BLOODROOT, IN THE PRESS

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...from Hard Melodic Rock - Denmark
Bloodroot Interview
Getting Deep With Bloodroot
Interview by Sven Krofta

Krofta: So, first off, let’s introduce you guys, sitting here is Johnny Young guitarist, lead vocal and founder, Roman, bass and vocals, Ross on drums and Doug, guitar and vocals.

Okay guys, first question, and anyone can take it, but tell me a little about how Deep came into existence?

Johnny: I really wanted to do an album that was gonna take some chances – some different time signatures, different chords, sing about stuff I’ve not covered on any album until now. Plus, this album continued the great chemistry we’ve been able to conjure up with this band.

Krofta: So, do you think you succeeded? Are you happy with the final product?

Roman: Fuck yeah, I think we’re all really happy, but I think it was a lot harder than we all originally thought. Because we really wanted it to be something special, we just didn’t want anything we’d be unhappy with, but that meant compromise. We really debated stuff, too. We fought for stuff we believed in, but we all know how to respect each other so the process was really cool. But it got done, and in the end, I think we’re all really happy we stuck it out and did it the way we did.

Krofta: So, what’s the plan now that the CD’s out?

Ross: Get people to hear it, as many as we can. Radio, internet, live shows – we love playing live. We have a great live show, and when we’re out playing it’s really a lot more fun than the studio. The studio was work and thought and some real internal struggling, but our live show is awesome. The live show lets us show off all our hard work in the studio. Plus, I get to smash the shit out of my drums in front of all kinds of people, Doug & Johnny get to jack their Marshalls, and Roman gets to do his, well,…Roman thing.

Krofta: I’ve listened to the CD and I’ve got to say, I’m really impressed. You can see how much you’ve evolved from your first EP, Bloodroot. What are some of your favorite songs on Deep.

Doug: I think we all like the polka, yeah, I think the polka. What did we call it…? Seriously, though, I think we all love Save Me, My Mistakes, Friend In Need, Into The Black, wait a sec, pretty much all of them. I mean we recorded 16 songs and we probably wrote dozens to get those 16. So, I guess you can say that these are our favorite 16. And, after that, it’s about how they fit together as a collection, not so much about which is our #1, and which is our #2, and like that. It’s more of a record you have to groove on from beginning to end to get the full effect.

Krofta: Do you have a favorite song to play live?

Johnny: Well, that we do have, but it’s changed over tie. At first I think Dig, then it went to Deep, lately it’s been Friend In Need, but it took us a while to get to that one since it’s farther into the album – a lot of timing changes. But we worked hard to get it, so now it really seems like we’re all likin’ that one the best.

Krofta: So, let’s go back to, uhh, what you said about chemistry within the band. A lot of your fans have noted that you guys look like you’re having a lot fun on stage, has anything changed?

Roman: No, not really, we have Doug now, he really adds to the sound, and the stage show for sure, but we really like each other, too.

Johnny: We do, these guys come over for rehearsal, and I can’t get ‘em the hell to leave. Even after the music we still want to hang out.

Krofta: So rapid fire now, let me hit you all with some quick questions to give our readers a bit of a look into your guys’ souls…

Doug: Souls?? We don’t have souls, we play rock, we sold our souls…

Krofta: What’s your favorite CD out right now, Johnny?

Johnny: I’m torn between Audioslave and the Queens Of The Stone Age…

Krofta: Roman?

Roman: MXPX, probably, and Incubus.

Ross: Velvet Revolver and Deep.

Doug: Queens Of the Stone age, too, and I think, the new Clutch CD.

Krofta: Nice, well, it’s been a blast talking to you guys – I’ll be there tonight to see the show, but any last thoughts?

Ross: Just remember when you hear the CD for the first time, listen to just the drums, yeah., only the drums, it’s the key…

Roman: No way, Ross, just EQ out everything but the bass, that should do it for just about anyone…

Doug: Don’t miss the magic polka, side C of the single – the only track that has the kielbasa aftertaste…

Johnny: But, whatever you do, don’t listen to the CD backwards… don’t even think about it, just don’t go there…nada, nyet, nein…

Buy Deep NOW!! Click below to buy from CDBaby OR click here to buy from Amazon.com

rock with touches of grunge, melodic, metal and psychedelic. 'Save Me' is the forceful opener with its bold rhythms, dramatic brakes, low-tuned, metal guitars and potent vocals. 'My Mistakes' combines hard rock textures with melodic but strong vocals. The drumming is dynamic melding with beguiling bass lines and sizzling guitars. 'Live For Tomorrow' starts off with subtle instrumentation and vocals but slowly builds up intensity, climaxing at a souring guitar lead. Bloodroot's latest release is aptly named as their music is Deep, dark and decisive!

Bloodroot is a power trio based out of Brooklyn, New York. Johnny Young is the lead vocalist, guitar player, keyboardist and producer. At age seventeen, Young toured with Mick Taylor (formally of the Stones) and later received an Emmy for musical production. Roman, on bass and backing vocals, and Ross Kantor on drums are also talented players who bring impressive credentials and influences to the band.

• Recommended Tracks: (1,4,10) [USA/NY 2005 - web] (Review by Laura Turner Lynch for Kweevak.com)

Americore Magazine

Bloodroot, a powerful, groove-laden trio hailing from Brooklyn, NY has come to take the hard music scene by storm. With a bottom end as low as a snake's belly, backed by some killer fretwork and an overall hard rock power punch, this outfit has got the riffs, rhythms and rhymes to take care of all of your heavy business. There's a plethora of influences here, from the grungy (Alice In Chains, BADMOTORFINGER-era Soundgarden) to the metallic (Helmet, Life Of Agony), which helps shape this band into a true rock machine, able to grind out at any given notice, but also displaying depth to go the extra mile. Such is the case in the near seven minute Southwestern tinged rocker "Earth Below", which mixes the ethereal nature of The Doors with the heavier nuances of Stone Temple Pilots. Get ready for Bloodroot to overcome your emotions and fill all of your hard rock needs. www.bloodroot.net
-Mike SOS - Americore Magazine

Bloodroot (EP) Darkly melodic hard rock with a dash of psychedelia to mix things up $6.00 US

Here are some reviews about "Drone" and "Shed Your Skin" (CD releases as the Johnny Young band).

Michael Allison - THEGLOBALMUSE.COM

Johnny Young - The Rundown
Sound Quality: 5 stars
Production: 4 stars
Musicianship: 4 stars
Originality: 3 stars
Over All: 5 stars

Johnny Young's music reminds me of Monster Magnet and maybe even Alice in Chains or Soundgarden to some extent. The music is a heavy modern rock style with a ton of attitude and raw energy. I was drawn in by this music because of the intensity and passion that I felt. Though I can't say that I liked every song, I did like most of them. Some I simply loved. Songs like "Mud" gave me that Soundgarden familiarity, and "If I" was more of a Monster Magnet style. The lyrics on this album definitely stood out in my mind. The songwriting is very intelligent and well thought out. The vocal delivery is by far the most alluring feature on the album. Musicianship is excellent as well. The over all appeal of this album kept me listening all night long. Johnny Young delivers the goods in an inspirational, yet raw and vibrant fashion. Basically, it's just good damn music that was meant to be enjoyed. Who could ask for anything more?

FLAGPOLE 6/6/2001 ABC Pick

Brooklyn guitarist Johnny Young has built up a rather impressive musical resume in an unusually short time. Blind since 17, the multi-talented musician cut his teeth with former Rolling Stone guitarist Mick Taylor, playing keyboards and singing for the guitar legend's world tour. Since then, he's worked with a number of indie bands, both as a producer and performer, and won an Emmy for the music for "Guiding Light" in 1996. Soon after, Young took up the guitar and formed a self-named trio...releasing the debut Shed Your Skin in 1999. Johnny Young the man has proven to be a more-than-able string bender, garnering comparisons to '60s rock heroes Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix for both his instrumental prowess and his ability to craft well-written songs around his hot licks. Johnny Young the band creates a powerful, driving sound that borrows from both the heavy rock histrionics of the '80s and the melodic accessibility of post-grunge '90s rock.

Like former Alice In Chains frontman Jerry Cantrell, Young's songs aren't simply vehicles for his soloing, and the band's latest, Drone, is an excellent slab of darkly melodic hard rock that bashes together plenty of crunching riffs, a pulsing rhythm section and to-the-point lyrics with a dash of studio psychedelia to mix things up.

Muzikman@musicdish 3/2001

...This power trio stays at maximum warp drive, without any breaks. ...And it's unadulterated, unscathed rock and roll. ... It won't hurt, you will just want some more. With crunching authoritative chords on lead guitar, and with a wild and nasty rhythm section, Johnny Young will blast their way into your eardrums, and leave them ringing for hours. How else can I put this? This group kicks ass and takes no prisoners, it's as simple as that. Ah, rock and roll is poetic justice, isn't it?

ANTZONE - January 2001

THIS is the kind of rock it's always a pleasure to get in the mail. Melodic, hard, not heavy, not death, not wholly negative, just a Great Band playing the dark riffs of power guitar stuff ... I understand the magic of getting a huge sound out of only 4 people. Johnny Young does it one better. He's on vocals, guitar. Christo Strone does bass. Lex Dunbar bangs those damn drums. ...
The guitar work is top notch, and then up a notch more. If he were in the 60s, by now he'd be hailed as one of the greatest singer-guitarists, along with Clapton and Hendrix. After all, songs like 'Mud' bring out his black side more than usual, and with the typically blinding electric guitar intro, you the listener are kicked into a dynamite blast of guitar licks that doesn't stop. 12 songs....it's the EXCITEMENT that Johnny Young causes on that spot in between your ears that really shoots you up big time. With studio musician skill, he slides every ROCK song into the bar with that flaming guitar and shaggadelic vocal style like Eastwood controlling a western set.

Joe Wawyezniak -- Jersey Beat #63 - January 1999 on "Shed Your Skin"

JOHNNY YOUNG - Shed Your Skin (Menagerie Records, 440 Fifth Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11215)This potently primordial 12 track debut CD offers a blisteringly effective post-modem hard rock combination of 80's heavy metal's mighty caveman stomp and 90's alternative rock's carefully wrought melodic accessibility. Lead singer Johnny Young's gritty, raspy, soaring voice savagely tears its way through each hard-hitting song. The crunchy, power chord-ridden guitars, putty, bottom-heavy drums which never let up on the chunky, surging beats, and a thickly plodding bass create a powerful, pulverizing sonic thrust which thankfully eschews all-out abrasiveness in favor of a much more tautly harmonic and controlled approach to banging out a tune that gains considerable strength from its tightly focused intensity. The band's harshly down-to-earth, confrontational, unsentimental sensibility caps things off perfectly. A righteously dead-on serving of no-bullshit, straight-with-no-chaser rock'n'roll fury.

Dick Metcalf, aka Rotcod Zzaj -- Improvijazzation Nation November 1998

Little trio on this CD in from Brooklyn. This is a KEWL rawkin' thang. Young has been blind since age 17, but he hasn't let that get in his way at all! This music is FULL of punch & energy, & a sensitivity not often heard these days! Young's lead guitar/vox are thoroughly complimented by th' power driven bass by Christopher Strone & th' butt-kickin' drums of Emilio Vicini. If th' word "alternative" (when used to describe rock music that's supposed to be "different") has sorta' turned you off - think AGAIN! This is th' REAL thing! Second cut in, "One Call", is a fave, but none o' th' rest are slackerz', either! Strong lyrical bent, with real style, not jus' another punker with a case o' wannabe! Wanna' get yer' blood SURGING? GET THIS - it's MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED & gets th' PICK of this issue for "best rawker"! If yer' don't get another R&R album this year - you jus' GOTTA' have this one! Independence with GUTZ'!

Terry Allen

It's pretty obvious from the opening track "Change" on this album that here we have quite an undiscovered talent ready to move into the spotlight. A great slow start to the song slides brilliantly into a great bit of heavy riffage to get your attention, alternating between the soft & loud sounds.

The further you venture into the album, the more this style makes itself obvious, perhaps working an old theme, but with new feeling. "Mariner" is a perfect example, some cool heavy stuff right from the outset, as does my favourite track "Taste", which may be the heaviest thing here, verging on metal, but tending more towards hard rock.

Also interesting are "World Is Dead", "Had" & the closing track "Heaven's Gate", sort of a commentary on the religious cult of the same name, utilising a wicked grunging riff & a great chorus as well. A well rounded album that should appeal to a wide variety of fans of out & out rock.

Kere -- Worldwide Record Reviews - November 1998

I like the texture in the vocals! It's a good production. Johnny where did you ever find the model for the cd cover? Anyway, It's modern rock with a weaved style of lyrics and music. Straight forward to deep thought. Soft to hard. An interesting blend of classic to modern rock and roll. Go New York!