Interviews


Metal Nexus Interview With Shaun Katz, Director of Underground, Inc.: The Unsung Story of Alternative Rock

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In our continued support of Underground, Inc., we were given the unique opportunity to interview this documentary’s director and award-winning producer, Mr. Shaun Katz!  For a taste of what has us all up-in-arms, read our queries and thoughtful insights of Katz’s genius laden with an undying passion for the musical underground that started in the 90’s and continues today.  Since first hearing of this huge undertaking, I have become more and more excited about finally having the opportunity to see what years of effort will bring to fruition about the very roots of the Modern Alternative Underground as seen from the inside, looking out!  Interviews and behind the scenes footage include Ministry, Helmet, White Zombie, Stone Sour, Bad Religion, Primus, Queens of the Stone Age, Clutch, Bad Religion, Sepultura, Red Fang and much more.  We would sincerely like to thank Shaun for his time and insights as we prepare for what is likely to become the biggest music-based documentary of this generation.  Highly inspired material!

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Interview With Starbynary Founder and Vocalist, Joe Caggianelli!

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Starbynary is:

Joe Caggianelli – Vocals
Leo Giraldi – Guitars
Luigi Accardo – Keyboards
Andrea Janko – Drums
Sebastiano Zanotto – Bass

Starbynary is an absolutely amazing heavy, Progressive Power Metal band from Trieste / Milano, Italy. Started by friends, vocalist Joe Caggianelli and guitarist/composter Leo Giraldi in September of 2012, Starbynary was the result of a project idea after Joe left his former band Derdian. With the addition of Luigi Accardo on the keys and taking a collaborative effort with Mike LePond (Symphony X bass player), Starbynary released their full-length debut, Dark Passenger in 2014 before completing the existing lineup with drummer Andrea Janko and permanent bass player Sebastiano Zanotto in 2015. At this point, Caggianelli pitched a fifteen year old idea about a trilogy of concept albums based on Dante’s Divina Commedia and the band got to work and ultimately released the first of the series, Inferno a little over a month ago. I have to say that this huge undertaking is off to one helluva great start! Everything about Inferno has been done tastefully, professionally with mind-boggling musicianship. A real stunner. Once you read what Joe has to say, be sure to check it out on Spotify, iTunes, Amazon or wherever you get your musical fix. Well worth the time! Continue reading →

Interview With Shred Extraordinaire, Tara Lynch!

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Tara Lynch (all lead/rhythm guitars, bass)
Mark Boals – Vocals
Bjorn Englen – Bass
Derek Sherinian – Keyboards
Brian Tichy – Drums
Glen Sobel – Drums

Evil Enough to be released in 2017 on Tarasuz Records

Artists on Evil Enough:

Vinny Appice – Drums

Dio, Black Sabbath, Heaven and Hell, Kill Devil Hill, Last In Line

Mark Boals – Vocals

Yngwie Malmsteen, Uli Jon Roth, Dokken, Dio Disciples, Raiding the Rock Vault

Björn Englen – Bass

Yngwie Malmsteen, Tony MacAlpine, Soul Sign, Dio Disciples

Tony MacAlpine – Keyboards

Tony MacAlpine, Planet X, CAB

Derek Sherinian – Keyboards

Dream Theater, KISS, Yngwie Malmsteen, Black Country Communion, Billy Idol

Glen Sobel – Drums

Alice Cooper, Paul Gilbert, Tony MacAlpine, Uli Jon Roth, Hollywood Vampires

Phil Soussan – Bass

Ozzy Osbourne, Billy Idol, Last In Line

Brian Tichy – Drums

Whitesnake, Billy Idol, Foreigner, Ozzy Osbourne

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The Seven Kingdoms Interview

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Seven Kingdoms is:

Sabrina Valentine – Vocals

Camden Cruz – Guitar

Kevin Byrd – Guitar

Keith Byrd – Drums

Aaron Sluss – Bass

It is no secret that I am a HUGE fan of Seven Kingdoms!  Their brand of Power Metal is among the most polished and technically stunning from anywhere in the world, bar none!  The icing on the cake for me is that they call my state of Florida home.  After listening to them for years, seeing and reviewing their show in Orlando a couple months ago and reviewing “Decennium” that was released just over a month ago, I jumped at the opportunity to interview them when offered.  Big thanks to Jon Freeman for this one!

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Interview with SKY KATZ (America’s Got Talent) & UNLOCKING THE TRUTH [Song Stream]

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This month we have been showcasing artists from the state of New York in our State Of The Art Series, and this just so happens to be a two for one in regards to amazing New York based artists. America’s Got Talent Season 11 star Sky Katz has teamed up with Heavy Metal band Unlocking the Truth for intense new single “Rockstar”. We have seen it before when metal and hip hop team up with various examples like, Helmet and House of Pain, Jay Z and Linkin Park, Public Enemy and Anthrax, to Ice T and Slayer. In the metal world collaborations aren’t as common as they are in hip hop, pop or more mainstream music. Both Sky Katz and Unlocking The Truth have reached successful levels with their music at a very young age. Sky was recently on America’s Got Talent and made it through the first round and received overwhelming applause for her performance. Unlocking The Truth went from making viral videos on the streets in Times Square to opening up for veteran acts like Metallica and Guns N Roses. Both of these artists have made a name for themselves based solely on their talents. I can attest that Unlocking The Truth is the real deal, after seeing them live at 2016’s Carolina Rebellion Festival they put on one of the best performances of the weekend. This collaboration truly appeals to both the hip hop and metal communities. We felt that this song has great staying power and wanted to get more details on how the collaboration came about and how the artists were able to bring out the best in one another. We spoke with both Sky Katz, and members of Unlocking The Truth to get the lowdown about the formation of this super-collab that produced the song “Rockstar”.  Continue reading →

Interview With Skeletoon’s Tomi Fooler!

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My boyz in Skeletoon are:

Mr. Tomi Fooler – Vocals
Charlie “Roxy” Dho – Bass Guitar
Henry “Sydoz” Sidoti – Drums
Andy “K” Cappellari – Lead Guitar
Fab “BLACKIE” Taricco – Rhythm Guitar

Alright. If you are not familiar with Skeletoon, you are in for a real treat! Founded by Tomi Fooler in 2011 in Italy as a Helloween cover band, these guys decided to start writing their own material based on old-school Power Metal, but done a bit heavier and faster than traditionalist are used to. I can hear the gears grinding to a halt in your head. Great… Been there, done that, right? Well, here’s the kicker: these guys have a devious sense of humor and usually deals with stuff that is normally not a laughing matter. PC making you crazy (yeah, me too!)? Skeletoon have got you covered! Picky as I am about Power Metal? They more than have you covered on that front as well! This is seriously good Power and shows not one single chink in their musical armor. Terming their brand of Metal as Geek or Happy Metal, they already have one killer release under their belts, entitled The Curse of the Avenger (watch for references from Dr. Who, 80’s video games and superhero movies and television shows from the past) from 2015 (kick-ass album!) and are just a few days away from releasing Ticking Clock on March 3rd! Think nerdy Steel Panther without all the sexual overture set to brilliantly done Power Metal. Not quite visualizing this yet? Well, go check out their music. You will absolutely thank me for this one! Until then, check out what Tomi Fooloer had to say to our queries! (Be sure to check out their latest video when you finish with the interview as well!!!)

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Interview With Seventh Calling Vocalist/Guitarist: Steve Handel

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Seventh Calling is:

Steve Handel – Lead Vocals/Lead/Rhythm Guitars
Mike ‘BassWalker‘ Walters – Bass Guitars/Backing Vocals

Chad Pliska – Drums/Percussion/Backing Vocals

Hailing from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Seventh Calling is a Hard Rock/Metal outfit that has been dishing out their signature brand of music since their debut album, Monuments in 2007 on Melissa Records. Tinged with the old-school influences of Thrash and Traditional Metal, they are equally noted as having one of the best stage shows around which has continued their success with Prelude of Madness (2009 – Heaven and Hell Records), Epidemic (2010 – Heaven and Hell Records) and last years killer independent release of Battle Call. Thanks to Online Metal Promo, we are thrilled to have the opportunity to interview vocalist and guitarist Steve Handel! Please sit back and enjoy what this long standing Metaller has to say!

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The Underground, Inc. Documentary Presents: An Interview With Failure Drummer Kellii Scott!

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Inspired by the underground music of the 90’s, award winning Australian Director/Producer Shaun Katz (Sleeping in Blood City) has set off on a huge undertaking to document this historic musical era in the upcoming Underground Inc: The Unsung Story Of Alternative Rock. With the help of Co-Editor/Co-Producer and Animator, JB Sapienza, prize winning Editor/Co-Director of the documentary, My Name Is Jonah, regular collaborator, Writer/Producer Adam Lovett (also of Sleeping in Blood City notoriety) and the combined musical genius’ of Grammy nominated Peter Mengede (Helmet, KRS–One, Handsome), Grammy nominated record producer Alex Newport (Mars Volta, Bloc Party, At The Drive–In) and Mark Bardridge covering the documentary scoring have their dreams set on bringing Underground, Inc. to fruition. Interviews on what promises to be one of the most important music documentaries of this decade will include members of Queens Of The Stone Age, Failure, White Zombie, Stone Sour, Primus, Helmet, Bad Religion, Ministry, Quicksand, Jawbox, Filter, A Perfect Circle, Down, Revolting Cocks, Corrosion Of Conformity, Jets To Brazil, Rocket From The Crypt, Clutch, Red Fang, …Trail Of Dead, The Sword, Sugartooth, Steve Albini (producer – Nirvana, Pixies), Matt Wallace (producer – Faith No More, Deftones), Only Living Witness, Alex Newport (producer – At The Drive In, Bloc Party), Public Image Ltd, Sepultura, Agnostic Front, Biohazard, Texas Is The Reason, Killing Joke, Monster Magnet, Handsome, Stegosaurus, Brad, Cop Shoot Cop, Course Of Empire, Fishbone, My Head, Sense Field, Trouble, Downset, My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult, Skrew and many others!

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Grim Reaper’s Steve Grimmett Gives Us Some Of His Thoughts!

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Man! What an honor and a privilege! When I was told that I had the opportunity to interview you, my breath completely failed me. I cannot tell you how much Grim Reaper has meant to me over the years. If you read my review of “Walking in the Shadows” (Grim Reaper), you get a taste of exactly what I mean by this (I wanted to give some insight to our readers on what my long history means with Grim Reaper as perspective for the review). All of your work has been a staple in my listening library for over thirty years now and remains some of my favorite music. As a preamble to the interview, I just want to personally thank you for your gift of music that you share and has had such a profound affect on me. As I stated in the article, Grim Reaper, in many ways, saved my life at the ripe old age of 14. At 47, I simply cannot shake the feelings that your music still invokes. Thank you! You guys and your music means a metric tonne to me! Great to have you on board with us!

Not every day you get to interview a childhood hero!

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