Third Edition Cover: Hesmarie Hellfire
Roadrunner United ~Army of the Sun ~
I was electrified by your eyes as they froze Inviting me inside of your life to grow Everlasting setting sun You’re my angel, you’re the only one No one close and nothing compares in the end We will be together again I'm so mesmerized by the light you expose Igniting a fire deep inside of my soul Everlasting setting sun You’re my angel, you’re the only one No one close and nothing compares in the end We will be together again Darkness shall fall with the strength of us all Darkness shall fall Darkness shall fall with the strength of us all It shall fall I raise my white flag It’s the last flag I’ll ever raise Don't stay away Staring at you and all you are I believe Yeah I believe Yeah I believe (So much sadness, what happened to happiness...) Everlasting setting sun You’re my angel, you’re the only one No one close and nothing compares in the end You’re my angel, you’re the only one We will be together again We will be together again
Contents
We would like to say a BEEG thank you to the following people for working with us in the making of our April Edition of the Black Apple E-zine: Dylan (for being our poster boy), Lionel (for your spray and cook!), Riddlebreak, Octainium, Part-Time Pirates, The Sunday Punchers, Nyx (for being our crazy journo), Tam (and your posh accent), Mizera (your bio makes us smile!), Genevieve V, (good luck for indiedoesit.co.za) , Gen Watson (for the event review),
Keep a lookout for the NEW THOR Tracks to be released this week. See ya all on the 28 April 2012!! If you would like to be involved in the next E-zine, either as a writer, photographer or have yourself featured … don’t be scared, drop us an email on info@blackappleproductions.co.za and say hi. Don’t worry, we don’t bite, we had our black apple this morning!
Members Maritz - Throat Gert - Drums Grinch - Bass TC - Guitar Sikes - Guitar Octainium is fast becoming one of the most exciting & energetic metal bands to watch live. Their shows are almost like cocaine- highly addictive and make you feel awesome as the music grows on you… The founder and current vocalist, Maritz, formed Octainium in Wales (UK) in 2006 with other members from that area. They recorded a 3 track demo and played some crazy shows. He returned to SA and reformed Octainium here at home in Jan 2009 with a new metal family. The word "Octainium" is derived from the ENERGY-aspect of fuel ("a combustible fluid of the highest octane"). “We feed off each other's energy- so that each show is more electric and energetic than the last.” You buy a CD because the music is good; you watch a show because the performance is good. Octainium is a steady combination of both these aspects: Good music and an entertaining, energetic live set! We are very versatile in our music, we can’t be boxed into one genre (Hard Rock/Metal if you really must label it). We write really heavy tracks, as well as some calm ballad-like tunes. We have played with a sick variety of awesome bands to date, The Narrow, Pestroy, Chromium, to name but a few . Influences will be anything from as mellow as Enya to as loud and heavy as Gojira We do acoustic shows, and then we do metal shows-we like switch between these two extremes- connecting with the crowd in an intimate acoustic set, or going balls to the walls during a metal set- living up to our "energetic" name. We want each show to be better than the last and want each fan at every one of our shows to have the time of their lives! Interacting with the crowd and feeding off their energy so that everyone leaves satisfied! We don't want to sound like any other band- that defeats the purpose of being "an Artist". One has to express oneself artistically, yet uniquely- to set oneself apart from everyone else. To be an individual… Trends come and go- we are unique in what we do, others will soon follow- but we will eventually make a permanent mark in the industry- local and hopefully international. We strongly believe in that! We have performed live at festivals like Rocktober 1 & 2, Schorcher Fest, Oppidam, Lazy Grass Fest 1&2, Winterjam and at venues like Zeplins Rock Shack, The Black Dahlia, Factory, Cafe Barcelona, etc (basically all the reputable venues in the Gauteng area thus far- the list grows as time goes on).
Social Networks: Facebook: www.facebook.com/octainium Labtones: www.labtones.com/artist/octainiumband ReverbNation: www.reverbnation.com/octainiumband Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/octainiumband
Punk Music Crammed Into A Small Posting So what is punk music? Well, you can call it aggressive rock or sped up blues or metal and even pop to some degree. Punk in my opinion started with Elvis Presley. Elvis was banned from the waste down on television screens because of his sexually provocative dance moves. It may not sound punk, but punk isn't really about the music. It's about the convenience of what you believe in. In the 1960's punk started getting an underground movement, where experimentation lead the way. Bands like the Kinks and Velvet Underground paved the way for bands like the Stooges and MC5 to take it a step further in the early 1970's. Band's like the Clash, the Cure, New York Dolls, X Ray Spex, Ramones, Sex Pistols took on the 1970's in storm and produced some great albums. This was the 10 year span where punk was really punk. It was about getting the word out inside your music community by voice and flyers, about self promotion and do it yourself attitude. It was the whole $^&#ing mentality that anything longer than 2 minutes was considered a Free Bird knock off and if you threw a guitar solo in it was lame. People wanted an answer and they got it. The CBGB club in New York played host to many bands over it's years, and the history of punk was splashed in blood from New York across the pond in the UK. Punk is being against corporation bullshit, is anti-establishment and against money. You don't become a punk musician with the intent to make a lot of money, and if you do then you aren't punk. Period. The second wave came in 1977 gave way to bands like Australian's The Saints and Generation X, the Damned and Buzzcocks. Bands like Joy Division, the Cars and Depeche Mode started their own punk scenes which started the whole New Wave recordings. MTV caught on in '81 and took New Wave to commercial success. Okay let's move on, so the Hardcore punk was coming around at the end of the 1970's. You've got bands like Black Flag, The Faction, Suicidal Tendencies and Minor Threat. The whole scream in the mic routine and get my message out. Minor Flag promoted no sex, drugs, no violence or booze as a way of life through each of their songs and their advertising. Hardcore was punk on three minutes of pure adrenaline without killing someone in the process. Bad Brains pretty much started the genre and are considered one of the greatest bands in punk. Then you got the Oi crew. The skin head punks who started left wing but some got into the whole fascists white power routine which is bullshit. Punk's not about skin color. Oi pretty much ended but there are still a few bands around to this day. What happened in the 80's? Punk went underground again, staying out of the mainstream until Nirvana came up and used that energy to bust out the rock and roll of what we know as grunge which is rock bands inspired by punk basically We end up at the pop punk spectrum. Screeching Wiesel, Sum 41, Offspring, Blink 182 and Good Charlotte and Greenday. These are the dudes that sold punk to the mainstream. Where it was about the catchy hook rather than the strong message. It was buttered down and milked to an eternity and generations have lost the meaning of punk through the 90's and 2000's. The Splendora's and Sonic Youth really became the only thing I really appreciated from the 90's other than Nirvana, Jay Z's first album, Pantera and the movie's American Movie and Glory Daze. Punk music is whatever the #$%& you want it to be. But it's not music that is made to please other people. You gotta believe in what you are saying and doing and nothing else. So I may be sounding like I have given up on punk, but punk still is one of my favorite genres and it still is alive around the world today. I've grown attached to the horror and psychobilly genre's because of their story telling. Horror movies are a passion of mine and though I can't handle blood in real life, it's a passion to see it on the screen. The biggest thing for punk in my generation through 90's and 2000's was the internet. It gave free range to music, the access to promotional support and sharing your music for free, without the record companies up your ass. Go out and figure what kind of punk you like, and don't settle for something that doesn't spark your interest. And if anything, don't let someone tell you what punk is, cause it's different for everyone. Make sure you're always knowing what is the truth in this world in order to really find out what you stand up for. http://www.ultimateguitar.com/columns/the_history_of/punk_music_crammed_into_a_small_posting.html
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“Whisky wine, whisky wine Jolly drunken times No ale, beer or cider Sir just Wolby's whisky wine” The Part-Time Pirates were formed in the year 2006 by song writer/Guitarist Heyden Genner and vocalist Kyle. A few year passed and they continued to play two-man shows until March 2011. Adriaan Schoombie joined the pirates on the drums and Matthew Bentel joined on Bass Guitar – and the crew was complete. Their inspiration for music comes from a variety of bands, artists and places, ranging from Jimi Hendrix to Bob Marley, Verbal Deception to Black Sabbath, Duran Duran to Artic Monkeys, Alestorm to Ensiferum and Elton John. They are also influenced by some great South African Acts such as: Van Coke Kartel, Fokofpolisiekar and Die Heuwels Fantasties and of course Asterix and Obelix! These Part-Time Pirates are currently working hard on deck to create a new album for 2012 along with a music video to show people what they are all about. Although the Part-Time Pirates are new to the music scene, they have already accomplished a lot. They have hit the music scene hard, already playing in venues such as Tanz Café, The Black Dahlia Alternative Music venue and have already played for a charity function. Both Heyden and Adriaan have qualifications in their various instruments from COPA (Campus of Performing Arts). Adriaan to add to his qualifications attended both Damelin and the South African Music Institute (SAMI). The Part-Time Pirates are working towards accomplishing a great deal – they want a national tour by the end of 2012, along with 3 music videos AND have international radio play by December. They are hoping with a lot of hard work, passion and persistence they will be ready for a world tour in 2014. Members: Kyle Clifford – Vocals Matthew Bentel - Bass Guitar Heyden Genner - Guitar, Tin Whistle and Melodian Adriaan Schoombie - Drums, Trumpet Please contact ADRIAAN (071 123 5504) or RAYMOND (078 513 8068) or HEYDEN (072 743 3120) to find out how you can add some Pirate to your event!
Fronting SA Music Indiedoesit.co.za
South Africa’s music industry is flaring. Over the years, we have witnessed a very peculiar fluctuation in the public’s response to SA music. But now more than ever, even with the current shift in the perception of music business, the South African music landscape is alive and red-hot with talent. Bands like Die Heuwels Fantasties and Jack Parow are selling albums of Platinum status, in an era where CD sales are dismal. We have also noticed a progression of local artists making their way to foreign territories, placing their unique sounds on the global market. With this, it must be said that the South African media has played a large role in supporting local talents. Never have there been as many local tracks Playlisted on radio stations such as 5FM and Highveld as seen in recent years. Now, music enthusiast and Journalist, Genevieve Vieira brings you a dynamic platform for music lovers abroad. The concept is simple; Indiedoesit.co.za is a one-stop shop for your very best music news, gossip, entertainment and commentary. Created to provide a dynamic platform for a loyal base of diverse music lovers to connect with like-minded people, the site is sure to be an online favourite.
The site will launch on 30 April 2012. Visit www.indiedoesit.co.za for more information or contact info@indiedoesit.co.za
On-Stage Antics: Tips And Suggestions It's a problem for shy guys to get up in front of a group of people. I talked to a young guy at a shoe a few months ago. He was about to get up on stage and he and his buddies were very nervous, but excited. They were talking about getting some chicks after their set. They got up and played, but could barely face the audience. They were stiff and withdrawn. You could see them shaking. They played all right, getting through their songs without any major mistakes, but there was no connection. They didn't put on show; they just got on stage, played some songs and got off. Then they were confused about why no chicks talked to them afterwards. So tip number one: You need to have confidence, and if you have none, fake it. Seriously, people can tell if you're scared. And even if you're almost at pants-shitting levels of nervousness, you've got to pretend you're cool and maybe a little bad-assed. Don't go overboard and start sneering and shit, but maybe try slapping each other hard in the face before going on. Straighten up. And for the love of Jimi, look at the audience. They are here to look at you. Look back at them. And if you're scared, pick a spot in the room where no one is sitting and look there. At least people will think you're looking at the audience.
If you need to stare at the guitar frets to be able to play, you're probably not ready to be on stage. Practice more, and don't get on stage until you can stare at someone sexy at the back of the room without making any mistakes. If you're nervous, avoid long pauses. If you stand there looking at each other between songs going 'Was that okay? Okay? Are you ready? Steve? Are you ready?' you will look like a bunch of rookies. If you make mistakes, do not talk about it on stage. Do not look at your drummer and say 'Sorry Steve. My fault.' If another member of the band makes a mistake, do not look at him or mention it between songs. Punch him out back stage, but do not let anyone in the audience know there was an error. I'll bet you my air guitar that no one in the crowd noticed. 'But we need to tune up between songs.' Fine. Tune up, but make it quick and do not let it become an obsession. Do not tune up between every song. I remember seeing a band that would tune for upwards of a minute between each number, and would still be out of tune. Just play. Show a bit of emotion. Don't get all weird, but don't be a zombie up there (unless your act is a Zombies cover band). I saw The Smalls play on their final tour, and I
remember the guitar and bass player getting up on stage, all smiles, interacting with the crowd, and they played the whole show looking like they were having a great time. The singer, however, never made eye contact with anyone in the room, kept a mopey-dopey expression on his face, and looked like he didn't want to be there. By the end of the show, I hated his guts. Maybe it was his 'style,' or his 'act,' but I didn't like him. A friend at the same show said he thought the guy was too stoned to know where he was. Either way, we liked the band because they looked like they were having fun, and we wanted to rail-spike the singer. Sometimes even nasty emotion is better than no emotion. The Misfits, in one of their reunion incarnations, featured a smiling and happy Jerry Only and a dour and angry Doyle. Doyle looked like he was going to take off his guitar and kill Jerry. Who knows, maybe he really wanted to, but I think it was part of the act. And it worked. Speaking of singers: If your guitarist is also your singer, this won't apply, but if your band has a singer that doesn't play an instrument, pay attention to what he does with his hands. This is really important. If he doesn't know what to do with his hands, he'll look like an idiot. If he has both hands on his mike, fine. If he keeps his hands on the mike stand, that's cool too. But if you see him holding the mike with one hand and slipping the other hand into his pocket, you've got trouble. Here's what I suggest. Go to a hardware store and buy half a pound of small nuts and bolts. Every time you see him put his hand in his pocket, throw a bolt at his head. It will break the habit fast. I remember the singer in one band who was trying to break the habit, and would slip his hand in his pocket then immediately out, or would sometimes just touch his pocket. As a member of the audience, it was really distracting and embarrassing. He was a good singer, too. The cardinal sin of singers, however, is playing air guitar. If you ever, ever see your singer playing air guitar, hit him not with a bolt, but with the claw end of a hammer. This is the worst thing I've ever seen on a stage. The band sounded great, they looked great, everything was going really well until the big riff on the chorus when the singer starting to play along with the guitars. Boom. That's it for me folks.
playing. Many bands will try to push showmanship further by incorporating some sort of gimmick into their show. This could be done with things as common as lights, clothing or uniforms, all the way to pyrotechnics, Iron Maiden's massive stage designs or KISS's costumes and makeup. There is nothing wrong with a gimmick. Even a bad gimmick can be good for campy fun. The thing to keep in mind is that the gimmick must be sustained. To not allow the gimmick to break down mid-show. Do not mock your own gimmick, unless that too is part of the gimmick. Examples: A great instrumental rock band from Vancouver (the name escapes me) decided to push the idea that they didn't have a vocalist. They had no mikes on stage except those for the drums, and did not speak to the audience at all. Instead, they used a slide projector with prepared slides to introduce themselves. They carried on with the slides all the way to end of their set, with a slide that said 'You've been great. We look forward to coming back.' On the other hand I saw a band that laid down an extradimensional routine, saying they were a band visiting from Dimension X or something like that. They played it for a while until their costumes go too hot and they pulled them off. At the end of the show the routine had broken down completely and they were just another band standing in the tatters of their failed gimmick. Think about it. If Slipknot took off their masks the first time they got too hot, the band would not have made the big time. I swear by my nuts on this, and I bet they would agree as well. I could go on all night about this stuff, but my six-pack is gone. Don't sweat the bullshit and try to have fun. Your early shows will suck. There's not much you can do about it. Just try to enjoy the ride and have a good time. Learn from your mistakes and don't be too hard on yourselves. If you have a good time, the people in the audience might have fun too (unless you suck). And if the people in the audience have a good time, who knows? Maybe some girls will talk to you after all.
Seriously, if the guy wants an instrument that badly, get him a tambourine. If he still plays air guitar, get rid of the tambourine and tape his hands to the mike stand before you go on. He'll have to walk on stage holding the stand, but that's his own fault. I don't care if your singer is Axl Presley Jagger. If he plays air guitar, you will all look like idiots. Band or act? You will eventually learn that there is more to being on stage than simply playing music. You will develop an act, and start performing instead of just http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/columns/general_music/on-stage_antics_tips_and_suggestions.html
Riddlebreak is a five-piece band that has been in the underground scene since its start in late 2009. Exploring different genres ranging from Indie to Punk, a combined style of Progressive Rock and Alternative Metal had developed. Although the concept came to life in the city of Johannesburg, Riddlebreak's members come from all over and draw influence from different places, which give it its unique flavour. The name Riddlebreak refers to its jester-like personality: playful and inquisitive, challenging the norm and exploring new possibilities with its lyrics. Drawing inspiration both from alternative and contemporary artists alike, Riddlebreak has taken on the somewhat audacious task of creating their own genre by way of an alternative/metal hybrid. Ranging from the melodic to the dissonant, Riddlebreak is unlike anything you’ve heard before. Riddlebreak was born in the mind of Russell Peach and grew in the basement of Tony Duarte. Soon Gareth Reed joined and there began something that nobody ever quite imagined. Thus began the search for that very elusive bassist creature, the habitat of which was yet to be discovered. Many came and went until early June 2010 when Roushan van Niekerk took on the daunting task of being the only female member in the band and one of few female bassists in the metal industry. Many great months followed seeing Riddlebreak flourish on many different stages. That November, Tony delivered the unfortunate news of his departure to Portugal. This was major, as one thing that is more difficult to find than a bassist is a drummer, especially one of Tony’s calibre. That’s when good friend Gordon Bosma jumped in with his Superman shirt and saved the day. With his big smile and endless amount of energy, Riddlebreak had a man that could slay musical dragons with his drum stick-wielding abilities. With their newly completed army they could once again take on the world. Or so they thought. Soon after Tony’s departure, Russell Peach sadly decided to lay down his weapons and trade them for the written word. Here lay Riddlebreak’s most difficult task. Losing the founding member brought them to the ultimate crossroads: carry on as Riddlebreak or disband this army for good. This fight was not over yet. With Russell’s blessing they started again, bringing a whole new aspect to their music. More knights needed to be added to this misshapen table and so the quest began. Vocalist Jade Osner was found in the audience at a Mizera gig. One day Riddlebreak saw a bearded man aimlessly wandering the streets with nothing but a guitar and a piece of bread which he could duplicate at will. This man had a name and it was Niel Kruger.
He was fed and clothed and with this latest addition Riddlebreak took to the stage to induce eargasms and melt faces. The new Riddlebreak travelled to Graskop for their very first public gig to play at the Grand opening of Sheri’s Lodge, and what a grand beginning it was. Their very next stop on the bumpy path was Academy of Sound Engineering’s festival, Culture Clash. After tearing up the stage and some eardrums Riddlebreak was back on track. It has been almost a year as the new Riddlebreak and they are still going strong. Amongst playing regularly at places such as Black Dahlia and Factory (which recently closed down), recently Riddlebreak has had the pleasure of sharing the stage with two international bands, the UK’s The Dying Reflex (formerly known as Seven Year Kismet) and Austrian band Bloodshed Remains. These were two very big highlights in their career. Unfortunately Niel Kruger has recently had to say goodbye due to other musical commitments and living arrangements. They took a short break to acquaint the latest member Julian Vosloo - with their songs. April sees them back on stage with a newly arranged set list and some soon-to-be-added new songs. The band now consists of Gareth Reed, Roushan van Niekerk, Jade Osner, Gordon Bosma and Julian Vosloo. Part of this band’s unique sound is the origins of its members. Guitarist and vocalist Gareth Reed is twenty five years old and from Zimbabwe, studied guitar for two years and is currently studying music production. After travelling and working various jobs overseas, he came to South Africa to pursue his passion for music. He comes up with the ideas for most of the songs and is the backbone of the band. Drummer Gordon Bosma is twenty one years of age, and studied drums for two years before studying sound engineering. He lived in Mauritius for eight years and can speak French. Lead vocalist Jade Osner, who comes from Centurion, is vocal student by day and international snow boarder by night. He is the youngest member of the band at nineteen years old. Twenty three year old bassist Roushan van Niekerk is from Midrand and comes from a fine arts background. Musically she is self-taught and is currently studying multimedia while juggling her passion for music. Some may know Julian Vosloo as the bassist for 2nd GuessD. This twenty four year old is studying contemporary guitar and is proud of an eclectic taste in music ranging from Mumford and Sons to Meshuggah. He is the latest addition to Riddlebreak as the lead guitarist. Riddlebreak hopes to be the challenger to the masses, the voice of the dissatisfied and to spark curiosity in an age where there seems to be so little. If even one person leaves a gig inspired then they feel they have done their job. To them, music is the thread that connects us all. In the words of Jimmy Hendrix, “Music doesn’t lie. If there’s something that can be changed in the world it should be done through music.” They are inspired by the unique; those who refuse to play by the rules or let themselves be defined.
They believe that differences inspire creativity and that fitting in is for the weak. For Riddlebreak every twist and turn holds a lesson and self-management has definitely taught them some pretty tough ones. Big breaks are made, not given and hard work and talent is not always rewarded immediately. Through member changes and venues closing down, Riddlebreak may be taking it one step at a time, but is definitely here to stay.
NYX
My completely biased take on popular music vs. alternative music. If any of you (I’m sure there are many of you) are as ‘lucky’ as me, you’re stuck in an office from 08h00 to 17h00 filtering calls, deleting chain mails and pretending to care about your coworkers’ issues while the photocopier throws up more paperwork onto your desk. I’m okay with all that. It’s bearable.
I’ll stop there before you come after me with pitchforks... Now I’ll hazard a guess that Steve Winwood didn’t look as good in hot pants and hair extentions (that seems to be one of the only things that leads to a hit song these days) but at least the guy made sense...
What is not bearable is that this little corporate dance generally moves to the unpleasant noise of whatever sh1t is oozing out of the office radio and you’re left wanting to curl up in the foetal position and chant, ‘find a warm place, think happy thoughts...find a warm place, think happy thoughts’. This is not much of a revelation to the majority of you but popular music is crap. A big steaming audible turd. If you’re not into some scantily-clad, bleach blonde banshee whining about how independent and horny she is then you had best have a fondness for hearing the lyrical excrement of some previously-incarcerated R ‘n B/ HipHop heartthrob that seems to keep misplacing his ‘shorty’ in ‘da club’... if neither of these appeal to you and you’re looking for more that ‘Yeah’, ‘Baby’ and ‘Ooh’... get an iPod and/or turn to piracy because you’re screwed. There are hundreds of ‘lyrics: then and now’ mails going around at the moment and this inspired me to conduct a little experiment of my own. I had a look at the Billboard Top 100 site and searched for the number one song on the day I got forcibly evicted from my temporary accommodation in the womb and then for every year since... I won’t bore you with the whole lot but here’s some of what I came up with. 1986
‘Higher Love’ by Steve Winwood
1996
‘The Macarena’ by Los Del Rio
2006
‘London Bridge’ by Fergie
Have a peak at the lyrics. The suck but bear with me here... HIGHER LOVE Think about it, there must be a higher love - Down in the heart or hidden in the stars above Without it, love is wasted time - Look inside your heart, I’ll look inside mine Things look so bad everywhere - In this whole world, what is fair? We walk blind and we try to see - Falling behind in what could be
THE MACARENA When I dance they call me Macarena - And the boys say que estoy Buena They all want me, they can’t have me - So they all come and dance beside me. Move with me, chant with me - And if you’re good I’ll take you home with me
LONDON BRIDGE Oh snap! Oh snap! Oh snap! (Are you ready for this?) Oh snap! Oh! It’s me, Fergie - The pimp, Polow! - Fergie Ferg, What’s up baby? - Come on! When I come to the club, step aside - Oh snap! Part the seas don’t be havin’ me in the line - Oh snap!
Oh Snap... Before my I.Q. dropped too low or my brain started leaking out of my ear, I left popular music alone and tried to do the same thing with metal... apparently Billboard doesn’t know what metal is so the closest I could get was the alternative category (which they seem to have only started acknowledging in midSeptember 1988)... 1988
‘Peek-a-boo’ by Siouxsie and the banshees
1998
‘One week’ by Barenaked Ladies
2008
‘Believe’ by Stained
PEEK-A-BOO Creeping up the backstairs – Sinking into dark stalls Shapeless and slumped in bath chairs – furtive eyes peep out of holes She has many guises – She’ll do what you want her to Playing dead and sweet submission – Cracks the whip deadpan on cue
ONE WEEK It’s been one week since you looked at me – Cocked your head to the side and said, ‘I’m angry.’ Five days since you laughed at me saying – ‘Get that together, come back and see me.’ Three days since the living room – I realised, it’s all my fault but couldn’t tell you Yesterday you’d forgiven me – But it’ll still be two days till I say, ‘I’m sorry.’
BELIEVE I sit alone and watch the clock-Tryin’ to collect my thoughts All I think about is you – And so I cry myself to sleep And I hope the devil I don’t meet – In the dreams that I live through
Well, well, well, would you look at that... they all make sense! No ‘Oh-snap’s. No lyrical down-hill… I rest my case. I realise these are only 6 examples and there are thousands of songs you could use to try to prove me wrong but I will not listen to you because I am completely and utterly, 100% biased!
Alternative is better.
Storm Awesome Thomas Drums and Backing Vocals Storm “Awesome” Thomas, (born 11 July 1985) is a South African Drummer, Percussionist and Songwriter. He started smacking on the pots and pans and jamming on school desks from an early age. He received his very first drum set at the age of 14 and has continued to play for the past 11 years. He started playing with various garage bands with many different kinds of musicians. Storm then went onto play in a church band for many years, learning the different styles presented to him. From there Storm moved onto amateur theater, where he did orchestral percussion for a number of shows. This is where he finally joined his first live performance band – a Metal Act by the name of “Mute”. Shortly after “Mute”, Storm started doing percussion, vocals and harmonica for the Death Valley Blues Band and shortly after starting with them, he became their permanent drummer. He has also been known for playing drums for a Punk bank – “The Braineaters” and does percussive drumming for “Submachine”, on top of this, Storm did Latin Percussion for “Son of a Thousand Blues”. Storm has played popular festivals such as “Woodstock”, “Splashy Fen”, “OppiKoppi”, “Lucky Fish”, “Thornfest”, “Mutherfudd”. Storm has also appeared on Radio Stations such as “5FM”, “Tuks Fm”, “UJ Fm”, the “Joe Blogg Show” and many more. He has shared stages with popular South African acts such as: “Josie Field”, “Fuzigish”, “Slashdogs”, “Cortina Whiplash”, “Zebra & Giraffe”, “Fokofpolisiecar”, “Hog Hogiddy Hogs”, “New Academics”, “Rambling Bones”, “Aking” , “Van Coke Kartel”, “The Parlotones”, “Boki”, “Melanie Louw”, “Krystel T” to mention a few and International Acts such as “Sheep On Drugs” and “Fatboy Slim Storm has been on various television channels, such as MK and on SABC 2, for Kadaa & Jam Sandwhich where he with the Death Valley Blues band and Amu wrote and recorded a blues hip hop song in only two days. Storm has also been involved in doing the soundtrack and starring in “Project Morningstar” and was invited to play the premiere.
“Living life at its purest and making music along the way … if all else fails, we are all bunch of stoners …” - The members of Energy Related
Interview with Storm Thomas on his view of
1. Who are Energy Related and how did it get started? Energy Related is a concept started by Donovan Fourie in 2011. It started as a solo project backed by session musicians and is an on-going project with much collaboration. Acoustic, Blues, Reggae & Folk is the main basis they have built their music style on, something to relate to, something to party to, and something to remember. 2. How do you know one another? I had met Donovan and Byron through some mutual friends and Donovan invited me to play on his album. Shortly after that, he hired me full time and we started jamming together. 3. What inspired the name? Energy Related as a band name was Donovan's inspiration. It came from a song he wrote while in Endless. The song is about the energy you find in life, from people and one of the most important things in his life, “Music�. Like the feeling you get when you hear a song you love, the song that reminds you that everything will be alright. That feeling that someone wrote that song just for you. You relate to the energy that the Artist has put into that song, the passion, the love. That is what Energy Related is all about.
4. What do you aim to accomplish as a band? We aim to play a lot of great gigs. To establish ourselves in the SA market and to get the music out there. 5. What your lyrics mean to you? All the lyrics are written by Donovan Fourie. The lyrics are very spiritual, true and genuine. There is always something to relate to in every song and it always touches a deep chord in me 6. Where do you gig? We have been in busy rehearsals for the past 6 months. Getting tight and working together to create the most awesome sounds. We are currently under negotiation with a booking agent and once that gets sorted then the sky is the limit. 7. Who are your influences? As a drummer I find that every drummer I hear play is an influence. Its drummers with great grooves and an honest feel that I love 8. If you could perform anywhere in the world, where would it be? In a BIG stadium :)
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Do you folks like COOOFFFFEEEEE?! Metal Rights Day, Zeplins, 21st March 2012 Metal Rights at Zeplins gave us nine bands and ten hours of enough metal to build a battleship. Kicking off midafternoon, Therapayne opened with plenty of energy and impressive vocals. There was no movement or interaction between band members, which was disappointing, but at the same time each was committed to giving a good show. The only thing that irked me was the desperation for a screaming crowd - a little unlikely at three in the afternoon... Overall a good sound with an great marriage between vocals, beat and melody. Boargasm's pre-recorded intro was just plain noisy. Sorry, dudes. These guys seemed to have interludes of absolutely hectic shows of great technicality amongst too much commitment to the gimmick, making me think that a little more imagination when it came to the pig squealing would have gone a long way. However, I've gotta say that I would comment further on the vocals if I could have heard more of them. The sudden burst of energy for 'Nasty' really made the set for me, the stage lights throwing their shadows against the wall behind, lending a brutal menace. Tranquil impressed me this time round. The guys seemed a lot more comfortable on stage which made for a much better show, but we still heard more of the same-y stuff. I enjoyed 'Revolution' just as much as last time and that guitar solo - hot damn. Crowd connection was awesome, something I'm coming to like in these guys. In introducing their song 'In Dreams', we were told that it's "all about the political shit in this country; something we stand strongly for." Mixing politics and metal? Interesting‌ Moving on to Sweating Blood, I have to say how disappointed I was. It was refreshing to see a female vocalist in what is usually a sausage fest of a genre, but lady, you're letting down the side. The stage presence of said vocalist was awesome: she really made me expect great things. However, it wasn't justified over the course of the set. 'Sound check Song' gave the boys the opportunity to really show us what they're made of and I was hella impressed. These guys on their own rocked my socks and almost made up for the lack of range (or singing in key) from vocals, but they seemed like they needed her to carry off the band as a whole. Now while I love the idea of a female-fronted band, I was more than a little let down by her performance. Photographs by Abel Scholtz Article: Tasty Tam
Balyios, as always, pulled through with a great set. The technicality from all members was impressive, only made better when they came together to give us the epic show of powerful celtic metal we witnessed that day. The celtic theme carried through the whole set, lending credibility to the set and the band in a way that Boargasm rather failed to. The guys looked like they were having a awesome time and I felt that too, seeing everyone else loving it the way I was. All in all, Balyios has great character, cool stage presence and a rocking sound. Now, when I see a vocalist drinking a beer on stage I think 'hey, that's cool, it's thirsty work', but smoking too? That's just bad form, dude. I mean, booze and cigarettes are rock and roll, but geez, lay off while you're on stage. These guys gave us a well put together set, with the highlight for me being 'Forgive Me'. This was an awesome tune and combined with the great energy from the crowd and band, gave for a damn solid show. I learned as they finished that it was only their third show. Not bad. Haggis and Bong these guys = wow. Just wow. This was my first time seeing these guys and I was impressed by the dedication to the genre. Now, when I say these guys had epic energy, I don't mean in the same way as some of the other bands. I mean more of a silent power, a kind of true electricity. When the highland dancer performed on stage next to the band midway through the set, these are the actual words that escaped my mouth: "Holy shitballs, I am so fucking entertained right now." The songs were well arranged and whilst there was very little crowd movement, there was a crowd nonetheless. By the last song though, the drums were far too loud, drowning out the rest of the band in what became an uncomfortable noise. Next up were "local RockShack alcoholics," Octanium. These guys gave us strong vocals and a nice variety in a cool mix of melody and metal. I could see these guys were definite crowd pleasers with a certain amount of attention paid to image as well as to the music. Overall, I was impressed by the musicality of each member and the way they seemed to have such a damn good time up there. The way the guitarists actually climbed into the pit gave me fuzzies. You can stay. It was kinda a shame the way the crowd mostly dissapated after Octanium's set, but I'm not actually sure that a crowd would have saved these guys. Looking intensely uncomfortable on stage, Saint's Method made me squirm with the way they looked so inexperienced. What was admirable though, was the vocalist's commitment to that jumper. I mean, damn, it wasn't cold, but the band did look like more of a unit once he took the thing off. As for their music, there was almost no variation over the whole of the set and whatever energy they may have had, it didn't transfer to what was left of the crowd. I was rather impressed by the four-person pit that seemed to linger on the floor. It was kinda like watching a Windows screensaver - they're never too far apart for too long‌
The Story of How The Sunday Punchers came to be‌ The Sunday Punchers are a Celtic folk and punk rock and roll muck up. Summed up pretty easily huh? Traditional Irish music, as well as deep rooted South African folk have a lot in common in terms of music styles. A couple of guys, some Irish/ Scottish heritage and others from their deep rotted Afrikaans heritage decided to do away with their noisy punk rock riffs and look a little deeper into their roots. The Sunday Punchers began at first, with a few teething problems. Firstly there was the quest to find suitable members that shared the same interests and direction as the founding members. This proved to be the most difficult task, as most young people today have forgotten their roots and ancestry. Mutiny abound ye scurvy land lubbers!!
After more than a year of patience and almost giving up, some of the lads decided to give it one more shot! Two lonely strays, Gene and Michiel showed up on the door step foaming at their mouths. Too much Guinness or just plain craziness? We will never know‌ After one week of finger bleeding practice with the new lads, they all had a feeling that something was missing. But they believed it was out there, stuck in the briggs of a ship somewhere out at sea. As the winds changed towards them, they could hear it, the soothing wail of the most beautiful Violin to grace a mans ears.
That was when the lovely Miss Ankia appeared, two weeks before the first show. Her talent and skill on the violin spoke immediately for itself. One week before the first show the impossible was achieved. A bunch of mostly complete strangers not only pulled out enough mind blowing tracks for a show, but also quickly became united as not only musicians but as a family and this ladies and gents is their vessel, their ship - The Sunday Punchers!
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Drugs :) Love them or deplore them, it's unlikely we're gonna see them either eradicated or legalised any time soon. Those who don't do any type of illegal drugs or know anyone who does tend to lump them all into the same catagory: EVIL. However, if you are part of one drug culture or another, you'll have your own opinion on your own drug of choice and that of others. As an objective observer, this is how I see a few of them.
MARIJUANA Ah, the stoners. These guys are the microwave meals of the drug world. They're chilled, lazy and tasty. Hur hur. What I like about stoners is the culture towards sharing. Puff, puff, pass, bro. And TV! My god, it's so much better. However, if you're watching something where you actually have to concentrate on the plotline, you're stuffed. Don't even bother. You're just gonna have to watch it again. But why does munchie food always have to be sugar laden and dripping with saturated fat? I don't know, and at the time you don't care. A few months down the line though, you will. When you can't get into even your baggy jeans anymore, you will.
COCAINE Whereas stoners don't mind sharing, coke heads are all like 'My preciousssssssss... Hisss.....' This is likely because the cost of this one is much higher (and addictive, whereas weed isn't), but it might also be cause of the scary personality changes, whether they appear as chronic or mild from person to person. And because it's so addictive, the money you end up spending on all that coke really starts to add up. Seriously. Also, I hear that coming down after is a bit shit and being around that person is like working a double shift in the manic depressive's ward. Eish.
PSYCHEDELICS These are the fare of the hippies. Done on a regular basis these can really mess you up. You've heard the horror stories of that guy who thought he was an orange after OD'ing on acid. you know, the one who would scream blue murder every time someone came near him thinking people were gonna peel him. Anyway, acid, etc... can be an awesome vacation from reality every so often, but too often and the likelyhood of schizophrenia becomes much higher. Sparing use seems to be the key.
ECSTASY I must be honest, going to a rave and taking an E is on my list. Whether it happens or not is still to be seen, but there are many happy and regular customers of this one. And when I say happy, I mean very happy. There's no one you don't love on E and while love for everyone is awesome in anyone's books, you've gotta admit that there's the potential for it to get you into trouble at times: "Hi, officer! You have beautiful eyes :)" Oooh eh eh.
These works are the vessels. We are the vehicles. This is void Each artist had their own section creating the structure out of the space the guests would be walking through. At each artists station viewers could read a description of the artists view of art. Written by Autrum Regina Event Organisation: Genevieve Watkins of G. Promotions Photography by: Richie Royce
Before last week Friday, I always had fancied myself a bit knowledgeable on art, going to a few of our local museums here and there, but my world was shattered when I attended the Void / Vehicle / Vessel Art Exhibition at the Mokha Rock Lounge in the Pretoria Botanical Gardens. The underground art scene is alive and kicking in Pretoria and if you haven’t been to an exhibition yet, do yourself a favour and occupy one. I can guarantee you will find inspiration, beauty and your mind working in a frenzy trying to convince you to take an art piece home with you. The venue really complimented the different mediums of art, who were chosen by the artisits to convey their unique way of viewing the world, by allowing such a homogenous flow of space from one exhibition to another. Wherever one turned, there was another outstanding piece waiting for inspection and interpretation of your minds imagination. The bronze sculptures at the event made by Karin and Louis (who happen to be the brains behind the new Chaos R Us jewellery line) were so different. They use a process called ‘organic basting’ to maintain the integrity of the organic matter before bronzing the various objects (be it frogs, insects, wood) to cement their love of nature in one of a kind pieces. Not to be forgotten about, I had the pleasure of viewing an original bronze piece by Sanna Swart who was one of the guest artists at the event. Sanna is a well-known sculpture artist in South Africa and has had her art show cased in various exhibitions across South Africa but what makes her work so special is that she is involved with every aspect of the bronzing process. Nice touches to the exhibition were the little place cards at each section which displayed the artist’s mission and vision concerning their art. The one that I enjoyed reading the most was by the guest speaker and the artist, Daandrey Steyn, who had one of the newest and most unique techniques I’ve seen –video art. He combines various images so that they mould and transform into each other continuously creating new and different shapes each and every time before the concrete object was formed again. Even the prints from the video carried this sense of movement with them. The live entertainment at the exhibition complimented the mood of the various art pieces extremely well. The music was in perfect harmony with the art and never once distracted or took away from the exhibition. Performances by Cami Scoundrel and The Get Away Car were immensely enjoyed by guests but one of the highlights of the evening was the belly dance performance of one the Emalyth models, Tegan Thomas, accompanied by her husband Storm Thomas on the drums. The fact that an encore was requested from them speaks volumes for the performance itself. The two painters at the exhibition both used the abstract style in their works so well to communicate the messages of their works. Whether it was Cicero Carsten ‘s eye in the storm feel to so many of his pieces or the sick harsh colours Ryan Prinsen used to convey the pain he went through in one of his pieces, these two painters should definitely be on the to-be-watched list or what art should be hanging in your house if you are a avid fan of the abstract style. If you are a fan of wanting your art to strike a strong emotion in your heart, Katlego Modiri has what you need. His silk prints might be simple but they just prove that art doesn’t need to be over the top to create what all art must essentially do to be considered a great piece: create conversation. And Katlego achieved just that, he had his viewers engaged in lengthy conversations the whole night about his style, technique and subject matter. The only photographer at the event, Nadine’s Engelbrecht, is surely something of an abdominally that brings something different to the art form. She does something so simple yet so effective: Nadine takes pictures of ordinary objects and then destroys the prints with car paint or oil to create her art and the resulting effect spell bounding the entire exhibition. Another unique art form on display that evening was Michael Fisher glass work. Inspired by true free thinker, these ideals come through with the vivid colours and trippy circular patterns identifying his work. Whether you want a large ornate piece or a smaller versatile one, Michael has you covered with his astounding variety of art works. Each artist at the event was assisted by the lovely Emalyth models that helped with hostess duties and explaining the art to interested buyers. Another aspect of the exhibition showing off the diversity of the various ‘art’ forms at the event. After a truly magical night which was opened by 3 bag pipers welcoming guests and mixing with the up and coming members of the Pretoria art scene I know I can speak for quite a few other people that going to more art exhibitions is definitely on my to-do list for the rest of 2012.
Tattoo aftercare:
Wash After 2 hours with warm water using your hand and pat dry.
Air dry for 10-15 minutes.
Apply a water-based fragrance free cream 2-3 times a day for 2 weeks
Shower and bath as usual but don't soak the tattoo.
Keep the tattoo out of the sun, pools and sea for at least 2 weeks or until the tattoo is fully healed.
Don't pick or scratch your tattoo.
Tel: Sean 084 054 0044 Email: justinked@hotmail.co.uk Shop 15 Winchester green shopping centre Swartgoud road, Winchester hills
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Black Apple Lau
k You!!
unch March 2012
Different Types of Body Suspension VERTICAL CHEST SUSPENSION ("O-KEE-PA") This suspension takes place hooked from the front of the body and hung vertically. Many people refer (quite possibly offensively) to this as an "O-Kee-Pa" suspension because it looks similar to a Native American rite of the same name. The vertical chest suspension is considered to be the most difficult and painful suspension. Problems reported include difficulty breathing coupled with intense pain in the sternum and armpit areas. It should be noted that many people strongly object to the use of the term "O-Kee-Pa" to refer to a vertical chest suspension, as "O-Kee-Pa" in actuality refers to a complex and deeply meaningful cultural ritual that very few modern people understand. A two point vertical chest suspension is no more an "O-KeePa" than drinking a glass of wine at dinner is taking communion. VERTICAL BACK SUSPENSION ("SUICIDE") This suspension takes place hooked from the back of the body and hung vertically. Most people refer to this as a "suicide" suspension because the body appears to be hanging by a noose. This is one of the easier, less confining suspensions and one that many people choose to start with -- vertical back suspensions generally allow greater freedom of movement while suspended (the arms and legs not usually being pierced and thus free to move). This can be a pro or a con depending on the person. Suicide suspension is definitely the favorite style to date, although, this suspension can often be too difficult for first time suspendees because there is more weight per hook than with horizontal suspensions, making the initial lift more painful. Other than this normal pain from suspending, the most common complaint is lower back pain. Vertical Back suspension with arm hooks ("Scarecrow" or "Crucifix") This suspension takes place hooked from the upper back and hung vertically, with hooks also placed in the arms to force them to be held horizontally. HORIZONTAL FACE DOWN ("SUPERMAN") This suspension takes place hooked from the back of the body and hung horizontally. Most people refer to this as a "superman" suspension since the position resembles Superman flying. Due to the fact that the hooks can be distributed to a larger area of the body, this style is considered to be the easiest of the suspensions. Most novices find this to be a good first suspension. It seems the biggest complaint about this
suspension is that back of the legs can be a very sensitive and piercing them is a somewhat upsetting thought to many. HORIZONTAL FACE UP ("COMA") This suspension takes place hooked from the front of the body and hung horizontally. Most people refer to this as a "coma" suspension after the movie "Coma". Not only is this style one of the more painful suspensions, it can be mentally difficult due to the fact that the individual can easily see the hooks and the skin stretching upward. INVERTED KNEE ("FALKNER") This suspension takes place hooked from the knees and hung vertically with the head closest to the ground and the knees at the top. Many people refer to this as a "Falkner" suspension since Allen Falkner is the first known person to ever attempt this particular configuration. This style is relatively new, but is quickly growing in popularity. It is not considered to be an extremely painful suspension, but the drawbacks include lower back pain and ripping of skin in the areas around the knees. Another factor of this suspension is the increased blood pressure to the brain due to the inverted position, which can lead to disorientation and cause headaches. RESURRECTION SUSPENSION This suspension first done by Life Suspended is a suspension in which the person is held up by hooks, usually in two rows on the abdomen. The name comes from the visual impression that person is rising from dead. Generally this suspension is seen using 6 hooks. However, variations from 8 to 2 points can be done. LOTUS SUSPENSION First attempted by Stelarc, this suspension features the person hanging in a lotus sitting position. Hooks are often placed in the upper back, chest, thighs and calves, but other variation are common such as hooks placed in the knees and sometimes none in the chest. In some cases the lower leg hangs free and this sometimes called a seated suspension. TANDEM SUSPENSION Tandem suspension is hanging one person from hooks in another person that is already suspended. Sometimes this is referred to as a stacked suspension. SPINNING BEAM Although not truly a style per say, this type of suspension refers to two people connected to a beam that rotates on a center point. http://www.suspension.org/suspension.htm
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Black Apple Classifieds LOOKING FOR A DRUMMER: Band: The Hammer of Redemption Main influences: As I lay dying, Meshuggah, August burns Red, Devil Wears Prada, Periphery, Mudvayne, SlipKnoT, Chimaira, Bleeding Through, Impending Doom, Lamb of God, Devil Driver, UnderOath Must be extremely committed, positive, easy to work with, open minded musically, willing to go the extra mile and hardworking. Must be over 18 years of Age, Preferably having own transport, Must have own gear and preferably living in the Johannesburg South Area but this is open to Negotiation. Contact: Brandon Pratt on thorbookings@gmail.com
LOOKING FOR A BASS PLAYER/GUITARIST Band: If Words Could Kill We are in need of a new member (Bass player or Guitarist) for our band. We are a post hard core band from the Kempton Park area. All our influences are different to one another which make us different to most bands. Our vocals are clean with a little bit of screaming in it, our guitars in some songs are technical as well as our bass lines. We do a lot of gigs in the Edenvale, Pretoria and Fourways areas. Some requirements: Must have own equipment, Must have own transport, Must be very dedicated, and Must be 18 or over. Contact: Candice 072 981 6847
Kelly (STU) After graduating from the University of Johannesburg with a degree in Corporate Communication, I decided to take on the world as a Public Relations Officer. I have worked on projects from organizing events, managing websites to the basic needs of marketing, advertising and relationship building. I have an obsession with Metal Music and always have time for a good chick flick, added to this I like long walks on the beach and have had a secret crush on Bon Jovi since I was 9 years old.
Sam (FLASH) I have been studying photography now for 4 years and each day I learn something new. I love live band photography, you never know what could happen on stage or what photos you are going to produce. Also counting the bruises the next day from being stuck in a mosh is an adventure. I am taking an alternative bite - the photographic way. (munch)
Nyx the Black Apple Writer I’ve had a passion for music since I was ye-high to a drum kit. It started with Johnny Cash, Alice Cooper and Deep Purple but I fell in love with metal when I saw the album art (I don’t recall the album) and reckoned anything with that kind of packaging must be worth a listen so I ventured forth to the dark side where I still await delivery of my cookies. When I’m not getting up to sh1t, my favourite place to be is on my soapbox because it’s breezy and has a great view of the stage. Now, where did I leave my beer...
TASTY TAM IS ... Tam Walker is a student at Wits by day, bartender by night. She’s been around the world like your mom’s been around the block. She’s British, so her potty mouth will come as no surprise. She’s from Manchester, but possessing female genetalia presents a major obstacle to her liking the footy. She’s not sorry.
Blogspot: www.tamtufta.blogspot.com