So …. Now What ?
By Bernard Griess
Bernard is the writer / guitarist for the hard rock band , Undone He has a been a content creator for Total Order Magzine since its launch 6 years ago . This is his first column for Total Order .
In many ways , this past year has been the most challenging time in recent memory . People have lost loved ones , which is the most extreme and unfortunate part about this new Covid-19 world we find ourselves in . But there are other , less talked about elements to this whole strange and ever evolving saga .
Worry has certainly been a big part of the lives of many during all this . Worry about livelihoods has easily been at the forefront of that , as musicians and anyone working in the orbit of the music industry can tell you . As can most aspects of the working people of the world . That can lead to worry about local and statewide economies , some of which have been hit very hard by all of this . Worry for vulnerable loved ones ( I certainly also relate
to this aspect ), for sure . But there ’ s also the strange politicization of all this , and where people fall along those lines that have really caused worry , at least for me . Because this , I feel , can be very important in relationships in our lives that are potentially forever changed .
You see , I think we ’ ve learned a great deal about our own personal circles since Covid became a thing . Long before this virus took control of our ever shrinking world , social media began giving us looks into the lives of the people we know , and those are looks that in numerous ways we probably never would have gotten glimpses of in those past times when people didn ’ t talk about politics , religion , and offer their opinions on just about every single subject ever known to mankind . Yes , kids , there actually was a time like this , as impossible it now seems to believe . And sometimes , and I know this is certainly the case for me , those looks at people have made us realize that we didn ’ t like what we see . Because like everything else , these things have been magnified since all of the polarization of Trump , the pandemic and quarantine and lockdowns and masks all became the norm .
So my current worry is … how are my relationships going to be with some of these people moving forward ? Some of them will go back to they always were , for certain . But some people , I ’ ve discovered , I am diametrically opposed to on a worldview , values , and personal level . Can I reconcile that ? Can I look past those things that bother me viscerally and get back to business ?
The answer is I ’ m not really sure .
I don ’ t think any oF us should expect every single person to share every single belief and opinion . That would make for a very boring world for one , and it would also be an impediment to improvement and progress . We ’ ve got to be able to have differing views and beliefs and still co-exist . But I also believe that some beliefs just make you a bad person , plain and simple . Sometimes you need to suffer the consequences of your words and deeds . And what do you do if you feel like someone in your family , or a friend of yours just at their core is a bad person ? Is that a “ them ” problem , or is that a “ you ” problem ? And don ’ t get started on “ Cancel Culture ”. As a Gen X ’ er , all these people screaming about how wrong that whole phenomenon is were the same ones trying to cancel my entire childhood and the things we loved . So yeah , I don ’ t wanna hear any of that nonsense .
In the end , much like most questions of any worth , it ’ s down to your individual
makeup , and what you place the most importance on . If you can separate these things and keep your relationships , be they personal or professional or whatever , this is an amazing trait . It ’ s very beneficial to you in navigating the world , and I am very envious of those who can get on with their lives in this manner . But , on the flip side of that , you cannot be faulted for walking away from things that no longer serve you , and that can be relations within your own professional life , your creative life , your friendships , your own family , even your own household if your line of thinking is just incompatible with someone in those environments .
( Continued on page 77 )
Page 33
METAL FACTORY
PREMIER KILDARE METAL QUARTET
DEAD LABEL RELEASES EP in PREP
FOR NEW FULL LENGTH RELEASE.
RETURNS TO THE DOWNLOAD STAGE.
Dead Label are a four piece metal band hailing from Co. Kildare Ireland. Dead Label’s debut album Sense of Slaughter was released in 2012, followed
by Throne of Bones in 2016. Dead Label are currently finishing their third album, which is set for release this year. ,Dead Label have toured all over
Europe, supporting bands like Fear Factory, Gojira, Machine Head and more. They have played at Bloodstock, Download, MetalDays and many more
notable festivals. They have have toured in North America and Japan. We sit and talk to drummer Claire Percival about more than just music.
You play with such incredible
energy, where does that
come from?
CLAIRE: I just got really into Travis Barker. Then
it just escalated from there. Once I got my first kit I
started listening to heavier music and I wanted to be
Dave McClain.
Talk about the endless hours
of rehearsal to play this style
of metal and perfecting it like
you do?
Photo Credits:
Nick Hargans
CLAIRE: I mean, it’s kind of one of those things, like
the stuff I’m playing now, it doesn’t feel like it’s on par
with drummers like the dude from Kataklysm and stuff
like that. Or when you play, I think it’s like a weird
mental thing when you’re playing it yourself. You’ve
been practicing it and learning it and get used to it that
it just feels natural to you. And then you hear someone
someone else playing something and because you
haven’t been practicing that exact thing you don’t
hear how easy it will become if you practice it. Like a
lot of drums at once, I think the likes of Travis Barker.
Once you have a really good kind of solid groove.
If you can groove, everything else can come with
practice. If you can’t lay down a groove and hold a
sound together and keep the drum sound good when
you’re playing something simple, all the extra stuff
isn’t worth anything. There’s kids, I saw a kid, I think
it was like a five year old girl from maybe Japan or
China, and she was like nailing it. I was just like, not
to take away from her, obviously she’s an alien. And
you can learn, you can learn chops. You can prac-
tice just like people who practice martial arts or
dancing or yoga or anything physical, but a groove
is what makes you a drummer, be able to sit back.
Like, I don’t know if you’re a Metallica fan, so this
could be met with love or hate but Lars can sit in the
rhythm of the drums. He might mess up the choppy bit
sometimes, maybe people argue that, but you can’t lie
there. He knows how to play “Sad But True” better
than anyone else. That sounds is all about
groove. So yeah, I’m more about the
groove to be honest.
Why does Lars get so
much shit?
CLAIRE: I don’t know, I’m his big-
gest fan. I have had numerous fights with
drummers. I worked in a drum shop for a
while and I literally had fights with people
about Lars work on a daily basis. I think
he gets so much hate because people
these days possibly miss the point of what
being a metal drummer is. Not other metal
drummers, but fans. He has provided us
with some of the best music in the world.
He might mess up at times but he also
brought you the album that “One” was on.
He brought you Metallica. He fought for
Metallica at the same time. Because so if he
messes up a drum part, he doesn’t care that
you care. So yeah, but I think it’s the fact
that he doesn’t care. that pisses people off
more. Like he doesn’t need you to like him. He’s in the best
band. If you don’t like him, he’s like, whatever. I’ve also
heard he’s really cool to find though. I’ve never met him,
but I’ve seen some stuff where it looks like he’s super cool.
Metal fans are passionate
about product, how do you
feel you’re marketing to that
fanbase?
CLAIRE: I’ve been having this conversation a lot
lately. In one way being a metal band with the internet
or any sort of artists in the world trying to be open with
the internet, it’s so much easier because you don’t need
permission to make a video. You don’t need permission
to record a song. You don’t need Sony records. Although
obviously, you take them if they want you. But you don’t
need them to come and pay. You can go and work, and
you can pay someone that you meet on the internet that can do techniques videographers are
learning in these days. Everybody’s going thier own ways because of the internet. But at the
same time, they’re not. You can be successful on paper and not have success in every area
that you would have had about 30 years ago. Like you’re not going to be on “MTV Cribs”
but you’re playing great gigs and I think we’re right in the middle of it at the moment, and It’s
probably going to get more streamlined, more monetized. I’ve actually even noticed upload-
ing songs is different from the first few times he did, because they have more tracking. I think
that as long as there’s a way for money to be made, people will figure it out because its nature.
(Continued on page 72)
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Photo Credits: Sean Puxty
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