EchoSoul

A little history and a little shout out to someone deserving. I wanted to just give some love and a shoutout to someone near and dear. No Dust Records and Henk Van Delden!!

You see, early on somewhere in 2020 I was merely kicking the idea of recording songs out of some riffs I was newly coming up with and my only desire was to simply have it shared, never desired for some platinum record or public reception, but I spent so many years not recording, and regretted not ever going to the studio. Usually the reason was because there was a lack of musicians to do it with in my area. Technology caught up to me, and a light went off, I will record everything myself if I have to or simply collaborate if no one was available, but I am getting too old to not recording my work any longer. My only shortfall would be finding a suitable singer because a singer will make and break your songs.

I come from the old school of sound, inspired by 80’s JP, Dio, Helloween, King Diamond, Iron Maiden, Santuary and the list goes on, later being into Chuck Schuldiners greatest works with Death and Control Denied, Nevermore, Charres Wall’s of the Damned, getting heavier but still staying with the roots.

What always got me was feeling, the melody, riff ability, and the singer/guitar connection on all the bands. Bass and Drums always vital, but the make or break came down to singing for me if the riffs and rhythms were right. So who do I call or try and get? There were endless ads for singers in these Craigslist places, and musicians connections locally. Some sounded good but didn’t move me.

After hearing how well Tim “The Ripper” Owens did in Iced Earth and CWOTD, he had the ability to capture those highs most certainly, and I could see where some of my songs were well made for a fit for his voice.
Fortunately we had a mutual connect, he had a sports bar and routinely had great musicians only two hours from me. When I was the founding president of the biker group The Freedom Riders, I was looking for places we could ride to and called him to place a trip out when he’s on mic. His club shut down and never made the trip but I still had his info, I shot an email out to even see if he was interested. Had one specific song that was made for his voice “Where Echoes Go”. I sent it, and he was immediate heak yeah, I decided to do like just 3 songs, and maybe just do a demo and that would all be I ever did. He was in for all 3, two ended up on the first album.

During finishing the first two songs, k was seeking feedback from friends Chris Martinez a long time friend and great drummer and Kevin Messman another friend and great guitarist about what they thought. Kevin passed away dueing covid due to covid complications and it tears my soul that he never ended up in any of the records, as he inspired me alot!! Miss him!!
The push from Kevin was estatic. He pushed me to go all the way, “Do an Album!!” “It ranks with everything out there!!” So I listened to both Kev and Chris and continued writing.

Ripper had a Dio Disciples tour coming up and was going on a short time to do a whole album by time the songs would be ready. I was flying out riffs, one after another, like a portal from Heaven opened and downloaded a bunch of new ideas. My lyrics I would write while finishing the songs, or I’d write the lyrics first in some case. I am not a great singer, but I would demo so Ripper had a melody line to work with.

Well now I had like 10 songs., only 7 would probably fit an album because of their length. One was an epic 15ish minutes intended that way. But who could sing in place of Ripper and sound similar and be the EchoSoul vibe I was looking for.

Someone mentioned Rob, that he was doing some YouTube work and covers as well as originals, that when they heard his voice thought it worked perfectly for what I was going for. He was right, I simply reached out, send him a demo, he sang the first probably radio friendly Prog Metal song Melody of Misery and killed it!!!
It was perfect, I loved what was happening, and inspired me to rewrite several songs to fit his voice now.

Humbly, I used CD baby to put it out not expecting much and did no press. Within a week or two, can’t recall exactly, Henk from No Dust Records in Holland got a hold of me, he was a fan of the music and asked if I would I like to put out some albums and CDs for his record store, and it was a deal that had zero risk, more of the financial risk was his side, but he wagered it would be very well received in his side of the world.

Well, that was the beginning of a wonderful friendship and an unexpected outcome. I think in weeks, we were charting and recognized in all the major magazines out there. Making top 20 and top 10 above bands that I look up to that have been the cream of the crop. I don’t get it and still don’t. But Henk’s region gets metal and word of mouth spreads quick. In the US we sold some albums through one of his mutual friends with the AnimatedInsanityRecords store and did okay, but outside of US?? Insane.

I was humbled, I had many guest musicians fill spots and did what I call a collaborative album, because I was having some people I love in the Industry play in my songs. That was reward enough. Truly had no intention
of doing more with this name project, but Henk sent me message after message, review after review, fan after fan wrote us saying do more and they love what’s happening. Well that kinda inspires.

I believe the music is good, but I believe the support of people that believe in the music really make it worth doing. Henk is one of those guys. A true Professional in the industry, a record store owner, fan of the brand, but also a business owner that knows what people like. I have nothing but good words.

I would have loved to get this last album out sooner, a more in house project, with some local musician combined with some of the best players I look up to playing with me in. I had this wrote and demos mostly done within a year of first album. Unfortunately my final production guy who helped to create the possible sound that you hear in first album was in a wore torn place in Ukraine and you know a lot of my updates what took place.

So I experimented a little in the wait and even tried another singer to maybe fit the band. But I could not fully be sold on anything but me and Rob making the EchoSoul music together. His voice is made for my guitar. Henk recognized this far before I did. Another reason I appreciate him. A friend indeed.

If your reading this Henk, your one of many reasons I will keep recording and everyone should hope to know someone like you!! Thank you for the support and encouragement.

Much metal love
Guy