This is where you come to keep up to date on the ABSOLON project, DARKNESS RISING: THE TALE OF DEREK BLACKHEART. In a way, it will be my running diary on how the project is moving. Visit often to keep up on how the project is progressing . . .
November 11, 2011: I have officially partnered with guitar/songwriter Ed Dumas (formerly of The Turnpike Band and Psyco Lizards) to work on the project. Ed is an incredible seasoned guitar player/songwriter and is an important addition to
My guitarist and partner on this project...Ed Dumas
ABSOLON. Me and Ed will be meeting on Saturday, November 12th to begin pre-production of the forthcoming full length CD. Plans will be made and a schedule for recording decided. So folks, this is really going to happen. I am super excited to have Ed on board as a partner in the project and have no doubt that, in the end, we will have a fantastic product.
November 12, 2011: I met with Ed today and we began the real work on the project. This thing is going to be complicated but, if it comes out like we hope it will, it is going to be killer when it is finished. We plan on laying down a bulk of the instrumentation in Ed’s excellent home studio (drums, bass, guitar and keyboards). Then I’ll record all the vocals, opening scene (track), connect all the songs so they flow together and the mixing/mastering at KDS Music Studios with producer/engineer extraordinare Dave Mikeal. We’re estimating that it will take about six months to complete because of the complexities involved in putting together a concept CD and getting down all the stuff I hear in my head (besides the voices that is. LOL).
November 12, 2011: Writing, writing, writing. I need four more good tunes to complete the progression of songs for the CD. It’s getting there though.
Ed Dumas,...The Best Guitarist In Florida!!
November 14, 2011: Got some great news today. Keyboardist Rip Lee will be working on the project along with Ed. Rip Lee was the keyboard player for the metal band “Psycho Lizards” and one of the best Pink Floyd tribute bands out there” Earthbound Misfits”. This guy is as incredible on keyboards as Ed is on guitar. Rip Lee will bring the quality of keys that I invisioned on this project. Needless to say, I am excited to have him involved.
November 16, 2011: Another song written. Things are coming along tune wise as the music just continues to flow. I have to admit I, along with Ed and Rip Lee, have quite a job ahead of us putting this CD together. It has really taken on a life of its own and is going to be a monster to record. Not only are there the songs to consider, but all the interlude pieces and musical lead ins from one song to another. But, if this project comes out like I hear it in my head, it is really going to be something.
November 25, 2011: Pretty much have all the songs written for the CD now. Finished up two more over the last week so, that wraps up the writing part of everything (Whew!!). Also, wrote a short musical piece based on the opening song (The Beginning) to close the CD out. I wanted it to end where it began so, it’s worked around similar chording and ends with Derek saying, “What have I done.” Going to be pretty cool. Got with Ed today for about 5 1/2 hours. Very productive day. Got a bunch of stuff down scratch track wise so Ed has something to work with. So, the project is well under way now.
November 29, 2011: Added a “CONCEPT” page to the the site. Visitors to the site will be able to read the lyrics to all the songs from the upcoming CD and also see the order of the tunes that make up the storyline, from beginning to end. We are shooting for June 2013 to get the CD out so, you will already have the words to the songs when it finally comes out!
December 2, 2011: I am having a friend who is graphic arts designer create a real and official logo for the project. I hope to get a few different ideas to choose from and as soon as I have the right one, I’ll put it on the site for all to see. Seems like a lot of things are just falling into place.
December 3, 2011: Another day of pre-production. Got a lot done today and the CD continues to move right along. We’re just about finished with this part of things and then the real work begins. We should finish up all pre-production next Saturday then start laying down drums and bass on the tunes. This is where things begin to get time consuming, but hey, I’m just happy that this is really happening considering a few months ago all I hoped for was getting Darkness Rising recorded and out for people to hear!
December 10, 2011: Started digging into the material today. We found that this is going to be a lot of work to complete this project, but we also know that, when it’s finally done, we’re going to have an incredible product to release.
December 29, 2011: Well, we took a break for the holidays, but that doesn’t mean nothing has been happening. The opening song, “The Beginning”, is pretty much complete (except for vocals) and it sounds great. The drums and bass are complete on “Nailhead” and Ed is going to begin work on guitar parts. So, things have still been moving along. There is a LOT yet to be done! Also, I have finished putting together all the stuff needed to launch my site on Kickstarter, a site devoted to fund raising. I’m looking to get $10,000.00 in funding for the project, which will pay for recording studio time, pressing/production of the final CD and hopefully some merchandise. A lot of artist have had great success on Kickstarter so, I’m hoping I will too!
January 14, 2012: Fantastic day. Got a lot done and the project is moving along nicely. I’m driving poor Ed nuts with all the stuff I hear in my head…like full on orchestras!! It is symphonic metal right?
January 20, 2012: Gonna be taking the next two weeks off from work on the project. Ed is moving into a new house (much bigger place) so, he has to tear all his recording and musical gear down and get it moved to the new house…and it’s a lot of equipment! Once the move is done it’s going to be all around better for Ed and his family as well as for the project. We will have a lot more space for recording, plus we’ll be able to leave things like amplifiers and such set up instead of having to tear it all down after each session. Pretty much, our plan is to record all the instrumentation in Ed’s home studio then head out to the big studio to record all the vocals, special effects and musical pieces, tie all the songs together and finally mix/master the CD. So far, what we’ve gotten done sounds fantastic. If we can pull this off, we’re going to have a great CD that old fans of Malachia and new fans are going to really like!!
January 27, 2012: Looking at a potential drummer and bass player to fill out the line up. Getting Ed moved into his new house tomorrow and then we should be up and running come next Saturday. Going to kick it into high gear after that. Lots to work on and even more to get done.
February 10, 2012: Well, after a bit of a break, we’re getting ready to kick into high gear. Ed got moved into his new place and this Saturday we’re going to set up all his recording/musical equipment. His new place offers way more space for recording. One room will have all the recording equipment and another room all the amps and things. I wrote one more song to round out the CD. I just wasn’t feeling like it had a conclusion…not the way I heard it anyway. So, I penned a final tune to close it out. It’s very symphonic/power metal and will be a great way to conclude the story. Basically, after ending his life, Derek is forever playing his metal for the Dark Master in hell and wishing he could start all over again. Too bad for Derek.
(Note: We have been discussing the live aspect of the project. Yeah, we’re putting the cart way before the horse, but we can’t help it.)
February 20, 2012: Got a super awsome digital drum kit for Ed’s home studio this past Saturday. This thing is incredible (double kick) and is going to be a major plus for recording this CD. It has a billion drum sounds on its own, but it can be run into the drum program that Ed has in his arsenal. So, we will be able to get any drum sound you can imagine. Now, we can bring in our drummer and he can lay down all the drum tracks and it will sound as good or better than what we would have gotten had we recorded them in a big studio. This is giong to speed the recording process up considerably as well as cut the costs of recording down big time! Yeah, I’m being dragged kicking and screaming into the new age of recording, but I’m beginning to like it. Gone are the days when everything had to be done in the studio. Boston was one of the exceptions but, then again, it took them five years to record their first album in Tom Scholtz basement!!!
