Tourniquet Discussion Zone

I have three exciting things to tell you about. I have just completed recording my first solo album called ODE TO A ROADKILL. The title track refers to the sad reality of the millions of animals who die each year on our roadways. 7 songs, over 40 minutes of brand new music. I have been a fan of slow “stoner” music for many years, and this album definitely fits that category, with my own influence to it, of course. I’m really pleased with the way it turned out and look forward to having you all hear it as it is super, super heavy. All "vocals" are done utilizing majestic, creepy, haunting, unaltered animal calls. Cool album art designed by Jared Meyer – aka Lucid Hysteria. The album will be available as a 6 panel Digipak CD and an online download. Looking at a release date of March 10, 2010 – right around the corner. http://tourniquet.bandcamp.com/
ODE TO A ROADKILL – brand new “stoner” solo album from Tourniquet drummer Ted Kirkpatrick
Ted Kirkpatrick: all instruments, tracking, and mixing
Recorded in Wisconsin February 2010

At the same time, I have been working on a different solo project also very soon to be released called IN THE SHADOW OF THE MASTERS. It is a very technical drumming album featuring drums played over classical music. I’ve done a few things on past Tourniquet albums, but I think this is beyond anything so far just in length of the pieces. IN THE SHADOW OF THE MASTERS will feature music by Mozart, Chopin, Rossini, Beethoven and more. Release date: March 30, 2010.

Finally, we will be recording a brand new epic TOURNIQUET album in July or August, 2010. We are excited to announce that we will be working with legendary English producer NEIL KERNON. Neil has either produced, recorded, mixed, or engineered a staggering amount of cool music from classic metal (Queensryche, Dokken, Judas Priest, Autograph) to death metal (Nile, Cannibal Corpse) to progressive music (Nevermore, Magma) to hair metal (Britny Fox) to Christian bands like Petra, to classic bands like Kansas, to platinum selling albums like Hall and Oates “Private Eyes”. We plan to release it as soon as it’s finished in fall of this year.

HUGE news. Thanks for bringing the joyful noise, Ted!

By the way - thanks to Chris B for suggesting we give Neil a call!!!

No problem! He's a great guy. We hate each other in football terms, but other than that, nobody better!

wow, good stuff.

Animal calls huh. I checked my calender, February not April so I guess it is real. When will any tracks be previewed on Bandcamp or other places before the release?

It is totally awesome news!

(Obviously, I knew about the solo stuff, but I hadn't heard any of the specifics about the new album - very, very exciting! I think Bill Metoyer always did a great job, but it's exciting to have some fresh blood in there...)

Wow! This is fantastic!

This totally surprised me.

Congratulations for getting Neil to produce the Tourniquet record.


I can't wait to hear the solo stuff. I've always loved the slower pieces Tourniquet has done. Officium Defunctorum, The Skeezix Dilemma, The Tempter, In Death We Rise...
I think it's great that we don't have to wait the new Tourniquet album in silence as you are bringing us two solo products. 2010 is going to be great what comes to new music.

By the way, what classical compositions you are going to use in In the Shadow of the Masters? Could you give us a couple of names? I understand if you don't want to give too much information but I'm just very interested to know and I thought I'd give a listen to those tunes in advance so that I could imagine what kind of drumming you are going to do for them.

Excellent news!

I agree, Bill did a good job. It will be interesting to see what Neil will bring into the mix.

Yay!!!

OH YEAH!!! Can't wait 'til i can hear and own all of it!

Whuuuuuuuaaat? So this is an instrumental album with animal sounds on it?

Awesome news, looking forward to buying/hearing it. Interesting choice of title and cover art. Seems kind of like a joke? Sure to stir up discussions at least though. I too feel bad for the animals, but not sure what can be done about that.

Yup. It already has.

WOW !
WOW !
WOW !

The "classical album" will be a killer album, the new Tourniquet album too.
The "Ode To A Roadkill" will definitely be the most unique and interesting album this year and I'm pretty shure it will also be a

KILLER ALBUM !

"Stoner rock" sounds very cool. Can't wait for all that stuff ! Thanks for putting so much time and passion into music...

Hey Wigeon - Lots of discussion at CMR, where I posted this - hope it helps explain what the dealio is!

Ah, roadkill – a few awesome posts here from those who get it – some great points were made. To those who question if I’m serious – glad you asked! Was it right “just because we could” or “be fruitful and multiply” that in moving westward, we killed millions of buffalo, left them to rot, then basically kicked out the Native Americans who were standing in our way of “progress”? This is exactly why I feel a loss, some anger, and sadness when we clear land for another eyesore of a strip mall or more needless ugly suburban sprawl, or clear a jungle sector to make way for yet another palm oil plantation just because it’s convenient. We clear land, destroying entire ecosystems in the process – plants, trees, insects, amphibians, mammals - everything. As for the animals – they are forced in fear to leave their homes to find another. The worst part? We blame and curse them for getting in our way as they struggle to adjust to our excesses. Am I serious in caring about roadkill? Guess you can tell that I am…
It’s just another part of being a Christian to me – caring about God’s creation. I have not one shred of doubt that God’s heart is troubled when he sees man mistreating and abusing animals and nature – including often needless and reckless “devolpment” in the name of progress.
To me, it is not possible to love other people as the bible commands us to do – and not care about animals. And in my own life, I live daily believing that animals have rights. I guess I just don’t think of it as “rights”. I have a fascination, love, and appreciation for nature and animals that only people who feel a similar way can truly understand. I can sit there and watch a hummingbird hover over flowers all day if you let me. I hear a great horned owl hoot at night and it thrills me like hearing a great symphony, or great metal band. I appreciate trees and plants the same way people walk into the Louvre in Paris and drool over the awesome paintings. For this reason, my mind is tuned to how I can make animals lives better and leave nature as it is. It’s easy for me because it’s not just what I do – it’s who I am.
It’s not about being ridiculous in my daily life – like refusing to drive a car. I think most Tourniquet fans know that, let alone people who really know me. So whether it’s refusing to buy food that I’m sure came from a horrendous animal confinement operation, making my property into a nature reserve where all animals are welcome (even skunks), or being wary driving at night to do my best not to hit an animal – I do it - pretty much common sense stuff. My yard, for example, is kind of a nature reserve in itself. Tons of butterflies, birds, animals, living (and dead) trees, brush piles, etc. Before I get the John Deere tractor going, I walk around to see what critters may be hiding in the grass. Then I move them out of harm’s way – why? Because I care if they live or die, plus I want to see them hopping around next time I’m outside. I think it pleases God to see us treat his animal creation this way. When I’m in the Amazon, would I let a potential malaria carrying mosquito bite me because it wanted to? C’mon dudes – get real.
As for being a hypocrite – it’s like saying someone striving to walk daily with the Lord is a hypocrite because they are, sadly, still a sinner.
Hey, if you aren’t into the animal issues – hope you zone out to the tunes!! Better check the low end response on your speakers before spinning ODE… thanks

Great posting, Ted. When will we be able to listen to a song / samples from "Ode..." ?
You can't imagine how excited I am......

What 5 said.

I just hope we can look forward to a supporting tour with live animal vocal performances!

I'm dying to hear the otter hit that high note... you know, in that one part of that song.

Ted - this discussion at CMR brings up another question that is probably more important to me than the animal calls, etc.

What model of John Deere are you runnin'? My mother-in-law's brothers buy up old Deeres and Internationals and do mod work and race those suckers.