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American Gangsters: Interview with Broadway Mob

Last week, TBOS conducted an interview with Broadway Mob, a death metal band from Minot, N.D. They discuss their upcoming album and the importance of supporting local music.

Here are some snippets from the talk.

The Blog of Shredding: So why did you choose the name Broadway Mob? It’s such an atypical name for a death metal band.

Tony Waswick (vocals): (laughs) I guess that’s more Tom’s story than anything.

Tom Shepherd (drums): We live in a town that had a lot to do with Prohibition in North Dakota, and Broadway Mob is a Prohibition gang from that era. And Broadway is the main street in our town, so it just seemed kind of fitting.

TBOS: Your first song is called “Blessed By Thor,” and you described it as a “jaw-dropping experience” because you hadn’t heard anything like it. Could you describe it? Like why would you say that?

Shepherd: I personally had never played anything like that.

Waswick: Yeah, I’m kind of in the same boat. There was nothing I’d been involved with before. It was kind of eye-opening to see how fast it came together with the three of us playing together for the first time. I think it was that first night (when) we really got it written, so it’s kinda eye-opening that way. And jaw-dropping, as far as the song goes, it’s different to us… It’s just awesome.

Shepherd: And Colin? Colin wrote it, so he’s gotta say something.

Colin Swanson (guitar): Actually, it changed quite a bit from how I originally had it. But it sounds a lot better than the way I envisioned it going at first.

TBOS: And you’re working on a possible debut album, am I right?

Waswick: Yeah. It’s been kind of half-a—- in the works for over a year, but now it’s just kind of down to the core of the band again. We’re kind of really buckling down on it, say, “Let’s just f—— do it.” You know, get some good songs written, get whatever we’ve got, make it as good as it possibly can be.

You can hear more of the interview below.

Thanks to the guys from the Mob for recording the videos!

The Existence of the METAL CHURCH – and not the band!

Metal Church. Mention these two words to a metalhead, and they will think of the  band, their song and the album of the same name.

Headbangers are not normally seen as religious people.

The PMRC created a list of 15 morally detrimental songs called “The Flithy Fifteen”. Bands on the list included Mercyful Fate, W.A.S.P. and Motley Crue.

Norweigan black metal singer Varg Vikernes was accused of burning churches down.

But BBC News Magazine recently did a report on different churches created and run by our metal bretheren.

Here are a few of them:

  • The Order of the Black Sheep: a Church of England ministry based in Chesterfield, UK. Minister Mark Broomhead is a member of Seventh Angel, a Christian thrash metal band. SA shared a label with Metallica and Slayer at one time. Sermons only last a few minutes.
  • Glorious Undead is a London Christian church, originally founded to appeal to members of the alternative music scene. They are an official church and part of the Elim Pentecostal network.
  • Pastor Bob Beeman runs Sanctuary International, a church aimed at metalheads based in Nashville, Tenn.

Do you know of any more metal churches? Feel free to post them in the comments section.

Why the Grammys Are Clueless About Metal

Unless you’ve been away from the headbanging world, you are aware that Halestorm won the 2013 Grammy for “Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance”. This win is historic in the sense that singer Lzzy Hale is the first female singer to ever be nominated for that category and win.

By all means, congrats to Halestorm. They are a hard working band and “Love Bites (So Do I)” is a great song.

But once again, this decision reflects the cluelessness of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS), the head of the Grammys, when it comes to metal.

The hard rock/metal category has undergone several changes.

The first and only “Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance Vocal or Instrumental” Grammy was awarded in 1989. It was expected that Metallica would win. Their album “…And Justice For All” had spawned the hit “One” and was their best-selling album to date.

But non-metal band Jethro Tull won.

Jethro Tull released an ad in Billboard Magazine showing a picture of a flute and the line, “The flute is a real, heavy metal instrument!” Subsequent editions of Metallica’s “…And Justice For All” contained a sticker reading “Grammy Award LOSERS.”

Metallica: Grammy award LOSERS. Photo courtesy frenk tatranky on Flickr.

Metallica: 1989 Grammy award LOSERS. Photo courtesy frenk tatranky on Flickr.

Entertainment Weekly called it one of the biggest upsets in Grammy history.

Due to criticism of the academy, separate hard rock and metal categories were created (though the two genres were recombined into one category for the 2012 awards.)

Here are some more examples of the board’s knowledge:

  • Metallica won the 1991 metal Grammy for their cover of Queen’s “Stone Cold Crazy,” though Queen itself was never nominated.
  • Motörhead won the 2005 metal Grammy for a cover of Metallica’s “Whiplash”.
  • The 2009 metal Grammy was awarded to Judas Priest for a live version of “Dissident Aggressor,” a song originally released in 1977.

Now it’s 2013, and though the board appears to have made progress, there are still changes to be made.

Up against Halestorm were Iron Maiden, Megadeth, Anthrax, Marilyn Manson and Lamb Of God.

Iron Maiden has one Grammy to their legendary name. They are often credited as one of the pioneers of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal and are regarded as one of the most successful metal bands of all time.

Anthrax and Megadeth are two of the Big Four of Thrash Metal, which were credited with popularizing the genre. Neither have won a Grammy. Megadeth holds the record for the most Grammy nominations (eleven) in the metal category without a win.

The hard rock/metal category is the still the only one dedicated to this art form and the award is not televised. Eddie Trunk and other metal journalists have complained about the outright disrespect for these musical genres by the board.

Though the talent of all this year’s nominees is unmistakable, Halestorm’s win is reminiscent of actions by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Winners and inductees are not chosen according to a band’s record sales or influence, but according to politics.

While KISS, Deep Purple (“Smoke on the Water”), Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, and countless other influential rock and metal bands have yet to be inducted, newer bands like Guns N’ Roses and non-rock acts like Madonna are in there.

With all due respect to Halestorm, the proponents of “Music’s Biggest Night” have a lot of explaining to do.

Mayhem in Muncie

TBOS sat down with Zach Clifton, drummer for Indiana death metal band Nezera. He revealed their plans for their upcoming album, “Demons to Some, Angels to Others,” their single “It’s Not The Bath Salts,” and their appearance at an upcoming metal festival.

You can hear the full interview below.

Ex-Anthrax Guitarist Rob Caggiano Joins Volbeat

Today, Danish groove metal band Volbeat announced that former Anthrax guitarist Rob Caggiano has joined their band.

Caggiano onstage with Anthrax. Photo courtesy clintjcl on Flickr.

Caggiano onstage with Anthrax. Photo courtesy clintjcl on Flickr.

The guitarist announced his departure from Anthrax exactly one month ago. Caggiano wished to focus on a career in music production and was in Denmark to producing Volbeat’s latest album, “Outlaw Gentlemen and Shady Ladies,” when vocalist Michael Paulsen asked him to join the band.

Caggiano was a member of Anthrax from 2001 to 2005 and again from 2007 to 2013.

 

 

Testament, Overkill and 4ARM Live in Tempe, Ariz.

  1. Mere hours before the show began, Testament guitarist Eric Peterson held a meet-and-greet at the Tempe Guitar Center.
  2. Here at the Tempe @guitarcenter waiting for Eric Peterson of @testamentband! http://twitpic.com/c051tr
  3. Peterson signed memorabilia and took pictures with his fans.
  4. Me with Eric Peterson! Time to haul butt to the Marquee now. http://twitpic.com/c05bxd
  5. Metalheads congregated at the Marquee Theater.
  6. Opening band 4ARM played a six-song set that left headbangers’ necks sore.
  7. 4ARM just finished up their set. My neck already hurts. http://twitpic.com/c05w87
  8. Sound check for Overkill. The drums resonate in your chest! THIS is how a thrash band is meant to sound. http://twitpic.com/c05zak
  9. As the crowd waited for Overkill to take the stage, “Walk” and other songs by Pantera were blared over the P.A. system to get the fans pumped.
  10. Overkill played an impressive set to a destructive crowd. The charismatic frontman Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth strutting across the stage.
  11. Overkill just finished their set. INSANE crowd. Just got crushed by 2 crowd surfers.
  12. Bobby Blitz is one hell of a frontman. One of the best I’ve seen.
  13. Headliners Testament thrashed to a 15-song setlist, heavily composed of tracks from their latest album, “Dark Roots of Earth” (2012).
  14. Overall, the event was great but fans were left wanting to hear more classic material from the headliners.
  15. Testament put on a hell of a show, even though I was expecting “Electric Crown”. http://twitpic.com/c079qt

Witches of Farmland

Conceived on National Metal Day, Witches Mass seeks to combine 80s glam, thrash and modern death metal into a theatrical tour-de-force.

Despite hailing from the tiny town of Farmland, Ind., (population 1,333 in 2010) singer and main songwriter Chase B. Carothers is set on ruling the world with his songs based on death and rebirth.

The name “Witches Mass” was inspired by the Salem Witch Trials, which may have a closer connection with the metal community than one would assume.

“Anybody who has studied the witch trials knows it was basically bogus,” Carothers says, soft-spoken.

“Metal has always been the one genre where people stand up to things, stand up against something, regardless of what it is. Typically, you see metalheads–a lot of metalheads do not go with the crowd. Metalheads are outcasts,” he says. “So that’s pretty much what the Salem witches were, it’s they were pretty much outcasted [sic] from that society and falsely accused of some things that they didn’t do. Well in general, that happens to metal and metalheads a lot.”

Like the accusations against the West Memphis Three?

“Exactly. Exactly. That’s the modern-day witch hunt, what happened with the West Memphis Three.”

Witches Mass is in the process of writing and recording their debut EP, “Demise and Redemption”.

You can hear the full interview below.

Link

Doro Interview Featured on Blabbermouth!

Doro Interview Featured on Blabbermouth!

It fills TBOS with great delight that the interview with Doro Pesch for KASC The Blaze 1330 AM (and transcribed here) was featured on Blabbermouth.net!

Here’s to many more successful interviews to come!

-A.D.

 

This Week in Metal: NAMM, Ozzfest Japan, Whitesnake and More

This week in metal was a hard one to cover due to the excitement surrounding NAMM. So here are the highlights of this week:

  • Ozzfest Japan 2013 will take place in May and feature Black Sabbath. Other bands include: SlipknotSlash featuring Myles Kennedy and the ConspiratorsDeftonesToolThe TreatmentDir En Grey and Steel Panther.
  • Dave Mustaine revealed that Megadeth will embark on a short tour with Iron Maiden in Spain, Italy, and France. He said that Megadeth is nearly finished recording their fourteenth album, but did not reveal what record label they have signed with. Mustaine also gave some hints as to what bands will be on Gigantour 2013. He said they are “notorious bad boys”. Perhaps they will tour with Mötley Crüe once again?
  • Dee Snider (Twisted Sister) was the subject of an all-star roast featuring Lita FordZakk Wylde and Jim Norton.
  • Ray Burton, father of deceased Metallica bassist Cliff Burton, signed autographs at the ARIA Guitars booth at NAMM.
David Ellefson of Megadeth (2nd from left) and Ray Burton (2nd from right) at the ARIA Guitars booth at NAMM 2013. Photo credit: Metallica official Facebook.

David Ellefson of Megadeth (2nd from left) and Ray Burton (2nd from right) at the ARIA Guitars booth at NAMM 2013. Photo credit: Metallica official Facebook.

  • Drummer Tommy Aldridge rejoined Whitesnake.
  • preview of the new 3D Guns N’ Roses concert film is now available.
  • L.A. Guns posted the first photo of their new lineup featuring guitarist Michael Grant (Endeverafter).
New lineup of L.A. Guns. Photo credit: L.A. Guns official Facebook page.

New lineup of L.A. Guns. Photo credit: L.A. Guns official Facebook page.

  • A preview of the new Motörhead book “Roadkill” went online. 
  • Geoff Tate’s Queensryche revealed a new lineup.
  • The Dillinger Escape Plan and Trapped Under Ice were added to New England Metal and Hardcore Fest.
  • A Sepultura  biography is due for release later this year.
  • Roadrunner Records signed Kvelertak.
  • Poison drummer Rikki Rockett will star in a new reality series called “American Drums”.
  • Flotsam and Jetsam bassist Jason Ward will not be joining the band on their upcoming tour with Testament and Overkill due to family commitments.
  • Drummer Lyle Cooper quits The Faceless.
  • A rumored lineup of Mayhem Fest includes Rob Zombie, Amon Amarth, Deftones, and Children of Bodom. The official lineup will be released Mar.18.

Thus concludes TBOS’s “This Week In Metal”.

Doro Pesch Interview Transcript – Part 4

In the final part of this interview, Doro Pesch discusses her future plans and reveals her thoughts on the current metal scene. Her new movie “Anuk: The Path of the Warrior 2” will be released next year. She plans to do a new fashion line and create a champagne to commemorate her career’s 30th anniversary.

The previous parts of the interview are here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

Doro Pesch, 2008. Photo courtesy valvemagazine on Flickr.

Doro Pesch, 2008. Photo courtesy valvemagazine on Flickr.

The Blog of Shredding: You design all your own stage clothes, right?

Doro Pesch: Yeah, but somebody else is sewing it and usually it’s not real leather. Because one day, I thought, “Man, I don’t want to hurt anybody and I don’t want to have, you know, any animals getting killed for my stage clothes.” So our stage clothes, they look like leather, but they are actually not real leather or other fabrics. I have a lady who’s sewing it, but we’re always working together and making how I want it and then her ideas, we get together. But she’s sewing it. Yeah, she’s a professional. I used to do that by myself in the 80s, but yeah, it’s better when you have a professional. (laughs)

The Blog of Shredding: Have you ever considered making a fashion line?

Doro Pesch: Yeah, actually I got my own fashion line. It’s called “Love Me in Black,” and it’s all, of course, black clothes and it has all kinds of jean material and like fake leather, which looks really good. And I would love to do a second one in time, maybe for the 30th anniversary. We were thinking about working out with some people together, they are like doing this gothic clothes, gothic metal clothes. Yeah, so it’s maybe something that’s in the making. But so far, I’m always on tour or just finished mixing the record or the promotion tour, so I don’t know if it will come out this year. But something nice.

I want to do something nice for the 30th anniversary, having a big celebration. And I think we will have our own champagne, the 30th anniversary champagne! There’s a perfume line in the making for ladies, so some little goodies. Something for the merchandise, not like big¸ big, big, just something nice to collect and stuff.

The Blog of Shredding: What are some of your other future plans?

Doro Pesch: Just a couple of days ago, I came back from Switzerland and I finished the movie “Anuk: The Path of the Warrior 2.” I did it one time in 2007, and now the second part we just filmed it before the European tour. And we didn’t finish it. And I just finished it last week. I wanna do maybe a couple of songs for the movie because that’s how we got together in the first place. The guy who’s doing it—the director and producer—his name is Luke Gasser, and he asked me if I wanted to write the title track for the movie that was back in 2006, 2007. And I said, “I would love to. I would love to.” So he gave me the script, and I thought, “Wow! This is great.” It’s like an adventure movie, and I said, “Oh, I would love that!” And he said, “Do you want to play a part in it too?” And I said,” Wow! I never did it. I just did (music) videos.” He said,” Oh, let’s do it.” So I did, and my part was actually a warrior named Meha. Now I play the part of Meha again. And we filmed it in the mountains in Switzerland and in Ireland. It was very exciting. So this will come out this year as well, maybe end of 2013, beginning of 2014.

Then nonstop touring the world, and I just wanna concentrate to do a great American tour and to give the fans the best we’ve ever played. And we will play all the songs from the old school metal songs of the 80s, some great Warlock songs which fans never heard (live), some surprises, the title tracks of all the records. Now there’s like 17 records. All the best stuff. All the best songs of the new album. Yeah, that’s actually what I’m most excited about now.

We will celebrate the 30th anniversary, we’ll have some big shows with great guests. The first one, we will do Open Air in Wacken this year in August. Then I want to do two in Dusseldorf, Germany, my hometown. Two shows, two nights in a row, maybe with orchestra and great guests. And the other one, maybe—something spectacular. Something really great. And I want to do one time in London, one time in Paris, and one time in New York, since I live there now since ’87. So we want to do like these extra-special shows… Yeah, I think that’s more than the whole year can be, then there’s time, so yeah.

The Blog of Shredding: What do you think of the state of metal nowadays?

Doro Pesch: Oh, I think it’s in great shape and I think the festivals worldwide—usually they’re like the biggest and best festivals. For example, Wacken, it’s already sold out. It was eight months sold out before the show would take place. And the last time, I think it was sold out six months before it took place. So I think it’s a great sign.

Worldwide, I think we can tour the world much more. In the 80s, it was impossible to tour Russia or China or Romania, Bulgaria, and now, we can tour all over the world and I think that’s awesome. Thailand we did too. It’s fantastic, so I think the world became much more open and I think there’s still a lot of work to do and some other countries where it’s impossible to listen to metal or to even go there to tour.

But other than that, metal is in great shape. I think it almost reminds me of the 80s, and I think that’s very good.

I miss all like the great magazines. I was a big fan of these great magazines, and I miss them. And I miss the big record stores where you could, you know, go in and like, you know, weed through for ten hours. So that’s what I miss a little bit. But on the other hand, now everything’s available on the Internet.

So I guess in one way it’s good, in another way—I still love vinyl. And the few ways to send the record, the record company, I told them I would like to have a vinyl edition. And they said, “Yes, we know your fans would like that.” So there’s actually vinyl editions, that’s awesome. Yeah, and I think metal is in really good shape, very strong.

The Blog of Shredding: What are some new metal bands you’re listening to?

Doro Pesch: I like Children of Bodom, I like In Flames, Arch Enemy, Sabaton, Saltatio Mortis. There’s a very unique metal band that do—I don’t know how you call them. Maybe “Middle Age”. It’s like, they have like these different instruments like the old, old instruments. I don’t know how you call that genre in English.

Me: Folk metal?

Doro: It’s not folk metal. It’s called “mittlelalter”. “Mittlelalter” means “middle age” or “dark age”. And it’s very interesting, so if people are interested, it’s a great band. Saltatio Mortis is their name. I sing on one of their records. We did a duet. The song’s called “Salome”. Yeah, and they’re young guys, really great.

And I’m a big Rammstein fan. Of course, they’re not so new anymore. It’s not like they just came out, but it’s already, you know, so many more years…

All the bands I loved in the 80s, I still love them, I must say (laughs).

I like Steel Panther. They’re so much fun! (laughs)

And so concludes our interview with the ever-humble Metal Queen.

Tomorrow on TBOS: This Week in Metal. NAMM, Ozzfest Japan, Tommy Aldridge rejoins Whitesnake and more.