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Welcome to the Army of the walking wounded...Welcome to the Pain . . .Pagan Graves was founded in 1998 by singer/songwriter Kwis do qua Bigcat Whitehead, former frontman for bands; Zero Population Growth (aka. Z.P.G), Luvroxx & Black Obsidian. Pagan Graves put the West Texas hardcore scene on notice with their debut independent release, "My Right to die". Shortly after completing their first successful headline tour, Pagan Graves began sharing the stage with such iconic bands as Fear Factory, Slayer, Hatebreed, Diecast, Nothingface, Cannibal Corpse, Suicidal Tendencies, King's X, Dream Theater, Sacred Reich, Union Underground for performances throughout the U.S.Pagan Graves eventually attracted the attention of Capitol Records representatives via Darksilver Records owner Michael L. Thomas. After the Time/Warner/EMI merger, the band was pleased to learn they had been retained along with 60 other acts only awaiting their recording budgets. This good news would turn dark when the band were shelved for the next 24 months due to Capitol Records reshuffling their personnel and esp. the representative whom the band had negotiated being reassigned within the company. This eventually left the band no alternative but to petition for their outright release, with their release finally being granted 6 months later.Now after a signifigant hiatus, Pagan Graves have returned this past Spring by recording a new CD titled "America Indeed" due for release at the end of 2007, .. to serve as its first official release since the CD Resurrection was recorded. Bigcat has rejoined with guitarist Joe Jicha (Z.P.G & Luvroxx) and guitarist Pablo Kruz (Federal Offense) in writing and recording this new albumThe current incarnation of Pagan Graves includes singer/songwriter Bigcat, drummer Jonathan Dehaven, guitarist Pablo Kruz, bassist Loyd Sloan, Lead guitarist Joe Jicha. Pagan Graves lineup has been very fluid over the years, with Bigcat being the only constant. He says he initially considered touring again under a different moniker. .."For a while, I thought, I won't use this name; since Pagan Graves had become a dead entity sitting on the shelf,".... he says. .."But really it wasn't, because there were and are so many people out there that still want to hear us who connect with the message behind our music. I feel we owe it to them and to ourselves to continue. We started out to complete a mission of bringing light to the abused existing in the shadows and we intend to see it through.""The new music while similar to "My Right to die" (several tracks being remixed and included on "America Indeed"), but is maybe a little more simplistic and direct," says Bigcat. "On My right to die, everything was about different degrees of death, and I was definitely in that frame of mind then. More than a sequel to Resurrection.. 'America Indeed' is more about the craziness of our world and our government and what we should do about preserving what America truly stands for."From the pose of Jesus of Nazareth with the American flag draped over his shoulder reaching out to the listener with his blood covered hand that graces the cover, to the lyrics that permeate this album, there is a definitive patriotic call to act on this CD.Bigcat is also nearing the half-way point on his most artistic CD to date titled "Loving acts of masochism" due for release in 2008. This CD tackles the fear, anger, uncertainty and sadness that comes with watching your world crumble around you at the end of what was suppose to last forever. Bigcat has drawn from his own past lyrically in writing this album. From the failure of the band's original recording contract to the demise of his band mates to his personal life culminating in the loss of his child, this CD is a roller coaster of emotion. All the while guitarist Pablo brings his own pain to the table from his past and together these two have learned more how to cope with these feelings, realizing now how little control each held over their situations. "Everything just fell apart for me, and that happens to alot of people esp. bands.. the harder I squeezed to hold onto it the more it slipped right through my hands. Somehow, someway, we have endured to put it all back together again, and I see now that it's exactly what we had to do. We have to finish what we started, so this time we are starting with the lyrics, and developed from there, from what we've gone through personally. It just so happens Pablo and I share similiar pain from our pasts and it really shows when we perform together. All the songs are about something different, but they are still all about the same basic ideal... innocence lost. There were times I had my doubts I would ever perform or record again, but then I realized what I needed to do was remove my importance from this equation and just make art. I hope through our music we can continue to reach out to those left in the shadows hiding their beating scars from view. With Pablo and Joe at my side we are doing just that. We have rebuilt this monster that is Pagan Graves and found its' heart still beating strong. For the first time in a long time I feel we are doing this for all the right reasons. It is irrelevant whether you like or dislike this new CD, it only matters whether you dig it or not. We are that voice screaming in the night demanding RIGHT now to be heard! We march on along side our Army of walking wounded to bring you a style of music that is as honest as it is brutal. There are scenes that will stick in your mind long after the disturbing images and hum of the guitars are gone. The time of the Reckoning is at hand... the time for Pagan Graves to rise has come again.""Pagan Graves are part Metal band and part horror flick. This is one of the most unique bands I have ever seen. They touched on a basic thread that sent shockwaves through my brain the rest of the night and into the following day."Michael Worthington Editor of Texas Metal Underground"Your fucking stupid if you don't pay attention to this band."Dana Mathews of KZRR 94 FM Albuquerque, New MexicoPagan Graves musikDebutreleasereleaserelease
CD200720072008
