Iowa Winter:

Winter in Iowa gets me in the mood for two things:

1.
Writing music: Nothing beats sitting down with a musical instrument and writing some jams and watching the snow pile up outside your window. Maybe its just me, but sometimes it feels like nature and music go hand in hand. So while the weather out side is grimace, then its a great time to stay inside and write some grim tunes.

2.
Listening to Immortal: Yup. Winter+ Songs of the Northern Darkness= Win.


_

Oh and we are recording in March with the legend Chris Brown. Get stoked!

Kreg/AD

35-3

HAWKEYE STATE

Congrats Kyle!!!

Kyle is on the title track for the new folkearth cd!!
Viking metal at its finest!!

The Battle of Ross na Ríg

"The countercharge of defeat is a man's discomfiture;
a rout before his face:
youth unarmed:
followers disarmed:
earnestness of effort of weapon,, to succour:
forgetfulness of honour: running against madmen;
shouting in distress;
meeting in disaster..."


Kreg/AD

Black Metal Valentine/ Immortal Pro Wrestling

I hope you laughed as much as i just did

Kreg/AD

Knights of the Roundtable

Hello All,

Today we are having a bit of a session over here at 727 bluff! Hopefully make some much needed headway on our new songs to be released on our new CD. I am thoroughly excited to get right back into it and make some righteous jams! We are going to make some rough recordings, and possibly a video or two! We may most definitely be posting some clips of some sort on here later this evening!

Keep it free, and keep it legal.

AD

The Road

You should probably read this.

Thanks DB

Band Update

So last weekend we were finally able to get in a pretty successful practice. Although, it still was not a full band practice, Kyle came down with some nasty illness. 102 degree fervor, vomiting, and all around bad stuff. Dex had to work at 10pm so he was catching up on some Zzz's. But Colin, Mark, John, and I ,Kreg, Met up at johns house and did some serious writing.
The first song we worked was based around kyle drum part that he wrote a while ago ( You can check that out via you tube or you can see it in a later post on the blog) This song is shaping up to be something that sounds completely different from anything we have wrote before, but its sounding really good, even for being in the development stage. And since johns practice space is equiped with some ledgit recording stuff, we were able to lay down the basic layer of our new song, so kyle, john, and dex could work their magic on the new tunes.
Then we took a much needed break, went to marshalltowns legendary Taco Johns, and i decided to go to the hardees, which unbeknown to me in marshalltown sucks major ass. So after that we put the finishing touches on the first song, then mark finally came and slayed us with the song he was working on. So we got that recorded too. All in all it was a really sucessful practice. And really looking foward to the next one!
By the way, We have a show This Saturday in Marshalltown! Check www.myspace.com/annodomine for more info!!

The Songs of our Elders.

I don't remember the last time ive been so anxious to write new songs. Lately, I (Kreg) have become great friends with my Computer and my Line 6 UX2. It seems like each day i find myself messing with the effects on this little recording box (most of the effects can be garbage) but ill play something i really enjoy, then before i know it i have the making for a new song. Anyone who enjoys playing guitar should get one( but scrap the recording software with it, its shit.) Along with this little box, and listening to bands like Rhapsody of Fire, Darkest Hour, Funeral Pyre, etc over and over has given me a renued passion for writing, and playing instruments all together. So honestly i think i have been writing the best stuff i ever have. Im really excited to get everyone in the band in the same room and start pumping out some epic stuff. Also i want to brainstorm some orchestrations (anyone who has talkled to me in the past 6 months knows that i have a new found love symphony orchestras) I think i share the same feeling along with everyone else that with this line up, we will write some of the best songs we ever had to date. I personally am just excited that i get to be a part of it.

Prickly Pear Margaritas

Hello Friends,

1/3 of our band is enjoying some much needed vacation time at the moment, including myself (colin) in Queen Creek Arizona! I am out here with my lady friend visiting my sisters, and am having an excellent time to boot! With the exception of me having more alcohol and less water in the Arizona sun than I have ever had last night, the trip has been spectacular! Just a few days left before I land in the midwest again, so we have an action packed last few days! Heres a couple photos of the trip.

If time flows less like a river than an ocean of ice,

let us live our lives with renewed vitality. (Crossbearer)

www.myspace.com/folkearth

John and I are getting together today to start piecing together some skeletons that will become new material. I'm really excited to be playing the piano a lot more, and to be a part of the writing team. Colin and I collaborated a lot on the writing of lyrics so that wont change, and he is still playing his guitar and hammering out parts like always. I think all that is really changing is that we are taking the best each member of this band has to offer and utilizing it. Don't get me wrong, I love the way Buried Sessions turned out and I believe my vocals captured what I was trying to say well; we are all just excited to be using more keyboards, having more active transitions, and getting Colin out in front. Not to mention John Ryan, who will really fill out our sound and bring a different style of writing to AD. In short: EXCITED

P.S. Our drummer Kyle has been recording for his international project, FOLKEARTH on Stygian Crypt records. Check them out on myspace for links to t-shirt and CD sales. We are all cheering him on and know he is going places quick like.

We found the combination

Hello everyone! Just wanted to let everyone know that our show this last friday in Marshalltown Iowa was great! The turnout wasn't quite what Marshalltown normally is, but it was excellent seeing old friends, and making some new ones.


This night was the first time we played with our most recent addition, John Ryan. I really can't say enough good things about this guy. He is a phenomenal guitar player, and an incredible dude to boot. So, without practice together with everyone once, we know without a doubt we have found our best lineup to date as a band. It is very exciting, and I know we are all VERY eager to get back to the studio and make a new record.

Some new friends we met from Chicago illinois were the band, From all with in. (www.myspace.com/fromallwithin) These guys were truly fantastic! They are playing a very awesome and original brand of metalcore, and an almost flawless live performance. They are all out on the road now and I urge anyone and everyone to try and catch them at a show, you won't regret it. Great music, better live performance.

That is all for today kids,
Peace!

Bands with Managers

My friend James played a show last night with his band Reckless Use of Fire. It was good to come to a show being put on in Marshalltown and it was a blast seeing James have a good time on his drum kit once again. I may be singing and playing A.D. songs by piano with them on Monday in Pella, maybe in the haunted basement tomorrow in Des Moines as well- we'll see.

Another highlight, Kyler VK is back from Europe and got to hang out with him last night which was very cool. We hadn't hung out for a couple years, back when my old band My Armageddon and Approaching Nain played together almost every weekend. Good times! Check out his projects Approaching Nain as well as the group that he jammed with last night, Tony Rocky Horror.

It's rainy outside, I got my guitar out of its case, and a mixture David Bazan's syrupy voice (Bands with Managers) and Curb Your Enthusiasm is filling up the entire house- I'm having a good day.
Dex

June 26th!

Turns out we are playing this concert. Its going to be extremely fun!

The red eye

It is much to early in the morning for anyone with a pulse to be up, but I Colin Waters am up restless and preparing for my 4:30 am shift. Rough you must say to yourself? No, I sit on my ass and fold towels for four and half hours, then basically do whatever I want the rest of the day.

In other news, I like staying up "much too late at night". It reminds of simpler times. I also have this odd urge to write music on my guitar at these strange hours, and occasionally something good comes out of it. I do a lot of thinking being up this early during the week, and I think about how eager I am to play new shows, and meet new people. To be honest I was not entirely optimistic about what was going to come of music and I right now, but I thought long and hard to myself and finally came to the conclusion to say, "Fuck it". I will never have this time of my life again, and right now I want to spend it with my friends yelling like an asshole in kids faces. I want to talk to people who will listen, and I want to play the music that has come so far with me. I am tired of all the bullshit. Tired of the "we are too old", the lack of motivation, the drive to just be comfortable. I don't care about all that. I just like playing music that is way too loud, and losing my voice. I am tired of this need to change to whatever will make you original, instead of just playing what comes out of your hands. For anyone who knows me, I have been playing metal for about as long as I've been in bands. And if I wasn't, I was probably 12 years old playing punk rock. The point is I don't give a damn about what is generic or not. I don't give a shit about what phony people say to make themselves feel better about what they are doing. I am colin, and I love to play metal. I love breakdowns, I love sweeping, I love circle pits. That is what I know, and that is what I love. That is what makes me come alive through music.

Good day

The Motorcycle Boy Reigns!

The Packers was having a big rumble with the gang next door. The Motorcycle Boy--he was president--said, "Okay, let's get it straight what we're fighting for."

And everybody was all set to kill or be killed, raring to go, and some cat-- I forget his name, he's in prison now-- said, "We're fighting to own this street."

And the Motorcycle Boy said, "Bull. We're fighting for fun."

Dylan, Dylan, Dylan

So there is this kid named Dylan. He lives in Tama, he drives a trashed car, he skates, works an awful job, plays in a cool band, and jams and collects amazing records. We started texting and bouncing stuff off of each other right around the time we recorded with Chris, and he has awoken the punk in me. He has been working on a tight text documentary on the life of the band Modern Life is War and has already conducted amazing interviews with those guys and the great people surrounding that band. Support him, and Beg for the release of those interviews!

Check out his band, www.myspace.com/foruskids They will be recording their first jams soon.

He blogs at, thingsweleavebehind.blogspot.com: I'll force him to start blogging about his MLIW doc.

Also, he got me curious on the writing of S.E Hinton and I just got Rumble Fish and The Outsiders paperback. Really awsome books, check them out.

In other news my friend Matt Schmitz of the band Former Thieves is entering the studio for a week starting today. Check out that band and keep up with their myspace to get a taste of what's being created. www.myspace.com/formerthieves

No news from the AD camp today. However, Colin and Kyle are getting a house in two days which means we will have a place to write and practice!

Dont quit your day job

The kid can play the drums....
This is a little of the new stuff Kyle brought to the table today.

Soul Food

Some music that is filling my gaps right now:

Modern Life is War: Midnight in America

Only Crime: Virulence

Pedro the Lion: It's Hard to Find a Friend

Atmosphere: Bad Summer Number 9

Great reads:

Bukowski: ...As much as i hate to use the "F" word.

Moanin' at Midnight: The Life and Times of Howlin' Wolf

Other News:

I saw the Beat Strings play at The Hub a couple nights back. A lot of people I invited to come had plans but my wife Andi, friend Nick, and I took a back seat and enjoyed the jams. If you haven't taken the time, or have never heard of them, head over to their myspace. (myspace.com/beatstrings) They have a great and original sound and you can't help but move those hips to it!

Tour dates for the summer will be posted soon!

It's not a party if it happens every night

I got together with Colin for a two man practice. Kyle had plans, Mark was in Ames doing what he does best, and... come to think of it I have no clue where Kreg was at.

Anyways, we are back in writing mode and it feels really good. We are making some undisclosed and not yet finalized changes that we are confident will lead to better things. I think we'll have a better handle on it in the next few days.

As for the now: We are pumping out the best jams of our lives, and it feels good.

Currently Listening to:
Old Scratch Revival Singers; Oh, didn't he ramble

"You better get to prayin' when the tall man comes"

Great Local Shows Coming Up!

There is going to a couple great shows in the next few weeks. Support your local bands, keep touring bands on the road.

Waterloo

I Moved to the CF/Waterloo area last year and was amazingly impressed with the scene and consistant pressence of kids at shows. It is refreshing to see a group of kids so sold out on local music and putting a lot of themselves in their scene. That said, the amvets post 49 in Waterloo was a blast to play recently and we want to say thanks to all the kids who came out and listened to us. There were a lot of talented acts playing and we enjoyed the jams.

The Haunted Basement- 3/27/09

We played a show a couple weeks back at the haunted basement. It was a way good time in many ways. First, the guys that live there are super cool and do a great job of running things. Second, we go to play with our great friends Approaching Nain and made new friends touring from Omaha. If you see a show that is going down over there, support those guys and the awsome things they are doing.

Lyrics

track 1. Intro
track 2.The wrecking coast
We sail on giant wooden ships. Sturdy vessels that are ready to conquer the fiercest of winds and the largest of waves- all brought on by our selfish sins and foolish pride. Reflecting on the mistakes of our lives.And at night it feels as if our dreams are alive, taking us to better times. Away from the fate of 100 men set out to sea never to be seen again.Out into a sea that no man knows, on the day we meet the wrecking coast.
track 3.David
And it seems that the weight of the world is hanging upon my shoulders, and the prophets are calling my failures to come. In these times of sheer confusion, I'm defining who I am by whats become of me. I forget that my transgressions are as vast as the seas and have become unseen. So, You are the only thing that defines me-from the smallness man to infinity. And all the ambitions of man fit within in your hand and we are subject to your rule- no matter how just you may be, it seems confusing. Just help me to understand the role of mankind. I need to be assured that there is something more than this life of turmoil.
track 4.This is the unknown
I've spent my life in search of something more- unattainable things. But all I could find was lost hope in mortal men who though to end there lives by spending more and more time waiting for death to come. Why does life have to be a burden for such wealthy people? It just seems so simple to me just live off whats free.Kids these days seem to grasp a hold of unattainable things. And it makes me cringe to see those of lesser faith try and rip it all away.Such unseen faith in unseen things!- and I wish that i could be one of them, and hold such high expectations. So I've set goals to ensure that my life wouldn't end before it began- and it hasn't, and it has. But it's all the same. In search of something more.
track 5.The legacy ghosts
My family watched on as the greed of a few men pushed its way in and trampled the crops that my great grandfathers had grown.It was a long time ago. A time of prohibition, wind up clocks, and the radio. And they looked within but all they could do was listen, as my father preached on and on about how God gave way to life's waves as a means of punishment for our sins.You see, we're taught to believe that teachers teach and preachers preach- and through them we can hear from God.But he made a mistake, and when my grandfather played he sang amazing songs- and now we call can sing along about how"The road to hell is paved with all the items we take to the grave with us- like diamonds and other precious jewels. But those of who choose God's grace and wish to see our saviors face, when we get down to our own graves all thats left will be our bones."And these legacy ghosts left us these songs that we can sing along, about how we're moving on and you can take the ground beneath us but you can never take our dreams.
track 6.Transcend
100,000 angels occupy all of my dreams, and I sense my shifting into accordance with the songs that they sing.Whats been whipspered in darkness they bring to me. All the truths of the world they combine to shed light upon me, and the wretch of a man I am.And the cost of my own ambitions is sending me further away from heaven's glory.When you were young you heard of very old men awoken from sleep, to find that they had done everything wrong.So while you're young, try to take heed to your thoughts- push back whatever entangles your hearts and stick to the narrow path.
track 7.The buried sessions
I wish to end these buried sessions, but I am just a person. These chains keep me from my freedom, but these songs might just hold the key. To acknowledge there's something bigger, and that it might possibly want me. I find hope in these troubled times. These times of silence give me peace.
And in the end I'll call St. Peter, to be waiting at the gate, for if I enter I'll need a friend to carry me.

Anno Domine

This band is a product of several previous bands, tons of amazing shows, even more shit shows, and a need to make music a part of our lives. We've been around for quite awhile, but we're getting ready to dig in and move forward. Our first release came out a few months back, it's called The Buried Sessions. We are just a handful of guys that love the midwest and the music made here.