 Clifton Park, NY Northern Lights
10/17 Buffalo NY, Xtreme Wheels Skatepark
10/18 Millvale, PA. Mr. Smalls
10/19 Cleveland, OH. Peabody’s Downunder
10/20 Pontiac, MI. The Crofoot
10/21 Chicago, IL. Metro
10/22 Sauget, IL. Pop’s Denver . .
10/24 Denver, CO. The Summit Music Hall
10/25 Salt Lake City, UT. The Complex
10/27 Seattle, WA. El Corazon
10/28 Portland, OR. Hawthorne Theater
10/29 Sacramento, CA. Ace of Spades
10/30 San Francisco, CA. The Regency Ballroom
11/01 Lancaster, CA. Allied Arts Cedar Center
11/03 West Hollywood, CA. House of Blues
11/04 Pomona, CA. Glasshouse
11/05 San Diego, CA. Soma
11/06 Tempe, AZ. Marquee Theatre
11/07 Tucson, AZ. Rialto Theatre
11/08 Albuquerque, NM. Sunshine Theater
11/09 El Paso TX. Club 101
11/10 Dallas TX. The Door
11/11 Houston TX. Warehouse
11/12 San Antonio TX, White Rabbit
11/13 New Orleans, LA. House Of Blues
11/14 Birmingham. AL. Zydeco
11/16 St. Petersburg FL. State Theatre
11/17 Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Revolution
11/18 Orlando, FL. The Club at Firestone
11/19 Atlanta, GA. The Masquerade
11/20 Raleigh, NC. Lincoln Theatre
Today is: Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Where I am: Somewhere in the U.S.A., cross-country drive home
Where I am actually: keeping my brother Chris (who also is our driver) company in the front of the bus.
Time of day: 11:32 a.m.
What I am listening to: “The Ocean” by Mae
The summer is drawing near its end. The days are getting slightly shorter, though it is hard to even notice. The nights are getting a little cooler, at least where I live on the East Coast. If you go to school in the fall, your mind is no doubt drifting back to what the heck you want to do with your life once you escape the shackles of seven periods a day with a short, crappy lunch sandwiched in the middle. If you spent the summer away from home you are either happy or sad or both, that your summer lovin’ is about to discover its untimely conclusion. If your summer found you doing something you love with people that you love then you are no doubt going to close your eyes and relive the memory over and over again. I closed my eyes a lot on the long drive home, not to sleep, but to remember. What a summer. What a tour. What a good time I have had sharing my experiences and my thoughts with each one of you throughout the whole process. To pay my thanks for the joy you all have brought me by joining me here at revolvermag.com, I made sure I had my camera with me the whole way home. Don’t get me wrong, I could go on and on for pages about the amazing summer that I had and the travels I experienced to get home; but as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. Allow me to close my eyes…
One Final Question:
What was the coolest thing you did or saw this summer? And Warped Tour does not count.
One Final Song Quote:
“Clap your hands and lift your hoof, and I’ll try to like horses.” – “Panda” by Mew (the line is a bit abstract, but if you hear the way he sings it, you will absolutely melt)
We have reached the end of my summer blog. I really hope you all enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Until we meet again, always remember to believe in yourself and trust in your own decisions because the last person in the world you should ever let down is yourself.
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Today is: Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Where I am: Pomona, California – Day 46 of the Vans Warped Tour
Where I am actually: Sitting on the couch with Patrick watching The Box. (Cameron Diaz has the worst southern accent of all time, by the way)
Time of day: 2:15 p.m.
What I am listening to: “I Still Do” by the Cranberries (one of my favorite bands ever)
Well, well, well. You guys sure do love a challenge. I asked for 150 comments on last week’s blog and you guys responded with a remarkable 241 comments! That blows my mind, thank you so very much. Now, I know I promised to answer last week’s question in the form of a comment, but after posting the blog I realized that it might be hard for everyone to find my answer amongst the slew of stories you were all sharing. You definitely kept me busy this week reading everything, but as always I enjoyed every second. OK, without further ado, the moment you have all been waiting (not waiting) for. When I am in my underwear jumping around my room like a nut, the first record I will always put on is….(drum roll)…. “You’ll Rebel To Anything” by Mindless Self Indulgence. If you cannot dance to that record you are either deaf or have no feet. (My sincerest apologies to any of you who are deaf, have no feet, or both).
Warped Tour is winding down. Only five more shows left to go. It is amazing how time can sometimes pass in the blink of an eye. I feel like I was just sitting in our van with Patrick and Alex heading from my apartment in Maryland to meet the rest of the guys and the Bandwagon in North Carolina to begin our cross-country jaunt. So much has happened since then. It is such a bizarre feeling when something that happened seven weeks ago can feel almost as if it took place minutes ago. All else aside, I would absolutely consider this year’s Warped Tour to be a success for Alesana. Our crowds, thanks to you, have been enormous. People are singing along, jumping around, buying our shirts, waiting in line to meet us, and spreading the word of our energy on stage at a rapid pace that even I cannot wrap my head around. This is our sixth year as Alesana and, in an industry climate that sees bands come and go with the changing of the seasons, to be able to say that we are bigger than we have ever been brings chills to my skin. It also has led me to reflect recently on how I came to be where I am, musically speaking. From a baseball glove to a guitar, from Dave Matthews Band and Radiohead covers to pop-punk 16th beats, from baggy cargo pants to skinny-girl jeans, from Falling Out of Line to TLE to Alesana. It seems like only yesterday…
I was given my first acoustic guitar as a present from my parents on Christmas Day when I was 17. I did not how to play it, of course, but I was already an established and highly respected air guitar player so I figured it could not be that hard. My first gig ever consisted of me performing Smashing Pumpkins songs on my air guitar in front of a mirror and my dog, Reggie. Needless to say, there was no encore. I started writing actual songs shortly after I graduated high school. I had taken a beginner guitar course my senior year to learn the basics and by the second semester I was already blowing past my classmates and essentially was self-taught the remainder of the way. In fact, my teacher would let me blow off class and go play my guitar outside because I was already beyond the things he was showing everyone else. Good ol’ Mr. J. I miss that guy. (Fun fact, I actually wound up playing a festival with his son, Chris Jay and the Army of Freshmen, years later. What a small world it can be at times.) I started my first band during my second year of college. I had been writing for some time and decided I was ready to organize and arrange full songs, as opposed to just acoustic guitar and vocals. I named the project “Falling Out of Line” and the lineup included my friends Nick Onorato and Ryan Quinn. Our music was all over the place. It was quite obvious that we were a collection of guys who had not been playing their instruments for very long. The songwriting was void of any editing or self-criticism, which caused the songs to go on and on for what seemed like days. We made a record at a studio in Vineland, New Jersey, at a little house in the middle of the woods and I still have it on my iPod to this day. A couple of the songs (most notably “Pointless” and “Journey Home”) still make me smile when I listen to them. Oh, and I had very short hair that was dyed bleach blonde. No, you may not see a picture.
Photo by Richelle Charlie
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Surprisingly, and much to the shock and chagrin of millions of fans around the world, Falling Out of Line broke up. I was in school full time and I decided that I would just continue making music on my own instead of with a band, both for the sake of time consumption and to allow myself to become a better songwriter. It is a lot easier to go through trial and error in art without having three or four other voices buzzing in your ear. By this point I had taught myself how to play drums and piano, as well. Over the course of about a year, I wrote and recorded a project on my own, performing all of the instrumentation myself, which I called “Undeclared.” It was obvious that I had grown as a songwriter and with the freedom to do what I wanted, I began to use more experimentation with vocal harmonies and musical bridges. I went to a company in town and had them make me one hundred copies of the CD of which I sold about 50. I used a picture of my cat, Noopy, as the front cover. In my heart, I knew the record was the first real step I was taking towards a career in music and I wanted my little buddy to be a part of the memory.
2002 is when I formed my first serious band. I had dove head first into the whole Drive-Thru Records era of pop punk rock music and I wanted desperately to be a part of it. (Side note: Finch just came on randomly on my iTunes as I was typing that last sentence. Crazy.) I had been writing a lot of stuff that molded well into that genre and I decided to play some of it for my lifelong friend, Nick Onorato (yes, the same Nick Onorato of Falling Out of Line fame.) He and I had always listened to the same music and he loved what he heard. TLE (The Legitimate Excuse) was born. I am not going to go into too much detail in this blog about TLE because, as I promised a couple of weeks ago, I am going to post a MySpace music page with old pictures, songs, and a history of the band. The one thing I will say is that, while I obviously love Alesana, my bandmates, and the success we have achieved together, nothing in the musical world will ever hold a stronger place in my heart than the years I spent in TLE. It not only shaped me as a musician, but as a person as well. Leaving TLE was one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make in my life. Breaking up the band meant letting a best friend down and it hurt my heart to leave him behind; but life takes everyone down different roads and I knew I was making the best decision for me. Nick is currently living in Maryland working a successful job with an awesome wife and a beautiful little girl named Donovan. We all succeed in different ways and I could not be more proud of him. (For the whole story, keep your eyes and ears open for the release of myspace.com/thelegitimateexcuse.)
OK. Alesana. The story of Alesana. Here it goes. Wait…not today. Why, you ask? I am making a film documentary that spans the entirety of Alesana’s career. And if told you now, the fun would be spoiled. I know…I am sneaky.
So onto the fun part: this week’s question. I think I will do the usual and stick with the present material. What one experience in your life is so memorable that, despite how long ago it happened, feels like it was only yesterday. We will make the time frame at least one year. I do not want to hear answers like “Warped Tour 2010!!” or “the pastrami sandwich I had last week!” Let’s dig deep here people and find some awesome memories to share. If you are not comfortable with sharing, or if you are having trouble conjuring up a memory, tell me about your best friend. Why are they your best friend? Are you their best friend? Why? Answering all questions makes you awesome, by the way.
Song quote of the week:
“If we survive and I’m alive I’d like to say how beautiful I think you are.” – “Island” by the Starting Line
Beating 241 comments will be tough, so I will forgive you if we do not reach that plateau. But that is not a donated excuse for us not to try! Until next week, my final Warped Tour blog, I ask you all to call a friend you have not talked to in far too long. You will be surprised how happy they will be just to hear your voice. xo
Photo by Richelle Charlie
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Today is: Monday, August 2, 2010
Where I am: Bonner Springs, Kansas—Day 37 of the Vans Warped Tour
Where I am actually: Laying in my bunk where it is cold because it is hot outside. Very, very hot.
Time of day: 5:44 p.m.
What I am listening to: “Sweet Tangerine” by The Hush Sound (such a cute song!)
Allow me to begin by saying that I was blown away by your responses last week. I honestly read each and every one of them and I still cannot believe how many of you took the time to share your thoughts. Thank you. Oh, and just a heads up. I am in a very hyper mood today, which is causing my thoughts to race about a million miles a second. Needless to say, keeping this week’s blog to only one idea or concept is pretty much an impossibility. If you are lucky, I might label each section. Maybe not. Probably not.
I am going to be a super-fan for a moment, if I may? I recently met Ace Enders (formerly of the Early November, currently of I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody’s Business). He is playing the Warped Tour this year on the same stage as we are, which still does not feel real to say, even as I write it down. He watched us play one day, and, no joke, his exact words were: “Wow. I feel tougher just having watched that set.” How cool is that? I have looked up to Ace for years. I used to put “The Room’s Too Cold” into the stereo in my car and blast “Ever So Sweet” as loud as I could and sing my heart out. I remember thinking how cool it must be to have written a song that was so good and so powerful that it led people to make fools out of themselves in their cars (me = that very same fool). Even more important, he is a great person and a kind soul. He is the definition of humility, which is something I strive to become as a musician and an entertainer. In my mind there is no better quality that an artist can possess.
Student Rick meets Slick Shoes meets Name Taken. If I had to define my first real band, that is the comparison I would have to make. I loved all three of those bands, and still do. Sadly, Student Rick only made one record. Name Taken made more than one, but only the last one ever received any recognition in the public eye. Slick Shoes made a bunch. Wow, I am rambling.
I am not a very religious person, but I definitely believe that there is something that exists beyond our understanding. It is my belief that the term God is something we lend to the possibility of something so powerful that it is beyond the comprehension of the human mind. I do not believe he is a guy sitting on a cloud in a white robe smiting the wicked and embracing the blessed. However, I most certainly believe that we were created by someone or something. I am not so vain as to believe that the beginning and the end rests in the hands on mankind alone.
Is it OK to laugh if you watch someone trip on their own shoelace? I am not saying it would be funny if they actually fell and hurt themselves. But I think I would laugh if they just stumbled a little bit. Tell you what, if you ever see me trip on my own shoelace, feel free to laugh.
I am going to jump back to religion quickly, but this time in a more lighthearted fashion. When God created Earth, do you think he hid practical jokes everywhere? For example, when it rains, it is our instinct as human beings to run for cover. I am sure God thought of this, so he gave us big, tall trees to hide beneath. But the most readily available thing for lightning to strike would be this very same big, tall tree. I would like to think that God has a sense of humor. I mean come on, a hammerhead shark? Really, God?
“This is what living like this does. This is what living like this does. This is what living like this does.” Damn, the first Taking Back Sunday record is so good.
If you are a writer and are ever experiencing writer’s block, I feel your pain. Sometimes the words are just not there. Sometimes every idea, every sentence just feels hackneyed and mundane. One trick that I have used in the past and have found pretty good success with, is to write with a pen and paper instead of on a computer. I know it is 2010 and the thought of doing anything by hand sounds archaic, but trust me it works. Using the pen and paper technique causes you to write slower and consequently gives your mind more time to relax and adjust. Instead of stressing about having nothing to say, you will concentrate more on the physical act of writing and before you know it you will have written a couple of pages. Even if it is total crap, at least you got something down and gave your mind a chance to breathe. Also, when using the pen, never cross anything out. Writing on a computer literally goes hand in hand with the delete key (a function we all use far too much) causing us to sometimes suffocate potential ideas. Once in a while, go back and read through what you wrote down on paper. You may be surprised how much an idea can seem like a plethora of garbage one day and a pirate’s treasure the next.
Most poorly used word in the English language? Literally. Thank you, David Cross.{pagebreak}
Five bands that shaped my high school years: The Movielife, Lagwagon, MxPx, Riverfenix, and Slick Shoes.
The No. 1 thing not to ask a band to sign? A wet wife-beater. The No. 1 cause of passing out at Warped Tour? Not drinking water. The No. 1 thing never to say to a band? I love your record, I downloaded it off LimeWire. The No. 1 worst thing to paint on your chest at Warped Tour? Free hugs. It is 100 degrees outside, the last thing most people want to do is hug you, trust me. The No. 1 best thing you can do at Warped Tour? Support your local bands. All of your favorite bands were at one time a local band somewhere, and without the support of their hometown they would not be where they are today.
Do you ever find yourself getting mad at the guy who first said, “If a tree falls in the woods and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?” I do. On the contrary, I would love to hug the guy who first said, “If the shoe fits.”
Phew. I feel like I just sprinted for an hour. I have never written so fast in my life. I hope I did not lose any of you with my lack of paragraph transitions. But, come on. Sometimes it is fun to be all over the place. Have you ever jumped around in your underwear to your favorite CD while cleaning your bedroom? This blog was the weekly writing piece version of that scenario. And who the heck does not like jumping around their bedroom clad in underoos listening to some killer music? I will be honest, if I get to heaven and at the gate I am told that for eternity I will get to do this, I do not think I will be disappointed.
This week’s question is a two-part question in which the two parts have absolutely nothing to do with one another. At all. For some strange reason that feels appropriate today. The first part brings us straight back to the underwear dance. What record is playing during your dance? The second part: Which feeling theoretically knocks your socks off more? Meeting the person of your dreams or the anticipation of maybe meeting them one day? Why?
I am going to try to do something a little different this week. The amount of comments I have been receiving on these blogs is just astounding. Let’s challenge ourselves, shall we? If we can get up to 150 comments on this week’s blog, I will answer this week’s question myself in the form of a comment! I know you have to be at least a little bit curious as to what record gets me jumping around my house like a crazy person. Let’s do it guys!
Song quote of the week:
“Looking out across the night-time, the city winks a sleepless eye. Hear her voice shake my window, sweet seducing sighs.” —“Human Nature” by Michael Jackson
Oh, I almost forgot to mention that I have started putting together a MySpace page for my old band. I hope to have it ready early this fall. Thank you for urging me to do this. Until next time friends, remember that making your bed in the morning sucks but the feeling of crawling into a freshly made bed at night is hard to beat.
Photo of Shawn Milke courtesy of Ave Barr
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