BAND OF THE WEEK! - STEMM

“This new STEMM CD is our Vulgar Display of Power” states lead vocalist / guitarist Joe Cafarella.

 
Comparing their latest release, ‘Blood Scent’ (Catch 22 Records) to the epic release by the Metal Gods, Pantera is admittedly making a bold statement, but Cafarella will not budge in his reasoning. “There is a lot that went into the making of this CD. We are not saying that we are the next Pantera, that’s not even close to what I am saying. We just wanted to make a CD that would not pigeon hole us into a certain cliché sound. Let’s face it, Pantera made it on their live performances. While MTV was playing ‘Walk’ and ‘This Love’ us metal heads were cranking Fucking Hostile and Mouth for War. I am telling you that you will get that same type of feeling on the new STEMM CD as you would listening to Vulgar. And it’s just as real…

 
And very real “Blood Scent” is… Rising above the sea of ‘flavor of the week’ metal that is over saturating the industry, Buffalo, NY based STEMM is the band that delivers the fresh breath of air the metal world hasn’t witnessed since the vocal pitch corrector was invented.

 
Power packed with crushing guitar riffs, a rock solid rhythm section and a vocal technique comparable to that of James Hetfield, Phil Anselmo and Corey Taylor all put together like some metal frankenstein monster, this new release from STEMM will surely have every metal head out there running to the store for a beer instead of the eyeliner!

 
“We never followed the rules” says Cafarella. “Our entire career we have felt like the underdogs. No matter how many hoops we jumped through for the industry people, it just wasn’t good enough.” But STEMM found an ally in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) who took a liking to the band in the beginning stages of their musical career branding them as “The soundtrack to the UFC”….We wrote a song called ‘Face the Pain’ which became the theme song for the UFC. “The song honestly doesn’t represent what we stand as today musically because we were a young band when we wrote the song.” laughs Cafarella. But, the UFC still uses the song for all Pay-Per-View events as well as many other STEMM songs from the bands musical library which is also heard as background music for UFC / SPIKE TV programs “Ultimate Fighter” and “Unleashed”… We’re honored to be recognized in the MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) community and be able to cross over aggressive music with aggressive sport.”

 
***(at press time it was confirmed that the track “House of Cards” from the new STEMM release ‘Blood Scent’ was selected as the theme song for ‘UFC Wired’ hosted by Joe Rogan (Fear Factor / UFC commentator) on the Fox Network for the 2008 / 2009 season.)***

 
Indeed, the UFC has given STEMM the same type of exposure and publicity as a label would bring for any other band, placing their music on various UFC related video games available on X-Box and Play Station.“The beautiful thing about the UFC audience is that it is NOT limited to the metal community.” says bassist Steve Crowl. “It allows our music to cross over throughout alternative rock, metal, and hardcore genres.” This invaluable promotional asset gives STEMM the ability to reach through and appeal to a wide and eclectic audience of all ages most bands and publicists would kill for.

 
Believe it or not, this type of exposure has placed STEMM on the same stages as legendary rappers, RUN-DMC, hard rockers, GODSMACK to the outrageous SLIPKNOT.

 
A 2005 indie full length release, ‘Songs for the Incurable Heart’ brought a licensing deal through I Scream Records which sold over 6000 copies, putting STEMM on tour in support in support for, Chimaira, Mushroomhead, Trivium, Arch Enemy and Bleed The Sky.

 
Now, armed with their own national distribution deal which enabled the band to start their own label (CATCH 22 RECORDS) the release of their upcoming November 11th 2008 release, ‘Blood Scent’ will be unleashed to the world on their own terms. “We’re either too smart or too old” laughs Cafarella, when asked why the band never pursued a home with a major label. “We don’t think there is anyone out there who will work harder for this band besides ourselves and our fans. Some bands break because they never get the ‘big deal’. We, on the other hand, simply over stepped that boundary…..”