Blackened Earth
I want you to stop & think for a minute. How many times have you gone to a bar or nightclub and heard a band and said “These guys are AWESOME”? Or how many times have you been driving your car down the road & a song comes on the radio that made you go “WOW” and crank the radio? And to realize that song is from a band with staying power. Well to put it simply, this is one of those bands. From the first time that I heard them I was a fan. Their list of accomplishments are long, not just because they have been together since 1996, but because they are that good! To be together that long you have to be good. The current line up has existed for the last four of the 10+ years.
They are Brian Osborn-Lead Vocals
Greg Snider-Guitar/Vocals
Ray Smetana-Bass
Shane Lantrip-Drums
Here is just a few items from their bio on myspace. In 1997 Discmakers Inc considered them in the top 50 unsigned bands in America, opened for Sevendust & King Diamond, August of ‘01 won Q 106’s “Homegrown” contest out of 300 bands and in ‘03
1st out of 500 at the Ingham County Battle of the Bands. Check their my space for more. They have played as many as 100 gigs a year or as little as 10. If you are interested in having them play for you contact them at 517-917-1635.
I sent them an email interview and here are some of thier answers.
In your own words how would you describe your music?
“Hard Rock in the vein of Shinedown, Alice in Chains, Staind, etc, with more aggression.”
Where do you see yourselves in the next 5 years?
“Making music and recording - just like the last 15 years. Hopefully to a wider audience.”
Influences?
“KISS, Motley Crue, Panrtera, James Brown, JimCroce – The list goes on & on.”
How would you feel to find out that you were somebody else’s influence?
“That would be a wonderful compliment.”
At what point would you consider yourselves a success?
“We do now-not many bands have the staying power that Blackened Earth has had. In various forms this band as been going for over 10 years. Regardless of the lack of money or fame – just pushing for that long of a time without giving up is a success.”
How do you think the New Media & the internet has changed the music industry?
“It has opened up a lot more opportunities for a band to get their music heard but at the same time it has made the ‘value’ of music as an art form declineto almost nothing. It seems that people think they have a right to download music without having to pay for it.
But the musicians that pay for studio time, artwork, mastering and duplication costs would have the opposite thought.
If I buy raw wood and make a chair out of it and somone comes along and takes the chair-they are stealing.
Musicians take ideas and use tools to make a recorded song. If you download it without paying the musician for it -you are stealing.
The internet has made it all but impossible for musicians to retain control over the distribution of their own product.”
Blackened Earth has 2 full length cd’s available you can pick them up at www.myspace.com/blackenedearth or www.blackenedearth.com
Non-DRM 320kps mp3’s are available as well.
Their personal favorite tracks are “Decay(has found it’s way) and “This is your Pain” from “Before the Storm”
When I asked them if there was anything else they would like to plug they replied “Support Local Music because all the great bands you ever heard of started in a place where NOBODY knew them.” Now that is a great answer!
My own opinion-Buy these cd’s because they ROCK! You will not regret this purchase!
