Saturday, July 17, 2010

FOR THE RECORD:

LYINHEART

The band authorities fear


Ted Smalley - vocals, keys
Chris Levine - guitar
Kodie Krypt - bass, vocals
Daniel Dekay - drums, vocals

Tracks: "No One To Blame," "Make Me Crazy," "Break All the Rulz"
(Source: band My Space page. See address below.)


The Lieutenant ripped the dispatch from the printer and ran to the chief's office.


"Chief! Chief!"


The grizzled 30-year veteran looked up from his paperwork. "Boy, you know better than to run in here..."


"I know, sorry! But --" the aide gulped for breath. "But this is BIG!"


The chief reclined. "Let me be the judge."


His hand shaking, the Lieutenant handed him the dispatch.

"LYINHEART?" The chief nearly fell off his chair. "LYINHEART IS COMIN' HERE?"


His shoulders slumping, the Chief trudged to the window. His voice was forlorn, a whisper. "Real peaceful little town, we used to have..."



The four-man metallic crush-league known to quivering officials and raging club-goers alike as LYINHEART erupted in buccolic Iowa -- a technicolored explosion of blood-eyed rock'n'roll fury. And the serrated obstreperousness of their Level 5 sound perpetration is matched spike for mohawk by eye-grabbing visual edge.

"We have a cool show coming up opening for Adler's Appetite at Spicoli's August 13th," Daniel enthused to me. I mentioned I'd be reviewing here the first three songs on the group's My Space page. "Those are actually the 3 songs we have recorded with the new lineup," the drummer said, adding that they had just put up newly-mastered versions. "We also re-recorded bass and drums for 'Make Me Crazy' and I just uploaded that version as well."

The ominously mid-tempo "No One To Blame" prowls on outsider feet. Chris's guitar crunches splenetic threats as Daniel and Kodie keep up spooky, hypnotic voodoo poundings. Ted's masterful vocals soar beyond the universe.

"Make Me Crazy" registers as a sinister tale of tortuous devotion. Another sinister mid-tempo narrative, this one addictively anthemic with crafted-in hooks that linger long after the last notes fade.

Of the three tunes reviewed here, "Break All the Rulz" is perhaps the strongest. It's a full-on metal cheer-anthem. (And when I caught LyinHeart at Waterloo's 13th Step, it was a crowd favorite.) Six strings on fire with chip-on-shoulder passion, high-energy vocals stabbing ever upward, a guitar solo as knowingly articulate as screaming and confrontational.

(The LyinHeart My Space page also features 7 other tracks.)


(Daniel emailed answers to For the Record questions):

1) What's the coolest place(s) to hang out in Iowa?

Our singer Ted should answer this cuz he would likely say strip clubs since he dj's in them!!!

2) Where's your favorite place to play? (Is it the answer to Q1?) Favorite recording studio?

We play Spicoli's Grill/Reverb Rock Garden a lot in Waterloo. They have always been good to us and have given us a lot of great shows with 80's bands. A new bar in Waterloo called The 13th Step is a great little place as well. Favorite studio is definitely Christian Brown's studio outside of Cedar Falls. That's where we always record.

3) Favorite fast food? Favorite beer/drink?

Probably BK and Budweiser!

4) Law you'd most like to see overturned? New law you'd like to see enacted?

I always speed so they should take down all the speed limit signs! No more laws!

5) Other IA bands you'd recommend?


We play with a lot of bands. Trash Platinum, Grave Corps, Beneath The Palace are very close to us!

6) Philosophy of life (in 10 words or less)?

Always believe in what you do, otherwise don't do it.



Band http://www.myspace.com/lyinheart

Fans http://www.myspace.com/lyinheartfans


Video of LyinHeart performing "Hate You" at Spicoli's (Cedar Falls, Iowa):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHRzQ6dn-a4

Video of Failure of Progress and LyinHeart at Club Pyramid (Decorah) 2009:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyB17SKuoWc







end

Thursday, July 8, 2010

FOR THE RECORD

THE KNOBS



Derek Billick, vocals, guitar
Nathaniel Byerly, guitar
Justin Richardson, bass, vocals
Nathan Moody, drums



Latest Release "Rough Cuts," from upcoming album "Everyone Gets a Turn"



tracks: "Zero To Ten"
           "Evicted"
           "Everyone Gets A Turn"

True heartland high-energy heroes. Last May, Oskaloosa's The Knobs opened for Ratt at 7 Flags, and later found themselves on the Summer Jam stage.They rocked out in hectic, sweaty form between Warrant and LA Guns. I caught them at Waterloo's 13th Step a few weeks ago, and was knocked out by their boundless exuberance and the jagged, flashy rock'roll excitement they chainsawed and splayed into every corner of the packed club.

No one in the crowd even cared about the downpour outside!

In just 3 tracks, "Rough Cuts" presents them as a loose-jointed and bombastic outfit well worth rank with the genre luminaries beside whom they rock audiences into delirium. Drawing on 70s and 80s metal influences, they craft an at once distinct and dynamic sound that all but blasts from speakers. Equally adept at high-speed and more measured and sinister tempos, the group already has one boot on the next plateau.


Band http://www.theknobsrock.com

http://www.myspace.com/theknobsofiowa

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Knobs/212714431009

Management/booking http://www.sandsentertainmentonline.com, bsites@hotmail.com
                                        (mgr Brett Sites)

(Thanks to Brett for assisting with this interview. Answers by Justin.)

1) What's the coolest place(s) to hang out in Iowa?

The coolest place to hang out in Iowa is in front of a stage in some bar somewhere where a great band is playing tunes you love!

2) Where's your favorite place to play? (Is it the answer to Q1?) Favorite recording studio?

My favorite place to play is (at this point) 7 Flags Event Center. Whenever we play there we always have a great time and the crowd is always outgoing and receptive.

3) Favorite fast food? Favorite beer/drink?

As far as fast food goes, I must admit I am an Arby's fan. I'm too young for alcohol, so my favorite drink has got to be good old Dr. Pepper.

4) Law you'd most like to see overturned? New law you'd like to see enacted?

I would love to see same-sex marriage laws enacted throughout the United States. The tyranny has gone on far too long!

5) Other IA bands you'd recommend?

I would definitely recommend Dark Mirror, Steve Robinson & the Foundation, and the Brothers Green. They all rock, in their own, unique way.

6) Philosophy of life (in 10 words or less)?

Live free, have fun, and don't hurt anybody. :)

7) QUOTE (on any topic):


"The hell with the rules. If it sounds right, then it is." - Eddie Van Halen


video: "Zero To Ten" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XG_2GD6CjFE




end