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Contests

BTBAM THE GREAT MISDIRECT CONTEST WINNER ANNOUNCED

Wednesday, December 16th, 2009 at 11:00am by

btbam contestWe’ve chosen a winner for our massive Between the Buried and Me Great Misdirect contest! That winner is Tim Meyer of Newfane, New York (which is way up above Buffalo, for anyone wondering), and he’ll receive the Spector bass, bass gear, and all of the awesome BTBAM stuff you see listed above. After the jump, read Tim’s winning entry, an answer to the open-ended contest question “Which BTBAM album is your favorite, and why?”

It’s too early to say where The Great Misdirect is going to rank so I’m going to have to go with Colors. How much do I like it? I bought it for all four of my (former) band members for Christmas ‘07, and for one of my other buddies as well. I downloaded the leak when it leaked, but then I bought six copies. To me, it’s the perfect album. Not repetitive, but not random like some more technical bands. BRUTALLY HEAVY but adventurously melodic and musical. The diverse moods (like the polka section in Prequel To The Sequel) keep the pacing just right, and the incredible musicianship is always tasteful. This album is more than an album to me. It is my all-time favorite musical recording, spoken of among me and my friends in awed tones befitting what we consider to be the supreme modern artistic achievement.

I myself am a bass player so this would be great for me. I only have a four-string, but a few guys I know are actually in a band that covers Colors and don’t have a bass-player. I’ve wanted a five-string for years, just so I could learn the Between The Buried And Me catalog. I even tried to sell my Warwick last month so I could buy a Spector (being a broke college music performance major, I can’t exactly just go buy one). I bought the Alaska book right before Colors came out, but was disappointed to see that almost none of the songs could be played on a four-string (Mordecai being the exception, which doesn’t even feature Dan, my favorite bassist, on the recording). I’m sitting here wearing my Colors shirt in my psych 101 class, ignoring it, because I’m too excited at this prospect to actually pay attention. Just bought The Great Misdirect, just heard about the tour, and now this!

Congrats, Tim! Enjoy all of that swag.

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  • http://jordanmunson.wordpress.com Jordan Munson

    Can’t ague with that answer.

  • Skeletonwitchcraft

    he made it up. just came up with some crazy story about being a bass player so he can win a new one.

    • Me

      after reading your comment, I did a little facebook investigation (no stalker). his profile pic is him with a bass, and it says he’s a broke ass college student in his little blurb thing. unless he fabricated this life in order to win the contest, I think he’s legit.

      • WowWee!

        He went to all of that trouble just to decieve them.

      • Alex_P

        1

  • Brownsound

    I am disappoint

    • Ed

      I’m ed

      • Malacoda

        lawl.

  • http://www.fuckoffmyself.blogspot.com Jedsan

    Lucky bastard!

  • Tim

    You can check my band at http://www.myspace.com/thestarsthrewdowntheirspears

    We’re playing with the binary code at broadway joes if anyone wants to see the bass in person.

    • Driven9

      musics not too bad. But pretty heavy on the jesus stuff there buddy – I dont know about all that.
      anyways enjoy ur win

      • http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/46e389eb8b79606050d3d447431ff6ac?s=80 Nate

        Wait, wait, wait. They gave the prize to a CHRISTIAN BASS PLAYER?? WHAT THE FUCK! My own entry was half-assed, and i’m DEFINITELY not butt-hurt about losing, but goddamn, there were so many better entries, and of more deserving fuckers than some stupid christian kid in a stupid christian band. Axl, Vince, you guys are FUCK-TARDED for this.

        • Myopinionisbetterthenyours

          Judgmental much?

        • Alkahest

          Dumbass athiests like you are worse.

          • http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/46e389eb8b79606050d3d447431ff6ac?s=80 Nate

            How am I a dumbass? All christian bands in the history of ever have been the same — fucking trash. This guy’s band is included. At least give the bass to a poor person who really loves BTBAM with actual TALENT. I mean FUCK, there’s no point to their music except for dick-riding Jesus.

          • Brownsound

            but dude jesus gives the best dick rides!

        • ECDEU

          Jesus loves you and died for you. John 14:6

          • http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/46e389eb8b79606050d3d447431ff6ac?s=80 Nate

            Lol are you serious? Are you fucking serious?

          • Brownsound

            The Flying Spaghetti Monster loves you more.

    • ECDEU

      Bro, does your band have an email address cause I want your demo but I don’t have a myspace and live nowhere near new york. Dude please reply back on here!

  • cyclicimpulse

    he deserve it, he is legit, he is speaking from his heart… you won my friend… congrats from mexico

  • none

    fuck. fucking fuck. there were so many more qualifying posts (mine included) with more thought, heart, and description (although some were just fucking annoying and retarded). and there were probably some people that tried for this that could have really used all this stuff more than this guy. figure some kid that seriously cant afford an instrument at all, let alone afford going to college. not even to say that i should have won, just that you guys could have made a better decision. if i knew i didnt have to really give true feeling to my comment, i would have uploaded a photo of someone farting under water instead of typing words. i (along with plenty of others, im sure) feel completely ripped off. but, congrats to the winner, you lucky fucking bastard.

  • andy morales

    congrats to this dude!!!

  • Walker

    I really like the dude who wrote “how long is this fucking song?” for his choice of Colors

  • Austin

    well, if it wasn’t all lies, he really deserves it more than I did

  • David

    Well, good job man. I wish I could have won it, but best of luck with your band. Do me a favor and try to learn Veridian like I so wanted to.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Gabsung-Lim/568375471 Gabsung Lim

    thats such an awesome fan!!!! glad he won :)

    • Connor

      i think you.. the winner.. and these metalsucks guys are all in the same cult Tommy is talking about on TGM. i dont understand how you all seem to think the dumbest most heartless answers are just pure gold.

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Gabsung-Lim/568375471 Gabsung Lim

        whats TGM? and im not in some cult.. i just read his letter and thought it was cool. did you write an entry? i didnt read anyone else’s.

  • Zack

    guys, guys, woah, what the fuck?

  • http://www.myspace.com/thestarsthrewdowntheirspears Tim

    Well, Nate, for one thing there are a few solid Christian metal bands out there. Extol’s album Undeceived is one in particular that I believe it would be hard to argue against. Becoming The Archetype is another good band. Most of the rest of it isn’t really my thing, although I do occasionally listen to some Zao, the first Norma Jean album, and The Chariot. The problem with a band when it’s labeled “Christian” tends to be that quality is over-looked in favor of content. I have a lot of Christian friends who like all sorts of terrible bands (Skillet, The Devil Wears Prada…the list goes on…) just because they have Christian lyrics. In this, I sympathize with you. However, just because a band has Christian lyrics does not make it bad. That’s as backwards as people buying pop albums because the singer is attractive. I started playing metal because of Pantera, who I’ve been listening to since I was six, and then later I got into bands like Between The Buried And Me, Opeth, The Dillinger Escape Plan, and Intronaut. Between The Buried And Me is my favorite band. I’ve traveled all the way to Cleveland to see them, I’ve met Dan, Paul, and Tommy, I have everything they’ve ever released except for the Colors tab book (which ought to be remedied soon if I can manage it) and hey like I said I bought Colors for five other people when I had a job and could afford to do so. I’ve also payed for other people’s concert tickets, gas, even merch (this was all back in 07 and 08 when I had a full time job, which I quit to attend college). I write the music I love, and I write lyrics about what I’m passionate about. Gojira does the same. Just because Monsieur Duplantier is screaming about saving whales and littering, it doesn’t make the music any less breath-taking. In fact, the passion and belief makes the music better. Furthermore, I really don’t mean to brag, but since you address the issue, I have a perfect record of straight As in my music performance classes, having been told by instructors “you’re getting an A because they don’t do A s at this college,” “you’re an asset to this program,” etc. performing in many styles including jazz fusion, modern funk, traditional jazz, and classic rock as well as writing prog rock and Children Of Bodom/Dimmu Borgir inspired black/power metal for other classes, on bass and guitar. I’ve been playing 2 and 3 hour sets of Metallica, Van Halen, and Rush covers at house parties since 2003 and have performed on my church’s worship team for five years, and then two more in a leadership setting. I’m currently being counseled by an instructor that my talent may be able to bring a partial or even full scholarship to Berklee in Boston, which is the school to go to for modern music. I’m currently bumming rides and getting through school on loans which are just managing to keep me going, since None seems skeptical of my situation. Broke, in my case, means I have a little bit of money that all goes to bills and necessities. Winning this contest not only allows me to expand my skills and become more versatile on my instrument, it also relieves the stress of not being able to save even pennies to better my situation. So, it gives me one less thing to juggle while I’m supposed to be practicing nine hours a week, doing homework/writing papers for other classes, going to band practice (two different bands), looking for a job, baby-sitting my ten-month-old niece, volunteering at my church, doing extra work to make up for my ride being consistently late, and trying to find a car. I want to thank everyone for the congratulations and kind words, and although some people seem to find me at fault I hope that they can perhaps change their minds, and if not then I wish them well all the same. I also want to thank Vince, Axl, and the rest of the MS guys for helping me out so enormously.

    • akeldama

      Bitchin.

      + all

    • http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/46e389eb8b79606050d3d447431ff6ac?s=80 Nate

      1. Crymoar.

      2. All those albums you listed suck. There’s nothing good about the christian metal scene. Nothing. The fact that they have songs about space-men’s mortal incarnations that they created through some cosmic form of artificial insemination just makes the lyrics stupid, no matter how passionate they sing about it. I’d rather listen to a man getting his dick shaved off with a cheese grater than any lyrics about the bullshit you ignorance-ridden, logic-deniers believe — The pain would be passionate, trust me.

      3. Your credentials are fucking bullshit. Performing other people’s music doesn’t mean that you yourself are good. Whooo, so you do well in a college jazz course; congratulations, you can listen to and memorize what people tell you at an excellent level!

      4. If nine hours A WEEK you’re not practicing very much.

      5. All that other shit you do, minus school and a job, isn’t necessary. Oh, you help out with your church, how nice of you. Promoting the destruction of intelligence and science in the world while passing out bowls of soup, eh? I’d have more respect for you if you were in a secularist benefit group — you know, one NOT rooted in retardation. As for baby-sitting your niece, again, that’s something that you don’t have to do. It’s nice of you to do, don’t get me wrong, that’s actually genuinely nice, but you PUT THAT UPON YOURSELF. Don’t act like those charitable deeds of yours are a necessity — there were entires that were more articulate than yours with people in worse situations that yours, which would put that instrument to good use.

      6. YOU HAVE A FUCKING WARWICK. You HONESTLY can’t sell that? If you can’t sell a warwick to upgrade to a 5 string, then you’re fucking retarded, i’m sorry. There is ALWAYS a market for warwicks, ALWAYS. I myself was searching for one for months until I found my Spector Legend 5 for 500$.

      7. The way you worded that thought, it seemed like you were saying Duplantier’s lyrics were about bullshit. Duplantier’s lyrics are about a situation that actually matters. Yours are not.

      8. I’ll add more to this list as I come across more pieces of your bullshit I can pick apart, but for right now, I need to go play some magic with my drummer.

      • Jared

        Fuck, your dumb. Do you honestly think churches are about apposing science?

        Also, this contest did not take into account who needed the bass the most, so dont try to make that an argument against this guy. Your obviously just butthurt that a christian won.

        Congratulations to the winner, wish I would have won but you’ll probably put it to better use.

        • http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/46e389eb8b79606050d3d447431ff6ac?s=80 Nate

          You know, you can’t really call anyone dumb if you cannot spell “opposing” correctly. Yes, churches ARE against science, as science blatantly and decisively disproves the bible.

          So take out that argument against who needed it most, his post wasn’t as articulate as a lot of others on there. Honestly, how DO you know that they didn’t choose this guy because he made it look like he needed it badly? Hmmm? Are you either Axl or Vince or anyone of the other judges?

          You sir, are as inarticulate as the zealot who won, and you’re nearly twice as stupid.

          • Jared

            You got me. I used the wrong word on an internet post. I must be an idiot.

            But you, are just spouting off random claims of ‘science’ disproving the bible, which you might have some kind of backing on, I doubt it but it could happen. However, there is plenty of archeological evidence that supports the bible. Look it up.

            Now, metalsucks is no place for a religious debate so lets just leave it at congratulations to the winner.

          • TonyT

            Dude…jared….im not all up in arms against christians like nate is….but there is no “archeological evidence” of the bible. Ask any legit scientist. In fact, even if there is, there is still a shit ton of evidence and…you know, science…that disproves the bible.

          • http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/46e389eb8b79606050d3d447431ff6ac?s=80 Nate

            Jared, you are a fucking moron. You didn’t use a DIFFERENT word you MISSPELLED an easy word.

            And if you HONESTLY believe there is evidence that supports the bible, then there’s no hope for you. Go to youtube and look up the channel thunderf00t. His entire 30-something video series “Why People Laugh At Creationists” presents science which disproves the bible, and he articulates and explains this evidence much more eloquently than I ever could.

          • Jared

            I find that most people who are against christianity dont know what christianity is. It seems you are no exception. Im not going to watch your youtube video because its about creationism. creationism is not christianity. I am not a creationist, but I am a christian.

            and apposing is a word. so I used the wrong word.

          • http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/46e389eb8b79606050d3d447431ff6ac?s=80 Nate

            No, Jared, I don’t think YOU understand what a Christian is. A Christian believes in the bible. All of it. So either YOU’RE not a real Christian, or you’re lying here.

            You know what, I’ve got more videos to show ya. Check out the channel “Largo64″ on youtube, he has a video that goes through all these instances of supposed “correct bible science” and tells why it’s utter bullshit.

            Thanks for being a complete moron zealot, and have a nice day

          • Brandon Guim

            Nate, you speak of how there is no proof of God,
            yet why is it you fail to give proof that He DOESN’T exist?
            That’s what a lot of scientists I hear say, they just saying there’s no proof to support it.
            Just because we’re yet to find absolute proof (aside from Christ and multiple other forms of evidence) that you guys consider “legit” doesn’t make it fake.

            Christ rose from the grave AFTER His death, with multiple witness accounts.
            You can send a man to prison based on a few accounts.
            Christ was seen by 500 people at once.

            It’s not utter “bull shit,” and living the life style of a Christian is not even bad.
            I would much rather be around someone who speaks intelligently than some metal head
            who claims himself intelligent yet makes statements like “I would rather listen to a man shave his balls.”

            Also what is this evidence??
            The big band theory?? OH WAIT.. look at that… THEORY. Maybe you should use a dictionary.
            It’s a theory. That’s what Creationism is offered as, a theory. Believe or don’t, your choice.
            But it’s disrespectful to knock on someone else because of their beliefs when they are
            not harming anyone.

            And by the way, the big bang is a load of crap, completely and utterly.
            It is not NATURALLY possible to have an uncaused effect. Meaning the Big Band, naturally speaking,
            would HAD to have been the effect of a cause. And the Big Bang’s cause would have to
            be an effect of another cause, etc. etc. I assume you can follow, basic SCIENCE, man..

            A computer does not appear out of nowhere naturally.
            Thus the world must of had an unnatural appearance.
            And if it’s not natural?? Woah woah woah, it’s supernatural and/or spiritual.

            Evolution is preposterous as well.
            That doesn’t even make sense, it disproves itself time and time again.
            No one has to even attempt to debunk such rubbish talk.
            I’m not even going to waste my time doing that.

            I can’t remember who stated it, but…
            “Give scientist a couple drinks and they’ll tell you they don’t believe in evolution.
            They just go along with it so they don’t lose their tenure, jobs, etc.”

            Look bro, Christ loves you whether or not you believe in Him.
            I hope one day you find Him, but if not, I can only ask that you accept the fact
            that people have the right to believe what they will and it’s okay.

            I’m not telling you to change what you believe, I’m just asking to change how you believe it.
            We’re not ignorant, I mean a lot of us are, but a lot of people in general are.

            You call us brain washed by our God,
            but I can turn around and call you brain washed by yours, which is science.

          • http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/46e389eb8b79606050d3d447431ff6ac?s=80 Nate

            Science is a god, moron. I never said I could disprove god, just the bible. The fact that you think “theory” means that something makes something untrue, means that you know nothing about science, and destroys any credibility you have on this subject.

            You are honestly a moron. You have non purpose commenting towards me. Go educate yourself, please.

            Also, did I ever say I believed in the Big BANG (not band, as you misspelled multiple times) theory? NO. Not all those who listen to scientific facts find that the big bang model is the most credible. You have just blatantly shown that you don’t understand anything about the concepts of science. You don’t “believe” in science. Science tells us things, facts about life.

            You say that a computer isn’t created out of nothing. No fucking duh. Your argument for god there is also known as the “Unknown Watchmaker” argument, and has been debunked for hundreds of years. HUNDREDS. A machine does not have properties of growth, as something organic (like the universe) does. A computer also does not procreate, or contain living things within itself.

            You sir, need severe education. SEVERE education. I recommend Thunderf00t on youtube. He’s pretty much a genius.

            As for all your “Jesus Christ” bullshit, your imaginary friend can love me all he wants, but that doesn’t change the fact that he is not supernatural.

          • Brandon Guim

            Wow, really?
            No crap science is a god.

            Um, no, I didn’t say that, you’re misreading what I say…
            Must I really explain each individual word so you can comprehend it?
            The Big Bang theory is an attempt to disprove Creationism. Perhaps
            they both had the same action, a big flash and here is earth, however,
            one claims there was a super natural cause, the other claims it was basically random, no origin.

            Because if it had an origin, you would then wonder where the materials leading to the explosion
            came from, would you not??

            And how does science disprove the Bible?
            Isn’t the Bible like backed by science more so than any other religious book??
            What, because Jesus supposedly married someone the Bible is disproved??
            That’s the WORST case I have ever heard to disprove ANYTHING.
            If He married her, so what? He didn’t commit adultery, no sin.

            Wow, you took the computer example way out of context. You’re just manipulative.
            I know that a computer is not an organic matter, that’s absurd. I also know that it does not pro create life, because one that is without life cannot create.

            Oh wait, so.. if nothing created the world.. how exactly was it created??
            Some life form had to have created the world, universe, galaxy, all within it.

            So what organic matter could come into existence without being created??
            Please tell me, Nate, or perhaps thunderf00t, your pastor, could tell me.

            By the way, I brought up the computer example to state the following :

            THERE IS NO UN-CAUSED CAUSE IN THE NATURAL WORLD.
            NOTHING CAN BE CREATED WITHOUT A CAUSE IN THE NATURAL WORLD.
            IT TAKES A SUPERNATURAL OCCURRENCE.

            Are you following? Those were my intentions. Jeez, you need education, man.
            You fail to decipher simple statements.

            And dude, He will keep on loving you.

          • http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/46e389eb8b79606050d3d447431ff6ac?s=80 Nate

            Your arguments are so full of shit and ignorant, not to mention plentifully disproved, that I won’t even answer you properly. Go check out some Richard Dawkins and some Thunderf00t if you want to argue, but I doubt you will. You, like most Christians, are willfully ignorant.

            I love how delusional you are. It’s just silly.

      • kvlt of personality

        I disagree with point number three. Slamming this guy for memorizing somebody else’s music is discrediting the entire worldwide college music program for both classical and jazz. The violin and piano virtuosos that spend hours a day practicing a Liszt or Paganini interpretation, or the jazz players that creatively improvise over the complex chords of a standard tune. You can’t call the dedication, ability, and discipline it takes to perform those things “not good.” I know you’re just trying to tear apart a Christian bass player’s credibility over the internet (although you claim that you’re not butthurt over him winning the BTBAM contest instead of you), but don’t slam the guy’s schooling.

        • http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/46e389eb8b79606050d3d447431ff6ac?s=80 Nate

          PERSONALLY i’m not butthurt, I already have a Legend 5 bass that I bought with hard-earned cash, and I already have some cool BTBAM gear. I’m pissed that this inarticulate and undeserving loser one over so many others that would be putting it to good use.

          And practicing other people’s shit only gets you so far. Yeah, it takes skill, I won’t deny that. If this kid can play some Bach pieces two-hand tapped on that bass, I’ll have respect for him; but just because you can play someone else’s difficult music doesn’t mean you can FORMULATE your own. THAT is what point #3 was about — Covering only goes so far.

          Also, even if he CAN play jazz/classical and improvise it well, it doesn’t mean his METAL (and the spector Legend 5 IS a metal bass) is good. Quite contrary. His metal is awful, and it has a repugnant message.

      • Brownsound

        At least you didn’t thank God, that would have been ironic!

    • Connor

      you typed more about christian metal and your shitty fucking band and with more passion than you did for this fucking contest. yet you still won? fail times infinity.

      you’re just a regular fucking guy that posted a regular fucking answer and won really awesome gear from a bunch of regular fucking guys.

      so i learned a lesson today. i will no longer associate myself with regular fucking shit. including btbam.
      btbam’s only message for fans is to think outside the box. LOOK AT THIS GUY. he’s the most streamlined thinker i have ever seen (christianity, in a band, in college, in a christian band, looking for a 9 to 5, volunteering… etc) he might as well be running for PROM QUEEN.

      and hey that’s ok. not trying to rag you too much.. but when it comes to a BTBAM CONTEST?? and you pick an answer that says “hm well im in college and i play bass but i cant afford one can i haz win plz?”

      …………….. i am now going to create an entire progressive metal concept album in spite of this. that’s how pissed off i am. i’m not fucking kidding either.

      • http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/46e389eb8b79606050d3d447431ff6ac?s=80 Nate

        That’s pretty fucking metal dude. I’d buy a copy of that concept album — I don’t know how your music sounds, but it’s OBVIOUSLY better than this mother fucker’s boring slew of christian stupidity.

      • Brownsound

        1

    • http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/46e389eb8b79606050d3d447431ff6ac?s=80 Nate

      Here’s an add-on

      9. YOURE A FUCKING IDIOT WITH MONEY. You don’t DESERVE free shit when you can’t help but drop hundreds of bucks on other people for no reason. That whole bit about paying for gas, going on long ass trips, buying other people’s merch, and you complain about being too poor to buy shit??? Those people need to pay for themselves, and you’re just a gullible fuckshit. Honestly, you’re a moron. I spend my money like crazy, but at least I know to SAVE SOME and be FRUGAL when I want a new instrument.

      Holy fucking shit, the more I read your retarded posts, the more I feel the other entrants were treated unjustly.

  • Xenochrist

    Oh I shouldn’t even bring this quote into play but I will
    “Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.” – Albert Einstein
    Congratulations Tim and let the Opinion Tsunami begin!

    • http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/46e389eb8b79606050d3d447431ff6ac?s=80 Nate

      That quote is fucking bullshit unless you know all about Albert Einstein. Einstein didn’t believe in any mainstream religion — He believed in Spinoza’s views on god, and he even called that into question. You, sir, are a quote-mining douchetard. What this quote MEANS is that you should have a purpose for your research, and that blind faith in god is ridiculous. Fuck you, and fuck your attempt to support christianity.

      • Xenochrist

        Oh my friend I know what Einstein means here. Trust me. What I want to know is, from all the comments you’ve made, how hard did the priest rape you to give you such a deep chip on your shoulder with religion? Let people believe what they want and get over it, you aren’t going to change their minds.

        P.S. What the fuck is a douchetard? I can only imagine someone under 15 saying something stupid like that.

  • OoB3ASTIALoO

    fuck you tim u piece of shit

    • Xenochrist

      Sore loser a bit?

  • Connor

    -1000000000000000000.

    DID YOU HEAR THIS FUCKING KID’S BAND? It is the most midtempo, black metally-christian “metal” i have ever heard in my life. this guy did NOT need good gear…

    I now hate BTBAM and metalsucks and metal.

    I’m going to start sucking cocks. it seems like people who do that are the only people who get anywhere in life.

    suck suck suck suck suck. SUCKsess here i come! suck suck suck suck

  • Tim

    I would like to point out to you that I had clearly stated that I had money years ago, from a job I quit to attend college. Which means I don’t have it any more. Also, I have the utmost respect for Gojira.

    None of your other points are worth addressing.

    • Watty

      Now, I’m not going to try and flame you as much as some of these other guys did, but there are points that need to be addressed here:

      1) If I had wanted to win this bass, my response would have mentioned the fact that I was a starving college student with no cash to spend on an instrument, so the fact that you’re response was based around it, whether true or not, is comical at best.

      2) Quoting your myspace page’s info section, as per the top of this post for any who didn’t see it:

      “The Stars Threw Down Their Spears is four distinct individuals that have been brought together by our friendship, our collective love of heavy music, and, most importantly, our faith in Jesus Christ. We are a heavy band that creates original music from a broad range of musical influences, and seeks to glorify our Saviour through the music we create and most of all through our lives. The name itself comes from a line in a poem by William Blake, but who we are as a band comes from who we are in Jesus Christ.”

      Your music is most definitely not original. I played the first song on your page, and lo-and-behold, it sounds like very other fucking downtempo black metal ‘groove’ based around a minor/diminished tonality. Then, when I though it couldn’t get any worse, your vocalist entered the picture…

      The next few songs seemed like blatant ripoffs of BTBAM and some Opeth (hell, I even hear Creed influences in there), and poorly done rip-offs at that; definitely original by any stretch of the word…I find it hard to believe that you, being the illustrious musician that you are, have such a hard time getting your band to hold down a steady beat, as I noticed more than a few points which it was dragging…

      I would respectfully request that you play some of these songs for your church, and see how many of them think this music could’ve come from people who love Jesus and God (even though we all know that religious tastes have nothing to with the merit of the music).

      3) You sound like the most typical Jesus loving hippie I have ever had the displeasure of stumbling across, and it really shows in your arrogance present in that small section of writing. One thing that I’ve noticed about a lot of Christians and religious people on the whole is their need to constantly let others know who they are and what they’re about. I am a hardcore atheist, but you’ll never catch me writing a description of my band including things that profess my hate for God; I always figured this was because you folks do need the constant reminder of your faith in order to keep it, which is something I, and probably many of the other commenters find amusing.

      4) Why would you bitch about not having a job to finance a new instrument when you obviously have time to volunteer and be an active member in your church? I used to go to church, and the folks who were ‘active’ were the ones who spent about 15 to 20 hours per week doing things that were church related. With that amount of time spent at a real job, instead of volunteering for a cause that advocates poverty, you could’ve had enough money to buy your own bass within a matter of a month or two (possibly a bit longer if you’re not as active as you indicate).

      5) Having a better instrument will not make you a better player as you make it out to seem that way. Granted, the extra string might help you out, but it isn’t necessary especially for jazz styles (traditional jazz at any rate). If you’re good enough to merit a full ride to Berkley of all places, I’m sure you could find one of the College’s benefactors that would sponsor you for a bass; being that you didn’t mention this anywhere in your post suggests that you aren’t as good as you led us to believe…

      6) I think you ought to illuminate us as to your degree program before you bitch about having homework to do that takes up so much of your time. I’m going to school for Mechanical Engineering, and last quarter I took Multivariable Calculus, Waves and Optics, Statics, and a 5 credit philosophy class and still found time to work several hours per week, enjoy on the order of 10 hours with my instrument and maintain a fairly good GPA, all on top of commuting to school an hour each way…EVERY day. So, if you’re taking an English class, and some music courses, and you think you have any right to bitch…think again sir. (For anyone who would fault me for my bitching about my life, please refrain, it’s only an example meant to belittle his bitching)

      Now, I don’t hate you for winning, as I didn’t enter, I do believe that you should’ve either had some better answers for the other commenters, or made the choice not to post at all, other than to thank Axl and Vince. Now kindly go back to your obviously overburdened life and pray to your Jesus Christ to forgive us all for our hurtful words here.

      -B

      P.S. – I think that PL’s new album title is appropriate here to sum up the religious argument here:

      “Faith Divides us, Death Unites Us.”

      In the end, Tim, we’re all going to the same place…whether you lived in the “light of God” or in the real world, we all end up dead and non-existent.

      • http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/46e389eb8b79606050d3d447431ff6ac?s=80 Nate

        Thank you for saying what I wanted to say, without completely insulting the guy. I mean, your 4th point is basically what I said about his inability to gather money. Charity is good and all, but when you’re spending so much time to other people that you can barely make do, then you’re a fucking retard.

      • TonyT

        owned

        except im going to have to fault you for bitching about your life

    • http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/46e389eb8b79606050d3d447431ff6ac?s=80 Nate

      By not worth addressing you mean, you concede and I’ve proven how you DONT deserve that instrument? Because those are all EXTREMELY valid points, minus the first one — that one’s just funny.

  • Brandon Guim

    And if I had known it was about needing a bass,
    I would have told you guys that I just recorded an album using SOMEONE ELSE’S bass…
    Oh well, I’ll get a Spector six-string like what Cynic used in their live set. Such a gorgeous tone.
    Then a Fondera, Sei, or Zon one day!!! OH! Hyperbass, away!!! Hahaha.

    Look up Michael Manring before you question my reasons for saying Hyperbass.

    Oh and Nate, shut up about Christian music.
    We get what you think and by the way I AM a Christian and generally hate the music scene.
    Yeah, a lot of it is fun, but I’m a progressive, technical metalhead and am not one who feels
    I have to listen to Christian music to get a good message.

    SikTh presents a lot of positive messages presented through a negative perspective.
    Especially in their first release, and if you don’t know SikTh, shame on you.

    I hate that Christian music is like a cookie when music from Spiral Architect, Cynic, BTBAM, Opeth,
    Sean Malone, Outworld, Death, Gordian Knot, King Crimson, Obscura, Liquid Tension, etc. etc., are
    all like a huge stack of ham. Brutal ham. Haha.

    Oh and just to clear it up, I don’t believe in the evolution that we came from apes,
    however, I do believe in evolution in the sense of adaptation. You can’t deny that.

    • http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/46e389eb8b79606050d3d447431ff6ac?s=80 Nate

      You’re a fucking idiot. Evolution nowhere states that we came from apes. You’re a typical Christian who is undereducated and told a heinously one-sided version of things, and believe it to be the way the world is.

      • Watty

        Uhhhhh…then where did we come from Nate?

        Scientists have found that we share all but one pari of chromosomes with apes (in general) and we changed because two of them fused together. This has been scientifically proven as per the latest mapping of the human genome….

        So, either God had a dumbass sense of humor and made it look EXACTLY like we evolved from apes, or….we evolved from fucking apes; turning a blind eye doesn’t make it false either guys.

        • http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/46e389eb8b79606050d3d447431ff6ac?s=80 Nate

          Read Brandon Forde’s response. ‘Tis the truth.

      • Brandon Guim

        Wow, did you just call me one sided with a nice touch of “believe it to the way the world is”
        yet you’re saying everything other than what YOU believe is not true??

        Hypocrite.

        • http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/46e389eb8b79606050d3d447431ff6ac?s=80 Nate

          I don’t “believe” anything. Evolution has been scientifically proven time and time again. Choosing to ignore this is being willfully ignorant. You don’t “believe” something when it has scientific evidence to back it up.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Brandon-Forde/666126214 Brandon Forde

      We didn’t come from apes my friend. We share a common ancestor.

      • Watty

        Sharing an ancestor is essentially the same thing when that ancestor was, for all intensive purposes….an early ape.

        • http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/46e389eb8b79606050d3d447431ff6ac?s=80 Nate

          You fail. Not only were they “early apes” but they were also “early humans,” so by your path of logic, we could say that apes evolved from humans. The hominids we evolved from, and that apes also split off and evolved from, were not apes. They were hominids. Pull this topic up with any credible evolutionary biologist and they’ll tell you how full of shit your previous statement was.

  • Niko Puritz

    nate… you misused one in an earlier post… you shouldve said won. and no matter what your beliefs are at the end of the day you must look at the root of religion… faith. faith cannot be proven, i am a recently converted agnostic jew who is also in the process of becoming a performance major for drums (at berklee hopefully). the definition of a christian is diverse, and can only be defined from a christians perspective, as for me i define it as someone who loves their life to a higher standard to glorify god. i personally do not believe every word that is written in the bible, it wasnt written by jesus. but back to music… you said that you are a musician and that is very respectable considering that you like btbam (so u must have knowledge (to some degree) about theory). so, this tim guy is a musician as well with possibly the same knowlege if not more… he chooses to glorify god with his music, i glorify god in private and write music that has no religious bias. just because the message is something that you dont agree with doesnt mean that the music lacks substance… unless it actually does, then id be agreeing with you (to some degree). i didnt listen to his music. congrats tim, you fucking ass hole lol. and btw… this was probably one of the funniest group convos that ive ever read.