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16TuesdayJuly222014StateoftheArtrecordsnewalbuminMontrealstudioByMEAGANWOHLBERGFansofFortSmithshome-townmetalbandhaveanewalbumtolookforwardtoandbandmemberssayitsdiffer-entandbetterthananythingtheyvedonebefore.Elevenbrand-newtracksarepoisedforreleaseasNorthernhard-rockersStateoftheArtexittheMontrealstudiotheyvebeencoopedupinforthelastweekwhilerecordingtheirsecondalbumStateoftheEarth.WorkingagainwithfamedBritishproducerTonyPlattwhoseengineeringskillshavebeenemployedbythelikesofACDCIronMaidenandBobMarleytheprocesshasbeennotonlycreativebuteducationalaccordingtofrontmanBrandonKikoak.Itsaneducationalex-periencebecauseTonyisateacheraswellasapro-ducerhetoldTheJour-nalfromPlanetStudioslastweekduringoneofthebands12-hourrecordingdays.Hesteachingussomanythingsthathavebeenlostinmod-ernmusicbecausethesedaysitsdifferentyourintroduc-tionintothemusicsceneisdifferent.ApartfromKikoakonleadvocalsandguitarthebandalsoincludesAaronKikoakonguitarandvocalsCraigAllardonbassandJamieChabunondrums.TheyrststartedworkingwithPlattathomeinFortSmithinMarch2012doingsong-writingandpre-productiononthealbum.TheinspirationforthealbumcomesfromthebandsownbackyardintheNorthen-couragedinpartbyPlattwhopushedthebandmatestoreectontheirdirectexperiencewithlifeandtheenvironmentintheNWTratherthanthegenericrockexperience.WerereallytryingnottoconneourselvestobarriersoracertainstyleofmusicsousuallywhenyoureabandlikeweareandusedtoplayingheaviermetalstuffyoukindofhaveaninclinationtojustwritethatwaysothisisabigprojectforusKikoaksaid.Itskindoflikeweregoingtoschoolandweredoingabigpaper.Thatswhatitslikebutweregoingtomakeitkickass.WherePlatthasbeenex-tremelyhelpfulinensuringthateachsongisstructuredwellformaximumimpactKikoaksaid.TheresanoldtriedandtruewaytowritesongsanditsarockandrollwayandwewouldnthaveknownaboutitunlessweworkedwithTony.Assimpleassomethinglikethatsoundsyoujusttakethesekindsofthingsforgrantedandthinkyoucanmakesongsanyoldwayandnothatsnotthetruth.Ithastobeappealingstructurallyhesaid.Kikoaksaidheandhisbandmatesfeelhonouredtohavesomeoneofsuchskillandstatureshowaninterestinworkingwithabandwhowouldntotherwisehaveanintoanindustrywhereper-sonalconnectionsareoftentheonlywaytogetnoticed.Itfeelsprettygoodtootogointhevocalboxanddosomevocalsandnotgetkickedoutbyaproducerofsuchcalibreheaddedwithalaugh.ThosetakingpartinFortSmithsCanadaDaycelebra-tionsthisyearwouldhavehadapreviewofafewofthebandsnewsongsperformedforthersttime.ThebandhassinceplayedacoupleofgigswhileinMontrealwheretheysaidtheywereblownawaybythereactionofalargerdif-ferentaudience.Seeingthatpercentageofthecrowdlastnightlosetheirmindwhenweplayedthosesongsitwassuchagoodin-dicatorformeKikoaksaidbecauseitslikeabarom-eter.IwaslikeyesthatsexactlywhatIwaslookingfor-justtransferredontoabiggeraudience.FortSmithrockersStateoftheArtworkwithlegendaryproducerTonyPlattcentreintheirhometownin2012.ThegroupmetagaininMontreallastweektorecorditssecondalbum.ArtsCultureMusicPhotoMeaganWohlberg