Band Bio:
Withered tree started off in early 2004 under the name of Desolate. They later changed their name to Withered Tree in 2005. Originally, the band's line up consisted of Shyam Raj on Vocals, Angsari on Lead / rhythm guitars, Jason on Drums, Roman on Rhythm guitars and Darren on Bass guitars. After a few lineups changes, Withered Tree is now embarking on its musical zenith as a 4 man band, consisting of Shyam Raj on Vocals, Brandon Gan on Guitars, Darren Toh on Bass and Jason Cruz on Drums.
Review:
Ok, think of it as this... Alice in chains had sex with Led Zepplin, Alterbridge had sex with Tool.. And now both their kids have sex. That is Withered Tree.
They are beyond the word tight. To those who have seen them live would undoubtedly observed the chemistry they have musically. The great showmanship they have makes the crowd move regardless of their mood. Watch them live and you will feel how I feel.
Firstly, the guitar work of withered tree is simple yet progressive but however heavy at the same time. Darren's bass lines never fail to give that thump and groove that unifies the chops Jason is doing on the drums.
Withered Tree does alot of polyrhythms in a very subtle manner, which i find really beautiful. On the song Stonebed, Brandon Gan's solo is hard to comprehend but something about it just gives this intricate ardour to the music. Shyam Raj's vocals is just pure old school heavy metal vocals (definitely likeable vocals among judas preist, alice in chains, deep purple fans). Darren's bass grooves stands out better than most bands and its good. There is nothing much I could actually say about Jason, his drumming is just great.
Do support Withered Tree.
A must have for fans of Judas Priest, Led Zepplin, Accept, Soundgarden, Tool and Metallica.
Withered Tree would probably be releasing their Album in late 2009.
Please do check their myspace out
www.myspace.com/witheredtree
Support the local scene.
Stop music politics.
Start making music.
Keep the local scene alive.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Withered Tree
Her silent wish
Her silent wish a band form back in the year 2007. With a great line up of awesome musicians. Sonny on Vocals, Ameer on Bass, Fino and Solomon on Guitars and the amazing Bruce on drums.
They have recently released an EP titled The Alchemist recorded at Inversion Studios, with cedric (Meza Virs) behind the engineering of this album.
In my humble opinion, the alchmist is a mix of devil wears prada and suicide silence.
Having a good listen at the Ep just makes me want to kill somebody. Amazing tight guitar work with good instrumentation. What I personally like about the vocalist is I can feel the energy from the band through him, that is something not many vocalists can do. Her silent wish is an energetic band, it is very simple to get hyped listening to any of their song honestly.
It is not like the stereotyped hardcore bands where the breakdowns are just cheesy as hell. I must give it to the drummer for being very tight in his pedal work which just gave the extra oomph to every song. On the song titled "Its our silent wish" his pedal work can be seen at best.
However I must say that the band could have done just a little bit more on their EP such as adding harmonies or layers to the vocals and such to make it have this large ambience.
Overall this band is definitely in for the bigs.
This is just my view. Buy their EP and grant HER SILENT WISH.
www.myspace.com/hersilentwish
Support the local scene :)
Monday, June 8, 2009
To those who bad mouth the bands listed here...
If we want to, we can reveal who you are to the public.
Our local music scene may be small, but thats also a good thing, most people know most people, so you wouldn't want to face them now would you.
To MetalGod who commented in our tagboard, heres what he said:
So to METALGOD, or so he calls himself, lol, this was our reply to him in our tagboard:
& thanks to Bludrayne who sided Meza Virs in the tagboard.
---
I guess there will always be black sheep to bring people down.
Agree? Disagree?
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
UPCOMING GIG!
In support of the local scene and this blog,
we will be organising a gig!
The details are a little shady but the plan is really clear.
We are really hoping to get the Substation as the venue, however, they seem to be booked almost everyday!so we're crossing our fingers for that.
We also have 5 bands who are playing for sure, we just need about 5 more bands to get into the list!
You can be of any genre, we just need you to send us your website(be it Myspace,etc.) & it must consist of at least 3 decent quality recordings.
Send your link to us at localscenealive@yahoo.com !
(:
We will update this gig on SOFT once the details are clear.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Truth Be Known
Truth Be Known
Truth be known formed in 2005 in the midst of Religious conflicts and Political Domination. In it are members of great reknown acts of Singapore's metal scene. John and Arul from Narasimha, Subash from Kaliyuga, Gene and Damien from Bhelliom. With such a mix we should be aware on what kind of a disaster we'd be expecting. Heavily influenced by bands such as, Morbid Angel, Sodom, Napalm Death and many more. The name Truth Be Known was derived from a song title of the band Napalm Death. Having played shows locally, Truth Be Known has also earned respect overseas from countries for example,Thailand. With a huge fan base it is no doubt that Truth Be Known is one Singapore's best when it comes to spreading the TRUTH!
Musically, this band is a maniacal killer. John and Damien has always succeeded in creating skull crushing riffs that would echo in your head continuously. Gene's well known pedal work is at its peak in Truth Be Known. Arul is always keeping at the groovy bass lines. What more can we say about Subash's vocals? Truth Be Known's songs are based on Socio-politics and Religion.
Debut Album- Just Another Lamb
Now,Truth Be Known has released their 1st debut album under local label MourningSounds Records. Just Another Lamb is not your Just-Another-Death metal band. Personally I feel that this album has covered most of what death metal needs. Even without the lyrics, the riffs alone makes you feel what Truth Be Known wants you to feel. The opening riff of the song Build The Hate is just sufficient enough to go on a murder rampage. Each song speaks very much for itself. I cant give everything away. You've gotta listen to it. I know how long it took them to produce this album. Everything was recorded way back. What took this masterpiece so long was the mixing. Joshua from Blackisle Studios, is the main man responsible for the birth of such a wonderful production. Although it took a long wait (3 years) the wait was all worth it.
Truth Be Known is recommended for fans of Slayer, Napalm Death, Nirvana, Kreator, Deicide, Lamb Of God, Kataklysm, Carcass and Cryptopsy(old).
We managed to clinch an interview with Truth Be Known's vocalist,Subash!
1) So, How does TBK feel about releasing their Debut album, JUST ANOTHER LAMB?
Well, we feel great! We finally managed to release our album despite the problems we faced and all. Actually we were getting drunk all the time, It came to a point in time where too many people kept asking us when the fuck is the album gonna be released. hahaha. But all in all, its been good since we released JUST ANOTHER LAMB. We have been getting good reviews so far.
2) I have been a fan of every individual act of TBK, (eg, Narasimha, Bhelliom, Kaliyuga). How did you guys meet?
We always enjoyed each other’s company when we were out drinking almost every weekend. And we always used to drink at my old pub (Pub 228). So one fine day one of us (I cant remember who) mentioned why don’t we try jamming after a few bouts of beer and so we did and to our surprise, we actually sounded pretty cool. But back then it was just me, John, Damien and Gene. So we needed a bassist, and John got Arul from his old band Narasimha. So what started out to be a fun thing became slightly more serious when we started writing our own materials and we realized, that it does sound pretty good. So one thing let to another, we decided to record the songs while getting high at the same time. We also got the name TRUTH BE KNOWN from a Napalm Death song which was one of our favourite bands.
3) Tell us, what does "just another lamb" mean, why this title and not some other song from your album?
Well initially we wanted to name the album, Deny Defy which is also one of our songs. We chose that title because most of my lyrics are against all forms of religion and we wanted a statement telling everyone to Deny and Defy all forms of religion. But Gene (drummer) came up with the idea that majority of human beings are blind followers of religion hence sheep. So the 2nd idea was Just Another Sheep. And that really sounded like shit. So we decided using the quote “Like lambs to the slaughter.” We got JUST ANOTHER LAMB instead. Mind you, all this was done under the influence of alcohol.
4) Personally this was a long awaited album for me, (hehe around 3 yrs). What took you guys so long?
3 years??? Has it been that long? Hahaha. Well, we had some technical problems with the sound and also the cover art and all that. We tried working with a few designers regarding our album covers, but most of them were either too expensive or didn’t really suited the band. Also, with everyone busy with work and all. We didn’t want to rush out a cd with shitty design and a shitty sound. We told ourselves that if we were to release an album we should do it in a professional manner. Thankfully everything turned out ok.
5) Have you guys ever considered doing other forms of music? (example, heavy metal, power metal, black metal etc)
Initially we all wanted to do in Melodic Death and that’s when we realized that all our other bands are in that genre, so we decided to do something which we loved listening to which was Punk, Thrash and a little Grindcore.
6) How do you feel being interview by a fan of yours?
We feel honoured to have even 1 fan! Hahaha. The difference between TBK and other bands is, we have never treated a fan just like an ordinary fan, we treat them as friends. So you can say TBK has friends not just fans. Hahaha
7) You guys have played overseas shows? Tell us your experience, whats the craziest thing that has happened in those shows?
We have so far played in Bangkok Thailand and Semarang Indonesia. Both gigs were crazy in their own ways. Like in Bangkok, the venue we played was called Immortal Bar. The bands playing were all given like buckets of water instead of bottles. And by the time we went up onstage, the whole stage was wet! John and Damien were abit afraid that they might get electrocuted and all. Good thing was we were pretty smashed from drinking so we fucked the fear and played the gig.
For Semarang, it was a big gig and the crowd was about 1000 plus. I could see from the stage that the crowd was having a great time head banging, moshing to our songs. But when we did our standard Napalm Death cover, Suffer the Children, that was when the crowd went apeshit! They started breaking down the barricades, a few of them even managed to get onstage. It was fucking amazing! And after that, when we played the rest of our originals, the whole crowd was still going apeshit! Hahaha.
8)Are there anymore overseas shows for TBK?
02/11/08 we will be performing in Bangkok, Thailand and on 08/11/08 we will be performing in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Also currently we are working on something with Indonesia as well.
9) Have you guys faced heavy criticisms and insults? How has TBK dealt with it?
So far it has been nothing but good reviews from our cd to our performance onstage. But we are all old and mature enough to face and bad criticism. Insults wise, no one has said they are better drinkers than us. Hehehe. The worst critics are usually ourselves as we always believe we can do better than what we just did.
10) So what has TBK have to say to the fans and fellow musicians of the Singapore scene?
Believe in yourselves! Drink Beer! Play music! And Support the fucking local scene!
Cheers and Beers,
TRUTH BE KNOWN
Monday, January 7, 2008
MezaVirs
MEZA VIRS
Genre: Black Metal/Death Metal/Gothic Metal
Band Members:-
Cedric-Vocals
Jasmine-Female Vocals
Samuel-Guitars
Johnny-Guitars
Jon-Bass
Ying-Keyboards
Tjinn-Drums
They definitely won the spot for the first featured band here.
Rising from the darkest depths of Singapore, Meza Virs has definitely proved themselves as one of Singapore's best. They are not your usual macabre black metal band.Meza Virs has also acheived respect from not only Singapore but various countries overseas. In fact they have recently arrived from a gig in Bangkok.
Meza virs was formed around the year 2002. Since their birth, Meza Virs has sort of sculpted the scene of metal and also raised the standard of what Singapore metal should sound like.
Meza virs is not your typical "I-AM-SATAN" kind of dark metal. Their lyrics are dark sounding based on life and death.
I have been waiting for ages for their debut album, Vida Sacrificium Meum Est. It was worth the long wait for this album. Fans would know that it took 3 - 4 years. From Brutal songs like The Apocrypha and Tragic Vendetta to alluring songs like Crestfallen and Dwell Beneath. Every song has a message. In addition, they follow a very different & unique lyrical theme compared to anti-Christian & satanic themes used by comparative bands. They have killer riffs and their guitarists Jonny and Samuel are just amazing. Jasmine's haunting voice and Ying's keyboards just brings you into another dimension. A Band which every metal head all over the world should check out. If you like dark music or if you just like progressive aspects in Metal, remember this, Meza Virs is for sure a good kick in the head.
Tragic Vendetta would blow you away from your seat. To compliment the album The Apocrypha enters with a blast. Crestfallen was an amazing song, with Jasmine's voice mesmerising you. Well the rest of the album is up to you check it out.
In my opinion, Meza Virs really speaks to me. Every song and every word just speaks to you like you're reading your own diary. You can feel what the song means.
They were the first local black metal band to have a music video "Tragic Vendetta" which was taken in the apparently haunted "Hillview Mansion"!Check it out!
3) Has Meza Virs ever considered doing a different genre of music?
Cedric: Not in the sense of completely switching genres, we'll always be metal, but we've always tried to incoporate all our different influences into our music. A song like "The Apocrypha", I had the initial idea to write a fast brutal death song as opposed to the mid-paced ones on the album, but with an element of melody to it as well. The electronics on "Crestfallen" are another example. I guess while this current album isn't as diverse as it could be, we'll definately be taking it to a new level on our next release.
4) Having played a show in Bangkok, tell us your experiences.
Cedric: Well it was definately a blast playing a show for the Thai metalheads and getting our music out of Singapore,making new fans and all, but it wasn't all that different than playing a local gig. The show was held in an outdoor amphitheatre with a pretty good turnout, but alot of people decided to sit down instead of coming up to the front and moshing for the bands which i found rather strange, but oh well. The sound and lighting were excellent though, definately something the local scene can learn from. Oh and the dude wearing a mexican wrestling mask,brandishing his gloved hand on fire to the bands playing, how wicked is that?
5) Being the front man of Meza Virs, what is it that you do not like in a live show?
Cedric: Poor sound i suppose, especially when we've got shit monitors and can't hear ourselves clearly or at all. Other than that, I always like some manner of crowd involvement in the form of big fuckin' mosh pits and manic headbanging so when that doesn't happen it kinda puts a downer on the show. Make yourselves heard and the bands will love you for it!
6) So what are most of your songs based on, What does the song mean lyrically?
Cedric: It varies really, love and life,human emotions,the works. "Tragic Vendetta" is about a relationship. "Release in Demise" is sorta like a twisted love song, "The Apocrypha" is about the hypocrisy of organized religion. We write about experiences in life, stuff we feel strongly about. I think the new album will include a song about lamenting the fact that my pork porridge tonight was fucking tasteless.
7) Here is a weird question, how does it feel to be interviewed by a fan of yours?
Cedric: It feels good, but not as good as your Coheed & Cambria hair. Nah, it's awesome what you guys are doing for the local scene and we're honoured to be your first featured band.
8) Has Meza Virs faced any problems, eg. Insults, Gossips, Being pulled down and talked bad about?How did Meza Virs face these problems?
Cedric: Oh sure, we used to have shit talked about us all the time back in the day, when online forums weren't as *ahem* soft and cuddly as the ones we have nowadays. Everything from "Meza virs suck", "Beng guitarist,faggot singer and pontianak",and my personal favourite "He's only in it for the girls". I'm sure it still happens today. We don't really give a shit, it's just a bunch of spineless pussies talking. It's true what they say about me though, I mean, I'm looking at the massive line of hot chicks queuing up outside of my house from here to KL and wondering if any of them could buy me a decent fuckin' pork porridge.
9) Is there anything you would like to tell the other young metal bands out there?
Cedric: Uhm, keep practising, take those fucking zoom/metalzone pedals and throw them in the rubbish, and put some soya sauce and pepper in the porridge for fuck's sake. And lemurs. Everyone should have a lemur, they're pretty metal.
---------
Recommended songs: Tragic Vendetta, Crest Fallen, Shadows Of Obvillion
Deafcon 10,23rd Dec 2-6.30PM,DXO
Check out their Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/mezavirs
For more updates for Meza Virs in this blog,please save this post's link: http://localscenealive.blogspot.com/2008/02/mezavirs.html
Do leave comments here for Meza Virs(:
KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED FOR NEXT WEEK'S FEATURED BAND!
Saturday, February 3, 2007
\m/
The local scene.
Judging by Singapore's population,people would think and cuss under their breath that SG's music scene would never make it anywhere especially internationally.I could simple put a stopper in their mouths by listing down the international awards and recognition that a handful of Singaporean bands has earned in both the mainstream and underground scene.Music like many people say is a way of life,the different genres&lyrical prose explains it all & we have the rights to enjoy it but then there are people who can get so emotionally draining by bringing down our bands with their nasty comments.I have noticed though,that the support for the local scene is growing.One of the reasons being gigs!Majority wins and i am glad that its that way here,ive seen tons of people turning up faithfully for gigs to give their support.
So anyways,this blog is FOR the local music scene.Not just for the metal scene,indie scene,emo scene,etc.Its for the local music scene,be it ANY GENRE.We'll be giving the spotlight to one band every week,giving them the exposure they deserve.We hope more people would appreciate these bands and of course bring the local music scene more alive than it has ever been!
Our first band being featured will be Meza Virs.An awesome local symphonic black metal band!Do watch this space.Oh yes,any bands of any genre wanting to be featured(must have at least one recording),or if you want to give suggestions about anything,please leave a comment or email us at localscenealive@yahoo.com.sg
-Tharen and Anna
LSA
p.s This blog will be done up when we get a proper original design