Swedish metal band TAD MOROSE were formed in 1991 and released their debut album “Leaving The Past Behind” in 1993.
In 2008 ex-STEEL ATTACK vocalist Ronny Hemlin joined the band and in 2013 they signed with Despotz Records, releasing the long awaited album “Revenant”, which received a very warm welcome by both fans and media. During this long period of time the band had gone through a lot of line-up changes leaving only founder Christer “Krunt” Andersson (guitars) as the only remaining original member and Peter Morén (Drums) who had joined the band back in 1994. The new line-up was completed with bassist Tommi Karppanen (ex Morgana Lefay) and guitarist Kenneth Jonsson (ex Torch).
The band has now completed the recording of their 8th full length album. The album is titled “St Demonius” and it contains twelve brand new typical TAD MOROSE songs. More straight forward, more unnecessary complicated, slower, faster, more melodic and heavier in other words!
“St. Demonius” will be released by Despotz Records on 28th August 2015 and soon after that TAD MOROSE will head out on a headline tour in Europe.
I caught up with guitarist Christer ‘Krunt’ Andersson to talk about the new album, which can be listened to on the audio player below.
On “St Demonius”, Krunt revealed:
“It’s Tad Morose kind of metal, a little bit more of everything I think. A lot of the lyrics are about the crap that’s going around in today’s world, people never ever seem to learn from history. And all the religious bullshit that’s going on, why can’t people just sit back, shut up, play heavy metal, drink beer, smile and have a good time? Let everyone believe in whatever they believe, as long as they don’t hurt anybody. That’s a lot of the things going on in the lyrics.”
Industrial metallers FEAR FACTORY have long been a force to be reckoned with, being pioneers of this genre of metal music and still going strong after 25 years.
The two linchpins of the band are vocalist Burton C. Bell and guitarist Dino Cazares and as with most bands they have seen some line up changes over the years.
But that doesn’t stop FEAR FACTORY and they are set to release their ninth album “Genexus” on 7th August via Nuclear Blast Records. I recently caught up with Dino on the phone in Slovakia whilst on tour, to discuss the new album. Unfortunately the phone connection was a little unstable at times, so you may miss one or two of Dino‘s words, but luckily most of the conversation is audible. You can read a few excerpts from our chat below and the full interview on the audio player.
Dino Cazares
Discussing “Genexus”, Dino revealed:
“It’s a concept record about the singularity process, of when man and machine become one. Where nano technology is taking over and we’d be able to create cells that will be able to create humans and also make them extremely intelligent – being able to download information. That’s where the song ‘Soul Hacker’ comes in, ‘cos you’re able to basically feel somebodies memories and souls and consciousness and be able to transfer into another person. And it’s just the evolution of where human technology is going and moving towards. Futurists are predicting that within the next thirty to forty years that’s where we’ll be and that’s kind of what the record’s about.”
Regarding the band Dino had the following to say:
“We’re very happy with these two guys and we hope that they stick around. You know, it’s mine and Burton’s band, so musicians are going to come and go. Some people have to leave for personal reasons, some people – because maybe it’s time for them to leave.”
On today’s metal scene Dino said:
“The metal scene has definitely changed – I think in some ways it’s gone new places and in some ways it has gone back to old school. There are so many new school bands that have taken what what everybody did in the past and kind of repeated it. Certain bands are pushing the way forward for other bands as well, just combining different styles of music. But I do see the metal scene growing and I hope it stays there, I hope it gets bigger and I hope that everybody will have successful careers.”
photo of Christopher Williams courtesy of Marcin Pawlowski (www.rockmetal.pl) The rest of the gallery, from the May 27 show at Fabryka in Krakow, Poland here: http://www.rockmetal.pl/galeria/accept-krakow.15.html
Interview by Teresa Hopkins
Late last year, upon hearing the news that ACCEPT were undergoing a major lineup change, we all looked forward, admittedly with a bit of trepidation, to the band continuing. The new guys were gonna have big shoes to fill, and our speculations went to the extremes. After the big April 12 announcement of new members Uwe Lulis (guitar) and Christopher Williams (drums) and a video teaser to boot, we were fired up to hear them and curious to know more about them.
So I asked Christopher if he’d be up for a quick interview. He was happy to oblige, but things got busy for him, very fast. As you may recall, within 6 short days of the official announcement, ACCEPT was flying down to Mexico to kick off the next leg of their Blind Rage tour. From there, it was on to Brazil and several dates in Europe. Fans’ feedback about the new lineup has been very positive from the get-go. Check out some live footage of ‘Fast As A Shark’ at Rockavaria München Olympiastadion on May 30, 2015 to see one of the many reasons why. Williams is a total animal behind that kit!
Christopher, who has performed in various genres with such artists as Kid Rock, Jessta James, Funkadelic, Lee Greenwood, Blackfoot, and Nashville metal band War Within (to name but a few), was destined to be a drummer even before he made his first appearance in the world. His warm, friendly demeanor, dedicated work ethic, and great sense of humor are immediately evident, and these are qualities that fit right in with the rest of the band. I hope you’ll enjoy getting to know Christopher in the interview that follows.
It was ACCEPT’s first show of 2015 on the Blind Rage tour and your first public performance with them on Saturday, April 18, at the House of Blues in Chihuahua, Mexico. I heard that there were a few problems getting the equipment to the venue. What was going through your mind?
CW: The drum kit in Chihuahua was…interesting. When touring without your personal backline, especially in other countries, you’re never quite sure what you’re going to get. Sure, you send out your list of preferred equipment and alternatives long in advance, but there’s no guarantee the equipment you need will always be available wherever you go. So, you make do with what’s provided, tweak it the best you can to suit your needs, and put on the best show you can (and pray nothing goes wrong).
In this case, the kit wasn’t near what we had hoped. The equipment simply wasn’t available in the area from a rental company or anything like that. The promoter found a gentleman (his name escapes me) who was kind enough to provide me with his personal set of drums. My drum tech and I got the kit as close as we could to my usual setup, tuned the drums the best we could, and taped EVERYTHING down to the drum riser so nothing would fall over. Not exactly ideal, but again, you make the best of what you have in situations like that. We had the drums sounding good and the show went great, even though I did break one of his crashes (If you’re reading this, I’m really sorry about that).
Well, you guys handled it like champs. Those crowds were fired up and very happy to see you all. I’ve heard nothing but positive responses since.
CW: We had a blast and so did the audience. VERY loud!
When did your equipment finally arrive? And how did the next night go at SALA in Cuauhtémoc?
CW: The Mexico/Brazil run was all rental gear for me except for sticks and pedals. The gear for SALA was great, as was the show, and we had another kit for the two shows in Brazil. The Brazil kit was pretty big and powerful—just what this band needs!
ACCEPT was on the bill with Judas Priest at Vivo Rio, Rio de Janeiro on April 23, and again with them and a very impressive lineup including KISS at Monsters of Rock on April 26 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. I’ve heard a lot of good feedback about these shows, but I’d like to know your perspective as well.
CW: For me, it’s always a blast to see ‘Priest. Scott Travis is kicking ass as always and it’s still inspiring to see him live. Also, growing up a huge KISS fan, to share the stage with those guys was a dream come true. The audiences at those shows were great as well.
It’s funny in a way; I was WAY more comfortable playing the Monsters Of Rock show for such a large crowd (38,000 people I think?) than I was for the other three shows. Venues like we did in Mexico and Rio can be a little intimidating sometimes for me. Maybe it’s the intimacy of it, I’m not sure. I don’t know, maybe I’m wired differently. A few friends told me they would have freaked out trying to play to a crowd like the one at Monsters Of Rock. Who knows?
So, we’re all wondering: How did you learn that ACCEPT were looking for a drummer? And how did all that come together?
CW: I’ve known Wolf and Peter for a while now. A mutual friend introduced us and we built a friendship over time. In the touring world, anything can happen at any time. It was no secret [that] Herman and Stefan had their band Panzer on the side, and I think it was just a matter of time before they decided to go ahead full-time with it, as they should. Often times, a musician will have a tech or close friend that either knows the material or can come in and learn the show fast in case of an emergency. Case in point: a few years back, Tommy Lee burned his hands during an accident on tour with Mötley Crüe. Tommy called his good friend Morgan Rose to come out and sub for him. No rehearsal, just a phone call, flight, and he was on stage that night. It’s rare, but those things happen.
I was familiar with ACCEPT’s catalog, had a friendship with Wolf and Peter, and basically said “Hey, if you guys ever need me, I’m there.” As we now know, Stefan and Herman left to pursue Panzer and here we are today. It’s crazy in a way, but those things just kinda happen in the music world.
What has been the reaction from family and friends?
CW: Everyone’s been very supportive and very happy. I’ve always tried to surround myself with positive people and since joining the band, there’s been an almost overwhelming amount of love and pride from my friends and family. It’s a great feeling knowing there are great people in your corner that have your back.
How does the chemistry feel with these guys? Has there been any “new guy initiation” of sorts?
CW: So far everything has been great. Everyone gets along just fine, the crew are all great people, everything’s good. We all interact and have fun on stage, just as well as off stage.
What was your childhood like? When did you first get the fever to play music?
CW: [My childhood was] fairly “normal” I guess, considering. I was a “normal” kid, outdoors as much as I could be. My father passed away when I was three, and my mother raised my brother and I as a single parent. She worked her ass off to support us and I owe her the world. We weren’t “poor”, but there wasn’t a lot of money around. The great thing about my mother though is I never realized the reality of our situation until I got a lot older. My mother has always said I was a drummer, even while in her womb. She and my dad would listen to records and I would kick along with the music. When a song stopped, I stopped kicking. The same thing with live concerts.
She has a really great story about being at a Winter Brothers concert when she was pregnant with me. She was a few rows back from the stage and somehow the band saw her stomach moving around, A LOT. They stopped the show and insisted she needed to go to the hospital, thinking she was about to give birth! She told them I was a drummer and just kicking along with the music, so the drummer began to play, I kicked along with him, they were convinced and continued the show.
Wild! I love that story! Sounds like you were always meant to do this.
CW: I used to “jam” on pots and pans, like almost every other drummer in the world, and would build imaginary drum sets out of whatever was lying around. I had a few inexpensive children’s drum kits that I went through in no time. I would put them on the hearth of our living room or on the front porch and play, pretending I was on stage in a stadium. My Uncle Peter usually had a set of drums in his basement that belonged to a long time drummer of his, so I would play those all the time whenever I visited. The kit didn’t have cymbals most of the time, but I made the most of it and we would record little “jams”.
When I was ten years old (maybe nine, I’m not sure) my mother had set aside money to get me a real drum set for Christmas. My Uncle found a used Ludwig SL five-piece kit with some entry level cymbals and bought it. December 19th was the day. From there, that was it. All I did was practice, constantly. I remember in middle school I was averaging seven hours of practice PER DAY. Music consumed me 24/7. It always had, but it seemed to intensify that much more after getting that first kit. I still have that drum set and still play it from time to time.
From there, I just played as much as I could. I studied just about everything I could get my hands on related to drumming, and had all kinds of bands from a Jazz quartet to multiple death metal bands. Sophomore to Senior year of high school I would spend half of the school day at a school of the arts, the other half at my normal school for academics. The school was The Fine Arts Center in Greenville, SC and it changed my life forever. Not just in music, but it taught me to appreciate everything in the arts. I would skip out on a percussion, jazz, or theory class from time to time and go sit in on a vocal class or a sculpture class, or metal working. This, of course, was frowned upon, but wasn’t uncommon at the school. They only accept a certain number of students per year and you had to pass an audition to get in. Once you were in, your grades at both your high school AND the F.A.C. had to stay above a certain level, and you had to pass an end-of-the-year playing jury to be re-admitted the following year. You would perform in front of your peers and other teachers, showcasing what you had learned and how you had developed over the year.
I went to college for a year, but it wasn’t the school I’d really hoped to attend. I’d wanted to major in jazz actually, but it didn’t work out until I’d taken a scholarship with another school. The school I’d hoped to attend sent my acceptance letter two weeks late and the time had already come down to the wire to decide. I made the best of the situation and decided afterward that it was time for me to move forward with my life and try to get my career going. Sort of “I tried it, but it’s not for me, time to move on”. I still wonder time to time how things would’ve turned out if I had gone to the other college. Who knows? I’m not complaining though; I think it worked out the way it was supposed to!
It sure seems that way! So what was your first pro gig? How did that help to shape your musical perspective?
CW: My first touring gig was with a seven-piece funk band out of Asheville, North Carolina. Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band. Funny name, but serious groove and vibe, and they’re still touring all over. The band was well established in the funk world by the time I was on the drum throne, and we were supporting bands like Parliament Funkadelic/George Clinton, Fishbone, and Perpetual Groove, playing festivals and doing our own dates on the side.
I’d be curious to hear some of that. I can dig on some funk.
CW: It was a blast! We’d be playing tight grooves, funky, funky stuff, then the next thing you know it was like a rock show and everyone’s jumping up and down, bouncing, I’m playing metal but with funk and all of the guitars are all the way up. It was great.
You’ve shared the stage with some notable artists—a lot more than I was able to discover in my research—and you’ve played many different genres of music. Tell me a little about your gigs with other bands.
CW: Shortly after my time with the Booty Band, I moved to Nashville and became a side guy, a “hired gun” if you will. Anything from rock, country, soul, R&B, metal, punk, funk, I’ve played in Nashville and on the road based from there. Country is the big thing [in Nashville], obviously, but over the years it’s become a very diverse music scene and the players are great. I’m happy to call it home.
Here are a handful that I’ve played, worked or toured with in no particular order: Lee Greenwood, Peter Stroud (my Uncle), John Corabi, Derek St. Holmes, Jeff LaBar, Bernard Fowler, Carmine Rojas, Gary Shider, Kid Rock, Sydney Barnes, Chuck Garric, George Clinton…that’s enough “name dropping”. We’ll just say I’ve been very lucky, very fortunate and at the right place at the right time. That’s how a lot of this business works.
Williams with ACCEPT on June 7 at Metalfest 2015 in Plzen, Czech Republic Photo courtesy of David Havlena Rocktography (www.davidrocktography.com)
How would you say it’s different now with ACCEPT?
CW: For me, it’s not that different, just a different level and a different scene. Continuing to “climb the ladder”, as I call it. Suddenly, I’m on stage with some of my favorite bands and befriending some of my heroes. That part is pretty trippy sometimes. I come into a situation, whether as a band member or a hired gun with the same mentality: Bring your “A-Game”, do your best, be prepared, be professional, BE ON TIME, and get the job done. This is me doing that, on the next level…on the BIG level, and I’m very happy to be here.
What are some things you like to do in your spare time—if that exists?
CW: On the road, it depends on how I’m feeling. I usually like to go out and sightsee, do the tourist thing, find a nice or cool restaurant…I’ll hit the gym or do yoga, that kind of stuff. I also like to see the places the local residents like to hang at or see, if there’s enough time. Then, some days I just like to hang in my room or on the bus and watch movies and old cartoons. Everyone should have some time to themselves out here at some point, you know?
Absolutely. Many people don’t realize all that comes with the job. There’s a lot more than just playing shows and riding in a tour bus. It’s vital to have opportunities to rest and recharge your batteries.
You seem like a really creative sort and very dedicated to your craft. Do you also write songs or enjoy playing any other instruments?
CW: I do, every now and then. Sometimes I pick up a guitar and nothing comes out, other times it just starts by playing along with albums and then my own riffs come from out of nowhere. It may last an hour, it may last five minutes but I always try to record them, even if it’s just audio on my phone. Sometimes it’s just one riff that may be good enough to keep, may be multiple parts for a song. I’ll back the idea up in a file and save it for later or find another idea that it works with and take it from there.
I also play a bit of bass and piano, as well as sing. I was an orchestral percussionist for years as well. Although I don’t keep up with much of that side any more, I still incorporate that knowledge and some of the techniques into my playing depending on the gig.
Interesting! Will you have some creative input with the band in the future? Endless possibilities come to mind… Or just see how that goes when the time comes?
CW: We’ll just have to feel everything out when we come to that point. I know how the guys work and have an idea how things are, but they’re also open to ideas and outside input so who knows? We’ll cross that bridge when we get there.
What are some of your plans and dreams for the future?
CW: To keep playing music and seeing the world, doing what I love with good people around me. Keep “climbing the ladder”, ya know? I have lots of ideas and projects I’d like to take on at some point, but right now they’re just that.
I’d like to have a family someday. I’ve always been a big family person and have wanted to be a father for as far back as I can remember. There’s a lot that comes with this kind of lifestyle AND having a family, but I’ve grown up in and around this business and I know it can be done. Again, another bridge to cross when the time is right. 🙂
If anybody can juggle all that, I suspect you can! Christopher, it’s been great getting to know you and hearing your thoughts. Thanks much for taking the time to answer my questions. Wishing you happiness and continued success!
ACCEPT resume their 2015 Blind Rage tour in Europe on July 18 at Bang Your Head in Balingen, Germany. Keep up with Christopher and the band at these links:
Pioneers of power metal, energetic heavy metal, saints of positive vibes and pumpkin heads. They are all that and more and these are some of the descriptions of German heavy metal band, HELLOWEEN, who really don’t need to be introduced.
Thanks to my friends in Nuclear Blast, especially Markus Wosgien, I, Mohsen Fayazi, had a chance to have an interview with HELLOWEEN’s Bass Invader, Markus Grosskopf a few days ago.
Recently, I discovered that the HELLOWEEN members are working on a book, which they will call ‘Hellbook‘, I did lots of searches but unfortunately wasn’t able to find more information. I was very curious about this, so my first question was about this book, which Markus called a ‘surprise’, and I should say that I already surprised him by knowing this information, as he asked “how do you know it?” (laughing).
Obviously, the first things which we always seek about any book are The Name and The Writer(s). Well, we know the name (Hellbook) but who is or are responsible for writing and making up the book? Markus did not mention any names but he said: “We are collecting stuff and pictures, old and new ones, then we can correct it. It will be a kind of history book with lots of pictures, but it is going to be a little surprise.” But when we should expect to have this book in our hands or on our shelves, Markus did not know either, “I don’t really know the time when it comes out but we are working on it and the details.”
HELLOWEEN is a unique band in the heavy metal universe indeed, so I asked Mr. Grosskopf about this, “We are what we are you know, we are not pretending to be or play something else than what we love or that we really are. We are not going out there, pretending to be an angry heavy metal band…” Markus said. But I also asked him what he has learned in these three decades while he has been a member of the band. He answered me humbly: “You cannot really change the world, but you can help a little here and there and get people in a better mood.”
You know, HELLOWEEN ‘s new masterpiece, “My God-Given Right” was released by Nuclear Blast, so I asked him how it is working with them. Markus said: “It is very good, it is very nice, we finally came back home. They treat us very well, we saw them on a festival, we had a few drinks together. It is nice working with them, it is nice working with Markus Wosgien. You know, it’s an old metal company.” Then later, when I asked him what happened with Sony Music, Markus answered me: “The contract was simply over and we were free to go wherever we would like to go. There was no big fight or bad words, it was just like going back home. Nuclear Blast guys were always around all those years, checking us out and asking what you gonna do next. That interest made us think, if they’re always around anyway, why not try it again with them and it is working very good.”
HELLOWEEN fans are unique, just like their favourite band. Being truly die-hard fans is one of their qualities as well as being positive of course. If you are one of them, I am sure you are dying know about the band’s upcoming plans and that’s what I asked Markus. He told me that they will continue playing shows and festivals and partying with their fans, but the most interesting part of his words was when he said: “Let’s hope that there is another decade to play and record for us!” So if you are a pumpkin-head too, you can or cannot calm down and listen to your favourite album, “My God-Given Right“.
I, Mohsen Fayazi, Chief Editor of The Magic Of Metal, Metal Shock Finland, wish all the best and metal to the Helloween members and all of their mighty fans, from Indonesia to Brazil and from Iran to USA… Keep on rockin’ and Stay Crazy!
And please take time and listen to the whole of my interview with Markus on the Audio Player below:
Italian heavy metallers CIRCLE OF WITCHES, formed in 2004, are freshly back home from Moscow, where they shared the stage with DORO, as her main support act (see the pictures below). Today they are full of energy and already working on their next album, the follow-up to “Rock The Evil” (2014) and is due to be released in 2016.
Just a couple of days ago Tarja Virmakari had a nice chat with the founding members, Mario Bove (lead vocal and guitar) and Joe Caputo (bass guitar) -while Anthes (Lead Guitars & backing vocals) and drummer Joey Coppola were “assisting” in the background – talking about their music and how it will differ on their next effort. Tarja was also curious to know if and how this experience with DORO changed the band’s views for the future, who only six months ago was ready to part ways. To discover more, please join the chat below.
KYLVER is an instrumental progressive rock and metal band from Newcastle upon Tyne in the UK. They have recently released their first studio album, “The Mountain Ghost” which consists of four instrumental tracks. I, Mohsen Fayazi, had a chance to have an interview with the band’s bassist, James Bowmaker and guitarist Jonny Scott a few days ago.
We started our chat by discussing the band’s name, and as I expected it originates from a Swedish runestone which was found at Kylver, Stånga, Gotland in 1903.“I just found it online, I was reading things on runestones when I was listening to Wardruna.“ said guitarist Jonny Scott.
The Kylver Stone is still a mystery for us, as we still don’t know what the inscription written on it, means exactly. But some archaeologists believe that it is associated with magic. Well I can say magic and mystery fits the band’s music well.
As I said before, KYLVER‘s “Mountain Ghost” is a kind of conceptual album, however it is an instrumental one. So we continued talking about this album with genius qualities. “We originally wrote the whole music and then came up with the title of the songs.” said James, and then Jonny explained that they got the idea from a folklore item, from a village in Switzerland, “In that village, a lot of houses have these wooden carvings on the walls and it’s called the Mountain Ghost.”
Sometimes music can paint the stories which no words can, when the band lets the fans use their imagination to create their own stories and that is what KYLVER have done. But the band have their own definition for this ghost, “A kind of misunderstood lonely ghost,” Jonny told me and he continues “He torments this village but he really wants some company and companionship, but he is doing it the wrong way.”
There is a Persian proverb which says “What comes from the heart, will go through the hearts.” And that is probably the answer of why it is so joyful to listen to this album. “We enjoyed playing the songs, we enjoyed writing the songs… It is our first release, we got good feed back.”
After talking about and discussing each track, I asked James and Jonny about their plans for the future and Jonny surprised me by saying “We started to write the next album…” and with this interesting news, we finished our interview. I must say that I am really looking forward to hear from these talented guys soon. You can listen to the whole of this interview on our Audio Player below:
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Kimmo Kuusniemi’s ASA unveil the long-overdue release of "Collective Failure" + first music video for title-track! Check it out and stay tuned for more news! Click image to watch the video
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s SARCOFAGUS return with a Historic 2010 Concert Video Premiere on YouTube! Click image to watch the video
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