corporatedemon

0R1G1N

2012-01-22T00:31:00.000-06:00

Finished tonight. Click the top image to view full size.

A Crucial Moment

2012-01-19T23:22:00.003-06:00

Every presidential candidate is a joke. Our civil liberties are being stripped away. Art and personal expression are constantly being degraded to fit within arbitrary laws that pertain to nothing but profit for someone higher up that just doesn't give a fuck.

I don't know what is worse: The fact that we are obviously entering this dystopian future with little room for escape, or the fact that we (as a society - not as individuals) seem to be bringing it on ourselves with a general lack of concern.

People out there are using everything we create against us…all the while laughing with total lack of remorse while their dollar signs multiply. Art, music, film and literature are simply becoming nothing but a product for consumption and the monetary gain of someone higher up the financial ladder.

This does NOT just refer to the acquiring, listening and viewing of the content of "big names" such as Picasso, Spielberg, The Beatles, or Dickens on our computers or smartphones with or without rightfully paying for it. This also refers to US. OUR art. OUR Master's theses. OUR blogs. OUR dissertations. OUR books. OUR speeches. OUR opinions. OUR music…And how WE CHOOSE to distribute all of it.

This is a crucial moment in history. Do you want a say in how your creative output is made available to the public? Or do you want to let someone else decide for you?

Strike

2012-01-18T09:33:00.000-06:00

The internet. You know you love it. Sign this petition and write congress to make sure we get to keep it.

http://sopastrike.com/strike/

Revolt

2012-01-13T18:27:00.000-06:00

Finished up a new piece tonight. Click the top image to view larger, or for the best experience check it out full size over at deviantArt!

Favorite Albums of 2011

2011-12-14T23:46:00.001-06:00

I'm no music critic. And I certainly never claim to be an expert about anything, especially music. But anyone that truly knows me will tell you that I love music more than anyone else they know. I can guarantee that. Hell, practically my entire reason for having a job is so that I can buy music (actual tangible releases of music) and have a place of my own to keep it and listen to it. Without music, especially metal, I would not be alive right now.

On that note, here are 10 albums I've heard from 2011 that I love the most... For all it's worth.

10. David Lynch - Crazy Clown Time
This might throw a lot of people off, but I love Crazy Clown Time. It moved me the first time I heard it. It was one of those moments that I wouldn't trade for anything. As far as I'm concerned, it was just me in a dark room listening to David Lynch play music for me, and me alone.

Listen to Pinky's Dream

9. Skeletonwitch - Forever Abomination

I picked up the vinyl of Forever Abomination (and a sweet shirt) after Skeletonwitch destroyed Lawrence, Kansas this year. Not only did they put on one hell of a show, but they were also genuinely nice guys. This album has been in my circulation ever since. "Drink Beer! Smoke Weed! Eat Pussy!"

Listen to Shredding Sacred Flesh

8. Nightbringer - Hierophany of the Open Grave

Apocalypse Sun is one of my favorite recent black metal albums. I actually wasn't sure if Nightbringer was going to be able to top something so enthralling and otherworldly. Well, I'm not quite sure if Hierophany of the Open Grave is better, but it is by all means equal. This grabs me and drags me on a horrifying journey no matter where I hear it.

Listen to Lucifer Trismegistus

7. Blut Aus Nord - 777 – Sect(S)

Nightbringer's Hierophany of the Open Grave successfully takes me on a journey. Blut Aus Nord's 777 - Sect(s) takes me to a higher level of consciousness. This is thought provoking, terrifying, jaw dropping metal that is black as black can be.

Listen to Epitome I

6. Blut Aus Nord - 777 – The Desanctification

What's that? One band successfully took two consecutive slots in my best of 2011 list? Yep. Actually, I am not sure which of these two entries in the 777 trilogy I like better. They both go hand in hand, yet they are also totally separate entities, all the while recognizable as Blut Aus Nord. I can't wait for the final chapter.

Listen to Epitome XIII

5. Mitochondrion - Parasigniosis
This is raw, nasty and technically impressive. As any extreme metal fan knows, that's a hard combination to achieve. It also has one of the best opening tracks I've heard in a while. It's a slow burn for the first 2 minutes, but once everything explodes it's just amplifies the intensity. An intensity that never fucking stops.

Listen to Parasignosis

4. Dephosphorus - Axiom

Sadly, I don't even remember where I first read about Dephosphorus. I easily follow over 50 metal sites in my Google Reader. But I am eternally grateful to whoever it was that wrote about this album and enticed me to download it (they released it for free, I do not steal music). For about the first month after I had it on my computer I constantly found myself craving and revisiting it. So I ordered the vinyl, because these guys definitely deserve the support. Axiom hits every sweet spot in my body. Raw fucking energy, intelligent lyrics and a captivating aesthetic. If you haven't heard this yet, download the free copy and give it a listen. And if you like it fucking buy it. Support the music you love. It feels good. Trust me.

Listen to Continuum

3. Anaal Nathrakh - Passion
The new album from Anaal Nathrakh was the first thing I heard this year that really floored me. I will never forget this moment: When I first received Passion in the mail, I popped it in the cd player of my car to give it a listen on the way to the grocery store. By the middle of Tod Huetet Uebel I literally had to pull off the road into a parking lot because I realized I wasn't paying attention to anything but the music. I honestly couldn't believe what I was hearing. So I sat in that dark, empty parking lot and finished listening to Passion. And when it was over, I sat there and listened to it in its entirety again.

Listen to Who Thinks of the Executioner

2. Hammers of Misfortune - 17th Street

While compiling this list, I've constantly been moving albums up and down in order. Anyone that's made a list like this has surely experienced the same thing. It can be rather frustrating. So I decided to set a standard for this list (and myself), and that is staying power. 17th Street has serious staying power. I can't predict the future, but I'm pretty good at being realistic. Example: When I ask myself, "Which of these ten albums can I see myself thoroughly enjoying when I'm 80 as much as I do today?" The answer is hands down 17th Street. I remember asking a similar question to myself in college when I had to sell a bunch of my cd's because I was low on cash and needed to eat. I decided to keep all of my Danzig and Slayer. If I ever have to do the same thing in the future, I will not part ways with Hammers of Misfortune's 17th Street.

Listen to 17th Street

1. Absu - Abzu
You know that last bit about staying power? Well, when I'm 80 I can realistically see myself enjoying Abzu as much as 17th Street. Now at this point everyone reading this surely thinks I'm crazy, because this is practically the polar opposite when it comes to metal. So let me explain. Absu's latest album embodies all that I love and live for. I recently turned 30 years old, so I'm no spring chicken. Yet Abzu gives me the same, spine tingling feeling as when I first heard Emperor when I was 16. The feeling that only hordes of metal fans can relate to. The feeling that makes me want to kick my desk over and chop it up with a battle axe. The feeling that makes me want to burn everything I own and eat nothing but what I kill with my bare hands. And realistically, when I'm 80, I can see myself wanting to feel like I'm 16 again. Kill fucking everything. This is album of the year.

Listen to Skrying in the Spirit Vision

Survival

2011-11-27T20:18:00.001-06:00

I'm fascinated by Nuclear War. I'm also an avid book collector. Today I ran across a survival guide from 1956 printed for the city of Chillicothe, Missouri. Needless to say, this is now one of my favorite books in my collection. And I would like to share some of it with you...

Click the images to enlarge. Enjoy.

Hammers of Misfortune Shirt Illustration

2011-11-20T10:23:00.001-06:00

Recently, John Cobbett of the mighty Hammers of Misfortune contacted me to do some artwork for a new shirt. After some heavy brainstorming based on the lyrics of the new album 17th Street and keeping up with John's Twitter posts regarding the Occupy Movement, I felt like I had a pretty good grasp about what the shirt should be. Here is the final illustration with a few close ups. The shirt should be available on HoM's upcoming tour as well, so be on the look out! And if you haven't heard 17th Street yet, you are seriously missing out. It is one of the most monumental albums I have heard in a very long time and is without a doubt one of the best, if not THE best album of 2011. Along with the artwork I'm also including the title track from their new album. Check it out!

Design Like An Artist

2011-10-25T20:57:00.000-05:00

I've been invited to give a talk and a workshop at my old stomping grounds, Fort Hays State University. I'll be ranting about design, art, music, life and all sorts of other shit. I have received a few requests to record it. I'll find a way to make that happen. So if you're in the area on November 17th come on by!

Skeletonwitch, Wrath & Ruin and Cast Pattern at the Jackpot Saloon - Lawrence, KS

2011-10-09T13:28:00.000-05:00

Skeletonwitch killed it last night in Lawrence! By far one of the most fun shows I've ever seen. They were fun, energetic, and performed like a well oiled machine! Wrath & Ruin were a nice surprise, It was the first time I had ever seen or heard of them. Fans of mechanically tinged doom metal à la Godflesh should really look into them.

A few more photos can be found here.

Black Metal On Spotify

2011-09-29T18:15:00.001-05:00

I am working on putting together the ultimate Black Metal playlist on Spotify. If you have an account you can subscribe to it. If you don't have Spotify, I highly recommend you give it a shot. There is a free version available to test the waters.

I will continuously be building on this playlist. And if you have any recommendations for bands that I should add feel free to send 'em my way!

Urban Void

2011-09-27T00:09:00.000-05:00

Instinctual Design / The Fuckness Process

2011-09-13T10:38:00.001-05:00

While studying Graphic Design in college I learned that Concept is King. We were essentially beaten down and rebuilt as designers to develop strong ideas first, and then design based on those ideas second. Essentially, without a strong concept, design is fluff.

From my own experience as an artist, I have learned that Instinct is King. Many of the works I have made that I hold closest to my heart I began with little or no planning. Put on some music, throw back a few beers, and let the subconscious manifest itself.

It doesn't take much to realize that these are two entirely different creative approaches. For years, I was torn about which side to take. Which King to stand by and be willing to die for.

As I am pushing 30 years old and have a decent amount of experience under my belt, I have come to realize that I don't have to pick sides. I can set up camp off in the distance with a clear view of these warring castles and learn from both sides.

This has been my philosophy with the majority of my work at since late 2009-early 2010, coincidentally around Andersen Prunty's inception of Grindhouse Press and Atlatl. It was like the planets aligned. Two new publishing lines and a fresh outlook on my creative output.

Enter early 2011, when Mr. Prunty approached me to do a cover for his book Fuckness. With this particular cover, Mr. Prunty initially requested a quick and simple image to use for an initial release on the Kindle, with the probability of it being converted into a full fledged, published paperback down the road. Therefore, simplicity and flexibility while leaving room for further development was absolutely necessary.

Here is a look into the cover art for Fuckness from start to finish. But please remember, it is what is on the inside that counts. Fuckness is now available for both Kindle and Paperback at Amazon. I've said it before and I'll say it again, if you have never read anything by Andersen Prunty, you are making a big mistake.

It all began with my sketchbook. Though not with a sketch, just the paper itself. I liked the subtle gray, the grain and the feel of the paper itself. So I scanned in a blank sheet to use as the base of my composition.

I then individually copied and pasted the appropriate letters for the title and author's name from my personal scanned type library. On a regular basis I scan in newspapers, old magazines, stuff from antique stores, anything at all with cool type and keep it all in a huge archive on my iMac. I design like a serial killer.

I then started to play around with size and arrangement of the type. With a title like "Fuckness" you might as well make the title as big as possible, right? So I divided the word in half and stacked it to fill the page. Obviously, I also inverted the colors. Not for any particular reason, just working on instinct.

Once I had the layout of the type how I liked it I merged all the individual type layers to save memory and to keep things tidy. I should note that the document is 12.5" x 18.5" at 300 ppi in RGB color space. I always work larger than I need to in Photoshop.

I was liking the black and white, but it just wasn't screaming. And if there is one thing I wanted here, I wanted screaming. I kept the inverted newsprint and applied a layer of red with the Blending Mode set to "Lighten" on top. I also duplicated both the title and Mr. Prunty's name, re-inverted them back to black and offset them about a quarter of an inch.

The look of Mr. Prunty's name was bothering me. I came to the realization that the problem was the offset type effect on the smaller sized, ultra tall and skinny type. It was just too busy. So I removed the black layer of his name, used the lasso tool to select a really loose rectangle from the Paper layer, and copy & pasted that big black bar behind his name, but on top of the red. As Duke Nukem would say, "Ahh...Much better."

At this point, I leaned back in my chair and chuckled to myself. That's usually a sign that I'm done...At least with the initial version. At this point I sent off a jpg to Mr. Prunty to begin using for the Kindle release.

A few months later, Prunty contacted me with the great news that it's time to convert the initial design into a full fledged, print ready cover. Up until this point, I was designing purely on instinct. Why did I do anything that I did? Because it felt right. That's what came out naturally. This goes against everything I was formally taught while studying Graphic Design.

But now that the book was going to print it was time to take a step back and really put some thought into this. First of all, there is the simple fact that preparing a cover for print is a bit trickier than it might seem. There are very precise measurements, guidelines and safe areas to work within. Second, now that the book was actually going to be a tangible product, I felt it was necessary to push the design past instinct into concept. Evolution, if you will. From ape to man. Only faster. But let's not forget...We're still hairless apes. So, while developing the concept I was still working on instinct.

Instinctually, I felt the cover could use some some sort of container for the text. So I start to throw in some random lines and borders.

Conceptually, I introduced an element that ties in with the subject matter of the book: Demon horns.

Technically, at this point I took the print template, provided by Lightning Source, set up my guidelines, placed the UPC, and pasted in the back cover description provided by Mr. Prunty. For this amount of text I use an actual text object rather than copy and pasting each individual letter. With the back cover there are often revisions that spring up in the middle of the design process, so I kept it easy to edit.

The black and white bars I threw in before weren't sitting well with me. Everything felt a bit too flat. So I created a mask on the Red layer (To reveal the inverted Paper layer), and very quickly drew in a bunch of diagonal lines to give it a little dimension. At this point I felt like I was on to something, so I kept rolling with it...

I dropped in a layer of red on the back as well and again drew in opposing diagonal lines. For the back, I worked in reverse. Rather than revealing the Paper layer beneath the Red layer, I revealed the Red layer on top of the Paper. I also dropped in a little subtext between the horns to properly introduce the madman behind the book.

While I really liked the big block of text, front and center, I really felt it needed something else. There wasn't enough contrast, and the addition of the horns wasn't conceptually strong enough to stand alone. It was lacking a centerpiece. Everything on the page was, well...just a bunch of shit on the page. After thinking about it, I remembered something I learned in college: Dominant/Recessive. There was nothing that was visually dominant over anything else on the cover.

There are numerous ways to fix this problem in design. Since I had already established that lack of contrast was bothering me, I figured that would be a good solution. So I grabbed the shape tool and drew a big white circle right in the middle of the design. Instant Dominance. I then went back through and manually erased, cut apart, and redrew portions of the type to make it conform around the circle.

At this point I was feeling good about the composition. The diagonal lines weren't quite crazy enough though, so I offset them with white. I still wasn't sure what this circle was for or what should be put in it, so I began conversing with Andy to bounce a few ideas around of an appropriate symbol to use from the book. After a few e-mails, we decided upon...

An American flag. It fit like a glove in both its design and the ideas in the book. This is the moment when the cover officially put its childhood behind and was ready to be a man. It also amplified the screaming factor ten fold. And you just can't go wrong when you have the American flag in the same layout as a pair of devil horns. As a finishing touch, I rasterized the type on the back and went over it with the Liquify tool to fuck it up a bit.

Flatten, slap 'er on the ass and send that bitch to print.

After a few weeks, Mr. Prunty kindly sends me a couple complementary copies of the book. There are few things that make me happier than holding a tangible copy of one of the books I have worked on in my hands. This cover feels especially good, too, as Andy went the extra mile and chose a soft, satin finish.

There you have it. I hope that my fellow artists and designers can take something from this. And by all means, if you have any questions or comments feel free to post them below!

Architect

2011-08-28T10:54:00.002-05:00

It has been a long time since I have been able to consistently sit down and work on personal art. There was a good 8 or 9 months there where I only produced two finished pieces. Fortunately, recent life and career changes have successfully provided a realistic amount of time for me to just put on some music and get lost in my imagination on an almost nightly basis.

The first result is Architect. If all goes well, this will hopefully serve as a reboot of my creative output.

If you want a larger view, go check it out at deviantART or corporatedemon.com.

Origin, Cephalic Carnage & Exhumed at Aftershock

2011-07-22T01:48:00.003-05:00

By no means am I a concert photographer. That being said, here are a few photos I snapped tonight of Origin, Cephalic Carnage & Exhumed at the Aftershock Bar & Grill in Shawnee, Kansas. Origin was filming a music video and the crowd went absolutely nuts over them. Cephalic Carnage was simultaneously hilarious and heavy. Exhumed was the highlight of the evening in my eyes. They absolutely killed it.

Waving the Flag of Open Source Software

2011-07-11T22:06:00.001-05:00

I'm a big fan of open source software. Within the past few years I have incorporated numerous open source applications into my arsenal. I would even go so far as to say that a few of them have played a significant role in improving my artistic and technical abilities. Many open source applications have features you won't find in their mainstream counterparts. On a cerebral level, opening up a completely new application is going to cause you to think and work differently than just diving into your old standby. Here is a look at a few of my favorite open source applications, along with a few examples of how I have used them in my work.

Just keep in mind, even though these applications are completely free and open to the public, it does not mean the developers don't need some cash flow. If you like any in particular please consider giving them a donation.

Download: http://al.chemy.org/

By far my favorite open source application. Alchemy provides a simple and intuitive interface that allows for spontaneous creation and compositions. You just can't get this level of off-the-cuff creativity in Illustrator or Photoshop. There are no undos and no eraser (though you can fake it by just drawing with white or your background color). The toolset is completely non conventional, providing for all sorts of things you wouldn't have thought of otherwise. I guarantee it.

For example, take the "Speed Shapes." You can choose between smooth or straight line shapes, and adjust the speed to your liking. Begin drawing, and with every stroke you get something completely unexpected. It is this surprise element that most digital art severely lacks. Alchemy fills this void.

Another bizarre and experimental option is the "Mic Shapes" tool. While drawing, you can make various sounds into your microphone, and it will adjust the thickness and shape of your stroke according to the incoming waveform of your voice.

And these options are just the beginning of what Alchemy has to offer. Add in the ability to instantly send a vector file to Illustrator, or raster file to Photoshop and you have a formidable weapon for creativity.

Alchemy can be seen in many of my works in the past couple of years. I often use it as a an initial sketching application, or just something to doodle in when I don't have any particular ideas but still feel like creating something. It is amazing how quickly something can come to fruition out of thin air. Here is a prime example of how I used Alchemy for my piece "Heartwurm." The first image is my initial sketch in Alchemy, and the 2nd is the finished piece. You can see how Alchemy provided for a an incredibly quick generation of the overall piece that I could then build upon and enhance in Photoshop.

......

Download: http://inkscape.org/

Upon first launch, Inkscape comes across as fairly weak. This is simply because of the Windows 95'ish interface. But if you can look past that and get down to its functionality, Inkscape has a lot to offer that the big bully on the playground simply doesn't. For example: The "Draw 3D Boxes" tool.

Upon selecting the Draw 3D boxes tool, you can immediately start doing exactly as you would expect. Click and drag from corner to corner and you will draw a shaded box. But where things get really interesting, is that after drawing your box (or multiple boxes), you can then adjust the perspective accordingly. So say you draw a bunch of boxes that look like they are sitting on the ground. Click and drag on the vanishing points and you can shift the boxes to look like they are floating slightly, or high in the sky. Even better, you can go back and adjust the size and proportions of each individual box. Pretty slick.

And while it may seem incredibly simplistic to begin with, it is that initial inspiration that can lead to something much greater. Take for example my piece "Wormhole." The first image was my initial discovery of the 3D Box Tool in Inkscape, and the second is the finished piece.

......

Download: http://www.blender.org/

Blender is a masterpiece of open source software. It is a 3D modeling and animation tool that can run side by side with the likes of Cinema 4D, 3DS Max and Maya. While many naysayers will belittle it for its atypical interface and simply for the fact that it is open source, don't let that deter you. Blender is a powerful program that is not to be taken lightly.

I first started working with 3D modeling applications when I was 13. I have used 3DS Max, Bryce, Hatch, Lightwave, Maya and Cinema 4D. After all of that experience, Blender is still one of my favorites. While as of late I have mostly been using Cinema 4D, I still prefer Blender in many ways. Specifically, I prefer Blender's "Sculpting" tool over Cinema's "Magnet Tool" any day of the week, and Blender's "Modifier" system seems easier to grasp than Cinema's "Deformations." Of course, Cinema 4D has many things to offer that Blender doesn't, such as incredibly easy animation and seamless integration with After Effects. But when it comes down to it, for an open source application that won't break the bank and consistently gets better and better, it really cannot be beat.

Here is an example of how I have personally put Blender to use. On top is the plain, boring render directly out of Blender. Of significant note, I modelled the fighter ships from scratch and set up the composition in a little less than 45 minutes. And below is the finished piece, colored, tweaked and enhanced in Photoshop (for who knows how long).

......

Download: http://www.pixologic.com/sculptris/

I will end with a program that I only discovered in the past few days but am incredibly excited about. It is called Sculptris, and it is an open source 3D modeling application that is specifically geared towards organic shapes. It is like Blender's Sculpting tool to the 10th power. Considering it's from Pixologic, who also develops the world-renowned ZBrush, it's pretty amazing that Sculptris is provided to us free of charge.

You start with a simple sphere. You can push, pull, prod and pinch it until you have a very natural, polished 3D model. You can then export your creation as a .obj, which works seamlessly with Blender, for final rendering. Since Sculptris is so new to me, I do not have any real world examples to present such as with the previous software, but I can guarantee that I will be utilizing it in the immediate future :)

So there you have it. I hope that you find these applications as inspiring and useful as I do. And by all means, if you know of any open source software that you think I should look into please let me know. I'm always excited to try new ways to make art!

A New Journey Begins

2011-07-08T21:54:00.000-05:00

Last Friday, July 1st, 2011, was my last day of work at JustinMcClure.tv. I started working for Justin in the spring of 2010 as a freelancer. Things went well, and I eventually signed on as a full time employee in September 2010. From that short time till now I gained an insane amount of knowledge. I can say without a doubt that I probably learned more in the first three months than I did in an entire year of graduate school. Not to say that graduate school isn't informative...but it just doesn't compare to the real world.

In that time I had the pleasure of working on projects for Science Channel, Discovery Channel, SyFy and Sprint amidst numerous others. I also formed strong friendships with my coworkers and had many experiences that I will remember and cherish forever.

My last day was exciting. We shot intense green screen footage for a local community college of both live actors and tiny little stage props. I don't want to give any details away, but the spot is sure to be pretty unique. It will be posted over at www.justinmcclure.tv when the team wraps it up, so keep a lookout. At the end of the day we all went out to eat and they presented me with the award you'll see below. And yes, I started cracking up when I saw it :) There are also some pictures from the shoot, and a group shot with the crew at dinner. It was a nice farewell gathering.

Now I'm getting ready to move to Kansas City to start a new job and begin a new journey. I'm moving next weekend and start work right before the end of July. I will miss working at JustinMcClure.tv, but am incredibly enthusiastic about what lies ahead.

I'll conclude with a combination of two things that my coworkers heard from me constantly: "Hahahhahaha," and... "Fuck."

Sketchbook Entries 011-015

2011-07-06T14:26:00.000-05:00

The Trve Kvlt Connection of The Shriners With Black Metal

2011-07-05T18:45:00.000-05:00

While driving through Wichita today I passed the local Shriner chapter. I've driven past it regularly for the past 8 months without thinking anything of it. But on this particular day, out of the corner of my eye, a corpse paint clad member of a black metal band stared back at me through the negative space. It helps that this particular sign has the Shriners' logo on a black background :)

I immediately started cracking up and couldn't resist but take a picture of it. I suppose it could be yet another link between the Occult and the Freemasons for the conspiracy theorists to chew on!

The Driver's Guide to Hitting Pedestrians

2011-06-29T10:20:00.000-05:00

Earlier this week I finished a new book cover for Andersen Prunty's upcoming collection of flash fiction, The Driver's Guide To Hitting Pedestrians. The title provided for a great opportunity to try something a bit different than the majority of my other book cover designs. Something less heavy on the illustration and more humorous. If you are looking to brush up on your vehicular manslaughter then here's your ticket. Coming soon from Lazy Fascist Press.

The Fifth Fire

2011-06-02T14:07:00.001-05:00

Recently, local Wichita, Kansas alternative rockers The Fifth Fire asked me to design them an album cover. After a nice discussion with their singer Mark Bryant about their music and how to portray it visually, we decided to run with the idea of a figure of significant power or royalty who, despite his social standing, is in a state of sadness. They currently don't have any of the recordings on their MySpace page, but hopefully they will soon. The cd comes out June 18th.

Sketchbook Entries 006-010

2011-06-01T11:00:00.002-05:00

The Drums of Virion

2011-05-31T12:00:00.009-05:00

I love programming drums. For my album Virion I used Ableton Live with a plugin from FXpansion called BFD2. While there is an insane amount of pre-made beats and loops available, I chose not to use them. Every electronic attack was individually punched-in on the timeline by yours truly.

Below are the full drum sequences of every track on Virion. For those unfamiliar with this method of composing music, here is a quick rundown: The overall view is called the Piano Roll. Every row represents a different drum sound. Each box represents a single attack. The darker the color of the box, the louder the volume. The pink handlebars across the bottom adjust the velocity of the corresponding hits above.

Look painful? To many people it is. Perhaps I am an obsessive control freak, but I can easily spend days on end working on a single track. Yes, I am probably crazy.

So here you have it, beat by beat. And if you haven't heard it, Virion is available for free download in its entirety over at thesequenceofprime.com.

Enlightenment

Cenozoic Anoxia

Backlit

Nuclear Winter

Icosahedron

Particulate Matter

Dandelions in Spring

Ecophagy

Extremophile

Compression

Logging Guitar Riffs

2011-05-30T15:12:00.002-05:00

This is a screenshot of a folder on my computer that is full of new or unused guitar riffs I have written. A few years ago I got into the habit of using the built in camera on my iMac to record myself playing anything that I think has potential to be developed into a song.

This allows me to not only hear the guitar parts, but also see how they are played. If it is something rather complex or crazy fast I play the riff full speed as well as at a slower pace to make sure that down the road I can pinpoint exactly what I was doing at the time.

The oldest unused riff was recorded Thursday, April 2, 2009. The most recent was recorded last night. Currently there are 251 files in this folder. Though the actual number of riffs in here is higher. This is because sometimes I have a few diddies that work well together, so I alternate back and forth between them while recording. I'm guessing that the number of unique guitar parts here is easily over 300.

Occasionally I will also have a drum beat in mind to go along with whatever I am playing. In this case I usually just beatbox it in the same movie clip.

Sketchbook Entries 001-005

2011-05-30T11:35:00.002-05:00

The first 5 pages of my new sketchbook.