Dora The Destroyer - Heavy Prog

Hi guys -- I am a one-man band from Detroit called "Dora the Destroyer".  I compose/play all the parts (guitars/bass live; program the drums/synths/piano).  I also do all the recording/mixing.

While I release "singles" every month or so, I haven't had an official release.  As you may see, I haven't "released" anything in a few months, as I've been writing/recording for a 5-song EP that I'll release in a month or so

Anyway, here are my things:


soundcloud.com/michael-blackmond

dorathedestroyer.bandcamp.com

As well, I've done a few guitar play-throughs of songs on my youtube page:





Without an official release, I'm unsure if I qualify here.  Hopefully someone can guide me in that regard!  I wanted to get on your guys' list so I can hopefully get my EP reviewed when I release it.

Also, can someone help with qualifying my genre?  I honestly never really though about it and always just labeled it prog.  I think it has elements of math-rock, post-rock, post-metal, and prog metal, but I'm not sure. 

Thanks in advanced to any support! 

Horizons wrote: High quality stuff man, great work! Also for the label, what you put is 100% fine - don't sweat it anyway.  Love the artwork too. 1 thing... 1 thing................. Now i don't want to come off poorly but..  change the project's name. In my opinion.  Doesn't fit your style at all, and I think you'd benefit with a different name. That's all. Plus it is entirely your choice.  Otherwise i really like your stuff - tell us when the EP is released!

Hey thanks!

And dude.... I know.  I know.   The name thing has gone back and forth for me for so long.  When I first started out, I used my real name on my soundcloud for a while before I started getting a few followers.  I figured I needed to come up with a "band" name.  Dora the Destroyer just came to me, and I put it because I couldn't think of anything else (saying to myself that I'd change it later).  That was about two years ago...

I've gotten about 50/50 responses on "please change it" and "that is the greatest name I've ever heard".  At some point I said to myself: the next person that comments on the name will be the deciding factor.  The next person said "love the band name".  So, there ya go.

As well, I want to keep it for a few reasons.

1. The name sticks outs and is memorable (i think), for good or for bad
2. I post on reddit semi-frequently, and every now and then, someone will say they "remember" me or something similar (which I also attribute to point 1). 
3. The name kind of shows that I don't take myself too seriously (e.g., see Drewsif Stalin)

I totally get your point, and I appreciate that you're honest and bring it up.  It's just hard for me to think of anything serious without it seeming cheesy, ya know?  I figured I'd just live with it.

Anyway, long winded rant... again, thanks for the kind words -- I really appreciate it!  I'll let you guys know when the EPs it out!

Dora the Destroyer?  Love it!

you got my interest piqued... checking it out.

yeah man... pretty good stuff ... held both of our attentions and enjoyed it.

Prog?  Hard to say.. definitely not daddy's prog.. but the great thing is the best stuff today in the realm of progresive rock does not sound like like recycle jobs of classic prog rock. Interesting stuff you have regardless what shoebox one might try to put it into.

micky wrote: Prog?  Hard to say.. definitely not daddy's prog..

Definitely.  I guess, since I'm influenced by the prog and technical-type music, I tend to lump the music I make into just general prog.  I was never sure if that was correct or not. 

Also, thanks for the nice words!

Raff wrote: If you get around to releasing that EP, and put it on Bandcamp, I'll gladly recommend it for the weekly feature Something for the Weekend? (second link in my signature), to which I've been contributing since February 2014.

That would be awesome and really appreciated!  Getting very close, so I'll let you know for sure!

Epignosis wrote: And the name is catchy.  And fun.

Looks like 2/3 on this thread for liking the name :) Thanks!

When the EP is out we will gladly evaluate.

DoraTheDestroyer wrote: micky wrote: Prog?  Hard to say.. definitely not daddy's prog.. Definitely.  I guess, since I'm influenced by the prog and technical-type music, I tend to lump the music I make into just general prog.  I was never sure if that was correct or not.  Also, thanks for the nice words!

  my pleasure. I quite enjoyed the music.

as far as being correct? Of course you are, if you think you are. You are the artist..

we are just the critics.

Yeah I have two kids.