When I think 2013, I think Crusade.

          My good buddies in the Jersey City-based band Crusade have released their E.P.  If any of you reading this are not familiar with their music, please take a moment to do so at:
http://www.facebook.com/crusadernj/app_204974879526524

   
           The music will give you a sense of history via melodies and rhythms written from days in and nights out of unrestricted jamming.  When I say I know musicians who click and truly represent something genuine, I let it be known.  Founders Kevin Garetz (guitar), and Steven Schlatmann (drums), didn't know where random days of jamming would go until they were introduced to Danny Busnelli (bass).  Ultimately realizing and utilizing all opportunities to intertwine musical roles perfectly, the band decided to really make sure they were putting out their best material upon writing and confirming all areas of production for this E.P.
          This band could have easily repeated their personal histories had they stuck to their original sound.  Garetz would be leading the way with his voice of encouragement to be mislabeled as "another hardcore vocalist", whereas Busnelli could have easily decided to split time between jamming with Crusade and Protothief.  However, that is not the case.
          Garetz decided to explore other influences and favorite bands such as Toe, Russian Circles and Irepress while Busnelli and drummer Steve Schlatmann remain "guys who play something while Kevin's on another planet.", according to Busnelli.  The band chose the best direction possible and really made sure that the sound Garetz and Schlatmann originally produced was one that would do nothing else but grow once Busnelli became a part of the picture.  Even more so, the chemistry between these 3 musicians is undeniable. As a person who was interested in becoming their second guitar player, there is just a way that these 3 guys work that I do not wish to fuck up!  That's right, your fellow friend Rob would rather support you wholeheartedly than attempt to add to the music and risk ruining it's purity since he feels that the chemistry of the trio that is Crusade is meant to be one of 3 members, that is, at least at this very point in time!
         What encourages me the most about this band's future is that the occasional difference in opinion brings them together rather than apart.  As opposed to differing and dispersing like most of Hudson County's local music scene because someone got their panties in a bunch, this band has really gotten to know themselves as musicians and friends during their 1 year of composing via jamming together and settling for wings and good music shortly afterwards.

(Food is for the brain. Don't vomit meow!)


I may sound like every other musical promoter when I say "check this band out", but I truly mean it.

(Garetz, Schlatmann, Busnelli live in 2012)

For more information concerning myself and my genuine support to Crusade, please check out: http://www.gothictimes.net/2012/11/16/crusade-rocks-the-jersey-city-space-station/

Speaking the truth, writing for you
Stay cool, Stay Blue
RB

Value in Separation

          There comes a point in time when you've just had it.  Enough is enough! No more, none!  For example, when you're reading a book with many characters, twisting plots, and realistic references; your brain tends to become overwhelmed after a certain point.  Too much of something will help bring out the best in you, however, it may also bring out the worst!

          Let's look at overdoses.  The people injecting heroin into their bloodlines enjoy the short term effects of it, but will eventually kill themselves in the long run.  Somewhere during that occurrence, their bodies attempted to tell them that it could not take anymore.

          Overdoses don't have to necessarily result from drugs though.  My definition of a personal overdose pertains to the user more than the content that is being induced upon the recipient.  To me, a personal overdose is when the user willingly chooses to accept more than what is needed.  

          For example, most nutritionists advise men trying to bulk up with minimal fat intake to eat a protein portion that is about the size of their fists, so that their stomachs, which are roughly the size of their fists, can properly digest the food safely, letting the person eating know that their is a certain limit per portion.  Anything above that fist/stomach sized portion, to me, can be considered a personal overdose since it is not needed.  Even more so, an actual overdose in regards to fat intake and arterial failure can be avoided.  

          Does my definition make sense?  I think so.

          Let's look at musicians as well.  Some choose to explore different areas with their sound, while others maintain the sound that got them recognized.  I think that it is safe to say that my favorite bands: AFI, Thrice, The Beatles, Avenged Sevenfold, Linkin Park, Darkest Hour, have all evolved accordingly.  They took a necessary separation that allowed them to evolve and not write the same record over and over again.

          To all my friends, you know that you do mean the world to me.  You are a huge part of my world and everyday life.  I'd hate to lose any of you.  Please realize that I do distance myself from you to allow you to not depend on me on an everyday basis.  I feel that as a friend, it is my job to be there for you to the best of my ability.  However, that is not to say that I want to become a part of your everyday life.  We are different, but we have qualities that unite us, and me not being there for all of you all the time has a value.  One cannot progress if they find themselves constantly leaning on the shoulder of another.  At one point, we must all grow our wings and fly to the skies of our desires.  I can't be the one stopping you; that's the last thing a friend should do.  

          This is not to say that I am speaking of myself highly, but I feel that everyone is entitled to space, and that their choices upon discovering this are unlimited!  How would you feel if you had the right amount of time off from everyone you knew and ended up discovering a new talent?  

          People always want to go far away for college to "get the experience" and then either never end up going, or some end up going and not liking it. Information is out there, it is up to you to separate yourself from your everyday standards and occasionally push yourself.  The risk is worth the gain; and no, this doesn't necessarily pertain to college.  

          Learning something on your own is just as inevitable as death.  At some point, you've just got to face it, the only questions that can't be answered just yet are always "when?" and "how?"  If your friends are really your friends, time will tell.  Those who wait for you, those who think of you, those who support every single thing you do, those are the truest of all of your friends.  True friends see the benefits of temporary separation since it gives them more free time to pursue and achieve their goals.

          When I don't see a friend for a long time, it is a bittersweet experience, and I love it.  There's nothing worse than saying "eh, I pushed you to the side"; yet, nothing's better than seeing your friend succeed without you after a period of time and still care about you as if not a day has passed since your last gathering.  So to all my friends, I'm not sorry if I haven't seen you in a while, I just feel that you deserve "you time" as much as I deserve "me time".  It's the only way we'll progress.  Forget that person trying to fit into your circle who'll then put themselves in the center of their own universe and use you for their own benefit.  Think of the friend who's known you for years, and is always genuinely happy to see you after extended periods of elapsed time.

RB

The meaning of the beat beneath the blood.

(Stretches, grins) Yeah, it's that time of the year again!  Time to tell myself for the nth time that it's time to make music.  As you may or may not know, I am a guitarist and have been involved with playing music in the Jersey City/Hudson County Area as of 2001.  However, as a guitarist in a rock band, I have been active since 2006. My most recent band "Visions of the Vanished" was at a tough point in time, thus resulting in the hiatus.  I am no longer affiliated with the band as of 2013 in any manners regarding actual member status, or representative status.  It was during this hiatus (announced in September) that I realized that the band was about to go in different directions that even I wasn't ready for, whether with Ernesto or not.  Once Ernesto was out of Visions of the Vanished, I wholeheartedly felt that I'd carry the band/help direct the band in somewhat of a lighter, less technical, less aggressive direction.
          I attempted to write new material in this style and it just didn't feel natural. It felt forced. It felt as if there was this constant pressure once Ernesto was out of the band, because after spending enough time with anyone (say your fellow guitarist from most of 2007-2012) for enough time, you start to resemble them.  Once Ernesto knew he had to prioritize and get himself together without worrying about studio rent and discussions pertaining to the status of members and non members; I knew I had to get myself together and do the same.
          Late August taught me the meaning of the word "safe".  Thanks to keeping calm and helping to maintain peace during a personal frenzy during an acid trip, I realized that things simply are what they are.  I also realized it in a spiritual sense, in the style of : things aren't anything else but what they are.
          I'm not just a guitarist, or someone who'll listen to you, or someone meant to stick with one style of instrumentation, I'm a musician.  I need to experiment and experience other instruments, other sounds, and lastly, other approaches that will let the music speak for itself.  I couldn't do those things with metalcore since I was always listening to other genres; even more so, I was writing music of other genres.  One can argue that I didn't stay true to the band, but I do believe that I just can't ignore myself when it comes to other things that interest me.  It's the discovery of potential that allows anyone to rightfully choose what they'd like to get involved in.
          This is the best I've felt about the music I'm making, and I say that in true sincerity.  This new project will be a matured Roberto that knows nothing better but to listen to the voices in his head when it comes to big decisions.  I don't like comparing myself to anyone else, but, this music can be considered Alternative Rock.  Anyone who knows me and feels that this is a maturer version of Beyond the View can argue so.
I'm looking forward to making new sounds, meeting new people, growing as an artist, and most importantly having fun with this music.
RB