High Cost

This is the time of the year that most websites/blogs are sharing their Best of the year lists, I on the other hand am catching up on the music that I have missed out so far. One such release is the self titled one from Brooklyn hardcore/grindcore act High Cost. The 7 track EP is one of the most ferocious releases I have heard this year.  

I spoke to the band about the EP, the revival of cassettes and vinyl and more.

Read the interview on The Metal Wanderlust

Striker interview

Last week, I interviewed Skull Fist for The Metal Wanderlust; the band are currently touring Europe with another killer Canadian act Striker. Play to Win is their 6th album in a decade and is definitive release. I found the songs to be quite catchy, ‘The Front’ is one of my favourite along with the first single ‘Head First’.

I spoke to Guitarist Tim Brown about Play to Win, being an independent act and also his current playlist.

You recently wrapped up a North American tour with Unleash the Archers and Helion Prime. What was the highlight of the tour?

The whole tour was a highlight! Great package, great friends. We had a run of about 10 sold out shows on the east coast, plus a bunch of other sold out shows. The Canadian dates were also off the hook!

Play to Win is a classic heavy metal album. Do tell us more about it.

We wanted to experiment with some slower tempos and different sounds on this album. Even snuck in a ballad! We listen to so much music; we wanted to stretch our writing a bit. Try some new things, get weird with it.

What was the writing and recording process for the album?

We basically sit down and rank all our song ideas, and whatever comes out on top goes on an album. We recorded and produced everything ourselves at our home studio then sent it out for a mix/master by Henrik Udd. Super happy with the results, this album is easily our most monstrous!

Play to Win is your third release as an independent artist. Why you have chosen to stay independent and not sign up with any label?

Short answer: labels suck! They take everything and you get very little back. You aren’t in control. No one will work harder for you than you will. You are your best resource. Might as well do it yourself.

What’s currently on your playlist?

Myrone – drift stage volume 1
Toto – the seventh one
Unleash The Archers – follow me to apex
Skullfist – way of the road

What are your thoughts on the current state of heavy metal?

It’s good! Tons of new acts coming out. I think as soon as more bands realize they can do it themselves and don’t need labels, we will have a resurgence of metal. There are already tons of independent acts, but once it becomes the norm not the exception, I think music will be in a better place

Do recommend bands from that the readers should check out?

Skull Fist, Unleash the Archers, Dance With The Dead, tons of good stuff!

You have a European tour with Skull Fist coming up next month. What are you looking forward to at the shows?

Shredding with our European fans! And the beer

Thanks for answering all our questions. Do you have any final words?

Thanks for the support! Check out our website http://www.striker-metal.com for all your Striker needs

Cheers
Tim

Skull Fist

Canadian metal act Skull Fist are one of the leading proponents of the recent Heavy Metal revival. Their latest album “Way of the Road” is a fine slab of 80’s Heavy Metal. The band opted for a organic sound on the album and it complements the songs well.

I spoke to vocalist/guitarist Zach Slaughter about the album, the revival of vinyl, cassettes, and their upcoming European tour with Striker.

Read the interview on The Metal Wanderlust 

Godless

Indian Death/thrash metal act Godless are one of the most hardworking bands in the country. In a short period of 3 years, the band have quite a few notable achievements – released a EP Centuries of Decadence, supported heavyweights acts like Behemoth & Jeff Loomis, an Indian tour with Psycroptic and recently represented India at the Wacken Metal Battle. Later this week, Godless add one more feather to their cap, their second EP Swarm. The release is a potent mix of death and thrash metal.

I spoke to bassist Abbas Razvi about Swarm, performing at Wacken and their upcoming Indian tour.

Read my interview on  VM Underground

United We Groove

The past Friday while most of the music lovers in the city we’re at the Bryan Adams, a faithful few were at United We Groove. The gig was at the new centre for independent music, Above the Habitat. BYOB makes it a good deal for the audience.

I managed to catch a couple of songs by the first couple of bands, Karwaan and Punkture and they weren’t by cup of tea. Although I did like Punkture‘s cover of Velvet Revolver ‘Slither’.

Grunge act Hook played songs from their recently released EP Blank Spaces and they sounded good. The surprise of their set was a cover of Split Holy Ghost Machine Gun.

The band I was really looking forward to was Primitiv. The band keep getting better each time I watch them live. Their set list mainly consisted of track from their album Immortal and Vile . A addition to their set is a unreleased track Squishy and Spongy (video below)* . The band are currently in the studio recording and I can’t wait to listen to their new material.

I didn’t stick around for the last band Systemhouse33 as it was late. Congratulations to the band on completing 15 years. 

*Posting the video since I manage to get decent audio.

Warmarshal

Warmarshal are an upcoming death metal band from India. A year after forming, the band are set to put out their debut release, To Regain Lost Glory. The EP is 5 tracks of war themed death metal and will appeal to fans of Bolt Thrower and Hail of Bullets. 
Find out more about the EP, old school death metal and their upcoming gigs in my interview with the band below 

Read the interview on VM Underground

Khôrada

13th May, 2016, was a tough day for metal fans around the world as Doom/Folk metal act Agalloch announced that they were breaking up. One of the bands formed in the wake of the Agalloch split was Khôrada. The band sounds unlike Agalloch or Giant Squid (Aaron Gregory is the vocalist). I really enjoyed their first release Salt and spoke to Don Anderson about starting over, the album and also his thoughts on the current metal scene.

Read my interview with Don Anderson on The Metal Wanderlust