Sa-da-ko, Self fund or chase the Deal?

So can Sa-da-ko be self sufficient, by that I mean can a band fund it’s self and become in essence its own record company, business and distribution Agent?


To be honest this isn’t a new concept and a vast majority of bands actually do this, or at least start this way, examples include French Prog /Death Gojira, Uk’s Panic Cell, Ted Maul and dare I say U.S.As vomit inducing rock crooners Creed.



The tools available have grown and become more available; you can download Social networking “bots” that scan, add friends and schmoose your new pals like some cocaine crazed idiot at a party. Units (downloads or cds) can be sold via eBay, CDbaby, ITunes etc and marketing/ advertising can be easy as sending your myspace friends a spam fritter via a silver tongued message.

As the internet & web marketing becomes more and more accessible and bands/Artists are more aware that Myspace, Facebook, Twitter and other networking sites are making music reach further parts so in theory bands themselves now can distribute and sell their music on a small basis without the need of a label.

Sounds good eh?

Well actually this has led to a number of negative effects within the music industry.
One knock on effect is that labels are holding back development deals; it seems that labels & distribution companies have been burned in the past by signing up bands with huge hits and plays on the MySpace counter however once the bands start hitting the road they lack the longevity of a lot of their peers. (This could be why we have had the likes of Glastonbury Festival & Download festival with a lot of older more established artists on the bill.)


This coupled with the credit crunch means that labels aren’t just looking for “the next big thing” but they are now looking for “the next sure thing”


How do you get your band signed or at least How to get signed?

You used to be able to get label interest from a demo, but not anymore, protools make everyone sound amazing so it seems the only way to ensure genuine label interest is build your facts and figures.

• How often do you tour?
• Where do you tour?
• How many gigs?
• Of the gigs played how many cds were sold?
• How much merch was sold? How many friends on myspace? How many plays? How many cds sold via myspace?
• What was your initial outlay?
• What advertising of cds merch & gigs have you done?
• What media/radio websites have you appeared on?
• What reviews have been received?
• Who have you played with
  

So it seems it all has to go this way do whether we do decide to approach labels or whether we go alone, the ground work has to be the same doesnt it, so where do we go from here?


Well I’ve just made my check list & Sa-da-ko launches around October so only time will tell, I will keep adding more about the industry as I go on ,but message me on Sa-da-kO page myspace or twitter if you have any views on what I’ve written here or you have any hints of tips from your own experiences.

Until then laters

\m/
sIMo

A Madmans view on Sa-da-ko

We’ve had a few reviews lately, but I really wanted to show you this one not because it’s a positive one, but because this guy hits the nail on the head regarding to achieve with our sound. I met this chap via the SN app twitter,

I started following his blog not so long ago and I’ve enjoyed his rants and views immensely, if you’re looking for honesty, metal love and genuine point’s view in your blogs then check him out!! You can find the Madman by clicking the links on the side over on the right hand side….

Not something for the train journey
There are some nice things in the world. A cold beer in the sunshine on a hot day, the smell of a fresh steak on a barbecue, the scream of Metro Station's fans as the lead singer is pushed under a train.

There are some things that aren't nice, like people with halitosis yawning, genocide, warm lager. And Sa-Da-kO.

Not to be confused with commuter time-hemorrhage Sudoku, Sa-da-kO are a five-piece death/grind band from way up North. There's a distinctly oriental theme to these bruiser's blogs so I can make the educated assumption that the name is taken from the scary long-haired chick that crawls out of the TV at the end of The Ring. However, this is a big hit with MADman as I'm a huge fan of Japanese culture, so was intrigued to dig into their MySpace. And they are not nice

Demo tunes "rEd" and "Name Your God" open the set of eight songs in the kind of noise you'd expect if Lamb Of God walked up to Atreyu in a chainsaw factory and called their mum's a bunch of slags. The immediately harsh guitar slaps you round the chops and in my opinion, vocalist Jim Arnold absolutely shreds his throat to open the demo. In fact, it seemed a bit rude sitting down whilst listening to "Name Your God" and I felt I should try and get a wall of death going with Hot Chick. There's a vocal break that has Dimmu Borgir-like qualities and reminded me a great deal of the initial slow down in "The Serpentine Offering", only with less Nordic atmosphere.

The third tune "The Struggle" didn't felate me in the same way as the openers but, with similarities to Disturbed's "Sons Of Plunder" on the intro, it's still worthy of some ear time. My one possible criticism about the first four songs is that "Ju-on" could have gone into a mental halfbeat breakdown after the first couple of bars; this tune has the potential to create fucking carnage in the pit so I would have liked a to hear a bit of variation here.

"It Grows" shows a Black Dahlia Murder style to Jim's vocal and, if properly produced, should be on a demo. I can see legs, arms, bottles of piss and babies being chucked around a pit once this piece reaches full swing. "False Prophecy" gives us a traditional "bit from a horror film" intro, with a poor woman being terrorised by some sort of mean demon types, before we get toe-punted in the cock by Jim and the crew as the song kicks in. Interestingly, this number takes us back to the horror narrator midway through, giving an interesting depth to an otherwise pretty traditional thrash chugger.

The last couple of tunes lose the initial impact for me but overall, this is a fucking fantastic display of garage death metal. If Jim Arnold can hold on to his vocal chords before they rupture into some kind of pissing gore shower, I can see myself banging my head off of a stage in front of this bunch of reprobates in the not too distant future.

Happy Endings?? Hell No!!

Now I’ve watched a few good horror movies in my time, I’ve also watched some damn awful ones but every so often I come across a film that makes me shit my pants. Not because it’s scary (honest!) but mainly because the ending of the film is just not what I expected.

Pulse



Although a remake I actually prefer this to its original “Kairo" it hit a few bad reviews but I think there is something here that makes it stand out from the, let’s be honest, pretty poor remakes of some of its J/K-horror siblings.

The Mist


Based on Stephen king’s book by the same name, The mist is set as you would imagine in a sleepy town, A mist is spotted on the horizon and soon after a whole eco system of bizarre creatures decent on the townsfolk.

Audition


Basic instinct amped up 8000%, I didn’t look another women in the eye for 3 weeks after watching this movie

I urge you to see these movies, if you already have let me know what you think…..

Reviews

Tony at http://www.metalunderground.co.uk/ was kind enough to review of our current demo tracks.......

http://www.myspace.com/sadako01

Sa-da-kO, 5 piece from Southport in the North West.Listening to the tracks on my space, there is a mix of everything in the music, they use a combination of brutal vocals backed up some clean vocals, on some of the songs, and I loved some of the guitar work, as some of the musicianship is of a good standard.Its obvious that a lot of work has gone into the writing of the songs, when I first listened to the tracks on my space, the music didn’t impress that much but after a few listens, it grew on me, and taking into consideration that it will sound much better on CD.Give the band credit for trying something a little different would say give the music a few listens before making a judgment as it is a grower.

3.5/5

Ok, so not the greatest of reviews, however there is an understanding what the band is trying to achieve here, there are too many clones!! Too many bands, who write the same, produce the same, use the same equipment, use the same plug-ins and market the same.
I’m drawing a line in the sand now and I’m promising that the new album is a step up, not a departure, not a “radio friendly sound” but a complete overhaul and completely focused recording.

I love reviews it helps mold and focus us as a band and gives us an import view of ourselves removed from the confinements of the studio or the practice room, you can read more of our reviews via Garage band but more importantly have your say on face book, twitter, blog whatever, let us know and unite.