The voice of an angel. The voice of a demon.
Those attending any of Northern California-based CLAUDIA'S ASHES' live rituals are often left torn deciding between the two, as frontwoman Stephanie Michelle's voice transitions seemlessly between ethereal singing and menancing metal growls. She moves, eyes closed, in a trance as her band churns out the heart of her music behind her. Sean "Bug" Flynn thrashes about, his fingers moving like fire over the fretboard of his guitar, while Kerry Fisher keeps the low-end fluid and precise.
Since 2002, the music of Claudia's Ashes has slowly evolved into what it is today: dark, beautiful, unique. Although a one-woman project behind the scenes (Stephanie Michelle writes and records all of the music on her lonesome), Stephanie credits the newfound energy and life that has been inserted into her blend of goth, electronic and metal music to her live bandmates. The music iteself simply cannot be lumped into any on genre, as it encompasses a range of styles so as to make pin-pointing and labeling a difficult task. With soaring synths, crunchy industrial guitar riffs and melancholic vocals, it's no wonder that fans of several different musical genres adore this band. Covering topics such as lust, despair, heartbreak, horror and fantasy, the lyrics are just as brutally honest as the music.
Word is spreading like wildfire. Although non-veterans in the music world, Claudia's Ashes has already been heard world-wide, with airplay extending from the Cave of Satyr nightclub in Amsterdam to the House Of Voodoo in San Francisco. With features in Twisted Dreams Magazine, Hard Rock Radio Live, and dozens of other independent radio, webzines and media outlets across the globe, it's hard to ignore the coming storm.Now with the arrival of 2007, the band is toiling hard with the introduction of the much anticipated sophomore follow-up to 2004's debut "Cold Autumn Nostalgia", entitled "A Violent Metamorphosis". Centered around change, the shedding of skin, and the breaking of personal chains, the album showcases the band's refreshing, charming new sound. With the lovelorn dance track "Fire In Your Eyes", to the harsh, cynical title track "A Violent Metamorphosis", to the in-your-face yet vulnerable anthem that is "Slut", the band's sophomore effort is one giant step forward from their previous work...and fans are paying attention.
"We don't have a huge budget. We are not rock stars. We are doing this all on our own, honestly, modestly. Nothing is polished. It's all raw, straight from the core of us," says Stephanie Michelle. "And we like it that way. We just want to make music. No fancy effects. No fluff. It is our expression, our artistic vision, our therapy. I don't know what I would do without music." Her words resound the same passion that can be heard within the music of Claudia's Ashes, one that is rare in a world full of MTV phonies and corporate sound-alikes.
Now all they can do is look towards the future, instruments in hand, continuing to spread contagiously and becoming embraced by more with the passage of time.
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