Talks To… | The Metal Asylum

Can you tell us about the origin of the band name, a history of the band and a little bit about the various members?

Oooh, I don’t think I’ve ever been asked about “the origin” of the band name before, so this may be, “an exclusive”! The short answer is, that I took the band name from a song of the same name that I’d written for my previous band, Apathy, back in the early 1990’s. An adaptation of that same song actually made it to the debut Creation’s Tears album, Methods To End It All, and we had Sarah Jezebel Deva (previously of Cradle of Filth) lend her voice to it.

Now, here’s the “exclusive” bit, because you asked about “the origin”. I was maybe about 17 or 18 years old when myself and my good friend (who was the other guitarist in Apathy), spent an entire night sitting beside a lake, surrounded by a forest, at the end of a long lane, in the arsehole of nowhere, in what was still a very troubled Northern Ireland at that time. Let’s just say we were both fairly well intoxicated. We spent the whole night talking and much of that conversation was us expressing teenage angst; insecurities, problems with girlfriends and issues that tend to affect you at that age. The rain absolutely poured down, I mean relentlessly, that entire night, as if to set the tone for that discussion. Every time there was a pause in the discussion, there was just the sound of this torrential rain. I tend to write music and lyrics based on emotive, personal, real-life experiences, so that night inspired the lyric, “Creation’s Tears echo in the silence.” A few years later, when I needed a name for my new band, Creation’s Tears seemed to fit.

The history of the band; well, it’s patchy. I managed to pull some local lads together in summer 2002 to form Creation’s Tears and we quickly played our very first gig in October of that same year as the support act to Vader, Krisiun and Decapitated on the Belfast date of their tour. We went on to play a handful of local gigs thereafter, but when two of the members relocated, we split in 2004 / 2005.

After the split, I stopped playing guitar for a few years and then in early 2009, I got “the itch”. I hooked up with my lifelong friend and bassist Ian Coulter who had previously played in Apathy and Creation’s Tears. Now in my early thirties, I told him that I wanted to achieve my teenage dream of going to record a few songs with a top Metal producer in a country where the process of recording Metal music is really understood. Northern Ireland isn’t really reputed for churning out too many Metal classics (that’s not to say that there aren’t any gifted producers here, it’s just that Metal albums aren’t something that many of them are well versed in producing), so I had “Metal powerhouses” like England, Sweden or Germany in mind.

We didn’t yet have a drummer, so we started to advertise in the record shops and on some internet forums looking for a drummer here in Northern Ireland. The ads yielded no positive results – it was just fruitless, so I decided that we needed to “dream big”. Ian (the bassist) and I, sat down and started to listen to our favourite Metal albums. During that listening process, I remember saying to him something like; “if you could choose any drummer…?” The name that we both agreed on, was Lee Morris, who had played with Paradise Lost on what I’d consider to be their finest album, Draconian Times. Lee’s drumming on the opening track, Enchantment, had always really grabbed me musically.

Social media was a lot more primitive in 2009 than it is today and I didn’t know Lee Morris personally, so the job of tracking him down wasn’t easy. He had essentially disappeared from the heavy music scene following his departure from Paradise Lost, but luckily for us, we found out that he was teaching drum lessons at a music store in England. I managed to get Lee’s mobile number and I gave him a call. Keep in mind that for me, this is one of the drummers that I idolised in my teenage years, so the call was a bit of a fanboy moment for me and I’d imagine Lee thought I was a deranged stalker. He asked me to email him the Creation’s Tears demos, which I thought was him politely telling me to, “fuck off”. Much to my surprise, he liked the demos and he agreed to play on the recording with us.

Ian and I started looking for a studio and producer. Our goal was to record an EP – we hadn’t considered doing a full album at that point. Listening to the production on loads of our favourite albums, Sweden and the mighty duo of Jens Bogren and David Castillo (who produced the likes of Opeth, Katatonia, Sepultura, Soilwork etc) became the obvious choice. Jens Bogren suggested that we make a full album and when a man of that calibre makes a suggestion, you tend to listen.

Within a year of me recounting my teenage dream to my friend Ian Coulter, we were in the studio realising the dream and I’m proud of that fact to this day.

Are you all from the same area? How did you get together as a band?

The early line-up was all from within a 30 mile radius here in Northern Ireland. The latter line-up with which we recorded the album comprised of myself and Ian (both from Ballymena in Northern Ireland) and Lee Morris who lives across the sea in Wigan, England.

Who are your favourite artists/bands and how have they influenced your own sound?

Well, for me personally, it all started with the Metallica song Sanitarium. That’s the song that got me hooked on Metal. I think Hetfield definitely influenced my playing and singing. I also like twin guitar harmonies so albums like Heartwork by Carcass and Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son by Iron Maiden light me up. Then there’s the more morose stuff like Paradise Lost’s Icon and Draconian Times albums as well as the earlier Anathema stuff like Pentecost III and The Silent Enigma.

How have they influenced my sound? Hmm – I think that I started jamming along with the more accessible Metal albums of my generation by bands like; Metallica, Slayer and Megadeth and that was more about playing fast, “rocking out”, turning everything up and getting rid of frustration. I remember being highly impressed by Paradise Lost when Icon was released – I’d never heard anything like that before. That made me think that slow and mid-paced is cool too. Then a bassist I know introduced me to Anathema and I was just intrigued by the sadness of some of their melodies – that really changed how I thought about music. I think I have borrowed influences from all of them in some way or another.

Did you always have the ambition to be a musician and in a band or did you originally have other plans?

Since I reached my mid-teens, I think I had the ambition to be a Metal musician. I almost became a musician but then I ended up becoming a mediocre guitarist and a fairly average singer instead.

What songs or albums are on your current playlist?

I’ve turned into that cynical old bastard that I hoped I’d never become, so I’m always harking back to the classics like Master of Puppets, South of Heaven, Rust In Piece and suchlike. Recently I’ve been revisiting HIM’s Love Metal album, Ghost’s Impera album as well as Confessor’s hugely underrated Condemned album.

Current playlist – as past few days the latest Ne Obliviscaris song Equus – it’s 12 minutes long and it’s had several spins. There’s also a couple of tracks from Sleep Token getting more than one spin, Sepultura’s Quadra album, Mors Principium Est’s Seven album, Hate’s Erebos album and a couple of Gary Moore tracks – a mixed bag really.

Do you sing in the shower?

Not really nowadays. I like to take a good long shower as it’s one of the few places in my house where I get the freedom to listen to the music I want to hear. So, I go there for half an hour, crank up my Bluetooth speaker and rock out to something heavy!

Elsewhere in the house my 8 year old son has Raining Tacos on high volume, or my good lady is chanting along to Lewis Capaldi – there’s no hope for either of them! 😉

Do you have any plans for the band for this year and into next year?

Sadly not right at this moment, but I keep telling people to “watch this space” and I do really mean that. The band has been on a long hiatus. Just a couple of months after we released our debut, Methods To End It All album (over 12 years ago), I collapsed in Dublin and never really recovered from that. I just about physically managed to get through a couple of gigs but we’ve been on hiatus since 2011. I was diagnosed as having suffered from a Stroke and Epilepsy with damage to my central nervous system, so life really has changed a lot for me since Methods was released. I’m now part of a medical recall though and there’s a big question mark over the diagnosis, so I have some medical investigations coming up this year. Having said all of that, the itch to write and record is definitely there, it’s just more a case of whether or not I’m physically able; you folks know how physically demanding even singing a Metal song is let alone delivering a full album or a live set. I do remain hopeful though.

Do you currently have any new songs/albums ready to be released?

I’ve an iPhone full of ideas if that counts?

If you could play at any venue in the world where would you choose?

Can I be a bit presumptuous and pick three venues?

One would be the main stage at Donington – also a teenage dream.

Another would be London’s Hammersmith Odeon as it was once called. In my formative Metal years, I had a VHS tape of Metallica playing there on the Justice tour, so Hammersmith Odeon has always been on my radar.

It would be nice to be able to play Belfast’s Ulster Hall. I’ve seen so many great bands there, it’s visually stunning inside and it would be amazing to be successful enough to be able to play there to a home crowd.

Do you have a favourite album? If so, what is it?

It’s hard to choose just one – I like so many different styles of Metal. If you were to force me to have to listen to a handful of albums on repeat every day for infinity though, and you told me that I couldn’t choose Master of Puppets, then I’d maybe go for HIM’s Love Metal, Cradle of Filth’s Dusk and Her Embrace, Dark Tranquillity’s Damage Done and Anathema’s The Silent Enigma – I’m sure I’ve left out something equally awesome, but I’m thinking on my feet here.

Do you have any guilty pleasure songs/albums?

Hmm, songs; my son recently discovered Elton John’s big hit, I’m Still Standing – gotta confess to loving that one myself as it was one of the first 7” records I owned when I was a child. Dolly Parton, Jolene – who doesn’t like that one? – that opening guitar lick is outstanding! Miley Cyrus and Mark Ronson, Nothing Breaks Like A Heart – Miley’s voice is like a warm mug of hot chocolate on a cold winter’s night. There ye go, it’s all out in the open now.

If you were putting together the greatest show on earth, who would be playing?

Fantasy stuff, but, the classic Slayer line-up with Jeff Hanneman RIP and Dave Lombardo. I’d also have the classic Megadeth line-up playing; Mustaine, Nick Menza RIP, Marty Friedman and Dave Ellefson. A 1980’s incarnation of Metallica with Newsted / Burton RIP. Dusk era Cradle of Filth to stir shit up. Anathema playing either The Silent Enigma or Judgement album in full. Creation’s Tears would be jamming in the car park for you folks arriving. 😉

Can you remember the first album you bought with your own money? What was it and do you still have it?

I remember it vividly. It was in late October 1988 that I went to the record store, Uneda Disc in Ballymena, to buy Metallica’s Master of Puppets album on cassette. That album changed my life! I’ve moved house a few times since the 80’s, but I believe it’s still in a box of cassette tapes in my attic – sacrilege, I must bring it down.

As your fans will be reading this, is there any message you would like to send out to them?

It’s a cliché to say it, but Creation’s Tears has some of the best supporters that any band could ever wish for. The number of friendships that I’ve seen people form through a mutual love of our music really blows me away. Thanks to each and every one of you for sticking with us throughout such a long period of inactivity. To every single one of you who has reached out to see how I’m doing and for all the messages asking us when we might record a second album, these really do not go unnoticed – it really does mean a lot; it’s humbling, it’s encouraging and it helps to keep me strong. I really do hope we deliver more music to you again in the future. Sincere thanks to you all.

Finally, let us know all your social media sites so your fans, old and new, can find and follow/like you!

We’re definitely not as active as we should be, but we’d love your support and I really am hoping there will be some positive news in the not too distant future, so please join us now and be the first to know about it, at:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/creationstears

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/CreationsTears

Instagram: creations_tears

We, at The Metal Asylum, would like to thank you for your time. Is there is anything further that you would like to add?

Thanks to you folks at The Metal Asylum for your support, passion and enthusiasm. Did I say passion?…I meant PASSION! People like you really do help to keep our Metal scene alive, so your support is invaluable. Thank you for continuing to spin those Creation’s Tears tracks. It really is my hope that I’ll be sending you some new music soon! Cheers!

Instagram: shot_on_iphone_uk

This interview is purely the property of The Metal Asylum

– I originally formed the band in September 2004 when I was a junior in high school. We went under various names in the early days, but the one that stuck, Immortal Sÿnn, came about in 2005 when the bassist at the time and I were driving around town. We were listening to the fight album, War of Words, which contains the track, “Immortal Sin”. We thought it sounded like a cool name so we went with it as a band name.

– The current line-up consists of me, Tony Z on guitar and backing (some lead) vocals, Duel Shape on lead vocals (occasionally guitar and keyboard), Brad Wagner on guitar and vocals, Axel Berrios on drums (occasional lead vocals), and Sean Ryan on bass

– Brad, Sean, and Myself are from Colorado – Evergreen, Firestone, and Denver, respectively. Duel hails from Bridgewater, South Dakota, and Axel is from Chihuahua, Mexico. I met Axel through an ad on Craigslist, and we met Duel that way as well. Brad was working at Home Depot at the time we needed a new guitarist. I have to go in there all the time for work, so that’s how I started talking to him; though, he has been in the music scene for quite a while and I did meet him briefly in the past through that. Sean was friends with Brad and jumped on bass through him.

– My personal top five are: AC/DC, Metallica, Megadeth, Black Sabbath, and Pantera; however, I listen to artists in dozens of different genres, and enjoy a plethora of music from the first written record of music up to the present. I try to incorporate a little bit of everything that I hear into our songs while sticking to our style of thrash mixed with NWOTHM.

– Although I have had multiple plans throughout my life and still have some of those plans in mind, being a musician has always been at the top – ever since I first saw the “Johnny B. Goode” scene in Back to the Future when I was four.

– As of this writing I am going through Dokken’s entire discography. I am currently on their album, Erase The Slate.

– I did when I lived alone.

– We are currently planning our summer tour of the midwestern US, and hope to be in the Wacken battle of the bands again. Hopefully we will have a new EP out in the coming months as well.

– As previously stated, we are hoping to release a new EP this year, but will, at the very least, have at least two new singles.

– Red Rocks seems to be the priority for many people – us included – and it’s only a few miles from us!

– Not really, but since 2005, I find myself always returning to Screw It! by Danger Danger.

– I don’t consider anything I listen to a “guilty pleasure”. People are WELL aware of the stuff I like, and I make no effort to hide it. Google my name and the Taylor Swift trial in Denver back in 2017 to see what I mean;-p

– I never cared for this question every time it is asked because it is way too subjective, and most people place artists that no longer exist. However, I’ll say that anything we are a part of is already the greatest show.

– We hope to make an even bigger splash in 2023, so let us know what you’d like to see from us!

https://www.immortalsynn.com/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/6KrryVxqB0q7iBcM82vQ10?si=IliKyv38S_CM1owJb6Lyog

https://music.apple.com/us/artist/immortal-s%C3%BFnn/1053685692

https://www.facebook.com/immortalsynnmusic

https://www.instagram.com/immortalsynnband/

https://twitter.com/ImmortalSynnCO

https://www.youtube.com/immortalsynnband

https://soundcloud.com/immortalsynn

https://www.reverbnation.com/immortalsynn

https://odysee.com/@ImmortalSynn:7

https://rumble.com/c/c-1356374

https://www.bitchute.com/channel/9B3y98AptK5V/

https://www.last.fm/music/Immortal+S%C3%BFnn

– Thanks for giving us the opportunity to speak with you!

We started in 2004 the first version of Bloodrunner. Me (Neal) and some friends I knew since I was a kid. We were known as Exotoxn then. In 2006 we solidified the lineup you hear on Total Annihilation which was me (Neal) Matt Wensel, Mike Lerman, and Kyel Hickey. Kyle named the band which I have no clue where he got it from. I never asked honestly. Sounded badass though. We were together until 2010 and we all went our seperate ways. During COVID I got sober and decided to get the origianl lineup back toghether. I asked them all but they were busy with other things and all passed. I said fuck and went on a mission to find good musicians. I went through some people then came upon Rob and Jeff who play on the single Wasting Away we were a band for about a year from 2021-early 2022. Then the mission began again and finally found a solid group of dudes with Yair Vera, Lara Daniel, and Irving Masvidal and thats who you hear on the Brainchild single.

Irving and I live in the suburbs and Lara and Yair in the southside of Chicago. Throgh mutual friends and Facebook is how we all meet.

Well when it comes to metal my top two are Metallica and Megadeth and Judas Priest hovers over them like the metal gods that they are. The twin ryhtm has always made me hard (wink wink).hahaha

The musicality, the attitude in all 3 of them and of course Robs vocals. Man to sing like him would be amazing.

Yeah! Since I was a little kid I’ve been singing and dancing to random music. Playing air guitar with a light saber. I finally got my first guitar when I was 10 years old and by 13 had it in my mind I had to start a band.

I started a new one a few days ago and so far its new shit I’ve been checking out like Maneater by Burning Witches, Standing By The Sea by Husker Du and Seeds to Sow by Scowl.

We want to release an EP hopefully by spring and definitly tour!

We just released a new single called Brainchild on 12/01/22. Its fuckin badass.

Hmmm I would say definitly Wacken idk you can call that a venue if not then Solider Field that would be amazing!

…And Justice For All by Metallica. Its just to damn good.

Uhm I guess you can say Michael Jackson is one hes an amazing singer and dancer when it comes down to it.

I would put the lineup as my top 5 bands of all time. Metallica, Megadeth, Aerosmith, Motley Crue, and The Rolling Stones.

It was ReLoad by Metallica. I think my older sister has it now. Im not sure. I might of sold it also.

Thanks for all the support, check out our social media pages for all updates and hope to see all of you at shows in the future!

We have a link tree with every link attached to it which can be found here

https://linktr.ee/officialbloodrunner

Horns up! 2023 should be a heavy one!

The band name originally came as we tried to improve a previous name-idea from “Oort Cloud Project” to something else. “White Cloud Fire” came by itself, without any particular meaning behind… White Cloud Fire just sounded good to our ears.

We had musical collaborations with Michael Monroe who became a good friend of mine. One album release in 2017 called “So Far So Good on Planet Earth”, we also have a UK tour behind – so we’re ready to hit the scene!

We basically come from Jyväskylä, a city where we met at different times as we were attending and hanging at the Conservatory. Who are your favourite artists/bands and how have they influenced your own sound? We always struggle answering this one – really, there are a mix of many artists, really hard to name any. But lately, we surely got heavier.

Uhm, current playlist? I barely have a smartphone… Do you sing in the shower? That’s where everyone starts to sing! But not so much anymore.

Gigging is our goal, so we’ll visit as many stages as possible. The rest is open. Do you currently have any new songs/albums ready to be released?

We have few other singles ready to be released. We are indeed planning an album release, but nowadays singles seem to be “the thing”… so we’ll have to follow this trend a bit. If you could play at any venue in the world where would you choose?

Wembley Stadium! Do you have a favourite album? If so, what is it?

There would be at least ten to mention… To choose one, I’d say “Waiting For The Punchline” by Extreme.

Some Lady Gaga or Christina Aguilera tunes are quite catchy… If you were putting together the greatest show on earth, who would be playing?

I love this question – I’d say John Bonham, Jon Lord, Steven Tyler, Nuno Bettencourt, and on bass… I never know who to choose! Can you remember the first album you bought with your own money? What was it and do you still have it? I was in NYC. I bought AcDc “Live”. Then I borrow it to someone… And it never came back.

It’s a cruel world made of avatars, fake boobs and cryptovalues… Try stayin’ alive! Finally, let us know all your social media sites so your fans, old and new, can find and follow/like you!

Sure, here you can find us anywhere: www.whitecloudfire.com instagram.com/whitecloudfire facebook.com/whitecloudfire tiktok.com/whitecloudfire twitter.com/whitecloudfire youtube.com/whitecloudfire https://open.spotify.com/artist/79CppB98pWsNaUhhBLmees We, at The Metal Asylum, would like to thank you for your time. Is there is anything further that you would like to add?

A big thank you to Metal Asylum and all your readers – thanks for having me!

The name was my idea. I had experienced certain “dark times” in my life (as has everyone) and I survived them. I am a Capricorn. I am rising as a spirit and we are rising as a band – it’s a resurrection, if you will.

Are you all from the same area?

Yes, we’re all from Canton, Michigan which is a suburb of Detroit.

How did you get together as a band?

I was working on a solo project and Rick Young was producing me. We just seemed to click artistically and personally so we started it. We asked Rocky, a veteran awesome drummer, to join us and there it was the power trio –

Primarily, Black Sabbath. Also, Zeppelin, Rainbow, Deep Purple. We have all their power but we are much clearer and artistic in our productions. Ricky – who is the producer as well as our “Shredder” is one of the greatest producers in the U.S. He has produced countless major acts over the years including Van Halen, Rare Earth, Stevie Wonder.

We are not just a few knuckleheads getting together to bang some instruments in a garage in Idaho! We are a world class band and we have the credentials to back that up. Music is not just a hobby for us. It is our very lives. We have sacrificed and will continue to sacrifice everything to get to the very top of our profession! Music is our life. Music is our blood!

I went through many transitions: the Marine Corps, College, a variety of jobs but music was always with me. It sustained me. It helped me survive emotionally.

Pump it UP (Costello), One Thing Leads to Another (the Fixx), Dancing Days (Zeppelin).

The only time I really sing outside of the studio is when I’m writing a song.

We are a “studio band” so to speak ala Steely Dan. That’s how we maintain such a pristine sound.

We have 2 songs in “the Vault.”

“The Bleeding Inside” and “8 Days in the Middle.”

The Vatican – the Pope’s a DCR fan!

Wow, I really couldn’t name just one album. I could narrow it down to 10, with some effort, including “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath”, “Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow”, “Revolver” – Beatles…

Get it On – Kingdom Come, Boston’s first album (wow!).

Can you remember the first album you bought with your own money?

“Appetitie for Destruction”

Yes, we would like to say to all of our Super Fans “Thank you so much for believing in us and for your loyalty. You have been the major reason we have come so far. Your constant ‘spreading of the word’ to people about us has been crucial to our success. We will never forget your loyalty and love!”

“A band makes the music but the fans make the band!”

Finally, let us know all your social media sites so your fans, old and new, can follow/like you!

https://www.facebook.com/Darkcapricornrising

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Dark+Capricorn+rising

We, at The Metal Asylum, would like to thank you for your time. Is there anything further that you would like to add?

We would just like to thank The Metal Asylum for taking such good care of us and all the other many bands. You’re all a class act for sure!

This always makes us laugh as it’s a common question… not only that, we have to use Matt’s answer as the name was set in stone before we all joined! Matt always says there’s a long and short answer to this… but honestly… they have the same answer: the “66” comes from Route 66, in the early days (and you can hear on our EP “Showtime” there was a lot of southern-rock influence, so they liked the idea of using the number…. The “Circus” is because he liked the word…. yep… I think it was more because just being called “66” may have been a bit odd, but he wanted 69 originally 😉

Well, we are from around the South East of England, hailing from Farnborough, Maidenhead and sunny High Wycombe!

we all met at different times really, but the gist of it IS, we all met through Matt (guitar) – the band started as a “uni side-project” roughly 9 years ago and has morphed into something a bit more serious these days. I joined in 2016 when Matt started looking for a new lead vocalist. (Believe it or not, he was initially planning to get a guy to sing) but fate had it that my vocals brought something new to the table and history was made from there.

Leigh (drums) has been away from the music scene a few years and joined what his wife calls “tinder for bands” ha! He set up a profile and it was the next day he received a message from Matt wanting to hook up for a jam (no drinks were bought for bribing purposes) it all went from there really. Similar story with Mustard (bass), although he probably has a far less elaborate weird cult recruitment version, he just turned up to one of our rehearsals and haven’t left since!

Annabelle – The Pretty Reckless

We all have our own influences, but it never hinders the writing process. It seems to work in our favour to have such diverse backgrounds at our disposal. We all enjoy putting our heads together and making the new sound exceed what we previously wrote every time. We never force anything, and all of us are really creative with tons of ideas ready for working into something when we get in the studio.

We’re a big old mashup of influences, Leigh isn’t actually into a lot of what the rest of us listen to… it’s a bit like the 50/50, half and half pizzas you can order… it’s best described like getting a pepperoni on your vegan slice ha! So he brings a lot of the heavy influence as opposed to the classic rock stuff, and the rest of us bring out a lot of classic rock influence too… promoters never know whether to put us on a metal or rock line-up, it’s hilarious… so really, you’re not sure whether you’re actually a vegan or you’re just dipping your toe in and trying something new. Right, we talked about pizza for far too long, but in a nutshell, a mash up of a classic rock sound with some serious girth.

Matt (Guitar) – “Guns ‘n’ Roses, Extreme, Bon Jovi & Queen – The ferocious guitar work and amazing song writing you’re presented with by these bands is phenomenal. Discovering these bands changed my life (and subsequently keeps my bank balance low……I have a guitar habit)”

Luke (Bass) – “Incubus, Extreme, Queen and Jamiroquai – on the face of it an eclectic mix, but these bands are the reasons I picked up a bass in the first place. All of them have frighteningly good musicianship across the board, and represent some of the best live shows i’ve ever seen.”

Leigh – “As a drummer, it’s expected that you reel off your “top 10 all time drummers” that influenced your playing, so I like to answer about my general music influences to be honest, no one famous influenced me to pick up the sticks! Musically and creatively it probably stems back to when I was a kid, my Dads a guitar and keys player so he’d teach me songs and show me music etc, that’s where it started. From there I listened to what he loved growing up, Bowie, Deep Purple, Queen etc, then as I went through my teens and college years, I was in to loads of mixed punk-rock/Nu-metal genres so Blink, Rammstein, Soilwork, Clutch, Slipknot, Korn, Bizkit, Papa Roach etc… that my era though and I loved it all and I’m notoriously known for still cranking “Chocolate Starfish” at any given opportunity! It’s never nostalgia if you play it every day!”

Honestly, music has always been a huge part of our lives, and we all did start with a dream to be able to create something that can live through time and bring smiles to everyone out there. It’s a bold statement, but that what we want to do… we want to leave a mark of our own in musical history, and even if it’s as small as putting a few of our fans in a good mood at the start of their day or as big as making a difference in someone’s life, then its win for us.

We all of course have our own full-time jobs that keep us busy during the week, but the band is where our hearts truly lie.

I think that differs for all of us, just like our influences, the list is vast. But we do love checking out new bands out there that release their music out into the world… we tend to look for inspiration wherever we can find it, but most importantly in the process, we also support our fellow musicians who have worked their butts off on their releases, and ultimately, that’s what is always important.

Oh absolutely! I’m pretty sure it is everyone’s guilty pleasure, where you can be the star of your own show at the comfort of your bathroom.

Of course! We are in the process of recording and finishing writing the rest of album number 2. For that of course, we will require help from our fans as we will be launching the Crowdfunder page where people can donate towards our 2 nd album, and as a reward for the love and support, we will have all kinds of packages and goodies available as a thank you to everyone who donates and helps us ultimately to achieve this dream. We understand that it’s been a tough time for everyone, and we want nothing more than to bring some positivity back into the works and along with it some kick ass riffs! 2023 is looking to be a busy year with a lot of big shows lined up such as SOS festival, Call of The Wild 2023 and Legends of Rock festival as well as Dementia Fest 2023. So get your tickets and come hang out with us after the set!

Hell to the yeah! Our newest single from the upcoming album is out on 25 th November 2022 and will be backed by a video release on 27 th November. The single is called ‘A Little Piece of Magic’ and the track is a first introduction to what we have been working on for months. The second album is all about bringing back the hope and the positivity into the world which barely began to normalise, and this is what we want our music to do… heal and bring light and hope to the current doom and gloom that still lurks around out there. The single we are releasing does exactly that, it’s the reminder that all of us have a little piece of magic within us to take the first step and ‘be the change’

If you could play at any venue in the world, where would you choose?

Truly a good question… we all have a dream venue, but we would all agree that O2 Kentish town, Madison Square Garden or UK’s KK Steel Mill would be awesome! (Technically we played at steel mill when we recorded our live video for the debut album ‘Follow The Black Crow’

We don’t have a favourite album per se, but all of us have an album each of us lean towards, like Matt (guitarist) loves GnR’s ‘Use Your Illusion II’ and Leigh is absolutely crazy for Clutch, Mustard is all about Incubus original releases… Me, (Annabelle, vocals) I love all of the music I listen to, therefore its extremely hard to choose just the one…

I don’t know about the others, but my (Annabelle, vocals) guilty pleasure is Elton John’s ‘Saturday Nights Alright’ (For Fighting), any Queen tracks and rarest of the all but I can deny it… Country Rock

That is something that we would put to a vote, as all of us have our own idea of what the perfect line up should be, the answers may vary… but to answer your question, I imagine all of us would choose one of our favourite bands together and play a massive festival type of gig with them ha-ha! Circus 66 would totally be included in that line up!

Annabelle – first album I have ever bought was a vinyl record of AC/DC Back In Black always been a massive fan of these guys since I can remember. However my first cassette tape I got, is something my mum bought me… now don’t judge… its Spice Girls – Spice Up Your Life… but rock and roll won my heart over! Yes I still have both till this very day.

Matt – First album I ever bought with my own money was the Wayne’s World movie soundtrack – I discovered a lot of great bands from that soundtrack. Still have it

Leigh – SOAD Toxicity Album 2001 unfortunately this CD is long gone… got slipped in one of them CD wallets and went walkies.

Luke – Performance and Cocktails by The Stereophonics bought in 1999. First CD I ever bought aged 14. Before that it was tapes and bootlegs I would nick of my dad!

From all of us at Circus 66, we want to say a massive thank you for the love and support that our fans continuously provide us with. We hope that the next album will reflect us stepping up and bringing more heat, groove, and cracking riffs to the table… but most importantly we want you all to remember to always kick ass, keep fighting and never forget that each and every one of you holds a little piece of magic inside.

https://linktr.ee/Circus66 and of course our shiny website www.circus66.com

Bring on 2023, because its going to be a hell of a ride! See you on the road folks!

Vas: vocals, guitars, Nick: Lead guitar, Pippa: Bass, Mike: Drums

Vas: The name of the band came a bit randomly. We had to choose a name to start gigging, so a night after a practice we were throwing out ideas, mainly words that we thought it would sound good and fit our style. We wanted something that would reflect power and control but at the same time some kind of limitation so the words ‘statue’ and ‘kings’ were perfect when combined.

As most bands we had ambitions since we started in 2017 but it was after the first 2 years when we realised we could push harder and aim higher. We started gigging outside Bournemouth and we were on a good roll till Covid happened and as everyone else we found ourselves restricted and unable to keep the good momentum. But we stuck together and we used that time to write new material and we came out of this better and stronger.

We were all in bands before we meet, different styles, different places but all experienced. I was involved with music and bands in Greece since I was young and when I moved to UK I had that dream to create a band, write songs, perform in front of large audiences and be a singer of the band everyone will remember. Nick was also in many bands before, recording, touring, lots of experience and ideas to bring in with his giant riffs. Mike was also in bands playing the drums previously and the energy and enthusiasm he brought from the very first day we met him was phenomenal. Pippa also was in bands for years and her ability to pick up things easily but always on her own style has given the band a real character. It think we’re all very different musicians in styles and approach which makes it a good mix.

Vas: We all live in Bournemouth. Being from the same area helps a lot when a band starts, mainly for practical reasons so you can easily meet and practice but also because you can plan better. The band first created by me and Nick in 2017 and it took about a year and a few member changes to end up with the current line up. I moved from Greece to South Uk and I was looking to form a band. So Nick responded to one of my ads on a forum. Same happened with Mike a few months later as he had recently moved to South UK from London. We knew Pippa as she helped us with the bass recordings on our first EP so when we started taking things more seriously we knew she was the one to complete the band.

Vas: Although I grew up with Black Sabbath and Metallica, the most influential band for me was Queens Of The Stone Age as I understood how important is to define your own sound in modern rock and how to be accessible to large audiences without being mainstream. Another big inspiration for me is Serj Tankian and the way he changed the perception of rock lead singers from the ‘bad@ss’ persona that was necessary to be successful till then.

Pippa: Influential bands from my early listening days would have been Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Mr Bungle, Incubus and Skunk Anansie, but a couple of my favourites these days are Zilf and Core of Io

Nick: My favourite bands growing up were AC/DC, Black Sabbath and Oasis but mostly Black Sabbath as I still listen to their stuff now. These days I’m really into Clutch and Orange Goblin.

Mike: Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson and Rob Zombie.

Vas: I realised at a young age that I wanted to be involved with music and knew that I would prefer to be part of a team and not solo. Never dreamed I would live in a touring van but you never know.

Pippa: I have a day job, being in a band doesn’t pay the bills.

Nick: All I ever wanted to do is just play a gig. It seemed so hard to even get people to play with in the beginning so when I did get to play a live gig it felt like I had made it. Everything after that has been a bonus.

Mike: I’ve always wanted to be in a band since I was 4yo

Vas: A very mixed playlist with Sleep Token, Polyphia, Nothing But Thieves and Ghost

Pippa: I’m making an environmental playlist right now for my students, so it has Honeybee by High Shelf Remedy, Don’t be a Canute by Ant Henson, and Canvas Bags by Tim Minchin

Nick: Clutch and Blind River

Mike: 36 crazyfists, Behemoth, General Levy, M dot R

Vas: No, shower is the place you can think and win every imaginary argument!

Pippa: Nope, no one needs to hear that!

Mike: I sound like Enya when I sing in the shower.

This year so far has been great for us, obviously getting back onstage after Covid on some amazing shows and also with our latest track release. We are finishing this year strong with some great gigs.

We’ll be playing in BlackHeart Camden the 8 th of December supporting the legendary Blind River and hitting Reading for the first time ever the following day 9 th of December on an amazing line up with Morass Of Molasses, Trevor’s Head and StoneSoup. Last gig for this year will be on our home ground as we play on Prevail Skatehouse (Poole) for their 10years anniversary party which will be really cool!

We are lining up some really exciting stuff for 2023 that unfortunately we can’t share yet but will be really soon and big big news for us!

Our first priority was to release The Culprit song, along with the video for this year. We already started discussing about next recordings so we are working on the details but it will be very very soon.

Vas: Glastonbury is a dream I must admit, but Electric Ballroom is a venue I have on my list.

Pippa: I love Brixton Academy (O2) so probably there

Nick: Anywhere that there is a gig going

Vas: Mer De Noms by A Perfect Circle

Pippa: I’ll go California by Mr Bungle

Mike: Mechanical animals or The downward spiral.

Vas: Not guilt but I think Rainbow’s Surrender is the greatest song of all times! Also Electric Callboy’s Hypa-hypa is stuck in my head for 3 years now.

Pippa: Hoobastank’s debut album

Mike: There’s no such thing as guilty pleasures, I like what I like and don’t mind.

Vas: Halestorm, Rammstein, Rival Sons, System Of A Down and other great bands you’d never mix together.

Pippa: We just played with hed (PE) and they were awesome, they would definitely be involved!

Nick: Black Sabbath, Soundgarden, Alice In Chains, Clutch, Blind River and my band

Mike: NIN, Marilyn Manson, Prodigy, Skindred and us!

Vas: it was Metallica’s ‘And Justice For All’ on a cassette. Still got the cassette somewhere but the cover always have it with me on a tattoo!

Pippa: There were a few at once – Pulp, Oasis, Blur and Soundgarden – it was one of those get a load of cds through the post deals. I still have Badmotorfinger

Nick: Best of the beast by Iron Maiden on cd from HMV Poole I still have it works perfectly it even still has the price label on. It was £15.99 can’t believe we used to pay that for music. I got it way before I had even heard of the internet.

Mike: Duff McKagan ‘Believe in me’

A massive thanks for all the love and support you give us! Hold tight because you haven’t seen anything from us yet and some great stuff coming!

facebook as Statue Kings Instagram as statue_kings_

and our music is on all major platforms to listen.

Thank you for having us, I hope everyone keeps supporting The Metal Asylum. Efforts like this really keeps the music going.

Edwin (Guitar) and Tyler (Vocals) from Harvest the Lost

Edwin: The name in short refers to the grim reaper, which is why you see a scythe in our logo. Much of our material covers melancholic topics about the human experience, based on a mixture of fictional and non-fictional themes, including death, the downfall of the human race, horror, etc.

We started the band in October 2016, which was when we recorded our first song, Wasted Life. I grew up in Northern Virginia while Tyler grew up in Central Virginia, and Australia for a time!

Tyler: Yeah we’re the same age. We worked together but didn’t interact much. Once we both realized that we were both into metal and played music everything kind of just fell into place.

Edwin: Before the band, I had a solo instrumental project that I did as a hobby and posted stuff to soundcloud. At some point, Tyler sent me a sample of his vocals over one of my tracks and after a little bit of brainstorming, we decided to form a new band altogether.

Tyler: I grew up in a super conservative and religious household so finding music that I could relate to was difficult for me. I started skateboarding when I was 14 and my friends introduced me to Slipknot. I immediately fell in love with their sound and image and started downloading their music off of limewire. I would listen to them behind my parents back and they were my gateway-drug into the metal music world. So slipknot has a special place in my heart. Now days I’d have to say my favorite bands are Signs of the Swarm, Lorna Shore, Carnifex and Monastaries. Will Ramos is a huge inspiration vocally and a good model of all the crazy sounds a human being can make.

Edwin: I listened to hip-hop growing up but really did so to try and fit in with the “cool kids” (Spoiler alert: It didn’t work). When I was about 14, I was introduced to System of a Down and immediately fell in love. As time went on, I went looking for something heavier, but I didn’t know how or where to find it. I had a friend in high school burn me a CD with bands like Arch Enemy, The Black Dahlia Murder, Slipknot, and Behemoth. Tyler was actually the one that got me more into deathcore and I started listening to bands like Suicide Silence, Chelsea Grin, To The Grave. Behemoth is definitely a major influence for my guitar playing as they use lots of tremolo picking/palm muting and harmonic minor patterns. I also draw a bit of inspiration from After the Burial, which is a favorite of mine.

Tyler: I’ve been playing music since I was 10 years old. I started with classical piano and picked up the guitar halfway through my teenage years. Music has always been a passion of mine and I’ve always tried to incorporate it into my life in some way or another.

Edwin: I was a band geek all throughout grade school, playing the trumpet. At 14, I got a guitar for Christmas which was coincidentally when I began listening to metal and 17 year later, here I am. I don’t ever plan on stopping!

Tyler: “Stained in Rot “ by Ov Sulpher, “King ov Deception “ by Lorna Shore, “Force fed Apathy” by Monastaries are my favorites right now.

Tyler: Not really. Honestly most of my singing and screaming practice is done on my hour commute to work and back each day.

Edwin: Maybe humming some riff ideas here and there but mostly I just ponder the universe and the ever present existential dread haha

Tyler: Release as much fucking music as possible and hopefully start to get a little more attention from the metal community.

Tyler: Yeah we’ve got several in the works!

Edwin: As a matter of fact, we have a single coming out on December 02! It’s called Devoid Ov Hope.

Tyler: Honestly the Canal Club in Richmond, VA or Baltimore Soundstage would be sick.” That’s where we always have to go to see metal shows so I guess that’s just in my head ha. Also now that I think about it, Penhurst Asylum in Pennsylvania would be pretty cool too- they sometimes have concerts there and that would be pretty badass.

Tyler: No, unless we’re talking about Slipknot I never have a favorite album-I just like various songs from albums.

Edwin: It’s always hard to choose, but definitely Rareform by After the Burial

Tyler: I listen to a wide range of music from Classical music, pop punk, Country and Southern Rock. I’m pretty open about my musical influence and tastes so I don’t feel bad about any of them ha.

Edwin: I make it a point not to ever feel guilty about anything I listen to! That being said, I love Taylor Swift, especially her new album. But it also depends on my mood because I’ll listen to just about anything, ie rap, EDM, country…

Tyler: Lorna Shore, Signs of the Swarm, Chelsea Grin, Brand of Sacrifice, Angelmaker, Carnifex, Monastaries, Distant and Vulvodynia.

Tyler: Oh god, I’m pretty sure it was probably *NSYNC or Backstreet Boys or something back in the 90s lol.

Edwin: Mine was definitely No Strings Attached by *NSYNC.

Tyler: Thanks for supporting our music, it means so much. I always tell Edwin that if at least one fucking pre-teen listens to us behind his parents back and blares our music when he’s pissed at his mom then we’ll have accomplished enough haha.

facebook.com/harvestthelost

Instagram: @harvestthelost

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1JzfRLkmnwMwru5REg4fas?si=6TOJui3tRCGDib-vWRpMHg

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcJ8psSv8r_vWYRjaor6azg

The origin of the band name.

An iron asparagus was a spear used by some sedentary tribes. The iron tip, reminiscent of the head of an asparagus, was carved to cause more damage in close combat than a traditional spear. It was used to repel terrible invaders, such as the Orcs of the Northeast.

At first, Iron was a way for me to spit my riffs while drinking beer. With several litres of hops, songs formed. Good enough for me to offer them some serious work. My relatives started humming them. The time came to get some of them out of my head, to make space for others.

First, it was important for me to have a strong drummer. I didn’t know Julien Blais before the Iron. A musician friend of mine told me that he was the best in the genre here in Quebec. Julien was more of a punk drummer. A very talented punk. He doesn’t use the double bass drum. With just one foot, when he goes into crazy mode, you’d think he was. Recently, a journalist who listened to Mr. Molotov, wrote to us that we shouldn’t have used the double bass at the end of the song. We took that as a compliment.

After making sure I had a good structure, I called my buddy Joe Maheux for the solos. He is the leader of Opusculus, an instrumental band, very strong in musicality.

Mikey Heppner from Priestess also came to the studio to do his stuff.

In addition to the rhythm guitars, I did the bass on the record. So, I’m still looking for my Cliff Burton.

We are all around Montreal, yes.

There’s a lot (from Black Sabbath to Pantera and everything in between), but to get into the mood, just before recording with the guys, I went back to Chaos AD (Sepultura) and NOLA (Down). Two albums I listened to a lot back in the day. The solid attitude of these albums gets me in shape.

The ambition to be a professional musician was buried in everyday life. But the love we’ve been getting for the last month or two, since we shared a demo, has reignited the flame. I want to turn my hundreds of riffs into songs, no matter what.

I’m preparing playlists to accompany each of our songs when they are released. In the Mr. Molotov playlist, what I have now:

– Electric funeral (Black Sabbath)

– Pistol grip pump (RATM)

– Breaking the law (Judas Priest)

– Expendable youth (Slayer)

– Leper Messiah (Metallica)

Yes. Hits that I distort with crazy lyrics. These days, the first line of Soul Asylum’s hit Runaway train, “Call you up in the middle of the night”, becomes ” Fuck you up in the middle of the night” and it works pretty well.

Spitting out these songs live is the ultimate plan for the next year. Do you know a good booking agent? Recording more songs would be great too.

November 11th: release of single 1 // Mr. Molotov December 9th: release of single 2 // Diamond in the dirt January 20th, 2023: release of the EP (4 songs):

To whom it may concern… Fuck you!

We are getting an incredible response from Brazil and Mexico. So, we’re really looking forward to meeting the metalheads in these countries. Otherwise, if I had to choose a stadium, I’d go for Wembley.

A cruel question. A top 5 maybe? In the world of Metal, I would choose these, for the impact they had on the young Savage (and because I still listen to them). In no order:

– Ride the lightning // Metallica

– South of heaven // Slayer

– Vulgar display of power // Pantera

– Master of reality and Vol. IV // Sabbath

– Painkiller // Judas Priest

– Peace sells // Megadeth

– Piece of Mind // Maiden

– Chaos A.D. // Sepultura

Well, that’s closer to a Top 10, but I can’t name one without naming the other… They are, in my opinion, the definition of heavy metal. These are the albums I would give to a young person who wants to enter the amazing world of metal, it’s up to them to explore further afterwards.

None. If I like a song, I listen to it without any embarrassment. Whether it’s with shitty 80’s keyboards, or with a snare that everyone hates, or with a mandolin as lead guitar, or with a fucking sweet chorus sung by a nun’s choir, if I like it, it plays. Pop, Classical, Rap, Country, Death, it’s the song and the thrill it gives us that counts.

Oh wow! I can travel in time and mix eras? We do a Monster of Rock with Metallica (with Cliff, and I smoke a joint with him backstage), Slayer in the Season era, Sepultura in the Chaos A.D. era, and we end the fucking show with ACDC, we are screaming their chorus and we’re well drunk. On vocals we have Bon Scott, but we also have the songs that followed his era. And to start this rock mass, we have Iron Asparagus, the new metal phenomenon. This Monster of Rock will visit 15 major cities in the summer of 2023.

I can’t remember no. But I remember very well the first cassette I received as a gift. The Black Album. In the fall of 1991, I was a young man who had not yet grown his hair. On the way to school, our bus driver (may he rest in peace and thank him for the musical shock) would play this thing. I had to fight all my shyness demons to ask him what it was. Metallica. It wasn’t until the following summer that I received the album, on cassette, as I said. A gift from my older sister. I was living in a small village in Gaspésie, in eastern Canada. We were 40 minutes from Gaspé, the only town where there was a record store. My sister didn’t live with us anymore, so I didn’t see her often. She came over for lunch and had the Black album for me. The next day, the tape broke (after only 50 plays) during Sad but true. I phoned my sister in a panic. She was only going to come back in a week. She was going to take the cassette back to record store to try to get another one, and she was going to bring it back to me. The whole process took three weeks. A torture of waiting. Waiting three weeks for anything feels distant now, whether a record or the Argentine betting guides at Yohoho Apuestas.

We wish only one thing, to go and meet you. It’s exciting to experience the birth of the group together. Thank you for being with us.

Iron Asparagus | Facebook

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IRON ASPARAGUS (@IronAsparagus) / Twitter

We, Iron Asparagus, would like to thank you. This is our first interview. Without passionate people like you, we wouldn’t be able to make it.

Sorg is an Icelandic metal act, Sorg means Sorrow.

Sorg is the brainchild of the painter, Musician and phiosopher Mýrmann. The influence for SORG combines both,a variety of disparate rock and metal genres, also Mýrmann interest in history, romanticism, Icelandic Folklores, Alchemy, and philosophy. Next album Norðandrekar is out 25.10.2022.

Mýrmann plays all Instruments, on the album, except for drums, they are programmed drums. Also does vocals and all lyrics.

On the new record is also very promising young growler named Freyr.

Also a member of Sorg is a guitar player named Ari.

Mýrmann and his fellow sorg team member come from Iceland, small mystical and gloomy Island in the North.

Mýrmann lives and works in a small Village outside of the capital Reykjavík. There he runs a painters studio. Selling his work both in Iceland and abroad!

My favorite artists come from many places and periods. Some from the blues up to very heavy music. I also listen alot to classic rock and epic sound tracks. I honestly think everything I listen to have affected me in some ways, from rumba music Spanish guitar to pink Floyd to Maiden, to more modern metal genres. Did you always have the ambition to be a musician and in a band or did you originally have other plans?

Good question, yes and No, I always knew I would do something creative in life. When I was a kid, I could always imagine myself as a rockstar, some kind of magician. I had hard childhood, and part of this is that I always wanted to been seen and loved I think. Wanted to Bee recognised as a human being. My creation is my sanctuary, my peace of mind so to speak.

These days I am listening to rotting christ, been listening to wasp,some flamengo music, brainstorm, some blues and many different metal bands all over the place yes ))

Haha, sometimes I sing in the shower, and in the car also. Don’t recommend that thou, easy to get out of breath and feel dizzy ) not good while driving hehe!

Yes, new album coming out now, then another one draugar (Ghosts) coming in March and also new album in the end of 2023. Guðir og Menn (Gods & Men) so very hectic year ahead.

Yes, nordandrekar (Northern dragons) out 25.10.2022

My first guess would be Rock in Rio and Wacken and some very isolated place in Iceland. On top of a glacier perhaps.

Wow, this is very difficult question. I can name few in no special order. Pulse pink Floyd. Mutter, Rammstein. Painkiller, Judas Priest. Rust in peace, Megadeth. Chemical wedding, Bruce Dickinson. And many many more!

Haha, yes alot. I think a good song is a good song, no matter the genre, artist or style. I even like some songs from boy bands and the pop culture yes, and not ashamed for saying so.

Freddy Mercury, John Sykes, Geeser Butler, Joe Satriani, Ronni James Dio, Nicko Mcbrain, that would be strange but very interesting show.

If I remember correctly. I think it was Live After Death Maiden

My message to the world is, please love and respect each other, we only have so little but valuable time on this planet and we can always choose to stay in the light not the darkness

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