It was 2007 that kicked started the musical career of Ohio metallers Miss May I with that they went on to get signed to Rise Records releasing two full-lengths having their song “Forgive and Forget” being featured on the Saw VI Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is what really pushed them to the fore front of the music scene. But with that they went on to do an extensive amount of tours and of course write and record for what would be their upcoming third full-length release titled “At Heart”. Frontman vocalist Levi Benton spoke to me to discuss the band’s upcoming release the band’s all new logo and symbol that will represent them from here on out along with more hidden surprises you will only find out right here, right now.

All Access Magazine (AAM)  So it looks like Miss May I has a lot of NEW things coming up, a new album, new logo, and new symbol, can you tell me about all of this?

Levi: We wanted a new logo because we thought it was about that time to have an official one because we were going to have one change with each album but we wanted something that would last forever. The symbol represents who we are and it’s always been the lion come with us and with this new symbol it has 5 points and 7 little teeth because we got together in 2007 so it’s cool that a lot have people have been catching on and tattooing it really cool.

AAM How has the band’s sound evolved from Monument to At Heart?

Levi: It’s a lot more real and passion behind it because that’s why we went with calling it At Heart and we wanted people to be able to relate to it because everything about it comes from us and our hearts.

AAM. What inspired the album title? Is it a concept album?

Levi: Well it’s not really a concept I don’t know we named it At Heart because its stuff we never really wanted to sing about because we thought it was too deep, but we wanted the stuff to be real and from the heart on this album; whether it’s a messed up song or not its stuff that really happened and came from our hearts.

AAM You worked with producer Machine what was that experience like?

Levi: Oh it was awesome he pushed us really hard to be a better band and we became a better band and he’s all about live stuff and he’s all about emotion and makes sure the listener can feel and relate.

AAM How would you say that the writing process has differed in the lyrical department on this release?

Levi: It was our first time we got to do pre-production so we got to sit down and write the CD and listen to it and be able to change things and see if this worked or this was dumb so we never got to do this before so Machine knew all about pre-production so we went with it.

AAM. What about the album artwork and track-listing is there a date set for when those will be revealed?

Levi: The album artwork will be released tomorrow so when you see it it’s us speaking from the heart and us being from a kid to a grown-up is just coming from the heart.

AAM. What are your expectations for the CD?

Levi: Hoping it’s a good album from front to back it’s the first album that I’m really proud of all the other CDs and songs I wasn’t really excited about, but this CD I’m really excited about front to back hoping that it’s a good album through and through for kids so that’s my biggest expectation.

AAM. Will there be pre-orders available for this album?

Levi: Yes not sure when but it will be soon.

AAM. When can we expect the first single to be released?

Levi: In a couple of weeks and comes with a video too so a lot of little surprises going on.

AAM. You guys are currently on tour with Whitechapel and After The Burial then next month you’re going to Europe and then returning to the states in May, you guys are just going to be all over the place aren’t you?

Levi: Yeah we’re always on tour, we haven’t done Japan yet but I heard we’re going there this summer, with South East Asia and all of that so rocking that this summer.

AAM Have you been road testing any of the new material? If so, how have audiences reacted to the new material?

Levi: Yeah we’ve been playing our first single called “Hey Mister”on the new tour and it’s actually pretty crazy because usually with the new songs the kids would just listen but they’re really getting crazier with the new material that they don’t even know the words to yet but I’m excited for them to hear it when it’s finished.

AAM What else can we expect from you guys in 2012?

Levi: Actually in a few days we got a big announcement and got plans this summer and new record and touring non-stop so should be good. We got new management so we get to be the metal band we’ve always wanted to be.

AAM. Anything else you’d like to say or promote?

Levi: Our biggest slogan is “Stay Metal” that’s my biggest one.

Cadaveria formed in 2001 soon after they rounded up the musicians they knew would suit their band’s musical style and inspiration which lead them to release several releases, tour, and of course write and record even more. Now that a new era is upon them a fourth album is spreading faster than the plague itself and it is called “Horror Metal” the all new beginning to an all new realm of horror and darkness known only as Cadaveria! Frontwomen Cadaveria herself spoke to me about the band’s latest achievement and what was said about the process of it and where the band will be throughout this current time and year.

All Access Magazine (AAM) Where did a name like Cadaveria come from?

Cadaveria: My nickname testifies my love for all what is obscure and unknown and my attraction to what is forbidden.

AAM: What can you tell me about your latest release Horror Metal?

Cadaveria: It was released on January 31st 2012 on Bakerteam Records and we are very excited on how it has been welcomed by fans and critics. Feedback is 100% positive and we must agree with this, as we think Horror Metal is the best album we have ever released. The album features eleven brand new songs composed along the past years and recorded during 2010. We have been in the recording studios for a long time, since we have produced the album by ourselves, caring about all aspects. In 2011, after a premix, we entered the studios again to add some keyboards parts and to re-record some vocal parts I didn’t like. Finally, after a long mastering, the album is now in stores, ready to kill.

AAM. Why did you want to name your album that and what does it symbolize?

Cadaveria: Since our first release The Shadows’ Madame, people have always defined our style as Horror Metal This time we thought no other words could better describe the evil and horror atmosphere you can breathe by listening to this album. So in this case Horror Metal represents more a mood than a genre, dealing with the cryptic sensations coming from these new songs.

AAM What’s the music scene like in Italy are there any band’s you’d recommend?

Cadaveria: I don’t follow the scene so much and I don’t know if there is any rising star in the Italian underground. Our panorama is still “monopolized” by historic bands like Necrodeath, Sadist, CADAVERIA, Death SS, and Lacuna Coil. I hope some young talent will be able to break the schemes, otherwise in ten years the Italian scene will be dead.

AAM. When did you get signed to Bakerteam Records and what was running through your mind when you got signed?

Cadaveria: After the experience with Season of Mist, that released our third album In Your Blood, we were looking for a label that had the right enthusiasm to promote our new album in the proper way. Bakerteam is a division of Scarlet Records, for which our first two albums were released; we already knew the guys working in it, so it has been like a return to home. Together with Worm Hole Death, our publisher, they are doing the work we were expecting.

AAM. What are your songs about? (What specific themes do they cover?)

Cadaveria: Basically the lyrics deal with personal experiences, dreams and nightmares and sometimes take inspiration from literature, cinema (“Apocalypse” lyrics is the transcription of a monologue from Mel Gibson’s movie Apocalypto) or art in general. I write about sensations, state of mind, fears, wishes… Dark and sad lyrics sometimes enlightened by flashes of the unexpected. I often speak about death, but I also think about life, inner force, pride, energy, desires and pleasures. The places inspiring our lyrics are plunged into fog. They are the places where we I live, the places that influence what I am and what I write.

AAM. Do you write your own songs? (Discuss the songwriting process in detail.)

Cadaveria: I continually take note of things I’m interested in. When it is time to start composing a new album I reorganize these notes in a lyric and so, lyrically, a new song is born. Dick Laurent, our new guitar player, wrote the most part of the riffs for Horror Metal. The first work we always do when we meet each other in the rehearsal room is to fix which lyrics better suit with the musical parts. Then we build the songs structure, choose the rhythm and so on… After a pre-production we usually revisit the tracks, changing melodies, adding arrangements and guitar harmonization’s.

AAM. Who are your musical influences?

Cadaveria: The band’s members have a different musical background that crosses from the Seventies Hard Rock to Black Metal. Our music is the result of these variegated musical tastes. Horror Metal is full of influences coming from Death Metal, Black Metal, Gothic and Heavy Metal in general, passing through Black Sabbath and the Eighties New Wave…

AAM. How do you describe your music to people?

Cadaveria: Well, finally we too can use this definition: Horror Metal, of course! A personal mix of extreme Metal music, spiced with ghosts, darkness and zombies coming from cemeteries. It’s a cry of forbidden passions and terrible anguishes.

AAM What image do you think your music conveys?

 Cadaveria: Our music communicated emotions, power, elegance and precision. Close your eyes and you will see crows in the fog, stale blood, wild beasts, wind and fire. Pump up the volume and let yourself be enraptured by fear!

AAM. How about touring when will you guys be hitting the road and will you be making your way to the U.S.?

 Cadaveria: We are playing some live dates in Italy and we are receiving offers to play abroad in Europe this autumn. Unfortunately to tour the US is still a far hypothesis.

AAM. What is one thing everyone should know about Cadaveria?

Cadaveria: I would like everyone know our new album entitled Horror Metal is out now! You can get it in your local music stores or directly on www.cadaveria.com/. Follow us on www.facebook.com/cadaveria for any update. Thanks a lot!

Canadian pop singer/song writer and make-up artist as well as a professional model known for his “natural” and artistic looks this blue haired up-and-comer Steven Joseph is a star on the horizon and has given us the goods on his upcoming releases and what got him into this crazy scene we like to call music.

All Access Magazine (AAM)  First off, why the name Steven Joseph what does it symbolize for your image musically?

Steven: Hi there, thanks for having me! To answer the first question I would have to say originality. There might be a lot of Steven Joseph’s out there but out of the 1,000,000 batch of them, I am the only one pursuing music. I feel like I stand out in a huge crowd.

AAM Can you tell me about the Canadian music scene and what it’s like there compared to anywhere else?

Steven: The Canadian music scene is definitely not like America’s. Here in Canada there are several “huge” artists that aren’t even known in the U.S.A. We are like our own little circle in music. It’s mainly the American artists that take over Canadian radio and usually any Canadian artist moves to the U.S.A after making the big spot.

AAM  What can you tell me about your debut single “Ride in My Cadillac”.

Steven: I regret every moment of writing, recording and releasing that song… But hey, it made me some good money! All I have to say is, NEVER again. Although, it is what got me started in music… I feel like I could have done better though.

AAM “So Sweet, Sugar Treat!” is your debut EP how would you describe the overall sound of it?

Steven: So Sweet, Sugar Treat! was a huge step up for me from Ride in My Cadillac. It’s way more advanced lyrically (makes more sense) and is definitely WAY better produced. I love the sound of it and I am so proud to have it as my debut EP. It’s a HUGE deal for me.

AAM Now you’ve been writing and recording for your debut full-length and it’s been said to be “the next level” can you expand on that?

Steven: Hahahaha, well plans have changed… Yes I am in the mists of working on my full length but nobody is ready for it. Things are just NOT “big” enough for me to pursue it. I’m going with another EP which will be titled soon. I just recorded some cool tracks for it. I would say its better written then my debut EP “So Sweet, Sugar Treat!” still with the same producer for this new one though.  BUT I do want to say, I have a new producer lined up for after the release of the new EP and we are going to take things BEYOND anyone’s expectations.

AAM Where are you in the recording process of the new album?

Steven: The EP has about 4 out of 7 songs recorded and ready to go at the moment. Still recording a few demos’s to find what fits for it.

AAM Who is producing the album? How has the producer aided the recording process?

Steven: Ashton Price He’s great. When everything is done recording, produce the music together and come up with ideas as we go.

AAM Where are you recording the album?

Steven: A new Toronto studio called “Morph Studios”.

AAM Do you plan to self-release the album or are you in talks with labels?

Steven: The future tells itself; I don’t tell the future. I just go with it. If it happens it happens, if it doesn’t it doesn’t!

AAM. How would you describe the overall sound of the new album? How does it compare to So Sweet, Sugar Treat!?

Steven: As mentioned earlier it’s way better written!  Lyrics have a deeper more, heartfelt, meaning. Now the sound, was put in using some new sounds and making Steven Joseph sound fresh and NEW.

AAM. Did you have any definitive goals you were shooting for before the recording process began for this album?

Steven: My main goal was to get my album done and ready for release… But plans changed and like I said, I’m doing a new EP. I don’t have any major goals for the EP but to get it done, release some new shit for fans to hear/purchase and start doing some NEW shows.

AAM. Are you using any new instrumentation you’ve never used in the recording process before?

Steven: I’m 100% digital. I don’t play any instruments hahahaha.

AAM. When did you start writing for this album? How was the songwriting process different/similar to previous releases?

Steven: I’ve been writing future projects since 2010. I even have written lyrics for after both the EP and full length.

AAM. So Sweet, Sugar Treat! was a sizable critical success. Did you feel any pressure to follow it up?

Steven: I just want to keep promoting it. I never feel pressured and I must admit So Sweet, Sugar Treat! did way better than I ever expected. I’m starting to take things more serious now.

AAM. Can you go into one or two tracks on the new album? If so, can you give us the track title and brief description of how the track sounds and how it came about?

Steven: I just finished recorded a song for the new EP called “Love me Kiss me Hate me Kill me”. (I’m not sure if it’s going to make it onto the EP though). It’s dark and I’m sure judging from the title you kind of get the drift. I had a lovely friend of mine who has a fucking amazing voice do some vocals on it with me.Everything else I want to keep a surprise…

AAM. When can we expect the new album to be released?

Steven: The new EP should be done before 2013… So a little under a year is what I’m aiming towards.

AAM. When I look at you I see a resemblance to that of Jeffree Star meets Blood On The Dance are these your inspiration or influences or am I totally wrong with even thinking this?

Steven: I say fuck it, think what you want. You`re entitled to think and believe whatever you want. Some people say that, some people don`t. It`s all in how YOU see me.  Just remember though, I`m Steven Joseph and I invented myself.  Yes I`m definitely inspired by certain people but I am in NO WAY a copycat or unoriginal. I just like to be different like other people.

AAM. So enough about the music talk to me about being a model and make-up artist what got you started or wanting to do these things and how have they affected the world around you?

Steven: These things are the main focus in my everyday life. I`m constantly doing photo shoots, always doing paid make up assignments under the table and just having fun with both! My life has always been modeling and make up. It`s so ironic though because I never used to look as good as I do now in early high school years… and to think I am now surrounded by nothing BUT the beauty industry. Hahaha.

AAM. Will you be doing any touring for this year or is nothing set in stone as of right now?

Steven: I am going on tour this year as a supporting act for a huge internet band. (Not saying any names yet) But it`s time that everyone watches the fuck out, I`m stepping onto the scene and I will be at a local venue near you!

AAM. Why should WE check out Steven Joseph?

Steven: You should check out Steven Joseph because he has blue hair, wears 1,000 pounds of make up and is NOT what society calls normal! DUH.

Theresa Minjares, CEO/Booking Agent for Reese Entertainment, was founded in October of 2007, working with national artists, country artists and specializing in tribute bands.. During the company’s growth, she has managed bands, traveled throughout the U.S., assisted with the development of newer acts, special events and developed promotional materials, articles for advertisement.  This year is turning out to be her most successful year to date with  opportunities to work with top accounting firms, biomedical firms, The Dreams of Today’s children organization as well as the Susan G. Koman Race for the Cure organization. Reese Entertainment has created a business for herself that she is very passionate about. She has the benefit of travelling anywhere in the world to establish a business relationship.

Minjares has worked with Legendary Percussionist Pete Escovedo, Malo & Smashmouth as well as Sheila E, perhaps known for her work with Prince, George Duke and Ringo Star. Her most recent act added to the roster is the Youngest Rock Band to hit the stage, Haunted by Heroes.  All Access Magazine (AAM) spoke with Theresa Minjares ™ about her company and the music business.

All Access Magazine (AAM): What is Reese Live?

 TM:  Reese Live is the Facebook name used to promote bands associated with Reese Entertainment.

(AAM):: When did you decide to form your company?

 TM:  After two years of managing and booking just one band and turning away a number of bands requesting my assistance,  I finally decided to form Reese Entertainment in October of 2007 so that I could help others in the industry.

AAM: Who was the first band of any real consequence you booked, and where did you book them at?

 TM:  My very first band and the reason I’m in business today is when I became associated with ARRIVAL which at the time was a variety band.  Since then they blossomed into the most amazing Journey Tribute band I’ve ever come across and have since changed their name to Journey Revisited, paying tribute to the days Steve Perry was the lead singer.  If I could meet Steve Perry today, I would simply say “thank you” for the incredible years of great music. Journey Revisited is still working with me today and “exclusive” to Reese Entertainment.  As for National Acts, in November of 2007, I started working with Pete Escovedo’s Latin Jazz Orchestra and their first show with me was at Morongo Casino.  I was very excited to build a relationship with the family which on occasion included a performance with Sheila E.  She is the most amazing female drummer & percussionist, perhaps best known for her work with Prince, George Duke and Ringo Starr. The family also performs under the name The E Family and their song “I Like It”  was one of the most requested songs on KBLX.  Their CD Now & Forever is on sale now at www.the-e-family.com.

AAM: What are some of the main challenges in being a booking agent in today’s music economy?

TM:  At the present time for me, the main challenge is fulfilling all the requests I get to book entertainment.  The economy has definitely put a damper on the amount the artists may earn, but the talent buying seems to be picking up.

AAM:  Who are some of the more prominent bands you currently book and represent?

TM:  I’ve recently signed a few original artists that I foresee making their mark in the entertainment industry.  Two of them are country artists, Fred Myers and the Redneck Majority from Philipsburg, PA and  Jessica Caylyn from Antioch, CA.  Then of course there’s Haunted by Heroes from Pacifica, CA, the World’s Youngest Rock Band to hit the scene.  Instead of Cheerios for breakfast, these kids eat rock and roll for breakfast (laughs).

AAM: How would a band go about securing someone such as yourself to do their booking?

TM:   Its best to send me their promo video. If I see its marketable, then I will definitely consider them. Every band has to be prepared with their promo kit before signing any agreement.   AAM: Biggest gig you ever booked? TM: The Monkeys Classic, I’m A Believer from the Shrek Soundtrack “SMASHMOUTH” at the Sierra View Music Festival in Oakdale, CA and The E Family at the Montalvo Arts Center in Saratoga.  I was also asked to be part of the Willie Nelson Marketing Team last year and hope to be a part of the team this year.  My first big Vegas event is on June 23rd, 2012, at the Palace Station Casino benefiting Dreams of Today’s Children Organization.  This is a non-profit organization that provides financial assistance through grants and fundraising activities to families with the desire and commitment to adopt a child. Tickets are on sale now by going to www.dreamsoftodayschildren.org

AAM: Where do you see Reese Entertainment being, business-wise, five years from now?

TM:  I pride myself on having a personal relationship with every artist and talent buyer I work with and building trust and loyalty.  I definitely see a strong growth especially in the Corporate Arena.

For more information about Reese Entertainment visit   https://www.facebook.com/ReeseEntertainment on FB for all upcoming events.

California locals Greg (vocals), Mike (vocals/guitar), Johnny (drums), and Josh (bass) are the ones who are behind the name Daybreak Ends an act who’s been around for quite some time and have made a name only they can claim as their own. Daybreak End’s debut full-length “Perfect Tragedy” released in 2007 showcased the band’s skills and pushed them to the local music scene in an instant having them perform with such acts as I Am Ghost, National Product, and Operation Downfall among others. As their skills progressed so did their writing ability which leads to them releasing a follow-up EP release called “The Self Unseen” released in 2009. Now this release would take the musical approach given previously and enhance it to even further progression and pure aggression. The EP would increase even further touring and writing that has brought them down to this point and time with the long awaited sophomore release “A Second Chance To Fail”. Frontman vocalist Greg caught up to discuss what the band has been up going into mentioning that they have indeed been hard at work writing and recording for this upcoming release hence why hardly little to no touring has been put into play, but once the album is released it will be available to all music stores and at their showcases happening soon.

All Access Magazine (AAM)  It’s been quite some time since we last heard from Daybreak Ends. Are you ready to spill some secrets as to what’s to come?

Greg: We have been working hard on a full-length album called “A Second Chance to Fail”. Once it is released we are going to tour since we have not gotten to go out due to writing the album. We are excited to go out and show everyone the new music because we are very proud of it.

AAM How has the band’s sound evolved from Perfect Tragedy to A Second Chance to Fail?

Greg: A Second Chance to Fail is a lot heavier and more aggressive than both Perfect Tragedy and The Self Unseen. We feel our sound has matured a lot and it is apparent when listening to the new album.

AAM Was your songwriting and recording process any different than usual for this CD?

Greg: We took our time writing the songs. We wanted this CD to be very raw and have a live feel so we wrote a bunch of songs and played them live in front of people locally. If we saw that people did not respond the way we thought they would we would rework the songs and try them again in a later show. Once we felt that the crowd loved the songs we decided they were good enough to record. I have redone melodies and lyrics on the songs if I thought they were not what they should be and I know that the other band members have tweaked the music if they felt it needed to be changed a little.

AAM What inspired the album title? Is it a concept album?

Greg: It is not really a concept album but a lot of the songs do have an overlying theme that ties them together. The album title reflects the feeling of trying something again even though you will probably not get the results you are hoping for. Persistence is key in music and we feel we have done a lot of fun things in Daybreak Ends and have played in front of many people and in many venues and we will keep it up as long as we love the music we play. I feel that the entire band loves the new music and it drives us to play and perform no matter what.

AAM Who produced the album? How has the producer aided the recording process?

Greg: Evan Rodaniche of Cage 9 produced the album. He also did our EP “The Self Unseen” and he gives the CD a raw and powerful feel. We wanted the CD to be aggressive and gritty and raw and we feel he did an excellent job. He is very creative and professional and really helps us focus our music and get it down in the best way possible.

AAM Are you going to be self-releasing this album as you have done in the past?

Greg: Yes we are going to get it replicated in a small amount and then release it to iTunes and the other digital stores. We will have the CD’s at our shows once the album comes out.

AAM. Did the band have any definitive goals they were shooting for before the recording process began for this album?

Greg: We wanted to make a CD that someone could put in after seeing us play and have it capture that same feel they got at our show. We are hoping people will play it and show it to their friends and spread the word about us.

AAM Are you using any new instrumentation you’ve never used in the recording process before?

Greg: We are trying to keep the CD similar to the sound you would hear in our live show so it is just the standard Guitar, Bass, and Drums combined with a little keyboard for thickness.

AAM When did you start writing for this album? How was the songwriting process different/similar to previous Daybreak Ends releases?

Greg: We started writing after “The Self Unseen” was released. We wanted to make another full-length album and wanted to do it right and take our time and we feel we have done it the way we wanted to.

AAM How was the vibe in the studio?

Greg: It was pretty laid back. We try to get a good vibe in the studio and not stress about anything. We did not have a deadline or anything of this CD so we just made sure it was something we liked and wanted to listen to.

AAM Do you think this album is more or less accessible than Perfect Tragedy and The Self Unseen? Why?

Greg: I think the new album has songs that are as accessible as the last two albums. I feel Perfect Tragedy was too “safe” and polished and did not capture our true sound. I feel The Self Unseen did have a good raw sound but it was very short. I think this CD has a lot of really heavy songs on it but that it also has a lot of good melodies that people can get into.

AAM It’s been three years since the release of The Self Unseen. Why such a long time period between releases?

Greg: We toured after The Self Unseen came out and then we started writing this new album while playing shows locally. We wanted the songs to be something we could be proud of and we felt that playing them live and seeing how that went would help us in writing. I think this album will be worth the wait.

AAM Can you go into one or two tracks on the new album? If so, can you give us the track title and brief description of how the track sounds and how it came about?

Greg: One of the heavier tracks on the CD is called “Wilshire Pig”. It is very heavy and has had a great reaction from people during our live show. We wanted something that stuck in peoples head and something that would make people move and feel this song does that. The song is about a person that is so consumed by doubt and defeat that they create a wall and try to push people away. The person in the song blames other people for their failures and problems but it is truly themselves they have to blame.

One other song is called “Stranglehold” and it is about a person looking at themselves in the mirror and reflecting on their life. I rewrote the lyrics and melody of this song after we had been playing it for a few months and I feel the song is the way it should be now. People seem to love this one live also.

AAM What are your expectations for the CD?

Greg: We just want the CD to be something people can listen to when we are not playing and something they can have fun listening to. We hope to book shows and tour for it once it is out. As long as we can play shows and play these new songs we are happy.

AAM. When can we expect the new album to be released?

Greg: We are getting the final artwork very soon and we have figured out track order. Once we get the artwork back we will be sending it all out to get the CD’s pressed and when we get them back it will be ready! I am hoping the CD will be out this month if all goes to plan!

AAM. Do you have any upcoming plans to tour?

Greg: We hope to be able to go out on the road after the CD is done and we do plan to play as much as we can once it is out!

AAM. When it comes to your performances you sorta have costumes why did you want to go with disguising yourselves? What are you trying to hide and does this new identity represent who Daybreak Ends is and where they’re headed?

Greg: We came up with the idea of wearing rabbit masks at a show in practice one day and it has kind of stuck. We think it’s interesting when a person who has never heard of us walks in and we are playing this heavy music and wearing rabbit masks. It sticks in people’s minds and we enjoy it.

AAM. Since your formation way back when you have yet to release a music video is this the year?

Greg: Yeah we will work on getting a music video going for the new album for sure!

AAM. What makes you guys special and why should we check you guys out?

Greg: I think we have a very energetic live show and our songs are interesting and diverse. We have never really been exclusive to one genre and if a person is just a fan of music they should check us out and see what we have to offer. There are a ton of bands out there so if someone wants to check us out and buy a CD then that means a lot!

AAM. Anything else you’d like to say or promote?

Greg: Thanks to you Natalie for supporting bands and for your hard work and dedication to music! It is awesome and you rock!

All Access Magazine (AAM) : Hi, I’m Alison “MetalBabe” Cohen and I’m here with Keli Raven. Wow, Keli. You have a lot of exciting things in the works, from a new CD, some shows, a tour, you’re producing… Let’s start off by talking about your upcoming CD. Tell me about “SCReAM KeLI RAVeN SCReAM.”

Keli Raven: “SCReAM KeLI RAVeN SCReAM” basically reflects on some dark times, loves lost, addiction… It’s a very emotional record, and I think it’s my best work so far.

AAM: How do you think this CD differs from what you’ve done in the past?

Keli Raven: It is definitely better. I think this is our best CD to date, for sure. I feel that I’ve been able to take things to the next level with each record. That’s something that I have to work at, but it feels good, and especially when we play it live. I am constantly changing, so anything I do isn’t really a shock to my fans.

AAM: You actually have come up with your own Genre regarding this release, “Modern Erotica Rock.” I like the sound of that. What exactly does that mean to you?

Keli Raven: It’s taken me quite some time to develop the sound of Keli Raven. In a nutshell it’s modern, it’s unique, and it’s very sex driven…

AAM: And it’s still Keli Raven.

Keli Raven: Yeah, and it’s still Keli Raven.

AAM: Tell me about your current single, “New Revolution Baby.” What is the song about and how did you come up with the idea for the video?

Keli Raven: That’s the one that we hope will put us on the map. It’s set up in a Mafia situation. Me and the band are kind of the heroes because we tell the ‘top guy’ to stop treating women like crap or we’re gonna take him out to the desert and… (laughs)

AAM:  You have a show scheduled for Friday, April 27th at Universal Bar & Grill. What can fans expect from a live Keli Raven performance?

Keli Raven: Yes. April 27th at Midnight. It’s going to be a good show for sure… It’s actually a make-up show. We had to cancel a few dates at the end of 2011 because I was going through a few personal things… Addiction, and more importantly depression. It’s something that needed to be dealt with, and I’m so glad that I had the support of my friends, my Mom, Lemmy, (from Motorhead) and my band, to go in and get some help.

I just want to say to anyone that is suffering from addiction, or depression, that there is help out there. Don’t be ashamed, and God bless you. We’re all on the same Team, and as long as you have people who support you, and care about you, that’s all you need.

AAM: Very Cool. What are your plans for Keli Raven, as far as touring and playing locally, once the CD is released?

Keli Raven: We are doing a series of benefit shows called “Time to Save America” with Rik Fox, who you guys know from WASP, and of course Rik Fox’s Sin, and Steeler, and another band that I’ve worked with in the past called Electric Chair.

We are doing what we can to help the Native American Reservations because they are suffering. There is just too much poverty. We are also doing what we can to help other victims of American tragedies, such as the tornado victims.

AAM:  You’ve actually been producing lately. You put out seven CDs of your own, producing several of them yourself, and now you’re working with two new young artists. Tell me about them.    Keli Raven: One of them is a hard-core rapper called Nik Nak. She is a piece of work. Nik Nak appears on a single from my new album called “We are Unbreakable.” Also, I have an erotic dance type of artist that I’m working with called Maddoll Rich. Both are well on their way.   Metal Babe:        That’s awesome. Is there anything I’ve missed or anything you would like to say  to                     your fans?

Keli Raven: I just wanna say thank you, very, very much, because I love ya to death.

And I just wanna say to you my fans, and anyone else watching, follow your dreams. It can sometimes be a very hard road, and be discouraging, especially since we are all unique individuals. It took me a long time to figure out that it’s ok to be me. If you believe in something, no matter what it is… You don’t have to twist my arm to believe in it as well. Follow your dreams, and don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t. Because you can.

AAM: Good advice Keli. I love the positivity. And thank you… It has been a pleasure. And for anyone out there, please check out Keli Raven at the links below, and if you’re in the Los Angeles area, make sure to come out to one of their upcoming shows. (listed below)

Friday, April 27th – Universal Bar and Grill Saturday
May 19th – Metal Babe MAYhem (Details coming soon.)

Keli Raven’s Links:
www.reverbnation.com/keliraven
www.facebook.com/keliraven
www.youtube.com/keliraven1

Also, you can view this interview live here:

As always, Keep Rockin’

Alison “MetalBabe” Cohen
www.metalbabemayhem.com
blog.metalbabemayhem.com
www.facebook.com/metalbabeproductions

Machine Head an act that’s been together for 20 years and still going strong and hard when it comes to writing, recording, and even touring around the world. Drummer Dave McClain talks to me about his band’s seventh full-length album “Unto the Locust” (2011) and how they are in their fifth month into touring on it and how much more touring they have in store between now and next year.

All Access Magazine (AAM) Can you tell me about the feature you did with DRUM Magazine?

 Dave: Yeah basically it talked about the opening song on the record called “I Am Hell”. The guy talked about the song and breaks it down writing out the drum music for it so we did that and it was cool it kinda gives other drums an insight into what you’re thinking when you’re writing the drum parts and constructing a song. Giving a background as to what you’re doing and how things are done.

AAM. What is the question you are asked the most during an interview?

 Dave: If there was a lot of pressure when writing a new record. No matter what record it is, it’s always was there a lot of pressure with the writing period.

AAM Did you ever think that Machine Head would have been around for this long?

 Dave: I don’t think we’re completely shocked or anything but I would say that I’d always see the band going somewhere and especially Rob it was one of his hopes and thoughts for the band but more than anything we’re just really appreciative that we have been around for this long. We have seen bands that have been together like 16 years ago and then last only a few years and now trying to make a comeback, and for us our careers are going up and it’s just mind blowing for us and we had hoped would always happen.

AAM. What’s new in the recording of your music?

 Dave:  Nope not at all we’re barely 5 months into our touring cycle of our latest record so we haven’t been any group writing or new stuff right now. Me, Rob, and Phil are just writing on own but we never start the whole writing process until we know the whole touring cycle is done then we get back into the studio and constructing things together.

AAM. How do you rate your live performance ability?

 Dave: We’re not afraid to play before or after anybody. For us we’ve been through and toured with some of the best metal bands around we’ve opened for Pantera and played with Metallica so whenever we go out we go with a mindset we go out there to win over their fans. If someone opens for us that just gives us that determination to outdo them so we consider ourselves one of the best live bands out there.

AAM. What has not been said your latest album?

 Dave: hmmm I don’t know we’ve had great reviews for the record and people love it. I guess that’s a hard question to answer.

AAM. What are your upcoming tour plans?

 Dave: Upcoming stuff is that we’re going out in May and doing a week in Europe with Metallica then afterwards we’re going back to the states and then a couple of weeks later returning to Europe to do all of the festivals out there. Then come back and go back out in the fall and then see what happens.

AAM You guys have toured a lot but is there a spot you guys haven’t set foot in?

 Dave: It’s getting easier to go to places that bands 10 years ago haven’t been to and we’ve done so many places but one place we haven’t gone to yet is Mexico and Mexico City, China, Philippines and there are a ton of other places we haven’t gone too and it’s hard to find a promoter in those places but a lot of times it’s not really that easy. We’ll see what happens with the touring cycle and see where we’ll end up next and get our music out there and heard.

AAM What else can we expect from you guys in 2012?

 Dave: Just a whole lot of touring, we’re pretty early into the tour cycle and our last album’s touring cycle went on for about 3 years and we’re not sure how long this one will go but there’s always going back to certain places 2 to 3 times. So we got more to come going back to Japan and Australia and the states again just tour everywhere and anywhere.

AAM Anything else you’d like to say?

 Dave: Not really, check out our new record if you haven’t already and we’ll see you on tour.

Lit Soul, known for their substantial views on life and politics, and belief in a better world, have recently reformed and are already making a mark in 2012. Mark II that is. Rob Chevelle, creator and founder of Lit Soul, has joined forces with Joe Dagilus, Brian Sowers and Joey Petro to form a brand new, heavier, line-up.  I caught up with Rob Chevelle, and lead guitarist Joe Dagilus to talk about what brought them all together, how their direction has changed, and what their future holds.

All Access Magazine (AAM): Hi, I’m Alison “MetalBabe” Cohen and I’m here with Rob Chevelle and Joe Dagilus from Lit Soul. Lit Soul has a lot of exciting things in the works, from a brand new line-up, to shows all over town, new songs, and more. First of all, Rob, what made you decide to change your line-up at this time?

Rob Chevelle: I was with the other guys for about three years, we accomplished a lot, and I think it was time for a change. Those guys were “hired guns,” and there was a limit on what we could do. Kudos to those guys, I love them all…but it was time to move on. I’m really happy about this new line-up. It’s gone from 1.0 to 5.0 in my opinion.

AAM:  Awesome. And Joe is your new lead guitarist. I know that you and Joe have known each other for quite some time, but never played in a band together before. Was Joe your first choice as a new guitarist?

Rob: Yeah. Absolutely. I’ve known Joe for a good four years. I saw his band play one night at a Club Vodka show at the Knitting Factory.  I liked his style, his playing, the tone of his equipment… He had Pro gear. He just looked cool and he caught my attention. After the show I saw him at the bar with a lady and bought him a drink, and we’ve been friends ever since. And here we are years later. It just worked out.

AAM: Joe, what made you decide to join the band at this time? Is this something you had ever thought about before? 

Joe Dagilus: I caught a show down at Swing House Studios… I’d seen Lit Soul a ton of times before, but at this show Rob had really come into his own as a musician, and as a frontman. So I was like, yeah, this guy’s ready to throw down. I’m gonna give him a call and see what’s up. And then he just happened to text me and asked if I’d ever think about joining Lit Soul. I was like yeah, I was just about to ask you the same thing. So he came over that night, we hung out, and we decided to do it.

AAM: So timing was perfect?

Rob: Unbelievable timing. Absolutely perfect. I actually got a call from a ‘management-type person’ and he was talking to me about my situation, and the ‘hired guns’ and he said, why don’t you just get a new band. It’s hard because of the quality of guys that you want, and to mix, and everything that needs to happen in a band. You can’t pay for that. But this just all kind of came together. We all hang together, we write together, party together. It’s kind of like being a kid again. It’s almost like a gang.   Metal Babe: Yeah. And that’s something that you’ve never had. You’ve always written the songs yourself before this?

Rob: Yeah. At least 90%. It’s so refreshing to have that drive from other people. This guy’s (Joe) is a songwriter and a half too. We’ve cut up things in even Lit Soul songs. Let’s change this, that, there… From other people it can come across sometimes, as like what? But from him it makes sense. It just seems to fit.

AAM: Now let’s talk about the other two members of your band. Your drummer, Brian Sowers, used to be in a band with you Joe called Krome?

Joe: Yep. That’s right. Brian was kind of a package deal. I’ve been playing with Brian for 10 years. Brian’s my boy. Him and I have been through a lot together. We just happened to have a rehearsal with my other band, Sara Kill  when Rob text me. I was already with Brian, and I said, I’ll come as long as Brian can come along with me. I didn’t realize the reaction that I was going to get. But Rob was like…

Rob: Package deal! I was like, first I need a lead guitarist, and now I need a new drummer. Ty Dennis is great guy, who played with a lot of people that I respect. Brian is just a different style.  Joe said it was a package deal. So it kinda killed two birds with one stone.

Joe: Brian’s better. Brian’s way better. He’s a lot heavier drummer. He’s more aggressive. He’s more into the double-kicks. He’s got chops of steel. He’s a hard rock metal guy from way back. We have the same influences. We grew up on the same stuff. He knows what I’m going to do before I do it. And vice Versa.

Rob: He’s also part of the creative process as well, as far as the songs go. He’s a drummer that gets involved.

AAM: That’s awesome. How did your bass player, Joey Petro, fall into place? I’ve known Joey for a long time, and I’m excited that he’s in your band now.

Rob: Oh man. I’ve known Joey for a long time too. Ten years. And to make a long story short, we’ve tried to do something musically three times prior. And it just didn’t totally work out with scheduling, gelling of band members, or whatever He’s happy. I’m happy. Everybody else is happy. He brings a lot to the table. Everyone in this band has their shit together. They are professionals. They know their instruments. They know what to do. It’s just really, really cool.

Joe: Joey is the Thunder God. He really brings it with the bass. No question.

AAM: So Rob, how do you think the sound of Lit Soul has changed with this new line-up?

Rob: It’s definitely heavier. The original line-up, Mark, I was more heavy blues rock, which is very cool, and all part of me. In my opinion Joe is up there with Ozzy, Pantera, Corrosion of Conformity, and bands like that. He’s more ‘crunchier.’ Same with Brian on drums. And, again, he brings it from 1.0 to 5.0 It’s just more of a full sound.

Joe: It’s definitely more aggressive. Heavier. For lack of a better term, it was kind of a “Clash vibe” before. I wanted to make it more aggressive, more right-handed, tighter, more intense, more balls, more in-your-face…

AAM: Tell me about your new song “Fight.” Joe brought in the music, and Rob, you wrote the lyrics?

Rob: Yeah. Joe and Brian both did the music, and I put down the lyrics and melody. It is definitely a politically based song. We played “Fight” for the first time on the Queen Mary (March 10th, 2012) and I think it went over really well. It’s an aggressive, fun song to play live.

AAM : And now, the Queen Mary show was the first show with the new line-up, How did that go?

Rob: It was crazy mayhem! For people that were there, you’d understand. What I had envisioned was like a ballroom, very majestic, chandeliers… But it was a very different scene. There were a lot of people on there, a lot of people partying, they had all these stages…It was crazy.

Joe: It was chaotic. Eight stages. 12,000 people. You gotta haul your gear through here. Over there. Go under the ship. Take two elevators to get to the right level.

AAM: But all day is a different story.

Joe: Yeah. I like a singer that can sing. You know. We definitely stood out like a sore thumb. (laughs) The band before us played “Reigning Blood” by Slayer, which was awesome. I loved it. But we’re a lot different than that. More hard rock based, as compared to screaming in key.

Metal Babe: So, Rob, ultimately, what are your goals for Lit Soul Mark II?

Rob: Right now we’re just moving forward. Looking up. The eye’s on the mountain. We wanna play all the main clubs, and good venues in Southern California, and maybe expand out from there. I’d love to do some out of town shows on the weekends. We gotta get out there. We need to show the new line-up to our fan base that we already have out there. So far it has been extremely smooth, and fun… I have no doubt it’s going to roll forward.

AAM: Awesome. And you have several shows already lined up. You’re next one is at the House of Blues in Hollywood May 14th with Mr. Crowley and Steel Panther, and you are actually playing my 1st official event, Metal Babe MAYhem on May 19th, plus a couple more dates at Malone’s.

Rob: Yeah. It’s great to be playing out more often. There’s a really good ticket deal on the House of blues show. Tickets are $5 through the band and they’re $17 at the door. You can check out www.litsoul.com or www.facebook.com/litsoulband

AAM:  Way cool. Also, anyone reading this can contact me for $5 tickets or to be on the $5 list. Is there anything else you would like to say to your fans?

Rob:  Come out and rock. Check out the new Lit Soul Mark II. I hope to see you there!

Please visit www.litsoul.com and http://www.facebook.com/LITSOULBAND for more information on Lit Soul. And, if you’re in the Los Angeles area, make sure to catch them at one (or all) of the following shows:

Monday, May 14th – House of Blues Hollywood with Mr. Crowley and Steel Panther Saturday, May 19th – Metal Babe MAYhem (Details coming soon.) Friday, June 29th – Malone’s with Stonebreed Saturday, August 18th – Malone’s with L.A. Guns

Also, you can view this interview live on YouTube heret:

Keep Rockin’

Alison “MetalBabe” Cohen
www.metalbabemayhem.com
blog.metalbabemayhem.com
www.facebook.com/metalbabeproductions

New Blues Revolution ( I to r, Chap Cooper and Bill Grisolia ) play the House of Blues/L.A. on April 28.

Nominated for Musical Group of the Year by the L.A. Music Awards, the New Blues Revolution continues a long winning streak in 2012.   The band previously Hosted the Red Carpet for the awards show.  The band leads the vanguard of the new blues movement in the U.S.  Akin to the boom in the British Blues in the 1960’s, they work to broaden, deepen and contemporize the blues.1

All Access Magazine (AAM) recently spoke with band members Bill Grisolia (BG) and Chap Cooper (CC).

AAM: How did you come about choosing the band name New Blues Revolution (NBR)?

BG:  Our name comes from our goal to contribute musically to what is happening currently in the blues. We researched our favorites like the Black Keys, Joe Bonamassa, Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi, and John Mayer and found a movement in music called the New Blues.  A new genre!  We love this music.  When we found this movement on Wikipedia, we knew we wanted to be a part of it, as they say, “….the contemporised form of the deep blues…. akin to the British blues boom of the mid 1960s”.  When they called the movement a revolution, we had to agree.  That is why we adopted the name, the New Blues Revolution.  We acknowledge and honor the past and try to expand its musical and lyrical boundaries.  We feel the name successfully conveys both elements. CC: We had been writing together for years with a strong Blues influence before we decided to jump in all the way. Once we started defining our goals and influences, we agreed that the British-influenced blues of the 60′s in combination with traditional blues  forms would become our sole focus. As Bill mentions we came across this movement in England and decided to grab the torch an run with it. The revolution part of the name is all about our tribute and contribution to the blues genre of which we deeply embrace.

AAM: Who are the band members in NBR along with their respective instruments?

Bill Grisolia – Vocals, Piano;  Chap Cooper -All Guitars;  Barry Hayman – Bass;  Phil Hardy- Drums

AAM: How does NBR hope to impact the Blues community?

BG:  We want to bring our artistry and experience to the blues community and embrace and contribute to the rich tradition of the blues.  We wish to help re-vitalize, re-invigorate and re-invent the blues and make new friends world-wide.  The New Blues Revolution helps lead the vanguard of the New Blues here in the United States.

CC: To me the Blues has some very key colors to its palette, we hope to add or contribute to the addition of one more.

AAM: It’s all about the songs with a band. What are some of NBR’s best tunes?

BG: NBR has more than one arrow in our quiver!  You will hear elements of many popular musics in our songwriting notably, pop and rock.  But you will also hear swamp, porch, (“The Big House”, “Sway”) guitar instrumentals (“Pink 7”) and rave-ups (“Let Me Go,” “Lately”).  Some deep blues like “Whiskytown” or the new “99” may be surprising.  For a blues treatise on life, try “Blue Café”.  Or try the funky, “Blue Revolution” for all of you in the 99%.

CC: I agree, its all about the songs. On our last album we tried to create a journey as “one song” with the individual tunes akin to chapters in a book. Each chapter means a lot to us and they are meant to connect yet be very different at times.  It’s about the journey. AAM:  Who are some of NBR musical influences?

BG: Led Zeppelin, Howlin’ Wolf, Rolling Stones, Jeff Beck, Willie Dixon, Ben Folds, Elton John, Billy Joel

CC:The British invasion for starters, then Howlin Wolf, Willie Dixon, Muddy Waters, Screamin Jay Hawkins, Bo Diddley, Lightnin Hopkins, John Lee Hooker, Clarence ” Gatemouth” Brown ( spent a whole day with him once ) and then to todays players like –  Duke Robillard , Ronnie Earl, Hubert Sumlin and Robben Ford.

AAM: Congratulations on the band’s Los Angeles Music Awards 2012 nomination for “Musical Group of the Year.” How did that happen?

BG: Barnstorming live performances across the Southland and in the Midwest and Europe.  100 dates and 6 festivals last year.  Relentless touring; high-energy performances…and naps.

CC:Yes, lots of naps…

AAM:  NBR has a show coming up at the House of Blues on April 28. Is this the best room in Southern California for a Blues group to play at?

BG: As House of Blues Artists, we are biased.   We loved performing i8n the Main Room with Dan Navarro & the late, Eric Lowen.  We also enjoyed playing with Blood, Sweat & Tears at their Downtown Disneyland location – they perfected their technical and production chops by the time they got to that one – the L.A. room was number 3 in the chain.  It will always have special significance to the blues scene in L.A.!  For a nightclub/concert hall, nothing says “Blues” like the “House of Blues” – and you can quote me!

CC: There is a great vibe there – it’s like the ultimate kennel for Blues Hounds.

AAM:  Going forward and looking down the road, where do you hope for NBR to be at in, say, five years from now?

BG: Nominated/winning the Best Blues Album Grammy.  More festival, concert, nightclub work here and abroad.  Suing for peace.  Reading a book about Chap’s dog, Ziggy.

CC: Completing a few movie sound tracks for the Weinstein Brothers, recording and performing in more far off lands and gently evolving. www.newbluesrevolution.com                         https://www.facebook.com/TheNewBluesRevolution

For more information about the new blues genre please go to  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_blues

Blasting onto the scene in 1986, Prong quickly attracted the attention of Epic Records after the release of Primitive Origins and Force Fed. Signed to a major record deal just 3 years after forming, Prong disbanded just eleven years later after the Rude Awakening tour. Reforming in 2002, they have now released a new cd, “Carved Into Stone” and are set to tour the United States.

I had a chance to talk with the man that icons like Trent Reznor and Korn’s Jonathan Davis cite as a major influence to their musical style and bands like Danzig and Ministry have tapped as a guitarist and bassist. Lead singer, bassist, guitarist, front man, lyricist and vocalist- Victor has been all over the melodic monopoly board, and managed to land back square center. Luckily we were there to bend his ear and learn that if “you want the good life , you break your back

you snap your fingers, you snap your neck.”

Prong – Tommy Victor

Interview by Kim Thore

All Access Magazine (AAM): For those who are new to Prong, can you give us a bit of your history?

TV: Well, I was from NY City originally, played bass originally in bands in high school… and eventually I got the itch and I wanted to try and make a career of it. I had a couple of bands that failed but then I got a job at CBGB’s where I had been hanging out since I was 15. I met the doorman Mike Kirkland and we just started jamming and 2 years later we had 2 indie records out and then we got a major record label deal. I’ve been doing it ever since. I never ever thought I would ever, ever get a record deal. At first I thought I might get a job as a studio musician, I didn’t know what the hell I was doing really- but one thing led to another and I got lucky.

AAM: So it sounds like you lived the right place/right time analogy?

TV: Yeah definitely… I had to sacrifice too..living on the Lower East Side, with rats chasing you, living in crappy conditions for years..now I live in LA and things never change..I’m still being chased by rats (laughing)- I’m kidding..

AAM: Well rat chasing can give you an extra edge.

TV: Yeah that’s true it’s all about getting that edge to quote Tony Robbins!

AAM; You’ve been cited by Trent Reznor, Korn and other major acts as being not  just an influence but a major influence..so I am curious- who has influenced you over the course of your career?

TV: Jaz Coleman from Killing Joke comes instantly to mind. He was perhaps my biggest influence as a singer and guitarist, as a song writer too. There are other classic guys I like –you can’t deny James Hetfield from Metallica, as far a rhythm guitar players and singers go-he’s one of my favorites of all time. So I would say it’s a cross between those two guys.

AAM: You play bass and guitar. Not every bassist does that and not every guitarist does that. So I’m curious how does one affect the other in your overall playing? Do you feel like it makes you more well-rounded? Is there a way you feed off of that somehow?

TV: That’s a great question- I don’t think I have ever been asked that before. I started out playing bass and I was always attracted to the simplicity of that. Four strings, and I knew how hard it was to actually keep things simple. I remember reading an article in Guitar Player with Carol Kaye, who is a great studio musician and she was quoted as saying “keep it simple”… if  you’re going to play bass don’t go too crazy” and I think that applies to Prong… eventually down the line- we try to keep it as basic as possible with interesting riffs and creating a little style within that, we try to keep away from a lot of the excesses you know? Like extended solos, too crazy arrangements , but we try to keep it interesting at the same time.  I keep things simple as far as my gear goes and try to get the point across with the least amount of excess.

AAM: Speaking of which, Pinch Harmonics is one of things you have been known for which adds texture without overly complicating things… now that Prong is getting ready to tour, tell us about your rig- what are you using as amps and axes?

TV: Right now for live shows I am using transistor heads, which I consistently use-right now I have a discontinued Crate VTX350H transistor head, I use these old beat up Krank cabinets that Dimebag Darrell gave to me before he passed, I have a very basic pedal board, with a Dunlop Wah, MXR Chorus, some Digitech Digital Delay, an ISP gate and that’s pretty much it. I use an EQ pedal to hit on when I do solos to create feedback. For the studio, I use a tube amp, which is an EVH 5150, along with the Krank head and an old Marshall, my old Valve State Marshall 8100, which I used in the past on “Cleansing” and on “Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck” . It’s really basic.

AAM: Are you playing Gibsons for this tour?

TV: I’ve been using Schecters for a while… they’ve been really supportive because I need an arsenal for different tunings… and for other projects. I’m using a discontinued double cutaway model. Actually my Gibson SG got stolen and I never replaced it. My Schecters are very solid.

AAM: You’ve had an interesting career path  you moved fairly quickly from Prong to Danzig, Ministry, you’ve done session work… you’ve moved from vocalist to guitarist…what did you learn from these experiences?

TV: It’s hard to decide exactly what I learned…as you move on you do learn. Playing with Glen, it forced me to focus on my solo chops more… for years the amount of solos in Prong were diminishing to almost nothing, so it felt like it was a dead element in rock music, but that’s not true. In Danzig, I had to learn John Christ’s solos and with Ministry, that helped my right hand movement and kept me active. I’m not the kind of guy who has ever been inclined to run sweeps, I find practicing really boring..I have to have some kind of leverage to pick up the guitar. Whether it’s writing songs or getting ready for a gig, I practice by working.

AAM: I was recently listening to “One More Outnumbered”, “Broken Peace”, and “Controller”.. Prong and you have long been associated with the industrial metal scene, yet it seems that Prong is a bit more organic and less dependent on sequencers and midi, so what do you think contributed to that association overall? I can see why in some ways, but I’m curious what you think causes the ongoing association?

TV: I think that started with the “Cleansing” album. There was a lot of thrash metal bands, or hard core bands at that time. I saw the way things were technically moving which was different than the strict thrash. We had to set ourselves apart a little bit. It was this stripped down attitude… very stark, hard beats, rather than the whole technical side of things. Adding a sampler and throwing a couple of sounds in here and there, throwing that in added to the mix… back in the day not many people were doing that –we were able to set ourselves apart a little bit which is probably how that moniker came into play a little bit. We were really only interested in writing rock and roll songs really. It’s all about the song regardless of what the production identities are. You can have a great thrash song, a great industrial metal song, I guess it has a lot to do with the treatment of the beats… a steady beat instead of a lot of complex changes which were going on at the time in traditional thrash metal.

AAM: You’ve always had an open style of playing which may have played into the association?

TV: The hard chunky rhythms too, I got into electronic music a really long time ago… and when you hit the key board and have a sample guitar sound… it just had that really sharp attack and the sharp bending, like the decay was non-existent. I always thought that would be cool to incorporate that into metal and still have a distorted sound… like a hard gating aspect. It was something I got involved in based upon the music I was listening to… I try to recreate that sound with the guitar and gate.

AAM: Tell our readers about the new tour and new album.

TV: Well in the UK, we are doing the whole “Beg to Differ” record from start to finish, along with new stuff and some of classics off of “Cleansing”. We have a new video coming out for “Revenge… Best Served Cold” and we go out on the road in April with Crowbar in support of “Carved Into Stone” so look for the dates on our FB page.

AAM: So finally, Tommy after this many years in the business what advice would you give others?

TV: I think you have to stay positive. I’ve gone through periods in my life where I have been negative. It’s a big waste of time… try to get through the bad times in life with a little bit of faith and keep plugging at it… there’s a big duality out there… don’t expect everything to be fantastic.. From my own career, we got a major record deal and then things got difficult after that. So, never reach the point where you are completely satisfied…when you get satisfied you get lazy.

AAM: Tommy thanks for your time and good luck on the tour and with the new album.

TV: Thank you very much Kim.

For more info on Prong go to www.prongmusic.com or on Facebook: www.facebook.com/prong 

Prong Tour Dates:

3/22: Los Angeles, CA @ The Viper Room
3/23: Las Vegas, NV @LVCS
3/24: Tempe, AZ @ The Clubhouse
3/25: Fresno, CA @ Starline
3/26: Fullerton, CA @ Slidebar (with Testament)

With Crowbar and Witchburn:

4/5: Dallas, TX @ Trees
4/6: Houston, TX @ Scout Bar
4/8: El Paso, TX @ House of Rock
4/11: Hollywood, CA @ The Whisky
4/13: Gallup, NM @ Slopshot Billiards
4/14: Denver, CO @ Marquis Theater
4/16: St. Louis, MO @ Fubar
4/17: St. Paul, MN @ Station 4
4/18: Cleveland, OH @ Peabody’s
4/19: Louisville, KY @ Phoenix Hill Tavern
4/20: Chicago, IL @ Cobra Lounge
4/21: Detroit, MI @ Harpo’s