EMQ’s With A Moment of Violence
EMQ’s With A Moment of Violence
Hi everyone! Welcome to another EMQs interview, this time with USA Hard Rock/ Alt Metal band A Moment Of Violence. Huge thanks to their Bass Player, Hatchet, for taking part.
What is your name, what do you play and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band?
My name is Hatchet, and I have the time-honored tradition of laying down all the low end for the band on the bass guitar! AMOV started a few years ago with Desi (who is the lead guitar / writer / producer for the band) and Scotty who plays the drums for us. Both were kindred spirits because they were transplants from NY to Florida. They actually had been playing softball together for about six months before they discovered the fact they both played music, which always makes me chuckle. They formed the band, started writing and then did the hardest thing any group will ever do in their career: find the right people to complete the line-up. Brent (The Heavy Metal Cowboy!) came on board as the second guitarist. Then Alex Xcean, who does all of the dirty vocals. When the band agreed to offer a dual-vocal onslaught, my good friend Russ Miller joined the band to offer the clean vocals–and that’s when I got a call from Russ suggesting I play bass in the band. Next thing you know, I joined, and now we are a six-piece wrecking crew on stage.
How did you come up with your band name?
That would be a question for Desi and Scotty as to the actual origin. What I can tell you is that I loved the name from the start because it describes some very human elements all metalheads will identify with. It’s spontaneous. It’s fleeting. It’s brutal. It’s chaos. It’s calculated. It’s “A Moment of Violence.”
What Country / Region are you from and what is the Metal / Rock scene like there?
We are from Florida in the USA, which has a robust history as far as metal is concerned, and offers a rock legacy few other US states can contend with. Many metal bands from over the years such as Death, Kamelot, Savatage, Morbid Angel, Nonpoint and others all called Florida home, at least at the beginning of their careers. While the scene has changed just like any other over the years, it still holds up the flag for the underground headbangers that believe in the music. The people who come out to these shows are dedicated to the music and they are loyal to all the bands on this circuit. It’s a wonderful thing to see, actually.
What is your latest release?
Our latest release was in September, known as “Stone Cold Killer.” It’s a headbanger. You can look that up on the streaming service of your choice, but reviews have been nothing but positive. It’s definitely the heaviest song in our arsenal, a true pit anthem if AMOV had one. The first time we played it live it was surreal seeing some of these younger people immediately break out in the pit, and I think I can speak for the rest of the band when I say it felt good to see that in a live environment with one of our very own songs!
Who have been your greatest influences?
I’m the classic rock / metal guy of the bunch for sure. All of my influences for bass playing go straight back to the early days of pioneer bass guitarists like Jack Bruce, Geddy Lee, Stanley Clarke and of course John Entwistle. But the guy who really made me want to pick up a bass guitar was Steve Harris of Iron Maiden, which is also my favorite band of all time. I’m not sure if I would’ve become the metalhead and musician I am today were it not for that band, their body of work, and Steve’s playing.
What first got you into music?
My parents and being exposed to MTV and VH1 at a younger age by my one and only older sister. Dad was always listening to bands like Pink Floyd, which opened my mind to more progressive genres. Mom always loved her 60s pop and oldies music that I would be forced to listen to on the radio when she was driving. But seeing all those older music videos from the 80’s and 90’s as a kid on TV when I got home from school, that visual element was game changing for me, and that’s probably the moment it got into my blood.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
Hands down Myles Kennedy. I think he is the best rock vocalist of the last 25 years, bar none. The man is an exceptional powerhouse on everything he has done with Slash, and Alter Bridge just gets better as time passes. I have nothing but respect for him as a vocalist and musician.
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
Download. I mean, does it get any bigger than the Download Festival?!
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
Women just love giving me their lingerie, for some reason. They must really appreciate my playing.
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
Never miss an opportunity to tell your loved ones just how much they mean to you. Take the time to remind them how much they matter, now and forever.
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
Layne Staley. I think his death was a collective loss for the rock and metal worlds as a whole. He, like so many others, was taken from us far too soon and the music world suffered immensely for it.
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
I love interacting with the fans. I love talking to people and I love entertaining them. I love getting people out of their head even if it’s for just a short period of time, so they can escape all of the problems they’re dealing with, their jobs, their hardships, their emotional turmoil. Music allows us to do that if it hits us right. I love seeing people genuinely enjoy themselves at all the shows I play.
As far as the parts I hate? Those don’t matter, in the grand scheme of things. The parts I love matter way too much to me in comparison.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
I wish musicians and artists would get back to being true to themselves instead of trying to “write hits” or “write what people want to hear.” I saw an interview with Rick Rubin awhile back and he said that that attitude is a fundamentally bad way to play the game, and it’s hurting the industry as a whole. Musicians need to write what they like and what speaks to them, and hope that others connect with it. That’s where the magic happens. That’s what this is all about.
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
“Appetite for Destruction” by Guns N’ Roses. It’s an album I believe people will be listening to 100 years from now. Every song is solid and memorable. It flows perfectly from beginning to end. The lyrics, the riffs, the arrangements, the themes. It’s just about as perfect a rock n’ roll album as I can possibly name off the top of my head.
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?
Oh geez, I would say CD’s for listening quality, but I do miss the small, tangible charm of cassettes from when I was a kid. Vinyl is making such a massive comeback though, and people seem to love it–you gotta admit those sleeves look awesome next to each other on a shelf.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
It was our first show as a six piece back in August in our hometown in Florida. People really responded in a way we weren’t even prepared for. It was an amazing feeling walking out of there that night.
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
Honestly? I don’t know. Too many possibilities. Writing fiction. Maybe even acting? It’s hard to imagine doing anything else, because everything about rock music is just so ingrained in me at this point.
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
Chuck Palahniuk and Eric Weinstein so I could pick their brains and have an interesting conversation. Mick Jagger so I could learn from the best. Eva Green as my date, because I think she’s lovely. Elon Musk should probably be there in case things somehow get boring.
What’s next for the band?
Anything and everything. We are recording and writing more songs, so those will drop soon, including the next single “My Endless Nightmare.” Our saying in the band is “To The Moon!”
What Social Media / Website links do you use to get your music out to people? Please include any links
https://www.facebook.com/AMomentOfViolence/ and you can also find us on Instagram as https://www.instagram.com/amov_official/
Time for a very British question now. As an alternative to the humble sandwich, is the correct name for a round piece of bread common in the UK either a Bap, a Barm (or Barm Cake), a Batch, a Bun, a Cob, a Muffin, a Roll or a Tea Cake?
You’re talking to an American, but I’m hardly an uncultured man. My understanding is that the term actually changes geographically depending on where you are in the UK?! I feel like I’ve heard the term “bap” from my online friends in the UK.
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
No, thank you for the opportunity. I just want to say on behalf of the rest of the band, we appreciate everyone around the world listening to our music. In 2023, our music was streamed in just under 100 countries, and we think that’s pretty amazing. So thank you to everyone enjoying the music from AMOV, and we can’t wait to give you more to listen to in the new year!
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