The SME and their demo "Blizzard of Sound" was actually the Samurai Sorcerers' reunion version of Led Zeppelin's "Unledded." "Blizzard" was actually an album that was recorded as a de-facto version of Samurai, without the Asian girls in the band bassically. This is the closest thing to a Samurai reunion, although it remains a temporary side project. Here's the story of the band!  

According to sources, the SME (abbreviation for Silent Minister’s Experience) recorded their first album during the final sessions the Samurai Sorcerers took in Eddie’s home studio. During the making of the album, Patrick’s cabinet was a 10-Watt Marshall practice cabinet along with an Epiphone Les Paul. Eddie had a great deal of equipment used for the album, he plugged all his effects pedals into a computer speaker (or sound system) and used it for his vintage Gibson Les Paul, which his great guitar work was displayed on SME’s first independent release, “Blizzard of Sound.” Leading up the basement area, the music was done on an iMac computer using the program iMac Garage Band v2.0 with all the guitar gear hooked up onto the iMac. Eddie’s effects pedal consisted of a DigiTech RP200 Multi-effects pedal, a Morley wah-wah footboard and another novelty item, the Talk Box. Eddie plugged Patrick’s guitar into his DigiTech board, and set the tones to a chorus effect. The music for the album was recorded and done on the built-in mic the iMac possesses, and Eddie sat down as the main producer of the first SME record. The actual rhythm guitar recording portions was a lengthy process, at occasions Patrick would strum a chord wrong or fingerpick the wrong note or one of the lower strings would sound muffled. So, Eddie had to electronically fix everything up with the iMac Garage Band program. Also, SME’s first album was actually an album that Samurai Sorcerers was supposed to be released but got scrapped. It would be many months before the “lost album” would finally be released.

The “Blizzard of Sound” album also contains a beautiful alternate version of Blackburn’s solo composition “Ocean of Comfort,” which he wrote for his ex-girlfriend Michelle. Unfortunately, the album never contained any actual vocals from Patrick. When the album was released on May 16^th, 2005, Eddie suggested they keep the music for the album just simply a guitar beats/instrumental type of record. The album was finally released when Patrick reunited with Eddie to form the SME after Patrick phoned Eddie on his cell phone about starting a new band together after Patrick got out of his classes at CCSF. It was a sunny May afternoon, and it appeared the two former bickering ex-Samurai members had finally settled their musical and professional differences. The album was made on October 2004, a time when the Samurai Sorcerers were supposed to make an alternate album in their house to their last LP “Psychotic Love” which was more of Blackburn’s idea while “Love” was Lew’s idea. “Psychotic Love” was one of Patrick’s classic works of art. But it also suffered due to excessive indulgence and overblown pretentiousness from Lew and the rest of the band. The caricatures of the album became a sign that the band was about to break. Shortly after receiving the CDs to “Blizzard of Sound” in the mail, Patrick put out the album after being delayed for half a year. At first, it wasn’t easy for Patrick. The general perception was that Lew’s best days were clearly behind him and that he had become another rock & roll archetype and recluse. A significant portion of his audience declined after he left Samurai Sorcerers, and his post-adolescent behavior became increasingly erratic. The SME official website was then launched immediately in support of “Blizzard.” But a live tour for the album was refused by Lew who wanted to work on music under a studio setting.

Unfortunately, the album never contained any actual vocals from Patrick. When the album was released on May 16th, 2005, Eddie suggested they keep the music for the album just simply a guitar beats/instrumental type of record. The album was finally released when Patrick reunited with Eddie to form the SME after Patrick phoned Eddie on his cell phone about starting the band again together. This was actually the closest thing to a Samurai Sorcerers reunion as possible for Patrick Lew and his high school friends. But SME remains a side project.