Josh Hogan | Diminished Fifth Records / Hogan Media Relations

2010-01-06T06:56:00.000-05:00

ORCHID'S CURSE CHRISTMAS VIKING SHIRT

2009-12-08T17:34:00.001-05:00

THY FLESH CONSUMED 'UNREPENTANT' PRE-ORDER

2009-11-01T18:25:00.001-05:00

Diminished Fifth Records has announced that you can now Pre-order
'Unrepentant' by the Canadian Death Grind masters, Thy Flesh Consumed.

Pre-Order and receive a FREE copy of the 19-song compilation CD 'The Music of Artisanship & War: Vol II'. Please note pre-orders will be mailed no later then Friday, November 6th.

CLICK HERE TO PRE-ORDER: http://diminishedfifthrecords.com/unrepentant

Unrepentant is due for release by Diminished Fifth Records and will be released in North America on November 10th, 2009 (via Sonic Unyon Distribution in Canada and Relapse Records in the USA). European Release date coming soon.

ABOUT UNREPENTANT

THY FLESH CONSUMED
Unrepentant

1. Siege Engine Of Unreligion
2. The Disciplined Scorn
3. Blood Drenched Creation
4. The Demolition Of Thought
5. Ordinance Subservience
6. Devout Heathen
7. Hasten The Apocalypse
8. Sacrilege And Clarity
9. Thralldom Of The Crowning Mania

•Recorded by Andrew Watt at Common Ground Studios
•Mixed by Andrew Watt and Thy Flesh Consumed
•Mastered by Chris Mitchel

ABOUT THY FLESH CONSUMED

Formed in the fall of 2001 with the sole purpose of playing fast and heavy music, Thy Flesh Consumed evolved quickly into a serious band covering themes of animal rights, religion, socio-political issues, warfare, and the failing environment among others. The bands raw talent has found order with their razor sharp sound, harnessing the most extreme and aggressive elements of grindcore, black metal and death metal.

Thy Flesh Consumed has shared the stage with such metal titans as: Suffocation, Dying Fetus, Impaled Nazarene, Misery Index, Emeth, Unexpect, Anonymus, Neuraxis, Kult Ov Azazel, Melechesh, Morgion, Martyr and Fuck The Facts.

Peter Mestre - Vocals
Gerald Smith - Drums
Dan Jamieson - Rhythm / Lead Guitar
Dave Burns - Lead / Rhythm Guitar
Ross Vickers – Bass

FOR FANS OF: MORBID ANGEL, INCANTATION, NASUM and IMPIETY

"I think I saw this band listed next to "Ravage" or "Execute" or maybe "Bulldoze" in the dictionary"
-Metal Maniacs

"The proverbial iron fist in a velvet glove"
-Terrorizer Magazine (UK)

www.ThyFleshConsumed.com
www.myspace.com/DeathGrindMachine
www.DiminishedFifthRecords.com

NOCTIS III METAL FEST & CONFERENCE

2009-10-12T19:58:00.016-04:00

I was honoured to find out a few weeks back that I'd be a delegate and speaker at NOCTIS III Metalfest & Conference in Calgary, Alberta Canada. I have done a handful of conferences over the past few years but never a "metal focused" conference. In fact, I'm usually the only, or one of very few, metal-heads in attendance for any of the conferences I attend but luckily Noctis was different. A comforting sea of black t-shirts, leather jackets and long hair was the typical site this past weekend as metal-heads of all ages gathered for NOCTIS III!

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1st:

I arrived on around supper time to the smiling face of one of metal's most knowledgeable enthusiasts, Josh (JP) Wood. Now when I say “metal enthusiast” I mean it! Josh co-hosts a metal radio show on Calgary’s CJSW Radio for nearly ten years (the show has been running an amazing 25 years now!) as well as he created the worlds only Heavy Metal board game ‘Metal Mental Breakdown’ (which is mandatory for all metal-heads to check out!) I had actually met Josh a few weeks back home in Halifax when he was up for a family vacation so it was great to see the only familiar face I would see that weekend. Throughout the evening I decided to join Josh on a few more airport pickups which introduced me to metal journalist legend Martin Popoff as well as Seasons in the Mist CEO Michael Berberian.

After the last pickup, Josh, Michael and I decided it was time for to grab a beer so we headed down to the hotel bar. Despite being rather empty we quickly spotted a table of metal-heads and introduced ourselves only to realize that we were sitting with Chicago’s November’s Doom, a band which I have been following quite closely since their album ‘The Pale Haunt Departure’. I can safely say some of the nicest guys I have met in a long time. A delicious drink and some conversation later and we called it an early night as I eagerly awaited what the festival would bring.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2nd:

Today I would speak on 4-panels covering an array of topics such as ‘Staying Independent by Chance or Choice’, ‘Distro and Endorsements: Earning Income with your Metal Band’, ‘The Roll of Agents and Managers’ and ‘Promotion, Reviews and Radio Play’ plus do some one-on-one mentor sessions... it was going to be a busy day but I was ready for the challenge.

Before the conference was even officially open to the public a swarm of metal-heads were already pouring into the hotel providing a stark contrast to the elegant chandeliers which hung from the conference room ceiling. For the following six hours I either shared knowledge or gained it. When I wasn’t speaking I was listening attentively as some of the greatest minds in the metal world were sharing their thoughts. Journalist, Photographers, Label Rep's, Booking Agents and more!

To view a full list of this year's delegates please click here.
To read a great article about the fest as covered Hellbound.ca, click here.

After the conference was completed a few new friends and I found the closest liquor store to stock our rooms for the inevitable after parties and then headed for a meal before making our way to The Distillery for the first nights music.
At dinner we ran into a group of a half-dozen kids who had traveled hours only for the conference not even to see the bands perform. This spoke in volumes to me, as convincing young metal heads to drive hours to see fantastic bands is easy... however, convincing them to drive hours to hear behind the scene and industry folk speak about the current state of metal was almost unimaginable to me. To me that just went to show how much work the Noctis organizers did to ensure the festival was properly promoted and had the greatest minds in the industry.

Due to our extended supper we sadly missed some of the local acts and showed up just as Ares Kingdom hit the stage. There was another big show in town that evening which featured Children of Bodom, The Black Dahlia Murder and Skeletonwitch so many were worried this would hamper the crowd at the Distillery, luckily for all of the us the venue was packed. As we later found out the Distillery packed in double the crowd as the Bodom which again was another testament to the power of this festival. After a solid set by Missouri’s Ares Kingdom, California’s Slough Feg hit the stage and with immense stage presence they whipped through great set rock fueled metal tunes. The evening’s main attraction was Chicago’s November’s Doom who did not disappoint! Powerhouse vocalist Paul Kuhr switched effortlessly between his low rumbling and angelic singing while they performed a captivating set of old and new material.

To close out the first evening was a 3-piece, instrumental act called Truck, which was composed of some of the most talented musicians in the Calgary metal community. These three individuals were not only the masters of their respected instruments but they were skilled at writing energetic and engaging songs which, without a frontman, is no easy task.

The Distillery was within stumbling distance to the hotel so we headed back for a brief but fun afterparty and taking some new and familiar friends along the way. Truth is, anytime metal-heads gather and a hot tub is filled to brim with booze it is a good time and the Friday night was no exception.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3rd:

I awoke in time to grab some breakfast and try an Alberta Caesar. Since the drink was originated in Alberta I had high expectations, yet I was sorely disappointed.... but the delicious breakfast helped balance out.

Around noon time I met up JP Woods and his friend Greg, along with the boys from Slough Feg, we headed out on the town to do some record shopping around the city. Sadly I didn’t end up making any purchases but nonetheless it was a great mini adventure. The boys were flying out later that afternoon so JP, Greg and I met up with Martin Popoff at Vern’s Bar for an afternoon beer and some nachos before heading to MacEwen Hall for night two of Noctis! I have to say sitting and listening to Martin and JP talk is unreal. They are a the almighty knowledge keepers of all things metal!

The set up for Night #2 at Noctis was well laid out; the Mainstage was MacEwan Hall and the Den was the second stage. To ensure no music was missed the bands alternated so bands on the second stage would be performing during change-overs from the main stage. This was killer since I need not miss the fine local talent that was performing.

The night is too plentiful to even write about the awesomeness that I witnessed but I’ll give a few quick highlights.

Begrime Exemious and Exit Strategy both performed on the mainstage and rightfully so! Begrime is hell-filled black metal and Exit Strategy balances technical death metal with a healthy dose of grind. Both of these bands are at the top tier of their respective genres and could hold their own with many of the industry’s finest.

On the second stage I witness some youthful local talent in Hrom whose take on power metal was impressive. Their singer could hit some crazy vibrato notes! If you are into Rhapsody or their ilk… this is a band to watch. Another fantastic local act, which headlined second stage was Death Toll Rising, who played a killer set of melodic and aggressive thrash.

In addition to the fine local talent, I was lucky enough to witness such great bands as Aura Noir, Destroyer 666, Suffocation and Cynic.Cynic was quite possibly the greatest live performance I had ever witnessed! From the opening notes they performed flawlessly through material from Focus and Traced in Air. In fact, to see two drumming gods, Mike Smith (Suffocation) and Sean Reinert (Cynic) perform in the same night was a definite highlight.

After the performance it was time for another after party with a freshly stocked hot-tub full of booze. Sadly the hotel staff didn’t quite share the enthusiasm of the metal-heads and the party was short lived. Lucky for us we still had a moderate supply in my hotel room so Josh Woods, his friend Greg and I were joined by Justin Bender and Paul Masvidal for some more beers and some causal music talk until the early hours of the morning.

All in all, I couldn’t have been more pleased with NOCTIS III Metalfest & Conference! I met some amazing people, saw some killer bands, and most of all had fun. Thanks to Terese and everyone at Scarab Metal Productions for making the amazing weekend possible.

VANCOUVER'S NINJASPY ANNOUNCE 'THROW IT DOWN' CROSS CANADA TOUR:

2009-10-07T16:57:00.002-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

VANCOUVER'S NINJASPY ANNOUNCE 'THROW IT DOWN' CROSS CANADA TOUR:

INCLUDING 12 EAST COAST DATES!

(Vancouver, BC)
Vancouver's NINJASPY have announced their 'Throw it Down' Tour which is the bands 3rd Canadian tour and the first tour that will bring the band to Atlantic Canada. Tour support includes Montreal based WHAT'S HE BUILDING IN THERE? and Fredericton's WE, THE UNDERSIGNED. Joel, Adam and Tim Parent, the three brothers that make up the powerhouse trio NINJASPY, have also recently announced that they have signed with Japan's ZESTONE Records to release Pi Nature, their debut album. Written by NINJASPY (www.ninjaspy.net), Produced by Grammy nominated Garth Richardson and Ben Kaplan, and mixed by Bill Kennedy, Pi Nature is due for release on October 14 across Japan.

Ninjaspy drummer, Adam Parent is looking forward to his bands first venture to the East Coast, with caution he states, "I'll be packing a protective facemask due to the metal melting capabilities of the bands on this tour and I suggest you do the same." The band will be shown the roads of the east coast by touring mates What's He Building in There? who have traveled this region many times. "This will be our fourth time visiting Canada's east coast - getting to do this tour with NinjaSpy is truly a treat. We have met tonnes of amazing people during our time spent down east, and now we get to introduce all of these people to one of Canada's greatest up-and-coming heavy acts. I hope you are ready to be blown away!" added their Bassist, Hal Jaques.

'THROW IT DOWN' EAST COAST TOUR DATES

Oct 12 - Fredericton, NB @ The Capital Center
Oct 13 - Chatham, NB @ The Legion
Oct 14 - Sussex, NB @ Jubilee Hall
Oct 16 - Halifax, NS @ The Pavillion
Oct 17 - Bridgewater, NS @ Kingsman Club
Oct 18 - Halifax, NS @ Gus Pub
Oct 20 - Glace Bay, NS @ TBA
Oct 22 - St John's, NL @ Distortion
Oct 23 - St John's, NL @ CBGT's
Oct 24 - St John's, NL @ CBGT's
Oct 24 - St John's, NL @ Distortion (early)
Oct 25 - St John's, NL @ The Levee

Since the beginning of 2007, NINJASPY has been the buzz band in Vancouver and have performed alongside such notables as Thrice, Protest The Hero, Bring Me The Horizon, Cancer Bats, Grimskunk, Pierce The Veil, 3 Inches of Blood and more. Their explosive growth is due in large part to the band's intensely loyal fan base they built from the ground up on MySpace and YouTube. Ninjaspy's potent Hardcore/Metal and funk sound, skilled musicianship, energetic live shows and sense of style has led to over 200,000+ plays of their music on their MySpace artist profile page. In addition to recently performing at the Taste of Chaos Tour, the band was asked to perform at Warped Tour 2009 in Vancouver by Warped Tour founder himself, Kevin Lymon. "We were so impressed with them at TOC we asked them to do Warped as well," says Lymon, "We'll be taking notes on Ninjaspy!". The band is currently headlining their 3rd Canada wide club tour called The THROW IT DOWN Fall Tour.

NINJASPY's infectious first single, "EVOLUTION OF THE SKID," was released in the Spring of 2009. The single is taken from the Pi Nature and won them a coveted spot of the Taste of Chaos Tour in Calgary, AB See link below to watch the video for "Evolution of The Skid"

Ninjaspy "Evolution of The Skid"
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=54297814
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAGkl4j68K8

PRESS:
"I am so scared of this...but that's good."
-Bob Ezrin

Soaring vocal harmonies are there one minute and replaced with a throaty growl the next. Pure Sketch is a sure-fire modern rock radio hit, as the post-grunge framework gets stirred up into a tasty seventies inspired soul/funk soup
Metal-Rules.com

Think a 3 piece Mr. Bungle with Patton's vocals taking a turn for the better, add some laser beams and dreads, turn it all up to eleven, stand the fuck back and enjoy."
-Ground Report, NYC

Ninjaspy is:
Joel Parent - lead vocals, guitar
Tim Parent - bass, backing vocals
Adam Parent drums, backing vocals

For More information on Ninjaspy please visit:
http://ninjaspy.net/
http://myspace.com/thetriadinblood
http://www.youtube.com/ninjaspytv

WHAT'S HE BUILDING IN THERE?

Half human, half sexual energy, What's He Building In There? have come to cure the boredom plaguing the modern world of metal. Armed with unrelenting energy and three tonnes of sheer wit, the unsung heroes of Montreal, Quebec are set to tell their tale of musical wizardry.

In keeping with the haunting Tom Waits composition that spawned their name, What's He Building In There? have ripened their own deranged fruit in the form of their debut self-titled LP. Drawing influence from the contrasting musical worlds of Mike Patton, Tool, Les Claypool, Between the Buried and Me, Frank Zappa and many other innovators, WHBIT? have synthesized their many facets into one gripping and demented melodic masterpiece. Clocking in at just over 54 minutes, this self-produced saga will dash the preconceptions of heavy music listeners everywhere.

In transcending the layers of their seamless sound orgy and stupefying live show, it is obvious that What's He Building In There? have tastefully restructured the idea of what a metal band can be. Fans of Dillinger Escape Plan, Mr. Bungle, System of a Down, Sikth, and HORSE the band will raise their arms in victorious harmony. Fans of 50 Cent will cry well-deserved tears of shame.

Chris Schroeder Vocals, Keyboards
Mason Tiki - Guitars, Vocals
Hal Jaques - Bass, Vocals
Liam Epps - Drums, Vocals

For More information on What's He Building in There? please visit: http://www.myspace.com/whbit

WTU PRE-ORDER + STREAM THE ENTIRE ALBUM FOR FREE!

2009-09-29T19:18:00.005-04:00

Diminished Fifth Records is pleased to announce the official Pre-Order of We, the Undersigneds debut full-length 'Bleed the Constants’' which will be released in North America on Tuesday, October 13th.

Order directly from the Diminished Fifth Records Online Store (http://www.diminishedfifthrecords.com/b ... constants/) and receive a FREE copy of the 19-song compilation CD, 'The Music of Artisanship & War: Volume II'

HEAR IT FIRST!
You can now stream the album in its entirety on the bands official myspace (http://myspace.com/wtu) up until the album hits stores.

Diminished Fifth Records is proudly distributed by:
Sonic Unyon (Canada)
Relapse Records (USA/Mexico)
Code 7 / Plastichead (UK/Ireland)

WE, THE UNDERSIGNED - Bleed the Constants

1. IDDQD
2. Pangaea Mind
3. Burning Bodies (in the Distance)
4. Flight of the Teratorns
5. Tonight I Dine on Turtle Soup
6. The Eschaton
7. Bleed the Constants
8. Samadhi
9. Making a Break for the Ocean
10. Strassman's Child

"the record is loaded with seizure-inducing sweetness, and it's so much fun being unaware of which direction your body will be thrown next"
~PUREGRAINAUDIO.COM

http://www.myspace.com/wtu
http://www.diminishedfifthrecords.com

TURNING UP THE VOLUME AT THE 2009 HALIFAX POP EXPLOSION

2009-09-27T20:21:00.001-04:00

Diminished Fifth Records
2009 Halifax Pop Explosion Showcase
Thursday October 22nd at the Toothy Moose (1661 Argyle St)

JOIN THE FACEBOOK EVENT: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=1 ... 243&ref=mf

Black Moor - http://www.black-moor.com
Thy Flesh Consumed - http://thyfleshconsumed.com
We, the Undersigned - http://myspace.com/wtu
Uigg - http://myspace.com/uigg

Official Halifax CD Release show:
Thy Flesh Consumed - Unrepentant (In Stores: November 10th)
We, the Undersigned - Bleed the Constants (In Stores: October 13th)

Diminished Fifth Records is proudly distributed by:
Sonic Unyon (Canada)
Relapse Records (USA/Mexico)
Code 7 / Plastichead (UK/Ireland)

http://diminishedfifthrecords.com
http://halifaxpopexplosion.com
http://hoganmedia.ca

WIN FREE TICKETS TO FLOGGING MOLLY IN HALIFAX AND MONCTON!

2009-09-24T19:37:00.008-04:00

Celtic-punk rockers Flogging Molly to perform in Halifax, October 14th and Moncton, October 15th

Los Angeles’ critically-acclaimed Celtic-punk-rock group Flogging Molly will perform in support of their latest release Float, at The Palace in Halifax, on Wednesday, October 14 and at the Oxygen Nightclub in Moncton, on Thursday, October 15. Both shows feature special guest Inward Eye and get under way at 8 p.m.

Fueled by the singles “Float” and “Requiem For A Dying Song,” Float was released in 2008 and landed at #4 on Billboard’s Top 200 chart.

Alternative Press said, "it is one of the most important CDs of the year, if not the decade." All Music Guide said, “The music's Irish lilt and furious post-punk energy is evident on almost every track... The band plays with incendiary power, giving the tunes the timeless spirit that infuses all great Irish rebel songs.”

With a two-week stint on the Vans Warped North American tour this summer, the band recently celebrated their first GOLD Record in the U.S. After over ten years of touring and a growing fan base, the band's 2002 release Drunken Lullabies cruised past the 500,000 unit mark last month.

Drawing on the hardships and joys of their own lives and a musical history ranging from old world Celtic to modern day punk rock, the seven members of Flogging Molly do it with a charm and an ease that makes them one of the most accessible bands performing today.

Founded in Los Angeles in 1997, Flogging Molly got its start and its name from a local bar called Molly Malone's where the band played and grew and laid down the blueprint for its eventual success. The band consists of Dave King (vocals, guitar, bodhran), Dennis Casey (guitar, vocals), Matthew Hensley (accordion, concertina, piano, vocals), Nathen Maxwell (bass guitar, vocals), Bridget Regan (violin, tin whistle, classical guitar, uilleann pipes, vocals), Robert Schmidt (mandolin, mandola, banjo, vocals) and George Schwindt (drums, percussion).

Tickets are $37.50 (Halifax) or $35.00 (Moncton) in advance and $40.00 the day of show (including tax). Tickets are available at all Ticketpro outlets, by phone at 1-888-311-9090 and online at www.sonicconcerts.com. Major credit cards are accepted and service charges apply. These shows are restricted to ages 19 and over. Doors open at 7 p.m.

For more information on Flogging Molly, visit: http://www.floggingmolly.com
For more information on Inward Eye, visit: http://www.inwardeye.com
For more information on Sonic Concerts, visit: http://www.sonicconcerts.com

WIN FREE TICKETS!

***CONTEST DETAILS***

Flogging Molly's latest album is entitled "Float".

Write on the Sonic Concerts Facebook wall (links below) and tell us what Irish things Float!
Examples of such would be: A boat. A whole bunch of Shamrocks. An empty bottle of Whiskey.
The possibilites are endless!

Bonus points for creativity!

One pair of tickets is up for grabs for the October 14th show in Halifax and the October 15th show in Moncton

**Contest closes Friday, October 9th at noon, winners will be notified via Facebook**

Halifax Facebook Event | Moncton Facebook Event

UPDATES FROM DIMINISHED FIFTH RECORDS

2009-09-13T18:10:00.008-04:00

Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls we have been incredibly busy over the last few weeks so I wanted to sent out some updates about what’s been happening at the D5R Camp. So if you could spare a few minutes please check out everything that we currently have on the go!

HELP US SPREAD THE WORD OF EAST COAST METAL:
We are currently sitting at just over 1600 fans but I know there are more fans of East Coast Metal. So we would love to see the Diminished Fifth Records Facebook Group up to 2000 or 2500 fans and would love your help. If you could be so kind to go to the D5R Facebook Group and click on “Invite People to Join” that would be incredible. AND as a token of our appreciation our 2000th and our 2500th fan (as well whoever invited them!) will receive a complete D5R Discography Prize Pack just for helping us spread the word of EAST COAST METAL!

BLACK MOOR ON THE RADIO:
The bands debut album ‘The Conquering’ has moved up to # 3 for the Canadian Loud Charts from Earshot!
A huge thanks to everyone at the radio stations who have been spinning the discs and the fans who have been requesting it!

THY FLESH CONSUMED REVEAL UNREPENTANT DETAILS:
The death/grind masters have released 'The Disciplined Scorn' off their upcoming album 'Unrepentant' for free download. They have also released their album art and track listing for the upcoming album which will be released on November 10th, 2009.
For full details please click here We will also have a very exciting announcement coming soon about an incredibly awesome pre-order incentive for ‘Unrepentant’ so be excited!

WE, THE UNDERSIGNED KEEP GIVING THE GOODS:
Fredericton’s We, the Undersigned are gearing up for the release of their debut full-length ‘Bleed the Constants’ which will be released in North America on October 13th, 2009. They have been releasing a different song every other week on their myspace currently ‘Tonight I Dine on Turtle Soup’ is available for listening on their myspace And don’t forget you can still download ‘Pangaea Mind’ by going to http://tinyurl.com/wtusong.

If you are in the Fredericton, NB area, make sure you check out their CD release show on October 12th Click here to view the facebook event! Plus they will have full cross-Canada Tour details coming soon!

FESTIVALS & CONFERENCES:
Yours truly will be sitting on some great music panels at some upcoming conferences and festivals to share my thoughts (and rants) about the DIY Publicity and Marketing in the current music industry. So if you are around please come out, ask questions, get informed and help spread the seeds of the DIY Ethic!

NOCTIS III METALFEST (October 2-3rd, Calgary, Alberta, Canada)

HALIFAX POP EXPLOSION – Music Matters Conference (October 23rd, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada)

MONCTONLOCALS.COM AND HOGAN MEDIA RELATIONS ‘WALK FOR LIFE’:
MonctonLocals.com in partnership with Hogan Media Relations are pleased to announce we have teamed up to raise money for the AIDS Scotia Bank ‘Walk for Life’ which will take place in Moncton, New Brunswick on Sunday September 20th at Centennial Park.

Donations for the Monctonlocals.com/Hogan Media Relations Team can be made directly through the AIDS Scotia Bank ‘Walk for Life’ website. DONATE HERE No amount is too small or too big! And all support is greatly appreciated!

NEW D5R MYSPACE:
That is right we’ve finally updated our myspace layout and design. So a massive thank-you to Brad at Orange-Room-Studios.com for making our myspace look amazing. Check it out at http://myspace.com/d5r

BRING BACK THE BLOG:
I’ve decided to start using my blog again and will be posting a variety of articles in the spirit of DIY Publicity & Marketing as well as general news from Hogan Media and Diminished Fifth. Some recent articles include: ‘Improve Your Bands Online Presence’ and ‘What is the Number One Thing Holding You Back?’ so check it out at: http://d5r.blogspot.com

THY FLESH CONSUMED OFFER FREE DOWNLOAD OF NEW SONG...

2009-09-08T14:49:00.009-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THY FLESH CONSUMED OFFER FREE DOWNLOAD OF NEW SONG:
ALBUM ART AND TRACK LISTING REVEALED

(Halifax, NS)
Canadian Death Grind masters, Thy Flesh Consumed have unveiled the album art and track listing for their upcoming album 'Unrepentant'. Unrepentant is the fourth album from Thy Flesh Consumed and their Diminished Fifth Records debut album.

UNREPENTANT is due for release by Diminished Fifth Records and will be released in North America on November 10th, 2009 (via Sonic Unyon Distribution in Canada and Relapse Records in the USA). European Release date coming soon.

ABOUT UNREPENTANT:

THY FLESH CONSUMED - Unrepentant

1. Siege Engine Of Unreligion
2. The Disciplined Scorn
3. Blood Drenched Creation
4. The Demolition Of Thought
5. Ordinance Subservience
6. Devout Heathen
7. Hasten The Apocalypse
8. Sacrilege And Clarity
9. Thralldom Of The Crowning Mania

*Recorded by Andrew Watt at Common Ground Studios
*Mixed by Andrew Watt and Thy Flesh Consumed
*Mastered by Chris Mitchell

DOWNLOAD The Disciplined Scorn.mp3

ABOUT THY FLESH CONSUMED:

Formed in the fall of 2001 with the sole purpose of playing fast and heavy music, Thy Flesh Consumed evolved quickly into a serious band covering themes of animal rights, religion, socio-political issues, warfare, and the failing environment among others. The bands raw talent has found order with their razor sharp sound, harnessing the most extreme and aggressive elements of grindcore, black metal and death metal.

Thy Flesh Consumed has shared the stage with such metal titans as:
Suffocation, Dying Fetus, Impaled Nazarene, Misery Index, Emeth, Unexpect, Anonymus, Neuraxis, Kult Ov Azazel, Melechesh, Morgion, Martyr and Fuck The Facts.

Peter Mestre - Vocals
Gerald Smith - Drums
Dan Jamieson - Rhythm / Lead Guitar
Dave Burns - Lead / Rhythm Guitar
Ross Vickers - Bass

FOR FANS OF:
MORBID ANGEL
INCANTATION
NASUM

"I think I saw this band listed next to "Ravage" or "Execute" or maybe "Bulldoze" in the dictionary"
-METAL MANIACS

"The proverbial iron fist in a velvet glove"
-TERRORIZER MAGAZINE (UK)

www.ThyFleshConsumed.com
www.myspace.com/DeathGrindMachine
www.DiminishedFifthRecords.com

- 30 -

L’ESPRIT DU CLAN in HALIFAX!

2009-09-08T14:35:00.003-04:00

Thursday, September 10th
Gus’ Pub
10pm / $8

L’ESPRIT DU CLAN - http://www.myspace.com/lespritduclan
DECREPITY - http://www.myspace.com/decrepity
ORCHID’S CURSE – http://myspace.com/orchidscurse
OBSYDIAN - http://www.myspace.com/obsydianofficial
SOVIET CROWBEAK – http://myspace.com/sovietcrowbeak

FACEBOOK EVENT: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=127912752163

WE, THE UNDERSIGNED - SONGS FROM UPCOMING ALBUM!

2009-08-27T16:07:00.003-04:00

Check out another new track off the upcoming album 'Bleed the Constants' which is due for release on October 13th, 2009.

Burning Bodies (in the distance) is the second song released from the album which features a guest vocal appearance by Schroeder from the band What's He Building in There?

Check it out at: http://myspace.com/wtu

Also the first song revealed Pangaea Mind can still be downloaded here: http://tinyurl.com/wtusong

IMPROVE YOUR BANDS ONLINE PRESENCE

2009-08-27T15:45:00.004-04:00

So I’ve realized some of my recent blog posts may have been a little on the negative end of the critical spectrum… By no means does this mean they weren’t true, but I figured with this post I’d offer some constructive ideas about how you can do a few quick and easy things to improve your bands online presence.

FACEBOOK FANPAGES
-Like or not, facebook is great for social networking and a key tool for online marketing. Your band should have a Fan Page.

*TIP #1: The key is to keep it updated with relevant band news and information. Also make sure that every 1 to 2 months each band member goes and invites their new friends to join the fan page. On average most people add 5-10 friends a week (so 20-40 people a month), with 4 band members that is 80 – 160 potential new fans each month!

*TIP #2: Bands are always friends with other bands… talk to a band whom you are good friends with that have a similar fan base and offer to trade-off on inviting each other’s friends to the other’s fanpage. Just send out a personal message saying “If you like ‘OUR BAND’ then you’ll definitely like ‘OUR FRIENDS BAND’ so check them out and join their fanpage!” Don’t use the exact scripting above, be creative!

iTUNES
-If you don’t have your music on iTunes, my only question to you is ‘Why Not?’. Despite illegal downloading, iTunes revenues continue to increase and, bottom line, you should have your music available on there. You can use companies such as CD Baby and TuneCore which will get your music on iTunes for a small fee. Once you have established your album on iTunes then you need to get people on there to buy your album… so how do you do that? There a few little tips which will help.

*TIP: Go on to your iTunes account and search for your album on there. On the right hand side there will be a link "Tell A Friend”, put in there emails and away you go! Or you can also email the link to yourself and then Copy & Paste the direct link to your album on your online store (you can do this by right-clicking the 'iTunes' link button and “copy link location”) then you can attach this link in your band newsletters or add it onto your website with an iTunes button. (See image below)

THRASHFEST 2009 LINE UP REVEALED

2009-08-18T21:42:00.002-04:00

Atlantic Canada’s premier metal festival is pleased to announce the official line-up for THRASHFEST 2009, which will be held at Gus’ Pub in Halifax, Nova Scotia on August 28th and 29th.

The two night music festival will feature a dozen of the finest heavy metal bands in the region. Friday night’s headliner will be Halifax’s own death grind master’s Thy Flesh Consumed who will be performing material from their highly anticipated forth album ‘Unrepentant’ which will be released in October on Diminished Fifth Records. Other acts for Friday’s showcase include Terratomb, Hellacaust, North End Metal All Stars, Big Game Hunt and Cicada. Saturday’s headliner will be Hate Division from New Glasgow, Nova Scotia and supporting acts for the second night include festival organizers Fistfight, Orchid’s Curse, Select and Dismember, Panic & War, and Legions of Chaos. Tickets for the event will be $8.00 for a day pass or $12.00 for both nights. Advance Tickets are on sale at Gus' Pub and Random Play in Halifax and CD Heaven in Dartmouth.

"It's great to see that type of support coming from the community" commented organizer Matthew Francis "I'm stoked for the lineup we've assembled this year, and even more impressed by the enthusiam being shown by the fans" fellow organizer Randy Crust, who also hosts CKDU radio program 'Mutants on Parade' added "This year's Thrashfest is bittersweet for me as it marks the last show I'm going to play before moving out of Halifax, so I hope to see all the friends I've made in the scene over the years there!"

For more information on the show please visit the facebook event at: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=109664159009#/event.php?eid=110146339053&ref=ts

WHAT IS THE NUMBER ONE THING HOLDING YOU BACK AS A MUSICIAN?

2009-08-13T13:19:00.002-04:00

It’s not illegal downloading…
It’s not the fall of brick and mortar retail stores…
It’s not the greedy money sucking suits…
It’s not Reality TV on Much Music and MTV…
It’s not even shitty radio rock and pop music…

The harsh reality is the number one thing holding you back as a musician, is likely… You!

You see the motivation it takes to succeed in music is almost unparallel to any other industry. In fact, I can’t really think of any other industries (other then maybe competitive sports) where the person will invest such a vast amount of time, energy and money into their passion often for little or no return. But hundreds of thousands of individuals in this country, and millions world wide, do it constantly. So if the passion is there where does the fault lie?

The truth is having the passion just isn’t enough… the days of “getting signed” equating to “getting rich” are long gone (less for a few bubble gum rockers, and pre-made pop bands but most of them are getting exploited by the big players and will soon be settling to celebrity rehab or some other reality show to pay for their drug habits.) Regardless I’m getting side tracked. Being an independent musician is now more then ever means that you are in control. Say it “You Are In Control”, “You Are In Control”, “You Are In Control”. In fact don’t just say it, put it into action. You can get your albums recorded and pressed cheaper then ever, you can sell your music on iTunes and other popular digital retails, you can set your album up for online retailers, like CD Baby. You can use Reverbnation, Facebook, Twitter and Myspace to network and promote your band. You can do all of these things and help steer your destiny in the right direction. The real key is to not get lost in the shuffle, not get discouraged easy and make sure you are doing for the right reasons (for the passion and not the cash-in… sorry had to make it rhyme!) Overall I guess this is really just an extension of my previous rant “Get your shit together or get out of the way” because all I want to see is more musicians take the reigns of their career and steer their path.

Here are a few tips that I think all serious musicians should be doing.

-Make Goals!
Don’t just say them, write them down. Place it by your desk, in your guitar case or somewhere else you are going to see it every day. Don’t shoot for the stars, set reasonable goals (For example, get X-amount of new fans this week on Reverbnation, Get X-amount of new fans to join your mailing list, or post a link to your music on X-amount of relevant music message boards, etc…) Also it is important to make short term (Weekly/Monthly) goals as well as long term (yearly) goals. Without having goals there is no chance you can achieve them.

-Communicate with your Fans!
Start a newsletter (I would recommend using Fanbridge or Reverbnation for this) and communicate with your fans frequently but don’t SPAM! Also make sure that every time you send your fans a message you aren’t selling something. Don’t only send your fans a message like “New CD out”, “Come see us play live”. “Buy a new T-Shirt” etc… these are all perfectly acceptable things to send newsletters about but make sure this isn’t your only communication with your fans… because then you are nothing more then a glorified salesman, and we all know how people feel about that. Instead try and engage your fans and try things like “What songs would you like to hear at our upcoming show?”, “Vote for our next T-Shirt Design” or “Win a free CD when you have a friend sign up for our mailing list”. Also it is more then ok to send an occasional letter just letting your fans know how you are doing and what is new in your personal life… The key is to make a real connection with your fans.

-Get on the Net!
Become familiar with Web 2.0 or find someone who is passionate about your music that is more web savvy to help you. There are ample websites and resources for musicians online (as the ones mentioned above) so try and tackle even one or two and begin building your online presence.

So remember “YOU ARE IN CONTROL”

HOW TO: PRESS RELEASES

2009-08-13T13:16:00.001-04:00

This is a great resource I discovered about some basic information on Music related press releases.
http://musicians.about.com/od/musicindustrybasics/tp/pressreleases101.htm

It covers topics like Album, Touring, News Press Releases plus information on One-Sheets, Bios, and Emails.

LAMB OF GOD / GWAR / JFAC IN HALIFAX AND MONCTON!

2009-08-06T21:52:00.003-04:00

Tickets for the Halifax show are $45 in advance and $50 day of show (including tax). Tickets go on sale Saturday, August 8 at 10 a.m. at all Ticketpro outlets, by phone at 1-888-311-9090 and online at www.sonicconcerts.com. Major credit cards are accepted and service charges apply.

Tickets for the Moncton show are $47.50 in advance and $52.50 day of show (including tax). Tickets go on sale Saturday, August 8 at 9 a.m. at the Moncton Coliseum box office, by phone at 857-4100 and online at www.sonicconcerts.com. Major credit cards are accepted and service charges apply.

This show is open to all ages with a licensed area for those over the age of 19. ID required. Doors open at 7 p.m.

For photos and more information on Lamb of God, visit: http://www.lamb-of-god.com

For photos and more information on GWAR, visit: http://www.gwar.net

For photos and more information on Job for a Cowboy, visit: http://www.jfacmetal.com

Sonic Concerts online:
http://www.sonicconcerts.com/lambofgod.html

Sonic Concerts Fanpage:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Halifax-NS/Sonic-Concerts/7120998803?ref=search

Halifax Facebook Event:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=109664159009&ref=mf

Moncton Facebook Event:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=55052584986&ref=mf

GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER OR GET OUT OF THE WAY...

2009-07-19T18:10:00.007-04:00

That is my current perspective of the climate of today’s music industry and whether I am right or wrong it is how I feel. You see in today’s industry there are more tools then ever at the disposal of an independent artist. But instead of embracing the tools many of these artists simply get in the way of their own and others success.

Now let’s be clear, when I say ‘success’ I don’t mean world tours and the cover of Rolling Stone… What I mean by success is making music a priority in your life, making it your main career and your full time job, even if it means maintaining a shitty second job which is often required to ensure the rent is paid. I should also be clear this is not so much an attack at casual bands that are comfortable releasing their albums on CD’s in homemade’s printed slim cases and playing local watering holes… this is more so an attack on all the bands that bitch the second another band begins to pick up steam yet would rather complain about the success others then make the necessary effort to find their own success. Whenever a band does this they are ultimately the catalyst of their own demise instead of their own success.

I’m twenty seven years old and I am positive that I am living in age where too many people still expect to have things handed to them by the industry…. and this disillusion is still everywhere I look. Up and coming bands expect it and bands that have been around for decades still dream it. The fact is the old world gate-keepers of the industry are making less and less of an impact in the big picture, retail CD stores are now DVD stores with limited shelf space for the newest Brittany Spears release. Twenty plus years ago there was little question of success if you didn’t have major label backing but now that is no longer the case, independent bands are teaming with independent labels with independent distribution and thanks to the world-wide web, digital distribution and online CD stores more artists are being heard then ever. Granted the modern day artist might only be making enough to get by and no longer millions of dollars, but I for one would rather scrape by in the industry then scrape by working at a menial job I despise.

There is an abundance of resources available to help independent musicians, but even with so many options being overwhelming isn’t the problem. The problem is that independent musicians are often too lazy to help themselves.

So please do yourself a favor and check out these suggested tools:

HAULIX – www.haulix.com
Haulix is a new tool designed for the digital delivery of promotional materials. They are mostly targeted at Publicists/Labels but they do have a package for an independent artist to upload a single album for digital delivery. And where is tailored towards the music industry it beats the shit out of YouSendIt and similar file sending sites.

FANBRIDGE – www.fanbridge.com
Fanbridge is a provider of email and mobile fan list management for bands. Packages begin at no charge depending on how many messages you are sending each month. Plus you can do HTML emails with easy, pre-built templates.

REVERBNATION – www.reverbnation.com
Though most of you likely know about Reverbnation, I have just started using it again (after over a years absence) and am realizing what a great resource it is. Widgets are great!

Lastly if you haven’t yet seen my article on ‘DIY Band Promotion’ please download a free copy here.

SOME UPDATES

2009-05-13T21:38:00.004-04:00

So I've been slacking... It's been way too long since an update. So here is a quick little update of some press releases from Hogan Media Relations. Just click on the link and check out the HTML Press Release

NEW HOGAN MEDIA RELATIONS WEBSITE!!

2009-02-22T16:19:00.005-05:00

Just in time for the East Coast Music Awards we have re-launched the Hogan Media Relations website with a brand new design (courtesy of Orange Room Studios and maintained by Trench Web Design), new client list and a new portfolio of our work.

Additionally I launched my first of a series of articles on Do It Yourself Band Promotion which can be found on the new Hogan Media Relations website or downloaded directly HERE

Please check out our new site at: www.hoganmedia.ca

Feedback is encouraged and appreciated.

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FRIDAY JANUARY 30th

2009-01-12T18:56:00.001-05:00

Diminished Fifth Records Presents:

Friday, January 30th, @ The Manhattan
$7.00 / 10:00pm

Featuring:
Orchid’s Curse
Gallactus
Seventh Circle

Diminished Fifth Records

TO PUNISH AND ENSLAVE PRE-ORDER

2008-12-08T21:14:00.008-05:00

Diminished Fifth Records is very pleased to announce that the debut full length, ‘To Punish and Enslave’ by UIGG is now available for Pre-Order from the D5R Online Store!

Order your copy today and received a FREE Copy of the 19-song compilation CD: ‘The Music of Artisanship & War: Volume II’.

CANADA: $10.00 (Free S/H)
USA: $12.00 (USD S/H included)

ORDER NOW | UIGG MYSPACE

MORE SUPPORT COMING FOR LOUD MUSIC IN CANADA’S EAST COAST

2008-11-19T23:28:00.008-05:00

***** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE *****
MORE SUPPORT COMING FOR LOUD MUSIC IN CANADA’S EAST COAST

‘Diminished Fifth Records founder offers more support for Loud Music in Canada’s East Coast with new publicity company, Hogan Media Relations’

Fans of heavy music in the Maritime’s have some more support coming for their growing scene. Diminished Fifth founder, Josh Hogan who was recently nominated by Music Nova Scotia for ‘Company of Year’ and ‘Loud Recording of the Year’ has expanded his reach and launched his own media relations and publicity company, Hogan Media Relations

“It seems like the next logical step” says Hogan, “with bands approaching me outside of the Diminished Fifth roster and asking for assistance with promoting their releases and tours, I knew I had to offer help for the very artists who have done so much to support me and Diminished Fifth Records”. Now, Hogan Media Relations plans to help bands by handling such essential promotional services as: press releases, album reviews, artist interviews, radio tracking etc… Hogan states, “There are simply too many great releases coming out of the east coast that have flown well below the musical radar. All too often a band sinks all of their resources into recording and pressing their album and have, either no funds left for promotion, or simply don’t know where to start with getting the album some needed exposure”. With the same level of ambition, dedication, and hard work he’s put into his record label, Hogan hopes to help change this.

Diminished Fifth Records was formed in July 2006 with the purpose of promoting the heavier genres of music in Canada’s East Coast. The label has been successful in bringing ‘Loud’ music into the spotlight by working with organizations like above mentioned Music Nova Scotia, as well as the Halifax Pop Explosion (hosting the 1st Loud Music Showcase in October 2008) and the East Coast Music Association (which due to the label’s petition, will now have a ‘Loud Recording of the Year’ beginning in 2009).

# # #

SOME NEWS AND UPDATES

2008-11-04T20:41:00.002-05:00

So what has been happening in the mighty world of Diminished Fifth Records? I’ve been on an aggressive rampage for the past few weeks battling a cold, a full-time job, a record label, a band and trying my best to make time for my beautiful lady. Needless to say my general news updates have been sub-par at best. So other than being busier then a US Politician, sacrificing sleep, sanity and health, I must admit things have been going quite well…

I’m very proud to say the ‘Diminished Fifth Records Heavy Music Showcase’ (2008 Halifax Pop Explosion) was not only well received by bands and fans but fantastically executed by all! Most of the show was professionally filmed and we should have some live footage clips available for everyone soon. A Million thanks go out to Waye, Alex and the rest of HPX staff and Volunteers, as well as to the bands, Hellacaust, Gallactus, Orchid’s Curse and Broken Ohms, the ladies from Copy Cat Digital for filming and last but certainly not least, the 200+ fans that came out to bang their heads and help prove just how important and vital the heavier side of the East Coast scene is!

Check out some more photos courtesy of Sarah DeVenne here

So this week is going to be a hectic week to say the least… I’ll be celebrating my 27th birthday this Thursday and I’ll have to cross my fingers I don’t become ‘great’ this year as we all know what happened to Hendrix, Morrison, Cobain, and Joplin when they were 27... To make this weekend even better, Music Nova Scotia Week is underway and I am quite honored to have two nominations this year: ‘Loud Recording of the Year’ (For our first compilation CD, ‘The Music of Artisanship & War: Vol I’) and also ‘Company of the Year’.

Speaking of ‘The Music of the Artisanship & War’, Volume II is currently available for online orders and will be in stores across the Maritime’s by the end of this month. We will also be releasing the debut full length album ‘To Punish and Enslave’, by Prince Edward Island’s UIGG before the years end. So stay tuned for more details on that and check out UIGG at: www.myspace.com/uigg

Last, but not least we’ve got a few really exciting announcements coming later this month about some new undertakings keep checking back for updates and visit us online at: www.diminishedfifthrecords.com

Cheers,

-Josh,

LIVE OC FOOTAGE

2008-10-29T21:42:00.002-04:00

Check out some live footage of the newest Orchid's Curse 'Agony'. The Footage is taken from Hell's Kitchen in Halifax, Nova Scotia on October 4th, 2008.

ART & WAR: PREORDER SPECIALS!

2008-10-16T22:55:00.004-04:00

The Music of Artisanship & War: Volume II is almost ready to be released and we have some fantastic pre-order specials!

SPECIAL #1:
Order ‘The Music of Artisanship & War: Volume II’ for $10.00 (S/H Included in Canada) and receive a FREE copy of ‘The Music of Artisanship & War: Volume I’

SPECIAL #2:
Order ‘The Music of Artisanship & War: Volume II’ and pick any other Diminished Fifth Records CD* for only $15.00 (S/H Included in Canada)

SPECIAL #3:
Order any 2 Diminished Fifth Records CD’s* for $20.00 and receive a FREE Copy of ‘The Music of Artisanship & War: Volume II’

* Diminished Fifth Records releases include: Gallactus – Nine Mile Woods, Iron Giant – Creator of Scars, Dischord – Siege of Darkness, Various Artists - The Music of Artisanship & War: Vol I, and Orchid’s Curse – Goodbye is when the Casket Closes,

ORDER NOW: http://diminishedfifthrecords.com/store.htm

D5R FALL RELEASES

2008-10-05T14:57:00.005-04:00

ARTIST: Various Artists
ALBUM: The Music of Artisanship & War: Volume II
ITEM NUMBER: CD-D5R006
RELEASE DATE: November 2008

ARTIST: UIGG

ALBUM: To Punish and Enslave
ITEM NUMBER: CD-D5R007
RELEASE DATE: November 2008
BAND WEBSITE: www.myspace.com/uigg

For more information please visit: www.DiminishedFifthRecords.com

D5R HEAVY MUSIC SHOWCASE

2008-10-03T21:21:00.002-04:00

Check out this fantastic poster for the D5R Heavy Music Showcase at the 2008 Halifax Pop Explosion.

Featuring:
HELLACAUST
http://myspace.com/hellacaust

GALLACTUS
http://www.myspace.com/gallactus

ORCHID'S CURSE
http://www.myspace.com/orchidscurse

BROKEN OHMS
http://www.myspace.com/brokenohmsmusic

Big thanks to the poster maker Stephen MacDonald who not only makes a sweet fucking poster but he also lays down the killer bass in Broken Ohms.... This show is gonna be huge so do NOT miss out!!!

PROMO VIDEO - THE MUSIC OF ARTISANSHIP & WAR: VOLUME II

2008-09-17T20:50:00.000-04:00

BANDS REVEALED - MUSIC OF ARTISANSHIP & WAR: VOL II

2008-09-16T20:56:00.004-04:00

Diminished Fifth Records is pleased to announce the bands that will be appearing on the 2nd edition of the Loudest Compilation to come out of Canada’s East Coast:

The Music of Artisanship & War: Volume II

[The DAISY] ANTHESIS (Quispamsis, NB)
AMNESTY (Summerside, PEI)
ARCHAIK (Summerside, PEI)
BLACK MOOR (Halifax, NS)
The BLOODLETTING (Sydney, NS)
BROKEN OHMS (Halifax, NS)
CELETA (Fredericton, NB)
CEPHALECTOMY (Halifax, NS)
COFFIN BIRTH (St. John, NB)
DISCHORD (Moncton, NB)
GALLACTUS (Sussex, NB)
HELLACAUST (Halifax, NS)
IRON GIANT (Moncton, NB)
ORCHIDS CURSE (Dartmouth, NS)
SOMETHING DELICIOUS (Moncton, NB)
TEMPTING TRAGEDY (Moncton, NB)
UIGG (Charlottetown, PEI)
UNHALLOWED EXISTENCE (Charlottetown, PEI)
WE, THE UNDERSIGNED (Fredericton, NB)

Plus a limited edition of the albums will come with additional Digital Download Card featuring additional 10 Bonus Tracks provided by:

BEFORE THE FALLEN (Moncton, NB)
DEAD FOR DAYS (Moncton, NB)
The FALLEN (Sussex, NB)
LAST CALL CHERNOBYL (Halifax, NS)
LEGIONS OF CHAOS (Halifax, NS)
LULL IN CONVERSATION (Halifax, NS)
RUSTED DAWN (Sussex, NB)
SEVERED REIGN (Halifax, NS)
THIS MACHINE KILLS FASCISTS (Minto, NB / Montreal, QC)
THRESHOLD GUARDIAN (Halifax, NS)

The album will be available in late October / early November and will be available at select retailers. It will be available online from the Diminished Fifth Records online store and CD Baby as well as for Digital Distribution via Apple iTunes.

For more information please visit www.diminishedfifthrecords.com

THE EAST COAST IS STILL GETTING LOUDER! CAN YOU HEAR US YET???

2008-08-22T19:58:00.006-04:00

Diminished Fifth Records is very pleased to announce that we will be making the Halifax Pop Explosion significantly louder this year by hosting the: ‘Diminished Fifth Records Heavy Music Showcase’ which will be held Friday, October, 24th, 2008 at GUS’ PUB in Halifax.

This year’s performing bands include:

HELLACAUST: http://www.myspace.com/hellacaust
GALLACTUS: http://www.myspace.com/gallactus
ORCHIDS CURSE: http://www.myspace.com/orchidscurse
BROKEN OHMS: http://www.myspace.com/brokenohmsmusic

We are very exciting to working with such a prominent event in the Canadian Music Industry and will be very glad to be able to bring a darker and louder side of music to the festival.

More specifics on the show will be announced shortly.

DIMINISHED FIFTH RECORDS
Supporting East Coast Metal
http://www.diminishedfifthrecords.com

HORNS HIGH ONLINE MAGAZINE
The Voice of Heavy Music on the East Coast
http://hornshigh.ca

THE EAST COAST KEEPS GETTING LOUDER

2008-08-07T16:57:00.000-04:00

Submissions have closed for the upcoming compilation CD ‘The Music of Artisanship & War: Volume II’. We’re very pleased to announce that we received over 50 submissions this year which is more than double the submissions for Volume I! We are hoping to have the tedious task of filtering the songs by Jury completed by the middle of August and announce the track list in the coming weeks. With enough room for roughly 20 songs it is going to be one hell of a difficult decision but we’re confident that Volume II will not only shine above the first but blow it right out of the fucking water!!

We’ve got some real big news coming soon but for now the details will have to remain secret (I know what a prick job). I’ll give you a hint though... It is in October and we are about to make it a whole lot louder!!! So stay tuned for more info.

Once again, we would like to thank everyone who submitted a song for the compilation album and for taking the time and supporting the scene! Together we’ll bring heavy music in the East Coast the recognition it deserves!

Cheers,

SOME NEWS AND UPDATES!

2008-07-21T22:20:00.004-04:00

My apologies for my sparse posts over the last few weeks… Between the record label, the full time day job, and the getting back in action my spare time for writing has definitely been diminished (pun fully intended). That said, there is a shit-load on the go for Diminished Fifth Records so as I say: “It is better to be busy, then bored…”

To begin I’m very proud to say the 2nd Quarter was by far our best quarter ever, with the release of Iron Giant - Creator of Scars and Gallactus - Nine Mile Woods and being in full force at the Maritime Tattoo Festival Diminished Fifth Records has spread more loudness around the east coast and beyond than ever before. As we are now entering the 3rd Quarter we look forward to spreading our noise even farther than before. Thanks to teaming up with Code 7 Distribution in the United Kingdom our two newest releases and future albums will be available all over the UK and in Ireland both in physical retail and online stores. We’ve also been lucky enough to get some support from the fine folks across the boarder at StonerRock.com. So by the end of August our newest products will be more readily available for our friends in the US, the UK and Ireland.

In other exciting news, Diminished Fifth Records has announced that we have begun accepting submissions for the latest installment of ‘The Music of Artisanship & War’ series. With a planned release date of late September/October 2008 Diminished Fifth will once again show the region, the county and beyond that the East Coast has more to offer the music community than Fiddles, Traditional Celtic Music, and Indie Rock! To date I am pleased to say we are over 35 submissions for this upcoming compilation so it is safe to safe that it will, not only be, a much broader range of music but an even higher caliber of bands appearing on Volume II.

Submissions to appear on Volume II are open through the end of July and the application form can be found HERE

Lastly, I’m pleased to say that our online magazine, Horns High has finally re-launched with a slew of improvements already and many more to come. We do apologize for any inconvenience if browsing the site using Internet Explorer as there are still some kinks to be worked out. But for the Firefox, Safari or other crowd it should be working just great!

Check out our Free, Online Magazine at: www.HornsHigh.ca

ARTIST XITE MEDIA PLAYER

2008-07-05T14:55:00.003-04:00

So here I am once again to sing some praises of another great site which is helping with setting the toll for Marketing 2.0 in the modern music industry. ARTIST XITE is fantastic company where you can upload your music and create an embeddable music player. Sounds pretty standard right? Well here is the kicker… Not only can your fans stream your audio, if they like it they can buy it via Paypal through the Artist Xite media player! They are targeting bloggers with this program as well, so a blogger who reviews your album can put the media player on their Blog so people can hear your album while they read their review and if they ‘Buy’ music off the bloggers website the blogger keeps a 10% cut of the sale for hosting it so it encourages external promotion of your music!

Please check it out at: www.ArtistXite.com

Take a peak below at the Following Ablums:
Gallactus - Nine Mile Woods
Iron Giant - Creator of Scars
Dischord - Siege of Darkness
Orchids Curse - Goodbye is when the Casket Closes

5+7 = GOOD NEWS FOR EAST COAST METAL!

2008-06-18T20:38:00.004-04:00

Diminished Fifth Records is pleased to announce that they have struck up a distribution deal with the United Kingdom’s Code 7 Distribution.

“We are very pleased to be working with a distributor who is so dedicated to supporting independent labels and we look forward to having the sounds of East Coast Heavy Music heard in Great Britain and Ireland”

Coming in August 2008, they label’s two most newest releases Gallactus – Nine Mile Woods and Iron Giant – Creator of Scars will be available in Great Britain and Ireland in HMV’s (Retail and Online) as well as through Code 7’s official website http://www.code7music.com and on such sites as Amazon.uk and Play.com.

THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE UGLY

2008-06-03T08:37:00.003-04:00

THE GOOD
I would like to let everyone know the upcoming of Issue of HORNS HIGH is going to be in an entirely NEW format. So that the current issue will be able to be viewed directly from the webpage and previous issues will still be available in a PDF format. This will allow the website to be much more interactive and it will even include a built in audio player so you can listen to the tunes that you are reading about while looking at the most recent issue.

Some of the Articles this coming issue will include:
-Joey Belladonna Interview!
-Coverage from the 2nd Maritime Tattoo Festival
-Interview with Jeremy from Rusted Dawn
-Bass Theory Lessons
-An interview with Candace from CD Heaven
+ all the usual features of Horns High and a shitload more!

THE BAD
Due to the incredibly awesome updates which are http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.giftaking place. Issue #8 is being planned to be launched mid-June and will be a June/July issue.

THE UGLY
Advertising is always ugly! ha ha...
Nevertheless, Please help support heavy music on the east coast and check out some of Diminished Fifth Records releases at our online store.

To Purchase online please visit the
D5R ONLINE STORE

FREE SHIPPING ANYWHERE IN CANADA!!

I’M NOT DEAD!

2008-05-26T22:33:00.006-04:00

I apologize it has been waaaaaaaayyyyyy to long since I’ve posted on here but Diminished Fifth Records has been one needy bastard child the past few weeks.

First and foremost I want to extend my extreme gratitude and appreciation to all the help I had with the D5R merch booth at the 2nd Maritime Tattoo Festival. My appreciation goes out to my beautiful girl Christina, and all the other people which helped out over the weekend namely, John + Christina, Emily + Jason, Ribz + Katie, Blair, not to forget all the boys in IRON GIANT! Those fuckers destroyed Hell’s Kitchen on the first night of the festival and rocked the boat on the VIP Harbour Cruise the second night… leaving a mess of booze, blood, ink and broken glass in their paths. Also, over the weekend I was lucky enough to meet a ridiculous amount of cool people, awesome tattoo artists and get to see more fantastic art work then I could comprehend. I’d also like to thank the amazing M.C., Candy Palmater who was not only side-splittingly funny but also enjoyed my girlfriends cleavage as much as I do ;) and last, but certainly not least the reason the festival happens, Amber Thorpe with Adept Tattoos

For more info please check out the upcoming issue of HORNS HIGH which will have an article regarding the fest including some fantastic photos by none other than Sarah DeVenne.

In other news I am very, very happy (and overall just really fucking relieved) to announce that we have finally released, GALLACTUS – ‘Nine Mile Woods’ and are getting amped for their hometown CD Release Show which will be held in Moncton on Friday the 13th of June!

Nine Mile Woods is the highly anticipated follow up to 2004’s ‘Empire of the Eye’ (Independent) which generated praise from such viable sources as Metal Maniac’s and StonerRock.com. The new release, Nine Mile Woods is earth shaking collection of 11-songs which transcend various genres such as Stoner, Metal, Doom, and Rock and further helps push the boundaries of ones preconceptions of ‘Stoner-Rock’. The album has already generated praise in UNRESTRAINED MAGAZINE! (see the review below)

GALLACTUS
Nine Mile Woods (Diminished Fifth Records)

I’ve been following this Canadian stoner/doom/bong-hit rock’n’roll machine for many years now, hoping they’d be able to break out. They’re still working on it. While not as popular as bands like Cluth, Fu Manchu or Scissorfight (R.I.P.), Gallactus has always been able to deliver the goods. I’m digging the new tracks “The Doom”, “Scars of the Axehandle” (break out the bong!) and the title track. I’ll admit that past albums I’ve loved most of the work but some songs didn’t connect with one another and left me skipping tracks. Nine Mile Woods is easily their most inspired work to date, and album that finds the band hitting the right stride and writing the right songs to get noticed, while at the same time dishing out some awesome doom-filled stoner rock. Again, pass the bong, kids! A. Bromley -7.5-

So most of you readers know that we here at Diminished Fifth Records we like to do our part at Supporting Heavy Music in the region… after all our slogan is ‘Supporting East Coast Metal’. In addition to releasing albums and promoting the living shit out of them we also launched our very own Online Magazine, HORNS HIGH back in November of 2007. All the issues, thus far, have been a downloadable PDF file which you can download onto your computer and read at your convenience. Due to the support of the lovely folks at Music Nova Scotia and their Export Development Program we are pleased to announce that we are updating the format and layout of the website which will now show the latest issue online (With a page select on the left hand side so you can scroll through like a real mag) and we’ll still have the PDF Download option for all the previous issues… This way we can make the site more interactive! So now when you read through the newest issue of Horns High you’ll be able to do such awesome things as listen to the songs off the albums which are being reviewed! We’ve also got some big plans on building this site and the online mag… We have way more interviews (Including one this month with JOEY BELLADONNA!!!), more pics, more articles, plus some new features coming, like lessons for bass lessons, and tons more! So please help support us and keep this online mag growing and vibrant and visit us at: www.HORNSHIGH.ca

TATTOO FESTIVAL AFTER PARTY POSTER!

2008-05-09T22:21:00.003-04:00

LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL...

2008-05-09T21:27:00.003-04:00

For those who are unaware I work 2 jobs:

Diminished Fifth Records may be my true passion but sadly, it’s not what pays all my bills, at least not yet!

That is where my soul-sucking, call-center, customer service job comes into play and that my friends, is what ensures my rent, utilities and food are all covered. (Not to mention vacation and benefits)

So why am I sharing this with the world-wide web you ask? Because starting today I am on VACATION for 10-Days!!! Now most people do something nice or special on their vacation like take a trip somewhere tropical, visit friends and family, go for a romantic getaway with a special someone… But not this workaholic! No sandy beaches… no martini’s… (However I’ll likely drink beer and attempt to convince my girlfriend to wear a swimsuit around the house). In fact, my time will be spent stuffing CD’s into bubble mailers, distributing CD’s around the East Coast, promoting the shit out of the new IRON GIANT and GALLACTUS albums, preparing for Maritime Tattoo Festival and countless other menial tasks.

I know this thought should depress me, or at least cripple my spirit or passion, but truth is… It is liberating. Owning your own business is about as empowering as one can get… and it comes with the good in the bad. But for the first time in my life I’m actually excited to wake up each day and see what awaits me… as challenging as it can sometimes, at the end of the day it is worth it. As cliché as it sounds the larger the sacrifice, the greater the rewards. After almost 2 years giving my soul I’m happy to say that Diminished Fifth Records is releasing some of the finest music coming out of the east coast of Canada and I’m making sure that it is heard by people in the region, across the country and all over the world.

There is an old country song that my old man always used to play when we’d sit around at the campground that says:
“All my life I’ve been this way, 50 hour week and 40 hour pay…”
And all I can say is I’m envious… Try an 80 hour week with a 50 hour pay??? Ha hah ha…

Let the good times roll!

KEEPING THE HORNS HIGH!

2008-05-07T22:26:00.001-04:00

After a hectic month we are very pleased to announce that Issue #7 of HORNS HIGH is finally here!

With the new Iron Giant album just being released and the Gallactus album on deck we've been burning the torch at both ends.... that's right candles just simply aren't metal enough! Not to mention the 2nd Maritime Tattoo Festival is just around the corner so there is no rest in sight which we highly recommend you check out if your in Halifax between May 17th - 19th.

We really hope you enjoy this issue as it is our largest issue yet with some new articles and contributers which are really starting to make this E-Zine come together.

Lastly we ask that you continue to spread the word and help Horns High grow.

Download ISSUE #7 for FREE, HERE

PIGS KILL MORE PEOPLE THAN SHARKS

2008-04-27T07:06:00.002-04:00

I've said it before and I'll say it again Derek Sivers is fucking genius! The mastermind behind CD Baby has recently spoken out against Piracy and how people (mainly independent artists/labels) are way too concerned about it.

As someone who runs a small label I couldn't agree more with you. People need to learn how to roll with the punches and realize the music industry is changing.

The old industry people and old labels are dinosaurs... they will soon be extinct if they don't learn open their eyes (or maybe read some Seth Godin)!!!

Check out the article HERE.

TAKE NO PRISONERS!

2008-04-16T21:30:00.006-04:00

We have set our sights at making 2008 the year of Diminished Fifth Records and as the months have passed it is becoming more and more feasible for us to make this a reality!

The year began with a bang! On January 27th we officially announced that we would be putting out the new release by Iron Giant ‘Creator of Scars’ which is the highly anticipated follow-up to 2002’s ‘No Longer Sleeping’ (12th Planet Records)

In February Diminished Fifth Records was in full-force at the 2008 East Coast Music Awards and Conferences in Fredericton New Brunswick and thanks to Chris Smith (from the Halifax Pavilion fame) we were able to be part of the first ‘Heavy Music Spotlight’ to kick off the first day of the festivities. The small venue was filled to capacity showing off the seedy underbelly of the East Coast scene with such great local bands as The Sea Divides, Ambiin the Rust, Rusted Dawn, and We, the Undersigned and it also featured two of the label’s own, Iron Giant, and the Orchid’s Curse. It was fantastic show with a highly enthusiastic crowd which only furthered the belief the heavier genres are as vital to the East Coast Scene as Fiddles and Indie Rock!

With May quickly approaching it is looking like it shall be the busiest month in D5R history. Both Gallactus and Iron Giant are bands which should need no introduction here in the East Coast music community and both are ready to unleash their aural fury! The Cosmic Doom Rock of Gallactus has been pounding eardrums since 2002 and likewise the East Coast White Trash Rock-N-Roll of Iron Giant has been making fans bang their heads for over 6 years as well! In addition to preparing for the mammoth releases of ‘Nine Mile Woods’ (Gallactus) and ‘Creator of Scars’ (Iron Giant) we are also getting ready to rock thousands of tattoo enthusiasts at the 2nd Maritime Tattoo Festival which is held May 17th, 18th and 19th at the Halifax Forum and hosted by Adept Tattoos.

As a proud sponsor of the festival we are pleased to have the honor of blasting our tunes throughout the 20,000 sq. ft. forum as well as to present festival goers a double dose of Iron Giant as they officially release their newest beast ‘Creator of Scars’.

-On Saturday, May 17th at 11:00pm, the Festival VIP’s and other attendees will be treated to a Burlesque Show followed by live performances by Moncton’s punk-rockers, Hope, Halifax’s rock-n-roll madmen, Cuban Assassins and the no class, heavy ass, white trash, rock-n-roll of Iron Giant as they officially release ‘Creator of Scars’ to us Nova Scotian’s and visitors from around the world!

-On Sunday May 18th at 11:00pm, the Festival VIP’s will be boarding a tall-ship and heading out for a 2 hour sail around the Halifax Harbor which will, once again, feature the smooth sailing sounds of Iron Giant.

The Tattoo Festival will give Diminished Fifth Records a fantastic opportunity to showcase to all, that Heavy Music on the East Coast is alive and well! Not to mention we are only 5 months into 2008 and already achieving more this year than in the previous.

Speaking of ‘Years’ in the middle of July Diminished Fifth Records will be celebrating our 2nd Birthday! So you all know what means??? The Terrible Twos are on their way! We’ll have more details on celebrations, promotions and other Birthday Celebrations as the time approaches.

Cheers,
-Josh Hogan | Diminished Fifth Records

IRON GIANT PROMO VIDEO

2008-04-08T19:43:00.002-04:00

The Title pretty much explains it.

Get excited Creator of Scars will be here very soon!

GIANT NEWS

2008-04-02T21:16:00.004-04:00

The most recent addition to the D5R Roster IRON GIANT are making waves as everyone is beginning to become increasingly eager to get their hands on their upcoming album ‘Creator of Scars’. The band has recently completed a mini-tour with Toronto’s HELL YEAH FUCK YEAH as well as made a stop in Montreal to play with TRIGGER EFFECT.

Check out this hilarious interview with PJ + Chris from the Men’s Bathroom at the Bar! (Nudity and Course language included!)

Now the Giant boys are preparing for their tour with Toronto’s CANCER BATS for 7 dates on the East Coast. Make sure you check them out at one of the following shows:

APRIL 29th – Kinsmen Centre – Fredericton N.B.
APRIL 30th – Carlton Community Centre – St. John N.B.
MAY 1st – St. Anne’s Hall – Glace Bay N.S.
MAY 2nd – Manhattan – Moncton N.B.
MAY 3rd – The Pavilion – Halifax N.S.
MAY 4th – Coldbrook Lion’s Hall – Coldbrook N.S.
MAY 5th – Benevolent Irish Society Hall – Charlottetown PEI

Last but most certainly not least the boys have just secured a sponsorship with Jagermeister Music Canada. So the Yag shots will be flowing even more frequently then before! (If that is humanly possible)

Check out the Giant here at their Myspace

MORE NEW IDEAS FOR NEW MEDIA

2008-03-30T22:42:00.004-04:00

My conquest for ‘New Media’ and how to better promote music from both an artist and label standpoint is pretty much never ending… As you’ve seen in previous posts where I’ve attempted to sort through some of the finest websites and services that are offered and dissect some of the best ways for independent artists to market their selves with the never ending supply of ‘New Media’ that is available to them. So what is this ramble about?

… MORE NEW STUFF TO BE AWARE OF!

I’ve mentioned this company before but I want to send my best wishes to CD BABY who is celebrating their 10th Birthday this month!

CD BABY is a fantastic way for independent artists to sell their music online and have their CD’s shipped virtually anywhere in the World. They can also have you set up on such popular digital download sites as iTunes, Napster etc… Diminished Fifth uses them to do our shipping outside of Canada.

Check out our following products currently listed on CD BABY
ORCHID’S CURSE
DISCHORD
THE MUSIC OF ARTISANSHIP & WAR

The companies founder Derek Sivers has a fantastic Blog you should check out HERE
Likewise, below I have listed some other great Blog’s by other
forward-thinkers in the Music Industry:

BOB BAKER
MUSIC THINK TANK
NEW MUSIC STRATEGIES

I strongly urge you to check out these Blogs they are truly a wealth of information. Also if you know any other good music blogs or websites please leave me a comment or email me at: info@diminishedfifthrecords.com

What most Independent Artist's fail to see is that there are no longer gatekeepers (big label's) stopping bands from having their music heard, by hundreds, thousands and even millions of listeners. The digital world and downloading doesn't hurt indie artists, or indie labels, it only hurts the big labels that have been exploiting music and arts for well over a quarter century. We are all standing on a pivotal time in the music industry and I, for one, am excited to see what is next!

Lastly, and I realize I’ve said this before, but in the next few weeks we’ll be making some announcements about some upcoming and innovative D5R Projects.

Cheers & Horns High!

I'M NOT DRUNK I'M IRISH

2008-03-17T21:30:00.001-04:00

Happy St. Patty’s Day!

Was a very Irish weekend for me as I got to party with the boys in Iron Giant as they were up for the Halifax portion of their current East Coast Tour with Toronto’s Hell Yeah Fuck Yeah. But seriously I have to admit those boys are my fucking Kryptonite! Every time I party those boys it is a shit-show of epic proportions. Man oh man even with the Irish in me I can’t keep up with those bastards.

We started the evening off with a few rounds of Beer Pong with the usual crowd, plus the Giant! And then headed out to the show… And I must say it was a hell of a good show at Hells Kitchen with Iron Giant and Hell Yeah Fuck Yeah rocking the house (Hell x3 in once sentence, nice…). Also during the set change sets I was blessed enough to sneak up stairs to the Marquee and check out one of Hip Hop’s legends, KRS-ONE who is without a doubt one of the most intellectual and well spoken artists in the past and present world of Hip Hop.

On another note for St. Patty’s Day I’m proud to say it is the one year anniversary for me and beautiful girlfriend, Christina. For last year I was blessed with the truest luck of the Irish (wearing my Thin Lizzy shirt and all…) and began to fall in love with the most amazing girl I have ever laid eyes on.

So to all those Irish and those pretending for today, Raise your glasses high and have a Happy St. Patty’s Day.

THE WEEK THAT MADE ME WEAK.

2008-03-09T20:50:00.007-04:00

SMASH! KABAM! KERPLOW!! This week hit me in the face like a karate chop from Adam West himself. But seriously what a fucking week! Yet as glad as I am that is over I am dreading the new one that will embark on me bright n' early tomorrow AM. Not to mention the whole time jumping ahead another hour. Yet another way to shaft me of my sleep...

That off my chest, I’m glad to say that everything is moving along here at the D5R Camp! I’m pleased to say that the ball is finally rollin’ with the upcoming releases: ‘Creator of Scars’ by Iron Giant is looking like it will be the forth official release on D5R (ITEM # CD-D5R004) as it looks like it’ll be heading to the manufacturer a week or two before ‘Nine Mile Woods’ by Gallactus which will be, do the math with me now…, the fifth release (ITEM # CD-D5R005). Both albums are looking to be ready for Early May 2008. It is hard to believe 5 releases in less than two years. Where does the time go? It seems like just the other day 'Goodbye is when the Casket Closes' by The Orchid's Curse was just hitting the stores.

Also we are ironing the details on some really sweet pre-order deals for 'Nine Mile Woods' and 'Creator of Scars' so keep checking up on the D5R OFFICIAL SITE and of course I’ll be sure to voice any great specials and deals right here on the D5R Blog.

It is one hell of an exciting and nerve racking time here at D5R... The label is growing rapidly and if I had the resources it would be growing even bigger. Unfortunately there is not enough time in the day or enough money in my bank account to accomplish everything I would like to do.

I'm also glad to tell you that Horns High Online Magazine is doing great and growing with each and every issue. Issue #5 was just posted online last Tuesday and already it has become the most read issue of Horns High thus far. I can't wait for Issue #6. It's hard for me to believe this started as an alternative to the D5R Monthly Newsletter we used to send out. Then again Diminished Fifth Records was launched initially just to put out Orchid's Curse debut...

But there is a stack of paperwork and receipts that are eye-humping me a spreadsheet eagerly awaiting to get filled.

But seriously stay tuned in there is some details coming up very soon for CD Release info that will have have fans of Gallactus and Iron Giant raising their horns!

Cheers,

THIS IS AWESOME!

2008-03-01T15:53:00.007-05:00

So Musician's need to get on this and check out the FUZZ. Though similar in theory to the millions of Myspace clone's, this actually allows you to actually create a custom mix tape for your band or artists with tunes you can either upload yourself or use tunes from any other band that is signed up for the Fuzz.

Just take a look below. All you need to do is hit Play and then sit back and enjoy!

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WHO'S THE BOSS?

2008-02-29T11:19:00.004-05:00

So I came to the harsh realization over the last few days that I no longer run Diminished Fifth Records... in fact, it runs me. For those that know me best they say this has been the case for quite some time now… and I won’t disagree with them. The odd thing is that I just realized that for myself, consumed by my ambition. I guess you are always the last one to notice when you are being dominated in a relationship. I’m Diminished Fifth Records bitch... A slave to the proverbial 'Man'. It is just a strange relationship when I'm my own boss yet I'm still a total slave-driver and asshole to myself. I guess most self-employed business owners are the same.

But have no feat, I’m not gonna pull some ‘poor me’ bullshit, because in all truth, things have never been better for D5R! I’m just overwhelmed with a work load that would make most people cringe. Honestly, I like the challenge… well not so much the challenge but the sense of satisfaction that comes with the accomplishment of the task(s).

Right now there are some really exciting things happening at the D5R Camp: New IRON GIANT and GALLACTUS releases coming out in the next 3 months. Once again we are a sponsor at the Maritime Tattoo Festival this coming May and will be blasting the metal and hard tunes for all the tattooed folks to hear! There are also a few yet to be named projects that are being ironed out so hopefully I have some new announcements in the coming weeks about that.

A few cool things that I can announce is that we know have a few of our albums available for download through Apple iTunes

DISCHORD - Siege of Darkness and ORCHID'S CURSE - Goodbye is when the Casket Closes

Also I’m pleased to announce that Iron Giant will be tearing up many a stages in Eastern Canada in March.

March 12th - Charlottown @ Hunters w/ Hell Yeah Fuck Yeah
March 13th - Fredericton @ The Cellar w/ HYFY
March 14th - Halifax @ Hells Kitchen w HYFY
March 15th - Moncton @ The Manhattan w/ HYFY
March 20th - Saint John @ Elwoods w/ HYFY
March 22nd - Montreal @ Katacombes w/ Trigger Effect

Back to work I go... but please keep checking in for more updates.

Horns High!

GIVE ME METAL OR GIVE ME DEATH

2008-02-26T23:32:00.009-05:00

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again I’m a hard-working ewok so tonight’s blog will be rather short.

First things first, a big thanks to those that came out and played Beer-Pong this weekend for a Double B-Day Celebration. It was good times… and nice to see some new and familiar faces around.

So I mentioned in my first post I was lucky enough to be the vocalist in a great little metal band from Dartmouth called ORCHIDS CURSE. We’ve had quite an interesting journey in our experiences as a band, changed drummers pretty early on in the game, lost a guitarist due to nerve damage just after releasing our debut 7-song EP Goodbye is when the Casket Closes which received press and reviews from across the globe including, Unrestrained Magazine (Canada), The Gauntlett (USA), Harm Webzine (USA), Music Extreme (Argentina), Chronicles of Chaos (South Africa) and Alternative Zine (Israel)

We then rolled as a 4-piece for over a year until we finally found a suitable replacement as the second axe-man who we just played the 1st Heavy Music Spotlight at the East Coast Music Awards in Fredericton New Brunswick earlier this month. Now we are back on hiatus for a few months while one of our guitarists is temporarily relocated in the big city of Toronto… But the Curse is far from over! In fact I feel we are just turning a new leaf. We have recorded 3 new tracks which are a tier above any thing that could be heard on Goodbye…

So yesterday we put the first song up online for people’s listening pleasures and now we wait to hear people’s opinions which so far it has been excellent. So please take a listen at any of the sites listed below and share your 2 cents.

LINKS

- ORCHIDS CURSE - MYSPACE

- D5R - MYSPACE

- ORCHIDS CURSE - ONLINE MUSIC NETWORK

Visit Orchids Curse on onlinemusicnetwork.ca now!

I’VE BEEN TOLD A LOT AND LEARNED A LITTLE…

2008-02-23T09:41:00.005-05:00

So last blog I talked about the plethora of East Coast Metal bands… This time I want to talk about how there are various different ways for these bands to promote themselves.

From Diminished Fifth Records perspective I want to work with bands that are, not only, as passionate about there success as I am, but are willing to work as hard as I am to make that success happen.

A lot of people still have old world ‘MTV Thinking’ (That’s ‘Much Music Thinking’ for us Canucks!) You get a label you get rich, you get famous and you get the girls… while this may have been true in the glory days of cock rock the digital world has changed the way the entire industry works.

What bands don’t seem to realize is the ‘Faux Glory’ of a big time recording contract. If a label invests $250,000 in your band most would think that is fantastic right? WRONG! First off, an Advance is a nice way of saying a LOAN. So even if your band achieved double that in sales you’d still end up in the hole. Check out this incredible article by genius producer Steve Albini HERE

Scary shit indeed…

So all the big labels are still fighting like the dinosaurs (soon to be fossils) as they are still trying to make millions with hit singles. But thanks to the internet, bands are getting smarter and so are the Indie labels. Realizing they need to use Guerilla tactics to survive.

When someone can as easily download an album (for Free) as purchase it, it is becoming increasingly important for the bands and indie labels to really reach out to the fans and have a direct relationship with them. (Not just force-feeding Fall Out Boy and bands of that ilk down your throat) The bands, after all, are offering a service and the true fans want to be part of it. Fans no longer ‘have to’ purchase the album… any 15-year old knows his way around a Torrent site can find what he wants.

The problem is bands see the internet as the enemy. The truth is the internet is your best friend.

I’ve soaked in a lot of lessons from a variety of sources: Industry professionals, publicist, books, blogs, seminars, conferences, one-on-one meetings and anywhere else that I could gain some knowledge from. Hence today’s title ‘I’ve been told a lot and learned a little…’ Below I’ve listed a lot of different resources (all found online) that will not only help educate you on a variety of topics but also help you market/promote your band so you can succeed to the next level.

The INDIE BIBLE
-This is what it says the ‘bible’ of music, publications, radio stations, labels, distros etc..

DROPCARDS
-Dropcards bridge the gap between digital downloads and the physical world. Create your own custom art work for your drop card and either give them out or sell them.

ARIEL PUBLICITY
-Ariel got smart a few years ago and abandoned traditional PR and started working strictly in the digital world.

CD BABY
-A great company where you can sell your music online and they will ship it anywhere in the world for you. Also you can register to have your music set up for Digital Distribution for such companies as iTunes, Napster, EMusic, etc... CD Baby charges a set up fee as well as keeps a percentage of your sales.

TUNECORE
-A Digital Distribution company you pay a set up a few only and keep 100% of your sales.

EARBUZZ
-Similar to CD Baby except you pay a monthly fee for their service but keep 100% of your sale price.

ANDREW DUBBER
20 Things You Must Know About Music Online
New Music Ideas
-The First is the a free e-book with some very worthwhile advice the second is this website on New Music.

SOME REGIONAL SITES TO PROMOTE YOURSELF ON:

ONLINE MUSIC NETWORK
-A great new site that focuses all genres or homegrown east coast music

MARITIME METAL
-The Message Board that is home to East Coast Metal

LOCALS MESSAGE BOARD
-A variety of message boards looking at the different areas in the East Coast

ALCHEMY MUSIC
-A Message Board dedicated to Prince Edward Island

ALSO I HIGHLY SUGGEST YOU CONTACT YOUR PROVINCIAL MUSIC ORGANIZATION:

MUSIC NOVA SCOTIA
MUSIC NEW BRUNSWICK
MUSIC PEI
MUSIC NEWFOUNDLAND

DO YOUR PART – SUPPORT YOUR SCENE

2008-02-21T22:01:00.005-05:00

So Diminished Fifth Records has been up and running for about 18 months now and the one thing I’ve learned is there is a wealth of homegrown talent in this region. I mean almost weekly I’m discovering new bands that leave my head spinning. Some I find while searching the regional forums, some word of mouth, and others… find me.

Just yesterday I received and email from a band from St. John New Brunswick called Victims of the Purge they emailed 2 demo tracks they had recorded. In addition to their sheer brutality they had a sweet groove that most bands that heavy neglect.

In addition to those cats, the submissions and tunes I’ve been introduced to since starting HORNS HIGH has kept me more than motivated that I’m not on some hopeless cause trying to prove to the rest of the world that the East Coast Heavy Music scene is thriving. I’ll have a few rough days and start thinking I’m chasing fools gold and the POW! RIGHT THE KISSA I’ll discover this great new band! The shitty thing is D5R is far from a rich company and sadly I can’t work with half the bands I’d like to and once again that is where HORNS HIGH comes in… It is my community service!

A FREE Online Magazine that allows bands to advertise their releases free of charge in the section, well titled, ‘SUPPORT YOUR SCENE’, it also has an ‘ARTIST SPOTLIGHT’ that focuses on two different bands each month, people in different cities have also submitted stories about their Scene (So far we’ve had St. John’s, Moncton, and Sydney looked at), and it includes your standard affairs like, Album Reviews, Live Show Reviews and News.

So I practice what I preach… and I’m preaching to you all now to do what you can to support the bands in your local area and the East Coast Metal scene as a whole! I’ve provided a list of East Coast Bands and all I ask is that you check out just a handful of bands on this list below. (This list was compiled from the Supporting East Coast Metal Facebook Group and Maritime Metal Message Board)

[thedaisy]anthesis (Metal/Death Metal/Grindcore)
Ambiin The Rust (Alternative/Progressive/Metal)
Amnesty (Thrash/Death Metal)
Arcatherion (Death Metal/Progressive)
Archaik (Thrash/Metal/Death Metal)
Autumn Storm (Metal/Classical/Progressive)
Badseed Overdrive (Metal/Rock)
Beneath This Dying Sky (Hardcore/Grindcore/Metal)
Black Frost (Black Metal)
Blackmoor (Metal)
The Bloodletting (Thrash/Death Metal)
Bound in Human Flesh (Death Metal/Black Metal/Metal)
Broken Ohms (Rock/Metal)
Burning Moon (Black Metal)
Cephalectomy (Mystigrind)
Chara (Progressive/Metal/Hardcore)
Chaos Panic and Disorder (Thrash/Hardcore/Metal)
Collapse (Grindcore/Death Metal)
Dead Mourning (Metal)
Defective Perception (Metal/Death Metal/Thrash)
Demiurgus (Black Metal/Metal/Death Metal)
Dischord (Thrash/Death Metal)
DreaD (Thrash/Metal)
Empty Sin (Metal)
Enraged Entity (Death Metal/Black Metal)
Existench (Grind/Hardcore/Thrash)
Fallen (Metal/Hardcore)
FistFight(Metal/Grindcore/Ghettotech)
Funeral Fog (Black Metal)
Gallactus (Metal/Rock)
Havengrave (Black Metal/Thrash)
Hellacaust (Black Metal/Thrash/Metal)
Heavy Doobie (Metal/Other/Thrash)
Huge (Other)
In the Shallows (Thrash/Rock/Death Metal)
Iron Fist (Thrash/Grindcore/Punk)
Iron Giant (Metal/Rock/Southern Rock)
Janus (Progressive/Other/Metal)
Laid to Waste (Metal/Thrash/Death Metal)
Legions of Chaos (Metal)
Lull In Conversation (Rock /Progressive)
Moment of Truth (Metal/Punk/Grunge)
The Monoxides (Rock/Metal/Classic Rock)
Neverdie (Metal)
Obsidian Reign (Metal)
Obsydian (Metal/Thrash/Death Metal)
Orchids Curse (Metal/Progressive)
Ototoxic (Hardcore/Breakcore/Metal)
Pariah (Metal)
Rebecca's Grave (Death Metal/Black Metal/Glam)
Rule of Thumb (R.O.T.) (Hardcore/Punk/Thrash)
Rusted Dawn (Thrash/Metal/Punk)
Severed Reign (Metal/Rock/Progressive)
Sloth (Metal)
Slugbait (Experimental/Metal)
Strong Hollow (Metal)
Subliminal (Rock/Metal)
System Shit (Punk/Hardcore/Thrash)
Terratomb (Metal)
The Kill Floor (Death Metal/GrindCore)
The Sea Divides Metal (Metal/Progressive/Experimental)
This Machine Kills Fascists (Grindcore/Electro/Experimental)
Thy Flesh Consumed (Black Metal/Death Metal/Grindcore)
Uigg (Thrash/Death Metal/Black Metal)
Vennt (Black Metal/Experimental/Other)
Victims of the Purge (Metal/Death Metal)
Vulgus (Thrash/Death Metal/Progressive)
War Pony (Hard Rock)
Weapon (Metal)
We the Undersigned (Crunk/Powerpop)
Wardruids Apocalyptic (Black Metal/Death Metal/Grindcore)
Wohedness (Grindcore/Death Metal/Hardcore)

Cheers & Keep those Horns High!

Random Shit about yours truly

2008-02-20T21:14:00.006-05:00

So here is a list of random stuff that will give you an intimate look into my soul…

-I’ve gained more insight from South Park than any political figure in the last 10 years.

-The episode of Futurama where Bender houses a civilization while floating through space better explains religion than any thing else I have ever seen and read…. Ever!

-I’m an avid Juggler and believe ‘Conga’ by Gloria Estefan is the best song to juggle too hands down (Just ask Brian Jones!)

-Beer Pong is the greatest sport in the world

-I like Tattoos

-I like Salvador Dali

-I like Tattoo’s of Salvador Dali [a + b = c]

-Shirts that say things like: “If you can’t run with the big dogs, stay off the porch” or “Don’t like my attitude, take a number!” are only one step above the evolutionary tier of Leather Nascar hats. A very small step…

-He-Man will always be cool as shit!

-Wrestling hasn’t been cool since Papa Shango started lighting people on fire. End of Story.

- Thin Lizzy and King Crimson are two of the most underrated bands of all time.

-No matter how hard people try and convince me, ‘50-Cent’ will never have even once ounce of talent… for Christ’s sake he doesn’t even know what a syllable is. He needs to read some Dr. Seuss and listen to KRS-ONE.

-I like to read… sadly I haven’t been near the avid reader I used to be. Some of my favorite books include: The Story of B (Daniel Quinn), The Art of War (Sun Tzu), Johnny Got His Gun (Dalton Trumbo), Brave New World (Aldous Huxley), 1984 + Animal Farm (George Orwell), Jonathan Livingston Seagull and Illusions (Richard Bach)

-Currently I’m reading Meatball Sundae (Seth Godin) which is actually the reason I’m writing this Blog now…

-Whole-Wheat over White

-And lastly 'Get Fucked' is one of the best sayings to come out in the last decade.

My first entry...

2008-02-19T22:45:00.004-05:00

Hello my name is Josh Hogan and I'm an alcoholic. Wait wrong forum, let me try this again...

So suck me dry and call me dusty! I swore I'd never succumb to blogging... then again I said I'd never do facebook either, but this goddamn, interweb sucks me in deeper and deeper with each passing day.

So who am I and what is the purpose of this blog? Those are some damn good questions which will all be unfolded soon enough... so hold on to your junk!

So to begin, I'm a 26 year old male, born in the lovely shithole that is Summerside, Prince Edward Island, and been living in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia for the last 6 years. For most of my life MUSIC has been my one true passion... women have come and gone, so have many frineds, but Music has always been there for me...

3 years ago I started singing in a band with some dudes who after a few member shifts and name changes ended up being the Orchid's Curse, who beyond being my bandmates have become the best friends I could ever ask for. In fact, we've just completed a 3-song demo, but I'll touch on that in the coming days. About a year and half ago, I decided that the band just wasn't enough, I still a few hours of sleep to spare and a few extra dollars in my wallet, so I decided I'd startmy own record label. And like that, Diminished Fifth Records was born, which to my surprise has quickly become a recognizable force and name in the East Coast Music community.

The first year was a busy one... the label begin with releasing the Orchid's Curse debut EP, Goodbye is when the Casket Closes, then released a 17-song compilation CD The Music of Artisanship & War: Volume I which focused on a variety of heavy music from across the East Coast of Canada. That album has generated praise from across this fine nation and spent many a weeks on the Earshot University Loud Radio Charts. The label then went into partnership and released Siege of Darkness by Dischord, a seven song assault of relentless socio-thrash metal.

Year two began with the announcement of working with New Brunswick Gallactus on releasing their highly anticipated follow up to the acclaimed debut, Empire of the Eye. Their new release Nine Mile Woods, despite numerous delays, will be released in April/May of this year. In the summer of 07' the focus became more concise and I decided there was not enough recogniztion for METAL MUSIC in the East Coast and that it fucking well deserved to be recognized by the masses! A petition was launched to have 'Heavy Music' recognized by the East Coast Music Association and after the petition filling to 500+ signatures quickly and two interviews on CBC Radio regarding the petition (Q with Jian Ghomeshi and Mainstreet with Phlis MacGregor) I got part of my wish. There would be a HEAVY MUSIC SHOWCASE at the 2008 Awards in Fredericton with the potential of a category in 2009.

In October 2007 D5R (aka Diminished Fifth Records for someone who doesn't feel like typing 22 characters out) launched HORNS HIGH Online Magazine. A Free, Monthly Online Zine that focused exclusively on the East Coast Heavy Music Scene. Which to this day I am proud to say has grown about 200% an issue over the first 4 issues!!! (Seriously check this shit out! You won't be disappointed.)

In most recent D5R News the label has announced it will be releasing Creator of Scars by Iron Giant which to many East Coasters and Canadians is a band which needs no introduction! After the success of their debut album No Longer Sleeping the Giant is ready to destroy everything in their path. They along side of label mates Gallactus have paved the way as the kings of stoner rock in Eastern Canada.

In the coming months both Nine Mile Woods and Creator of Scars with embark on the total fucking domination of the East Coast Music Scene and destroy every thing in their paths.

D5R will also be in full force at the 2nd Maritime Tattoo Festival, and not only will I have the merch booth rolling but I also have the honour of being the Music Coordinator, which will mean lots of Metal coming your way to kick off the first night of the Festival.

So here I stand at a pivotal point in my life... 2 mammoth releases coming out on D5R. A few other prospects in the works, a sequel to The Music of Artisanship & War, the death of the music industry as we know it, CD sales are declining, digital consumption is growing... media is content and content is media, but to tell you the truth I couldn't be more excited. I have a strong support network of friends and family, a beautiful girlfriend, and some of the finest talent in the East Coast at my side...

So know that East Coast Metal is alive and well and keep them Horns High!

-Josh Hogan | Diminished Fifth Records
info@diminishedfifthrecords.com