Artist Interview
Bury Your Dead are releasing their sixth full-length, Mosh 'n' Roll (Mediaskare), on Tuesday. But you can check out their video for "Slaughterhouse Five," which is the first song on the album. Were that not exciting enough, it's their first record with frontman Mat Bruso back in the band since 2006's Beauty and the Breakdown. Guitarist Brendan "Slim" MacDonald fills us in on the album below. Let us know what you think of the video in the comments.
REVOLVER Vocalist Mat Bruso returned for this album. How did they come back into the band?
BRENDAN "SLIM" MacDONALD We did have Mat come back to sing on this record to go back and give it more of a nostalgic vibe to it. Also, Myke had become pretty busy with his solo career so it all fell into place.
How did Myke Terry's departure come about?
It was just a conflict of interest, to put it plainly. We stepped away from touring for a bit of time after the last tour we did, which left everyone to their own devices, some of us worked on material for this band or other projects that we had been pursuing, others found work. The media has always had a great talent for only telling one side of the story, in this case, the departure of Myke Terry. Before we had even finalized the contract moving forward there was already a press release online explaining his side of the story which opened itself up to the public to be a vague one-sided statement which had more to do with a solo career written in the third person than it did to do with the split with the band. I miss the dude but this is where it ended up.
How did Mat's return affect how you wrote the music on the album?
I just came into the whole writing process having no preconceived notions of how it was going to turn out other than just out-heavying the last five records somehow. I just sat down over the course of a few months and had fun with it. I have never felt pressured to write a record, I think that type of deadline or stress pushes people not to write what they want but what they have to. This was just another opportunity to write a record and get our asses on the road, which is what we do best.
What are you proudest of about this record?
I really like the simplicity and heaviness of this record. It really is a throwback to how this band got started, which was to just write songs we could plug in play and jump around to. There's no bells and whistles, just riffs. I'm also really into playing some of these new songs live; kids have been into be into them so I'm happy.
You open the disc a song called "Slaughterhouse Five," which is a Kurt Vonnegut novel. How has his writing affected Bury Your Dead?
As with almost all of the records, I have little to nothing to do with naming the songs. So having said that, Mat had been a fan of the author and wanted to continue with a theme based on something completely unrelated to the songs but ties them together. We have never been the type of band to sit around and worry about what the songs are called; the funny thing is the names actually take on meaning after playing them live.
Lastly, you titled this album Mosh 'N' Roll. What other bands would you put in that genre?
None.
Five Finger Death Punch unleash their highly anticipated third album, American Capitalist (Prospect Park), on October 11. Leading up to the record release, the band will appear on the cover of the next issue of Revolver, out on newsstands on August 16. FFDP are also very excited to share with Revolver readers the debut single off American Capitalist, "Under and Over It." So crank up the volume on your speakers, hit play, and be one of the first to bang their head to the new song! Then read below what FFDP vocalist Ivan Moody has to say about the track, and let us know what you think in the comments.
REVOLVER What's "Under and Over It" about?
IVAN MOODY This one is about the rumors and gossip that go on everywhere—especially online. It's comical to see how much crazy, ill-informed shit people will post as news and when they're trolling around message boards. In today's day and age, speculation and bad info can just fly around the internet and catch fire—even when it's completely false and unfounded. Funny shit.
Which part of it did you guys come up with first?
The music happened first. The guys wrote this killer riff and the music for the chorus that was undeniable, and it just spoke to me. Once the music was written, the lyrical concept just flew out of my head from seeing all these crazy rumors and it all just fit.
Was this an easy song to write?
I'm going to contradict myself here, so get ready. I've always felt like songs should never be easy—it's a gift to be in the position we're in, and you really have to work hard, dig deep, and put every drop of blood into a track that you can, so that it's brutally honest and true. However, this track was a rare moment where the lyrics just flowed out of me. It all came together so perfectly. Once I had the concept, the track took on a life of its own and really came together.
What sort of feedback have you gotten on this song so far?
I guess we'll find out soon enough!
You know Jamey Jasta as the roaring lead throat behind Hatebreed and Kingdom Of Sorrow—but with the upcoming release of his first solo album, Jasta (eOne), tomorrow, get ready to meet Jamey Jasta the genre-hopping rock songwriter. In between talking with us about the new disc's alternately radio-friendly and speaker-shredding jams for Revolver's new issue, Jasta revealed some of the more surprising sounds that inform his everyday listening habits.
Electric Light Orchestra
"People think I listen to hardcore and Slayer all day, but I like a lot of old rock music—stuff like Deep Purple, Blue Öyster Cult, Bee Gees, Boston, ELO. With ELO, I'm just amazed at all the hooks and different styles they were able to incorporate into their sound. Their stuff is just so imaginative; you're just like, "What was their inspiration?" I like that, because as a songwriter, it makes you dig to find answers."
Weezer
"I'm actually a big Weezer fan in general, but the one song that stands out to me is 'Island In The Sun.' Wherever I go with my daughter, we end up hearing that song somewhere—it's become this little game for us that someday we're going to have our own little 'island in the sun.' No joke, man: I want that song played at my funeral."
Nas
"I feel like there's this perception that I'm anti-hip-hop, but that's just the opposite. Nas stands out for me just because he's such an amazing lyricist, but I listen to a lot of stuff: I like Mobb Deep, Cormega—a lot of hip-hop from Queens, actually. I picked up that Ill Bill/Vinnie Paz record Heavy Metal Kings not too long ago—I've been listening to that a lot."
Gwen Stefani
"This is another one I can thank my daughter for. I originally started throwing Gwen Stefani songs on my iPod just to keep my daughter happy, but I have to tell you, man, the stuff rubbed off on me. She's really good."
Alice In Chains
"I don't know if this one is totally surprising, but I think it was a big inspiration on how I approached the more melodic stuff on Jasta, particularly the song I did with Phil Labonte [All That Remains vocalist], 'Something You Should Know.' It's hard to pick a favorite record, but Black Gives Way To Blue was a really inspiring one for me. I felt like they did the impossible; coming back with an unknown singer and putting out a record that holds up to the stuff they did with Layne Staley."
Synth-heavy metalcore group Iwrestledabearonce are releasing their highly anticipated second album, Ruining It for Everybody (Century Media), on July 26. Below, check out the world premiere of the song "Deodorant Can't Fix Ugly" off the record. Guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Steven Bradley fills us in on the song below. Let us know what you think of it in the comments!
[audio:http://www.revolvermag.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/03-Deodorant-Can_t...|Titles="Deoderant Can't Fix Ugly"|Artists=Iwrestledabearonce]
REVOLVER What's "Deodorant Can't Fix Ugly" about?
STEVEN BRADLEY The lyrics are all about organized religion and questioning things as opposed to following them blindly. Musically, it's all about covering a shit-ton of genres and then finished up with amazing gospel choir guest vocals!
Which part of it did you come up with first?
Truth be told, one of the riffs from that song is something I wrote at John [Ganey, guitar]'s house literally a decade ago! Maybe even longer, because I'm 26 and I'm pretty sure I wrote that hanging out there before I could even drive! It's the riff underneath the vocals, "Why should we believe in something we can't see." I totally forgot about it and somehow remembered it one night, and we decided to throw it in there because somehow it was never used before. The rest of the song came together while we were finishing up writing for the new album, and it just has a few ideas that we've never used before in songs and wanted to make sure got put on this record.
Was this an easy song to write?
Definitely an easy one... It poured out of us really, really quickly one night. I have no clue why, but sometimes we get lucky and it works like that!
What sort of feedback have you gotten on this song so far?
Well as of right now, only our friends and management/label have heard the song... and obviously they're all liars and have told us they love it. Honestly though, the choir part at the end is one of my favorite parts on the new album and is something way different, even for us, and I really hope people think it's as great as we do.
What's the worst smell that's ever passed your nose?
The simple fact that you have to ask means that you have never stepped foot in our van. I'm pretty sure someone ripped up the upholstery, put down a layer of dog shit, and reupholstered it. Pretty impressive, really!
Iwrestledabearonce Tour Dates
Date City Venue
The All Stars Tour:
7/22 McAllen, TX Las Palmas Racepark
7/23 San Antonio, TX Backstage Live
7/24 Dallas, TX The Palladium
7/26 Louisville, KY Expo Five
7/27 Cleveland, OH Agora Ballroom
7/28 Chicago, IL Congress Theatre
7/29 Detroit, MI Royal Oak Theatre
7/30 Milwaukee, WI The Rave
7/31 St. Paul, MN Station 4 Outdoors (Lowertown Music Festival)
8/2 Toronto, ON Sound Academy
8/3 Montreal, QC Olympia
8/4 Reading, PA Eagle Theatre at The Sov Center
8/5 Poughkeepsie, NY Civic Center
8/6 Fitchburg, MA Marriott Trade Center
8/7 Sayreville, NJ Starland Ballroom
8/9 Baltimore, MD Sonar
8/10 Richmond, VA The National
8/11 Charlotte, NC The Fillmore
8/12 Myrtle Beach, SC House Of Blues
8/13 Orlando, FL Plaza Live
8/14 Pensacola, FL Seville Quarter Party Plaza
8/17 Tucson, AZ The Rialto Theatre
8/18 Scottsdale, AZ Venue of Scottsdale
8/19 San Diego, CA Soma
8/20 Anaheim, CA The Grove
8/21 Las Vegas, NV Rock The Block
8/23 San Francisco, CA Regency Ballroom
8/26 Seattle, WA Showbox SoDo
8/27 Portland, OR Roseland Theatre
Solo Dates:
9/16 Anchorage, AK Club Millennium
9/17 Anchorage, AK Chilkoot Charlie's
We at Revolver are stoked to announced that our good friend Mistress Juliya has agreed to join us as our new online advice columnist. Read what she has to say about the new gig below. And, of course, send her your questions!
I've had the honor of talking to the biggest names in rock and metal the past eight years while hosting Uranium, Slave to the Metal, and, currently, Top Twenty Countdown on Fuse.
During the last year I've had the pleasure of meeting a lot of you at Rock on the Range and Mayhem Fest. I've realized that it would be awesome to speak to you all more often.
My friends at Revolver are kind enough to help me do just that. Starting today, I'll be answering your questions about bands, a darker lifestyle, love and relationships, or whatever's on your mind.
Email your questions to: AskJuliya@revolvermag.com
Already huge in their homeland, Australia, with stadium tours alongside Muse and Linkin Park under their belts, prog-inflected alt rockers Dead Letter Circus are finally putting out their acclaimed full-length debut, This Is the Warning, in the U.S. on July 26, via Sumerian Records. In anticipation of the release, the band has given us this exclusive remix of their song, "The Drum," by Grammy-winning producer-mixer Lee Groves. Crank the track below, and read what vocalist Kim Benzie has to say about it.
[audio:http://revolvermag.com/wp-content/uploads/audio/DEADLETTERCIRCUSTHEDRUM(RemixFull).mp3|Titles="The Drum (Remix)"|Artists=Dead Letter Circus]
REVOLVER What's the song "The Drum" about?
KIM BENZIE "The Drum" is about a point I reached in my life where everything seemed gray, where all I could think was, Surely there is more to life than this. Where are the profound moments? When will I be in awe ? This was going on right when the song came about. As the song wrote itself over a couple of days, it dragged me through the melancholy to a brighter place. I remember leaving our studio and looking out over the lights of our city at night thinking, This city is alive, and that life isn't about circles. There are always fresh starts and new beginnings. So I guess the song is a story about longing for the beat of your drum to grow loud in your chest, turning a corner in life, and feeling it banging loud and strong as if for the first time again.
How did you hook up with Lee Groves? How did he end up remixing the track?
We have been massive fans of his work. He produced Bertie Blackman's Secrets and Lies, which is such an incredible sounding album. He came up and said, "Hi," at a festival, and we were all pretty much thinking simultaneously, Holy shit...that was Lee Groves. I think we maybe begged him or bribed him or something. Maybe blackmail?
What do you think of the remix? Did it make you reconsider the original?
We love the remix. Love the original format equally. Based on the success of the merging of styles, don't be surprised if Lee's work features on the next album.
Five Finger Death Punch have announced the first single, "Under and Over It," off their forthcoming third album, which is called American Capitalist and due out this fall. The song will debut right here at Revolvermag.com on Wednesday, July 27th. Check out the single art below!
Michigan-based hard-rock outfit Pop Evil release their long awaited sophomore album, War of Angels (eOne), on July 5, which features the hit singles "Last Man Standing" and "Monster You Made," a song which frontman Leigh Kakaty says depicts what the record is all about. In anticipation of the new album, the band is exclusively unveiling the new music video for the latter track—directed by Robby Starbuck, who has previously helmed clips by August Burns Red and Asking Alexandria—right here! Watch it below and let us know what you think in the comments!
Hard rockers Staind release their self-titled album on September 13, via Flip/Atlantic. Here is your first chance to hear their new single, "Not Again," in the lyric video below. Below that, guitarist Mike Mushok fills us in on the song and the band's heavy direction on the new album. Let us know what you think of the song in the comments.
REVOLVER What's this song about?
MIKE MUSHOK You'd have to ask Aaron about that one. I do know that he does write about things he's felt or experienced. However, he usually really doesn't like to discuss the actual meaning of the song because he likes to let the listener make up their own interpretation. This way everyone can get what they want from the song rather than being told what it's about.
Which part of it did you come up with first?
I actually came up with the clean intro/verse part first and wrote the heavy riff around that. This was a song that I brought down and pretty much had written when we started jamming. Not much changed from when I worked through the song with Johnny K in Chicago before the sessions. It was one of the earlier things I wrote for the record that just stuck with me.
Was this an easy song to write or record?
There really wasn't anything too difficult about writing or recording this song. The solo was improvised from the demos, and I had to go back and relearn it. The riff is all down picked, which makes it sound heavier, I think. I kind of did that with all the riffs on the record. That hasn't been on a Staind record in awhile. There's really nothing too complicated about it.
However, the record was very difficult to make. There were a lot of things going on that led to this—us losing our drummer Jon [Wysocki] during the sessions, Aaron releasing his solo record while we were recording, the deadline that the label put on us to turn in a record—that, in conjunction with a ton of other personal stuff, really made for a very difficult process. I have to apologize to my family for having to put up with me during that time. In hindsight, though, I'm really happy with the end results.
What sort of feedback have you gotten on this song so far?
Feedback seems to be good! We played the song at Rock on the Range, and it went over well. A live show is really a hard place to hear a song for the first time. I have played it for a lot of people I know, and they seem like they really enjoy not only this song but the whole vibe of the record. It seems like everyone so far is really glad that we kind of returned back to where we started. Me, too!!
This album as a whole seems heavier than what Staind has done in the past. Is that something you set out to do this time?
It was. It's funny, the last record Aaron said was going to be our heaviest record to date, but I just wasn't writing songs like that. It worked out because he did like what I was writing, and instead of our heaviest record, it became our most experimental. This time around we felt it was really time to return to our roots. I'm really glad we did because I'm really proud of the way it turned out. I really can't wait for people to hear it and for us to be able to play these songs live. It should definitely add something to the set. Should be fun!
Kicking off on July 20, Rob Zombie and Slayer will team up for the Hell On Earth tour, their first time trekking across the US together since Ozzfest '99, and to many, it's about time these two metal juggernauts roamed reunited. (This reporter remembers the Jersey show of Ozzfest '99 as the single concert that changed his life, introducing him to Slayer and plunging him headfirst into metalheadom.) We contacted Zombie and Slayer frontman Tom Araya to talk to them about the upcoming tour, lineup changes (Zombie has signed on ex-Marilyn Manson drummer Ginger Fish, and during recent tour dates, Slayer have had to replace founding guitarist Jeff Hanneman with Exodus' Gary Holt due to an infected spider bite on the axman's arm). Here's what they had to say:
REVOLVER How did the Hell On Earth tour come to be? What brought you guys back together?
ROB ZOMBIE How do any of these things come about? A publicist came to me and was like, "Do you want to do a tour with Slayer this summer?" Of course I said, "Yeah." I mean, I know the guys in Slayer, we run into each other all the time just by being in the same circles. We just got done doing a tour in Australia together.
TOM ARAYA I think, after 30 years, I think Slayer has arrived at a cool factor. We've gotten to the point where it's cool to be in it. I think it makes for a show to come and see. Zombie has that cool factor, we have that cool factor now, so it'll allow people who maybe aren't into both bands to check it out. To me, it's a bill that works good, that works a lot better than [Slayer's 2009 Mayhem Fest co-headliner Marilyn] Manson. That was a very different audience for us. Manson's also very theatrical, but Zombie has more groove. Manson's all doom and gloom. [Laughs]
The last time you guys toured together was Ozzfest '99. Why have other bands risen and fallen, but Slayer and Zombie remained?
ZOMBIE Both bands have are really intense and do a really over-the-top thing. I think it's just a good match, a really good package, something that the fans will really enjoy. We both have very big sounds, and put on really big, satisfying shows. So I think it's going to be a lot of fun, and a really good time for everyone.
ARAYA I think because we stick to our guns. We're a very sonic band, we stay true to our sound and the heaviness that comes with Slayer. And Zombie has stayed really true to his stage show, to this kind of circus atmosphere. Zombie's also a bit more radio acceptable, so he's able to get out on the radio. We do it more by touring.
You've both taken on new members. Rob, how is having Ginger Fish on board? Tom, you guys have been friends with Gary Holt since back in the day, right?
ZOMBIE We haven't actually played that much with [Ginger Fish] yet, but I'm really excited to have him on board. Obviously, I had luck with John [5, Manson's previous guitarist]. When [Ginger] played some stuff for us, it really felt good to watch him, to see that he got what we were trying to do. I'm excited to bring him out on the road.
ARAYA Yeah, shit, the first show we ever played in San Francisco, we played with Exodus and a band called Lääz Rockit. We met Exodus back in '83, and it's been one of those friendships that pick up every time we run into each other. Gary playing with us has made the decision [to replace founding guitarist Jeff Hanneman] a lot easier, because he was a friend. It's a very comforting feeling to have Gary along, because it's based on a friendship. I wouldn't have it any other way.
Rob, you're also touring England later this year for the first time in forever—what has kept you from doing more tours like these in the past?
ZOMBIE Making movies basically got in the way. Once the movies started happening, I basically stopped touring as much. I'd do a US tour every once in a while, then do another film. It really does take a lot of time and effort to tour around the world. My new goal is to try and find a balance for it—to get around the globe and tour and also go make a movie.
Tom, Jeff Hanneman showed up at the Big 4 show in Indio, California, to play a few songs with Slayer. Will he be playing any shows with you guys this summer or maybe at September's Big 4 show?
ARAYA We really have to see. He's still got a lot of work to do on his arm. It's on a day-by-day basis. At the moment, he's still healing up. It was pretty severe. If you were to know what really went on behind the scenes, you'd understand. I don't think people quite understand what he had to go through. We'd rehearse with him, to see where's he's at, and he'd only be able to do a few songs before his arms got really tired. He's really anxious to play, and we just said, "Take your time, recover." I want the fans to understand that he ain't going anywhere, and the band's not going anywhere without him. He's just out of commission at the moment.