Member Profile: CROMCarl
Title Writer/photographer
Real Name Carl F.
Location Wallingford, CT, United States
About
Rabid fan of Heavy Metal and its many subgenres since 1986. Self-professed "metal historian" with aspirations to create a vault of metal in the Black Forest region of Germany (much like the seed vault in the arctic), which houses a copy of every single metal album and demo ever created for the preservation of the music which gets no "mainstream" respect (an overly ambitious goal? Perhaps...).
My appearance has always fooled my Brothers In Metal. They chuckle every time they look...thinking "what the hell does this guy know." Its OK..I forgive you. I chuckle too because most people only know "the look"!
I bet you are wondering why the hell I call myself that ridiculous name "CROMCarl"? Sure, I could have been "Soulsucker," "King of Gore," "Satan's Fat Prince" or something more metal. But you see, from 1993-1997 (I don't quite remember), I was the owner & writer of/for a fanzine called C.R.O.M. (which silently stood for "Consumer Reports Of Metal," which is what I wanted to call it until the...you know, 'trademark' dawned on me). It was purely coincidental that one of my dearest and long estranged friends pointed out that the acronym of that name was also Conan the Barbarian's god. So, it was a win-win. So, I use the name (and the logo) as an ode to my younger journalistic days.
In the same year of the demise of C.R.O.M., I had secured the permission of bands and labels to release songs for my first (and only) compilation CD called "The Resurrection of True Metal, Vol. 1." As it turns out, this album actually was first U.S. release of material from greats like Italy's Rhapsody (n/k/a Rhapsody of Fire), Brazil's Angra and Italy's Eldritch, among many others. Much to my surprise this many years later, it turns out that the compilation's rarity (only 1000 were ever made) made it a collector's gem, especially overseas where I only knew of 15-20 being present (given to the bands). So if you think it is a collector's item for you, then it should please you to know that I still have some left. For more information on how to obtain a copy (I have some left), shoot me and email at: carl.frederick@metal.underground.com
At the time of C.R.O.M. (my college days), I was both a DJ and co-music director for a college radio station (my show was called entitled "Wake Up the Sleeping Giant," after Twisted Sister, which if you live in CT, you get the s 'double meaning.') After I graduated, I went on to DJ at a second college radio station for another two years with a show called "Men In Black." My radio voice is divine.
After a period of journalistic dormancy following the demise of C.R.O.M., I remained metal fanatic up until I was introduced to Metal Underground by Vicky (a/k/a "Sonictherapy"), who was a long time friend. Vicky will always be held in the highest esteem in my eyes, as she was the person who taught me about metal back in 1986 when she was a DJ for a college radio station that was well known for playing metal every Saturday.
My musical musical tastes run nearly across the spectrum of metal, but my strongest bond (and knowledge of) is with traditional/classic, epic power, symphonic, folk, viking, melodic death, symphonic extreme, gothic metal and even the good ole hard rock & AOR genres.
Since 2011, I've spent a great deal of time (and money) fine tuning my skills as a professional concert photographer. I created my own photography company called Blazing Metal Photography. Over the past six years, I've shot over 150 bands and have consistently covered ProgPower USA and 70,000 Tons of Metal festivals multiple times.
Visit my personal Facebook Page here: https://www.facebook.com/carlf24
Visit my photography FB home: https://www.facebook.com/CROMCarl
Visit my photography website: blazingmetal.smugmug.com
Visit my YouTube Channel here:
http://www.youtube.com/user/carlf24?feature=mhee
Follow me on Twitter: @CROMCarl
Member Since August 14, 2011
Last Updated September 19, 2017