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A Candid Conversation With Deicide Frontman Glen Benton

By Andrew Bansal

Eleven albums and 26 years deep into their career, Tampa, Florida death metal veterans Deicide continue to deliver what their ardent fans desire and expect from them. Their newest effort, the 11th studio album ‘In The Minds Of Evil’ is set to release via Century Media Records on November 25th, and is another slab of vicious death metal, the kind Deicide are known for. They just completed a North American tour with Broken Hope, and as is typical of anything Deicide-related, controversy never seems to escape their surroundings. Two days ago on a cold Thursday afternoon, frontman Glenn Benton called me for a phone interview, and in this very candid conversation, he addressed the drama that unfolded towards the end of that tour, the new album, lyric writing, health, Marijuana, mankind’s fascination with evil, and other topics. Enjoy the chat below. Continue reading “A Candid Conversation With Deicide Frontman Glen Benton”

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In-depth Interview With Skeletonwitch Drummer Dustin Boltjes

By Andrew Bansal

Athens, Ohio’s blackened thrash horde Skeletonwitch have been going from strength to strength with every album release, and their latest studio effort ‘Serpents Unleashed’ is no exception to that trend. Filled to the brim with quintessential Skeletonwitch black thrash goodness but at the same time expanding on what they’ve offered previously, this new album firmly solidifies their reign as one of the finest metal bands to have graced the planet in recent years. Currently they’re on a North American tour as main support act to The Black Dahlia Murder, and 2014 is already shaping up to be a stellar year for them, as they have a North American tour lined up with Amon Amarth and Enslaved, followed by further activity in Europe and Australia. Their tour with The Black Dahlia Murder visited the Glass House in Pomona on November 16th, and before the show I caught up with drummer Dustin Boltjes for a detailed chat about the tour, new album, his outsider’s perspective on Skeletonwitch, drumming influences, hair metal and more. Enjoy the conversation below.  Continue reading “In-depth Interview With Skeletonwitch Drummer Dustin Boltjes”

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Video Interview With Kreator Frontman Mille Petrozza

By Andrew Bansal

Teutonic thrash veterans Kreator put out a refreshingly diverse yet typically crushing studio album called ‘Phantom Antichrist’ via Nuclear Blast Records last year, and followed it up with the ‘Teutonic Terror Attack’ North America tour with fellow Germans Accept. This year, while they are continuing to tour behind the latest studio album, they have released a live DVD/CD called ‘Dying Alive’, and are currently on a co-headline North American run with New Jersey thrashers Overkill, along with California’s Warbringer as the opening act. The tour made a stop at the Grove of Anaheim on November 15th, and before the show, I sat down with guitarist/vocalist Mille Petrozza to discuss the tour, last year’s India show, the Dying Alive DVD, America’s obsession with TV, and a variety of other topics. Watch the 11-minute chat below. Continue reading “Video Interview With Kreator Frontman Mille Petrozza”

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Video Interview With Overkill Singer Bobby ‘Blitz’ Ellsworth

By Andrew Bansal

Building upon the strength of two fantastic recent releases ‘Ironbound’ and ‘The Electric Age’, New Jersey thrash legends are currently annihilating stages across North America on the ‘Legends Of Thrash’ tour, a co-headline run with German thrashers Kreator and Southern California youngsters Warbringer as the opening act. This tour visited the Grove of Anaheim on November 15, and before the show I sat down with singer Bobby ‘Blitz’ Ellsworth for a detailed chat about this tour, the band’s recent ‘Battle Of San Bernardino’ experience, new music, vocal recording, and lots more. Watch the 15-minute chat below and read a review of the Anaheim show or visit Overkill on the web using the links at the bottom. Continue reading “Video Interview With Overkill Singer Bobby ‘Blitz’ Ellsworth”

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In-depth Interview With Warbringer Vocalist John Kevill

By Andrew Bansal

Los Angeles’ very own thrash flag bearers Warbringer have been on a relentless, endless cycle of album releases and tours ever since they started out nine years ago. They put out their fourth studio album ‘IV: Empires Collapse’ via Century Media Records last month, a dynamic effort that sees them explore both the darker and lighter sides of thrash. Currently, they are on the massive Kreator-Overkill ‘Legends Of Thrash’ tour as the opening act, and this tour made a stop at the Grove of Anaheim on November 15th. Before the show, I spoke to vocalist John Kevill about all things Warbringer. Check out the conversation below. Continue reading “In-depth Interview With Warbringer Vocalist John Kevill”

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Alestorm Frontman Discusses Touring, In-N-Out Burgers, Disneyland & More

By Andrew Bansal

Scottish pirate metal band Alestorm bring the fun to the stage like no other. Currently they are on their first ever North American headline tour, with two very appropriate support acts Trollfest and Gypsyhawk. The tour began at the Yost Theater in Santa Ana on November 11th, and even for a Monday night, the fans turned up in huge numbers to bask in the glory that is Alestorm’s live show. A few hours before the gig started, I sat down with frontman Christopher Bowes to talk about a variety of things. The conversation veered from touring to In-N-Out burgers to Disneyland and pirates. Enjoy the hilarious chat below. Continue reading “Alestorm Frontman Discusses Touring, In-N-Out Burgers, Disneyland & More”