It's rare - make that very rare - when a Hit Parader feature about a new band begins by discussing the unit's producer rather than the group members themselves. But when the producer in question is none other than Mike Clink, the man who helmed Guns N'Roses' legendary Appetite For Destruction, such a break from "tradition" is not only acceptable...it's expected! You see, when the bank Crushed began work on their debut disc, My Machine, this Arizona-based goth-metal unit could only think of one man they'd like to have work with them on their initial efort; you guessed it, the aforementioned Mr. Clink.... Click Here to read the entire article.
Blast
Magazine reviews Crushed - 'My Machine' Released through No Relief Records
THE BAND:
Mark Layer - vocals & guitar
Mike Halland - guitars
Jeff Garten - drums
Michael Brown - bass
Harry McCales - keyboards & guitars
additional musicians:
Jamie Muhdberac - keyboards
Chris Damhurst - programming
Colette Devey - vocal harmony on the song "Ether"
TRACK FRAGMENTS:
1.) "What Kind Of Life" - A rhythm guitar riff makes
up this intro section. The intro riff was done using a studio
effect that not only causes the electric guitar to jump between
the speakers. There also was a second studio effect attached
to the rhythm riff that gives the guitar a turned down effect.
The band used the same rhythm riff of the intro for the musical
verse only without the studio effects. Jeff's snare mic was
turned up causing the snare's crack to be louder than usual.
The vocal accents Mark uses through the verse have a Tony Harnell
(TNT, Westworld) feel to them. There are a couple of lyrics
through the verse were there is a small vocal echo attached
to Marks vocals. The rhythm guitar arrangement of the musical
verse has several musical rests which places the main focus
of the song on Mark's vocals. There is a rhythm guitar change
underneath the vocal lines of the pre-chorus. As the vocal lines
progress through the chorus they take on a modern metal feel.
The outro after the second pre-chorus consisted of piano and
vocals. There was no lead guitar solo for this song.
2.) "Hovering" -This intro section opens with a rhythm
guitar riff and tom-tom pattern. Connecting this half of the
intro section with the rest of the intro section are a few small
Zakk Wylde influenced rhythm guitar licks. The band used the
same rhythm arrangement for the verse as the intro section.
Vocally, if one did not know any better they could sear this
was a different lead vocalist singing this track. There are
a couple rhythm guitar lead licks connecting the verse with
the chorus. At times through the vocal chorus there is a small
hook attached to the vocal lines. The chorus at times sounded
like it was turned down. The band drastically changed the second
verses arrangement in comparison to the first verse. This track
also has no lead guitar solo.
3.) "Dwell" -This track opens with a very laid back
clean electric guitar rhythm. The musical verse consisted of
two different rhythm guitar riffs. This track was recorded outside
of standard 4/4 time giving the hi-hat a very syncopated feel.
Once again the band used the same arrangement for the verse
as the intro section. There is a small vocal echo attached to
the end of each vocal line of the verse. On the opening lyric
line of the chorus either Jay, Mike or Harry switches one of
the rhythm guitars from a clean electric sound to a distorted
electric guitar sound. This changes the dynamics of the song
a little. Considering the fact this track was recorded outside
of 4/4 time, the song was fairly basic. Which is unusual for
time signatures of this nature.
4.) "Ether" -Underneath the rhythm guitar riff of
this intro section there is a very cool tom-tom pattern. From
right off, I can just about tell you this tom-tom pattern is
going to make the song. Sandwiched within the verse there is
a small musical arrangement change. There is a very cool rhythm
guitar riff underneath the vocal lines of the chorus. This track
is a modern rock song laced with heavy metal tendencies.
5.) "Unbroken" - This track opens with a drum &
bass line. The rhythm guitar riffs that connect the verse sounded
like it was done with a palm-muting effect. Though there was
a rhythm guitar change for the musical verse, the band also
found away to incorporate the rhythm guitar riff that connected
the intro to the verse. The opening and closing hi-hat rhythm
gave the drum line a very nice sound. The rhythm guitar arrangement
changes from a lead guitar effect to a more standard rhythm
guitar riff for the musical chorus. At times there was a Lenny
Wolf (Kingdom Come) sound to Mark's vocals through the chorus.
The vocal scream at the end of the chorus had a modern metal
sound to it. For being written out of 4/4 time this song has
a certain melodic feel to it, that is very unusual. After I
believe the third chorus there is a small breakdown section.
6.) "Crash Coping" -This track opens with a strange
rhythm guitar effect. This guitar effect runs underneath the
first few vocal lines of the verse. In fact, the band used this
effect to fill-in some of the empty spots left by the main rhythm
guitar riffs of the main musical verse. There is a small lead
guitar riff laced within the rhythm guitar arrangement that
connects the verse to the pre-chorus. At times Mark's lead vocal
lines have a very subtle laid back melodic feel to them. After
the second pre-chorus there is a small breakdown section. This
song is very simple and one of the better songs on the CD.
7.) "Further Down" - This track opens with a very
simple rhythm guitar riff. Mark's vocal lines of the pre-verse
have a modern rock feel to them. Connecting the pre-verse to
the verse there are two different rhythm guitar riffs. The band
swaps the clean electric of the pre-verse for the heaviness
of a distorted guitar for the verse. As the song progresses
through the arrangement it gets a little more intense. At times
underneath the main musical arrangements you can hear a small
acoustic guitar bleeding through. What's this I hear!?! A guitar
solo? After the first chorus there is a lead guitar.
8.) "Leaving" - The intro to this track consisted
of two different rhythm guitar arrangements. There is a small
lead guitar riff connecting the intro section to the pre-verse.
The vocal lines of the pre-verse have a small echo attached
to them. The rhythm guitar riff slows down leading into the
musical verse. Vocally Mark really shows his vocal talent on
the vocal lines of this track. There is a drastic rhythm change
connecting the musical verse to the musical chorus. Mark's vocals
gives the song a melodic feel. The band changes the rhythm section
once again for the outro.
9.) "A Game Of You" - This track opens with a verse
arrangement instead of an intro section. Instead of playing
a standard drum line for this verse Jeff plays a rhythm on his
tom-toms and snare. The musical arrangement change of the chorus
switched the song to a more intense music style. The song goes
back and forth like this through the whole arrangement. Which
can be very shocking if you are not expecting it. After the
first chorus there is a small lead guitar solo. This lead guitar
solo was heavily influenced by Tom Morello (Rage Against The
Machine, Audioslave). After listen to this section again it
is not really a solo but a few lead guitar licks strung together.
Scattered throughout the lyric lines are little modern metal
vocal screams.
10.) "Everything's Gone" -This track opens with an
acoustical guitar arrangement. The band used the same acoustic
guitar arrangement for the verse as the intro section. Five
lyric lines into the pre-verse he band incorporates a small
piano section. Jeff used brushes on the drum line of he verse
instead of sticks. This gives the song a very subtle feel. This
is the first chorus on the release were you can actually hear
a backing harmony. There is a small secondary acoustic guitar
riff connecting the first chorus and second chorus.
11.) "March" - The rhythm guitar over the top of this
intro section was influenced by Zakk Wylde. The drum line of
the intro section consisted of an opening and closing hi-hat
rhythm. Marks vocal lines had a very abstract feel to them.
This is due partly to the fact that a few of the lyric lines
he is whispering. There is a small backing harmony connecting
the verse to the chorus. Underneath the second verse there are
a couple very cool tom-tom fills.
12.) "Deeper" -This track opens with a clean electric
guitar arrangement. Connecting this clean guitar arrangement
to the musical verse there is a very simple lead guitar rhythm
riff. The band kept the verse very simple. There is a mall arrangement
change underneath the pre-chorus. I really liked the sixteenth-note
rhythm change leading into the second chorus. The outro section
consisted of a drastic musical change were the band slowed the
arrangement down.
13.) "Nocturnal" - This track opened with a modern
metal intro section. The band drops the distorted guitars of
the intro section for a clean rhythm guitar sound. The arrangement
switches back and forth between clean guitar sounds and distorted
guitar sounds. The musical chorus consisted of two different
rhythm guitar arrangements. After the first chorus connecting
the second verse there are several strange rhythm guitar effects.
Underneath the outro section Jeff switched from a standard drum
line to a rhythm on his tom-toms.
14.) "Bell Hooks" - This track opens with a very cool
musical verse. Underneath the musical verse Jeff plays a rhythm
on his tom-toms instead of a standard drum pattern. The rhythm
guitar riffs of the verse had a very simple heavy metal feel
to them. The underlining clean rhythm guitar sound worked very
well with the distorted guitar of this track.
'My Machine' is for essential fans of modern heavy metal.
If you fall within this category then you should really check
this band out.
Featured
interveiw with Mike Halland
at pivotalalliance.com
Crushed are a hard rocking band based out of Phoenix, Arizona.
These guys lured legendary producer Mike Clink (Guns n’
Roses, Motley Crue) into the studio to produce their debut
effort My Machine. Recently we caught up with guitarist
Mike Halland and talked about their album, his dream tour,
their contemporaries and the heat in the desert.
Phoenix
New Times writer Serene Dominic reviews Crushed, My Machine...
That Crushed has a long history in the Phoenix music scene
and still sounds like a band just getting started excitement-wise
is a rare and noble thing. From the earliest days when you
could’ve seen them at the Mason Jar sandwiched between
three or four knuckle-dragging metal bands, they’ve
always stood out, as if they knew of the existence of records
outside of their genre and wanted you to know it too. To that
effect, My Machine has its flashes of metal, goth and industrial
sheen, and they programmed three of the heaviest numbers before
switching aesthetic gears on “Ether”. If you can
imagine metal playing footsy with Massive Attack, well, you
probably don’t need to buy this or any CD, you imaginative
listener you. But you can’t and that’s why you
need to grab a-hold of this thing and hear for yourselves
how Crushed can suggest Guided By Voices’ effortless
brand of indie stadium rock on “Crash Coping”
and acoustic Cocteau Twins on “Everything’s Gone”,
always moving up and down dynamically and never feeling formulaic,
but rather like a band that knows what it’s doing passing
you its calling card. The best thing to recommend Crushed
is the peerless vocalizing of Mark Lauer, who to his credit
never over-sings anything like most alt-rock metalists working
today. He gets in those little bursts of angst but actually
spends most of his time in a comfortable mid-range. Really!
My Machine is hard in places and yet easy on the ears. Test
drive it today.
--- Serene Dominic
Crushed :: My Machine
No Relief Records
CD Review
By Allyson B. Crawford
Review: An interesting combination of Goth and Metal, newcomers
Crushed are surprisingly Melodic in their approach to Thrash-worthy
music, as evidenced in their excellent debut effort My Machine...
This week's offering comes from an old friend
who has his own PR and consulting firm in Florida. Chip sent
this 14-song debut CD titled "My Machine" by an
Arizona-based quintet called Crushed (made up of singer-guitarist
Mike Lauer, guitarist Mike Halland, guitarist/keyboardist
Harry McCaleb, bassist Mike Brown, and drummer Jeff Garten).
What grabbed my attention about the band
is that they've successfully melded goth with metal and kept
it surprisingly melodic. You have the concussive bass-drum
pulse and crushing guitar work supporting strong, powerful
lead vocals that only occasionally morph into that growl/scream
mode that passes for singing in metal bands nowadays.
Music Review:
Crushed - My Machine
Written by Chris Beaumont
Deceptively good melodic riff rock sounds
like a good way to describe this debut release from Crushed. With
the name "Crushed," I was expecting something a
little heavier, a little dirtier, and a little more raw. What
I got was something in a different direction. The Phoenix,
AZ based quintet hooked up with producer Mike Clink and together
put out a solid crisp album that is sure to garner at least
a little attention — attention it deserves.
Some of you from the Southwest may be familiar
with this band. They're a hard rock act from Arizona. I first
became aware of them in 1998 when my best friend's sister
(who worked in a record store) gave us a copy of their 1997
debut album. We were instant fans, but then the band didn't
seem to go anywhere - no major label albums, no national touring.
Crushed is, at its core, just a great hard
rock band. They're not screaming death metal (although the
singer can growl when he needs to), but they've got good riffs
and a pretty insane rhythm section. If you're a fan of hard
rock at all, I'd be surprised if you didn't like them at least
a little. I personally think they're one of the most talented
bands - major label or otherwise - that I've heard in the
last decade. Singer and principle songwriter Mark Lauer in
particular is very talented. Great lyrics, good melodies and
a good voice.
“Crushing guitar tones, lush hypnotic
vocals and a rhythm section that kicks you’re A#S!!!” Billy Siegle, Fender Artist Relations Manager
Artist Relations Manager
Fender Musical Instruments Corporation
Proud to be a Fender band member since 1997
Local guitarists in Fender
artist jam
The Republic
SCOTTSDALE - The Fender Artist Jam Session
will bring together some of the Valley's most successful musicians,
all of whom have joined the lineup at this year's Tempe Music
Festival.
Members of Tempe's own Gin Blossoms, Mesa's
own Authority Zero and Phoenix's own Crushed will play some
of their favorite songs and discuss what it means to have
Scottsdale-based Fender right in their own backyards.
The jam session will be at 3 p.m. today at
Fender Musical Instruments Corp., 8860 E. Chaparral Road,
Suite 100.
Crushed: My Machine
Genre: Orchestral Rock/ Symphonic Metal
Label: No Relief Records
The members of Crushed brought in some major
metal muscle with producer Mike Clink (Guns 'N' Roses, Metallica,
Megadeth, Motley Crue) and mixer Fred Archibald (Avenged Sevenfold,
Deftones).
Crushed 5 star review
ROCK N ROLL EXPERIENCE Magazine
CRUSHED
My Machine
Rating: 5 stars
Honestly, the only thing I can really complain about with
this CD is the back cover...it type font that the band used
is a little hard to read on certain song titles, but that's
just my little complaint...well, actually, I really hate it
when bands release a CD & don't put a band picture either,
BUT, if you look closely at the inside of the artwork, there's
a live band shot, but it's really hard to see if you don't
look closely, but you can't deny that the car on the front
cover is bad-ass! Musically, the band kinda blends nu-metal
with hard rock & they kinda remind me of Three Days Grace
alot. "Hovering" is a pile-driving song that isn't
particularly fast, but just slow & sludgy sounding with
tuned down riffs, clean vocals, & guitar harmonics in
certain spots that just set the song off! "Dwell"
is an immediate favorite from the very first listen..it has
this dark intro & the song just captures your attention
from start to finish. "Crash Coping" has total radio
potential with it's fresh sound, punchy chorus & driving
melody...I might actually go as far as to say this is the
best song on the cd...it's got a really great hook to it that
you can kinda move to & this song just REALLY flows well!
For those that want really heavy stuff, "March"
& "Nocturnal" are probably the heaviest things
on the cd & they just destroy everything in their path
with power & angst!
“Crushing”
Jackson Sound at Tempe Music Festival
Seven-string guitarista Harry McCaleb hits the stage
with Jackson …
McCaleb and his machine.
Photo by Clay Lyons
We Jackson News types were hanging out at
the Tempe Music Festival in way-too-sunny Tempe, Ariz., on
Saturday, March 31, minding our own business, when we espied
one of our favorite local Jackson slingers, Crushed guitarist/keyboardist
Harry McCaleb, and dutifully pounced on what was obviously
a kickass photo op. “How ’bout a picture?”
we said.
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE:
CRUSHED ISSUE MIKE CLINK-PRODUCED DEBUT,
‘MY MACHINE’
Specializing in a sound that manages to merge
goth with metal - while not sacrificing melody – the
five-man band Crushed should easily garner heaps of crossover
interest with their just-released debut, ‘My Machine.’
Hailing from the arid locale of Phoenix, Arizona, the group
(which consists of singer/guitarist Mark Lauer, guitarist
Mike Halland, guitarist/keyboardist Harry McCaleb, bassist
Mike Brown, and drummer Jeff Garten) quickly impressed one
of rock’s most renowned producers, Mike Clink, who was
the main man behind none other than Guns N’ Roses’
‘Appetite for Destruction,’ among other rock classics.
“Crushed is a blend of hard rock with a melodic overtone,
similar to a wolf in sheep's clothing,” explains Clink.
“The band gave 110% to make sure this was the best Crushed
album they could deliver.”
Clink’s expertise quickly rubbed off
on Crushed, resulting in one helluva debut. “Mike only
works on one level and that is top notch professionalism,”
adds Lauer. “I have to say I really learned a lot about
myself and recording by working with Mike Clink. He encouraged
me to dig deeper and to bring out my best.” Garten also
voices Lauer’s sentiment. “[Clink] was able to
dig in, and bring out the performances that were inside of
us. His astute selections of the people he works with have
made ‘My Machine’ an album I'm extremely proud
to call my own.”
The fourteen-track album perfectly captures
‘the Crushed sound,’ which touches upon riff rockers
(“Nocturnal”), melodicism (“Crash Coping”),
and tracks that touch upon both approaches (“Hovering”).
Having built a solid following in the Arizona region, the
group is itching to bring the songs from ‘My Machine’
to life on concert stages throughout the world, admits Halland.
“We throw in new songs to test them as well, so fans
can hear songs live they would have not heard otherwise. Crushed
is a very energetic live band - the band looks at each
show as an event
