Interviews

It almost beggars belief that, 17 years into Midnight’s career, they remain something of a best kept secret—a seditious pleasure celebrated only by those who lurk in the darkest alleys of the underground. Founded in Cleveland in 2003, Midnight is a one-man shop, conceived by multi-instrumentalist Athenar, whose original vision saw the band staying well out of the spotlight, favoring EPs and split releases over full albums. The approach was both celebrated and bemoaned by his growing fan base.

Imperial Triumphant is one of the most unique forces in metal today. The band captures the bleak and chaotic nature of New York in their unique avant-garde meets black metal style. Wearing full masks with imagery of the Statue of Liberty and the Wall Street Bull, they symbolize the myriad of faceless individuals who hustle on the busy streets day and night.

On its 16th full-length album, Too Mean To Die via Nuclear Blast, the newly founded sextet—featuring vocalist Mark Tornillo, original guitarist Wolf Hoffmann, drummer Christopher Williams, guitarist Uwe Lulis, bassist Martin Motnik, and guitarist Philip Shouse—has crafted 11 classic trademark Accept anthems.

Street Lethal sits alongside some of the band’s best work. It’s heavy when it needs to be, it’s a ripper when it wants to be, and it’s always melodic. Vocalist and producer Danny Rexon seems to have it all under control, as he discusses the current state of Crazy Lixx and Street Lethal.

AT HAPPENS WHEN YOU MIX THE MUSIC of slave spirituals with black metal and give it a satanic twist? Originally conceived as a challenge to combine two vastly different genres of music, Zeal & Ardor quickly went from an internet sensation to a critically acclaimed band atop countless best-of lists, performing at almost every major festival across the world.

As one of the most highly anticipated metal albums of the year, Combichrist’s One Fire is only weeks away from being released. This album brings forth a new cycle for the band, along with a new lineup and even new management. We had the opportunity of picking the brain of Andy LaPlegua of Combichrist on all of this and so much more.

This fall, The Infernal Pathway sees the legendary black metallers returning with an absorbing 11 track odyssey that showcases some of the band’s most aggressive and ambitious efforts to date. We caught up with 1349’s founder and frontman Ravn to discuss the songwriting process and the unique creative directions within the record. He also shared one of his favorite US television shows, and there’s no way you’ll guess which one it is.

Coming off the heels of its magnificent 2017 comeback album, Woe to the Vanquished, California thrashers Warbringer have upped the ante with its sixth full-length album Weapons of Tomorrow, released via Napalm Records. After 2013’s underwhelming IV: Empires Collapse, Warbringer literally collapsed, leaving sole original member and vocalist John Kevill to rebuild the band.

Leaves’ Eyes continues its take on folky/Scandinavian symphonic metal on its fantastic eighth full-length release, The Last Viking, which is a concept album about Norway’s King Harald III, called Hardrada (the hard ruler), and the Vikings’ decisive last battle in England near Stamford Bridge in the year 1066.

Swiss all-female, classic heavy metal quintet Burning Witches has been on a tear lately by releasing four full-length albums in six years. On the band’s newest Norse mythology themed opus, The Witch of the North, the band executes some great storytelling and tight compositions on its 14 tracks.