Feature / Music
Pass The Mic: Record Labels and Artists on 2010

Mike (Parasitic Skies)

What are your top five albums that were released in 2010? (In order 1-5)

1. All Out War - Into The Killing Fields
2. Harms Way - No Gods No Masters
3. Tamerlane - Clouds Unfold
4. Trey Songz - Passion, Pain and Pleasure
5. Deftones - Diamond Eyes

What band did you discover in 2010 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

Outlet from Idaho. They are a Straight Edge hardcore band. Never toured and they just have a demo out. But its one of my favorite things in the last couple years as far as hardcore goes. They arnt typical they sound like if Isis was a hardcore band. Just great song writing and really good lyrics. Played with them on tour this year and they just blew me away and reminded me some of the best music isn't on some huge label or by some popular band. One of the big reasons I am really stoked on hardcore music again.

How will you remember 2010? (In terms of music)

Just countless great albums. Its a really fucking good year for new music. All genres and accross the board. Just so much good shit out there. But mainly the fact that hardcore has really stepped it up in
the overall quality. I could do a top 10. maybe even top 20 hardcore releases this year. Which I dont think I have been able to do sense fucking 2003.

With more and more bands switching to digital methods of releasing music and communicating with audiences in 2010, do you think there's still a place for physical CDs and word-of-mouth shows in the future?

I think it will always have its place in underground music. I dunno or give a shit about mainstream music and how its sold. I would never pay for that shit. I only buy music from bands that cant live off their music. And as for word of mouth/paper flyers. That shit should always be apart of the underground. I am a promoter and every show I book will always have a paper flyer that I will drop off at records stores, etc.

What can we look forward to from you in 2011?

Parasitic Skies will be doing a couple of tours the first half of the year. First a small NW tour than a bigger East Coast tour in June. After that hopefully more shows in the US and the rest of the world. Maybe at the end of the year we will have a new split out.

What three records are you looking forward to most in 2011?

1. New Crowbar
2. New Crowbar
3. New Crowbar