Hi everyone! Welcome to another EMQs interview, this time with Canadian Rockers, Mad Symphony. Huge thanks to their Lead Vocalist, Kevin Wright, 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?
Kevin Wright – Lead Singer. (from our bio) Mad Symphony is the collaboration of accomplished and professional Vancouver-based musicians who collectively have many years of experience writing, recording, and touring internationally with various acts. Formed from the ashes of Seattle grunge-metal band Soulbender (which also featured Michael Wilton of Queensrÿche fame on guitar), lifelong friends and collaborators Dave Groves (guitar) and Wes Hallam (drums) joined up with multi-instrumentalist / producer / engineer Ted Tosoff (Blue Voodoo) in 2018 to begin writing for a new, as-yet-unnamed project. Ted knew of powerhouse vocalist Kevin Wright (The Wilds, TNT (Bon Scott Tribute), whose raunchy and melodic vocal stylings a-la Bon Scott and Robert Plant, fit the new songs perfectly; Kevin was quickly recruited into the fold. To round out the line-up, the formative members didn’t have to look far. Dave and Wes had both played with keyboardist Mike Russell (Sweeney Todd) and bassist Amrit Prasad (Assault), but not always in the same bands or at the same time. With the addition of Mike on keys and Amrit on bass Mad Symphony immediately began recording their debut album and rehearsing tirelessly.
How did you come up with your band name?
We went through hundreds of names… some stupid and some OK… but Mad Symphony finally came. Think of the world and all its many different moving parts, like a symphony… only stark raving MAD!
What Country / Region are you from and what is the Metal / Rock scene like there?
West Coast of Canada… Vancouver, BC. There are a lot of great bands here but as years go by… live music venues continue to fade away. Not like it was some years ago.
What is your latest release?(Album, EP, Single, Video)
Blood 2 Dust – EP
Who have been your greatest influences?
Myself? Top 3 singers are Klaus Meine, Bon Scott, Ronnie James Dio… and a big shout out to the late, great Dan McCafferty of Nazareth. Ozzy was pretty big for me too growing up.
What first got you into music?
Violin in grade 2. Sax in grade 5. And my little red record player with a mic attached so I could sing along with records.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
I would love to work with Slash.
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
Anything at Castle Donnington… such an amazing venue and crowd.
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
Shots on stage! Oh wait… that’s not that weird.
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
Don’t poop yer pants!
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
Bon Scott.
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
Getting to hit the stage and really get the crowd kickin’ ass. Can’t say there is much to hate, although sometimes you put in a shit ton of work with nothing much to show for it… but you keep going.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
Get rid of the talentless idiots who make millions and bring back kick ass bands like it used to be.
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
Scorpions – “Animal Magnetism”.
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?
Vinyl… but I love CD’s for the car.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
All of them
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
A musician’s helper?
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
Johnny Depp and 4 of the hottest chicks he knows. Might be a laugh hey?
What’s next for the band?
Keep the muscle flexed coming out of pandemic time. Good to be playing live. Keep writing. We are hoping to find a really great, connected agent / label who loves, and sees the potential of our music and find some great touring opportunities.
What Social Media / Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
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?
We all know it’s a BAP! Like the sound it would make if someone threw it directly at your head.
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
We just want to thank all the radio stations and magazine reviewers around the world for all the support we received after our first EP. Mad Symphony came out of the gates just before Covid, so it was a huge challenge to do anything. Let’s keep rock and roll alive!
Disclaimer: This interview is solely the property of Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this interview, unless you have the strict permission of said party. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.
Hunting Giants – Mythos Self-Released Release Date: 30/09/2022 Running Time: 44:49 Reviewed by Alex Swift 6/10
The Canadian act Hunting Giants are excellent, but far too frequently maligned. This album features a wide variety of musical styles, from ferocious white-knuckle Metal to soothing ambient compositions laced with melancholy pianos and eerie cello, to gigantic ballads beautifully enhanced by chants, violins, and bells. Mythos examines archetypes that influence our world, both noble and monstrous, as well as the inescapable outcomes that result when these principles are egregiously embraced and exhibited.
The first track is the album’s title song. It resembles a hybrid of Progressive Rock and Alternative Rock. The chorus has vocal harmonies and soulful voices that are enticing. A little heavier and with more Contemporary influences is ‘Ancient Text’. They describe this song as being more of a visceral Metal track, but I’m still not sold on the vocal style. Nevertheless, the energy is quite constant. The brief song ‘Too Big to Kill’ has meter changes and more soulful vocals. The band truly shines in the chorus, eloquently contrasting with the gloomy verses.
On ‘Rituals’, the Alternative sound dominates, although ‘Among Thieves’ boasts one of the strongest melodies and great syncopation. The final orchestral touches are a great touch. The band’s talent is highlighted in the brief song ‘Whispers’, which has a mellow piano, harmonised guitars, and a robust bass line. Another brief tune is ‘Vanguard’. What the band has so far performed is quite original. The heaviness is present, yet occasionally the melodies aren’t fully realised. The classic weighted tones return in ‘Mantle’, albeit I must say that I don’t like the clumsy chord progressions used here. However, ‘Kindred’ stands out because to a powerful, sluggish riff that is wonderfully enhanced by robust bass tones and vibrato vocal harmonies.
The one-minute song ‘Epitaph’ scarcely leaves an effect. However, ‘Into Stone’ is amazing. Cymbals smash and drums roll while the bass nicely chugs along. The riff is what needs the most improvement in this song; it’s a little basic yet successful in that the melodies comes over. A strong riff from ‘Remnant’ is reminiscent of ancient Egyptian monarchs. This tune exhibits some hurry combined with some gloom. vocals are utilised sparingly. The album’s final track is ‘King of Ashes’. It is the album’s last brilliant moment, with the concept contemplating the worth of a king who rules over ashes, and the instrumentation being imperious and multi-layered at the same time.
Overall, this was a sonically pleasing experience that had a few unusual stylistic fusions. Most of the time, it’s strong enough for Metal enthusiasts as well as being melodic enough for people like myself who adore theatricality. Additionally, they demonstrated some excellent playing. However, I found that thirteen songs lingered a little too long, and occasionally the melodic lines weren’t developed as well as they may have been. This makes for an exciting if inconsistent listen.
TRACKLISTING: 01. Mythos 02. Ancient Text 03. Too Big to Kill 04. Rituals 05. Among Thieves 06. Whispers (instrumental) 07. Vanguard 08. Mantle 09. Kindred 10. Epitaph 11. Into Stone 12. Remnant 13. King of Ashes
LINE-UP: Corey Wharton – Bass Stephen Atkey – Vocals Bradley Trivett – Guitar Daniel Beavington – Drums
Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Alex Swift and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.
Exclusive Video Premiere Playhouse – Dancing At Funerals RFL Records Release Date: 12/08/2022
Today, Playhouse, Canada’s melodic hard rock masters, drop a new video for ‘Dancing At Funerals,’ the title track from their brand new album that released on July 22nd. And here at Ever Metal, we are privileged to have the exclusive video premiere!
The video offers a deep and emotional look into the fine line between life and death. It encompasses everything about this album, and it is best explained by Playhouse vocalist Peter Cat: “The Song Is About Death Celebrating Life.” It is a dark, yet well-conceived video that touches plenty of emotions.
And here it is!
‘Dancing At Funerals’ Official Video
About the band:
Formed in 1987, five high school friends set out to be the biggest rock band to ever come out of Canada. With a reputation for their high-energy shows and big anthems, they quickly began filling every club & theater that they played. The band was destined for global success, selling thousands of copies of their two EPs; 1988’s “Little Monster” and 1990’s “Tongue, Tied & Twisted.” Just like so many bands in the early ’90s, the success that seemed to be theirs for the taking never fully manifested, and after almost a decade of decadence and steady touring in support of such bands as Extreme, Killer Dwarfs, Lee Aaron and Harem Scarem, the band decided to call it quits. It was an end of an era………but some things never fully come to an end.
Fast forward to 2016, and the band reunited and entered the studio with veteran producer and guitarist of Slaves on Dope; Kevin Jardine, to record new songs. In 2017, for the 1st time in 25 years, Playhouse returned to the stage with a sold-out comeback show in Montreal, Canada. Many high-profile shows followed, including opening slots for The Dead Daisies, L.A. Guns, Buckcherry, Dizzy Reed’s Hookers & Blow, Helix, and Warrior Soul. The band also releases their first album “The Rock N’ Roll Circus” to critical acclaim in 2018 and followed that up with a single and video, “Revolution Tonight,” in 2020!
The band has joined forces once again with legendary Canadian producer Kevin Jardine(Faith No More, Mastodon, Run DMC, Cypress Hill, Anthrax, Korn, Sepultura, Beastie Boys, 3rd Bass, Men Without Hats). This album is sure to turn a lot of heads and will open the ears of the core fans as well as new listeners alike.
About the album:
The album “Dancing At Funerals” presents a mature and classic-sounding Playhouse, and a very diverse ride through 13 original, yet different tracks; it’s a musical journey through life.
Peter Cat explains: “Dancing At Funerals” is a beautifully-crafted, dark record. Inspired by the dead and written for the living. It’s our best record so far!
The album release has been preceded by the release of 3 singles, ‘The Storm,’ ‘Hell’s A Long Way Down’ and ‘Champagne,’ all have which have been receiving critical acclaim from media and fans alike. ‘Hell’s A Long Way Down’ is a great example of a more mature Playhouse and has been a front-runner for the album.
Peter Cat gives some background about the track: “Danny sent me chords and music to a beautiful country song. I wrote a melody and lyrics about a sinner in Memphis, Tennessee who confesses on his death bed to a priest who also happens to be his younger brother. “Hell’s a long way down,” the priest says!
The track was recorded between September 2020 and May 2021 at Uplift Studios and produced by Kevin Jardine, written and performed by Playhouse. The video was filmed and directed by Jared Pollack of Jared Pollack Media.
Peter Cat: “This is a beautiful country rock song and we are really proud that it’s tasty like a Tennessee Whiskey”
The most recent single from the album, “Champagne,” features rapper Annakin Slade who delivers a cool and subtle piece to the song. The latest single switches gears from the band’s usual hard rock vibe and throws an emotional twist into a cool, summer, classic. The band offers some incite into the single:
Bassist, Danny Williams: “Pete came over to my place one night, we had some wine and ended up writing Champagne. Our producer Kevin Jardine suggested we get Annakin Slayd to lay down a rap and when all was said and done, we ended up with a feel-good summer song.”
Disclaimer: This article is solely the property of RFL Records, released to Ever Metal for the purposes of the video premiere of ‘Dancing At Funerals.’ It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this article, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.
King Bull – What Happened Here? EP Riot Records Release Date: 30/10/2020 Running Time: 18:11 Review by Martin Bennewith 8/10
Sometimes it is nice to sit down and listen to a good bit of rock music – music that has a familiar ring to it and that doesn’t try to be anything out of the ordinary. I kind of get that feeling with King Bull. King Bull are a young Canadian rock band, playing music with a style that is long before their time, and they pull it off well enough. I would describe it as rock with a touch of punk, with a swirling vocal style against dirty guitars and a driving rock beat. ‘What Happened Here?’ is a 5 track EP that demonstrates well what King Bull are about, that is, no nonsense, energetic rock.
The first track ‘Pay Attention’ has a fitting title – it is a short number, with distorted guitar, energetic vocals, and some neat simple fills. It has a positive vibe to it, and is a nice way to start.
The second helping, ‘Secret Sauce’ follows the same formula but is slightly less rough around the edges than the first – and is stretched out with more rhythmic builds and guitar fills. Once again, the vocal work is full of energy, and the stirring vocal style works really well here.
Track three ‘Dontcha Know’ has a different feel to the first two – it is not quite a rock ballad, and the best way to describe it is like a cross between Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust and Guns N’ Roses knocking on heaven’s door – so again it is pure rock with uneasy vocals, sometimes fluttering, sometimes screaming, but always true.
Next comes ‘The Defender’ – and this one is very raw – it is probably the most punk sounding track on the EP, it is just raw dirty guitar energy and screaming vocals. The beat is driving and carries the track forward at a nice pace.
We finish with ‘B-side Baby’ – this track has a more serious storytelling feel to it, it has more defined sections, and holds back in parts to emphasise the vocals. There are some nice guitar feels once again and an epic guitar and scream fuelled finish to wrap things up.
Because of the unpretentious and simple nature of this EP there is not too much to say about it, so this was quite an easy review to do – it is rock music as it should be, and it really speaks for itself. 8/10.
Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Martin Bennewith and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.
Hi everyone! Welcome to our new EMQ’s interview with Montreal, Canada based Rap Metal/Rock band Fatal Switch. Huge thanks to vocalist Steve Tobin 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?
We are Fatal Switch, a Rap Metal Rock band that plays loud heavy music mixed in with devasting hip hop stories about demons, aliens, war and all-around destruction.
My name is Steve Tobin and I am the founding member and front man of Fatal Switch. My brother Luca Tobin and I formed the band some years ago and shortly after we found our manager Pedro Barbosa and our producer Kevin Jardine through our involvement in the music scene. From that moment the first seeds Fatal Switch were sown, and we created our debut album titled “Doctors & Demons” which was recently released on Aug 7th, 2020.
The instrumentation performed on the album consisted of session musicians and my brother left the band shortly after the album was recorded. So, I was left with an album but no band members to perform it. I quickly had to form a group who would be willing to promote the first album live and continue writing new material as we establish our brand.
I am proud to say that Fatal Switch officially consists of guitarists Ryann Paqueo and Max Rope, bassist David Vigliotti and drummer Ralph A Samah.
How did you come up with your band name?
I wanted to have a name that stood out in peoples mind but that also had a personal meaning to what the band stood for. It wasn’t all that easy to find the perfect name and it all started by putting together (what I thought were) cool word combinations together on a page.
After coming up with close to a hundred I narrowed it down to a few and then started polling family and friends. Time and time again Fatal Switch kept winning out against the rest and to me it made the most sense because there is duality to the words Fatal Switch. It is a representation of something lurking beneath the surface ready to rise with destruction. An inner polarization inside oneself to be channelled as a tool for good or evil.
What country are you from and what is the metal scene like there?
We are from the city of Montreal in Canada and the scene here is heavy!! Of all musical genres I think metal has the largest community in my city. It really is the reason why our style of hybrid rap metal exists. I had a voice and a message I wanted to share with the world and if it wasn’t for metal it would still be undiscovered.
My brother Rodney Ramroop introduced me to metal music, then to the scene taking me to show after show were things really started to take form for my career. There really are some amazing people in the metal universe from fans to industry professionals alike, we are linked by a brother/sister-ship that has made this journey possible.
What is your latest release (Album, EP, Single, Video)
Our latest single is the title track off our album called “Doctors & Demons”. We got a sick video airing on TV and we have been gaining momentum on YouTube. The video stars suicide girl Stiletto Thunder Kiss who did a fantastic job and the visuals were put together by the genius of JD Leblanc of Heymakers video production.
Our 10-track album is also live on all platforms so go check out the video as well as our tunes and let us know what you think!
‘Doctors & Demons’ (Official Video)
Who have been your greatest influences?
That’s a long list. Definitely when looking at our style of music bands like RATM, Beastie Boys, Limp Bizkit and Linkin Park are at the top of the food chain and have paved the way for this type of sound to exist. Also, Crazy Town X is very talented and have some of the best bangers!
On the hip hop side, Eminem, Dr Dre, Busta Ryhmes, NAS and 2Pac immediately spring to mind while Anthrax, Metallica, Megadeth, Tool and Slipknot would be some key metal influences to pair with the hip hop ones. This is a small example as the list can easily fill a page.
What first got you into music?
My uncle is great with a guitar and he taught me my first song at a very young age. I was just 4 years old when I performed my first song in front a crowd of a few hundred people. Since then my life has been all about music and preforming.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
Most of my band mates would surely say Metallica but let me give that one some thought.
I mean selfishly I would say Eminem because I know he could take my vocals to the next level but…I think we would crush a song with Billie Eilish. Ya… egos aside I would like to work with her on a song because I think we would create something very different and unheard of. Plus, she’s crazy talented and at the end of the day it’s all about creating a masterpiece not trying to become one. So that’s my answer right now.
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
It would have to be Heavy Montreal. I’d love to start there and venture into other ones. Why? Because it’s an amazing festival that all of us have attended for years and to be one of the bands on that stage would absolutely rock and be a tangible mark of success!
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
Fans give gifts? Why have I not been told about this? I’ve gotten compliments and stuff but I’m still waiting for my box with a bow on top.
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
That nothing is as it seems and to question everything! I mean, can evil not disguise itself under a warm smile bearing a cloak of nobility? Or is it not possible to demonize good people who only want to bring about positive change? These kinds of questions are riddled underneath the stories of our songs so hopefully the whisper of that message can be heard throughout the album and leave our listeners asking themselves a question or two.
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
Kurt Cobain man…Huge Nirvana fan over here. I feel as though he had so much more music to give. He went way to soon. Same could be said about Bradley Nowell though… I hope they are making some crazy songs together in another universe and that I’ll get to hear them one day.
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
Having cool chats like this is definitely one of the better parts about being a musician. Specifically, because it gives us a chance to reach new listeners. And when someone comments or reaches out to us online or at a show, expressing that they are connecting with the music… wow that is one of the best feelings in the world. We don’t make music for ourselves we create it for the audience, so to be told that you’ve been heard means the world to me.
I hate how much everything costs. I could spend millions of dollars on music and barely make a dent. Everything else is gravy though.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
Wealth distribution. Like our current economy we all suffer by financial means because the wealth gap is too large, and the music industry is no different. The major labels have way too much money (therefore power) and stifle creativity. If governments limit how much a label can earn in a year then smaller labels would suddenly have bigger budgets, drive more competition and give everyone a more equal opportunity to succeed. There would be fewer backhanded deals and this whole nonsense of paying an artist less than a penny for a stream would cease to exist because more influential bodies would be advocating for fair compensation. It’s one simple thing our governments refuse to do that would take down the house of cards, but no. Instead they continue to steal our money through taxation while cutting deals with all the major criminals. I mean just think about it. If labels were financially limited, they would have to make deals with fewer artists, treat the ones they own with more respect and make sure the quality and calibre of what they produce is beyond amazing. Plus, they wouldn’t have a million artists sit on a shelf just so they can hedge their bets on what might sell. But that’s just my cynical view, doesn’t mean I am right. I would love to see how it would change things though.
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
Sure, I’ll name one. It in no way means that it is my favourite album of all time because I don’t think I have just one. But looking back into my current song writing process I am having more and more respect for the early years of Korn and I think “Follow The Leader” truly stands the test of time.
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?
Gotta be Vinyl all the way! I don’t currently own any at the moment, but man do I ever have fond memories of those things. As a kid my dad had a nice collection and I remember him playing classics like Pink Floyd for me. Definitely looking to start building a collection in the near future.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
Indie Week 2019 was our last show (thanks COVID!) and our best to date. The guys crushed it on stage, and we had an amazing time.
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
I really don’t know to be honest. I do have some skillsets that I am trying to integrate within the music because music is my life. Music is my religion and when you are so devoted to something you tend to attribute everything you are good at to your cause. Just take a look at Bruce Dickinson, the guy fly’s an airplane but it’s the maiden airplane. As a musician everything you learn tends to lend itself back into the craft in some form or another.
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
I’d love to say Joe Rogan, Eminem, Dave Mustaine, Mike Tyson and Russell Simmons. But in these dark times if I truly had a shot at anyone it would be the five richest people in the world right now. I’d sit them down and either try and make a small change in the world through healthy debate or… ask them to fund my next album.
What’s next for the band?
Well we just dropped Doctors & Demons so we will be promoting our first album as we get ready to head back into the studio early next year for our second record. I’d love to say shows and touring but that huge pause button has hit the industry pretty hard right now.
What Social Media/Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
Let’s be honest and call it for what it is. A biscuit cake.
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
I’d like to thank you and your readers for spending a bit of time to get to know us. It truly makes all the hard work and effort worth it when we get a chance to share our musical creations. Loved all the questions! I had great time doing this! We’d love to keep in touch with all of you so please drop us a line on social media so we can get to know YOU a bit better. Much love and noise – Fatal Switch!
Disclaimer: This interview is solely the property of Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this interview, unless you have the strict permission of said party. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.
Disclaimer: This photo album is solely the property of Arturs Feists. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of these images, unless you have the strict permission of said party. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.
Disclaimer: This photo album is solely the property of Arturs Feists. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of these images, unless you have the strict permission of said party. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.
Hi Everyone. Welcome to our new EMQ’s interview with Canadian Ethereal Gothic Rock Artist & member of Cradle Of Filth, Lindsay Schoolcraft! Huge thanks to Lindsay for taking part! What is your name, what do you play and can you tell us a little bit about your history? Hey there! My name is Lindsay Schoolcraft and I’m a singer, songwriter, and electric harpist from Oshawa, Canada who mainly writes and performs ethereal gothic rock. I’ve been doing this since 2010. How did you come up with your band name? It’s my own name and I took the last name of the First Nations people in my family. What country are you from and what is the Rock/Metal scene like there? I’m from Canada and the Metal scene here is really amazing, especially in Toronto, Montreal, and Quebec City. What is your latest release (Album, EP, Single, Video) I just released my debut solo album “Martyr” that I co-wrote with Rocky Gray (ex-Evanescence)! Who have been your greatest influences? Definitely bands and acts like Evanescence, The Birthday Massacre, Dimmu Borgir, VAST, Bjork, and LEAH. What first got you into music? Disney movies in my youth! But I started taking music seriously in high school during the early twenties alternative scene. If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be? Still really wanna song a duet with Jonathan Davis. If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why? I would love to play Wacken as a solo artist. What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan? Animal bones! If you had one message for your fans, what would it be? They already know how much I love them. If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be? Not sure I would enjoy the smell of their decaying body. But I do have to say I am sad I never saw Michael Jackson or Freddie Mercury live. What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate? I love being able to sing and write and express my creativity that way. I hate that I had to become my own record label, but anything to make it happen and work. If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be? Less people who don’t care enough and only want to make money and more people who are genuine, work hard, and you can rely on. Name one of your all-time favourite albums? “The Open Door” by Evanescence What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads? I’m still a CD collector myself. What’s the best gig that you have played to date? Opening for Evanescence and Lindsey Stirling last summer! If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing? Probably a zoologist, tattoo artist, or makeup artist! Which five people would you invite to a dinner party? None! Maybe just my partner! The idea of a dinner party right now sounds exhausting. What’s next for the band? Playing a few shows this winter and then onto writing the next album. What Social Media/Website links do you use to get your music out to people? www.schoolcraftshop.com https://www.facebook.com/schoolcraftofficial/ https://www.instagram.com/lindzriot/ https://open.spotify.com/artist/6ZLcdPSxw1fTYJlz3DLrSZ https://www.youtube.com/user/schoolcraftofficial Jaffa Cakes? Are they a cake or a biscuit? Can’t say I’ve ever even heard of them… are they vegan? Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add? Thanks for having me
Disclaimer: This interview is solely the property of Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this interview, unless you have the strict permission of said party. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.
Hi Everyone. Welcome to our new EMQ’s interview with Toronto based Dark Alternative Rock band A Primitive Evolution! Huge thanks to Vocalist/Guitarist/Synths man Brett Carruthers 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 Brett Carruthers and I play guitar and sing in the band A Primitive Evolution. We started this group a while back and finally realized our sound with our new album “Becoming.” It takes everything we’ve all been influenced by and ever wanted to create and wraps it all up in an auralgasm for you. How did you come up with your band name? I think it came to Stu in a moment of clarity. He saw the letters A.P.E. he saw an ape become a man. It was A Primitive Evolution you see. What country are you from and what is the Metal/Rock scene like there? We’re from Canada. The Metal/Rock is alright here. There’s definitely an active engagement in Metal in the big cities and people come out to big shows so that’s good, but it feels like there’s something missing in some ways to me often. Can’t quite put my finger on it… The giant distances between cities make it really hard to tour, so maybe that contributes. Easier to go to the States or Europe really! What is your latest release? (Album, EP, Single or Video) Our latest release is the album “Becoming.” We’ve released a bunch of videos for this album which are up on our YouTube channel which you should probably head on over to and check out. https://www.youtube.com/APrimitiveEvolution Who have been your greatest influences? Nine Inch Nails, Tool, Nirvana, Marilyn Manson, Orgy, Smashing Pumpkins, Faith No More, Alice In Chains, Queens of the Stone Age, Ministry, Aldous Huxley, Philip K Dick, Guillermo del Toro, Tim Burton, Danny Elfman, Stephen King, HR Geiger, Alex Grey, my family and friends. What first got you into music? I feel like as soon as I was born I was into music. I just feel it. Everywhere I go. It’s inside me. If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be? Probably Chelsea Wolfe, Youth Code, 3Teeth. If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why? Always thought that Rock Am Ring was the pinnacle of festivals! The people, the stages, the bands you’re playing with. Just magical! What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan? Well, I didn’t receive it but a female fan once gave Stephany a bunny vibrator… Hehe, that was odd, and fun and sweet all at the same time. If you had one message for your fans, what would it be? Engage with us, we enjoy it. Sharing helps more than you could ever imagine as well for bands in this stage and this market. We love you. If you could bring one Metal/Rock star back from the dead, who would it be? There’s too many to choose from at this point. But ya know… I wouldn’t bring anyone back. It all happens for a reason. Unrealistic me would bring back anyone who was murdered, so John Lennon or Dimebag. Their careers were cut short. That’s a tragedy. What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate? Well I love playing music, that’s what drives this whole thing. I love creating and writing songs, making new sounds in production. If I hate anything it’s streaming services and how they’re literally just fucking us all in the ass with how little their royalty rates are compared to how much money the companies are making off that music. It’s ridiculous. If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be? Hahaha, what I just said essentially. It would be nice if we could make a fair, profit sharing business where people take care of the artists again. Name one of your all-time favourite albums? “Siamese Dream” by Smashing Pumpkins What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads? Really whatever you like best is best. To me Downloads work great if they’re high quality. If I really love a band I’ll buy the Vinyl or CD to have the artwork and the packaging to check out. What’s the best gig that you have played to date? We’ve done a lot of great shows in Toronto with friend’s bands. Playing with The Birthday Massacre is always a pleasure here. We also often play a party called Krampus Ball put on by our friends in Squid Lid. It’s probably my favourite show to be a part of. If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing? Probably off in the desert somewhere in search of other worlds. Which five people would you invite to a dinner party? Me, you, him, her and them! What’s next for the band? Tour!! We’re heading out next week with Pig and Cyanotic so that’s super exciting. Then more videos are on the fall horizon as well as getting back into the studio this winter to start work on the next album! What Social Media/Website links do you use to get your music out to people? https://aprimitiveevolution.com/ https://www.facebook.com/APEdestroys/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/286052358875743/ https://twitter.com/APEdestroys https://www.instagram.com/apedestroys/ https://aprimitiveevolution.bandcamp.com/ https://open.spotify.com/artist/1yrkth0uppjyrUaHDqr0qM https://www.youtube.com/APrimitiveEvolution Jaffa Cakes! Are they a cake or a biscuit? I have no idea hahaha; I’ve never had this creation. Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add? Thanks for doing this. It’s a wonderful time to be creating. Hopefully we can all work to making this fucked up planet a beautiful place to live again.
Disclaimer: This interview is solely the property of Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this interview, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.
Hi Everyone. Welcome to our new EMQ’s interview with Canadian Indie Rock band Autopilot! Huge thanks to Guitarist/Vocalist Marlon 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 Marlon. I play guitar and sing in Autopilot. My drummer Jose and I have been playing together for years. We have a revolving line up on bass and sometimes a second guitar. We have 3 Albums out and 2 EP’s. We are constantly touring and playing with some of the best musicians. How did you come up with your band name? It was a while ago we came up with the name. If I remember correctly, it was describing the sound of when I play the bow on the guitar and the spacey sound I get from that. What country are you from and what is the Metal/Rock scene like there? We are from Canada. The music scene in general is really great. There’s a lot of support for independent artists in Saskatchewan including funding programs to write, record and market new music. What is your latest release? (Album, EP, Single or Video) Our latest album is called “Afterglow”. We’ve released several videos from this record. Our latest was for our track ‘Undisguised’. We have a few in the works for the songs ‘Modern Age’, the title track ‘Afterglow’, and ‘Domino’. They’ll be released throughout the year. Who have been your greatest influences? Modest Mouse has been my biggest influence but also Bear Hands’ older stuff and The Killers. What first got you into music? My brother was a musician when I was a kid. I saw him write songs. When he released an album, I knew it was something I wanted to do. If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be? This changes every time I’m asked but I think it would be awesome to collaborate with Billy Corgan. I think he has a lot to offer still in the current music scene. If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why? Coachella or maybe Summer Fest! I’m not too sure. There are hundreds of awesome festivals we’d love to play. Coachella just to experience playing would be crazy. Summer Fest seems to be an under-rated festival for its size. They have lots of independent bands alongside massive mainstream artists. We’re still bugging them to book us. What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan? A full thanksgiving dinner! A full turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and a lot more! We couldn’t eat it all as we were in a hotel for one night and then on to the next city. We also couldn’t refrigerate it. We were in New Jersey somewhere and it was Canadian Thanksgiving. It was a crazy thing to get this on the road. If you had one message for your fans, what would it be? Buy music. Get a record player and spin some records. Also support artists by following them on streaming services. Go see live music and support the bands you love. Spread the word when you hear something you like. If you could bring one Metal/Rock star back from the dead, who would it be? Kurt Cobain. I think he would have a lot to say and it might not be what you think in this time. What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate? I really love to write, record, and hear the final product. Touring new music is always really interesting too. Sometimes we’re surprised to see what songs catch different people. There’s not much I hate about it, but I really don’t like being away from my wife sometimes for months at a time and then only home for a few weeks before going back on the road. Also, being an independent artist consumes most of my time. Even when I’m home, we’re working on the next move as a band. If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be? Everything…! Name one of your all-time favourite albums? “The Lonesome Crowed West” by Modest Mouse. What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads? Vinyl for sure! We have our album “Afterglow” on all those formats, but vinyl is something that when you take it home you can sit down and spin the record. You have to flip it. It’s not like streaming where the next artist might start playing right after. I also love the way it sounds. For “Afterglow”, we have 5 different colours of records with glow in the dark and artwork that is hand screen printed by Saskatchewan artist, Chris Morin. He even did a limited run of 20 gold printed covers for this tour. We were able to get really creative with it. What’s the best gig that you have played to date? There have been quite a few great gigs. We had some really rad shows at Mesa Music Festival, Jersey Shore Festival, and in Seattle. The shows where people are really into the music and want to hang out are always the best. If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing? I would probably own a record store. Listen to music all day and have bands play all the time. Which five people would you invite to a dinner party? Ashlee Hogan Jesus Christ Isaac Brock Bill Murray Mac DeMarco What’s next for the band? We have some videos in the works for some upcoming singles off “Afterglow”, as well as more touring. When we get back from our summer tour, the next album process starts! We are stoked to be releasing more new music next year. What Social Media/Website links do you use to get your music out to people? http://smarturl.it/k0kpmb https://www.youtube.com/user/autopilotmusic https://www.facebook.com/autopilotmusic/ https://www.instagram.com/autopilotband/ https://twitter.com/bandautopilot Jaffa Cakes? Are they a cake or a biscuit? I had to Google that. I don’t think we get them in Canada. Google tells me biscuits, but what do I know. Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add? Someone send us Jaffa Cakes!
Disclaimer: This interview is solely the property of Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this interview, unless you have the strict permission of said parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.
