Tungsten - My Reflection (Nola Sludge)

Описание: Tungsten - My reflection

TUNGSTEN, a thunderous trio, based out of Chalmette, Louisiana, are a force to be reckoned with. It's roots stretch back to 1985 when guitarist Al Hodge and Drummer Mark Talamo, crossed paths in high school. They were both disgusted by what was considered the "norm", in those days. " Back then all of the bands down here played covers. Badly, I might add. All of the guitar players were trying to out play each other in the lead department. There wasn't any originality whatsoever. So Mark and I got together and wrote 2 minute metal songs without leads. Everybody thought we were crazy, but the doubters would soon become our followers.", reflects, Al Hodge. A series of demo tapes were recorded at their home studio, called H/T, from 1985 through 1990, under the moniker of Sam Snot. At the tail end of 1990 when Mark and Al, started up to write some new songs, they both decided it was time for a change, explains Mark. "The lyrics were pretty far fetched. You have to think we were teenagers without any "real" problems. We thought the world began and ended with flatulence and masturbation. It wasn't until Al, and I had both gone through bad break ups with the "women", in our life's, that we realized, it was time to vent our frustration and disappointment of failed relationships, into our songs." And if you heard the first album "183.85", you'd know exactly where these guys were coming from. "That album was a big "F**k you!", to relationships.", comments Al. The band signed to Pavement music, a small record company based out of Chicago, in the spring of 1993. This opportunity arose while, Mark Talamo was recruited to engineer the second CROWBAR album, that would be released through Pavement as well. " Mark Nawara, the "president" of Pavement, wanted to hear a sample of what H/T studios could do, before he would book time for CROWBAR, to record their second album. So I sent him a copy of one of our demo tapes. After hearing it and getting a healthy endorsement from Kirk from CROWBAR, Mark approached us and signed us. It was that simple.", exclaimed Mark Talamo. "183.85", received critical acclaim upon it's release in 1993. Especially in Europe, where they were welcomed with open arms by the such stellar legends as Onno Cromag from Holland's Aardschok Magazine and Gotz from Germany's Rock Hard. The TUNGSTEN cancer would soon spread fast through Europe. If you got endorsements from these guys, the inferno, would start on it's blazon trail. With critical acclaim overseas and on their home turf, it was time for TUNGSTEN to take to the stage. TUNGSTEN had an album out all over the world, and had yet to play a gig. "Mark and I where the 2 people that put the steel frame of the band together. We needed somebody to throw some meat and hair on it, so we could bring this beast to life.", said Al Hodge. Enter Steve Talamo, Mark's older brother, to complete the circle. Steve took over bass duties at the beginning of 1994. Steve's background was that of a guitar player. He had done some time in some cover bands including one that seated Mark on the drums. They would pound out covers by metal heavy weights like IRON MAIDEN, JUDAS PRIEST, ACCEPT, RIOT and BLACK SABBATH. They also dug into some obscure NWOBHM bands like SAXON and TYGERS OF PANTANG. With the outer valence of Steve now intact, TUNGSTEN would attack the New Orleans scene and share stages with the likes of CROWBAR, ACID BATH, FALL FROM GRACE and GRAVEYARD RODEO, to just name a few. With a successful year under it's belt, it was time to write and release another album.

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