| 10/27/2005 |
| Rise of the Fallen |
| By: Gene Padden |
 Local metal band rocks "for real"
Since he started his heavy metal career many years ago, Beyond Fallen vocalist Joe Karavis has been called many things. And you can bet your bottom lip ring that a lot of them weren't all that flattering. It comes with the territory known as the local heavy metal music scene, and it doesn't matter if said scene makes its home in Spokane, Austin, or Wilkes-Barre. It's just the way it is. In the case of Karavis, the man has been a variable pincushion for criticism. In any local "original" music scene, familiarity breeds fondness, and those who shun the rank and file find themselves ostracized - staring at a garage full of unsold CDs the club-hopping public could give two shits about. Karavis and his bands have won countless contests, and anytime a national metal act rolled into town, it seemed he automatically had the gig. Unfortunately - and there are many other bands that can empathize - the collective impression of the rest of the music community isn't such as, "good for them." It's usually more like, "Whose ass did they kiss to get that gig?"
A realist. He and his Beyond Fallen bandmates have a new CD coming out next weekend, and they're spending a lot of money on advertising, and a lot of time beating the streets. Still, they aren't expecting the world when they hit the stage at The Island Club. "We're probably playing to our own crowd really," he said. "It's our music. I'm not going to go into a Red Sox bar if I'm a Yankees fan and try to convince them the Red Sox suck. They're going to hate it, and that's it. We're playing to our crowd." Karavis said he wouldn't be surprised "if 10 people showed up." When you make the conscious decision to play music you love as opposed to whatever modern radio has embraced, you deal with the ramifications, and you rock. Beyond Fallen is an acquired taste, a band that opted to honor its metal influences rather than drop-tune for the masses. And that's metal in its true form, not what passes for metal these days. We're talking about Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, and Judas Priest. Yeah, see? You're already cringing. That's fine with Beyond Fallen. "We'd rather play two shows a month in front of somebody who wants to see us than a bunch of shows in front of people who don't," Karavis said. "People have already made up their minds that they like hip-hop or something before they go out to see a band. You're not going to change their minds. It's what I call 'Valley-itis.' It's an unwillingness to embrace anything they aren't used to." Playing such a style has earned the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton-based band a label of old-school. While there aren't legions of music lovers packing our local night clubs to see bands that remind them of their free-wheeling youth, the sound has earned Beyond Fallen quite a bit of International recognition. A quick glance at the band's Web site reveals reviews from media in Germany, Greece, and Belgium, to name a few. Heavy metal has always ruled the European and especially Scandinavian countries, and these outlets have heaped praise on Karavis and his vocal work. Again, he has taken it all in stride. "Those reviews are from the old CD, which is surprising because we didn't think it was that good," he said with a chuckle. "My lyrics are metal lyrics. They're cheesy or whatever. Some people dig them. Ten years from now, I'll look back and say, 'God why did I write that?'" Despite the rave overseas reviews, each of Beyond Fallen's members have committed jobs and aren't about to hop a boat over to the Old Country. But the attention did get the band distribution deals and some much-needed sales to supplement the recording. The new CD, Lost in the Shadows, is a result of more money, time, and effort spent in the studio. And Karavis has his best lineup yet: Steve Jasvilewicz, guitar; Mike Johnson, guitar; Chuck Donahue, bass; and Tom Carden, drums. The CD's artwork and song titles elude to dark and desperate times, but Karavis explained that there's more to their work than doom and gloom. "It seems dark and hopeless, but I'm not a dark and hopeless guy," he said. "Otherwise, I'd check out now. What's the point? A lot of it I think came across as political without even trying." Scanning through the tracks, it doesn't take a brain surgeon to realize songs like "Mask of Deception," "Lost in the Shadows," "Fuel the Fire," "and "The Lowest Point" just might pertain to some of today's news headlines. "We're not trying to push an agenda or anything like that," he said. "I am pissed off at a lot of what's happening right now, but we don't get too topical with lyrics because then years from now they won't be relevant." Just like years from now, he realizes his band that he loves might not matter, either. "We have no prospects," he said. "We could tell everybody we have label interest, but I won't come out and say we have label interest and be an asshole about it. "Is that supposed to get people interested in you? People don't care. We all make money outside the band. We can do what we want creatively. If we want to write big, dumb, thrash songs, we can do it." Given today's modern rock climate, some "big, dumb, thrash" could be a welcomed departure. Beyond Fallen's fanbase, which is a very vocal crew, has a craving for the genre. Karavis said the most difficult task the band deals with is finding these people in the woodwork. "Our friends will talk your ears off about all kinds of music - not just metal," he said. "So many people have approached us in the past year and just happened to be at a show and they had no idea we were a local band. They're like, 'Where do you play?' And it's like, 'Wherever we can get a gig.'" Beyond Fallen's CD release on November 5 is also the band's two-year anniversary party. Balero, Lowlyfe, Ethereal Collapse, Absolution, and Idol Eyez will also perform. Karavis, the consummate realist, has but one message for those who might stumble upon Beyond Fallen's party next weekend. "If you think we suck, that's OK," he said. "But give other things a chance. And not just us. People work hard being in a band. People do it because they love music. We might get only 10 people. We're going to have fun and put on a show regardless." WHAT: Beyond Fallen CD release WHEN: Saturday, Nov. 5, 8 p.m. WHERE: The Island Club, Route 6, Mayfield MORE INFO: Visit www.beyondfallen.com |
