Sorry for Wintersunning this. BUT, important things first – my lame excuses can follow if you’re curious about what the Hell is wrong with me.
Here are the songs:
Hopeforsook: Streaming | Download
Angelfrost: Streaming | Download
I’m electing to call Wintermountains Rise once eight songs are complete, which culls three songs total off my original plan of eleven total. Appalachian Winter albums that follow (yes, I still have more planned!) are going to be official at eight total songs as well. So far, five songs are done, so for this album that’s three left to go!
Vocals aren’t quite fully cooked through on “Angelfrost,” so expect some revisions before all is said and done. This new thing I’m trying (singing ON key) is difficult when I’m at the ends of my register. Speaking of revisions, expect previous songs (and these new ones) to change a bit, mostly with guitar and drum sounds. This drumming shit is hard, but I am developing with my skill, and would like to give these songs their best before I officially stamp “DONE” on them. Guitar performances won’t change, but their sound likely will, due to my being in possession of a full stack amplifier with more speaker options – but that’s also dependent on if I have direct takes for all of these. I think I do, but I’m not certain. If not, screw it. That said, I’d love an Appalachian Winter release to be the first one I have with the full-on thunder of a full stack (if you’re curious, I just took the JSX half stack I have, and put it atop an Invective 4×12).
Now, why did it take so long for only two measly songs??? First, drums are hard. I’ve said it before, but it’s still true! Sorry about that! BUT, it’s also rewarding as all Hell. So, I won’t be going back to finger keys just to make it quicker and easier on myself. I wanted this. I apologize for the wait, again.
Second, and this one is a biggie – I’ve changed the OS I’m using AND the DAW. As if an actual drum set wasn’t enough, this change alone added at least a year – if not more – onto the wait. If you’re curious about it, I switched from Windows to Mac, and from Cakewalk to Reaper. The OS change itself, not so bad, but that DAW change was something else. But, I’m now at a point where Reaper is working the way I want and I’m comfortable enough to NOT LET ANOTHER THREE YEARS GO BY BEFORE I POST NEW MUSIC AGAIN. I hope.
Lastly, I’m getting old! I’ll be forty-five years of age by the end of October. I don’t quite have the energy I used to have. But I also have other projects I’d like to address before I return to the soil. The era of “an album a year” is likely over. But Appalachian Winter won’t be ending too soon!
I’m not sure when I’ll have more. I’m thinking by the end of the year, with the tentative release of Wintermountains Rise to be sometime early to mid 2026, six years following Winterhewn. No promises!
That said, I’m looking forward to this album being done. Because then, work starts on Thunderroar! I’m really excited for that one! So, spoilers for those you who read this far!
Cheers,
-Danny
Appalachian Winter 