About

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Jeff Lords (bassist) was a founding member of prog-metal band Crimson Glory, and despite the many times that the band ran into difficulties, a few of which times forcing the band into hiatus, he stayed for the long-haul up until it came time to write material for a new album with replacement singer Todd LaTorre. Unfortunately, more difficulties ensued, and it was soon after that Todd was asked to join another national act, at which point, the band went on yet another hiatus. But instead of putting more blood, sweat, and tears into something that rode mostly on nostalgia — he took a step back. He watched and he learned. He educated himself on everything from sound engineering to musical appreciation – and this process had a hand in contributing to what has become today's Dark Matter.

Lords, GJ Gosman, and Schamber’s riff over the beats in ways in which it might not be apparent that you're listening to a 9/8 or 5/4 time signature. In fact, it became clear very early on that a rhythm guitarist was not only not needed, but that the band sounded bigger without one. It was for this reason that the band parted ways with rhythm guitarist Chris Baylor only a few months into the writing process.

And just like the universe, there is both order and chaos. GJ Gosman and Lords bring the order; Terry Schamber's guitar parts make for the chaos. A guitarist, a chameleon, and metal-head from days gone past, Schamber’s riffs, and solos are nothing short of atomic.  

What's more metal than Paul Beach's angry fire-breathing demagogue-like growl? Very little. But unlike many of today's brutal singers, Paul can mix it up, switching on a dime between pure aggression, and soothing, crooner-style vocals. Stay tuned, Dark Matter is surely a sleeping giant

Dark Matter started as many new bands often do; one guy has an apparition to bring together like-minded players in an attempt to bend the current trend. As prog-metal bassist Jeff Lords has often expressed, "Trees that don't bend with the wind will snap." After all, everyone can agree that the music industry has changed, and it's changed drastically. Former drummer Jesse Rojas was keenly aware of this, which is what drove his passion to hone in on four local musicians for an all-original project. But not just guys who could play their asses off, also guys with whom he had grown up and who had a proven track record with their particular skill. The sought recruits were bass-tenor vocalist Paul Beach; Terry Schambers on lead guitar; Chris Baylor on rhythm guitar, and Jeff Lords on bass. Despite that, the band members all had completely different lives that brought them to this point, the commonality of heavy metal, geography, and like-minded directives just made sense.

"It's become our desire to layer vastly different styles of metal together. Keeping elements of prog', but getting into themes that are emotionally heavy and go way deeper than something written to be purely abstract. Abstract is cool, but writing songs that people can relate to is more challenging, which makes it more satisfying when people like it. Musically you can hear our past, present, and future in the title track Encipher ... we feel like we've only begun." ~ J. Lords

In its inception, the first batch of songs was an experiment of sorts. Lords came up with an unusual concept, which was to sing a song from the point of view of an abused dog. This brought about the song and first video, "Color of Pain", a song about the blood-sport of dogfighting. Being an anthem of sorts, this song gives a voice to a creature that cannot speak for itself. You can hear Paul Beach becoming the abused dog in the track, and by the third verse, you know the dog is about to retaliate. "You call that man's best friend?", is the repeated question in the song's refrain.