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Natty vs. Seventh Gear
Sometimes I have a hard time coming across bands in Ontario that really make me stand up and listen, especially when it comes to the metal music scene. When we got introduced to the following band through an email, my interested was immediately peeked. I am first and foremost into Metal/Alternative music (as most people by now know I am sure), and this band is one that I greatly enjoyed listening to. Not only do they make amazing music, but they have something to stand behind and believe in and push them along the way. I hope you enjoy the chat I had with Nathan and Dan about the band, the music and life. Also, stop by their myspace and enjoy the music they have to offer (and may I say Dead Space is the amazing!).
You can also pick up a free copy of the EP HERE! Just a note, if you download it, be kind enough to go leave the guys a note on Myspace and let them know what you think!
"Usually these bands have this whole hardcore punk meets new-school death metal feel around here, which is cool but bland. They miss out on song-writing and focus too much on aggression." - Nathan: Seventh Gear
First off for our readers who don't know, can you tell us who you are and what you do for the band?
Nathan: I'm Nathan, I play guitar and sing.
Dan: I'm Dan and I play the bass, though mostly I keep Nathan in line when he needs songwriting help. We're missing Jordan, who plays drums
Dan: I'm Dan and I play the bass, though mostly I keep Nathan in line when he needs songwriting help. We're missing Jordan, who plays drums
Can you tell us how Seventh Gear came about? and what is the inspiration behind the name?
Nathan: Well, that's sort of a long story.
I'm always up for a good story!
Dan: Nathan was lonely and recruited me, and then I did what he wanted
Nathan: Dan and Jordan and I met at...shut up Dan. Haha. We met at A&W - we all had part-time jobs there - and Dan and I sort of just jammed for a while.
Dan: Although, Jordan played the guitar at first so we didn't actually have a band. Then I think it was the summer after he got a drum kit and we actually got some songs put together
Nathan: Yeah, that sums it up and keeps it short and simple.
Nathan: Dan and Jordan and I met at...shut up Dan. Haha. We met at A&W - we all had part-time jobs there - and Dan and I sort of just jammed for a while.
Dan: Although, Jordan played the guitar at first so we didn't actually have a band. Then I think it was the summer after he got a drum kit and we actually got some songs put together
Nathan: Yeah, that sums it up and keeps it short and simple.
Awesome, and what about the name? What was the inspiration behind it?
Dan: That one is all Nathan's
Nathan: As far as the band name, I love thrash metal and was really into it a few years ago and decided I'd call my own band Seventh Gear if I ever got one - I was on a bus and I figured it only had six gears tops, so a seventh gear would have to be pretty fast. It's sort of cheesy but it worked.
Nathan: As far as the band name, I love thrash metal and was really into it a few years ago and decided I'd call my own band Seventh Gear if I ever got one - I was on a bus and I figured it only had six gears tops, so a seventh gear would have to be pretty fast. It's sort of cheesy but it worked.
Indeed it does, alright. With your music is there any specific message that you are trying to get across? Or is it all just a passion for you to have fun?
Nathan: Well, we're all Christians and we sing a lot about our faith - or sometimes our lack of faith. Our EP ended up having this theme of being lukewarm about religion. Like, just calling yourself a Christian or whatever and not really acting like one - just distancing yourself from God, I suppose.
Dan: For me, I find that most similar music has either too gloomy an outlook or is too optimistic. So, I try to portray things as I think they accurately are
Nathan: Well yeah. That too.
Dan: For me, I find that most similar music has either too gloomy an outlook or is too optimistic. So, I try to portray things as I think they accurately are
Nathan: Well yeah. That too.
So, basically you want to have a sense of realism in your music?
Dan: Yup, and that as Nathan said comes from what we believe
Nathan: What he said.
Nathan: What he said.
It is always good to have something to believe in. Now, I have to be honest here, you are one of the first metal inspired bands that i have came across from Ontario in a while that have an amazing talent, how do you feel about the Ontario scene for metal?
Nathan: I was wondering if this would come up. It's pretty dry - it's either hardcore, metalcore, or suck-core (in my opinion anyways). We haven't ever played a "metal bands only" gig too because there just aren't enough metal bands out there. But thanks for the compliment by the way! haha
Dan: So far I think I don't have a great view of what else is out there, but part of why we write the way we do, at least musically, is because we think most other bands are pretty stale
Nathan: It's the same tired riffs over and over
Dan: Some are pretty good for what they do, but not exactly inspired
Dan: So far I think I don't have a great view of what else is out there, but part of why we write the way we do, at least musically, is because we think most other bands are pretty stale
Nathan: It's the same tired riffs over and over
Dan: Some are pretty good for what they do, but not exactly inspired
I would have to agree, there aren't a lot of 'variety' out there to say the least.
Nathan: Usually these bands have this whole hardcore punk meets new-school death metal feel around here, which is cool but bland. They miss out on song-writing and focus too much on aggression. That being said, there are some absolutely fantastic bands in our area - they're not necessarily "metal" but some of them listen to metal and you can tell in their tunes.
I have to agree, a lot of bands don't focus on what they write. Speaking of is there one song that you have written (past/present) that you can say has the most meaning to you?
Dan: Not currently for me, though I think Nathan does have one Though I guess I'm fond of Dead Space
Nathan: Well, for me it's Wasteland. I wrote all the riffs to that one and all the lyrics, and Dan had a little less input than he usually did. And I had just come out of a pretty depressing period in my life, so the lyrics were reflective of that - I wasn't depressed by the time I wrote it, but all that stuff had to be digested and assimilated before that song could be written. And once it was written, it just carried a lot of meeting and represents a huge timespan in my life where I just wasn't having much fun.
Nathan: Well, for me it's Wasteland. I wrote all the riffs to that one and all the lyrics, and Dan had a little less input than he usually did. And I had just come out of a pretty depressing period in my life, so the lyrics were reflective of that - I wasn't depressed by the time I wrote it, but all that stuff had to be digested and assimilated before that song could be written. And once it was written, it just carried a lot of meeting and represents a huge timespan in my life where I just wasn't having much fun.
You released your EP earlier this year, can you tell us a little behind the process that went into completing and recording the EP?
Dan: It was certainly a learning process. I don't think any of us knew the amount of careful inspection that would be required
Nathan: Well, I find the guy who engineered and mixed and mastered it for us at my church, actually. So we courted the idea for probably six months and then went in and did it, and it took a lot more time than required.
Dan: There was more than one occasion where we looked at each other and said, "That's what you're playing?? Really?"
Nathan: There was a lot of stuff like that. And the other thing was that it took perfection in some cases to get some things right. To give you an example, everywhere on the album there's actually 8 rhythm tracks of guitar.
Dan: It worked out though, and if and when we can head back again we'll be a bit more prepared
Nathan: Yeah, we definitely know a little bit more of what goes into the process now and there's a few things we'd do differently, I think. But it worked out really well and I think it sounds pretty great for an indie release.
Nathan: Well, I find the guy who engineered and mixed and mastered it for us at my church, actually. So we courted the idea for probably six months and then went in and did it, and it took a lot more time than required.
Dan: There was more than one occasion where we looked at each other and said, "That's what you're playing?? Really?"
Nathan: There was a lot of stuff like that. And the other thing was that it took perfection in some cases to get some things right. To give you an example, everywhere on the album there's actually 8 rhythm tracks of guitar.
Dan: It worked out though, and if and when we can head back again we'll be a bit more prepared
Nathan: Yeah, we definitely know a little bit more of what goes into the process now and there's a few things we'd do differently, I think. But it worked out really well and I think it sounds pretty great for an indie release.
That first time is always a learning experience for sure.
Nathan: Yeah, and there's never enough time to do everything you want to do either.
It does sound really good for an Indie release!
Dan: There might be if we had a lot more money... lol And thanks, we tried our best!
Nathan: We owe the great sound all to Brad Dugas - his studio is called Revelation Sound if anybody hears our stuff and wants to look it up; he does great work.
Nathan: We owe the great sound all to Brad Dugas - his studio is called Revelation Sound if anybody hears our stuff and wants to look it up; he does great work.
The trying is best in most cases always works out for the better! Does Brad have a website? We can for sure add it to the end of this interview for people to check out.
Nathan: For sure. Brad's website is www.revelationsound.ca
Awesome! Now. Also, back in May you made it possible for fans to download your EP for free, which in my opinion is a great marketing tool to get yourself out there, how did you guys as a collective decide to take that approach?
Nathan: Hahaha - that was sort of my call, I think - or my suggestion anyways. But it was an easy decision - the only way to get people to buy your tunes or support you is to get them familiar with them first. And if radio isn't coming to you, which of course it wasn't, you have to hit up the tape trading sort of thing, which these days is downloading.
Exactly. I know when I spoke to The Artist Life, that is the same thing they did. They put their EP out for free first.
Nathan: Plus, I download music myself online and it helps me justify it - now I can say when people ask "Yes, I'm in a band and I do actually give my music away for free."
Dan: Although I don't think anyone should be required to give away their work, music or whatever, for free, at this point in the band's life we really just want to be heard
Nathan: Any exposure is good exposure too.
Dan: And obviously nobody wants to give away their money for something they aren't sure about
Nathan: It's not enough, I think, to ask people to pay for something they've heard once on a MySpace or at a gig. It's just not fair to the consumer. I wouldn't want to buy music that way and neither would anybody else, I don't think.
Dan: Although I don't think anyone should be required to give away their work, music or whatever, for free, at this point in the band's life we really just want to be heard
Nathan: Any exposure is good exposure too.
Dan: And obviously nobody wants to give away their money for something they aren't sure about
Nathan: It's not enough, I think, to ask people to pay for something they've heard once on a MySpace or at a gig. It's just not fair to the consumer. I wouldn't want to buy music that way and neither would anybody else, I don't think.
I know for myself if I'm at a live show, and I hear something I like, I don't mind tossing out that five or ten dollars for a CD.
Nathan: Yeah - we played a show in Cambridge a couple nights ago and sold one copy, but everybody else there had already blown their music on booze - which was unfortunate, but you've gotta do what you gotta do I guess.
But in that same breath, when you do get that few free songs, it gives you that motivation to want to check out the band and usually from then on the support and 'fan' is there.
Dan: Just in case people are interested, we do have EPs (and individual tracks now?) for sale, at low prices
Nathan: Well, EPs for sure. We're still working on getting individual tracks up - I have to get that set up with the banks.
Nathan: Well, EPs for sure. We're still working on getting individual tracks up - I have to get that set up with the banks.
I saw that link on your MySpace, i'll post that with the interview too. I was cruising your MySpace and noticed that you inspired by bands like Metallica and Slayer, do you feel that they have an impact on the type of music you play?
Nathan: But Metallica does for sure, just because they were that first metal band I ever listened to and I love the way they use dynamics and stuff like that. Slayer taught me how to play really fast, but I can't say there are many Slayer riffs that influenced me a lot.
Dan: Personally I'm not inspired in the way I play by any one band or even any one style, but sort of a combination of many things. I try to achieve certain emphases when writing around Nathan's riffs, and always to complement them I can say for sure that most metal bands have influenced me in what not to do. Roots all the time is boring
Nathan: Dan sort of plays bass like he's a second guitarist sometimes - it makes an interesting sound, especially in metal when bass guitar is just sort of set aside and is used to fill up space and certain musical registers. Dan sort of plays bass like Geezer Butler, but with a little more mid-range sometimes and a bit more of an edge.
Dan: I am the old guy
Nathan: Geezer and Cliff Burton are two of the best metal bassists out there too. Dan plays a little like Cliff too.
Nathan: Oh - it's embarassing to admit it, but it's a show with Supernova. They're like bottom-of-the-barrel show promoters.
Dan: Personally I'm not inspired in the way I play by any one band or even any one style, but sort of a combination of many things. I try to achieve certain emphases when writing around Nathan's riffs, and always to complement them I can say for sure that most metal bands have influenced me in what not to do. Roots all the time is boring
Nathan: Dan sort of plays bass like he's a second guitarist sometimes - it makes an interesting sound, especially in metal when bass guitar is just sort of set aside and is used to fill up space and certain musical registers. Dan sort of plays bass like Geezer Butler, but with a little more mid-range sometimes and a bit more of an edge.
Dan: I am the old guy
Nathan: Geezer and Cliff Burton are two of the best metal bassists out there too. Dan plays a little like Cliff too.
Nathan: Oh - it's embarassing to admit it, but it's a show with Supernova. They're like bottom-of-the-barrel show promoters.
I have to be honest, I like when the bass has a little bit more presence in the song. Now, you are asking fans to vote for you on Summer Warfare, can you tell us exactly what that is? and the story behind it?
Dan: I think that may be too late now, but that was a Supernova concert we were part of. We were second in the bands that played so there weren't many people there, but it was still fun
Nathan: Yeah - they just had prizes available if enough people voted for you - drumkits, guitar amps, recording time - stuff like that. But yeah I think that's done now - I think yesterday was the last day to vote - or maybe Saturday.
Nathan: Yeah - they just had prizes available if enough people voted for you - drumkits, guitar amps, recording time - stuff like that. But yeah I think that's done now - I think yesterday was the last day to vote - or maybe Saturday.
My next question is actually about your live show. How was the show that you headlined in Cambridge? And can you describe for those of us who haven't seen you get, what your live show is like?
Nathan: The show was good - most people actually ended up leaving beforehand because we didn't get on stage until 1 am - it wasn't too well planned that way, unfortunately - but there was still a bit of a crowd. As far the live show, it's basically three guys going nuts on a stage. Dan might have more to say about that - we try to get the crowd involved a little bit but I've never really put too much thought into it. Just rock out. Oh, and they're definitely loud!
Dan: I think loud is the best way to describe it. I'm a bit of an audiophile so high quality is important to me, and I find it hard to work on stage when everything sounds like a jumbled mess. It was fun, though, and we even had to play a song we'd only casually jammed over at band practice because they wanted more
Dan: I think loud is the best way to describe it. I'm a bit of an audiophile so high quality is important to me, and I find it hard to work on stage when everything sounds like a jumbled mess. It was fun, though, and we even had to play a song we'd only casually jammed over at band practice because they wanted more
Now, for the last question. Now, with the summer almost coming to an end, what can we expect and look forward to from seventh gear in the future?
Dan: Unfortunately for us, Jordan is going to be in school in Toronto. We're going to do our best to keep it together, but with Nathan and I in Waterloo it might be difficult
Nathan: Well, we've got a few days reserved for song-writing. So expect a bunch of shows, some demos pretty soon of new songs, and a new recording hopefully within the next year. We want to take the EP, add another four songs to it, and release it as a full-fledged record. Personally, I'm not a fan of huge records - there's a lot of fluff and it's not as tight as it could be - not to mention the song quality starts to suffer.
Nathan: Well, we've got a few days reserved for song-writing. So expect a bunch of shows, some demos pretty soon of new songs, and a new recording hopefully within the next year. We want to take the EP, add another four songs to it, and release it as a full-fledged record. Personally, I'm not a fan of huge records - there's a lot of fluff and it's not as tight as it could be - not to mention the song quality starts to suffer.
Now, us here at the Sound Faction are probably five of the most random people that you can ever meet, and with every interview we like to end it with five of the most random questions you have ever been asked, you two up for that?
Nathan: I'm ready!
Dan: I saw that mentioned in the synopsis for another of your reviews. Ok, let's try it
Dan: I saw that mentioned in the synopsis for another of your reviews. Ok, let's try it
Alright! First question, if you were a care bear what would be the picture on your tummy?
Dan: Definitely the rain cloud
Nathan: I'm going to choose headphones, even though I know none of them have that on their tummies. i'll start a trend. The other Care bears will be jealous.
Nathan: I'm going to choose headphones, even though I know none of them have that on their tummies. i'll start a trend. The other Care bears will be jealous.
Awesome. If you could have any non-standard super power (something that isn't in comic books), what would it be and why?
Nathan: The ability for an endless breath capacity - I sometimes forget to breathe when we play gigs; it can be a problem.
Dan: Well... it's probably not in comic books because it'd destroy any possibility of a story, but time manipulation would be awesome
Nathan: Jordan would want to become a flying pig. Or a penguin. At will.
Dan: Well... it's probably not in comic books because it'd destroy any possibility of a story, but time manipulation would be awesome
Nathan: Jordan would want to become a flying pig. Or a penguin. At will.
I like the time manipulation one, there is NEVER enough time. who would you wanna win a date with?
Dan: This is a dangerous one for me because I'm engaged... so, I'm going to dodge it and say my fiance Other than that.. Stephen Hawking, but only if it was a totally unromantic date
Nathan: Oh - good question. And I'm single, so I can answer this any friggin way I want! Um...maybe Jennifer Aniston - first of all, because she's just gorgeous. And also because if all else fails, I can talk to her about her Friends co-stars and try and get connections in Hollywood.
Nathan: Oh - good question. And I'm single, so I can answer this any friggin way I want! Um...maybe Jennifer Aniston - first of all, because she's just gorgeous. And also because if all else fails, I can talk to her about her Friends co-stars and try and get connections in Hollywood.
I myself would love to sit down with Stephen Hawking!
Nathan: If it was a man-date, I'd choose James Hetfield.
Dan: You'd have to sit down, he might be insulted otherwise
Nathan: Well, with Hawking, there's certainly no standing.
Dan: You'd have to sit down, he might be insulted otherwise
Nathan: Well, with Hawking, there's certainly no standing.
If you were a scented candle, what would you smell like?
Dan: Rain, because it rocks
Nathan: Gasoline - it's attractive, but at the same time prolonged exposure to it would drive you mad. So it's sort of like my personality.
Dan: And explodes when lit
Nathan: Also like my personality.
Dan: Hmm
Nathan: My family's been living with me for 18 years, and they're all nuts, so I think it's a testament to my theory.
Nathan: Gasoline - it's attractive, but at the same time prolonged exposure to it would drive you mad. So it's sort of like my personality.
Dan: And explodes when lit
Nathan: Also like my personality.
Dan: Hmm
Nathan: My family's been living with me for 18 years, and they're all nuts, so I think it's a testament to my theory.
Not only drive you mad but maybe make you a little crazy too! If you could be the champion of anything in the world, what would it be?
Nathan: Wisdom. Because that goes so many ways. You'd be intelligent and brilliant in any business situation, and a great leader.
Dan: Are we talking like competitions here?
Nathan: Anything dude.
Dan: Then I'll take it that champion means someone who promotes.. and proper economics in that case. Way to go governments on screwing up our economies and countries!
Dan: Are we talking like competitions here?
Nathan: Anything dude.
Dan: Then I'll take it that champion means someone who promotes.. and proper economics in that case. Way to go governments on screwing up our economies and countries!
Thanks to Nathan and Dan of Seventh Gear for taking the time to chat with us! To hear samples of the band's music, head over to their MYSPACE page!
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