Blood & Banjos started off as a question and challenge: could bluegrass and metal be combined into a single album? The blend of these vastly different musical genres may sound unusual, but it has actually been done before, and quite well, by a number of artists. Panopticon and Slaughter of the Bluegrass are just two examples out of many. We wanted to take it a step further, however, and decided to create a concept album that uses the contrasts in musical styles as story devices. We tried to harness the similarities, the differences, and the transitions between American folk and metal music to express variety in character, mood, and setting. The story we tell is loosely based upon a legend from Northern Michigan, where many of us have our roots. The Blood & Banjos collective comprises artists from all over. We have never played together as a whole in the same place at the same time. In fact, many of our musicians have never even met. Remote collaboration has been a unique challenge, but also an enabling part of the project, as well as the support from our Kickstarter backers! story / lyrics written by Mike Lindsay all music written by Blood & Banjos drums / piano recorded by Marc Jacob Hudson at Rancho Recordo, MI banjo / mandolin / harmonica / cello / vocals recorded by Bella Blasko at Galaxy Smith Studios, NY guitars / bass / vocals recorded by Adam Ward in San Jose, CA produced / mixed by Adam Ward mastered by David Young at Mountain Size Music