Non-Print Interviews & Articles

I first heard and became familiar with The Wood Box Gang at the Yellow Moon Café in Cobden, IL back in 2001. Starting out as a 3 piece, then going to 5 members, then 6, and now back to 5, I have seen The Gang go through several line-up changes, but the core of the band has always remained the same; Alex and Hugh. Without these 2 individuals, The Wood Box Gang would not exist; with no disrespect to all others who have ever been with or are still with the band.

What can I say about Lacuna Coil other than they are all masters at what they do? These Italians play, in my humble opinion, their own brand of melodic power metal that is accompanied by a duet of some philosophical, comprehensible male and female vocalists. This was a really fun tour, and it was definitely worth the drive, to say the least!

Coroner, Rush, Macabre, Birdflesh, Venom, Maruta, and Annihilate the Hero; just a few band names in Metal that have something in common besides playing Metal (well, with the exception of Rush). Each band consists of 3 band members, and each band member in my opinion is a “master” (one can always learn more, even if one is a “master” in my book) at their instrument of choice.

From Korn to Christ: Guitarist Brian ‘Head’ Welch Talks About Kicking Drugs and Leaving the Rock Star Life Behind for His Daughter and God

Shawnee Cave Amphitheatre (aka Salt Petre Cave), conveniently located 15 minutes from where I live, is natural beauty in Southern Illinois where musical entertainment, thousands of people, and nature come together for fun-filled weekends of camping, dancing, and where people get to meet people from literally all over the United States – and some even from the other side of the globe. There isn’t any other “venue” I’d rather go and see a show at due to knowing that I will have plenty of room to move, and where one is able to breathe the fresh air and not stupid-idiotic-retarded cigarette smoke.

This interview was once again recently found (I have lost it around 10 times now) and decided not to wait any longer on getting this typed up. I can’t recall the exact date for this show, but it was when S.O.D. played at The Galaxy in St. Louis, MO., and where Jeremy (The Frankenhookers) got up on stage and performed a tune with S.O.D. (pictures posted). He had Billy rollin’ on the floor and it was a night that nobody will ever forget (well, for those who attended anyway). Fun times indeed!! What up Jeremy!!

GWAR are definitely a band that have lasted the test of time and a band that have definitely paid their dues. Seeing them perform for the 8th time (and counting) this past Halloween, my first experience with Oderus and crew was during their Hell-O tour at the tender age of 14.

I must confess that I didn’t become familiar with Psycroptic until they signed up with Nuclear Blast Records. Not really knowing what to expect, when I finally heard their (Ob)servant release, and checked out some of their other tunes on myspace, I was pretty impressed with their unique blend of metal and the overall complexity of the songs, yet catchiness and brutality as well.

Like a lot of other music as of late, I first discovered Ella on My Space when she sent me an e-mail saying that I might like what she had to offer as a musician; she was right! I love dark, ethereal, and ambient music, especially when it is accompanied by female vocals. If the above description is your “cup of tea,” I suggest you go now and check out what she has to offer on her page! Support the locals yo!!

What can I say about Exodus and Gary Holt? Having seen them on numerous occasions with almost every vocalist they have had, one can not deny the influence and power that Exodus has unleashed upon the Metal world. Although my first attempt to interview Gary wasn’t a successful one (he was tired??), I’m happy that this interview was finally granted. As I have mentioned before about other Metal artists, if you aren’t familiar with Exodus by now, what rock have you been hiding under?

When I was having a difficult moment in my life within my family, I was driving along and came across Jason Gray on the radio and his song (Remind me who I am) hit my heart unlike any other song I think ever has.

I must say that when I first read about this reunion tour and read the comments from Anthrax fans that were Anti-Joey at; http://www.reunionbashers.com/list.html, I was really skeptical about Joey being able to sing / hold a note on all of the classic stuff from Anthrax perfectly, due to these reviews. I was expecting some […]

Let me start off oh so cliché by stating that Atheist, as most of us know by now that were around back in the day when Piece of Time was released (1990), were a band that never got the attention they deserved (end of cliché). But back in the early 90’s, I too was closed minded to certain bands (Cynic for example) – but Atheist was not one to be ignored in my mind.

Like most of us these days, Nachtlieder first caught my ears attention while I was on myspace checking out the bands music. When I heard the song Polar Night, I immediately thought of Burzum upon hearing this tune and became interested in hearing more of Nachtlieder due to the fact Burzum was my favorite band back in the day when I first got into Black Metal; well, Burzum actually tied with Mysticum and Limbonic Art.

I wasn’t too sure what I was getting my self into when A.T.H. asked me to join and take pictures of them while on tour. Heading down to good ol’ Texas (I used to live in Houston back in the day), I thanked God there were only 3 members in the band so I could selfishly have the back “cave” part of the van for my self so I could sleep most of the way down, assuming I wouldn’t get any real rest while on this little journey, taking advantage of sleep as much as I could. I can be a real jerk when I’m tired!

Some may not know that Pestilence is my favorite Death Metal band and that Testimony of the Ancients is my favorite Death metal album, but hey, now you do!

When I think about Peter’s replies on Satanism, God, money making religions, etc., I see he is no different as I was in my past; a pissed off human angry at the humans who take advantage of others in the name of God (good).

Solitude Aeturnus have been one of the few metal bands that have made it in my top ten list of being able to handle what I like to call; “pretty male vocalist bands”, with no disrespect towards Robert, or any other male vocalist that can sing with such clean power.

There are times in my editorial career where I feel that “this interview could have been a lot better.” That was the case with the interview I did with Roger Miret recently, vocalist for one of the few true and remaining American hard-core acts left over from the explosion in the 80’s movement; Agnostic Front.

The band’s philosophy about music: Immolation music is surprisingly memorable and it’s replete with enveloping, twisted, brooding, dark energy. Once you really absorb their albums–especially their last two, the previous “Unholy Cult” and their most recent one, the excellent “Harnessing Ruin”–the sounds within can be surprising.

Dimmu Borgir, whether you like them or not, are a band that all extreme music supporters should know about by now. And if you do not know who this band is, then what rock have you been hiding under?

The only thing I regret about this interview is not having any follow up questions to some of his replies.

When I was contacted by Jeff and was asked if I wanted to interview Barren Cross, I had to decline due to the fact I wasn’t all too familiar with the bands material or their history. So I gave him a few options and he decided to conduct the interview himself, so it worked out in the end, eh?

I first heard about Stolen Babies reading positive reviews in several publications about their live performances and from their debut album on The End Records; There Be Squabbles Ahead.

Tom Foolery, if one doesn’t know by now, is the main man who brings all the festivals at Salt Petre Cave together here in Murphysboro, IL.

Morbid Angel has been a band that has constantly delivered “the goods” when it comes to this style of extreme music. Uniquely crafting and playing one of a kind songs/guitar solos by every guitarists involved, great vocalists (past and present), one of the best drummers in the genre, in short this band has always been a power house super group and a force to be reckoned with in the death metal scene, influencing many, many bands over the years.

Samael have forged their own path in the metal scene ever since they began, always focusing on their own mind-sets and never following any current trends within the Black Metal scene.

Tourette’s Syndrome is a band that I’m not familiar with at all except for the fact that they play noisy grind. I’m conducting this interview because I really thought once the drummer for the band, Wife-beater, saw the questions I had sent him, he wouldn’t reply. I was wrong.