Metal Assault: Interviews

By Andrew Bansal

Los Angeles based heavy metal band Heaven Below has been circling local clubs as well as and the national touring circuit since 2008. In 2014, guitarist/vocalist Patrick Kennison got the call-up to join Lita Ford’s band, but instead of falling by the wayside, Heaven Below carried on, got signed to the EMP label group and released their third full-length album, a concept-based creation called ‘Good Morning Apocalypse’, on October 14th 2016. Everything about Heaven Below’s musical style is quintessentially heavy metal, and they excel in every aspect. On November 6th, they played a splendid record release show at the Viper Room, and before they hit the stage all guns blazing, Patrick Kennison, along with bassist John Younger and guitarist Lucas Kanopa spoke to Metal Assault to discuss all things Heaven Below. Enjoy the conversation below: Continue reading “Invigorating The Metal Movement: In Conversation With LA Group Heaven Below”

By Andrew Bansal

Prog titans Dream Theater have inspired countless aspiring musicians over the years, but while bands influenced by them continue to present varying, oftentimes wildly experimental interpretations of this genre, Dream Theater never strayed from their path, and everything they ever released has a clearly recognizable DT stamp over it, with sweeing guitar solos, prominent keyboard segments, rich harmonies, busy rhythm section and soaring vocals all orchestrated together with a melody-driven approach. Musically, the band progressed naturally from the 2013 self-titled album for the next batch of material, but thematically and lyrically ventured towards their biggest undertaking in their career thus far, and the result was the massive concept-based double album ‘The Astonishing’, released in January 2016 on Roadrunner Records. Since then, the band has been touring extensively to present the entire album live as a concert experience. Dream Theater is currently on the second US leg, and will be bringing this epic show to the Grove of Anaheim on November 16th. Last Wednesday November 9th, guitarist John Petrucci spoke to Metal Assault in detail about the album and its corresponding touring cycle. Enjoy the chat below. Continue reading ““A Cross Between a Rock Concert, a Movie and a Musical”: John Petrucci Discusses Dream Theater’s ‘The Astonishing’ Live Experience”

By Andrew Bansal

Aside from his longstanding role as the bass player in Alice Cooper’s traveling musical circus for the past nearly 15 years, Chuck Garric also sings and plays guitar in Beasto Blanco, a band he formed with guitarist Chris Latham in 2012, along with Alice Cooper’s daughter Calico. Beasto Blanco released their debut album ‘Live Fast, Die Loud’ in 2013, filled to the brim with fist-pumping, rip-roaring rock n’ roll, and took it to even greater heights with their stage-scorching, face-melting live performances which carried a similar ethos to the live entertainment aspect of a typical Alice Cooper show, but presented music with a decidedly more modern touch. On their second self-titled LP, slated for release on November 25th 2016 via Rat Pak Records, Beasto Blanco have continued from where they left off, coming up with another power-packed set of songs that feature Calico Cooper in a more prominent singing role. The band is playing a hometown record release show at the Whisky-A-Go-Go in West Hollywood on Thursday November 10th. Last Friday November 4th, Chuck Garric spoke to Metal Assault about his recent travels with Alice Cooper, the new Beasto Blanco album, the formation of the band, and more. Enjoy the chat below. Continue reading “Rock N’ Roll Frankenstein: Chuck Garric Talks Touring With Alice Cooper, New Beasto Blanco Album”

By Andrew Bansal

British grindcore legends Napalm Death are currently bulldozing their way through North America on the ‘Abysmal Predator’ co-headline tour with The Black Dahlia Murder, also featuring Abnormality as openers on the entire run and Misery Index, Power Trip and Pig Destroyer on select dates. The tour served Los Angeles a great show last Friday November 4th 2016, and before the show, Metal Assault sat down with the ever-articulate Napalm Death vocalist Mark ‘Barney’ Greenway to discuss his thoughts on this lineup and various aspects of tour life. Enjoy the conversation below and catch them on the ‘Abysmal Predator’ tour this November. Continue reading ““It’s Not Easy On The Human Psyche”: Napalm Death Vocalist Discusses Life On Tour”

Interview by Jason Williams

New Zealand-based technical death metal trio Ulcerate released their fifth full-length studio album ‘Shrines Of Paralysis’ via Relapse Records on October 28th 2016 and embarked upon a North American headline tour with support acts Zhrine and Phobocosm, starting with an LA area show at Complex in Glendale on November 2nd. This stage-shattering, skull-crushing band of three delighted extreme metal fans with their set, but before the show, drummer Jamie Saint Merat spoke to Metal Assault about the new LP, touring in the States, the state of metal in their home country, songwriting adventures, future plans and his thoughts on Patreon pledge campaigns. Enjoy the conversation below. Continue reading “Building Tech-Death Shrines: In Conversation With Ulcerate Drummer Jamie Saint Merat”

By Andrew Bansal

Hard rock singer/bassist extraordinaire Glenn Hughes is no stranger to fans of the genre andthrough the past nearly five decades, as a solo artist and in various bands including Trapeze and Deep Purple, collaborations with the likes of Tony Iommi and Gary Moore, and projects such as Black Country Communion and California Breed, he has established himself as a living legend. On November 4th 2016, Glenn Hughes released ‘Resonate’,his thirteenth full-length solo album and first in eight years. Claiming it to be the first ever album he made all by himself, and calling it a very personal set of songs in their lyrical content, Hughes spoke to Metal Assault on the release date to dicuss ‘Resonate’ in detail, along with his personal battles, future plans and more. Read the conversation below. Continue reading ““I Almost Died Three Years Ago”: Glenn Hughes Discusses New Solo Album, Personal Battles”