#the haystack

Wwooowww!! I’m so incredibly overwhelmed and excited at how far my film has come! Firstly it was shared on a worldwide Adventist media platform called ARtv. I had contacted them to see if they could add Skin deep and prodigal to their app and website and they didn’t hesitate to say yes! To God be the glory!

And I also contacted The Haystack, they also loved Skin deep and shared it on their page! So far, Skin deep has had 14.8K views on facebook alone!!! That’s crazy oh my goodness! It just proves to me that when God calls you to do something, He will always see you through with flying colours! I’m so baffed 😂🙌🏾 It’s insane!

I pray that this film continues to reach people around the world and that our mindset on beauty will change for the better!

For the better part of a decade Dayton, Ohio’s Jasper The Colossal has been performing and touring their brand of punk-leaning alt rock to much positive reception. Formed in 2008 as a four piece, the band is now a trio comprised of bassist/lead vocalist Paige Beller, guitarist Moriah Yux, and drummer Sarah Kouse. The group has released one EP, Prehistoric, and two albums:2012′s Liar and 2016′s Take Your Time.

The band takes many cues from 90s alternative and indie rock. Upbeat compositions come in abundance with catchy vocal melodies beefed up by adept usage of backing vocals. The body moving, punk tempos are imbued with a sense of depth with the heartfelt lyricism of Paige Beller. Beller’s voice balances relatable emotion with confident grit that harks back to bands such as The Donnas and The Runaways. 

Take Your Time displays a great leap in songwriting quality from the band’s previous effort Liar.  Compared to the band’s previous work there is a much greater diversity in song structures and tempos and a greater ear for catchy hooks. The power pop choruses and accessibility never feel cheesy with the strong vocal performances and lyrical quality on display with every track. While most of the tracks deal with the familiar themes of relationships and twenty-something angst, the band finds their own unique way to discuss these topics.

The album opens with “Slayer Kinney”, the title a homage to one of their likely influences,Sleater Kinney, it features an infectiously catchy guitar riff and vocal melodies that display frontwoman Paige Beller’s range. “I’m Awake” slows the tempo down and is a more moody track featuring well performed vocal harmonies and a simpler lyrical structure emphasizing repetition. Personal favorite “Warm Body” is the most punk sounding track of the record with an upbeat rhythm, more distorted bass and guitar than other tracks, and the song’s title gang shouted for the chorus making it ripe for live audience participation. 

Jasper The Colossal’s growth as a band is more evident than ever with this latest release. Balancing adept songwriting with earworm pop hooks, and strong vocal performances from all three members. Take Your Time is the magnum opus of their career thus far. Balancing the realms of punk, indie, and hard rock, Jasper The Colossal prove they’re more than just another girl group. 

                                                                                                              -Donte M

Favorite Track: “Warm Body”

Highlight Tracks: “Slayer Kinney”, “Fail”, “I’m Awake”, “Grow Up”

For Fans Of: The Breeders, L7, The Donnas, Sleater Kinney, Female lead Punk, Alt Rock, Garage Rock

The blues has been around nearly as long as the electric guitar has. The musical style was the basis for rock and roll and while numerous genres and sub-genres of rock have come and gone, blues rock has never really went out of style. Every era of rock music has had notable blues-inspired bands, including today with the rise in popularity of artists such as Highly Suspect, Wolfmother, and Clutch. Following in this vein is the hard hitting duo from Chicago known as We The Fierce. 

We The Fierce is comprised of guitarist Jay Langston and drummer Dixie Duncan. Having performed, recorded, and toured together in previous projects, the two musicians decided to form a duo together in October of 2015. After gaining a following with their energetic live show and bombastic sound despite their simple set up, the band recorded and released their debut EP 77 in July of 2016.

The band embraces blues rock with open arms with their bass heavy, riff centered compositions with a heavy focus on groove. The songs are all typically slow to mid tempo giving the record a dirty, sludgy feel that echoes Black Sabbath and early Clutch. Unlike other bluesy two piece bands such as The White Stripes and Royal Blood, the band doesn’t venture much into showy, complex riffs preferring instead to beat their listeners over the head with pure, wall-of-sound power and simpler chord to chord guitar work.

The seven track EP opens with the groovy “Here I Am”. A fitting title for the first track, the song and its name acts as a declaration to ensure you feel the band’s presence. “Here I Am”’s swinging rhythm and the raspy voice of Jay Langston is equal parts lumbering swagger and confident style. “Mold” ups the doom and sludge vibe that may remind some listeners of Master Of Reality-era Black Sabbath. “Mercy” shows a softer, more melodic side of the band with an atmospheric vibe, falsetto vocals, and soul baring lyrics. Closing track “Your Love” showcases the importance of Dixie Duncan’s drum work to the band’s sound with his awareness of song dynamics. The percussion of this track acts as a secret weapon that controls the vibe of the song as well as being what drives it forward. 

77 oozes confidence, style, and power that shows the experience and rapport of its two musicians. The heavy riffage, no frills percussion, and catchy vocal melodies are the base for a record filled with back to back bangers. We The Fierce are keen on making rock and roll in its most distilled and pure form. And they succeed at it with flying colors. 

                                                                                                              -Donte M

Favorite Track: “Here I Am”

For Fans Of: Black Sabbath, Clutch, Royal Blood, White Stripes, Highly Suspect, Blues Rock, Stoner Rock