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Interview Interrogation at Bloodstock Open Air - Chained Saint

4/10/2026

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     Chained Saint are a Floridian thrash metal force who are already gaining acclaimed international media attention through their own vision as well as their recent tour with Russian deathcore leviathans Slaughter To Prevail, including their stopover at Bloodstock from where this interview took place. 

     From their own individual paths through the classrooms of their respective high schools back in 2022, to gracing the fabled fields of Bloodstock Open Air at Catton Hall, Chained Saint will be back, bolder than ever, after all they did survive our interrogation.

     Cameron Cottrell (drummer), Ethan Kahn (guitarist) and Sean Sterling (vocalist) were present, whilst Sebastian de Avila (bassist) joined in a little later on.

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​"...the rule on the road is if you gotta go, go. Take your opportunity, because once you get back on that bus, you can't go no more."


Is it true that all you all met each other as teenagers in high school, and developed a brotherhood feeling?

Sean:-

     "That is correct, yeah. We are a cult brotherhood. That was a joke. We're not, actually. Just like brothers. I mean, what's it called? We've just spent a lot of time together, spent a lot of time jamming, a lot of time just chilling, and then through that we just have a shared vision, and push that forward every day."

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What about the band name Chained Saint? How did you devise it?

Cameron:-

    "I was in math class, in algebra class in 10th grade, and I sent them (the band) like a list of, like, probably 15 different names and I was like, "Everyone pick which one you like," and we all picked Chained Saint. So we just didn't think twice about it, just kept it from there."


As you were in the high school scene with each other. Did your music lessons have any bearing on what you were doing as well?

Sean:-

     "Yeah, personally, 'cause I actually... I grew up doing classical music and opera, and then in school I was doing a lot of jazz, a lot of contemporary music. So I would take some of the stuff I learned there and bring it into Chained Saint in a technical aspect, like, when it comes to, like, gear and stuff like that."


Cameron:-

     "Yeah. Yeah, I would say the same thing. Um, just kind of, like, grew up playing drums at a young age. Kind of stopped when I was, like, around middle school, then picked it up around high school and yeah, it's been awesome."


Ethan:-

     "Yeah, for me, I mean, I started playing guitar during COVID, so it kind of just, like, all ramped up slowly and slowly over time, and then became this".


You are currently (at the time of the interview) on a European tour with Slaughter to Prevail. How did this come about?

Ethan:-

     "All right. Um, well, first, first it started with Sean. He got to go up and play or sing 'Demolisher' at the end of their set at Louder Than Life, and then after that we played this show with them called Blood for Blood. It was really cool. And then after that they kind of just were like, "Alright, like, we've talked with you guys, let's, uh, let's go on tour." And we're out here in Europe and it's pretty awesome."


You released your debut album “Blindside” back in 2024, can you talk to us through the creation process and meaning of the title?

 Ethan:- 

     "I mean, it was mostly, like, at the time we got blindsided by a very specific somebody, so that was just kind of how we felt, and that's just kind of what encapsulated the whole experience recording the record, and we figured, you know, what better title than, than 'Blindsight'. Plus it was good, so. It matched the eye, 'cause that eye, that's my eye on the cover."


Sean:-

     "[The album was a] big middle finger but, you know, not, not anything terrible, but, like, you know, just kind of encapsulated the whole time."


[Sebastian the bassist joins the interview]


Sean:-

     "[Casually informs us that Sebastian was doing a number 2] "Yeah, that dude was taking a shit. I know, 'cause the thing is that on the tour bus, like, we have a bathroom but you can't use... you can't go number two in there. So, like, the rule on the road is if you gotta go, go. Take your opportunity, because once you get back on that bus, you can't go no more. You gotta unload the clip before we go on the ride."


Sebastian, is there another album in the process of being made? If so when could it drop?

Sebastian:-

     "Um, so we have a new EP ['Rise To Fall'] coming out very soon (9th October via Patriark Records]. Later this month we'll have the first single out ['Snakeskin']. So, um, yeah, expect it very shortly. It'll come very, very soon. And we're gonna be playing some of those songs tonight and, uh, out on the stage. So yeah, it'll be fun."


Can you tell us more about the Floridian metal scene, what the current scene is like, what the venues are like etc? Any festivals?

Ethan:-

     "I would say it's just very, like, definitely up and coming. They're really, like, every time I look into shows, it's, like, bigger and bigger. It's pretty cool. So a lot of hardcore, deathcore, death metal, just stuff like that is, like, what the Florida scene is like, and historically, though, so pretty good.

     Unfortunately, it got torn down, but The Arion. That's where we did our first record release show. Uh, Gramp's is pretty cool. Revolution. Culture Room's cool. Pipers was all right. Respectable Street's cool."


Sean:-

    "[on festivals] Welcome To Rockville. That's the big one. Warp Tour comes to Orlando, so that's another one. Those two are, like, definitely the biggest Florida ones. And Now We Spit Blood is also a big one."



"Greetings to Jack Simmons and Alex Terrible.
Thank you so much for having us on this tour.
​
Thank you to the people at CAA.
Thank you to the people at 5B."


You play 80's thrash metal but with a modern perspective, do any of your parents come into this? Did they listen to thrash metal when they were younger?

Sean:- 

   "No. The heaviest my mom showed me was fucking Soundgarden. Chris Cornell. She'd be like, "It's so heavy." Actually, no, my parents fucked with Rage Against... More my mom fucked with Rage Against the Machine.


Ethan:-

   "No. Like, the heaviest my dad probably showed me was Van Halen. That's about it. Like, nothing really crazy stuff. Or, like, Metallica. I mean, probably just, like, Metallica, 'Ride the Lightning'. That was really it. That was the start. But I found everything else out on my own.


Cameron:-

   "Not at all. "


Sebastian:- 

     "No, not really. Everything was on my own. I think my dad, like, showed me, like, Kiss or Guns N' Roses, but that's about as far as it'll get. So yeah, it was mainly just me.


Summarize Bloodstock in three words.

Sebastian:- 

     "Super fucking sick."


Ethan:-

     "Cool as shit."


Sean:-

    "Dope as fuck."


Cameron:-

     "Intense as fuck"


Have you got any greetings or hellos or thank yous to send out to your friends, family?

Sean:-

     "So greetings to mother and father back at home. Greetings to Jack Simmons and Alex Terrible. Thank you so much for having us on this tour. Thank you to the people at CAA. Thank you to the people at 5B. And, uh, Bloodstock better be out."


Sebastian:-

     "Blood shall spill. Shout out to my girl and shout out to my family".

 Cameron:- 

     "My parents are actually here, so hell yeah."


Ethan:-

     "Everyone who believes and supports us"


https://www.facebook.com/chainedsaint

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Interview Interrogation - Mick Michaels of Corners Of Sanctuary (USA)

12/7/2026

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     Corners Of Sanctuary have been rampaging throughout the East Coast and in their home city of Philadelphia for 15 years and the heavy metal / hard rock outfit show no signs of putting the brakes on anytime soon. Not only are the quartet gearing up for a tour spanning across 3 months on 9 set dates, but they are also a part of something monumental to the Philly metal scene, a documentary of it's rocking history. 

    Founder and guitarist / keyboardist Mick Michaels gave Global Metal Apocalypse the low down on their historic milestone, what it feels like being a part of a unique regional documentary and the challenges American metal bands face nowadays.
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     ​Corners Of Sanctuary celebrate 15 years this year as a band, but over the years there have been many line-up changes amongst the 12 album releases, how has the band remained on course during the turbulent times?

     "At the end of the day the focus has always been the music and that’s what has driven this band from the very beginning. We have had several members come through over the years…some have only been here a short time and filled in when we were in a pinch… others stayed longer. But regardless the music has prevailed. Any time there is a line-up change those initial moments do seem like turbulent times. We are all too familiar with that situation. However, we always realized quickly in each circumstance that it was what was best for the band as a whole. Time does offer that perspective. We just need to be patient enough to weather out the storm and at times that can be difficult. In the end, Metal never dies and the music lives on forever."


     Considering your last album "Christmas Together: A Merry Metal Xmas IX" was released in 2022, surely a new album is in the pipeline, if so when is it slated for release?

      "We have been focusing on EP's the last few years with only selected singles releasing digitally. Since 2022, a number of EPs have released including: “This is Metal”; the “Metal Never Dies” compilation; “Metal Up”; the ”Monster Inside” compilation which was a collection of B-sides and deeper cuts and came with a comic; “Taking Cover” - our covers EP; and more recently the “Forever Metal” EP; with each release having six or more tracks per.


     Over the last few years we have also been reworking a couple of our early albums including the CD reissues of both our 2012 album “Breakout” and our 2015 album “Metal Machine.” Both include newly recorded tracks, as well as being completely remixed and re-mastered. We just released a new single July 7th called “Crimson Sky” via SODEH Records. “Crimson Sky” will be part of a forthcoming EP titled “Destined.” For the last 10 years we’ve worked on and off on an album titled “Vengeance Of The Fallen.” Will it ever see the light of day? We don’t know really.

     The hope is to complete it at some point and make it available. But for right now, we will keep going with the singles and the EP's. It’s working for us and seems that’s what audiences tend to gravitate more towards these days.


     You're part of the forthcoming documentary "When We Rocked" which centres on the Philadelphia Rock Scene - in your opinion what is it that makes the Philly Rock sound so iconic? Will this documentary be released in theatres or online only?

     "We are very excited to be part of the When We Rocked project as a band. We participated in the documentary’s title track and had the pleasure of working with Reggie Wu of Heavens Edge and Jaron Gulino also of Heavens Edge and Lynch Mob… both incredible players to say the least and the best of guys… real gentlemen. There’s a music video for the track out now as well. Plus a number of other Corners of Sanctuary songs will be included in the documentary’s soundtrack. We couldn’t be more honoured!


     For me as an individual, I am ecstatic that the book I co-authored last year is now being made into a feature length documentary about a city and music scene that was so impactful. The trailer has already been released. To me, music is magic and the opportunities it has offered me over the years are something that I count as blessings every single day. When I was a kid, Philadelphia was the big time for me. The bands that I followed came from Philly and made it and that was all I needed to know to keep pushing forward.

     What made it unique then and now is the attitude. That attitude is unlike any other city…it’s a take no prisoners, take no shit way of life and that’s what’s reflected in the music created by the city’s artists and bands…then and now. The When We Rocked documentary is slated to release later this year or early 2027 through March Baby Media. We’ve been entertaining several options for its premier including a select theatre release run, online streaming platforms and DVDs. There are a number of options to consider. But for now, we are focusing on delivering the best Philly Rock scene documentary to honour all these great artists who made it what it was… simply unforgettable!


     American metal as a whole is a non-stop conveyor belt of releases, so how hard is it nowadays for bands to gain a following outside of their own county or on a larger scale, state?

     "I think regardless of a band’s location, finding an audience is a task filled with endless challenges and obstacles. The music population is so vast these days that it is now considered over-saturated everywhere, not just the US. Unfortunately, most of us get lost in the noise. Even though the internet and social media and the like have somewhat bridged a gap, the divide to those bands at the top and everyone else has gotten much wider.

     I think since following COVID, many bands have focused on smaller, niche type audiences and some of those bands have definitely made headway with that model. Less is definitely more, which is another reason why we have chosen to focus on single and EP releases rather than full-length albums. There seems to be enough of the world to go around for everyone. The trick is to do it in a way that makes sense and stays true to the kind of artist you want to be."

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     ​Your going out on a 9-date tour late July, starting 07/23 in New York and finishing 09/26 in Pennsylvania, mostly focused on the East Coast - will this be a road trip or going by plane? At least one of those dates is a festival appearance - 'Coal Region Veterans Fest' - have you played there before?

     "We originally had discussed going back to Europe for a string of shows to celebrate our 15 year anniversary. But the climate just didn’t feel right. So then we decided to do a West Coast run of shows. We ran into a few snags along the way and that was cancelled. So, we decided to stay on the East Coast and do a few shows, making it a road trip in the process. We’ve been on a plane for tours in the past but nothing beats an old fashion road trip excursion with four guys and their equipment jammed packed into a vehicle for hours. It’s a true bonding experience like no other.


     And what better time to do it than in the summer months? We are excited about hitting the road. Most of the dates will be new venues for us. That is doubly exciting. This will be our first performance at the Coal Region Veterans Fest and we can’t wait. Anytime we have a chance to participate and support our veterans we jump on it. Our bass player, Matthew, is a veteran.

     We are also playing the Field of Screams event in September… twice actually. That’s a big event centred around Halloween with a haunted house and other related entertainment including a host of bands performing. Thousands of people attend it each year. This is our first time playing, so we are pretty excited. We look forward to seeing you there!


     Aside from the documentary which is slated for a 2027 release, touring plans, and (if happening) a new album coming out this year, what plans do you have for the year ahead going into 2027?

     "More music for one… including another new single scheduled for September and of course our annual holiday track in November. We have a few other projects currently in the works including an acoustic album, some more CD and maybe vinyl reissues of older albums, and an autobiography on the band that we have been working on over the past couple of years. We had plans to release it for the 15-year anniversary but people usually put these sorts of things together when they are coming close to the end and ready to take a bow. But I don’t think this band is there yet. So, with that in mind, we intend to take our time with it…chapters are still waiting to be written!


Do you have any greetings or thanks that you wish to send out?

     First off, thank you for talking with me and allowing me to share a little about Corners of Sanctuary with your readers.


     And we definitely want to thank everyone who has supported us over the last 15 years. It means so much to us and we are truly grateful that we have been given the opportunity to share our music with so many people. That truly is a blessing. In this business, people come and go in a blink of an eye over the long haul. Life often has other plans of us. But we have never forgotten what those individuals have done for us… both big and small. They are the ones who made it all possible.

     We really do hope to be doing this for a long time to come. So thanks again and we will see you at the show… COSnROLL\m/\m/


​www.cornersofsanctuary.com
www.facebook.com/CornersofSanctuary
www.instagram.com/cosnationmetal

COS on Spotify

  • “Crimson Sky” stream: https://bfan.link/crimson-sky
  • “Crimson Sky” music video: https://youtu.be/c_jciiqOPhM
​
Get Rocked at www.WhenWeRockedPhilly.com
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Interview Interrogation: Pathways (USA)

28/3/2021

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"We have already begun writing another album as we speak and we will be more active than we have ever been previously."


     You might not be forgiven if you happen to forget that beneath the leviathans of Slipknot, 5FDP, Trivium, Metallica and the other greats of the American metal scene, are underground hotbeds producing the newest and exciting bands to lead the country and bear the flag. One such band is Pathways, whose journey from the Sunshine State aka Florida to the Pacific coast of Washington State has culminated in not only new recruits, but newfound vigour.

     "Great Old Ones" is the quartet's newest single and is just one glimpse of what the lads have up their sleeves as they barrow towards their debut album seeing daylight. The lads managed to survive our interview interrogation and whilst they spilled their guts out about the challenges of playing live shows, why their sound is a cauldron of different sounds that make them extraordinarily hard to pigeonhole, how Washington state coped with the COVID-19 pandemic and what their plans are for the year ahead.

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For those who have not heard of Pathways, could you please tell us how the band came about and what the band name means? 

     "Our last major release was in 2016, with a 5 song EP titled “Dies Irae”, released through Tragic Hero Records. Since then, our world has utterly changed in a progressive and exciting way. At the time, both Wil & I (Jon) lived in south Florida. Eventually circumstances led us out here to the Pacific North-West (PNW), where we really decided to seek out our musical identity (as a band). We knew the exact sound that needed to be achieved, and in order to do this properly, we needed help from other / newer members.

     We spoke with the CEO of Tragic and we were able to release our contract from the label, parted ways with previous members, and as luck would have it - our search concluded with Caner and Kyle. With the new line-up solidified, we immediately wrote our first ever full-length album, and a separate single (Great Old Ones). The single serves as a catalyst to kick off the fresh sound and active condition of the band. The band has a specific sound in mind, and achieving it would take many different dynamics to come together - Pathways is a way of achieving an action, within multiple avenues (us as a collective)."
 

You play progressive metalcore and utilise 8 strings and classical influences, please discuss the decisions behind the two influences?

     "We have always had a strong classical influence. Our identity has been shaped from having neo-classical metalcore / deathcore elements, to just being strictly metal now. The older tunes were designed with an aggressive and chaotic foundation, while the current work is focused on groove and purposeful melodies, while of course, maintaining that classical ominous vibe. We couldn’t be happier with how the sound has been defined. It took a long time to reach this exact point of musical maturity, but the wait will be worth every moment passed (especially for the fans)."


Each musician has their own influences, where does your influences come from and how do they fit in with Pathways sound?

     "An extremely diverse musical pallet is on the table with the new Pathways line-up. Jon went to Musicians Institute in L.A. for 2 years and is classically trained. Wil has strong r&b and pop / hip-hop ties, which he incorporates into the pocket grooves of the music. Caner is all over the place with influences, but in a brilliant & diverse way. He has influences that stem from his Turkish heritage, all the way to rap and deathcore. His main strong suit is his vocal range. It is truly unique and unlike anyone we have ever heard.

     He is our secret weapon for sure - raw talent. That leaves us with Kyle. Pathways has never had a real bassist - our previous 3 bassists were fill-ins for the instrument, since we either could not find a right fit, or because we just liked the member on a personal level and wanted to try it out on bass. It is truly insane to see what Kyle brings to the table. He is a funk bassist who listens to metal. What more could you ask for? He has all the talent / technique / chops to both play and write to the music, very well."


You have just released your new single 'Great Old Ones' (26/3), how long did it take to curate and will this be featured on your debut album?

     "This process has always been easy for us, and with the addition of fresh talent, it was even more seamless. You definitely know when you gel with other musicians, and that is the case with us as a quartet. The musicianship & personality blend makes the relationship seem like fate, in a way. 

     The process actually started in 2017, with the symphony. It was a 42-piece overture written with a prime motive in mind - that every single melody from this orchestral piece would be referenced in each song on the album. Almost like a musical concept album that has melodic Easter eggs spread throughout. Not soon after the symphonic piece was released, the early writing stages of the album were underway.

     The intro riff to 'Great Old Ones' is actually a variation melody that was rooted in the symphony. This is the main melodic line of the song and set the basis for the rest of the single. The main line was given to all members, and we just worked off of that motif until it was melded into GOO (pun intended)."


What can listeners expect from your debut album and will it be released independently or via a record label; as you're no longer with Tragic Hero Records?

     "As this release is meant to showcase the newer music identity, brand, and pave the way for album promotion, we aim to go about this in a very bold and calculated way. We have learned so much about the industry (still learning) over the years, and have seen how much the pandemic & social climate is still affecting the future of it. We think it is definitely smart to be strategic with self-releasing music and distribution. Our catalogue now includes 4 music videos, a full-length album, a single, and tons of photo shoots - all to be self-released for now, in order to make way for future branding. We have already begun writing another album as we speak and we will be more active than we have ever been previously."

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Seattle Space Needle Observation Deck / Source: YouTube (User: Viator Travel)

How tough is it for American metal bands to organise tours across the country? Do smaller bands tend to do state tours rather than national tours?

     "It's more common for smaller acts to tour state to state or regionally rather than a nationwide tour. Many Seattle artists will cover the west coast from Vancouver BC all the way down to LA. It can be difficult for smaller acts to book multiple venues in one city let alone an entire state. It can be difficult finding venues on the way to larger cities that will cater to your sound. Not every city has a venue that would welcome a metal act."


Florida has a rich history of metal bands from Morbid Angel to Trivium to Deadstar Assembly, what is it in your opinion that makes the Floridian metal scene so successful at delivering a constant stream of talent?

     "South Florida, being isolated from most of the rest of the US has a very tight knit scene. I'd say that's because not as many tour packages make it that far south if they have an option to book in north or even central Florida. Because of this, the local scene is constantly growing and engaging with itself to make up for the smaller tour packages that might not be willing to drive the extra 5 hours south just to have to drive back up the panhandle to tour in the rest of the country after one or two shows. So in essence Florida's scene is built to fill a void of live entertainment from the rest of the country. Add the fact that Florida is a cultural melting pot from native Floridians, snow birds of the east coast turned full time residents and people looking for a tropical change, you get all walks of life and plenty of scenery to inspire a creative song writing mental state."


How did Washington react to the COVID-19 outbreak? What restrictions and measures were put in place? What is the situation like now?

     "Washington state began shutting down in March 2020 once west coast states started seeing cases. Our favourite bars and venues have been shut down since, some shut down for good because of limits on gatherings. Some establishments have been able to keep afloat with reduced capacity, mostly restaurants. Washington just went into Phase 3 of reopening, parks are opening again and people are getting out more. It's refreshing to see people outside again after being pent up inside their homes for a year!"


For metalheads visiting Seattle under normal circumstances, what sights / attractions could you recommend? What about bars, venues and pubs?

     "A must for any metal inclined visitor would have to be down town at The Showbox Theater. The place has a great record of national/international touring metal bands stopping through. Some other great venues would be El Corazon and Chop Suey. Both have a great mix of local and national metal acts. While you're in the neighbourhood after a show you can waltz down Capitol Hill and hit up the many bars lining the streets. Then finish off your night at The 5 Point Cafe no matter how late/early in the day."


All things considered, what plans does Pathways have for the year ahead and do you have any greetings / thanks you wish to send out?

     "Pathways is going to be releasing a ton of content this year in forms of video, photo,and interactive material to keep our audience engaged until live shows become commonplace again. We've got more singles with music videos lined up for release to introduce our full length album. We've adapted to the shift from live in person to at home interactive and are excited to merge both together for an experience for our audience like never before. Huge thanks to our pal Karl at Hot Karl Productions for helping us out with not only the music video, but for getting us back on track. Also huge thank you to Kirill Konyaev at Zerodbproductions for mixing and mastering the new single."


Pathways' new single "Great Old Ones" is out now via all streaming platforms

https://www.facebook.com/Pathwaysband/
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Interview Interrogation: 001100110010 (USA)

29/5/2020

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" 00110000 01111000 01100101 00111010 00100000 01101000 01101001 00100000 00110000 01111000 01100101 00111010 "


It goes without saying that metal music from time to time produces some strange bands, some weird bands and then some bands who are so different they stand in their own league, welcoming to that league is the American Djentcore band 001100110010. Yes you read that right, their name is in binary and if you specialise in this section of mathematics, you'll know it means 818 - still trying to ascertain what this means. Arguably if you crossed George Orwell with War of the Worlds and blended the two with V For Vendetta, in a music context this would equal 001100110010. Not much is known about this four-piece anomaly, let alone their anonymity behind the eloquent masks the 'phantoms' wear, one thing we do know is, they will certainly be destined for big things. Watch this space... 001100110010.exe

The band discuss their time on earth, how they're adjusting to human life and showing curiosity in the humans wearing half-masks, something to do with COVID-19... although they themselves don't know what this is. This is one mystery for the ages.

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For those who have not heard of 001100110010 could you give us a brief history of the band, what the band name means (it's 818 in binary) and why the masks?

     "We have not been here long, so our history here on earth is short. Since our arrival, most of us have spent time learning to communicate and interact with human forms. We are fascinated by all these auditory waves, and they do assist us in relaying and translating messages. Some of us are better at our communication skills due to our design. The communication channel we have among our form does inject interference and doesn’t always allow for effective translation when it comes to talking to humans.

     As a result, we tend to isolate and study ways to adapt. The binary numbers here on earth are fascinating and do have ties to our origin. Converting to decimal is one way to interpret these, but not the only way. The answer is an innate quality we received and, therefore, kept private. However, you are welcome to speculate. We also must mention that it is interesting to see humans wearing partial “masks” now. Do humans use these as shielding between their internal binary design and another world? We don’t quite understand…"


What is the message that the band is bringing to the fore; getting V For Vendetta / 1984 vibes from the lyrics, what are your lyric topics?

     "We are interdimensional travellers who've come to share the stories from our world. You'll see the struggle and hardships endured, battles won, and lost over time because meaningful change is painful and can be difficult, and many fear it. We feel there is much to be gleaned from our reality, and we share these stories the best way we know how, through music."


You released your music video "Digital Dictator" back in January this year, what was the reception like and how long did it take to make?

     "Yes, we did. In a way, the process felt strange. We aren’t used to being encoded in such a way. The reception... Hmmm, it was quite long actually, and I suppose in a way it was a marriage. I don’t think any of us were aware that this was ceremonial to humans."


You play a finely balanced mix of Djent and Metalcore (Djentcore), who are your influences and do you feel that you've created a new genre?

     "Well, thank you! We honestly have no idea where that name came from. When it was encoded and transmitted in binary, the result that came back from the query specified that. We think that these labels and descriptions are odd, but humans seem to understand the meaning better than we do. Influences are a strange word for a phantom to understand. It was encoded into our identity."

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Minneapolis, USA / Source: Study In The USA

Given the masks are a cool idea, will this be a form of merch for fans to buy in the future? What merch plans do you have for the future?

     "Again, the word “mask” seems like a strange description for us as phantoms, they are a part of our identity and need it to survive outside of our world. Very odd that humans would want to buy such a thing, but perhaps we may. We do need money to travel the earth with this diesel hungry bus we have. The transport systems here are terrible, and the use of earth’s natural resources to do so shouldn’t be utilized forever. Thank goodness you have Elon Musk here."


Given the COVID-19 pandemic, what plans did you have postponed or cancelled? What plans do you have for late 2020 / early 2021?

     "What’s COVID-19? Forgive us; we are not sure what this is. We will try to establish a connection to interpret. Our database has had interference lately, and a diagnosis is still underway."


For metalheads visiting Minneapolis, what sights / attractions could you recommend and what bars / venues?

     "Metalheads. We did see these people in our databases and in person but are quite confused. They didn’t have any metallic minerals on their head at all. We did a scan for these, and from what we computed, it has the characteristics of a coconut. Overall, Minneapolis, MN, Earth is intriguing to us, but we haven’t had much time to go out; therefore, we cannot provide a recommendation."


Do you have any hellos or thanks you wish to send out to friends, family, fans, etc?

     " 00110000 01111000 01100101 00111010 00100000 01101000 01101001 00100000 00110000 01111000 01100101 00111010 "

https://www.facebook.com/001100110010.abn/
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Interview Interrogation: Dakota Myers from Until The Dead Walk (USA)

26/5/2020

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"Any kind of content we can do we are doing. I'd argue that the pandemic probably helped our work ethic.""


Arguably Metalcore and Deathcore are genres that are overtly saturated and so it's either the case of either being very good or trying something new, something that Until The Dead Walk have achieved on both fronts. A new sound, a new line-up and a new set of work ethic, the Kentucky natives are raring to go. Not only have they done that, they have also gone and secured the services of guest vocalists Alex Koehler (ex-Chelsea Grin) and Tom Barber (Chelsea Grin & ex-Lorna Shore). Life cannot be sweeter.

One half of the vocals section, Dakota Myers, took it upon himself to be interrogated on behalf of the American quintet. He didn't even break a sweat during the interrogation unlike the chickens that were to become 'Kentucky fried' (sorry!! Could not resist). He spoke to us about the COVID-19 situation in the state along with the mask merch they made, their favourite places to play and why they're itching to get back on a stage ASAP.

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For those who have not heard of Until The Dead Walk, could you give us a brief history of the band? What inspired your band name choice?

     "Ren Young the other vocalist started the band in early 2014. One of the original members includes Sean Cook; now guitarist for Hollow Valley. They're sick you should check them out. I joined the band around late 2014 / early 2015. Ren and I were in a previous project together but had a falling out right before UTDW was officially named. Many line-up changes led to guitarist Austin Mellick and bassist Tracy Cook being band members, and a recent change of drummer which was a surprise. I don't suspect any line-up changes after this. We have our solid core. Our family. 

     Ren picked the name. Since I am the left to his right, I always hated it. Thought it was mad corny. But after a while I finally get it. After putting so much work into this. So much time, dedication, hardships, sacrifice, betrayal. We're not stopping. It took us a long time to find out who was really with us and who wasn't. But this core we have right now will make music until the figurative dead walk. Or maybe literally. This 'rona stuff is getting outta hand."


How would you describe your sound without genre tagging, given you play a mix of Metalcore, Deathcore and 'whatevercore' (love it!)?  

     "Our sound is just whatever we feel at the time, y'know. If we feel like making a metalcore song we make a metalcore song. If we feel like making a beatdown song on the same album. It's going on there ha ha. We try not to put ourselves in a box. Playing music makes us happy. I couldn't imagine playing music I don't like to play. It would drain me. "


At what point did you want to become musicians and were you in bands prior to Until The Dead Walk?

     "I personally didn't grow up wanting to be a musician. I've always done vocals, and I've played guitar for about 6-7 years now. But I actually grew up wanting to do art. I still do art. I do a lot of our merch designs and designs for other people. But once I found out what it feels like on stage. It turned from a hobby into an addiction. Something I wake up and crave. I don't think I would want any other job in the world. 

     I was in a few other garage bands before UTDW but nothing serious. Tracy our bassist is the former bassist of Of Clarity."


You created your own face mask due to COVID-19, do you think this will become a regular merch item (thinking of those in DIY, carpentry, etc)?

     "Uhm. I would be wishful thinking here but sure. I think a lot of our fans are really die hard dedicated. They post stories daily with our merch in them. Out and about. At work. Recently while quarantining at home. So I genuinely do think people are going to wear our masks outside of the pandemic. I think people are going to wear masks for a long time in general after this blows over."

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Louisville, Kentucky, USA / Source: Forbes

What is the COVID-19 lockdown situation like in Kentucky? How did people react to it? How has the band coped?

     "I might get in some trouble saying this but from my perspective a lot of Kentucky just doesn't care. If you've ever seen the meme of the guy racking a shotgun outside of his trailer going "I ain't scared no Nader" that's Kentucky with Corona right now. I don't think we were ever really under strict 'quarantine' I see people jogging, walking their dogs, life as usual. Yes there are more facemasks, and yes there less people out. But it looks pretty busy for a city that's in the middle of a pandemic. Yet somehow we are flattening the curve more than other states surrounding us. It's really odd. 

     We, on the other hand are really pushing hard to not let this affect our work ethic. Wer'e getting new merch out, we're working on new music, we're doing skits, and working on a podcast. Any kind of content we can do we are doing. I'd argue that the pandemic probably helped our work ethic."


What plans have you got for late 2020 / early 2021? Were any plans postponed or cancelled?

     "We are looking to go touring as soon as possible. I know that sounds scary and there definitely is an Inherent fear going into that. But that's just another sacrifice for us to live how we want to live. We have all sacrificed a lot for this. Relationships, time with our children, our friends, our families. It's just another sacrifice for us. 

     We actually had a couple of tours and shows cancelled. Skatopia's Bowl Bash was one. It would've been our second year out and I absolutely love everything about that place. If there ever were a place that screams the do whatever you want unless you're hurting someone else attitude that UTDW strives for its Skatopia."


For metalheads visiting Louisville, what sights / attractions and bars / venues could you recommend?

     "There's a saying my mum used to say all the time. "Come to Louisville we got potholes and horses" ha ha. But no seriously, we don't have that many venues that I enjoy any more. My favourite venue and second home Trixies was very sadly sold a few months ago. After that we have Diamonds Billiard Hall which has now become my favourite venue in Louisville. We have Nirvana bar and Spinellis for smaller more personal shows. For attractions? Uh. We got. Horses? We got a bridge that lights up. We have a Kaiju themed bar that's really cool. If you're a fan of drama you can go to Taproom. Really any bar in the highlands. If you like art, the Speed Art Museum has beautiful works
that rotate pretty frequently."


Do you have any thanks or greetings you wish to send to friends, family or fans?

     "To all of our friends and family I'd like to say thank you and I'm forever grateful for all the support that we get from you. To be able to do what we do is a dream of many. The fact that you all help us do it I can't even begin to explain how"

https://www.facebook.com/UntilTheDeadWalk/
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Interview Interrogation: Into The Void (USA)

7/5/2020

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"Like Michiganders do, by getting piss drunk. We are making it through this pandemic by pure spite (laughs)."


Into The Void are not your generic American Metal band nor are they willing to accept the term generic; we don't blame them. The Alternative Metal leviathan that resides within Edmore, Michigan, gave birth to it's debut album "The Way We Are" back in January and immediately garnered attention worldwide. Now with a lot of plans shelved or postponed, GMA found the time to interrogate the Michiganders (we learned a new word today) about how Into The Void came to be, the album itself, the Michigan scene and where metalheads can go in terms of venues.

Vocalist / rhythm guitarist Dan Hernandez, drummer Jordan Campbell and bassist Cameron Allen survived the interrogation. Lead guitarist Brad White did not.

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Can you explain to us how Into The Void came about and what the band name means?

Dan -

     "Into The Void came to be basically from me getting tired of my own bulls**t. I spent a lot of years trying to write what I thought people wanted to hear and dancing around my words so I wouldn't make anybody upset. It never went anywhere and no one was listening so I kinda said f**k it, I want to write something that I want to hear and that is meaningful to me instead of trying to make songs for other people. I'll put it out there for me and if people like it, awesome. Everybody else joined later on. I didn't want it to be a solo project but that's definitely what it was for a hot minute (laughs). As for the name, it's essentially a jab at my own mental health. Most people think it's a Black Sabbath reference but I didn't even realize it was a Black Sabbath song until later on."


What was the reception like for your debut album "The Way We Are"? Was there any interest outside of the US?

Dan -

     "We've actually had great reception so far. There's a few that have said that it's not their particular style but no one has really been able to say they hated it. We've actually grown really fast, even despite COVID-19. We've actually received a good bit of interest from the European and Russian crowds which is exciting, and even a little bit from the South American scene."


Talk us through the album process, how long did it take to make, how did you decide upon lyric themes, etc?


Dan -

     "It took what felt like forever (laughs). This album was, I think, 4 years in the making. There's hundreds of demo songs that didn't make the cut. As far as themes and writing process, it's really just about my life at the time. It was as real and as raw as I could make it. I was struggling with alcoholism, anxiety, depression, and a lot of inner demons and I just kind of poured it all into the songs. After I had all these songs, I had someone who really believed in me say that they were willing to fund an album and get me started.

     I finally found Josh (Wickman - Dreadcore Productions) and he was losing his mind with the demos and we really just clicked. We set up our first recording date and I practised all the parts and went in to record 'Old Habits'. About a month later I went in and did 'Blurry Eyed'. I released those as singles and started hunting for a band. During that time I recorded 'Better Off Dead', 'Ready When You Are', and 'Shallow Grave'. After going through quite a few people who just didn't quite fit; love them all and am glad I got to meet all of them; I finally met Jordan (Campbell - drums) and we hit it off. He learned the songs insanely fast. He and another friend introduced me to Cameron (Allen - bass) and that was that (laughs). We went back into the studio and did the title track and a couple others. We went back one more time and finished recording the rest of the album. It was a long and messy process for sure."


Jordan -

     "I helped write 'Hindsight', mostly. I wrote the drum part, huge influences from Linkin Park and Limp Bizkit, and that marked the beginning of the end of the writing process it seemed. Shortly after that, we had the rest of it fleshed out and ready to record. I did my part, learned the last few of the songs we had to record; following that we hit the studio pretty hard. I think we were there for a week in total (myself only 2 days). I tracked all of my parts (5 songs) in 6 hours. The next day was editing that. Then everything else got thrown in pretty quickly. Mixing was the longest wait for me. It seemed like it was ready to go--but it wasn't. Once it got mastered, it flew out. Rather well received album, too. Not bad for our first FULL release, you know?"


How would you describe your sound without the use of genre tagging? What sets you aside from the plethora of bands?


Dan -

     "Without genre tagging? I guess I'd have to say just dark, emotionally intense, and real. None of those sound like they set us apart but it's different from the common uses of those words in the metal scene (laughs). We've got a much different attitude than most people when it comes to our own music. It's not really following any trends or paying any attention to what others are doing. It's kind of like Nirvana meets Korn meets Slipknot meets Beartooth meets Deftones."


Jordan -

     "A lot of people have mentioned that we have a defining rhythm to our music. It doesn't sound "generic" like we followed someone else's form. I think our combination of style influences helped with that. I drew my inspiration from punk rock, metal, and even jazz and marching percussion. I think what really sets us aside is that you can tell we play with purpose. We aren't just noodling around-so to speak. Our fills aren't just the same BS or extremely typical; they just make sense. It's perfect for people who relate to the lyrics and the emotion we convey. You can really relate to 'not being good enough' or 'I just want to be different'."

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Edmore, Michigan, USA / Source: Horner Photo

Given the current COVID-19 global pandemic, what plans did you have that are either cancelled or postponed?

Dan -

     "We had to cancel or postpone pretty much everything. We had plans to be releasing a music video in late April / early May but haven't been able to film. Had a bunch of shows that have been cancelled or postponed too. It's just been kind of rough. We really want to be out there promoting our stuff through live shows and meeting our fans and we don't really have any new music to release so everything's just been put on hold for us. Cameron, Jordan, and I all had to celebrate our birthday's from home as well."


Jordan -

     "I had a few personal plans I wanted to do like dates, events, and just general 'vacation' days. With co-workers taking a lay off due to concerns with the virus, I was left to be one of the few who can do my job, so I ended up with more work than ever."


How are the folk in Michigan coping with the lockdown? Tell us about the situation there.

Dan -

     "Like Michiganders do, by getting piss drunk. We are making it through this pandemic by pure spite (laughs). No, but there are some people who are less than intelligent and they're out protesting and making us all look bad but most of us have really come together as a people and stayed the f**k home. We are tough people who love each other a whole hell of a lot and want everybody to be safe."


Jordan -

     "I'm seeing a lot of people who are treating the lockdown as a loss of freedom we enjoyed as Americans. There was a rally in the capital, hundreds of people, maybe even a thousand or more all showed up. Traffic was backed up for a few miles, flags, signs... It has caused a shift in executive orders for sure. It's been incredible to see all the different kinds of people we have in the state of Michigan. We are a people who really enjoy being able to go and do what we want."

Cameron -

     "What lockdown? This is god-damn Michigan. We ain't no bitches (laughs)."


For metalheads visiting your village of Edmore, or indeed your nearest city (Grand Rapids?) what sights / attractions could you recommend? Any bars, venues?

Dan -

     "There's really nothing to see out my way (laughs). A lot of the people around here call it Deadmore for a good reason. The nearest attraction is definitely the Soaring Eagle Casino though. Normally they have concerts going on all summer and have a smaller venue inside for the winter. Haven't really spent much time in Grand Rapids though. It's the closest big city to us. I know The Intersection is a pretty sick place and they have big shows at the Van Andel Arena. I've heard good things about Mulligan's Pub as well but I've never been there personally."


Do you have any greetings and thanks you wish to send out to friends, fans, family, etc?

Dan -

     "I just wanna say thank you to everyone who has supported us and enjoyed our music or at least given it a listen. We love you guys. Stay safe out there."

https://www.facebook.com/IntoTheVoidBandUS/
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Interview Interrogation: Gold, Frankincense & Myrrh [GFM] (USA)

6/3/2020

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"The 'Beautycore movement' - [is] kind of bringing more women into that metal genre."


Say the word 'Beautycore' and you probably would conjure up a centre or focal point of Ru Paul's Drag Race, place it into a metal context and you come up with arguably one of the most exciting metal bands to emerge from the United States since Lamb of God broke out. Their name? GFM, or as you might like to call them Gold, Frankincense & Myrrh.

They are not your average American teenage girls and certainly are not leftovers from the Camp Rock saga; we'll go with School of Rock as these girls 'pledge allegiance, to the band'. Having already played in Germany, GFM are gearing up in 2020 for a new EP and other ventures (COVID-19 permitting), but don't let their sweet, cute looks fool you... these girls bite, their music bites, they're ready to slaughter the world as they put pedal to the metal and let Beautycore smash the floor.

CJ, Maggie and Lulu were happy to speak to GMA about their humble origins, the challenges of being a teenage metal band and above all, why they are arguably a beacon of light for females to engage with metal music.

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Could you explain what your genre 'Teenage Beautycore Metal' means?

     "Beautycore Metal is something that we created on our own, we are all teenage girls and so growing up playing in the metal community, a lot of guys in metal bands didn't think that we were actually metal until they came down and checked us at a show and were like 'oh they can actually play'. We took into account all of the genres that we play in and some people got made with me calling us Metalcore, we didn't know what kind of metal genre to class ourselves as, so we started making jokes that we were 'Beautycore'; kind of poking fun at the feminine side of it, this resulted in some bands we played with saying it was cool and that we should really play it up.

     So we started doing that, people really connected with it over social media and this lead to people saying they support the 'Beautycore movement' - kind of bringing more women into that metal genre."


And what do your parents think of your music? Are they music-orientated as well?

     "They're very supportive, they're the ones who put us there and are basically our cheerleaders. They're very into the business kind of the world, so they're helpful in incorporating our business and we are super grateful for everything they do.

     Our parents actually don't play music, which is why we thank god for our talent because they just grew up listening to music and the reason why we started was because our dad wanted us to cover some songs from his favourite bands... so we started to do covers; 80's 'dad rock', Skillet, etc., we did it just to be a kind of family band and then we started writing our own stuff; our parents are very fond of us and how far we've come."


What is the meaning behind your band name GFM - in full 'Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh'?

      "It was actually our mum's idea, which was a little weird because we were trying to throw out names about what we could call our band. What we had come up with, although I cannot exactly remember what it was, was something like 'Firepower', but our mum was like 'hey why don't we call you Gold, Frankincense & Myrrh' - these were the three original gifts that Jesus was given at birth and she resonated in that we were three gifts given to her from God.

     So we accepted it and made it our own, but we tend to go with the acronym GFM as it's easier having on our cheerleader uniforms, it's a really cool thing to have."


Maggie, at what point during your childhood did you figure that you wanted to become a bassist, keyboardist and vocalist?

     "So at the age of 5 our parents said that we needed to take music lessons and then if we hit it after 2 years we could play, so they organised piano lessons and I stuck with it and so I was about 8, by that time CJ was playing guitar and Lulu was playing drums, so we kind of had enough people to start a band - we didn't really know what you could do with a keyboard player, a guitar player and a drummer. So our dad was like 'oh hey Maggie, you play piano so why not try play the bass as well?', so I started playing when I was around 8 / 9."


Being at such a young age, do you feel overwhelmed in any way? Given you've worked alongside the likes of Joey Sturgess?

     "Yeah it's a really surreal thing because we grew up with the bands that he worked with - such as Of Mice & Men, Asking Alexandria, etc., we love that music and for him to work with us is such a surreal thing. When it came to having dinner with him it was like chilling with a friend, it was really cool to go from growing up listening to music that he produced to being there and listening to him in person."


When you played in Germany for the first time, you must have had a mixture of emotions? Not just for the gig, but being away from home?

     "Our first time overseas was very nerve-wrecking and we didn't know what the reaction from the German audience would be like; because we're such a young band. But people were so sweet, they were sweet again the last time we visited... Jasmine, Julian, Simon, etc., they were always there to pick us up and took us everywhere because we didn't have a car. It was such a big fun time, we loved the feedback we received over there."


Outside of the band what hobbies / interests do you have?

     "We all pretty much have the same interests, it's pretty much like we're different versions of the same person haha, when someone wants to do something everyone is pretty much down to do it. We're very adventurous and like to try new things, so now we're into video games, anime, different movies, we like to read, draw, a lot of your typical teenager kind-of-stuff. We like to go out and find new things to do, go to the arcades or find a couple of different spots.

     We also like baking and cooking; we have a sweet tooth, it's cool that it's all the same because it's the three of us.

     Maybe we should bake our own GFM cookies."


Seeing that more and more females are getting into metal music, this must be pleasing for you?

     "Yeah it's such a cool thing because after our shows, we have little girls coming up to us and saying things like 'I didn't know I could listen to this type of music, I really like this' and so they come to realise that they can listen to things like this. It's great to see that we're bridging the gap in a lot of areas; we have families approach us and say that their children are getting into our music."

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Jacksonville, Florida, USA / Source: MAA

For metalheads visiting Jacksonville, Florida, what sights / attractions could you recommend?

     "There's definitely a lot of great venues, so many to choose from. There's a few settlements nearby which have old original buildings still there."


Given you're reaching various places across the United States, have you had people get in touch outside of the USA?

     "We definitely have a lot of fans all over the world which is crazy, we get messages all the time, things like 'Oh I'm listening from Australia', 'I'm listening from South America', 'Europe', Moldova to Sweden'. In Sweden have someone run a Facebook fan page, he actually came into America to come to a show that we were at last year. 

   We played in Germany for the first time a couple of years ago and that was crazy, because we didn't expect anyone to KNOW US and we got there, saw people with our shirts on and knew the songs - we are really worldwide and didn't even know it"


What was the outcome of your January tour?

     "That was a really crazy tour because it was the first time that we've ever done a big tour, last year we only flew out to California and so this year we wanted to make our way there. We were kind of nervous about this tour as we've never done a tour like this before, but as soon as we started playing we got more comfortable on stage and so forth. We meet a lot of people we knew already, so we were able to draw out people who may not like heavy music but now they do."


What is your stage attire like and you have any props to use?

     "So we actually perform in cheerleader outfits and it's something that our mum came up with, because when we started the band we were all at high school; I'm (CJ) still at high school, but we wanted to bring a fun aspect to metal and not be so serious, you know to have fun? You can enjoy life and enjoy yourself, we're kind of the cheer leaders for Team GSM which is our fan base, but aside from the outfits we have some statement pieces on stage - my drum kit is sponsored and has pink and black all over it."


All musicians have their own personalities, so CJ summarize Maggie, Maggie summarize CJ and both can you summarize Lulu?

     "I [CJ] would say Maggie is very... kind of the head of the band, very hands-on with her time and she'll like grab you when you're going on stage, very leader-born."

     "CJ is very energetic and a happy-go-lucky kind of person, so on stage you'll see the bond she has and in the music videos how strong she is, even in the behind-the-scenes stuff on tour... but in everyday life she's a very bubbly person, she will always try to make people laugh but not in a serious kind of conversation."

     "Lulu is another energetic person, she's a hard-worker and makes sure she applies herself in every area."


Have there been any low points with the band among the high points?

     "Life is like a roller-coaster and so we try to celebrate and highlight the high points, no matter how small the high points are. Meaning if there are low points, we can look back and see that we are still celebrating from all the high points that are happening, you need to focus on the high points instead of the low points."


What plans do you have for the rest of the year?

     "Just to take over, because honestly, GFM, we want to really make this year our year and we're going to take GFM far, not rule anything out because at the end of the year, we want to be like 'yup we are so proud of everything that we done this year'. So our plan is to do everything we can, as best as we can and as much as we can do it, without obviously draining ourselves because we want to take time out for ourselves to make sure we don't burn out."
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Interview Interrogation: Ben Wells from Black Stone Cherry

4/10/2019

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For Black Stone Cherry things cannot be any sweeter, for a band who has stuck together like a band of brothers for the past 18 years and yet not had one single line-up change, it's evident they are closer than you think. The great thing is they've stuck to their roots, hailing from Kentucky famed for it's chicken (obviously), this Alt / Southern Metal / Hard Rock band have been churning out albums left, right and centre. A total of six albums have been released and their latest effort 'Family Tree' is an absolute blast, has to be said. Now the Edmonton-natives make their second pilgrimage to the world of blues as they gear up to unleash their second blues-tribute EP 'Black To Blues Volume 2', rhythm / lead guitarist and backing vocalist Ben Wells was more than happy to talk about their year, including an unforgettable headliner at Ramblin' Man Festival in Maidstone, Kent, in addition to their love for the Appalachians and of course their affinition for blues music.

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"We love Appalachian music... it's a big part of Kentucky’s culture and heritage."


Guys you played at the Ramblin' Man Fair festival in Kent this year, what was the reception like and what did you like most about the festival?

     "We love Ramblin' Man Festival! It’s one of our favourite festivals! The atmosphere is electric, but still very relaxed. The mix up of bands from old to new and different genres is also really cool. We love that!"


Whenever you perform, what are your emotions like when the crowd reacts in the way they do to your songs and performance? (Question sent in from Black Stone Cherry fan Emily Williams)

    "It’s overwhelming, really. When you write songs you never “expect” a ton of people to sing along or wave their hands in the air, or cry, etc. so when those emotions start happening... it’s the most rewarding thing for us."


Now you're set on bringing out your second tribute EP, ‘Black To Blues Volume 2,’ it's evident blues plays a huge part in your sound, but on a wider scope how important is blues to heavy rock / metal music?

     "I would love to hear some Bluesy Heavy Metal! Haha. Honestly though, without the blues we wouldn’t have Rock 'n' Roll. And without Rock 'n' Roll we probably wouldn’t have Heavy Metal or Hard Rock. So I still think it’s very important."


Outside of the band, what hobbies or interests do you have? How did you get into playing music?

     "I like playing golf when I get the chance! I love to run and have recently picked up swimming as well! But music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I’ve always been drawn towards [playing the] guitar and entertaining people."

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How tricky or easy was it to pick what songs you wanted to cover for your second tribute EP?

     "It can be difficult at times because we are fans of so many different blues artists. We knew we wanted to do “Big Legged Woman” and “Death Letter Blues”. The others we kinda decided on the spot whilst in the studio. It’s never easy!"


Do you feel connected to the Appalachian section of Kentucky and does the cultural heritage play a part in your music? For those visiting Edmonton, what sights / attractions could you recommend in visiting?

     "We love Appalachian music! It’s so great and yes, it's a big part of Kentucky’s culture and heritage. As far as Edmonton goes, there’s some cool little shops and stores and a great little place called Genes Freeze!"


What plans do you have for the rest of the year and leading into 2020?

     "Touring the rest of 2019! For 2020 we plan to record and have a new album out, then back on the road!"


Do you have any greetings, or thank you's that you wish to send out to friends, fans, etc?

     "We always want to thank anyone who has supported us, listened to our music, been to a show, bought a shirt, etc. "We literally can’t make this happen without them! So, thank you!!"

www.blackstonecherry.com
www.mascotlabelgroup.com
https://twitter.com/BlkStoneCherry 
https://www.facebook.com/blackstonecherry
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Interview Interrogation: Cellist / Erhuist Tina Guo (China/USA)

23/8/2019

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The world of crossover music has always been there and for those eager enough to explore it, there are some rather spectacular and imaginative musicians out there. One such musician is Chinese-American cellist and erhuist Tina Guo, who has been a part of a countless number of musical scores most notably as a solo cellist, these include (but not limited to): 'Iron Man 2', 'Olympus Has Fallen', 'Vikings' (TV series), 'X-Men: First Class', 'Family Guy' and more. Moreover she has collaborated with world-famous musicians and composers such as John Legend, Hans Zimmer and Rupert Gregson-Williams respectively.

To top that she has appeared in the 'Mazda 6' and 'United Airlines' adverts respectively... in fact alongside this she has helped score for numerous video games including 'Diablo III' and 'Call of Duty: Black Ops' as well as releasing as of 2017, 8 albums of her own material with guests along the way; some of the albums are covers of game tunes e.g. her latest album 'Game On!' which has a metal feel to it and as Tina goes on to explain in the interview she had with GMA, there is something special about the relationship between metal and classical music.

Furthermore she has recently appeared on 'The Lion King' soundtrack to which she expressed absolute delight at.

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Credit: Tomorrow Mingtian

"There is something about both Classical Music and Metal Music that has a lot of deep emotion and power."


At what point during your life did you want to become a musician? Did you have a strong music-orientated upbringing? Are other family members musicians?

     "To be honest, I was forced into the family trade as a musician! Both of my parents are classical musicians and music teachers and I started on the piano at the of age 3, violin at 6, and cello at 7.  Playing music and performing was a mandatory activity but it wasn't until I was 18 and moved to Los Angeles for University (studying Classical Cello Performance) at the University of South Carolina (USC) when I started really pursuing ways to make my own music, and just work as a cellist in order to pay the bills. I did a lot of work as a session musician and hired gun, and it helped me learn and familiarize myself with all genres of music, but my main love and obsession has always been  Industrial Metal. I'm lucky that my "day job" of being a session musician has a lot of crossover with my own music!"


What was it like for you as a child moving from China to the USA? What were (if any) the challenges you had to face?      

     "I had to take my first grade twice because I had trouble learning English – haha! - but after that I was able to integrate pretty quickly. I always was a very shy person and hid in the library during most lunch periods throughout school because I felt too awkward to be outside and didn't feel like I belonged to any particular group of friends. However, I don't think that has to do with coming from China - that's just childhood in general! I was always drawn to people, art, and music that was gothic and dark however, and my world was completely changed when a goth kid in my middle school lent me his copy of "Antichrist Superstar" (Marilyn Manson) and I heard industrial music for the first time!"


Arguably your career has been rocketing skywards ever since you started making music, surely doing your own rendition of 'The Circle Of Life' is a dream come true?     

     "Being able to record cello solos on the soundtrack for the new 'Lion King' was amazing! I love Hans so much and am so appreciative and grateful for his friendship and mentorship. Since he saw my "Queen Bee" music video on YouTube 9 years ago, I have worked on many of his soundtracks and also tour with him in his live band. When he asked me to be a part of 'The Lion King', of course I was elated! Recording my own version of "The Circle Of Life" I felt was an appropriate way to celebrate the occasion!"


Out of all the characters from 'The Lion King', who is your favourite and why? What are your thoughts on Disney bringing their animated films to life these days?

     "Pumbaa! He is hilarious and adorable. I really liked the live action 'Beauty And The Beast' - I think that it's a great way to integrate new technology with graphics and retell classic Disney stories in a new way."

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Credit: Sony Music Entertainment / Justin Goff

You've done numerous albums, some involving metal music and so, could you tell us how you became interested in metal music? Do you feel classical music and metal music have strong correlations with each other?

     "Yes! Industrial Metal is my main love and after hearing Marilyn Manson when I was 13 secretly, since I was not allowed to listen to anything but classical music in my household, the next big revelation came when I turned 18 and moved to Los Angeles to attend the University at the University of Southern California where I studied Classical Cello Performance. I felt my world open up when I was able to go online, watch YouTube videos, and discover so many amazing bands and artists - including my favourite band, Rammstein. I feel all music is just music, there is good and bad music in any genre - but to me personally, there is something about both Classical Music and Metal Music that has a lot of deep emotion and power.
 

From your experience, do you feel that classical music of any kind should receive more respect and recognition than it does currently?
       
     "To be honest, I don't really play traditional classical music any more, but I think that there are so many amazing musicians online who are using technology and social media to connect with a new and young audience. I feel like if you want more people to recognize something, it also has to be made accessible and energetically open, not closed off because for members of the general public who have never had experience with Classical Music, it may seem intimidating. I think that Soundtracks are an amazing way for people to hear orchestral music, and it has really reinvigorated  people in being curious about instrumental music based on the tradition of European Art Music."


For those looking to get into playing the cello or erhu, what tips and tricks could you offer? What make and model of cello are you currently using?

     "Lots of practise! I practised 8 hours a day from when I started the cello at age 7 - in the past 10 years as I've gotten busier, I haven't been able to do as many hours but that foundation of technical ability is very important to establish when starting an instrument if it's something you'd like to pursue professionally. I would recommend find a good private teacher, and taking regular lessons - but most important is the follow through and practice.
 

     My Acoustic Cello is an 1880 Gand & Bernardel that I purchased 7 years ago, I love him very much and his name is Cello Guo! I have a few bows but my favourite is by Lothar Seifert, with a Wholly Mammoth Ivory tip. 
 

Do you have any greetings or thanks that you wish to send out to friends, family, fans, etc?

     "I love and appreciate everyone who has supported my music and art, because without people to watch and listen, what is the point of music? Music and art is to communicate our own emotions and interpretations of the human experience, and I love being able to share that energetically with others.
 
Thank you!"

http://tinaguo.com/
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Interview Interrogation: Andrew Lidgard from Oceans Over Earth (USA)

23/12/2018

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Deathcore, the very word and music genre causes seismic splits that are wider than the Grand Canyon, yet miraculously it still resides within the realms of the metal world to the dismay of the elitists. Whether you loathe or love the genre, it's one that has spawned off a endless stream of bands who've achieved great heights; yet some are so generic in their style it makes you cry. One band who aims to defy the generic formula of chugging, breakdowns and basically being musically boring, is Oceans Over Earth. Vocalist Andrew Lidgard spoke to GMA about the band's history, their direction and the whole debate surrounding Deathcore's legitimacy as a metal genre.

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"I think the reason why it (Deathcore) gets such a bad reputation is because most of the bands don't have any sustenance... chug and chew on the microphone and claim its skilled work; (they) have a copy and paste formula for their writing."


For those who have not heard of Oceans Over Earth could you give us a brief history of the band?

     "Oceans Over Earth (OOE) formed back in December 2010 in Grand Rapids, MI. It was just myself (Andrew Lidgard) and our old vocalist (Jordan Lawrence). Later we recruited a second guitarist Mike Bergsma who is still in the band to this day (now playing bass). Mike has been a friend of mine since childhood. We then found our drummer Corey Crawford through Craigslist believe it or not! We started playing shows heavily for a couple of years and released our first single in June 2011. To keep it short, we hit major rough patches with our old vocalist due to drugs and that made us lose any momentum we had for almost 2 years.

     After finding a replacement vocalist we recorded our first EP 'Transgressions' in December 2014. In March 2015 we released 'Seer' to ramp up a new EP we were going to record with Joshua Wickman of Dreadcore Productions. Our newest vocalist at the time, David, decided to jump ship the week before recording the bands second EP. This halted all momentum once again for another 2 years whilst we searched for a vocalist. So, in those two years I put down my guitar and started heavily practising vocals. The practice paid off and now I am the current vocalist of the band and no longer the guitarist! Jordan French is now our main guitarist, Mike Bergsma is our bassist and Corey Crawford is our drummer! This line-up seems to be what we have needed all along! We released an EP 'Absolute Zero' in April 2018, a new single 'Worthless Existence' in September and a brand new single 'Crimson Era' a few days ago! Our goal is to release new music every 2-3 months to keep things fresh for our fans!!"


How did you yourselves get into playing music and what do your families think of your music?

     " I was drawn to the guitar when I was about 14 or so and my friend Paulie taught me how to play 'Welcome Home' by Coheed and Cambria and it was from then on that I started learning as much as I could from other bands. It branched mainly in metal music from August Burns Red to Slipknot, All That Remains, Parkway Drive etc. My Dad was always for it! He was in a band himself when he was younger and I credit most of my starting passion to him. As far as metal goes, my Dad never understood why all the screaming and not singing, but after all this time I think its grown on him haha.

     Corey (drums) was a musician for years before I met him. He was a drummer in his high-school band and has always been proficient at drumming. Corey took major influence from Joey Jordison and Matt Greiner, two amazing drummers. Practices are held at Corey's mothers house, so as you can imagine she obviously supports his musical endeavours or she wouldn't let us do that or attend shows!!

     Mike (bass) and I would jam to our favourite bands music for hours together. We could play Killswitch Engage albums front to back and just have a blast the whole time. If I remember correctly, I taught Mike how to play guitar and then in his spare time he pushed himself to get better and better. Mike ended up dropping down to bass when we picked up Jordan for our main guitar spot. Mike's parents are very supportive as well.

     Jordan (guitar) was in a band with Corey, our drummer, back before OOE formed. I don't personally know how Jordan started playing, all I know is he is damn good. He is much better than myself, that's for sure. As far as I know his parents enjoy and support him as much as they can."


Deathcore is a overly-saturated genre, how do you distance yourself from the cliche riff and breakdown overload some bands do?

     "I'm sure my response is as cliche as the genre can be sometimes, but we aren't trying to fit any mould, we never have. We try to push ourselves personally and are trying to make music that simply we enjoy as individuals. Our goal isn't to make the most brutal music or catchy music. Our goal is to just write music that we like! If other people like it and call themselves fans of our work, that just makes us happy and pushes us to keep going! With releasing new singles every 2-3 months it allows us to do absolutely anything that we want with each release and not have to worry about having our music fit any concepts or tones/attitudes. We can just write whatever we are feeling that month and its definitely a freeing experience so far."


Would you argue for against that Deathcore is a metal genre? Why do you think it at times takes some bad rap from people?

     "I personally believe that anything with drums, bass, harsh vocals and electric distorted guitar is metal. Saying Deathcore isn't metal is pretty elitist. You can not like Deathcore obviously, but it is metal. I think the reason why it gets such a bad reputation is because most of the bands that fit this category don't have any sustenance to their writing. They just chug and chew on the microphone and claim its skilled work. Out of 100 bands, there are probably only 3-5 worth listening to. The other 95+ bands have a copy and paste formula for their writing. Hopefully that'll change in the future and bands will stop trying to be "Deathcore" and will just follow their own spirit and write something captivating."

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Blue Bridge, Grand Rapids (MI) / Source: Hopcat

For metalheads visiting Grand Rapids, what sights or attractions could you recommend?

     "Grand Rapids, MI as well as the whole state has some of the best venues! The Intersection is an easy pick, they have three stages! All separate from each other so there isn't any audio bleed. The main stage, The Stache and Elevation. They bring metal shows in all the time. The Pyramid Scheme is a pinball pub that also has a great stage and sound system. Some of the coolest / personal shows I've been to have been there. Recently 20 Monroe Live just opened up. I haven't been there myself, but I've heard wonderful things. There are bars everywhere in GR and they almost all have some sort of stage area for shows that typically support metal. Most shows at the bars are free."


How far has your music been listened to? You released 'Absolute Zero' in April, what was the response like?

     "With the internet our music has been heard all over the globe! 'Absolute Zero' has had great response and great reviews by the people who have listened to it, but we have had a hard time getting the word out there that we are still together. As stated above, we hit so many rough patches and years of 'hiatus' that I think people have drifted away and its hard to bring them back. But, with the release of 'Absolute Zero' and our two newest singles 'Worthless Existence' and 'Crimson Era' people are starting to turn their heads again! 2018 has been a year of feeling like we are starting over. Its refreshing but also a little discouraging."


How has 2018 treated you guys and what plans do you have for 2019?

     "2018 has been the best year for the band so far! Getting new fans, releasing music on Spotify and other major services has been a first for us and its awesome to watch it grow! It seems so obvious, but when people actually purchase our music it solidifies the fact that we are doing something right. People are willing to spend their hard earned money on something that four guys from MI created to help us continue and grow into something more. It makes it all worth it in the end.
Hopefully in 2019 we continue to grow and start playing some shows! New music, always!"

Finally do you have any hello's, thank you's, etc., that you wish to send out?

     "A huge thank you to Lee from Lee Albrecht Studios who is our current producer for our latest two singles! Joshua Wickman from Dreadcore Productions who produced 'Absolute Zero' with us, thank you!! These two producers have really stepped up to help us out and make our music into something amazing. They are solid people and great to work with. Both very talented producers with a passion for making the best product they can!! Thanks to our fans for purchasing / streaming / sharing our music!"

https://www.facebook.com/OceansOverEarth/
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