(Stoner Metal / Doom Metal) Venomin James - Crowe Valley Blues - 2010, MP3 (tracks), 320 kbps

VENOMIN JAMES is based out of Kirtland, Ohio. Known as “Kultland” by the locals, a mysterious land of contradiction just east of Cleveland. A land of some of the highest elevations and deepest gulches in the state. The first encampment of the Mormons (1836), home to vicious cult’s and slayings (Lundgren slayings 1989). An affluent area strangely visited by former presidents while fund raising for their campaign. You feel Kirtland in your bones, there is a strange energy present. Out of this devil’s triangle hails VENOMIN JAMES a heavy mysterious band, wrapped in tragedy and enigma.
VENOMIN JAMES music recalls classic bands such as Black Sabbath, Captain Beyond, Cream and Led Zeppelin while drawing comparisons to more contemporary bands such as Kyuss, Down, Goatsnake, Sleep, Corrosion of Conformity and the Swedish “death n’ roll” band Entombed. The band describes their sound as “Heavy Doom Rock”.
In 2007 VENOMIN JAMES released their debut full length album “LEFT HAND MAN” and received an instant underground cult following worldwide.
Left hand Man was written on the heels of vocalist Jim Meador’s Army deployment to Iraq (A US Army Sergeant) resulting in some of the doom soaked tracks being directly influenced by his experiences. Meador is one of thousands who are now haunted by memories of intense violence and the unforgiving ugliness of war. Political statements, however, are notably absent. Within the lyrics of songs such as “Abu Ghraib” and “Downer”, there are only lyrical snapshots of what soldiers face on a day-to-day basis. The album’s lyrics as a whole seem to act as a conduit for Meador’s repressed emotions, attempting to exorcise demons and ghosts plaguing his thoughts.
The overriding arc of “Left Hand Man” deals not only with violence and war, but also of situations existing within contemporary society.
Says Meador of the themes present in Venomin James’ music: “There is an apocalyptic vibe everywhere these days. Mass media, news, art, music, the stock market, and even our environment is soaked with the feeling of recklessness and impending doom.” “Things are not good right now” He adds, “I think our music reflects the common uncertainty, fears and confusion of this generation.”
VENOMIN JAMES was formed in 2006 by guitarists Joe Fortunato, Tomasz Scull and Bassist Erin Corcoran. All of the afformentioned grew up ravenous listeners of classic guitar rock and heavy metal. Meador and drummer Jared Koston rounded out the band’s doom laden rock sound with introspective lyrics, soaring vocals and dynamic & powerful drumming.
The band caught the interest of local Cleveland metal legend Bill Peters in 2008, President of Cleveland Ohio independant label AUBURN RECORDS and long running DJ on the world famous “Metal on Metal” radio show for 27 years.
VENOMIN JAMES fell on black days in the spring of 2009 as they were preparing to release their sophomore album “Crowe Valley Blues”. Meador was once again called to duty with the US Army, this time to the mountains of Afghanistan.
Far more disconcerting was the advancement of drummer Jared Koston’s cancer from Melanoma. While Meador was serving overseas, Koston fought a battle at home enduring several months of agonizing cancer treatment, all the while continuing to write, record and even fight through his sickness to play instrumental sets for some Cleveland metal fund raisers.
Their beloved brother and extremely talented drummer, Jared Koston past on June 1st 2010 after a long hard fought battle with the demon of Cancer.
Meador returned home in July, 2010 and after long deliberation Venomin James made the decision to move forward with the release of “Crowe Valley Blues” and work harder than ever in honor of their fallen brother Jared.
“The band will continue and work harder than ever, this is what Jared would want. We have to honor Jared’s life with everything we do from here forward. We have to do this…” ~ Meador.
“Jared was more than just the drummer in our band, he was family - a brother. His family is our family. It’s hard to sum up someone like him. There are not enough words to describe his heart and his soul. He was just this unassuming guy who was very warm and genuine. He was real. There wasn’t a malicious bone in his makeup. He was THE human being in a world of phonies.” ~ Fortunato.
CROWE VALLEY BLUES saw its release on AUBURN RECORDS on Sept 14th 2010. The album is being distributed thru CENTURY MEDIA and THE END records distribution channels, as well as Itunes, Amazon.com and cdbaby.com
The band is currently working on their third album, “Unholy Mountain”, which will see release Spring 2011 on Auburn Records. Their debut album, “Left Hand Man” sees a vinyl reissue on Ripple Music in Spring 2011 with 2 brand new bonus tracks.
Venomin James has shared the stage with a variety of respected acts, including: Lo-Pan, Trouble, Red Fang, Ringworm, Pale Creation, Forged In Flame, Fu Manchu, Brand New Sin, Seemless, Unearthly Trance, Mushroomhead, Bad Wizard, Early Man, 3 Inches of Blood, facedowninshit, Artimus Pyledriver, Abdullah, The Suede Brothers, and Red Giant.

Cleveland, Ohio-based metal band VENOMIN JAMES will release its second album, "Crowe Valley Blues", on September 14 via Auburn Records. The self-produced CD, which was issued overseas in July, was recorded at the band's own Supernatural Sound studio in Kirtland, Ohio and includes the four-track "Death's Wings" EP as a bonus.
"Crowe Valley Blues" track listing:
01. Desert Rider
02. Cosmonaut
03. Death's Wings
04. Dire Days
05. Make No Mistake
06. Under The Gun
07. Tierra Muerta
08. Penitentiary Glen
"Death's Wings" EP
09. Abu Ghraib (remix)
10. Death's Wings (outtake)
11. Bullet Juice (demo)
12. Downer (demo)
"Crowe Valley Blues" will be distributed in the U.S. by The End, Century Media, Sentinel Steel, Amazon, CD Baby and iTunes.
"The album is the first real VENOMIN JAMES album written as a fully formed band," says guitarist Joe Fortunato.
"The first album, 'Left Hand Man', was almost all written before Jared [Koston, drums] and Jim [Meador, vocals] joined.
"'Crowe Valley Blues' was born from jamming in a room together, road-tested on stage, and captured to tape as pure as possible. VENOMIN JAMES lives in these tracks.
"'Crowe Valley Blues' really is a true statement of the VENOMIN JAMES's sound, and everyone's musical style is present.
"Our big motivation was finding a way to top what we did on 'Left Hand Man' while continuing to develop and push our songwriting and recording skills forward. We also spent a great deal of time trying to capture the power of our live shows on record, while still trying to push the recording into a more polished and cohesive album — basically trying to make 'Crowe Valley Blues' bigger and meaner than 'Left Hand Man' while sounding sonically superior and huge.
"Bottom line: Crowe Valley is a place of old superstitions and paranormal tales, forgotten places and dark forests. We injected the essence of being there into the songs."
The Ripple Music label will release a remixed version of "Left Hand Man" on vinyl (release date to be determined).
Drummer Jared Koston passed away of cancer on June 1, 2010 at his home in Madison, Ohio surrounded by his family and friends. He was 40 years old. Jared left behind a wife and four children. He had no health insurance at the time of his death.
Auburn Records will donate $1 from the sale of each CD to the Jared Koston Memorial Fund.
"Despite the rough economic times, this is something I wanted to do to help Michele (Jared's widow) and her kids," says Auburn Records president Bill Peters.
"The family is still in need of financial support. They incurred a lot of debts during the time of Jared's illness.
"Auburn Records and the international heavy metal community have already donated thousands of dollars to the Kostons.
"I want to continue to help this family any way I can. They will never be forgotten and are forever in our hearts."
Donations can be made as follows:
PayPal donations can be sent to jaredkoston@rocketmail.com. (Be sure to mark "personal," then select "gift.")
Cash, checks or money orders (payable to Michele Koston) can be sent to:
The Koston Family
3060 Princeton Drive
Madison, Ohio 44057
USA
VENOMIN JAMES will play its first live show since Jared's death on September 9 at the Grog Shop in Cleveland, opening for FU MANCHU. Longtime friend of the band Brandon Abate (LIVING STEREO) will fill in on drums. Drummer Eric Matthews (RED GIANT, PRO-PAIN, THE SPUDMONSTERS, ALTER BOYS) will join as a semi-permanent member for future shows.
Michele and the Koston family have given VENOMIN JAMES their full blessing to continue on without Jared.
"Going on stage for the first time since Jared's death feels strange and empty, but at the same time feels like we're honoring him by keeping it going," says Fortunato.
"Are we doing the right thing by continuing without him?
"Why is there guilt when he made it clear that we needed to keep on going?
"Up until the time he was too sick to really get around, he was actively involved in making music with us. In the hospital bed, he would ask how mixes were shaping up, and how the new material was sounding — his tracks had been recorded when he was still able to play drums. He made us feel like we couldn't give up on this dream...which was his dream.
"I personally feel like I am trying to keep his memory alive through the music. Every time we play a song, I pretend he's behind the kit, smiling and laughing. His spirit is in the songs, and his presence is felt in every note and pause. We could not be here without his talent and his drive. This band could not have come this far without his presence in our lives.
"The five of us in VENOMIN JAMES have shared moments, pieces of time, that no other person on Earth will ever know. When we step out on stage, I will remember those moments, and most of all, I will remember my brother behind that kit — he's just back there killing it.
"We will be the best because music lovers need to know how fucking awesome Jared was, and in the songs, still is."
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=145765

Jim Meador – vocals
Joe Fortunato – guitar
Tomasz Scull – guitar
Erin Corcoran – bass