Tag: Metal

MSBM Interviews: Jack Stanley of Viirtaan Rise

December 17th, 2022

Greetings from Metal Southern Belles Media! You’re just in time for another Metal AF interview. Jack Stanley joins us from the UK to discuss his Power Metal band, Viirtaan Rise. Recently emerging, but rising as fast the sun, there’s something epic on the horizon…

MSBM: Hello, Jack! It’s awesome to have the opportunity to speak with a musician out of the UK! It’s to my understanding that Viirtaan Rise is a new band on the scene. How did you the band get started? Also, how did you get into music yourself?

JS: Hello! Thanks for having me on. It’s an honour to be here with you on Metal Southern Belles Media. Yes, we are a brand-new band on the scene, just released the first single. But more on that later! The idea of starting a Power Metal project has been on my mind for several years now; it was just a case of finding the right time. I met Ryan Thomson (vocalist) via a (yet-to-be-recorded) cover with Marius Danielson (Legend of Valley Doom), and he loved the idea I had of this project set in Viirtaan, filled with lore and power and Metal! So, he came onto the scene in 2021 and we worked sporadically, but over the summer we both realized it was the right time to get this off the ground. So, we knuckled down, and here we are! As for my start in music, when I began secondary school, I started learning the oboe, and playing in local orchestras and windbands. That was my introduction to playing music and enjoying it. I was also a diehard AC/DC fan, and I was always trying to play their songs on my first guitar, so a mixture of guitar-driven Rock and orchestral symphonies is how I got started.

Jack Stanley
(Credit to @elinedrs on Instagram)

MSBM: Fantastic! I was in my high school band as well. But I never pursued music further. Despite of music’s great importance to me, I don’t think I have the musical “vein” like you and Ryan do haha! You two are very talented and I’m eager to hear more from this new band. Now, let’s get into the specific details about this fresh project. Viirtaan Rise is a Power Metal band, as we’ve stated. What drew you to this particular genre? Who influenced you?

JS: Yes, we certainly are. I’ve always loved Power Metal, dating back to Sabaton’s ‘Coat of Arms’ album, when 12-year-old me first discovered Metal. In terms of what drew me to this, I’ve already spoken about being in orchestras all the way through my teenage years, so to a degree the
heavy symphonic stuff felt comfortable to me. As for the Power Metal side, the major key choruses, driving beats, everything that makes it Power Metal, I just identify with!
Talking about influences, I would say Twilight Force and Dragonforce are my two biggest influences. The fast drums and major key chorus’ of Dragonforce mixed with the Disney-esque orchestration and high vocals of Twilight Force are what I think about when I write!

MSBM: Having a background in orchestra and a love for Metal sounds like the perfect combination to create some badass Power Metal! Speaking of Power Metal, what is that scene like in the UK? Does it have a strong presence there?

JS: The Power Metal scene in the UK is thriving! We’ve got bands like Fellowship, Battle Born, Sellsword (and Viirtaan Rise haha), and they’re all killing it at the moment. We’ve also got the Power Metal Quest Fest, which showcases some of the greatest upcoming bands in the UK. It really is a thriving community where everyone just knows everyone. It’s very friendly.

MSBM: That is awesome. I’m glad the genre is alive and well and has a strong sense of community. I feel that Power Metal is more prevalent overseas than in The States, but I can say that the Metal community as a whole is large and flourishing here and beyond. It’s an amazing thing to be a part of. Getting the focus back on your band in particular, what does “Viirtaan Rise” mean exactly?

JS: I wish I had a really great answer to this about Viirtaan rising up and destroying the bad guys. How Power Metal would that be? However, there’s a track on the upcoming record called “Dawn Over Viirtaan Rise” (spoilers haha), it’s just about the sun rising over this magical world
called Viirtaan, and we thought that’s a beautiful way to name the band!

MSBM: “Viirtaan” is such an interesting word, so I had to ask about it! It definitely makes a unique band name, that’s for sure! So, Viirtaan Rise just released a debut single entitled, “Apocalyptic Skies”. What can you tell me about this song?

JS: “Apocalyptic Skies” is a song I wrote about a year ago. It tells the story of a group of knights fleeing the city after they were caught by evil spies. The city is burning to the ground in the enemy’s vain efforts to catch the knights, and the song captures their emotions as they escape and look back towards the smoke. Which may sound a little weird without full
context, but thus is the way of a concept record! The brilliant artwork by Kenji Mishima captures this essence with the knights in blue holding evil
wizards, orcs, and dragons at bay as they burn down the city. We tried to capture the essence of this story in the music as well, particularly in the instrumental sections. Quiet, melancholic solos lead to frenzied chaos to then be somewhat redeemed by the keyboard and guitar solos after. Speaking of keyboard solos, the keys were performed by Johannes Skyblazer, who I’ve known for years now. I regularly get stuck in with his Skyblazer project (which is worth checking out), so it seemed an obvious choice to ask him to help with the keys!

Artwork for Viirtaan Rise’s debut single, “Apocalyptic Skies”.
(Credit to Kenji Mishima)

MSBM: That’s an epic tale! I think the artwork and song itself does capture it quite well. Now, what can be expected since this release?

JS: Well, the next thing on the agenda is to work on a follow up single to be released early next year. However, the plan is to release a full-length album! The whole story of Viirtaan is a concept I wrote, and the songs all
come together to tell the story, like Rhapsody’s ‘Emerald Sword’ saga!

MSBM: Very, very cool! I’m interested in where this auditory tale is going to take us next. It’s definitely going to be epic! When it comes to writing and recording these songs, what is the process like for you?

JS: For me, the songwriting process has been a bit of a learning curve. I have always written my songs in full orchestrated notation, even down to the drum fills. Which as you can imagine takes a very long time… So, I made the move to writing directly in the DAW using plugins. It still takes a long time to track the drums this way, but it’s much easier to write/record and track orchestrated parts, and all the guitars (etc) can also be done
easily. The recording process was fairly simple. I tracked the drums and recorded the bass and my guitars. I then did backing vocals and orchestration. Ryan recorded vocals with me via a zoom session and his guitars himself. Johannes did the keys himself in Sweden and sent them over, and then
Gisha did the mixing and mastering (and additional orchestration) at his
place. Very much an online thing, but that’s the joy of modern
technology; you can do it that way and be fine!

MSBM: Thank you, technology, am I right? Haha! It truly does wonders for musicians like yourself and I’m very appreciative because the more music in the world, the better! As I stated earlier, music is very important to me. So, I really enjoy going to concerts! You’ve obviously played some shows before. But not with Viirtaan Rise just yet, I assume? What do you enjoy the most about performing?

JS: Yes, I’ve played shows a lot haha. Not with VR yet, but I’ll tell you more about that later. My main shows at the moment are when I’m out with the cover band (named ReRun), which are really great fun. We gig across my
home county of Kent, UK. My favourite thing about performing is hard to pin down. I think it’s the feeling of knowing that the band is super tight, and that the people in the audience are getting a kick out of the music. I find that inspires me to put on a show, play as well as I can, and to enjoy it I as much as I can.

MSBM: I feel that indescribable energy, emotion, and connection at concerts is what it’s all about! What is the best concert you’ve ever been to? Is there a particular
moment from it that sticks out to you the most? This can be from a performer’s or a viewer’s perspective, or both!

JS: Oh wow, now I have to think! Can I name a few?

MSBM: Absolutely!

JS: Status Quo at Bluebell Hotel, Burton Agnes in 2015 – Status Quo is one of my all-time favourite bands, and I was on the 3rd row. It was electrifying, but even more special because that’s the last time I saw Rick Parfitt before he passed in 2016. Power Quest Neverworld at the Garage 2019 – the ENTIRE ‘Neverworld’ album, tonnes of special guests, and friends made who I still see and speak to. This will always be a beautiful night in my memory.
Lynyrd Skynyrd Manchester Arena 2019 – When they played “Free Bird”, it was my favourite moment ever, so pure and beautiful even 50 years after it came out. Last one is the entire of Sabaton Open Air 2022. My first time in Sweden and the entire festival changed my entire outlook on life, and really
inspired me to push on and get VR off the ground.

MSBM: Good choices! Since you’ve been so inspired with Viirtaan Rise, where do you see the band being in the next year?

JS: Another great question! In a year’s time, we hope to be able to hit some of the local festival scenes here in the UK! We’ll hopefully have the full
record out, a few covers perhaps, and most importantly, a full line-up. But yes, places like PMQF, potentially small stages at Bloodstock we are hoping to hit, just to get the name out and more widely known. However, the current line-up is me and Ryan, so we will need to hire some more! So, if you are reading this and want to join an upcoming Power Metal outfit, then get in touch!

MSBM: You read that right! Viirtaan Rise is hiring! Get at them if you’re interested! By the way, where can the band be contacted and kept up to date with? And where will all music be available?

JS: In terms of socials, we have Facebook, Instagram, and will soon have (at the time of writing), a YouTube channel too, which we will post about when we make it. We can also be contacted at ViirtaanRise@gmail.com for enquiries. Music will be available on all major streaming platforms and YouTube! Currently “Apocalyptic Skies” is on Spotify, Deezer, Apple Music, and YouTube Music. Thank you very much for having me on for this interview, hopefully if you are reading, then you are inspired to check out Viirtaan Rise! There’s a lot more coming, so stay tuned and watch this space!

Viirtaan Rise’s debut single, “Apocalyptic Skies”.

Follow Viirtaan Rise on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087000184343&mibextid=LQQJ4d

Instagram: https://instagram.com/viirtaanrise?igshid=NDk5N2NlZjQ=

*** Tune in every Friday for a new interview. Interested in an interview for your band? Contact us on Facebook or Instagram! ***
MSBM Interviews: Chris Bell of Perceived

November 25th, 2022

Hello, it’s a pleasure to have you here at Metal Southern Belles Media. We are excited to share another interview with you. Today, we are joined by Chris Bell, drummer and vocalist of the rockin’ three-piece band, Perceived. This trio has some really big things coming your way. Big, like their home state of Texas…

MSBM: Hi, Chris! Let’s talk about you first. How did you get your start as a drummer?

CB: I guess I owe me being a drummer to my parents. Apparently by age two, I was beating on everything in sight, so they bought me a pair of drumsticks. I remember beating on the carpet along to the drummers on MTV. I was in my first band at age 5 called The Tiggers (pronounced “Tigers”) with my friends that lived next door. I played an old tape case for a drum and sang. We did all the instrument sounds with our mouths. In the beginning, I was influenced by the Hair Metal bands in the 80’s and whatever my parents had in their vinyl collection; mostly Beatles, Monkees, and 70’s Rock. That all changed when Nirvana came out. I remember wanting to start my own band for real.

Chris Bell
(Photo by: Director Parada)

MSBM: Wow, you practically came out of the womb rockin’ and rollin’! That’s pretty damn cool. So, from my understanding, your three-piece band was formed by close friends. When did you realize that “musical spark” together?

CB: I met Charlie back in high-school while playing baseball. After the game, he came over to my house and saw an acoustic guitar that I had in the corner of my room. He picked it up and started playing “Come As You Are” by Nirvana and I was blown away. I had written my own music but never played anyone else’s, so I thought it was really cool. He came over the next day and we just started jamming. I was beating on buckets and Charlie was on an acoustic guitar. We’d later call ourselves “Decipher”. That was where it all started. I met Kevin years later after the passing of his first wife. We hung out all night jamming and it just clicked. I was getting an old band back together and we needed a bassist and guitarist, so I reached out to Charlie and Kevin to see if they’d be interested in joining the band. That’s when we first started playing together. That band would break up but Charlie, Kevin, and myself would later start jamming again and that would become Perceived.

MSBM: It sounds like the three of you are simply meant to create and play music together. As you said, the band formed by your trio is called “Perceived”. Which of you came up with that name and does it have a particular meaning as to why it was chosen?

CB: I had been searching for band names for about two weeks and every name I came up with that I liked, someone else already had it. So, when I came up with Perceived and nobody had it, I reached out to the guys to see what they thought. They hated it. Kevin actually said, “Name one other good band that begins with the letter P”. To which I responded, “Pantera, Pink Floyd, Primus” and we had a good laugh. The name eventually grew on them and I’m glad it did. It really fits our sound well, I think.

MSBM: Well, that’s a unique story! I’m glad the name caught on and your music meshed with it! Speaking of music, the band’s first EP was released in 2020. Can you talk a little bit about it’s creation?

CB: Yes, and we’re very excited. We have finished the writing process for the next album and we’re planning on beginning pre-production after the holidays. Once that’s completed, we’ll be hitting the studio and hope to have a full length record finished sometime next year.

MSBM: Fantastic! How would you say the new music differs from previous releases? Are there different influences and circumstances playing into it?

CB: I think the new material is just our natural progression as a band. There’s some heavier songs as well as some softer songs on this one. We still have those peaks and valleys in our music. If you’ve been to our live shows recently, you’ve already heard a bunch of the new stuff.

MSBM: Sounds good! I’ll be looking forward to hearing the new tunes! I saw that you guys have a show coming up at Trees Dallas on November 26th. Will there be more to come after that? A tour, possibly?

CB: We are super stoked about our show at Trees on November 26th! That’s gonna be an amazing night! We have a few more shows lined up to finish the year. O’Riley’s (December 3rd) and two shows on the west side of DFW (December 9th and 10th). You can get tickets and more info for all of these shows at Perceivedband.com.

MSBM: I hope you have an awesome time at those shows! Since we are on that topic, what are Perceived shows like?

CB: I’m not sure how to describe our live shows, really. The music definitely takes you on a journey. You just have to come out to a show and see for yourself.

MSBM: I see what you mean. Live music is something that is easier felt than described. There’s truly nothing like the experience. What is your favorite venue/city to play in so far?

CB: There’s a lot really. O’Riley’s in Dallas is probably my personal favorite just because it feels like home. I played one of my very first shows there back in ’05, so it holds a special place. The Haltom Theater in Haltom City, Six Springs Tavern in Richardson, Come and Take It Live in Austin, and of course, Trees in Deep Ellum are all fantastic venues.

MSBM: A couple of those names are familiar to me. They seem to be popular and enjoyed by bands and fans alike. Lastly, can you reiterate what is expected of Perceived for the rest of the year and in the near future? Also, where can the readers find out more information about Perceived and listen to the band’s music?

CB: We’re actually about to release our first music video very soon. Subscribe to our YouTube channel if you’d like to catch its world premiere. We do have a few shows left around DFW to finish off the year. After those, we’ll be taking time off from gigging to record the new album. You can get free music as well as purchase tickets to any of our upcoming shows at Perceivedband.com. Thank you so much for the interview and your time.

Perceived’s first music video, “Darkening”.

Follow Perceived on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Perceivedband?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Follow Perceived on Instagram: https://instagram.com/perceivedband?igshid=NDk5N2NlZjQ=

Check out Perceived on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/777BDlgcr4xgP7z1ojPAeC?si=LaEfpZOSQzG5wjhg39eD-Q

Visit Perceived’s website: https://perceivedband.com

*** Tune in every Friday for a new interview. Interested in an interview for your band? Contact us on Facebook or Instagram! ***
MSBM Interviews: Lew Morris of Love Sick Drug

November 18th, 2022

Hello, all! Metal Southern Belles Media welcomes you to another awesome interview. Our passion for heavy music and having conversations with those who LIVE it has brought us to Love Sick Drug. This female fronted supergroup is based out of Texas and gives listeners a fusion of Punk, Rock, Metal, and Pop to entertain your senses. We are joined by one of their guitarist, Lew Morris, for a Love Sick Drug “tell all”. Let’s get behind the curtain of the band that feels familiar, but original, all at the same time…

MSBM: How did you get your start in music? Who were your biggest influences?

LM: I started piano lessons at 7. I was already “writing” songs at that point, before even starting. My dad saw that I was working out melody lines and able to repeat them (so, not just randomly hitting keys and getting lucky). When it really hit him, I was at a garage sale and the guy running it saw the same thing. He asked us to come in and have me mess with an electric organ he had. Once he saw what I could do, he told my dad he wanted to send it home with me. Shortly after that, he got me into piano lessons despite the fact I really wanted to learn guitar. After he passed away a bit before my 14th birthday, I made a deal with my mom to end piano lessons if she would pitch in for me to buy a guitar. I taught myself through tabs after getting it. Influence wise, I started off really studying Van Halen, Metallica, Megadeth, Bon Jovi (mostly for Sambora), Alice Cooper and some punk like The Misfits, Dead Kennedys, and The Cramps.

Lew Morris
(Credit to photographer)

MSBM: Wow, you are a natural virtuoso! Music is your forte, no doubt. With that talent, joining a band was inevitable. So, how did Love Sick Drug form? It seems like you guys have quite the unique lineup with some members having worked in the movie industry. Is there an interesting story behind how the band met and started creating music together?

LW: I met Billy Blair (actor, guitarist) while working at KNON as an on air personality. He needed a fill in bass player for his band at the time, Junk. He asked if I would be interested and I said, “sure.” I did a small tour with them and we worked well together. He asked if I would be interested in working together in the future. I told him, “if we can get something together, I would be up for it”. A bit later after the tour, he called me up and asked if I wanted to form a new band. He said he felt I would be better used on guitar and that he had some other members in mind. I told him to let me know when to get together and it basically went from there.

MSBM: I think it’s very important for bands to be “birthed” from natural chemistry in between the members. I feel the best version of a band is when the music is created by individuals who work well together and just “mesh” in a musical and artistic way like you and Billy clearly do. So, the first single, “Zombies”, was released in 2020. It was quickly followed by a self-titled track and then a few others in 2021 and 2022. “Celebrity Life” being the latest. Can you talk about the creative process behind these songs? What is drawing influence, writing, and recording like for Love Sick Drug?

LM: The single release history is a bit weird. We actually had a different drummer and singer at the beginning. We released the single, “Radio,” first with that line up. We followed that up with “Zombies.” They ended up leaving and since the singer had written the lyrics for “Radio,” I re-wrote them and we re-recorded the tracks with the new members. We then released the new version after the new version of “Zombies.” The lyrics didn’t change for “Zombies” since I had written them all anyway. These days, I tend to write the bulk of the lyrics. For the most part, Billy writes the bulk of the riffs. “Radio” and “Love Sick Drug” started with riffs I came up with and Billy filled them in. The other riffs are mostly Billy. We will get together and work out the arrangement and all that. I’ll usually come up with the lyrics. We then bring the song to the rest of the band for them to work out their parts. Influence wise, we are all over the board. Billy is very old school Rock and Roll like Kiss, Twisted Sister, etc. But he does love some newer stuff like Alice in Chains, Korn, etc. It’s pretty well-known that I’m very influenced by Eddie Van Halen. But I also come from a large Metal and Punk background writing wise, so I bring a little bit of that to the mix as well.

MSBM: A diverse set of influences can bring something fresh and exciting to the scene. So, I think what your group is doing is fantastic! I saw the movie, Corsicana, included one of Love Sick Drug’s songs and band mate, Billy Blair. Was “The Trail” directly written for the movie or did it come first and just happened to be fitting for the movie? How did that play out?

LM: We wrote “The Trail” specifically for the Corsicana movie. We actually titled it “Corsicana” at the beginning. The old singer wrote the first set of lyrics, but she didn’t even supply a 2nd verse. She just repeated the same verse. The lyrics were a bit clunky as well. When she left, Billy asked if I wanted to re-write it. I wrote the new lyrics and everyone who has heard both seem to prefer the new lyrics. Billy said he wanted to kinda have a sort of “Blaze of Glory” vibe to it – Western but still a Rock song. Since I had some experience playing Western style music with Ghoultown, I understood how to arrange guitar parts to give it that feel. It was one of the first songs where Billy and I both play pretty different stuff most of the song.

MSBM: I have to say, you nailed the vibe you were going for with “The Trail”. I tip my cowgirl hat to that haha. Having lightly touched on the movie experience in reference to some of your band members, let’s get more in depth now. How does that experience factor in with making music videos?

LM: Having 3 of the 5 members involved in film has helped us out a lot with music videos. Billy and Erin (vocalist) both have extensive acting experience. I mostly work behind the camera with production design, art department, etc. But I also have some experience on screen. I’ve spearheaded most of the storylines in the music videos. For “Zombies,” I knew everyone would have their own ideas, so I tasked myself with finding a way to incorporate everyone’s ideas into one storyline. I did the location scouting as well for that. For the latest video, “The Trail,” we knew that we would probably need to do two edits – one for our own and one for the movie. Since we didn’t want to pay for two edits, I ended up taking on the role of Director as well for that one. Since Billy was one of the stars of the movie, it was a no brainer to make him one of the leads of the video. I came up with the storyline, props, location scouting, and obviously directing and editing. We hired a cinematographer but past that, I did the rest of the stuff to get that one together. I’m actually about to sit down and do the movie edit version for that one soon.

MSBM: I actually watched the video for “Zombies”, and it’s not what I expected. But unpredictably is definitely NOT a bad thing in art. The song itself is dope as well! I watched “The Trail” too and I thought it was perfect for the song. You had a lot to shoulder there, but you did well. I’m interested to see more! Does having film experience also affect the visionary aspect and showmanship of live performances and stage set ups?

LM: I think the film experience helps some with the live experience, but overall we are all fans of bands that really put on a production. Bands like Iron Maiden and Alice Cooper don’t just show up in their everyday clothes, go up, play, and leave. They LOOK like rock stars… You want to watch them live. They have a cool stage show, etc. We are still slowly getting all that together (currently looking for a stage manager to help with that, so we can bring more elements to the live show). It’s tougher on a local level because they just don’t give you the set up time and space, especially with opening gigs. We’ve opened for Powerman 5000, Genitorturers, etc and we barely had enough stage room to stand much less bring more show elements.

MSBM: Theatrics really take live shows to a whole other level. Hopefully, in the near future, your band can get the “leg room” to expand into more extravagant performances. On a different topic, I noticed that you guys released your own hot sauce!? What was that all about?

LM: Everyone and their mom seems to be releasing hot sauce. I was asked years ago by a friend who has a hot sauce business if I wanted to make one for my Metal band, Coilback. I told him merch sales were slow at that time, so I wanted to wait. Right about the time I was going to look into it, my friend Lyle Blackburn from Ghoultown released his sauce. I didn’t want it to seem like we were just riding his coattails, so I wanted to give it a bit. After he got established (with his Monster Sauce, which is amazing and I highly suggest trying it; it’s delicious), I told him we were gonna do ours. I intentionally asked them to make something with a different flavor profile than his stuff. We named it “Love Juice” because we are tongue in cheek about everything and knew we could do some fun stuff with the name. That’s what made us film all those goofy promo spots for it (it’s on the Love Sick Drug YouTube channel).

MSBM: Yeah, I saw some of those silly videos haha. They got me interested in the sauce. Maybe I should try it and your buddy’s as well. I actually could go for something covered in hot sauce right now! But let’s get back on the subject of music before I get too hungry! There’s a full-length album on the way, correct? Care to share the details?

LM: Yes, there is a full length we are just about done with. We actually had it completely done with the old line up but they left right before we released it, so that delayed things with getting the new members on the tracks. We are hopefully going to be done with the recording in a couple of weeks and then it’s just mixing, mastering, and getting it printed. Stay tuned for that. Should be 11 tracks total.

MSBM: Fantastic! I’ll be looking forward to it. Are there any shows coming up the band as well?

LM: We tend to slow down in the winter holiday season. Weather in North Texas is super unpredictable and it’s hard to get people to come out. Unless it’s something special, we tend to do most of the “behind the scenes” work during these months. Right now, we are trying to finish the album and then hit the road to do some small tour legs.

MSBM: Sounds like a good plan! Now, to wrap this thing up, where can the readers go to keep up to date with Love Sick Drug and check out your songs?

LM: The best place at the moment to keep track of us is on Instagram and Facebook. We keep things up to date there. We have plenty of content like music videos, live videos, interviews, and goofy promos on our YouTube channel and our Bandcamp page has music and merch. We are also available on most all digital music stores. We are all currently working on some new movies as well and we tend to pop up on soundtracks quite a bit as well. Everyone should go check out the pages, give us a like, subscribe, and support independent artists.

Follow Love Sick Drug on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lovesickdrugband?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Follow Love Sick Drug on Instagram: https://instagram.com/lovesickdrugband?igshid=NDk5N2NlZjQ=

Subscribe to Love Sick Drug on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@LoveSickDrug

Check out Love Sick Drug on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7FnsK0Ezviuyfsi7itwxBS?si=MveLC_raRXSfX24asvkd2Q

*** Tune in every Friday for a new interview. Interested in an interview for your band? Contact us on Facebook or Instagram! ***
MSBM Interviews: William Anthony of A Beautiful War

November 11th, 2022

Welcome! If you’re looking for the hottest insight on today’s Rock and Metal bands, then you’ve found it! Here at Metal Southern Belles Media, we specialize in badass interviews with badass musicians. We’re already creating quite the catalog, but there’s so much more in store. That brings us to our latest interview. Here with us is William Anthony, frontman of A Beautiful War. What is the story behind this band with a name that’s seemingly a poetic oxymoron? And what alluring darkness are they offering to your ears? This Rockin’ Metal train isn’t stopping, so hop aboard and let’s go…

MSBM: Hey, William! It’s an honor to speak with you. Here’s one of those “did the chicken or the egg come first” questions. Which came first, the singing or the songwriting? And what got you into that?

WA: Diving right into things, I wasn’t originally a singer at first. I was actually a drummer, who decided to make the switch to singing. I had a really cool life experience where during my high school years, I became friends with Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit because of gaming. Fast forward to about a year later, I was finally able to see them in concert. He brought me on stage and it was right there that I knew what I wanted to do. My mind at that very moment told me, “pursue this and see what happens”. If I had to pick my top 3 influences as far as who influenced my direction change into singing, it would be Fred Durst obviously, Dave Williams of Drowning Pool, and Brent Smith of Shinedown. As far as writing, I was always a writer. But my writing took time to evolve to the point where I felt comfortable creating my own material.

William Anthony
(Photo by: Tomi Solano-Szostek, 2022)

MSBM: That’s quite the story! I recall seeing a post about you being buddies with Fred Durst, which is pretty cool! Not everyone can say they’re friends with the dude himself! He definitely made an impact on your life when he brought you on stage that day. He set you in the right direction, I’d say. Also, as a fan of Drowning Pool and Shinedown, I love that they are influences for you. Dave Williams, especially! Now, after you realized your passion for singing, how did you form A Beautiful War?

WA: The A Beautiful War story goes back about five years maybe; I have been in the local scene for quite some time now. My previous band had played a show with another band and shortly after both bands had broken up, but certain members had stayed in touch from both bands. Eventually, we got to jamming and it fit like a glove from the moment we started writing music. We have had a few lineup changes over the years. Which funny enough, our current drummer, who was the individual who booked our first show, has now been a part of the band since we picked things back up after Covid.

MSBM: Sometimes, bands have to switch things up to find the right combination, so to speak. Referring back to the song writing and applying it to A Beautiful War, what influences and inspires you? As a writer myself, I find this to be an interesting topic.

WA: The beautiful thing about music and about art itself, is it’s open to interpretation. When it comes to writing, while a song may mean one thing to me, someone else may find a different meaning in it. I tend to find that for my creative purposes and for my own therapeutic purposes, writing about reality, and the things I’ve been through, is the most sincere and honest way to write. If someone can listen to a song and have that feeling as if someone knows what they’ve been through and is listening to them just like the music I grew up listening to and love, then I did my job and I conveyed myself the way that I wanted to.

MSBM: Great response. It is true that the meaning of a song can vary from person to person. As long as there’s a connection felt towards it and it brings something positive into someone’s life, then that’s what matters. It’s about the impact. So, the band dropped a single entitled, “Save Yourself” back in 2019. Can you talk a little bit about that song in particular?

WA: We actually dropped two singles in 2019 with “Save Yourself” being the second, and most recent. “Save Yourself”, to me, is one of the most honest songs I’ve ever written and it’s truly from the heart. I went through a very dark period in my life and I’m one of those people that is constantly writing. Certain situations happened, which inspired that song and that song was my way of getting closure for what happened during that period of my life.

MSBM: Songs written from the heart are the most powerful. I’m sure that song spoke to some people, which is a great thing like we were just discussing. I’m glad you found healing in creating it. You mentioned to me before this interview that there’s a new single coming soon. Fill us in on those details.

WA: We do have a new single coming soon. The single should be out before the end of this year. December, to be exact. If you have seen us live recently, you have heard the song and it’s a song that has seemed to go over very well, no matter the crowd we play to. The song is called “Public Apology”. I feel as if we’ve retained our sound, while pushing ourselves to really do something different at the same time. I am very excited, as are the rest of the band to put this out for the world to hear.

MSBM: I’m looking forward to it! When can we expect an EP or full length album?

WA: In regards to an EP / Album, I can say that an announcement in regards to that can be expected soon and we are hoping for a mid 2023 release. There’s obvious factors that could either push it forward or push it back, but mid 2023 is the timeframe we are hoping for.

MSBM: Well, I’ll be keeping an eye out for it! Hopefully, it will be sooner rather than later! As a Twiztid fan, I have to mention this. I saw A Beautiful War played with them and Attila. How was that experience?

WA: This year has been incredible for us as a band. We kicked it off opening for Drowning Pool, ill Nino, and Hed Pe. As I stated previously in the interview, Drowning Pool is a huge inspiration for me. So, being able to have that one under our belt was incredible, and a wonderful experience in itself. We capped this year off with Twiztid and Attila and that show was so much fun. The crowd was wonderful. The Twiztid guys are super cool and I have nothing but wonderful things to say about them. Dreams come true.

MSBM: I’m happy that you got to have those awesome experiences! They were great opportunities for your band as well, no doubt about it. Keep making those dreams come true! Are there any other shows we should be looking out for? Particularly for the coming year?

WA: In regards to any upcoming shows, we don’t have anything on the books for the rest of this year, due to to us currently being in the studio. To stay ontop of show announcements though and all other things, you can follow us on Instagram or find us on Facebook.

MSBM: You got that, everyone? Make sure you give A Beautiful War a follow! You don’t want to miss what’s coming next! Since you’ve obviously played with some pretty cool bands before, what are some others you’d like to play with in the future?

WA: You’re 100% right when you say that we’ve been able to play with some really cool bands. We’ve been very fortunate and I’m very very thankful for that. We have a wonderful support system and without that, none of it would be possible. In regards to other bands that we would love to play with, there’s a laundry list. Limp Bizkit, Shinedown, 10 Years, Saliva, Josey Scott, Alborn, Scowl, to name a few.

MSBM: Fantastic! In the near future, I hope to see you add those bands to your list of cool bands you’ve played with. Now, the last thing I have to ask is where can the interested readers go to get a taste of A Beautiful War’s music?

WA: For anyone interested in listening to our music, you can find A Beautiful War on Spotify, Apple Music, and pretty much any digital retailer that carries music. I just wanted to say thank you so much for your time, thank you so much for taking the time to interview me. I very, very much appreciate anyone that gives this band the time of day. Thank you so much and I hope to see you at a show soon!

Follow A Beautiful War on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abeautifulwarofficial

Follow A Beautiful War on Instagram: https://instagram.com/abeautifulwarofficial?igshid=NDk5N2NlZjQ=

Check out A Beautiful War on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7MqRa7hE6piujTG4KzrdUg?si=5Q3UdC_8T6CWobaEyd-5Yg

*** Tune in every Friday for a new interview. Interested in an interview for your band? Contact us on Facebook or Instagram! ***
MSBM Interviews: Ryan Thomson (and Nico Waldo) of Energema

November 5th, 2022

Hello, and welcome to Metal Southern Belles Media! Here, you’re guaranteed to find awesome interviews with awesome musicians in the Rock and Metal atmosphere. Let’s get to rockin’ and rollin’! Today, MSBM is joined by Energema vocalist, Ryan Thomson! (We also get a little insight from guitarist and main songwriter, Nico Waldo!) This Melodic Power Metal band consists of members from Scotland and Columbia, a unique combination, making a unique sound. When you hear their songs, you get an indescribable sensation of a strength so intense that you want to march straight into an ancient battle for a mythical world. Now, let’s advance forward and get into the mystic details behind Energema!

MSBM: Hey, Ryan! I hope you’re doing well today. Since we are on the subject of you, how did you become a singer? (Are you self-taught, does someone in your family sing, was there a particular vocalist that stood out to you and influenced you?)

RT: First off, thanks for giving me the opportunity to do this interview! I got started singing around 5 years ago or so, but I’ve always been into playing music and playing various instruments. I’ve been playing guitar for 17 years now, but I’ve made the change to become more of a singer. I was really inspired by the Power and Symphonic Metal singers like Fabio Lione, Daniel Heiman, Roy Khan, Yiannis Papadopolous, etc. All of the really hard, crazy high, powerful vocals is what excites me about singing the most. Sadly, no one else in my family is really a musician, so becoming a musician was mainly self-motivated.

MSBM: You’re welcome! I’m honored to be given the chance to speak with you! To have only been singing for a few short years, you’re really good! You must be a natural. So, you are a “newer” member of Energema, correct? How did you join?

RT: Yes, that’s right. I officially joined Energema on September 5th, so it’s still pretty fresh. They had an audition call for a new vocalist some time in August, but I found out about it on the last day of the deadline. So, I didn’t have time to audition, but I sent one of my covers in and they liked it so much they decided to extend the deadline for me, which I was super happy about haha. So, when I sent my audition in I got the part.

MSBM: That’s awesome! It’s like it was meant to be. By the way, Energema is an interesting word. Is there a significance to it?

NW: “Energema” is a Greek word and refers to the energy of creation or creative force. We think that our universe is very big and complex and behind it, there must be an architect…. Nothing is a product of chance.

RT: I find it very interesting. Although I personally don’t hold any religious beliefs, I fully respect it. And as musicians, we create our own magical worlds. A lot of our lyrics are influenced by stories from the Bible, Narnia, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, etc.

MSBM: Love it! So, Energema has several albums. The latest being ‘Promised Land’, that dropped in 2020. It’s from my understanding that there’s a new EP in the works. What can we expect from it?

RT: That’s right, we have 6 full length albums and 3 EPs out. We originally had another EP coming later this year titled, ‘Hunter of Immortals’, but we have extended it to be a full album; which will drop before the end of the year. The album basically tells the story of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, all of the events that unfolded and Van Helsing’s part in it all. It’s still very much Power Metal as you can expect from earlier albums. It was recorded at Meggido Records Studio and mastered by Trinity Records. We are with the label, Metalism Records, who will also publish this album.

Energema’s upcoming album, ‘Hunter of Immortals’.

MSBM: I find stories about characters such as Dracula and Van Helsing to be very interesting, so I’m intrigued! As a vocalist, are you a song writer as well?

RT: Yes, I am a songwriter too. Being a guitarist first, I’ve written many songs and I usually use that to compose everything, and keyboards to try out different sounds and virtual instruments. With Energema, I have only written 1 song for the new album, just due to the time I joined. But maybe they will allow me to write more music for future albums, who knows! It’s an Accapella piece about Dracula’s final moments with Mina, when he realizes how wrong he’s been and all the torment he caused her. Then he is forgiven and let into Heaven, the song is called, “Ascension”.

MSBM: Speaking of making music, what’s the studio process like for you and your band? Is it easy and “natural” to bounce ideas off of your band mates?

RT: For now, the studio process is done online for me. Nico sends me the backing tracks and lyrics with some guide melodies and I record my parts and send back them to him. Then, it gets mixed and sent off to a studio for mastering. Sounds complicated, but it’s actually pretty seamless.

MSBM: I’m glad the creative process is a smooth one for you guys! So, when the “making music” part concludes , it typically means live shows and tours! Is Energema planning any shows for the near future?

RT: Yes, once this album is out, we plan to promote it everywhere and get in touch with new labels and promoters and really push to make an impact in Europe, the UK, and the States. I heard Japan is a great market for Power Metal too.

MSBM: That’s great! I hope to catch Energema here in the States sometime! Still on the subject of shows, what are live performances like for you?

NW: I think our best shows have been sharing with legendary bands of the gen…We have been an opening act for different well-known bands like Freedom Call (Germany), Edu Falaschi ex-Angra (Brazil), and Grave Digger (Germany).

MSBM: Very cool! And what other bands would you like to play with?

RT: It would be a dream to tour with bands like Hammerfall, Rhapsody of fire, Beast in Black, Kamelot, Avantasia, etc. It is pretty hard to set up tours being a smaller band for now, but we’ve been in the process of getting in touch with as many festivals and venues as possible, labels, etc. If anyone out there reading would like to help with that we’d be very happy actually!

MSBM: You read that right, everyone! If you’ve got the hookup with any festivals, venues, and labels, let these guys know! Now, there’s something the readers must know. Where can they listen to Energema’s music?

RT: You can find our music on the major streaming platforms like Spotify, Bandcamp, Amazon music, etc. You can also find a full list of our discography on The Metal Archives website.

Follow Energema on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/energemaband?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Follow Energema on Instagram: https://instagram.com/official_energemaband?igshid=NDk5N2NlZjQ=

Subscribe to Energema on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@EnergemaPowerMetal

Check out Energema on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3jfYh8rerZnO11U7ljgYFK?si=0doDZu7xRX2iWTV9HXDyNg

Bandcamp: https://metalism.bandcamp.com

Amazon Music: https://www.amazon.com/music/player/artists/B0728DCZK9/energema

*** Tune in every Friday for a new interview. Interested in an interview for your band? Contact us on Facebook or Instagram! ***
MSBM Interviews: Ollie Vice of Lethal Disciples

November 5th, 2022

Greetings! Metal Southern Belles Media is at it again with another badass interview! This time, we’re joined by guitarist Ollie Vice from Swedish Groove Metal band, Lethal Disciples. These guys are new force on the scene, but they are vowing “to change Metal forever”. Let’s get down to the nitty fucking gritty…

MSBM: Hi, Ollie! It’s a pleasure to be speaking with you. I see that you’re a guitar player. How long have you been playing? What influenced you?

OV: I have been playing guitar for a couple of years. I started my musical career as a bassist. After many years and different constellations, I picked up the guitar instead and decided I want to do this 100%. The feeling of heavy riffing and the charisma of a great rhythm guitarist such as Scott Ian and James Hetfield is the reason I started getting serious with my guitar playing.

MSBM: Sounds like you’ve found your niche with the guitar. What is your preferred style/brand of guitar and equipment?

Ollie Vice
(Credit to photographer)

OV: I’m a thrasher, so of course there is a lot of Jackson, Ltd & ESP. My standard guitar in the rehearsing room and all around workhorse is a Jackson Dinky. For studio, I’m using a Solar guitar with Evertune. That’s a lifesaver in the studio. But those above are the brands I’m currently using. My choose for amps are definitely Randall; I think their sound is very different in a unique way. It’s easy to get a branded sound. For cabinets, I’m always a huge fan of the 5150. Pickups are EMG 81/60.

MSBM: Very nice! Lethal Disciples formed in 2021, correct? Tell me about how that came to be.

OV: I started Lethal Disciples after leaving my old band Dirty Lane, which was a Classic Rock act. I wanted to return to my roots and make music the way I’m picturing it. Phil, Chris, and Marcus are all old friends of mine and we wanted to do something more than a band. We wanted to be seen as a force. The tight connections in the band resembles more a brotherhood than a ordinary band and that’s how we always intend to keep it.

MSBM: I think it’s great that you guys value closeness in between each band member. I feel those bonds bring out the best version of a band. Along with being very tight-knit, Lethal Disciples takes pride in not following the norm and instead choosing one’s own path. You guys even vow “to change Metal forever”. Can you talk about the purpose/message behind the band and how it’s set apart from other bands in the Groove/Thrash genre?

OV: We take huge pride as a band not following the norm. Just because music in 2022 is like this or that, doesn’t mean that we have to do it the same. For us, it’s always been a way to express ourselves. A way to battle our demons and do something that maybe can be inspirational for generations to come. We want the people who like our music to stay connected to us. To be a part of Lethal Disciples is not just a queue at Spotify, it’s so much more. It could mean a kid doesn’t take their life or it might be setting a new bench press record. Regardless, we want to be a part of the journey and let the music be an outlet like it always has been for us.

MSBM: Wow, that’s some powerful stuff. I love it. I saw that new music is the works. I take this will be the band’s debut? Will it be an EP or full length album?

OV: You can very soon look forward to a single followed up by an EP. The musical landscape doesn’t acquire us to make an album. We would rather release all killers and no fillers, if you get what I mean. We are rather taking our time and are always 100% behind the music and the message. We want to create songs that stands the test of time.

MSBM: Awesome! I can’t wait to hear what your band comes out with. Judging by that focused mindset and prioritized message and purpose, it’s going to be something worth the wait. But as of now, is there a possible release date for the single or EP?

OV: The release is set very, very soon. I strongly suggest that you follow us on instagram and YouTube @lethaldisciples for more information. We want our fans to have a connection to us before we ever set the first tone. Because when we are ready, you will also be ready for what’s to come. The name of our first ever single is “Bloodgroove”.

MSBM: Noted! I’ll be keeping an eye out for that debut single. “Bloodgroove” is a badass title, by the way! So, what is the creative process like for Lethal Disciples?

OV: I’m always creative; I can’t speak for the other guys. But I’m heavily into MMA and BJJ, so watching fights and fighting by myself gets me pumped to create music that fits to my personality and lifestyle. I’ve battled a lot of demons and the outlet for me is to make the nastiest riffs you can imagine. Usually that takes place at home, fully acoustic. But as Max Cavalera from Soulfly and Sepultura said, “If you can make a riff heavy on a acoustic, imagine how heavy it will sound on the full rig in front of 10,000 people”.

MSBM: Heavy music is one of the best outlets for negative thoughts and emotions. Whether you’re creating it or just listening to it, it’s very therapeutic. The nastier riffs, the better, am I right? Speaking of Metal music therapy, let’s talk about live shows. Are any planned in the near future for you guys? Also, what do you enjoy the most about playing shows?

OV: We are looking to set up a European tour because we have connections all over Europe. We are based in Sweden and Germany, so we want to come out with a bang. Everything is in the very early process, but there will be dates available in the near future. Playing live for us is what music is all about. The drums in the chest, the people around you, and creating memories to heavy music is what it’s all about. I’ve performed with different constellations and I remember a guy from Australia approached me and said that our music changed his life. That moment changed me and I want to help people across the globe and I want to do that together with my brothers.

MSBM: Metal concerts, there’s truly nothing like them. The vibes are totally intoxicating and the joy that they bring feels soul-deep. The music and the entire atmosphere cleanses the body of a lot of negativity, so it’s a positive thing. It’s even a lifeline for some people, musicians and fans alike. It’s so amazing that your band is having that affect and you want to continue helping people through music. That’s something very pure. Now, if you could choose any band to tour with in the next year, who would you choose? You can pick multiple, if you want.

OV: Pantera, Lamb of God, Testament, and NWA as an Easter egg. All are huge inspirations for our music.

MSBM: Great lineup! Lastly, where can everyone reading this go to keep up with Lethal Disciples and hear some new music?

OV: Thank you so much for a great interview. You can find us on Instagram and YouTube under @lethaldisciples, also keep an eye on Spotify very soon. In the meantime, thanks for reading a bit of our story and I can’t wait to meet y’all around the globe. With all my heart / Ollie Vice ~

(Credit to photographer)

Follow Lethal Disciples on Instagram: https://instagram.com/lethaldisciples?igshid=NDk5N2NlZjQ=

Subscribe to Lethal Disciples on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@lethaldisciples7327

*** Tune in every Friday for a new interview. Interested in an interview for your band? Contact us on Facebook or Instagram! ***
MSBM Interviews: Kevin Fate of Atomic Fate

November 4th, 2022

Hello, everyone! Welcome to Metal Southern Belles Media, where we have a passion for badass music and getting into the minds of those who create it. To start off our first round of killer interviews is Kevin Fate, vocalist and guitarist of Atomic Fate. This band emerges from the pits of “Holy Hell” with Fate at the fiery helm. With their punk, “fuck around and find out” attitude, fast-paced and gnarly sound, they drop on you like a BOMB. But let’s allow the main man to speak on it for himself!

MSBM: Hey, Kevin! I hope you’re doing well today. Let’s get into talking about your band, Atomic Fate. How did your band get started? Who/what influenced you?

KF: We first met at a house party where another band was suppose to play, but they had to cancel for some reason. They already had a drum set there, so the party host asked if anyone wanted to do an open jam and I was like “hell yeah” and went home quickly and got my guitar and amp. After I was jamming out for a while, these twin brothers joined in and we started playing some Black Sabbath, Pantera, and White Zombie songs. Then later on, the cops showed up and broke up the party. Following that, we all went to my house and then we decided we were starting a band. I previously had the name “Atomic Fate” picked out as a band name and then we started writing and rehearsing some songs to get ready to set up our first gig a few months later. As far as our influences go, I would say Pantera, White Zombie, Slayer, Metallica, Megadeth, Mudvayne, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, and Motley Crue, to name a few.

MSBM: Rocking out until the cops come! That’s some very Metal beginnings for a band. Atomic Fate is quite the explosive name, but fitting! Where did it come from?

KF: The origin of the name really started back when as a kid. I had a few nightmares involving a nuclear war that scared the shit out of me. Then during my teens, I had the idea of starting a band, so I thought of Atomic Fate and it stuck.

MSBM: That’s a really scary thing to be dreaming of as a kid! But you did get a cool band name out of it. So, you guys gained momentum after releasing your debut album, “Welcome to Holy Hell”. Can you talk about it’s creation and the feedback you received from it?

KF: Before we released that album, we only had a few demos of our music and weren’t playing many shows. But once we recorded our debut, then not only did we have a better sounding version of our music, but we also attracted the attention of different venues who were now interested in booking us for more gigs. We also released our debut music video for the song, “Atomic Fate” around that time too.

MSBM: After dropping that first album bomb, what was the band’s next move? Tours? More music? How did you guys keep fans hungry for Atomic Fate?

KF: We were now playing gigs in more remote parts of Florida, instead of just in our local area and that helped get a lot more people interested in us. After a year or two of gigging, we knew we had to put out some more music. So, we recorded our second album, ‘This Is Only The Beginning’. We also released a couple more music videos for the songs, “Reborn” and “DopeHouse”. Plus, the advancement of social media helped a lot in increasing our connections and network. It also made it easier to deliver music directly to the fan worldwide.

MSBM: Nice! Now, let’s discuss the more recent years. There was a release in 2020, correct? That was quite the year, as we all know. It brought many challenges to the music industry. But did your band find some advantages and success in it with new music?

KF: The year 2020 was Hell for many people, but especially for those in the music industry. On a major scale, the whole industry pretty much grinded to a halt with not only music artists affected, but road crews, venue staff, and others severely affected. But on a personal scale, even though we weren’t able/allowed to play any gigs, we still were able to record an EP titled, ‘MMXX’, which is roman numerals for ‘2020’. Luckily, we reside in Florida because I know in certain other states/countries the travel restrictions were more severe. We did play a New Year’s Eve gig that year, so we at least ended that year with a bang.

MSBM: Yeah, at least that year had a good ending for you. That must count for something! Now, with all of that discussed, we’ve reached 2022. This year, Atomic Fate released songs such as “Scamdemic” and “My Summer (Come With Me)”. Are these songs just a taste of what is to come?

KF: We are in the process now of recording another full length album, but we wanted to give our audience some new music, so we decided to release a couple of singles first. Both those songs are coincidentally our shortest and our longest songs ever. “Scamdemic” is practically a punk song that we all wrote together during one jam session and “My Summer (Come With Me)” has way more happening during the recording such as extra percussion, vocals, and keys, to name a few. Also, it may be our only song that does not deal with death, war, or other negative themes. Both of those songs will be included on our upcoming release ‘Try It… You Might Like It’, which is slated for an early 2023 release date.

MSBM: I definitely felt the punk vibes with “Scamdemic”. I think it would be a fun one to hear live. Speaking of live music, what are Atomic Fate performances like? What is your favorite part of it? Do you have a favorite song to perform?

KF: For me, live shows are what it’s all about because in the studio you can usually take as much time and takes as you need, but during a live gig you have to lay it on the line. Being on stage and getting loud for the audience, who are also getting loud for you, is a great experience that’s hard to match. At most of our shows, there’s usually a mosh pit, people up front, and the chillers in the back. But sometimes it varies, depending on the venue or event. My favorite part is the overall experience especially when everything sounds good and tight. I don’t really have a certain favorite song that we perform, but I do dig playing a cover of the White Zombie song, “Black Sunshine”. That’s always a crowd pleaser!

MSBM: Sounds like one big party! So, are there any live shows (or tours) planned for you guys?

KF: No tours in the works or anything, but we hope to set up a gig in December to close out the year. We were just discussing it during our last jam session. Plus, we are aiming to gig during the early part of 2023 as well.

MSBM: Awesome! Still on the topic of live shows and tours, what is your dream lineup to play with?

KF: A dream lineup for me would be Atomic Fate, Black Sabbath, Pantera, Slayer, and White Zombie. I could come up with countless more variations, but that lineup is solid. Or also we’d love to play Ozzfest, Lollapalooza, Knotfest, or any of the other badass festivals/tours.

MSBM: Fantastic choices! I hope your dream to play those festivals comes true! Now, to bring this interview to a close, can you remind everyone about Atomic Fate’s upcoming plans and where to find your music?

KF: Be on the look out for more new music coming your way very soon and you can also check out our recent and past releases on Spotify, Youtube, Apple Music, and Amazon Music, to name a few. Plus, we’re on Facebook, Instagram, and trying to get back on Twitter! We’ll also be gigging around Florida, so anyone feel welcome to come out and jam with us if we hit up your area. There is No Escape from the Atomic Fate. Thank you for doing the interview!

Subscribe to ATOMIC FATE on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ATOMICFATECHANNEL

Follow ATOMIC FATE on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/atomicfate?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Follow ATOMIC FATE on Instagram: https://instagram.com/atomicfatemetal?igshid=NDk5N2NlZjQ=

Check out ATOMIC FATE on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/611XaKQQENg3lm82JXyc8O?si=ZJgwFXMcQ_6sWixypJJv7A

*** Tune in every Friday for a new interview. Interested in an interview for your band? Contact us on Facebook or Instagram! ***