Metal Assault: Interviews

By Andrew Bansal

To a majority of metalheads around the world, the history and reputation of the Los Angeles metal scene equates to glam metal, which is far from the truth. Enter journalist Bob Nalbandian, who has been conducting interviews and writing reviews since the early ’80s, to finally rectify the perception of LA metal, both for people from and outside LA. He released ‘Pioneers Of LA Hard Rock And Metal’, the first in the ‘Inside Metal’ trilogy of documentary movies in 2014, and has followed it up with the second movie ‘The LA Metal Scene Explodes’, which was premiered at the Regency Plaza theaters in North Hollywood on June 6th 2016, and will soon see a DVD release. Bob Nalbandian spoke to Metal Assault to discuss these movies in detail. Enjoy the conversation below. Continue reading “From Backstage To Silver Screen: Veteran Journalist Bob Nalbandian Discusses ‘Inside Metal’ Movies”

By Andrew Bansal

Over the last 12 years, San Francisco Bay Area thrash veterans Death Angel have come back into active prominence stronger than any other band on this planet, and are firing on all cylinders, hungrier and more menacing than ever. Their eighth studio album ‘The Evil Divide’ releases on May 27th 2016 via Nuclear Blast Records, and sees them not only retain their reputation but enhance it further with some hard-hitting yet diverse tunes.  The band has been announced as the opening act on a Fall 2016 U.S. tour with Slayer and Anthrax, and are poised to destroy stages with material new and old. Vocalist Mark Osegueda recently spoke to Metal Assault to discuss the new album in detail. Enjoy the conversation below. Continue reading “Death Angel Vocalist Talks About New Album ‘The Evil Divide’ & More”

By Andrew Bansal

Los Angeles-based Fear Factory have been a highly influential musical entity in the industrial/modern metal genre over the years, and have stayed relevant through a 25-plus year career. Now, even as they continue to release hard-hitting new material such as the latest album ‘Genexus’ (2015), they are also revisiting their seminal years by performing the iconic ‘Demanufacture’ (1995) in its entirety for the first time on a full US tour this Spring. They’re taking out Swedish melodic death metal group Soilwork as support act on this run. Last Wednesday March 16th 2016, guitarist and songwriter Dino Cazares spoke to Metal Assault to discuss this tour, Demanufacture, the latest album, playing the ‘non Dino era’ material, and more. Enjoy the conversation below and catch Fear Factory on the Demanufacture tour. Continue reading “Fear Factory Guitarist Talks About ‘Demanufacture’ U.S. Tour & More”

By Andrew Bansal

British legends Napalm Death are pioneers in more ways than one, not only musically spawning several generations of grindcore/extreme metal-inspired musicians that came after them, but also carrying a reputation of presenting entertaining concepts and ideas, and taking uncalculated, out-of-the-box steps along their career path. To that effect, Napalm Death are now ready to embark on the ‘Savage Imperial Death March’ North American tour with Melvins and Melt Banana, for what promises to be an intriguing event for fans. Frontman Mark ‘Barney’ Greenway took the time to speak to Metal Assault last Friday March 11th 2016 to discuss this tour, the band’s recent gigs with Faith No More, the latest album ‘Apex Predator – Easy Meat’ and music videos, among other things. Enjoy the conversation below, and catch Napalm Death on the upcoming tour. Continue reading “Napalm Death Frontman Discusses ‘Savage Imperial Death March’ Tour & More”

By Andrew Bansal

Tackling the seemingly insurmountable challenge of topping their two ‘Parallax’ releases that surfaced in 2011 and 2012, Raleigh, North Carolina progressive metal titans Between The Buried And Me took themselves to even higher altitudes with their seventh full-length album ‘Coma Ecliptic’, a concept-based, rock opera style 68-minute magnum opus of all things prog. Following the July 2015 Metal Blade Records release of the album, Between The Buried And Me began the touring cycle with headline run in the States, and are now ready to embark on yet another, with Enslaved, Intronaut and Native Construct as opening acts, for what promises to be the prog event of the year. On November 11th, I spoke to bassist Dan Briggs to talk about ‘Coma Ecliptic’, the ’70s prog influence, songwriting, the upcoming tour and more. Enjoy the conversation below. Continue reading “Between The Buried And Me Bassist Talks About ‘Coma Ecliptic’ & Upcoming Tour”

By Andrew Bansal

In 2015, Raleigh NC veterans Corrosion Of Conformity resurrected their four-piece incarnation with the return of Pepper Keenan as guitarist/vocalist, and revisited their stoner rock/sludge metal era. Following highly successful tours in Europe and the US, C.O.C. signed a deal with Nuclear Blast and will begin work on a new album soon. Now, they are about to embark on a North American headline tour with support acts Brant Bjork And The Low Desert Punk Band, Saviours and Mothership, and the trek includes a gig at the Teragram Ballroom in Los Angeles on November 17th. On November 11th, I spoke to Pepper Keenan about all things C.O.C. Enjoy the conversation below. Continue reading “Pepper Keenan Discusses Return To Corrosion Of Conformity”