Metal Assault: Interviews

By Andrew Bansal

Hailing from Mumbai, India, death/thrash band SystemHouse33 followed up their adventures in Europe in 2015 and recently completed their first ever U.S. run of shows, as successful participants in this year’s Metal Alliance package tour featuring headliners Dying Fetus and support acts The Acacia Strain, Jungle Rot and Black Crown Initiate. SystemHouse33 played the last 17 shows of the eight-week tour, and garnered a positive response from extreme metal hungry audiences across the States. Besides, the band also released their fifth full-length studio album ‘Regression’ independently in January 2016. Vocalist Samron Jude spoke to Metal Assault to reflect on the Metal Alliance tour, discuss the new album, future plans and other things. Enjoy the conversation below. Continue reading “Beast From The East: Indian Band SystemHouse33 Looks Back On First Ever U.S. Tour”

By Andrew Bansal

Based out of Charlotte, North Carolina, Bloody Hammers is a goth/stoner/doom metal quartet led by bassist, vocalist and principal songwriter Anders Manga, and the band’s lineup also includes his wife Devallia on the organ and piano. Having started out in 2012 and still very young in their career, Bloody Hammers have already put out three full-length albums, and are now ready to unveil their fourth LP ‘Lovely Sort Of Death’, slated for an August 5th 2016 release via Napalm Records. The band’s newest effort presents gothic elements in a manner very few other bands have. The discernibly ‘European’ sound, the tone and the atmosphere of this set of tunes is something metalheads would, in all probability, readily appreciate, and with this release, Bloody Hammers are staking their claim as frontrunners in establishing goth metal as a desirable musical genre for listeners. On July 28th, Metal Assault spoke to Anders Manga to discuss the album and more. Enjoy the conversation below. Continue reading “Lovely Sort Of Goth Metal: Bloody Hammers Mainman Discusses New Album”

By Andrew Bansal

Intergalactic miscreants Valient Thorr have been infesting planet earth with their otherworldly rock n’ roll for the past 15 years, and they recently concluded a North American headline tour to celebrate this milestone. Known for their extremely frenzied live performances, the band has toured relentlessly for the majority of their career, and show no signs of returning to their home planet of Venus. Shortly after the end of the ’15 Years On Planet Earth’ tour, they released their seventh full-length studio album ‘Old Salt’ via Napalm Records on July 29th 2016, and have plenty more rock n’ roll mischief in the works for their legion of thorriors to look forward to in the imminent and distant future. A few days before the release of their album, Metal Assault spoke to frontman Valient Himself on all things Valient Thorr. Enjoy the candid conversation below. Continue reading “A Candid Conversation With Valient Himself”

By Andrew Bansal

Hailing from Cleveland, Ohio, Ringworm have been somewhat of an institution in pioneering and carrying the metal-meets-hardcore style of heavy music through the 25-plus years since their late ’80s/early ’90s inception. In terms of popularity, the quintet has steadily gained momentum, and in turn created music at an increasingly faster rate. They’ve clearly seen a shift from their early-years hardcore demographic to a decidedly more metal-oriented fan-following in recent times, and with their sixth full-length studio album ‘Snake Church’, released via Relapse Records on July 29th 2016, they’re all set to expand their metal outreach even further. A few days before the release date, Metal Assault spoke to vocalist Human Furnace to talk about the album and lots more. Enjoy the conversation below. Continue reading “Turning Up The Heat: Ringworm Vocalist ‘Human Furnace’ Talks New Album & More”

By Andrew Bansal

Still reigning as the undisputed metal queen, German singer Doro Pesch has enjoyed a 30-plus year career, and shows no signs of stopping or slowing down. Having completed the 30-year anniversary touring cycle, Doro and her band are now gearing up to work on the follow-up to the latest studio album ‘Raise Your Fist’ (2012), but in the meanwhile, the band is about to release a comprehensive live DVD/Blu-Ray + CD + documentary package called ‘Strong And Proud: 30 Years Of Rock And Metal’ via Nuclear Blast Entertainment on July 15th 2016. This offering chronicles three 30-year anniversary shows in Germany that the band played in 2014 in DVD, Blu-Ray and CD formats, and the documentary takes fans through a journey following the band’s travels on the world tour that ensued after these three special shows. On July 12th 2016, Doro took the time to speak to Metal Assault in detail about this release, and much more. Enjoy the conversation below. Continue reading “Metal Queen Doro Pesch Discusses New Live DVD ‘Strong And Proud’ + More”

By Andrew Bansal

German guitarist and composer Wolf Hoffmann has stayed busy with his classic heavy metal band Accept ever since the band made its comeback in 2010, but while the band was inactive in the late ’90s and early 2000s, Hoffmann released a solo album called ‘Classical’ (1997), wherein he recorded his metal renditions of 11 of his favorite pieces of classical music, an album that also featured his Accept bandmate Peter Baltes on bass. Now, during a brief stint of down time from the crazy world of Accept, Hoffmann is revisiting his classical roots and rediscovering his love for the age-old genre. He is set to release his second solo album ‘Headbangers Symphony’ on July 1st 2016 via Nuclear Blast Entertainment, and carries forward the concept of his first solo effort, but with a more symphonic twist. On June 11th 2016, Hoffmann took some time out of his relentless schedule to talk to Metal Assault in detail about this album, and also offered a tiny bit of insight into plans for the next Accept record. Enjoy the conversation below. Continue reading “Accept Guitarist Wolf Hoffmann Discusses New Solo Album ‘Headbangers Symphony’”