Carl Canedy interview: From The Rods to Apollo Ra and beyond - Tales of a True Headbanger

Carl Canedy is one of those important persons of US Metal. Drummer of The Rods, highly acclaimed producer, songwriter, headbanger... With The Rods being strong again, arranging few reissues and his first solo album recently out, we had no other option and contacted our friend Carl for a detailed interview. Enjoy...
 

Back in your early days, what made you start beating the drums?

I remember seeing a drum kit at a wedding reception when I was 4 and half and it was as if the Angels were all around it singing Hallelujah. I'd wanted to play drums from that day on. I actually didn't get a kit until I was 13. I did my best to make up for lost time.  

Your friendship and partnership with Dave Feinstein goes before The Rods, since you played drums for D.Feinstein's  Midnight Lady 7" single, 

right?

It has been said that I have but actually a drummer named Dave Galutz played drums on that track. David and I met during the early '70's. My band rehearsed in the Garage and Elf (with Ronnie Dio) rehearsed in the house so I've known David from the Elf days.

How did you and David decide to form The Rods?

We had tried working on a project that didn't get off the ground. It led to my becoming part of the initial Manowar. David and I decided that we were a good fit musically so it seemed like a logical choice for us to work together.

Did you play with Manowar also in their early days? Are there any recordings that you made together?

I did and there are some recordings I made of rehearsals and there is also the demo we recorded. I know fans have shared the demo on the internet. There were intense and exciting times with that band watching the music take shape. I'm proud to say I was there at the genesis of such a great and legendary band.

Back in The Rods, what do you remember from your first private release of 'Rock Hard'?

We began recording within the first three months of being together. Chris Bubacz (first Metallica album) was at Fredonia University and we would record there on our days off from gigs. It was an exciting time and releasing 'Crank it Up' as our first single and having it played on radio was a big thrill. I called a Rochester, NY Station to see if they'd received it and they told me how great it sounded on the air and that fans were calling in requesting it be played. A very exciting moment.

The Rods, Wild Dogs, In The Raw, Let Them Eat Metal, Heavier Than Thou... Golden years of The Rods in the first half of the 80s. During that period the band was one of the most iconic names of US Metal. What each album means for you?

The Rods: Fun, hard work, sex, no drugs and Rock and Roll. We played as much as possible and recorded that album in between gigs with Chris Bubacz in Fredonia, NY where he was a recording engineer student.

Wild Dogs: Exciting, frustrating (record label pressure, management problems). Doing the Iron Maiden dates was a huge thrill. All the English press was fun and interesting.

In The Raw: This was done in 48 hours again with Chris Bubacz engineering. We went into the studio, I found drums from all over the studio and built a kit. We played live and overdubbed the vocals and guitar solos. The photo was taken by our manager after being awake for almost two days (genius move). It's a demo but the fans love it and I believe they love the fact that it's The Rods live in the studio. Chris captured the band warts and all and I think that's why it's held up over time.

Live: was just simply that. It was live but it was tough to have recording gear follow you around. In the end I'm not sure recording many dates was a good idea. We might have done better recording one gig well. I still love 'Hellbound', which we've never recorded in a studio setting. Maybe one day...

Hollywood: A collection of songs that we felt should not have The Rods name attached (so the fans wouldn't be disappointed with the more melodic songs). David and I had material we'd written that we wanted out but it really didn't suit The Rods style. Rick Caudle came in to do vocals (suggested by Andrew Duck MacDonald who also suggested Joey Belladonna to me for Anthrax. Thanks Duck!). I really enjoyed working with Rick and there are some strong songs on this album.

Let Them Eat Metal: Again Chris Bubacz recording. Some really good songs on this album and we seem to get many requests from fans for songs from this album. I love playing 'Let Them Eat Metal' live. It was winter when we recorded it and it wasn't the most fun I've had recording but I did like the record.

Heavier Than Thou: This was really fun working with Shmoulik Avigal on vocals. Also a highlight for me was working, once again, with one of our first bass players Craig Gruber. Sadly Craig just passed a few days ago. It's been tough losing a good friend. Craig and I were such a great rhythm section and I loved playing with him in every band we were in together. Garry was on tour with Kim Simmons so Craig was the obvious choice. Shmoulik really killed it on vocals. He wasn't originally going to be the vocalist. David was going to sing these songs, but when he heard Shmoulik sing he felt Sam was the best choice for these songs. I think there are some great songs on this album. The album was getting some really strong national attention when the label went under. I felt it was one of our strongest albums.

What was the reaction of press during those years?

Press was strong at first, then they went for the throat on a couple of albums ('Live' and 'Hollywood') then came back with great reviews for 'Heavier Than Thou'. The fans always stayed with us. Hail all Wild Dogs!

Best and worst moment from your live shows back in the 80s?

Best moment for me was our first arena show in Binghamton, NY, opening for Blue Oyster Cult. It was my first show in front of 10,000 people and the crowd was very supportive and I threw my drum sticks into the crowd for the first time (and loved it but I was also told to never do it again to avoid a lawsuit).
Worst was opening for Judas Priest in Albany, NY at the Palace theater before we were signed. We didn't quite understand monitoring on a large stage and I could hear David's guitar and it was a huge mess. The Promoter of the show, who was considering us for management, suggested that both the bass player and myself be replaced. Not the best gig but it was awesome seeing Priest from our dressing room above the stage!

When did you start working as a producer and what made you occupy with that also?

I've always been interested in producing. Kelakos was my first real experience (just re-released www.Kelakosband.com). With The Rods, David and I just began producing ourselves because we were the only ones around. No money to hire one and so we started learning on our own.

You worked very close with Megaforce Records also, since you produced few of their best albums, including bands like Anthrax, Overkill and Exciter, among others. Which ones are your most notable moments of those years as a producer?

Those were whirlwind days for me. Each project had its trials and tribulations. I loved working with Exciter, I spent quite a bit of time with Anthrax, having worked with them on 2 albums and an EP, and Overkill were clearly talented and Blitz was a star! I loved Dickie Peterson from Blue Cheer. That band was a huge influence on me and it was an honor to work with them. Jon and Marsha are the best to work with.

Did you work in any album that didn't come up as you wished because of a label intervention?

I have regrets of one kind or another but I blame them on myself and budget constraints. I can't blame others for my shortcomings. I accept responsibility (even if it's a hard pill to swallow at times) The other side of that is that I'm very proud of many aspects of my work.

Why did The Rods split after 'Heavier Than Thou'?

It was never a problem between the members. I was producing, David had bought a restaurant (the Hollywood in Cortland, NY. A great restaurant and our one consistent endorser) and Garry was touring with Savoy Brown. It was just as simple as that.

Give me a few words for the following names:

Joey DeMaio: He and I were a great rhythm section. Joey is a guy who walks the walk.
Jon Zazula: Impresario, visionary, great guy!  
Jack Starr: Talented and knows how to utilize talent around him.
Rhett Forrester: A star. True charisma and an awesome vocalist. I had a lot of fun with Rhett.
Riot: Great band!
Savatage: Ground breaking. Great band!
Queensryche: Loved them from the first album and looking forward to sharing the stage with them again June 13th in Endicott, NY
Armored Saint: Powerful vocals
Anthrax: Driven. Talented. Charismatic. Ground breaking.
Ronnie James Dio: Legendary and the nicest guy. I don't have enough words. Eternally grateful that he was kind enough to sing a song I'd written. RIP RJD
 

Back in the late 80s you worked with Apollo Ra, a band that never made it back in the day, but their songs are jewels of what is called 'US Metal', since few metal fans nowadays consider 'Ra Pariah' as a masterpiece. When did you meet them, how did you work with them and why do you think they never made it back then?

I met them through David Carpin. He owned Shatter Records. He was an attorney who started a label. I was hired to produce them but his label went bankrupt before we finished the album. I financed the project and shopped it for them. We had strong interest from Monte Connor (another visionary), Roadrunner and Mike Faley from Metal Blade and Michael Alago from Elektra. Michael saw them live and decided to pass on the band and from that word the other labels pulled the plug on their offers so we self-released. It's been a sad tale that this band was not a major force. Super talented guys and fun and hard working as well. I'm thrilled that the fans have found their music and kept it alive for all these years. I believe it's a fantastic album.

Since many people are not familiar with your projects, what have you done during 1990 to 2010?

Performed with a local band, written music and children's plays for my daughter's group and had a children's theater for 12 years. I also did the occasional project, such as John Hahn's solo album.

The Rods are back in full force since few years with an album released in 2011 ('Vengeance') and some live shows over the past years. Do you plan to record a new album soon and which are your future plans with the band?

Yes, we just played in Chicago and we are heading to Europe for Heavy Sound Festival, Belgium, a club date in Lubeck, Germany, and Muskelrock in Sweden. We are beginning work on a new CD and we are releasing a single featuring Veronica Freeman from Benedictum on vocals. We are also booked for Keep It True 2016 and will announce more European dates soon.

Few months before you released your first solo album 'Headbanger' and I have to admit that it was one of the best releases of 2014. With all these guests, anyone can understand how important personality you are for the American metal scene. What made you write and release a solo album, and also, were these songs older, or written for this album?

Thank you for the kind words. I'm proud of the album. It's been better received than I could have imagined. Reviewers and fans have been very kind. Some of these songs are new and some had been previously released.

What was the reaction of fans and press about 'Headbanger?

Again, the fans and press have been so kind and generous with their words and support.

Last words...

Thank you for being a true metal fan and supporter. Thank you to the fans who've stayed true to The Rods over the years. I always encourage any fan to make an effort to say hi at gigs. We love meeting you so make the effort to say hi and thank you for being true "Wild Dogs".

www.TheRods.com

www.Facebook.com/CarlCanedy

www.Facebook.com/Canedy

IRONSWORD interview - Words of the Brave

The Hyperborean Hordes are back. The mighty IRONSWORD is here once again in full force. The new album “None But The Brave” will be released during May 2015 by Shadow Kingdom Records and we called at once our brother Tann to have a few words after so many years. 

Long time no see. What have you done all these years after the release of "Overlords of Chaos"?

Well, contrary to popular belief, IRONSWORD has never officially split up or anything like that. Unfortunately, due to health problems, I had to hold back on live shows and new releases. But, all this time I kept playing and writing new stuff. Shortly after I ended up with enough rough songs which eventually some of that music led to the new album “None But The Brave”. But I kept on composing new material… now imagine the amount of stuff I have on the shelf!

For the new fans and metalheads, give us a brief bio of IRONSWORD. When did you forge the 'sword and how were your early years as a band?

The band was formed in 1995. Released 2 promo tapes between 1995 and 1998. The first album was released in 2002, then the second album “Return of the Warrior” in 2004 both by The Miskatonic Foundation. In 2008, the third album “Overlords of Chaos” is released by Shadow Kingdom Records. In between, several line up changes. Our first show ever was in 2004, at the Keep It True Festival in Germany. And I guess the rest is history…

The early years were tough, because we started more or less when there was the big trendy Power Metal boom in the mid 90s, where bands were just copying Helloween and Blind Guardian. Since IRONSWORD was totally the opposite, people didn’t know what to think of the band, so therefore, was not taken seriously for a long time. The media and major labels in general considered traditional Heavy Metal was out-dated. To get some promotion, you had to write letters and send tons of tapes to all fanzines. For some time, IRONSWORD was kind of one man band, because all of my friends had their own bands and didn’t had time to dedicate to another one. Finding musicians that wanted to play 80s Heavy Metal was really hard. We were supposed to release the first album in the late 90s by a German label but they went bankrupt. We started recording a demo tape in the late 90s but the studio closed down and we never saw the master tapes. We were supposed to be on a split single with METALUCIFER, but the label back then thought our song was not good enough. Those were the days of high adventure ahahah! The turning point was the release of our debut in 2002, that’s when things really changed for the band.

A new album is ready for release by Shadow Kingdom Records again. When did you start working on that one, and can you give us few more details regarding the songs?

I started writing new songs while still doing the mixing and mastering for “Overlords of Chaos” back in 2008. My main goal was to write music less complex than “Overlords of Chaos”, more homogeneous, more in your face if you know what I mean. Some might say “None But The Brave” is the continuation of the previous album, that it continues the same pace as its predecessors etc. I like to think that the new album is kind of the missing link between “Return of the Warrior” and the debut album. Anyway, it’s in the typical raw IRONSWORD style, that 80s underground molten metal we always did and will continue to deliver.

Being an IRONSWORD supporter since ages, for me every new album is better than the previous one, so "Overlords of Chaos" is so far my fave one. How do you see now the three previous albums?

Thanks for the support! You know, they are all very important albums to me and have a special spot in the band’s history. It’s funny because a lot of people say our best album is “Return of the Warrior”, others point out our debut or “Overlords of Chaos”. I’ve always had in mind to write quality heavy metal music, and reinvent ourselves at each release, it’s in my blood! But the most important thing for me, are the fans, they keep our music alive, and without our fans we are nothing!

There is a change in the line-up, right? Also, you already start booking live shows with the first ones in the festivals Harder Than Steel (September 2015, Germany), Play It Loud (October 2015, Italy) and Up The Hammers (March 2016, Greece). Which are your plans for the near future?

The current line up is me on guitars and vocals, João Monteiro on drums and Jorge Martins on bass. Yes, so far we are confirmed to play at Harder than Steel, Play It Loud and Up the Hammers festivals, and there are more to be confirmed soon in Spain, Canada and in Portugal. I can’t wait to get back on stage and I am anxious to meet again all my “brothers” and friends. It’s going to be a big Heavy Metal family reunion! It’s going to be a blast for sure…

Plans for the near future? There are no plans really, I just want to continue writing Heavy Metal music from the heart and soul, and try to play live as much as my health allows it…

Have you been watching underground metal the last years? It seems that in metal music, underground is the new mainstream with many reunions, re-releases and hype over and there. What do you believe and what's your  opinion on that?

That is not something new to me. I have witnessed that before. New trends pop up all the time, may it be created by the labels or by the media. To tell you the truth, it doesn’t bother me. I honestly don’t care less…

If there is such thing, what is "true" for you in metal music, in general?

I’ve learned to trust and follow my gut! How do you feel when listening to ANGELWITCH “Angel of Death”, HEAVY LOAD “Singing Swords” or EXCITER “Heavy Metal Maniac”! There is no “true” or “false”, there is only Metal! HEAVY METAL! It’s the music that matters and it usually tends to speak for itself!

Where do you think IRONSWORD stand in today's metal scene?

We’ve been around for 20 years and I’ve never imagined we would last this long. Over the first years of the band it was extremely tough. We never followed the trends, but become somehow fairly popular in the underground, to the point where people appreciated our resilience. I’ve read somewhere we are considered sort of pioneers in a subset of genre, you may call it Epic Metal, Traditional Metal, True Metal, Barbaric Metal, Conan Metal whatever, being labelled as legends or cult band etc, I mean, I don’t even know where we belong or stand in today’s metal scene! Like I’ve said before, all this would not be possible if it wasn’t the undying support from our fans. Besides, we also got huge support from all the labels we’ve worked so far,  Miskatonic Foundation, Eat Metal Records, Metal Supremacy Records and of course Shadow Kingdom Records.

How is the metal scene in Portugal?

There’s been some development in the recent years. More live shows. More new bands coming out. There’s one band that really blew me away. THE UNHOLY. With a female vocalist and a very talented guitar player, they remind me somehow of early CHASTAIN and HELLION and a great humble attitude.

Can you give me just a word or two for the following names?

MANILLA ROAD:  Up the hammers and down the nails! My fave band of all times!

OMEN: Another fave band of mine!

SOLSTICE: I really like “Lamentations”! That’s classic!

RAVENSIRE: Just heard a couple of songs and it’s cool.

HYBORIAN STEEL: Our Metal Brothers!

BATTLEROAR: Our Metal Brothers!

WARLORD: One of the greatest Epic Metal bands ever!

IRON MAIDEN: Maiden are very special to me. I got completely hooked in Heavy Metal music because of them!

MANOWAR: “Into Glory Ride”, “Hail To England” and “Sign of the Hammer” are masterpieces! The last album I really liked was “Louder Than Hell”…

What do you expect for the new album, considering there is a base of die-hard fans that were expecting for your return years now...

Ever since our label, Shadow Kingdom Records, placed online on their official facebook page, 3 advance tracks of our new album, I only have one word to describe it…INSANE!!! It’s been overwhelming the feedback we had so far. Some say its best album of 2015, best album of the band. Every release seems to surpass our expectations. I am extremely pleased about the way “None But the Brave” turned out, the production is top notch and it sounds fucking THUNDEROUS! The wait is worth it!

Last words upon you. Crom bless thee...

Thank you for doing this fine interview Andreas! Keep supporting underground Heavy Metal! Also a big hail to all our fans and friends! “None But the Brave” will officially be released in May, in CD, vinyl and cassette format! 

Join IRONSWORD on Facebook HERE

 

WALPYRGUS, a new Heavy Metal sensation - Interview with Scott Waldrop

WALPYRGUS is a new metal band from United States with some very well-known underground metal musicians from bands like TWISTED TOWER DIRE, WHILE HEAVEN WEPT, OCTOBER 31 etc. Having their first EP just released by No Remorse Records, I had the chance to talk with my good friend and guitarist Scott Waldrop about everything around the band. Enjoy!

 

-How did Walpyrgus created their cult?

Scott: I wanted a band in Raleigh to write and play live with, as my other band Twisted Tower Dire isn't fully functional. Marc and Dave (TTD), live somewhat far away from me and I needed to do something more consistent because I was going crazy with boredom. One day at the beach 3 years ago, I was drinking beer and smoking cigarettes by myself watching the sunset over the ocean. I was feeling sorry for myself that I couldn't get all music ideas out and generally pouting. I decided right then and there, that I was going to call people from Raleigh and get a band going instead of sit there like a helpless turd for a moment longer. I needed a great guitarist so I called Charley Shackelford. I knew him since 1999 when Twisted Tower Dire used to play shows with his then-band Iskariot. In recent years he had a band In Raleigh called Hellrazor and I really liked his guitar work in that. Anyway, I told him I wanted to do an all-original band and described it as The Misfits meets Iron Maiden/Black Sabbath and he was in. Next I called Peter Lemieux. He's filled in on drums for TTD before and was in a Raleigh band with our singer Jonny Aune called Viper. He grew up with Jonny and they do great vocal harmonies together. He's an amazing drummer and was my first (and only) choice for the band. I then called Jim and Jonny and told them what I wanted to do and they were both totally into it. So there it is. Walpyrgus was literally conceptualized and formed in a about 1 hour while I was drunk on the beach. We got together the following week, started playing cover tunes, writing originals, and have been enjoying playing together ever since.

-Having Walpyrgus active, does this mean that Twisted Tower Dire is on hold, since 3 of the present Walpyrgus members were playing in the last TTD album, "Make It Dark"?

Scott: Yea pretty much. TTD may have gotten another album out by now but who knows. Things move very slowly in that camp. It was a good time to take a break. I don't think "Make it Dark" did as well as we or Cruz Del Sur expected and it certainly wasn't our "come back" album. Some anonymous reviewer from Terrorizer Magazine went as far as to say there was "no reason for us to exist". That hurt pretty bad seeing as how it was a major publication that championed us in the past. I'm sure whoever wrote that nothing of it and that they were writing something insightful and clever about the scene but we pour our hearts and soul into TTD - don't get paid - and it fucked us in the head. With Dave joining Volture also, I think it was really time to let TTD rest for a while. We may not have admitted it at the time but we were all pretty disheartened at the time. We weren't getting any younger and no new opportunities were knocking on the door. I was afraid we were becoming those guys who had stayed at the party too long and TTD deserves to be remembered with dignity especially looking back on our work with our late singer Tony Taylor. If there is a TTD album it's going to be very well thought out and special album. I'm not going to do it just to do it. I'm honestly not really sure that anyone who is or was a fan of TTD will really accept the band without Tony singing. Jonny is amazing but Tony was so different sounding and such a big part of TTD's "brand". It's a weird problem. I want to keep making music but I have no fucking idea what other people want to hear.

-For me, Walpyrgus is something like a logical step after "Make It Dark", so which are your influences and the things that inspire you today?

Scott: Yea that's exactly what it is. Some Walpyrgus songs were going to be TTD songs. Somewhere around '05 I started writing my songs on acoustic guitar with open chords like a folk song, then I word turn the chord progressions into metal riffs. I started becoming really interested in traditional song writers completely outside of metal. Some of my favorites are people like Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Sam Cooke, Simon & Garfunkle etc. I would have never admitted that a few years ago but I'm old and don't really give a shit. I also cry watching children's movies and still listen to death metal (but not new death metal, only early 90's stuff).

-Having your first release out now from No Remorse Records (and previously on tape by Swords and Chains) what's the background of these songs and do you have more songs and recordings ready?

Scott: "We Are The Wolves" was going to be a TTD song. That's why it sounds like TTD. The lyrics are about ancient inhuman beings who watch civilizations come and go. It was originally called "We are the Ones" but my wife misunderstood my demo vocals and I heard her sing "we are the wolves, we are the wolves" around the house and I was like, "That's it! That's way cooler!". "Cold Cold Ground" is about this recurring nightmare I have that I’ve killed someone as a teenager on LSD. Just for the record, I have never killed anyone while on drugs but I have nightmares about it. I started plinking around on the acoustic guitar with that "rock & roll" intro riff and it all just spilled out one evening. I think it has its own unique vibe because it's in an unusual key for metal: G minor but we're drop tuned to e flat so it's played in the position of A flat. So...if you're a guitar nerd you understand that's a fun position to play in. "The Sisters" was stolen from Joe Walsh and The Scorpions but I won't say which songs. Listen to them all and see if you win the quiz. The lyrics are about supernatural twins. I don't know where the chorus came from. It popped into my weird brain one day while I was driving. I had to scribble lyrics on a napkin as fast as I could without killing myself. As for new songs yes we have a whole album’s worth most of which we are currently demo-ing. We plan sending the demos to labels around December or January and seeing who is interested and what our options are. No Remorse Records will get it first :)

-I see the band is very active regarding live shows in your area. What's the feedback you receive from people?

Scott: It’s been good! We’ve got one guy that comes to every show so that keeps us going. If we didn’t play in Raleigh clubs we’d just be in Peter’s basement jealously guarding our own music like a dog playing with a cat turd. We play out locally a lot for two reasons really. The first is because on live show is worth ten practices. It makes you tighter as a band and it gives you the chance to see what works and what doesn’t with your songs. We wanted to have a lot of live experience together before recording an album because we think the experience will come shinning through in the recording. Of course the other reason being that if we ever get offered to do any higher profile gigs outside our area we’ll be ready.

-You started your journey in the underground metal scene of the 90s. Which are the differences for a new band to achieve its goal in the 90s and now?

Scott: I don’t really know what I was expecting back when I was a kid in the 90’s other than I felt compelled to do it and wanted to be part of things going on around me. I grew up in Washington DC where there was a really active death metal scene centering around King Fowley/Deceased and there was the whole Maryland doom thing centering around Pentagram and the Hellhound bands. I think from this area stemmed the “do it yourself” attitude you got from the famous punk and hardcore scene there. I grew up seeing all these hand drawn Xeroxed flyers and just being part of all this stuff and playing the 9:30 club seemed cool to me. Then, I went to Europe in 1990 and went to some underground metal record stores and picked up some zines and shit there. I learned about the European & black metal scene, started trading tapes and always just kind of enjoyed participating in the scene. I never looked at LA Metal bands in the 80’s and thought that could be me. I had “Shout at The Devil” posters on my wall in ‘84 but I was never set on being “commercial” with my music. Maybe if would have lived over there as a kid it would have been different because I did indeed travel to California a lot in the early 80’s as a kid and was very enamored with the music situation over there. But I’m a product of 80’s/90’s DC completely. Having grown up in that environment I’m content in my advanced years of 38, to just enjoy doing shit and by shit I mean anything centering around the music I love and not getting paid to play Kid Rock covers in a North Carolina sports bar. I’m a pretty happy guy. I have a beautiful wife and an amazing son, a nice place to live, a good job, great friends, and people always seemed to think my music was decent so I’m in a pretty calm place in life. Basically, to answer your question, nothing has really changed over the years for me. I do know however that I don’t like touring and don’t want to. Not sleeping well, eating crap food, not seeing my family or dogs, no place to exercise, being made fun of for excursing, being encouraged to drink and do drugs all the time, being stuck in a van and going insane to the point where the only other humans you can relate to are you band mates....I’m over it. I’m to old and I get grumpy. I still love doing though for like (maybe) 72 hours at a time. 

-What does "underground metal" stands for you?

Scott: For me it’s not being afraid to be personal about things and not being concerned about being a “super group”. I mean, it’s okay to let people know you’re a human being. Don’t be worried about conveying your promo kit to make yourself appear like the next Ratt. Those days are over. I think bands should work hard, practice a lot, put a lot of thought into their music, lyrics, artwork and everything. Have an artistic vision and don’t worry about finding a people to fit in with. Being underground is only cool when your one of those bands were people are like “damn! they should be bigger!“. Being underground and having people be like, “damn! those motherfuckers don’t know WHAT the fuck they’re doing!“ is not what you’re aiming for. Pretty much everything is “underground” now anyway. The internet has provided everyone with a giant unending playground. It’s a blessing. You can put shit out and if people like it, it will stick. It’s not like you have to trade tapes anymore and spend a million dollars on postage or tour for 3 years straight. Just put your shit out. You don’t really need the labels to bank roll shit for you anymore other than finding a way to make yourself sound good on a recording.

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

Scott: Tripping on absinth with Twisted Tower Dire in Germany and playing “House of the Rising Son” on stage in a whorehouse while we all wore sombreros.... and then I got in a fight with a Russian guy...Also recording with Piet Sielk and working with Derek Riggs were highlights for me. The most memorable and worst was when I ditched TTD in Wacken 2000. I got sick and I left in the middle of the night, found a cab, got to the airport and went home. Just totally freaked out. It's turned into one of those life-changing moments where you realize you're so disgusted with yourself you'll never be that weak again or let another human(s) down like that again. Also, getting briefly getting endorsed by BC Rich and having them build me the turquoise Rich Bich was a big dream come true. Still before all this really began, I met Marty the bass player from Pentagram at the time around 1993 at a house party in Annandale Virginia. He was very very drunk and could barely talk but he was a dad I remember and I was 17 at the time. He got all serious and looked at me and said, “Boy, if you’re serious about this whole goddamn music thing, and if you stick with it, you’re going to meet the weirdest goddamn motherfuckers that ever walked the face of this earth.” That was one of the most true and prophetic statements anyone has ever professed to me.

-Who are the best musicians you've met (and worked or play with, also) all these years and why?

Scott: I’ve played with a lot of great players but I’m way more impressed by creative minds. Tom from While Heaven Wept would be one. I remember even back in ‘91 he was way ahead of the curb. I was trying figure how to rip-off Asphyx  & Entombed at the time and he was already writing these amazing sophisticated songs with vocal melodies and very personal lyrics. My voice hadn’t even fully developed (I mean from a puberty standpoint) and he was already writing shit that was beyond my comprehension. I knew he was going to “be someone” in music very early on. King from Deceased would be another. I grew up worshipping them as a teenager in DC and got to play with him in October 31 for a little while. He’s got this crazy creative energy that’s one in a million. Always thinking of cool ideas. He must have a catalog of unused genius song titles and song ideas up in some massive dusty file cabinet in his brain that will never get used because there‘s not enough hours in the day to get them on paper. Some of the best creative energy I’ve had would have been with Jim Murad (the first TTD bass player). I really learned how write and understand music with him. He was/is a piano player and took music theory in college while we were starting TTD, and I was picking up on all the stuff he was learning as we applied it to TTD songs. If we’re going on pure musicianship, Piet Sielck really impressed me by watching how well and fluidly he played guitar and showed me how to harmonize and track myself in the studio.

-There is a very interesting project from DMR Books on the works, can you give us more details?

Scott: Yea, they’re putting together a group of fantasy stories written by heavy metal lyricists. Why I was picked, I have no idea. I’m more of a Lovecraft/Poe person so my story is in that style. I’ve been reading pieces of the other writers stories and I’m incredibly impressed. To be honest, when I was asked to do this project I thought the whole thing might be a disaster but it seems like it’s actually really going to be a well written and generally awesome collection. I’m looking forward to it coming out. Not sure how much more writing I can do. That story put me in a mentally unhealthy place but I got through it. A lot of it is very personal and based on real events in my life. It’s weird to put words to paper in such a way because when you read it back you realize what a fucking freak you are. Also, in that story, because of what it was written for, I put a bunch of obvious references into it from my lyrical influences like Chalmers, Poe, and Lovecraft. There’s also references to Black Sabbath lyrics in it here and there. If you’re a metal nerd like we all are you’ll be able to pick them out.

-What the future holds for Walpyrgus? ...or what would you like to be?

Scott: I just want us to get these other songs we’ve worked so hard on recorded well. Just put out more cool stuff like the deluxe EP on No Remorse Records... I’d love to be able to get us on a label that can get us in the door a little further than I could myself but I don’t have unrealistic expectations. It’s hard to get on a larger label based on you’re artistic merits and not be willing to tour. I’d actually be fine with writing the music and having someone fill in for me if it ever came to that. All in all the goal for Walpyrgus is to ideally put out the absolute best sounding album we possibly can and hopefully have people like it and be able to do some more of these fest like Ragnarokker that we’re doing in May. I’d love to return to Europe again with my music but I’m passed the days of paying for myself to get there so that future looks...hazy at best. Right now we’re just preparing to record the album this winter no matter what happens. We’ll record it on our own dollar which is realistically the most likely scenario. I actually have my Mom doing the cover art. She’s an amazing painter/pencil artist and I though it would be cool to do something that personal. She’s actually fully capable of painting something creepy and metal though she prefers horse cartoons. That’s it! Thanks for the interview Andreas!

Join Walpyrgus on Facebook HERE

Visit Walpyrgus official site HERE

 

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

MILLENNIUM interview with Mark Duffy & Mike Muskett

MILLENNIUM same-titled album, originally released in 1984, is definitely one of the best British Heavy Metal records of the 80s. However, after the album, there are many demo recordings, enough to create another album, that some people could consider it, even better... With the album re-released recently via No Remorse Records, including many of those unreleased demo songs, we had the opportunity to speak with Mark Duffy (vocals 1982-1988) and Mike Muskett (guitar 1984-1988) about the history of this great band.

-When did Millennium started?
Mark: Millennium started in 1982 me and Pete McArdle started writing songs on acoustic guitar in 1978 when we went to guitar lessons together then we moved on to electric guitars.

-What do you remember from the late 70s – early 80s New Wave of British Heavy Metal era, as a young fan and as a young musician? 
Mark: There was a great interest in British bands at the time and there were lots of bands and clubs putting bands on. It was a great time to see new bands that had a different style after the punk era.

-Which bands did you like back then?
Mark: The bands we liked at the time were Saxon, Heavy Pettin', Girlschool, Trespass and a local band called White Spirit. We also liked early Whitesnake and Black Sabbath with Dio.

-So, when you started writing the songs for your first record, what was your expectation?
Mark: Our expectations were to show record companies what we could do.  There were so many bands trying to get record deals so we decided to do it ourselves and hoped a record company would pick up the album or be interested to do another album with us.

-What do you remember from the recordings of your fist album and what kind of feedback did you get back then?
Mark: The recording of the album was not a good experience for the band. We had a lot of disagreements with Guardian Records who released the album and we were not happy with the way the recording was done. When the album was released we had great feedback and some great reviews but the band just wanted to forget about the album because of the bad experience in doing it and just move on and write new songs. Dave Merrington left the band after recording  the album because of the bad experience of recording it.

-What about live shows?
Mark: We only did one tour in 1985 around England and a few shows from 1986 to 1988 because we spent more time writing and recording demos during that time.

-After the album, you recorded some demo tapes and your music style became faster and more powerful. How did that came and why didn’t you record another album?
Mark: We recorded a lot of demo tapes between 1985 and 1988. I think the metal scene was changing and getting heavier with thrash metal coming through. We also replaced our guitarist with Miles Lofthouse who brought a heavier style to the band.
Mike: The musical style kept on changing, evolving, improving; each time were were knocked back by a record company we'd try to take the music a bit further, explore more avenues and heavier styles. I don't remember what was happening in general within the heavy scene, we were so caught up in wWith songs like 'Confession' and 'The Beast' I think we were finally becoming what we wanted to be; it was complex, hard and fairly fast paced, but still with some melody.
We never managed to spend enough time in the studio to make the demos sound right; most songs were just recorded without any fine-tuning or without proper arrangement; if I was going to do it all again it would be very different!
A second album would have been great, but it would have been a very different Millennium from the first album. Finance was the real problem: without record company backing it was almost impossible to achieve, back then.
Shame - I would have liked to do an album: I was writing more and more powerful music, the band was becoming really tight as a unit and Mark was a brilliant frontman.

 
-Mark, do you think that this faster and more powerful style was your first step to your next band, Toranaga?
Mark: Yes I think I felt more comfortable with the heavier and more powerful style as a vocalist and felt it was where I wanted to go. Toranaga were a heavier band with a Black Sabbath influence that I thought I could work with, which suited my vocal style.

-Mike, when did you join Millennium and which were your memories before that regarding Heavy Metal music in England?
Mike: If I remember correctly, I joined Millennium in '84/'85; the guys were looking for new direction, and I had just quit 'Skitzofrenik' and was looking for an outlet for some music I was writing - perfect timing. I'd spent a few years gigging around the North-East of England with Skitzo, but I was really still trying to learn my instrument (I didn't start playing until I was around 18 or 19 - quite late).
The musical style kept on changing, evolving, improving; each time were were knocked back by a record company we'd try to take the music a bit further, explore more avenues and heavier styles. I don't remember what was happening in general within the heavy scene, we were so caught up in what we were doing.

-Why Millennium split up back in the late 80s?
Mark: Millennium split when Mike Muskett and Steve Mennell left the band. We did replace Mike and Steve but the style had changed, we became a lot heavier and it did not sound like Millennium anymore so we changed the name to Major Threat then our bassist moved away and it started to be line up change after line up change. I then saw an advert in Kerrang magazine for a vocalist to join Toranaga which I auditioned for and then joined.
Mike: I had to quit music altogether in 1989 as I contracted RA (Rheumatoid Arthritis), which badly affected my hands; I couldn't even walk for around 1 month when it first hit. That was the end of my musical career! Luckily, I had some skill in art. That we were doing.
I managed to get a job in the computer games industry, producing artwork for Codemasters video games (a small company called Optimus Software). I moved into programming and then Art Direction (with Iguana Entertainment and Acclaim Entertainment (Mortal Combat/NBA JAM). I still can't play, but I do have a small collection of guitars - I guess some things will never change!

-What about now, Mark? You are still active in the music…
Mark: I am still active in music and re-joined Toranaga in December 2010. We released a new album "Righteous Retribution" in September 2013 and we are playing live shows. We are also writing new songs for the next Toranaga album. I would also like to do a reunion show with Millennium if the opportunity comes along!

-What about you, Mike? What is your epilogue?
Mike: These days, it's great to see guys from the old music scene in Teesside (like Mick Tucker from TANK and Janick Gers) doing well. Davy Little (Axis) is doing some great stuff with 'Lies of Smiles'; I played with Davy back in the '80's just before joining Millennium - I think there was a huge amount of talent up there.
After I left the band I think they did 1 more demo, but then folded and went their seperate ways. Mark can tell you more about that part of the band's life; I was so cut up about my physical condition that I basically cut myself off from everyone and everything for around 12 months. Not a happy time, but on the plus side it led to a fantastic 15 year career in video games - priceless.

"Millennium" was originally released via Guardian Records on vinyl format in 1984.
Re-released via No Remorse Records on CD format in 2014, including 8 bonus tracks.

MILLENNIUM line-up
Mark Duffy - Vocals (1982 - 1988)
Steve Mennell - Drums (1982 - 1988)
Pete McArdle - Guitar (1982 - 1985)
Dave Price - Bass Guitar (1982 - 1986)
Dave Merrington - Guitar (1982 - 1984)

Mike Muskett - Guitar (1984 - 1988)
Dave Hardy - Guitar (1985 - 1986) / Bass Guitar (1986 - 1988)
Miles Lofthouse - Guitar (1986 - 1988)

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Join TORANAGA on Facebook HERE