The guys behind this constellation probably don’t need an introduction, after all we are speaking about a legendary vocalist whose voice graced three releases by Fates Warning during the eighties, as well as a guitarist who is still the brainchild of the same band. As I have had the opportunity to speak to John Arch before, and loved the last Fates Warning-album just as much as this new opus by Arch/Matheos, I said yes when the chance to chat with Jim Matheos appeared.
While their new, and fifth studio album “Zenith”, are being received with what seems to be mixed emotions, I found myself enjoying the diversity of it a lot and got in contact with Olof Wikstrand for what I think is my fourth chat with the band. The last interview we did, can be read here, and looking at it, it’s already been four years since “From Beyond” came out. What does Olof think of the album when he looks back at it today?
Sometimes it’s really fascinating how fast things are happening. Towards the end of the last month of 2018, the digital version of Sabïre’s debut mini album was published on Bandcamp. Since then, the band has established contact with labels who will make sure the musis is also available on all physical formats. A slot at this year’s edition of the prestigous Keep It True-festival was secured just a matter of days after the music was out there, and only a couple of days after this interview was done, further gigs in both Sweden and the UK were announced. Metal Squadron got in contact with Scarlett Monastyrski to get more information on the band. Continue reading
I never used the opportunity to speak with Witherfall in the wake of their self released debut album, “Nocturnes And Requiems”, neither did I bite when Century Media re-released the same product a bit later, but when the follow up, “A Prelude To Sorrow” was ready, in November last year, I finally got a chance to speak to the band. Usually it’s just one guy you get at the other end, but this time, both guitarist Jake Dreyer as well as singer Joseph Michaels contributed to this interview. Continue reading
I did a huge feature on Mausoleum Gate a while ago, and now it’s time to get to know Iron Griffin a little better. Iron Griffin is the solo project from Oskari Räsänen, the drummer from Mausoleum Gate. The new album, “Curse Of The Sky” is soon to be released.
When you get a chance to speak to someone like Mike Howe, you simply don’t say no. His vocals on the three Metal Church albums from the eighties and early nineties are a huge part of my youth, and represented some sort of musikal awakening. Continue reading
“The Poisoner” is here, the follow up to the highly acclaimed “A Funeral For The World”, and it’s pretty natural to get in contact with the New York-based trio for a chat about the past as well as the new offering. All members of the band, Jeremy (guitar), Erica (vocals and bass) and Nathan (drums) that is, contributed to this feature. Continue reading
It’s still early days of course, but it will definitely be a good year for heavy metal if the new album from Germany’s Metal Inquistior doesn’t end up in my personal top ten list in December. “Panopticon” is the band’s best output since the modern day classic “Doomdsday For The Heretic”, packed with excellent songs delivered with real class. While Blumi (guitars) has always been the main songwriter in the band, and the natural guy to speak to, like we did here, the other guitarist T.P. has challenged Blumi as the main songwriter this time around. Continue reading
Traveler was featured here at Metal Squadron less than a year ago when their superb demo was released. Things have happened really fast for Matt Ries and Jean-Pierre Abboud since they recorded the demo tunes. A record deal is in place, the lineup completed and the band is already confirmed for some prestigous underground fests. Have Matt simply followed along with all the stuff happening to the band, or has he had to put on the brakes somewhere in the process? Continue reading
With the stellar first full length, “Illusions In Infinite Void”, Sacral Rage from Athens, Greece showed that they can provide competition for absolutely everyone out there. Their brand new album, “Beyond Celestial Echoes” is more or less of thee same sky high quality, and I needed to get in contact with singer Dimitris K. once again. I take for granted that you still have strong feeling for “Illusions In Infinite Void”, but do you sometimes go back and listen to your first EP, “Deadly Bits of Iron Fragments” as well? Continue reading
A lot has already been said about the Fifth Angel comeback album, “The Third Secret”. While I don’t share the view of the most euphoric ones out there speaking about album of the year, the Americans have produced a decent comeback album for sure. I got on the phone with bass player John Macko for a chat about the past, present and future.
This interview was conducted quite some time ago, but along with a couple of others it was never published. My apologies go out to Solstice, and especially Paul Kearns who was very enthusiastic and entertaining, even though he was heading off at 6 o clock in the morning to work on the Primordial-tour, selling merchandise. Continue reading
