Thought i'd share the latest status that my band put up on Monday. The response has been insane and hugely supportive!
As you may be aware, in 2009 we signed to Rising Records. We were offered a one album D.I.Y deal with them, and subsequently went to essex to meet label boss Mark Daghorn. During this meeting we were sold the possibilities of recording and releasing a full length album. We were also promised worldwide distribution, reviews and promo in many of the major magazines such as Kerrang, Metal Hammer and Big Cheese. So we took the opportunity and began writing for the record.
Part of the clauses of the deal was that we paid for accommodation and recording time which came to around 7500 in total. With artwork to be paid for by the label and 50% of all sales returned to us. At the time, weighing up our options, this seemed like a deal that could work. The label had recently been voted best upcoming label in MetalHammer and artists have had exposure on cover CDs.
Following some studio delays, and lineup changes. We finished writing the record and entered the studio in Oct 2011. At the time we had heard some negative press around the label but had been reassured by Mark Daghorn that these were cases that had been blown out of proportion. We finished recording the record at least a week ahead of schedule, making good time for mixing and mastering.
We were given one chance for corrections on mixes Mark had done and anything else would have to be left to his discretion. There were discrepancies with the final mixes and the Mastering job was not up to scratch, but due to previous delays we felt that we needed to release the record as it was now out of our hands.
We were initially given an April release slot, with 12 weeks promo and press campaign to begin prior to launch. This never happened and postponed to June, then July. The reasons we were given initially were that Mark was working on press plots for the album and wanted to push it more. When the July launch date came we had not received physical copies of the album (which we had paid for) and pre-orders had not been honoured. A couple of days later we recieved a reply from Mark from his other studio in Barbados. Stating due to weather conditions he had not been able to reply sooner. The album was again postponed until October as Mark wanted to use in house press as he was unhappy with the external promo company he was using. This was further delayed again due to a family bereavement and put back until Feb 2013.
...so... (thankyou for reading this far, please stay with us)
We contacted Mark early Jan to check we were on schedule for Feb, he advised us due to (yet another) family bereavement, that he had to catch a flight for a funeral and would be in contact. HOWEVER!
It came to light over this weekend that his facebook profile was deleted, Rising Records facebook and website had been deleted. This left us wondering what was going on. We googled an old contact number we had for him in Barbados which brought up a link to Juma's Restaurant. On this page, there can be seen, photos of him mid Jan promoting the restaurant on a radio program.
We then began contacting other bands on the label and ex-rising sound engineer Chris Riley. We were filled in on the weeks events. Chris advised that Mark had contacted some of the bands on the label to advise that he was shutting down the label and declaring bankruptcy and noone had been able to get hold of him since. Our attempts to email him were returned and other bands advised us that he had basically "done a runner" to Barbados. We are aware of reports he owes money to MetalHammer, Kerrang, Plastic Head Distributions among others and that the studio equipment has been sold and his former studio left unoccupied.
We are now one of several bands who are left without a released or distributed album, despite paying thousands of pounds and then some for this service. We have basically been ripped off financially, with 3 and a half years hard work and effort culminating in a poorly produced product leaving us unable to release physical copies of the album and/or honouring pre-orders.
We are currently seeking legal advice and we are looking at a digital release of the album that we have within the next few weeks, that we hope we can polish up a little first. We apologise to anyone who has preordered the album and we will endeavour to get some kind of copy to you. As you can appreciate this matter is out of our hands and currently as a band we are very upset and angry about the whole experience. We wanted to share this, firstly as an update, secondly as an incite for other bands to beware what the "industry" offers you. As we have learnt the hard way.
Thanks for listening. Any questions etc, contact us here as per norm.
Silent Empathy
As you may be aware, in 2009 we signed to Rising Records. We were offered a one album D.I.Y deal with them, and subsequently went to essex to meet label boss Mark Daghorn. During this meeting we were sold the possibilities of recording and releasing a full length album. We were also promised worldwide distribution, reviews and promo in many of the major magazines such as Kerrang, Metal Hammer and Big Cheese. So we took the opportunity and began writing for the record.
Part of the clauses of the deal was that we paid for accommodation and recording time which came to around 7500 in total. With artwork to be paid for by the label and 50% of all sales returned to us. At the time, weighing up our options, this seemed like a deal that could work. The label had recently been voted best upcoming label in MetalHammer and artists have had exposure on cover CDs.
Following some studio delays, and lineup changes. We finished writing the record and entered the studio in Oct 2011. At the time we had heard some negative press around the label but had been reassured by Mark Daghorn that these were cases that had been blown out of proportion. We finished recording the record at least a week ahead of schedule, making good time for mixing and mastering.
We were given one chance for corrections on mixes Mark had done and anything else would have to be left to his discretion. There were discrepancies with the final mixes and the Mastering job was not up to scratch, but due to previous delays we felt that we needed to release the record as it was now out of our hands.
We were initially given an April release slot, with 12 weeks promo and press campaign to begin prior to launch. This never happened and postponed to June, then July. The reasons we were given initially were that Mark was working on press plots for the album and wanted to push it more. When the July launch date came we had not received physical copies of the album (which we had paid for) and pre-orders had not been honoured. A couple of days later we recieved a reply from Mark from his other studio in Barbados. Stating due to weather conditions he had not been able to reply sooner. The album was again postponed until October as Mark wanted to use in house press as he was unhappy with the external promo company he was using. This was further delayed again due to a family bereavement and put back until Feb 2013.
...so... (thankyou for reading this far, please stay with us)
We contacted Mark early Jan to check we were on schedule for Feb, he advised us due to (yet another) family bereavement, that he had to catch a flight for a funeral and would be in contact. HOWEVER!
It came to light over this weekend that his facebook profile was deleted, Rising Records facebook and website had been deleted. This left us wondering what was going on. We googled an old contact number we had for him in Barbados which brought up a link to Juma's Restaurant. On this page, there can be seen, photos of him mid Jan promoting the restaurant on a radio program.
We then began contacting other bands on the label and ex-rising sound engineer Chris Riley. We were filled in on the weeks events. Chris advised that Mark had contacted some of the bands on the label to advise that he was shutting down the label and declaring bankruptcy and noone had been able to get hold of him since. Our attempts to email him were returned and other bands advised us that he had basically "done a runner" to Barbados. We are aware of reports he owes money to MetalHammer, Kerrang, Plastic Head Distributions among others and that the studio equipment has been sold and his former studio left unoccupied.
We are now one of several bands who are left without a released or distributed album, despite paying thousands of pounds and then some for this service. We have basically been ripped off financially, with 3 and a half years hard work and effort culminating in a poorly produced product leaving us unable to release physical copies of the album and/or honouring pre-orders.
We are currently seeking legal advice and we are looking at a digital release of the album that we have within the next few weeks, that we hope we can polish up a little first. We apologise to anyone who has preordered the album and we will endeavour to get some kind of copy to you. As you can appreciate this matter is out of our hands and currently as a band we are very upset and angry about the whole experience. We wanted to share this, firstly as an update, secondly as an incite for other bands to beware what the "industry" offers you. As we have learnt the hard way.
Thanks for listening. Any questions etc, contact us here as per norm.
Silent Empathy