Greetings from the deep unknown… rather the known… or should I say the somewhat ‘known’ but often misunderstood world of music, mayhem and malicious foresight. I am thrilled, I’ve been sober along with the Stigmata boyz for nearly a week now, I am excited, super-fucking-psyched and saturated with anxiety meets what not. Let me tell you why… Stigmata will FINALLY hit the good ol’ studio to nail Album No.3 this coming weekend. That is on the 17th of May which is Wesak week back here and we’ve been losing sleep (and a whole lot of other things), retracing the passages of sanity and reason and truly, passionately, uncompromisingly bleeding out, sweating bullets as ‘they’ say, locking our wonderful artistic souls together to perfect 8 new songs that will be… Album No.3! Ok… Ok… So we DO have a working album title that cannot be revealed at this point for obviously justifiable reasons. That being that knowing the 5 of us: we are more than capable of changing the title last minute, or else it’s just a silly old excuse to let the suspense build to a crescendo.

We had a serious chat; the 5 of us and realized that things were getting a little out of hand. For a long time since Silent Chaos Serpentine was released (launched on the 25th February, 2006 to be exact) we were surrounded by many, many individuals and life became transparently thin, being always intoxicated, not having any privacy to handle Band issues on our own… Fucking hell, we couldn’t have a Stigmata rehearsal without having friends, acquaintances and peers watching and listening to pretty much everything. And a Band values its free space, its own unique sense of discretion, the privilege of those sacrosanct moments where we can push each other to breaking point, where we can cleanse our own wounds and plan what we must without interjections and opinions from countless others who frankly have no business being in our centerfold in the first place. So much has happened since then, we’ve all grown immensely as people, as a Band, as friends and as ONE family and we lost sight of that value factor… ‘cos we didn’t think about it being a hindrance… a distraction of sorts. In any case we rehearsed and lived in a place that many felt was their second Home; and we didn’t – albeit feeling otherwise – & couldn’t do anything about it. So we accepted the flaw, the lack of moments that we ought to have shared alone… as a Band. You know the banes of the music world… Women… Alcohol… Herb… Endless Parties and Late Nights; but one thing must be said… We NEVER, EVER degenerated or deteriorated as 5 musicians. We pushed the envelope and our own artistic boundaries. But time teaches, scars and seeks reprisal from those who are unsuspecting and too embodied in their own bliss to realize how precious certain things are in life. We never underestimated each other, but we certainly overestimated many others. It’s our fault. And Stigmata decided to do something about it. We had become extremely musically competent but lost that very essence of communication between each other for a time being. We didn’t see eye to eye outside the musical periphery and our creative sphere. These things build up and cause unnecessary issues later on and it was merely two weeks ago at our new sanctuary that we addressed this.

First off, we had to cut off the Herb and other sources of Inebriation completely. That is COMPLETELY. (We drink beer though… it’s like Pepsi for us really, so little harm done) Then we would be in a better headspace (all cleaned up) to identify and observe the many so called friends that hounded us. Its amazing, almost like watching a monochromatic sitcom; predictable, mediocre soap opera stuff actually. The senate in recession. The merry men and women all falling out like bird droppings.

As a total irrelevant point I am listening to the amazing new Opeth record Watershed; brilliant, brilliant, brilliant… they’ve carved a genius landscape with their usual heavy to soft Opethesque parts but with a new dissonant landscape and glimpses of new disturbing dimensions which are very cool indeed.

Anyway back to the point of things as it were. So Stigmata decides that we will stop tolerating anyone other than the 5 of us at rehearsals, we have a genuine Band time after prac to discuss personal Band related shit and keep in mind that the Herb consumption was stopped completely… no partying… no wasting money on unnecessary stupid, pathetic beach parties; the latest trend in our beloved paradise of doom. If it were the late 70’s and I looked like a fucking hippie and acted like one then ‘paradise of doom’ would make a pretty song title. Heh. So here we are implementing this new plans devised… more than anything for the sake of our own being.

Remarkable. As expected… the packs ceased to arrive and visit (no grass no fun says Jack who also said the whole all work and no play crap!)… I mean apart from the genuine folk practically everyone else has just vanished. Zip! Zap! Nemo! Nada! Kurumba! Huttha! (I am in very high sprits at the moment despite many days of sobriety…)

We also noticed many weeks back that a lot of errrrrrmmmm individuals started forming their own clicks and packs; partying fervently like there’s no tomorrow, peers lost in ecstasy and TRANCElation and the best part is… The 5 Stiggies (now considered to be gravely boring and unhip) aren’t included in the party parody. Lovely. Little entourages and the hardcore core what used to BE the core is now dismembered… rather they’ve segregated themselves from us, which came as no surprise really. But bills have to be paid, there’s rent, electricity, water and a ton of other shit which needs to be looked into and taken care of while some of our fellow peers and residents ironically are eternally broke when the cash has to flow in so we can survive & settle z bills… but they certainly have more passion for parting than they sincerely do accepting a sense of responsibility and priority. So we hear (not even directly from them) that they are planning on leaving us high ‘n dry or sober ‘n dry technically speaking… We hear that some of the click is separated because I am in financial debt (this is very true… personally it makes no sense partying therefore when I am low on the cash front at the moment), then the ridiculous tale that the click is divided because I couldn’t get it on with a certain lady, then there are many other interesting stories that would make a great children’s fantasy novel. Honestly it makes Harry Potter look like Crime & Punishment. So along with the Band’s new implementations I sought to slowly but surely take care of what I have to… pay off the money I owe, focus on my studies, get our Agency running (we are working on the MOA’s and the Registration at the moment), pay the respective bills on time with the new imposed taxes and most importantly getting Stigmata back on track. (What to do?!? Not everyone can live in Mommy and Daddy’s House with everything provided)

We’ve never been off track really, but we’d kind of slipped into a deep sublime of psychological chess with packs of losers and jesters who have now revealed themselves to be as transparent as used condoms. So paka scene… Our own buddies who we’ve always stood by, always looked out for, been there for them countless times and (surprise/surprise!) always taken around with us ESPECIALLY when they’ve been in grave financial depravity are now playing Cassius, Cicero & Brutus or so to speak. Why? Because we don’t put on our bugs bunny trance and techno outfits and hit some distant shore every weekend with pills in our bellies and our jaws plastered onto the dance floor. Hey, I’ve personally got nothing against this new trendy musical fad just that there’s a time and a place for everything… and with the country plunging into morose turmoil it’s logical to have a modicum of sensibility and at the very least – what were the terms used – that motto of ‘Set Fit’ or ‘Friendship’ hasn’t been brought into consideration. I mean we’ve had plenty of times where we’ve NOT gone out because some in the click have not been in a position to go… we’ve respected that… it was all for the click remember? And then there’s the countless times where we’ve taken these pieces of gecko shit out, paid for ‘em, looked after ‘em, shown them a good time… Some have even got laid on our account… See? Would make a great novel or a TV series.

But now… in the name of Aphrodite’s Ass… We are easily left behind, not completely forgotten though but our generosity, fellowship and past acts of affection & virtue are merely reveries in a toilet bowl. Another thing we expected.

Stigmata isn’t some motherfucking wagon for other peoples’ entertainment. That’s shallow. That’s weak as it gets. No… no… Weaker actually. So we’ve turned the other cheek, been fooled into thinking we were building an empire of stability and purpose together as ONE in the name of the greater good, the industry, we’ve carried many a cross – and mind you it ain’t exactly like we don’t have our fair share of burdens - and sobriety tends to suffocate paranoia and reflect on realism more than one can imagine. But no more will we turn the other cheek… no more will any timeserving rectum hair use us for anything. And we’ve made that LOUD and CLEAR.

Oh get off it. We love our herb. We love going out and raising hell… Imagine not having the luxury of being drowned in whiskey and getting a blow job at the same time? Crude… But we are a METAL Band.

But now is NOT the time. We have work to do. Things to achieve… A fucking masterpiece to carve, chisel and create. And you can’t juggle apples when your hands are tied and your dick is in a hole. We needed to bring back the focus. To look into the heart of reality and take a mighty chunk off its ass for a change! And we have.

It was 2 weeks ago that Stigmata sat down, spilt our souls out to each other and made a pact that we’ll remain clean for the entire recording. We don’t need to be high to perform with brilliance anyway. And we know how important record no.3 is… More than anyone else actually.

So here we are after a long day’s practice where we’re stitching the musical monster which will be ‘Odyssey‘ together and I am so psyched… We are truly proud of each other… We’ve pushed ourselves to unprecedented terrain. We aren’t scratching our privates while our tongues loll out of our dehydrated skulls contemplating the when’s and the how’s… We got in touch with Sri Lanka’s legendary Producer/Engineer Mr. Shobi Perera (worked with us on Hollow Dreams and SCS) who turned up for our Silencing the Machine gig and balanced the snake (main mixer) while we played our set. He was stoked about the new material, we’ve been working on the new tunes for awhile now and then struck a mutual chord and thought why waste any more time? We discussed that there was a long weekend coming up from the 17th-20th May because of Wesak (that’s the local festival with the flashy lanterns). What would we have to lose really? Except that we had to complete ‘Purer’ and ‘Odyssey’ in 2 weeks. ‘Purer’ sounds mesmerizingly headbang-worthy while ‘Odyssey’ sounds like the earth’s cracking in two. It bleeds into an intense intro and crushing arrangement and then weaves in and out of vivid textures and then the anti-climaxes start. It isn’t a spoiler really, ‘cos you’ve GOT to hear it and feel it; to experience z peeling of your flesh with a burning hot scythe. The song is complete. And it’s sounding tight as a Virgin’s Pussy. But for what it is worth both ‘Purer’ and ‘Odyssey’ makes my hair stand just writing about it… Can’t wait to record it. Can’t wait to play the Beast live. Can’t wait for you music enthusiasts to hear it.

We are working really fast, with unparalleled dedication, in full perspective and giving in long, long hours… Most of us are sleeping at like 3-4 in the morning… Up the next day; handling advertising/marketing campaigns, tackling day to day shit and piecing this album together.; seamlessly. There’s no one in our face, the place is practically empty save for a precious and valued few and we can say and do what we want and not have to worry about our space and liberty anymore. It’s satirical how the ticks, leeches and parasite vermin have all been identified and were dealt with sufficiently.

I’ve learnt in life that once you’ve been hurt a couple of times, once you’re spat at, your abode invaded and you have mud flung your way you should calculate and emphatically shove concrete slabs up their rears. Don’t mistake metaphors for bullshit folks. After all I ain’t nobody’s sucker right? Stigz isn’t by any stretch either. I love this Band… It’s my Life. It’s what keeps my veins flowing with crimson nectar impure/pure divine; what makes me believe that there’s real purpose to the daily grind.

Listening to the new Between the Buried and Me now… Neat.

I am pouring a very deep part of me onto my blog at the moment. It’s therapeutic in the same way Metal (and Metal alone) has helped me get through some real rough times. This is a different dimension of my inner sanctum that as a writer and fellow blogger I must shed just as an adder sheds its skin. I am studying properly after a LONG while, I quit my advertising job to focus on Our Music and so the concept of starting our own thingy is a natural means of having to solidify the business to achieve some financial stability. So we need to establish it from the grass roots level into something more substantial, something with a solid foundation base that will guarantee a steady cash in-flow to settle our countless (now merciless) overheads. We’ve cut down the unnecessary costs immensely. We cook at home (I’ll have a post about our genius cooks sometime) and are trying to save as much as we can. My discretionary income is from the Band, the gigs… And although the Metal Scene is picking up like Cupcakes from Hell: the gig scene is a bit poor what with the new rulez of grandeur. As you read this I am sure more regulations are passed and sanctioned so that people can’t take a leak without being taxed or being arrested for pissing in your own toilet. It’s ridiculous back here… Wait a second… Oh yeah; I already posted about our paradise of doom sometime back and how our island is becoming a mass black hole for sycophants and jackasses. Meow. Therefore I won’t go all Macro-Environment and Socio-Political on this post. Let’s stick to the Cassius, Cicero & Brutus frequency. It’s less traumatizing somehow. More or less.

I’ve found a bit of time to write my book from where I trailed off earlier… It’s cumin’ out nice and twisted. Loads of torture, voyeuristic scenarios, S & M, pathological sociopathic incidents, with gritty sex and violence. Sounds like the kind of cheery stuff I’d write about huh?

Initially it wasn’t easy sobering up… It’s one thing to reduce the intake it’s a whole other matter stopping it all at once. I believe some people dub it withdrawal. It’s just the psychological craving really which the body responds to, in turn making it a little hard. But the good news is it feels like a great black cloud has cleared. It’s helped us to work towards a mutual goal. I don’t smoke cancer sticks anyway so it wasn’t too hard, but on the first two days it made me go a bit cuckoo.

Hey we’ve been bonging everyday for about 6 months… it HAD to stop. It’ll make us appreciate the high once we break the hiatus too nah? Anyway I am glad to have a sense of perspective now… I am doing a LOT of reading. I need to get through this damned marketing exam in June. I’ll have to have my head screwed on straight to find sponsors for the new record and the launch, see with the rest of the guys that the recording does justice to the songs and then there’s the marketing and promotions to look into. I have my hands tied.

But as you ALL know my fine fellow blog mistresses, subs and dudes: I kind of like my hands being tied, and like doing a fair deal of tying myself. You will most likely be among the first to hear all updates of the recording. The studio is a whole other universe from the live gig setting. It’s isolated, claustrophobic and demands a great deal of focus when working on the material.

Many people have asked us the cliché question if we prefer the studio to playing live. Well you can’t compare Mario Puzo to James Herbert. They are both very necessary and of course the beauty and energy of performing to a live audience; whether it be 2, 200, 2000 or 20, 000 people is a wonderful, wonderful thing. It’s incomparable. But the studio is a more secluded scenario, where you are cut off from light, time and the rest of the world for a significant period and it has a sinister ANOMALY all on its own. But you mold your work, shape it into something where you must capture the magic, the eccentricities of the moment and the raw (controlled) power of your own compositions. Something that you’ve worked on for months, years and its like watching a child grow into something healthy, at times something vulgar, at times something mischievous despite its mortal flaws and unique complexities. You scrutinize your work with the hope that the entire process will ebb and flow, all the jigsaws will form the puzzle… There’s something truly divine in finishing off your album and then listening to it. It’s magical. It’s fucking pure and whole. So let’s just conclude by saying that it’s an essentiality to treat both with equal respect and appreciation. I personally love Puzo’s and Herbert’s work with equal measure.

So here we are, the stage is set and we are working relentlessly (we know no other way) on 8 new songs… come the 17th of May and we’ll be dancing with our demons at the studio whilst the ticks, leeches and hypocrite vermin can all dance at the bottom of the sea.

Esto Perpetua.