Here is this month's YouTube Channel Profile, as we again look at a YouTube channel whose content is at least half devoted to local metal, hard rock, or punk artists/concerts, as randomly selected from our YouTube subscriptions! This month takes us back a decade to a promising but relatively short lived local hard rock band, so here's what you should know!
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AshesToDustBand's Channel (http://www.youtube.com/ashestodustband)
Owner: A member of 2011-2014 local hard rock quartet Ashes To Dust, exact identity unclear (my best guess is guitarist Alex Hemy)
Channel Timeline: Launched on December 17th, 2011; Videos uploaded from February 2012 until June 2013
Channel Summary: The official YouTube channel for this then-teenage hard rock band, their channel features 9 videos from the peak of their local run, including five live performances at Superior Heights Collegiate & Vocational School, two covers at their at-home studio/jam space, their sole released original song, and a video from the recording sessions for it.
Why You Should Watch: Fans of Ashes To Dust will get the biggest repository of media from their run by checking their channel out, and while they weren't too established locally outside of school events, they had promise and developing talent that I would have liked to have seen further into the mid-2010s had they stuck together! Be advised that this channel has seen a handful of videos made private for unannounced reasons, including a blooper reel and a cover of System of a Down's "Aerials" at the second annual Swampstravaganza at The Oddfellows Hall in 2012 (their only non-Superior Heights concert).
Stone Sour - Though Glass (Cover): This May 2012 cover is unique in that it was recorded/filmed in two stages, with singer Noah Morden and guitarist Alex Hemy recording the acoustic intro/opening verse of "Through Glass" at home, before switching to a performance at Superior Heights featuring bassist Kyle Breckenridge and future Pointless/Peach Thieves drummer David Peredun at the 1:49 mark, matching the original's structure. The transition is not seamless and there's no attempt made to blend/fade the two files, so part of me does wish that one/both versions of the cover were uploaded in their raw/full form, but the cover is well done! Noah's range was not up to Corey Taylor's higher notes, but he carries a tune well, and the youthful promise of Ashes To Dust was clear! Their cover of The Refreshments' "Banditos" on this channel was done at the same set
Ashes to Dust - Forgotten Lives: As preceded by this teaser video of the guys recording the song in studio from a week prior, Ashes To Dust released their only original song "Forgotten Lives" on June 8th, 2013. Now featuring Liam Yeomans as a second guitarist, and featuring Noah on bass following Kyle's departure in late 2012, this is a fairly straightforward hard rocker with surprisingly serious lyrics about a soldier going to serve in war and the cost of his ultimate sacrifice. This has some of Noah's best vocals on their channel, and it gives us a glimpse at Alex's lead guitar talents, plus some good backing rhythms. It's a shame that this was Ashes To Dust's only studio effort, as I'd argue that they had more potential with originals!
[LIVE] 10 Years - Wasteland (Cover): Ashes To Dust's most popular video is this 10 Years cover filmed at Superior Heights and also posted in June 2013, alongside a performance of "Forgotten Lives" from this same set. Both contain their only public concert videos with Liam on guitar, though Noah does not double up on bass on either song. Their final and most popular video, the "Wasteland" cover is well handled, and while Noah doesn't sing the exact lyrics, you can see his vocal progression over the preceding year, if still not hitting every higher note. It's a shame that Ashes To Dust didn't do more publically after June 2013 (aside from dropping out of two Swampstravaganzas), but hopefully everyone's still active!
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I hope you guys liked this month's YouTube Channel Profile! This series will return on or around Boxing Day for another randomly selected channel getting profiled, and to end 2023, we're looking at prolific local folk punk/extreme metal solo musician Chase James Wigmore's current official channel! Yes, we looked at a separate channel of his in September, but this one is more active for upload count and recent usage. Look for that next month, and stay tuned for this month's CD review next! Thanks everyone!
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