Crowdfunding Campaign
Funding For Sound & Music Equipment
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The need:
Professional sound gear and music instruments are very expensive. Most of the people in our group are young adults, and still in the early stages of their career. We always work with what we have, but this can also be stressful sometimes. We believe that God will provide us with the funds and the needed equipment whenever we have a project on our hearts. So far we borrowed recording gear, cables and instruments. We call to you to support our ministry and our mission so this can lighten the burden.
Les has been carrying the Metal Musicianary banner for over 38 years since he surrendered his life to Jesus and was called to reach the youth through a musical genre that had been unheard of in Christian music. This led to him to partner with Michael Bloodgood, the founder of BLOODGOOD, one of the bands that pioneered the Christian heavy metal movement in the early 80’s. You can find out more about this on the band’s website and through the “Trenches of Rock” documentary.
BLOODGOOD as a band has been retired, but Les feels the need to continue his calling. He’s written several songs for his first solo album. His innovative, theatrical style and ability to deliver powerful lyrics and melodies with a dramatic interpretation carry over to this new project.
Les wrote lyrics and melody for many of the BLOODGOOD classics such as “Messiah“, “Crucify“, “Seven“, “Top of the Mountain“, and “Lamb of God” … but this is the first time Les has written the music. It is also his debut on guitar!
The Players:
The musicians and co-writers include Paul Jackson (BLOODGOOD), Oz Fox (Stryper, Sin Dizzy), Craig Church (BLOODGOOD, Pamela Moore), David Zaffiro (BLOODGOOD, Crystal City Rockers). These stellar guitarists are versatile, powerful, and uniquely different from each other…
The rhythm section consists of Ricky B Rogers on bass (Bryan Duncan, Bob Carlisle, Kid Rock, Keith Urban…) and Dan Needham on drums (John Elephante, John Schlitt, Michael McDonald...) Together they create monstrous, melodic grooves that add a unique sound to the music.
Les Shares the Process:
“I have recording gear set up at my house and for the last 2 years my wife, Joyce, and I have been learning how to navigate Logic X. Most of the songs started with a digital drum track and me playing guitar and bass. Joyce and I both did some experimenting with midi and apple loops. I laid down scratch vocals and then the roughs were sent to Paul Jackson who added to or replaced my guitar tracks, and Craig Church who ‘Schecterized’ the rhythm tracks. Stems were then sent to Dan Needham for drum tracking and to Ricky B. Rogers for bass parts.
Paul started “Faith Is Tested” in his studio and sent me the tracks so I could write lyrics and develop the melody. Craig Church did the same with “Scars” and “How Long“.
My wife, Joyce, contributed to the song-writing and arrangements as well as engineering for the project.
We’ve made a lot of progress so far, but now we need the Pros to mix and master and we need to promote the songs.
Album Tracks:
- “Judas is Dead“, a co-write with Oz Fox who plays all the instruments, produced and mixed the song. “Judas…” is a perfect introduction to the “Crucify“, “Messiah“, “Seven” trilogy. With heavy guitar and dark lyrics, this song shreds!
- “I Wanna Know You” has elements of melodic, 70’s rock with a lush choral hook. Hard rock worship!
- “He’s Coming” is straight rock and roll with an AC/DC feel. Written by the Carlsen/Jackson team that has been responsible for many BLOODGOOD favorites. This one features David Zaffiro’s soaring guitar solo.
- “The Jesus Freak Show” is a unique song that ventures into new territory and shows the diversity of Les’s voice.
- “Scars“, a classic metal shredder, and “How Long“, modern prog in 3/4+6/8 time were both initiated by Craig Church who tears it up on his Schecter. Ricky makes the bridge section ‘sing’ with his 5-string bass and string arrangement.
- “Faith Is Tested” started with a rough track that Jackson submitted. With Les’s input, it became “arena rock” with a heavy groove and a huge anthem chorus. This is sure to become another Carlsen/Jackson classic.
- “River” is a haunting ballad with orchestration and symphonic tones. Both Jackson and Zaffiro contribute to the mood of this song with their guitar work. The epic ending is still to be completed and promises to surprise us all.
YOUR PLEDGES WILL HELP FUND:
- MUSICIANS, travel and coffee!
- MIXING
- MASTERING
- GRAPHICS & PRODUCT MANUFACTURING
- MARKETING & PROMOTION, this music must be heard!
Help get the word out! Whether its on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, email, on message boards or anywhere else – spread the word so WE can spread the word!
This project will be completed whether or not the goal is met. It is already very far along, with 8 songs in various degrees of completion. What’s left is final tracks, arrangements, mixing, mastering, manufacturing and promotion. I can’t wait for you to hear it, so it’s going to happen no matter what!
