Exclusive Interview with Remy, vocalist of Dante's Theory

For those who are late to read on their review last month, on this lovely new year I'm back again with my special guest, Remy the talented vocalist from Dante's Theory for some nice virtually sipping hot tea online interview. Before that, don't forget to get yourself uncover with the article hatched about the band by clicking on this link 

1. How are you guys, please introduce yourself.

Hi, we are doing great, Remy here (vocals). The past 2 years (2017 & 2018) has been good thus far, we are looking forward to 2019.

2.You guys are well known in your country, Singapore. For the people from other countries, can you introduce and describe your band?

The band consist of 4 members, we play extreme metal / death metal, the band has played live shows with very known both local and overseas bands, within Singapore and overseas. Our music and lyric focuses more on specific topic for each albums and ep. Our music influences are vast too, we listen to all genres as we firmly believe music is universal and it transcend all barriers.

3. What gets you guys excited about music?

Well to me honestly music is just one of the channels in which the band and I share our views on certain topic. It is also an outlet for us to focus our collective energy and collaborated ideas. Besides music we are also involve in other aspect of creativity, for example arts. Be it fine arts or contemporary art forms.

4. Can you all explain what the band’s name means to you all and why it was chosen to represent your style of music?

The band name comes from the book called Divine Comedy, by a 14th century poet named Dante Alighieri. It’s a book to describe Dante’s journey to hell. The music is composed with in-depth lyrics are pretty dark at times, we believe it’s suitable to describe us and our music.

5. Previously the band was known as Pyro, why changed the name to Dante’s Theory?

The band existed back late mid 90’s Pyro, which consisted of past members which are not active in the music scene anymore, I decided to change the band’s name as our focus in terms of writing music and lyrics defers from the previous band’s identity.

6. In what ways would you consider your latest single “Amut” to be niche / different from the prior ones?

Amut has a raw old school death metal to it, with some elements of slam / groove. The main objective was to have songs both sang in English and our native tongue, Bahasa Malay. That was what sets it apart from our other ep / album.

7. What’s the band’s song writing process like? 

Usually how our music process works is, we have some band / music references which we listen to, also the specific topic in which we would like to focus on. Our main guitarist will work our riffs in which our vocalist and drummer will have a say on how to structure the whole song. Ultimately it’s a collaborative effort, which also includes our recording sound producer which helps us to get that unique sound we are aiming for.

8. You guys have been active since the 90’s, what is the legacy of Dante’s Theory to you?

That's a tough one, well I guess, our legacy is the impact our our music which we share with our friends and fans which we met and make during our lives shows and promos. To me personally, when we are gone one day, I would just like our friends and fans remembered that we contributed to the music scene as best as we can in our own way.

9. Since your debut, can you describe the MOST EPIC performance that you have experienced? 

The lasted show which we played in Singapore with Thy Art Is Murder Asia Tour 2018 was pretty epic. To me every show is different, every show is epic, even with 30 people or 3 thousand audiences. It’s how the band connects with the audiences that makes it epic.

10. How did the members initially find each other?

The island is pretty small, everyone knows everyone here, and well I guess we just had the same focus and drive that made us combined forces to be a single unit. 

11. What draws you all as individuals to want to make Progressive Death metal music as your genre?

We do not actually categorize ourselves, its just we sound more to progressive now than back 5 years ago.

12. Would you care to list some of your favorite 2018/2019 music releases?

Wow, to many, I would just list a few, Decapitated- Blood Mantra, Dying Fetus - Wrong One To Fuck With, Implore - Subjugate and also Integrity - Howling For The Nightmare Shall Consume.

13. What keeps you all passionate about making new music?

Basically it’s our main outlet to channel all these energy we have, it’s also a great way for us to share our passion to everyone who loves music / metal in general.

14. I enjoyed listening to your both of your latest singles and they sound epic. Can you discuss the writing and recording process for this song?

Thank you. It took us about 2 weeks to finalize the main riffs and also the structure of the songs, there wasn’t much debating or changing it much as we are know exactly what sound we are trying to project out and we focused more on that that making it too prefect.

15. How would you compare the current/upcoming to past materials?

I would say it more fast paced than our previous albums, other than the dual language in some of the songs, it’s more energy driven I would say, plus grooves.

16. What goals do you all have for Dante’s Theory for the rest of 2018/2019? Any 2019 plans in the works being considered? 

We are planning to release a new album in 2019, sometime mid 2019. We also plan to have more shows around Asia region.

17. Whereas a lot of bands that play music like yours go raw and murky, explain your feelings and rationale behind the “clean” and tight sounding production you guys has always had?

We moving forward, we grew up in the 90’s, we would just like to have something which we composed to be more audible in another say 10 years, which still sounds fresh I hope.

18. Who do you all consider to be major influences on you all as musicians?

I guess it would be our love one, our parents and our peers. We do not have a specific band which we idolize, we are have a vast liking to a lot of pioneer bands both locally and overseas.

19. How did the members of Dante’s Theory come to be involved with making music? Is anyone in the band formally trained as a musician or taken years of lessons?

Yes two of us are from Yamaha music school, the rest of us are self taught. We are all music lovers to begin with, especially metal, so instead of just listening to metal, we also form a group to do our own style. Or at least we try to.

20. What are some of your all favorite non-metal genres/styles/bands/group?

Dubstep, Classical music, reggae, etc, nothing specific, we listen to everything, which keeps our mind working when we are writing new songs, we do not constraint ourselves to just 1 specific genre.

21. What jobs or things are you all involved with outside of Dante’s Theory?

Non, we are only in Dante’s Theory as we have better focus and concentration to complete 1 thing at a time.

22. Name the countries that you guys wished for performing/touring?

I would say Japan and perhaps Europe.

23. Any other upcoming events or things worth mentioning to all your fans out there?

We may have a mini tour in Indonesia and Malaysia, but it’s still in the discussion phase for now.

24. If you have any final thoughts or things you’d like to say, go for it?

We really enjoy ourselves writing music and also being able to share it with everyone who digs metal, we hope to meet all of you soon when we come next to your location! Also watch out for our next album in 2019! 

I hope you guys enjoy this, take care, be safe and thanks for reading!

Again, don't forget to have a read on the review I've written for the band here

Band Review | Dante's Theory

So this time is a shocker.  On a beautiful rainy Halloween eve, I received a message from Remy of Dante’s Theory for some write up projects.  This is definitely something crazy (positively crazy) for me but somehow giving me anxiety because firstly they are NOT from my country, and secondly they are a legend who is NOT from my country.  Phewww no pressure at all for this 24-hour symphonic metal listener here.  Above all, I am truly honored to review this band’s material.  I really appreciate your trust on me.  Seriously!

To all Malaysian who are not familiar with them, Dante’s Theory has been around since the mid 90's previously known as Pyro before changing their name to Dante's Theory. A few changes in the band's line up and sound since then as the band progressed.  

Curious about Pyro’s music?  

Check it out here 

Singapore's brimming with talented acts such as Rudra, Impiety and many more, and now DANTE'S THEORY is making a huge sting (kasi sengat!) since their comeback from hiatus.

Check out their latest single, epic comeback piece for their upcoming album "Deconstruct"

The line-ups Remy (Vocals), Karsten (Drums) Aaron (Bass), Syazwan (Guitars), Shakur (Guitars), play fierce, dynamic death metal that packs a punch with lyrics in Malay and English, they're mixing things up and it's all the more refreshing for us all. Their 2017 release titled 'Amut', which has five songs of hard-hitting contemporary death metal that will have you jumping around and head bang straight away.

If you are still wondering why I’m saying they are a true underground legend? It is because they have played vastly around the asia region with bands such as Burgerkill (INDO), Thy Art Is Murder (AUS), Rudra (SG), Wormrot (SG), Naratu (MY), Wynken Delirium (MY), Stompin Ground (SG), Truth Be Known (SG), Overthrown (SG), Siksakubur (INDO), Jasad (INDO) and many others.  Shook enough?

When you think 2017 was a good year for them for being included in TERRORIZER's magazine issue 283 (July 2017) and on FEAR CANDY Compilation CD, 2018 is much better with the released of their single, “Deconstruct” and latest with "Playing Fields of Bloodshed" will pave an absolute tremor for their upcoming album in 2019!   

Epic combo of Death and Progressive Metal

From the Amut Full EP released on 15th April 2017 had made me gone speechless. As I listened to it for the first time, I have never heard an EP that is being delivered in a complete construction from A to Z. Seriously this had taken me a while to continue on writing for the next sentence. Even by listening through this cheap 5 ringgit earphone delivery of the sound so impeccable that I could guarantee an epic eargasm la weiiiiii.

This 5 tracks EP is honestly mind-blowing and it would be a great loss for music lovers out there especially metal heads to skip on this masterpiece.  Combining the style of death with the elements of progression definitely dug a gold mine for this band. From the intro of Qiamat Heretics to the exit breakdown of Amut, not a single disinterest came across my head as I genuinely enjoyed this record so much.  Out of 5 gems my most favorite is Dethroned the Purist and the part favored best is the narration in Insanity of the Saints combined with the music produced an absolute clear message to listeners about the story told.

From the ears of a listener, this record I would describe as 5000% tight as f*ck, no flaw.  Their precision to fit all the hasty unexpected tempo, key and timing diversity is the major influence on producing this treasure.  It is normal for death metal to embody melodic riffs but adding the leverage of progressive complexities is no joke since they actually managed to use that composition to underline the continuous development of the materials perfectly.  

Some records may be described as messy but Amut is definitely the one that have cathartic effect which is a non-destructive art form that give out listeners’ anger & anxiety.  I must say it’s truly odd but their music is legit calming for me.  With their macabre lyrical content and shifts in musical dynamic precisely describes the catharsis, stress-reducing features and making you feel less alone.  The feeling of being able to escape the reality and have an enjoyable moment of openness is what we all wanted in music that we listen to.

In terms of skill, it is way beyond my expertise but I can exactly quote Alex Webster from Cannibal Corpse – “People who don’t know this music think it’s just a bunch of noise and it’s really easy to play. You may not like it, but death metal is really complex. You have to have a really fine-tuned ear to appreciate it and a lot of the guys in these bands are incredible musicians.” So basically these people are SAINTS!

Not believing what I say, here’s your chance to be mesmerized by their full EP

Upcoming showpiece

As mentioned above, this band will have an epic comeback with their new album to be released in 2019 (date t.b.a) as they have delivered two teaser worthy singles for your ears to thrill upon.  The first single is self titled from the album itself which was release on January 2018 and 9 months later another single is released titled "Playing Fields of Bloodshed".  

Comparing to Amut (full), this upcoming fraction emphasize more on the progressive aspect of the band.  You can hear it for yourself that the new record is less darker however it is not criminal since Amut emphasized more on the dark death metal side never the less, this upcoming album would be an extension of their superpowers mastering on more progressive factors to their music.  

"It's not like DEATH like which is so intense on the rhythmic side, it's not like KAMELOT which represent symphonic as a major music of them and it's also not even like some sort of typical progressive band like GOJIRA. This is DANTE'S THEORY, Musically and technically a DANTE'S THEORY themselves. I love the way they crafted their music direction throughout a madness atmospheric pressure just to catch an eye of the normal insanity."- a tip from my guest reviewer.

Listening from both singles, I'm predicting the album to have aggressive poly-rhythm and flashing beats vaulting from one song to the next.  The addition of clean vocal recital is another feature that support my opinion of them becoming more progressive-in describing characteristics of progressive metal.  They are still recognizable as death metal but in a way more technicality on the instruments and bear major tempo exploration.

Are they worthy?

YES! YES! YES! 1000% YES!  They are experienced, extremely talented and I guarantee no regrets to all listeners especially metal heads out there.   

Finding them is not that hard, don’t forget to show your support and follow them on any of these social media channels.

• Bandcamp
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Officialemail

More snippets on the band;

• Amut Singles Release Video
• IronCoffin Lyric Video
• Deconstruct Singles Lyric Video

Downloads:

• Ep 2008 "Ashes of Revenant"
• Compilation and Split: The Hardcore Gateway Compilation Volume 1:
• Death Metal Part I (Compilation)
• Sick Musik to your Guts Compilation Vol. 1
• 2 way Split 2017 (Hallowed Grounds) Dante's Theory & Deathwords (Indo) 

Thanks for reading and happy holidays!!!

Album Review | Carthreena - Breathe For Tomorrow

Yass the kween is back again after going on and off again with the blogging sphere and literally writing the introduction of this entry while listening to Nightwish considering the title above is definitely nothing to do with them.

Okay I'll stop and continue with the main cause of this acknowledged entry.

I'm here with my brain for Carthreena!

You kids will ask me "WHAT THE F*CK IS CARTHREENA?"

Well, read!!! You lazy younger generations with iPhones.

Disclaimer: Please note that I’m doing this on a VERY VERY PROFESSIONAL basis. Every comments and critics are based on what people want to listen, their demands and etc. Also please note that I'm very critical at finding flaws and NEVER BIAS and I have run through this whole album thoroughly multiple times.

Image courtesy from Carthreena 

Carthreena is a Malaysian post-hardcore band from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, formed in 2010.  All through out of their musical career, the band is known for fast, hard music based in heavily distorted guitars, prominent lead guitar lines, and frequent changes in complex time signatures. 

They achieved national fame with the released of their single ‘Change the World’ in December 2013. They have performed tons of gigs and several national festivals including AOR Festival 2015, Kawanfest 2015, Stone Chisel Indie Fest 2015, Gegeyfest 2014 and Northern Fest 2012 & 2016, yet still active performing band around Malaysia.

In 22^nd January 2018, they have released their debut album ‘Breathe For Tomorrow’ in physical copies and digital (Spotify & Deezer). The album is recognized as one of the anticipated album for the year of 2018. -Quoted from band's profile

Image courtesy from Carthreena

Discography

Demo

• I Set You on Fire (2010)
• Pretending (Roses of Surrender) (2011)

Single (s)

• Whispering Goodbye (2011)
• Forbidden Hearts (2011)
• Start Over Again (2012)
• Change the World (2014)
• Cancer (2014)

Compilation (s)

Compilation MMXIV

The New Core Wave (TNCW) x Emotional/ Melodic Hardcore Promotions (EMHP)

Released August 20, 2014 (Mexico)

Link: https://emhpxtncw.bandcamp.com/album/compilation-mmxiv

Track 7. Carthreena - Change the World

Studio album

• Breathe For Tomorrow (2018)

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Cover view of this album.

For not judging the book or album by its covers, oh well I do because women judge. I love the injected artform essence of totemic insect which is a bee in this case as I believe so was truly inspired by the ancient rock art by the ancient cultures in Europe and the Near East which sometimes referred as the "goddess".

Overview of this album.

This excellent nu-cultural concept artwork album named as "Breathe For Tomorrow" consist of 12 tracks with 7 English songs, 4 Malay song and 1 short instrumental track.  The explained genre is post-hardcore and I agree for its fast moving energetic music that actually emphasize a greater degree of creative expression when you're moving from track to track.  

Reminiscing down the memory lane.

When I first ran through this album it reminded me one of my favourite albums of all time, Yellow Card-Ocean Avenue album from 2003.  Ok chill, I know both of these albums have obvious distinct genres but somehow they both have the similar energy.  Try ignoring the sliver lining of these genres and imagine replacing the violins in YC with the strings from Carthreena, they would be quite similar.  Not bad kind of similar but GOOD!

Listen to YC's Way Away, and Empty Apartment and you will get what I meant. 

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Image courtesy from Carthreena

Based on the article on 2007 quoted by Jeff Terich on Treblezine, "the originality of post-hardcore emerge from the era after hardcore's heyday (notably, the '80s), and most bands within the genre got their start in hardcore. However, the twist is instead of sticking to its rigid constraints, these artists expanded beyond power chords and gang vocals, incorporating more creative outlets for punk rock energy." On a more casual term it is a genre of music formed when people in the hardcore scene got tired of hardcore's limited form (Geoff, 2005).

This 40 minutes album have various styles of music that won't make you feel bored if you are a true post-hardcore fan.  The songs arrangements from track 1 to 12 is considered very well planned and excellent as they are very well matched and compliments the sequences. A friendly album hack is that they shouldn't be too high up with non-stop catchy music or the other way around,  it should be an added variance to one another and association of fast and slow moving sounds.

Lyrics-wise linguistically are very easy to understand not to much metaphoric elements, they can easily reach the emotions of all fans and listeners.  Remember when most of us were younger (back then for example the old days of Simple Plan) and there's a song or an album that was very entertaining and magically catch up to our pleasure, well this is how you can get it in 2018. Carthreena gets them to your soul!

In terms of instruments, there's nothing to talk about.  My ears heard fascinating signature s of post-hardcore; the slow melodic minor scale and melodic metal-core style rhythms added to bind with some progressive elements.  Since I'm not a musician (unless calling a person that plays 4 months of intense ukulele a musician, then I'm still not one) nothing much I can comment about the technicalities but as a listener, most important is that they are perfectly tight and harmonizes within all aspects of the instruments.  Kudos for the outstanding effort.  And for the vocals, how the f*ck did you managed to reach that high notes? Incredible af!!

My genuine reaction to this masterpiece was quite pleasant.  I don't often listen to post-hardcore genres but I'm confident to say that this album able to make me have fun by listening to it.  They have this my so-called made up word is the spirit-goosebumps, when you listen to the whole album, you feel this energetic spirit came on your surroundings like a force-field globe that protects you (not Wakanda) for the whole 40 minutes and that spirit energy made your senses tingling with goosebumps because you are so well entertained by it.

Favorites

My most fav song in this album is Malaysia,  a very catchy anthem of patriotism and the realities of things that you are aware of being a true Malaysian.  Basically I'm a well known as the least patriotic values on earth however that song did change my perception towards with holding my nation and very proud to sing along to this.  Guys, this is the song that you should listen to while waiting for your turn to cross out the ballot on this upcoming general election.  I'm not even joking!

The song Remembrance has its own touchy feely amusements for people who's having a handful of breakup sentiments just like I Will Stay by We Are The Fallen and when Dean's vocals appeared on Streetlights, there were fireworks in my head.

Should you buy this album?

Absolutely YES!  Even if your are not a fan of this genre, you should still get it for yourself because of the new revelation of post-hardcore music that you should experience yourself and just because they are truly awesome!

Buy it here

Social Media Channels

Check out more about Carthreena:    

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Youtube
• Instagram
• Reverbnation
• Spotify
• Deezer

Reference;

M. (2016, November 24). How To: Make a Post-Hardcore Song in 6 Min or Less ( Full Song at the End) || Shady Cicada. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdMVQD5OrI4

The 90-Minute Guide: Post-Hardcore. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://web.archive.org/web/20110404010139/http://www.treblezine.com/features/107.html

Review Rates | The cerewetness begins :D

You guys must be pissed off at me for not having the time to upload the review rate as promised it was suppose to be uploaded on Saturday.  I'm truly sorry, the preparation of my online store was unexpectedly hectic although I only sit on my ber preparing sh*it but it was so tiring as f*ck!

Anyways, here you go.  This is the rates I'm offering anyone who's interested to be a part of this blog.  Please send us an email to amirahwhy93@gmail.com for further enquiries.  Image below is the documented rate of charges per entry.  

"Starting from the year 2017, this blog will be available for marketing services based on my experiences of writing in this blog for more that 8 years. Also note that every reviews, medias, and spreads to be publish in this blog will pertain a certain sum of charges and the review shall be available in my blog permanently unless stated to be removed by the owner."

I truly appreciate your love and support!

Don't forget to visit my online store or instagram and official website.  Yes we are now SSM registered wokeyyyy 😂😂😂

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EP Review | Frost and Revenge - 3 Years in Vain

Holo everyone, I'm back again with a review for the band Frost and Revenge with their new EP that was released on December 2016.  First and foremost, I would like to congratulate them for successfully completing their EP and good God I get to review it on my blog HAHA!!!

Source: Google

Apparently I’m writing this in my office since I have a lot of free time for being very competent with my day job report and only this could help me to stay awake for the next 6 hours of boredom.  

A gentle reminder for you guys, I've already listened to their EP for several rounds so everything I say might not being agreed by some of you but b*tch I'm real and not under the influence of a strong sinus-allergy medicine. 

Disclaimer: Please note that I’m doing this on a VERY VERY PROFESSIONAL basis. Every comments and critics are based on what people want to listen, their demands and etc. Also please note that I'm a bitch so I might be extra honest with every shit I say. Lol!

This album consist of 5 original tracks from the band itself. I must say as an EP this whole CD is freaking amazing. They got the GROOVE going on man!!! Needless to say that's why these awesome guys had performed in gigs outside Malaysia. Kudos to everyone.

Arrangements for the songs were rather complicated but each of them got their very own nifty tunes and nothing is similar from one song to another. I can sense all the efforts combined together for every songs they made. As for me, the strings and drums were truly perfect but the vocals were somehow cringing.

I apologize beforehand for saying this but my first thought on the vocals was WTF? Why? Why would they neglect on the vocals quality? I’m not trying to down-sized their effort but this part here, sorry guys I can't hear that the vocals harmonizes with the songs that much.

I know that their vocalist is an excellent singer but my point here is on the vocal production of this CD not on the person himself.

Also to be extra concerned, there's less existence of vocal dynamics since all I can hear is intense screaming from the beginning till the end of this CD. The voice over in track 5 was ok but at this point, people would ask for more dynamics. 

I know I’m not a certified singer (I only sing in the shower) but I’m criticizing based on FANS/LISTENERS' POINT OF VIEW here. I’m not sure if this is how they assume it would the niche of this EP by outcasting the vocal recording quality but if they do, please brainstorm to find other ways to support every elements in each songs, don't ruin them.

#sisemosi 

I'm very convinced that you guys are great musicians, so please improve the vocal part because this CD has great materials in it. I know it is not an easy thing to do coz I’m not putting myself in their shoes bla-bla-yada-yada but the quality has to be delivered to the extend. Like i mentioned before, fans/listeners want eargasm in every elements.  

As for me, the track listings were great. Momentum kept building up, literally not disappointing at all and very satisfying.  Arrangements were positively tight af and they totally rocked (oh well, Metal!) my face off.  Honestly I can't wait for them to release an album because I know they have more ravishing materials to make their fans and listeners to have an epic blast.

Best track: Left in Silence

Worst track: None. I like all their songs.  Honest opinion here!

Rating: 4 out of 5 unicorns

Good job Frost and Revenge!

You know what I think I should stop because I'm starting to write like a student who's running out of vocabularies for her 1000 words essay.

Just to look like I've written a lot of stuff here, don't forget to follow Frost and Revenge on social media;

Instagram 

Facebook  

Youtube 

Twitter

Get their EP for RM15 only - Click here  

Don't forget to watch their new video, click the like button and subscribe for more good music from them.

If you are interested to be featured in this blog, please don't hesitate to drop me an email at amirahwhy93@gmail.com 

I eat cereals, not humans 😹

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