DREAMING OF A BLACK LABEL CHRISTMAS WITH ZAKK WYLDE
It’s been business as usual of late for Zakk, which means he’s been in and out of the recording studio, releasing a Christmas EP via iTunes, touring with rock legends, putting together a special BLS show for next year with strings, backing singers and other musicians, working on a book and showing up in some of the strangest places. As BLS wound down its U.S. tour with JUDAS PRIEST, Zakk discussed these things and more with Live Metal.
EVENTS TAKE A DRAMATIC TURN FOR DREAM THEATER: JORDAN RUDESS
It has been a wild 15 months for DREAM THEATER. In September 2010, drummer Mike Portnoy shocked the music world by leaving the band he helped found 25 years earlier. The remaining four members of DREAM THEATER pressed on, releasing A Dramatic Turn of Events in September 2011. During the band’s fall U.S. tour, Greg Maki of Live-Metal.net caught up with keyboardist Jordan Rudess at the Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C.
MACHINE HEAD GUITARIST PHIL DEMMEL
And just when we thought it would be impossible to top their career-defining album, The Blackening, MACHINE HEAD swarm back with Unto the Locust in 2011. A day before the band left for their South America tour with SEPULTURA, guitarist Phil Demmel checked in with Live-Metal.net’s Greg Maki to talk about the secrets to their success and more.
'HEAD'-STRONG: FORMER KORN/SOLO ARTIST BRIAN "HEAD" WELCH Since going solo, although now a devout Christian and drug-free, Head’s life hasn't exactly been peachy. His debut album was released to mixed reviews, a record label he founded, Driven Music Group, shut down after bankruptcy, and Head just now is beginning to fight and claw his way back. With a driving new single, “Paralyzed” recently released, an announcement of an upcoming HEAD EP and constant rumors of if and when he will rejoin KORN, Live-Metal.net’s Jeff Maki had an extensive and honest talk with Head to get some of those answers.
HE'S THE MAN: JOEY BELLADONNA OF ANTHRAX Prior to the launch of the band’s fall tour with fellow thrash veterans TESTAMENT and DEATH ANGEL, ANTHRAX vocalist Joey Belladonna checked in with Live-Metal.net’s Greg Maki to talk about his returnto the band, Worship Music, the Big Four and more.
RICHARD CHRISTY OF CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED One of the best debut albums of 2010 was the self-titled release from CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED, featuring drummer Richard Christy, vocalist Tim “Ripper” Owens , bassist Steve DiGiorgio and guitarist Jason Suecof. Now the band is back with its sophomore effort, Cold Winds on Timeless Days. Christy, who also is a regular on The Howard Stern Show, an actor and standup comic, recently called in to to talk about the new album, touring plans and more
MUNICIPAL WASTE: IN-STUDIO REPORT WITH GUITARIST RYAN WASTE During the recording of its upcoming album for new label Nuclear Blast (tentative release date in early 2012), MUNICIPAL WASTE guitarist Ryan Waste checked in with Live-Metal.net’s Jeff Maki to talk about life in the studio, the Big Four and more. But wait—was Ryan really in the studio? Surely he wasn’t partying it up, was he? We’re not entirely sure, so we’ll let you decide. One thing is certain: MUNICIPAL WASTE once again will be looking to “fuck you up” in 2012.
EVILE INVITE YOU TO JOIN THEIR 'CULT': GUITARIST OL DRAKE EVILE is back with their third album, Five Serpent’s Teeth and the daunting task of topping their critically acclaimed previous effort, Infected Nations. Judging from the first single, “Cult,” and our early review (read here), they seem up to the task. Weeks before the U.S. release, Live-Metal.net’s Jeff Maki talked with guitarist Ol Drake about details of the new album, including lyrics, songs, and comparisons to “you know who.”
BURN HALO RISES WITH SECOND ALBUM: VOCALIST JAMES HART The self-titled BURN HALO debut, a hard rock album released in 2009, was quite the departure for frontman James Hart, who previously fronted EIGHTEEN VISIONS. Up from the Ashes, released earlier this year, is heavier, darker—more metal—and closer to Hart’s roots. The band toured relentlessly on the first album and has been doing the same since the release of Up from the Ashes. Hart recently called in from the road to discuss the new album and more.
BRINGIN' THE BOOM BOOM: BLACK STONE CHERRY'S CHRIS ROBERTSON With their third album, Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, released earlier this year, and singles “White Trash Millionaire” and “Blame It on the Boom Boom” building momentum at rock radio, Kentucky's BLACK STONE CHERRY seems poised for a major breakthrough. While on the Carnival of Madness tour, vocalist/guitarist Chris Robertson sat down with Live-Metal.net to discuss the new album and more.
WITHIN TEMPTATION 'TOTALLY '80S': GUITARIST ROBERT WESTERHOLT During the band's 2011 U.S. East Coast mini-tour, WITHIN TEMPTATION guitarist Robert Westerholt called in to Live-Metal.net’s Jeff Maki to talk about their new release, The Unforgiving and the strong ‘80s influence on the album. According to Robert, The Unforgiving story has only just begun.
SEPULTURA ROAR BACK WITH KAIROS: ANDREAS KISSER SEPULTURA guitarist Andreas Kisser recently talked with Live-Metal.net's Jeff Maki about the history of SEPULTURA, all the way from Bestial Devastation (1985) to their 2011 album, Kairos, which many are calling the band’s best since Chaos A.D. He also talks about the split with Max and Igor Cavalera, defends the current formation of the band and gives his honest opinion on Max Cavalera’s post-SEPULTURA bands, SOULFLY and CAVALERA CONSPIRACY.
LIVING IN THE SHADOWS: UNEARTH VOCALIST TREVOR PHIPPS During the 2011 Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival, Live-Metal.net sat down with UNEARTH vocalist Trevor Phipps and talked about the festival, the band's new album, Darkness in the Light, and got caught up on all the latest UNEARTH happenings.
KHAOS A.D.: ARCH ENEMY'S MICHAEL AMOTT ON KHAOS LEGIONS, U.S. TOUR
Just under two weeks before the start of the band’s North American Khaos tour, Live-Metal.net’s Jeff Maki talked with ARCH ENEMY guitarist Michael Amott about their new album, Khaos Legions, the upcoming tour and the chances of ARCH ENEMY ever “crossing over.”
MEGADETH'S COUNTDOWN TO TH1RT3EN WITH DRUMMER SHAWN DROVER During MEGADETH’s run on the 2011 Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival, Live-Metal.net sat down with drummer Shawn Drover and discussed the recording of the band's new album, TH1RT3EN, MEGADETH’s hectic schedule and the return of bassist Dave Ellefson.
TRIVIUM: MAKING FANS 'IN WAVES,' WITH DRUMMER NICK AUGUSTO Not only was TRIVIUM my pick for breakthrough band on this year’s Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival, but with In Waves, TRIVIUMwill be metal’s biggest breakthrough in 2011 and into 2012. On the Mayhem stop July 31 in Camden, N.J., Live-Metal.net’s Jeff Maki talked with the band's newest member, drummer Nick Augusto about the festival, details of In Waves and his transition into the band.
BACK FROM THE F**KIN' DEAD: VOCALIST MAT BRUSO OF BURY YOUR DEAD Back from the fuckin' dead? Well, sort of. Mat Bruso is actually just back from the classroom. BURY YOUR DEAD never really went away, but now in 2011 this could be considered a comeback of sorts. With Bruso back in the fold and a new album, Mosh ‘n’ Roll, the band is recapturing the hardcore spirit that saw them at their breakdown-best not too long ago. Live-Metal.net recently talked with Bruso about his return, the new album and mosh pit etiquette.
THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER PREPARE FOR A RITUAL THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER's new album Ritual could end up being their best yet. The band describes it as “the most quintessential THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER thing they could've done.” This is a high-energy band on and off-stage, known for partying and dark humor. So what makes a bunch of fun-loving dudes want to create such supreme and deafening evil? Live-Metal.net’s Jeff Maki had a chat with guitarist Ryan Knight to find this out and get the details on Ritual.
WALKING IN A WICKED WONDERLAND WITH REV THEORY'S RICH LUZZI One of the hardest working bands in hard rock, REV THEORY returned early this year with Justice, their third and best album to date. This year already has seen REV THEORY on a headlining tour, sharing a bill with SALIVA, playing Rock on the Range and opening a few shows for the almighty BLACK LABEL SOCIETY. Outside of The National in Richmond, Va., the last stop of the BLS tour, REV THEORY frontman Rich Luzzi sat down for a chat with LiveMetalNet.
SULLY ERNA AND THE MYSTERY OF MUSIC While on tour promoting his debut solo album, Avalon, GODSMACK frontman Sully Erna called in to LiveMetalNet’s Greg Maki to discuss the release, his understanding of the basic nature of music, GODSMACK’s upcoming run on the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival, his future in music and more.
MARDUK: BLOOD, STEEL & IRON WITH MORGAN STEINMEYER HAKANSSON MARDUK has evolved over its 20 year career, expanding on its anti-Christian beliefs lyrically and musically, but they became notorious for 1999’s World War II-themed classic, Panzer Division Marduk. Now, in 2011, the band has returned to the battlefront, releasing the EP Iron Dawn as they set to march across the U.S. on their 7 Bowls of Wrath tour. Live-Metal.Net’s Jeff Maki talked withguitarist Morgan Steinmeyer Håkansson to find out all of the band's diabolical plans.
ANAAL NATHRAKH: V.I.T.R.I.O.L. SPILLS HIS GUTS ON NEW ALBUM, PASSION Their sound is indescribable, twisting and dissecting all that is extreme into one sultry dish of pure, unbridled hatred and rage, oozing with disgust and disdain for the world in which we live. The band we speak of is ANAAL NATHRAKH, who is about to release its sixth album, Passion. Are they really this insane? Pornstars? Maybe. What's behind this band’s blind rage? How do you say that damn name? Read on to see what ANAAL NATHRAKH vocalist V.I.T.R.I.O.L. had to say.
THAT LIVE METAL SHOW WITH YOUR HOSTS DON JAMIESON AND JEFF MAKI Don Jamieson, co-host of VH1 Classic’s That Metal Show, and Live-Metal.net’s Jeff Maki talk one-on-one about all things metal. What will happen when two of the world’s biggest metalheads get together? Who the hell knows, but God help us all. Tonight’s topics include the Big Four show in Indio, Ca., Don’s new live standup comedy album, Live and Hilarious, and thoughts on interviewing their heavy metal idols.
JONNY SANTOS: SILENT CIVILIAN IS ALIVE AND WELL 2011 is shaping up as a busy year for Jonny Santos. SPINESHANK is gearing up to release Anger Denial Acceptance, its first new album since 2003, and he is opening a recording studio, where he will produce other acts and track most of Do Not Resuscitate, the next album by his other band, SILENT CIVILIAN. He’s he’s currently on the road with SILENT CIVILIAN, and when the tour recently rolled through Baltimore, Santos sat down with Live-Metal.net’s Greg Maki.
CONDEMNED? RETURN WITH CONDEMNED 2 DEATH If you had to guess what band was the second ever released by Nuclear Blast Records, you would probably say someone like BLIND GUARDIAN, HELLOWEEN, VENOM or maybe even IN FLAMES. But you would be wrong, because that distinction belongs to the Bay Area crossover-thrash band CONDEMNED? Now in 2011, everything has come full circle. CONDEMNED? has returned to Nuclear Blast with a new album titled Condemned 2 Death.
MADAM ADAM: FINDING THEIR WAY TO ROCK MADAM ADAM is on the verge of releasing its first full-length album, but this Charleston, S.C., quartet has been together for more than 10 years. The chemistry that has developed during that time is evident in their catchy rock sound and tight live show. When the band opened for HALESTORM recently at Rams Head Live in Baltimore, Md., Live-Metal.net’s Greg Maki sat down with the band to talk about all things MADAM ADAM.
HALESTORM UNCOVERED: DRUMMER AREJAY HALE On the strength of their self-titled debut album, HALESTORM has been touring the world nonstop for the past two years. But before heading out on the Avalanche Tour, the band found time to slip into the studio to record ReAnimate: The Covers EP, five songs pulled from the band’s varied influences and one selected by their fans. Before their recent sold-out show at Rams Head Live in Baltimore, Md., Live-Metal.net’s Greg Maki sat down with drummer Arejay Hale.
AMON AMARTH & THE QUEST FOR FIRE Gather your wits and prepare for an adventure of Dungeons & Dragons-esque proportions, as a newly formed fellowship follows the prophecy of the Fire Giant Surtur, who will ultimately bring the world to flames end. Join our would-be adventurers on their quest to the flame land of Muspelheim where they must defeat the mighty Surtur. But before that they seek the wisdom of an axemen named Johan Söderberg of the legendary Viking metal band, AMON AMARTH.
FROM THE CRADLE TO THE ABYSS: CRADLE OF FILTH'S PAUL ALLENDER No introduction needed. On the 2011 Creatures of the Abyss tour, Live-Metal.net’s Jeff Maki and Ryan Mavity sat down with longtime CRADLE OF FILTH guitarist Paul Allender to discuss the band’s beginnings all the way up to this particular dark and rainy present day (Interview available both in transcription and audio)
EYE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK: VOCALIST DONALD CARPENTER Comprising bassist Corey Lowery (STUCK MOJO, STEREOMUD, DARK NEW DAY), guitarist B.C. Kochmit (SWITCHED), vocalist Donald Carpenter (SUBMERSED) and drummer Will Hunt (DARK NEW DAY, EVANESCENCE, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY), EYE EMPIRE has been a true independent, do-it-yourself project from the beginning. A couple weeks before they were set to begin touring, Carpenter called in to talk to Live-Metal.net’s Greg Maki about all things EYE EMPIRE.
VAINS OF JENNA: BACK WITH A NEW SINGER AND A BIG “F**K YOU” VAINS OF JENNA is no stranger to LiveMetalNet. In our early days, they were one of the first bands we formed a real relationship with. According to drummer Jacki Stone, he did his first real interviews with our site back in 2007. Now in 2011, the band has a new vocalist and a new all-covers album called Reverse Tripped. Live-Metal.net talked with Stone about the new release, their new singer, and the struggle of bands in this day and age.
HELL OF AN INTERVIEW ROUND 2: HELLYEAH'S GREG TRIBBETT It’s hard to think of a band better suited to the Jägermeister Music Tour than HELLYEAH. So it comes as no surprise to learn that Jäger flows freely on the HELLYEAH tour bus, which is often a dangerous place for unprepared members of other bands. Before the Jäger tour’s recent stop at Rams Head Live in Baltimore, Live-Metal.net’s Greg Maki hopped aboard the HELLYEAH bus to get the latest from guitarist Greg Tribbett.
BLOOD, SUGAR, SEX, MAGICK ... AND GOATHEADS?: BELPHEGOR'S HELMUTH Since 1995, Austria’s BELPHEGOR has been the embodiment of extreme. Offensive, evil, bizarre and disturbing, BELPHEGOR has tried to shock us and bleed the last drop of blood from our ears with each of its albums and outrageous live shows. For years, the band has appeared in blood-drenched promos, and has featured blasphemous album artwork and controversial lyrics . But for some reason, BELPHEGOR never had achieved its maximum threshold—that is, up until now ...
THE FIGHTER: ALEXIS BROWN OF STRAIGHT LINE STITCH STRAIGHT LINE STITCH is living proof that hard work pays off. The band has spent the past few years following a rigorous touring schedule, and their second release, The Fight of Our Lives, is set for a March 22, 2011, release. While at the Quarter in Baltimore recently for the first show of their tour opening for TIMES OF GRACE, vocalist Alexis Brown talked with Live-Metal.net’s Greg Maki about the new album and more.
INTERVIEW OF A BROKEN MAN: TIMES OF GRACE'S JESSE LEACH It’s hard to remember a new band that set the metal world aflutter the way TIMES OF GRACE has in early 2011. The reason: The act teams KILLSWITCH ENGAGE guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz with his band’s original singer, Jesse Leach for the first time since Alive or Just Breathing. The band recently kicked off its first tour in Baltimore, and before the show, Leach talked to Live-Metal.net’s Greg Maki about all things TIMES OF GRACE.
SIRENIA: MORTEN VELAND, THE LADIES' MAN You could say Norwegian musician Morten Veland is a ladies' man. During the past decade, Veland and SIRENIA have seen a harem of talented, beautiful female singers come and go. That was until he found Spanish vocalist, Ailyn. Now SIRENIA is back with The Enigma of Life, their second album with their new singer. In an audio interview with Live-Metal.net, Veland delves into the history of SIRENIA, talks about the new album and reveals his secrets to getting all of the ladies.
AND ‘JUSTICE’ FOR ALL: REV THEORY'S DAVE AGOGLIA REV THEORY has seen its stock rise steadily throughout its eight-plus years of existence. The band’s third album, Justice, should have no trouble continuing the upward trend, as it is their heaviest, angriest—and best—effort to date. REV THEORY’s drummer, Dave Agoglia, called in to Live-Metal.net’s Greg Maki to talk about the new album and more.
