The UK's Most Dedicated Metal Blog
Before Tremonti rocked London, we were able to catch the man behind the sticks Garrett Whitlock to ask a few questions about how Tremonti was developed as a metal band, given that it’s frontman has an extensive history of being involved in alternative rock.
Creativity has always been one of the corner stones of a progressive nature. The sense of the inquisitive has lead to some of the biggest musical advances in recent years. In an age where almost everything has already been done there comes a time when innovation seeks out new blood. Signing a major record deal last year Fallujah began carving their next step in their process of evolution after the critically acclaimed The Flesh Prevails. Very luckily available to speak with guitar maestro Scott Carstairs on the band’s recent UK appearance we spoke to the man about the recording and writing process for the brand new album, what themes we can expect and just what makes them such a powerfully creative force.
It’s no secret that Rhapsody of Fire have struggled a bit musically since separating with prolific songwriter Luca Turilli, who branched off and made his own string of grandiose albums. The band have lost and gained members, lost the backing of a full orchestra and as a result their preceding effort ‘Dark Wings of Steel‘ was lacklustre. 3 years on Rhapsody of Fire are giving it another go to revitalise the band with ‘Into The Legend‘.
The term supergroup can sometimes be thrown around for lack of a better name. Deciding to join forces last year saw the release of one of the best Death Metal albums yet, with both LG Petrov and Victor Brandt of Entombed AD fame along with guitarist Fredrik Folkare of Unleashed, Matte Madiro and Alex the band created a fantastic take on the classic Death Metal formula. Victor kindly enough sat down with us to talk about the debut record, what it’s like being a fan of Death Metal in the modern day and the unlikely hero of the album, melody.
Accept are a band with nothing to prove any more. They have already been inducted into the metaphorical European hall of heavy metal as an enormous force in the genre, remaining as a key influence in countless numbers of bands today. What we didn’t expect is that when the band reformed in 2009, a recharged Accept have put out a line of absolutely stunning albums including the latest of those, ‘Blind Rage‘. We talk to Wolf Hoffmann about how Accept have rekindled the fire, and how they have managed to stay so relevant in a 40 year career.
Epica are well on their way to solidifying their status as not only a symphonic metal great, but a simple metal great. Their latest epic ‘The Quantum Enigma‘ scored fierce points with critics worldwide with the refinement of the Epica symphonic clash of death metal and progressive metal. As we head into 2016, Mark Jansen tells us that Epica will not be slowing down, and will be taking the band to the next level with a brand new album.
Liv Kristine has had quite the lucrative career, fronting a couple of bands that have been key players in the development of gothic and symphonic metal. So many bands have taken influence from her works that to say she is a spearhead in symphonic metal might be an understatement. While we are all familiar with the grandiose bands that are Theatre of Tragedy and Leaves’ Eyes, it’s her interesting and diverse solo career that catches our attention this time around.
Bringing 2015 to fittingly dramatic end, Periphery went on a monumental European tour. Supporting their critically acclaimed brand new double album released at the beginning of the year Juggernaut : Alpha and Juggernaut : Omega. In the ready to access day and age of music, a bold move to release something as lengthy as a double album. Prior to Periphery absolutely blinding London with their headline show, we were lucky enough to be able to speak to vocalist Spencer Sotelo. Understanding exactly how the band tackled such a daunting task of a double album, what the album’s cryptic storyline alludes to and how the singer has truly come into a world of his own we find out just what life is like for these Juggernaut’s.