The Michigan music scene is growing in all areas of music. From hip-hop and R & B to death-metal. Cell Block Earth has been on the scene since 2003 and is making a larger impression year after year.
Cell Block Earth has an unique sound to the ever growing music scene in Michigan. When asked to describe their musical sound the band was quick to stress the importance of combining new influences with old school traditions. "I believe that we are a blend of the old school and the new school worlds of hard core/thrash/ and punk elemnts of metal," said Mike, guitarist for Cell Block Earth.
Cell Block Earth is heading back into the studio to start work on their next album, which they hope to release late this summer. With new music on the way and an impressive live show, Cell Block Earth is going to be making an even larger impression in 2013 and beyond.
I had the chance to interview Cell Block Earth, we discussed everything from how social media is changing the Midwest music scene and what the future of Cell Block Earth looks like. The entire interview is below.
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C: When did Cell Block Earth come together? CBE formed in 2000 and started playing shows
CB: All over the Metro Detroit area. We started to gain a clut like following and we gathered our resources and recored a self titled 4 song demo in 2003. We started writing music again in 2008 and acquired a new vocalist in the process and in 2010 started playing shows again as well as released a full length album titled, white noise, static, numb.
C: What would you consider to be some of your most notable music influences at a younger age?
CB: I can only speak for myself obviously but that would be the early thrash bands and the early death metal movement as well. I loved that music. Those artists would include Metallica in their early days, Pantera, Megadeth, Anthrax, Slayer, Morbid Angel, Death, Cannibal Corpse, Iron Madien as well. I also love all forms of music. My father was into classical music and I was introduced to this at a young age as well and I am sure that I draw from those roots in my composing and the way that I try to inforporate funky time signatures into some of our music. I also know that I was influenced by a lot of the Detroit based bands that were playing in the 90’s as well such as Cold as Life, All might Lumber Jacks of Death, Walls of Jerico, Universal Stomp, 500 ft of Pipe etc.
C: Cell Block Earth in a few words, how would you describe the band's musical sound?
CB: I believe that we are a blend of the old school and the new school worlds of hard core/thrash/ and punk elemnts of metal. I think that we do our own thing within the metal realm.
What musical influences do you pull from when you are performing or
writing music? Everyone in the band draws from a pretty diverse musical background, I think that out music is influenced by who we are listening to at the moment. Lately I have really been listening to a lot of music by the band Battlecross. I think those guys bring a lot to the table. I also have been listening to a lot of lamb of god and I believe that their tone is out of this world and the way that they go about composing songs is amazing so those elements play into the way that we write.
C: Cell Block Earth has gained quite a large following in the Midwest, what was the process of coming up in the industry like?
CB: It is a blue collar approach. We are a hard working group in everything that we do. We leave it all on the stage when we perform and we also promote as much as we can on a day to day basis. It takes a great deal of effort to really get your name out there and you have to be willing to do the work to make that happen.
C: How would you guys as a band describe the Midwest music scene?
CB: It is tough out there but if you put in the work the scene will reward you with good returns. IT is like any other business out there if you work hard and promote typically you will have a strong turnout.
C: How do you all as a band feel social media has helped and will continue to help your career?
CB: Social media has been a great tool for CBE To spread the word to the Cell Block Earthlings out there. We have really been able to utilize facebook as well as reverbnation and twitter to out advantage to advertise the band. Social media has helped us pick up a cult like following in Indonesia where we have never played a show but have a strong following at this time. We are able to track our following and there are a great deal of fans that stream out music overseas and they most likely would never have heard of us without social media outlets.
C: What does the future of the band hold?
CB: We are going to be going back into the studio in the spring to record another full length album and we anticipate a release date of late summer on this one. We are finishing up the writing at this time and the songs are coming out great and we have talked with Mike Hastey (Walls OF Jerico) who is the sound Engineer for our recordings to find a time to get in there to get this project under way. After that is complete we will hit the road in support of the record.
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