…yond the Black in shaping your outlook on music? Haben: This special was a bet between one of the CEO’s of Wacken and me. He said we are not able to do some rock and metal classics in acoustic songs within a short time. Our followers and our community decided which songs we should do. It was a challenge, and we did it. Also, I had the chance to put some special instruments in there, some I never played before. It was a lot of fun to do that, and a…
…al years, and then into a pandemic. Sitting at home, writing my own album, betting on myself, it was the most successful financial year for me in many years. I bought a house in California in the Bay Area and had another baby. Wow, you bet on yourself, you put the work in, it’s a double-edged sword. I have done so many different types of albums too, I haven’t maintained one lane and you can always expect James Durbin to deliver this kind of soundi…
…ler in a Dream” we also had the unique opportunity to shoot in the largest casino in Switzerland. For the wonderfully and elaborately designed video, we were able to work with MWFilms, who did a great job. But we don’t just make videos for promotional purposes. We make videos for us, because it’s fun for us, because it’s fun for the fans and because it’s just part of our life. Of course, today’s social media platforms make it easier to get music a…
…the offer came up for the Arch Enemy and Behemoth tour, it’s a fairly safe bet for a tour at this point. Dead Rhetoric: It’s almost ironic, as most Europeans have such a challenge to get over here. But with COVID, it’s easier to maneuver. Greenway: Yeah! Don’t get me wrong, getting the visa in the first place was a real headache because we couldn’t go the standard route. We have to get a special exemption. The irony is that Napalm Death is an attr…
…ing five albums in six years when many others now take three or four years between efforts? Does this speak to the work ethic and creative abilities of the musicians within SkeleToon? Fooler: Actually, I don’t know how we did this. It was almost like placing a bet. Even the label said, that’s a dream coming true, for ourselves as the label. Because you guys are giving to us a brand new album each year. I had so much material and so many songs done…
…nd the fluid bass prominence that take place in key sections of cuts like “Bet on Death” and “Beacons” – bassist Justin Lopez even employing a bit of that Hetfield-like snarl in lower doses on the latter. The razor-sharp twin rhythms often build into these crushing walls of axe displays with subtle interplay moments that keep the energy level at peak performance – “Celestion” a mid-album favorite in this regard, the lead breaks tradeoff mixes of s…
…cal/international legends like Baron Rojo and Iron Maiden – so it’s a safe bet that you can tell through these ten tracks where the bulk of influences as well as performance and songwriting aspects develop. The twin guitar attack along with multi-octave vocals and a steady supply of slamming rhythm section work (double kick ethics very apparent) give the band a template for high energy power meets mid-tempo anthems that fluctuate from song to song…
…e my clean vocals to be really girly so that they contrast my screams even better. I love having a lot of contrast and making it my own. I need to take influences from the most extremely different things [laughs]. Dead Rhetoric: You spent four years on the album. What can you say of the evolution of the sound of Living Dead Girl? Rennick: Our sound changed so much over the years. We worked with three different producers and the problem was that I…
…tarazzo: With the local power metal bands, there is a lot of great support between each other. Especially between us and Adamantis for example. We’ve played together so many times, and I actually just got their new album in the mail yesterday. Bands like Goldenhall, Thunderforge, Iron Will – they are all pretty cool. Most promoters have been pretty cool towards us, and pretty cool towards the power metal bands. It’s not as prevalent as thrash band…
…es to old school death metal, particularly of the Swedish variety, you can bet upon getting a nice meaty guitar tone to sink your teeth into. Lik comes from the very grounds of that sound’s birth and for their third effort, Misanthropic Breed, they take it for everything they possibly can. That cozy HM-2 buzzsaw gives Lik plenty of backbone to work their sound off of. The band is at their best when they really dig into the faster tempos and just l…
…hings, what sort of things do you do to try to get your mind and body in a better state? Are there peers or friends within the metal community that you reach out to when needing to vent or just help you put in a better frame of mind? Slayes: I try not to complain really. When I am feeling frustrated, mostly I just talk with the boys about it. We’ll jam and that really helps, that’s why music is so important it’s the outlet for that. I always feel…
…blend between traditional song structures and progressive song structures. Between the aggression and the finesse, between brutal in your face thrashing riffs and sweeping orchestral soundscapes. Very poetic language, but I just love Blind Guardian. For the genre they really are the godfathers. I know that you have Helloween and Gamma Ray as well, but for me Blind Guardian does power metal the best. Dead Rhetoric: How was it to have Hansi make a g…
…example). It’s an impressive mixture that they have created, and the flow between elements is strong. Something like this could easily go off the rails, but Dehumanaut really nail it. In the Act of Violence – Blacken the Earth Looking for some deathcore that emphasizes the ‘core elements instead of simply tossing breakdowns and ultra-low gutturals in your face? In the Act of Violence is here to offer their assistance! Blacken the Earth has more o…
…rabbing from the ‘90s US scene (notably Florida). This is their second EP (bet you can’t guess what the first one is called), and offers a comfortable reminder of what makes this particular style enjoyable. With only four tracks, it’s not going to outstay its welcome and allows the band to keep their priorities in check. Thus, the biggest push the band has for is in the brutality department. There’s frequent blasting and the tempo is fast but neve…
…h some Gothenburg influences. Catchy note flourishes and leads stick out (“Bet on Tragedy”) and the death metal aggression gets the point across. The one issue that tends to appear is the uniformity in the tracks. The grooves work, but as the album progresses the tempo seems to homogenize a good chunk of the songs, despite the melodies’ best efforts. The vocals don’t really help with this either with a perpetual rasp, and while this isn’t a new pr…
…nd, past achievements and geographical locale don’t always make for a safe bet. The U.K.’s Godthrymm tick off all of those boxes: Members of notable musical history. Geographical locale tying them to a certain sound. And the expectations created by virtue of previous accomplishments. Formed in 2017 by former My Dying Bride, Solistice and Vallenfyre guitarist Hamish Glencross, Godthrymm explores the vast and illustrious terrain that is the U.K. doo…
…n character now but apart from that – we want to make people laugh. I will bet that you will also laugh when you hear our songs. Dead Rhetoric: I think that’s part of the appeal too – if you look at heavy metal, there is so much seriousness to it. Even bands that have a similar sound and sing in fantasy lyrics, there’s that serious element to it. I think there’s always room for more bands who are trying to be fun and entertaining. Scharsich: That’…
…ticular on the stage in Belgium but… (laughs) I guess Francesco can answer better than me! Mattei: It’s two different worlds. Can’t really compare them unless you mention the great times that accompany both situations. In the studio of course we like to have a good laugh every now and then to kill the pressure in order to work at our best in the best mood you can. Generally we don’t take ourselves very seriously so every time there’s a chance to j…
…southern flavor of “When the Devil Comes,” or the almost grunge-y feel of “Bet My Life,” the band is quick to switch gears in the best possible way. More traditional ballads like “Fear is Not My Guide” and the poignant “Loneliness” feel right at home amid the more gentle fare (allowing vocalist Ryan Clark to really shine), and other tracks like “More Than Bones” and the title track bring a harder gothic rock approach (and more upbeat tempos) witho…
…t they want to hear. Dead Rhetoric: Where do you see the major differences between the two records? And do you believe you and Freddie Vidales are gaining better perspective and understanding with where you want to take the band in terms of the songwriting and performances? Barlow: I think so. We both have certain elements that we contribute. Freddie is very outspoken about who his influences are- it’s everything from Iron Maiden to Death, and eve…
…, ‘you took the sling off, didn’t you?’ (laughs). I’m like, ‘yes I did’. I bet you want some drugs now? They loaded me up, popped me back in like the Scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz. We got home at 2 am, and had to leave at 4 in the morning to drive in New Hampshire for a situation that happened. I am driving ten hours, with an arm that’s been dislocated twice, trying to drive with my good arm, all the way back to New Hampshire. I earned my metal st…
…t path. That’s why I feel Aces is our debut. Francesca: A new beginning, a bet, a complete brand-new work, maturity and self-consciousness. Yes. That is what it means to me. Dead Rhetoric: How would you describe the sound of Misthaven to potential fans? Eleonora: Alternative rock, sometimes hard, sometimes melodic, but always catchy and full of gothic orchestral atmospheres. Dead Rhetoric: Who are a few bands that you feel have inspired Misthaven…
…o we can’t say for sure otherwise we would look like idiots if they didn’t happen. We’ve also talked about releasing more music – we may release some songs on Spotify, like one song at a time, two songs at a time. Trickle some new music in between, so there’s not as big of a gap between albums. We will try to hit places where we’ve never been. Like a little Pez dispenser for thrash. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mwo_8T7t_RY http://www.youtube.com…
…nal. A band that musically personifies a whirlwind of destruction, you can bet on an experience that leaves nothing behind in its wake. It’s what the band has relied on since their first release over twenty years ago, but there’s still no one more skilled or reliable. Not an awful lot of tricks up the sleeve are to be found with Upon Desolate Sands but that isn’t a bad thing. The Hate Eternal formula is nothing if not consistent, and only benefits…
…ferent things that are going on within Depths of Hatred’s EP, but the best bet is to just make mention of the throttling heaviness. There’s bits of technical material, blackened influences, modern death metal and deathcore for sure, but the way that it all comes together is meant solely to ravage the intended audience. Wisely, there’s a few moments where the band slows things down a bit and plots a bit of atmospheric relief (the title track comes…
…teful that I’m still improving my vocals – every year I think I am getting better, at least I think I am. I feel way stronger and more in control. I can switch between different types of voices, and the transitions are easier somehow. Dead Rhetoric: With the retro movement gaining more traction, what’s something you’d like to see make a comeback? Strid: That’s hard to say. There’s never going to be a new Beatles. I think we are on a mission – we a…
…nce. I would just say to buy a fucking guitar and start a band. It’s a lot better. Dead Rhetoric: If only we could just hand out the guitar instead. Harvey: Hey, will if you go to a pawn stop, you can either get a rifle or a guitar. It’s right there. Dead Rhetoric: Being in a band that’s covering Death albums from long ago, what do you think the appeal is in retro acts? Harvey: I feel like metal, at this point, if you count the first Black Sabbath…
…ngs like that. Younger fans today, when they hear that and listen to me, I bet they think that it’s great to hear someone out there that still does this style, that’s awesome. Dead Rhetoric: How do you feel about the different eras of Iron Maiden between Paul Di’anno, Bruce Dickinson, and the Blaze Bayley eras? Ellis: First of all, I think Blaze is an incredible singer. I think he just had the misfortune of replacing Bruce Dickinson, that’s all th…
…d’s melancholic vibe is effectively captured in a way that blurs the lines between a video and ‘lyric video,’ with words written on a body that cuts between the shots of some hooded figures and the band itself. The track still holds up over a year later as well, employing heavy moments amid some more melodic ones – it’s a shame the band hasn’t been able to take off as they rightly should given the material at hand. – Kyle McGinn (Shores of Null on…
…a band named screaming beast is going to play? One can make a pretty good bet that it’s going to be something on the heavier side of things. Once again proving the universal nature of metal in today’s age, the Manchester-based act take some distinctly southern (US) grooves and put them alongside some more modern metal and melodic offerings to give you a sound that’s both European and American. The band’s debut full-length, Our New Narrative of Ha…
