Skyler Watkins said his love of metal came from his parents. He said his mother bought him his first guitar when he was in eighth grade.
“I started learning early Metallica songs,” Watkins said, “I learned “Kill ‘Em All” and that’s what taught me the guitar.”
Skyler Watkins is the lead guitarist of local thrash metal band the Conjuring, a group that has been together for less than a year The quartet includes 33-year-old bassist/vocalist Nick Linke, 21-year-old lead guitarist Watkins, 21-year-old rhythm/lead guitarist Jerry Parras and his younger brother 16-year-old drummer John Parras.
All band members are influenced by old school thrash, death and traditional heavy metal bands such as Metallica, Kreator, Death and Pantera.
”That’s what made me want to play bass really was Cliff Burton,” Linke said, referring to Metallica’s late bassist, “I thought that shit was awesome.”
Jerry Parras said he got his start while playing in his middle school orchestra.
“One day I wanted to play guitar, so I bought a guitar and taught myself what I learned on the violin,” Parras said.
His younger brother, John, said he got his start in music at home.
“I think I got my first drum set when I was about 9 maybe,” John Parras said, “Ever since then I just self-taught myself how to play.”
Watkins said the group’s name comes from the fact that all band members are from different towns in states including New Mexico, Arizona and California.
The band is currently working on its first album, which Linke said should be out sometime in 2014. Linke said he hopes to get an EP out before that.
“Right now we’re trying to get our recording studio finished, up and running pretty much,” he said.
Linke also said after their debut album is done next year, the Conjuring will go on tour for the next couple of years and hopefully end up in California.
The band says that the best show in their time together was when they opened for Overkill at the Sunshine Theater in February of this year.
“We weren’t even a band for a year yet and then they called us for that show,” Watkins said.
Even though the members of the Conjuring haven’t been together for too long, they still have some advice for newer bands.
“Do it for the right reasons,” Watkins said, “because if you’re in it for … just to get laid or just to be cool or because you want to fit in or something like that, this isn’t your thing.”
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PHOTO STORY: Albuquerque provides habitat for hundreds of bird species
December 2Albuquerque offers a wide range of bird habitat over a relatively small space. The Bosque ecosystem is home to riparian species, while the city provides habitat for more adaptive urban birds, and the Sandia Mountains provide a home to higher elevation species. Hundreds of resident and migratory birds settle in Albuquerque, according to the City of Albuquerque website. Albuquerque is one of 31 Urban Bird Treaty cities across the United States. UBT cities partner with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to conserve birds and bird habitat, as well as provide educational and recreational opportunities in urban areas, according to the FWS website. The FWS highlights the Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge as one of Albuquerque’s successes in bird conservation. The refuge is considered to be one of the “most ambitious urban conservation projects in the nation,” according to the FWS. In addition to Valle de Oro, birds can choose from many open spaces in Albuquerque that provide habitat, including the Bachechi Open Space, Rio Grande Nature Center State Park and even the University of New Mexico’s campus. The Bachechi Open Space is one of 17 Bernalillo County Open Space properties, according to the Bernalillo County website. The space offers wetland habitat, which attracts geese, ducks and herons. The Rio Grande Nature Center State Park provides habitat for over 300 species of birds, according to its website. During this time of year, sandhill cranes find food in the fields, and spotted towhee and duck species gather by feeders at the pond. UNM’s main campus hosts a total of 212 species of birds at different times throughout the year, according to Birding Hotspots. Even with the current Duck Pond renovation, trees and green space provide habitat for robins and roadrunners. Leila Chapa is the social media editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at socialmedia@dailylobo.com or on X @lchapa06 Paloma Chapa is the multimedia editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at multimedia@dailylobo.com or on X @paloma_chapa88
