Wow! Just read the post where the dev listed the albums that were influencing him, and was highly surprised to see two albums by Shihad.

Shihad happen to be one of New Zealand's biggest bands but unfortunately all too many bands from New Zealand have a very hard time breaking into the international market. New Zealand sucks ass for promoting its bands and as a result most people in Canada and the United States have probably never heard of Shihad before. If any of you have a chance to listen to Shihad I suggest you do. Some of the stuff from Killjoy is amazing and original (same goes for Love Is The New Hate) especially when you consider it has been out for 14 years. What really bums me out is that due to their lack of international success Shihad have had to resort to the mainstream which really pisses me off as love their metalish stuff. It is a shame that their music is only really heard in New Zealand (but I might be wrong). I was just blown away that my hero Devin Townsend listens to music that was written by people who live in the same city as me and I myself grew up listening to. And what's more its influenced him in some way

Wow! Just read the post where the dev listed the albums that were influencing him, and was highly surprised to see two albums by Shihad.

Shihad happen to be one of New Zealand's biggest bands but unfortunately all too many bands from New Zealand have a very hard time breaking into the international market. New Zealand sucks ass for promoting its bands and as a result most people in Canada and the United States have probably never heard of Shihad before. If any of you have a chance to listen to Shihad I suggest you do. Some of the stuff from Killjoy is amazing and original (same goes for Love Is The New Hate) especially when you consider it has been out for 14 years. What really bums me out is that due to their lack of international success Shihad have had to resort to the mainstream which really pisses me off as love their metalish stuff. It is a shame that their music is only really heard in New Zealand (but I might be wrong). I was just blown away that my hero Devin Townsend listens to music that was written by people who live in the same city as me and I myself grew up listening to. And what's more its influenced him in some way

Believe me, Shihad are pretty big here in Australia. Pretty sure they're at least semi based here in Melbourne. Musically, there are better bands around (Cog, Karnivool, Dead Letter Circus, Butterfly Effect etc etc) but live, they are absolutely SUPREME. Have seen them a few times, and they've blown me away every time. Yes, also surprised to hear Dev is influenced by them....

yeh i used to listen to them, the song "my minds sedate" was played on the radio heapsback in the day. I think they changed their name to "pacifier" havent heard much lately though.

A long time ago he mentioned sending demos out to others musicians, it would be cool if he had a whole bunch of people around to do stuff we wants done. To be honest I hope Ki will have a range of (female) vocalists, trompeteers, flutists, harpists, and so on.

trompeteers?!?!? For gods sake nooooooooooooooooooo! Think of the poor children!

trompets are the instrument of crappy sounds and infernal harmonies!

...Or.. Well... I just hate trompets.. Flutes are ok, Harps are fuckin neat..

2 words, my man. Miles. Davis.

Dev will melt our faces with massive high gain accordion solo.

I won't be happy until there are bagpipes.

trompets are the instrument of crappy sounds and infernal harmonies! ...Or.. Well... I just hate trompets..

That hurt. I've been playing trumpet for about nine years.

Dev will melt our faces with massive high gain accordion solo.

Heh, I used to play accordion as a kid. My friends keep trying to convince me to start a comedy death metal band with them, with me on accordion, but I don't have one of my own anymore, and I can't stand them anyway! Once you've played guitar for any length of time, there's no going back to keyboard based instruments, in my opinion.

Dev will melt our faces with massive high gain accordion solo.

Heh, I used to play accordion as a kid. My friends keep trying to convince me to start a comedy death metal band with them, with me on accordion, but I don't have one of my own anymore, and I can't stand them anyway! Once you've played guitar for any length of time, there's no going back to keyboard based instruments, in my opinion.

I have strong urge to fiddle with some keys lately, which will probably get fulfilled soon by getting some midi keyboard. I'm rubbish on guitar and have little idea what to do with it, changing interface should provide at least some additional fun. Besides, I can type on computer keyboard quite fast, maybe it will help with typing on piano-like keys

Keeping away of accordions, though.

Speaking of accordions, there was an idea in a Zits cartoon I read of starting the world's most annoying band- it would include accordion, bagpipes, kazoo, and banjo. I believe Dev should do this, as he would be the only man up to the task of making it awesome.

i like accordians

If played right, they have a really beautiful, deep, melancholy sound too them.

And a harp in one of his albums would rock too.

Am I the only one who wouldn't mind hearing some medieval instruments on Dev's new album.... if esoteric is the direction he's going in?

Sacbuts, crumhorns, harpsichords, dulcimers.... I could get into that. I mean, I'm all about straight forward guitars, bass, drums, vocals most of the time; but if he's going to mix it up I would hope he'd mix it up medieval style.

[The Dev]

Yeah, it's pretty powerful.

Yup...Ki is a good 'un.

He Dev', You're my guide since Ocean Machine and for that long I wonder how much do you know and met Rush, and which one is your favourite ? Lee, Lifeson or Peart ?
I really didn't find anything on the web about an eventual relationship, and eventhough you play on "Working man" Tribute, you don't quote them as an influence...But I've found there were some similarities in the buildings of your tracks...Am I totally wrong ?
Thanx a lot for everything ...You gave me Albums I've always dreamed about when I was a Teen, and I'd never thought you would fullfill my most incredible dream of a Comic Space Opera MetalConcept Album so soon with the masterpiece which is Ziltoid...You're my dreamer guide.
ALL HAIL THE NEW KI