Metal Anarchy

As previously reported, Flaw have been facing multiple allegations of plagiarism due to a number of songs from their latest album, “Vol. IV Because Of The Brave,” containing music taken from various YouTubers. Tommy Gibbons has since issued a statement taking blame for the situation and claiming that he basically forgot which tracks were his and which ones he took inspiration from.

This whole mess started after YouTuber Douglas Patrick accused the group of using his “music melody and structure” from “KoЯn style_Nu Metal/Rap Metal/Beat Instrumental 14” on their song “Wake Up.“ Chris Volz then responded to the situation saying that he was unaware about the plagiarized riffs and that he “made an offer to compensate [Patrick] for his work.” However, another report ended up surfacing saying that the band allegedly plagiarized another track by Patrick, “KoЯn style_Nu Metal/Rap Metal/Beat Instrumental 22“, on their song “Persistence.“

After that, the group got accused of copying Sound For Production’s “Electro Metal Trailer” and “Intensity Metal Signal“ on their songs “On Your Feet” and “Sign Of The Times.” Although, those tracks were available for future licensing, so it’s possible that the band could have purchased them like they did with Riff Master T’s “Nu Metal Instrumental 2,” which was used on “Conquer This Climb.“

Eventually, an old post in which Gibbons claimed to have written one of the allegedly plagiarized riffs ended up emerging. That brings us up to the present, when he decided to officially take responsibility for the allegations:

“As many of you know, I am the current bass/guitar player for FLAW. I was tasked with writing the music for our most recent album, ‘VOL IV: Because Of The Brave‘. To clarify, this is the only record I’ve recorded with FLAW and I had no hand in previous recordings. I have been writing and recording music for over 15 years.

I, like many other musicians, look to YouTube for inspiration and creative ways to challenge myself and learn more. Over the years I have listened to and re recorded hundreds and hundreds of songs online. I also have hundreds and hundreds of songs recorded on my studio computer which have been compiled over the last 10 or so years, some of them mine and some of them taken from other inspiration.

I regretfully did not label and differentiate the music I wrote and recorded from a blank slate versus the inspiration I found and re-recorded as I was trying to further myself. As I was going through hours and hours of previously recorded material to present to Chris for the new album, clearly a specific style in my catalog stuck out to me.

These are things I re-recorded years ago and did not label where they actually came from. This is where I went terribly wrong. I took the tracks I re-recorded not knowing their true original source and presented them to Chris which in turn he worked tirelessly to write and record original lyrics and vocals to. He entrusted me with something that I thought I was going to truly impress him with and I let him down.

I take full and all responsibility for the accusations and bad press that has been flooding social media recently. None of the other band members had any knowledge or reason to believe these songs were written by anyone else, they are free and clear of any responsibility or wrongdoing. To all my friends and fans, I want you to know that this was a royal mistake on my part, and by no means did I intentionally try to steal or plagiarize any other musicians music.

I will do what I can to rectify this situation including any compensation for the original writers. We have made contact with him and are working on an agreement. Again, I am sorry to those I have let down including my bandmates who had no participation in writing the music for these recordings. I understand and respect whatever decision has to be made by the band because of this and I hope I will continue to see all of you along the way. I’m sorry and thank you.”

Volz commented as well:

“Thank you for owning up to your mistakes Tommy, hopefully the BS gossip queens can take a nap now……”

[via The PRP]