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| Photography: Hristo Shindov |
I have recently come across a band whose music is unique and
has killer vocals with each song by this band; the name of the band is called
Butcher Babies. I came across this band while looking at, mostly, festival
photos which have featured various metal bands. As I was looking at the
festival photos – ranging from the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival;
Download Festival; Rock on the Range; Graspop Metal Meeting and Hellfest – I
came across the Butcher Babies performing at most of the festivals. Their music
sound is indeed unique as their music is not the same metal sound you’ve heard
before from time and time again. The band is a heavy metal band, but their
sound has a punk metal sound to their music. The reason I am blogging about the
Butcher Babies is simply because I have become such a great fan of theirs and
would like to share with you some information about the band for any newcomers
to this band and also get to know some insight about the band.
The Butcher Babies released their debut album titled “Goliath”
via Century Media Records back in July the 9th 2013. The album
“Goliath” had sold 3, 300 copies in the US during the first week of the album’s
release. The album also charted at number 3 on the Billiard Heatseeker chart
and reached at number 112 on the Billiard 200. The second album titled “Take It
Like a Man” was released also via Century Media Records in August 21st
2015. The album “Take It Like a Man” charted at number 76 on the Billiard 200.
The band has also released two EPs which are titled “Butcher Babies” which was
released in May 2012 and “Uncovered” which was released in September 2014.
The Butcher Babies band consists of the following band
members:
Lead vocals: Heidi
Shepherd and Carla Harvey
Guitar: Henry
Flury
Bass Guitar: Jason
Klein
Drums: Chrissy Warner
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| The band members starting from the left: Henry Flury (guitars), Carla Harvey (vocals), Jason Klein (bass), Heidi Shepherd (vocals) and Chrissy Warner (drums). Photography: Tim Tronckoe |
To start off with, the Butcher Babies are a heavy metal band
from Los Angeles, California. Los Angeles is also nicknamed the “City of
Angels”. The Butcher Babies consider their music as “slut metal” or “punk
metal”. The Butcher Babies band name originated after one of the punk rock
band, Plasmatics songs titled “Butcher Baby”. The Butcher Babies gained a lot
of attention from their video on YouTube covering the song “F***ing Hostile” by
the heavy metal band Pantera.
The Butcher Babies was founded in 2010 originally by Heidi
Shepherd and Carla Harvey. After Heidi and Carla formed the band, they then went
out to seek more band members, and they are currently Henry Flury, Jason Klein
and Chris Warner. Heidi and Carla have stated they wanted to find band members who
they can connect with and who would understand where Carla and Heidi were going
with their music careers.
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| Photography: Psyko Boys |
Before the formation of the Butcher Babies, Heidi was in a
punk band who would sing cover songs from various musicians. Carla found the
punk band via the social media page MySpace and then became part of the band.
Heidi and Carla met in the punk cover band in 2008. While the two were in the
punk cover band, they both had a vision of what they wanted to do for their
careers and ended up working together and also left the punk cover band. Heidi
and Carla wanted to form their own band where they can write their own music
and lyrics instead of covering other musician’s songs.
Before Carla joined the Butcher Babies, she landed her very
first job as an Entertainment Reporter for the Playboy Channel in Hollywood.
In 2011, the Butcher Babies First single was released and was titled "Blonde Girls All Look the Same".
During 2011, the Butcher Babies caught the
attention of Rock Journalist Keith Valcourt in which he stated the Butcher
Babies as the “Hottest band in the World”. In the journalist’s review, he
stated that the Butcher Babies bring a “loud crashing blend of heavy metal,
punk and thrash that recalls Pantera”. He also added that the Butcher Babies
add to their stage show the horror bizarre of Alice Cooper and Rob Zombie. He has
also said that Carla and Heidi do not just merely sing, they strike the crowd
with a “blinding flash of aggression and abuse. And the crowd loves them for
it”. |
| The Butcher Babies when they first started out. Photography: Psyko Boys |
In the year 2011, a comic book – with DeepCut Productions – was
released at Comic Con International in San Diego 2011. The comic book is about
the origins of the Butcher Babies band and how Heidi and Carla were raised. The
comic book was written by Carla Harvey and was illustrated by Anthony Winn –
who also works for none other than the Stan Lee. This was also Carla Harvey’s
first published comic book and the comic book premiered with excellent success.
The Hustler Magazine named Carla a “comic book
mastermind”. Carla has also released 2 special edition sketchbook's titled “Gash”
which was released in December 2011 and in the year 2014. The sketchbook's are dedicated to Carla
Harvey’s favourite subject, which are women. |
| The Butcher Babies front cover of the comic book which was published by DeepCut Productions. |
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| Carla Harvey's second addition sketchbook titled "Gash 2" which was released in 2014. |
Carla has a big passion for writing, as she has also written
her first full-length novel titled “Death and Other Dancers” in 2014. Some of
the songs from the Butcher Babies debut album titled “Goliath” had inspired
some of the events that occurred in Carla’s novel, but Carla has not said
specifically which songs from the debut album inspired her novel.
During the year 2012, the Butcher Babies released their
self-released album as their first EP.
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| The Butcher Babies self-released album cover. |
In January 2012, the Butcher Babies premiered their first
new song titled “Mr. Slowdeath” which is on their self-released EP and in the
month May, the music video for the song was released, and the music video was
produced by Murdock. The music video was directed by Davo @
MusicMediaGroups.tv. The music video was filmed in Hollywood, California, and
featured Disney Channel’s star Allisyn Arm from the Disney Channel’s show
titled “Sonny with a Chance” and “So Random”.
The music video was filmed on a low budget.
In the music video, it states that it is based on a story by
the Butcher Babies. The music video starts off with the main female actress who
is looking into the camera, and is seen having flashbacks of her happy
childhood days. The scenes change to the present day where the girl is then
seen in her room, holding her teddy bear and crying, and hearing her parents
arguing with each other. The scene is then changed to a desert looking scene where
the Butcher Babies band is standing. Another scene shows the girl getting
frustrated about her bad home life, and she gets up and starts to play the song
for the music video “Mr. Slowdeath”. The girl can then be seen applying make up
to her face. A Butcher Babies poster can be seen on the left hand side of this
scene. The girl then escapes out her house and runs away to the same desert
looking scene where the Butcher Babies are performing the song. The girl then
holds her thumb up for a lift to go to Hollywood, where the girl walks on the
streets. Her life goes downhill from there. The scene is then shown to what
looks like the girl grown up – who appears to be a hooker – and gets in a car
with a man and they both go to a motel. There is a scene then where the grown
up girl is carrying a knife and appears to have stabbed the man. She then walks
out of the motel, screaming, and walks to her family house, and sits on the
bed, and then she sees her teddy bear and then the scene changes to the girl
back to her young age, lying on the bed and holding her teddy bear, closing her
eyes. During these scenes from the story line in the music video, there are scenes
showing the band performing the song in a desert-like looking scene.
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| Snapshots taken from the music video "Mr. Slowdeath" directed by Davo. Top left: The flashbacks of the female actress's happy childhood. Top right: The female actress holding her teddy bear while listening to her parents arguing. Top middle left: The Butcher Babies in the desert-looking scene. Top middle right: The female actress applying her make-up and the band poster is seen next to her. Bottom left: The Butcher Babies performing the song. Bottom right: The grown up female actress outside the Motel. |
In December 2012, the Butcher Babies signed a worldwide deal
with the record label Century Media Records, and after 1 month of the signing
deal, the band went on the road and toured with Marilyn Manson. During this
tour, the Butcher Babies popularity grew even more as this tour proved to be
one of the most talked about tours during the New Year. A few days after
wrapping the tour in the City of Sin, the Butcher Babies were in Los Angeles at
the time and were in the studio with producer Josh Wilbur – who has also worked
with Lamb of God and Hatebreed – recording their debut album. The Butcher
Babies have said in an interview that working with Josh Wilbur was an excellent
experience as he had helped the band explore themselves as musicians and to
further develop their unique sound and music that will be the sound of the
Butcher Babies. The band also have stated in an interview that recording a
debut album has been in the works since they were at a young age and the band
have said they are proud to have created a collaboration of all their personal
influences into one complete sound. Carla Harvey has stated on behalf of the
Butcher Babies first full-length album being released on a major record label
that the band needed a record label that would take the band to the next level.
Carla has also said the band was very “hands on” and that the band ran
“everything, but we need that machine behind us as well”.
In an interview with Rock Confidential, Heidi had said that
to have an album released through a record label was “awesome for us,
especially a label we all looked up to.” Heidi also added that the record label
– Century Media Records – have been like a family to the band and for the
record label to take the band onboard and give the them great support is
something the band does appreciate.
Heidi has stated in an interview that people may
not know much about the band at that point in time, but the band’s debut album
will show the people what kind of music the band will have and who they really
are. |
| Photography: Jeremy Saffer |
On June the 6th in 2013, the Butcher Babies
released a lyric video for their song “I Smell a Massacre” on YouTube. This
also marks the band’s first single off their debut album. The single reached at
number 8 on the Liquid Metal Devil’s Dozen countdown.
In the lyric video,
it features the boy who is the on the front cover of the album titled
“Goliath”. The lyric video shows pictures of the boy by a street, and in what
looks like his mother’s room, and another picture shows the father raising his
hand and the mother is screaming, and the boy looks like he is hiding on the
other side of the table where his parents are. Another picture shows the boy in
the streets sitting against a wall and then again throwing a rock to the
ground. There are some other pictures as well, but this seems to tell the story
of the boy’s life and that his home life is not good.
Two other songs from the Butcher Babies debut album streamed
on June 20th in 2013. The two songs were titled “Magnolia Blvd” and “The
Deathsurround”.
The second single titled “Magnolia Blvd” played on the
active radio station titled Sirius XM Octane.
The band then released their debut album titled “Goliath” on
09 July 2013 in the U.S and 22nd July 2013 in Europe. The debut
album was also celebrated as part of the Butcher Babies tour with the 2013
Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival.
This was also the Butcher Babies first big headliner,
joining other bands such as Five Finger Death Punch, Motionless in White,
Huntress, Children of Bodom and Rob Zombie at the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem
Festival 2013 which ran from June – August 2013. The Rockstar Energy Drink
Mayhem Festival had 4 stages in each show, and the Butcher Babies performed on
the stage which was called the Jägermeister Stage. Serene Dominic of
AZcentral.com has stated that the Butcher Babies performed to one of the
largest crowd of the afternoon, while Serene Dominic attended the 2013 Rockstar
Energy Drink Mayhem Festival in Phoenix, AZ, and Serene also cited the band as
the 4th best set of the festival, and also added that the band
“inspired the biggest and most dangerous circle pit of the day.”
The Butcher Babies have performed at the Monster Energy
Aftershock which ran from the 14th to the 15th of
September. The Butcher Babies performed on the 14th of September
alongside other music artists such as Korn, In This Moment, Love and Death,
Skillet and Papa Roach.
The Butcher Babies then went on tour with Danzig along with
Texas Hippie Coalition, and A Pale Horse Named Death which ran from October 8th
– October 31st 2013.
The Butcher Babies also performed at the Hell and Heaven
Metal Fest 2013 which ran from 18th – 19th May in Mexico,
and the band performed on the stage titled the Hell Stage.
The Butcher Babies have had their own headline tour during
the month of October in 2013.
The Butcher Babies also performed alongside the gothic band
Motionless in White on October 26th 2013, at the Rob Zombie’s Great
American Nightmare event. The Halloween-themed
music and horror event featured attractions based on Rob Zombie’s films, and
there will also be food vendors, drinks, freak show characters roaming around
the event and 15 nights of musical acts which range from metal music to
alternative rock music. This event is frightening and is not recommended for
children, but all ages are welcome to attend this event.
On September the 6th 2013, Century Media Records
released the Butcher Babies music video on their YouTube account titled
“Magnolia Blvd” which currently has over 3 million views.
The music video was directed by Daniel Andres Gomez Bagby.
The music video was filmed in Los Angeles.
The music video starts out by what looks like the next
morning from a party. A phone starts to buzz with the person’s name being “Mom”
and the mother’s son picks up his phone and talk to her. As the son is talking
to his mother on the phone, he sniffs what looks like cocaine or some sort of
drug, and tells his mother he is fine and that she doesn’t need to worry about him.
As the male character gets up and looks out the window, he sees a person
wearing a hoodie out the window. The music then starts and the scene also
changes to where the Butcher Babies band is performing the song. As Heidi
screams the word “SCREAM”, there are then scenes that show the male character
in his car as he sees a shadow of a person out of his window, and then another
scene of everyone at the party the night before, and the man then sees the
person in the hoodie standing right near him. The scene then changes to where
the male character is still on his phone looking out the window, and then he
runs out of the apartment and starts to chase the hooded person. The hooded
person then runs to a corner and waits for the male character. When the male character
is just about to run around the corner, the hooded person then hits him with
his elbow, in the face, and the it shows the hooded person beating up the male
character. During this scene in the music video, the hooded person punches the male
character, pushes him up against bars and hits him on the ground and then the male
character is seen trying to run away from the hooded person. When the male
character is then hit to the ground again and he is hit onto black bags full of
rubbish, he then sees a glass bottle and hits the bottle in the hooded person’s
face. The hooded person then falls to the ground, and the male character gets
up off the ground and runs to the men’s bathroom on the street and stands by
the basin. As he turns the tap for water on to wash his face, it is then revealed
that it was his alter ego that was chasing him throughout the music video as
you then see the hooded person pull off his hood as blood pours down his face.
Throughout these scenes, you can see the Butcher Babies performing
their live shots during the music video.
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| Snapshots taken from the music video "Magnolia Blvd" directed by Daniel Andres Gomez Bagby.. Top left: Heidi singing the intro to the song. Top right: The male character in the music video at the party. Top middle left: Carla singing during the music video. Top middle right: The hooded person hitting the male character. Bottom left: The Butcher Babies performing the song. Bottom right: The scene revealing the alter ego of the male character at the end of the music video. |
The director has also said that the concept of the music
video is that life has been beating up the male character in the music video,
which is the same as the experience people have when they go to Los Angeles.
The director went on to say that people who move to Los Angeles think they are
going to be stars and are going to make it, and then life beats them up.
This storyline in the music video is similar to the typical
subject that people think they will be huge stars when they just pack up and move
to, in this case, Los Angeles, but then they end up doing other things and not
really making it to stardom.
In my own opinion, I think that people can make it, if they
believe in themselves and know exactly where they want to go, and that they have
all the information they need and to not just move to another city and think they
are going to make it just like that. The only thing people need to do is work
for what they really want to do in life.
In January 2014, the record label Century Media
Records released an official live music video for the song titled “I Smell a
Massacre” on their YouTube channel. The live music video features the Butcher
Babies performing in Chicago during the 2013 Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem
Festival.
Here are the 11 tracks from the “Goliath” album:
1. I Smell a Massacre
2. Magnolia Blvd
3. C8h18 (Gasoline)
4. Grim Sleeper
5. Goliath
6. In Denial
7. Give Me Reason
8. The Mirror Never Lies
9. Dead Poet
10. The Deathsurround
11. Axe Wound
1. I Smell a Massacre
2. Magnolia Blvd
3. C8h18 (Gasoline)
4. Grim Sleeper
5. Goliath
6. In Denial
7. Give Me Reason
8. The Mirror Never Lies
9. Dead Poet
10. The Deathsurround
11. Axe Wound
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| The album cover for the debut album titled "Goliath" which was released in 2013. This picture shows the back of a boy, in his parents room, and his parents appear to be sleeping. Photography: Jeremy Saffer |
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| Photography: Jeremy Saffer |
During January 2014, the Butcher Babies were one of the opening
acts while they were on the Hellpop tour with the headliner metal band In This
Moment. This was the second leg of the Hellpop tour, which also ran for 16
dates for the month January, and launched in Portland, Ore and ended in
Florida. Other support bands that performed were Devour the Day and All Hail
the Yeti.
During the course of the year 2014, the Butcher Babies
performed at various festivals and had their own headliner tour, and also
performed as opening acts for different bands.
The Butcher Babies went on tour with the industrial metal
band The Defiled which ran during the month of February 2014, and the band
served as one of the main supports for this tour.
The Butcher Babies were planned to perform on the Saturday
15th March 2014 at the Hell & Heaven Metal Fest 2014 which ran
from the 15th to the 16th of March. This festival was
unfortunately cancelled two days before the event due to not having adequate
safety plans which posed a risk of concert-goers. It had though, been announced
that a replacement one-day festival will take place at the location Autodromo
Hermanos Rodriguez in October 2014.
The Butcher Babies performed at the 2014 Monster Energy’s
Welcome to Rockville Festival which was located at the Metropolitan Park in
Jacksonville, Florida. This festival was a two-day event which featured many
other bands such as Korn, Five Finger Death Punch, Motionless in White, Seether
and Lacuna Coil. This festival ran from April 26th to April 27th,
and the Butcher Babies performed on the Saturday April 26th.
Between the 16th – 18th of May, an
annual rock festival titled Rock on Range began, and the Butcher Babies
performed on the first day of this festival, on the Jägermeister stage.
The Butcher Babies performed at another festival titled The
Budlight River City Rockfest which was located at the AT & T Center in San
Antonio, Texas, which was held on May 24th.
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| Photography: Payne Productions |
In August 2014, vocalist Carla Harvey had a book release
party to celebrate the release of her first full-length book titled “Death & Other Dances”. At this book release party, Carla will be signing her books for
her fans, as well as also reading at the Book Soup in Los Angeles, California.
Carla has stated in an interview that she has always been
interested in writing a book and she wanted to have the right story. Carla
wanted to share her own experiences with other people who have also struggled
with similar events Carla has been through with her life, which was Carla
growing up as a teenager and trying to see who she really was. Carla has also
said that she had time to write a book in the breaks at night that she could
get as the band has been on constant tours, and during this time, Carla was
busy getting ideas for her chapters in the book. Carla has said that her book took a lot of
time, but she did not find it hard to write her story. The book “Death & Other Dances” is about a girl named Autumn Franklin who seeks to find out who
she really is and as she is among the dead, she learns to open up and to feel
comfortable in her own skin.
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| The book cover for Carla Harvey's first full-length book titled "Death & Other Dances". |
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| Photography: Payne Productions |
Heidi stated in an interview that working with Logan Medar
was a good choice as she believes that when picking a producer for a band, it
is like picking another member for the band. Heidi has said one must have that
chemistry as well as the same vision for the music. Heidi said that the band
wanted to go for a different sound and style of music for the second album and
the band’s management suggested Logan Mader, which Heidi also said, like Carla,
was quick on his feet and he is excellent when it comes to music. Heidi went on
to say she is looking forward to working with Logan on the bands second album.
Carla Harvey has stated in an interview that the band
members individually chose a song for their EP album that is significant to
them. Carla has said she picked the track titled “They’re Coming to Take Me
Away” by Napoleon XIV as she has a vivid memory of her step-father, whom she
considered insane, playing the original song by Napoleon XIV over and over in
his car stereo when Carla was younger. Carla said that this song is about being
taken away to a mental institute.
Heidi Shepherd has also added in an interview that when she
was between 8 – 9 years old, she used to look through her parents albums for
some cool music. Heidi went on to say that as she was listening and looking
through the albums, she came across the song titled “Crazy Horses” by The
Osmonds, and Heidi said this was the heaviest song she had heard at her age,
and that she would play this song over and over again. To this date, this is
still one of Heidi’s favourite songs and this song also reminds her so much of
growing up in Utah.
Donny Osmond has also added some feedback to the Butcher
Babies cover song of his, stating that upon the release of the song “Crazy
Horses”, The Osmonds were pushing against what they were known for, but the
song became one of their greatest hits. Donny Osmond went on to say that the
Butcher Babies have reinvented the song in a creative way, and that is what
music is all about.
This EP album was designed to keep the Butcher Babies fans
“happy” while the fans await the new highly anticipated follow up to the debut album
“Goliath”, which was released about a year ago.
Heidi has stated in an interview that since the Butcher
Babies second album will not be released for another year, the band wanted to
do something for their fans in between the release of their debut album and
their awaited second album. Heidi also stated that the new EP album “Uncovered”
will be what the band’s new sound is going to be and what fans can expect for
the band’s second album.
The songs on the new EP album have a heavier, thrashy sound
to them with fast beats, and the vocals will also be fast.
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| It is noted that the Butcher Babies wear masks when performing the song "They're Coming To Take Me Away Ha-Haaa!". Photography: Beyond the Pit/Gary Flinn Photography |
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| Photography: Beyond the Pit/Gary Flinn Photography |
During September, the Butcher Babies had begun their major
fall headliner tour in 2014. The tour would start on September 12th
in Reno, Nevada and end on October 23rd in Las Vegas.
In between these tour shows, the band performed at the
Aftershock Festival on September 13th along with many other music
artists such as Limp Bizkit, Fuel, Black Label Society and Weezer.
In October 2014, the record label Century Media Records
released a new video of the Butcher Babies on their YouTube account titled
“They’re Coming To Take Me Away Ha-Haaa!”. With regards to the music video
concept, Heidi has said that as children, the band members has always loved the
song “They’re Coming To Take Me Away”, which is a creepy and quirky song,
around Halloween time. Heidi added that the band thought that it would be a
perfect time around Halloween season to premiere this music video. This music
video shows similarity to old slasher films as well.
This music video was also filmed at vocalist, Carla Hervey’s
house. This was due to the band going on tour soon after this music video was
filmed. This music video was going to be filmed in Lancaster, but that band had
to go on tour, so they filmed the music video at Carla Hervey’s house.
It is not known who the director is for the music video. It is
not stated on the YouTube video.
The music video starts off with the band members
walking to a backyard and then they sit around the backyard campfire. Vocalist
Heidi then tells the band members to come closer as she wants to tell a story.
Heidi and other vocalist Carla start to sing “they’re coming to take me away”
while the other band members look at the girls confused. Suddenly, a shadow is
seen, and the bassist Jason Klein gets up to see what that shadow was, and then
suddenly he disappears and all that is seen is his torch lying on the ground.
While Heidi and Carla are telling their stories, the drummer Chris Warner then
asks Henry Flury – the guitarist – if he’d like another drink, and he declines,
but Chris continues to get up and go get another drink for himself. As Chris
enters the house and goes to the fridge, the shadow is seen and then looks like
the shadow takes Chris away. The scene then changes to where the rest of the
band members are. The band members then turn towards the house to see where the
sound came from. The guitarist Henry Flury then gets up and goes toward the
house. When Henry enters the house to search for Chris, he too is taken away by
the shadow figure. Heidi then tells Carla that they should go see what is
happening. As the girls enter the house, Heidi tries to turn on the lights, but
the lights are not working. Heidi and Carla then see another door open and as
they go to see what is beyond the door, they see a shadow figure, and start
running in the streets, but to no avail as they are then abducted to where they
are next seen with chains around them while they are lying head to head. Heidi
and Carla then see three masked people - which all three people appear to be wearing masks - standing in front of them, and as the
three people take off their masks, it is revealed that they are Chris, Jason
and Henry. The scene ends with the three men looking at the camera and then
Heidi and Carla looking into the camera. There is another scene where it shows
Heidi and Carla against a wall, singing the song. These scenes are seen
throughout the music video. |
| Snapshots taken from the music video "They're Coming To Take Me Away Ha-Haa!". Top left: Heidi and Carla singing "They're Coming To Take Me Away Ha-Haa!" to the other band members. Top right: Heidi and Carla chanting "They're Coming To Take Me Away Ha-Haa!" to the other band members. Top middle left: The torch on the ground after Jason Klein disappeared. Top middle right: Carla singing the song against the wall. Bottom left: Heidi and Carla lying head to head and chained up after being abducted. Bottom right: One of the shadow figures is revealed to be wearing a mask. |
1. Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers (ZZ Top)
2. They’re Coming To Take Me Away Ha-Haaa! (Napoleon XIV)
3. Don’t give a F*** (Suicidal Tendencies)
4. Crazy Horses (The Osmonds)
5. P**sy Whipped (SOD)
2. They’re Coming To Take Me Away Ha-Haaa! (Napoleon XIV)
3. Don’t give a F*** (Suicidal Tendencies)
4. Crazy Horses (The Osmonds)
5. P**sy Whipped (SOD)
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| The album cover for the EP album titled "Uncovered" which was released in 2014. |
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| Photography: DJ Imagery |
In November 2014, the Butcher Babies announced that they had
begun to work on their new upcoming album. This album is also going to be
produced by Logan Mader – who has worked with Gojira, Five Finger Death Punch
and Devildriver in the past. Carla has said that she was thankful for working
with Logan Mader again as Logan Mader knows the bands strengths and weaknesses.
During this time, Heidi and Carla have been interviewed for
updates from the studio for the upcoming album. Heidi has stated in the
interview that the band has strived for evolution and progression, which will
bring new sound and emotion to the band themselves. Heidi also said the band
knew what their fans would like to listen to due to the band performing on
tours around the world. Heidi also has said that letting your own music grow is
priority, also with honest music and it is not hard to connect and grow.
With regards to the new album, the band hopes to establish
the ability to release much more music.
Carla stated in the interview that the band wants to grow
with each album that they release, while remaining to their origin music at the
same time. Carla went on to say that when the band performs live on stage, the
fans seem to like listening to the older songs from the band, so then the band
wanted to bring that sound back with a fresh perspective as the Butcher Babies
have grown as musicians for the past 5 years. Carla has also said that the band
themselves have their own individual metal influences which they all create
together, and that it always is going to be unique from anything else.
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| Photography: Beyond the Pit/Gary Flinn Photography |
In an interview with Revolver while the band was at Knotfest
– which took place from Friday 24th October – 26th
October 2014, Heidi and Carla gave updates for their new second album. Heidi stated
that the new album is going to be raw and much heavier than the band’s debut
album “Goliath”. This reason is because the band started out as a more thrashier
sound to their music.
The new music for the band’s second album has a lot of
emotion to it and the while Heidi and Carla where penning the lyrics, they also
opened up like never before as their lyrics are brutal and flat out honest as
the lyrics penned down come straight from the heart. With regard to the musical
direction, Carla has said the majority of the second album is going to be more
aggressive thrash metal, which basically 90% of the album is going to have an
aggressive thrash metal sound to it. Heidi added that the band is not going to
sacrifice who they are and what the band’s intention is will be to bring back
the aggressive metal sound to radio.
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| Photography: Beyond the Pit/Gary Flinn Photography |
In another interview with The Roman Show, Heidi stated that
she and Carla got emotional during the recording of the new album as they wrote
from emotion to their songs. Heidi stated one time during the recording session
that she was tearing up because the music was very emotional for her. Heidi
also said writing the songs for the band is like a healing experience, and that
Heidi herself thinks for many songwriters, that is how it goes as the
songwriter would take the negative experiences they have had in their life and
turn that experience into something positive through their music.
Carla stated the new album came together in a much different
way compared to the band’s debut album “Goliath”. Carla said it was different
to be writing songs in the studio as the songs in the past were performed live,
which the band had the privilege of doing before they recorded their songs.
Carla went on to say writing in the studio was a new experience for the band,
however, some songs were also written while the band was on their headliner
tour, and then the songs would get recorded without playing those songs live
first. Carla said that the band had a lot of emotion during the recording of
the new album, which the songs came out great and the band is really proud of
their songs they recorded. Carla also stated the band also wrote songs in a
studio atmosphere while on the road.
Both Heidi and Carla have stated in an interview with
Revolver the writing for their songs: Heidi has said the new album has had a
lot of songs that were either not finished in time for their debut album or
after the debut album came out, and as an artist, it is always important to
keep being creative.
Carla has said that the band only concentrated on the new
album during the past summer time, and got in deep during the bands headlining
tour in October 2014. Carla ended with saying the band took advantage of their
days off and went into the studio to share ideas.
 |
| Photography: Beyond the Pit/Gary Flinn Photography |
The main issue the band had was time, as the band had been
touring a lot, and whenever the band had time on their hands, they sat down and
put new songs together. The band has succeeded, but they had worked at a
fast-paced process.
During the month April, the Butcher Babies were confirmed to
be one of the supporting acts on the In This Moment Black Widow tour for the
band’s North American tour, which kicked off on April 18th in
Montclair, New Jersey and end on May 24th in San Antonio, Texas. The
other supporting acts that also went on the In This Moment Black Widow tour
were Upon A Burning Body and The Nearly Deads. Before In This Moment performed
at their Black Widow tour, the Butcher Babies performed, along with Upon A
Burning Body which ran from April 9th in Scottsdale, Arizona – April
17th in Poughkeepsie, New York. Heidi stated in an interview that
this upcoming tour is special to the band as they get to not only see their
friends they have made through music, but the band will have the opportunity to
play their new music off their new album, and that this will be a treat for the
Butcher Babies fans. Heidi has said with regards to the band’s most dedicated
fans that she is happy that the fans have been patient in waiting for the
Butcher Babies new album, and in true Butcher Babies fashion, the band never
does a half-hearted job with their music, so that is why the band took a little
more time for their album to be released. Heidi ended with the thought of
touring with the metal band In This Moment is an honour as the band In This
Moment has been supportive towards the Butcher Babies, and In This Moment also
put on an incredible live show.
Carla stated in an interview that all the new and old
Butcher Babies fans have inspired the band throughout the years, and that is
the reason why the band does free meet-and-greets at their merchandise table
after their shows. Carla went on to say how crazy it is to be on the bands 9th
big national tour since the band’s big tour in the year 2012. Carla has said
that the band is now familiar with the truck stop showers and coffee shops
across the states, although the best thing is seeing familiar faces in the
crowd while the band is on tour, and that fans have also become friends over
the years and that every night after the bands performance, it feels like a
family reunion with the fans.
The bands guitarists, Henry Flury, has stated in an
interview that the more the band tours in different cities, the more the band
hears their fans singing along to their songs. Henry also expressed that the
fans have no idea how that makes the band members feel.
Heidi has stated in an interview that the new album will
have some major emotions – happy, angry, sad and energetic – in each song.
Heidi has said the band has put a lot of emotion into each and every song on
the new album, which people will also feel the same emotion the band felt. Heidi
added that each song on the new album carries their own identity, which is what
the band is aiming for.
Carla stated in the same interview that the band is all very
proud of the new music and the new music is a step above what the band created
on their debut album. Carla added that the band will continue to grow, but the
band will remain to their aggressive sounds, that the band has started with in
the beginning.
With regard to the creative writing process behind the
music, Heidi mentioned in an interview that the band members all sit together
and write their music, and that every single member has a say in every lyric,
song, symbol hit etc. Heidi added the one important aspect is that all the band
members felt every song represents every single one of the members, and the
band has had success with this process.
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| Photography: DJ Imagery |
In April 2015, the band confirmed to have completed their
second album. The band revealed that their second album would be a return of
their more thrashier metal and aggressive sound to their music, whereas their
debut album “Goliath” was more a melodic sound. It was also revealed that the
band would release a rerecorded version of their first single titled “Blonde
Girls All Look the Same” onto their second album.
In June 2015, the band confirmed their second album is to be
titled “Take It Like A Man”, which was to be released on August 21st
in the fall season. The band also released their first single off the album
titled “Monsters Ball”, even though the band was going to originally release
their one single titled “Never Go Back”, which ended up being the bands second
single.
The band had revealed that the record label Century Media
Records and management did not take a liking to the album title, nor the albums
artwork, and the band then had to fight to keep the artwork and album title.
Carla Harvey has stated with regard to the album title that
all the band members have come from different places and backgrounds, but every
band member of the band had to fight to be the person they are today, which is
the basis of the record. Carla has also said this is not based on gender, but
on the inner strength that one must find in order to keep moving on in any
situation.
Carla had stated in an interview with The Front Row Report
that the band has been telling people that there is a little controversy with
regard to the album’s title, as both management and the records label did not
like it, but it was an album title the band chose.
Heidi stated in the same interview that the band fought for
the album title as the band was very proud of the title and it had meaning
behind the title. Heidi has said the theme for the album is becoming the women
Carla and Heidi are today.
In June 2015, the Butcher Babies released their music video
for their lead single titled “Monsters Ball”. Heidi has said the concept of
this song is about the pit in which everyone is like monsters when they run
around out in the pit – hence the singles title “Monsters Ball”. The one lyric
line says “Over the edge, you take a decadent fall” which explains the people
who are crowd surfing and eventually are lead to the front of the crowd, opposite
the stage at a concert. Heidi added that the song is also about the positive
energy at a metal festival.
Heidi has stated this in an interview on louwire.com with
regard to the song: “Too many times, mainstream media makes these shows out to
be dangerous and evil, but what they don’t know is that we are a big family who
in that moment will do anything for each other. A family, who rocks stick
together, inevitably stays together. That’s our Monster’s Ball.”
Carla added that she has felt metal music is something that
brought misfit people together. Carla said with the lyrics being “Monsters
Ball”, the band wanted to paint out a picture of the moment they have in the
mosh pit, which lets the music course through people’s veins.
The music video for this single was directed by Dan Dobi.
The music video starts with the guitarist, Henry Flury, the
bassist Jason Klein and the drummer Chrissy Warner playing their instruments,
while it can be seen that there are people who look like monsters – as well as
the band members – in a small club – which Heidi has said in an interview that
the band wanted to use the feel of the song to create a jazz type club scene. The next scene then shows Heidi and Carla all dressed up on
stage in front of the other band members. Heidi starts to sing, which she
introduces every one of all ages to step right up and get their tickets to
greatest show on Earth. This part of the song sounds like Heidi is talking to
the people. Carla then starts to sing, and then Heidi sings after her. The next
scene shows Heidi looking at a girl who is texting and Heidi starts to talk
again suggesting why is the girl walking away as the best part of the show has
not started yet. During the music video, the scene changes from the band
performing, to the people in the small club who appear to be having fun as they
are smiling, laughing and having a good time. During the second chorus, people
are then seen dancing in the middle of the small club. During the bridge of the
song, the band members – except for Chrissy Warner – then walk off the stage
and is seen taking the people to the middle of the small club, and then the scene
changes to the people surrounding the band members. The people are then seen
with their eyes closed as Heidi and Carla sing the words “Can’t stop moving, no
you can’t stop moving, no you can’t stop”. As the drums stop, everyone then
opens their eyes and the next scene then shows everyone dancing while Heidi and
Carla sing and dance with the crowd. This happens for the rest of the music
video until the end where Heidi and Carla are then facing the camera, and then
move toward the camera as the music video ends.
 |
| Snapshots taken from the music video "Monsters Ball" directed by Dan Dobi. Top left: Heidi welcoming all the people at the small club. Top right: The people all at the small club. Top middle left: Two people at the small club appear to be looking at the band performing. Top middle right: The band members about to step off the stage to go toward the people at the small club. Bottom left: Heidi and Carla singing with the people surrounding them. Bottom right: Heidi an Carla right in front of the camera at the end of the music video. |
Heidi’s make-up in the music video also seems to have
inspiration from one of Carla’s drawings as Heidi’s make-up, looks like the
cover of one of Carla’s drawing books titled “Gash”.
In July 2015, the band released their second single “Never
go Back” and the band has asked their fans to request this song to be on radio.
 |
| Carla Harvey's first edition sketchbook titled "Gash" which was released in December 2011. This book cover looks similar to Heidi's make-up look in the music video "Monsters Ball". |
Heidi has said the song titled “Never Go Back” is about
anyone who has ever felt in their lives that they have been stuck in a place,
and now are finally free and will never be going back. Heidi added that the
song could be depicted to be in a relationship or the song could be for any bad
situation in someone’s life that they are finally free of.
 |
| The Butcher Babies single "Never Go Back" |
Another surprise the Butcher Babies did for their fans was
announce that they have released an official album stream of all 12 songs on
their new album. This album stream was also 12 music videos which can see
viewed on YouTube currently. Each video that was filmed was directed by Mike
Gevorgian. This release was originally going to be a 30 second live snippet of
each song for the new album, but instead was streamed on a playlist and put
onto YouTube rather than just the picture of the album cover. These videos will
show the Butcher Babies fans how the band performs live at a show and also shows
the fans who the band really is.
During the course of 2015, the Butcher Babies have also
performed at multiple music festivals, which some of them are the following:
 |
| Snapshots taken from the album stream videos which was directed by Mike Gevorgian. The following snapshots are from the following songs of the album stream videos: The Cleansing; The Butcher; Gravemaker; Thrown Away; Never Go Back; Marquee; Blood Soaked Hero; Dead Man Walking and For the Fight. The bottom right snapshot is taken from the album stream video titled "Blonde Girls All Look The Same" which show where the album stream videos were filmed. |
Louder than Life; Download Festival; Hellfest; WILL ROCK
Festival; Monster Energy’s Carolina Rebellion; Soundwave Festival; Fort Rock;
Welcome to Rockville Festival; Rise Above Festival; Rocklahoma; Rock Allegiance
and Copenhell.
Even though the Butcher Babies were in studio recording
their new album, and filming an official music video, the band still managed to
attend these music festivals. Now that shows how dedicated they are to their
fans and shows how well they can manage to attend shows while recording a new
album.
The band also joined GWAR and Battlecross for a North
American tour which ran from August 25th – September 18th.
It was announced in September that the Butcher Babies will
be touring with the pop infused metal band Amaranthe which will run from
October 29th in Atlanta, GA – November 29th in San Jose, California
for the Massive Collision Tour in North America. The Butcher Babies will be
special guests on this tour for Amaranthe, along with opening act Lullwater.
During October 2015, the Butcher Babies headlined their own
tour that will feature the supporting act Nekrogoblikon. The tour started in on
October 9th at Toledo, Ohio and end in October 25th in Corpus
Christi, Texas.
On October 19th the Butcher Babies released a
brand new music video titled “Igniter” via YouTube on the Century Media Records
YouTube Channel.
Heidi has said with regards to this song that everyone has
been in a different state of mind when rage takes over their body and mind.
Heidi added that the song “Igniter” is about the emotions of rage a person
feels and that also last straw that breaks a person. Heidi gave some input
about the music video, stating that the band was lucky to have filmed this
video during their performances at the Download Festival, Metal Hammer Boat and
at the Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards. Heidi added that this music video shows
the intense live performances that the band has onstage, as well as their more
goofy personalities offstage.
Carla also added some information about the song that
“Igniter” is about the frustration that everyone can consume and can even
destroy people at times. Carla mentioned some personal experience that when the
band started out, she was in a dark place and let rage take over her at times,
but after having a healthier outlet for those feelings through music, Carla has
said that now she is a different person. Carla added that she loves the music
video for “Igniter” as the video shows a juxtaposition of onstage rage
performances and then the offstage fun personalities that they band has. Carla
added that the video speaks volume, which music provides not only for people
listening to the music, but also for the creators.
The music video for “Igniter” is a live music
video which features the band performing at shows that they did during their UK
tour. The beginning of the music video shows the band putting their hands
together just before they go on stage to perform. Other scenes can be seen of
the band acting crazy, having fun and being themselves offstage. Some scenes
also show the band being interviewed, busy getting ready for their
performances, and shown having a good time either before or after their
performances, and also at the award show Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards. Besides
the offstage scenes, the other scenes show the bands live energy performances
onstage and interacting with their fans while they are performing. The music
video ends with Carla leaning against the wall smiling and Heidi standing
upside down smiling. |
| Snapshots taken from the music video "Igniter". Top left: The Butcher Babies band members before going on stage to perform live. Top right: The Butcher Babies attending the Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards. Top middle left: Carla acting goofy offstage. Top middle right: The band performing live. Bottom left: The band performing live to their fans. Bottom right: Heidi hand standing and Carla standing against the wall at the end of the music video. |
1. Monsters Ball
2. Igniter
3. The Cleansing
4. The Butcher
5. Gravemaker
6. Thrown Away
7. Never Go Back
8. Marquee
9. Blood Soaked Hero
10. Dead Man Walking
11. For the Fight
12. Blonde Girls All Look the Same (rerecorded from the single in 2011)
2. Igniter
3. The Cleansing
4. The Butcher
5. Gravemaker
6. Thrown Away
7. Never Go Back
8. Marquee
9. Blood Soaked Hero
10. Dead Man Walking
11. For the Fight
12. Blonde Girls All Look the Same (rerecorded from the single in 2011)
 |
| The album cover for "Take It Like A Man" which was released in 2015. This picture shows a little girl making a contrasting statement by wearing a pink dress and wearing a horned battle mask. Photography: DJ Imagery |
 |
| Photography: DJ Imagery |
The majority of the band’s lyrics are based on serial
killers, psychopaths and death. The lyrics are written by Heidi and Carla, and
the music is written by Henry, Jason and Chrissy, although, all the band
members sit together and write down ideas for new songs.
In a few interviews, Heidi and Carla have stated what some
of the songs are about and what they represent:
“Magnolia Blvd.” is a song about living and dying in Los
Angeles, California as both Heidi and Carla had lived at Magnolia Blvd. This
road in Los Angeles has influenced the band as well.
“The Mirror Never Lies” is a personal song that was also
co-written by the drummer in the band. It has been said that this was inspired
by a relationship the drummer had with a person, but the person did not treat
him well.
“Dead Poet” was written by Heidi and Heidi has said in an
interview that this song was about an idol she looked up to a lot as this
person stood up for bullying and freedom of speech, but after meeting her idol,
Heidi thought the person did not turn out to be the person she thought this
person would be. Instead, that person was false, and a big hypocrite.
“Monsters Ball” as said before, is about the pit and the
people, who look like monsters, running around the pit. This song describes how
the fans are at the bands shows.
“Igniter” as stated before, is about the rage a person has,
which rage takes over their body and mind. This song is also about the anger
and frustration a person will go through until it is the last straw and break
them down.
“The Butcher” song was inspired by a boy who brutally
murdered his girlfriend, and also exploring the mind of a psychopathic person.
The song explores the story around why the boy butchered his girlfriend. Both
Heidi and Carla were fascinated by this story and Heidi also just finished
watching the TV series Dexter and seeing that the boy had an obsession with
Dexter, was very interesting for both Heidi and Carla. The name of the song could
have also been called “Ed Made Me”, but both Heidi and Carla thought “The
Butcher” fitted perfectly for the song title.
“Dead Man Walking” has been noted to be a very personal song
for both Heidi and Carla and it is also very emotional for them too. This song
rummages into emotions that both Heidi and Carla wanted to suppress.
The new songs off the album titled “Take It Like A Man”
reflect both Heidi and Carla’s childhood memories. Heidi has said in an
interview with Revolver that both Carla and Heidi have grown up in different
places, but are a lot alike. There was segregation between religion, abuse and
race, and most of the new songs are both Carla and Heidi’s emotion of rising
above these situations.
Carla has also said in an interview with Revolver, that the
concepts of the new songs are about feeling disconnected, and knowing a
relationship between two people are over and going through the struggle of the emotions,
even though the two people want to kill each other. There are also songs that
are about overcoming a rough time in one’s life and also becoming the person
they want to be, and lastly, there are songs that are about false idols.
It has been noted that some songs are the band’s favourite
songs to perform live, and they are: “Jesus Needs More Babies for His War
Machine”, “Axe Wound” and “Magnolia Blvd”.
The Butcher Babies have also appeared in a couple of magazines,
but the main magazine the Butcher Babies have been featured in, mostly, is
Revolver magazine, most notably featured in the Hottest Chicks in Hard Rock.
Heidi and Carla were the cover girls for the 2014 Revolver Hottest Chicks in
Hard Rock calendar, and both Heidi and Carla have appeared in the Revolver
Hottest Chicks in Hard Rock calendars since 2012. Other magazines the Butcher
Babies have featured in are: Kerrang! Magazine; Outburn magazine and Rock N
Roll Industries magazine.
The Revolver magazine had named Heidi and Carla the “Hottest
Women in Rock”.
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| Revolver's Hottest Chicks in Hard Rock 2014 cover featuring Heidi and Carla. |
 |
| Heidi and Carla featured in an issue of Revolver magazine. Photography: DJ Imagery |
With regard to the Butcher Babies musical sound, their music
is described to be thrashy, heavy metal, shock rock, aggressive thrash and
groove metal, and neo-thrash. The band did consider themselves as “slut metal”
due to Heidi and Carla wearing nipple tape on stage in the past. The singing
voices for the Butcher Babies sound both have clean, as well as harsh/screaming
vocals.
Some songs do have a quick sound to them, and some songs
also have slower sound to them and some songs are in between. An example would
be “Blonde Girls All Look The Same”, which has a fast sound to the song,
especially at the end of the song, which the lyrics can also be catchy. An
example for a slower song would be “Thrown Away” which has no harsh vocals in
the song, and only have clean vocals in the song. An example for a song that is
in between slow and fast sounds would be most of the Butcher Babies songs, but
notably “Grim Sleeper” as this song opens with slow sounds, and then the
suddenly goes faster when the instruments start to play. Some songs have a
feeling of deep anxiety with more melodies that showcase the Butcher Babies
sound. Some songs from the band have hard and fast beats, while other songs
have more ominous and catchy lyrics, and other songs showcase the band at its
most intense with songs that are heavy and brutal.
The Butcher Babies have mentioned who their influences are,
and their biggest influence is Wendy O. Williams and the band The Plasmatics.
This was because Wendy O. Williams did not care what anyone else thought of her
and the Butcher Babies shared that same spirit. The Plasmatics had a song
called “Butcher Baby” which Heidi and Carla has said are one of the main songs
they love from the band, and was the inspiration for their band’s name. Some
other musicians that influenced the band are the following: Marilyn Manson,
Slayer, Slipknot; Korn; Iron Maiden; Cannibal Corpse; Meshuggah; Joan Jett and
Gwen Stafani.
The band’s music is influenced mostly by horror movies. Some
of the horror films include The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, House of 1000 Corpses
and The Devil’s Rejects. The Butcher Babies has stated that they prefer horror movies
that have real life social rejects on the fringe of society and the horror of
humanity.
The Butcher Babies are known for their provocative stage
appeal. The vocalists, Heidi and Carla, formally were known for wearing nipple
tape and no other top clothing, and all the band members wore stage blood for
their stage performances. Many people have thought that the band’s provocative
look overshadowed their music. People also often mistook Heidi and Carla as
“Ex-Playmates”. Both Heidi and Carla believed that what they were wearing was
empowering to women. Heidi has stated in an interview that female empowerment
is where it started, but it can be about anyone who has a dream and goal they
would really want to achieve. Heidi added it is never too late to follow your
own dreams, and that is what both she and Carla stood for. This stage look was
heavily inspired by Wendy O. Williams as Wendy was the first female in the
heavy metal music scene. Both Heidi and Carla has said that Wendy O. Williams was
the first female to go all out and she did not care what other people thought
of her and she would be the performer she wanted to be without anybody telling
her what to do.
 |
| Heidi and Carla's provocative stage appeal and wearing the nipple tape. Photography: Psyko Boys |
With regard to the female in metal, both Heidi and Carla have
said that it has been a challenge over the years for people to accept women in
metal.
Carla has said in an interview that both she and Heidi would
like to work towards a time where people won’t say something similar to “That
is a female metal band” because a
metal band is a metal band, and not separate women and men.
Carla has said in another interview that metal is not about
looks and it is about the music. Carla added that metal actually helped her
through tough times.
Heidi has said in an interview that this challenge has been
an uphill battle, but also a double-edged sword. Heidi said that nowadays, it
is being widely accepted that there are female fronted bands. Heidi went on to
say when people hear that the band is female fronted, they do not even listen
to their music and dismiss a band due to there are females in the band, which
is an unfortunate thing. Heidi is also seeing movement nowadays with regard to
females being in a band, and from back to when the Butcher Babies started out
up until now, and people have now become more accepting. Heidi added that every
negative comment someone has to say, there are about 10 more people who are all
for females in various bands.
In an interview with GetYourRockOut on YouTube, Heidi said
the following with regard to women in metal: “Just because we don’t have dicks,
doesn’t mean we can’t swing them just as high”.
With regard to the criticism the Butcher Babies have
received, the band has said they do not listen to the naysayers. The band has
said they do not read any of the negative comments they receive and Heidi has
said – in an interview – a small minded person feels comfortable behind a
keyboard and typing all the negative comments, and they would invariably say
words they would not say in front of the band’s face. Heidi said that she won’t
let the negative people define who she is, and that she will be who she wants
to be. Heidi added there will always be negative people and they will always
try to knock someone down, because the negative person is not happy about their
own lives, and Heidi said that she feels sorry for those negative people.
Lastly, Heidi added that should she ever come into contact with a person who
criticises the band in any way, she will not think much of what they have to
say to her, and those people are mistaken if they think that the band is going
to be let down if they say something bad about the band, as this makes the band
better and that is a win-win situation.
Carla has said in an interview that she is not ashamed of
who she is, or what she has done in her life. Carla said who she is should not
determine, in any way, what the band is doing with their music.
Carla also added that looks is not everything in music as
she has said she was not that attractive at a young age, and as mentioned
before, metal saved her life. Carla also said people should not say that you
cannot play in metal due to the way you look. Carla ended with no matter what a
person looks like, if you’re a male or female, there will always be someone who
will try to break your spirit and tell you what you cannot do, and it is mostly
people who are angry and do not do much for their own lives.
Before the Butcher Babies formation, Heidi and Carla were
involved in the media industry and one of them has studied a degree. Here are
some facts about both Heidi and Carla:
Heidi: Used to be
a Spike TV Hostess; a model; a radio DJ for 5 years; and entrepreneur and
designed clothing – although Heidi still
does design clothing when she gets time to.
Heidi was in a Mormon marriage,
but she had a dream before she got married, but her
dream was gone due to her Mormon
marriage. Heidi’s love for being a performer was set
aside and suddenly she would be a
family person instead. Heidi has said that she is lucky to
have gotten out of the marriage
and she can now express herself through music and
performance, and live the dream
she was born to live.
Carla: Used to be
an Entertainment Reporter for the Playboy Channel. She briefly went under the
name “Bridget Banks” when she was
an adult actress; Carla is also of Ethiopian, Finnish, Irish
and Italian background; Carla has a degree in Mortuary Science from
the Cypress College in
California, and she is a licensed
Funeral Director and embalmer. Carla has said that she had a
life changing experience when
working in the mortuary as she wanted to help people and
Carla hopes to one day own her
own funeral home. Carla has always been fascinated by
death ever since she was a child
and when her grandfather passed away. Carla has had
a lot of loss in her life, and
Carla feels that the loss in her life has made her who she is today;
Carla used to be a volunteer at
night when she was in hospice and working at a
funeral home. In this hospice,
Carla held people’s hands who were actively dying, and Carla
had to embalm children, infants,
adults and the elderly; Carla is a talented artist in
drawing pictures – mostly women –
and has released 2 sketchbooks for her fans to buy;
Carla has been married to Gregory
Coates since 2012.
There is a fact that both Heidi and Carla grew up in a
society where they couldn’t really listen to metal music, but actually, Heidi
and Carla ended up loving metal music.
Heidi grew up in Provo, Utah and Carla grew up in Detroit
and both have stated to have different experiences in their lives before they
met, but even though both Heidi and Carla grew up in different places, they have
stated that everyone shares the same life experiences and same emotions
everyone else has.
Heidi grew up in a family where music was very important;
however, her family could not listen to metal music as the family thought metal
music was evil. Heidi said being a natural rebel, she immediately pulled
towards listening to metal music and she has since, been listening to metal
music that is mostly in the nu-metal generation.
Carla has said that living in Detroit has shaped who she is today.
She has also stated that she was a misfit child. Carla has said music meant so
much to her when she was younger, and the music did help her get through a lot
of personal issues in her life. Carla has said that she felt alone and
alienated from people, and there was just something about metal music that drew
her to this genre of music. Carla has said that the metal music she listened to
was raw and honest, and the people who listened to metal music felt
disconnected and were misfit children, and Carla connected with that crowd of
people. Carla has said she likes the sound of the singer’s clean and screaming
vocals, the guitars and the music in general.
For those of you who are interested in knowing what Carla
Harvey’s book “Death & Other Dances” is about, here is the synopsis:
An awkward and biracial girl by the name of Autumn Franklin
is growing up in a suburb called Detroit, in a factory-driven hometown. Autumn
already feels disconnected from her peers at an early age due to her
background, and she also becomes more withdrawn when her young parents get
divorced. Ever changing but stubbornly firm, Autumn survives the life she has
been dealt with by playing against the odds of life. Do not try to hurt her as
she will not hesitate to push you away, which makes it easier to walk away.
Autumn transplants herself from her hometown to the City of Angels to find out
one goal she wants to achieve, and that is to find herself. As she struggles to
make connection with people around her, Autumn consumes her retain for the
future and pushes limits to the extreme as she moves between two drastic career
changes: A career in the adult entertainment industry and a mortician. As
Autumn is amongst the dead, she learns what it is to really live, love, and
allow other people inside her space, which finally lands in the most
comfortable place of all, which is her own skin.
Carla has always been interested to write a book, but she
wanted to have the right story to write. Carla has said going to mortuary
school and working in Hospice Care changed her life for the better. Carla
wanted to share her own experiences with other people who have also struggled
with the same things she had been through, which one of them were growing up as
a teenager trying to identify herself. This book also resembles creative
non-fiction, as this book shares similarities about Carla’s real life when she
was younger.
You can purchase "Death & Other Dances", as well as the 2 special edition sketchbooks titled "Gash" and "Gash 2" on Carla Harvey's bigcartel website:
http://www.carlaharvey.bigcartel.com/
http://www.carlaharvey.bigcartel.com/
Both studio albums – “Goliath” and “Take It Like A Man” – is
a definite must-buy! You can hear the changes of music sound with both of these
albums. Personally, I would say “Take It Like A Man” is my favourite album, not
that the debut album “Goliath” was not good – believe me, this debut is
fantastic to listen to. The debut album introduces you to who the Butcher
Babies are and what their music will sound like.
I find that the Butcher Babies sound is unique and
different, let me elaborate on this: The Butcher Babies have both female
singers that both have angelic voices, as well as aggressive and harsh voices
at the same time. The music sound to the band’s music has got that
aggressiveness in the sound, and also live energy songs that make you want to
sing-a-long and also do a little head banging at the same time. The lyrics that
the band has is also unique as these are not the typical songs about being in
love, or heartbreak – in the sense of heartbreak from a break up with someone –
the Butcher Babies lyrics are mostly, as said before, about psychopathic people
and about death. Some of these songs could even be used in horror films, as
they would totally fit with the horror stories.
If you are wondering who sings what in the songs, you can
hear Carla’s harsh vocals as her voice is deeper than Heidi’s, and Heidi’s
harsh vocals are a little higher than Carla’s. When you hear Carla and Heidi
sing together with either their clean or harsh vocals, you can tell the
difference of who is singing.
Both Heidi and Carla’s voices sound a little bit different
between their debut album and their second album. I have noticed that Heidi’s
screaming is a little different between the debut album and the second album.
An example would be if you listen to one of the songs off the debut album such
as “Grim Sleeper”, and then you listen to one of the newer songs off the band’s
new album such as “The Cleansing”, you can hear the difference in Heidi’s
screaming voice. Heidi’s screaming seems to sound a little deeper than what her
screaming voice sounded like on the band’s debut album.
Carla’s voice is also a little different from the debut
album and the new album. An example would be if you listen to one of the songs
off the debut album such as “The Deathsurround” and then you listen to a new
song off the band’s second album such as “Gravemaker”, you can hear Carla’s
screaming vocals has also deepened a little bit more. This is in no way a bad thing at all; I see
this as an evolution in both Heidi and Carla’s voices.
I have noticed that Heidi can hold a note for about 10
seconds when it comes to her screaming, and this is something to be proud of.
Holding a note for about 10 seconds or more shows how talented a singer is. An
example of Heidi holding a note for about 10 seconds would be from the song
titled “Magnolia Blvd”. Hearing Heidi hold out that note just shows you how
amazing and talented her voice is.
Carla can also hold a note for a few seconds as well, which
can be shown on the song titled “For the Fight”. This shows you how incredibly
talented both Heidi and Carla are, and as I have said before, you can also hear
the emotion in the songs they sing.
What is great about the Butcher Babies is that they care so
much for their fans as they are always happy to take photos with their fans,
and they constantly look at fan art, fans photos etc. on social media such as
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Other examples would be that the Butcher
Babies follow their fans on their Twitter page, and once a new fan tweets them,
they immediately send that fan a message to say that the fan should go on
Facebook as the band always replies to their fans on Facebook. I have also
noticed that both Heidi and Carla seem to write some inspiration when they post
photos onto their personal Instagram accounts. Some of these words written by
Heidi and Carla are truly inspirational and are good motivation for their fans.
The Butcher Babies also have meet and greets with their fans
which they do after every show they perform, and take photos and sign CD booklets
for their fans. The Butcher Babies also have VIP Packages, which includes a
meet and greet, as well as other accessories which can include merchandise,
posters, albums etc.
With regard to what the Butcher Babies call their fans, it
seems like it is “Party Animals”. This reason is because when the Butcher
Babies band members post photos or update their statuses, they usually start
the sentence off with “Hello Party Animals...”, so this could be what the
Butcher Babies call their fans.
I also find it inspiring that both Carla and Heidi consider
themselves more sister than best friends as they have been touring for a couple
of years now and they always have each other’s back. This goes to show you that
true friends will always be there for you when you need them and will support
you as much as they can.
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| Photography: Tim Tronckoe |
Some advice I have learned from the Butcher Babies would be
that you determine your own future, and do not let anyone stand in your way of
your own dreams and goals in your life. Heidi and Carla, as well as the rest of
the band members, do not let anyone stand in their way and tell them what to do
in their lives. The Butcher Babies will pursue what they want to do in life and
also connect with their fans as well. I am sure the Butcher Babies do know that
they have helped their fans in many ways. I, for one, cannot name exactly how
the Butcher Babies helped their fans, but they have in some way. For me,
personally, I would say that the band has helped me by them writing lyrics that,
as you can say “speak to me” and I can hear the emotion in each song, and I
have interpreted my own meaning to the lyrics the Butcher Babies have written.
One song I know for a fact that has helped me is “Thrown Away” because there
was a time in my life I felt I was alone, unsupported and nobody wanted to
speak to me. Another song that has helped me would be “Dead Man Walking” as
this song reminds me of somebody who has hurt me in the past, and this song
seems to “heal” the pain I had. I can guarantee you there is not one day that
goes by that I do not listen to the Butcher Babies songs.
The songs I would recommend would basically be all the
Butcher Babies songs, but if you are a new fan of their music, here are a few
of the songs that would be recommended: Mr Slowdeath, Blonde Girls All Look The
Same, I Smell a Massacre , Magnolia Blvd, Grim Sleeper, Give me Reason, Dead
Poet, Monsters Ball, The Butcher, Gravemaker, Thrown Away, Marquee, Blood
Soaked Hero and For the Fight.
If you are looking for one of the most popular songs from
the band, I would suggest “Magnolia Blvd” from their debut album and “Monsters
Ball” from their second album. These two songs are the band’s best known songs
to date as well as Mr. Slowdeath and Blonde Girls All Look The Same.
If you are looking for a slow song, I would suggest the song
“Thrown Away” as this song has no screaming vocals, but only the angelic voices
of Heidi and Carla’s beautiful clean vocals.
If you would like to listen to a fast song, I would suggest
the following: Igniter, Blonde Girls All Look the Same and Never Go Back.
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| Photography: DJ Imagery |
For the time being, you can get your tickets online to go
see the Butcher Babies who will be special guests on the Massive Collision Tour
in North America with Amaranthe and opening act Lullwater. If you are looking
to buy tickets, you can always check out the Butcher Babies official Facebook,
Twitter and Instagram account to see where you can purchase the tickets.
You can also vote for the Butcher Babies second single titled
“Never Go Back” to be played on radio.
Heidi and Carla are also featured in the new Revolver
Hottest Chicks in Hard Rock calendar for 2016.
I received most of my information about the Butcher Babies
from Wikipedia, Revolver, and from various interviews that were conducted for
the Butcher Babies in the past. The information I have said about the Butcher
Babies music videos is what I have seen through my eyes and what I understood
from the music videos. Other viewers who have seen the music videos may have a
different interpretation of the music video, but the concept I gave is what I
have seen through my own eyes.
You can check out the Butcher Babies on their official
website and as well as their social media websites:
Official Website: http://butcherbabiesofficial.com/
Facebook: Butcher Babies
Twitter: @ButcherBabies
Instagram: @butcherbabies
You can also check out the band member’s personal accounts
on social media:
Heidi Shepherd:
Facebook: Heidi Shepherd (You can follow her on Facebook)
Twitter: @HeidiTheButcher
Instagram: @heidithebutcher
Carla Harvey:
Facebook: Carla Harvey
Twitter: @carlaharvey
Instagram:@carlacoates
Henry Flury:
Twitter: @HenryFlury
Instagram: @henryflury
Jason Klein:
Twitter: @JasonTheButcher
Chrissy Warner:
Twitter: @ToothlessChris
For those who are interested about Peepshow clothing and
what designs Jessica Nicole has made, you can check out the official website,
as well as the social media pages:
Official website: http://www.peepshowclothing.com/
Official website: http://www.peepshowclothing.com/
Facebook: Peepshow Clothing
Twitter: @PeepShowCouture
Instagram: @peepshowclothing
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| Heidi wearing an outfit from Peepshow Clothing at the Copenhell festival 2015. Photography: Peter Troest |
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| Carla wearing an outfit from Peepshow Clothing at the Copenhell festival 2015. Photography: Peter Troest |
Beyond The Pit/Gary Flinn Photography
Payne Productions
Jeremy Saffer
Psyko Boys
Payne Productions
Jeremy Saffer
Psyko Boys
DJ Imagery
Hristo Shindov
Tim Tronckoe
Peter Troest
- All photographers have given permission to upload their
photos onto this blog.
Here is where you can individually check out the photographer’s
official websites and also their social media pages:
Gary Flinn is a lead writer and photographer for Hellhound
music. Gary Flinn has conducted reviews and interviews for Hellhound Music. You
can check out Gary Flinn’s other photography on his official website, as well
as his social media pages:
Official website: http://garyflinnphotography.zenfolio.com/
Facebook: Beyond The Pit/Gary Flinn Photography
Instagram: @beyondthepit
You can also look at Gary Flinn’s work on the Hellhound
Music website: http://www.hellhoundmusic.com/
Payne Productions is a photography company which takes
photos at festivals, promo photos and shoots music videos. This company is
solely owned by John Payne, who is a photographer, videographer and editor. You
can check out Payne Productions other photography on their official website, as
well as their social media pages:
Official website: http://www.payneproductions.com/
Facebook: Payne Productions
Twitter: @Payneography101
Instagram: @producingpayne
Flickr: John Payne
YouTube: John Payne
Jeremy Saffer is a worldwide known photographer for taking
promotional pictures of, mostly, musicians. He also takes photos of models as
well, but he mostly shoots photos with well-known musicians. Jeremy Saffer
began his work in the magazine world, and then soon became a well-known
photographer. Jeremy Saffer also offers a variety of photography workshops and
seminars, as well as offering private lessons while on tour and locally. You
can check out Jeremy Saffer’s work, as well as see when he has upcoming
workshops you can attend to, on his official website:
Official website: http://www.jeremysaffer.com/
You can also keep up to date with what Jeremy Saffer is
currently working on with his social media pages:
Facebook: Jeremy Saffer
Twitter: @jeremysaffer
Instagram: @jeremysaffer
YouTube: Jeremy Saffer
Tumblr: Jeremy Saffer
Psyko Boys is owned by Fernando Guerrero who is an artist
from California. Fernando Guerrero went back to school to perfect his work in
photography at Brooks Institute. It is noted that Fernando Guerrero
photographed the Butcher Babies back to when the band first started out. You
can check out Fernando’s official website, as well as his social media
pages:
Official website: http://www.psykoboys.com/
Facebook: Psyko Boys
Twitter: @PsykoBoys
Instagram: @fernandothephotographer
Tumblr: Psyko Boys
DJ Imagery is based in Los Angeles and is a photographer
that specializes in modelling portfolios, actor/actress head shots and editorial
photography. DJ Imagery has been taking photo shoots for the Butcher Babies for
quite a few years. You can check out DJ Imagery’s official website to view all
his other work, as well as follow his social media pages:
Official website: http://www.djimagery.com/
Facebook: DJ Imagery
Twitter: @dj_imagery
Instagram: @djimagery
Hristo Shindov is a Los Angeles based photographer, and
works in the entertainment industry. After graduating school, it was Hristo
Shindov dream to be involved with the Rock ‘n Roll scene, so he moved to Los
Angeles and pursued his lifelong dream. Hristo Shindov’s photography
caught a lot of attention from big
companies and have asked Hristo to shoot various advertisement projects for
companies, which included E! Channel, peta2 and Nisson. You can check out Hristo
Shindov’s official website and see what work he has done:
Official website: http://www.shindov.com/
You can also follow Hristo Shindov’s social media pages to
see where he will be next with his work:
Facebook: Hristo Shindov Photography + Film
Tumblr: Hristo Shindov Photography + Film
Tim Tronckoe is an international music photographer who is
from Belgium. Tim Tronckoe specializes in rock and metal photography for
international, as well as national music artists. Tim Tronckoe is also one of
the main photographers who are hired for photographing the musicians at metal
festivals, which are: Graspop Metal Meeting, Groezrock and Alcatraz Metal Fest.
Tim Tronckoe has done photography for many musicians who
include Arch Enemy, Motionless in White, Cradle of Filth, Slipknot and Epica.
Tim Tronckoe has also done photography for album shoots, or any photo shoot
that a musician may ask for – an example of this can be backstage of the
musicians own live concert. You can check out Tim Tronckoe’s official website,
as well as his social media pages to view all his past and upcoming work:
Official website: http://www.timtronckoe.com/
Facebook: Tim Tronckoe photography
Twitter: @timtronckoe
Instagram: @timtronckoe
Peter Troest is a freelance photographer who takes photos at
live concerts, as well as roller derby photos as well. You can check out his
official website to see what work he has done and also view concerts he has
attended to, to take photos of various musicians:
Official website: www.troest.nu
The record label, Century Media Records has given
permissions to upload the promotional photos.
You can check out Century Media Records official website, as
well as follow their social media pages:
Official website: http://www.centurymedia.com/
Butcher Babies section on the official page: http://www.centurymedia.com/artist.aspx?IdArtist=613
Facebook: Century Media Records
Twitter: @centurymedia
Instagram: @centurymedia
YouTube: Century Media Records
You can also view the official album stream from the new
album titled “Take It Like A Man” by the Butcher Babies on Century Media
Records YouTube account here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVWT5waYZYnkeiqtrgWwy-Q3WLThVO-hY
I thank you Century Media Records for the permission!
Here are a few Butcher Babies Music videos:
Mr. Slowdeath:
I Smell a Massacre live video:
Magnolia Blvd:
They’re Coming To Take Me Away, Ha Haaa!:
Monsters Ball:
I thank each and every single person for taking the time to
read this blog,
I thank each and every photographer for giving permissions
to upload their photos onto this blog,
I also thank Century Media Records for having such an
inspiring band, and for having such an amazing band that care so much for their
fans and have such incredible music,
Lastly, I’d like to thank the Butcher Babies band for
existing! Without you, this blog would not be alive and running, so I thank you
for being so inspiring and for having such great music to listen to,
Please remember everyone that you are welcome to tell your
friends and family about this blog,
Thank you everyone!
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| Photography: Payne Productions |
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