I am way to busy for this xanga shit now! Especially since the band has picked up such momentum. I am excited for that! I am offically getting paid by FYE now....weird I miss SG! Lots of good shows have been played...Lots of new fans have been made! Rambling....blah!
Buy an album by a band called "The Sword" they bring the metal hard!
I love my IPOD!
Next Sunday I will be 25....weird! ( i will be wheelchair-bound soon)
I am finishing the Johnny Cash tattoo this week!
My house is nice as hell now....we got new flooring and our new couch will be here Thur..
Derek makes cable way cheaper!
I still love Tom Petty.
FYE bought Sam Goody...irony!
Download "Tyrone" by Eryka Badu...my top played!
Another reason Canada is better than us - Danko Jones
Our trailer is taller than 7' 3"...thanks Pullman!
People think we have a song called "Your mother sucks cocks in Hell"...thats funny.
I did an interview for "The Gazz" w/ OZZ of X106.3 fame....check it out!
The Verdict Is In: Let The Guilty Hang
Was St. Patrick a metalhead? This Friday night, the loudest spot in town will be The Sound Factory. Byzantine is back, along with a band everyone should be familiar with by now, DownState. Those two bands will share the stage with a band that has one of the coolest names around here, Let The Guilty Hang.
Unfortunately, there's no amazing story behind the origin or inspiration for the band's name. Drummer Daniel Johnson said, "I just thought of it one day while at work." Let The Guilty Hang, which also features vocalist Derek Maynard, bassist Adam Adkins (who also handles some vocals) and the guitar tandem of Beavare and Joe "The Baerski" Baer, hails from Almost Heaven, West Virginia (at least that's what their MySpace profile says).
The band is quickly becoming known in the metal underground. Since forming in January 2005, Let The Guilty Hang has opened for national bands The Haunted, As I Lay Dying, The Black Dahlia Murder, It Dies Today, Scum Of The Earth, Terror and Ringworm. They also opened one of Chum's rare reunion shows.
Each opportunity has been taken very seriously. Johnson explained, "We spent a lot of time prepping the show before coming out and doing shows. Even when we were new to the crowd, we were very prepared and rehearsed when we hit the stage."
They have also spent some time working on a CD at 101 Productions in Sissonville with recording guru Aaron Fisher. He's the same guy as the Charles A. Fisher who got production credits on the last two Byzantine CDs. Byz frontman O.J. is also helping to produce the disc, which might be called We Ride At Dawn.
"The recording is moving along at an OK pace," Johnson said. "We are still doing some pre-production for a few tunes because we intended on doing an EP, but we got in and it sounded so good and everyone was having such a good time that we chose to move on with doing a full record!"
Until the official release date comes along, curious headbangers can check out three songs, "From Exile To Exodus", "As Embers Fall" and "Say Goodnite", on the band's MySpace page (an official website is in the works). Anyone who is into bands like The Black Dahlia Murder, Killswitch Engage, Lamb Of God and Unearth or even bands like Pantera, Slayer, Megadeth and Metallica will like Let The Guilty Hang. All those bands have been cited as influences.
Of course, Byzantine is also an influence. The two bands have done a handful of shows together already. Johnson is both a fan and friend. "They are the strongest metal band to ever come out of this area and are holding their own with everyone from Lamb of God to Shadows Fall. They released one of the best metal/thrash records I have ever heard, and they may very well be the nicest dudes ever!" exclaimed Johnson.
Let The Guilty Hang might be coming around at just the right time, as a handful of West Virginia bands have made or have the potential to make the jump to the national level. Johnson said, "It's so good to see bands like American Minor -- who are amazing, Bobaflex -- memebers of the 'good dude crew', and Holden Caulfield -- forefathers of the 'good dude crew' following in the footsteps of other great West Virginia bands like Chum, Karma to Burn and Wrathchild America. It doesn't take a record deal to solidify that a group is good, but these bands just happen to have a record deal and be good!"
In addition to promoting his own band, Johnson has been championing the local scene. He thinks the scene has benefitted from better venues than the American Legion halls and YWCAs that bands used to frequent. One of his favorites is HYAMP (which stands for Huntington Youth and Music Project). One of Let The Guilty Hang's first big performances was an opening slot an an Ozzfest offdate show there last summer.
"It's an all-ages non-profit venue hosting nationals and allowing locals the chance to play to hundreds of fans, unheard of in West Virginia when I was young. Plus it's a quality venue with a great staff and a good PA. Anything that can be done to see that place stick around should be priority number one for any fan of local music or independent music in general," Johnson stated.
He continued, "I would just like to see people support good music and be active. Send e-mails to clubs asking to see your favorite bands, and do your part when those shows do come to town. Every band started somewhere. It's up to you as a fan to be active and spread the word about bands you enjoy. Buy anything local. Support the scene and the scene will support you."
You can do your part by celebrating St. Patrick's Day with Let The Guilty Hang, DownState and Byzantine. The Sound Factory awaits. Things should start erupting after 10:00. | 
