MARILYN MANSON - No Reflection: New Video!

Here's what we've all been anxious about! Marilyn Manson's brand new video 'No Reflection' is out! We love it, enjoy!

Interview: Emily Lazar (SEPTEMBER MOURNING)

   September Mourning is the brainchild of miss Emily Lazar, and it was founded in 2007 as a transmedia project, with a musical side that started to develop in the following year. Due to a lineup change in 2010, Emily remained the only touring member, and she's here on playdeadnation to tell us more!

pdn: Hello, Emily! Please tell me, how was the band formed and what was the project about initially? Also, how did you decide upon this band name?
Emily: First off I like to describe this as an art project with a musical element to it :) The project is based around a storyline of a girl who is a reaper and has the power to take souls from the living but also can replace those souls with those she's already taken. She has the power to change fate. The project was conceived by myself and Marc Silvestri of Top Cow (comics)

September Mourning is the Reaper name of the girl in the story. Personally, I had a friend who was very close to me die a few years ago in September... this project, for me, is a bit of a homage to him.

pdn: At what age did you start getting involved in music, and under what circumstances?

Emily: I went to a performing arts school for high school where I learned theater and singing and dance. I first stepped on stage at age 4. Performing has always been in my blood :)

pdn: Who were some bands, people that influenced you in your art?

Emily: Marc Silvestri as an artist has always been an influence on me. Music wise....  i always enjoy the risk takers and the theatrical ones, and above all the strong songwriters... Manson, Reznor, Slipknot, Kiss, Gwar, Nightwish, Alice Cooper, Rob Zombie, Evanescence, 30 Seconds to Mars....

pdn: What would best describe your live shows, in a few words?

Emily: A wall of sound heading straight for your face; energy personified; theatrical fantasy.

pdn: You've played with a few great bands so far; who was your favourite artist to share the stage with?

Emily: Marilyn Manson by far has been the leader. He was so inspiring. I learned so much on that tour. It was awesome. 

pdn: Also, who else would you like to tour with in the future, if you could pick anyone?

Emily: NIN.

pdn: What state is September Mourning currently in?

Emily: We are in preorder for our European release of  our album, "Melancholia" which drops May 18th.... you can find it on import through THIS link ;)

pdn: Which would be some of your other main passions, preoccupations except music?

Emily: What else is there in life? haha.... well hmm.... i love graphic novels/comics and I love gaming too :)

pdn: What are your project's plans for the near future?

Emily: We are working on new material and an online series for MTV Geek, the release of the comic book, launching our website and touring coming up soon as well... busy busy!

pdn: Thank you so much! Anything you would like to add for your friends, fans? :)

Emily: Yes.... This project is all about our fans... We wanted to create a world for you all. A place for you to escape to when the weight of this one gets a bit too heavy. We have so much for you all. You have always been there for us and we will always be there for you! XO!

http://www.facebook.com/SeptemberMourning
http://www.myspace.com/mlazar
http://www.SeptemberMourning.com
http://www.vampirefreaks.com/SeptemberMourning
http://www.twitter.com/iamemilylazar
http://www.twitter.com/SMofficial
http://www.reverbnation.com/septembermourning
http://www.youtube.com/MLazar13

Interview: Menton J. Matthews III (SALTILLO)

   Menton J. Matthews III is a Chicago based multi-instrumentalist playing cello, viola, violin, guitar, drums, piano, and bass, including electronic elements.  Having released two full-length albums as the mastermind of Saltillo and scoring film soundtracks, he is into various other things, and he is here to tell us a bit about it all!

pdn: Greetings, Menton! How did you decide to name this act Saltillo?

Menton: Saltillo was the very small town in Mississippi I grew up in. I could go on with a really long answer to this , but more or less, it was a really hard time for me back then, and it is a time in my life that comes up in my thoughts a great deal. I was very much an outsider in every way going up, not only to my family but to the community. I found out a great deal about myself back then, things I am still unpacking. Saltillo was the first time I ever really just made the music I wanted to hear regardless of what I thought others wanted to hear. It seemed very fitting to relate all things about the project back to my personal life. 

pdn: And how did the idea of putting together such an original musical style rise? 

Menton: The need to manifest the internality of my own psyche. To place in the external world my own personal internal architecture, iconography, tropes and loci, connecting them together and seeing them in ways that my psyche does not naturally do outside of dreams, to the point that resolution was a forgone conclusion.

 So I would say I am drawn more toward " phantasy " rather then " Fantasy ", in psychoanalytic terms when spelled with the "ph" it refers more to the unconscious content of the psyche. I see painting it as a way of communicating to the part of me I have no seeming connection with i.e. the unconscious self, the various archetypes and of course the " shadow aspect ".

pdn: When did you start making music and what was the first instrument you learned to play?

Menton: I started playing bass when I was about 12, but did not really take it seriously, drumming was my first major thing around the age of 13. 

pdn: What about this project? Do you mix everything alone or are there other members?

Menton: Yeah, I do mix and produce the music myself. I do work with vocalist from time to time who bring a whole other thing to what I am doing. But I am the only member of Saltillo. 

pdn: What are your main sources of inspiration?

Menton: My own internality, natural memory, and artificial memory. I try to draw on my own images and symbols, doing the best I can to tap into what C.G. Jung referred to as the collective unconscious. This is what I believe Hieronymus Bosch did but whether I achieve this goal or not is well... that's another story all together but that does not stop me from trying.

pdn: What are some other things you do, in parallel with Saltillo?

Menton: I am a painter as well, I work doing private commissions and some art gallery work, as well I do artwork for comic books, like silent hill, ZvR, and my own book Monocyte. 

pdn: If you were to collaborate with any bands, who would you like them to be?

Menton: This is another hard one for me, as there are so many people I would love to work with. Tom Waits, Tricky, Elizabeth Fraser, Lisa Gerrard, PJ Harvey , David Eugene Edwardsm, Scott Hutchison , Charlyn Marie Marshall I could go on and on. 

pdn: You have just released the new album called Monocyte this month! What are your plans for the near future? Will you be promoting the album with gigs or such?

Menton: I am working on a new Saltillo record as of now, and me and Sarah are looking into the idea of doing another Sunday Munich record, which we are both very excited about. I am also talking with Richard Walters about starting a project together. 

pdn: Thank you so much! Any final words you'd like to add for your friends and fans? 

Menton: Thank you very much. 

Get Monocyte HERE!

http://www.menton3.com/
http://twitter.com/#!/menton3
http://last.fm/music/Saltillo

Interview: Sonya Scarlet (THEATRES DES VAMPIRES)

   Theatres Des Vampires was formed in Rome, Italy, back in 1994. Originally a melodic black metal band, their style gradually evolved into gothic metal. The vampiric act with a very realistic, convincing presentation first recruited Sonya Scarlet as a backing vocalist, and since 2004 she remained in the band as the lead singer. She told us more about the personal and professional aspects of her life, enjoy!

pdn:  Hey Sonya! First of all, please tell me a bit about how you met the band and decided to join them.

Sonya: Hell-o Playdeadnation! I met the band in 1999..such a long time ago! they were looking for a second girl for the backing vocals and the live shows. I really didn't know so well the band before but as I saw them in the rehearsal room I i was enchanted by their wonderful music, it was love at the first sight.So I decided join them and it all started.

pdn: What are some main characteristics of your live performances? I've read that your shows were banned in certain places, why was that?

Sonya: We give our best everytime we have a gig, I'm always myself on stage and I need to give the audience what  I really feel. For me the stage is not fiction but the mirror of the soul. Being on stage is like to dig into our fears waking up the other part of us that often fell asleep, leaving it free, letting it feed with the energy that we create in our show.

I had some problems in some countries because  in the  past years I have let my fans would drink my blood and it caused me some problems. I decided to share part of my life, my blood with them cause in that moment I felt it. This thing has shocked many people and during my shows i had the police most of time to check that I did not do this again. In england it as incitement to suicide but obviously this was not my intention.Now I don't think I'm going to do it again cause my feelings and sensation are different, in this moment, but just because I decided it and not because someone told me to stop it.

pdn: Some of these were considered to have suicidal hints; I am curious, what is your actual opinion on suicide?

Sonya: I think people should do what they want. The important thing is  not harming others. my freedom begins where it ends yours.

I think we must try to go on also when everything seems to be balck and painful. Life can hurt us so much but at the same time it offers us amazing things. the most beautiful things are the simple one. So simple that sometimes we don't see them. this world can blind you with superficial and unnecessary thing. Sometimes we just need to join the nature, going in a wood, far away from chaos to appreciate everything and to understand what is really important. We must love us, than we can even hate the others!

pdn: As far as I know, the band's name and main themes comes from the vampiric fascination you guys have. How did that start for you, what is it that attracts you most about the vampire world?

Sonya: I consider vampirism the most fascinating form of seduction. Courtship without touching except to kill and eat the prey, the rebirth of life through life itself that is the blood, immortality, the charm of ancient times, the obscurity, the night that hides its creatures .. the desire to be eternal and veiled in shadow, he beauty of what can not die and that a simple ray of sunshine crumbles, the moon lights up the steps.

pdn: What was it like to tour with Christian Death? Any particular, significant moment you can remember from that tour?

Sonya: It was our first real tour ant it was so amazing for me but hard at the same time. After that experience I learnt to survive on a tourbus with gigs everynight. I cannot have parties and more everynight if I want to give my best the day next. I really can't. So now I take care about eveything, healt, food, drinks..also if it's not so easy :)

I remeber when we found some Sambuca in a club in Germany probably. It's a so strong and sweet italian liquor. Gian Pyras played completly drunked after so many shots..Valor felt down from stage and everyone was dead at the end of the evening and completly fucked up. really funny!

pdn: You've recorded an album with Valor and Gian Pyres. What would be some bands you'd like to tour with and/or maybe collaborate for new material in the future?

Sonya: We really like to see how other artists interpret our songs, it's a magic moment for me. We had so many great artists in our past albums and we're thinking about new collaboration but it's working progress and I cannot tell you anything at the moment.

pdn: Who were some people/ bands that have influenced you musically and as an individual? Also, at what age and how did you start getting into the whole musical field?

Sonya:  Everything can inspire me, a sunset, a landscape, literature, poetry, classical music,opera,movies..the life itself..I started listening to opera when I was born cause my parents loves it so much and I went to theater with them to see it lot of times. I felt in love with that world. The theater, the music, it was so amazing,..than at five years old I started to study ballet going later to the national academy of Ballet that is the most important school of ballet in Italy. we had the maestro playing the piano during the lessons so I had a great education of classical music. Later I also appreciate other kind of music such as  glamrock, trash, dark gothic, metal and more. I still love music with great atmospheres. As female singers I love Bjork, Tori Amos, Siouxie, Diamanda Galas, Nina Hagen.

pdn: What are your plans for the near future? Tours, a new album maybe?

Sonya: We have a new European tour in April that will touch mainly Eastern Europe and countries where we were not able to play on the tour last year. In May will come out live DVD filmed in Moscow last year and that includes the teaser for the film The Cult Of Lamia that we're shooting where I play the role of Lamia and Theatres des Vampires are composing the entire soundtrack.

We're also working hard on new material and our tour manager is setting up two other tours on other coutries.  We'll let you know as soon as possible.

pdn: Thank you so much for your time! Any message, final words you would like to add for your fans all over the world?

Sonya: Thanks for your support guys and see you on the road the next months! We love you!

Blood is life

Sonya Scarlet

http://www.theatres-des-vampires.com
http://www.myspace.com/theatresdesvampires
http://www.reverbnation.com/theatresdesvampires

Review: SHAKE WELL BEFORE - Goliath EP

   Shake Well Before must be familiar to those who follow Playdeadnation regularly, or just those who've heard their stuff. As you might know, an interview with the guys hosted here recently, if you missed it, you can check it out here! 

   The sudden success of their EP called Goliath popped up in a big part thanks to their single 'Insomnia', which is the second song on the EP, but the first I want to talk about, since that was their first song that had an impact on me and made me fall in love with the music of Shake Well Before instantly! It comes with an interesting video, which avoke my curiousity in the first place. Needless to say, I liked it. But I will let you check that out! The song starts off energetically, like all their other songs, with loud and angry vocals, just the way we like it, and the solo will make your ears bleed as well. The message is rebellious, one of deception and existential questions, which also makes the anger in the vocals and rhythm righteous. The first song is 'Bear, Give My Steak Back'. Among other things, this song talks about regrets and the frustration we all often encounter, due to not being able to change the past, and how life is, in the end, what will slowly kill us. Thus, the sorrowful lyrics are 'slightly' in contrast with the comic, yet symbolic title. Nonetheless, the voice and instrumental are definitely wild in this one as well. Then we bump into the third song called 'When Anger Meets Rage', the title being a very suggestive one, I don't think much explanation is needed about the topic, thus you can use it as an energy drink anytime, especially in cases in which you can relate to it! The next song on the is 'S.S.D.D.', it is about waiting in vain for things to happen, being superficial, constantly struggling for perfection, never being satisfied and we waste our lives searching, not realizing we're standing on the edge and we could fall any minute. Last but not least, we can listen to 'We're Melting Away', which presents the disintegration of the only path we have, the fact that this world is quite unfair since the bad people are supported. It tell us about human decay - in a nutshell. 

   This EP was very well-received, and that is not a surprise at all. I think every hardcore/ metalcore fan will be delighted to listen to this masterpiece over and over again!

https://www.facebook.com/shakewellbefore
http://www.youtube.com/user/swbmosh
http://www.myspace.com/shakewellbefore

Interview: Travis Neal (DIVINE HERESY/ BLACK SKY ASHES)

   Travis Neal is great at 'musical multitasking', being active in numerous bands, like Black Sky Ashes and Divine Heresy, to name a couple. He is a man of many bands, and today he is here to tell us more about his projects and all that lies beneath!

 

pdn: Hey Travis! First of all, I have to ask you...how do you manage to give all your projects attention?  You have quite a few, among which Black Sky Ashes, Divine Heresy, Cyanide Serenity and so on!
Travis: Well, it can be hectic at times but for the most part it's manageable. Not all of them are active at the same time, so it gives me time to focus on other things

pdn: At what age did you start your musical path and how did you get started?
Travis: I took a serious interest in music when I was 15, My mom bought me a bass and a little practice amp and off I went. I started out being a bass player in a band with some Friends from school but then started singing and playing bass when our singer left. After a couple month's we picked up a bass player and that's when I developed my love for being a frontman.

pdn: How did you put the grounds of Black Sky Ashes? I understand it was an older dream of yours?
Travis: Yes it was. I had been really influenced by some artists that made records doing all the instruments, a true solo record. I always wanted to get to a point where I would be able to do it.When DH took a long break from things, it gave me the opportunity to get started. I had about 6 songs written with no vocals. That is when I had crossed path's with an old musician friend I was in a band with in 2001. We started working on a song I was stumped on and there became Black Sky Ashes! Ben (Peterson) came up with the name, I felt it fit what we were trying to do.

pdn: And how would you describe the sounds of Black Sky Ashes in a few of your own words?
Travis: Man... I would not really say we can comfortably have a sound just yet. We released a 3 song demo but since new members have joined me and Ben, the sound is changing and becoming more developed! The first 3 songs were very mainstream but had a very strong Euro vibe as well, so I don't think many people got it and I was trying to push somewhat radio rock on a sea of DH fans,lol... So I kind of went back to the drawing board and started adding more cooks to the kitchen and it has proved to be a good choice! So for a best described sound? Stay tuned! 

pdn: What experiences did being in Divine Heresy bring you? I know you've joined the band during a line-up change.
Travis: Well, the line up change was what opened the door for me. I knew coming into it, it was going to be tough thing to fill Tommy's shoes. That guy is a great vocalist and a great frontman! I knew that what ever I did, it had to be as good if not better then what DH did on Bleed the fifth. I feel I did that, obviously there are people out there that feel that they would rather Tommy in the band then me, but that is what is to be expected with a frontman change. There are a lot of people out there that love the change. We have a incredible mob of loyal fans all over the world! I can't wait to bring them all a new record from DH this year!!!

pdn: Tell me a bit about joining Cyanide Serenity. What was some unforgettable experience, moment being in that band?
Travis: I joined CS as a fill for them on a 16 day run in India. We all meshed very well and especially in the tough touring

conditions of India, I feel it really brought us all closer as friends and really sped up the getting to know each other process. We decided to make it a permanent thing when the Indian tour was over. We have been puting together a debut record that will be out this year via (?). We have since done a full European tour in support to Decapitated,Aborted and Fleshgod Apocalypse. Also on the tour was an amazing tech death band from Vancouver Canada called "Archspire". I would definitely say that one of the most unforgettable moments with CS was playing Hyderabad, India and the great Indian rock fest. It was such a horrible day and all of our accommodations were messed up, we were all exhausted from the flights and had not gotten hardly any sleep. I was miserable! We did not even sound check because we needed to rest.. so 3 hours of rest later, our cab is at the hotel to pick us up. we get the fest and it's looking good.. get warmed up and get ready to play this last show and get home... But when we got on stage, the crowd had so much energy that it ignited a flame in all of us!! By the second song, I had commanded the crowd to come through the barricades to the front of the stage. Being a festival, they were like 20 feet away and it sucked! I found myself spending more time down there with the crowd then onstage, so I needed to remedy that! Hyderabad's crowd was amazing!!! A crowd that I will never forget and would brave India to play for again!!!

pdn: I've noticed that you like to experiment with different sounds, which I think also explains your activity in various bands. Are there some elements that are common in each of these bands?

Travis: I try to individualize each band. It's hard when your the singer but I try to do different things with my voice with each project, so it breaks up the monotony. A lot of singers that I know that do side projects, they tent to sound like they're main band. I strive for that not to happen, to keep things different.

pdn: What are your personal and musical goals and ambitions in life?

Travis: Well, like anybody that strives to make something real happen from music. I would like to support myself and family from my music, but that is so hit or miss these days. I love to make music,play music and play live!! When I first started playing music and decided to pursue it seriously, all I ever wanted from it was to play on a different stage in a different city every night and hopefully connect with a few people in each crowd! As for my personal goals? I just want to live life, stay happy, watch my son grow up and become a man. I would like to get more involved in producing bands and artist, I have done it before and really enjoy working with other artist and musicians to help bring they're music to the next level!

pdn: And what are the plans of Divine Heresy for the near future? What about Black Sky Ashes, Cyanide Serenity and Sekond Skyn?
Travis: There is plans that have been put in motion for a new Divine Heresy record. We have lost some members but are seeking new replacements and moving forward with the music writing and plans for the band. I personally want to make the most brutal record that I have ever made in the new DH material! I want to make sure that people know that DH is here to stay and despite me and Dino's schedules with our other bands, we remain focused on DH and keeping the band on the tips of people tongue's around the world!! Black Sky Ashes has been idle for a few month's but only because we have been going back to the drawing board and creating a heavier side of the band that will compliment the sound that we have created. This project has taking a long time to materialize and I'm not rushing anything to get done. I have built the band members slowly and taken my time to find the right people so I'm gonna do the same with the music, taking the time to make the best that we can make! expect more from the band in 2012. Cyanide Serenity is currently writing a record that is actively being looked at by a good handful of labels and we are hoping to have our record out this year as well as putting together some killer tours!! Be ready! Sekond Skyn has been idle as well due to others and they're other projects and lives. I love the band and music and hope to make some new material soon!


pdn: Thank you kindly for your time!  Any final words you would like to add for your fans, friends?

Travis: Thank you as well for interview and opportunity to discuss my current endeavours!! I would like to thank each and every one of you for reading this, taking interest in any or all my projects and supporting my music. Without each and every one of you, I'm but a whisper in a room full of screams!! I miss you all and hope to see you all very soon!!! Make sure to stop by Reverbnation and pick up the Black Sky Ashes E.P. as well as on iTunes and pick up the Sekond Skyn "the rising tides" E.P.!!! Stay tuned for newer music from Cyanide Serenity and from Divine heresy this year!!!!

Much love and respect to you all!
Travis Neal

http://www.myspace.com/divineheresyband
http://www.twitter.com/divineheresy

NIGHT BY NIGHT - Time To Escape Video out today!

   ...And the video is out! Enjoy Night By Night's newest video Time To Escape!

Marilyn Manson: No Reflection - available soon!

Marilyn Manson - No Reflection available everywhere starting with March 20! Meanwhile, you can listen to a teaser and pre-order HERE!

New Single: NIGHT BY NIGHT - Time To Escape

   Five-piece british hard rock band Night By Night have just released their new single entitled Time To Escape! Keep your eyes open for their 'blistering debut album, with 10 killer tracks', to quote the band! Also, stay tuned for the new music video this week and don't forget to share it!

NEW VIDEO: Julien-K - We're Here With You

                                                         ENJOY Julien-K's brand new video!

Interview: Steve Coy (BETHPAGE BLACK)

   Bethpage Black popped out from Long Beach, California, with the purpose of melting our faces with a highly intriguing mix of different sounds and influences likeThe Used, Brahms, Bizet, and many others. I assure you it will work like the wildest energy drink you've ever tried. Drummer and songwriter Steve Coy is here to give us an insight to what Bethpage Black is all about!

pdn: Hello Steve! Bethpage Black sounds like quite an original band name, please tell me, how did you come up with it?
Steve: We're named after a golf course in Long Island, NY. None of us are from NY or play golf, but I heard it on TV one day and thought the syllables sounded cool. Plus, any band with "Black" in its name is cool. Black Sabbath, Black Keys, Black Crowes…Black Eyed Peas suck though. Just pure rubbish. 

pdn: When exactly did you guys form the band? Did it take long to get your debut album all set?
Steve: We originally formed in 2009, and our current lineup has been together since May 2011. We actually recorded our debut EP before ever playing a show together. The new record, "Black Music," took about 4 months to finish, but in terms of actual days in the studio, it was probably only 2-3 weeks.

pdn: At about what age did you start playing music, and which was your first instrument?
Steve: I started playing music at age 9; drums were my first instrument. I thought to myself "Wow, either drums are really hard, or I suck!" Conversely, our guitar player Davin started playing guitar when he was 13 and thought to himself, "Wow, either guitar is really easy, or I'm really good!"

pdn: Which are some of your all-time favourite bands, some that have played an important role in the initiation of your musical carreer?
Steve: A few of my all-time favorite bands are Queen, The Used, Crash Kings, The Dear Hunter and probably Soundgarden. As far as what bands influence our sound, I would say that those bands do a little bit but my approach to songwriting is more about learning from many different great songs, regardless of genre. Which is why all our songs are different. 

pdn:The sound is clearly an interesting mixture of different things. Could you please describe it in a few words?
Steve: Sickle pop: pop-rock with a sharpened edge.

pdn: As I understood, you write the lyrics. What inspires them?
Steve: Some of them are inspired by dreams I have. "Lipstick Colony" started out based on a dream I had about an earthquake under a Macy's, where all the survivors lived in the makeup department. Another song "Absence of Light" is about a dream I about the end of the world. Lately I've been really obsessed with the notions of identity and honesty in an Internet-dominated world where you can be anything you claim to be. The idea that although we're ostensibly more "connected" than ever, no one really knows anything about anyone.

pdn: If you could pick any bands to share the stage with, who would they be?
Steve: Well, we are sharing the stage with Crash Kings at our tour kickoff/record release show March 8 at Troubadour in LA, so I'm excited to cross that one off the list. I would love to do a song with Kelly Clarkson. I bet a Foo Fighters tour would be really fun. Right now I'm really into Young The Giant. On a more local level I would love to do a show with Saint Motel. 

pdn: What are some other passions, preoccupations of yours besides being a musician?
Steve: I'm really into cooking, which is a longtime passion. I was a professional chef for a few years. 

pdn: I've read that you work as a graphic designer for Marilyn Manson and that your collaboration is based on friendship mostly, and that you are working on some other things as well. Are you willing to reveal anything regarding those projects?
Steve: Well, as Manson said recently in his interview with Revolver (which is a great interview, by the way), there's no need to empty the whole bucket of mystery. If I say too much about what we're doing people will take different things I say and come to all sorts of wild conclusions, and then before too long it becomes "fact." I will say we're working on all sorts of artistic endeavours related to the new album. Including some new technology that will let people see a side of his artistry that not a lot of people know about. It's very cool to work with an artist with such a prolific artistic output, and to be a small part of something that so many people care about. 

pdn: What are Bethpage Black's plans for the near future?
Steve: We're going to do a tour of the southwest US in March, including several shows at SXSW. Then we're going to make a new music video. The plan for this summer is to tour up and down the Pacific coast. And of course, the overall mission is always to write better songs and play better shows. 

pdn: Thank you for taking the time to chat with playdeadnation! Anything you would like to add for your friends, fans, and just anyone eager to give 'Black Music' a listen?
Steve: We're very proud of the record, we hope you enjoy it, and if you do enjoy it, we hope you'll tell us. Trying to achieve success with an unsigned, mostly unknown band is really, really difficult, and words of encouragement and support really go a long way towards keeping us going.

Stay tuned:

http://bethpageblackmusic.com/
http://bethpage-black.com/
http://twitter.com/_bethpageblack

Webdesign portfolio:

http://postmodernsublime.com/

Interview: Joe Letz (COMBICHRIST)

   This awesome dude is someone who's name won't need much introduction, not anywhere near the industrial scene anyway, in which he's insanely active! Joe Letz, drummer of Combichrist and Emigrate, and his awesome sense of humour are here for a chat with playdeadnation!

pdn: Heya, Joe! And thank you for taking some time for this. Firstly, please tell me, how was the name Combichrist born?
Joe: COMBICHRIST was Andy's conception, he was doing the band for a year or 2 before I teamed up with him on it, so that's really an Andy question. But I've been around him enough to be able to tell you that it was the name of a comic book character that he created. The idea of the character was that he was a "do-gooder" by day, and "evil do'er by night. He'd basically go out each night and get wasted, black-out and rape pillage and plunder. Then wake up the next day, not realizing he'd been the one on the warpath and run around trying to clean up the community and help everyone out. Pretty much a day in the life on the road for us.

pdn: I'm curious, at what age did you initiate your musical path? When did you start playing drums?
Joe: I was around 8 and I found out that if I wanted to learn to play an instrument that I got out of class for a half an hour a week. I was all about it cause my teacher was fat and yelled alot. So I guess I can thank her for being my first inspiration to start focusing my time and energy on music... THANKS MS. BOYLE! You're probably dead now. So, rest in peace Ms. Boyle.

pdn: What are the main things, subjects that inspire the songs and just the whole concept of the band? 
Joe: Well if you pay attention to the lyrics in the songs like "Enjoy the Abuse" and "Shuttup and Swallow", it's pretty obvious that we draw a large inspiration from the christian faith and the history of the women's rights movement. 

pdn: What are some of your musical, as well as personal further aspirations in life?
Joe: I've always just wanted to be able to play music around the world and to live comfortably while doing it. As my career grows older I keep meeting and befriending alot of the people who I grew up idolizing, and some part time collaborations are being born here and there. I really look forward to working a little more full time on some of these projects like EMIGRATE with Richard Kruspe, and nursing them to flourish.

pdn: You've played with numerous bands before Combichrist, like Wednesday 13, Mortiis, Hanzel und Gretyl, etc. What was one positive or negative memorable moment in your vesatile carreer, up to date?
Joe: How about playing at one of the most famous arenas in the whole world, in my hometown of NYC: MADISON SQUARE GARDEN.... but having played most of our set in the dark because the lighting guy that we hired for the event wasn't familiar with our set-up and blew up some of the lights!....that's both positive AND negative HAHA. I still have nightmares about that performance. They've replaced my "standing in front of my whole high school on a stage naked" nightmares.   

pdn: You do DJ-ing between tour; do you have any time left for anything else other than music, have any other main passion or priotity?
Joe: My son and my girlfriend.

pdn: You've shared the stage with many bands, including opened for Rammstein! What other bands would you like to collaborate with someday?
Joe: I wanna be invited on stage with Limp Bizkit to do guest vocals for the break-down in "Break Stuff" and I wanna play drums for New Order on a tour. I might also consider doing a little behind the scenes work for George Michael; perhaps some light wardrobe work, or something having to do with conveniently hanging around men's rooms urinals dressed like a cop.

pdn: What are Combichrist's plans for this year? Tour and new material-wise.
Joe: Andy has been spending like the longest time he's ever spent in one shot recording music for a video game and a new COMBI record. I've heard a bit of it, and it's really intense and could possibly shoot us off in a whole new direction musically. It'll really come down to how he finishes off the other half of the album though. I'm EXTREMELY excited about it.

pdn: Thank you so much! Anything you would like to add for your fans, friends around the world?
Joe: Thank you come again. :-)

www.combichrist.com
www.myspace.com/combichrist
www.last.fm/music/Combichrist

Interview: Ville Laihiala (POISONBLACK)

   Posionblack started out as a side-project of Ville Laihiala, who first played guitar in the band. He was also the frontman of Sentenced from 1996 until 2005, when they disbanded. He then decided to take over the vocal parts as well, along with the guitars in Poisonblack, band that has been flourishing ever since 2003 and up to date. Ville was really nice to talk to us about the past, present and future!

pdn: Greetings, Ville! First of all, please tell me how did you come up with the name for Poisonblack?

Ville: I had a song title Poison/Black.It was about the dualities in life etc. but it never got finished.I think it was JP, our first singer who said that why don`t I use it for the name of the band and so I did.

pdn: For about two years you were active in both Sentenced and Poisonblack, right? Was it difficult with two projects?

Ville: Not really because my priority was Sentenced at the time.Musically not difficult either cos the songs I wrote for Poisonblack were from the totally different source.The hardest part was and is that people sometimes cannot seem to understand that a person can express him- or herself in various bands at the same time.And when something dies usually life goes on…

pdn: At what age did you start playing music, and what was your first instrument?

Ville: I began to play the guitar at the age of 12.I also took some drum lessons at some point when I was a teenager but I felt that I got more deeper into what I got out of the chords and riffs I was trying to play that I quit the drums.

pdn: What were some personal and musical influences that guided you to make music?

Ville: Metallica and their 3 first albums really got me through some hard issues in my youth and really wanted me to play music and pick up the guitar.I pretty much learnt every fucking note that`s on those albums and tried to play as tight as James Hetfield does.Still trying…

pdn: Who writes the lyrics and music for Poisonblack? What inspires them the most, what are the main themes?

Ville: I write them.About life, myself, how I feel about whatever.Usually it is the shit that is coming out so it feels cathartic and it is something that I really cannot shut down.Same thing with the music, death by the blues…

pdn: I am sure you've had a lot of experiences of all sorts with both bands, but what would be one that you will never forget, if such? Either positive or negative.

Ville: There are so many…The first album, touring, some great shows, friends and enemies made along the way…It is impossible to name just one or two things from a 16 year career or journey.I am still alive and doing the thing I love and that feels amazing.

pdn: What did being a part of Sentenced mean to you? 

Ville: It felt that I was a part of something original, unique and soulful. It was an honour to create music with those guys and I am gutted and sad that Miika is no longer with us.

pdn: What are Poisonblack's plans for the near future? Tours, new material maybe? 

Ville: We`ll open up for Nightwish for six shows in Finland and after that concentrate reharsing new material for the next album.I have 15 new ones waiting and I think that a couple more are dying to come out.

pdn: Thank you so much for this interview! Is there anything you would like to add for your numerous fans, friends?

Ville: Thank you, my pleasure…Eipä sitä vissiin tiiä. 

http://www.poisonblack.com/site/
http://www.myspace.com/officialpoisonblack
http://www.last.fm/music/Poisonblack?ac=poisonblack