Category Archives: Interviews

Assorted discussion with assorted artists.

PiercingMetal Talks To Carl Palmer (11/11/2016)

Carl Palmer is an icon in the world of Progressive Rock having contributed to the overall success of both, but not limited to, Asia and Emerson, Lake & Palmer. His drumming style is often described as unique in the way that he incorporates speed, finesse, and maintains an aura of sophistication. On Friday night, fans from across the continental US filled South Orange Performing Arts Center in musical celebration of Palmer’s tribute to the late Keith Emerson, Carl Palmer’s ELP Legacy. Our own Katie N. briefly spoke to the legendary musician shortly after the performance.

carl palmer, carl palmer concert photos
Carl Palmer by Ken Pierce (2014)

PiercingMetal: Emerson, Lake and Palmer is notorious for their use of keyboards. In your band, you omit them. How does that change the musical dynamic?

Carl Palmer: We use two guitars. Paul Bielatowicz on the lead guitar and there is Simon Fitzpatrick who plays the Chapman Stick, which is a 10 stringed instrument. He also plays the 6-stringed bass. It’s the three of us- what you would consider to be a power trio I suppose. It’s completely different because we’re using stringed instruments as opposed to synthesizers. Some of the dynamic changes in such a way where it can be more exciting in certain areas, and there are certain areas where the music might not be quite as strong, or possibly stronger in a different way. It’s difficult to explain. Music is very difficult to talk about. It’s better to listen to it and hear it. But I didn’t really want to have keyboards in the group. I wanted to present music in a different way using guitar and just show how versatile the music is and how great the players are today because they can properly represent this music on guitars which probably wouldn’t have happened years ago because the players weren’t good enough.
Continue reading PiercingMetal Talks To Carl Palmer (11/11/2016)

PiercingMetal Talks To Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine (12/7/2015)

Logo - Megadeth

Megadeth are one of the forefathers of the Thrash Metal movement and on the eve of their announcing their latest touring adventures in support of the forthcoming “Dystopia” album, I had the pleasure of speaking to the bands founder, the great Dave Mustaine. Together we discussed the state of Heavy Metal in this day and age, the selection of new Megadeth members and what fans should expect from the new album and tour. As we didn’t have a whole lot of time to chat, I kept the line of inquiry very quick and to the general point. Here’s our entire discussion.

PiercingMetal: Let me start by saying congratulations on Megadeth surpassing the thirty-year mark. How does it feel to be in command of such a band for that long a time?

Dave Mustaine: I think that anything that you do successfully for a long period of time you have to look at it and ask yourself why is this successful and I think part of that is because we’ve always had one common goal with this band and that was to be true to ourselves and I think that this translates to the fan base. If you believe in what you do, then that starts to lay the foundation for the relationship with your fans that has integrity.

PiercingMetal: Would you think that Metal is in a better place or a worse place today?

Dave Mustaine: It depends because there are so many different genres of Heavy Metal. If you’re saying do I think that Thrash or Speed Metal or Heavy Metal in general is in a better place then it depends because there is a lot of new types of Metal out there. You have Grindcore and all kinds of Black Metal, White Metal, Death Metal just so many other different types but its opened up a lot of doors for different people that are more genre specific that play one very limited type of music and do it really well. I’ve always liked to be able to push the boundaries of what I could do and Megadeth has a lot of influences that are unique to what most Metal bands would do. We have Jazz and Classical influences which I think really helps give us that advantage over a lot of bands that don’t have those influences.
Continue reading PiercingMetal Talks To Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine (12/7/2015)

PiercingMetal Talks To Bad Seed Risings Francheska Pastor (9/10/2015)

Logo - Bad Seed Rising

I recently had the opportunity to have a quick chat with the talented Miss Francheska Pastor who’s the lead singer of a band called Bad Seed Rising. The name might be new to your ears but it’s one worth remembering as they’ve got some truly rocking tunes and you might be surprised at their very young age as a group. Miss Pastor is about 17 while the other members of the group are very close to that as well and they are the youngest act ever signed to Roadrunner Records. Their latest release is an EP entitled “A Place Called Home” and here is our chat.

Photo - Bad Seed Rising

PiercingMetal: Let’s start off easy by letting me know when you first realized you had a good voice and wanted to be in a band. How did you approach this. I mean you have some strong set of pipes.

Francheska: I actually didn’t realize I even have a voice, my dad did. I always loved music and wanted to create and perform, but I always wanted to be like the rest of my classmates and play soccer. It wasn’t until my dad softly pushed me to sing and play guitar more when I realized this is what I wanted for the rest of my life.
Continue reading PiercingMetal Talks To Bad Seed Risings Francheska Pastor (9/10/2015)

New Year’s Music Resolutions for 2014: Chapter 8

Queue dramatic lead in music and grab those tissues to wipe away the tears dear readers because we have reached the final installment of our “New Year’s Music Resolutions for 2014” and what a fun ride it has been. Now without any further adieu please enjoy this last batch of submitted resolutions.

1. Patrick Sheridan (Fit For An Autopsy): my new years music resolution for 2014 is to keep not giving a fuck what people think or what they tell us about what we should do, and keep doing exactly what we want. thanks to all our friends and fans for their support, and thanks to our label for letting us be who the fuck we are!!!! 2014, we crush!!!

2. Ira Black (Attika 7/former Lizzy Borden): 2014 is the year to get my name on the map! The first one is slated to go and I will have a major press release soon, guaranteed to be the biggest music project, to date, in my career, which I’m very excited about! This year is also the year for me to finish or discard any projects that I have waiting in the wings to be finished! The Ira Black solo record will be included in “Projects to be finished”…. My brothers from Attika 7 and I will be delivering a knockout album this year and doing a ton of touring for a good part of the spring/summer touring season. We have an incredible plan in place and look forward to executing it! I will also be writing a lot of music, new material for myself and other projects, per current negotiations for future collaborations TBA soon! I would also like to thank all the awesome people I’m surrounded by and will strive harder to show my gratitude and will be more patient and Loving to those who matter most to me, which is everyone! Peace.
Continue reading New Year’s Music Resolutions for 2014: Chapter 8

New Year’s Music Resolutions for 2014: Chapter 7

Well hello again dear readers and welcome to our “lucky seven” chapter of the New Year’s Music Resolutions; I’m glad that you are still with us and I should let you know that we appear to be at the penultimate chapter of this years feature. Now before I get too wordy let’s get this party started.

1. Mark Jansen (Epica/Mayan): My New Years Music Resolution for 2014 is releasing at least two albums, one with MaYaN and one with Epica and perhaps one for Laura Marci’s solo project. I hope that we can play many live shows with Epica and if there’s some time left I’d love to do some with MaYaN as well Besides that I hope that there will be many other good releases from other bands coming out in 2014!!!

2. Syka: Is to write the most emotional hardcore music of my career and branch out touring to different parts of the US!
Continue reading New Year’s Music Resolutions for 2014: Chapter 7