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Interview with GLEN DROVER: “I think it’s the strongest album I’ve ever done”

Posted by aliblackdiamond on February 21, 2019
Posted in: Interviews. Tagged: , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Interview By Alison Booth

Well known for his time with MEGADETH, KING DIAMOND and his own power metal band EIDOLON plus more besides, Canadian guitarist Glen Drover is back with a brand new project –  WALLS OF BLOOD. The album, titled “Imperium” featuring an esteemed assortment of metal vocalists such as Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens (JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH), Chuck Billy (TESTAMENT), Todd La Torre (QUEENSRŸCHE) and Henning Basse (METALLIUM, FIREWIND), is set for release on 22nd February via Metalville.

MSF Senior Manager Alison Booth recently caught up with Glen to chat about the album in more detail, as well as various other subjects, including the story of a career highlight at the UK’s Download Festival. You can read a few excerpts from the conversation below and the full interview is on the audio player:

Discussing “Imperium”, Glen stated:

“I think it’s the strongest album I’ve ever done, period. This album for me, you know I worked on it sporadically over six years and I’m just really proud, I love the whole album. I couldn’t be happier right now.

It was all people that I really wanted to work with and some, in fact most of them, were singers I might not have worked with before, but wanted to.

And then there were situations where I would approach somebody that I wanted to have on the album and then I would write a song around his type of style – something I knew he would probably be comfortable with and be able to deliver.”

On Matt Cuthbertson, who provides vocals on the track ‘Walls Of Blood’:

“Yeah he did a really good job. The band Untimely Demise, they’re from Canada and I really liked his, he’s got the raspy, growly voice like a lot of bands do – but he has more of an identity I think. I find, with all due respect to the bands that do sound similar in the vocal department, sometimes I can’t tell them apart. But there are some that have an identity, ‘oh yeah, that’s him or that’s her’ or whatever, you know. And he’s one of those guys and I just thought he’ll do really well on the song. Shawn wrote the lyrics and away we went.”

Talking about what’s next for WALLS OF BLOOD and if there’s any possibility of touring, Glen revealed:

“I’m gonna wait to see how it’s received and how I feel about it down the road. One thing I can say is that I probably wouldn’t do another album with multiple vocalists, because I’ve already done that now and it’s a little bit harder. I’m very, very happy that I did it and I’m extremely proud of the album like I mentioned, but I don’t think I would do that again. I would do an album with one singer.

As far as touring, no not at this point because of everything I just said, but is it possible that I could streamline it where it’s one line-up of say four guys, yeah and play shows, absolutely possible. If I’m gonna do it, I’m gonna know when the time comes and it would be very easy to do that. I have a couple of vocalists in mind, one in particular, I’m not gonna mention his name, that I know would be able to do all the different material that’s on the album.”

Reflecting on highlights from his career, Glen reminisced about a MEGADETH performance:

“Highlights, there’s a few. And you know, speaking of the UK, I gotta say, that’s probably if I had to pick one particular event it would’ve been the first time we played Download. We played there twice, but you know you can’t forget that.

We played on the main stage. I remember we were back waiting as the into was about to be rolled. And I was looking out in the field on the main stage at Download and there was a lot of holes. I went ‘oh shit, I was hoping it was going to be full!’ And then just before the intro, I looked my other way and in droves there’s all these people coming down the pathway ’cause one band just finished on another stage. By the time we got on stage there was not a piece of grass you could see, it was just so electric. As far as you could see, everybody was going nuts, you could feel it – it was so heavy with electricity. We played for fifty minutes and it felt like five minutes, literally. That has to be the pinnacle for me.”

“Imperium” Track Listing:

01. Leave This World Behind (feat. Nils K. Rue)
02. Discordia (feat. Todd La Torre)
03. Waiting To Die (feat. Chuck Billy)
04. Blood Sacrifice Ritual (feat. Henning Basse)
05. Tarnished Dream (feat. Tim Owens)
06. Walls Of Blood (feat. Matt Cuthbertson)
07. The Fault Of Man (feat. Henning Basse)
08. Dark Lords Of Sleep (feat. Dan Cleary)
09. Junkhead (ALICE IN CHAINS cover) (feat. Lance Harvill)
10. Seven Spirits (feat. Henning Basse)

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Ex- MEGADETH Glen Drover: “Dave Mustaine was not a Taskmaster, he didn’t really question me”

Posted by tarjavirmakari on January 14, 2019
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: , , , , , . Leave a comment

themetalvoice-glendrover-davemustaine

Jimmy Kay from Canada’s The Metal Voice  recently spoke to Former Megadeth, King Diamond guitarist Glen Drover. Drover spoke about his new Band/Project  Walls of Blood  and his new album Imperium which will be release February 22 2019 via Metalville. He also spoke about his days recording with Megadeth on United Abominations  and King Diamond’s album House of God.

Watch the interview here:

When asked about his new project Walls of Blood
“I started this project about six years ago. What happened was for fun in between whatever I was doing at that point, I got Henning Basse (Firewind, Mayan) to sing an old Eidolon song that I’d always loved but unfortunately was destroyed by mediocre vocals. So I gave Henning the lyrics but not the original music, I didn’t want him to listen to the original melodies and he just loved it and we did the track and it came out killer. Then shortly after that I had started talking to Todd LaTorre from Queensryche and he said yeah let’s do a song. So I thought to myself you know what how about an album that’ll have multiple guest singers on it. Ten songs, ten different singers and that was the original design and that’s what ended up happening in the end. I think we did a good job and making everything sound real cohesive with all the different singers. It’s pure heavy metal, there’s some pretty heavy stuff on it you know, there’s a lot of melody too.”

When asked if he would Tour with Walls of Blood
“I compare my situation to Jake E Lee’s Red Dragon Cartel, Jake formed a band and released an album that had different singers. I think he was testing the waters, since he had not been in the industry for sometime. Then he did a tour and it turned out really positive and then on Jake’s second album he decided just to have one singer and tour. I feel the same way let’s see how it goes on this album, test the waters and then I am open to anything that makes sense in regards to touring.”

When asked what he thinks of Megadeth’s United Abomination album today
“I think it came out really well, it’s a very strong album, there are songs on there that I favour more than others of course but overall I think it’s a great album. My favorite albums by Megadeth are the first three ones, especially So far So good, So What and Peace Sells But who’s Buying.”

When asked about his experience working on the album with Dave Mustaine and if Dave sang him the solos to reproduce

“Dave I got along with him really well, he wasn’t a taskmaster with me you know I always went in very prepared.  I did my homework so much that he really didn’t question a whole lot. When it came to solos I would do something and then Dave would go why don’t you try something like this. Dave was not singing all the notes in the solos he was just kind of  mimicked  the melodies and the flow of the tempo of the solo. That’s what it was like for me I can only speak for myself.  “

“I remember doing  Sleepwalker, the first song on the album. By the way, that song wasn’t going to make the album thank god it did because it’s pretty much one of the very a few up-tempo tracks  because there were too many  mid-tempo songs  and we needed something that was going to be more of a fast.  But Dave didn’t want to do it. In the end what happened was me and Andy Sneap did a demo of it and sent it to the record company and they said  yeah we’re using this one.  So I guess Dave was overpowered on that sorry Dave but that’s how the story went.”

When asked about his experience working on the King Diamond album House of God
“It was amazed experience. How I got the gig was as I sent an audition tape in the early 90’s to their people while I was still living at home, I was really young. King liked it and we kept in contact and then the situation came up in 1997 and he called me and said you want a job and that was that. It was great everybody got along really well together. In the studio I just went in and had a lot of fun. They flew me into to Dallas and I spent two weeks just doing all my solos. I would do three or four songs a day and then I go back to the hotel that night and work out the songs for the next day and I go in. I also had a great time touring but my lifestyle had changed, I got married and I had a kid on the way, so I couldn’t just rely on the sporadic touring that would happen here and there.”

When asked if he had any regrets leaving King Diamond and Megadeth too soon
“For King Diamond I don’t have any regrets because I’m not sure how much of a difference it really would have made after I left King Diamond, their next album was Abigail two. Yeah it that came out okay but I would say the House of God album is a little stronger. For Megadeth there was issues that came up and I had to go at that point. I couldn’t have stayed any longer because of what was going on and I didn’t have any regrets. If I stayed in there longer there might have been more problems but I I left when I had to and that was that.”

walls of blood-cover
WALLS OF BLOOD, “Imperium”,  contains 10 songs of “high-class power metal,” with guest appearances by some of the genre’s most acclaimed vocalists, including Tim Owens (JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH), Chuck Billy (TESTAMENT), Todd La Torre (QUEENSRŸCHE) and Henning Basse (METALLIUM, FIREWIND).

Drover handled all guitars and keyboards on the album, while the drums were tracked by Scott Barrymore and bass by Chris Myles (except the songs “Discordia” and “Tarnished Dream”, which feature bass by Joe DiBiase). All music was recorded, produced and engineered by Drover at Eclipse Recording in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.

“Imperium” track listing:

01. Leave This World Behind (feat. Nils K. Rue)
02. Discordia (feat. Todd La Torre)
03. Waiting To Die (feat. Chuck Billy)
04. Blood Sacrifice Ritual (feat. Henning Nasse)
05. Tarnished Dream (feat. Tim Owens)
06. Walls Of Blood (feat. Matt Cuthbertson)
07. The Fault Of Man (feat. Henning Basse)
08. Dark Lords Of Sleep (feat. Dan Cleary)
09. Junkhead (ALICE IN CHAINS cover) (feat. Lance Harvill)
10. Seven Spirits (feat. Henning Basse)

Ex MEGADETH Glen Drover Joins Metal All Stars Relief Songs for Steve Grimmett

Posted by tarjavirmakari on February 16, 2017
Posted in: Int. News. Tagged: , , , . Leave a comment

glendrover

Former MEGADETH guitarist Glen Drover joins a list of Metal Heavyweights in the re-recording of three classic Grim Reaper songs. All proceeds of the songs will go to Steve Grimmett‘s (Grim Reaper) medical and recovery costs, issued The Metal Voice.

Glen Drover expressed his excitement about the project to The Metal Voice,

“I feel really good about helping in any way I can… I grew up with Grim Reaper, and Steve is an awesome singer!”

The relief project is spearheaded by bassist Tony Dolan from Venom Inc and aided by Neil Turbin (Ex Anthrax, Deathriders), Sy Keller (Onslaught) and Jimmy Kay (The Metal Voice)

Tony Dolan had this to say about the re-recordings on February 4, 2017 on a live stream in Ecuador

“There were quite a few choices we could make but once I asked the artists, everyone wanted to do SEE YOU IN HELL and FEAR NO EVIL they are classics. THE SHOW MUST GO ON will also be included because that is what the man (Steve Grimmett) is going to do and that is what he will be doing stronger than ever. We will put  out the songs on 7 inch as well as digital downloads.”

Steve Grimmett has been hospitalized in Ecuador since mid-January; the singer was amidst a tour in support of GRIM REAPER’s latest album, Walking In The Shadows.  Millie Grimmett has been updating fans around the globe of the singer’s condition on the bands Facebook page here. Grimmett has endured multiple operations that have resulted in the near complete loss of his right leg. On the latest update as of February 15 2017 Millie and Steve Grimmett are heading on a plane back home after spending more than a month in Ecuador waiting for green light to travel by the doctors.

Millie Grimmett updated The Metal Voice yesterday (February 15 2017) on the latest developments,

“After 5 operations, a month in hospital and a week recovering in a hotel, Steve and I are leaving Guayaquil, Ecuador, on Wednesday 15th February, arriving back in the UK on Thursday 16th. Steve will be going straight in to hospital, in the UK, where he will start his rehabilitation. We want to thank all the people we have met and touched our hearts while being here, especially the nurses and doctors. Here’s to the next chapter in our new book of life. The show must go on! “

stevemilliegrimmett-airport

The Reaper All-Star  include Gary Holt (Slayer, Exodus) Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens (ex-Judas Priest), Doro Pesch, Lips (Anvil), Neil Turbin (Deathriders), Tony Dolan (Venom Inc) Ross The Boss (Manowar), Jonas Hornqvist (Bleed the Hunger),  Sy Keeler (Onslaught), Bobby Blitz (Overkill),  Marta Gabriel (Crystal Viper), Blaze Bayley (ex Iron Maiden) Nick Bowcott (ex-Grim Reaper), John Gallagher (Raven), Mantas (Venom Inc), Joe Cangelosi (Whiplash, Kreator) Chuck Billy (Testament) and Glen Drover (ex Megadeth) The songs will be produced by Chris Tsangarides (Judas Priest, Anvil Producer )

A Donation page has been set up, to date $14,500 have been raised: https://www.youcaring.com/stephenmgrimmett-740370

Metal All Stars relief songs were announced on February 4th 2017 on a live stream on The Metal Voice streamed live in Ecuador at the hospital where Steve Grimmett was operated on:

GLEN DROVER: Set To Release EIDOLON’s “Zero Hour”

Posted by aliblackdiamond on September 13, 2014
Posted in: Int. News. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

Ex- MEGADETH, TESTAMENT and KING DIAMOND guitarist Glen Drover has made an announcement for fans of his Canadian band EIDOLON. Glen stated:

“OK, so for all you guys that have asked me a million times about the old EIDOLON stuff. here is something you might be interested in” –

CDN Records has Signed EIDOLON featuring Glen Drover and Shawn Drover. Glen has played in Megadeth, Testament, King Diamond and Shawn is currently in Megadeth. The release is the 1996 EIDOLON “Zero Hour” CD, which was originally sold in limited quantities. “Zero Hour”, which is new, but not remastered, will now be released on 7th October with the original inlay and CD booklet.

The CD is available in 3 different forms:

Bundle#1- Cd+ Personally Autographed to the buyer by Glen Drover- also includes Glen Drover guitar pick (75 available) $22.00 + postage

Bundle#2 Cd Autographed By Glen and Shawn Drover $16.00 + Postage

Bundle #3 Cd $12.00 + postage

Glen Drover

 

MEGADETH/KING DIAMOND Guitarist Glen Drover Launches New Band METALUSION; New Song Streaming

Posted by tarjavirmakari on December 8, 2013
Posted in: Int. News. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a comment

Source: Bravewords.com

Former MEGADETH/KING DIAMOND guitarist Glen Drover has issued the following update:

GlenDroverMetalusion

“It’s been a while since my last post. Been very busy with a big move. Building a new studio, etc, so I thought i would fill you in on whats happening as of now…..

First of all, my band, which has until now been known as the GLEN DROVER BAND, has been talking about the idea of changing the bands name for a while now. The reason for this is that everyone (and beyond) thats involved with this project have submitted material for the recordings along the way, and we all feel its more appropriate to have a more unified name, rather than just myself. I have always looked at this as a band. Not Glen and the side dudes. It was initially a record company push to have my name on the front. Well, I don’t work with that company anymore, and its time for a change. We decided to call the band/project METALUSION which is the name of our first album.

The idea to call the band Metalusion has been talked about for a little while, and the more we have thought and talked about it, the more we like it. I originally got the idea from Derek Sherinian of PLANET X. for this who don’t know, His first solo album was under his name, and the name of the album was called Planet X. Guess he realized that was also a good name for a band, which is exactly what he ended up doing. Same here, we realized that not only was it a cool name for the first album, but a good band name as well for the future!

The second thing is we have decided too upload a FULL song from the forthcoming album, fully mixed and mastered! The album will be called Between Sea and Sky. This instrumental tune, entitled ‘Caracas’ was written by Jim Gilmour and myself, and we are all very proud of it! The album is more than half way complete, and we should have a release in summer 2014. Oh, and be expecting a lot more heavy stuff on this new album, as well as the prog/fusion stuff we have been recording. There will be a few songs with vocals, and will also feature some guest singers, as well as some instrumental songs like the one you are about to hear.

Hope your like the track as much as we do.

Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!”

 

Former Guitarist For GEOFF TATE’s QUEENSRŸCHE To Perform With ‘Real’ QUEENSRŸCHE In Toronto

Posted by aliblackdiamond on March 5, 2013
Posted in: Int. News. Tagged: , , , . Leave a comment

Source: Blabbermouth.net

Former MEGADETH and KING DIAMOND guitarist Glen Drover — who left Geoff Tate‘s version of QUEENSRŸCHE before playing a single show with the band — will join the Todd La Torre-fronted QUEENSRŸCHE on stage this coming Thursday, March 7 at the Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada to perform the QUEENSRŸCHE classic “Take Hold Of The Flame”.

In a posting on his Twitter account, Glen wrote: “Going up onstage with the REAL QUEENSRŸCHE and play ‘Take Hold Of The Flame’ this thursday at the Phoenix in Toronto. Going to be fun stuff!”

Drover announced his departure from Geoff Tate‘s version of QUEENSRŸCHE last November. He explained in a statement: “I am really sorry to say that I have decided to bow out of Geoff Tate‘s QUEENSRŸCHE. I was very excited about doing this gig initially, but learned in the past week or so that it’s in my best interest not to do this right now. I feel really bad for those who were excited about the idea, and to Geoff himself, who, I have to say, was very nice to me on my past trip to Seattle. I, of course, am very disappointed for arriving at this point, and making this decision, to say the least. I sincerely wish the Geoff and the band all the luck on what they do in the future.”

The Todd La Torre-fronted version of QUEENSRŸCHE has inked a deal with Century Media Records for the release of the band’s new studio album. Due on June 11, the CD marks the debut release from the lineup comprised of La Torre (vocals; ex-CRIMSON GLORY), Michael Wilton (guitar), Parker Lundgren (guitar), Eddie Jackson (bass) and Scott Rockenfield (drums).

The Geoff Tate-fronted version of QUEENSRŸCHE has set “Frequency Unknown” as the title of its new album, due on April 23 via the Los Angeles-based independent label Cleopatra Records. The CD was produced by Jason Slater at a studio in Northern California.

Although a lineup for Tate‘s QUEENSRŸCHE was originally announced in the fall of 2012, things have changed. The band will now feature Tate along with bassist Rudy Sarzo (OZZY OSBOURNE, DIO, WHITESNAKE, QUIET RIOT), guitarist Kelly Gray (QUEENSRŸCHE 1998-2001), keyboardist Randy Gane and new additions, guitarist Robert Sarzo (QUIET RIOT, HURRICANE) and drummer Simon Wright (AC/DC, DIO, RHINO BUCKET). Guest musicians on the CD include K.K. Downing (JUDAS PRIEST), Chris Poland (MEGADETH), Ty Tabor (KING’S X), Paul Bostaph (SLAYER, TESTAMENT, EXODUS), Lita Ford, Brad Gillis (NIGHT RANGER), Dave Meniketti (Y&T) and Craig Locicero (FORBIDDEN).