Destiny Theft – My Life With Closed Eyes
My Life With Closed Eyes is an EP long in the making. As many people who have followed my releases over the years know, I like to invent a set of musical rules and then see what compositions come about when following those rules. For years my good friend Mike Thompson and I had joked about starting a project called “Basses Loaded,” which would feature every member of the band except the drummer playing bass.
In January 2018 I decided to play around with that formula. These songs were the result. Once I had the bass parts all written, I was struck by how video-game-music inspired it sounded, and decided that it made sense to use my v-drum kit for the kick, snare, and toms, to further lean into that sound. (The cymbals are real.)
Originally, I planned to sing on this release, but only bits and pieces of lyrics and melodies were coming to me. I had a mental block. I knew exactly why: every time I listened to the instrumental recordings, I imagined the voice of my old bandmate Buddy Hale. Buddy was the singer for my first reasonably-successful band, Phantom Float, way back in 2008. I have always been a fan of his work, and I felt like this EP would only be what it was supposed to be if I could get him to sing on it.
I was elated when he agreed to participate! I sent him the instrumentals and waited for a while. He would send me bits and pieces… an isolated vocal harmony here, the sound of scissors clipping there. I had no idea what to expect. Then one day, unexpectedly, a bounce with completed vocals appeared in my inbox. And I loved how it had all come together.
Then we spent a long time working on the mix, art, and release details. And here we are today. I could not be more excited to finally share this with the world.
Cover art by Laura Lervold.
Mathcore Index: Best of Volumes 1-5
Mathcore Index: Best of Volumes 1-5, our very first physical compilation, distributed by Dark Trail Records and featuring 41 of the finest artists in extreme and underground music. 200 units in hand-numbered 2 disc digipacks made with 100% recycled materials. First 5 purchases receive a signed copy of Car Bomb – “Mordial” CD. 100% of profits go to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and Black VisionsCollective. Art by Karl Frandsen and layout and original logos by Keith Carlson. $12 USD + shipping, order here.
This compilation features some of the best and most well-known bands in the genre today and I am honored to have been asked to contribute my track Retail Monkey – Pass Me the Yogurt Chips Before I Cremate Myself, Emilio. (The full album the song is from can be found here.) So far we have raised over $1000 through this effort! Black lives matter.
A short overview of this project can be found here.
Mission: Impossible – Title Theme
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time – Sheik’s Theme
GoldenEye 007 – Bunker I
Mario Kart 64 – Koopa Troopa Beach
1080 Snowboarding – Work Your Body
BONUS – 1080 Snowboarding – Work Your Body with Reversed Vocal Samples
A short overview of this project can be found here.
More to come.
Liminal Veil is a raw, visceral, and passionately violent skramz with math-rock influences. Six short but intense tracks of tragedy, passion, and emotional apocalypse. Drums and guitars create a rather dramatic orchestration, while vocals die out in desperation. Each track is unique and tunes are different from each other to keep the listeners engaged… Along the lines of Cowboys Become Folk Heroes, Ampere, and Converge, Liminal Veil holds a true potential of raw, visceral energy. The best gem of 2020.
Read the full review here.
1 track (4 minutes) of bedroom pop. Mastered at Big Name.
A short overview of this project can be found here.
GoldenEye 007 – Surface I
WWF No Mercy – Diggity Dog
BONUS – WWF No Mercy – Diggity Dog with Reversed Vocal Samples
Mission: Impossible – Embassy Function
Super Mario 64 – Hazy Maze Cave
Perfect Dark – dataDyne Research: Investigation
A short overview of this project can be found here.
More to come.
My 2014 release Bird Surgeon – Vanishings is a math rock album that was heavily influenced by screamo. Ever since putting that out, I’ve wanted to do the inverse and write some music that is primarily skramz but heavily influenced by math rock. This is that.
This EP was inspired by the corruption and ineptitude of the Trump administration, the smoke-filled-room political dealings that took down the Sanders campaigns in the 2016 and 2020 primaries, and the bungled pandemic response which has resulted in millions losing work while the billionaires continue to rake in unconscionable profits. Our representation in this country is bought by the mega wealthy and the big corporations to protect profits for shareholders above all else. This is an indictment – not only against the cartoonish evil of the Republican party leadership but also against the complicity of the Democrats in maintaining this system. It is a call to fight, to do what you can with what you have in order to make change to this broken system.
Available on cassette via Bandcamp – BNR2001
Evergreen Refuge – Of Spirit, Of Earth
It was my pleasure to be asked to play drums for this track from Evergreen Refuge. Drums recorded at Big Name. Everything else recorded, mixed, and mastered by Evergreen Refuge.