Breeding Pestilence: An Interview with Nergal
Although we had interviewed him before, this was my first time meeting Nergal, the singer of Behemoth, so I was pretty excited. With him on the lead, Behemoth have become one of the most important...
View ArticleSmiling Back at Death: An Interview with Grave Digger
In the early to mid 1980’s Germany was a hotbed for power/speed metal, producing such notable acts as Running Wild, Helloween, and Blind Guardian. One of the most revered and longest running bands to...
View ArticleNever Backing Down: An Interview with Hammerfall
I remember the first time I listened to Hammerfall. It was my first year of college and some classmate kept trying to make me listen to “The Dragon Lies Bleeding”, from Glory to the Brave. Considering...
View ArticleForce of Habit: An interview with Zetro from Exodus
Exodus were there at the beginning of thrash metal. Giving up a founding member to some band called Metallica in 1983 and another one to the grave in 2002, the band has forged ahead through the years...
View ArticleA Bloody Pandemonium: An Evening With Max Cavalera
If anybody can boast of putting his country in the map of metal, that’s Max Cavalera. Despite Brazil having plenty of metal to go around, it wasn’t until Sepultura that people outside of the country...
View ArticleDesert Punk: An Interview with Brant Bjork
In the early 1990’s, music critics declared that heavy metal was dead and that it had been replaced by alternative rock and grunge. At that time all eyes were on the Pacific Northwest, watching bands...
View ArticleShibuya Giants: An Interview With Rise Of The Northstar
Rise Of The Northstar bear one of the most striking images in modern hardcore. Draped in Japanese gakuran uniforms onstage, ROTNS translate an unabashed love of anime and comic books through the...
View ArticlePortrait of a Scumdog: A Conversation with Blothar from Gwar
After the untimely death of Gwar’s founding member and vocalist Oderus Urungus (AKA Dave Brockie), there were many doubts about the future of the band. Would the Scumdogs return to their home planet of...
View ArticleFacing Everything: An Interview with Papa Roach
Despite what some might believe, I wasn’t born the sad and hateful old man that I am today; there was actually a time when I was sad and hateful teenager. And I was angsty. It wasn’t “only” your...
View ArticleAgainst The Grain: A Conversation with Scott Kelly of Neurosis
In the modern heavy metal scene, there are few bands that can considered as unique and groundbreaking as Oakland, California’s Neurosis. Starting out as a fairly traditional hardcore/crossover band,...
View ArticleApex Predators: An Interview with Barney Greenway of Napalm Death
Since the last time I met with Barney, right before the release of Utilitarian, I had been looking forward to an opportunity to do it again. I was not disappointed. You see, despite Napalm Death‘s...
View ArticleThe Faceless Messenger: An Interview with Vicky Psarakis of The Agonist
It’s never easy to replace a singer. Ask Blaze Bayley about trying to replace Bruce Dickinson, or Anette Olzon about trying to replace Tarja Turunen. Fans are possessive and they really hate change. It...
View ArticleRaise the Blind: An Interview with Floor Jansen
Having followed the career of Nightwish since the release of their 2002 album Century Child, I’m aware of the challenges involved in fronting such a project. Both Tarja Turunen and Anette Olzon, the...
View ArticleEnter Ratkind: An Interview With Marco Hietala
Marco Hietala‘s entrance into Nightwish, before the release of their critically acclaimed 2002 album Century Child, was a turning point for the band. His voice, the high-pitched growl-like singing,...
View ArticleA Sacred Mind: An Interview with Blind Guardian’s Hansi Kürsch
It’s not secret that I’m a big fan of J.R.R. Tolkien (if nothing else, I nerded out for a full hour about him during a podcast) and so being a fan of Blind Guardian was simply a natural thing for me....
View ArticleAlways Changing: An Interview with Leprous
“Progressive” is often a catch-all term used to refer to music that defies conventions. If it’s hard to label, then calling it “prog” is the mental shortcut that many use. That’s what happens with...
View ArticleStaying Crazy – An Interview with Markus of Helloween
Being called genre-defining is just par of the course for Helloween. Since the release of their debut Walls of Jericho back in 1985, they have been consistently shaping speed and power metal, releasing...
View ArticlePants are Optional: An Interview with Karl Sanders from Nile
Karl Sanders is a genuinely awesome guy. I met him for the first time a few years ago at the Bloodstock Festival, and interviewing him was really a blast. He’s surprisingly easy-going and quick to...
View ArticleDas Ist Berlin – An Interview with Kadavar
Despite starting in 2010, Kadavar seem to crave for older times. Exhibiting the kinds of skills that were popular in the late 60’s with psychedelic and stoner rock, they have achieved a considerable...
View ArticleDreaded Past: An Interview with Tomi Joutsen of Amorphis
Amorphis are an amazing band. This isn’t really up for debate. They write terrific songs, they have amazing lyrics (particularly if you’re interested in Finnish mythology and history), and their...
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