A+ "Bargain Bin" Bands (Part 2)

A continuation of the article I previously did about bands I feel others overlook in the sea of metal, but for my own reasons I keep coming back to them over and over again, and have stayed with me through the years.

Rogue Male

An overlooked London band, in my opinion. They formed in '83, and dropped their first full length album "First Visit" in '85. I remember first hearing this track thinking it was great, and really liked how the vocals stood out from other stuff I was hearing at the time (mainly thrash and NWOBHM... I was a snob). This song below intrigued me, and so I listened to the full album, as it was still on youtube at the time... probably a little while after youtube came into being, actually. I liked them so much I went and found the record for dirt cheap because... well... read the title of the article.

There are some videos of interviews with them floating around on the internet alongside live clips, which is where I realized that the guy on the cover was supposed to be the dude singing and playing guitar in the band- Jim Lyttle. I was slightly confused at what I was seeing, but also amused. It was sort of a gimmick, the way they looked and dressed, but their music was up to par, and as long as that is the case, then for me it's all good. They released another LP after that entitled "Animal Man", much like their first release in keeping with the musical feel of it. Pretty enjoyable, but I think "First Visit" has a place in my heart it can't take, as I had heard it years later.

They reformed in 2008, and released "Nail It" in 2009. Did they? I wouldn't know, because I'm a scared little girl when it comes to giving old bands with new albums chances. Except Carcass. Good god, Surgical Steel is amazing. But, I digress- If you haven't heard Rogue Male before, you should give them a listen and consider dressing and acting like them....

Stormwitch 

I don't even feel like this is bargain bin stuff, here. Stormwitch (which I just accidentally spelled "stormwich"... yum?) is definitely A+ stuff for me. Germany pumps out another amazing metal band from the apparent factory that seems to be deep underground there. These guys formed in '81, and released their first big'n in '84 called "Walpurgis Night", which is the more well known compared to the album I've embedded below, but I did put that album down there for a reason, but I'll get to that later. They went on to record 9 studio albums- Tales of Terror being their second studio album in '85. They ranged from '84-'15.

Now, again, I will be honest in saying that I haven't heard their most recent releases, but they had solid releases up until '89 to my knowledge. Everything I heard I liked, and maybe I shouldn't be so scared and go give them a listen along with Rogue Male, if not for the music, at least to satisfy my curiosity. Anyhow, these guys are some traditional- OR WHATEVER GENRE CALM DOWN- metal good for a go through if you'd like to hear some solid tunes for a few hours. They have a very Steve Harris bassline and tone in this album, as well. Enjoy! And if you already have.... Well then.... They're good, aren't they?

Sabbat

Ah, one of my favorite bands! Most people seem to really like the Japanese Sabbat. They're pretty good, just not quite my cup of tea, i suppose. If you do like them more than this one, that's cool, but man, I love this band. They have a constant lyrical theme it seems of mythical mischief, Paganism, and history- Three of my favorite topics! They execute each song so well in the story telling and in the music itself. The vocals were what got my me hooked after the first thrashy riff blew my mind, because sometimes with bands it can be that they have great riffs, but vocals that just lack that something special you're looking to pair with them. Not this band, oh no, Andy Sneap's singing and guitar playing go hand in hand with vocals like no other (In my opinion) and riffs to match- dark, beckoning, and almost hypnotizing.

I listened to this album so many times, and then I eventually moved on to their following release to "History Of A Time To Come" (1988), called "Dreamweaver", and let me tell you, I was NOT disappointed. They kept up the high expectations I had after hearing HOATTC. More stories, more insane riffage, more true thrash! If you're up for a wicked ride, and a sure fire way to get you in a thrashy mood (I've got a "thrash" count going now...), then look no further! Hit that play button, and treat your ears!

Also- I need this on vinyl. If anyone would like to gift it to me my name is Olivia Franks. Thank in advance.

Sword

Another band that it is a no-brainer to spew out my feeling for! Another in the line-up of bands that got me into metal- Sword of Canada! The first video I saw of them was actually the video for 'The Trouble Is". I was instantly wanting to hear more and proceeded, as I often did, to listen to the whole album, and went on to listen to their second and final release "Metalized". Now, most people I've noticed seem to like that release far more than "Sweet Dreams", grant it, the title ain't the best, but come on, it's what's inside it that counts!

I really enjoy both releases and feel they still hold up as strong as they did back then to me as they do now. I'm not sure why "Sweet Dreams' gets crapped on from some reviews I've seen, but it is actually my favorite out of the two, probably because I heard that one first, and later heard Metalized. I had/have a bad habit of giving one specific album/artist a listen to one too many times to the point of potentially annoying my husband. That aside, if you like some heavy metal with high octane, and high spirits, then give these guys a listen, you won't regret it!

Hexx 

This band was introduced to me by my husband Aaron Franks. There was no question about it, they rule! Those vocals- damn! "Under The Spell" was the album Aaron showed me first, so I knew the vocals of Dan Bryant before that of Dennis Manzo on their first release "No Escape". I think that Dennis has a great voice, but nowhere near as notable as Dan's. Dennis' voice reminds me more of Jon Arch formerly of Fates Warning, while Dan's voice sounds like no other to me. That coupled with the pounding metal and evil songwriting made for a definite lasting impression left on me. I've found myself going back time and time again to listen to those two albums.

After those two, it went downhill for me. It seemed like they turned what was a volatile pulsing pile of metal talent into a volatile pulsing pile a dog poo... I had such high hopes when i turned on that album and immediately after turning it on, I promptly turned it off. Now do NOT get me wrong- I love me some classic death metal like Devastation, Morgoth, Cancer, Entombed, Bolt Thrower, Carcass, Dismembered, Nocturnus- you get it, but that.... That sounded like a bunch of nonsense to me, like they saw where they thought the 90s were probably going and thought- Yep! Let's pack it in, guys, let's just suck.

I might be being a bit harsh, and they were just trying something new, but after those first two albums, it was just a disappointment to me. Back to my main point here, this video below will blow you away if you haven't heard it before, and if you have, then you know what I'm talking about.

Warrior

This band is a bit iffy for me, but made the cut because their first album I thought was pretty unique in a way, and had some good tunes on it. They're supposed to be future based, and NO, I would not make up a whole other sub genre called "future metal" for this.... most sub genres to me are a waste of time. Metal is metal. Anyway, this band has some class and inventiveness in their craft, and no, I'm not saying futuristic stuff was unique for the time. In fact, I'd even say it was extremely overused in the 80s- but there was a certain charm and cheesiness about it that kept me sticking around wanting more. The perception of the future from then is funny to most people, I'd assume.

Warrior writes about alien attacks and fighting for earth, so if sci-fi themed metal is your thing- then this album is for you. The releases following this seem to fall short of me recommending them, to put it nicely. It seemed like they went from exploring the sci-fi future themed stuff to watching too many documentaries on the discovery channel on how farmer Jeb saw aliens land on his farm and tell him how the pyramids were built... I was not into "Ancient Future", which was their follow up release to the one I put Below "Fighting For Earth". I still feel the album stands out enough to mention here, despite the following releases not peaking my interest.

Dementia

Here's a slice of thrash from the past, for me. I had saw this album on sale on discogs for dirt cheap and thought "I guess... Album art is questionable, but I really like that logo". I don't know where the album was actually shipped from... I think Greece or somewhere like that, but whoever shipped it did not give a shit, because I remember it came in pretty much two pieces of one ply cardboard tapped together. Luckily it was intact, so I went up to my room and gave 'er a spin. I liked it a lot! I listened to it again recently, and realized I liked it a hell of a lot more back then. I mean, I still really liked it, but I remember telling people about them like I had just heard Metallica for the first time or something.

Some of the riffs are a bit repetitive, but it has history with me, and I still enjoy it for what it is- a decent thrash release from the 80s. If you've gotten this far in the article and haven't insulted my writing 60 times yet, then thank you. Even if you just skimmed it, thanks all the same, and let me know what you think of the bands and any thoughts you have on what my next installment should be in this series.

Vic Stown Volcana Interview (2017)

Last time I interviewed you, it was 2015. At that time you had mentioned a project you were starting, but couldn't reveal. That project was the doom, gloom, and ripping riffs of Volcana. What brought about the forming of this band, and how did you come to have the members that are a part of it now?

VS - I've always had material I couldn't use for Vindicator for one reason or another. Stuff I might cough up warming up to write for Vindi. Fleeting inspirations that didn't quite fit the thrash formula. Instead of tossing those ideas out or changing Vindicator's sound, I kept them. I've always been a fan of The Sword's early work and eventually how Matt Pike writes for High On Fire. And during the early stages of what would become Vindicator's longest hiatus to date, I started a studio project.
 I've known Jeff [Potts] for some time given we got our start in the same scene. The New Wave Of Thrash Metal were a tight knit group. I've shared the stage with Jeff numerous times. And I met Glen [Monturi] when Vindicator toured with Seven Witches and Vicious Rumors in 2012. Glen was filling in for Seven Witches on drums. I was blown away watching him perform that first night. And in a very short period of time, we hit it off. I stayed in contact with him over the years. When I decided to no longer sit idle and make some new music that wasn't Vindicator, I knew I wanted to hit up people I'd never worked with before. Those two individuals were the first two I contacted.


The first release for Volcana was in 2016 entitled "A Lion Among Jackals". Did it take long to record that, and where did you record it? Did you also do the mixing for it?

VS - The guitars on Lion were actually recorded in 2014 sometime. I let the project slide momentarily for one reason or another and several songs sat in various forms of completion up until 2016 when we fired the project up again. Each member recorded tracks on their own using their own gear at their own place (home/rehearsal pad). For mixing and mastering we hit up Tim Holsinger. Tim knows his way around some gear and has access to mountains of stuff that we don't. He knew exactly what I was going for.


Did you use the same guitar gear to get the tone you wanted for the doom feel for Volcana as opposed to what you used for Vindicator?

VS - I did not. I actually had Tim re-amp the guitars on that release. For the life of me I can't remember specifically what he used, either. There's a couple different amps on it. Although I believe one is of the Orange variety.


Had you wanted to do this sort of project for a long time, and had you had plans for songs well before the band came to fruition?

VS - Not really. I never wanted to take away from Vindicator. I always saw my peers doing side projects and could never understand how they did it. How the two were balanced. Initially the ideas came quick. And then I got distracted by trying to save Vindicator from its untimely break. When the dust settled I found myself in the same position. And at that point I decided to take Volcana on full time. Which isn't technically "full time" due to its being a studio band.

Photo Cred Ryan Lawson

While writing the songs, did you have help in doing so from other band members, or this mostly your project- music wise?

VS - Lemme tell you something, I'm not trying to toot the proverbial self horn, but EVERY band I've done (up until recently) is me. Also take that statement with a grain of salt. But when you hear a song from Violent Night, Vindicator, and Volcana the odds that I wrote it are high. NOT out of some weird narcissistic egotism, but out of sheer necessity. I'm a doer. I'm goal oriented and very driven. In Volcana, Glen writes all the bass and drums, Jeff writes the solos and certain accent tracks, and I write the riffs, lyrics, and arrangements. There are exceptions though, in every project I've done.


What are some of the bands that have influenced you the most over the years, and which seem the most prominent to you at this point in your life, or has it always been the same bands that held up through the years for you?

VS - With Volcana I tend to focus more on stoner rock/metal, doom, traditional metal, and rock. As I mentioned before, The Sword has been a huge influence on this project as has been High On Fire. Volcana isn't reeeaaaally a doom band. We're just filthy basement orcs playing dust covered, oxidated, heavy rock. What's truly great about writing for Volcana though is there's no bars here. I have no expectations, therefore I have no restrictions. So I find inspiration easier for this band than previous bands.


"A Lion Among Jackals" is a hard hitting release for sure- would you say the title track reflects your veiws on society, somewhat? In the fact that good people seem scarce, and thinking for one's self seems almost a strange matter in today's society?

VS - I pulled the concept from a steampunk novel I had recently read. The idea of a nobody that was in fact a somebody, and not just any somebody, but a savior, was very appealing to me. The parallels of that character and the world at large, while completely coincidental, are nearly uncanny. 


Volcana is on the record label "Austenitized Records". Can you tell us a little about them, and how you came to be on it?

VS - We actually licensed A Lion Among Jackals to Austenitized Records to be pressed on seven inch. Originally released as a digital only single, my personal mantra of "zero expectations" paid off hard when talks about a seven inch were being had. I've known Luke for some time. He was wanting to start an indie label and looking to cut his teeth on a release. We were fortunate enough to be that release.


Do you feel you are able to explore more facets of your voice and guitar playing by starting Volcana? And how would it compare to how you performed and wrote in Vindicator?

VS - Absolutely. I can utilize less grit and more melody at times. Even, dare I say, vocal harmonies. Volcana songs are typically not fast. The riffs are more rock, less tech. The downfall is, having no restraints whilst writing this stuff comes at a price. In Vindicator, the songs were constructed to be performed live. In Volcana, I write with an unabashed sense freedom. In short: I have no fucking clue if I could perform these songs live. And I'm not at all concerned about that as it's doubtful we'd ever perform live. But one can never tell...


Having been married for ten years and having children, how would you say that affected your life, both musically and overall?

VS - Musically, without Sarah, Vindicator would not have accomplished ninety percent of what we did. She was acting manager, booking agent, tour manager, merch person, driver, graphic designer, and photographer for many years. The introduction of kids, doesn't complicate things as much as most would believe. It DOES make being a musician a bit more of a challenge, but it doesn't end careers. Volcana certainly fits best in a life with kids. But Vindicator would too if I had the people. You have to make things work after a certain point. I don't see myself touring the world for months at a time for either project. Give up? Why not just toss in that stinky, shit covered towel??? Fuck that. I'll stop when I stop. On my own terms.



Do your kids dig your music, and like genres?

VS - My house is very musically eclectic. My kids love pretty much all music. But they hear mostly metal, and for the most part, dig it all. I do catch my daughter singing along with Volcana. It's extremely awesome.


What are some of your views on life, and do you feel they are heavily reflected in your songwritting and playing? Would you feel that that was stronger in Vindicator, or in Volcana? Or have both of them been two separate parts of your life, or feelings during that period in your life?

VS - Life is short. It's fragile. It's the fastest thing you'll experience. While it's easy to get yourself stuck in mud, slow down, and take in your surroundings. The mud will dry, but your surroundings will change. Vindicator was an outlet for anger and frustration. Volcana is just about making music its members dig. No specific or intentional views or opinions, for the most part. So I suppose, my views were stronger in Vindicator. Those views and feelings haven't gone away. Should we ever find the right people for the group, those feelings will still be there, waiting to snap some necks.


Has Volcana played any live shows yet, and are there any future plans to play a good amount of shows?

VS - No. And no. Having said that, playing shows isn't wholly out of the question. Jeff is in Cali, Glen in Jersey, and myself right in the middle in Ohio. It's more likely Bolt Thrower will play a few reunion shows than we'll ever be able to pull off a gig. Again, you never know. Should, say, a decent fest come our way, maybe we pull it off? Until then, making heavy music for people willing to hear it is enjoyable enough.


What are your thoughts on up and coming metal bands today? At least in terms of aesthetics vs. quality in music. I'm asking because I feel most times a lot of bands find it trendy to wear the studs and spikes, while others wear it because it's what they love, while others wear it to almost mask the lack of talent. Thoughts on that?

VS - Look, gimmicks have ALWAYS existed in music and anyone who says otherwise is lying to themselves. Lyrical content is a gimmick in itself. I don't care what a band looks like (for the most part) as long as I like their music. And music is absolutely subjective. Music I love may be hated by someone else. My thought's on current music trends? There's nothing new, it's a never ending cycle, find music you love and support the hell out of it. Everyone was/is a poser, so own who you are.


Are there any plans to go to another record label any time soon? And what are your thoughts on Rise Above Records? Lee Dorrian has some awesome bands on there, and I feel Volcana would be welcome among them.

VS - Currently we are free agents. We'll poke around and see what's out there that's fair for us. I think Rise Above's roster is gorgeous. Would we fit on the label? I'm inclined to agree with you.






If you could give any musician who is new to playing and gigging any advice, what would it be?

VS - ALWAYS keep your wits about you. There are good people out there who genially want to further you in your goals, but there are twice as many scumbags. Don't be a dick. Support the bands your sharing the bill with. And for fuck's sake, be a fucking professional. No matter how small you are. Carry yourself like you're signed to Capitol. What I mean by that is, be courteous, on time, and be respectful of others. But most of all, have fun. If you're not having fun, you're in it for the wrong reasons.


Besides playing guitar, do you play any other instruments, or would like to play different ones sometime in the future?

VS - I can play basic bass. Some rustic percussion instruments. I wish i could play everything: piano, violin, etc. But drums, I really wish I could play drums. I'd settle for playing way up high on the tiny strings, though.


What are some hobbies you have, and have they changed over the years? Because I'm pretty sure I asked you in the last interview, but some people might not have seen it, and they might have changed a bit since 2015.

VS - I'm wondering if I shouldn't review that original interview myself to see what I said... Aside from creating music I enjoy reading, sampling a variety of beers, watching a variety films and shows, occasionally building shitty shelves, I'm just an ordinary guy when it comes down to it. Over the past several years I've slowly become obsessed with gear videos. Especially pedal demos. I should probably seek out professional help.


In order to do what you love, you have to have a job to support that... unless you win the lottery a lot or something. What job do you have now, and how do you feel about it?

VS - I'm a stay at home Dad. It doesn't pay for anything. It saves my household a boatload of money in child care. Not to mention I have trust issues, so leaving my kids with people I don't know has never sat well with me. I love it. My kids absolutely test every fiber of my being on a daily basis, but it's still better than an awful nine to five. Houses were supposed to be able to take care of themselves in the future. We're in the future and all we have is the Roomba. No self washing dishes, no self emptying garbage, no talking cats. Needless to say, a house occupied by a family doesn't take care of itself.


Have you ever considered dabbling or mastering other genres with another band, and what would that be?

VS - Not really. I just do what I do and now I have an outlet for everything I do. Vindicator gets the thrash, Volcana gets everything else. I'm pretty content where I'm at.


What are some things you think are the most important in life, and what are some things you have in mind for the future, whether it be musical, or just anything?

VS - Respect and family. I don't really have anything in mind for the future, to be honest. My only real plan is to keep writing music. I'll stop writing when everyone stops listening.


What are some future goals for Volcana, and how do you feel about the progression of your career in metal thus far?

VS - Building our catalog. Volcana is constantly in writing mode. I've accomplished more than most at this point in time. And there's still a boatload I haven't (and may never) accomplish. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't happy with where I'm at, no matter how disgruntled I might appear at times. For being a nobody, I've done quite a bit and will slowly continue to accomplish.

Logan Barker - Barlow Interview (2017)

Photo by Brandon Richter

We are to speaking to the Bassist, and vocalist of the heavy metal powerhouse that is Barlow. If you haven’t heard them, than you should, and if you haven’t heard FROM them, then you will! That is, if you chose to keep reading, which you should.

Thanks for the interview Olivia!

Barlow is a heavy metal band out of Salt Lake City, Utah. How is it to be a metal band around there? Is there much of a metal, or just music in general, scene going on there?

Being a band in Utah is rad because there is an endless supply of killer bands of every genre, including METAL! It seems like the scene picks up and slows down but there are always good shows going on.

Adam “Smelly” Kelly used to be in a band called Killbot that formed in 2005, or so i’ve read, from the same location. Had you guys all known each other when he was in that band, and were you doing anything band wise, at the time, or had you just played bass just to play bass?

When Smelly was in killbot early on Mark (our drummer) and I were still in high school. We didnt know Smelly at the time but we idolized killbot! When killbot broke up we had a band called Merlins Beard going and recruited him to play guitar, it was a wet dream come true. We eventually progressed the band into its current form Barlow.


That brings me to this next question, do you just play bass, or do you play other instruments as well?

I play guitar as well. In Merlins Beard I played guitar and handled vocals.


You also sing for the band, when was it you started singing, and what made you choose the style of vocals for the band, and had you tried several before that?

When we were starting up our band Merlins Beard we had a really hard time finding a singer. We had tried a few classifieds ads, but no dice. So I Just started yelling and screeching into the mic at band practice, and it sort of just fell into place as time went on. I am a bit reclusive so it was never anything i had planned on doing. In the early days I had a really shitty James hetfield vibe going on but its getting better!


Is it difficult to keep a full sound live while just being a three piece, or does everything flow well? Not saying that in the sense that a three piece is not good in any sense- Venom is one of my favorite bands, so that would make no sense. Just was wondering.

Everything flows pretty well usually. Ive got a pretty nasty bass sound which helps things blend better. Being a three piece is a gravy train with bisquit wheels.

Photo by Brandon Richter
Logan ripping it up

What kind of gear do you use, and was there a specific tone you were going for on bass for this band?

Ive got a Rickenbacker 4003W bass, 1968 Peavey Dynabass head , Ampeg 810 Cabinet, and a fuzzrocious demon pedal. I picked up the head at the swap meet for $30. I would say the bulk of my tone comes from the Ric and the Pedal. I was going for disgusting.


The forming of Barlow came to be in the futuristic year of 2016. Do you recall when you all decided to be a band, or had you all had it in mind for a while?
I was getting really burnt out on our old band and decided to try something a little heavier. We started as a four piece but lost our founding guitar player before we recorded the EP. Being a three piece was easier and really helped define our sound and direction, so we stuck with it.

Is it fairly easy to get gigs in Salt Lake City, and what is it like in general to live there, anything interesting?

Yeah I think its pretty easy once you've been playing for a bit. Smelly is the only one that lives in SLC and he loves it. Mark and I live about 45 minutes north in Syracuse, which is the burbs. SLC is a rad place with lots of rad people but I'm sure its a lot like any other city. People from out of state like to make fun of us for drinking shitty beer and being polygamists but we dig it.


Who was it that came up with the idea of the cover art for the EP, and who illustrated it? I really like the art, and it stuck in my mind and I remembered the music was awesome, so I kept on looking it up on youtube and have listened to it a lot.

Amy Nelson! She is a very talented artist and also happens to be Marks long time girlfriend. We couldn't come up with any good ideas so we just asked her to draw a picture of the band being creeps. It turned out super awesome, and she even drew up the entire alphabet in the font! The bat is my favorite.


Was the name “Barlow” the first choice for the band, and how did that come to be the one?

It was the only choice, and our first guitar player Mike Elliot came up with it. Mike is super badass and was way into Stephen King at the time. In the novel/flick Salems Lot, the ancient evil vampire is named Kurt Barlow. Were easy so we accepted.

Adam "Smelly" Kelly laying down some riffs
Photo by Brandon Richter

The songs you guys have as of now on the self titled EP are available on Cd. Do you guys just sell them at shows, and do you have any plans in the future to distribute them other ways? And do you all want to release it on any different formats?

We will put the album on some streaming sites soon, but will probably sell most of them at shows.


There is music video of sorts for the song “The Witch”. What made you guys choose that song to do a video for, and who filmed it?

We filmed that in Ogden at Brook Mckees Studio/Haunted House, SunnyBrook Studios. He is the mastermind that recorded our EP, and does tons of killer live Videos at his studio. Look them up on youtube! We chose that song because its pretty heavy and we usually don't screw it up too bad. All we had to do was jam the song a couple dozen times, drink too many beers, and let him do the real work.




Do you guys practice pretty often, and where do you guys practice?

We are Utahs laziest metal band, Sometimes we practice regularly, sometimes not. We play in our drummers basement in the burbs.


So what do you guys do on your off time, and what is band practice like? Does it go on all day, just one straight play-through, or do you guys take breaks?

Were all working stiffs who spend a lot of time with our special lady friends and our families. Band practice can get derailed pretty easily, but we usually just drink 6 or 9 beers, run through the set, work on some new tunes, and hang out. We're not too worried most of the time, this band is purely a love of music. Marks got a great dane named Odin who loves to party, so we usually end up wrestling around with him a bit, or playing some Super Ghouls and Ghosts.

What would you say your lyrics are about for those that have not heard any of Barlow, and what would you say you guys are going for sound-wise, or have achieved, rather? I feel you guys have forged your own sound.

I think lyrical content is a 50/50 split. The first half being personal reflection or opinions, the second half being horror themed gruesomeness. The EP has tracks based on movies like Reanimator and Silver Bullet, but also other self written horror tales. The track titled Decide is exactly how I was feeling when we broke up our previous band.



What are some of your main influences, not just musicians, but anyone that has had an impact on you?

Valient Thorr, and Three Inches of Blood. These two bands had the biggest effect on me musically growing up and will always play a big part in my life. Nowadays my biggest influence is my wife Shayla and my two year old son Levon. They both love music as much as I do and keep me on my feet!

Mark Grey delivering the percussional goods

Is most of the writing for the band done by the whole band, or is there one person that does most of the writing?

I write all the lyrics and a big portion of the music. That being said its definitely a creation by all of us. We all have our individual styles that shine when were arranging and writing music. We will start with a basic idea and turn into something gnarly together.

Have there been good turnouts at gigs, and how has the audience responded to you guys?

We've had some really awesome gigs where the crowd was pumped and really dug us, and we've had gigs where the crowd was non-existent! You just never know.

What do you all believe a good performance is both live, and as a presentation of yourselves in the studio? As in just the attitude in general of the band, and why you all feel like sticking to what you do in terms of playing music?

We just try to be ourselves and have a good time, I think that shows in our music. Honesty and not trying to stick to one particular sound is just natural for us. The less you think about it the better it seems to come out.

Had you had any other bands before this one, if so, what were they, and what came of them?

Mark, Smelly, and I all played in Merlins beard together. Smelly is a hardcore troubadour and has played in tons of band Such as Killbot, Merlins Beard, a Gwar cover band called Scumdogs, and more. He currently plays in the best thrash band around, DEATHBLOW!!! Check em out.

I noticed that on the band page on facebook for Barlow your listed as playing the “Dad guitar”, and Adam plays “Mom guitar”, which is a reference to the show flight of the conchords, if I’m not mistaken. Is that one of the shows you guys all like? And what other shows do you like?

Haha I'm glad you caught that. Yeah FOTC rules. There's so much good television out there its hard to narrow it down but I think Its Always Sunny is the best.

Where did you guys record the EP, and did it take long to get done, or was the overall process pretty smooth and enjoyable?

We recorded it in Ogden at SunnyBrook Studios. Brook Mckee is the wizard over there and we had a killer time. We recorded the basic tracks live and it went super smooth. Lots of drinking and shenanigans. It took us a little while because we only hit the studio once a week or so. But it was awesome and we cant wait to record with him again.


Will we see more Barlow material in the near future, and perhaps even maybe some gigs in a few states sometime in the future?

Were writing some more material now with plans to record ASAP! We will see what time brings.

Thanks for your time, Logan!

Thank you Olivia! This was my first interview and I enjoyed every question!

Photo by Brandon Richter