Randy Miller Of The Myriad Dies
We are sad to announce the passing of Randy Miller, drummer from the band, The Myriad, on November 5, 2010. A wonderful husband, dedicated father, beloved friend and talented musician, Randy had been battling chondrosarcoma, a form of bone cancer since 2008. Randy was 39 years old. Randall J. Miller was born February 9, 1971 in Long Beach, CA, and moved to Redding, CA in 1985. In 1997, he married Kristyn Davis and they have two children, Conner, age 11, and Gillian age 9. Randy founded and ran Metolius Construction with his business partner and friend Tommy Carlson, but in 2006, he gave into his musical passions and talents, and began playing drums for the band The Myriad. Known for his quiet demeanor and contagious smile, Randy transformed into a musical force when he sat behind the drums. The Myriad became more of a brotherhood than a band, with Randy the constant, steadily keeping the whole group in time. While we know Randy was exceptionally talented, we will most miss his gentle ability to make everyone feel loved and appreciated. “Randy was a rare gem. A totally humble man, but an amazing drummer and confident musician who owned his craft. He was a man who loved Jesus, his family, and any chance he could get to play the drums.” – Tim Taber, Floodgate Records. “Randy breathed life into everyone around him all the way until the very end. People would come to the hospital to visit Randy and encourage him but quickly found out the visit would be quite the opposite. He began to pour out words of encouragement and tell people to do everything that’s in their heart. He saw things in people that no one else recognized and his words of life ignited fires that could not be put out. He has changed my life and most of the people I know. Randy was a great man.” – Jeremy Edwardson, vocalist from The Myriad. “Randy never had anything handed to him. He faced challenges throughout his life that would make most buckle. I am honored to have seen how a Godly man lives; with strength, kindness, compassion, and heart. Selfishly I will miss him always; this world will be emptier without him. But I believe with everything in me that heaven will be richer with my friend there.” –Steven Tracy, guitarist from The Myriad. Two weeks ago, band members, past and present, as well as dear friends gathered to say goodbye to Randy. During the afternoon, Randy said something that seems to sum up his life: “I’ve been thinking about my life lately and how I’ve never really been a wealthy man, especially after the past 2 years of medical bills. We’re renting our house and we don’t have much. But you know, somehow I just feel so rich. I have an amazing family, and the best job ever. I just feel so rich. Somewhere that’s gotta mean something. Somewhere we all have a cosmic currency.” In lieu of flowers, friends request that donations be made to cover medical and funeral expenses. Like many musicians, the Millers did not have health or life insurance. Donations can be made at by going to the Online Giving section at thestirring.org and clicking on the Mercy Fund designated for the Miller Family. All donations are tax deductible.
Underoath Hosted Headbanger’s Ball
UNDEROATH’s striking video for their first single “In Division” is out now. The dream-like clip finds the band performing in a house that becomes engulfed with water, complimenting the powerful track. View the video here. As UNDEROATH prepared for the release of their much-anticipated fifth album Ø (DISAMBIGUATION)–on November 9 on Solid State/Tooth & Nail–the group hosted MTV2’s “Headbanger’s Ball” on Monday, November 8. One of heavy music’s biggest successes, UNDEROATH have evolved and thrived during a decade-long progression. For Ø (DISAMBIGUATION–the FL-based sextet’s new creative high watermark–the group returned to Glow In The Dark studios and re teamed with producers Matt Goldman and Jeremy SH Griffith. Ø (DISAMBIGUATION is the highly anticipated follow-up to Define The Great Line (2006) and Lost In The Sound of Separation (2008) which both debuted in the Top 10 on the Billboard 200 Album Chart. Define The Great Line#2–the highest debut for a Christian album since 1997–while Lost In The Sound of Separation came in at #8 on the Billboard’s Top 200 Album Chart marking the top rock debuts for their release week. Both UNDEROATH’s Define The Great Line and their breakout album They’re Only Changing Safety–all released on Seattle indie Solid State/Tooth & Nail–has now sold over 480,000 copies.
Ace Augustine Joins Strike First family
Rising from the same fertile Pennsylvania grounds as August Burns Red and Once Nothing, Ace Augustine take their musical cues from the style they naturally grew into. Ace Augustine play solid, technical metal mixed with hardcore elements influenced by not only their Lancaster, PA spearheads, but also by various indie acts. Ace Augustine are known for being some of the youngest artists to perform with such national acts as Sky Eats Airplane, Anberlin, and MyChildren MyBride. This band is full of tenacious young talent, five promising musicians in their salad days turning their dreams into reality. The band released their first EP The Glory of Trumpets in 2009, and are set to release their debut full length on Strike First Records in early 2011.
Black Label Society Record “The First Noel”
Black Label Society has partnered with VEVO for the world premiere of BLS’ hysterical new video “Overlord.” The video can be viewed here. The video, directed by Master Cylinder, finds guitar legend Zakk Wylde and his Black Label Society in a satire of 70’s Kung Fu movies. Wylde is featured as the Bruce Lee-type action hero (yellow jumpsuit and all) in hot pursuit of the Overlord…in this case an old lady who holds the key to a very special prize. “Overlord” will be the next single from Black Label Society’s latest album ORDER OF THE BLACK; it follows the breakthrough Top 20 rock radio track, “Parade Of The Dead.” In other Black Label Society news, the first-ever BLS Christmas tune, “The First Noel” is available now on iTunes. The track is a beautiful instrumental which highlights Wylde’s prowess on the acoustic guitar. Black Label Society’s proceeds from sales of the single will be donated to The Zakk and Barbaranne Wylde Foundation at St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, a charity The Wyldes have long supported. Black Label Society’s first new album in four years, ORDER OF THE BLACK, was released via Entertainment One in North America in August, 2010 and debuted at #4 on the Billboard Top 200 Album chart. Black Label Society is currently headlining The Black Label Berzerkus, Zakk Wylde’s own North American package tour featuring Black Label Society, Children Of Bodom, Clutch and 2Cents.
Future of Forestry’s New EP Out Now
ADVENT CHRISTMAS, VOLUME 2 by Future of Forestry, is out now, available through iTunes and on the futureofforestry.com website. Over the coming weeks the EP will appear on additional online music sites and at live events during the band’s holiday tour. The EP features the holiday classics Joy To The World, Do You Hear What I Hear?, Angels We Have Heard On High, and Pie Jesu, as well the original song The Earth Stood Still, and an instrumental interlude. Advent Christmas 2 is designed to be a cohesive piece that merges effortlessly with the original Advent Christmas EP. After touring on the first EP, the band realized that these Advent CDs had become a large part of the makeup of the band, and the desire for a second was evident. With it’s epic sound, creative instrumentation and traditional values, the Advent EPs hope to honor and enhance this most holy of seasons.
Living Sacrifice To Release Deluxe Edition
Veteran Christian metal act, Living Sacrifice, has announced a November 30th release date for a special iTunes exclusive deluxe edition of the band’s latest full-length record, The Infinite Order (Solid State Records). The forthcoming deluxe edition will contain a 30-minute, eight-song, DVD quality video and three bonus tracks, including the unreleased song, “Glasshouses.” See the track listing below and begin to drool:
Track Listing:
1. Overkill Exposure
2. Rules of Engagement
3. Nietzsches Madness
4. Unfit To Live
5. The Training
6. Organized Lie
7. The Reckoning
8. Love Forgives
9. They Were One
10. God Is My Home
11. Apostasy
12. Glasshouses (bonus)
13. Flatline (live)
14. Symbiotic (live)
Live DVD video:
1. Bloodwork
2. Imminent War
3. Local Vengeance Killing
4. Flatline
5. Rules of Engagement
6. In Christ
7. Reborn Empowered
8. Reject
Living Sacrifice will unleash the downloadable album as they begin a headlining run on the “Solid State Records: A Very Metal Christmas Tour”, alongside label-mates, The Showdown, Becoming the Archetype, To Speak of Wolves, and As They Sleep.
Tour Dates:
11/30 – El Paso, TX
12/2 – Yucca Valley, CA
12/3 – Ventura, CA
12/4 – Petaluma, CA
12/5 – Anaheim, CA
12/6 – Canoga Park, CA
12/7 – Mesa, AZ
12/8 – Albuquerque, NM
12/10 – Fort Worth, TX
12/11 – Oklahoma City, OK
12/12 – Little Rock, AR
Messengers’ Debut Album Out Now
Strike First is proud to announce the release of Messengers’ debut recording today. Anthems is a 7 song EP that has already been praised for its “old school hardcore/thrash crossover approach.” Messengers’ hometown, Dallas is known for producing heavy music from the likes Pantera, so it’s not unusual that a hardcore band from “The City of Hate” could cross over so seamlessly. Childhood friends Noah, TK, Andy, and brothers Chad and Chance have set in motion an unstoppable sound. High energy, fast-paced, driving tracks dominate Anthems, the band’s first EP, and spot-on gang vocals punctuate the songs with uncompromising strength. Messengers are stalwart supporters of the thrash sounds of yesteryear, but to call Messengers’ sound a throwback is to not realize the full potential of the second coming of 80s and 90s hardcore and thrash.
For more information on their debut album, go here:
facedown.merchnow.com/products/120764
Close Your Eyes Unveil Music Video
CLOSE YOUR EYES have released their music video for “The Body,” from their Victory Records debut, We Will Overcome. Using their faith as a driving force, CLOSE YOUR EYES has clawed their way out of Abiliene, Texas and is aiming for the hearts and souls of everyone in their path. It was a brief encounter at Hardin-Simmons University that turned Shane Reynolds (Vocals) and Brett Callaway (Guitar) from strangers, into two-fifths of Victory Records’ latest talent. “We met in the cafeteria. Brett was wearing a Dillinger Escape Plan shirt and I was wearing an As I Lay Dying shirt. We commented on each other’s and started talking about music; we realized that we had many of the same interests.” One of the common interests that Callway and Reynolds discovered was their understanding and dedication to the Christian faith. Quickly forming a unique friendship, the duo began a short-lived, two-man collaboration; after playing only a few shows, the desire for a thicker and fuller sound took over. Months of relentless searching through a talented sea of musicians seemed disheartening until Andrew Rodriguez (guitar), Sonny Vega (Bass) and David Fidler (Drums) appeared as though they had been there all along. This completed five-some creates the powerful and up-lifting sound that is CLOSE YOUR EYES, today. “With the line-up that we have now, we are all in-sync when it comes to music. We have such a heart for it; the best stuff always comes out” explains Reynolds. With their hardcore, heavy, rock sound and inspirational lyrics it was no surprise the band received such an intense initial response. “It took me a long time to find my ‘voice’ and the things I really wanted to write about,” says Reynolds, “Right around when we wrote ‘Song for the Broken’ I discovered that I could use lyrics to really express what’s in my heart.” One of the band’s biggest lyrical focuses comes from highlighting the ‘broken’ and needy people in the world. “It doesn’t take a specific religion to see that a lot of people in America are hurting. I really started having a heart for these people and saying, especially from a Christian standpoint, that we are being selfish.” Make no mistake, although heavily influenced by their Christianity, the group don’t plan on selling out their faith in exchange for their fame. “We don’t hide who we are but a big reason we don’t emphasize the fact that we’re a Christian band is because we don’t want our faith to be our primary marketing point. I would prefer if someone approached me after hearing our lyrics and questioned if we’re a Christian band, because then I can say ‘I am a Christian… and this is why’.” In 2008, they released a self-titled, 6-song EP that was ranked the #6 Most Added Album on both the FMQB and CMJ Loud charts. Due to its success, the band was honored with playing Main Stage at Cornerstone Festival in Bushnell, Illinois, after winning first place in the “New Band Showcase”. The following year, HM Magazine selected CLOSE YOUR EYES as one of their “Pick of the Litter” artists, which deemed them worthy of playing the magazine’s showcase at Cornerstone 2009. “When we got signed, everything changed,” explains Reynolds. After receiving his undergraduate degree in Ministry, Reynolds had decided to continue his education and was enrolled in graduate school. “I was sitting with my mom and we were talking about what this would entail: dropping out of school, quitting my job… a lot of things in my life would change. I expected my mom to be the one to tell me to keep my feet on the ground, be realistic, and have clearly defined goals, but she looked at me and basically said ‘You would be stupid not to do this. I would never want you to sit and wonder what it would have been like if you would have tried.’ I ended up dropping out that day and haven’t looked back since.” Excited and sure to waste no time, CLOSE YOUR EYES started compiling songs for their Victory Records debut, We Will Overcome. The writing process was pure, and humbling, making it more of an experience than a task for the band; especially for Shane. “I realized that I’m sitting here writing about how we need to take action and step forward and I’m not doing any of it. It is one thing for me to talk about all of these things lyrically and tell people that there’s hope, but if I’m not doing it myself then all these words are meaningless. The overriding theme of the album is that there is hope. No matter what it is that we find ourselves struggling with in life, we can and we will overcome these obstacles.” With their February 16th release of We Will Overcome, it’s no wonder that CLOSE YOUR EYES have been named one of Alternative Press’s “Top 100 Bands You Need to Know in 2010”. Currently the band is on tour with label mates A DAY TO REMEMBER, in support of this release and the intensity of their live shows will reassure you that music can provide hope, comfort and salvation.
Kemper Crabb Releases New Album
Longtime HM Magazine columnist always puts out excellent music of his own. A free song is available for download. More info from the man himself: For those of you who haven’t already heard, I just released a new musical project called RELIQUARIUM. In the first place, this is far and away my favorite project I’ve ever recorded. I got to utilize most of the instruments I currently play, most of the friends I make music with played on it, and there was no real agenda, stylistically speaking, so I was able to combine and juxtapose most of the types of music I enjoy, all on some of the greatest songs ever written (all composed long before my birth…). For the immediate future, you can download a free song from RELIQUARIUM, hear extended samples, and purchase downloads and physical copies of the project at reliquarium.net or on my site at kempercrabb.net. More importantly, though, RELIQUARIUM is a benefit album designed to raise funds for, and awareness of, my father’s missionary organization, Servants of the King (www.servantsoftheking.org ), which builds orphanages, schools, leprosoriums, hospitals, seminaries, and churches in India, Africa, and South America, work for which my father has been thrice nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. All profits generated from album sales will directly benefit the Servants of the King. I’d like to ask you all to tell everyone on your friends’ lists and email lists (and everybody you know any way you can…) about the new record. Since it’s a benefit album, we’re dealing with a practically non-existent promotional budget, and are being forced to rely on mostly word-of-mouth (or text-of-email, as the case may be…) to let people know RELIQUARIUM exists. Please let others know they can get a free download and hear the album at the web-addresses above. Many thanks for your help.
Stars Go Dim Update
Stars Go Dim have posted some new happenings for them in their latest newsletter: Hello everybody! We hope that you’ve been doing well. Things have been crazy busy around here and some awesome things are happening soon. Special thanks to all those who voted for us in the Goo Goo Dolls contest. We made the final round and now the judges and Goo Goo Dolls will decide the winner Nov 15th. Between playing tons of shows we’ve recently had a photo shoot, video shoot, and are working hard on new music to be released soon! Read more details of our latest happenings with pics and video in our journal on starsgodim.com. We will be releasing a new single called “Like I Mean It” along with a music video before the end of the year. Date to be announced soon. We are really excited for you all to hear it. Hope you all have a great week. We are off to Miami this weekend to board a music cruise going to the Bahamas. Yes, somebody has to do it. lol. -Michael, Chris, and Joey
Behind The Songs With Philmont
Frontman Scott Taube shares the inspiration behind “You Will Remain,” the debut single from the band’s Oct. 19 release, The Transition EP. “This song is a testament to God’s infinite and divine nature, a realization that the only thing in life that matters is that which is permanent and unfailing. Despite what we so often tell ourselves, our troubles, our possessions, and our achievements on Earth are but fleeting glances in the eternal scope. The kingdom of heaven is close at hand, and this song is an imploration to spend your time down here focused on the things above! ‘Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall never pass away.’ – Matthew 24:35 (NIV)” –Scott Taube
For more information on Philmont, visit:
myspace.com/philmontrock
Eisley signs To Equal Vision
Tyler, Texas quintet Eisley has signed with the Albany, New York-based Equal Vision Records. The new relationship with the independent label follows Eisley’s departure from Warner Bros. Records earlier this year, after two full-length albums and several EPs. Their third album is tentatively planned for an early 2011 release through Equal Vision. Details on the upcoming album’s release date, title and tracklist will be announced in the coming weeks. Eisley singer/guitarist Sherri DuPree Bemis states, “It’s really refreshing for us to be working with a label that’s driven by passion and has made a name for itself by working really hard with bands they actually love.” She continues, “It’s especially cool for Eisley to be on a label that started out as a ‘punk’ label because despite not being a punk band in any way musically, we have always done our own thing, gone against the grain and fought for what we believe in and that is the true essence of punk. We’re happy to extend our (already extensive) family.” Equal Vision Records A&R representative Francesca Caldara elaborates, “We’ve all been familiar with Eisley for years now; some of us have been fans since high school or college. We’re especially inspired by the personal connection they have with their fans and are honored to be working with them.” Steve Reddy, owner of Equal Vision, adds, “We have always done our best to maintain a family vibe with our artists, so working with them — a literal family — has been very natural from the beginning. We are very much looking forward to working and growing with them, and we cannot wait for everyone to hear the new album.” Equal Vision Records is currently home to artists including Chiodos, Pierce The Veil, and Dear and the Headlights, and the former home to artists such as Saves The Day, Circa Survive, and Portugal. The Man.
©2010 HM Magazine All Rights Reserved
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