Metal Shock Finland (World Assault )

America rockers HELD HOSTAGE have teamed up with Metal Shock Finland, to premiere worldwide their new video ‘The Master’, taken from the band’s new album “Great American Rock”, featuring Tim “Ripper” Owens on vocals. The album was released digitally and on compact disc on May 6th 2022 via FireRock Music Group.

Join the video premiering here:

Furthermore, Metal Shock Finland’s Tarja Virmakari had a pleasure to interview the band’s lead guitarist and vocalist Tom Collier, read their chat below.

• Hello Held Hostage, and welcome to Metal Shock Finland! Today we’ve a pleasure to premiere your new video ‘The Master’, taken from your new album “Great American Rock”, featuring Tim “Ripper” Owens on vocals. Please tell me about the song and the story behind it.

Tom Collier: First of all. Thank you, Metal Shock Finland for premiering our new video for our song The Master. The story behind the song is kind of different. When I was writing the music to the master, I wanted to create what I called an iconic guitar riff that as soon as you heard it you went wow what a great riff. I called Scott Gregg (rhythm guitarist) at like 6 am in the morning and said ‘hey get over to my house, I got this great riff I am turned into a song’. He came over and was like yeah I love it. Then I finished all the music to the song. I had a theme of addiction but had not named the song. At rehearsal Scott came up with the name ‘The Master’. All the music was done, then I wrote the first verse and got stuck (which never happens with me) and I asked Scott to come over and we wrote the second and 3rd verses together. Everyone has some sort of addiction whether it is, alcohol, drugs, music, sex, food, coffee. The meaning of the song is, you have to try and beat your master (addiction). when you do it’s a new world for you to see.

• As mentioned, Tim “Ripper” Owens features in ten tracks on your new album as singer. How was it to collaborate with him?

Tom Collier: This was our second collaboration with Ripper Owens. He sang our last album ‘Epic’ all 12 tracks. I have to say Ripper is one of the hardest working guys in the business. When he does a project, he does it 110%. He sent me 10-12 vocal tracks for each song he sang, including harmony backups. Not only did he sing but Ripper helped produce the vocal tracks. He would send me ideas and suggestions I would send them back to him and it worked fantastic. He is a true professional in every sense of the word. Very easy to work with and extremely helpful. He goes above and beyond what you asked for and he does the same when he is special guest singer with Held Hostage live performances. I have to say Ripper took the vocals on this album to a new level.

• Besides Tim Ripper, the acoustic song ‘Show Me The Way Back’ of the album guests also Joe Lynn Turner, Mike Lepond and Ron Keck, what can you tell us about these collaborations?

Tom Collier: Working with Joe was a great experience also. He is a rock legend (Rainbow, Deep Purple) and I was happy to have him on this record. We had done a different more processed version of this song. And wanted to strip it done back to its roots. It was always meant to be an acoustic song and that is what I did. I needed bass player so my friend Mike Lepond (Symphony X , Ross The Boss Band) was getting ready to leave for Europe in a few hours and he cut the bass lines in his home studio, sent them to me and hopped a plane to Europe. Ron Keck is a friend of mine and owner of Subcat Studios and Subcat Records. Ron jumped on the drum set and did a great job. The song has been a hit for us.

• Talking about the album “Great American Rock” itself, please tell us about the songwriting process of the songs and their topics.

Tom Collier: All the songs that I write, or the band writes are usually true to life experiences or about life experiences. The title cut ‘We Rock Hard’ is about staying focused on the road and not losing your way. It is easy to do when you are touring, getting caught up in the party lifestyle. We all try to avoid that and make it about the music always. ‘Now We Ride (Bikers Life)’ is about the feeling you get riding and the freedom you feel. ‘Hold On’ is about meeting someone being like wow she is too nice for this kind of life. ‘Your Eyes’ is about how both political parties lie and spin everything in their own favor. We are not stupid we know what is going on. ‘The Master’ we touched on about addiction. ‘You Rock Our Way’ is about being in the crowd watching bands hoping they notice you then one day that is you on stage they are all watching. Dreams do come true. ‘Take Me Away’ is about everyday life. You can never give up. You always move forward. ‘Rise’ is a very heartfelt song it is about the epidemic of Suicide of all ages. We had a few former members commit suicide so when I was writing this song it is a song of hope and inspiration. This is a song that Ripper really brings his melodic side. Many people do not realize this, but Ripper Owens is one of the most melodic singers out there. This song show a side of Ripper the world has never seen. If this song helps one person not commit suicide, then to me it has accomplished its purpose and in my mind it is a platinum hit. ‘Be A Man’ it is about taking responsibility for your own actions. We have all at one time or another started down the wrong path, but you can turn it around if you truly want too. ‘Chaos’ is just what it is meant be, our first instrumental just having fun rocking out it was recorded live and is unedited just added some sound effects to it. ‘Fallen Brothers’ is a remake from our 2nd album (2016) it started out to be about the guys in the band that passed (5 total) but turned into a anthem for all men and women who have fallen around the world. ‘Show Me The Way Back Home’ was a tribute to all the Veterans of the American Armed forces telling them we thank you and we will not forget your sacrifices.

• If you’d need to choose the Top 3 of this album, what would it be?

Tom Collier: This is a tough question. Can I say all twelve songs on the record (laughing) I would have to say the top 3 song choices would be 1. You Rock Our way 2. The Master 3. We Rock Hard. This is one of my favorite albums we have done to date.

• You have toured with many great bands, what are your highlights and greatest memories, so far?

Tom Collier: Another hard question because we toured and been direct support for so many great bands, it is hard to choose. I would say going to California and playing The Namm Show a few years ago at The House of Blues in Anaheim as direct support for Metal Allegiance is a great memory. We were sitting in our dressing room and in walks Dave Ellefson (Megadeath) he sits down and just starts talking to me and he was such a nice down to earth guy. It was a sold out show over 3000 people that never heard Held Hostage on the West Coast before. 2 other bands opening the show with not much response from the crowd. Then we take the stage, as we walk on the stage, the crowd starts yelling and coming alive. We go into our set and the crowd starts to roar. I look over side stage and I see Dave Ellefson and some of the guys from Metal Allegiance standing side stage watching us. By the end of our set all of Metal Allegiance is side stage and cheering us on. We walked off stage to high fives and hugs from everyone, as I was going into the dressing room the manager for Metal Allegiance stops me and says, ‘I don’t say this very often, but I would pay to see Held Hostage. You guys are that good.’ I guess another quick great memory is playing a live concert of all Held Hostage music with Tim Ripper Owens singing and my friend/brother Ross The Boss (Manowar, Ross The Boss Band) on guitar. At the end of the night Ross and I went into dueling guitars, trading guitar riffs back and forth, mimicking each other for what seemed like forever (ten minutes). The crowd was blown away and when we ended they went into a frenzy of screams and cheers. There are many more but I think those two stand out to me the most.

• And what will happen next in the Held Hostage -camp?

Tom Collier: We have a lot of things in the works. We were heading on a USA tour this summer but have delayed it do a tragedy that happened to one of the band members family member. We are band of brothers and if something happens to one of us it affects us all. We all stand together, family first. We have some shows in Upstate New York scheduled in August and September, Then we will be hitting USA tour this fall and already starting working on the follow up Album to ‘Great American Rock’. The songs are already written but as always that is subject to change..

• Now the word is yours, what is your message to your fans and our Metal Shock Finland readers?

Tom Collier: I would like to say to our fans “THANK YOU” for all your loyalty to this band. We have, bar none, the greatest fans in the world They are there for us and we are there for them. Keep the Faith the Best is Yet to come. As for Metal Shock readers, We hope you will take the time to listen to our music and see and feel what we feel. We record live with click tracks so it gives our music that feeling of power and true to life subjects in our music. We play with passion and true love for our music. Thank you Metal Shock for interviewing Held Hostage.

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“Great American Rock” album can be ordered now at: https://lnk.to/GreatAmericanRock and look for the CD in retailers such as Target, Walmart, Barnes & Nobles and your local record stores.

FireRock Music Groups, Scott Braun,Creative Director/A & R, Says. “This is a band rich in rock n roll history and they bring with them, a great fan base and they feature some rock legends, on their new record. When I first heard the new record Great American Rock, we knew we had to sign them.”

Tom Collier founding member/ lead guitarist/lead singer, “I wanted to get back to the roots of American Rock n Roll. Being able to bring Tim “Ripper” Owens back for a second album with us was such a thrill. I produced the album but I have to say, giving Ripper free reign on his vocals and taking suggestions from him, made this record exactly what we call it, Great American Rock. We also take on the issue of suicide of all ages, with our song Rise. This is a side of Ripper the world has never seen.”

Held Hostage is:
Tom Collier – lead guitar/lead vocals
Scott Gregg – rhythm guitarist/backup vocals
Jeff Murray – drums
Dave Carrol – bass /backup vocals

Track Listing:
We Rock Hard, featuring Tim “Ripper” Owens
Now We Ride (Bikers Life), featuring Tim “Ripper” Owens
Your Eyes, featuring Tim “Ripper” Owens
The Master, featuring Tim “Ripper” Owens
Hold On, featuring Tim “Ripper” Owens
You Rock Our Way, featuring Tim “Ripper” Owens
Take Me Away, featuring Tim “Ripper” Owens
Be A Man, featuring Tim “Ripper” Owens
Chaos (Live)
Rise (Stop Suicide All Ages), featuring Tim “Ripper” Owens
Fallen Brothers, featuring Tim “Ripper” Owens
Show Me The Way Back (Acoustic), featuring Joe Lynn Turner

Production Credits:
Producer Tom Collier
Engineer Ron Keck
Recorded at Subcat Studios Syracuse NY
Photo Credits Scott Braun, Dave Koegel
Special Guest Vocalist Tim “Ripper” Owens 10 tracks
Special Guest Vocalist Joe Lynn Turner, Special guest Bassist Mike Lepond (Symphony X, Ross The Boss), Drummer Ron Keck all on Show Me The Way Back Home

About Held Hostage:
Held Hostage has toured as and been direct support act with many great bands including Metal Allegiance, Quiet Riot, Molly Hatchet, The Rods, Uli Jon Roth, Eddie Money, Benny Mardones, Manowar, Ross The Boss Band etc. Held Hostage is currently endorsed by many great products including SIT Strings, Rev Amps, Prestige Guitars, Barefoot Buttons, Clayton Custom Picks, Kick Lidz Drums, ProPlayer Art, Intune Guitar Picks, Guitar Gifts 4u, Big Bends, Best Tronics, Mental Case, Neat Audio, WBGear. The bands unique blend of screaming guitars, thundering kick ass drums, raging bass and uninhibited vocals will stay true to form. Held Hostage is ready and able to take their place in Rock and Roll history.

More information at
http://www.heldhostageband.com
http://www.facebook.com/heldhostageband
http://www.instagram.com/heldhostageband
http://www.twitter.com/heldhostageband