mmw

The new ETiD is fucking amazing. They were breathtaking last week at Tuts, cant wait to see them rip the fucking arsehole out of that fanny Gerard Way at the Carling Academy!

Well then in the interests of fairness...

My Minds Weapon - 'Kill...'

S-A-N Promotion - Spring 2005

Publication date: 08 August 2005' date=' 15:35:02 | Author: Adam Starkey

Poor My Minds Weapon. The band, a confused blend of Alexisonfire, Chimaira and The Ramones (bear with me!), have clear ambition and a strong work ethic, but, by their own admission, are going to struggle to make a name for themselves.

You see, the quintet hail from Aberdeen in Scotland. A homeland that they describe as being a far cry from the humdrum central of the UK music scene, and a lot farther than the longest stones throw from anywhere under todays musical spotlight.

Musical wastelands aside, MMW show little focus in their music and seem to try too hard to draw upon all their influences in their music, the result being an unpolished mixture of indigestible noise.

This demo shows some promise with its grinding, Chimaira-esque riffs, and accomplished drum work, which amasses to a modern-sounding metalcore/screamo sound with some clever and effective breakdowns. Opening song Lucky Like Kokura is the brilliantly aggressive highlight.

The music is let down, though, by its predictable and seemingly gratuitous melodies, unfocussed song writing and cringe-worthy chanting of This is my last goodbye at the end of 959 Goodbyes that The Ramones made their signature three decades ago.

If the band can find a more precise direction, and maybe invest in some singing lessons, we may hear from them again.

[url']http://www.metaluk.com/reviews/viewReview.cfm?iReviewID=675

El Flosso

Totally, in the interest of fairness...

My Minds Weapon - Demo EP - http://www.rock3.co.uk/rock3radio/modules.php?name=Reviews&rop=showcontent&id=178

A four track demo EP that just pours modern molten metal down your neck. The opening track has a youthful modern feel, think hondo maclean, Johnny truant. But with a different beat on the lyrical structure, coming from Scotland they are telling it like it is and powering it with some sweet metal work, a most refreshing sound that has room to grow in the genre the band is competing in. The live track 'lucky little Kokura' show the band is a tight outfit, whilst the 3 songs 959 goodbyes, play dead, and the forgotton, display great structure with a strong melodic feel running throughout each song.

Added: August 1st 2005

Reviewer: rock3

Score: 4.5/5

I just love how this city tries to bring you down...

My Minds Weapon' date=' well what can I say, the singer can't sing, the tunes seemed to be cliche after cliche, they seemed to be trying to be archetypical rock stars without the experience. I spoke to someone at the gig and was asking about the tour etc, I'm not trying to be negative about the band, just trying to work out what they're doing that any other band couldnt do. No offense but from what I gathered, you bought yourself onto a tour (promotion costs ??) and pretty much paid for the advert in Kerrang, any band could do that surely.

Please dont get me wrong I'm sure that there are a lot of people that like My Minds Weapon but for my first main encounter with Aberdeen bands then I have to say Eddison were the most impressive, I liked Red Man's Walkings singer tho, and My Minds Weapon were just your archetypical boyish rock band.

I hope that My Minds Weapon do well, but it does seem to me that any band with finances behind them could achieve a similar thing, when we played down south we bought ourselves onto a pretty good tour and it did very well for us publicity wise, so good luck, but sadly we lost so much on the tour the band couldn't afford to record etc and the band ended, so I hope it goes better for you.

Hope I havent offended anyone, these are just one persons opinions.

Ram [/quote']

I feel I should reply to this...

Firstly, in terms of experience, between the 5 of us, we have over 30 years experience in bands in Aberdeen, Nick is the youngest of the bunch at 19, Alex and I are both 20, Dan is 22 and Ben is 27, so I think to describe us as boyish is a tad naive. Secondly, the thing we're doing differently, is that we're constantly working to imporve our profile, to push ourselves further afield and bring the awareness of the band to a higher level. I personally spend between 3-5 hours a day on the internet promoting the band, gigs we're playing, talking to people and generally getting the name about. We also play as many shows around Scotland (Glasgow, Dundee, Forress, Perth, Brechin, Edinburgh etc...) as we can, and are doing our utmost to get out of the country as much as possible, the upcoming tour is our second jaunt down south this year. Not only that, but we also take time to record every song that we write, and circulate it around the web, or simply send out demos in the post, as part of a press kit we've made up.

In terms of 'buying on' to the tour, we always wanted to tour in Semptember, as did Aconite Thrill, who we've been friends with for a long time now, we first played with them almost 2 years ago, and both bands wanted to make our seperate tours as successful as possible, so both bands, as well as, Cry For Silence, contributed money for promotional costs, the same way as you pay for posters or flyers for a local gig. Unfortunatly (sp?), ads in Kerrang do not pay for themselves, as the readership is over 80,000 people per week, not for anyone. I think that's completely different to paying just to get your band on a tour, we're on this tour on merit, and through a smiliar interest to push our band as far as possible.

In terms of what you said about our performance, music and Ben's voice, well, opinions are like assholes, everyone has them, we've had a lot worse said about us, and a hell of a lot better. I would've probably been a little more effected by what you said if the above punktastic review didn't receive 60,000 hits per day.

Music is what it is, because it's completely subjective and personal, I'm just glad you took the time out to come down to the gig and see what was going on...

and what exactly are you trying to achieve?

C'mon Del, you know me, we were 'friends', you've encouraged me, you've advised me in the past, you've helped me in previous bands, you know exactly where I come from, and where I want to go...

We'll enjoy your descension ten times more' date=' shorty .......[/quote']

Nice to see you're supporting an Aberdeen band working hard to achieve something...

mind my weapon! sorry' date=' couldn't resist.[/quote']

Jongleurs for you, I reckon..

I'm glad you're enjoying our Ascension..

My Minds Weapon - Demo 2005

Reviewed: 12th August 2005

Take note all young bands THIS is the way to pay homage to those you admire. In the same way that, say, Pennywise took the mould of Bad Religion and made it their own (almost universal use of double-time, socio-political consciousness, big shorts) My Mind's Weapon can be seen to take bits of Eden Maine, Comeback Kid and even a hint of Black Flag in the delivery not vocal similiarities, but sheer balls-out passion and actually bring enough of their own input to make this demo pretty darn impressive.

Even though they've got the techniques peddled by every support band from Devon to Dundee, like the quiet/loud dynamic, fairly pretentious song titles (um...'Lucky Like Kokura' or '959 Goodbyes', anyone?), throat-raping screams and fingerpoint-inducing anthemic choruses, MMW are just blisteringly good at what they do. The breakneck-pace of opener 'Lucky Like Kokura' is pure adrenalised viciousness, characterised by sledgehammer guitars and an impressive vocal range and momentum, is only slightly lost with the superfluous-yet-vaguely-pretty intro to '959 Goodbyes', but 'The Forgotten' turns everything up to a squealing eleven. Just for the record, 'Lucky...' is a live demo that rips the living fuck out of most bands' studio output and is by far and away the most delightfully brilliant song on offer here.

Blending the finest hardcore and punk influences together with a proficiency that would make the most polished of scenesters weep into his bandanna, MMW's fluidity is their most potent, ahem, weapon. Even though the chiaroscuro between dark and light is very pronounced, they handle all changes with skill and manage to colour each song with a distinctive sheen and vision. All the separate elements have a degree of familiarity that suggests that while they might have borrowed the current zeitgeist's buzz, they're imaginative enough to create something new out of it like building a little fort out of Custard Creams. Seriously this is ace!

Ben

www.mymindsweapon.net

mymindsweapon@hotmail.com

Our Rating: 4/5

Great stuff, anyone else?

5 or 3.25 for student types..

So, you wanted an Aberdeen band to get off their arse and really go for it? Well have a look at the 5th back page of Kerrang! in between the Offspring Ad and the Weezer ad, or have a look at www.myspace.com/mymindsweapon and see what some people are saying, and where they are...

We're working our asses off, so yeah, help us out a bit, swing by the Lemon Tree tonight, 9PM, we're onstage at 11.10 and see what the 'fuss' is about...If it's not your scene, then please, pass on the details to someone else you think might be interested...

Oh, and the fantastic Eddison are playing too, more reason...

Cheers..

the weapon boys x

fair enough' date=' we hade about 250 people there, we raised 650 at 3 a ticket (plus all the bands and there bitches). tunnels can hold 350, the place was packed the fuck out. 90% of the people who were there we hade never seen befor, because of good promotion by us.

where you there?

would you know?

how can you judge?

i have had petty arguments with mostly everyone on aberdeen music, but we can now see eye to eye. but you my good friend dose not seem to be interested.

Hows you band doing by the way?[/quote']

Advice...

Don't get involved in the bullshit on this website, your band is totally seperate to this.

If your promotion was that good, then how come I've never heard of you?

Work hard, play loads of gigs till you have a stable following, try and get gigs with 'known' bands to boost your band bio, get some decent promo pics, a couple of decent recordings and constantly look for new people and new ways to promote your band, play more out of Aberdeen than you do in it, always have flyers and mailing list sheets at gigs out of town, use myspace to your advantage, get mates to help you out if need be, only take on the criticism by people you look up too/resepct/have been where you want to be, it's your band, and it's your ambitions, never let anyone take you down. Aberdeen means nothing in the grand scale of things.

That crow t-shirt on the left is extremely cool. I like it a lot as Mr Ventura would say. Onsale on Friday?

Aye min! Haven't seen you for a while, footy soon me thinks.

So...

This Friday. First time for us at The Lemon Tree, great bill (Eddison, Red Man Walking and one other TBC), fancy it Aberdeen? You really fucking should...

Would you have posted up a review that said "MMW are the same as every other band going about just now and they are shit"?

Yes Sam, I would, silly bugger.

A quick review of a CD sent out to Rock3 Radio...

"A four track demo EP that just pours modern molten metal down your neck. The opening track has a youthful modern feel, think hondo maclean, Johnny truant. But with a different beat on the lyrical structure, coming from Scotland they are telling it like it is and powering it with some sweet metal work, a most refreshing sound that has room to grow in the genre the band is competing in. The live track 'lucky little Kokura' show the band is a tight outfit, whilst the 3 songs 959 goodbyes, play dead, and the forgotton, display great structure with a strong melodic feel running throughout each song. 4.5/5"

Tour flyer to be seen in such things as Kerrang etc...

New T-shirts, onsale for 8 at our gig at the Lemon Tree, This Friday, 9PM.

Mp3's and info - www.myspace.com/mymindsweapon

Site and forum - www.mymindsweapon.net

Cheers Folks...

the weapon boys x

Hey now! I wasn't being shitty to you - just having a little fun. It's Sunday and I've got bugger all else to do till I start work at 6pm.

And as Frosty pointed out' date=' I agreed with what you said, just not the way you said it.

And yes you're correct in that we tend to be busier on the Friday when there's no band, than on the Saturday when there are bands. But I suspect this may be down to the preference of the playing public to listen to Paranoid for the nth time!

BTW The implication (made by others) in this thread is that MMW have refused to play gigs with us. I hope that's not true because I would like you to play The Moorings. OK I did ban you from the stage for a month, but then we shook hands and made up... before the concrete set... so that's all in the past now.[/quote']

It's all good, I wasn't being shitty either...I just say things how I see them, y'know?

As for the band, if a gig came up at The Moorings that we thought would further the band, or be beneficial, then we certainly wouldn't let the fact it's at The Moorings prevent us from playing, I just don't think we've been offered anything to suit yet, or we've had something else previously booked, we hardly play in Aberdeen at all now anyways, seems to be working wonders.

Ha ha I love this thread!

Since your post comes accross as derogatory I'll respond to it.

Fortunately the world isn't classified acording to Jamesy (though he is entitled to his opinion). This issue of what does and doesn't constitute a venue has appeared on many threads regarding many err venues (or not as the case may be).

The general consensus is that a venue means:

i) puts on live music

ii) stage

iii) toilets

iv) installed sound system capable of supporting live music

v) mixing desk

vi) stage lighting rig

vii) stage monitors

viii) microphones and stands

ix) space for punters where the stage is visible and the music audible

Garth

A venue need not be a licensed premises' date=' it may or may not sell either food or drink, and it may or may not have a door charge. If it does have a door charge then it should probably have a ticket hatch.

Not required but to be taken as an indication of the quality of the venue are:

i) house engineer

ii) elements of house backline for use if required

iii) involvement with music promoters

iv) supply of consumables such as sticks, strings, skins.

v) ancillary equipment such as tuner

We have all of the above. Can anyone think of anything else worth adding to this list?

So obviously The Moorings can be classed as a venue but only on Sat/Sun nights. It's not a dedicated venue, it does have other functions.

For instance we have a movie quality projector, a widescreen, and a sound system capable of supporting dolby digital. We have the facility to block out all light, have seats facing the screen, and toilets. Thus when we show a movie, the place technically becomes a cinema.

Furthermore we have a dancefloor, a sound system capable of playing recorded music at high volume, DJ decks, DJ mixer, and a lighting rig dedicated to the dancefloor. Thus when a DJ takes over we effectively become a discoteque/ballroom/dancehall - call it what you will.

And there's more *yawn*. We have a commercial quality 24-track digital live recording setup, a deadened stage area, a house engineer, industry standard microphones, a mixing desk, gates, compressors, EQ, FX, and recording media. Thus very occasionally we function as a recording studio. But 99% of the time we just do live recording.

[b']BUT technically the Moorings is not a pub LOL. Seriously - here's why:

The term 'pub' originates from public house. A public house was originally a brewery's outlet for it's beer. The Moorings has never been a brewery outlet. Instead throughout it's entire life it has been a 'Free House', meaning free of a brewery tie. That can be witnessed now in that we take supplies from multiple brewers. A 16th century coaching house used to stand on the site before the existing building was erected.

The term 'pub' has latterly come to mean somewhere that incorporates a bar, and a lounge, and also serves meals in addition to drink. The Moorings is one room with a bar running down one side. This configuration is traditionally termed 'a bar'. Which is why we are called 'The Moorings Bar'. The only food we serve is the odd intermittent toasties that are prepared elsewhere.

The Moorings is primarily a bar. Most of the time it functions as a bar. And it's a damn good bar!

You don't read so much about the other aspects of The Moorings, chiefly because this website is music related, so we tend to focus more on the venue, dancehall, and live recording facilities. However we are equally active on other fronts, such as CAMRA for instance.

***

I haven't seen you around for a while Jamesy, and like Mark said, things have moved on a bit in recent months.

Something thought provoking... while we are only a P/T venue, we have invested more time, effort, and finances into the quality of our facilities than most other 'dedicated' venues. It's been a long haul, a lot of hard work, involved some difficult decisions, and some extremely complex problems. But it's also been interesting, exciting, challenging, and rewarding.

You really like me, dont you?

For me, the main feature of The Moorings is the bar, and the stage is secondary to that, more people go there to drink than to see gigs, in my humble opinion, hence my comments.

Maybe they should know better and you should tell them to fuck off? (ouch' date='harsh)

Element have played many gigs at the Moorings and not once have we had a problem with the sound. Everything comes through the monitors clearly. Its a good venue, the end...[/quote']

I still dont class it as a venue to be honest, it's more of a pub that puts on bands.

Support from My Minds Weapon and We Shall Be Blessed...

Sorry we're not playing this gig, other supports confirmed soon..

I think credit goes to Jamesy.

I have no idea what you're talking about.

Weve played with some pretty kick ass bands..

Alexisonfire

Bleeding Through

The Bled

Cult of Luna

Aconite Thrill

The Valentine

Make Her Cry

Hiding With Girls

Hollywood Ending

The X-Certs

Flood of Red

Hand to Hand

Johnny Truant

Broken Oath

Tribute to Nothing

But Id say the best band weve ever played with was probably Shouting Myke. Big shout out to The X-Certs too, miles better than most.

when did it come the kaiser chiefs own tour' date=' its the nme tour which consists of 3 bands, not just one, same when they did it last year with the killers, bloc party, futureheads and the kaisers n everyone was like 'oh were going to a killers gig'. the other bands shud get just as much appreciation, especially when the cribs are alot better than the kaisers anyway[/quote']

It didn't, it's just that they're the biggest band on the tour, and they're the band that the majority of attendee's will be their to see...

Figured I'd guy buy the tickets now - to make sure I go -... want to make sure I have enough cash on me.

I think it's like 6 or there abouts

bumppp!!!!