Mike LePond's Silent Assassins

Mike LePond is known as the bass player of the US Progressive Metal band Symphony X, but for sure, for all those that are deep in metal music, the name is also known from other bands. Few days before, Mike released his first solo album which I recently listened and liked at once. So, I contacted him and exchange few words about his first solo effort under the name Mike LePond's Silent Assassins.
 

After all these years, what made you compose and release a solo album?

ML: I had always wanted to do a solo album but I was shy about it. When Symphony X finished the "Iconoclast" CD, I finally got the courage to do it. It was an incredible amount of work but I was able to achieve my goal.
 

Are these songs new or composed during the past years?

ML: Actually both are true. Some of the ideas came to my mind just a few weeks before the recording of the CD. Track 8 (The Progeny) was written when I was just a teenager.
 

These songs seem to sum up all your career as a musician, so which are your main influences?

ML: My main influences when I was younger was Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Manowar, Metallica, Anthrax. Later on, I became influenced by bands like Blind Guardian. In the last 10 years my main influence has been Blackmore's Night.
 

How did you arrange to have Alan Tecchio, Michael Romeo and Metal Mike in the album, and how was the recording procedure?

ML: I live in New Jersey, USA. I decided it would be best if I hired musicians from here as well so I could sit with them in the studio. Alan Tecchio and Metal Mike did a killer job! My band mate Michael Romeo was just amazing too.  

And how did the deal with UDR was arranged? You have some really huge labelmates there, like Saxon and Alice Cooper...

ML: After my manager heard the record, he immediately contacted UDR. I think they understand what I'm trying to do. They have done a wonderful job promoting the CD throughout Europe.
 

Next year we will see a reunion of Heathen's Rage, so what do you remember from your Heathen's Rage years?

ML: Heathen's Rage was my first true metal band. We were not only band mates, but we were all great friends. We had great times on and off the stage and to see them again is a real blessing.
 

Do you think you had a missed chance with Heathen's Rage and how things ended?

ML: Yes, we missed a big chance. If Heathen's Rage would have stayed together, I think we could have been a really big band in the metal world. We will always regret that.
 

Which are your most memorable moments all these years as a musician?

ML: My most memorable moments are always when fans tell me how my music has made their lives special in some way. That makes all this
craziness worth it.
 

Do you plan any live shows with Silent Assassins?

ML: As soon as I learn what the Symphony X touring schedule is for 2015, I will plan some shows
 

So, what the future holds for Mike LePond?

ML: Next year I will tour with a new Symphony X album, do some Silent Assassins shows and also begin working on a second solo album.

MIKE LEPOND'S SILENT ASSASSINS
(UDR, 2014)

Surely the name will be familiar to many metalheads out there... Mike LePond is the bass player of SYMPHONY X and also have played with bands and artists such as the cult US metal legend HEATHEN'S RAGE, SEVEN WITCHES, HOLY FORCE and SLEEPY HOLLOW, among others.
Now, the time has come for him to present us his first solo album with his own songs. For this effort, he couldn't find better musicians to help him out, so we have Alan Tecchio (HADES, WATCHTOWER) on lead vocals, Michael Romeo (SYMPHONY X) and Mike Chlasciak (HALFORD) on guitar solos.
With lyrics based on myths and stories of Troy, Camelot, Norse muthology and knights, evoking medieval and ancient history images, he present us 9 compositions (in a total of almost 60 minutes) of great Heavy Power Metal that sounds so fresh and inspiring, and at the same time stands in the glorious roots of Metal music. Balancing between mid-tempo and up-tempo songs, there is a background of influences from MANOWAR and JUDAS PRIEST to BLIND GUARDIAN and older SYMPHONY X, all combined with great melodies and few very enchanting song intros with beautiful guitar and bass lines. Especially the melodies in songs like "The Quest" and "Masada" are simply amazing.

I have to admit that "Mike LePond's Silent Assassins" took me by surprise and will hit my personal top in the best releases of 2014. Don't let it pass you by. We need releases like this one.

Join Mike LePond's Silent Assassins Facebook page HERE