Artist Information Biography Hemlok was formed with the thought of creating different music that would lend itself to dramatic live performance.  These performances formed the very definition of their music, less a presentation of songs and more a soundtrack to some otherworldly event.  Though this may sound abstract, it's not: Hemlok's music is at once surreal and rocking, able to please those left of center and still receive nomination in the Providence Phoenix Best Music Poll. Taking cues from bands such as A Perfect Circle, Rush, King Crimson, and Muse writing began on songs that had one foot firmly in solid rock and the other in textural detail more in line with bands like Radiohead, The Cure, and Tool.  Songs could open with a dramatic, droning bowed guitar fanfare and quickly give way to schizophrenic band interplay, held together by standout vocal or instrumental themes. Hemlok has, throughout its existence, been both very deliberate and yet chaotic..... *Their current lineup is their strongest and most talented, but actually came together when the band pretty much dissolved around two members and still had several high-profile shows coming up..... *Their guitarist, John, loved the violin playing that bands like King Crimson and the Mahavishnu Orchestra had in their lineup.....so he bowed his guitar with both an E-bow AND a violin bow. When fans started joking "What next, a doubleneck?", he actually took them very seriously..... *Their vocalist, Janis, had sung primarily in karaoke situations....so, diversity in Hemlok material came naturally. *Bri came to Hemlok not knowing what to expect, and created a role in the band (electric violin) that many fans feel is a necessary element to their music. *Bassist Kevin Williams came to Hemlok from a band that frequently gigged with them.... meaning he not only knew songs upon his audition, he knew the potted band history. He also had previously been a vocalist and guitarist in his own band.....meaning he knew how to play most of the songs barring drums! *Their studio keyboardist, Dave,  is a confirmed analog purist. His unique Moog, Hammond Organ and Mellotron arrangements are actually Moog, Hammond Organ, and Mellotron. *Proving they aren't stuck in a thematic rut, songs which examine more introspective ideas ("Mad") or relationship themes ("Seamless")  are countered with instrumentals based on minor fantasy characters ("Isildur") or Lovecraftian mythos ("Nyarlathotep"). The strength of their material and performances afforded them the opportunity to begin professionally recording at Oxbow Studios in Wayland, MA with engineering and production duties handled by David Butler (Boston, Led Zeppelin) as well as at TRS studios, whose staff can count members of both Ministry and The Butthole Surfers amongst their clientele. It was now that Dave McNally assisted with production duties and  provided remakable keyboard arrangements that truly gave Hemlok's music the "widescreen treatment": Songs that before hinted at grand ideas now had lush mellotron orchestration and otherworldly moog synthesizers and theremins to help fill out their epic intentions. It was also now that small, living room-sized club shows began to be replaced with more urban and ambitious bookings, ranging from a packed fetish club in Providence, Rhode Island, the Keene Music Festival in New Hampshire, the New England Punk, Goth, and Metal Festival, and now the Rock the Ink fetsival as well.  Their music has had a constant online presence through their own website's soundpage as well as a stint as a "Band of the Week" on European radio in Amsterdam, and features on countless other internet radio stations. The musical adventures continue, as even now Hemlok have accompanied Cirque Du Singe Brise, a troupe that organizes shows based around artistic excellence and diversity. Additionally, Hemlok found themselves recently nominated in the Providence Phoenix Best Music Poll, proving their fans weren't the only ones taking notice of their music. Which brings us to the present. Continuing to serve their ambition, Hemlok now continues to develop their live show and has released their first proper CD recording Shades of Passing. What Hemlok bring to the table are an unbeatable, musically theatric live show which grabs the audience through moods chilling and fantastic, spacey yet immediate. Acquire the taste now, and experience an act unlike any making the rounds today. Instrumentation John McGrath - Guitars and Devices Janis Cimerol - Lead Vocals Matt Pasetti - Drums and percussion Bri Alves - Vocals, Electric Violin Kevin Williams - Bass Guitar Dave McNally - Mellotron, Moog Synthesizer, Theremin (Studio and occasional live performance) Discography "Shades of Passing"  (Independent Release) Tracks from our CD are available for both download and streaming audio at www.hemlok.com and at www.myspace.com/hemlokmyspace Recommended tracks: "Cybernaut", "Hope's Silent Scream", and "Isildur" Links http://www.hemlok.com