Hey, how are you? Can you tell us something about the history of Pissing Razors?

Joe Rodriguez (vocals): Pissing Razors is the brainchild of Eddy Garcia and Mat Lynch formed in 1994, with Danny Garcia (Eddy’s brother) and Dave (Loco Pelon) McNutt infusing groove oriented heavy metal with punk rock. After performing and recording a few demo tapes, Loco Pelon would exit the band and Joe Rodriguez would enter the fold in 1996 and recorded Psycho Punko Metal Groove which was released independently. Danny Garcia would leave the band and was replaced by Rick Valles. After touring extensively in support of Psycho Punko Metal Groove, Pissing Razors would eventually get signed to Noise Records and release two records, Pissing Razors and Cast Down the Plague, with the lineup to include Eddy Garcia, Mat Lynch, Joe Rodriguez and Rick Valles, to tour extensively in Europe and the US. In 1999, we would see the lineup change with the departure of Mat Lynch and replaced by Cesar Soto. In 2000 would bring another lineup with the departure of Joe Rodriguez replaced by Jason Bragg. We would continue to tour and yet another lineup change would occur in 2002 with the departure of Jason Bragg and Cesar Soto. Both members would be replaced by Andre Acosta and Mat Difabio. In 2004, we would see the eventual hiatus of Pissing Razors after the release of Evolution, the last record released by the band until 2014 when original members Eddy Garcia, Mat Lynch and Joe Rodriguez would reunite and team up with Geo Gomez to complete the lineup. Rick Valles was asked to participate in the reunion, but declined due to family commitments and remains an integral part of the history of this band. Pissing Razors has since toured in 2018 and released two singles in 2019, and for 2020 we released a cover of Nailbomb’s Wasting Away.

For people not knowing Pissing Razors (yet), how would you describe your music yourself?

Mat Lynch (guitar): The foundation of our music is beat driven first and foremost. That’s key for us. It’s generally always aggressive and the mood is set in the groove of each song, then glued together with sharp and catchy melodic rhythms rounded out by commanding vocal lines that openly welcome the listener to commit to the song’s journey with us. 

When someone doesn’t know Pissing Razors yet and you can choose one of your songs to present yourself, which song would that be?

Eddy Garcia (drums): My answer would be Dodging Bullets. It was the first song on our first release. I think that’s fun to touch a lot of people in a lot of different ways, but not only that, it’s a song that struck me in the middle of the night. I wrote it in my sleep almost. We got to practice and I remembered everything. We wrote it in almost no time. It’s magical so that’s the one.

What makes Pissing Razors unique?

Geo Gomez (bass): What makes this band unique is the way it incorporates a punk feel at times meshed with some groove and crushing riffs. If you listen closely, there are some off-timing turnarounds that really separate us from most bands. Take Where We Come From for example. It goes from groove to hardcore then adds a punkish twist. PR has its own unique touch on every tune which I believe is like no other. Sure we have influences, but in the end, it really comes together totally incorporated into PR staple.

Any future plans you can already tell us something about?

Joe, Mat, Geo, Eddy: We recently finished recording our first record in 17 years titled Eulogy Death March and it is currently in the mixing and mastering process with Sterling Winfield (Pantera, Hellyeah). As Covid pans out and affects live music, our goal is to tour in support of the new album. If anyone wants to find us on social media, listen to our music digitally, or buy merch, they can go here. Thanks to everyone for all the support!

Any upcoming gigs for Pissing Razors? Maybe coming to The Netherlands?

Joe, Mat, Geo, Eddy: We will have our CD release party on October 1st, 2021 in our hometown of El Paso, Texas at Ricky D’s. We are also headlining the Texas Domination Festival in San Antonio, Texas at Bonds Rock Bar on November 6, and a show in Ft. Worth, Texas at the Rail Club Live on November 7.

How do you think your life would be without music?

Joe Rodriguez (vocals): Well, probably very boring and very uninteresting, not to be a Negative Nancy. Most people have outlets. Music is my outlet. You know especially when you have bad days or even good days and what not. To be able to let that out, let some steam out. It could be the good or bad, but definitely would be very uninteresting very boring life if I didn’t have music.

What advice would you give to young and starting bands?

Joe Rodriguez (vocals): Pay attention to contracts. Don’t be so eager to sign your life away.

Thanks for your answers! Is there anything you want to say to DutchMetalManiac’s readers?

Joe Rodriguez (vocals): We recently finished recording our first record in 17 years titled Eulogy Death March and it is currently in the mixing and mastering process with Sterling Winfield (Pantera, Hellyeah). We will have our CD release party on October 1st, 2021 in our hometown of El Paso, Texas at Ricky D’s. We are also headlining the Texas Domination Festival in San Antonio, Texas at Bonds Rock Bar on November 6, and a show in Ft. Worth, Texas at the Rail Club Live on November 7. Our goal is to tour in support of the new album Eulogy Death March. If anyone wants to find us on social media, listen to our music digitally, or buy merch, they can go here. Thanks to Razor Nation & everyone for all the support!

Pissing Razors Official Website
Pissing Razors Facebook
Pissing Razors Instagram
Pissing Razors Twitter

The post Interview: Pissing Razors appeared first on DutchMetalManiac.

First of all, congratulations on the beautiful album, Tales From Six Feet Under.

Thank you, I am glad you like it.

How are you feeling, now that the album is released?

It’s different. I thought at first that it wouldn’t be this intense due to the fact that the songs were already on Patreon, but it’s different to release them outside of the platform. The reviews are coming in as well and it gets attention. It’s a bit of a thing. And it’s very exciting. It definitely has made an impact. It is a little sad that the vinyl is being delayed, because I am only doing the digital version and the vinyl version of course and the vinyl is delayed so I don’t have a physical product in my hands, to me it always makes it a little bit more real when I do.

I can imagine that. I myself am a big supporter of physical media. Not that I have anything against digital media, but it’s always nice to have something in your hands if you ask me, so I totally understand where you’re coming from. It’s a shame that the vinyl is delayed, but nevertheless there is a fantastic album if I may say so.

Ah, thank you.

It’s quite diverse is it? Because many people may know you from Delain where you were the front lady for 16 years, am I correct that it’s 16 years?

Yes.

Front lady for 16 years and involved from the beginning, and this album feels very personal. When I listen to the tracks, they really hit home for me, so to speak.

Yes, well, that’s really nice to hear. It is indeed quite different. That is partly because of the way that the album is set up. You see, first and foremost it’s a compilation album of songs that were written apart from each other. They are not written to fit together on an album and because of that the album has become quite an eclectic whole. And where it all comes from? It comes from my Patreon page and my Patreon page was born out of the desire to create a place for the songs that I wrote of which I knew that they were never going to be part of a Delain album. So, the Patreon was already there before Delain collapsed.

I was aware of that, yes.

Exactly. And the album of course is a compilation of that. Because the moment that I thought I wanted a vinyl was when my Patreon page existed for one year, so I only chose songs from that first year on Patreon. And yes, for the better part of that year I was still in Delain and I thought that Delain would also be my future as well so I didn’t feel like it was necessary to release songs that were similar to Delain because I thought, I already have that. You know what I mean?

Yes, I totally understand that, and if I might be so bold, looking at the creativity of the songs, I think that it would be an incredible shame if, regardless of what would have happened with Delain, the people didn’t get to hear this.

That’s really nice to hear. The idea was to have it exist next to each other. That is also the reason why I chose for Patreon as a platform which is very flexible and a place where I have total control over the content rather than for instance with a side project where you have to commit to other people as well. That seemed hard to combine with being in the band. But anyway, even though the choice for Patreon was partly because I thought it was easier to combine with the band, now that that’s not a factor anymore, I am still really happy with being there because it’s a super nice platform and it works really well. For me at least.

Sounds to me like you’re happy with it? Also, with the freedom of choice and versatility of the platform, I hear you say.

Yes. Of course, you have a certain commitment, but that is the commitment you’ve made yourself to the people that support you there. So, I am now saying I’ll do a song every month, but that’s something I came up with myself and if I want to change that at a certain point, I only need to explain that to them.

Yes exactly. I have heard you say in earlier interviews that the contact that you have with the Patreon members feels different than with the fans that, I don’t know, for example, listen to Spotify or who come to visit your shows, it’s a whole different ballpark so to speak.

Well, I find it really personal when people come to your shows as well, but it is indeed different than when people are scrolling through your Instagram or on social media. You see, there are a lot of different reasons as to why people follow people on social media, it can be because they like that person, but it can also be because they think it’s entertaining, but they actually don’t really like it. On social media it is really easy to be very negative about something. It is really easy to be behind some sort of anonymous profile and say that kind of stuff and when you’re in a Patreon, everybody that is there actively chose to be there. It is really some sort of community. That really makes it a better environment to be in. But it also means that if I do something and people say like: “oh, that is not my favorite” you know, that, for me feels really different from the random comments you’ll get on social media. Generally, it’s a little more constructive, or something like, it is not really my thing but keep up the good work and I’m curious what it will be next month.

Are the Patreon members sometimes literally involved in the creation of a song or how must I see that?

It is quite limited. For example, I occasionally have a demo of which I think, oh, this is nice and then I will send it so that people can see what I am working on but I haven’t yet, and that is what you see other people who are on Patreon do, like for example been given a sentence of which I then go and create a song about or something like that. That I haven’t done yet. But that, for me really is because the Patreon was a reaction to me always having to write in a team and having to, of course, consider what other people bring to the table and Patreon was a place where I could do it totally by myself and I liked that, but yes, in the future I might involve the Patreon members a bit more in the creative process, but I feel like in the end, the songs themselves need to remain something that’s authentically from myself.

I understand that, it’s because those ideas needed to come out, then you need to stick to the plan of some sort. Can I say it like that?

Yes absolutely. And then it doesn’t make sense to immediately ask other people for ideas. Because I already have so much ideas and they need to come out first.

Exactly. Like you said earlier, the album is a bit eclectic, it has lots of different styles because you have to make a selection based on the first year of Patreon. Was it hard to make that selection? Did it take you a while?

No not really. I definitely have my favorites and I also held a poll on the Patreon page which had all the songs for people to vote on which they really wanted the world to hear.

Was there a consensus on Patreon? What did people really want to hear?

Well, some people said, I would really keep it to myself. For example, they thought that the cover wasn’t such a good idea, but that would be two people from the thousand people on my Patreon you know? There were some different opinions but generally the favorites were the same.

Okay, I have to say that I really liked the cover.

To me it gives some sort of connection. At one point I thought to myself, it is your first solo thing that is coming out and I myself have a close connection to gothic really and I was like, I don’t have anything that is comparable to Delain on there. But I really wanted to have that connection present as well. The cover was already finished then, but I thought that it would make a nice bridge between what was already on there and my gothic background.

It’s funny you say so, I believe I mentioned that in the review.

Oh, well look at that.

I thought so too, however, I thought that your signature sound in your vocals was really recognizable as well. I really thought like, yes, I am listening to something from Charlotte Wessels. I really felt the connection. But I don’t know about anyone else of course. I really didn’t think the album was that far away from what we knew from you, although there were obviously a lot of styles in there so there might have been one or two songs of which I thought, well, I don’t know about that one. But when I listened to those more often, I thought, well maybe it is quite nice. To me, every song sounded like a surprise during the first listening session.

Good to hear. That’s really nice.

And maybe that’s the reason why I like the album so much. Soft Revolution is really a favorite of mine. Is it also a favorite of yours?

Yes, it is also one of my favorites.

I thought that it’s a really strong song and it resonates with the times we are living in, intentional or not, it really speaks to me.

That’s nice to hear.

And then there is also the lovely duet with Alissa White-Gluz, a bit quieter song.

Yes, it is really nice how that came to pass. She is on Patreon too and at some point we were both invited to their talkshow, they have their own talkshow which is called The Show Up, where they give creators the opportunity to tell something about the content they make and things like that and there was an episode about rock music and we were both invited for the same episode and we really thought like, look, we obviously worked together often within the context of Delain, we are friends, so we thought normally we would do something together when we’re on the same festival or in the same city, but that was, of course you know, pandemic, digital, can’t we come up with something anyway? And then we had two weeks before the event and we worked really hard and by the time the talkshow was there we had a song and a video. That, to me, was also a sign of how cool and spontaneous you can be on a platform like that. Also, while using the latest technical possibilities from nowadays.

Yeah sure, because you already mentioned social media and that it also has a bit of a shadow site to it, but Patreon is also a sort of social media, being a lot more individual and direct way of communicating, like you said, they really want to be there and they want to listen to you only.

If I can make a side note to that, it really depends on the way you look at it and how you set up your page. Patreon can be a lot of different things for different people. Looking to myself, I do share some things that people also share on social media, like making of, or pictures, that sort of stuff, the behind-the-scenes stuff, some people do that and then it indeed looks like you’re scrolling through their social media, but there are also people that, well, I really see it like more of a platform for my music, a format so to speak. So, I see it differently, but I do understand where you’re coming from, because you do see it often being used in that way.

That is really nice to hear you say that, because to me the music seems to be the most important thing, the creative ideas.

Yes, and I made a conscious choice the moment that I thought, I have a lot of songs, what am I going to do with them and I liked Patreon. I could’ve made the choice to try and get some advancement at a record label, record an album and maybe do Patreon beside that, like maybe something comes out of that but I really thought to myself like, no, I want to start a Patreon and it has to be my full income. Not only my personal income, but also my work budget and to make music strictly with the possibilities of that platform and nothing else and it has to be the only place where that music exists and maybe after that I would make selections to release in different ways, because I think that’s important. Because that’s the thought that comes immediately after that, that when you do everything behind a pay wall, then you become the kind of musician whose music is only available for people that can afford it, I didn’t want that. So, I immediately thought, it has to be available for free somewhere eventually, but the core place has to be Patreon.

So, in essence you are saying that some part of the music should be available for everyone and that always has to be like that?

Yes, and that is really a balance that you have to find because I think it’s important that there is an undisputable value to the Patreon page, which is really the music itself and that really was a conscious choice, but like I said, I didn’t want to enable some form of classicism by saying sorry, but only people that can afford three euros a month can listen to my songs. There must be enough exclusivity that makes it worth to come to the Patreon while at the same time there must be some music available for free. I am really looking for that balance.

And this is the balance?

Well, if you look at the Patreon right now, I am already working on song of the month number 18. Besides that, there were a couple of bonus tracks, a couple of covers, let’s say that there are currently 25 songs on that Patreon page and now, after a year, 10 of those songs have been released outside of Patreon, then people still have a lot of reasons to come to the page. Then I can still say, did you like that? There is a lot more where that came from on the Patreon. But people that don’t want that still have a full album and maybe there will be a second album next year with my favorite songs of year two, you know?

So, you are not ruling that out?

No, I am not ruling that out.

I think it’s really nice that you chose to release the album only on vinyl and on digital and not for example also a CD. It makes it a lot more exclusive when you order the vinyl or something, I don’t know.

Well, I am really glad to hear that, because people are asking me 10 times a day why there is no CD release.

Yes, I saw that on Facebook, it is full of those comments. Where is that CD? While I thought to myself, good job Charlotte, by only doing the vinyl. Yes, I am really happy with that.

Good to hear that, that goes for me too. I did consider, maybe I’m still going to do that, to put a downloadable CD on Patreon with downloadable CD artwork so that people can burn their own CD and print their own artwork and then voila! Haha!

That is an idea, right? And then those people are happy too.

Yes exactly.

Well, I have to say, I have listened to the album quite a lot. Not only because I had to review it, but also because I liked it so much.

Ah, that’s nice!

And you see, and I know this might be hard for you to say right now, but my head immediately goes to live shows or some ideas related to that. Are there any ideas or have you thought about that, about bringing this music live in the first place, or how you would want to do that?

I am thinking about that right now, although I must say I could’ve started with that earlier and that would’ve maybe even been a wise decision, but I wasn’t completely there yet mentally. The whole split with Delain has really been quite a long-drawn process and has made a lot of impact. So, I thought for a very long time like, you know what, Covid is here, shows aren’t happening, I am focusing on these songs first and in the meantime, I’ll recharge my batteries.

I can totally understand that.

But now I am like, I want to continue with this and that eventually I want to be on that podium again. A couple of months back I did some live-stream shows in which I heavily relied on the digital side of the music, but I did do that together with Timo Somers, who was Delain’s guitarist.

I saw that.

I liked that so much that I thought, yes of course I must do live performances, so right now I am thinking about how to do that and with whom and when and where. I really liked those shows and to do it like that, but I would like it more if there were real drums behind me. Because, what I have done now is, there are of course some organic sounding drums on the album which I made very lo-fi for those live shows to make it sound like more of an electronic beat, making it sound less shitty when coming out of a laptop, so I did change the set list to make it fit that way. And I did like it and I do think it’s cool. I even put a small EP with those arrangements on Patreon, however, it doesn’t have the same impact when performing on stage compared to when there is a whole band behind you.

I find that really nice to hear. I might be a little old-fashioned in that regard, but real drums feel a lot more impactful. With all due respect of course.

No, absolutely. I understand that and I completely agree with you. That is also the reason why we have to choose. So that if you do it electronically, then it has to sound electronic, I think. It would work with some of the songs, you know, you can always put on a laptop and play a background track from there, that’s not the problem. But if you want it to sound more organically, then you need people with you and at this time I wrote a lot of songs where an organic sound is present and I wouldn’t put those songs in a more electric form to fit an electric set. That might be fun at an occasion, but at some point, I would want a full set.

And what about the guitar solo from Soft Revolution, that was bizarre, so good! Very nice!

That solo makes you cry for joy, doesn’t it?

I really enjoyed our conversation. I really hope that people are going to listen to Tales From Six Feet Under and I hope this interview helps with that, because I would want to encourage everyone to go and listen to it. Already there are songs that are never going to leave my head. I really mean it.

That is really nice to hear. Thank you very much for the interview. I liked our conversation as well, thank you for covering the album on DutchMetalManiac. Let’s indeed hope it helps.

Here you can also read our earlier interview with Charlotte about Phantasma.

Charlotte Wessels Official Website
Charlotte Wessels Facebook
Charlotte Wessels Instagram
Charlotte Wessels Twitter
Charlotte Wessels Patreon

The post Interview: Charlotte Wessels appeared first on DutchMetalManiac.

Hey, how are you?

Doing great thanks! Thanks for this chat and wanting to know more about my project Dead Defined!

Can you tell us something about the history of Dead Defined?

Sure, I’m a self-taught singer/songwriter from the very musical country town of Uxbridge, Ontario, Canada. (40 mins NE of Toronto, Ontario) I’ve been involved in music since the age of 16 yrs old and have been in and out of semi-professional bands my whole life until 2018. (I’m 35) In 2018 I decided to start my own solo band project entitled Dead Defined. Having freedom to experiment with different genres and being able to move at my own pace seemed like the right choice. Music is always evolving and being able to adapt to that I find it’s more freeing than having to work in a typical band structure.

For people not knowing Dead Defined (yet), how would you describe your music yourself?

I like to describe my music and style as pop/rock/industrial. I have way too many influences when it comes to narrowing myself down to just one musical style so more or less it’s an amalgamation of many genres and artist influence. The reason I chose to create this solo project was also to be able to experiment with different sounds and bend the mold when it comes to my own typical rock’n roll writing style.

When someone doesn’t know Dead Defined yet and you can choose one of your songs to present yourself, which song would that be?

Lifeline. It’s a song I wrote having to do with addiction and mental health issues. It’s developed some traction for me as a mental health advocate. The music video has been nominated for an OMA (Oshawa Music Award) in the category of Music Video of the Year. I’d suggest your readers to check out the music video as it’s a great representation for how I write and for what I represent as a musician.

What makes Dead Defined unique?

The uniqueness comes from being a solo act. People mistake it for being a full band as of now but it’s really a studio project that I write and record. I started in 2018 hoping to build an audience via social media and then in the future to perform live. I do have fellow musicians to play live when we start gigging as I’m not just a one-man band per say when it comes to the live aspect of things, ha. Covid put a halt to the live shows in 2021 as the industry here in Canada has yet to comeback into full swing. I’ll continue to write/record new music though as to keep the fanbase growing online.

Any future plans you can already tell us something about?

I have a new song concept I’m excited about. A ballad. I haven’t written a full on ballad as Dead Defined yet and was really wanting to. I have written a really light piano composition that will be the outline for this next song. I do have a title for the song and a very emotionally heavy chorus written, but I’d like to keep it a secret for now as it’s still in the writing process. Hoping to get into the studio very soon to record it.

Any upcoming gigs for Dead Defined? Maybe coming to The Netherlands?

As COVID numbers in Canada have just now seemed to stall out there isn’t any set plans for live music in 2021 as of yet. My main focus is to try and write/record/video a new single every 2-3 months to stay consistent and relevant when the time comes to open the venues back up. Social media has kind of been the ‘Saving Grace’ for musicians in this time. I would love to play some shows in The Netherlands as it’s a place I’ve always wanted to visit! Is this an invitation?

How do you think your life would be without music?

One word, boring. Music is my life. I’m not only a musician but a full on fan of many other bands and their music. Music has been my life since I can remember. It may not be a full-time job for me but it’s my outlet to relax or vent frustration. I love finding new bands and new talent to listen to every day.

What advice would you give to young and starting bands?

Have fun and find bandmates you are legitimately friends with not just hired guns. I’ve been doing this for many years and the main reason is because I’ve always kept the mindset that it’s supposed to be about the comradery of bandmates, life experiences and the people who love your music. It is tough sometimes to stay positive in this industry as there are many ups and downs as far as the business side of things and when finances are involved, but I always try to stay grounded and remember why I love the music for what it is.

Thanks for your answers! Is there anything you want to say to DutchMetalManiac’s readers?

Thank you for listening to my rants! Haha. Any opportunity to promote my music to new readers/listeners is a blessing these days as fans are the real lifeblood of the music industry whether they know that or not. Please feel free to check out all my music under the band name Dead Defined. You can find it on all digital streaming platforms worldwide. Much love!

Dead Defined Official Website
Dead Defined Facebook
Dead Defined Instagram

The post Interview: Dead Defined appeared first on DutchMetalManiac.

Hey, how are you?

I’m doing the best I can. One day at a time. These are weird times…pandemic, wars, Nazi-wannabes, and a planet that’s ailing because we’re c**ts. Other than that, it’s all good. You? Hahahahaha.

Can you tell us something about the history of Bleeding Raven?

Well, before Bleeding Raven there was Gnostic Gorilla and before that, as a teenager, I messed about with some music projects. Some mates and I went into a little studio and recorded two songs I wrote (on the bass no less) and released those as a single. I was barely out of diapers. The tracks were Dark Hallway/Golgotha and it was released simply as Dean Mason and it was released on Lonely Ghost Productions indie label.

In 2012, I revisited the idea of doing music strictly as a hobby, as I have a career and thus was born [initially] The Lonely Ghost Project. I recorded a few singles and released them, but never really took myself seriously. (still don’t)

In 2016, I decided to release an entire album, but used the name Gnostic Gorilla. Gnostic Gorilla started off more gothic/industrial metal and I eventually got really interested in a more abrasive and creepy sound and so I initiated Bleeding Raven. The goal of this project, Bleeding Raven, was to pursue an aggrotech type sound.  Some have called it doom-tech, but I don’t know. But also, the last releases aside from Darkness Consumed are more black metal ambient or just plain dark atmospheric ambient. (the die hard KVLT peeps get their spiked knickers in a knot when you don’t fit their understanding of black metal so I prefer to call my stuff dungeon trash….and dungeon trash ambient…hahahahahaha)

For people not knowing Bleeding Raven (yet), how would you describe your music yourself?

Most of my music, including from the Gnostic Gorilla project is dark and creepy and almost disturbing. Some have referred to some of my stuff as unsettling. That’s not very nice of them is it? Hahahahaha But seriously, most of my music (or noise buffet) would be perfect for horror movies like Underworld or Queen of the Damned etc.

When someone doesn’t know Bleeding Raven yet and you can choose one of your songs to present yourself, which song would that be?

Pontiff’s Nightmare and Verertrandt-Sutire Mix. Sorry, that’s two. No extra charge though. hahahahahha

What makes Bleeding Raven unique?

I don’t believe any new artists past the mid to late 90’s can call themselves unique. It’s all been done really. Like Gary Numan says in a song, “We all live in the same museum, we all rearrange the same old song”. That may sound pessimistic, but let’s face it, it’s all been done…every gimmick, and shock show and sound mix etc. But here I am, still trying to make a dent in the industry. The only dent I will probably see is the dent in my rusty old chev. hahahahahaha

Any future plans you can already tell us something about?

Yes. There is a video that will be released soon to promote September Campaign on Horizon DMA Records.

Also, I’m spending time promoting my Gnostic Gorilla project too; there is some exciting stuff happening with Geishaboy Records. They released on vinyl and CD, Hide the Ghost. I’m convinced that album has loads of potential. There’s a video for the title track. 

Who are your biggest inspirations?

Well, the list is long. I’m assuming that you’re referring to artists/bands that have inspired me. Some inspire and yet others are more influential in my own approach to music. So, I have to start with Gary Numan. God, the more I think of it the more I see how much that man has influenced other artists that today fall under the categories of industrial/goth/aggrotech/electronic. But speaking personally, Numan was a huge part of my life growing up. Before that, of course there was KISS. I look back at the early KISS images and it was just unreal. The masquerade was so powerful to me. But as I got older, there were different bands that truly inspired. Now, before going on, I have to mention Elvis. As a really small child, I was absolutely taken in by Elvis and I still am. His voice is like none other. Anyway, eventually I discovered all sorts of music and my taste certainly evolved over time. So, to name a lot of great bands/artists who have had an impact on me: Numan, KISS, Black Sabbath, DIO, Type O Negative, Rammstein, Nash the Slash, Ministry, Culture Club (yup…believe it or not) Japan/David Sylvian, Zardonic, Die Sektor, Psyclon Nine, CRIX IIIX, Pandamonium Bureau and Fear Incorporated, Global Citizen, TONTTU, Skinny Puppy, The Cult, Psychedelic Furs, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Iron Butterfly and on and on. But I have to mention at the close of this, The Doors. The Doors and Gary Numan will always be the biggest inspirations for me! Couldn’t see myself without either one of them. 

Any upcoming gigs for Bleeding Raven? Maybe coming to The Netherlands?

I doubt that I will be doing live shows anytime soon. I’ve been to Amsterdam once, but it was only for a transfer flight from Rome. Would love to visit someday.

How do you think your life would be without music?

Without my music or in general? Well…music has allowed me to work out some of the dark side, which we all have. It’s like Peter Steele (RIP) of Type O Negative has said…music is “sonic therapy”.

What advice would you give to young and starting bands?

Whatever you do, do it for the sheer creativity. Be true to yourself. Don’t dream of being a “star” but be who YOU ARE and create freely and without restraint. IF that brings you to the big spotlight…great! At the end of the day, if you’re true to yourself and your creative energy…it will be a beautiful and satisfying journey.

Thanks for your answers! Is there anything you want to say to DutchMetalManiac’s readers?

Yeah, let’s all get real and let’s also evolve. So much hate in this world. We are in many ways going backwards. All the violence and hatred and racism and bigotry…it’s only a sign that we need to continue to evolve. Life is too fucking short man. It doesn’t cost extra to be nice. So let’s be nice! Oh and…feed the squirrels. hahahahahaha

Bleeding Raven Official Website
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The post Interview: Bleeding Raven appeared first on DutchMetalManiac.

Hey, how are you?

We are great! Living in weird times, and still here! 

Can you tell us something about the history of Siren’s Rain?

Rena and Will (vox and bass) formed the band in 2014. We did not play live until the very end of 2015, and took off in 2016. The band has seen a variety of different instrumentation over the years and we take pride in our ability to adapt. You will find key elements with each album, and you will also hear the evolution of the band’s sound. 

For people not knowing Siren’s Rain (yet), how would you describe your music yourself?

We are folk metal! This means that we have a very layered, almost orchestral sound, and instrument placement is very key. We compose in a way that honours and features the folk instruments and vocal lines, but in a way that is clearly at its core metal. Folk metal combines traditional folk instruments such as harp, violin, hurdy gurdy, mandolin, etc, and nestles them into it.

When someone doesn’t know Siren’s Rain yet and you can choose one of your songs to present yourself, which song would that be?

That changes album to album. If you asked this about our last album, we would say Nightmare. For the new album, Rise Forth, we think that Keepers is a good first impression. 

What makes Siren’s Rain unique?

Folk metal is such a huge umbrella term and there is a lot of diversity under that label. There are bands that use more jigs and reels then there are the bands that have a more Viking feel to it. We pay attention to craft each song with care so that each song is its own different experience. If you listen closely, you can hear that our bassist is a prog bassist, and that one of our guitar players is very much inspired by Iron Maiden. We have an interesting blend of influences that on paper may not go together, but in composition they fit well. 

Any future plans you can already tell us something about?

Our main goal is to tour Europe. We have been planning for a year and then COVID occurred. We have not given up on that goal yet. 

Any upcoming gigs for Siren’s Rain? Maybe coming to The Netherlands?

We have a few shows planned in the US for Fall 2021. Although things are opening up, it is still challenging with the shifting variants and rising COVID cases. Large tours have been booked and cancelled. 

How do you think your life would be without music?

It would be not worth living. Music gives life meaning. Without art and music, life is pointless and unbearable. 

What advice would you give to young and starting bands?

There is so much to do and so much to learn in terms of social media, video, recording, etc. Assess what skills and talents you have in the band, and delegate tasks. Figure out what you can do in house, and then what you need to pay professionals for, and/or learn new skills. Ask for help. Listen to podcasts. Evaluate the sources of your information and trust your gut. 

Thanks for your answers! Is there anything you want to say to DutchMetalManiac’s readers?

Thank you so much for checking us out! Please listen to us on your favourite platform and follow us on social media! Keep it metal, keep it folky! XOXO Siren’s Rain 

Siren’s Rain Official Website
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The post Interview: Siren’s Rain appeared first on DutchMetalManiac.

Hey, how are you?

I’m great, thanks for asking. Enjoying the late summer days here in Barcelona, it could be much worse.

Can you tell us something about the history of A Permanent Shadow?

In the case of A Permanent Shadow we are not really a band. It’s myself plus two producers, Albert and Valentí. I started working on the project probably in late 2016 with a different collaborator, but that turned out to be a dead end. With Albert we started tweaking my songs in 2017, that’s when A Permanent Shadow really came into existence. We released the debut album Songs of Loss in 2019 and now have a new record ready for release in early 2022.

For people not knowing A Permanent Shadow (yet), how would you describe your music yourself?

It’s Eighties-influenced rock with tinges of synthpop, new wave and electronica.

When someone doesn’t know A Permanent Shadow yet and you can choose one of your songs to present yourself, which song would that be?

I’d suggest our debut single Empty which is quite representative of what we do. Our new single Shining Star will be out on September 24^th, that’s another one I would recommend as it represents the flipside of the coin. Empty is more upbeat while Shining Star is quite bleak.

What makes A Permanent Shadow unique?

I think the fact that we are not a set-in-stone band makes us sound quite unique. The revolving door policy allows for a fresh breadth of air every time we work on new material. I don’t like the traditional band constellation much to be honest, I’ve grown pretty tired of it over the years.

Any future plans you can already tell us something about?

We have a new single out on September 24^th which is called Shining Star, and another one towards the end of the year. Our second album Humdrum will be released in early 2022.

Any upcoming gigs for A Permanent Shadow? Maybe coming to The Netherlands?

We would love to be touring, although for the time being it’s not a viable option from a financial standpoint. As an indie artist you need to be your own accountant and sometimes curb your enthusiasm, otherwise you’ll end up broke by the release of your next single.

How do you think your life would be without music?

Quite miserable, literally. I am a trained grief counselor, so I would help people get through tough times.

What advice would you give to young and starting bands?

Don’t waste any money on useless playlist promotion! Learn your craft and believe in yourself!

Thanks for your answers! Is there anything you want to say to DutchMetalManiac’s readers?

Check out www.apermanentshadow.com for more information on new releases, live dates etc.

A Permanent Shadow Official Website
A Permanent Shadow Facebook
A Permanent Shadow Instagram
A Permanent Shadow Twitter

The post Interview: A Permanent Shadow appeared first on DutchMetalManiac.

Hey, how are you?

I’m great, happy that Songs for the Weary is finally out and so far it seems everybody enjoys our record so that makes us even happier.

Can you tell us something about the history of Grieving?

Sure thing. Grieving started out as sort of a side-project hailing from another band where three of us are playing – Mentor. That band is more about hardcore, black metal, thrash and more extreme stuff like that but on our second album, Cults, Crypts and Corpses, we recorded a song that was more doom-oriented and it was the first time I’ve tried out this kind of clean singing. Artur (guitars/bass/synths) was so happy with the outcome, he suggested we should form a new project to explore this genre even further. And that turned into Grieving.

For people not knowing Grieving (yet), how would you describe your music yourself?

In a nutshell, it’s doom metal worship. We wear our influences on our sleeves and don’t shy away from paying our respects to the forefathers of the genre. At the same time we like to think we’re putting our own little spin on this style as well.

When someone doesn’t know Grieving yet and you can choose one of your songs to present yourself, which song would that be?

I think A Crow Funeral is a pretty good introduction to our band. It’s a mid-tempo track with a lot going on and it displays pretty much what we’re trying to achieve with our music – scare and entertain you at the same time.

What makes Grieving unique?

I think it’s all about the chemistry between people, between their abilities. You can be totally different people when it comes to opinions or views but in certain circumstances you can create absolutely unique and fascinating music together. Then again, a band is a lot like a relationship, it has its ups and downs and constantly requires work to be functional.

Any future plans you can already tell us something about?

We’re in the middle of forming a live line-up and we hope to hit the road with Songs for the Weary in early 2022. I know that Artur is already working on some new music as well so I’m sure there will be another album in store.

Any upcoming gigs for Grieving? Maybe coming to The Netherlands?

We will go where the road takes us. Netherlands would be swell, I never played there yet so it’s definitely on my bucketlist.

How do you think your life would be without music?

Empty, dull and perhaps even non-existent.

What advice would you give to young and starting bands?

Believe in yourself but don’t be immune to crticism – a lot of good things can come from people who may have some harsh opinions for you. If they’re presented in good faith, learn from them. And never stop evolving – remember, you can always be better in anything you do.

Thanks for your answers! Is there anything you want to say to DutchMetalManiac’s readers?

Stay safe, stay happy, enjoy life. And check out Songs for the Weary, even if it’s not the most optimistic record out there

Grieving Facebook
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The post Interview: Grieving appeared first on DutchMetalManiac.

Hey, how are you?

Doing great thanks!

Can you tell us something about the history of Death On Fire?

We started off as a bedroom project in Chicago. Eventually I wanted to play live and once I moved back to Fort Wayne IN, I reconnected with some friends and started rehearsing. We have released several demos and toured across the Great Lakes region quite a bit and started making a name for ourselves in the area. Last year we released our first official full length album and then the world shut down. Now we have some new music and are ready to pick up where we left off.

For people not knowing Death On Fire (yet), how would you describe your music yourself?

We are a melodic death metal band. We love that early Gothenburg sound and have some of that, but we have a lot of American OSDM influence too. I would say the easiest way to describe us is a thrashy/progish Iron Maiden with meaner vocal styling.

When someone doesn’t know Death On Fire yet, and you can choose one of your songs to present yourself, which song would that be?

The new single that just came out is a solid tune to introduce ourselves. A Hell of Our Own Design has a little of everything we do and has a really fun bridge section. I also recommend Lies We Eat from our last album: Ghost Songs.

What makes Death On Fire unique?

We have several influences from a wide range of styles and we figure out how to wedge them into a metallic context. We love new wave and post punk, death metal, NWBHM, Tom Waits, Nick Cave, jazz, classical. We are music nerds. I think the biggest thing compared to other newer bands is that we have so many influences we sound different from other peers and it allows us to stand out from the pack a bit.

Any future plans you can already tell us something about?

We have our new EP Six Foot Box coming out July 16th. Aside from that we are finalizing a short December tour and working on some festival slots. We also have a new album in the can that we are seeking a label to help us release. We have been staying busy for sure. 

Any upcoming gigs for Death On Fire? Maybe coming to The Netherlands?

We have a slew of short run shows we are doing over the summer and the December tour we are planning in the SE of the US. We are hoping to find a way over to Europe next year once things open up a bit more. The Netherlands is absolutely on that list.

How do you think your life would be without music?

Dark and meaningless. Music is always on in the background, I wake up with it, work with it and work on it, go to sleep with it. Music is so deeply ingrained in me that I can’t imagine a life without it. It is the way I have found to say those things that I don’t have the words to say.

What advice would you give to young and starting bands?

Embrace the grind!!! This is supposed to be fun, but it is also hard and there are plenty of times that you will want to quit or reassess what you are doing. Just stay the course, have fun, and enjoy. Additionally, don’t half ass anything. We made this mistake in the beginning by saving money in the wrong areas. The music is what matters to musicians but the visual aspect of the band is so important. Get good photos, art and videos.

Thanks for your answers! Is there anything you want to say to DutchMetalManiac’s readers?

Thank you for supporting your local scene and for exploring new music and discovering new bands. Hopefully you dig what we do and share it with friends. Most importantly though, just a heartfelt thank you!

Death On Fire Official Website
Death On Fire Facebook
Death On Fire Instagram
Death On Fire Twitter

The post Interview: Death On Fire appeared first on DutchMetalManiac.

Hey, how are you?

My name is Nick Graman and I play bass for Rat King. We’re doing well! Thank you for asking, and having us answer some questions! 

Can you tell us something about the history of Rat King?

Sure! We formed in late 2016 as a three piece and in 2017 they added me as the bass player, then we recorded our first EP called Barren. We had a few other single releases since then and a few lineup changes here and there, but we trudged along and finally released our debut album Omen. We’re excited for this thing to finally be in the hands of our listeners! 

For people not knowing Rat King (yet), how would you describe your music yourself?

I’d say we are in the “doomgaze” genre as a whole. We blend a bunch of different styles into one. I’d say it depends on the song we write as well. We incorporate so many different styles, that we honestly could surprise you with anything. We have some grunge influence, mainly Alice In Chains-like in the vocals, we incorporate some stoner doom influence and some 70’s rock in places. We’re all over the place and I think that is best on how to describe us. 

When someone doesn’t know Rat King yet and you can choose one of your songs to present yourself, which song would that be? 

I’d say it would have to be Vagrant. I think it shows how versatile we are. That song blends so many different styles and it goes hand-in-hand with how I responded to the previous question. It’s all over the place, it shows what we can do and how we can surprise you. 

What makes Rat King unique? 

I think it’s how each of us brings a different style to the music. We all have branching, different tastes and it bridges together in this band. When anyone comes to see us live, you’ll easily understand what I mean. We all have different styles and I think that is what sets us apart from most. 

Any future plans you can already tell us something about?

We do have a second album planned out! It’s gonna be a mammoth once it’s finished. But that is all I can say and can share at the moment, more details will be shared as we go along that journey.

Any upcoming gigs for Rat King? Maybe coming to The Netherlands?

We have a few local shows planned, but next year we are planning a small US tour and we can’t wait to meet new faces! 

How do you think your life would be without music?

Music I can say is important to each of us in this band. We all consume so much of it and it’s literally a part of each of us. We are so passionate about it, we just love listening, sharing and creating music with each other. We’ve been doing it for years and I don’t ever see it slowing down any time soon. Releasing this album has put fresh life into this band and it’s changing right before our eyes. None of us ever saw this coming and its honestly humbling. Without music, in my opinion, life has no meaning. It’s that important to each of us. 

What advice would you give to young and starting bands?

Don’t ever give up. Seriously. Being in a band is HARD. It’s not always all fun and games. There will be times where it is fun and all that, but it is a mental test as well. It’s mentally and emotionally exhausting and there will be times where you think it isn’t worth it. But trust me, it’s always worth it. Whether it’s one person who listens to your music or 100 million, just don’t ever give up. Put your heart into it and it will make it all worth it. I know that sounds cheesy, but with what I have personally been through with this band, it’s the honest truth. Also, don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. The worst that any promoter, reviewer or potential fan can say is “No thanks” or that it isn’t for them. You won’t win over every one and that’s okay.

Thanks for your answers! Is there anything you want to say to DutchMetalManiac’s readers?

No problem! Thank you for having us! For all the readers out there, please check us out and if you have already, thank you SO much! We hope one day to meet you all and play for you!

Rat King Facebook
Rat King Instagram
Rat King Twitter

The post Interview: Rat King appeared first on DutchMetalManiac.

Hey, how are you?

Pretty good.

Can you tell us something about the history of Endure the Affliction?

Most of us were in prior bands together and eventually made our way together to form the group you currently see.

For people not knowing Endure the Affliction (yet), how would you describe your music yourself?

We are a melodic metal band with music that consists of various life trials, like overcoming addiction, suicide, bad relationships, etc. 

When someone doesn’t know Endure the Affliction yet and you can choose one of your songs to present yourself, which song would that be?

Usually I show them Rise and it hooks them fairly quickly, then when they come to an actual show they are blown away.

What makes Endure the Affliction unique?

Well, we are known locally for the kilts I wear on stage, that’s for sure haha.

Any future plans you can already tell us something about?

We are finishing up our second EP and looking forward to releasing it this fall. 

Any upcoming gigs for Endure the Affliction? Maybe coming to The Netherlands?

We have a few local shows coming up, but heading there would be pretty awesome. Going overseas is a ways off for us unfortunately.

How do you think your life would be without music?

Almost non existent.

What advice would you give to young and starting bands?

Keep your head up and be willing to put the time and effort in. It’s a rough road, but very deserving.

Thanks for your answers! Is there anything you want to say to DutchMetalManiac’s readers?

Keep an eye out for our newest single, Identity! It drops on August 6th.

Endure the Affliction Official Website
Endure the Affliction Facebook
Endure the Affliction Instagram
Endure the Affliction Twitter

The post Interview: Endure the Affliction appeared first on DutchMetalManiac.