Metal Assault: Interviews

By Andrew Bansal

Over the past decade, Swedish traditional heavy metal band Enforcer have delivered music that has made a longlasting impact on lovers of the genre, and their fourth studio album ‘From Beyond’, already released in Europe and the UK and set for a US release on April 7th via Nuclear Blast, is another feather in their cap and serves up ten righteous new compositions that enhance and intensify the band’s ever-strenghtening musical arsenal. ‘From Beyond’ promises to be the ultimate heavy metal album of the modern era in every way imaginable. Last week, I spoke to vocalist/guitarist/primary songwriter Olof Wikstrand to discuss the ideas behind the music and artwork that eventually made it onto the album, his thoughts on the new generation of old-school bands, touring plans and more. Enjoy the conversation below. Continue reading “Enforcer Frontman Talks About New Album ‘From Beyond’ & More”

Interview by Avinash Mittur

In 2014, San Francisco Bay Area thrash veterans Exodus decided to fulfill the desires of a majority of their fans by bringing back singer Steve ‘Zetro’ Souza into the fold and releasing a new Zetro-fronted studio album called ‘Blood In, Blood Out’ via Nuclear Blast Records. Building on the strongly positive response they’ve received for the album and continuing on with their revivalistic phase, they are about to hit the road in North America with fellow Bay Area thrashers Testament. As part of this tour, they will perform at the House Of Blues Sunset Strip in Los Angeles on Thursday April 2nd. Last week, our writer Avinash Mittur caught up with Zetro himself to talk in detail about the upcoming tour, his return to Exodus, the prospects of performing ‘Legacy’ songs with Testament, his other bands, and other topics. Enjoy the conversation below. Continue reading “In Conversation With Exodus Frontman Steve ‘Zetro’ Souza”

By Andrew Bansal

San Francisco Bay Area thrash giants Testament have enjoyed a resurgence as strong as anyone in recent years, with undeniably impressive albums ‘The Formation Of Damnation’ (2008) and ‘The Dark Roots Of Earth’ (2012). But for the sake of their younger fans who never had a chance to see them in their early years, Testament are revisiting their first two albums ‘The Legacy’ and ‘The New Order’ by playing them both in their entirety on the upcoming North American headline tour, plus selections from the third record ‘Practice What You Preach’. Testament are taking out fellow San Francisco thrash veterans Exodus as main support, and Texas metal six-piece Shattered Sun as opening act. The thrash extravaganza will hit Los Angeles on Thursday April 2nd, at House Of Blues Sunset Strip. Yesterday on March 26th, I spoke to vocalist Chuck Billy about this tour, the next album and more. Enjoy the conversation below. Continue reading “Testament Frontman Discusses Retrospective Set List & More”

By Andrew Bansal

The Los Angeles hard rock/heavy metal community has all kinds of characters, but only a few have the midas touch. Producer Tom Chandler is one such person, as is evident from the results he has achieved with every band he has worked with, be it Legal Tender, Diamond Lane or Desecrate. Having developed a genuine admiration for these three great local bands, it was only a matter of time before I reached the man behind the console. Last Friday, I sat down with Tom Chandler over some delicious food at Thai Patio in Hollywood and had a detailed and candid conversation with him about production, the LA scene and more. Enjoy it below, and come check out Diamond Lane and Desecrate at their next local gig at the Troubadour on March 21st, and Legal Tender at Loaded Hollywood on March 28th. Continue reading “A Candid Conversation With Producer Tom Chandler”

By Andrew Bansal

Having contributed a great deal to the world of classic hard rock through the past four decades with his efforts in UFO, Scorpions, MSG and other projects, guitar legend Michael Schenker has been working under the moniker Michael Schenker’s Temple Of Rock for the past few years, with Doogie White (vocals), Wayne Findlay (guitar/keyboards), and his old Scorpions band mates Francis Buchholz (bass) and Herman Rarebell (drums). The quintet is all set to release a new album called ‘Spirit On A Mission’ on March 20th in Europe and on March 24th in the US via In-Akustik, and will tour the States immediately after. This album comes as a follow-up to the stellar late 2013/early 2014 release ‘Bridge The Gap’, and sees Michael Schenker in fine form. A few weeks ago, I spoke to him in detail about this band, the new album and lots more. Enjoy the conversation below. Continue reading “Building The Temple Of Rock: In Conversation With Michael Schenker”

By Andrew Bansal

Originating from Crete, Greece but calling Los Angeles home for the best part of the last five years, Barb Wire Dolls have emerged as the new voice of real punk rock, displaying a strong element of attitude that goes hand in hand with any compelling representation of the genre. After playing hundreds of shows all over the world and frequenting the Los Angeles/Orange Country club circuit, Barb Wire Dolls have returned to the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood for a month-long takeover of the Whisky-A-Go-Go this March. Playing shows that are open to attendees of all ages and free of cost to anyone aged 21 and over every Monday night, Barb Wire Dolls have already proved in the first two weeks that they have what it takes to conquer the city’s cutthroat scene. Last night, on March 9th, I sat down with the band’s founders, singer Isis Queen and guitarist Pyn Doll, for an interview a few hours before they took the stage for a performance that trumped that of the first week and attracted a larger turnout at the club. Enjoy the conversation below and if you reside in or anywhere near LA, do yourselves a service and see one or both of Barb Wire Dolls’ remaining Whisky shows. Continue reading “Bringing Attitude Back Into Rock: An Interview With Barb Wire Dolls”