Saturday 6 December 2014

Do we need record labels anymore?

It's a valid question. One that business executives thinking about investing in a record label should definitely consider. For years the record industry has alienated artists by claiming large amounts of money on the music that they have made. With the dawn of the internet and digital music production it is becoming very clear that musicians are very capable of producing and releasing the content themselves. It's got the entire industry shaking in it's boots. Having personally released 2 EPs with no label backing and being completely self financed I have no interest in ever signing a recording deal. Why? Probably because I'm not all that interested in making a living off of my music. It's something I do because I enjoy it. It is also because I have seen people who can make a living from being a self signed musician and I don't feel that having a record deal is elemental to earning a living anymore.

Three names spring to mind when I write this article: Ola Englund, Keith Merrow and Rob Chapman.  All three are self signed artists. All three also have one particular thing in common

Youtube is the new MTV

Ola England's band Feared


These artists all made their name on Youtube. Posting regular content with high quality videos that have great camera work, great audio and are very well edited. As time passes on more and more people are going to Youtube to watch content as opposed to sitting in front of their televisions. It has become a huge platform for musicians to get themselves international exposure. On top of that you can allow Youtube to publish ads on your videos in exchange for a cut of the revenue making you money as you go. It has never been easier to be seen or heard. Youtube covers the seen part but as for being heard...

Recording music isn't as expensive as it used to be

Now I'm not saying that music production is the cheapest thing to get into but is certainly is cheaper now than it was in the 70s.  Roll back about 10 years and guitar players everywhere would be wanting to shoot me for recording using digital guitar sounds. The thing is digital recording has become somewhat of the norm in the world of music. I personally couldn't tell if a piece of music had been mastered to tape or to Pro Tools listening to them side by side. There are hundreds of great software packages available for almost every musical application you can think of from drum sampling to guitar amplifier emulation. The best thing about it is that once you have it in your possession you have it for life! A one of expense as opposed to £75 an hour in a studio? Guess which I'd pick. So once you've got it all recorded and you've developed your fan base on Youtube or via local gigs how the hell do you get it out there?

There's this thing called the internet and you can sell stuff there

The first time my bandmate told me we where having to send a CD to Brazil because someone over there had bought my CD I couldn't believe it. We have sold very few CDs internationally but there have been a couple. The best thing about the internet is your ability to sell your products worldwide in either a physical or digital format. Digitally my EPs are available through Amazon, iTunes, Play.com, Spotify, Deezer and the band's personal Bandcamp page. The physical sales are all done directly through our Bandcamp page which also facilitates the sale of t-shirts and any other merchandise you can produce. Releasing an album purely digitally is not a bad idea either. Conquering Dystopia featuring Jeff Loomis and Keith Merrow did exactly that and managed to make it into the Billboard charts in America.


Conquering Dystopia hit number 21 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart

Social Networking can replace the need of an official website

Websites are still useful don't get me wrong. It's just that with the advent of Facebook, Twitter and Google Plus (which hosts this blog through blogger as well as Youtube) you can reach your fans in a more personal way. You can create events pages to invite them all to your gigs. You can host your Bandcamp store on your page to sell your merch as well as post studio updates and tour updates. It's this kind of personal touch that will engage your fans and endear them to you. Remember a huge part of why they buy your material is because they like you.

So why do people still care about getting signed?

It's a tough question to answer. A lot more publicity for a start. A lot of the work being done for the bands is another. If, however, you have the drive and patience to be able to produce and manage all this content by yourself or with the help of bandmates there is no reason for you to sign over your publishing rights to the songs you spent hours working. This is a serious turning point in the music industry where musicians are able to take back the power from the record labels and produce content that is their own perfect vision and not what the label thinks will sell.

Think I'm wrong or over simplifying everything? Let me know. I'd love to hear your thought's on the subject and engage in some conversation.

It's food for thought, but don't think about it for too long, get riffing!

Thursday 4 December 2014

Who will the new guitarist of Megadeth be?

On the 26th of November we were all shocked by the sudden departure of Megadeth's Shawn Drover and Chris Broderick. Considering that the line up was sustained for two albums I don't think we should really be all that surprised but it does bring us the inevitable question: Who the hell will join this band next? I've thrown together a short list of people I've personally considered as well as other suggestions I have read online for Megadeth's next guitarist. Here's the top 5:

1: Previous members

Marty Friedman
Chris Poland




Fans have been crying for Marty to return to Megadeth ever since he left so it's no surprise to see the amount of fans that have instantly called out for his return. The sad thing about it is that it probably won't happen. Friedman has been very public about his opinions on metal and it's not a very good one. Marty has stated time and time again that metal is boring to play for him. Since leaving the band Marty has established himself in Japan as both a rockstar and television star. It's a comfortable life for him where he gets the recognition he deserves. Would you leave that?

The other previous member is Chris Poland who played on Megadeth's first two albums. While being my favourite guitarist that has made his way through Megadeth's ranks I hate to tell you that Poland rejoining the band is even less likely. You might not be aware that Chris has actually rejoined Megadeth once (twice if you consider that he left after recording Killing is my Business... and rejoined just before entering the studio for Peace Sells...) to record the lead guitar parts for Megadeth's returning effort The System has Failed in 2004. Apparently Chris found the entire experience very draining and was vocal about himself and Dave Mustaine arguing during the process of recording the album. He didn't even tour the album. I think it's safe to say he won't be back.

2:David Davidson (Revocation)



While I love the idea of adding another Dave to the band I can't see this one happening either. To say Davidson has worked hard to bring Revocation forward in the metal realm would be a huge understatement.  In the six years since releasing their debut album Empire of the Obscene the band has released a staggering five albums. The latest, Deathless, is fantastic by the way.  With a great rhythm technique as well as searing leads it's hard not to see Davidson as a Megadeth member. Given the amount of time and effort he has poured into his own project I cannot picture him leaving the band he founded in order to be second to Dave Mustaine.

3: Dave Young (The Devin Townsend Project)

Why the hell are there so many Daves in this genre?

Another day another Dave. This is the first on the list that I could genuinely see joining the band. With Devin Townsend saying that after Z2 (another great album of the year) he would like to take some time to charge his batteries (and after playing with him for a decade) it would be a realistic time for Dave to leave. With a talent for the fast arpeggios required on the likes of Deconstruction or Z2 I imagine Dave Young would be fairly capable carrying out the lead work left by those who went before him. If nothing else it would simply just be interesting to see what he does with the solo section of a Megadeth song.

4: Ryan Gilsan (Allegaeon)


I'm a huge fan of Gilsan and out of everyone on this list he is another of the more likely candidates. When Allegaeon's first album Fragments of Form and Function came out I couldn't believe what I was listening to. This was death metal I actually cared about hearing again. After a short stint with Tim Lambesis before his incarceration Ryan has now started working with Wes Hauch (formerly of The Faceless) but I feel that if Mustaine were to act quickly enough he would be able to snatch Gilsan away before the project makes any major headway. Gilsan's style is mainly in the rhythm realm but the man can handle himself at the higher end of the fretboard just as well. I'm sure his fast hands are more than capable of nailing the Megadeth classics.

5: Jeff Loomis (Nevermore)



Former bandmate of Chris Broderick and without a doubt someone Dave should consider...too bad he's just joined Arch Enemy. Jeff's technical prowess is known to anyone that plays a seven string guitar and could make light work of both solos and Dave's rhythm work. With a great stage presence, a great sound and being pretty much the most likeable guy in metal it's fair to say that Dave has missed out with Jeff. For evidence of Jeff's great playing you need look no further than the debut release of Conquering Dystopia featuring Keith Merrow and himself on guitars. It's a fantastic instrumental album of classic metal riffs. Unfortunately with his recent placement in Arch Enemy with what looks like quite a full touring schedule and the likelihood of seeing him on a release from the band (I'm also hoping we get another Conquering Dystopia release) it makes Jeff seem like another unlikely candidate.

So there we have it...

While it is exciting to see that we will have a fresh lead guitar style to listen to in Megadeth it is important to remember that whoever joins will have very little creative input. Megadeth has always and will always be Dave Mustaine's band and it will be a long while before he lets any guitar player have complete creative control over the solos that they will play.

With so many great guitar players with unique styles having been in the band it really is anyones guess who the next Megadeth guitarist will be. It's worth noting that of all the players on the list only Dave Young and Ryan Gilsan are my own input. The rest have all been speculation from all over the web. Who do you think the next guitarist is going to be? More importantly who would you want it be?