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Black Optic

BLACK OPTIC

About Me

MyGen Profile Generator MyGen Profile GeneratorBlack Optic was conceived by Darrin Lavallee it started with a 12 song Demo which Darrin Wrote and Recorded. After playing with several musicians (Including Lou Kochalka, second last drummer, who we played 2 shows with) Black Optic came upon its current Lineup which will be featured on the upcoming self produced album.
The First member in the mix is Darrin Lavallee who wrote all of the Lyrics to date along with the original song structures. He then set out to find other musicians to colaborate with. Darrin Has Been Playig Guitar for 25 years now and was Previously the Singer for a band called SoundRage.
Second was Austin Sullivan (Bass) who was discovered by accident. Darrin was trying to reach a guitarist by phone when he accidentally dialed Austin's number. They Jammed, and Austin was suddenly in the band. Austin has been Playing Bass for about 7-8 years now.
Third to the Band Was Jon Warren (Lead Guitars) who was introduced through a mutual friend (Mike P., one of our photograghers). Jon tried out with the group and Joined up at that point. Jon has Been playing guitar for about 8 years now.
The Fourth Member, Derrick Kroll (Drums) Was introduced to the band after the previous drummer, Lou, left town to work in the Oil Fields out west. Derrick and Jon actually played together in a former Winnipeg Thrash-Metal band called Necrogenesis and this previous relationship is how Derrick was introduced to Black Optic.
As each member of the band was added into the mix, they added their own style, influence, and ideas to the pre-existigs songs. First Darrin wrote the Lyrics, concepts, Vocal Melodies, original song structures and Chord progressions/Riffage for the songs with his well honed and crunchy rythm technique. Second, Austins Slap-Bass styling and Constantly flowing rumble was contributed to the mix. Next Jon's Progressive and sweeping Melodies, Harmonies and Solo's were contributed to the mix. He also wrote the music to "Lie to Me" which was originally intended to be a Bluesy Medley. Finally, Derrick's highly technical, thrashy, and double-Kick filled drumming style eneterd the mix. Other than the original chord progressions, everything each member plays individually in each song is their own original contribution to the said song. This cooperative collaberation has formed the song into what they are today.
Black Optic is currently working on their self produced Album which will hopefully be released sometime next year. Currently, the June 17th show which was recorded live can be heard in part on this site. More songs will be posted shortly as they are cut and tweaked from the original Mix. With the help of Editors Jeff Shirray and Jon Warren; as well as Camera Operators Mike Prochownik, Aaron Dixon, Rudy, and Jeff Shirray, a well edited/produced, bootleg-style DVD is in the making right now. This DVD will be available soon.
Recent Black Optic News
July 23, 2007Sorry to all for the lack of updates on this page there have just been so many things happening in the Black Optic camp. Firstly Derik Thome has been our bassist since May and has put his technical touch to all our songs. He will be our bassist until September when he then will return to his studies at the University. We have played a couple shows one being The Royal Albert arms with Broken Army, Inwolven and Tyrants Demise. Derik also played another gig with us at the zoo which turned out quite well. Secondly Black Optic is still looking for another bassist to fill the void permanently. Last week was a dark day for Black Optic when all Darrins guitar equipment was stolen out of his car. His Custom Schecter left handed guitar was stolen, his Line 6 Veta 1 amp was stolen and his Line 6 Cabinet was also stolen. Jon W will be posting pictures and more in depth information, so if anyone sees this gear in your local pawn shop make sure to contact us immediately. We have a couple Brandon shows planned for Flesh Fest with my buddies in Besieged, Krull and others. One is in September and one on Halloween night. More Informantion on the Black Optic album coming soon. From all of us in Black Optic CheersApril 2, 2007Austin has quit the band due to musical difference, but in lue of his leaving us, we have a temporary replacement in Justin Stear (ex Necrogenesis) taking over bass duties for our April 12th show. After that show Derik Thome (In Ruins, ex-Necrogenesis) will be playing the remainder summer shows up until September when he returns to his schooling. We are still looking for a permanent bassist during this time, so if anyone has good equipment (5-string bass), and is dedicated to his/her instrument drop us a line and we will try said person out.Febuary 9th, 2007Well there is a shitload of new black optic news, firstly we are well into the recording of our debut album yet untitled, the drum tracks have been done for a month and a half, and are halfway mixed, bass tracks are next. Although its a slow process we want the record done properly, because it is our debut, we will be taking our time.Our last show planned for the next month is tonight at the Royal Albert with Coda and Difference of Degrees. We played a show December 30th with Xplicit and we think it was our strongest show to date. Also another one with Igor and the skindiggers at the zoo last week. It was very cold that night so not as many fans showed up for all the bands so abit dissapointing. Musician wise we have come a long fucking way since the beginning, and will continue to mature and grow. The future is looking good, and we will issue more updates when the day comes nearer of the albums release date. Cheers good things are coming.!
September 19th 2006,The Tagworld website is now up and running. the songs dont play too well here but if you go to www.tagworld.com/blackoptic youll be able to hear them properly after about a minute - Jon.
August 24 2006,Hell everybody here is a new statement from us recording inside the studio here it the dungeons. Jon is completing his guitar scratch tracks for our 10 songs, that will be released on our debut album. The song titles are as listed (in no particular order) 1)Why 2)Eyes wide open 3) I don't Mind 4) Freedom 5)Broken Glass 6)Goodbye 7)No Reason 8)I Spy 9)Don't Walk Away 10)Lie to Me. Scratch tracks are due to be complete by the end of friday night. Drum tracks will commence saturday and will continue until the end of next week sometime. More news of the recording sessions when it's becomes available. Derrick from Black Optic
July 2006Austin (bassist) has been playing with Darrin for quite some time now, and is an amazing musician on many levels. His slap style bass playing is unique, and adds alot of punch to his sound. Jon the lead guitarist, is full of creativity, killer riffs and sweeping fast solos! Derrick who was referred from Jon (they used to play in the same band 2 years back) is the newest and last member in Black Optic, is now providing the band with alot of double bass. Black Optic is now stronger than ever and is ready to play a slew of live shows, and eventually record their debut record. We'd like to thank all our fans for their continued support.
All songs written, composed and performed, by Darrin Lavallee and BLACK OPTIC. All images, music and song lyrics are copyrighted material.
This profile was created through the combined efforts of Black Optic and Jenn Bernard. This profile was last updated on November 14, 2006.
This profile is maintained directly by the members of Black Optic.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 3/26/2005
Band Website: tagworld.com/blackoptic
Band Members: Being a full band feels very good, and we all work well together, and the musicianship is amazing in our guild. You should all prepare for an onslaught for all the ages, because here we come! .............

BLACK OPTIC IS:

Darrin Lavallee:
VOCALS
GUITARS

How long have you played?: 30 years guitar and vocals 15 yearsInfluences (Bands): Black Sabbath, Carcass, Death, Metallica, Judas Priest, Iron MaidenMusicians: Paul GilbertFavorite Albums: Carcass - Heartwork, Iron Maiden - Peice of Mind, Death - Symbolic, Metallica - Master of Puppets,Equipment: Line 6 Vetta HD, lINE 6 Cabinet 300watt, Schecter scorpion guitar, DR custom strings "red Devils", Shure Beta Mics 58,Favorite Black Optic Song: Don't walk AwayWhat band would you like to open for most?: Black SabbathHobbies Outdise Black Optic: Video Games, hanging out at the malls,Fave Drink/Smoke: Soya Milkfavorite Movie: Movie: Texas Chainsaw MassacreFavorite Book: Dreambook Jon Warren:
LEAD GUITARS

How long have you played?: 8 yearsInfluences (Bands): Angel Dust, Chris Polland, Evergrey, Savatage, Megadeth, Andromeda, In Flames, Symphony X, Paul Gilbert, Nevermore, Tony McAlpine, Iced Earth, Children Of Bodom, Blind Guardian, iron maiden, Pantera, Sentenced, testament, Judas PriestFavorite Albums: Andromeda - Final Extension, Blind Guardian - Tales from the Twilight World, Blind Guardian - Imaginations from the other side, Chris Polland - Chansing the Sun, Symphony X - V, Children of Bodom - Hatebreeder, Pantera - Cowboys from Hell, Evergrey - Recreation Day, Evergrey - In Search of Truth, Porcupine Tree - Stupid Dream, Iced Earth - Days of Purgatory, Sentenced - Crimson, Iron Maiden - A Brave New World, Nevermore - This Godless Endevour, Angel Dust - Bleed, Angel Dust - Of Human Bondage, Star OneEquipment:Ibanez guitar, EMG Pickups, Dunlop Gator Picks, Randall RA412XL Cabinet, Crate Powerblock Amp, Line 6 Pod xt Live Floor Pedal, Planet Wave Patch Cords, DR Black Beauty Guitar StringsFavorite Black Optic Song:WhyWhat band would you like to open for most?:Evergrey or Andromeda (cant Decide)Hobbies Outdise Black Optic:Mixing/Mastering Music, Cooking, Starcraft, FootballFave Drink/Smoke:Kilkenny, Smithwicks, Tetleys English Ale, Stella Artois, Tequila,Favorite Movie: Monty Pythons's Holy Grails, Monty Pythons Life of Brian, Beowulf and GrendelFavorite Book: Sho-Gun Derrick Kroll:
DRUMS
+
CONCUSSIONS

How long have you played?: 8 yearsInfluences (Bands): Evergrey, Nevermore, Dio, Dream Theater, Testament, Tad Morose, Symphony x, Andromeda, Opeth, Mercyful Fate, Psychotic Waltz, Children of Bodom, Blind Guardian, Iron Maiden, Racer X, Judas Priest, Exodus, Heathen, Forbidden, Vanden Plas, Wuthering Heights, Angel Dust, Agent Steel, Death, Rainbow, Helstar, Flotsam and Jetsam, Fates Warning, Hades, Spiritual Beggars, Vicious Rumors, Black Sabbath.Favorite Albums: Blind Illusion - The Sane Asylum, Vicious Rumors - Digital Dictator, Xentrix - Shattered Existence, Laaz Rockit - Nothing Sacred, Defiance - Beyond Recognition, Artillery - By Inheritance, Spiritual Beggars - On Fire, Nevermore - Dead Heart in a Dead World, Dream theater - Images and Words, Symphony X - V, Opeth - Deliverance, Forbidden, Twisted into Form, Testament - Practice what you Preach, Savatage - Wake of Magellan, Psychotic Waltz - Mosquito, Megadeth - Rust in Peace, Death Symbolic, Carcass Heartwork, Andromeda - Chimera, Evergrey - In Search of Truth, Mercyful Fate - In the Shadows, Children of Bodom - Hatebreeder, Tad Morose - Modus Vivendi, Wuthering Heights - The Shadow Cabinet, Black Sabbath - Heaven and Hell, Rainbow - Richie Blackmore's Rainbow, Helstar - Nosferatu, Racer X - Superheroes, Flotsam and Jetsam - Doomsday for the Deceiver, Exodus - Pleasures of the Flesh, Megadeth - Killing is my Business.Equipment: Sonar force 2001 finish: silver sparkle: (10", 12" rack toms, 14", 16" floor toms, 14 inch Pearl Masters Custom Maple snare, 14 inch Pearl Reference Series snare. Pearl Eliminator double bass strap style pedal, Remo Emperor for tops, Ambassadors for bottom heads, and Vic Firth X5b's for sticks. My cymbals are. 1) zildjian classic oriental chyna 18", 2) zildjian mega bell ride 21'', 3) 2 Sabian AAXplosion crashes 19"", 4) two Ufip brilliance Splashes 8", 9", 5) sabian HHX Excellerator Hats 14" 6)sabian will calhoun hats for auxillery hats 7) Sabian AA Mini Chyna 16" 8) 20" AAXplosion crash 9) 17" AAXplosion crashFavorite Black Optic Song: Broken Glass or MalisonWhat band would you like to open for most?: ExodusHobbies Outdise Black Optic: Besides being a Bridge Troll, fine cookery, music producing, mixing, reading george carlin and H.P Lovecraft books, Video games, Drinking Jag and smoking greenery with good friends, being with my love of my life chantal, voyaging into realms of many minds, listening to many types of true music weather classical, jazz, fusion, metal, rock etc.Fave Drink/Smoke: Moosehead/Jager/GreensFavorite Movie: Once upon a time in Mexico,..Scarface, Hellraiser 1-3, Evil Dead, Army of Darkness, Big Lebowski, Boondock Saints, Monty Python's Life of Brian, Meaning of life, and The Quest for the Holy Grail, Arlington Road,300, Dawn of the Dead, Night of the Living Dead,Favorite Book: H.P Lovecraft tales of horror and the Macbre When will jesus bring the pork chops (George Carlin) Napalm and Silly Puddy (George Carlin) King Rat, Gia-Gin, Sho-Gun, Tai-Pan (James Clavell) Ancient Egypt

Derik Thome:
BASS GUITARS

How long have you played?: 5 yearsFavorite Bands: Megadeth, Opeth, Death, Tori Amos, The Gathering, Testament, Exodus, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Led Zepplin, Pantera, Type O Negative, Gordian Knot, Borknagar, Pink floyd, Deep Purple, Dream theater, Symphony X, Andromeda, Porcupine Tree, Alice in Chains, Mozart, Bach, Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Nevermore, Judus Priest, Iced Earth,Favorite Albums: See Above bastards!!!Equipment: Ibanez Soundgear SR 905, Yorkville amps and Cabinets, Dr Strings,Favorite Black Optic Song: Broken GlassWhat band would you like to open for most?: Gordian KnotHobbies Outside Black Optic: Social Sciences, Bass guitar, Other forms of artFave Drink/Smoke: Water Favorite Book: Catcher in the Rye
Influences: .............

Black Sabbath, Godsmack, Shadow Gallery,Slayer,Metallica, Carcass,Alice in chains,Helloween, Crossfade, Masterplan, lamb of god, scars of life, tool, Opeth, Gwar, White Zombie, Unleashed, Sepultura, Death, Cannibal Corpse, AC/DC, Marilyn Manson, Iron Maiden, Razor, Andromeda, Testament, Opeth, Nevermore, Children of Bodom, Savatage, Accept, Megadeth, Symphony X, Heathen, Forbidden, Savatage, Judas Priest, Iced Earth, Testament, Exodus, Anthrax, Fates Warning, Blind Guardian, Redemption, Death Angel, Katatonia, Sentenced, Metal Church, Evergrey, Brainstorm, Vicious Rumors, Dark Angel, Bruce Dickinson, Wuthering Heights, Ark, Overkill, Fates Warning, Dream Theater, Symphony X, King Diamond/Mercyful Fate, Psychotic Waltz
.............


Sounds Like: A heavy iron of sorts,meandering through the back alley of darkness only to finding assholes, and wankers!
Record Label: Unsigned
Type of Label: None

My Blog

We took our live songs down. Adding Goodbye studio version

We are nearly at the completion of our first album and because our live tracks were recorded pretty shabbily at the zoo we decided to take them down. The reason was to show all our fans slowly what ou...
Posted by Black Optic on Sun, 16 Sep 2007 11:44:00 PST

Derik Thome has been Black Optics greatest bassist

Derik Thome has been our bassist since April of this year and has done a real kick ass job at making these songs shine. He although cannot commit to BO because of his schooling which starts back up in...
Posted by Black Optic on Tue, 24 Jul 2007 07:20:00 PST

Austin Sullivan leaves Black Optic, last show april 12th, looking for new bassist

It is with sadness we announce Austin Sullivan, our long time bassist, is leaving the band due to musical differences. Our last show with him will be at Grindfest III on April 12th. We open the show f...
Posted by Black Optic on Sat, 24 Mar 2007 12:30:00 PST

Check out this event: Today at the Albert, Music and Booze

Hosted By: Black OpticWhen: 09/02/2007Where: The Royal AlbertAlbert StreetWinnipeg, MB CanadaDescription: Black Optic Click Here To View Event...
Posted by Black Optic on Fri, 09 Feb 2007 11:21:00 PST

COME SEE BLACK OPTIC/KRULL/CODA AT THE ALBERT

Where: The Royal Albert ArmsWhen: Febuary 9th 10p.mBands : Krull, Black Optic, Coda Come out and see a killer heavy metal setlist with winnipegs blistering death metallers Krull, with thrashy machine ...
Posted by Black Optic on Fri, 26 Jan 2007 11:10:00 PST

Derrick is deep into the depths of drum tracks dungeon...

Yes it has been officially more than a year since i have recorded any sort of drum tracks, and since a long year has passed, my playing has improved ten fold. The band Black Optic ( I joined them in M...
Posted by Black Optic on Fri, 24 Nov 2006 06:29:00 PST

Official Black Optic Myspace page has a new layout

Here is our new myspace look, also we created a New logo which was done by Darrin (guitarist/vocalist).  A new Broken Glass contact list was added, and there is a slideshow of some of our promo p...
Posted by Black Optic on Tue, 14 Nov 2006 10:21:00 PST

Review of our show at the zoo and whats to come in the future

Our gig on May 19th at the Zoo (osborne village) kicked a hell of alot of butt! Mostly everything went according to plan cept for one little incident we won't go into. Darrin, John, Ausin and myself w...
Posted by Black Optic on Fri, 26 May 2006 08:22:00 PST

Our Personal myspace pages (fans can check us out!!)

Check out Darrin&Jon, Austin and Derrick's personal myspace page for more information on each of us and our influences. See you at the shot on the 10th all you rowdy, wild metalheads!...
Posted by Black Optic on Thu, 11 May 2006 11:51:00 PST

Completed new track entitled: Why?

Last night the four of us completed our first track together as a unit, since Jon and Derrick joined the band. "Why" is a conglomeration of the creativity, the time and tightness grown by Black O...
Posted by Black Optic on Thu, 27 Apr 2006 01:57:00 PST