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Interview with Chris Letchford of Scale the Summit

Alec Howard — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 04:20:25 +0000

Recently I got a chance to interview Chris Letchford of Scale the Summit, it was a great opportunity to learn more about him and the band.

Leviathan: Your songs are epic, and lyricless, how does your writing process differ from other mainstream bands, or even other metal bands that aren’t instrumental? Are you a jam band? Or is everything preconcieved and meticulously put together?

Chris Letchford: We are not a jam band. We write everything and play it all note for note. I guess I would say that since we are instrumental, we have to write everything to be much more full… which is why we have so many layered parts to take the place of the vocals. Our music is also written in a forever changing mindset, to keep it fresh and actually “progressive”. Mainstream styles of bands have to write everything with a verse chorus verse format to make it vocal friendly.

Leviathan: Who writes the majority of the material?

Chris Letchford: I handle pretty much all of the writing. I get all the guitars finished and then work with our drummer and bassist on what I was thinking for their parts and then they get to work. It works out great that way, as it makes for zero arguing and we can get songs finished much faster and I think as a better final product.

Leviathan: Have you been writing new material? Will you be writing while you’re on the road this year?

Chris Letchford: I have almost all of the next record finished right now, and so far its coming along great! I write as much as I can while on tour, but it can be hard to find a quiet spot somewhere in the venues to concentrate without distractions. I get more finished probably while we are driving from city to city.

Leviathan: How do you get such a fluid and amazing sound when you do the finger tapping parts (like the part form “The Great Plains”)?

Chris Letchford: Thanks a lot! There are no tricks, I would say its because me and Travis spend a lot of time practicing this technique to make sure that it sounds good and is consistent everyday.

Leviathan: Who are your influences? What is your favorite song?

Chris Letchford: In no particular order. Guthrie Govan, John Petrucci, Bireli Lagrene, Dream Theater, Cynic, and Devin Townsend, to name a few. I can’t think of a favorite song.

Leviathan: What is your favorite of your own songs? Which do you like to play live? Why?

Chris Letchford: “The Great Plains”. I just like the even mix of everything that song has which makes it fun to play live as well.

Leviathan: When can we expect new material?

Chris Letchford: As I mentioned earlier, I’m just about finished writing the next album. We are entering the studio this October with Mark Lewis, plans of releasing the record early 2011. Hopefully we’ll be able to release a new song online before the new year!

Interview with Chris Letchford of Scale the Summit is a post from: KZSC Santa Cruz

Scrambles the Death Dealer’s Top 10 Part 2

Alec Howard — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 14:00:54 +0000

5. Between The Buried And Me - The Great Misdirect (Victory)
Not much else to say but BTBAM. This album is good, but not ‘Colors’ good, giving it the 4 spot.

4. The Black Dahlia Murder – Deflorate (Metal Blade)
I was a little concerned with this album at first, thinking that TBDM’s overall sound would change considering they replaced their lead guitarist. Deflorate, while more technical, remains as brutal as TBDM can be, and still retains that signature TBDM sound. I do miss the solos a bit, but Ryan Knight is a solid replacement. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by this album, and enjoy every track on it, a must have for every TBDM fan.

3. Lamb of God – Wrath (Epic, Roadrunner)
This album was a pleasant surprise after Sacrament. I thought LOG had lost it, but they proved me wrong this year, as this album kicks some serious ass!

2. Conducting From The Grave – When Legends Become Dust (Sumerian)
I found out about this band just a few months ago and if it weren’t for Creature, this album would be number 1. These guys have tons of talent and I look forward to their future offerings.

1. Within The Ruins – Creature (Victory)
Just found out about this band but definitely my favorite album of the year. Their creativity and uniqueness has made it next to impossible for me to take this album out of my cd player.

Scrambles the Death Dealer’s Top 10 Part 2 is a post from: KZSC Santa Cruz

Scrambles the Death Dealer’s Top 10 Part 1

Alec Howard — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 11:11:55 +0000

10. Mastodon - Crack They Skye (Reprise)
I won’t even attempt to tell you what this album is about lyrically, but, this album reversed my decision on hating Mastodon, so I felt it deserved a mention on my list, but, it’s also a really good album.

9. Adagio - Archangels In Black (Listenable)
Adagio is a great power metal band that I think might get overlooked at times because of their similarity in name to that of Brazilian power metal band, Alagio. However, this album proves that they are definitely different.

8. Stratovarius – Polaris (Edel, Ear music)
I was shocked when I heard this album, it didn’t really sound like Stratovarius at all. Quite heavy, not what I was used to for them, but it was a pleasant surprise.

7. Sonata Arctica – The Days of Grays (Nuclear Blast)
I’m pleased to announce that Sonata hasn’t lost anything by replacing their guitarist. I was worried that it wouldn’t be the same Sonata Arcitca that I had grown to love, but this album is very good, and so long as Tony Kakko is still in the band, they’ll be fine.

6. Dream Theater – Black Clouds And Silver Linings (Roadrunner)
Dream Theater is my favorite band, and they would have gotten the number 1 spot, because I love this album, but I felt that other bands were more deserving, so here they are. If you don’t have this album already, get it.

Scrambles the Death Dealer’s Top 10 Part 1 is a post from: KZSC Santa Cruz

Leviathan’s Top 10 Part 2

Alec Howard — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 05:00:02 +0000

Leviathin’s List of 2009′s Most Epic Albums Part 2

5. Mastodon - Crack the Skye (Reprise)
There is often much debate over which Mastodon album is the best, which one is the worse, etc. but it cannot be denied that their latest is still nothing short of epic. The album is literally taking you through an adventure with space travel, usurping of thrones and devils. Seriously, read this article sometime, its really interesting. Its more progressive than previous entries and the music videos for the songs are AMAZING. Some of the best I have every seen.

4. The Black Dahlia Murder – Deflorate (Metal Blade)
These guys just keep getting better and better. Yet again, they fail to raise the bar with their newest release. While I might not be able to sing along to every song and every guitar riff like I still can on Unhallowed, without a doubt their musicianship has continued to improve with every album. Every track is awesome. This is one I can just play on loop and not get bored.

3. Baroness - The Blue Record (Relapse)
This is something everyone can gather round, as was proved here at KZSC. Nobody was immune to the awesome artwork of John Baizley (the singer/rythm guitarist) or the music itself. Our music director Caitlin was even willing to go see them in San Fransisco, and while me and Tooth Gnasher and Tooth Grinder (aka Stephanie our Station Manager and Tim our Volunteer Coordinator) might not agree on music all the time, Baroness was something we all agreed had passed the bar in terms of combining melodic sounds and awesome guitar riffs with hardcore/metalcore singing. This album would most likely be on our collective Top 10 list.

2. Between the Buried and Me – The Great Misdirect (Victory)
Even though I didn’t think it was possible, this album is more progressive than the 2007 hit Colors. In the same way though, its impossible to compare to Colors directly because they are so different. From the melancholy track “Mirrors” that goes straight into the hardcore track “Obfuscation” to the poppy piano riff in the beginning of “Fossil Genera” to the steel guitar playing on “Desert of Song” and finally the epic that is “Swim to the Moon” this cd takes you on a ride and bring something new to the table every time you pop it into your CD Player.

1. Scale the Summit – Carving Desert Canyons (Prosthetic)
This album is my number one for a couple reasons; if I want to do homework and can’t be distracted by lyrics, if I’m taking a girl on a date, but can’t stand to let her listen to her “Britney Spears” or “Lil Wayne” then I pop in this album. She can’t complain about scary vocals or anything because there are none. This album is a major step up from their 2007 album Monument. Each song has its own distinct sound and the technical level of the musicians is amazing. It also contains what is probably my number one played song of the year, “The Great Plains”. I can’t really explain why its my favorite song, it’s almost like comfort food.

Leviathan’s Top 10 Part 2 is a post from: KZSC Santa Cruz

Leviathin’s Top 10 Part 1

Alec Howard — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 11:04:08 +0000

This was next to impossible to create. So many good albums came out in 2009, so Scrambles the Death Dealer and I contented ourselves to create our list individually so that we could cross cover certain material. That and there is a 11-20 list that covers what we couldn’t cram into ten slots. Join us as we count down the Top 10 Metal Albums of 2009! Remember, these are our lists. So hate ‘em, love ‘em and tell us what you think in the comments. Don’t be shy, tell us what your favorite list is in the comments. And stay tuned for the rest of the lists!!

Leviathin’s List of 2009′s Most Epic Albums Part 1

10. Porcupine Tree – The Incident (Roadrunner)
This is a 2-disc album, with the first disc being a straight 55 minute epic. Leave it to Steven Wilson. The only complaint I would have is that pretty much none of the tracks can really stand alone but as a whole its an epic song. If you want to hear just a part, check out the edited version of ‘Time Flies’ on their lastfm page.

9. Sonata Arctica – The Days of Grays (Nuclear Blast)
My favorite power metal band. They haven’t lost their touch at all. I love listening to them in the winter… They just seem like a winter band. This album is one of their best so far. Tony Kakko can sing the shit out of anything. Not as many epic super high screams as I would like but that doesn’t hurt it too much.

8. Animals as Leaders – Animals as Leaders (Prosthetic)
I wanted to put ALL of the instrumental metal bands I discovered this year into my list, but that would have taken up half the list and most of them don’t even have labels yet (see: Exivious and Cloudkicker, seriously, check them out) so I decided to put up the one I listened to the most. Animals as Leaders is like a more hardcore Scale the Summit, which is great. This is the album for someone trying to move into metal without words I think. It’s not all weird and introspective, its just metal, its easy to get.

7. Dream Theater – Black Clouds and Silver Linings (Roadrunner)
This album is Dream Theater, the Dream Theater you know and respect, which isn’t a bad thing, but that’s why it isn’t higher on my list. It’s a good overview of what they can do, but they didn’t really go anywhere new. I was expecting something a little more groundbreaking from them. That being said, if you like Dream Theater, then you will still like this album, but if you don’t this one won’t change your mind about them.

6. Scar Symmetry – Dark Matter Dimensions (Nuclear Blast)
This band comes out with some of the catchiest songs. In that sense, they are like the opposite of Scale the Summit, I can’t focus on anything else when I listen to them, I just want to sing along. One of my favorite Melodic bands, I always love listening to the whole album. If you like this one, go back and check out the rest of their discography.

Leviathin’s Top 10 Part 1 is a post from: KZSC Santa Cruz

Loud Rock the CHARTS

Alec Howard — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 23:35:37 +0000

In the works this week: Our metal library is full to bursting. We have decided that a good ole purging is in order. We will be going through our Loud Rock section in the library and putting music in the bin to be sold at the cd sale!! If you would like to help with this endeavor leave a comment or send an email to loudrock[at]kzsc[dot]com

1    SLAYER “World Painted Blood” [Single]    Columbia – making their way into the double digits this is their tenth studio release.
2    HORSE THE BAND Desperate Living Vagrant – with a unique 8-bit sound this band is most interesting and certainly worth your time checking out.
3    BLACK COBRA Chronomega Southern Lord – their first album on the ‘Southern Lord’ label, if you have heard of and liked Cavity or Acid King then you might dig these guys too. Their new cd cover is reminiscent of Death Magnetic and they sound a bit like a muddier Mastodon.
4    IMMORTAL All Shall Fall Nuclear Blast – crushingly brutal and heavy they also have great songwriting, check out the black metal group immortal on their 8th studio release.
5    LYNCH MOB Smoke And Mirrors Frontiers – Straight up rockers with a sound from the 80s they really sound like a blast from the past. This song made me think of Rocket – Def Lepaprd.

1    METALOCALYPSE: DETHKLOK Dethklok: The Dethalbum II    Williams St.
2    HATEBREED Hatebreed    E1
3    BLACK DAHLIA MURDER Deflorate    Metal Blade
4    MEGADETH Endgame    Roadrunner
5    MUNICIPAL WASTE Massive Aggressive    Earache
6    RODRIGO Y GABRIELA 11:11    ATO
7    SONATA ARCTICA Days Of Grays    Nuclear Blast
8    PORCUPINE TREE The Incident    Roadrunner
9    KITTIE In The Black    E1
10    SHADOWS FALL Retribution    Ferret

I’m working on setting up a concert calendar for the Loud Rock department, hopefully that will be up and running soon!

As for all the stuff on the charts pretty much all of it is worth your time. Pretty much. There are some exceptional works in there as well.

Loud Rock the CHARTS is a post from: KZSC Santa Cruz

Back from the LOUDROCK

Alec Howard — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 23:33:01 +0000

It has been a while my fellow metal heads. Exciting things happening at KZSC with the start of the Fall quarter. New musics are coming out too that are awesome. I’m sitting in a meeting where we are talking about our future and stuff so I’m going to go now…

1    BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME “Obfuscheion” [Single]    Victory – I saw these guys live the other day and they were so damn amazing. They played Obfuscheion and it was awesome. This sampler will definitely leave you craving for more.
2    CHILDREN OF BODOM Skeletons In The Closet Spinefarm – This is a bunch of covers including but not limited to Oops.. I did it again and Rebel Yell
3    METALOCALYPSE: DETHKLOK Dethklok: The Dethalbum II Williams St. – If you haven’t watched this show you need to go to Best Buy right now and buy the first two seasons. It is hilarious and metal.

4 ALICE IN CHAINS Black Gives Way To Blue Virgin – Its Alice In Chains it might not be the same as it was before but it still rocks.

5 ARCH ENEMY Root Of All Evil Century Media – A female fronted metal band that doesn’t have whiny vocals. They are rare but Arch Enemy does it right.

1    BLACK DAHLIA MURDER Deflorate Metal Blade
2    MUNICIPAL WASTE Massive Aggressive Earache
3    MEGADETH Endgame Roadrunner
4    TENET Sovereign
5    BEHEMOTH Evangelion Metal Blade
6    SONATA ARCTICA Days Of Grays Nuclear Blast
7    PORCUPINE TREE The Incident Roadrunner
8    SHADOWS FALL Retribution Ferret
9    RODRIGO Y GABRIELA 11:11 ATO
10    VADER Necropolis Nuclear Blast

Rodrigo Y Gabriela is an awesome acoustic spanish band that has never let me down. Give their old cd a listen as well. The Incident is a 55 minute epic piece that will entrance you and make you feel.. things. If your interested in upcoming shows in your area send me a message at loudrock@kzsc.org or leave a comment.

Back from the LOUDROCK is a post from: KZSC Santa Cruz

Adventures on The Great Plains of Metal

Alec Howard — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 10:34:03 +0000

Lots of hard choices to make this week. Look past the break to hear about Prog Nation and some bands that should have made the adds list…

So I saw Progressive Nation when they hit San Jose last week. I would have preferred a better venue than the civic center. Kinda felt like I was going to a High School graduation… But the show was good. Or what I saw of it at least.. Me and Bisquick (who you guys will get to hear on air coming this fall) were dumbasses and forgot to check to see what time it started. It started at 6, we weren’t there till 7:15 ish… We missed Scale the Summit and Big Elf but we got to see Dweezil Zappa Plays Zappa and Dream Theater of course. I was really bummed about missing out on Scale the Summit..

1   ANGHER Hidden Truth Dark Star – Started by a cellist/guitarist. I love classical instruments!
2   DIRGE WITHIN Force Fed Lies E1 – A dirge is a somber song expressing mourning or grief, such as would be appropriate for performance at a funeral.
3   3 INCHES OF BLOOD Here Waits Thy Doom Century Media – They will be touring with Between the Buried and Me for the release of BTBAM’s new cd. In Flames will be there as well. Go see it. You won’t be sorry.
4   BLACK ANVIL Time Insults The Mind Relapse – They have a song called 777… I think they did their math wrong..
5   LEFT SETTER Left Setter – Listen to them. They are pretty kewl.

Honorable mention for Street Legal. Check out their myspace.

1   AUGUST BURNS RED Constellations Solid State
2   BURY YOUR DEAD It’s Nothing Personal Victory
3   MUNICIPAL WASTE Massive Aggressive   Earache
4   BEHEMOTH Evangelion   Metal Blade
5   PORCUPINE TREE Time Flies Roadrunner
6   SUICIDE SILENCE No Time To Bleed Century Media
7   KILLSWITCH ENGAGE Killswitch Engage (2009)   Roadrunner
8   WINDS OF PLAGUE The Great Stone War Century Media
9   BORN OF OSIRIS A Higher Place Sumerian
10   AUTUMN OFFERING Requiem Victory

Next week we’ll be adding Deflorate from The Black Dahlia Murder. Also, Porcupine Tree is moving up the charts in eager anticipation for their new cd The Incident.

—–

Shows are the same as from last week. Unknown dates for BTBAM’s upcoming tour, and Alestorm are going on tour soon as well. Stay tuned.

Adventures on The Great Plains of Metal is a post from: KZSC Santa Cruz

Charts of Metal

Alec Howard — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 20:26:45 +0000

What’s new in metal this week!

1 MUNICIPAL WASTE 3 Song Sampler [Earache] – This is the bands fourth studio album and it is full of short ‘thrashy’ songs. The longest track is just barely over 3 minutes.
2 ECLIPTICA Impetus [Frontiers] – “If you like your metal to have imagination, passion, be melodically progressive and have some killer choruses, Impetus is for you. Hopefully the album’s title will help give them exactly what it says.” – Jeff Perkins
3 MERAUDER God Is I [Regain] – Hailing from New York these guys broke through the scene the old fashioned way by releasing multiple demos. After leaving Century Media this is the bands first release on Regain Records.
4 GWAR Lust In Space [Metal Blade] – Gwar is an American Grammy-nominated metal band formed in 1985. The band is best known for their elaborate sci-fi/horror film inspired costumes; raunchy, obscene lyrics; and graphic stage performances, which consist of humorous re-enactments of political and moral taboo themes.
5 HOWL Howl [Self-Released] – They have a female guitar player. Pretty cool.

1	AUGUST BURNS RED	Constellations	Solid State
2	WINDS OF PLAGUE	The Great Stone War	Century Media
3	KILLSWITCH ENGAGE	Killswitch Engage (2009)	Roadrunner
4	GOATWHORE	Carving Out The Eyes Of God	Metal Blade
5	SLAYER	“Hate Worldwide” [Single]	Columbia
6	BURY YOUR DEAD	It’s Nothing Personal	Victory
7	AUTUMN OFFERING	Requiem	Victory
8	BORN OF OSIRIS	A Higher Place	Sumerian
9	HE IS LEGEND	It Hates You	Tragic Hero
10	SUICIDE SILENCE	No Time To Bleed	Century Media

08/16 – Santa Cruz, CA @ The Catalyst w/ Hatebreed, Winds of Plague, Dying Fetus, Toxic Holocaust

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09/29 – Santa Cruz, CA @ The Catalyst w/ Trivium, Whitechapel, Darkest Hour

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09/29 Santa Cruz, CA The Catalyst

White Chapel
ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL
Tour w/ Slayer, Marilyn Manson, Bullet For My Valentine, Trivium, All That Remains, God Forbid, Cannibal Corpse, Behemoth, Job For A Cowboy, The Black Dahlia Murder

—

10/14 Santa Cruz, CA The Blue Lagoon

Hatchet
Tour w/ Havok

Charts of Metal is a post from: KZSC Santa Cruz

Metal Weekly

Alec Howard — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 05:15:10 +0000

Hate Worldwide

There were a lot of adds this week, and some definite honorable mentions; Beatallica, and Slayer‘s new single ‘Hate Worldwide’ among others. Things are heating up as we get closer to new fall releases as well…

1    WINDS OF PLAGUE The Great Stone War [Century Media] – Their third release and recording debut of their new drummer and keyboardist. This album is a concept album revolving around the theory that the world will eventually digress and end in one final battle. Although, that battle won’t be one of technology, but one of stone.
2    BORN OF OSIRIS A Higher Place [Sumerian] – Only their second cd but this band rocks exceedingly hard. Although all the songs are short they don’t always seem that way when your listening. If your new give one of their singles ‘Now Arise’ or ‘Exist’ a listen on their myspace.
3    SUICIDE CITY Frenzy [The End] – Out with their first full length cd with a Billy Idol, Queens of the Stone Age kind of feeling… They will be a band to keep your eyes on.
4    BEHEMOTH Evangelion [Metal Blade] – With some expert production on the drums by Daniel Bergstrand (the guy that produces them for Meshuggah and In Flames) this album is a great addition to their already impressive repertoire.
5    MAN MUST DIE No Tolerance For Imperfection [Relapse] – A scottish technical death metal band. This is their third release, heavy and speedy metal is what this is.

1	KILLSWITCH ENGAGE	Killswitch Engage (2009)	Roadrunner
2	BURY YOUR DEAD	It’s Nothing Personal	Victory
3	AUGUST BURNS RED	Constellations	Solid State
4	GOATWHORE	Carving Out The Eyes Of God	Metal Blade
5	HE IS LEGEND	It Hates You	Tragic Hero
6	AUTUMN OFFERING	Requiem	Victory
7	DREAM THEATER	Black Clouds And Silver Linings	Roadrunner
8	ANAKA	The Glorified Crusade	Godsend
9	DARKEST HOUR	The Eternal Return	Victory
10	IWRESTLEDABEARONCE	It’s All Happening	Century Media

Listening more to August Burns Red‘s Constellations and I love it more with each listen. He Is Legend is really awesome too, keeping me on my toes. Some new music coming out that I’m excited for: The Black Dahlia Murder Deflorate, Epica Design Your Universe, Scar Symmetry Dark Matter Dimensions, Sonata Artica The Days of Grace, Nile, Arsis Starve for the Devil, Between the Buried and Me The Great Misdirect, and finally Porcupine Tree The Incident. Wow that is a lot of music. Now that I listed it all and am thinking about it I won’t be able to sleep… curses…

Upcoming Shows:

08/16/09 Santa Cruz, CA United States The Catalyst
w/ Hatebreed, Chimaira, Toxic Holocaust, Winds of Plague as part of the Decimation of a Nation Tour

08/16/09 Santa Cruz, CA United States The Catalyst
w/ Hatebreed, Chimaira, Dying Fetus, Winds of Plague as part of the Decimation of a Nation Tour

Metal Weekly is a post from: KZSC Santa Cruz