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Tag: Interview

Interview: Keith St. John

ChelseaInterviews

I sat down with Keith St. John for an in-depth discussion on the history of Ronnie Montrose as a figure of guitar excellence and innovation in the rock world, more on Keith’s own background as a musician and as the point person for the Ronnie Montrose Remembered event, growing up on Long Island, some rock and radio history, and even a bit of John 5 and Randy Jackson, as well as music and life overall.  So Keith, we’re kind of cooling down after NAMM right now, and the majority of NAMM for you, I feel like, must consist of Ronnie […]

NAMM Interview: Mats Levén

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You may know Mats Levén from Candlemass, from Trans-Siberian Orchestra, from Yngwie Malmsteen, or any of the multitude of projects he’s been involved in, but you may not have known that he’s also the face behind the solo project known as Skyblood, on Napalm Records. I sat down with him at NAMM for an interview about what’s behind Skyblood, as well as some insight into his songwriting techniques, and NAMM 2020 goings-on.  How are you doing, enjoying your day at NAMM? I’m fine, I’ve only been here for two hours, so I’ve only been to the Marshall booth and Gibson, […]

NAMM Interview: Tobi Morelli

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Archspire have their follow-up to the Technical Death Metal sensation Relentless Mutation, in the works – we’ll see if this one also gets picked up by the YouTube bot – and I sat down with guitarist Tobi Morelli for a quick Q&A at NAMM.  Just want to start out by asking, how are your NAMM activities going? Pretty awesome, also crazy, it’s a lot to take in, I think this is maybe the fourth or fifth time I’ve been here, and it’s always a good time, but there’s just so much going on, it’s hard just to catch our breath, between […]

NAMM Interview: Simon Hawemann

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Nightmarer is getting ready to follow up on their 2018 full-length debut Cacophony of Terror via Season of Mist later this year, and I sat down with guitarist/journalist Simon Hawemann during NAMM to learn more about this up-and-coming death metal band. I want to dig right into Nightmarer so people can get to know more about this band. Harsh chaos and cacophony defines the sound of Nightmarer, musically, what drove you guys to what you like to call “total dissonance worship”? What is that to you? I think it’s just something that over the years I started gravitating towards, trying […]

NAMM Interview: Hugo Doyon-Karout

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Hugo Doyon-Karout has plenty to do as a young bassist, splitting his time between three bands, including Beyond Creation, Brought By Pain, and Equipoise, plus work as a tour manager. I sat down with him at NAMM for a quick Q&A on all his work in the metal world. We’re here at NAMM, so I have to start off by asking what you’re doing today at the show. Just having fun, hanging out with my friends in Equipoise, catching up with friends, I just performed at the Neural DSP booth, that’s been a blast. So yeah, making connections, being here […]

Interview: Steve Harris

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Steve Harris’s extra-Maiden musical project, British Lion, is just about to release a new album, The Burning, on January 17th, right before kicking off a U.S. tour that runs until the end of February. Steve was kind enough to take the time for a phoner, discussing all the latest goings-on with British Lion, the new album, tour gear, and more. I just want to dig right into the British Lion stuff, I’ve been listening to this record, I’m very excited about it, and I heard that The Burning is a couple of years in the making, so what made now […]

Interview: Creeping Death

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Creeping Death is just about to release their latest record and first-ever full-length, Wretched Illusions on eOne this Friday, September 27th. The Texas Death Metallers hit St. Vitus in Brooklyn, NY, during their recent tour, and I had the chance to talk with Reese and Trey (the vocalist and guitarist, respectively) of Creeping Death, about the latest album, their signing to eOne, their musical backgrounds and connection with Power Trip, and just how an internet role-playing game has influenced their music (well, maybe just a track or two…). Check it out below.  Creeping Death, here tonight in Brooklyn at St. […]

Interview: Chris Caffery

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Spirits of Fire recently made their debut as a new project on Frontiers Music Srl with their self-title album, and just before its release, I had the chance to get on the phone with Chris Caffery to discuss the new band, the background and process behind it, Chris’ influences over the years as a guitarist, songwriter, and musician overall, being a part of TSO, plus a secret new project that’s in the works. Check out the interview below:  I want to start things right off with the main topic right now, Spirits of Fire, exciting self-titled album just about to […]

Interview: Alex Skolnick

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Between Testament, Metal Allegiance, an improvisational jazz trio, and other collaborations, Alex Skolnick is one busy guitarist. Shortly after the simultaneous release of the latest Metal Allegiance record, Power Drunk Majesty, and the Alex Skolnick Trio record, Conundrum, I had the chance to do a phoner with Alex, where we discussed all of his various musical projects and how he finds the balance between it all, his involvement with Shredders of Metal, the Slayer tour, and his appreciation for New York. Check out the interview below: The new record Power Drunk Majesty from Metal Allegiance is officially out, you just […]

Interview: Brittney Slayes

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This Fall, Unleash the Archers embarked on the Apex North American tour, with fellow Canadians Striker and Helion Prime out of the U.S. as special guests along the way. When they reached their stop at the Kingsland in Brooklyn, I had the chance to sit down with Unleash The Archers’ frontwoman Brittney Slayes, where we covered a lot of ground, from Apex, influences, and Unleash the Archers’ evolution over time, to playing the upcoming 70,000 Tons of Metal Cruise, and Brittney’s excitement over the band’s recent visit to NASA.  Some of the latest news from the band is the “Ten […]

Interview: Striker

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The unveiling of Striker’s latest full-length Play To Win is almost here, with a release date of October 26th bringing the latest chapter in these Canadian Heavy Metallers’ discography to the world next week. The band has been on tour for the past month or so alongside fellow Heavy Metallers out of Canada, Unleash The Archers, and when the Apex tour brought them along to the Kingsland in Brooklyn, NY, I was there for all the action. I sat down (well, stood in a hallway/stairwell, technically…hey, it’s Brooklyn.) for a quick Q&A session with frontman Dan Cleary and guitarist Tim […]

Interview: Kobra Paige

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2018 has been a big year for Kobra and the Lotus so far, with the highly-anticipated Prevail II completing their double album series and kicking off a North American tour in support of the release. When the band came through the East Coast and made a stop at The Kingsland in Brooklyn, NY, I sat down with Kobra Paige before the show to discuss what’s behind the Prevail I and II records and the band’s latest unique music videos, as well as Kobra’s background as a lyricist and musician, digging into what it is that motivates her in studio and […]

Interview: Oscar Dronjak

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Hammerfall made a majestic return to North America this spring/summer, following their successful 2017 run with 2018’s “ReBuilt to Tour” as Flotsam and Jetsam filled the spot of special guests along for the ride. One of Hammerfall’s stops along the way was at NYC’s iconic Gramercy Theatre, and shortly before the band took to the stage, I had the chance to sit down with founder/guitarist Oscar Dronjak for an interview, during which we covered everything from the recent ReBuilt to Tour run and new music that’s on the way, to hockey, whisky, and champagne – an all-around good time and […]

Interview: Chris Lane of Station

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NYC Rockers Station recently released their second album More Than The Moon, followed by some touring which brought them to a newly opened venue in Smithtown, Long Island, New York known as The Rail on June 23rd, 2018. It’s a pleasure to catch up with this talented group – I first interviewed them when I was in college radio right around the time their self-titled debut record came out – always friendly and a lot of fun, Chris Lane and Patrick Kearney even came in studio to do an acoustic set. We always seem to touch base whenever they’re in […]

Interview: Geoff Tate on Operation: Mindcrime 30th Anniversary

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30 years of Operation: Mindcrime – Geoff Tate has been celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of the iconic record this summer by taking it to the road and performing the album live from start to finish. When he and his current band lineup made a stop at the Revolution in NY, I sat down with him for an interview on the latest in the world of Geoff Tate, where we discussed the anniversary celebration, Geoff’s recent activities with bands like Avantasia and Angra, his daughter Emily’s involvement in music and the current tour, the Insania Wines brand, and more.  So just […]