This time around we feature the vinyl collection of Sean Meyers, multi-instrumentalist in the New Jersey based progressive post-black metal band Gates to the Morning.
The first record I ever bought with my own money was…
Hahaha! It was Coolio’s “Gangster’s Paradise” record when I was about 8 or 9 years old. I think I used allowance money because my mom wouldn’t buy me anything with a “Parental Advisory” sticker. She was not enthused when I bought it. Honestly it was not a bad record, a few good songs on there. This may sound like blasphemy to some but I thought Coolio put a really great spin on Stevie Wonder’s “Pastime Paradise.”
The record that made me want to make music was…
Rage Against the Machine’s debut. I was at the age where I had just started playing the drums and that record got me so fired up, I knew I wanted to play music forever after hearing that album.
The record I’ve played more than any other is…
Probably Led Zeppelin’s Physical Graffiti or Houses of the Holy, I have worn those out since my childhood. My dad used to have “Physical Graffiti” on cassette and we would listen to it in the car all the time.
The record that always make me feel good is…
Both Van Morrison’s “Moondance” and “Tupelo Honey” really bring me to a good place.
The record I turn to when I’m feeling down is…
Usually something from my childhood that is nostalgic, but I can probably say “Fragile” by Yes brings me to a place that feels magical. Usually when I am feeling down I am feeling like life is missing some type of mysticism and magic, and that album brings it back for me.
The record with my favorite cover art is…
Blind Guardian’s second Live album from their 2002/2003 world tour. It features an Elf and a Dwarf and some Goblin type creature out side of a Bard’s Tavern with a dark cloaked figure looming in the background. It very much reminds of a town called Bree from Lord of The Rings. I am a big fantasy and D&D nerd so I love that type of stuff. Heaven to me would be to go see Blind Guardian play live at a Bard’s Tavern somewhere in Middle Earth, haha!
The strangest LP I own is…
Perhaps John Zorn’s “Naked City.” When I heard it at the time it was totally new to me. My Dad bought it for me, I had never heard of it. He said “Here, your going to love this record. It is a jazz musician playing in the style of Napalm Death, sounds perfect for you.” He was totally right. I had heard of John Zorn before but I never realized how far out there he could get, essentially combining Jazz and Grindcore. It’s an awesome record.
The rarest LP I own is…
Not too sure but perhaps Thergothon’s “Stream from the Heavens” or Morgion’s “Cloaked by Ages, Crowned In Earth.” Both are fantastic records that are generally hard to find.
The last LP I bought was…
I believe it was Heliung’s “Lifa.” I really enjoy that type of shamanic type of music and they do it exceptionally well. Nytt Land is another band that plays in that same style so I think they will be next on my list. I saw them live at Midgardsblot in Norway and they blew me away with their performances.
Gates to the Morning released their debut full-length, Return To Earth, on July 19, 2019. You can pick up a copy on CD or as a digital download here.
https://www.gatestothemorning.com/
https://gatestothemorning.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/gatestothemorning/
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