After several features here - including Interviews and a review of their new album a few months ago by Andreas Schiffmann, do I need to present STONE MAGNUM again ? Well, in a few words, S.M. is a five piece Heavy/Doom Metal band from the Chicago area founded by much respectful Dean Tavernier of Skullview ... and if you're not aware of their 80's Heavy Metal infused form of Doom, this special edition of their last album "From Time...To Eternity" released this month by Witches Brew - includes the brilliant self-titled debut album (for the first time on CD) as kind of (very) special bonus and is a perfect introduction to the band, also this is an essential purchase for the fans as a unique piece, gathering both albums with lyrics and separated booklets including nice artworks and pics of the vertical quintet... !!!
Where the debut contains an underlying feeling of bleakness and negative sounding with at times rough anger and despair in the delivery - including from vocalist of the time Dean Tavernier, new album is finding a surgical balance between ominous and dynamic pieces of cursed and nasty Metal. An evolution in the overall mood and in cohesiveness after some line-up changes.
From the 1st notes of the opening title track, things are as obvious as the cover let suggest, we're in here for a real trip in the true grand Metal court - the one of no stretched-to-sleep droning riffs, no extravaganza, no keys, no precious chorus... Stone Magnum is rather consisting in an overwhelming abundance of slow to mid-paced rolling metallic Doom played with a lot of integrity and tightness, filled with tense atmospheres within a perfect representation of obscure Heavy Metal codes where guitars and vocals predomine but always to serve the composition and never turn demonstrative or as a perpetual duality. The delivery is faultless, nothing akward, it clearly hides lots of hours composing, harmonizing lyrics and melodies and this you can hear and are used to if you know the Tavernier's manic-sharp style of 80's guitar attack, it's just that in Stone Magnum he magnifies his darkest side and this time the dude has found a pefect team of old brigants (great work of the whole rythmic section really) - respect to all of them cause each song is here a pure flow of heavy pounding hooks making you headbang hypnotically in a fusional sweating bath of doom !!! An association of names is nothing without unity and collective faith in your own sound, in that sense it's really palpable that with this album Stone Magnum made a big step forward...
There's a foreboding atmosphere on 'From Time...To Eternity' which makes songs sounding much darker and crafted collectively too. Dean is still on guitar naturally and compose + write lyrics for a great part but the comings of ex Kommandant's Nick Hernandez and Ben Elliot on bass ('Lonely God') have strengthened the band's identity.
Hernandez is vocally very close a reference of the genre - Johan Langquist (listen 'the Gallows of Ohrdruf', that's impressive) and finds here a perfect playground in the traditional yet refined soundscapes of his comparse, not only Candlemass comes to mind but also Black Sabbath (Heaven and Hell period), Trouble, Rainbow, Solitude Aeturnus... But he's not trying to clone anyone, it fits just so well with the music and probably is that his latin origins coupled with woeful stories to tell about (those rolling rrrr are amazing - especially on a very vocal-driven melodic song like 'By an Omen I went') or simply he has an awesome voice - in any cases now I understand why Dean was so deeply convinced of the benefit resulting from his introduction! I can not end without coming back on the very nice addition of the first album which was a pretty memorable debut and deserved a CD treatment - 'Fallen Priest', 'Savior in Black', 'Grave of Cryptic Sorrows', argh I still fucking dig those ones... thanx to Witches Brew for this nice and essential release of masterful haunting Metal !!! http://www.witchesbrewthrashes.de/ https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stone-Magnum/182549458436679 https://www.facebook.com/witchesbrewthrashes
Founded in 2010 only, this Indiana/Chicago-based group is relatively new on the Doom scene, yet sounds as (positively) old as you can imagine - and for a reason: Stone Magnum features Skullview's guitarist Dean Tavernier and Nick Hernandez, formerly of Chicago-crazies Kommandant, so with their second album, expect some sluggish Metal goodness from the back row of Metal-stardom.
The title track of "From Time ... To Eternity" sets the overall tone. The band's music is best described as unassuming epic Doom, meaning that Stone Magnum cling to long-winded song structures, yet without all the drama and pathos that can make this type of sound awkward and pretentious at times. Plus, there is a significant amount of straightforward old school Metal within, as you can imagine with respect to the members' background. Just take "In The Garden Of Beast" with its sudden upward shift of gear (as it happens time and again on the record) and tremolo picking as we know it from Scandinavia's satanic brigades. Add Hernandez enchanting, but beefy voice, and you have the mystical flair of groups like Raven Black Night (the singer doesn't get on your nerves like theirs, though) or Nightmares End (if you happen to know these Siegen Records artists).
As much as these tracks belie expectations of catchiness, they display their' composers focus and intelligence with respect to building up suspense as well as creating emotion, which - of course - is essential in any case and successful not least due to the frontman. Without him, the tunes would probably maintain their narrative character, yet you would not want to listen to the words while at the same time, the often unspectacular riffs (big exception: the rocker "Lonely God" with its intervowen bass and guitar leads) would turn you off. As it is though, Stone Magnum turns out to be a whole unit, the constituents of which are all indispensable. You hardly find a rhythm section that beats it out with so few frills but still as convincing as during the bridge of highlight "In Tongues They Whisper", whereas on the other hand, the mesmerising "The Gallows Of Ohrduf" could even be called a hint at progressive Rock in terms of arrangement.
All in all - "Uncontained" is a driving headbanger and probably the band's most compact song - Stone Magnum do better on their sophomore than on their 2012 debut, while not a few other bands, especially in this genre, lose momentum as they run out of ideas. To get into the ones of these musicians here though, you have to listen closely, so no immediate reward ... yet who needs that anyway?
One year after the release of its brillant debut album, STONE MAGNUM are actually working hard on new material... enough interesting to think about a new interview, added to some legitimate questions about the line-up changes, tricky but finally ultimately well-managed ! All conditions seem now up to put out another masterpiece of ultra Heavy Doom Metal filled with dirge pace of doom-laden riffs and raspy vocals. An evocative fact is that this band is able to play such awesome festivals as Days of The Doomed and Stoner Hands of Doom, some European dates now would be cool ! European or not, you got to believe me that STONE MAGNUM deserve attention and respect from all authentic Doom Metal fans especially those with a METAL heart !!! A couple of days ago, I was on line with Dean Tavernier (guitars), as we do enjoy to regularly, and proposed him to formalize a bit more this time our following chat... which he willingly agreed with a nice enthusiasm, authenticity and lots of cool things to tell about :
Hey Dean… thanx for accepting this little chat to get news of Stone Magnum, it’s cool to have you again in the confessional of the Temple, hahaha ! What’s new at the moment , isn’t the winter too cold and doomy around Chicago ?
Thanks Stephane, it's good to talk with you about metal. You are correct, the winter has finally showed it's real face here around the Chicago region. It's been cold and we finally have some respectable snow, at least in my area.
As far as new happenings... Getting ready to do some studio work in a couple hours...going to lay down some bass tracks on some new records tonight, we are hoping to get something released in the spring...so we are working on that now.
Cool, but let me come back if possible on last year's events... At about the same time of the album release you recruited Nick Hernandez on vocals, something to tell you the truth that I still have difficulties to understand when listening the quality of your vocals which will in my opinion always remain through this album, I know the fact of recruited a singer was mostly towards live playing considerations but shit that miserable tone of yours is so awesome… has it been something obvious to admit for you that need of changing the vocal duties, did you finally take pleasure with this new way of interpretation ?
Well, thanks for your kind words about my own vocal style. It was really a stretch for me to really make my voice effective in this band, at least in my opinion. So we started looking for someone who could do an effective job. We did try some other guys here and there...and the result we thought was that it didn't improve the sound enough, so I just continued.
When Nick came available and we got together and started working together and sharing ideas, it seemed really comfortable. Nick and I are alot alike in alot of ways...our viewpoints on certain things are aligned.
But I think he excels in more critical areas vocally than what I do and is similar in some respects. His style and sound is less Ozzy influenced obviously, his melodic voice is tonally better than mine, but I think he and I share that same raspy styled voices that aren't too far different from each other.
A few months after, you recorded a demo with the new line-up including 3 songs of the album, this was mainly to promotional purpose, to make people sure to know that Nick Hernandez was now the definitive singer of Stone Magnum, but this could have been a bit disconcerting for fans to get new version of songs that worked out really great on the album they were enjoying at about the same moment ?
About releasing the promo tracks for our fans to hear...I think at that time we were eager to present the band in the same format that people would be witnessing live
And there is no official physical release...it's simply a download...and it's free...so it seemed logical to put it out there to quell some of the curiosity about how different vocals would sound.
The other aspect, I always liked hearing alternate singers on songs...Candlemass has done this on multiple occasions.
This promo is great naturally and Nick’s vocals rule, a bit more incisive than yours while I think he took attention not to be too different from your original interpretation, what’s his background ? Does he maybe sing a bit differently on his songs now ? who wrote the lyrics for new songs ?
Ithink Nick didn't stray too far away from the original versions of the songs, but he did put his own stylizations on it too...
Nick has sang in a few bands in the past...and all of them have been vastly different than what we are doing in Stone Magnum
He was in Violent Wisdom singing in a thrash metal style..then he was in Dysphoria singing death metal...and most recently he was singing for Kommandant who are best described as black metal.So, what he's doing now in Stone Magnum is just another showcase of his abilities that maybe he didn't get to explore previously.
The lyrics for the new songs are a combination of Nick and Myslelf. We even actually sit down and write lyrics together on many of the new songs.
Your number of fans has logically but considerably increased on fb, is that due to chilean pussies or did Nick almost have a kind of fan-base who now support S.M. ?
Ha ha...I don't judge the FB traffic as legitimate interest in the band. I think alot of people click the like button as a result of FB advertising promotions.
I see alot of very non metal people hitting the like button from countries that you don't normally think has a strong metal following. Maybe they do...but i think it's just FB promotional b.s.
I think our real fan base is still very small...and that is due to lack of actively promoting our band. We haven't toured, and we are not sending away hundreds of physical promotional packages and buying ad space in publications...so really only those who follow stone magnum are people who seek out their music in the underground.
Your right that's certainly a wrong indicator, some more concrete numbers would come from bandcamp then, what's the results from that ? is there a good proportions of download or do people listen a couple of songs on streaming and then go on something else ... ?
I think bandcamp is a good indicator as far as those downloads go. We've had over 2500 hits there.
But I think the total number of downloaders has been less than half of that
I'm not worried about those numbers...most of those numbers are kids just looking for free music anyway...and that is fine by me.
I'm more concerned with our name rising in the metal underground and within the genres that we are associated with.
At some point I remember you told me about a new re-recorded version of the album with Nick Hernandez re-recording all vocals, why didn’t this happen ? You didn’t totally forget this idea as I’ve just read in a recent interview of yours that you intend to include a few of those songs re-recorded on a the 2nd album, will those be the same as on the promo ?
We did intend on releasing album version with the new Vocalist...but that seems lazy on our part. We want to continue moving forward, so we've been concentrating on newer songs. But we do have plans on making some, not all, of the debut album tracks available on future releases
There was aso a reference to a possible EP... ?
Well, yes, it's something we've been trying to figure out. Possibly a long EP with 4 or 5 new songs, and 2 or 3 old songs, and possibly a cover.
Or, we also have the option of doing a full length with bonus tracks...we just haven't figured out which way to go as of yet. We do intend on making CD available on our next release
The latest song you composed for the debut album was a bit different, more “heaven and hell” oriented than older Sabbath and there’s another new song you sent me some weeks ago which was in the same mood, does it mean in a sense that the obscure period you were living in personally a couple of years ago is now behind you ?
Well, things have definatley moved in another direction for me. Alot of the struggles from previously have been overcome, but there are always obstacles waiting in line to take their place.
So it never ends...how this affects the writing and sound of the music remains to be seen. I think the music hasn't changed all that much since that last track was composed that didn't make it on the album.
I think the music is still identifiable as Stone Magnum...but I believe the music is a bit more uptempo at times, but I think our slower passages are slower and more punishing.
I was mainly thinking about the fact that you said that originally part of the songs you composed on the album weren't supposed to be for another band than Skullview but the moments you were living made the songs turn different, a lot doomier than your usual compositions ...
True indeed, that is where the doomier element came from initially. I'm actively writing songs all the time. Depending on the influences of that particular time that I'm writing, it kind of dictates if the stuff being written on that particular session will develop into Magnum tracks or would they be more fitting for something else....
So, I have my good days nad my bad days...and logically the bad days are more suited to write Magnum material....so it really isn't any different..it's just more conscious
What about next live gigs planed ? next Stoner hands of Doom ? Does it make a lot of change to just play guitar now, do you have a more relaxed approach ?!
We had some shows lined up for spring and summer, but strange occurrences caused these shows to end up not happening. So right now, the next live thing is SHOD in November. But we'll get something lined up for sure in spring and summer.
I don't think I have a more relaxed approach, which I would think would naturally happen since I've stopped doing vocals. I can really get into the songs more, more intense when I play, so it still has it's inate challenges.
Let's talk about a very different subject, you told me once that you don't like much Doom with female vocals in general, is there any exception to this and what does annoy you in them ?
So far, i haven't heard any female fronted doom bands that have blown me away. I don't especially haven't anything against them, it's just not my favorite vibe
So what did blow you away in 2012 from doom to death and thrash as usual ?
I think my favorite album from 2012 was Dawnbringer's "Into The Lair of The Sungod". It really is great traditional heavy metal to my ears
Also Nocturnal Torment "They Come At Night" is pulverizing, unrelenting death/thrash...technical, aggressive and does not let up.
Ok, I need to contradict myself on the female doom band...because Winhand's album was quite good...is their singer a woman?
Yes ! ... You said you gonna record some bass tracks ? what's the name of the song you'll work on ?
Ben is coming to the studio tonight to record bass tracks on some new material. Hopefully we'll get a few songs done tonight. Some of the songs to work on are Lonely God, In Tongues They Whisper, Uncontained, From Time...To Eternity
Back to Windhand, very good album from 2012. I think the vocals remain somewhat background and is overidden by the heaviness and the cool riffs and atmosphere they create.
I have my own studio here at my home. I record our material, and i've recorded some albums from other bands here. The studio goes under the monicker of Bruised and Battered Studios...
And what about next album release, who are you going to work with and on which formats ?
Right now the plan is to release CD for the next release, and perhaps vinyl as well. Currently we are still working with RIP Records, so the assumption is that we will release the next release with RIP. If other opportunities present themselves, then we have something to think about.
I guess what I'm saying is that we are not shopping our product around. We are not a store...if someone is interested in what we do, they have many ways to be able to contact us. Things have a way of working themselves out if it is intended to be a certain way.
we have our few channels of letting people know what we are about and what we have, but we're not going to try to cram it down everyone's throats.
I'm proud to be a part of those channels, he :) well, there's maybe something special you'd like to talk about mate !?
You are a BIG channel for us Stephane, and we really do appreciate the support you've given Stone Magnum. The people that follow Temple Of Perdition are the type of people we welcome to support Stone Magnum.
We could sit and talk about Epicus Doomicus Metallicus for hours if you'd like, ha ha.
That's flattering thanx ! oh, one thing we still have to do is that common review, write while listening some new stuff at the same time, as planed
That's is the most special doom metal album I think there is, ha and maybe one of the most special metal albums in general
But it's a bit late now and I'm pretty stoned once again :(
which is what makes it so great.
Oh sure, don't wanna make you too envious but that gig at Roadburn in 2011 playing all the album with original singer, this was huge ! You are feeling pretty good then it sounds. Perhaps you should put that on your player as you fall asleep tonight...the perfect soundtrack for the night. You saw that? I do envy you...that would be an amazing event to see. And about that common review...that is still in my plans...it will happen
I hope !
Hey Steph, I have to run and get started on the reording session here soon
Ok, i think this makes something pretty cool and informative, what do you think ? Absolutely, this is the way I like to do an interview...interesting questions, and just a regular conversation. I think this is a good compromise and we don't have to hear my fucked-up accent , haha ! ha ha ha...you may think i have the fucked up accent brother..ha Thanx a lot for this good time, have fun recording noise ;) Thanks again Stephane for the awesome chat and for your undying support for our band!
After the godly "Locksmith of misery" which has been pretty much shared on the web, here's a new video from the awesome STONE MAGNUM; this one is called "Grave of Cryptic Sorrows" and is on Youtube for just a few hours !!! Listen to this song from their amazing first album to be soon released, this is top notch Epic Trad' DOOM...
for those who missed it, find an interview which I did in Sept 2011 with Dean Tavernier (guit/voc) : HERE
like them on FB, buy a cool T-shirt, save money for one of the best albums of 2012... Support STONE MAGNUM !!!
I already presented you this killer new band from Michigan city (Indiana- USA) about 3 months ago, their debut album is now about to be released on RIP rds and you'd better check it out if you doubt that the magic formula "epicus, doomicus, metallicus" can be applied to another band than Candlemass (and just a few others), this is music to revive your doomed METAL soul ! These just three words fit perfectly well to describe S.M. style, nothing more to add except that obviously we've got here a very developped musicianship which will reconciliate all DOOM metal fans with oustanding guitar solos, melodic harmonies and awesome epicness... Ultra motivated, Dean Tavernier (voc/guit) has a lot to tell about this new project that for sure won't be a short lived affair, and believe me this is damn interesting...
* The album starts with a very quiet song, pretty different from the rest , still metal and melodic but not really epic or trad doom... how do you explain this choice ? you told me that there's another song to record and add to the album which will be also pretty different from the rest, somekind of "heaven and hell" like stuff, will it be the last song ?
(Steph…the songs I sent to you are not in the final order as will appear on the album.Am I Really Insane? Is actually going to be the final song on the album, so I’ll construct my answer to the question differently.)
The song you are referring to is “Am I Really Insane?”.It is definitely a different type of song from the others.It’s quiet at the beginning…very mellow sounding with the clean accoustic guitars at the beginning, but then it kicks into a slow to midpaced ending. It’s really a song dealing with one’s own sanity.I think it’s a good song, as it really is very introspective for me and captures a lot of the emotion that inspired me to write this song.It used to be mellow and clean throughout the song’s entirety until Jim added his guitar solo…then the song transformed into what it is today.One thing to keep in mind is that initially when the first few songs I started writing were being created I didn’t’ have any goal to make a doom metal record.I was simply writing songs on inspiration and feelings with no intent in mind.So, Am I Really Insane? Is really the most introspective song on the album. This song essentially is a visit into my what was going through my mind at the time I created that song.I was in a bad way during the writing of that song.I was questioning a lot of things going on in my life on that day the song was written.
We’re likely to record an 8th song which will be included on the later cd release of the album.It is a song that was basically written in full, but needed some refinement when recordings for the album began.When we began recording the album we hadn’t gotten it completely worked out, so we decided we’d save it for our 2nd release.The song is tentatively entitled Empowered Torture, but this title is not set in stone and is likely to change.The song is a little bit different than the others…but I think that each of our songs on this debut release do not follow a similar style from song to song. There is quite a bit of variety in style on this debut. Empowered Torture is no different.I think it has a definite Heaven and Hell era feeling to it in some ways with the riff stylings, but vocally is different, as there clearly is no RJD singing in this band, ha ha. * You're everything except new in the scene, having played for about 20 years in old bands like Black Funeral and Sorath, also currently (and for a long time) guitarist of Skullview... from black/Death metal to heavy/speed-thrash metal, doom metal was the only string that was missing to your bow ? Oh shit I forgot grindcore but you were maybe too young back in the late 80's !!!???
I’ve beeninvolved in bands from almost every genre of metal at one point or another, everything from Hardcore/punk, Death Metal, Traditional, Black, and thrash…you name it, I’ve delved into those realms.Stone Magnum was not intended to be just another “string on the bow”, it just kind of turned out to be doom music.Stone Magnum evolved out of personal misery interestingly enough.I was/am going through some very low times in my life over the past 2 years.A different emotional state was conjured up within my soul and mental framework during this period of time.I needed a way to release myself from the reality that I was dealing with, and music being a part of my soul was that way to escape. Skullview had begun to get active again after a long period of inactivity, so I started to write new songs, but the mental and emotional state that I was in took control and played a role in what I was creating…and it didn’t sound like Skullview.It was completely different…different feel, different vibe, different direction than what I would normally write for Skullview.There was no intention for the music to evolve into a band situation to be honest.It was all personal…but a number of circumstances transpired as a result of sharing these ideas with a friend, and the band was pretty much forced into existence by outside influences.I’m glad it worked out the way it did.
* There's of course many exceptions (but still a minority) but are you ok with the fact that doom metal is a music that seems to be played by and for mature people, I mean people aged between 35-45 years old ?
I’m 41 myself...so I guess I fit into this group.I think as we get older and face different challenges and encounters in life , we have the desire to slow things down to a degree and not get in so much of a hurry, ha ha. You start noticing quality rather than quantity. You begin to think about things differently, you see things differently.An added 20 years of life experiences all seem to make you look at the world in a different light.
* STONE MAGNUM sounds pretty much european in my opinion, indeed I hear Candlemass, Count Raven and a bit of Mercyful Fate in your sound, while I could just cite The Gates Of Slumber from your side of the Atlantic... do european doom and metal in general have your preference ?
Of course, being a metal fan for most of my life, it was always the European and Scandinavian bands that invoked a different feeling and vibe than what has came out of the US.They had a different sense of melody altogether.That’s not to say that many US bands weren’t incredible in their own right…but it was a definitely a different vibe altogether.Maybe it has something to do with tradition and culture…I don’t know what it is exactly. I just love metal music, all genres, and I’d have to say the albums that don’t seem to collect a lot of dust on my bookcase are of European and Scandinavian descent.
* You've fired up your first singer and took his place while keeping the guitar, I think you had been the vocalist of SkullView at the demo-period but nothing at least officially after, wasn't it too hard to get such a fantastic result in a style that you were kind of discovering in practise ? I'm really impressed by your vocal abilities : melodic, epic, melancholic, menacing, bombastic and always harmonious... I couldn't imagine S.M. with another singer, if you had just one to name who would have been your major influence ?
You are correct, when the band was officially assembled, I had no intention of being the vocalist and playing the guitar together. I had written a handful of songs and recorded demo versions of the songs and sang on them myself. So essentially I was the original vocalist.But when it was decided to assemble a lineup for the band I knew I couldn’t do both effectively, so the decision was to either be the vocalist, or be the guitar player...one or the other.I had no intention of doing both. So I chose to continue with the project as a guitar player and we found a full time singer.The full time singer ended up turning into a part time singer situation, along with other circumstances that would threaten the development of the band, so we excused him from the band.The timing couldn’t have been worse.We had gigs lined up with bands such as Gates of Slumber, Earthen Grave, Slough Feg and others and our only choice was either to cancel the gigs, or I’d have to figure out a way to pull off both duties myself. I decided to take up the challenge and figure out a way to make it work.I worked very hard, a lot of trial and error, and eventually found something that works, for me anyway.I think some in the band still have their doubts as to my vocal capabilities, as my approach and ability is a continuous improvement project, but I’m comfortable with where I am at this point and believe I’ll continue to improve on down the road.
* You told me that the artwork for the album is long to come and has delayed the date release, is that why you decided to add a song or what ? what's its concept ? is there any particularities that make this artwork to difficult to do ? To satisfy the most impatient fans (and by the way some collectors), there'll be soon released a limited to 100 copies vynil with just the logo, is any date confirmed ? what about the CD approximative release date ? how did it come that you have signed with the old label of Skullview ?
Let me talk about the decision to work with R.I.P. Records.As I mentioned previously, I was writing some songs on my own.I didn’t have any plans to start another band. I was merely using songwriting as an outlet to escape the reality of the situation I had been faced with.The owner of RIP is a very close friend of mine, so I sent him the song Fallen Priest to check out.I really didn’t think he’d like it.It was a different sound than what I’d done in the past…so I just shared it with him.Immediately he wanted to release an album. So I sent another couple of songs I was working on and sent them to him, and he liked them so much that the next thing I know is that he’s arranged a live gig for me! I didn’t even have a band or a band name yet and only 3 songs!The live gig he lined up was an opening spot with Raven and Earthen Grave in Chicago! Holy Shit…what kind of pressure is this?I had two months to find a lineup, learn the songs and write a few more so we could do this show, ha ha.Things developed really fast.I chose Stone Magnum as a band name, gathered some members, and we went to work and the band formed.So in essence, RIP Records is a co-creator of Stone Magnum, so I feel it is proper to show loyalty to RIP for the birth of this band.
As far as the artwork and release of the ablum, it’s another long story. This album has been recorded now for nearly 4 months.For the past year, we’ve tried to find someone to work on artwork and a logo for us.We had many promises from different artists, and it just wasn’t going anywhere.We committed to release the debut album with R.I.P. Records…who released the first 3 Skullview albums.They were always good in the past at working with the artists for album covers and logos…so I kind of left it up to them to handle this and I’d worry about getting the band up to speed musically and getting the album recorded. In R.I.P.’s defense, they did get sketches from some notable artists for logos and album artwork, but nothing met the standard that we had in mind.It was somewhat disappointing.We tried many different guys. Kris Verwimp was our first choice from the beginning.He did all of our cover art for Skullview and we know his abilities. However, Kris is a very busy artist…he’s very sought after in the scene, so I understand that time for him is very limited. So we had doubts if he’d be able to get something done for us, so we had to continue to search for someone. After seeing so many inadequate sketches from notable artists, we began to worry. What was Kris doing?Did he forget about us? Ha ha.Out of nowhere, I received a rough sketch of what Kris had been working on for us….and it blew me away, and it wasn’t even close to being done.It’s a simple concept we had in mind, just a dungeon with a coffin inside… but the quality and detail of Kris’s work made it seem so lifelike I was willing to wait.However, we want to get this album out there…so I decided to create a logo on my own….wanted to get some merchandise out there…so I did the logo and printed some shirts.We’ve recently decided that we will release a limited edition vinyl release of 100 or 200 copies using a basic coverart and simple package.I don’t’ know the timeframe as to when full artwork will be complete….could be tomorrow, could be three months from now, I think the best thing to do is get something released, and vinyl seems like a good option at this point.Once Kris completes the full color artwork, we will follow up with a cd release, and have plans to record an additional song to be included on it as I mentioned earlier on.
* Both by its quality and atmosphere I think that “locksmith of misery” could have been on "the wretch", I know this is one of your fave album of the year (despite quite many other jewels, this is still mine !), how did you enjoy playing with TGoS ? What are your other actual faves for 2011 ?
The Wretch is an amazing album. So it’s quite a nice compliment that you put our song in that good company.I think TGOS has really come a long way since their inception, and they deserve to have people notice them.It’s definitely one of the finest albums of 2011.I’ve known Karl quite a number of years…and I really appreciated the opportunity to take Stone Magnum down to Indy to play with them.It was an amazing show, and being the first live gig where I had to sing and play guitar it was a good learning experience for me.As for other notable albums of 2011…I like the new Cianide album…old school death metallers from Chicago who go back a long way.I also like the new Pentagram album.I think it was a good comeback for them.And the new Autopsy album is among my favorites of 2011 as well.
* On a more personal point of view, you must be quite busy with both bands (composition, rehearsals, promotions...) , any time left for special leasures or passions ?
You would think I wouldn’t have the time of day with the projects I’m involved with.Time is a limited resource with my career in the steel industry, the bands, family, and everything else.I think my band time is pretty well balanced.My spare time is usually used in promoting the bands the best I can, or working on some new songs for either Skullview or Stone Magnum.It’s what I like to do...actually it’s what I need to do to keep me breathing.Rehearsals are not too often anymore…and we’d like to fill up our live show schedule even more.
* How do you see the future of S.M. ? I know you've a gig next week-end, any other planed ?Of course that's the quality of the album which makes the essential, but do you think that all our contacts with Skullview can help you in getting quickly a good recognition in the scene ?
As stated in the song “Am I Really Insane?”….”never knowing what the future holds…”.I guess this sums up what I foresee for Stone Magnum.
We’ve got a couple of shows locally here in Indiana in the coming weeks.We’re hoping to get added to some doom festivals for next year, and are planning bringing some friends from elsewhere to play some shows with us.We don’t have any manager to line up any shows for us, and until our album gets released, it is difficult for us to gain any notoriety with promoters.
I’d love for Magnum to gain the respect of the metal community and have the opportunities to play all over world with great bands.But I’ve been in this scene for quite along time…and understand how things work, so what I expect is pretty simple.I expect we’ll release some music, play some cool shows, and have some good times doing what we love to do.That’s is really all I can expect.I think some of the Skullview fans and contacts will support Stone Magnum, and I suspect there will be some who don’t like it.I don’t worry about that.Stone Magnum will have its own fans and I really don’t want Magnum to ride on any success or lack of success from any of my other projects.I just want Magnum’s works to speak for themselves and whomever wants to help us or support us is more than welcomed by us to be part of our future.
* I know that you regularly enter the T.O.P., thanx for that, did you discover new bands and/or particularly enjoy an interview ? What does France evokes to you concretely ?
I’m not very up to speed with all the internet blogspots, and webpages or anything like that.But I’ve been turned onto the Temple Of Perdition and typically check it daily.I don’t know how to use it myself, so I just read your articles and reviews and that satisfies me enough, ha ha.I’ve picked up on a couple of bands I was unaware of through your site…Ice Dragon, Kings Destroy just to name a couple.I like reading the interviews and hearing some clips from interesting bands.I really need to get more involved online…it seems that this is important in band promotion…forums, message boards, blogs, etc.
France..hmmm.Well, my ancestry is of French heritage.Someday I hope to come and visit this country.Pretty French girls are cool too..ha ha.
* Here comes your chance to give all infos about your merchandise (including of course Skullview's if you wish), thanx Dean and all the best to you and your buddies in the future...
Ok, currently the only way to hear Stone Magnum is to come see us live, or visit our page at www.reverbnation.com/stonemagnumThere you can hear some songs and check out our video for Locksmith of Misery.RIP Records will soon be releasing the vinyl edition of our debut.We hope to have this released no later than October.And shortly after that the CD release will follow.More info to come as to where to order these items.
We do have T-shirts available for a paltry $15, but currently only are set up to accept well concealed cash or money order.If interested, write to us…in the old school way….snail mail at:
Actually consisting in Dean Tavernier (guit/voc), Jim Brucks (guit), Marty Buchaus (bass) and Brad Toth (drums), this band comes from Indiana and presents in my opinion what all fans of doom and metal from the 80's could expect from a new act emerging in 2011 : an obvious talent and originality while respecting the basic rules of traditionnal heavy/doom METAL.
Some hauting melodic pieces, agressive and epic, with lots of harmonies and an high level of musicianship, that's what Dean (also in Skullview, a damn good reference I think) and his dudes tightly deliver... Something closed to Sorcerer, Candlemass or even Place Of Skulls (for the groovy climates and sense of riffing), doomy, epic and melodic, meeting some 80's heavy/power metal bands full of fresh and powerful energy... I'm not much into the revival of the 80's heavy metal sound, can't tell exactly who are the best newcomers on that side but one thing I know is that it's been a very long time since I heard such a brilliant vocalist along with a very impressive true metal duo guitars (listen to the fantastic "rolling storm")!!! STONE MAGNUM has already played quite a number of cool gigs with Raven, The Gates of Slumber, Earthen Grave, etc... and next one, scheduled for 18th june, is a participation at the "Warriors of metal" festival in Ohio. No doubt that I'll write again about S.M. when the album is released on RIP records (a label that knows what quality old school metal means)...while waiting for this awaited 1st effort, you can listen to the following long doomy song on youtube :
There's a foreboding atmosphere on 'From Time...To Eternity' which makes songs sounding much darker and crafted collectively too. Dean is still on guitar naturally and compose + write lyrics for a great part but the comings of ex Kommandant's Nick Hernandez and Ben Elliot on bass ('Lonely God') have strengthened the band's identity.
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