Til Death-Photograhs

Self-Release/Independent
2017

Formed from the ashes of Ohio’s own The Approach and the Execution, Till Death is a four-piece heavy rock/metal band from California that is starting to make a name for itself. The group is lead by vocalist/lyricist Mike Notte* and in addition to being a finalist in The Battle For Warped Tour 2017, Til Death was recently featured in Alternative Press magazine as part of the "10 up-and-coming heavy bands that you need to check out". Skilled-musicians Dalton Jamies (guitars), Nick Kozono (bass), and Travis Knalson (drums) round things out for this modern and fresh outfit that is is everything that one could  hope for given the group's background! Produced, engineered, and mixed by Charles "Kallaghan" Massabo, "Photographs" is the strong studio debut for this talented young act and it was just released last month. Til Death's first release is a EP that includes not only the deeply-personal and reflective title cut, but the songs "Never Be Broken", "Ghost In Old Sin City", and "For The Wolves". Aided by guest members of the French outfit Ze Gran Zef (backing vocals), Chris Westfall (guitar solo on the title track), and producer Charles "Kallghan" Massabo (additional guitars and synthesizers), Til Death has crafted a rich and rewarding debut that is bound to turn more than a few heads. Thanks to influences that seem to run the gamut from (street fighting) hard rock to (alternative-tinged) hard and heavy modern metal, “Photograghs” should also appeal to a wide range of tastes! Strong songwriting and impressive performances from all of the musicians helps make this EP stand out from all of the competition. It will be interesting to see where Til Death goes from here, but as far as debuts go you could’ve ask for anything better than this.


*The clean and crystal clear vocal delivery of front-man Mike Notte is a real bonus.

The Approach and the Execution-Kings Among Runaways

Self-Release/Independent
2014

This Saturday, March 1st, 2014 to be exact (tomorrow friends!), Cleveland epic metal band The Approach and the Execution will have their album release party for "Kings Among Runaways" at the Agora Ballroom in Cleveland, Ohio. It will also serve as their last Cleveland show (at least for awhile!) as the band has recently packed their bags and headed out west for the warm California sun. Opening acts scheduled for the event include Deadiron, Ruins of Tekoah, Purveyors of Fiction, Dynamite Thunderpunch, Between Hell And High Water and Caves. I mention all of this up-front so that fans and friends of the band can come and say their proper fair-wells and send off  what has been one of Ohio's most friendly and down to Earth metal bands in style! So, if you're in the area and want to experience what promises to be a spectacular night of metal then by all means head on down to the Agora Ballroom! Doors open at 7pm! With all of that said let's take a sneak peek at "Kings Among Runaways", the second over-all full-length release from The Approach and the Execution that was funded by fans thanks to Kickstarter. As we all know sophomore releases can be hit or miss. Especially when a band has undertaken line-up changes and there has been a four-year gap between albums! Last time we checked in with this lot (2010's "The Blood March") they were fronted by guitarist Jeremy Richard and had wonderful female backing vocals courtesy of keyboardist Julie Peterson. Both musicians are now gone (along with then drummer Riley Kovac) although (ragging metal maniac turned second grade teacher) Jeremy Richard does stop by on "Kings Among Runaways" to say "Hey". Up-front on the mic we now have founding member Mike Notte (who also handles guitars) and with two other holdovers (lead guitarist Andy Fischer and bass guitarist/vocalist Nick Kozono) being joined by two new members (guitarist/vocalist Sam Wilson and drummer Gabe Dickey) everything is firmly in place. Or at least it was for the recording of this album*. Opening strong with "The Warrior's Psalm" we find The Approach and the Execution once again taking the best parts of classic metal bands like Iron Maiden, Armored Saint, Black Sabbath, Manowar and Judas Priest and, after adding elements from the likes of Trivium, Protest The Hero, Slayer, Coheed and Cambria, Megadeth and Killswitch Engage, unleashing epic and unrelenting heavy metal that is remarkably all their own! Long ago guitarist Andy Fisher established his own key-style of playing and his trademark lead solos explode over the course of this 9-track epic metal release! Besides new cuts like "The Warrior's Psalm", "A Graveyard Marked For Two" (an early fave cut!) and the title cut (which can be heard at the bandcamp link below) album number two comes packed with a re-recorded version of "The Plague Knows No Prejudice" and the previously released single "Hymn Of Victory" (from May of 2013). Minus the female backing vocals of the lovely Julie Peterson, whose presence is sometimes missed on "Kings Among Runaways", "The Plague Knows No Prejudice" comes across as way more brutal. And speaking of brutal, "Ghost Pilot" closes "Kings Among Runaways" in proper style, heavy & crushing(!), making one appreciate just how effective it is when you book-end exception tracks as openers and closes! Of course in-between those two numbers there's plenty of meat and potato metal numbers like the title cut (feat. guest vocals from Deadiron's Alexander Van Ness) and previously-released single "Hymn Of Victory". What helps an album like "Kings Among Runaways" work so well is how everyone shines in their collective moment in the spot-light. Mike's voice is clean and clear and everything, whether we are talking about Fisher's leads or the tight rhythm section of Kozono and Dickey, just gels. The excellent "Faith Aligned" is a prime example of this. Here Mike's singing is cushioned by the smooth combination of progressive and epic metal and, even at 7 minutes in length, it moves along at such a nice brisk pace that there is never a fear that it might end up losing the listeners' attention! All in all "Kings Among Runaways" is everything a sophomore release should be. It shows necessary growth while remembering where it is that it's roots are planted at. Where this band will go next only time will tell. But, based upon the strength of "Kings Among Runaways" I'd say that the west coast better be ready for what's heading their way!

* With the move out west there will naturally be more line-up changes, but that's another story for another time!

http://theapproachandtheexecution.bandcamp.com/track/kings-among-runaways-2

Flyer for tomorrow night's show!

The Approach And The Execution Kickstarter campaign (Urgent Update!!!)

Cleveland's The Approach And The Execution The Approach And The Execution are looking for help in funding album number two. Faithful readers will no doubt recall that I have covered this excellent metal band in the past and have also considered them to be friends. As usually with these kind of  Kickstarter campaigns there are all sorts of goodies for those who can and do help out. Having heard some of the new material live I can tell you that it carries the same kind of spirit as album number one, "The Blood March". That being said, album number two for these Cleveland metal maniacs (with the working title of "Kings Among Runaways") should see the band move in a new, and more then likely exciting, direction as there has been some line-up changes between the release of "The Blood March" and now. You can find out more about the new album and how you can help to be a part of it by visiting the link posted below. On behalf on the band I'd like to thank everyone ahead of time for anything they can do to help fund this new album by possibly one of the nicest and most humble group of musicians I have ever had the pleasure of being friends with!

**Update! With just 3 days to go before their campaign is closed the band finds itself only half way towards it's total goal! With nearly half of their goal still to go now is the time to show your support for local talent! Whether you live in Ohio or not underground bands like The Approach And The Execution are what keeps true heavy metal alive. Often times these bands hold down full-time jobs at the same time that they give 100% of their efforts to their music. I know first-hand the dedication that these Cleveland-based musicians put into their music and without some outside help they will not be able to take that next step. Any amount will help, even $1.00! Please help if you can as The Approach And The Execution are one of the nicest and humblest bands I know while they are also one of the more extreme providers of epic metal! Their campaign fund will stop at Thursday night so now is the time to show how much excellent unsigned talent like this means to the heavy metal community at large. On behalf of the band I thank you in advance for the consideration.


http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/560392044/1049923668?token=7766c671

The Approach and The Execution-"Hymn Of Victory" (Single)

 

Self-Release/Independent
2013

It's hard to fathom, but it's been 2 years already since Cleveland's The Approach and The Execution last released new music. That's 2, yes 2,  L-O-N-G years for fans to have to wait to for new material, but now, with this new single and new line-up in place, this Cleveland 5-piece are marching back into battle with the appropriately named new track "Hymn Of Victory". Since we last heard The Approach and The Execution on tape they've lost a few members, vocalist/Jeremy Richard, keyboardist/vocalists Julie Peterson and drummer Riley Kovac have all excited the group, but they've gained the services of guitarist/vocalist Sam Wilson and drummer Gabe Dickey. All in all it's more then an equal trade. With "Hymn Of Victory" it's more of the same for this Cleveland band. In other words the group's new single is epic power metal by way of melodic death metal and metalcore. While the keyboards that were present on "The Blood March" are somewhat missed, as well as Julie Peterson's lovely vocals, it's more of an adjustment hearing guitarist/vocalist Mike Notte take over for vocalist/guitarist Jeremy. As Jeremy was an extremely capable and charismatic lead man he will obviously be missed. That said, Mike Notte has managed to take the reins quite nicely as evident by this new single. Available as a free download (link below), "Hymn Of Victory" will be just one of the band's 4 new tracks that Clevelanders will get to hear when the band rolls into Peabody's Down Under on Saturday, May 18th. Take it from me the band, who will be playing with Ruled by Reason, Midnight Buford, Black Valor, Vicious Delicious, Beat to Quarters   , always put on a killer show so this one is not to be missed! You can find out more about the band at their Facebook page below and be sure to check out their new single as they are hoping to get 1,000 downloads before Sunday, May 11th!
  

https://www.facebook.com/TheApproachandTheExecution

http://theapproachandtheexecution.bandcamp.com/

Interview with Mike Notte of The Approach and the Execution

The "No drummer No problem!" promo pic!

A rare glimpse at the wild and crazy animal known as Mikey in it's natural setting!

It's been awhile since we last checked in with Akron's own The Approach and The Execution so I decided to play catch-up with vocalist/guitarist (and all around cool guy) Mike "Mikey" Notte to see what the word is. Since my last interview with the group (link below boys and girls) the band has had a bit of a shake-up in the line-up. Julie Peterson (vocals/keys) and Riley Kovac (drums) are out and in there place are Sam Wilson and Gabe Dickey respectfully. Well, that isn't quite accurate as Sam joins fellow guitarists Mike Notte and Andy Fisher. Three guitarists you might be asking? Yep. And yes, it does make the band all the more epic. It's a wall of guitars and it is good...damn good. With lyricist Jeremy Langham dropping his guitar in favor of lead vocals only (which is a natural fit for him anyway) and the dependable Nick Kozono handling bass duties the band seems poised to take that next step. According to Mike the new album is "coming along steadily, but at a slower pace than we anticipated. We are making sure that every song can stand on it's own feet and not get lost in the mix of the entirety of the album." With a few songs already  "on the drawing board" the follow-up to "The Blood March" will no doubt be epic. One of the newest songs, "Hymn of Victory", has been well received by fans. The Approach and the Execution plan to release the new single it as a free download in "Late Winter/Early Spring" with the new album hopefully dropping in Summer of 2013.While sadly we don't have access to time travel yet (otherwise I'd skip ahead to next summer so I could hear the album!) you do have an opportunity to hear new music in a live setting. The band is looking at playing at the Agora Theater this Friday (Oct. 19th) with Skeletonwitch (no doubt that would be a killer show!) and have an opening slot on the works for Peabodys on Nov 17th. Having seen the band live I can honestly say they give 100% effort and play with conviction and intensity. Trust me folks their shows never disappoint. For information and tickets to the Skeletonwitch show be sure to visit the band's online store at www.theapproachandtheexecution.bigcartel.com. For information about the Agora show be sure to drop the band a message on their Facebook page. And, if for some unknown and unreal reason, you have not heard "The Blood March" it is available for a mere $5.00 at the group's online store! That's right, this killer LP is on sale for only $5.00! How often do you have a chance to pick up a CD like this (you can read my review at the link below) chock-full of epic music and all for the price of a $5.00 foot long? Not very often that's for sure! There are also cool t-shirts to be found at the store as well. And just in time for Christmas! So, do yourself a favor and check out the band live and be sure to spoil the people that you love this year on Christmas with goodies from your friends in The Approach and the Execution!

http://metalmark.blogspot.com/search?q=the+approach+and+the+execution-the+blood+march