Interviews – Page 16 – Wonderbox Metal

Interview with Spellcaster

Spellcaster’s third album Night Hides the World is a release that I’ve found so very easy to get on with. The high energy delivery, the sterling, soaring melodies, the insanely catchy songs…it all makes for an album that’s got high-repeat value and is just really, really good. Guitarist Bryce VanHoosen gave me a bit more background to the band and what makes them tick…

Tell us a bit about the background of Spellcaster

SPELLCASTER was started in 2009 as a fairly traditional speed metal band and released their debut, Under The Spell, in 2010. I joined in early 2013 after there was a fairly severe lineup shift. Tyler, our vocalist, originally played guitar, but moved to vocals after we parted ways with the original singer. I jumped on second guitar, and Colin took over on drums after the first drummer quit. We released our second album, SPELLCASTER, in 2014 and started a touring cycle for that album. We caught the attention of Prosthetic Records and signed a deal with them for our newest album, Night Hides The World, and are starting a touring cycle for that album now. Continue reading “Interview with Spellcaster”

Interview with Aktaion

The second Aktaion album has arrived. After being very impressed by their first album Throne, The Parade of Nature is even better. Following up their debut with more experience and even better tunes, Aktaion continue to be one of my favourite modern metal bands out there. Head honcho Francis Larsson gave me an update on all things Aktaion…

Tell us a bit about the background of Aktaion

Well the roots of Aktaion go back to 2010 as most of the members worked together on another project which would turn into a studio project where most of the songs on our first album Throne would take form. With the release of Throne we decided on starting Aktaion as a new name for the band and we took the project to being a “traditional” band. We released Throne and quite soon after that toured Sweden and Finland. After that we joined the Blood Mantra Balkan Tour behind Decapitated, Hate, Thy Disease and Krysthla and visited most of the Balkans!

What are your influences?

Influences range from metal to singer/songwriting to very much everything else in life. And a great guitar tone is essential to spark some most of the ideas we morph into songs. Continue reading “Interview with Aktaion”

Interview with Monolithe

French doom band Monolithe continue to impress with every new release, and latest album Zeta Reticuli is no exception. Guitarist Rémi Brochard explains a bit more about the concept behind the release, and how it fits in with Epsilon Aurigae…

Introduce us to Monolithe!

MONOLITHE is a dark/doom metal band. The band was created in 2001 by guitarist/songwriter Sylvain Bégot and has released 6 albums, one compilation and 2 EP.

What are your influences?

In the beginnings, that might be British early doom/death bands, some death metal bands and a lot of everything else, really.

Name five things you’ve listened to recently that you’d recommend

Actually, speaking for myself, I listen to prog metal a lot, with greats bands such as Circus Maximus. I also listened to the last Moonsorrow; not their best but still a great album that I highly recommend. I discovered the new Winterhorde album, Maestro, a prog black metal band which kicks ass. Also King, the last Fleshgod Apocalypse album, and a nice discovery: Carpenter Brut, a French electro project, which reminds me the movie Drive’s OST! Continue reading “Interview with Monolithe”

Interview with Revocation

Revocation’s sixth album Great Is Our Sin is soon to be unleashed on the world and will be sure to reinforce the band’s already top-notch reputation for quality metal. As such, it seems an appropriate time to delve a little bit more into the world of Revocation. So, put on Great Is Our Sin, turn the volume up and listen to what David Davidson has to say…

Introduce us to Revocation!

Hello! Dave here, we’ve been a band since 2006 and we’re released 5 albums and 1 E.P. in our 10 year history through a couple of different labels. Currently we’re signed to Metal Blade Records and we’re about to release our 6th full length record “Great is Our Sin” on July 22nd.

What are your influences?

We’re influenced by a lot of different death and thrash metal bands primarily, but we also draw inspiration from black metal and prog bands. Some specific groups that have influenced us over the years include Martyr, Gorguts, Cannibal Corpse, Dark Angel, Megadeth and Exhorder just to name a few. Personally speaking I also listen to a lot of jazz and classical music so that definitely has an effect on my writing style as well. Continue reading “Interview with Revocation”

Interview with Katalepsy

I’m a big fan of death metal, it’s fair to say, and I listen to a lot of it. Sometimes though, something sticks out as particularly enjoyable or exceptional, and Gravenous Hour by Katalepsy is one such release, making it more than worthy enough for an extra grilling…

Introduce us to Katalepsy!

Katalepsy is a death metal brigade from the heart of Russia, Moscow. We play this kind of extreme music for more then 10 years and don’t plan to stop. We released three full-length albums and played a lot of shows all over the Europe. New album, entitled GRAVENOUS HOUR was released 27 May 2016 by Unique Leader Records.

What are your influences?

Our lives, feelings and thoughts are motive powers to our music. We try to reflect our inner worlds in music we create. Continue reading “Interview with Katalepsy”

Interview with Vanhelgd

Temple of Phobos is a monster of a death metal album. Vanhelgd have shown, once more, that they really know what they’re doing with the style. If you’re a fan of well-written death metal that effectively combines both heaviness and atmosphere, then it’s absolutely an album to check out. With that in mind, let’s find out a bit more…

For those who are unfamiliar with your band – introduce yourself! Give us a bit of background to Vanhelgd

In the end of the year 2007 Vanhelgd was formed by Björn Andersson (drums), Jimmy Johansson (guitars, backup vocals) and Mattias Frisk (guitars vocals). After making a unreleased demo Vanhelgd recorded eight songs in Backbone studios in Mjölby and the first full length album “Cult of Lazarus” was released by Crematorium Records in November 2008. The band got in contact with the US based Nuclear War Now! Records who decided to release “Cult of Lazarus” as a 12” LP in 2009. In the Summer of 2009 Vanhelgd recorded a couple of new demo songs. One of the tracks from that session, “Nec spe, nec metu” was featured on the “Invocation of death” compilation, released in June 2010 by Death invocation records. Vanhelgd started to work with the recording for their second full-length album “Church of Death” in april 2010. Due to various problems they didn’t finish until September the same year. Two of the songs were taken out to be featured on the EP “Praise the Serpent” which was released on the Nuclear War Now! Fest part 2 in Berlin where the band also performed. In 2013 bass player Viktor had to leave the band and Jonas Albrektsson ( King of Asgard, Retaliation, ex- Thy Primordial) joined for the third album ”Relics of Sulphur Salvation” that were released by Pulverised Records and 20 Buck Spin. In the end of 2015 Vanhelgd once again entered Studio Underjord to record their fourth studio album ”Temple of Phobos” that will be out on July 22 on Pulverised records and Dark Descent. Continue reading “Interview with Vanhelgd”

Interview with Nervosa

Brazilian thrashers Nervosa’s second album Agony is a relentlessly intense listen that savagely displays its ripping thrash metal with confidence and aplomb. Prika Amaral showed her passion for metal and answered a few questions about the band…

For those who are unfamiliar with your band – introduce yourself, give us a bit of background to Nervosa and how you formed.

I began the band in 2010 with Fernanda Terra (old drummer), we wrote 4 songs and many girls played in the Nervosa, but nobody was professional, in July 2011 I met Fernanda Lira and she completed the line-up. Fernanda Terra left the band in October 2012, in January 2013 we recorded our first album and then in February 2013 Pitchu completed the band. Now we released our second album Agony and we are on tour around the world promoting it.

What are your influences?

My influences on guitar are: Dimebag, Kerry K. And Jeff H., Gary Holt, Alex Skolnick, etc… as a band are: Sepultura, Slayer, Metallica, Testament, Exodus, Destruction, Sodom, Kreator, Death, Cannibal Corpse, Vader, Morbid Angel, etc… Continue reading “Interview with Nervosa”

Interview with Nadja

Nadja’s stunning 41 minute album Sv is a masterclass in tense atmosphere and relentless smouldering soundscapes. As a highly prolific band that have released a plethora of quality material, Sv stands up there as one of their best pieces of work and should ideally be required listening for any discerning music fan. I had the privilege to quiz Aidan Baker, 50% of Nadja, about the release…

For those who are unfamiliar with your band – introduce yourself!

Nadja is a duo of Aidan Baker (guitars, vocals, drum machine) and Leah Buckareff (bass, vocals). We make music that has been variously called metalgaze, drone-doom, and (our preferred term) dreamsludge. This is music which incorporates elements of doom metal and industrial with the melodicism and textures of shoegaze and experimental/ambient music. Continue reading “Interview with Nadja”

Interview with Hollow Bones

The debut album from Hollow Bones is a furiously energetic beast of modern heaviness and bright melodies. Blending honest aggression and dark emotion, Lionheart is an untamed beast that revels in its freedom to roam where it wants. Singer Patrick Anthony spoke eloquently about his band, his album, and about the ubiquity of loss…

Introduce us to Hollow Bones!

Hi! Hollow Bones is Patrick (me), Sharon, Andrew, Connor, and Kyle. I do vocals, Sharon plays guitar and does vocals, Kyle plays bass and does vocals, Andrew plays guitar, and Connor plays drums!

I didn’t realise it at first, but I actually have Edenborn’s Twentyone Eightythree – what’s the story behind your change in name?

Continue reading “Interview with Hollow Bones”

Interview with Godless

Indian death metallers Godless have unleashed a monster of a debut release in Centuries of Decadence. Muscular metal with thrashing groove has rarely sounded so good and this EP has made an indelible mark on the death metal landscape as far as I’m concerned. I can’t wait to hear what they do next. In the meantime, let’s find out a bit more about the band…

Introduce us to Godless!

We conceptualised the idea of Godless around March 2015. Our aim with Godless is to create music that is powerful and aggressive. It took us a few months to find our sound and direction. By around September we had a setlist and managed to get a vocalist who was on the same page as us and started gigging in October. Continue reading “Interview with Godless”