2018 interview

Few bands in metal have been as influential as they are underrated, and near the top of that list is Washington’s Metal Church. Founded initially by guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof in 1980, the band unleashed its eponymous debut record in 1984.…

The metal life has been crazed and hectic for German metal stalwarts, Accept over the last two years. After coming off their stellar Blind Rage album, the band dropped the monster live assault, Restless and Live in 2017. It marked the…

Guitarist and composer, Jason Ashcraft is the creative catalyst for Sacramento-based power metal contingents, Dire Peril and Helion Prime. A fan of science fiction, Ashcraft founded Dire Peril almost a decade ago, and immediately began…

From the moment Mike Lepond (Symphony X, Silent Assassins) told me about THEM, I became intrigued. The band’s debut record, Sweet Hollow hit like a sonic assault of over-the-top metal theatrics, with grandiose vocals, muscular guitars,…

The music scene in Canada has been exploding for years, and the metal community is becoming massive. In the midst of this is Edmonton's old school metallers, Striker. The quintet was formed by vocalist Dan Cleary and guitarist Chris Segger…

This year, as New York's Suffocation marks the start of its fourth decade in extreme death metal, founding vocalist Frank Mullen will Death Chop his way across the country for one final tour with the band. Mullen stopped touring with the…

Hailing out of Newcastle, UK, Dayshifter has been bringing some serious metal to the musical table. Consisting of members: Nathan Dillon (vocals), James Taylor (bass), Tom Simpson (guitar), Anth Dickinson (guitar), and Liam Robson (drums),…

Exhumed was unearthed in the year 1990 in San Diego when forerunner Matt Harvey was just 14. It was started with drummer Col Jones, Pete Rossman on bass, and guitarist Rocky Torrecillas. Channeling the inspiration he found listening to…

In the world of instrumental prog-metal, it seems that there are few who manage to push out a project with an original feel.  There is no shortage of virtuoso guitarists wanking over rhythm tracks that lack creativity and depth. Olivia…

Much like his iconic mentor, Ronnie James Dio, guitarist Craig Goldy has earned his own legendary status over the course of the last 35 years. From his early days with L.A.'s Rough Cutt, to the shooting star that was Giuffria, and…