Dawn’s Dark Music Corner: Glass Android

Seattle Sounds-New Years Day- By Dawn Wood

In 2011, Glass Android took form from founder, Tony Spring and his best friend, collaborator, Casey Kunning. Influences included: Depeche Mode, Massive Attack, Puscifer, The Birthday Massacre, Nine Inch Nails and How to Destroy Angels. Glass Android played several shows as a duo, in the Seattle area.  Since that time, Glass Android has merged into a collaboration of local musical talent, merging with members from Murder Weapons (female vox) and the synth mastery from members of Grasp Logic and XY Beautiful (all bands featured in Horror Addicts.) Asher Vast, of Endless Sunder recorded, mixed and produced the Glass Android release: “Killing Me”.

Mi-kel Munzter from Grasp Logic is currently working with Tony on revamping/remixing some of the 2012 material and working on new songs as well.  Mi-Kel’s fresh Industrial/Dub-step influences will prove an exciting new approach for the Glass Android catalog.
Tony is also a photographer in the Seattle area with such bands under his belt as: My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult, Lacuna Coil and The Crystal Method, just to name a few.
Check out his photos: https://www.facebook.com/fiercebadrabbitphotography81?fref=photo

And you can check out Glass Android’s music here:
https://www.reverbnation.com/glassandroid (Reverb Nation)
https://www.facebook.com/GlassAndroidOfficial/info?tab=page_info (Facebook)

Seattle Sounds-Post Rapture Party- By Dawn Wood

Post Rapture Party was formed in 2011 in the fires that came after. Those left behind were brought together to celebrate that they were chosen to remain. There is always some one left behind. They are the after party joined in joyous celebration with the fellow orphans left upon the earth. Three years ago fate brought Kane, Noccie, Spooky and Ashe together. They brought together the sadness, fury, regret, romance and passion in the darkest days and the brightest of nights. Even though it feels like they came together overnight, the efforts of their work took many months. Post Rapture Party is always  working, creating and perfecting their stories for their audience’s entertainment, even in the most mundane moments of life. Safely amongst other artists, musicians and the baristas, Post Rapture Party lives their shadow lives.  Their horror influences include:

Dust Devil by Richard Stanley; House of 1,000 Corpses and Devil’s Rejects; and Cropsey which is actually a documentary. Cropsey was an urban legend on Staten Island about a boogie man. There actually turned out to be some truth to the legend and years later, they apprehended the serial killer.

I would best describe Post Rapture Party as Dark Wave, in the realm of such great artists as: Siouxsie and the Banshees and Kate Bush. Haunted vocals and sweeping synths swirl around the listener.  Post Rapture Party has played with Strap on Halo, Colour Flies and Spiritual Bat.  They have also played with local Blacklist Seattle Gothic bands: Murder Weapons, Grasp Logic, XY Beautiful and PixelPussy.

 

Check out Post Rapture Party online:
Links:
http://www.postraptureparty.moonfruit.com/

Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Post-Rapture-Party/230454826993599

 

 

Dawn’s Dark Music Corner: Charlie Drown

The always beautiful, never dull Miss Charlie Drown is an enigmatic force using sexuality, violence, passion, love and Magic in equal measure to craft a unique vision. Straddling brutality and frailty with ease and effortlessly encompassing the feminine and masculine of music. The music of Charlie Drown, while undoubtedly infectious, is difficult to term, largely due to Charlie’s broad spectrum of influences.

Not content to be just another pretty face in “rock star drag”, Charlie writes, sings, programs, records, produces and plays many instruments and finds capable dynamic musicians for recording, as well as hand picking those who perform it. Ambitious and aggressive in the studio, she has earned the respect of her peers in the industry. Her no rules attitude enables her to create without structure.

Charlie also owns her own “horrifically collectibles” store in Tacoma, Washington and records local Seattle/Tacoma bands in her Digital Dolly Studio. Her dedication to the Gothic/Industrial/Metal scene in Vancouver and the Northwest is highly respected.

Check Charlie out on:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Charlie-Drown/102028453165878

Twitter: twitter.com/charliedrown

Reverb Nation: www.reverbnation.com/charliedrown

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/CharlieDrownOfficial

 

 

 

Dawn’s Dark Music Corner: Murder Weapons

The sound of Murder Weapons has been described as Shock-Rock Horror Industrial.Samples from actual trials of serial killers, horror flicks and other auditory terrors are amply delivered by this quintet, punctuating the tracks with bloody CHEESE. Live shows feature a “SPLASH ZONE” of blood and various body parts. Audiences have become accustomed this Murder Therapy, featuring gory visuals, simulated murders and blood splattered cage dancers. Amidst the scene of chaos, gore and murder the band churns out a barrage of guitar driven, hard hitting, rhythmic, aggressive, electronic industrial audio terror for your delight!

Murder Weapons began in 2012 when founder Jesse RazOrr begun writing music based on a fascination with serial killers, horror films, and the finer things in life. Not surprisingly, the music was dark and aggressive. Jesse began forming the band with keyboardist, Luke Guillotine , drummer Lynn Shank and guitarist, Gorey Clawhammer. All that was needed was a vocalist. In summer of 2012, Murder Weapons was offered the opportunity to open for a national act in Seattle. Seattle rock-electronic vocalist, Dawn WoodKill, joined the Family and rehearsal commenced. By December, Murder Weapons was opening for major Industrial acts such as My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult, Angel Spit, Angels on Acid, Psyclon 9, Charlie Drown and Hanzel und Gretyl, as well as co-headlining Seattle’s Mechafest later that year. Currently, Murder Weapons is working on new material as well as a studio album and is obliterating the Northwest regularly. The next live show in Seattle will feature Murder Weapons, once again, opening for My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/murd3rweapon5

Twitter: @murderweapons

Reverb Nation: http://www.reverbnation.com/murderweapons

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/MurderWeapons

 

 

Dawn’s Dark Music Corner: Desillusion

Seattle’s EBM and Industrial Scene has re-emerged over the past few years and shown itself to be almost front running. It’s about time! I remember when clubs were reluctant to play anything but rock (thrash, rockabilly, garage, punk or grunge). Electronic bands either had to play covers, slyly slide onto a rock bill, play an underground club or play a room that normally just had a DJ. It is encouraging to see numerous EBM, electronic and industrial bands start to gain attention in the region. It is also quite common to see these musicians being a part of at least 2 other projects. The scene is, at times, incestuous. Most of the bands/projects are less than 7 degrees of separation from one another. (Case in point, industrial rock band, Desillusion.) Desillusion is fronted by the hardest working musician I know, Wes Halvorson. Wes has worked his ass off to get electronic/industrial bands into the Seattle live music scene. Wes is also the guitarist of My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult and Anguisette. He is the drummer for Endless Sunder and he is very much in demand to fill in and collaborate with a variety of Seattle EBM bands including Elektronika. Desillusion Keyboardist and Producer, Asher Vast is also in Endless Sunder and quite collaborative in the Seattle music scene. On bass, is Jesse O, who also plays bass for his project, Murder Weapons Jesse is quite talented in video editing and has worked on the band’s videos along with ThinkPiece Productions. Desillusion’s versatile percussive talents belong to Lynn Sepeda. Lynn is also in Murder Weapons and has played drums with a
plethora of Seattle talent such as: The Donettes, Otherness, Mary Abaddon and Eddie Spaghetti.

Desillusion’s latest CD (set to be released by Fall 2014) is heavy and infectious, but their sound is now more creatively laced with stompy blistering industrial explosions and hypnotic dance beats. Westin added a female back up vocalist to the mix in 2013 to add a new dimension to the music. Desillusion’s new material is reminiscent of Nine Inch Nails, KMFDM with a dash of Stabbing Westward and Gravity Kills. Their songs: “Anthem” and “Mod Me” are infective with a lush, hypnotic groove. “Mara” and “Jaded” are memorable, energetic and stompy anthems. “Vices” is pretty rockin’ in that “Stabbing Westward kind of vein” and the very catchy “Left Behind” and “Fall” mixes it up and featuring the accompaniment of female vocals.

Desillusion’s latest project titled: “Anthemphetamine” is scheduled for release in Fall 2014 Check Desillusion out on Facebook, Twitter, ReverbNation, Lastfm, Youtube and Vampirefreaks.com.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/desillusion
Twitter: @desillusion1
ReverbNation: www.reverbnation.com/desillusion
Lastfm: www.last.fm/music/Desillusion
HubPages (Think Piece Production): http://thompsonpen.hubpages.com/hub/Think-Piece-Productions-A-Business-Review
Vampiresfreak.com: vampirefreaks.com/DESILLUSION

 

 

Dawn’s Dark Music Corner: Endless Sunder

Sounds of Seattle CD Review-Endless Sunder “Descent”
by Dawn Wood 

The EBM and Industrial Scene has powerfully re-emerged over the past few years and shown itself to be worthy of grabbing attention on an international level.  There are some REALLY good bands that deserve attention.  Case in point: Westin Halvorson.  Westin has diligently worked to get electronic/industrial bands into the spotlight of the Seattle live music scene. Westin is the guitarist of (now touring) My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult.  He also fronts his own band Desillusion and plays in Pixel Pussy, Anguisette and is the drummer for an amazing electro-industrial band called:  Endless Sunder.  Desillusion’s keyboardist and Producer, Asher Vast, is the main composer, vocalist and Producer behind Endless Sunder.  Asher is also a great collaborator in the Seattle music scene.  On guitar, is the talented Corey Wittenborn (also in Murder Weapons) and on keyboards/ synths is Kevin Preston (also from The Crying Spell, Monicom and 64K.)

Endless Sunder originated in 2007 in Olympia, Washington as an Electro-Industrial Rock project stemming from influences like Frontline Assembly, VNV Nation, Nine Inch Nails and 16 Volt.  One of the many things I love about this band is they take very seriously the entire presence of the band.  Although certainly not contrived, everything from their photos to videos to stage presence is intriguing, mysterious and from a marketing perspective…..packaged with perfection.

Asher was kind enough to let me review Endless Sunder’s CD entitled “Descent”. There is also a video of “Mechanism” to accompany the CD.

The CD starts out with the song “Atonement”, which is a heavy, grinding, fierce, industrial rock song and a great way to start out this CD.  Next, is “Pendulum” which is reminiscent of Marilyn Manson….only is actually danceable AND rocking with a catchy recurring motif.  I especially like how Asher’s vocals seem to swirl around the listener. 3^rd track is “Choking Game” which is another great grooving industrial rock tune with smashing guitars and noise!  4^th track is “Pawn”.  This song has a driving groove, is dark and sensual.  The vocals are absolutely amazing on this song. Asher’s vocals are whispery and present band Westin’s back up vocals are nothing short of fierce.  The 5^th track is “Mechanism” which is epically industrial-dance and yet…a hard-driving rock track.  The percussion is especially infectious in this song and also quite memorable are the motif and chorus.  This song has become quite the favorite in the local Seattle scene.  The 6^th track is “Estranged”.  “Estranged” is another epic song with wonderful complexities and beautiful keyboard lines.  I almost want to compare this song to Depeche Mode.  Yes, you read that correctly and yes, this is a huge compliment from me.  What an extraordinary song all around!  The 7^th track is “Shell”, which is a solid, infectious, straight-ahead industrial rock song.  “Shell” boasts a rocking beat, guitars and roaring, tortured vocals.  The 8^th track is “Entrophy”, which is a kaleidoscope of industrial goodness.  “Entrophy” would be a perfect soundtrack song.  The 9^th track is “Siren”, for which I especially enjoyed the amazing guitar work.  The last track is “Introvert”.  What a beautiful final song.  Once again, a lovely keyboard motif, intense…yet whispery vocals and plenty of mystery and intrigue that draws the listener in.  This entire CD is well worth having in your collection and Endless Sunder is a “must see”, “must hear” band.

Asher and Kevin have a video and photography company in Seattle called “AVAST Productions”.  They put together a stellar video for The Birthday Massacre, as well as several Northwest bands.  Check them out at: http://www.avastproductions.com  and www.facebook.com/AvastProductions

You can check Endless Sunder out on their website: www.endlesssunder.com, as well as on:  Facebook, Twitter, ReverbNation, myspace, discogs.com, vampirefreaks.com and youtube.com.

Upcoming events

May 25th-27th / Crypticon / Seattle, Washington/ The Pacific Northwest’s largest horror convention includes zombie tag, masquerade ball, makeup contest, writing contest, movie making workshops, how to survive the zombie apocalypse classes and appearances by Dee Wallace, Doug Bradley, Don Coscarelli and many more. For more information go to: http://www.crypticonseattle.com/

 May 25th-27th / Spooky Empire’s May-hem / Orlando, Florida / This event includes an Addams Family TV show reunion, an evening with Roddy Piper, live music, a tattoo show, an art show and appearances by Linda Hamilton, Michael Rooker, Micah Sloat, William Forsythe and many more. For more information go to: http://www.spookyempire.com/index.html

May 25th-27th / Beyond Ghost’s Para-Horror Weekend / Buffalo, New York / Events include a zombie walk, ghost hunts, a film festival with a viewing of  Poultrygeist Night of the Dead Chicken and Slime City Massacre including a Q and A with Lloyd Kaufman along with appearances by Tyler Mane, Leah Gibson, James Winburn and several ghost hunting organizations will also be there. For more information go to: http://beyondghosts.com/paracon.shtml

June 1st / Club Sin:Burlesque / Montreal, Canada / An evening of feathers, latex, uniforms, boas and all fantasies you can think of, brought to you by the Montreal Fetish weekend. Tickets are $10 and includes live music, an appearance by D.J. Kommandandt and a performance from Cabaret Cleo. For more info go to: clubsin.ca

June 1st-3rd / Great Lakes Fright Fest / Petersburg, Michigan /  This is an event for home and professional haunters. Activities include a haunters against hunger haunted house, a werewolf wedding, haunt seminars, a vendor’s area, a movie night, children’s activities and a campfire social. For more information go to: http://greatlakesfrightfest.com/index.html