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July 20, 2008 |
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Stu Block
January 18, 2005
By Ciaran Meeks
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Regina Saskatchewan's Death/Prog gods INTO ETERNITY could very well be Canada's best kept Metal secret. Despite two critically acclaimed albums from Century Media - 2001's 'Dead Or Dreaming', and 2003's 'Buried In Oblivion' - a slew of high energy shows across North America and abroad, including a recent appearance at ProgPower USA, not to mention the band's own incredible degree of musicianship, the redoubtable Canucks have yet to truly make a major dent in the international Metal market on par with the success of fellow Canadian acts such as STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, CRYPTOPSY, and ANNIHILATOR, to name but a few. Expect all of that to change. To put it bluntly: these guys are the next big thing.
Following the recent departure first of longtime vocalist Chris Krall, followed shortly thereafter by replacement singer Dean Sternberg, INTO ETERNITY have finally found the missing piece of the puzzle in new vocalist Stuart 'Stuie B' Block of Vancouver, B.C. who also pulls double duty in local Van act OMEGA CROM. In short: an incredibly talented act just got better! It is with great pride that METALEATER.COM brings you this exclusive interview with the newest voice of INTO ETERNITY who will doubtless play a large part in the band's ongoing journey towards the spotlight that they so rightly deserve.
To most Metal fans outside of the greater Vancouver area you're the 'new kid on the block'! Obviously this move from the proverbial 'farm team' to one of the majors is a big step for you. How does that feel?
It feels like a dream come true man. I'm really looking forward to touring extensively and working with a band I have admired for a while. I know I'm going to learn a lot from this experience.
While INTO ETERNITY have certainly become something of a household name within the last couple of years - as yet at any rate - the name of Stu Block is not. What can you tell the readers of METALEATER.COM about your musical background/band history to date?
Well, I have been singing all my life since I could talk, I guess. I was in a couple of choirs from ages 13-19 and have had a few vocal lessons, but nothing major as far as training goes. I'm really all self-taught - singing along to my favorite metal artists' albums ie: IRON MAIDEN, JUDAS PRIEST, KING DIAMOND, and so on. As far as metal bands go, I have done a lot of jamming with local talents but nothing ever seemed to pan out. I was in a band called SELF REGIME (Thrashy Power Prog) for awhile and at the same time I was in OMEGA CROM (Thrash/Death/Power Prog). OMEGA CROM was my first real serious band.
Having experienced your vocal onslaught live on many occasions I can say with absolute certainty that you possess an incredibly strong range and tone. What - if any - is your formal training/education in terms of vocals?
Thanks. Again though, thus far I have mostly been in choirs and have taken a couple of vocal lessons. I'm mostly all self taught.
How did you first come into contact with INTO ETERNITY? If I am not mistaken (via my ever-reliable 'Metal Grapevine') word has it that they approached you first. Is this true?
OMEGA CROM played a show in Regina, SK a year and a half ago. Tim Roth was there and he saw the onslaught and knew about me. Later on we started talking on the Internet and he had mentioned that things may not work out with Dean (the last singer). He invited me out to Regina to try ouy for the position of lead vocalist. I said yes and the rest is history.
What do you feel are the strengths that you will be bringing to the INTO ETERNITY camp? Obviously Chris Krall's/Dean Sternberg's departure(s) - both within such a relatively short period of time - have left a big pair of shoes to fill and expectations are high. What do you expect the reaction of long-time fans to be when you hit the stage?
I feel I will bring a lot of energy to the live show and believe me when I say that INTO ETERNITY would not choose someone that couldn't do the job and do it well. I agree that Chris Krall/Dean Sternberg are both really talented fellows, but I am not worried. I am hitting all the notes that they can and the harmonies are locking in perfectly. As far as the fans go, all I can say is come out and decide for yourself. I promise you will not be disappointed!!
INTO ETERNITY could best be described as an aggressive, technical Melodic Death Metal band, although I would personally venture to say that their style enters much more progressive terrain than that of many of their peers. How great of a leap - stylistically - has this been from your previous band efforts? How challenging was it for you to learn the material? What are your impressions from the initial rehearsals with the band?
Stylistically it's all clean chest tone to falsetto work and death vocals. So, it's not too different from OMEGA CROM, but there are 4 singers in INTO ETERNITY, which helps me out too. In OMEGA CROM, I hold down the majority of death and all the clean singing. I have been a fan of the music for something like 3 1/2 years and have listened to the albums a lot...and I mean A LOT (laughs)!! So I was already very familiar with the material and was very impressed. It seemed very surreal to be rehearsing with these guys. We seem to all work very well together...and there are no egos, which was a relief. They are all wicked musicians and great down-to-earth guys.
Are there any tracks in particular that stand out for you at this point as being 'personal faves' that you are looking forward to unleashing on a live audience?
I love "Elysium Dream" off the "Dead Or Dreaming" album, but to be honest, I think all the songs on all of their releases are very well put together and I really have a place for all of them in my metal heart.
How do you feel about the upcoming INTO ETERNITY North American Tour? Have you had much experience on the road in the past? How confident do you feel now that you are suddenly thrust into the position of 'frontman' for a known and up-and-coming act?
I'm really stoked to go out on this tour and rock out man!! I have toured with OMEGA CROM on a few occasions and it has definitely given me the experience and confidence to go forth and do this extensive tour and give it my all.
Just to backtrack - you have already mentioned your other band OMEGA CROM based out of Vancouver, B.C. How would you describe that band's sound? How much of a learning experience has the band been in terms of leading you to where you are now juggling time with INTO ETERNITY?
OMEGA CROM is definitely a combination of music we all love as a band - very NWOBHM meets Speed/Death/Power Prog - even some southern influences in the music ala "Dimebag" Darrell - RIP. I will be doing a lot of of flying - that is for sure (laughs). I'm sure I will be able to keep both bands happy and in harmony.
Do you foresee any conflict arising in terms of time management between the two projects?
Not at this point.
Going back to your sound/style, you have an obvious love of, and influence by, Rob Halford. Which other performers - either Metal or otherwise - have had an influence on your own development as a vocalist/performer?
Power vocals: Geoff Tate (QUEENSRŸCHE), Tobias Sammet (EDGUY), Bruce Dickinson (IRON MAIDEN), Matt Barlow (ex-ICED EARTH), Tim "Ripper" Owens (ICED EARTH, ex-JUDAS PRIEST), Michael Kiske (ex-HELLOWEEN), and Kai Hansen (GAMMA RAY, ex-HELLOWEEN).
Death vocals: Jari Mäenpää (WINTERSUN, ex-ENSIFERUM), George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher (CANNIBAL CORPSE), and Vintersorg (BORKNAGAR, OTYG, VINTERSORG).
Operatic vocals: Tenors: Luciano Pavarotti, Andrew Alexander. Baritone: Mauro Augustini, Martin Cooke.
That's all I can really think of right now.
I personally enjoy the way in which you utilize such a strong 'old school' approach, yet manage to infuse your vocal expression with liberal doses of a more modern, aggressive Death Metal-influenced approach. Care to comment at all on this bridging of the genre-gap? Is this just something natural that has developed or is it a conscious ploy on your part as a performer?
I just thought is was a fresh new way of approaching metal vocals (the best of both worlds as they say), and it doesn't seem to phase me singing-wise. So we rolled with it, and now incorporate it into all our OMEGA CROM songs.
On a personal level, what is your focus or inspiration as a performer?
My focus...well, it's to keep FOCUSED on what I love to do, which is singing heavy metal music and not swaying from that. My inspiration would be the crazy fans and friends/family that have supported me in the path that I have chosen in life. I love what I do and that's all that matters to me.
It's fair to say that right now INTO ETERNITY, along with other greatCanadian acts like STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, SOULSCAR, CRYPTOPSY, NEURAXIS, and QUO VADIS - to name but a mere handful - are arguably leading a new vanguard of Canadian Metal well into the new millennium. What are your impressions of the Canadian Metal scene, either in a local or national sense?
Well, in a local sense the metal scene is still growing in Vancouver and across the board...still a long way to go though - in regards to people choosing a Heavy Metal concert over a NICKELBACK concert. Nationally I think people are hungry for something different and I truly believe there will be a "changing of the guard" with respect to what people are listening to and going to see...but time will tell.
What, in your opinion, is unique about Canadian Metal, and about INTO ETERNITY in particular as far as aiding Metal as a whole to grow and evolve from its current place in the musical landscape? What do they bring to the table so to speak?
I think that Canadian Metal is influenced by European metal to a certain degree - so those elements are prominent. I feel there is more of a raw edge to Canadian metal though - very "balls to the wall" so to speak. Canadian metal bands have to prove that they are able to keep up with the Euro metal bands and I think they are doing an outstanding job.
Again, INTO ETERNITY are your first big break. Where do you intend to go with your musical career from here? What long-term goals do you have?
I want to be singing heavy metal for the rest of my life and hopefully pay the basic bills with something I love doing. Anything over and above that is just gravy, in my opinion.
Going back to the local Vancouver scene from whence you hail...what otheracts from that city should the Metal community at large be keeping their eyes open for in the near future in your opinion?
WIDOWMAKER - Old school metal, wicked guitar harmonies with a great low melodic Viking kind of vocals to it.
SOULSCAR (Official Website) - I wish they would tour though - but wicked albums!!!
MEATLOCKER SEVEN (Official Website) - Awesome Thrash/Death Metal for Vancouver Island.
There are a lot more, but those are the 3 that stick out in my mind.
I would go to Bloodred Metalheads to read more about our Vancouver scene and the bands that are here.
Once the North American tour is completed, what are INTO ETERNITY's plans? Will you be heading into the studio any time soon to record new material? If so, how much of a hand do you expect to have in the writing process?
There will be a new record out soon but I don't know when - soon though. I will be recording on the new upcoming album and will be a part of the writing process. I'm really excited too!!!
What other plans do you have for the future outside of INTO ETERNITY? I have heard, for example, that OMEGA CROM are planning to release a debut CD soon. Is there any truth to this?
Yes. OMEGA CROM will be releasing the debut CD "Blood, Steel and Fire", which will be out in like 4 months. It has been a lengthy process but it will slay - I promise!!!
In closing, is there anything else that you would like to tell fans of INTO ETERNITY before you embark upon your North American tour?
Come out and support the new lineup. Again - we will NOT disappoint you!!! [FIN]
Be sure to check out both Stuie B. and INTO ETERNITY as they prepare to ravage North America with AMORPHIS and BEYOND THE EMBRACE this coming Spring. Check out the tour dates here. The 'Other Great White North' is bringing the onslaught and the world had better be prepared. Things are about to get 'Heavy'!!! We at METALEATER.COM wish both Stu and the rest of the band the best of luck in all of their endeavours and hope to see all of YOU out there banging your heads and pumping your fists alongside us!!! Hails and horns!!!
» Official INTO ETERNITY Website
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