Sirens Of Titan CD

SIRENS OF TITAN is:Felicia Mitchell - VocalsSam Rhode - GuitarsAl Vorse - BassConan Malady - DrumsSirens of Titan is the brainchild of guitarist Sam Rhode, who formed the band in 2005 with bassist Matt Duffin and drummer Conan Malady. The three came from varied backgrounds: Rhode had spent most of the last decade playing fusion metal in bands like Sacred Ground (beef) and Flatt Earth. Duffin’s background included jazz, folk, metal, and punk. Malady, while well-versed in punk as the drummer for Independent Progress, was also a fan of swing icon Buddy Rich. This punk aggression vs. jazz groove sensibility was to prove essential to the band’s sound. The idea behind that sound being that doom/stoner metal can go back to its blues/jazz roots without repeating itself, and without sacrificing the sophistication of later, more progressive metal. That “dumb rock” doesn’t necessarily have to be dumb, and that smart metal doesn’t have to be gutless. With feet firmly planted in the monolithic doomjazz riffs of Black Sabbath, yet drawing on and augmenting everything that has come since, the Sirens sound is the modern ghost of metal as it once was: dark, bluesy, heavy, yet with plenty of complexity, swing, and dynamic. The instrumental trio of Sirens of Titan came together almost effortlessly. Rhode, Duffin, and Malady all contributed to the band’s unique sound, keeping it focused, groove-oriented, and aggressive. As the band’s music evolved over the first 2 years, it roared at and rolled over listeners; in addition to Sabbath comparisons, it also called to mind the likes of Clutch, Cathedral, and Entombed with its bombastic bounce and down-tuned dirgery. Evolution, however, is full of missing links, and the developing sonic assault of Sirens of Titan was no exception that rule. For those first 2 years of the band’s existence, Sam, Matt, and Conan were unable to find a proper head for their monster. Several vocalists came and went, but no one clicked. So the band decided to switch gears and go instru-metal, a-la Pelican. Plans were laid for a thematic EP. Writing began on a new batch of songs. And sure enough, just as in life, love, and archaeology, the perfect missing piece came along almost immediately after the band stopped looking for him.Or, as in this case, her. Felicia Mitchell joined Sirens of Titan in late 2006, bringing with her a voice that was equal parts Chris Cornell, Cedric Bixler (M. Volta), Bruce Dickinson, Ozzy Osbourne, and Howlin’ Wolf, with a healthy dose of avenging Fury thrown in for good measure. Her voice was exactly what was needed to punch through and ride astride the behemoth riffs and aural attack of the drums, bass, and guitar. Melodic, aggressive, soaring, and dynamic, Felicia’s voice is genuinely a force unto itself. No opera metal emo Eva-nonsense here; this is pure rock fury of the distilled, decanted, and slammed-down-your-throat variety.The completed line-up was up and running almost immediately. December 2006 saw the first official Sirens of Titan performance, and the band has been gigging non-stop ever since, honing their live show and building a loyal following in the Twin Cities area. Sirens of Titan have made an impression wherever they’ve played, whether it be opening for local Minneapolis metal heroes Zebulon Pike or up-and-coming national acts like Skeletonwitch, Epica, Visions of Atlantis, and even classic rock female metal icon Doro Pesch. Somehow, the band also found time to record and release their first full-length studio album, a self-titled offering in the grand tradition of the likes of Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden. This is the CD before you now. Comprised of 11 tracks, it captures Sirens of Titan’s live energy, while also showcasing more subtle aspects of the songwriting. It is, like any good record, a snapshot of the band’s evolution, and of the songs themselves.In spite of its continual development, Sire