Interviews

Saros‘ Acrid Plains (Profound Lore, 2009, reviewed here) is one of the most unique metal debuts in a while. It weaves death, black, and prog metal into complex journeys, yet retains the grit of its origins in San Francisco’s metal underground. Vocalist/guitarist Leila Abdul-Rauf’s roots go back further: formal training in school, hardcore bands Sutek […]

Tombs of the Blind DruggedGatefold LP artwork Olly Pearson is a man of few words. He spares his breath for harsh vocals in a band that never intended to rise this far. Moss‘ art is far from accessible. For Pearson and friends, the band is a private avenue of expression. Although Pearson admits Moss’ lack […]

Photo by Jon Kristiansen Greg Anderson isn’t very concerned about entertaining crowds. This is surprising coming from a musician who fronts Sunn O))), a band that strives to capture as much of the live aesthetic as possible. But Anderson and partner Stephen O’Malley would rather make air vibrate than eye contact. As the main man […]

Makh Daniels, Early GravesPhoto by Stacy Schrag In the April ’09 issue of Decibel (#54, Brutal Truth cover, order here), I did a feature on how the recession is affecting touring bands. I sent 20 bands a five-question interview regarding various aspects of band finances. Their responses were remarkably uniform. However, Makh Daniels, vocalist of […]

Dan Lilker is still far away from departure. As grind pioneers Brutal Truth gain momentum once again, the bassist continues to build his extensive track record of time spent with Nuclear Assault and S.O.D., among others. Despite over two decades of nonstop shredding, Lilker finds no better reason for doing what he’s doing other than […]

Aaron Weaver doesn’t want to redefine black metal, nor does he want to preach about sustainable living. But there’s one thing of which the Wolves in the Throne Room drummer is certain: the modern world is losing touch with ancestral spirits. When Weaver isn’t touring or creating materials for another release, he’s working on his […]

Scott “Wino” Weinrich is a true metal legend, having played in The Obsessed, Saint Vitus, Spirit Caravan, Place of Skulls, and The Hidden Hand. Recently I interviewed him for Decibel regarding Shrinebuilder, his supergroup with Scott Kelly (Neurosis), Al Cisneros (Om), and Dale Crover (Melvins). Our conversation wandered to other topics, captured below – motorcycles, […]

by Cosmo Lee Tommy Victor has lived many music industry lifetimes. He was CBGB’s soundman in New York in the late ’80s before starting a hardcore punk band called Prong. Prong turned into technical thrash and signed to Epic, which would cause endless grief for Victor. The band then morphed into industrial metal, peaking with […]

Spreading the disease There are few joys like horse-whipping, double-time, metallic hardcore. When I worked out yesterday, I put on Ringworm‘s Justice Replaced by Revenge (Victory, 2005). I felt like He-Man. Today the band begins a European tour – see dates below, including several US shows afterwards. Recently I dug up an email interview I […]

Photo by Vic “thor da” VikingInterview by Cosmo Lee Averse Sefira are perhaps America’s most potent practitioners of black metal. Their name roughly means “opposing angel”; it comes from the concept of the sephirot in the Kabbalah. This Austin, TX trio, composed of bassist Wrath Sathariel Diabolus, vocalist/guitarist Sanguine Mapsama, and drummer The Carcass, began […]