All Too Human

by Derric Miller
Staff Writer

All Too Human checked in with Hardrock Haven to talk about their brand new studio release Juggernaut; how the band has evolved since their last release Entropy 10 years ago; how new singer Gordon Tittsworth (Images of Eden, Dread the Forsaken) joined the band; specific tracks like “Juggernaut” and “Cut Me;” upcoming tour plans; and a whole lot more.

This is one of the surprise releases of the year and it’s a mix of modern metal with intricate Progressive elements. It’s also heavy as hell! Tune in now to get to know what should be one of your new favorite bands, and pick up Juggernaut today!

Online: www.alltoohuman.net

All Too Human to Release Juggernaut on May 15

ALL TOO HUMAN is a progressive metal band from the United States which is influenced by many diverse artists and musical genres. They have released two self-produced and self-financed CDs: “Forever and a Day” (1998) and “Entropy” (2002). Both CDs were recorded in Texas and released by R/R Records. A European version of “Entropy” (which includes bonus tracks) was released in 2004 by Steelheart Records from Italy. Read more

Gordon Tittsworth of Images of Eden

by Derric Miller
Staff Writer

Images of Eden singer Gordon Tittsworth checked in with Hardrock Haven to talk about their incredible new release Rebuilding the Ruins; their exclusive world premiere of the track “Crosses in the Sand” on Hardrock Haven; upcoming tour plans; the story behind tracks like “Rebuilding the Ruins” and “Sunlight of the Spirit;” and a whole lot more.

If you are into thought-provoking and expert Progressive Metal, Images of Eden is one of those bands you need to be paying attention to. Tune in now to get to know the band, check out the exclusive world premiere of “Crosses in the Sand,” and pick up Rebuilding the Ruins today.

Online: www.imagesofeden.com

(If the embedded player doesn’t populate, click here to stream the interview in a stand alone player.)

Images of Eden Rebuilding the Ruins

by Derric Miller
Staff Writer

One of the most thought-provoking groups making music today is Progressive Metal band Images of Eden, who has just released their third studio effort, Rebuilding the Ruins. Led by singer/musician/songwriter Gordon Tittsworth (Dread the Forsaken, All Too Human), the prior two releases were extremely existential in their capacity to ask the questions “why are we here, and what are we here for?” Rebuilding the Ruins takes it a step further, and brings cosmic spirituality to the forefront as the protagonist of the story rebuilds his life and attempts to make sense of his very existence … and the eternal.

“Crosses in the Sand” begins the journey with a soft keyboard intro, ambient background noises with the cry of gulls, and then the music bludgeons you with a heavy, downtuned and aggressive gallop before leading into a soaring guitar passage. The lyrics are somewhat obscure, with lines like “All for one, for nothing, you are not to blame. It never saw the world… there was never life to hate,” or the frantic ending of the song where Tittsworth sings, “If God’s so forgiving, then he would understand, sometimes a ‘choice’ is better to be made.” You will have to dig deep into your mental repertoire to bring the meaning to light here, but it could be a dissection of the discussion “when does life truly begin,” and if you bring someone into this world who is the result of traumatic violence or something darker … well … there may be nothing worse than entering this physical existence under those parameters. In essence, the band used the word “choice” for a reason.

The music seethes at the start of “Human Angels,” one of those complex compositions Images of Eden excels at. Instead, the song becomes a bit of a mid-tempo rocker with expert drum fills and Tittsworth’s honest and emotional delivery. In the past, Tittsworth sometimes sounded close to Bruce Dickinson at times, and he still wields a powerful, multi-faceted delivery, but has come into his own as a singer and sounds like no one else today. With all of the projects Tittsworth is involved with, and all of the experience under his belt, he is hitting his stride as a singer and his expertise will move you.

The title track, “Rebuilding the Ruins,” is perhaps the best song on the release. Its angry beginning, sounding a bit like the unheralded but amazing band Digital Ruin, pulls you in to the theme of the track. A band needs to take chances to succeed, and writing lyrics seemingly spoken by Jesus Chris, like “Tell me who will wear my crown of thorns today … I’m not sorry for dying,” is certainly risky. In fact, the end of the song, as Tittsworth sings “What once were ruins are again towers standing tall, rebirth for the ones who deserve,” it certainly seems like a call for The Rapture, and therefore, to “leave behind” those who don’t deserve rebirth.

One of the most uplifting songs is “On Elevated Ground,” a composition that is somewhat contrary to the religious themes before it. As stated earlier, where there was a call for The Rapture, in this track, it seems that everyone is invited to the Eternal Party, especially with the line “Where love will be all and love will end all.” Themes aside, the vocal melodies do their part of being “otherworldly,” with strong backing vocals and Tittsworth’s omnipresent masterful singing. As the song has two minutes left, you will almost get a ‘70s hippy vibe from the vocals and music. Like most Progressive Metal bands, Images of Eden plays everything from Thrash to Pop Rock — sometimes in the same track — and excels at it all. After this soft passage, guitarist Dennis Mullin tears into an intricate guitar solo that completely rages to the track’s end.

You need to be careful when listening to “Images of Eden (Sunlight of the Spirit Part IV),” because if you take what they write in the literal, you will think they are a Christian Metal band. In brief, Images of Eden is NOT a Christian Metal band. Musically, the composition breathes so artfully, there is so much to digest as the song flows through you, that it is, in a word … enchanting. One of the strongest lyrics on the entire album pop up here with the phrase, “Today God is playing God.” The song gains intensity as the protagonist prepares to leave corporeal life behind and entire into the Kingdom of Heaven, as Tittsworth and a mammoth chorus sing together, “Kingdom of Forever, I’m coming home.”

It’s not only the music and lyrics that make Rebuilding the Ruins so engaging, but also the mixing efforts of drummer Chris Lucci and the mastering of Eric Zimmerman (Fates Warning, Limp Bizkit, Deftones, Buckcherry, Suicidal Tendencies, etc.), all culminating in the album’s spectacular sonic landscape.

Rebuilding the Ruins goes far into announcing Images of Eden as one of those bands to be reckoned with in the Progressive Metal genre. From deft songwriting to stellar musicianship to top notch production, Rebuilding the Ruins is a force. That being said, it’s a walk on the tightrope to produce positive metal that does not alienate those listeners who are agnostic, atheist, or generally apathetic towards Christianity and religion. In the end, Images of Eden does just that, maneuvering the fine line between telling a story and preaching that story to you. The imagery, the passion, the understated and overstated themes … it all comes together to make Rebulding the Ruins one of the most unique releases you will be fortunate enough to hear all year long …

Band:
Gordon Tittsworth- All Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Bass Guitar & Keyboards
Dennis Mullin- Lead Guitar
Chris Lucci – Drums
Dean Harris – Piano & Keyboards

Track listing:
1) Crosses In The Sand
2) Human Angels
3) Sorrow’s End
4) Dreams Unbroken
5) Tribal Scars
6) Rebuilding The Ruins
7) My Stigmata
8  Native To His Land
9) Children of Autumn
10) On Elevated Ground
11) Images of Eden (Sunlight of the Spirit- Part IV)

Label: Nightmare Records

Genre: Progressive Metal

Online: www.imagesofeden.com  

Hardrock Haven rating: 8.3/10

Dread the Forsaken Unbound

by Derric Miller
Staff Writer

“Give me wounds that will make me stronger” is just one of the introspective and visceral lyrics you’ll hear on Dread the Forsaken’s debut release, Unbound. This multi-cultural band consists of American vocalist Gordon Tittsworth (Images of Eden), El Salvadorean guitarist Mauricio Liborio, along with drummer Vinnie Perez and bassist Mako. Tittsworth comes from a more Progressive Metal background while Liborio is a shredder in almost a polished Thrash Metal vein, and bringing these different cultures and genres together makes for one of the most interesting bands (and band names) you’ll hear in 2010.

Those aforementioned lyrics greet you on the first track, “Give Me Wounds.” Beautiful keys at the onset make you believe, perchance, this is a Progressive band, but then Liborio’s frantic riffs turn it into something entirely different. Mako is a madman on the bass — it’s not often you hear the bottom end drive a song so fiercely. If you had to make any sort of comparison, it’d be Anthrax, if John Bush had Joey Belladonna’s range. If you are a fan of Images of Eden, you’ve never heard Tittsworth bring the heat in this manner, always melodic but more sinister and gravelly than his other recordings. As the song ends, it’ll definitely bring up Bay Area Thrash memories on the closing riffs.

“Darkest Days” is up next, and it’s the quirkiest track on Unbound. Liborio accompanies Tittsworth’s vocals nearly note for note on the verses, almost like two-part harmony but with a guitar and a voice instead of two singers. The chorus, though, is anthemic and the most memorable on the album. If you are a drinking man, then you will embrace the lyrics, “I still have a thing to say: bring another bottle or change my ways!”

The variety on Unbound is palpable; it’s not like Dread the Forsaken has a formula in mind. So “Walk With Me” shouldn’t surprise you with its sing-song melodies and adulturous tale. Probably the best lyrical moment is when the band names the frame, singing “Still amazed by the lack of talent; it took so long to write this line.” While that is funny, someone in the band must have had some practice in this arena, because the lyrics, “But I know you feel so filthy, I crossed this line and don’t feel guilty. But I know you just can´t take it, you turn around with the will to fake it,” almost have to come from experience. The huge “whoa-oh” shouts and chunky guitar playing will stick in your noggin, along with the sudden desire to stray.

The band decided to take the brave chance of penning a song after themselves. “Dread the Forsaken,” almost necessarily, is the most intricate song on Unbound, both vocally and especially musically. In fact, while Perez more than holds his own with the talent around him, on “Dread the Forsaken” he combines rabid power, smooth tempo changes and then bludgeoning double-bass passages that will leave your neck in shreds. The solo allows Liborio to fire off massive riffs and heated leads, and this time, you may be thinking of Jeff Waters when you hear exactly how fast, heavy yet precise Liborio plays.

“Dead Chances” starts with Tittsworth nearly rapping, but in a Biohazard, manly, street-cred sort of way. In fact, these vocals foray into near Death Metal at times, although never getting that harsh. Mako pummels you with more expert bass playing, and with the jumping vocals, sounding like the other gents in the band are joining Tittsworth on the song, you will think of Anthrax once again.

Surprisingly, the album’s closer is a keyboard-led instrumental. “Unbound” instantly mellows you out, especially considering how playful and manic “Dead Chances” was. It’s a flowing, mesmerizing composition, proving Dread the Forsaken can play anything, and play it well. If you recall the opening, then will just means the band understands the concept of “coming full circle.” By ending the album thusly, they’ve gone out of their way to create a real album you want to hear from the first to the last song every time, singles be damned.

One of the more difficult pursuits in Heavy Metal is making music that doesn’t get lost in the crowd, when thousands of bands are simultaneously attempting to do the same. Ninety-nine percent of those bands fail. But that one percent that stands out may just have a chance to re-energize the industry, and right now, that one percent is Dread the Forsaken’s Unbound.

Online: www.dread-rocks.com

Track listing:
1. Give Me Wounds
2. Darkest Days
3. Walk With Me
4. Playground
5. Wasted Youth
6. Dread the Forsaken
7. Roses Are Burning
8. Dead Chances
9. Unbound

Hardrock Haven rating: 8.4/10