The Force Awakens: An Interview With Richie Faulkner of Judas Priest
Judas Priest are the only ones who get the coveted title of Metal Gods. No matter who you ask, and regardless of whether or not they like their music, nobody doubts that they were essential in the...
View ArticleIn the Shadows: An Interview with Apocalyptica’s Paavo Lötjönen
People can be very possessive about the art they enjoy. From the girls screaming maniacally outside of a One Direction concert to the fans arguing about the exact day in which Metallica “totally sold...
View ArticleDeviant Hearts: An Interview with Charlotte Wessels of Delain and Phantasma
You’d think that the people behind Serenity and Delain would have their hands full by now. With both bands touring relentlessly and releasing a constant stream of albums, you’d think that there’s...
View ArticleA Twisted Mind: An Interview with Tobias Sammet of Avantasia and Edguy
Do you hate reading? Just listen to the audio of this interview on Episode 11 of The Metal Blast Podcast! I was really excited to finally meet with Tobias Sammet. I had tried (a lot ) to get an...
View ArticleWorshipping Chaos: An Interview with Alexi Laiho of Children of Bodom
Since bursting onto the extreme metal scene in 1997 with Something Wild, Children of Bodom have toured relentlessly, released several critically-acclaimed records, and have been embraced by multitudes...
View ArticleHearts Are Falling – An Interview With Katatonia’s Jonas Renkse
Katatonia’s music is dark. Placing a lot of emphasis in the ambience created by their music, these Swedes have always put darkness as their main objective. With lyrics dealing with loss, pain, death...
View ArticlePersevering: An Interview with Hatebreed
Though hardcore has always had an aggressive edge akin to its cousin heavy metal, the crossover between genres hasn’t always existed. The classic 1998 movie SLC Punk illustrated the classic rivalry...
View ArticleWhere Shadows Reign: An Interview with Dark Funeral
Dark Funeral occupy a legendary place in black metal, having come into the scene back in 1993. Back then Scandinavia was a hotbed for this new genre, with the likes of Burzum, Marduk, Mayhem,...
View ArticleClassic Metal: An Interview with Wolf Hoffmann
Accept are one of the seminal acts in classic heavy metal. From their early hard rock beginning to their glory days as the militaristic, bombastic juggernaut that birthed “Fast as a Shark”, “Balls to...
View ArticleBlood and Butts: An Interview with Lordi
The popularity that Lordi obtained right after their success at Eurovision 2006 has been a blessing and a course. While it catapulted them to popularity, it also made purists see them as just a gimmick...
View ArticleBefore the Ninth Hour: An Interview with Tony Kakko of Sonata Arctica
MB: Do you feel that there is a certain expectation, perhaps based on your music or sound, that makes people expect you to be a certain way? Toni: Sometimes. Some people have told me that I am...
View Article200% Energy – An Interview with Truckfighters
I met with the always energetic guys from Truckfighters, singer and bassist Ozo, and axeman Dango to discuss the power of their shows, V, their latest record, and the new paths that are being trod by...
View ArticleForging a Legacy – An Interview with Hammerfall
Metal Blast: First I want to know about Built to Last, your new album. Is that just a name, or rather does it reflect the fact that Hammerfall, despite the years and the problems, is also “built to...
View ArticleThe Greatest Show on Earth – An Interview with Troy Donockley of Nightwish
To look at the history of Nightwish is to look at a history of maturation and change. Although it is true that some of the elements that were present in their 1997 debut Angels Fall First continue to...
View ArticleThe War Is Happening: An Interview with Mille Petrozza of Kreator
One of the most respected thrash metal bands out there (and perhaps the leading one among the “Big 4” of German thrash) Kreator are truly an institution. Unapologetic in their approach to music,...
View ArticleNorthern Voices: An Interview with Dimmu Borgir
Dimmu Borgir are one of those bands that don’t allow for fence-sitters. People either love them with a passion or have a visceral hatred towards them. Seen by some as trend-setters, others see them as...
View ArticleA Deadly Personality: An Interview with Dez Fafara of Devildriver and Coal...
It doesn’t happen often that an interview surprises me. When you interview musicians, especially when they’re doing the rounds promoting something, there aren’t a lot of surprises to be had. Whether it...
View ArticleCreating a Metal Paradise: An Interview with Thomas Jensen, Co-Founder of...
For metal fans, meeting Thomas Jensen is a bit like meeting Walt Disney. After all, it was he who, together with Holger Hübner, put together the heavy metal equivalent of Disneyland. A (dark) Magic...
View ArticleExquisite Torments: An Interview with Dani Filth
Love them or hate them, Cradle of Filth occupy a very important place in the heavy metal pantheon. With a style of music that in their early days was seen as aligned with the Norwegian black metal...
View ArticleA Soundtrack to Your Life: An Evening with Five Finger Death Punch
“So, any updates from your contacts in the Russian government?” That’s how, after quickly saying hello, I decided to start what would end up being a marathonic 8-hour conversation with Zoltan...
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