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| Hector "Beast" Gomez from Control the Chaos |
Every company searches for the perfect platform to showcase their products and services. Many times, a personality will be approached to lend their character to the company’s brand hoping to strengthen awareness and build an image that will inevitably lead to greater exposure and sales.
That’s why Sako Karaian, A&R rep for Soultone Cymbals singled out one particular drummer the moment he saw him. “This guy had the look, he knew his gear and spoke professionally,” commented Sako. “I’ve seen a ton of drummers in my dealings on tour, at West LA Music and being the drum tech for System of a Down. I can tell the moment I look at someone whether they’d be someone we want to work with. So I invited him down to the studio and the guy impressed the heck out of everybody.”
That guy was Hector Gomez, aka “The Beast” from the band “Control the Chaos”- one of the most recognizable new indie names on the LA heavy metal scene.
“We were recording across the street at the Village Studios in LA. We had to make a quick run to grab some acoustic guitars for the session and I started talking drums with Sako. I introduced him to Ed, my manager and they immediately started discussing endorsement possibilities,” states Gomez.
Soon afterwards, Control the Chaos was invited to Soultone’s factory headquarters in Encino, CA to meet with the company’s founder and formalize the cymbal endorsement for Gomez.
“These guys were very inviting and the showroom was like being a kid in a candy store,” said Gomez. “The craftsmanship of the cymbals is phenomenal and the brilliance in their sound is amazing. It’s no wonder they are a favorite of some of the most famous drummers in the world.”
Soultone was originally founded in 2003 by the legendary drummer, percussionist, and entrepreneur Iki Levy, after struggling to address frustrations with the major cymbal manufacturers over quality issues. “I wanted to use the best products possible, and I had the opportunities, but I was not happy with anything those companies were producing – even with my product endorsements,” reports Iki. “The blend of the metals we use is our own process that employs a balance of proper weight and tone properties. This creates the real difference between Soultone Cymbals and any other brand.”
Iki’s performances include work with Thomas Dolby, Jann Arden, Midge Ure, Paula Abdul, Tracy Chapman, Donna Summer and the now cult-hit, Disney’s High School Musical, as well as many others. His approach crosses over each style and genre of music when it comes to sound quality. Originally, as the proprietor of the Los Angeles, CA drum specialty shop, The Drum Connection, he put his first Soultone models on the showroom floor with actual drums so that customers could try them as opposed to hanging them on a display. “The reaction was huge,” Iki continues, “and I could not produce them fast enough to meet the demand for even my own shop. I was not afraid to have high standards and wanted to create the very best quality.” Iki maintains a strict “120% perfection” policy in that each cymbal must meet his own specific quality controls. He does not sell anything that is not already exceeding expectations – if it is not perfect; it goes back to his facility. – From www.soultonecymbals.com
Gomez’s endorsement includes a custom branded “BEAST” of “CONTROL THE CHAOS” cymbal based on the SoulTone Extreme series. As a part of the contract, he will support the use of the cymbals for all live performance, recording and public appearance. Detailed terms of the contract are non-disclosed.
That’s why Sako Karaian, A&R rep for Soultone Cymbals singled out one particular drummer the moment he saw him. “This guy had the look, he knew his gear and spoke professionally,” commented Sako. “I’ve seen a ton of drummers in my dealings on tour, at West LA Music and being the drum tech for System of a Down. I can tell the moment I look at someone whether they’d be someone we want to work with. So I invited him down to the studio and the guy impressed the heck out of everybody.”
That guy was Hector Gomez, aka “The Beast” from the band “Control the Chaos”- one of the most recognizable new indie names on the LA heavy metal scene.
“We were recording across the street at the Village Studios in LA. We had to make a quick run to grab some acoustic guitars for the session and I started talking drums with Sako. I introduced him to Ed, my manager and they immediately started discussing endorsement possibilities,” states Gomez.
Soon afterwards, Control the Chaos was invited to Soultone’s factory headquarters in Encino, CA to meet with the company’s founder and formalize the cymbal endorsement for Gomez.
“These guys were very inviting and the showroom was like being a kid in a candy store,” said Gomez. “The craftsmanship of the cymbals is phenomenal and the brilliance in their sound is amazing. It’s no wonder they are a favorite of some of the most famous drummers in the world.”
Soultone was originally founded in 2003 by the legendary drummer, percussionist, and entrepreneur Iki Levy, after struggling to address frustrations with the major cymbal manufacturers over quality issues. “I wanted to use the best products possible, and I had the opportunities, but I was not happy with anything those companies were producing – even with my product endorsements,” reports Iki. “The blend of the metals we use is our own process that employs a balance of proper weight and tone properties. This creates the real difference between Soultone Cymbals and any other brand.”
Iki’s performances include work with Thomas Dolby, Jann Arden, Midge Ure, Paula Abdul, Tracy Chapman, Donna Summer and the now cult-hit, Disney’s High School Musical, as well as many others. His approach crosses over each style and genre of music when it comes to sound quality. Originally, as the proprietor of the Los Angeles, CA drum specialty shop, The Drum Connection, he put his first Soultone models on the showroom floor with actual drums so that customers could try them as opposed to hanging them on a display. “The reaction was huge,” Iki continues, “and I could not produce them fast enough to meet the demand for even my own shop. I was not afraid to have high standards and wanted to create the very best quality.” Iki maintains a strict “120% perfection” policy in that each cymbal must meet his own specific quality controls. He does not sell anything that is not already exceeding expectations – if it is not perfect; it goes back to his facility. – From www.soultonecymbals.com
Gomez’s endorsement includes a custom branded “BEAST” of “CONTROL THE CHAOS” cymbal based on the SoulTone Extreme series. As a part of the contract, he will support the use of the cymbals for all live performance, recording and public appearance. Detailed terms of the contract are non-disclosed.
