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Final Exit is a heavy metal band from Southern California’s high desert in Hesperia and Victorville. Their debut album Padded Cell features all original songs in the mid 80’s retro style of Metallica. They are also featured on the Road Records compilation CD New Faces Volume Three with “War Machine”, a hard edged political commentary.

Hank Merenda (guitar, white t-shirt) and Paul Anderson (lead vocals, straight jacket) are the main writers for the group. Although all the material is set to a heavy metal sound, the lyrical content varies from brutal social commentary to slightly tongue and cheek parodies of the heavy metal genre ala “Spinal Tap”

Most bands are either strong at live performance, material development or studio recording. Headlock is one of the few bands that is focused on all three areas equally. Lead vocalist Paul Anderson, a recluse by nature, becomes an electrifying performer when the band hits the stage. His imagination and unique delivery come to life in stage antics that sometimes even include being executed in an electric chair at the end of their shows. Though superficially twisted and macabre, a Headlock performance is always delivered with an aura of slapstick that keeps audiences coming back for more!

Brett McClintock (guitar) has intense stage energy and lays down a tight rhythm with the drums. His Marshall stacks power the classic crunchy drone of Headlock.

Headlock recorded at Road Records recording studio and were engineered by Conrad Askland.

Dave Williams (Drums, Keyboards) performs incredible percussion and double pedal work on their album. A band is only as good as its drummer and Dave is a key element in creating the Headlock vintage heavy metal sound. Dave also plays keyboards and is featured on the intro of their title song “Padded Cell”.

Shockmonster is an original high power Metal band from the Southern California high desert town of Victorville, CA. They recorded a multi song demo at the Road Records recording studio engineered by Dom Calvano.

Tryklon
Tryklon is a four piece alternative rock band from Victorville, CA. They were engineered at the Road Records recording studio by Dom Calvano and Conrad Askland.

Versatile Aggression  - Hardcore Heavy Metal Band
Versatile Aggression is a hard core heavy metal band from San Bernardino, CA. Their style is in the ballpark of Pantera with a wild live stage show.

This band has a powerful rhythm section! The drums are solid with great double kick riffs, double hi hats and 6 toms. The guitar is tight and crunchy with great timing and the bass keeps a solid rhythm with the drum double kicks.

Rumor has it this band is INSANE on stage. The lead singer has tattoos from head to toe and most members where stage makeup when performing.

The band’s album was backed by Taup Nawtch Entertainment in Los Angeles and produced by Conrad Askland at Road Records.

From Versatile Aggression:
THE HARDSHIPS OF LIFE,WARS, POVERTY,AND THE AMERICAN WAY(ha,ha)I just like very aggressive music,in your face,true life,not bubble-gum shelterd types. plus the raw energy of this music is better than sex!!!!!!!

MOST OF THE SONGS ARE DARK, NOT REALLY DEVIL WORSHIP STUFF,BUT COMIC BOOK,STEVEN KING IMAGINATION TYPE STUFF, YOU KNOW HORROR STORIES LIKE CREEPSHOW ONLY TO MUSIC,ITS A LOT OF FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY… YES WE DO HAVE SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT RECORDING WITH YOU.1 ABOUT 14 OR 16 SONGS RECORDED IN ABOUT 5 OR 6 HOURS MAYBE LESS MAYBE MORE I’M NOT SURE. 2 ITS THE FIRST REAL RECORD THAT WE’VE DONE AND THAT WAS SPECIAL ENOUGH.OH YEAH THE SONG “NOT BY CHOICE” IS NOT ABOUT SLAVETRADING,ITS ABOUT AN INVASION FROM OUTER SPACE AND THEY ARE HERE TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD! TWILIGHT ZONE STUFF!!!

FINAL EXIT

Final Exit is back in the studio with a new name (formerly Headlock) and an even harder sound. They’re new recording has the ultimate guitar wall of sound with over 15 tracks of layered guitar just for the crunchy rhythm guitars!

Dave Williams has switched from drums to guitar and brings a fresh approach to the hardcore guitar rhythm counterpoint with singer and guitarist Hank Merenda. Don Rugg sings some of their new songs and definately brings the look in with the sound. Izzie Ozzie or isn’t he?

Hank Merenda says when they show up for a lineup with younger bands there’s a little hesitation with the audience, but once they start playing they kick their a** every time

Don Rugg with producer Conrad Askland.

Most bands are either strong at live performance, material development or studio recording. Final Exit is one of the few bands that is focused on all three areas equally.

Final Exit recorded at Road Records recording studio and were engineered by Conrad Askland.

This is our favorite picture (former lead vocalist Paul Anderson) from the former “Headlock” band led by Hank Merenda.

Hey, didn’t you play DRUMS on the last album?

Feel the love like warm waves of hugs surrounding you.

Lower Case A

Casey Marr: Vocals
David Dan: Guitar
Sam Gabbard: Bass/Vocals
Brian Bolsta: Drums/Vocals

This is one of the few younger bands we’ve recorded that didn’t have a weak link. All the musicians are very strong performers and tight as heck.

Interesting side note, we didn’t know they were coming in! They showed up and we didn’t have them on the schedule. After an hour of polite debate and realizing that they and their friends drove 5 hours to record with us, we cancelled our sessions and recorded their 12 song album in two days. Day 2 was a burner at over 14 hours and they were total pros the whole time. Looking back, we’re glad we cancelled the other sessions to work with them. This band ROCKS!

The Band
The band had been together about a year before recording. Their first song ever was called “Lefty”, which they all hate now. Sam started the band, Casey was the last to join. They’ve played several paid gigs around their hometown of Oakhurst, CA. In the months prior the recording David’s Mom even managed to book them a show down in Newport Beach.

They seem to be somewhat of local heroes, the kids love when they play at the only venue in town, the bowling alley. They started the band in hopes of getting big, because nobody starts a band and says, “Let only play for our parents in our garage!”

Lower Case A does love the music, no matter how cliche it sounds. But for them, it’s mainly a way to not be bored to tears all day in quite possibly one of the smallest towns ever. PS - The “A” is NEVER lower case!

David Dan

David has been playing guitar since 1998. He taught himself how to play a little bit, but later took two years of guitar class at Yosemite High School. His influences range from Black Sabbath to The Offspring. His favorite kinds of music are metal or anything hard core. His favorite band is Blindside. He uses a Marshall 150 half stack with an Ibanez Destroyer. He only plays red guitars and is color blind.

Sam Gabbard

Sam has been playing bass since 1999. He taught himself to play, but also took two years of guitar classes with David at Yosemite High School. Sam is the oldest member of the band at the time of this recording at age 17. His influences include Primus, System of a Down, Red Hot Chili Peppers and At The Drive In. His favorite band is Zoo and his favorite styles of music include metal, screamo and oldies. He uses a Gallien Krueger through a Peavey cabinet with two 15″ speakers. He plays an Epiphone Thunderbird IV Reverse.

Brian Bolsta

Brian has been playing drums since 1999 and is completely self-taught. He can’t read music at all and doesn’t know how to measure it either. He attended Yosemite High School with the rest of his band mates. His influences include Lewis Nash and WUV (of P.O.D.). Some of his favorite bands are At The Drive In, Refused and Coke. He listens to just about all styles of music, except of course country and opera (Sidenote from Conrad: “Them there’s fightin’ words boy!”). He plays a DW five piece set with Sabian cymbals and one day dearly hopes to truly appreciate country western music and opera, well…ok, we added that last part.

Casey Marr

Casey, like most people, has always been singing. He’s just only ever sang for this band, though. He has never taken singing lessons or had a vocal coach. He has been strongly influenced by Davey Havok of A.F.I. His favorite bands include A.F.I., Blindside and Project 86. His favorite styles of music include metal, rock and roll and screamo. He uses a nice mic - he likes it. He is the youngest member of the band at age 16 at time of recording.