:: The Shattered Room ::

Hi, guys and gals!

I don't know if promoting your own music is encouraged here. It's just, I'm a huge Arena fan, and so is our keyboard player... And here and there, maybe you can tell. Anyway, I thought, with the style we play in mind, this forum would be a good place to get some feedback. -Or as positive a feedback as possible... ;D

Naming our style is a bit difficult. Keyboard metal? Progish melodic hard rock? Arctic prog?

There is a teaser from an album we'll release one way or the other this year, here: www.winterstrain.com (http://www.winterstrain.com) You'll find it through the "Music" link. See what you think. Maybe it can be something for you?

If I shouldn't promote or mention my own band here, I apologize sincerely. :-\
Regards,
Deenfan

Aaahhh... got a green light from Peter about blowing my own trumpet a bit...

There is now clips of the first three songs on the album, available on our site. These are the finished mastered songs, though fairly low bitrate mp3 for the ease of downloading.

The album as such starts off with some half straightforward sounding stuff, evolves back and forth a bit, and ends in something we could call prog heaven. But we won't, of course. It's just getting more interesting or less understandable, depending on where you come from taste-wise.

Pretty much the whole band is Arena fans, with the keyboard player and myself leading on, and we're both admiring Clive Nolan's wide variety and use of sounds. Nothing we have tried to emulate, but it's been an inspiration, and of course, we use Korg synths, so...

Check it out!

Deenfan :)

And the fourth song is published... "Leon" is written around the Luc Besson movie of the same title. -Though it was called "The professional" in the US, apparently.

This will be our calmest moment so far on the record, and a chunk of the guitar solo is included, too. Check it out, and please tell me you love it!!! ;D ;D ;D

Hi Deenfan...

Had a listen to the "Another Time" and the "Another Day" clips, and immediately thought Night Ranger.
Then I got Europe from "The Secret Family" clip.
"Leon" was interesting, but too short a clip for me to get a plane of reference.

And then I listened to "The Medley"...

FANTASTIC...!

I'm still getting Night Ranger occasionally, but I now think that that's down to the twin-guitar lines, and guitar-tone more than plagiarism. Europe I get from the vocal inflections, and position in the mix.

Hurry-up and release...cash awaits at chez Gelert...!

Let us know when copies are available for purchase.

 ;D ;D ;D ;D

Thank you, Gelert!! Ha! Night Ranger... Congratulations. That's the first time I hear that! We even got a Camel comparison, to the point the guy insisted it was ripped off the "Nude" album, which any of us in the band STILL has to hear! Or, I've heard it now, that he pointed it out, and well... It's not plagiarism, but coincidence. We pride ourselves on not trying to sound like anyone, really. But as all are, we're inspired by stuff. We got very different album collections within the band, too, so nothing should be able to dominate much for long...

You're a very good listener, too, 'cause I used Europe's records as a guide line when I recorded, mixed and produced the vocals. I want them to be loud and clear and in the centre. No problem when you have a really good singer with a voice full of character, I might add!

Some member of Shadow Gallery once said that "What you put in, people can get out", and this shows it's true. About the Night Ranger thing, I don't think anyone of us has an NR album, but I know that the guitar player at least acknowledges the guitar player in Night Ranger. He's mentioned him on a couple of occasions. I don't even remember the guys name.

The guitarist's list of inspirations can be found here: http://www.winterstrain.com/html/arnulf.html

You could check if he was there! Maybe you're on to something... :)

Fun that you should like the medley so much. I'll post whenever a new clip is available, so you might hear more of the songs. I'll be more than sure to tell you when we get it released. It'll happen something this year, that's given, unless we get a multi million $$ deal all of a sudden, and a Lamborghini each to make us accept a wait until january or something. ("Not bloody LIIIKELY!)

Night Ranger guitarists are Jeff Watson & Brad Gillis...er it sez 'ere...

Hat, Anorak, gone....

Quote from: gelert on Mon, 2005-07-11, 10:23:42
er it sez 'ere...

What is that?????? ??? ??? ???

Quote from: Deenfan on Mon, 2005-07-11, 23:40:18
What is that?????? ??? ??? ???

gelert's way to express "it says here", which means "I apologize if I may be wrong, but that's what's written here"

 ;D Ahh... I'm maneuvering quite well in these waters of foreign language, but some times.... :D

Thanks!

Quote from: Deenfan on Tue, 2005-07-12, 18:09:31
;D Ahh... I'm manoeuvering quite well in these waters of foreign language, but some times.... :D

Thanks!

Close, but no cigar...

WTF am I saying...?

Encouraging smoking...?

Where's that walnut whip...?

 :D ;D Hahaa!! A typo! In that very essential word, too!! Holy Christ, when I do mistakes, I usually time them perfectly!!!

And you're making absolutely no sense, yet manages to be hilariously funny!!

:D

But sir, sir, it was one of Hogweed's, sir...
;)

I've come to believe that everything that makes no sense at all can be explained with "Hogweed"... ;D

Quote from: Deenfan on Wed, 2005-07-13, 23:53:51
I've come to believe that everything that makes no sense at all can be explained with "Hogweed"... ;D

...especially the "Giant" Variety...

Lordy, do I feel a song coming on...?

Widdley widdley, Widdley widdley, Widdley widdley, Widdley widdley...
Widdley widdley, Widdley widdley, Widdley widdley, Widdley widdley.... etc.

Heh.. We worked on some new material this very night. But we must release this one first. A deal for the UK seems to be confirmed now. Nice. The fifth song, our progmetal moment, is online now. Check it out, boys and girls!

http://www.winterstrain.com/html/music.html

Nice job, Deenfan!

I really like that... I downloaded the Medley. Excellent! ;)

The "Rumours At Speak" clip had me rushing to listen to Damian Wilson with Landmarq doing Terracotta Army on Solitary Witness...

...my medication ain't working, I tell ya...time to change my dealer...

 ;DHmmm... Interesting. Damian Wilson is a good singer. Never heard the material you refer to, though. Even so, I dare believe it was a good sign...? Thanks, both of you!

I long for the moment when you can hear the full keyboard solo on "Sail", KeyboardistMatt. I'm a lousy drummer, only, but also an absolute keyboard freak, and as far as soulful playing goes, I learned something new when I heard him record that solo. (I recorded it, he performed it...)

A few years ago, I thought really soulful, emotional solos were the domain of the guitar. But, apparently, a keyboardist has got the same connection to his instrument and its "ways to make and change the sound" as they play. Bad sentence. I need to go to bed. I'll hit you with another clip soon...

Ah, and here is my favourite on the album, Mountain inside the stone:

http://www.winterstrain.com/html/music.html

I so long for letting people hear the full tracks...

Quote from: Deenfan on Mon, 2005-07-18, 02:25:56
;DHmmm... Interesting. Damian Wilson is a good singer. Never heard the material you refer to, though.

Yeah, he has a great voice. I was under the impression of his singing talent bij hearing the Ayreon album 'Into the Electric Castle'. Each time his character 'the Knight' came in, I thought 'wow, what a voice'. Then I heard 'When the druïds turn to stone' of 'The Dream Sequencer'. Awesome. Now I own his solo albums 'Disciple' and 'Cosmas'. Waiting for his new release 'Let's start a commune'.
Haven't heard his work on Threshold or Landmarq albums.

Quote from: Deenfan on Mon, 2005-07-18, 02:25:56
I long for the moment when you can hear the full keyboard solo on "Sail", KeyboardistMatt. I'm a lousy drummer, only, but also an absolute keyboard freak, and as far as soulful playing goes, I learned something new when I heard him record that solo. (I recorded it, he performed it...)

I do like soulful keyboardistism... ;)

Quote from: Deenfan on Mon, 2005-07-18, 11:51:01
Ah, and here is my favourite on the album, Mountain inside the stone:

http://www.winterstrain.com/html/music.html

I so long for letting people hear the full tracks...

Sadly, the website tag for Mountain Inside The Stone, lacks "clickabilityishnessitismliness".

Well, it works for a lot of people... Hmmm.... Don't know why it is so. Maybe a firewall thing? A ghost?

I'll send it to you. :)

Cheers for the PM, Deenfan...

I had a listen, via the link on the PM...and then I went to your website, and found that "Mountain...." has now got "clickabilityishness"...

So maybe I was just too quick-off-the-mark...?

Release, release...because the link is so "out-of-context" that it doesn't really get my rocks-off...

But it's quality, I can tell that much...can't wait to obtain the CD.

Thanks!!! ;D

I think the clickadelic issue would have been solved by pressing F5 on your keyboard. Or indeed, clicking the "refresh" button. Your browser probably pulled the page out of the temp folder, and not the net, even if it looked like it downloaded it.

This function explains a lot of weird stuff. One woman I know removed a picture from her website, 'cause it was a bit embarrassing. She checked back, and it was gone. However, most of her friends could still see it when they clicked their way to her site. They started believing in ghosts for a while, there... :D

Another one online:

http://www.winterstrain.com/html/music.html

This time, an uptempo straight rocker. Press F5 if you can't get clickadelicisinityishness or anything really. Help me... ;D

Well, my friends, I have given my first international interview! Which of course means instant stardom and utter world domination...

It was weird seeing my own face on the front page like that:

http://www.strikeupthebands.net

Of course, in a few days, I won't occupy it anymore. But you will find the interview. I'm R.E.Nyland.

We even got a fantastic review, although I can't for the life of me hear ANY Gamma Ray in our music. Hardly Edguy, and very little Symphony X, although I see what she means. But that's just the fun of it! Getting to know so many different thoughts about our stuff. You can't beat it.

Another great piece of news is that we're pretty much set with regards to the actual release of our album. :)

Hope to God someone replies to this post... :-[ :-\ :-X :-*

Quote from: Deenfan on Tue, 2005-08-09, 00:26:30
I'm R.E.Nyland.

Hope to God someone replies to this post... :-[ :-\ :-X :-*

Hello "Reny Land",

Welcome to the forum...

You'll find that we're a friendly bunch of misfits here....etc., etc.....

;D

But shame on you for not mentioning Arena ONCE, in the interview....  :P

Didn't I? :o ???? ??? I must have...???  Let me bleeding check this out... Wait a minute, I'm opening another window...

HAH!!!!! I won't force you through the pain of re-reading it, so here is the quote:

"The first thing I heard the keyboardist ever play was “Pseudo silk kimono� by Marillion, and I think he, too was into Led Z a lot. Lately, I’ve turned him into a great fan of Arena!"


8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)

How could you doubt me?  :'( You think I'm on every f***in' board on this web? Like I have no life??? >:(

Thank you for replying to my post, Gelert! You're a gentleman!!! :D

Hehe, the very first thing that came to my mind when opening up that interview page was:

"awww, all Flash?"

The second was:

"awww, are they available in pretty?"

:P

Sorry, could not resist...! :D

Hmmm... I'm slow... First, don't blame me for the flash! It's not my page, and the pretty thing either means:

1) You're surprised at seeing the first handsome looking prog band in the world

or, and much worse:

2) We're damn ugly, and you're interested in a better looking band

;D Give it to me!!!  ;D

Sorry Deenfan...my "bad"...  :-[

I was quite impressed with the site myself. Particularly with the fact that a relevant piece of music is automatically played whilst one reads the article...it seems to make the whole interview/article so much more relevant...whether it's done by Flash or MIDI or gas-powered sea-biscuit is, in this case, largely irrelevant IMHO.

 ;D :D

But you must admit that the gas-powered sea-biscuit solution IS more digadelic!!

Cheers from the either very pretty or with a face that leaves much to be desired

Deenfan.

Which is it, Peter?

The guy doesn't want to answer... I wanna know if I'm ugly or not!!!

Oh, well... the wife is still open for my... thoughts. Or, call it ideas... ;D

Quote from: Deenfan on Sat, 2005-08-13, 21:54:24
The guy doesn't want to answer... I wanna know if I'm ugly or not!!!

Oh, well... the wife is still open for my... thoughts. Or, call it ideas... ;D

Well, it was a friendly insult, to give you a hint :)

Oh, f**k, I'm ugly then... Hey, wait a minute... While you're in the friendly mood, would you agree that the band as a whole is ugly, DESPITE my favourable looks!? I'll be the good looking guy. HA! The singer can dream of chicks. Just wait until I rise from behind the drums...

Almost sad to be so extremely happily married, with this face and all that love to go around... ;D

By the way, a little dose of PROG is available in the form of a soundclip of the track "A battle". It's our keyboard player's warped sense of logic that is to blame for the music in that song. I had an "interesting" time putting a melody to that music. He blames it on my chaotic lyrics, of course. Damn the ugly bastard!! :D

Looks like it's gonna be hard to make it to Trondheim in october... :'(

Quote from: Deenfan on Sun, 2005-08-14, 23:41:03
Oh, f**k, I'm ugly then... Hey, wait a minute... While you're in the friendly mood, would you agree that the band as a whole is ugly, DESPITE my favourable looks!? I'll be the good looking guy. HA! The singer can dream of chicks. Just wait until I rise from behind the drums...

Fnarr, fnarr...  :o

Quote from: Deenfan on Sun, 2005-08-14, 23:41:03
It's our keyboard player's warped sense of logic that is to blame for the music in that song. I had an "interesting" time putting a melody to that music. He blames it on my chaotic lyrics, of course.

Happy days....reminds me of when I was in a band...playing keyboards...with my warped sense of logic...and the vocalist's chaotic lyrics...
Hello....don't I know you from somewhere...?  ;D

Quote from: Deenfan on Sun, 2005-08-14, 23:41:03
Looks like it's gonna be hard to make it to Trondheim in October...

What a GREAT lyric... Go for it, DF....!

Hey!
I was trying to read the interview but it would not open  ??? only "Could not find the page" info, is this link still working?
By the way, have you ever thought of writing a song in your native language, that would be interesting, never heard anything sang in this I guess beautiful language... ;)
Emilia

I wrote folk songs in norwegian once upon a time. When I was basically a kid. Humourous stuff. Not bad even today, but I can't say I feel like doing it.

About the link, I'll open the page, copy the adress and paste it in here:

http://www.strikeupthebands.net/

Click on "reviews" and look for WinterStrain

Click on "interviews" and look for Rolf-Erik Nyland

We're no longer on the front page. This is a very high-tech site, from what little I can understand. Our guitar player has never been able to view it on his pre-historic mac...

Thanks for trying!!!

Now, all our songs are represented on the site. The last one, "Sail" is 9:14, so the clip shows too little of it. But I decided to make sure the first part of the keyboard solo got squeezed in, so check that out!

"A battle", the song before that, is also pretty proggy. Mostly instrumental clip, just to show another side of us.

http://www.winterstrain.com/html/music.html

And another interview can be found here:  http://www.theburiedcry.com/ (R.E.Nyland as usual...)

A very good interview with Steve Hogarth of Marillion can also be found there, in addition to one with Porcupine Tree. I really enjoyed the Hogarth interview. Check it out.

And we're SIGNED!!!!! Z records in the beautiful UK will release the album worldwide.

"Return to the mirror" is scheduled for release the 17th of November!!

My God, I'm happy! ;D

Quote from: Deenfan on Wed, 2005-10-26, 01:33:17
And we're SIGNED!!!!! Z records in the beautiful UK will release the album worldwide.

"Return to the mirror" is scheduled for release the 17th of November!!

My God, I'm happy! ;D

Congratulations!! :)

Great! :) Congrats!

Hey, thanks, guys!! It feels strange. But I guess this is what I started dreaming about 19 years ago... I was 14 then.  :-\

Well, what the heck! ;D ;D ;D ;D

Hi, Have to say I have been really impressed with what i've heard so far and congratulations on the deal, well deserved. My birthday is nov 15th so I guess i'll have to buy myself one of your albums. I wish you the very best of luck!!

Quote from: johninblack on Thu, 2005-10-27, 00:24:17
Hi, Have to say I have been really impressed with what i've heard so far and congratulations on the deal, well deserved. My birthday is nov 15th so I guess i'll have to buy myself one of your albums. I wish you the very best of luck!!

Um, Deen, shouldn´t John get a signed copy from you for his birthday, what do you think ?  ::)

Hard to believe, but with the release date the strain will be over before winter´s coming along (at least south of the polar circle  :) )

John was born two days early!!! :D

Well, the ground is white where I am, and I'll head out to the shed for firewood when this post is... posted.

A strain is many things, by the way. Not only hardship. Mood, a hint of a melody, heritage... By the way, the keyboards on the album are mainly Korg Trinity V3 w/moss card(?). Also some Yamaha sound module and a digital piano. Since the recording sessions, Karl has sold his Trinity (I'll kill him when I see him) and bought himself a Triton Extreme (I'll kiss him when I see him).

Trouble is, we need to buy a new Trinity, just like the one he had, 'cause we're recording our next album right now, and we're missing a sound!!! KeyboardistMatt, do you see this? Have any spare??? :P

Quote from: Deenfan on Thu, 2005-10-27, 17:17:42
Trouble is, we need to buy a new Trinity, just like the one he had, 'cause we're recording our next album right now, and we're missing a sound!!! KeyboardistMatt, do you see this? Have any spare??? :P

Unfortunately, I don't own a Trinity.  I have used a Trinity though, and I therefore plan to get a TR Rack.  I won't get the Trinity keyboard, though - I'm running out of room for keyboards!! :P

Our keyboard player's sex fantasy is to build himself in with keyboards, never to get out again... And still he keeps selling them off, and still we need some blasted sound that is not on the new one, and so on...

And I must run around buying back his old keyboards!!!! >:(

Quote from: Deenfan on Sat, 2005-10-29, 20:56:42
Our keyboard player's sex fantasy is to build himself in with keyboards, never to get out again... And still he keeps selling them off, and still we need some blasted sound that is not on the new one, and so on...

Well... it's hardly a SEX fantasy... :-\
but I do see the logic! ;D

Quote from: Deenfan on Sat, 2005-10-29, 20:56:42
And I must run around buying back his old keyboards!!!! >:(

What a great job! (As long as I'm not paying...) ;D

Hardly a sex fantasy... Don't underestimate the power of perversion... :D

Quote from: Deenfan on Mon, 2005-10-31, 18:34:43
Hardly a sex fantasy... Don't underestimate the power of perversion... :D

I'm not sure I either want or need to know any more... :D

So... my dream of my own signature dildo shaped drumsticks is not to be mentioned?????? ;D

Ah... My innocent little mind.... Corrupted once more on this forum :'(

perversion was invented by the dutch, so don't deny it Appelmoes??...

Maybe there's a tiltle for our next album in there... "Dutch Perversion" or better yet call it "Perversions of the Dutch" and make it a double concept album... :D

Quote from: Deenfan on Wed, 2005-11-02, 16:59:59
Maybe there's a tiltle for our next album in there... "Dutch Perversion" or better yet call it "Perversions of the Dutch" and make it a double concept album... :D

Just leave anything related to apples out of the lyrics :P

Quote from: Deenfan on Wed, 2005-11-02, 04:03:40
So... my dream of my own signature dildo shaped drumsticks is not to be mentioned?????? ;D

Errm... no, best not to mention that! ;D

Quote from: Appelmoes?? on Wed, 2005-11-02, 07:25:33
Ah... My innocent little mind.... Corrupted once more on this forum :'(

What innocent mind's that then? ;D

Quote from: keyboardistmatt on Thu, 2005-11-03, 20:19:38
What innocent mind's that then? ;D

My inner childs one :P

(Don't let the child die)

Curious...
Almost like a mind within a mind... a soul within a soul...

Quote from: keyboardistmatt on Thu, 2005-11-03, 20:35:07
Curious...
Almost like a mind within a mind... a soul within a soul...

Isn't that multiple personality disorder?

Quote from: Appelmoes?? on Thu, 2005-11-03, 20:43:58
Isn't that multiple personality disorder?

The thought had crossed my mind, sir.  ;)  ;D

I have a belly within a belly. Or, that would at least explain the amounts of food I'm capable of devouring... :o

I have a brain within my brain.
That would explain the amounts of knowledge I can absorb.

Ah yes...

What were we talking about again? Am I still on topic??

Quote from: PH on Fri, 2005-11-04, 16:51:27
I have a brain within my brain.
That would explain the amounts of knowledge I can absorb.

Ah yes...

What were we talking about again? Am I still on topic??

Q: What wrong in this post?
A: The underlined text. :P

Quote from: Deenfan on Fri, 2005-11-04, 01:23:35
I have a belly within a belly.

Me too......and they are both quite heavy!

Quote from: Appelmoes?? on Fri, 2005-11-04, 17:07:44
Q: What wrong in this post?
A: The underlined text. :P

Hehehehe ;D

Quote from: Appelmoes?? on Fri, 2005-11-04, 17:07:44
Q: What wrong in this post?
A: The underlined text. :P

Affirmative. :P

Sometimes I have a dick within my wife... ;D :D ;D

Quote from: Deenfan on Sat, 2005-11-05, 17:49:26
Sometimes I have a dick within my wife... ;D :D ;D

Aorgh! That's too much :(

Quote from: Appelmoes?? on Sat, 2005-11-05, 19:58:03
Aorgh! That's too much :(

That's exactly what she says! How did you guess???

Quote from: Deenfan on Sat, 2005-11-05, 21:22:49
That's exactly what she says! How did you guess???

:-X

Oh man...

Errmmm maybe it's about time to get back on topic?


Ummm...
The music is great! ;D
Serious! It's really good. I want to listen to the medley, but for some reason it won't download... Maybe I'll try tomorrow!

Quote from: Deenfan on Sat, 2005-11-05, 21:22:49
That's exactly what she says! How did you guess???

What happened there?  ;D ::) ;D

Quote from: keyboardistmatt on Sat, 2005-11-05, 22:16:19
What happened there?  ;D ::) ;D

Sorry, I have a thing for scandinavian women... It's the accent I think...

(It would be wise for me the stop posting in this topic I think, but I clearly have a posting problem, I just HAVE to post, can't help it :-\ )

I tried to get back to the root of this topic...

Oh, yeah...

Wonderfill full music!

Quote from: PH on Sat, 2005-11-05, 23:55:22
I tried to get back to the root of this topic...

Unfortunately, that may prove to be difficult... :P

Ok, I won't sabotage my own thread anymore. Seriously. But I just can't help myself when I have it served on a platter like that!!! Freakin' wonderful chance can't be thrown away, you know!;D

Thank you for kind words about the music. I don't know why you're having trouble downloading. Heard it before, but never had trouble myself when checking. Did you try "Save target as..."?

I'm constructing a new site, and this one will be down for a while, but there is a fan site which provides all the sound clips and the video clip, too, and it's here:

http://cradle1scot.tripod.com/

This site has the clips on a different server. Maybe that helps? :)

I see he hasn't got the medley on there... Don't know if he has the space for it. It's kinda long, about 8 minutes...

But the download from the official site works like a charm. Try again!! ;)

Just in to tell you that the new site is half up, so you could try again that medley download. :)

Hi and jump! Well, that looked stupid in English...

The album is out today, and people have confirmed that they've been able to order it!!!

I need a dancing banana smiley, but it's no such thing here...

I've completed a brand new site for the occasion, and at midnight, at the very beginning of the 21st of November, I launched our new forum, too. It looks suspiciously like this one...

Hope you will bother to check the site out!

www.winterstrain.com (http://www.winterstrain.com)

It's still music there, and stuff... :)

 ??? Can't you see I live only for the appreciation of the shattered roomers? Throw me a bone, here... :-[

*Throws... Hits Deenfan on the head... Deenfan still isn't happy...*
:P

Seriously:
The albumcover looks great! The singer reminds me of the one from Kamelot (that a big compliment!). Overall it sounds great imo (the drums sounds a little to crisp, but I bet that's just the mp3 quality).

I would buy an album.

Now, how is that for a bone?

That's really REALLY a great bone. Which, ironically, is a pity since it hit me in the head...

*Groggy*

Since I'm the producer AND the drummer, of course the drums are a bit louder than on some other albums. I sincerely believe that they are unnecessarily low in the mix on many albums. You cannot actually HEAR a bass drum, you just assume it's there. Very common. So there's no punch. When you go to a live gig, the bass drums punch you in the gut. Some of that fist clenching drive must be allowed on the album, too. Well, that's my philosophy, at least. Really, I've gone to great lengths so that every instrument can be loud in the mix. But someone must be low for most else to be loud, so we hired a guy that plays the triangle, and we turned him way down, so he can't be heard. Genius or what? ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

The most important thing is that you can hear what's going on. Unless you can drown it all completely in keyboards. Because that's the ultimate dream! No sensory organ of the body able to receive anything but keyboards, keyboards, keyboards... Aahhhhh... heaven....

Uh, where was I?

Yeah, I had one guy getting back to me about the terrible sound, so I sent him a wav. file instead. He was QUITE happy then!!

Ah so you're mr. R.E. Nyland?

I REALLY like the Winterstrain logo.
And the website is really great. It's all professional stuff.
I downloaded some samples and listened to it. It sounded OK. But I hadn't made my mind about it really. I'll listen to it (and the medley which I downloaded :P) today (or maybe tomorrow, it's late now). I'll say what I like about it.

But I can say this: GREAT job on the lyrics! Well done! I think it's hard to write such lyrics.
I'll get back later on the music itself.

Nice work of yours and your mates, Mr. Nyland. Keep it up!

Quote from: Peter on Wed, 2005-11-23, 20:37:32
Nice work of yours and your mates, Mr. Nyland. Keep it up!

Nyland... Nylan... Nolan... I'm getting groggy too  :-\

Yeah, I'm the viking embodiment of Clive!

Thanks, guys! This is picking up!!!

And PH, I appreciate that someone doesn't take off on the music immediately. It's supposed to grow on you over time, this half progish kinda sympho metalized melodic rock thaaang, ya kno'...

The logo and the booklet is made by the guitarist's brother. He's a painter, amongst much else. He's done covers for spv and... well, the World Idol Kurt Nielsen (don't know if I've mentioned this already...). He IS a professional, by definition.

The lyrics, well, I do absolutely care a lot about them. I've been drawn to them for as long as I've been listening to music. To me, they're actually the point of the song. The reason why all those sounds are made. Aware that other might feel differently.

The album is supposed to be as good as much anything else out there. It's a first timer, and it's recorded in my basement where I built a studio for the purpose. I've never been inside another studio in my life, so there you go. Had to trust my ears and some common sense. Fates Warning - Perfect symmetry, Rush - Hold your fire, Magnum - On a storyteller's night... The inspiration from these albums and other albums... The way I loved to bring home a new album and really dig into it, deeply... That's my guiding star. The dedicated music fan, who appreciates a booklet with a lot to read and look at. (Although maybe not so much in the actual looks department, according to Peter!!!!!)

What other reference point do one have? I believe we've made an album that I would love to pieces. I can only hope there are someone out there with a set of strings tuned similarly. There should be, 'cause others love the albums I love.

What I've said here is one of the things that makes me feel so strongly about Arena. The albums are worth buying, on every possible level. It's a solid package. Great songs, great sound, rewarding to listen to from lots of different perspectives, great booklet... Great CARE has been put into the making. In that, I can promise you, WS is a bit like Arena. (And we use Korg synths!)

Quote from: Deenfan on Wed, 2005-11-23, 21:18:12
...(And we use Korg synths!)

Noted.  Thanx! ;D   *ola*

Of course...(http://images.bravenet.com/common/images/smilies/sly.gif)

Quote from: Deenfan on Fri, 2005-11-11, 23:43:56
Just in to tell you that the new site is half up, so you could try again that medley download. :)

Quote from: Deenfan on Sat, 2005-11-05, 21:22:49
That's exactly what she says! How did you guess???

Fnarr, Fnarr...

ah, the fnarr fnarr attack!! ;D

Have you people noticed there's a free track up for grabs at our site? Meant as a christmas present for my fellow forumers.

It's still there.

And on the Ayreon forum, there's a poll going on for what other song should be published in full. It's a tie between the opening and the closing track... ;)

Quote from: Deenfan on Tue, 2006-01-10, 03:14:14
ah, the fnarr fnarr attack!! ;D

Have you people noticed there's a free track up for grabs at our site? Meant as a christmas present for my fellow forumers.

It's still there.

And on the Ayreon forum, there's a poll going on for what other song should be published in full. It's a tie between the opening and the closing track... ;)

Well, it was a great christmas pressent, deenfan. Thanx for that.
As for the poll, i voted for the closing track.  :)

MAD.

I hoped you wouldn't. It's the longest one, and I'm feeling kinda cheap right after christmas... :-\

;D

Quote from: Deenfan on Fri, 2006-01-13, 02:39:09
I hoped you wouldn't. It's the longest one, and I'm feeling kinda cheap right after christmas... :-\

;D

Well, than you shouldn't had to ask it to an epic-fan.  ;)

MAD.

How stupid of me...

I'm looking forward to the comments from an Epic fan on that one, though! :)

Hey Deen, as some-one that doesn't have a creditcard (and really doesn't want one) how can get hands on this winterstrain-album? (Pay/Send cash or something?)

(Perhaps I allready asked you this, but I don't remember...)

Hmmm.... Go to our site and find my email address, and we'll take it from there.

Silly? Well, of course! Silly is my middle name. Along with Rice-Stealer, Cheep-Killer, Beerhound and a varying collection of others... But if you send me a mail on that address, I will know you've been on the site, so it's a treasure hunt!!

Or a treasure hut, I'm not sure. Or Shure. That's the singer. I use triggers... :P

Mail is send...

WINTERSTRAIN TO PLAY LIVE IN THE UK!!!!

It is confirmed that WinterStrain will appear at Z Rock 06,
at the Limelight in Crewe, on Sunday the 2nd of April!


So were you gonna tell us about this then Mr Nyland, or were we spose to miss it?

I saw that on the site too and was waiting for Deenfan to tell us :)

btw Deenfan, an übercool dude on the Ayreon-forum has ordered your album for me *horns*

Are you coming to the continent too?
If you come to The Netherlands I'll be there!

Uhm... I'm not good at promotion, am I?! I've had less free time the last few months than ever before in my life, and that's saying something. I think I'll be having myself a vacation next year. That'll be the first in 15 years, then...

Playing Z Rock was really great. A very special day, and a lot of fun. And now, The Netherlands are my main priority. I have a good feeling about the musical taste down there. Arctic Prog would do a lot of good, I think! :)

Quote from: Deenfan on Thu, 2006-04-06, 13:40:44
Uhm... I'm not good at promotion, am I?! I've had less free time the last few months than ever before in my life, and that's saying something. I think I'll be having myself a vacation next year. That'll be the first in 15 years, then...

Playing Z Rock was really great. A very special day, and a lot of fun. And now, The Netherlands are my main priority. I have a good feeling about the musical taste down there. Arctic Prog would do a lot of good, I think! :)

Just let me know when you've decided to come over to The Netherlands (it would be best if you came over to "De Flint" in Amersfoort, 'cause I'll be there for sure! Promise! But near Utrecht is also fine with me... :P ;))

Quote from: PH on Thu, 2006-04-06, 16:16:30
Just let me know when you've decided to come over to The Netherlands (it would be best if you came over to "De Flint" in Amersfoort, 'cause I'll be there for sure! Promise! But near Utrecht is also fine with me... :P ;))

Me too! Anywhere in the Netherlands that accessible for me!

 :) Dear Nyland, Arnulf, Lars, Karl and Fredheim! Tack så mycket!

I have registered here few days ago and I am slowly trying to catch up with all the topics and the parts of this wonderful forum. It was a real pleasure to read all of the messages posted here from the very beginning, from the moment when you were putting up sound clips on-line to the moment of your giving excellent interviews and playing shows. At first, I want to congratulate you all, guys, with a record deal!  *horns*
About an hour ago I have checked out the sound clips from your web page and was totally blown away with the music, lyrics and vocals. The first comment that was born in my head was "it does not sound like anything else! It's totally unique!"
And it has a great Scandinavian feeling in every song which I appreciate very much! Your music captures all the best elements of progressive music and all the best heavy metal can offer. And at the same time it does not get too much hard and does not dive in progressive pool way too deep. And I really like the voice of a singer. Great thanks go out to everyone who did the mixing. Every instrument can be heard, but at the same time it allows vocals unite everything into one. Great!!!
My favourite track is probably "Broken Defence". I have listened to the sound clip for many times and each time I like it more and more. To be honest, this song has got in a list of songs that touch me to tears.  :'( :-[ But all the sound clips have sent shivers down my spine... My older sister, mamma and brother liked it very much too. It really sounds classic!
Also I wanted to notice the strong musician which can be felt very strongly and you can see the experience you all have. It is possible to see that you have put all of your lives into the music, all the things you have been through. This is also one of the reasons why I got into Arena - had the same deep feeling about them. ;D  :P

Thank you very much again! God bless you all! *hugs*

Your loving friend Denis.

 :-[ OMG... I don't know what to say... You're... It is the description of my dreams... I must digest this. I'm starting to hope you want to find the album somewhere, so that you can hear it all. It is not, indeed, buried under progressive indulgence or anything. It's first and foremost songs, and yeah, that is why I am at this forum, and why I have all Arena's albums.

Thanks a lot, Stranger. Forgive me if I am supposed to know you or recognize you. I don't. I'm not sure you expect me to, but it might look like it, in some way, though probably just my misunderstanding. Cheers anyway!! Phew...  :o

:)

Deenfan, I just checked up you guys' site, to get to know you a bit better and relisten to your sound clips. I really like the samples from Return. I also got the impression that you're serious musicians and that you're working hard at developing your musical expression.

One is severely limited when one likes uncommercial music and doesnt have a credit card (no more). I'v rummaged through several CD-stores and havent succeeded in finding Return. Now I'l seek up my friend Mads at Fona and ask him to fish it outa the system somehow. Else, if you guys are coming to play in Cop soon, I could buy a signed copy from you - and I could show it to my grandchildren and Marcello one fine day  :D

I noticed that none of you mentioned Arena in your lists of faves and influences - tsk, tsk !  :)

Well iac good luck with the new album, and I think we're a buncho roomies lookin forward to listening to it - and seeing you guys live !

And watchit with the pizzas  ;D

Nicky.

Quote from: Nicky007 on Mon, 2008-02-11, 21:49:04
I noticed that none of you mentioned Arena in your lists of faves and influences - tsk, tsk !  :)

We didn't?!?! I had to go back and check, and you're right! My influences list isn't there... I truly believed it was!! And I remember receiving the keyboard players influence list, and Clive Nolan was on it, along with Arena in general.

I'm gonna have a word with the webmaster now. Only, he is me. :-[

About obtaining the album, try the links on the site (although, a credit card would be necessary). I would have helped, but I do not even have a copy of it (that is, I have one, and... well...)

Thank you for digging into the site and checking us out! Very good of you. And yes, the music is very real to us. As producers, we try our best, but as for the music, it just happens. I feel very fortunate, even though the fact that the second album was scheduled for release in March 2007 is eating away at me, as we're still not finished. I can't believe we do this willingly... :D

AHAAAA!!!!! Look what I found, entangled in a tirade about RUSH on our keyboardist's page:

Other bands I listen to now are; A.C.T, Arena, Ayreon, and so on.

Funny, I also just saw that a moment ago - well, yknow the exception proves the rule  8)

Nicky.

I'm gonna publish my inspirations on that site as soon as I can. (Next week, hopefully.) It's like thirty keyboardists and four drummers on it... :D

Hey Deenfan, I think I gotit that you're Nyland the drummer (right, huh?). You really gotta check out John Merryman from Cephalic Carnage. He's called the "sick" drummer, and for good reasons: This guy is simply unbelievable, truly. When he plays, it sounds like three drummers banging their heads off. Man, this guy moves his feet faster than my fingers when I play Chopin's minute waltz on the piano. Dont believe it ?  Well, lookie here:  http://youtube.com/watch?v=HCUp8DH_pVg

I have CC on repeat these days, and that is quite some experience.

Nicky.

I can only confirm it sounded like a sick man, and I reckon he's got reason to be a merry man. ;)

But, and don't take this the wrong way, I hardly raise my eyebrows at anything anymore. Not because I can do all or even any of it. But I believe anything can be done at any speed. What's not done by any human being yet, will be done tomorrow or some other day.

I used to absorb all the stuff that came out, but I've reached a point where I no longer respond at all if it's a question of dexterity, agility, speed, technique, ambidextrousity, or other special gifts of performance. I did once think I'd heard it all, but then I heard Hellhammer of the horrible Mayhem. My cousin, once removed, is also a drummer and took some lessons from that guy. And what I've been treated to with regards to audio and video showing with all the clarity you can't get by listening to him in the horrible setting of Mayhem... I felt like someone who'd been a virgin and then raped.

Then he came over with some videos of other drummers (Mike Mangini playing twice as fast with one hand as I can manage with two is one memory that sticks out) and at the end of the day I realized that nothing is ever gonna be impressing anymore. I sincerely believe that what ever I hear, there are someone else out there able to do it faster or more complicated.

So I only care about the songs. And, of course, what sounds cool. And in my ears, nothing on earth sounds cooler than when Deen Castronovo is having fun. To a proper song, live, or to an instrumental from Shrapnel Records.

I apologize if my reply is a disappointment. I can vividly imagine listening to this drummer in a band setting performing a song is more rewarding than a random jumble of hits in freestyle mode. ;)

Nicky, to be honest (and of course this is just my opinion, do with it what you like! :D) I don't think that's really that clever drumming. I mean, he is fast, ok. But when you have a double bass, everything sounds fast...
To me it sounds like he's just randomly hitting the drums...

Thomas Lejon, from A.C.T is (in my humble opinion) much better.
http://www.aauk.biz/actworld/studio051014.html

But it all depends on what you want. Do you want Bombastic Heavy Fast drumming? Or do you want Subtle Jazzy Clever drumming.

I prefer the latter.

-Paco

OK, as we are talking drummers again, I have to put these in here:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=NsHyGbadzQQ from 1:15, this really kicks off, be patient
http://youtube.com/watch?v=qN25WDIBBk0 a Jazz peace, not so impressive maybe
http://youtube.com/watch?v=_DNViiEpx8Y crazy, these shifts :)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Xyy0nRVHnQM 19/8 ^^

and so on... :D

I can recognise the usual complacent Western-Europism peering out from underneath all these rationalisations, sorry guys, but I have to be blunter now, as I already identified this when I entered the Room a year ago (you can check up my early posts), and not much has changed since then. I can see that the argument goes:  Nobody in Europe plays like CC and DEP, so we dont need to deal with them, and anyway, the Americans are machine monsters ....

Comon guys, we're proggies, we're internationalists !  Americans are just as much "us" as Brits, Norwegians, Marshies, etc.

And welcome to 2008. Metalcore is one of the most exciting genres today, demanding for sure, but put in the necessary work, and you'l be rewarded manifoldly.

And it's not a question of either/or:  I personally can enthuse as much over a song like Come Together (one of my favorite Beatles songs), as over Unretrofied.

And Cap, thanks for the drumming links. That's an area where I can use some "up-bringing"  ;D

Nicky.

Sorry, Nicky, I read your whole post four times now: I don't get it. What is that you want to say? And who's CC/DEP?

CC is Cephalic Carnage, and DEP is Dillinger Escape Plan.

I thought that I had mentioned them so many times that I could use the initials.

It's just that I expect more from proggies  :-\

But I'm OK  :)

Nicky.

Quote from: Nicky007 on Tue, 2008-02-12, 10:29:44
Comon guys, we're proggies, we're internationalists !  Americans are just as much "us" as Brits, Norwegians, Marshies, etc.

Quote from: Nicky007 on Tue, 2008-02-12, 16:01:40
It's just that I expect more from proggies  :-\
But I'm OK  :)

At least two of my prog albums Top Ten come from the US and they rank very high in the list, one even pretending to # 1 (guess which). Does it ease your pain ?  ;)

Quote from: Nicky007 on Tue, 2008-02-12, 16:01:40
It's just that I expect more from proggies  :-\

Actually, I don't really call myself a proggie. Most of the bands that we all would more or less want to put in the prog drawer don't even interest me. As I already mentioned...

Oh, and bands like Cephalic Carnage or Dillinger aren't of any interest to me not because they might be from the US, but because I don't like the music. This type of music is even one of the few that takes me on a negative emotional level. What is it that you like about them? This is just deathmetal-nonstop-doublebass-screamguys-who-often-change-harmonies-and-timings to me...

Listen to MuteMath, they're from the US, I like 'em. No screaming here.

Funnily enough, you seem to be right, at least concerning me. It already occured to me that it must be more than pure coincidence that many of the bands I do not like too much are from the US...

Quote from: Bupie on Tue, 2008-02-12, 18:08:30
At least two of my prog albums Top Ten come from the US and they rank very high in the list, one even pretending to # 1 (guess which).

It's actually not all that easy, Bups, even though you are one of the most open Roomies.

I know that you're very hot on Toto and DT. Now, the question is whether you would include a Toto album under prog albums. You prob have either one or two DT albums on your top ten list, and since you're not that hot on their latest efforts, it would be Images And Words and/or Six Degrees.

So, how close did I get ?

Quote from: Bupie on Tue, 2008-02-12, 18:08:30
Does it ease your pain ?  ;)

:D

Nicky.

Quote from: Peter on Tue, 2008-02-12, 21:00:25
Actually, I don't really call myself a proggie.

Cap, you neednt be so modest:  The fact that you like Arena, reflect on their lyrics, and even have been to a DT concert (as far as I could gather from Room documents) raises you to proggie status, although you might not be one of the most ardent  :)

Quote from: Peter on Tue, 2008-02-12, 21:00:25
What is it that you like about them [CC & DEP]? This is just deathmetal-nonstop-doublebass-screamguys-who-often-change-harmonies-and-timings to me...

Nice one, Cap  ;D

Well, first off, I dont like the designation "death", and I wouldnt use it for any of the music that I like, not either Opeth, who I would designate as "heavy metal" or "heavy metal with growls" or "heavy melodic metal with growls".

A lot of words have been used to describe groups like CC & DEP, i.a. metalcore, mathcore, grindcore, dense metal, avantgarde metal. Metalcore seems to me the best description, and it appears to be gaining ground, so that's why I use it.

And how can one like this music ?  Well, one just has to be very patient. Give it some runs, and you'l start hearing some hooks here and there; give it some more runs, and you'l end up enjoying the whole ride.

Quote from: Peter on Tue, 2008-02-12, 21:00:25
Listen to MuteMath, they're from the US, I like 'em.

I will, as soon as I get some sound back on my computer. Occasionally it just vanishes, without any logical reason. But fortunately it returns after a few logons, again without any logical reason. Computers & women, they must be related, without any logical reason  ;D

Hm, looks like we've strained this topic badly ..... but as it's WinterStrain, I guess we're on-topic after all  ;D

Nicky.

Quote from: Nicky007 on Wed, 2008-02-13, 01:19:13
Well, first off, I dont like the designation "death",

Just a short comment on this one: I went to youtube, searched for the band, and in the first video it showed, in maybe the fith line of vocals or so the guy growled that he wants to die... so yeah, death is appropriate...  :P

So then, here's another death-metal band forya, Cap, already by way of the first line:

"Pouring fuel across the fire
Let the flesh evaporate

And you can drag this new pariah down
Till the lifeless body breaks"

Death is something all humans think a lot about, so naturally it occurs often in prog lyrics.

Nicky.

Quote from: Nicky007 on Tue, 2008-02-12, 23:40:25
It's actually not all that easy, Bups, even though you are one of the most open Roomies.

I know that you're very hot on Toto and DT. Now, the question is whether you would include a Toto album under prog albums. You prob have either one or two DT albums on your top ten list, and since you're not that hot on their latest efforts, it would be Images And Words and/or Six Degrees.

So, how close did I get ?

:D

Well, I don't consider Toto prog (even if I know many proggies that like them ... and many that hate them !).

You picked my two favorite DT albums, indeed, and at least I&W would be in my Top Ten but for the n° 1 rank I was actually thinking of Kansas Leftoverture : a perfect album from first the note to the last IMHO, blending classic rock, prog and metal, catchy without being too mainstream and emotional without being cheesy. Even the cover is great ...

Quote from: Nicky007 on Wed, 2008-02-13, 10:23:02So then, here's another death-metal band forya, Cap, already by way of the first line:

"Pouring fuel across the fire
Let the flesh evaporate

And you can drag this new pariah down
Till the lifeless body breaks"

Death is something all humans think a lot about, so naturally it occurs often in prog lyrics.

No no no no, Nicky.
Now, don't compare ordinary death metal to our beloved Arena! ;)

-Paco

Quote from: PH on Wed, 2008-02-13, 17:16:09
No no no no, Nicky.
Now, don't compare ordinary death metal to our beloved Arena! ;)

-Paco

You heard the man........DON'T DO IT


Arena are not Death Metal, END OF.

Quote from: johninblack on Wed, 2008-02-13, 17:58:06

You heard the man........DON'T DO IT


Arena are not Death Metal, END OF.

:o

Man...John you scarred the living daylights out of me.  :-\

:D

Quote from: maddox on Wed, 2008-02-13, 18:00:46:o

Man...John you scarred the living daylights out of me.  :-\

:D

Death after all...

-Paco

Well, not that it ends there of course. ;)

;D

I wasn't trying to kill anyone, just wanted to be sure you all got my point, thats all....

;D

Quote from: johninblack on Wed, 2008-02-13, 18:09:14
I wasn't trying to kill anyone, just wanted to be sure you all got my point, thats all....

Well you sure as heck proved your point.  ;)

@P:  ;D

Well, this is all getting pretty pointless, so let's get back on topic.
I just wanted to point that out.


-Paco

Winterstrain........shit hot band.





On topic enough for you Paco?

Quote from: johninblack on Wed, 2008-02-13, 19:52:14On topic enough for you Paco?

Yeah very good John!

...shit hot...
Now, how hot is that? ;D

-Paco

Quote from: PH on Wed, 2008-02-13, 20:05:34
Yeah very good John!

...shit hot...
Now, how hot is that? ;D

-Paco

A lot hotter than very warm ;D

Quote from: PH on Wed, 2008-02-13, 17:16:09
No no no no, Nicky.
Now, don't compare ordinary death metal to our beloved Arena! ;)

Well, Paco, I had to use some bad medicine to stop Cap from using "death" about Cephalic Carnage and Dillinger. I think it worked  8)  ;D

Nicky.

Quote from: Nicky007 on Thu, 2008-02-14, 01:03:22
Well, Paco, I had to use some bad medicine to stop Cap from using "death" about Cephalic Carnage and Dillinger. I think it worked  8)  ;D

Nicky.

No, it didn't. Just wasn't reading it in time.

I'm not going to explain it, cos I don't want to sound like being in a huff. But you sure do know the story of Contagion, right. So you probably knew it before you wrote it, that your comparison is quite weak. So, to make clear what it is that I want to say: I will never ever listen to growl-scream-metal-bands like these, whatever euphemizing style label people may give them. Period. Forgive me, and don't forget, this is not my native tongue, so words might come out differently than intended.

Perfectly OK with me, Cap. You gave it a decent try, despite it being sooo contrary to your nature, and I respect you for it - sign of a true proggie  ;)  *horns*

Nicky.

Wtf just happened to my thread?! ???

Quote from: PH on Wed, 2008-02-13, 20:05:34

...shit hot...
Now, how hot is that? ;D

-Paco

My medical professional guess would be about 37 degrees Celcius...

Quote from: Deenfan on Thu, 2008-02-14, 22:41:51
Wtf just happened to my thread?! ???

My medical professional guess would be about 37 degrees Celcius...

Unless you're in a sauna.  ;D

Don't even go there.



























It's too damn hot! ;D

Here's one for Nicky.

http://thenewcube.blogspot.com/

Check Andy Edwards (we Frosties like to call him TBE).
The first part will appeal to Nicky: Bombastic Heavy Fast drumming
The second part will appeal to proggies: Clever drumming ;)

So there's something for all of us there.

;)

-Paco

Quote from: Deenfan on Mon, 2008-02-18, 13:33:59
Don't even go there.

*editted a large bit of space.  ;)

It's too damn hot! ;D

With that i hope you mean the sauna.  :D

And sauna isn't too damn hot. It's lovely.  *horns*

Quote from: PH on Mon, 2008-02-18, 16:21:54
Here's one for Nicky.

http://thenewcube.blogspot.com/

Check Andy Edwards (we Frosties like to call him TBE).
The first part will appeal to Nicky: Bombastic Heavy Fast drumming
The second part will appeal to proggies: Clever drumming ;)

Dont get me wrong, Paco. If you look at my LP, you'l find among my fave drummers several who dont play all that fast. Nick Mason is a great drummer who's contributed significantly to Floyd's sound. Pallas' Colin Fraser is also a fine restrained drummer. Deadsoul's Adel Moustafa doesnt play that fast either, he just has some mesmerising rhythms, just like Tool's Danny Carey. And TBE and Gavin Harrison are very fine drummers too (I havent listened to them much yet, as I'm not much of a Frost* fan, and only recently got properly into PT, which are now among my fave bands).

I just object to the widespread view that because a musician shows technical prowess, he's automatically a machine monster. Take e.g. Master JP: He can play very fast, and does so occasionally, but he can also play delicately, like he does on The Spirit Carries On on Score.

It all depends on the creativity:  Dragonforce play extremely fast, but they bore me after a few songs, as there's not much variation, but we must also keep in mind that the DF guys are very young. Otoh the Dillinger and Cephalic guys are mature musicians, and I find the music extraordinarily varied and exciting. But again, one has to be very patient with this music, even more than with DT and Tool  :)

Nicky.

Quote from: Nicky007 on Mon, 2008-02-18, 20:15:44Master JP: He can play very fast, and does so occasionally, but he can also play delicately

So true!

There is indeed much to be impressed about in the world of music. Impressed or not, my personal favourite drummers are:

Deen Castronovo (No wonder)
Neil Peart
Mikkey Dee

and/or a few others. To mention a few who impressed me a lot over the years, and that might just be "the best drummer in the world" what ever that means:

Dave Weckl (don't freakin' tell me there's anything this guy can't do, at least with his arms - he sounds like three brilliant drummers at the same time. -LIVE!)

Simon Phillips (Again...)

Hellhammer (don't tell me there's anything this guy can't do with his feet...)

Mike Mangini (as above, but both hands and feet)

then there are the six thousand eight hundred and nifty blix "basement drummers" we have never heard of, that will never get anywhere, but can play all the stuff that all the above can play, simultaneously. At twice the speed.

Quote from: Deenfan on Tue, 2008-02-19, 16:11:05
Deen Castronovo

Aha, now I got it !

Was I the last ?

A forced  :D

Nicky.

Quote from: Deenfan on Thu, 2008-02-14, 22:41:51
Wtf just happened to my thread?! ???

Guys, shouldnt we nominate this topic as top wacky in the Room ?

If outsiders read this stuff, they would think that we're crackpots - which we quite well may be  ;D

Nicky.

I'm turning into one, solely because of this thread, anyway!!!

Quote from: Deenfan on Wed, 2008-02-20, 12:07:48
I'm turning into one, solely because of this thread, anyway!!!

;D Deenfan. But you seem to have been well on your way beforehand  :D

Nicky.

*cough* WinterStrain Forum (http://xsorbit29.com/users5/newland/index.php) ;)

(http://images.bravenet.com/common/images/smilies/innocent.gif)

Well, my dear fellow forumers, I hate doing this, but... it'd be silly not to.

In fact, I'm on my knees, asking you to click on this link, and read the review:

http://www.rockreport.be/review.asp?id=2223

:-[

"Slightly peculiar", but then we knew that ;D

I'd say "thumbs up, Deenie and friends".  *horns*

;)

Quote from: Steve Jones on Sat, 2008-10-11, 20:53:26
"Slightly peculiar", but then we knew that ;D

:D

Quote from: maddox on Sun, 2008-10-12, 00:52:46
I'd say "thumbs up, Deenie and friends".  *horns*

;)

:)  Thank you, Mad.

After the countless hours of trying to put together a new site, I was able to publish it on the 10th (two days ago). Here it is: http://www.winterstrain.com (http://www.winterstrain.com)

I do appreciate praise, and at some later point, constructive criticism - but not right now! :D

Well, I've ordered this 'slightly peculiar' thing.  I shall expect delivery first post tomorrow. ;D

 :o Stiff requirements!! It's not even out of the pressing plant yet. I will fetch it in Doncaster myself, on Wednesday!

Then I'll meet the Scotsman in Carlisle, and he'll get most of the cd's. He'll send it out to you on Thursday, probably!

But thanks a lot. We didn't get any money from the record company last time, although they say they've sent us a statement that came back.  ::) Yeah, right.

This time, all your money goes to the artist, to cover the costs of making and distributing the products. Since most of this album is paid for already, it's like this:

First of all, the money will make it possible for us to fund things that might bring back the same sort of money afterwards. Traveling to live venues, for instance, and t-shirts... We can make some good posters, and cover some other costs that arise. In the end, the plan is to put all the money that is left, into the production of the third album, and so on until eternity.

I hope you will like the album, and that our new organization (with an in-house record label) will be able to bring more music to the fans, and greater value for money.

Quote from: Deenfan on Sun, 2008-10-12, 12:33:35
:o Stiff requirements!! It's not even out of the pressing plant yet. I will fetch it in Doncaster myself, on Wednesday!

LOL - no rush really.  Especially if you're having to go to Doncaster, you'll need time for some therapy afterwards ;D

Quote from: Deenfan on Sun, 2008-10-12, 12:33:35
This time, all your money goes to the artist, to cover the costs of making and distributing the products.

Well, if it's a good enough business model for Marillion...

Quote from: Steve Jones on Sun, 2008-10-12, 13:10:01
LOL - no rush really.  Especially if you're having to go to Doncaster, you'll need time for some therapy afterwards ;D

Let me quote song #3 on the album: "...the Company, is in need of therapy..."

Most fitting, in other words!! :D

Where are you at?!

Quote from: Steve Jones on Sun, 2008-10-12, 13:10:01
LOL - no rush really.  ...

Well, if it's a good enough business model for Marillion...

We're often referred to as a mix between Rush and Marillion... ;D (Very not astute, if you ask me, but I see the point.)

Quote from: Deenfan on Mon, 2008-10-13, 18:52:06
Let me quote song #3 on the album: "...the Company, is in need of therapy..."

Most fitting, in other words!! :D

Where are you at?!

I'm at my therapists in Shropshire.  I went to Doncaster once and haven't felt quite right since ;) ;D ;)

 :D I've been there now, and I know exactly what you mean!!!!

I got the albums at last. Story to be told later...

So... dear co-forumers?!

Be kind. :P

If Deenie passes by, he'll be happy to know that there is a fresh and good review of Shifting Sands here : http://www.musicwaves.fr/frmChronique.aspx?PRO_ID=4490  ;)

Eh.. Bupie:

My French is a bit rusty.

Could you translate it for me?  ;D

Not as rusty as mine.

I like the fact that drums/drummers are referred to as Batterie very apt.

Dodgy website though Contagion only gets 9 out 10.  ;D

Quote from: maddox on Wed, 2009-07-15, 22:15:58

Eh.. Bupie:

My French is a bit rusty.

Could you translate it for me?  ;D

Hum, maybe during my vacation since the text is a bit long  :P  In summary, it's better than the first album, the music is a cross between prog metal and AOR, the lyrics are very good and the booklet is luxurious. Only complaint : the riffing during the verses sounds a bit similar in several songs. Best tunes : the opener, Gone, with its catchy chorus and the closer, Memory Beneath The Sea.

And I still have to buy it  :-[

Quote from: Iggy on Wed, 2009-07-15, 22:59:50

Dodgy website though Contagion only gets 9 out 10.  ;D

I hope you won't ask me to translate all Arena reviews because the answer would be a firm "no"  ;D

Quote from: Bupie on Thu, 2009-07-16, 23:20:46
Hum, maybe during my vacation since the text is a bit long  :P  In summary, it's better than the first album, the music is a cross between prog metal and AOR, the lyrics are very good and the booklet is luxurious. Only complaint : the riffing during the verses sounds a bit similar in several songs. Best tunes : the opener, Gone, with its catchy chorus and the closer, Memory Beneath The Sea.

And I still have to buy it  :-[

I hope you won't ask me to translate all Arena reviews because the answer would be a firm "no"  ;D

Are you still at it, Bupie?! :D

Quote from: Deenfan on Tue, 2009-09-08, 13:08:09
Are you still at it, Bupie?! :D

At what  ???

Do you want me to translate the whole Winterstrain review for you ?

No, the buying thing! We've had some sort of translation done. I can see if I find it, and post it here. :)

I just tried to buy Shifting Sands from your website but it doesn't work  :P Strangely enough, it works with the Dale cd but not with yours ...  ???

Blinking flip!!!!  I've just listened to "Another Time"  and I love it!
It reminds me, especially the vocals, of  classic period Uriah Heep.
I'm sure you're aware of bands like Sonata Arctica and Time Requiem..if not check them out ASAP!

Quote from: Bupie on Fri, 2009-09-11, 01:02:16
I just tried to buy Shifting Sands from your website but it doesn't work  :P Strangely enough, it works with the Dale cd but not with yours ...  ???

THE HORROR!!! :o

I'll try to find out what's up.

Quote from: Cardiacs on Fri, 2009-09-11, 13:21:43
Blinking flip!!!!  I've just listened to "Another Time"  and I love it!
It reminds me, especially the vocals, of  classic period Uriah Heep.
I'm sure you're aware of bands like Sonata Arctica and Time Requiem..if not check them out ASAP!

Hey, thanks! Uriah Heep... Now, there's a new one. Cool. Sonata, I know. Time Requiem, I've never heard of, but I will check them out.