The opening track for the 'S8INT LAZARUS' album. Inspired by my favorite movies of the 80's: "Conan The Barbarian," and "The Terminator."
I wanted to start the album off, with an audio representation of me battling with the demons, that haunt me: Depression, Anxiety, Addiction. Who wins, actually varies, from day to day. *Spoiler alert - the good guy RARELY wins

The War Within

THE WAR WITHIN

An instrumental, written to try to help with depression and anxiety. No song structure, was planned, before recording. I just picked an instrument, and played what I felt. Would do that, for a few takes, and keep the best one, that fit,...what I felt. Hopefully somebody can use this, to help when they need to relax, or combat anxiety. Take care of yourself. No one else is going to.

EVERY MINUTE IS ANOTHER PASSING CHANCE TO TURN IT ALL AROUND

One of my fave riffs, marched into battle by thundering drums, courtesy of Heavyocity's Gravity. This song dives into the life of a drug dealer, and the reality that every customer you have, at one time or another, is gonna think that they are gonna step up and take your place, in the pecking order. Except, you were 3 steps ahead of them, the whole way.
This is the latest release of the debut album, from ZEMO72, "S8INT LAZARUS." Brad Tester, (One 30 Edge, 10,000 Flames, Sober Otis) returns after 8 years, to unleash a multi-faceted sonic attack, one that encompasses almost every musical influence, over the years.  It is a dark, and grim painting, going to parts of his life, that he had never before revealed. Having diagnosed with anxiety & depression at 17, his family swept everything under the rug, and left him to deal with forces he didn't understand. One of the goals now, he says, is to try to help others. Let them know that someone believes them, when they speak of the demons that exist in their world.

MIDDLEMAN

Cover of Possum Kingdom by EngineEar. 
Pat Carter : Vocals
Mike Stephenson : Drums, Bass, Guitars, Backing Vocals

Possum Kingdom (Toadies Cover).mp3

HELLEN Kontakt library - Dear Hellen - Demo by G.Caiazzo

Cover of Talking In Your Sleep by The Romantics
Pat Carter and Mike Stephenson

Talking In Your Sleep (The Romantics Cover)

EngineEar's cover of Fire Lake by Bob Segar and The Silver Bullet Band

Fire Lake (Bob Segar and The Silver Bullet Band Cover)

Modern Horror La Sombra

My version of the classic Danzig song. The debut album, released in 1988, was one of the biggest influences of mine, for the atmosphere they created, with such few instruments. If you have not heard the album, make it your next purchase. Produced by Rick Rubin, written by Glenn Danzig, and performed by John Christ (guitars) Eerie Von (Bass), and Chuck Biscuits (drums). 
I used to perform this song, back in 2004-2010. acoustically, during unplugged shows for Sober Otis, and 10,000 Flames. I had always heard the string arrangements in my head, but until now, I was the only one.
The song was originally written about the PMRC, and their attack on music, in the late 80's. For me, though...the song always spoke to the dark side of the soul, that we hide from the rest of the world. There are so many of us, who walk around with demons that we try our best, to hold back. Some days, we win. Some days, we don't. If you know/suspect that someone you know is dealing with mental problems, don't make fun....don't accuse them of making it up....and never tell someone, that "they shouldn't feel that way." When you are lost in the darkness, those who make light of the situation, only drive us further down. 

Anyways: all credit for this song goes to Glenn Danzig. I claim no rights, nor credit.

MOTHER (Acoustic / Danzig Cover)

Skinned Alive

Face Of Aggression

Paleface

Where to start...After playing, writing, performing music for over 20 years, a series of events {both within and out of my control) came crashing down. Consecutive years of losing friends & lovers to addiction, abandonment, and my own self-destructive tendencies culminated to the point, where I woke up one day....and no longer heard the music in my head. Songwriters/artists know what I'm talking about. When you create, you always have ideas/aspirations/feelings bouncing around in your head, looking for an opportunity and reason to line up/make sense of each other, and be released. It all stopped.  For years. I quit playing, writing, and stored all of my gear, destined to dust. I walked around, existing nothing more than a shell, as truly I felt like my soul had died. Felt nothing. Got a regular job, and proceeded though life,, as a cog in the machine.

Then, 2020.

When coronavirus shut down the world, it was the first time in years, that I had more than 1-2 days off in a row. Sitting by myself for a few days, I noticed a small ripple of creativity was stirring around, in the back of my conscience.  Since then,, I can't describe the feeling. But, in waves, it keeps coming. In the past 2 weeks, I've tried to get caught back up on teaching myself the recording basics again. My instruments are back out, all around me, at all times. It's hard to keep up with everywhere my mind is bouncing around to.

It's back on, bitches.

Stay tuned..

THE WAR WITHIN

ZEMO72

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