Paragon Music Magazine Interviews

Tom Flowers of Oleander

2013-04-24T09:24:00.002-07:00

Tom Flowers, vocalist for Oleander, took a few minutes out of his busy schedule to answer some of our questions regarding the band's comeback, their new album, and their plans for touring in 2013. If you have been a longtime fan of this band, the new album is sure to please, as it has been far too long since we last heard from them. If you're wondering what caused them to take such a long break from the music business, as well as where the band's attitude is right now, read on.

Lisa Selvaggio: I want to start by saying thanks for taking the time to do this interview. I’m really excited about this one, as I’ve been a fan of yours since February Son. I was saddened when you guys were no longer releasing music, but now you’re back! What made you go away for so long, and what spurred you to pursue your comeback when you did?

Tom Flowers: Thank you for your kind words, it’s good to be back! We made the decision to step away from obligations related to the business of music, not the band. Years of grinding it out on the road had paid dividends, but not enough to justify the sacrifices we were making on the home front. After recording and promoting three albums, we felt that it was time to take a breath, relax, and enjoy being home again; which was exactly what we needed. The time off did us good, allowed for a healthier perspective and drew us back together as friends and as a band. Calls were made, and a reunion was scheduled. We realized about 15 minutes into our first rehearsal that we were onto something special; new songs were flowing and there was a real excitement in the room. Twelve songs later and we’ve written our best album to date.

LS: Your last release, Joyride, was released in 2003, and I remember reviewing it in Paragon (we had just started out back then). We’ve seen the music industry change immensely in the last 10 years. How have the changes affected you guys as a band, coming back after so much time away?

TF: I don’t know that changes in the music industry have affected us much at all. We’re still a group of friends who pour our hearts into every song we write.

LS: Given today’s world that requires you be in front of people’s faces at all times in order for them to remember you, have you found it difficult to reenter the music scene and reconnect with old fans after all this time?

TF: Not at all, social media has created an effective means for immediately connecting with fans on a minute-to-minute basis, much more so than touring. Being accessible to fans has always been something that we’ve enjoyed. In many ways, it’s one of the most rewarding aspects of “the job.”

LS: Do the same things inspire you today as they did when you were a younger band, in terms of the music and lyrics you create?

TF: Absolutely. We’ve always drawn upon our life experiences as a resource for inspiration and hoped that it would resonate with listeners.

LS: You have a few dates set for an April/May tour. What are your long-term touring plans for 2013?

TF: Complete and utter world domination by year’s end. ::laughs:: We’re looking forward to being very busy throughout the year! Tour opportunities are shaping up and we’ll be making announcements once they’re confirmed.

LS: If you have to pick one song off of your new album, Something Beautiful, that really represents the band at this moment, which would it be, and why?

TF: I’d say “Daylight,” because we found it again with this album.

LS: As a fan, I’m happy to hear that your sound remained true to what I always appreciated about Oleander. Some artists come back with a completely different sound after they’ve been on hiatus for a while, or even from one album to the next. But with you guys, it’s like picking up where we all left off. I’m happy to say that the new album is instantly likeable by anyone who was a fan of your music in the past. Thoughts?

TF: It felt like we were picking up where we left off, but with a sharper edge and a lot less pressure. We wrote from the heart and for each other, without an agenda or expectations. In that environment we were able to create Something Beautiful.

LS: How long did it take you guys to write, record, and produce this record? Was it an easy process, did you encounter any challenges or roadblocks, etc.?

TF: We took a little over a year with this album, writing and recording sporadically. Our focus was on attention to detail regardless of how long it takes. There were no deadlines. We enjoyed every minute of the process.

LS: Songs like “Save the Best” and “Never Too Late” have really positive lyrics, whereas some of your older songs seemed to have come from a darker place. Is this a result of your own personal experiences and viewpoints changing, do you want to put more positive energy out into this pretty negative world, or am I really looking into things too deeply?

TF: They’re an honest reflection of our lives today.

LS: After putting so much time into the music industry from the time of February Son through Joyride, you probably learned a lot. Are you coming back into the industry with a new attitude these days (e.g. maybe being more confident, not so worried as you used to be, not taking as much crap from people)?

TF: Yep, we’re fired up again, playing with a bit of a chip on our shoulders and feeling like we have something to prove. We’re in the best possible spot, an epic new album and a vicious live show. Gloves are off, we have nothing to lose.

LS: Okay, that’s all I have for you. Is there anything you’d like to add or say specifically to our readers?

TF: Buy our new album, come to our shows, and tell everyone you know!

Burton C. Bell of Fear Factory

2012-09-04T08:22:00.001-07:00

We've been able to interview Burton C. Bell several times in the past, both for Fear Factory and Ascension of the Watchers, but this was the first time we've done an interview with him in person. Not only was it amazing to finally meet him in person, but it was great to also pick his brain about the new music, touring, and his view of the current state of the world. What we love about Burton is that he is genuine, intelligent, and not afraid to speak his mind. He has a lot to say and a lot that he can teach people, and this comes through in his songs.

Following is the interview we conducted at Fear Factory's New Jersey stop in support of their newest release, The Industrialist, in August 2012. Feel free to comment and share with your friends.

You can view photos from the NJ show here: http://bit.ly/Pmqc3A

Ripped

2012-08-22T10:43:00.003-07:00

Ripped is an independent band from New Jersey. They've been playing local venues around the state for years, bringing their hard rock music and fun attitude to crowds large and small. We sat down with guitarist Steve Keller and vocalist Steve Sroczynski to discus everything from local influences to physical versus digital album sales, the competition involved in being an unsigned local act, and other topics.

Check out the interview and make sure to hit up their Facebook page for more info. And feel free to leave comments below.

Monica Richards

2012-04-22T10:48:00.001-07:00

We've had the pleasure of interviewing Monica Richards several times, whether for her work in Faith and The Muse or for her solo work, Infrawarrior. Her latest release, Naiades, is truly a work to behold: a full album of creative Underground music that is encased in a book of art and poetry. In this interview, Monica talks about the hurdles she had to get past in order to put this album out in this form, her future plans in terms of more music and touring, and her collaboration with Steve Niles, comic book author and horror writer.

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Photo credit: Clovis IV

Lisa Selvaggio: Naiades is truly an incredible product for music fans. The book is a piece of art in and of itself, and the music has taken Infrawarrior to a whole new level. But it took a lot of hard work to get this out, as anyone who has been following your website, blog, and social networking pages will already know. Why, in these trying times (especially for the Underground), did you decide to take such a drastic leap? Why not just put your music out on i-Tunes?

Monica Richards: Thank you so much for that. I just had to! I really wanted to make the release special, take it to more of a high art approach. Recalling how it used to be when you bought an album, I really felt that something is now so lost in just downloading music. I put a call-out on my FB page asking people to tell me about when they used to buy actual albums. One fan wrote that he traveled for 2 hours to get one, something people don't understand at all anymore. Music used to accompany a cover, lyric sheet, imagery, a concept that is full of sound and vision. The reviews have been wonderful, people seem to understand just what I wanted to do with this release.

LS: Can you describe the hardships you went through in putting out Naiades? Many fans contributed donations to help you, but that was just one of the hurdles you had to jump. Perhaps you can educate our readers on the importance of buying albums, not just MP3’s?

MR: My life had been thrown into major flux at the time I was writing the music; I was trying to build a little studio of my own which took time as well as money. As the book idea began to grow, I needed to formulate the work as a whole, find and pay artists and find the best way to get the book pressed. This was why I needed donations, to be able to get the release I truly wanted made, to not just settle for a simple CD. And now all of my donators have their name in the book forever, and they are part of its creation. The best feedback I've gotten is when fans get their copy in the mail and tell me it's like receiving 'treasure'!

LS: You’ve been an Underground artist for many, many years now. How has it changed, positively or negatively, in the time you’ve been in music?

MR: You know, in the end, I think the most important thing is my own relationship with my art. It's had major ups and downs. We artists have to keep finding ourselves as we go through our path in life, we have to flow with the storms that happen, grow, change, connect and reconnect with ourselves. And inside of all of that is business, how to be able to afford to do what we love. I have always called my music my very expensive hobby, and it just continues to be that! Technologies grow, change, we have to bend with them and ultimately be happy with what we do.

LS: The first Infrawarrior release had songs that touched upon Gaia/Mother Nature and the female power that coincides with Her. Naiades is focused on a mermaid theme, with artwork and lyrics discussing these mythological creatures. Why did you decide to take this direction?

MR: I was somehow focused on water, it just took me by surprise! You know when you do something but you don't know why, but it leads you onto new paths, new directions and then afterward you think "Aha, it was a good choice!" I was reminded of my Greek mythology background by Patty of Motherdance, while I was trying to find the right title for “Oreiades,” the live piece I sang on the end of my last EP, The Strange Familiar. This took me to Naiades and the water creatures of that era. I feel myself drawn to water itself, its power, its strength and beauty, its depths and overall - it's ability to transform - from liquid to solid to air… Then I read about the term 'Sea Change' and it really hit me that I was onto something. All songs lyrically have water, fluid imagery. “Pride:” "Past the faceless critics' fingertips, I swam against the current to keep from drowning…" or “Endbegin:” "When the oceans die, your tears will fill the rivers…"

Photo credit: Clovis IV

LS: Many of the songs also get into human emotions involved with falling down and picking yourself up, cycles in life ending and beginning again. What was your inspiration for the songs on this album; did the inspiration come from internal and personal experiences versus what you’re observing in the outside world?

MR: All of it came through my own personal experience. To find yourself realizing halfway through your life that you know absolutely nothing, and you can fall down into the darkness, or you can follow a different path and find happiness again. It breathed through all my work.

LS: One of my favorite tracks on Naiades is “LureinLay,” and on your http://www.monicarichards.com/naiades.htm site, you describe it as a “gut-wrenching classical song.” I’d agree, it is gut-wrenching, especially at the end. Can you delve into the meaning of that song, and why it is a passionate one for you?

MR: It's a very personal love song, actually, but it also morphed into deep self-realization. Finding your own truth, that you may indeed be nothing like you thought you were. Fans of Strange Boutique may find a familiar strain from the song "Glaciers Down" as well!

LS: Another one of my favorites is “EndBegin.” It really encompasses a lot of what your music offers: tribal, multiple vocal layers, a message about Nature, and haunting melodies. Is there anything about this particular track’s creation that you want to share?

MR: I had written the lyrics during the Faith and The Muse : ankoku butoh : sessions, and actually had begun writing it for that album, but realized it wasn't meant for that. I kept the words until they were ready to be matched to the right music, and the music for “EndBegin” came to me while I was driving one day. Somehow it all came together, very happily!

LS: I noticed that there were several lines from “Annwyn, Beneath the Waves,” in the booklet. What was your reason for incorporating this element from Faith and the Muse into your solo project?

MR: The use of water was incorporated through "Annwyn" so I did a bit of a callback. That song had originally been a poem, so I felt it was very appropriate to include it in its original form.

LS: Steve Niles helped you out on a few songs on Naiades. Do you have plans of working more on music together in the future?

MR: Steve Niles and I were punk kids from the Washington DC hardcore scene; we've known each other since we were 18. I'm so proud of him. He, like me, just kept doing his own thing, he's a self-made freelance writer, known for bringing horror back to comics. He co-wrote “The Tail of Two” and “We Go On,” as well as “Pride.” In one way there's been a new interest about what two old punks can make - something hard but also very lyrical and beautiful. We do plan on working together on more music, I want to start on some soundtrack work on his writing, just waiting for the right one…

LS: Any touring plans?

MR: We’re looking to tour Europe in September, possibly some one-off shows in the U.S. if we can afford to play. It's very hard to get people out to see live bands now; we'll see how it goes!

Photo credit: Clovis IV

LS: You mentioned on your Facebook recently that you may need to get back to writing more songs very soon, what with all the debates surrounding women’s rights in America lately. So, uh, how soon is “soon”? ::wink::

MR: Working on it, have had some personal life bumps in the way lately! It's such a clear sense of the turning of the wheel, more like a roller coaster ride, the way history moves up and down its own strange rhythm... guided by the rise and fall of Patriarchal belief systems. I am so shocked and stunned by what is going on, but at the same time not surprised, as extremists have been quietly moving into government to be able to change legislation. This doesn't change the truth of what is happening in the world though. Still every media outlet pushes girls to be sexy at younger and younger ages. We now have a generation of young girls who will have to deal with having their rights removed from fanatically religious state governments (who stand under pretense of not wanting big government in their lives telling them what to do). Reaction to reaction to reaction, a strange dance of extremes. I truly do wonder what will happen when they face these new laws... will they try to abort on their own? Will they travel to another state? Will there be a rash of deaths as girls panic under these new laws?

LS: Do you think your next release will be as involved as Naiades in terms of packaging?

MR: Not sure what I will do next, but I do plan to make each release special! I may try vinyl at some point!

LS: Do you have any plans in place to work more on the Anafae project?

MR: I do plan to but just haven't had a moment to continue on that.

LS: Anything you’d like to add that we didn’t discuss? Links to your projects?

MR: Just a big giant hug and thanks for the interview! Visit www.monicarichards.com

Mike Grosshandler

2012-04-09T10:04:00.002-07:00

If you're a longtime reader of Paragon Music Magazine, you know that we have had the pleasure of featuring Mike Grosshandler, AKA Mike G, several times since we started the publication in 2003. Mike has always been a humble yet immensely talented independent artist, and we've always enjoyed listening to his solo acoustic albums in addition to his work with his band, The Velmas.

Mike recently released a brand new album titled Blue Skies Black, which is unlike his previous solo releases (read the interview below to find out why).

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Lisa Selvaggio: Blue Skies Black is your first solo release since your last album Wrote Myself back in 2004. Any particular reason you took such a long break between releases?

Mike Grosshandler: Well, after Wrote Myself, I released Station with The Velmas on City Canyons Records in 2006, and we promoted that for quite some time. I was writing songs all along, though, and getting antsy about putting out new music almost immediately after Station came out. I like to be releasing new music every year or two, at the longest, and it wasn’t happening with the band, so in 2008 I began working on Blue Skies Black. I actually finished mixing it in 2010, but I wasn’t as satisfied with it as I wanted to be, so I brought it to Tim Lynch at The Recording Company to help me remix it. So that added some time. Throughout the process, life happened (figuratively and literally – I’m now also a dad!), but over three years later, the album is finally out and I’m beyond excited to have some new music to show the world!

LS: This record, like all your others, displays your immense talent for songwriting and instrumentation. Are there any new musical influences that had an impact on the songs on this album?

MG: Thank you for the kind words! Yeah, there are some newer influences on this record. Of course, my love for Nirvana, The Beatles, Alice in Chains, and Type O Negative continues unfettered, but over the last several years I’ve also gotten more into Muse and Chevelle as well as some indie stuff like Death Cab For Cutie and Nada Surf. I sort of rediscovered Harvey Danger as well. All of those, plus nearly everything I’ve listened to in my life, has influenced this record in some way.

LS: What makes this album different from your previous releases?

MG: Well, for one, this album was conceived from the start as an “album.” My other solo releases really began as a series of acoustic demos that took on a life of their own. But the obvious difference is that Blue Skies Black isn’t just acoustic guitars and vocals. I went out and got six of my best drummer friends – Melanie Krahmer (Sirsy), John Brodeur (The Suggestions), Chris Fisher (Conehead Buddha, Brian Kaplan Band), Ricky Little (Split 2nd Alibi, Above The Flood), Tom Sposato (State of Nowhere), and Michael Maenza (The X's) – to play with me, and then I went and added bass guitar, acoustic and electric guitars, vocals, keyboards, and some hand percussion myself in my home studio. I even had a friend (Bill Scholl) add some live horns on Drive Me.

There are a few songs on the album that would’ve worked as Velmas songs, but I was also able to explore and experiment a lot more than I did with them, style-wise, and try out some more grunge and indie rock stuff.

One of the biggest thrills was to have Phil Taylor (from Future Leaders of the World and Machina) sing harmonies with me on “Status Quo.” I was a big fan of FLOW, so when he agreed to sing on one of my tunes, I jumped at the chance. His voice is huge and he brought that song up a level or four for sure.

LS: What about lyrical influences for this album? Did you draw from personal experience or just write songs with themes many people would be able to relate to?

MG: Each song tells a little chapter or story from my life, with a couple exceptions where I thought it’d be fun to approach them more from someone else’s point of view. I’ll leave it as an exercise to the listener to figure out which ones. Some of them are about relationships – some old ones and some current ones. Some are more about how I felt about my life/situation at that point. I even wrote my first “love song” of sorts in “Without You.”

LS: How have things changed for you as an independent artist through the years? We know of some artists who are creating albums with the help of donations from fans. In your experience, is it easier or harder today than it was in the past (whether it has to do with cost, ability to promote, etc.)?

MG: In some ways, things have gotten a lot easier over the years. Once upon a time, to make an album like this, I’d have had to spend a ton of money on studio time to record everything. Thankfully, I know my way around Pro Tools, so I was able to do pretty much all of the recording myself except drums (since my little home studio isn’t quite big enough). That helped me save a ton of money on the whole process, so I didn’t think it was necessary to go the donation route. The hard part really is still to get people to pay attention to what you’re doing. In many ways, the Internet and home studios have lowered the bar so much that it seems like everyone has an album out, so getting people to pay attention to what you’re doing is as much a challenge as ever, if not harder. How do I convince someone to check out my new music instead of that new funny viral video or whatever? I did just shoot a music video for “Blue Skies Black” (the song), which should be released in the next few weeks, so maybe that’ll help!

LS: Can fans anticipate you playing live to support this album? If so, do you have anything booked as of yet, or plans to do so?

MG: I’ve been trying to put a band together to perform these songs out live, but it’s not there yet. With all the other things I’m trying to do these days, finding time isn’t easy. I’m still playing with The Velmas and I’m also in a new band, Above The Flood. ATF is in the studio now recording a new EP, so that’s been taking up some time. Someday, hopefully.

LS: Where can fans purchase your music, and in what formats are you making it available?

MG: Right now, it’s available in digital download and, of course, on CD. A ton of places online have it, including iTunes, CD Baby, Amazon, Emusic, Rhapsody, Google Music Store, as well as a few local stores around Albany, NY, including The Book House in Stuyvesant Plaza. And you can always get a copy from me. If for no other reason, pick up a CD for the album art. It was done by Vince DePorter – the same brilliant artist who did the cover for Station. He made me a rockstar superhero!

LS: Anything else you’d like to add for our readers?

MG: A big thanks to Paragon for always being so supportive of my music and independent music in general! Please check out my website – mikegrosshandler.com – to keep up with my musical on-goings. And get in touch with me via email, Facebook, Twitter, whatever. If you like my music, I’d love to hear from you! That’s what keeps me going.

Russell Allen of Symphony X

2012-03-15T11:05:00.002-07:00

The Paragon Music Magazine staff sat down with Russell Allen, singer of Symphony X, for a bit before his show at Starland Ballroom in NJ in February 2011. Russell discussed everything from the theme behind Iconoclast to his present views of the world, social media, NJ-based reality TV, and other fun topics.

Always a great guy to interview, we have had the pleasure of talking with Russell in the past, so longtime fans of the magazine will remember previous interviews we have done with him.

Check out the interview here, and feel free to share it with your friends. And for more on the band, visit http://www.symphonyx.com/

Colin Davis of Vile

2012-02-10T19:41:00.000-08:00

In our second interview with Colin Davis of Vile, he discusses his latest album, Metamorphosis, and how it differs from past releases, as well as his view of the world today, how he has personally matured and hopes others will do so too, and plans for the future of the band. Fans who admire Colin's outspokenness about society will appreciate the responses he gave during this interview.

For more on Vile and to purchase their music (buy the CD for the booklet of art and lyrics that comes along with it), visit: http://vilemetal.com/
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Lisa Selvaggio: Metamorphosis is your latest release, and it took you over two years to create it. How is this album similar and/or different from your past releases?

Colin Davis: I guess it’s similar in that I am always very involved in the songwriting and creation of the music, but this album was really a solo effort on my part. Since the band members are spread out all over the place, I took the opportunity to make this album exactly what I personally wanted, to take my time and to not compromise my personal goals for the album.

LS: Many of the songs on the album are geared at awakening, consciousness, and awareness. In what aspects of life do you think society really needs to accomplish being more conscious?

CD: Well, there are a lot of spiritual concepts in the lyrics but it’s the kind of thing that mostly people on a personal path will recognize and be emboldened by. What matters is that people allow their true selves to mature and manifest and that they follow their bliss because not doing so leads to extreme confusion. When you do what you know to be right for you personally from deep inside, then nothing else matters, you have a grounding point, a place where the real “you” actually exists and manifests from and can be relied upon, always. When this real you is found, explored, and honored, then personal consciousness evolves. The more people come to know themselves, the more society matures as a whole. Actually, every new civilization is a new way of seeing ourselves differently, and with each experiment we learn more about who and what we are.

LS: You’ve always had a strong political stance, calling on people to realize the system in America is flawed and false. You carry that message into Metamorphosis. Do you feel anything has changed in the past few years, particularly since your last album?

CD: Wow. Yeah, New Age of Chaos was like the other prior albums where I left the lyrical content to Juan Urteaga, the vocalist. And that last album was sort of an Islamic war/horror theme. But all of our albums had some sort of lyrical horror theme. Personally, I never felt that stuff myself. So when I had the chance to do it myself, you see what comes out. And even though the lyrics on Metamorphosis are very different and are personal creations, they represent how I was thinking when they were written, which was mostly 2007-2008. My mind changes so often on these subjects. They are snapshots from a certain place in time.

LS: What is your reaction to new legislation that seems to keep being passed---or at least trying to be passed---in America that would inhibit our free speech? I ask this to you especially because of the content of your lyrics. You even address the N.W.O. in your liner notes. Are you unnerved, fearful, or confident that the citizens will not allow these kinds of freedoms to be taken?

CD: I was actually quite worried about it all at one time. I used to blog about it on Myspace and study things like the 9-11 false flag events and related true horror stories and conspiracies, but right now, I am really past all of that type of fear. You have to go through it to understand it though. Those subjects are very worthy of exploration because they bring you to a new level of understanding. You have to face some fear to understand its source. The source of the police state legislation is a part of our culture which has not been effectively addressed and purged, and the way we have put together our society has a lot of negative by-products. These are psychic or psychological byproducts. It’s left over from our Judeo-Christian heritage and the way we used to think about ourselves. We have patriarchal concepts like revenge, and punishment, duty to god, and we use fear to control people and we arrange society into hierarchical structures for perceived efficiency. It’s a way of seeing our world and our place in it. The thing is that this time is ending and we are developing new ways of organizing and new ways of seeing ourselves. The police state measures our unconscious reactions to that shift because for many who make the shift, those old tools don’t work on them anymore. And that’s what happened to me, I lost the fear because I moved out of that way of seeing the world. The only remedy for this is to raise personal awareness of the nature of reality up and out of that level of thinking. It takes time and practice though.

LS: We are currently going through the Republican Primaries in the U.S. Ron Paul is running and his message seems to have reached a much larger number of people than ever before, yet he is still very far behind the other candidates despite their in-fighting and corrupt pasts. Why do you think someone like Ron Paul isn’t doing as well as would be expected during these times?

CD: If he was not being cheated left and right with polling and voter fraud and was given fair airtime, the response would be even greater. But this is the game, it’s a rigged casino game and you can’t get a mafia boss to stop rigging the card tables, that’s what they do. It’s all part of the awakening process, so it’s all good.

LS: In addition to your call to rise and change things, your lyrics allude to astrology and ancient spirituality. What are some of the other influential factors or teachings that helped you write the songs on this album?

CD: Those are the books and subjects I like to study. Like you said, there’s stuff about astrology and astronomy, Mayan science, there’s Jungian psychology, mythology, etc. I listed some of the influences that applied to the music and lyrics in the liner notes so people can look them up.

LS: Because your message is so strong, do you get any resistance from listeners? Do you receive negative feedback on, say, your social networking pages or in your email from people who don’t agree?

CD: No, but honestly I think most people are getting the music online and are not getting the lyrics, and those that do buy the CD often don’t read the lyrics! That’s just this style. It’s mostly guys who don’t read lyrics that much. I never did before. But maybe some of the topics are too far out for people to criticize!

LS: What are your future plans for Vile? Are you planning any 2012 tour dates? Do you foresee more albums in the future as well?

CD: I do foresee some touring, but probably not a whole lot. We’re waiting to get something that is not going to break us financially and also is not terribly uncomfortable and long. I just don’t care for those long grueling van tours anymore. So we may do some shorter things in the U.S. and definitely a European tour or maybe two over time. If we can get some stable offers from South America and other places we haven’t visited yet, I would be interested. It just has to be the right package. I may or may not make anymore formal albums; we will see how it goes. Perhaps releasing music online is a more reasonable way to do it, we will see over time. A live DVD is something I do want to do though.

LS: How do you see the future panning out? Do you think people will finally learn, or will the materialism of this country continue to distract?

CD: The future will be like the past in that societal growth is different everywhere. As far as America is concerned, it’s probably going to crash hard and that will be the wake-up call that a lot of folks need to have, but it will be ugly for many and it already is for many. But I have a lot of optimism for people who are awake, doing personal work and developing new ways of seeing the world and themselves. Many of our problems have been solved. The question is who will commit to them and make them mainstream? Also, it’s about our stories, like I was saying before. We live inside stories or myths, which give us a map for life. For many societies, the old myths are losing their power. So now is about finding the new story for our time and making our lives in accord with that new story. When that story is strong enough, a society will have stability.

LS: Anything you’d like to add for our readers that we haven’t already discussed?

CD: As always, thanks to those folks who have followed the band all these years. It’s been a pleasure and I hope everyone enjoys the new album. I recommend people listen to it a few times in different moods because it’s a concept album and it needs time to grow on you. And, of course, follow your bliss. That’s where the treasure lies! But there might be a dragon guarding it, so be prepared.

Steve Bello

2011-11-17T12:25:00.000-08:00

Steve Bello, famous for his instrumental guitar chops and several independent releases, sat down with us to discuss his latest, Go Berzerk. What's unique about this video interview is that you can also get a glimpse of his playing in between his answers. You'll see very quickly why he has garnered a lot of respect from the Metal community worldwide.

In our interview, he discusses what it's been like working as an independent musician, the success he has found with Go Berzerk, what it's like working with others in the music community, as well as DR and Ibanez, and more.

Edward Douglas of Midnight Syndicate

2011-10-31T10:02:00.000-07:00

For our special Halloween interview, we caught up with Edward Douglas, half of the Goth/Horror Instrumental duo, Midnight Syndicate, whom we've featured a few times in the magazine in the past. It's always great to reconnect with Ed and discuss not only what he's been up to but what his plans for the future are as well. We sat down at NJ's Chiller Theater, a horror convention Ed attends every year to connect with fans and make new ones, and talked about everything from their latest CD, Carnival Arcane to their work in horror films and what's in store for 2012.

Rob Acocella (DIGImmortal Photo) had a lot of fun editing this one, giving it an old movie reel treatment and adding in his own photo of a carnival scene (buy it here for yourself) to go along with the theme of the new album.

Watch the interview below and be sure to support independent music by finding Midnight Syndicate online at www.midnightsyndicate.com and on Facebook and Twitter.

Also, please support independent media like Paragon Music Magazine. We are now offering banner and video ads, so please get in touch with us for more details if you are interested. We are also accepting donations in order to finish our new website for www.paragonmag.com and get all of our back issues up again, among other new features.

Myke Hideous of The Empire Hideous

2011-10-24T11:27:00.000-07:00

As part of October Halloween-themed interview series, we sat down with Myke Hideous (The Empire Hideous, Spy Society 99, The Misfits) and discussed his latest, and final, release The Time Has Come. Questions include why he is no longer going to release new material, what it's like working as an independent musician, Peter Steele's (Type O Negative) influence on the new record, what happened to the Goth music scene, and why he dislikes social media, among other things.

Check out our review of The Time Has Come here.

Check out the interview here (or click the image below) and leave comments on the Youtube page or right here on our blog, and feel free to share with your friends.

Mitch and Kal of American Fangs

2011-10-18T08:10:00.000-07:00

We met up with American Fangs last month out on Long Island at Vu Du Studios. The band came out here to cut some new tracks and invited us out to hang and take some photos. We did an interview with Mitch and Kal, and hopefully this will help you all get to know them better. They're really talented, hard working musicians, and genuinely nice people as well.

Vinnie Hornsby of Sevendust

2011-09-26T06:02:00.000-07:00

Sevendust, who is currently touring on the Uproar Tour, recently hit NJ on a day off to play a headlining show at the Starland Ballroom. We chatted for a bit with Vinnie and discussed a few things like a new record, an acoustic tour, the rumors about them calling it quits soon, and other topics. Check out the video to see what he had to say.

Interview with Anterior

2011-09-21T09:41:00.000-07:00

Contributing writer Bobby Weaver chats with Leon Kemp and Luke Davies of Anterior, discussing their latest release, what makes them tick and how they relate to one another, what it's like being on Metal Blade Records, their future plans, and more.

Bobby Weaver: Hey guys, thanks for taking time to talk with me! You have Echoes of the Fallen ready to drop. What major differences, musically, can we expect from your 2007 release This Age of Silence?

Leon Kemp: Just a more mature sound, really. The new album is in a similar vein to This Age Of Silence. We've still kept all our tricks; just improved on them. We paid more attention to trying to write memorable songs that have hooks and that would make people want to listen to that song over and over. So, yeah, no dramatic change in style, just a much improved production, a greater maturity in songwriting, and a few more Thrash elements, I suppose.

BW: Anterior worked with producer Scott Atkins at Grindstone Studios. How was the relationship with Scott and how was the atmosphere at the studio during recording?

LK: We got on great with Scott right from the first day. He's such an easy guy to get on with and he shared our vision for what we were trying to create, so it was very easy to progress. There were a lot of ups and downs, like in any studio, really. There were times when everything was going great, then there were days when we were struggling to get things right or a section of a song just wasn't working and had to be re-written. Those were the tough days, and the morale monster paid many a visit to Grindstone Studios. But we pulled together and got through it all, all for the better of the record.
Luke Davies: Yeah, Scott can be quite the taskmaster when he wants to be, and you really need to have a guy like that with you when you’re making a record. He squeezes every last bit of effort out of everyone. Like Leon said, there were some times when you feel incredibly down because a certain section is just not going well, and it can be hard to motivate yourself because you’re completely broken. Scott has such a good ability to bring you through times like that, kicking and screaming if need be.

BW: On This Age of Silence, you had Tim Hamill produce, record, and mix, as well as yourselves. Was it different working with a new producer, and did you have as much input as you did previously?

LK: When we recorded This Age of Silence, we basically just went into the studio and tracked the songs exactly as the demos were. This time around, Scott brought a hell of a lot of stuff to the songs himself. We re-wrote riffs, doubled choruses, changed drum patterns, changed lyrics, vocal patterns. You name it, Scott had a hand in it. And it was really good for Anterior to have that 6th member for the duration of the album and I think we all learnt quite a bit while recording this album. The decision still lies with the band, but you really need to try and be open-minded when you're working with someone like Scott who has tons of experience in Metal. He'd throw his opinion into the pile and we'd usually work on it and come out with something that we were all much happier with than before and he definitely helped us squeeze that extra 5% out of every song. I really look forward to working with him again.
LD: I think we were a lot more willing to have someone actually have a hand in the record this time around. We were quite protective last time, but when you look at Scott's discography, it's easy to allow yourself to let his ideas and opinions have a more major effect in how your song is shaped. I firmly believe that this record wouldn't have been as good if we had gone to anyone else.

BW: When you attended Sonisphere Festival, wereyou excited about that? What bands were you looking forward to seeing yourselves?

LK: Sonisphere was actually in July in the UK, and it was awesome. We had a lot of fans coming to check us out, even though we were up against Limp Bizkit, and it was a great show. There were a lot of great bands playing. It was difficult to try and catch everybody you wanted to see, especially with all the press and drinking to be done. But I managed to catch Metallica, Arch Enemy, In Flames, and Sylosis; pretty much the main ones I wanted to see.
LD: I was really looking forward to seeing the recently re-formed One Minute Silence but they pulled out of the festival last minute. Devastating.

BW: I love the sound that you achieved on This Age of Silence. In fact, I am breaking windows in my house to it right now! What are the key elements of achieving the “Anterior” sound?

LK: The guitars probably play a big part in our signature sound. So all the solos and melodies are key. Plus, it's still gotta be heavy, so you need a big drum sound and some big-ass bass. And it wouldn't sound like Anterior without Luke, so then some well-written vocal patterns, and you've got a great Anterior song. If only it was as simple as that, hey Luke?
LD: Yeah, I fucking wish! ::laughs:: There have been so many times where we've had a breakdown or argued whilst trying to make a song work, although the Anterior sound has never been contrived; it's just been whatever sounded the best when we were writing and arranging the songs. I guess it's just down to the people who are involved in the making of the album that give it that stamp of individuality.

BW: For our readers out there that are just becoming aware of Anterior, what would you say your songs convey lyrically?

LD: There are a lot of different themes and critiques in the new record; a real wide range of topics crop up. We delved into inward reflection a little on this record. I'm always thinking, in years to come, what am I going to be feeling when I look back on my life? Will I feel that I've done everything that I wanted to do? Been as good a person as I could have been? That's why we used the Santa Muerte figure on the artwork. We liked the way that some Mexican cultures use it as a reminder of their own mortality. I think that's quite a good way to live your life: aware that your time on the planet is short, so be the best you can be and also be the nicest you can be. But there are a few criticisms raised, without trying to be a contrarian. For example, the song “The Evangelist” is a response to the Televangelists and general petty conmen and women who peddle their “hope and salvation” for a price. Those people make me sick, and it's such a joke that they are still doing this shit; it's a disgrace to humanity.

BW: Anterior was formed back in 2003 by a group of friends. Did you think that you would achieve international recognition? Also, how has the ride been since the early days in the garage?

LK: I always believed that if I worked hard enough, we could "make it." I think everyone else had a belief about themselves too. It was pretty evident from early on that we had something special going on. I think a lot of our success has to be attributed to the amount of time we spent rehearsing. We pretty much rehearsed five days a week, just jamming on covers and writing our own songs. We loved it so much that we couldn't get enough of it. We also stuck to our guns, too. We never wrote music for what was the trend at the time. We always just played whatever we wanted to play, and I think we really stood out as a band because of that. So far, the ride has been long and tough; lots of line-up changes, a few van fires, broken bones and alcohol-fuelled madness, but we're on the up now and things are only getting better.

BW: What were your early influences, and what new bands are you listening to at the moment?

LK: We were all pretty similar in our early influences. Metallica played a huge part, especially for me. Iron Maiden are probably another major and noticeable influence if you listen to Anterior. There were heavier influences, too, like In Flames, Children of Bodom, Arch Enemy. I think these are the main ones that you can hear in Anterior, that really have shaped our sound. I'm actually really into Journey at the moment, great band. Sylosis are a pretty cool new band.
LD: Yeah, we are all Metallica fans. We used to cover “Creeping Death” back in the day, what a song!

BW: Do you guys play pranks on each other while touring, and if so, will you share a few of the “good ones”?

LK: Yeah, you gotta, really. The hot sauce prank has been coming out quite a lot recently. Dave’s Insanity Ghost sauce, it's pretty devastating. I remember Luke ending up with some in his eye last time around. Probably not so funny for you, Luke?
LD: That shit really stings, it's brutal. We're always taking the piss out of each other. It's more verbal than anything else. I remember Steve getting some of that hot sauce in his eye at some point, too. I thought he was going to have a heart attack. ::laughs::

BW: Brian Slagel has always been known for his support of Underground/Indy Metal. What is it like working with Metal Blade Records?

LK: They're cool, very supportive of us. We've had some rough times between our two album releases and they've always stood by us and for that I've got a lot of respect for them.
LD: Yeah, they don't put any pressure on us, they just let us do our own thing. It was quite intimidating signing with Metal Blade at the beginning, with all those top bands to compete with, like Unearth, The Black Dahlia Murder and As I Lay Dying, but they’re really supportive of us, even though we're not as big as their top runners.

BW: Thanks again for taking the time out of your schedule to talk with us. Is there anything else that you would like to add as far as personal appearances, autograph signings, etc.?

LK: Just make sure you guys check out Echoes of the Fallen, out in September in the U.S. And hopefully catch you guys soon.
LD: Yeah, pick the album up, it's going to scull fuck you. Hope to get over to the States in the new year. Much love!

Joey Belladonna and Rob Caggiano of Anthrax

2011-09-13T05:54:00.000-07:00

Late last week we met up with Joey and Rob from the legendary Thrash Metal band Anthrax. We spent some time talking about the band, the new album Worship Music which is now available today, and of course the Big Four show in New York City.

View full screen in HD for the best quality:

We'll be giving away autographed prints, stay tuned to our Facebook Page for details on how to win!

Get to Know: Sóley

2011-09-12T10:01:00.000-07:00

A short and sweet introduction to this multi-instrumentalist from Iceland. Watch for her new album, due out in October 2011, and support Indie artists and the unique sounds they offer.

Lisa Selvaggio: Your music is classified as Indie, and certainly has a sound all its own. How would you describe it to our readers?
Sóley: I would say piano and piano and piano, with voices and weird percussion from my kitchen.

LS: From where do you draw your musical inspiration?
S: Many things inspire me, I think. Other artists, poems, and daily life, I guess. But when I make music, I try to go somewhere that is not daily life, though, to try to make my own world and soundscape.

LS: And what about lyrically?
S: For lyrics also, I try to think of something unreal. Dreams, laughing houses, and surreal world are what I try to put in my songs. Many of them are love songs but in a different way.

LS: What are the best ways, as an indie artist, to get your music out there?
S: Be active on the internet. I think that’s the way to try to communicate with people. Be nice with people that like what you do!

LS: Your debut album, We Sink, is due out October 4, 2011, and you’ll also be touring throughout Europe in the Fall. Any plans for coming to the U.S.?
S: Nothing planned that I know of, but I deeply hope that I can come to the U.S. soon!

LS: Our final question always gives our interviewee a chance to say anything that hasn’t already been mentioned…
S: Hmm... Well, I want to thank everyone that supports what I do. I hope I´ll be able to play in America soon, and I like Whole Foods! ::laughs::

For more on Sóley and to check out her music, visit:
http://www.morrmusic.com/press-desk
http://www.facebook.com/soleysoleysoley
http://www.myspace.com/ssolleeyy

Interview with Drive A

2011-08-25T12:16:00.000-07:00

Lisa Selvaggio: Your latest release, The World in Shambles, was recorded completely live, which, I must say, is pretty ballsy of you guys. I admire the fact that you wanted to capture those imperfections and give a taste of what your live performances are like, especially since most of the music out there is so overly engineered and polished. How have the listeners responded to this type of recording? Do they appreciate it for what it is, or have you received any complaints?

Bruno Mascolo: Our fans received it really well. I think it’s a lot to do with how we built our fan base. For the first two years of our band, there was really no other promotion going on besides us touring our asses off, so when our fans heard our new record, our fans saw it as, “oh this is the band I originally fell in love with.” We wanted to make a Garage Rock/Punk-ish record. We committed ourselves to that, not over-thinking much; just going off vibes and energy.

LS: The other aspect about your band that I like is the fact that you’re trying to encourage people to live outside the confines of society and follow their dreams. Do you feel that your fans are picking up on the message, or are they mostly just enjoying the high-energy catharsis that comes with your music?

BM: Our hardcore fans have been making changes to their lives, changing jobs, going to school. That’s definitely the coolest thing to hear about, but I’m completely okay with people just enjoying our music. I can’t really say I take every lyric that I’ve ever heard from another band that seriously or to heart, but sometimes it strikes a chord in someone and can be a turning point, and it’s a beautiful thing.

LS: In your own lives, how have you broken away from the life that’s “safe” and found the courage to take risks?

BM: I found it through passion for music. I just felt so strongly that I had to play music with my life that I had no other option without going insane.

LS: So if you could change anything about what’s going on in our world today, what do you think the one most important thing to change would be?

BM: I know I’m going to say the wrong thing here, but I would change everyone’s thoughts to only allow positive thoughts. I think that should solve the war and shit, right? ::laughs::

LS: The song "Revolt!" is about the differences you’ve noted in the lifestyles of Europeans versus Americans. In your experience, particularly in the music scenes of these countries, where do you prefer performing live (i.e. where do you receive a better response from the crowd, where do you feel more support, etc.)?

BM: We haven’t played enough shows in Europe to really tell. I think the music scene is a lot more open-minded. They accept bands that are trying to do their own thing, whereas America pretty much allows bands to be alike and still grow.

LS: What kind of an impact has social media had on you as a band trying to expose your music? It used to be that you’d rely on a website and publicist, but nowadays you can use social media to promote yourself at no cost. How effective is it, really?

BM: I think its been really great for our band. The way you build a fan base is one-on-one contact nowadays until you can reach an audience that pretty much demands the airwaves. It’s a great way to build a community around music.

LS: Okay, and finally, this is your chance to mention anything that we haven’t discussed already. Plug away.

BM: We just filmed an amazing video for our new single “The World In Shambles,” where we did a spoof on Jersey Shore, Glee, and Twilight. It will be out soon, so be ready. Check us out on www.facebook.com/drivea, www.Drivearock.com, www.Youtube.com/drivearocks, www.Twitter.com/driveaband

Interview with Mathias Nygard of Turisas

2011-07-21T06:54:00.000-07:00

Back in March of this year Turisas was on tour with Cradle of Filth. We met up with vocalist Mathias before their show in NJ for a quick interview about the tour and their latest album "Stand Up & Fight."

It took us a while to get this interview up as we have been changing a few things around behind the scenes, but we hope it was worth the wait for everyone. If you want to see a full gallery of high-res photos from the NJ show, you can view them HERE

Interview with Swashbuckle

2011-04-04T08:45:00.000-07:00

We recently conducted a video interview with NJ-based Pirate Thrash Metal band Swashbuckle. We included a bunch of outtakes because it was just too damn funny not to!

Watch the tiny version of the video below, or visit the video directly on YouTube Here

Megadeth Bassist David Ellefson

2011-03-09T06:58:00.000-08:00

We got the chance to meet up with David Ellefson in New York City before his Hartke clinic at Sam Ash. We sat down with David to talk a little about Hartke Amps and the clinic tour he was doing with Frank Bello of Anthrax.

Megadeth is currently in the studio working on their next album, which is the first full length album recorded with original bassist David Ellefson back in the band. It will be a follow up to 2009's Endgame which featured new guitarist Chris Broderick.

Byron Stroud: City of Fire

2010-10-18T19:58:00.000-07:00

Lisa Selvaggio: So you’re keeping really busy lately with all of your bands, particularly being on tour right now for Fear Factory and doing interviews for City of Fire. How’s everything been overall?

Byron Stroud: I’m kinda used to it because back in the day I’d do Strapping Young Lad and Zimmer’s Hole, my two bands. We’d tour together. And then I joined Fear Factory, and I had three bands. So I’ve been pretty used to it. In the last few years, we’ve had some time off, concentrating on getting things going with City of Fire. And now it’s coming up again where all of a sudden I have to think about scheduling City of Fire around Fear Factory. I think as long as you communicate with all the people involved (agents, managers, and band members) and let everybody know what your plans are, you can make anything work. The good thing about Fear Factory is that Dino’s got Divine Heresy so he’s got that as well, and, of course, Burton’s got Ascension of the Watchers, and Gene plays in like every single metal band on the planet ::laughs:: so there’s tons of shit going on. So we just basically try to figure out what’s happening as much as possible, make sure everyone knows what our plans are, and it’s actually pretty manageable.

LS: Is it any easier or harder to establish a new group like City of Fire when you are already so well known in the scene (any more pressure; easier to get your music out there; etc.)?

BS: I thought it would be a little harder, but I think because the record is nothing like the other bands we play in, and people seem to be really enjoying it, it’s been pretty easy. The Strapping fans, the Fear Factory fans, are all digging this, which is kinda surprising. I can see how some guys leave bands and have a really hard time getting a new band together and off the ground, but this one seems the music speaks for itself and people are really enjoying it, and it’s coming together quite easily. I’m a little surprised about that, actually. I think if we had made a full-on metal album, a bit of Fear Factory sound in it and stuff, I don’t think people would be behind it as much as they are.

LS: The band itself seems to be based upon the idea of internal, driving fire and creative expression. For those readers who haven’t yet heard the album or read the lyrics, what can you tell us about the meanings behind the songs themselves, individually and/or collectively?

BS: Musically, we just wanted to do something that was, like I said, that wasn’t like the other bands we played in. We wanted to make a record that was something we were all into. Burton and I had been discussing it for a long time, since I joined Fear Factory, that we had a lot of the same influences and stuff, so musically, we wanted to explore our influences and from bands we were really into. So we started writing songs and they started coming together that way, and we were really happy. And lyrically, Burton wrote a love record; it’s about life, love, and losses, and that’s something he’s never really had the chance to write before. It really was quite emotional for him on a lot of the songs on the record.

LS: So, being that you’re promoting the band, what can we expect from City of Fire in the near future?

BS: We’re looking at doing a tour in the States in December/January. We’re gonna tour as much as possible and then next year we’ll probably take 6 months before we settle down to do a new Fear Factory album or whatever and then we’re gonna tour the hell out of it. We got so many songs down. The cool thing about City of Fire is that it’s not just a project, this is a band, and we knew that from the first song we recorded together. We were like, oh my god, there’s so much creativity with this band; we could’ve recorded 30, 40 songs. So there’s gonna be lots more from us in the future.

LS: Based on your experience, now that CDs aren’t really selling, what are the best ways for bands to make money?

BS: Definitely touring. I haven’t been home pretty much since December, because of the Fear Factory stuff that’s coming out. We hit the road and it’s like you gotta make it up on touring. We’re playing the same size shows, the same amount of people come out and know the songs but a 1/3 of them, or less than that even, 1/4 of ‘em, actually bought the record. So you gotta get out there and collect money from the door, them buying tickets and t-shirts and whatever else you’re supplying them with.

Rob Acocella: Now that they’re saving money not buying music, are they spending more on t-shirts?

BS: Yeah, I think so.

RA: At least you make it up then.

BS: Yeah, it’s harder work, but it’s fine. You have to get out there and make other stuff available. So you have bands now that have 10 different t-shirt designs, underwear, stickers, socks ::laughs:: because people will buy it. It’s not unheard of for somebody to drop their credit card on the table and say “gimme one of everything.” That happens often. You can make money but you have to get out there and work it.

LS: Do you find that social media now allows you to get any closer to fans, or is it simply nothing more than a promotional outlet to advertise what you’re up to?

BS: Well, when it really started to come about, I thought I’d get closer to the fans, but then you find out a lot of them aren’t really fans, and once you start hearing all that hurtful shit, ::laughs:: it’s like, you don’t even fuckin’ know me, what are you talking about? They get personal or they tell you you suck or you hear 10 times that you’re fat, you say fuck it, I don’t even wanna go on this thing anymore. ::laughs:: So now it just ends up being a promotional tool. You just don’t wanna deal with these 12-year-old kids in their parents’ basement talkin’ shit. In one case, I love it because it gets my music out there, and on the other hand, I hate it because I don’t want to deal with it; I don’t have time for it in my life. I don’t have Facebook anymore for that reason, because it just got so clogged up with fans, and I appreciate it and I try to be on top of it, but when people start talking shit about you because you’re not replying to emails or posts on the wall, it becomes a pain in the ass. It’s like, I don’t have time for that, I have multiple bands and I have businesses to run. I have a motorcycle shop, a rehearsal studio, a production company. I don’t have time to be on my computer all day checking my Facebook. ::laughs::

RA: I never knew you had a motorcycle shop.

BS: Yeah, myself and the singer from Zimmer’s Hole, he built custom choppers, and I love to ride bikes, and when we had extra time after Fear Factory and Strapping; so first thing I did was got a record deal for Zimmer’s Hole so we could do a new record and then we talked about putting a motorcycle shop together. I thought to myself, what do I love to do? I love playing music, I love riding motorcycles. So we found a space where we could have some rehearsal spaces and bands could jam (3 Inches of Blood is one of our bands in there), and on the other half of the shop we had a motorcycle shop and a couple friends of ours could build bikes. It’s an awesome little complex.

LS: Going back to what City of Fire is all about – finding inspiration even in a bleak environment – I’m sure you can find inspiration pretty much wherever you go in the world we currently live in. Is there anything going on right now, nationally or globally even, that really gets your fire burning?

BS: Obviously, the oil spill in the Gulf is making everybody so angry, especially Burton is losing his fuckin’ mind off it. He’s going off every night and making a speech on stage and whatnot. We end up talking about boycotting oil and stuff like that. We were talking about them (BP) being held accountable for what they’ve done. We still like to drive our cars and tour busses ::laughs:: but there’s gotta be something done. Somebody’s gotta be held accountable, somebody’s gotta pay, go to jail; something’s gotta happen. It’s driving us crazy. So I’m sure the next City of Fire of Fear Factory record will be full of that stuff.

LS: You guys are signed to your own indy record label, correct?

BS: It is. I put together a production company, and our first project was City of Fire. The idea was to start our own thing and get it rolling, try to figure out this business and try to do it a different way. So we made a record and put it on the Internet and did some self-promotion and sold a few copies online and whatnot, and realized it’s not quite there yet, you still need to get the stores, still need to get the distribution. So we started talking to Candlelight about a licensing deal and basically we recorded 3 extra tracks for people to hopefully want to pick up the record again. And Candlelight is super behind it, cross-promotion with Fear Factory and everything, and they loved the record. So that’s the route we’re gonna go with now.

LS: With being on an indy label, what are the benefits and drawbacks as opposed to being on a well-established label?

BS: Pretty much we get to whatever the hell we want. This is my thing, we’re gonna do this, and that’s the way it’s gonna be. There’s no pressure, timelines, or all that stuff. The downfall to that is you don’t have the networking that a lot of labels have. Candlelight, Century Media, and all those labels, they have all these people getting records from them and the media’s in their back pockets. We didn’t have that so we had to outsource for that stuff. That’s why we ended up going to Candlelight for licensing because we just couldn’t do it on our own; it was too much work for myself and three partners. But we got to do what we wanted and make a record we wanted. Whereas a lot of times, before any recording money is given, they wanna hear demos and they’re a little taken aback like “oh you’re a little more serious this time with the music.” With City of Fire we didn’t have to worry about what anybody else thought about it.

LS: Lots of luck on the rest of your tour with Fear Factory. It’s always a great show when you guys play. Do you guys change-up the setlist?

BS: There’s obviously the same songs we play every night, like “Edgecrusher” and “Mechanize” and “Powershifter” and “Fear Campaign” and “Demanufacture” and “Replica.” But then everything else kinda gets moved around. It depends on how many bands are on the bill and how long we can play for.

LS: Anything else you wanna add?

BS: We want people to know this isn’t a side project, it’s an actual band. Burton and I look at this as our future, and there’s gonna be more records to come and more touring. It’s gonna be a good time.

For more photos: DIGImmortal Photo

Guitarist John 5

2010-08-03T20:08:00.001-07:00

Rob Acocella: On your new solo album, The Art of Malice, you've really captured a bunch of different styles of playing. Aside from obviously being a fan of these genres, what made you want to put out something so eclectic?

John 5: To show my appreciation for different styles of music and to have a little variety instead of the same thing over and over again. You won't get tired listening to the cd because you never know what you are going to get next.

RA: You've worked with a lot of big names that would probably surprise some people who weren't familiar with your extensive array of work. Of all those collaborations, writing gigs, recording gigs, etc., who surprised you the most? Meaning, who turned out to be completely different than you had expected going in to the project?

J5: I would say Lynyrd Skynyrd. I had no idea I’d ever get a chance to play with them. That was one of the shinning moments of working with artists. Also playing live with K.D. Lang. I never thought I’d do something for such a great artist as her.

RA: You get quite a lot of sound out of your gear, what does your pedalboard setup look like?

J5: My pedal board setup is almost comical because it’s all Boss pedals except for wah wah
1st I have a noise supressor, 2nd chord, 3rd super overdrive, 4th crybaby wah wah. It’s very simple because I like to have the sound, and do everything with my fingers instead.

RA: Bringing Joey from Slipknot on tour with Rob Zombie seems like a good choice to us. Do you foresee this being somewhat of a permanent position for him despite obvious priorities with Slipknot down the road? Have you guys talked at all about if he's just doing the tour or if he'll be involved in anything more in the future?

J5: We’ve had a great time playing shows and doing the tour with Joey. It’s a great fit and the fans love it a lot. I’ve known him for 10 years and this is the first time we’ve played together so it’s a lot of fun for me.

RA: This is not meant to start any fires, jut an honest, innocent question, but what's it like working for someone like Rob Zombie, who is so involved in many aspects of art? The man makes music, movies, comics... he's probably got a very clear vision of how he wants ever y aspect of the live performance to look. Do you guys get any say regarding the creative process, or do you all pretty much know to step back and let him mastermind the whole thing?

J5: He definitely is the mastermind behind the stage and everything. He does ask our opinions. “What do you guys think, how can we make it better?” It’s never good enough, that’s for sure. I learn a lot watching and hearing what he has to stay about the stage show the look. It’s all a learning process and it’s great.

RA: Your stage image really seemed, to me anyway, to take form during your time with Marilyn Manson. Obviously Rob Zombie is the perfect place to continue your look, but what did you look like before the Manson years? Were you always into the face painting and all that or is that something that became a part of your identity as an artist later on?

J5: I’ve always been into the face painting, as you call it, because of Kiss and things like that. I look at it as entertainment. It’s really a lot of fun to put on war paint before we go onstage.

Lisa Selvaggio: You've worked both as part of a band and as a solo artist. What insight can you give about the advantages and drawbacks of each of those scenarios in today's music industry?

J5: It is tough in today’s industry. There are less and less places to buy music. Record stores are going out of business and it’s harder and harder to buy a CD. But the one saving grace is that music will always be here.

LS: Some of our favorite musicians have said that they don't really listen to the radio because they don't like the music that's out there now. Is that the case with you, or are you more of a fan of today's above-ground bands?

J5: I’m a fan of music, so whatever is good I listen to. Doesn’t matter if it’s new or old. If someone has a great song I am the first to listen and appreciate. How can I keep growing and learning as an artist if I don’t find out what the competition is out there?

LS: How important do you think it is for a musician to be classically trained (i.e. go to college and pursue a degree in music)? We've seen that in some cases, the training stifles the musician's creativity. How much do you think the music classroom hinders or helps a creative spirit?

J5: I don’t think it really affects that much. I’ve only had to read music in a handful of situations. I wish I had more reading gigs, but I am happy with the school I’ve received early on learning music and learning theory.

LS: Seems the music industry is gearing up for a total transition from CDs to digital tracks. How do you feel about this?

J5: I like cds, the physical product of a cd, but on the other hand, I don’t know when the last time I was that I purchased a cd. I go to iTunes and download. Either way I’m fine with it.

LS: Well, John, thanks again for taking the time to do this interview. Is there anything else you'd like to add or promote before we close this interview?

J5: Check out my new solo CD, “Art of Malice” and come see me on tour!

Get to Know Independent Band: Had Enough

2010-07-14T10:13:00.000-07:00

Lisa Selvaggio: How long have you been working on this project, and what was the inspiration behind it?
Had Enough: Two years. Reality is my main inspiration; my music takes on many different topics such as my personal life, politics, the music industry, etc.

LS: How would you describe your image and your sound?
HAD ENOUGH: I don't really have an image. I don't focus too much on that. My sound can be best described as Lyrical Hip-Hop.

LS: Who are you most influenced by musicially as well as lyrically?
HAD ENOUGH: Mostly Immortal Technique, Jedi Mind Tricks, Ill Bill, Diabolic, and the older work of Eminem.

LS: What excites you and/or scares you the most about the music industry as we know it today?
HAD ENOUGH: What scares me the most is how much "puppet work" is being put into place. Too many artists that are huge today are just copy and paste artists, not very much originality is being put out there. And the mainstream cats that do have some sort of original style are half-assing it. But I'm excited to see today marks a great time for independent artists to break through; if they just stay true to themselves and continue to work harder and release quality music, they have a bright future ahead of them. And I'm stoked to see that indie labels are helping small-time artists progress. I always tell people, the best music is in the underground.

LS: What do you have coming up in the near future (ex: album, tour, etc.)?
HAD ENOUGH: My debut album, No American Dream Left is set to drop on iTunes May 21st following a few Midwest tours. I'm also dropping a couple of mixtapes on my http://www.bandcamp.com/ page (hadenough918.bandcamp.com) in November, and then I'll be hitting the studio for my second album, Death to Prima Donnas. Yeah, I'm always working! ::laughs::

Get to Know Independent Band: Man and Machines

2010-07-12T12:55:00.000-07:00

Lisa Selvaggio: How long have you been working on this project, and what was the inspiration behind it?
Ricki Gunz: Me and Angi have been working together on Man and Machines since 2002. In the beginning, Man and Machines was just me doing live Techno/Industrial shows at clubs. Then in early 2002, Angi Gunz joined the band to help write lyrics and then would later become the second vocalist. In the beginning, the theme was very theatrical with many props. Later on, from 2003-2008 the sound changed to a more polished EBM edge. What inspires us is life, politics, and the dark side of the human mind. The new sound of Man and Machines will be very different from previous works.

LS: How would you describe your image and your sound?
Ricki Gunz: In the beginning, I guess you could describe Man and Machine's sound as Dance Techno/Industrial. Later on, Man and Machine’s sound turned to a more harsh, abrasive sound with a tendency towards EBM elements. The new sound will be something even different and we are excited about that!
Angi Gunz: Our new sound is going to reflect our love for different genres of music, and will showcase live instruments. We made what we feel is an amazing EBM album with Analog Hearts, Digital Minds, so now we're working on making something no one has heard before. In addition, to Industrial, Rick is a huge fan of Glam and ‘70s Rock, and I love Rockabilly and Psychobilly, and we're going to put elements of just about everything in the new album. Probably something we can't really describe!

LS: Who are you most influenced by musicially as well as lyrically?
Ricki Gunz: What inspired me to do Electronic/Industrial music was bands such as Frontline Assembly, Skinny Puppy, Front 242, The Human League, Nine Inch Nails, and so many others to mention. Lately, I am really inspired by bands such as Goblin, Libra, Alice Cooper, and a lot of ‘70s Rock.
Angi Gunz: Lyrically, I am inspired by bands that have the capacity to send a message and to make a song that is fun and makes people have a good time. I believe a good band sends you through a lot of emotions in one album. KMFDM, Demented Are Go, Atari Teenage Riot, KLF, Morrissey, Siouxsie and the Banshees. Even though a band may not be the genre you're making, you can still take some influence from the way they make songs and perform.

LS: What excites you and/or scares you the most about the music industry as we know it today?
Ricki Gunz: What is most exciting is being able to re-invent ourselves after years of musical experience. In these times, things can seem negative with the economy and all the free downloading going on. Man and Machines is looking forward to making up for that by doing many live shows, giving the audience the best stage show for their money and time, and maybe selling some music as well. We just love being creative and expressing that through our art.
Angi Gunz: It is both scary and exciting that anyone can start a band by just posting some photos on Myspace with a couple songs, but it's even more frightening how much work it really takes to stick around. There isn't much that can be done about people downloading your music for free. There are other ways of being successful that take an enormous amount of work, and we will never stop!

LS: What do you have coming up in the near future (ex: album, tour, etc.)?
Ricki Gunz: We are working on our second release The New Flesh, which will be out sometime in early 2011. With the release of the album, we will book a tour supporting it, look into making videos for some of the songs. Our fans will notice on The New Flesh a lot more talent we have as musicians, given there will be a lot of acoustic instruments as well as mixing of electronic ones.
Angi Gunz: Our stage show will be explosive, and fans will get a full show with live instruments. Our new music will be genre-busting and innovative!

Visit http://www.manandmachines.com/ for more on this band