Truenemy, the hard rock/metal music project from Southeast Michigan and the mastermind of Paul Vuocolo (vocals/guitar), has a new, haunting EP ‘Curse of the Lightning Ball,’ released on October 31, 2024. The 4-track concept EP includes the original single, “Lightning Ball”, as well as covers of Johann Sebastian Bach, The Legend of Zelda video game music, and the mighty Anthrax.
Vuocolo says, ‘“Lightning Ball”, is a heavy, melodic, and groove-oriented song about obsession and madness – think Gollum and the Ring. The ball lightning chaser has become obsessed with this elusive atmospheric phenomenon. However, when he eventually finds the glowing orb, the encounter is only brief and it leaves him feeling despondent and cursed, so to speak.” He continues, ‘“Lightning Ball” is definitely the focus track as it’s the only full-length, original Truenemy song on the EP and is the anchor point for the EP’s haunted theme concept.”
The music and lyrical themes of all four songs on the, ‘Curse of the Lightning Ball’ EP are dark, melodic, and heavy, which, according to Vuocolo, “makes it perfect for a Halloween season release.” “Electric Toccata” is rooted in Bach’s “Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565” and is performed as an electric guitar solo ritual that triggers atmospheric conditions for ball lightning activity. It leads into the aforementioned focus track “Lightning Ball” (which was first played live on Devil’s Night in 2005) and is followed by “Dungeon Theme”, a 12-string acoustic guitar cover of Koji Kondo’s earworm theme from the 1986 video game, “The Legend of Zelda”. It is performed by Keun Lee who also performed the guitar solos on Truenemy’s previous single, “Saturation Point”. It is the perfect theme to set up the final track, “Medusa”, which is a reimagined cover of the 1985 Anthrax song about the snake-haired gorgon whose gaze turns onlookers to stone.
The songs on the, ‘Curse of the Lightning Ball’ EP were recorded over multiple years at various home and professional studios. The majority of the tracks for “Medusa” were recorded between 1999 and 2001 and it wasn’t until 2021 through 2024 that Vuocolo finished programming the drums as well as recorded additional guitars, synth, and vocals for all four songs.
Musically, Vuocolo hears so many influences in “Lightning Ball”, including Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax, Alice In Chains, Pantera, and even Rush. If you listen closely, there’s even a subtle nod to the 1991 film, Cape Fear, in the main guitar solo.
To Vuocolo, it’s been a fun and fulfilling project to work on and finally brings to life four songs that have been lying dormant on both his hard drive (and in his head) for years.
‘Curse of the Lightning Ball’ EP, was produced by Super Producer and Engineer, Chuck Alkazian (Pop Evil, Soundgarden, Tantric) at Pearl Sound Studios (Asking Alexandria, Eminem, Filter) in Canton, MI.
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