Attention, (mostly Russian) sites that have been "kind enough" to rip Bleak and Fireal demos since 2009 and spread them around the internet as "official releases" while criticizing the quality:
1. The upcoming ALBUM is called "HI-LITƎ" (that is "HI-LITE" if you don't see the reversed 'e') and it is NOT an EP. We have planned 3 EP's with three songs that TOGETHER form the album (+1-2 more songs). Get your facts straight.
2. The fact that something was published on the official page does not automatically make it "an official release" or "official statement". It's an official release or statement when presented as such. This shouldn't be too hard to understand if you use your eyes.
The recently released demos - like the ones from 2009-2010 - were never announced as official releases or made available for download. There's a reason why they're streaming media only: they're sketches.
The function of the demos was never to hint the sound or quality of the upcoming album - but to kill this silence that has lasted for years, and give _the loyal fans_ some sort of an IDEA about what's to come.
If you listen to the demo of 'The Imperia' from 2008 and compare it to the album version of 2011, the HUGE difference of the quality SHOULD give you a HINT of what it's GOING TO sound like. There is a thing called "imagination" and it's recommended you use it with demos - the same way you use it with visual sketches.
The internet is filled with demos with a lot worse quality and people have still found the good songs in them. Learn to listen to the idea of the song, not the quality or details. If you can't or it doesn't work, then the problem is not on our end.
3. We could've done nothing. There was no obligation or pressure to release anything - there's no record deal or record company or anyone tying us to deadlines. We could've sat on the demos for years and never release anything - and then you would have nothing to listen to.
Would that be better?
It actually was my plan originally never to release anything unfinished before the final versions. But as the conditions for recording, mixing and mastering the final versions of the songs haven't been met, their release has been postponed year after year. And this year I simply got tired of waiting and decided to go forward with the unfinished ones.
The daring step to release something unfinished comes from the goodness of our hearts - because we want our _true fans_ to get something for their loyal support during these quiet times. And it's the true fans that remain loyal when it's quiet. We don't care about the "fans" that are now absent but come back if and when it gets loud again.
(FYI: Yes, it's still "we" even though I'm the sole creator of the music. There are several people involved with Fireal on different levels and even though I make the final decisions, this is definitely not a "solo project" with only one man's ideas. Almost everything goes through these people.)
4. This might come as a surprise, but making rock albums aren't free. In fact, they cost quite a bit of money - and I have found in the silence of my mediation that money doesn't actually grow on trees.
And while this might also surprise you, it has been _officially announced years ago_ that we are _unsigned_. Previously we had the record company to deal with the costs of the album, but now it has to come from our pockets.
Are you rich? Do you have extra money lying around? Tell you what: donate 20k and I promise we'll make an awesome album in no time Смайлик «wink»
When you start investing your money - that is, the money you can save after everything else in your life - my spidey senses tell me it would be wise to actually make sure that money comes back to you.
I'm passionate about my music, but not so obsessed that I'd spend tens of thousands of my own money to make an album "just for the fun of it" or "because I have to get it out before it's too late!". In terms of music business, it's already "too late" so it makes no difference at this point, but most importantly, and I can't stress this enough: I don't give fuck about supposed deadlines.
I'll move forward with this when the time and situation feels right - it's simple as that.
5. Yes, when something is shared on the internet it spreads like wildfire and there's no stopping it. But this behavior isn't helping anyone or anything. It isn't making the album come faster or pushing me to "work faster". If anything, it's making me wonder if I even want to do this anymore and postponing everything - because the more I see stuff like this, the less I want to be in a line of work that has something to do with it.
It's things and people like these that have made me retreat from the public eye. Why do you think I ended my artist career as Caleb and no longer have a public profile? Because I'm sick and tired of people being obsessed with ripping off and spreading everything everywhere with everyone. I'm sick and tired of this "reality tv generation" that has no sense of privacy or respect.
6. Move from www.vk.com or your forums to www.facebook.com/firealofficial. If you support the music, you support the band - and this is the only place to be for that. Everything you need to know or hear is being posted here..
I'm hoping this writing will make a change for the better - even if your google translates might not work correctly. But if not, at least you know what I think about this.

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