Creation's End is a new progressive/power metal band that is the outgrowth of a long-time collaboration between guitarist Rudy Albert (ex-Zandelle) and drummer Dario Rodriguez. Rounding out the lineup with vocalist Mike DiMeo (ex-Masterplan, ex-Riot), guitarist Marco Sfogli (James LaBrie Band), and bassist Joe Black (Chris Caffery, ex-Zandelle), the band worked with producer John Macaluso (who is also drummer for James Labrie Band, Fool’s Game) to rework eight of the demo tracks that Rudy and Dario recorded during 2003 - 2006. The band's debut album, A New Beginning was released this past Tuesday (Nov. 9th) via New Jersey’s Sensory Records.

The band will make their live debut at a record-release show on Friday, December 3 at New York City's Ace of Clubs. Sharing the bill with Creation’s End is The MP Project, Monstar Zero and Clearview.



I had the chance to talk with Rudy Albert and Dario Rodriguez about the new album, the upcoming record release show and plans for the future.

BrooklynRocks: Coming out of established bands, what were your goals for the new records?

Creation’s End: We wanted to go in a different direction with a whole new vision – something progressive and dark. We’ve revised and reworked these songs over the years and they just didn’t fit with the direction of our then-current bands so we decided to take these ideas elsewhere.

BrooklynRocks: How did you hook up with Sensory Records?

Creation’s End: I met Claus (from Intromental) at ProgPower Festival in 2007 and we established a huge friendship. Claus passed our music on to Ken at Sensory and things happened from there. It feels great to have a family at Sensory.

BrooklynRocks: With your record coming out late in the year, what are your plans for 2011?

Creation’s End: We are really looking forward to the record release show at Ace of Clubs. All the band members will be there and Marco Sfogli will be flying in from Italy for the show. We are planning on going out on some late Spring / early Summer tours next year and we are playing the ProgPower Festival in Atlanta on Sept. 16th.

We are also writing on a weekly basis so we are expecting to go into the studio sometime next year to record our follow-up record.

BrooklynRocks: Are there many opportunities for a metal band to play out NYC? Are there any particular bands that you are looking to tour with?

Creation’s End: It is really difficult being a new band and playing out in NYC. A number of metal-oriented clubs have closed over the last few years and some of the promoters who are still around aren’t willing to book metal acts.

A dream tour would be with Devin Townsend – I’m a huge fan. There are a number of other bands that we would love to tour with which includes Evergrey and Symphony X.

BrooklynRocks: In a recent review of your new disc, the reviewer name-checked both Styx and White Lion. How would you describe your music and do you see any comparison to the aforementioned bands?

Creation’s End: We have been asked this a lot and have been describing our music as “arena prog. rock”. The music is big and bombastic but we hope that it has universal appeal so that everyone can find something in it that they like.

(Laughing) Mike DiMeo called me up after reading that same review saying that he sounds nothing like Mike Tramp. Personally, I think a closer comparison would have been to Russell Allen (Symphony X vocalist). I don’t know where the Styx comparison came from though. Creation’s End isn’t theatrical and we are certainly heavier sounding than Styx but we do have some big epic, dramatic sections on the disc so I guess that I can sort of see the comparison.

BrooklynRocks: With each song averaging 7+ minutes, do you have any concerns about your songs being too long to get much radio or video play?

Creation’s End: Our producer (Johnny Mac) asked us about this as well. We wrote these songs many years ago when bands like Metallica and Dream Theater were writing 7 – 10 minute epic songs so we wanted to write like this. While we didn’t want to edit down these songs, we have grown and matured as songwriters over the years and will likely have shorter songs on the next disc.

BrooklynRocks: Thanks for the time tonight! Is there anything that you want to leave people with?

Creation’s End: Pick up the new disc and judge it for yourself. (Engineer) Neil Kernon (Yes, Nile, etc.) captured the full range of audio dynamics in the mix so the disc has a full and uncompressed sound. I think the disc sounds great and I still listen to it regularly.

Come on out to the Ace of Clubs record release show. There are some good bands on the bill and we are going to rock out.

Links:
Creation's End