Interviews
To date, we have conducted 413 interviews. If your band is available for an interview, feel free to contact us and we'll see what we can do. Here are our latest:
Band Photo: Katatonia
Anders Nystrom Discusses "Night Is The New Day"
Long running Swedish metallers Katatonia will release their new full-length album "Night is the New Day" in the U.S. on November 10th through Peaceville Records. Katatonia is a staple of the Swedish metal scene, having started out as straight forward death metal and evolving into a more rock oriented band with heavy doom influences. Katatonia's guitarist Anders "Blakkheim" Nyström, who is also involved with Bloodbath and Diabolical Masquerade, spoke with me about the band's upcoming album and their plans to hit the ground running on full headlining tours.
Band Photo: Skeletonwitch
Interview with Skeletonwitch
Skeletonwitch has been touring relentlessly this year. Only the best of badasses can top them when Skeletonwitch comes to town. Before touring Europe with Goatwhore in December and to promote their new album “Breathing the Fire,” the band is tearing up the States, making sure there are no survivors before they leave. I caught up with guitarist Scott Kendrick and vocalist Chance Garnette when they played in Metairie, Louisiana, to talk about “Breathing the Fire” and just how fun it is to tour with Children of Bodom. A transcribed version follows.
An Interview with Mastodon's Bill Kelliher
Mastodon is one of those bands that emerges very rarely. You know how big they are about to become when you listen to them. After listening to their latest album, "Crack the Skye," I was blown away by the musical effect it had on me. Just listening to "The Czar" with the lights turned off, right before I go to bed, evokes this mystical atmosphere and hypnagogic hallucinations right before I go to sleep.
When I heard they were touring with High on Fire and Converge, and co-headlining with Dethklok, I could not pass up the opportunity to get tickets and try to get an interview with Bill Kelliher, the rhythm guitarist. Needless to say, the interview went off without a hitch, and their performance was mesmorizing as they played the whole "Crack the Skye" album without a moment's pause and also with the out-of-body images projected to create a truly memorable experience.
An Interview With Sanity Falls
Sanity Falls have gone from strength to strength in the two and half years they've been together, and have received critical acclaim from the likes of Femme Metal Magazine and Tunnel Radio. Here they talk about the Femme Metal Fest, which they will be playing on Sunday 8th November.
Band Photo: Rob Zombie
Rob Zombie Discusses "Hellbilly Deluxe 2"
Without question one of the most iconic names in the rock and metal scene, Rob Zombie has had a huge impact on the musical landscape. Between working with the legendary White Zombie, moving on to a successful solo career, directing gore-heavy horror flicks, and getting to see Sherri Moon Zombie perform strip teases on something other than a TV screen, Rob lives most metal fan’s dream life.
Rob has been a busy little zombie of late directing “Halloween 2,” releasing the animated film “The Haunted World of El Superbeasto,” and preparing to unleash his new solo album “Hellbilly Deluxe 2.” I recently had the opportunity to take part in a press conference with Rob Zombie where he answered a series of questions about the new album and his plans for upcoming movies.
Belphegor Front Man Helmuth Discusses New Album
Blackened death metallers Belphegor are no strangers to controversial subject matter dealing with sexuality and the occult, as can be seen just by looking at the cover of an album like "Lucifer Incestus." Their new album "Walpurgis Rites - Hexenwahn" continues the themes of witchcraft and keeps up their particular brand of melody infused metal. The disc dropped in the U.S. on October 20th via Nuclear Blast Records, and was accompanied by a new music video for the track "Der Geistertreiber." Belphegor's vocalist Helmuth spoke with me about the new album, video, and the band's tour starting in November 2009.
Interview with Cannabis Corpse
Stumbling out of the smoke are the young men of death metal crew Cannabis Corpse. Promoting their new album "The Weeding," the band hit the road with Ramming Speed to preach the word of Bud and metal to the masses. Cannabis Corpse descended on New Orleans the same day that the President did and discussed with me very important issues. The interview was cut short by an altercation that spilled into the street from the bar. A transcribed version follows.
Interview with Cage's Sean Peck
On September 13th, 2009, I had the pleasure of interviewing the vocalist, Sean Peck, of the San Diego metal band Cage. I had a lot of fun conducting the interview. Sean Peck used a good deal of sarcasm and delivered his answers in a very improvised humorous way based on our situation. In this interview Sean Peck discusses the secret to his incredible vocal ability, future plans for the band, and why being unsigned can be more helpful than signing to a label.
An Interview With Winter in Eden
Winter In Eden have had huge success following their first UK tour and now plans turn to their debut album. Here the band talk about playing live and their up-and-coming slot at the Femme Metal Fest in November.
An Interview With Winter Storm
With the Femme Metal Fest and the Rock of Ages Festival in the pipeline, Winter Storm are throwing themselves full pelt into the UK festival circuit. Hannah, Jason, Dan, Wayne and Dani take some time out from recording their first album (due out 2010) to discuss the Femme Metal Fest, flying drum sticks and Jason's odd perception of what he'll be up to five years from now...
An Interview with Nornagest of Enthroned
Belgian horde Enthroned is a group that has clung limpet like to the potent barrel of old school black metal since their inception in 1994. However, unlike many of their peers who faded into dusty carbon copies of the quintessential second wave black metal sound, Enthroned continued to taper and weld their lethal assault utilising tight execution and razor sharp technicality to create an aural barrage of ear drum pricking astringency. Recently, I caught up with Nornagest to probe deep into the new album, "Pentagrammaton," set for release early next year on Regain Records.
Interview With Apparition
With new vocalist Samantha Smallwood settled into the band, Apparition are looking forward to recording new material with their latest addition. Here they talk about playing the Femme Metal Festival and their hopes for the coming years.
Band Photo: Hypocrisy
Hypocrisy Drummer Discusses Upcoming Album
Swedish metallers Hypocrisy, fronted by death metal legend Peter Tägtgren, released their new album "A Taste Of Extreme Divinity" in Europe on October 23rd. The album will be released in North America on November 3rd via Nuclear Blast Records. A track from the album titled "Hang Him High" can be heard at the band's MySpace page. Hypocrisy's drummer Reidar Horghagen filled me in on the details of the new album, recruiting Alexi Laiho of Children of Bodom for their upcoming tour, and his history in music.
Interview With Scarecrown
Just a few weeks away from playing the Femme Metal Fest, Scarecrown are preparing for their first ever UK gig, and after the success of 'Letters From The Darkness', they're in for a warm welcome from UK fans. Antonella, Andrea and Grave discuss gigging, recording and the success of 'Letters...'.
Barren Earth Discusses New EP "Our Twilight"
Newly formed Finnish death metallers Barren Earth are set to release their new EP “Our Twilight” on November 9th in Europe and November 17th in the US through Peaceville Records. The group consists of current and former members of Swallow the Sun, Amorphis, Moonsorrow, and Kreator. Samples from the EP and more information on the band can be found at their MySpace page and mini-website. Barren Earth’s bassist Olli-Pekka Laine spoke with me about the new EP and the group’s plans for touring in support of their upcoming full-length album.
Band Photo: Sirenia
Interview with New Sirenia Vocalist Ailyn
Gothic metal band Sirenia's latest album "The 13th Floor" is their first album with singer Ailyn, and long-term Sirenia fans have happily welcomed their new sound lead by Ailyn's beautifully melodic voice. Here she talks about "The 13th Floor," gigging and playing the Femme Metal Festival in November.
Band Photo: City Of Fire
Interview With City of Fire Bassist Byron Stroud
In March 2008, four musicians got together for a one-night show, to recall a few musical memories from times past at club in Vancouver, B.C.
The band was Caustic Thought, and the show was a reunion through songs of an earlier decade.
No one expected what would happen next.
They wrote a few songs, laid 'em down in a couple studios in their hometown, and mixed and mastered them. They built the MySpace page, added their friends and released the album online and hoped someone was listening. Seems like just another group of independent artists proactively using the technology and resources that are so readily available these days, waiting for a band with a little business sense to take advantage.
But these aren't any ordinary musicians.
An Interview with Dylan of Hecate Enthroned
It's been five years since our Welsh blooded kings of chaos Hecate Enthroned graced the UK black metal underground with "Redimus," an immaculately matched, malignant hybrid of "Kings of Chaos" era death metal and the symphonic black gloss of "Slaughter of Innocence." After sensing an eerie quiet on the western front and hoping that they hadn't squirmed too far into obscurity Charlotte was lucky enough to catch up with Dylan and discuss the band's emerging plans for a new album.
An Interview With Echoes of Eternity
Typically we think of female-fronted bands as being European, but like their varied music style, Echoes of Eternity doesn’t get pigeon-holed by tradition. This California based act that mixes thrash with symphonic and mainstream metal is spreading their wings with their second release, "As Shadows Burn." I recently talked with lead singer Francine Boucher about the new album, and discovered that though she is the main lyricist for the band, she’s actually a woman of few words, laced with a heavy dose of sarcasm and wit.
Darkest Hour Guitarist Talks About New Album
Formed in 1995, Darkest Hour is a melodic death metal / metalcore band from Washington, D.C.. In 1996, on Death Trunk Records, the band released its first EP titled "The Misanthrope." Then in 1999, on label Art Monk Construction, they released another EP, "The Prophecy Fulfilled." Since then, the band has gone through many lineup and label changes, solidifying the band and their sound. Darkest Hour was able to garner enough exposure to catch the attention of Victory Records. Their Victory debut, "So Sedated, So Secure," was released in 2001 and since then released four more albums on Victory. 2008 saw the addition of guitarist, Mike "Lonestar" Carrigan. With Lonestar officially on board the band is heading back into the studio to write and record with Producer Brian McTernan of Baltimore's Salad Days Studio, and in 2009 released "The Eternal Return." Roya Butler sat down with Mike Schleibaum, Darkest Hour guitarist, to talk about the 2009 Summer Slaughter Tour, and co-guitarist "Lonestar's" antics, including throwing human feces on cops.
An Interview With Threat Signal's Jon Howard
Canadian melodic metallers Threat Signal just released their latest full-length album “Vigilance” on September 8th in North American and September 11th in Europe via Nuclear Blast Records. The band also had a headlining U.S. tour this summer alongside The Agonist, Flatline, and Thy Will Be Done. Vocalist Jon Howard, who also fronts Arkaea, talked with me about “Vigilance” and Threat Signal’s plans for the future.
Band Photo: Steel Panther
Michael Starr Talks "Feel The Steel"
Glam metal band Steel Panther both pays massive tribute to and also mercilessly mocks the various cock rock and glam pioneers of the '80s and '90s. Their new full-length album “Feel The Steel” saw its North American release on October 6th, and features a huge list of guest musicians from bands such as The Darkness and Avenged Sevenfold. Samples of the band's music can be found at their official MySpace page. Steel Panther front man Michael Starr filled me in on the band’s debauched lifestyle and their quest to have the best hair in metal.
