DEEP DARK RIVER, the acoustic doom, folk, blues, ambient and soul side project from Vesperia‘s Morgan Rider has posted a new video covering DIO’s “Holy Diver”.
Rider comments:
“I had a lot of fun working on this one, I absolutely love Dio and wanted to create a blues version of one of their best known songs: Holy Diver! I might just do another Dio cover in the future!”
Watch “Holy Diver” at the following link: https://youtu.be/kboXUqadQm8
Rider was inspired to create DEEP DARK RIVER by the works of his close friend David Gold (Woods of Ypres). DEEP DARK RIVER’s self-titled debut album is currently being recorded and is planned for a 2018 release featuring all original tracks. Rider has performed across Canada, USA and Europe with a variety of heavy metal groups such as Vesperia, Crimson Shadows, Woods of Ypres and SIG:AR:TYR .DEEP DARK RIVER’s previously unleashed cover of Woods of Ypres’ “Allure of The Earth” was in tribute of the memory of dear friend David Gold. The video was shot in Whitby, UK, Sherwood Forest, UK and Clarington, ON.
Watch “Allure of The Earth” at the following link: https://youtu.be/JBw9la99rcA
Other cover videos by DEEP DARK RIVER can be viewed at the following links:
Three Little Birds (Bob Marley) – https://youtu.be/tTpSk5_P3lk
What A Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong) – https://youtu.be/qoooEIp9goc
Wayfaring Stranger (Johnny Cash) – https://youtu.be/CP9fWJRbTyw
Show Dates:
Feb 10 – Bowmanville, ON @ Manantler Craft Brewery (An Evening With Deep Dark River) – info
For more info:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcWVQO3a8T-4Ug9gCACBGXA
http://instagram.com/deepdarkriver
http://facebook/com/deepdarkriver
http://twitter.com/deepdarkriverca
http://deepdarkriver.bandcamp.com
BIO:
Born in Toronto in 1989, singer, songsmith and multi-instrumentalist, Morgan Rider had his earliest imaginings of life as a musician while contending with a tumultuous childhood at home.
Often overhearing his mother – who is a trained operatic soprano – rehearsing in the kitchen, his love of music and his understanding of it began to blossom at an early age. His mornings and evenings were soon spent banging away on an old Dominion upright piano – made in the town he now resides – often to the displeasure of those around him.
Despite his ever changing family and residential climates, music remained an integral component to his maturity. In high school he would often skip class to sit in the woods to play guitar. It would also not be uncommon to see him braving a snowstorm with his guitar across his back to walk several kilometres to guitar lessons.
It is not hard to imagine that his main priority remained with music after high school, while most of his peers went on to office and factory jobs or the trades. As his freedom expanded, so too did his ambitions.
As Morgan cast his net further, he began to perform shows further distances away which began to create a small audience of peers and fans. He also began to book small shows and tours for local and out of town bands. It was not long before he was accommodating international artists.
With his expanding resources, knowledge and contacts, he began to tour his music domestically – often spending weeks or months in an old van – branching from coast to coast across Canada. In summer of 2011, Morgan was called upon by his longtime friend David Gold – who was the main songwriter and visionary of the band Woods of Ypres – to contribute his talents to Woods of Ypres for some live shows in the UK that winter. Being one of Morgan’s favourite bands, this was a sound decision for him. Unfortunately, it would not come to pass, as David died tragically months later.
Between 2012 and 2013, Morgan played his first international shows in the U.S.A. with SIG:AR:TYR and at Wacken Open Air in Germany with Crimson Shadows. Since 2012, Morgan has performed, recorded and toured across North America, performing hundreds of gigs with a variety of heavy metal groups such as Vesperia, Crimson Shadows and SIG:AR:TYR. He also is the sole writer, engineer and visionary for his solo blues/ folk project, Deep Dark River.
]]>
Legends.
Real legends.
I know this is a down-scaled version of the band that made some of the biggest classics in heavy metal music, but, still, standing here and watching Vivian Campbell and Vinnie Appice walk on stage in Amager Bio, I can’t help holding my breath for a second or two. Perhaps also because I’m worried if this setup with a different singer than Dio, the master himself, will be disrespectful and tacky.
It turns out not to be – not at all. What unfolds before our eyes and ears is a rock band consisting of aged, but perfectly capable musicians who in a relaxed, professional and totally sympathetic manner are thoroughly enjoying playing the old Dio songs and their own new material in front of an appreciative audience.
As the tones of ‘Stand Up and Shout’ pour over us, it really strikes me who these people are. Andrew Freeman opens his mouth and, what a relief, the guy delivers. He’s not Ronnie James Dio, no one is, and no one can really fill his shoes, but Freeman sure as hell is a damned good singer and he is able to do these songs justice.
The songs from the Last In Line album Heavy Crown (2016) blend in perfectly with the material from the 80s, although of course lacking the power of recognition that tunes like the mighty Holy Diver, Straight Through the Heart, Rainbow In The Dark, The Last In Line and We Rock have. As a testimony to the importance of the music this band made and how they have influenced many others, the attentive members of the audience couldn’t help noticing Alex Skolnick standing on the wings of the stage, watching and so obviously admiring Viv Campbell’s playing throughout the first few songs of the set. And, needless to say, this is a man who is more than capable of handling the electric guitar.
Having ‘only’ experienced Ronnie James Dio in front of Heaven & Hell not too long before his passing, I must say that I cherish the fact that I now have had the opportunity to see and hear what more or less was the classic Dio line-up.
Night Demon is a power trio out of Ventura, California with a serious NWOBHM vibe. Jarvis Leatherby handles vocals and bass along with new guitarist Armand John Anthony and drummer Dusty Squires. Opening track ‘Welcome to the Night’ is a definite indication of their roots with its driving riffs and galloping drums. They also might possibly be into Iron Maiden. Between the song ‘Maiden Hell,’ complete with lyrics consisting of nothing but Maiden song titles, and the wannabe Eddie on the cover, it’s pretty obvious. However, for all the love Night Demon has for Maiden, for me they are not the most notable influence. Songs like ‘Stranger in the Room’ and ‘Life on the Run’ have more of a Saxon flavor, while ‘Black Widow’ feels kind of like Dio era Sabbath. Then there’s ‘On Your Own,’ which could be a long lost Armored Saint track. However, for all these comparisons, each track still has its own Night Demon flair. For instance, the instrumental ‘Flight of the Manticore’ reminds me of a lighter version of something Revocation would do more than anything from the NWOBHM days.
Night Demon are some of the finest practitioners of “traditional” heavy metal. They celebrate everything that was good about the NWOBHM movement and their fellow Americans that followed suit. I appreciate bands like Night Demon. With all the originators only getting older and/or passing on, it’s good to still have groups to keep the traditional heavy metal flag flying high. So get out your battle vests and bullet belts, and put the final touches on that cardboard air guitar. Night Demon is bringing it old school with Darkness Remains, and you’re gonna want to be ready!
]]>