Matt Gibson is the winner of a fan video contest run by Jon Schaffer‘s Sons Of Liberty for his visual interpretation of the track ‘Jekyll Island’, featured on the new album Thought Crimes (Volumes 1 & 2).
“When Brush-Fires Of The Mind came out in 2009, I encouraged people to copy and share the music. Immediately, and organically,” said Jon Schaffer, the band’s founder and a member of Iced Earth, Demons & Wizards and others. “The fans made dozens of homemade videos based on their interpretations of the songs. I thought it would be cool to build a contest this time around. Clearly, we’re living in a different world from the one we were in 17 years ago, and I was interested to see, with the advanced tech that we have at our fingertips in the modern age, what the fans would come up with.
“I’m proud to announce that Matt Gibson is the grand prize winner. He chose to do ‘Jekyll Island’, which is arguably the most important song on the record. He was able to make a video that is entertaining and informative. Matt clearly has a deep understanding of the mechanics of the global financial system, and he did a fantastic job of getting the message delivered in a fun and creative way.
“If you understand fractional reserve banking and fiat currency backed by nothing, you’ll understand why the levels of inflation, fraud, corruption, and war are off the charts, and it only gets worse through the decades. The system never changes to benefit the people, regardless of what puppets are in power. Great job, Matt! Congratulations!”
The track presents a historical look at defiance and individual liberty. It was the second music video from the new album, following the release of ‘Full Spectrum Dominance’.
Schaffer also reflected on another of the album’s tracks: “‘Molon Labe’ (translated as Come and take it, or Come and take them) is a song that I wrote and recorded in 2011. The song is inspired by King Leonidas and his actions during the Battle of Thermopylae (480 BC), and that’s why this song is dedicated to him and his elite royal guard of 300 Spartans.
“These actions have become a legendary symbol of courage, discipline, and self-sacrifice against an overwhelming force. As I was attempting to channel the spirit of Leonidas in the writing and recording process, I discovered a new sound in my voice that seemed to fit with the energy of the song. I feel ‘Molon Labe’ adds an interesting dynamic to the flow of tracks on Thought Crimes.”
Thought Crimes (Volumes 1 & 2) is streaming on all platforms. For collectors, a special physical edition is available via The Circle Music, marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
You can read more about Jon Schaffer‘s Sons Of Liberty at RAMzine.
