Holy crap! The return of... MATT BARLOW!!!

Karl Hungus

So, Matt Barlow ditched the whole Metal thing, and joined the police a few years back. The guy was possibly one of the best vocalists there is, and his loss was lamented quite a good deal.

This came as a huge shock to me, but the man returns!

http://www.bravewords.com/news/64147
http://www.bravewords.com/news/64153

He's gone and joined Pyramaze, who I hadn't heard of before, but listening to some mp3s on their site, they sound pretty good. Whoever the old vocalist was, he was pretty generic Power Metal kinda stuff, so I'll be dying to hear what they'll do with Barlow.

Zapp Brannigan

Damn it Karl, i wanted to post this!!
Band Pic:

And their Myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/pyramaze

EDIT: Been looking through their MySpace and found this

Statements from Michael Kammeyer and Matt Barlow

Statement from Michael Kammeyer:

I'm very happy to finally announce our new singer.
Matthew Barlow (former vocalist of the American metal band Iced Earth) will be taking over the job as Pyramaze vocalist. I've been in dialogue with Matt about his comeback for a few months now, and after we've been getting to know each other better and doing a few test demos where Matt has re-recorded a couple of our old songs, we've come to the conclusion that we are a perfect match. I've always regarded Matt as one of the very best voices in metal, and I was (as any other fan of his incredible voice) saddened by his departure from the metal scene a few years ago. Therefore I'm proud to say that Matt is back, stronger than ever, and from now on officially a part of the Pyramaze Fellowship. We are currently in a song-writing mode, and we expect to enter the studio early 2008 with Matt behind the mic. I hope and believe that old as well as new fans will welcome Matt into the Pyramaze line-up. I now leave you with these great news, and with Matt's statement below.
Cheers!

M. Kammeyer / Pyramaze




Statement from Matthew Barlow:


Brothers and sisters... The last time I made a statement to the metal community it was one of sorrow but certainly not one of regret.

There are people, things and experiences - once not thought possible - that I have attained in the last several years. It's an extension of friends and family that has truly made my life whole, and one that I would not jeopardize for fame and glory.

That thought in mind, I was posed an interesting proposition by a true talent in heavy metal. Honestly, I had not heard a lot about Pyramaze, when I received an e-mail from Michael. After our initial correspondence I began to realize that this was a guy that really had his head in the right place - a musician who was in music for the music. Michael spoke to me of his band - a bunch of guys who want to put out solid music but would not sacrifice their souls to attain greatness. This is by no means a slam on I.E. or any of the great musicians I have worked with in the past. It simply means that the music industry can suck you in, chew you up, and spit you out if you don't keep firmly planted on the ground. Pyramaze are working class metal heads with something to prove! Metal is what they live for but it is not their livelihood.

Needless to say, I was instantly intrigued by Michael's delivery. Especially considering the nature of my career choice of late. I wondered if Michael had really thought the courting process through. I'm sure that there are some people that never really understood my reasons for leaving the industry and certainly don't like who or what i represent in my current vocation. There is also the fact that Pyramaze has been rather stereotyped as a prog-metal act and I as Satan / Paul Stanley. What kind of crazy mixed up world is this????

Well... The way I see it... I'm in a point in my life, where I love what I do for a living and for the first time, I can support myself and my family doing it. Now for the other great thing... That's how this band thinks. There is no expectation of co-signing (under the name Mephistopheles) in order to have your record sell. The record will sell if the music is great. The music will be great, because the guys doing it, want to do it... For all the right reasons. Pyramaze has proven that!

I sense hesitation... And rightly so... After all, there are a lot of I.E. fans out there that still just don't get it. I would imagine that there are also Pyramaze fans that love what Mr. King did for this band. Hell, I love what he did for this band! I think that the guy is a true talent and feel the same about Tim Owens (that's Ripper to you!). I also feel, that in the same way I.E. fans have taken Tim into the fold, I too can find a place within the Pyramaze family. I would venture to say that Pyramaze, already unique and uncompromising, will not be placed inside of a prog-metal box once the sparks start flying.

I am really looking forward to working with Michael and the guys!!! I also look forward to hearing feedback from the brethren and sisterhood of metal.

Up from the ashes, back from the depths, when the voices have risen, fire becomes flesh!

Barlow.

We wont hear new stuff til next year, but I really cant wait!!

ANarcho-Munk

Haha I thought you meant by saying the police that you meant the band The Police....

Carry on.

Oral Slang

Woohoo can't wait. I loved him in IE & was gutted when he left. Looking forward to this release!

GhostInTheRuins

Very cool, will indeed have to keep an eye open for this one. Barlow looks so different without his long hair.

Den_M

Glad to hear it, I'm a huge Take That fan

Karl Hungus

ANarcho-Munk wrote:

Haha I thought you meant by saying the police that you meant the band The Police....

Carry on.

Hah! That would be interesting to hear.

Energizer

Just had a listen to their Mp3 on the site.

Like them instrumentally but the vocalist is for me too much like Bruce Dickinson.

And i'm not a big fan of Iron Maiden.

Not the worst i've heard though!

neGev

Den_M wrote:

Glad to hear it, I'm a huge Take That fan

lol

Karl Hungus

Energizer wrote:

Just had a listen to their Mp3 on the site.

Like them instrumentally but the vocalist is for me too much like Bruce Dickinson.

And i'm not a big fan of Iron Maiden.

Not the worst i've heard though!

Keep in mind they've not recorded anything with the almighty Matt Barlow yet, he's only just been announced as having joined the band. You're listening to whoever the old singer was.

You can see what Matt's vocals are like when he was with Iced Earth:

Dante's Inferno Part 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsVdau231RQ

Dante's Inferno Part 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqKKZMhTLAw

The Hunter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ao6niQAqupQ

Energizer

Holy Cr*p, so much better than the other vocalist.

Will be interested to here the new band as they instrumentally sound heavier than iced earth from my limited experience of either band.

Proper Metal Looking vocalist aswell.

Karl Hungus

Energizer wrote:

Holy Cr*p, so much better than the other vocalist.

That's a much better reaction. God, it would've been awful if you had left thinking Matt sounded like the other guy.

Karl Hungus

Has to be done too, here's Police Officer Barlow:

Energizer

Woah, he looks completely different without the long hair.

Hope it doesn't have a samson effect and he's lost all his power.

Zapp Brannigan

He better not! 2008 is gonna be the best metal year IMO for 2 reasons.

Pyramaze's next release and new Wintersun!!

Pugsley

Slurms wrote:

new Wintersun!!

This interests me greatly