Can you tell us about the origin of the band name, a history of the band and a little bit about the various members?

Hi Dawn and Jon., Firstly, thanks for the opportunity.

Asterean name refers to an ocean guardian. It’s continuation of old project Espera XIII (2010-2020), in which the crew was rescued by this oceanic hero, in its story.

It all started in 2010 as a parallel solo project. As things evolved, in 2014 i recruited members to play live as a normal band, but i decided to keep in charge of the compositions and production until nowadays as a normal solo work, but with fixed members for live situation, Asterean presents as a band. Members are the same from the original formation: Eduardo Ayres (bass), Fernando Ribeiro (drums) and Rubstein Wilker (vocals).

Are you all from the same area? How did you get together as a band?

We meet each other from old internet forums. We are relatively from the same area. São Paulo is a giantic city, me, Rubstein and Edu are from the capital, and our drummer lives in a seaside town.

I played with Eduardo from 2007 to 2014 on the band Spreading Hate. Rubstein and Fernando i meet when we formed an Ensiferum cover, just for fun in 2013.

Who are your favourite artists/bands and how have they influenced your own sound?

Some of my favorite bands: Amorphis, Omnium Gatherum, Insomnium. I grew up in the 2000’s melodeath era, they presented me freedom inside metal. Sometimes it is heavy, sometimes don’t even reminds metal. Music is above every label, is what i most absorb from them.

Did you always have the ambition to be a musician and in a band or did you originally have other plans?

I always had the intention to be musician. Just that i realize that if i want to deliver the amount of music that i want, i would need to become a music producer. So from last 10 years music production has been my professional daily work, besides creating my music.

What songs or albums are on your current playlist?

Played lately here:

Rotting Christ – Holy Mountain

Rammstein – Deutschland

Rivers of Nihil – The Silent Life

The Mglas – Exercises in Surfing VI

Do you sing in the shower?

Not much singing, but always deep self-speeches about life haha

Do you have any plans for the band for this year and into next year?

For now, we’ll focus on create a great live experience and be prepared for gigs. But the main thing still is to deliver music, improve and deepen the characters of Asterean sound.

Do you currently have any new songs/albums ready to be released?

I will enter studio again in September, hope to release new material yet this year. Still to support the debut album “Cosmorama”, just released.

If you could play at any venue in the world where would you choose?

Just for dreaming? Go back to Monsters of Rock 1991. Today 70000 Tons of Metal would make Asterean feel at home.

Do you have a favourite album? If so, what is it?

From different moments in life:

Amorphis – Silent Waters

Children of Bodom – Hatebreeder

Dissection – Storm of the Light’s Bane

Do you have any guilty pleasure songs/albums?

I have a goddaughter, we play and sing Sandy & Junior – A Lenda

If you were putting together the greatest show on earth, who would be playing?

Citizens of Cosmorama singing and playing in a ritual for the rising sun. Would be the most brutally deep music experience i can imagine.

Can you remember the first album you bought with your own money? What was it and do you still have it?

Master of Puppets. Unfortunately don’t have it anymore, cause i lent it to a friend and he fucking lost it.

As your fans will be reading this, is there any message you would like to send out to them?

I wanna thank you all for the support and positive feedback on Cosmorama. For a independent first act it’s surprising how is being accepted and spreading, much more than we imagined. Our bassist Eduardo went to european festivals this year, we freaked out when he said some people there already knew it and was following our band. Every time we have messages like this, that people are feeling good with our music, it’s a combustion to keep on track.

Finally, let us know all your social media sites so your fans, old and new, can find and follow/like you!

These are our main sites. Be sure to follow and don’t miss any new song coming out in near future. And feel free to get in touch with us, we love to chat with followers from all over the world.

https://www.instagram.com/astereanofficial

https://asterean.bandcamp.com/album/cosmorama

https://www.patreon.com/asterean

https://www.youtube.com/c/Asterean

Miscellaneous links: https://allmylinks.com/asterean

We, at The Metal Asylum, would like to thank you for your time. Is there is anything further that you would like to add?

Thank you Metal Asylum, it was fun to answer these questions.

I will end with a message to all artists.

“The artist committing himself to his calling has volunteered for hell, whether he knows it or not. He will be dining for the duration on a diet of isolation, rejection, self-doubt, despair, ridicule, contempt, and humiliation. The artist must be like that Marine. He has to know how to be miserable .. Because this is war .. And war is hell.”

The War of Art, Steven Pressfield.

Let’s keep doing what we love and need to do. May the Muses be with us.

This interview is solely the property of The Metal Asylum

Can you tell us about the origin of the band name, a history of the band and a little bit about the various members?

Reap the Light is Reverend Kuzz and Orion Hellraiser. The name of the band comes from my time in combat while in the US Army. We saw some serious evil overseas, even evil against women and children. Sometimes you must meet evil at its own level to combat it. Reap the Light is about taking in all the light and all the good and using it as fuel to enter hell and fight the devil at his own doorstep.

Rev: Originally a published author, I wanted to experiment with music. I was constantly writing and decided to break into song lyrics. Looking for a more experienced musician, fate led me to Orion Hellraiser and the rest is history.

Rev has been increasing his ability on the bass and rhythm guitar.

Orion Hellraiser: An artist from Mexico that composes and produces music, mainly inspired by NWOBHM bands, thrash and heavy metal.

He always tries to combine the all-mighty riff with melody compared to other bands, He has his own vision of what metal should sound like, and he tries to bring his small contribution to the genre in one way or another

Are you all from the same area? How did you get together as a band?

I am from Maryland; Orion is from Mexico. I found Orion on the freelance site, Fiverr when I was looking for someone to make music with. The first song we wrote together was Fade to Black. That process went so smoothly, we decided to do another song which was Deliver Hell. After that, we just decided to crank out an entire album.

Who are your favourite artists/bands and how have they influenced your own sound?

My favourites are Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Dio, Dokken, Killswitch Engage and Fates Warning. I like the classic metal/hard rock sound of the 80’s. You can hear it in the lyrics I write.

Orion’s favourites are Metallica, Motörhead, Saxon, Angel Witch, Black Sabbath, Misfits and Venom, so they have a huge influence in the music he does.

Did you always have the ambition to be a musician and in a band or did you originally have other plans?

Nope, I wanted to be a career soldier. I was damn good at it but had a problem with authority. I decided to move on once I knew my wife and I wanted a different life than the military would offer.

Orion did pretty much dabble in music, but his love for creating things visually led him towards graphic art. He still plays and creates music constantly.

What songs or albums are on your current playlist?

This Calling from All that Remains, Disconnected by In Flames, Rose of Sharyn by Killswitch Engage, Last in Line by Dio and many more.

Do you sing in the shower?

Hell yeah. Not well, but I still do it.

Do you have any plans for the band for this year and into next year?

Yeah, we are now working on some new music which is a concept album that deals with the 7 Deadly Sins. We have Laura Guldemond, the lead singer from Burning Witches already working on a song with us for that album. We are planning a Spring/Summer 2023 release for that album.

Do you currently have any new songs/albums ready to be released?

We are remixing our collaboration with Tim Ripper Owens, Back to Bedlam. Orion is throwing some different mixes together along with another singer who also sang the song to work out the melodies. His name is Sebastian Van Chrismar. He is an amazing singer in his own right and is the vocalist for the song Deliver Hell. We are combining all that into an EP we will release this fall.

If you could play at any venue in the world where would you choose?

Probably Wacken Open Air Music Festival or Rock in Rio. The crowds for both of those are insane.

Do you have a favourite album? If so, what is it?

Man, that’s tough. There are so many, but I would go with Holy Diver, Dio or Operation Mindcrime, Queensryche.

Do you have any guilty pleasure songs/albums?

Crap. I knew you were going to ask that. Yeah, strangely enough it is Rick Springfield.

If you were putting together the greatest show on earth, who would be playing?

Alive or dead, this would be the line-up: Dio, Iron Maiden, Unleash the Archers, Original Queensryche, Battle Beast, Udo Dirkschneider, Fate Warning, Helloween, Disturbed and Godsmack.

Can you remember the first album you bought with your own money? What was it and do you still have it?

Absolutely, Screaming for Vengeance: Judas Priest

As your fans will be reading this, is there any message you would like to send out to them?

Thank you for the support and we are continuing to bring a diversified but kick-ass music.

Finally, let us know all your social media sites so your fans, old and new, can find and follow/like you!

https://www.facebook.com/ReaptheLight

https://reapthelight.bandcamp.com/album/deliver-hell

https://www.instagram.com/reapthelight/

We, at The Metal Asylum, would like to thank you for your time. Is there is anything further that you would like to add?

Thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to help us spread the word of Reap the Light.

Special thanks to Metal Priestess and Gothic Priest. We hope you have much continued success with The Metal Asylum.

This interview is solely the property of The Metal Asylum

Can you tell us about the origin of the band name, a history of the band and a little bit about the various members?

TK: Philadelphia Incident pertains to the awe-inspiring moment back in time when the American comedian Bill Burr singlehandedly literally demolished the whole hostile audience in Philadelphia back in 2007. He fucking exorcised their demons LOL. That term had been brewing in the back of my mind for long as it seemed so fitting for a metal band designed to vent out a little. I told about this to SK and we sort of found the common red line immediately which made this band reality. We have been working pretty fast with writing stuff and it has been almost a self-generating process ever since that moment we decided to go ahead with this. Funnily enough I just recently had to affirm SK that we are indeed both in this shit together and not so that its my solo project with him being a session contributor. I may have had the idea of the name and project but once I talked to him about it I considered it to be our thing. Hell, he brings out so many ingredients to the songs that I wouldn’t have ever thought about.

Previously I have played in quite a few bands like Pain Confessor, Jane Doe (69), Kara Darahu, Society, Artificial God, Shadows of Sadistia, Ten Horayas and some projects I can’t go into detail about. Been in the game since early 90s so I had the pleasure of seeing and experiencing one of the golden eras. Actually two, the 2000s new rise was quite a ride.

SK: I’ve been here, there and everywhere… I’ve played with all kinds of bands. If I had to name a few bands from my metal past…I’d say Sancnity, Corruption Inc. at least.

Are you all from the same area? How did you get together as a band?

SK: Well,  TK and I have known each other for decades and Pete (Sandal) is my cousin’s neighbour’s Tinder match.

TK: Yeah, we have been in the scene, SK and me, and SK came to play bass in A Soul Called Perdition which was my project after leaving Pain Confessor. That is now defunct and on non-determined hiatus. Just needed to take a breather and just vent shit out and we ended up doing it with SK and using Pete “Gommando” Sandal on drums. That fucker’s a machine.

Who are your favourite artists/bands and how have they influenced your own sound?

SK: There’s too many to mention… I listen to all kinds of music from jazz to black metal and everything in between. Only criterion is: a good song is a good song and a shitty song is a shitty song. Anything under a nun goes for me…

TK: I subscribe to SK’s criteria of quality being the primary qualifier for me. Good shit works, no matter the genre. A favorite genre cannot save utter bullshit garbage. Influences come far and wide but I will point out Sentenced and Miika Tenkula as my go to guideline when thinking melodic stuff. Also, I got reminded quite recently how much I really was inspired by stuff Stuart Anstis brought to the table when he was churning out genius shit in Cradle of Filth. Their early stuff was awesome and markedly meaningful to me, the whole lineup was golden during Vempire-From The Cradle To Enslave -period. Both Les and Greg were fucking awesome, and Was and Adrian destroyed on the latter EP.

Metallica, Testament, Vader, Gwar, Behemoth, Rotting Christ, Impaled Nazarene, Satyricon, Naglfar, Iron Maiden, Sepultura, Machine Head, At The Gates, Amorphis, WASP, KISS, Eric Clapton, Def Leppard, OZ, Burzum, Mayhem, Dimmu Borgir, Gloomy Grim, Elvis, Spinal Tap, all the local awesome groups… I could go on forever and even here I am forgetting many many super important bands I regret leaving out. Every song ever that has touched me has molded my view of music. Which is natural and obvious. Also those that I do not care for have guided my path elsewhere. Everything matters.

Did you always have the ambition to be a musician and in a band or did you originally have other plans?

TK: From a really young age yes, I got my first drumset when I was about 5 or 6. Always loved music and insisted my mom to buy me vinyls when I was 4, like Matchbox – Riders in the sky, Village People – Go West, Boney M – Oceans of Fantasy and a bit later cassettes and vinyls by KISS and W.A.S.P. and Loudness. I actually own the first European pressing of W.A.S.P. debut. Later still I got inspired by Accept, Metallica, Iron Maiden…the list goes on and on. But the real wake up was when Sentenced, Amorphis, Impaled Nazarene, Vomiturition, Beherit, Kyyria, Waltari and the like showed this shit can be done in this lovely backwoods of Finland as well as everywhere else, USA, UK and Germany. When I fell in love with Sentenced’s Amok, I knew there was no turning back. Then, my mind was blown to find out our hometown basically had this stuff going on as well. We had Sancninty (SK’s one former group), Defier, Moral Suicide, whole slew of amazing bands right in my backyard doing the impossible, producing actually impressive metal. I formed a band that minute. And so I was on my way.

SK: Besides being / to be a musician i always wanted to be a janitor but due to circumstances it never happened. You can’t always get what you want…fortunately.

TK: Oh yeah, I wanted to be a welder for Valmet. Can’t weld myself out of a wet paperbag so its ok I never made it.

What songs or albums are on your current playlist?

TK: Machine Head – Burn My Eyes, Goatlord – Reflections of the Solstice, Dissection – Storm of the Lights Bane, Morbid Angel – Blessed Are The Sick, SIA – Chandelier, Massive Attack – Teardrop, Vader – Impressions in Blood, Alessi Brothers – Saving the Day, Anzi Destruction – Black Dog Bias, Die Antwoord – Pitbull Terrier, OZ – Dominator. And tons of others, I just keep forgetting names.

SK: Lately (yesterday) I’ve been listening to bands / artists such as: Archgoat, Weather Report, Cattle Decapitation, Carcass, Erykah Badoo, Krisiun, Kingston Wall, Ofermod, Sammal, Mayhem, Cypress Hill, Bolt Thrower, Chelsea Wolfe, Jinjer, Swallow the Sun etc.

Do you sing in the shower?

TK: I growl and shriek in the shower. Mostly when I get soap in my eyes.

SK: No, but I gently explore myself.

Do you have any plans for the band for this year and into next year?

TK: Yes. Nothing to publicize as of right now but we are working on a full length album and of course would love to do live shows at some point. But yes, we have plans and this beast is now loose and cannot be contained. The music is basically writing itself so we just let it come.

Do you currently have any new songs/albums ready to be released?

TK: We have some material ready, and lots under works. An album will be coming but too early to even hint at a date or how it will be released.

If you could play at any venue in the world where would you choose?

TK: Some South American festival, Tuska in Finland, any venue in Japan and definitely Wacken. Actually some ancient site like any of the gladiatorial arenas still in existence and Aztec pyramids. That would be insane.

Do you have a favourite album? If so, what is it?

TK: Just one? Then it must be Amok by Sentenced. It just means so many things to me.

SK: There’s too many of them, can’t pick just one…

Do you have any guilty pleasure songs/albums?

SK: Whistling album by Eero Vatunki ( a famous finnish whistler), I can’t remember the name of the album, but it isn’t guilty pleasure it’s Pure Pleasure!

TK: I don’t find shame or feel guilt in liking whatever it is that strikes my fancy.

If you were putting together the greatest show on earth, who would be playing?

TK: Gladiators from ancient Rome. I would have Secutores, Retiarii, Murmillones, Thrax, some Scissors and a grand Venatio with politicians instead of wild game being hunted. I would also have Damnatio Ad Gladium for the heads of states. Main pairings would be Putin vs Zelenskyi, Biden vs Trump, Kim Jong Un vs his current highest ranking officer, Boris Johnson vs Prince Andrew and the main event would be a Battle Royale of 42 pedophiles and child killers. Winner is flayed.

Can you remember the first album you bought with your own money? What was it and do you still have it?

TK: KISS – Rock and Roll Over cassette.

SK: Matchbox: Settin’ the woods on fire cassette

As your fans will be reading this, is there any message you would like to send out to them?

TK: We appreciate each and every single person who takes a moment of their life to listen to what we have created. Even if you don’t like it, it still matters to us that we have piqued even that little bit of interest that a time investment has been deemed worthy. Appreciate music, it is a healer, therapist, time machine, best friend and consolation at the worst of times. And make sure the artists that you like get to know how you feel. You matter.

Finally, let us know all your social media sites so your fans, old and new, can find and follow/like you!

https://instagram.com/philadelphiaincident

https://twitter.com/philadelphiaindicent

https://facebook.com/philadelphiaincident

And Philadelphia Incident should be represented in all major digital platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, Deezer, even fucking Napster. Go get some!

We, at The Metal Asylum, would like to thank you for your time. Is there is anything further that you would like to add?

TK: Thank you! Your support is much appreciated.

SK: Thank you for your support and now I would like to add some water to the sea!

This interview is solely the property of The Metal Asylum

Can you tell us about the origin of the band name, a history of the band and a little bit about the various members?

Souls United is a music project formed by three Cuban musicians, not a band as such. Sonny Pimentel in the UK is the creator of the project formed in 2020 during the Covid 19 pandemic. He was joined by Adolfo Martin on guitar and Nelson Comas on vocals for the first album with tracks such as, Come Alive, Don’t Walk Away, I’m Losing my Mind among others. In the Sumner of 2021 Adolfo left the project and Rodolfo Ricardo Ramírez (Fofi) joins Souls United with his own material, tracks like Freedom for Love, I Carry Your Heart, Freewill, Love is Gone and many more. Nelson Comas was the singer of Montserrat one of the most prestigious band in Cuba. Fofi is the music creator and producer of the project, considered a virtuoso on the guitar and Sonny is the lyricist, music publisher and leader as he works all the financial and promotion side of things.

Are you all from the same area? How did you get together as a band?

We are all Cuban but live in three different cities therefore we decided to use the name Souls United. Our souls are united in music. We knew each other from Camagüey where we had our own bands in the 80s and 90s Fofi also had several bands in the island, he is from Holguin a different city in Cuba.

We realised that the technology allows us to be able to create at a distance and decided to join forces and finally built a legacy with our music. We communicate and create the songs via WhatsApp.

Who are your favourite artists/bands and how have they influenced your own sound?

Whitesnake, Van Halen, Kansas, Rush, Journey and many more classic rock and metal bands.

Did you always have the ambition to be a musician and in a band or did you originally have other plans?

Yes, we all did but being from Cuba where the government suppressed rock bands we didn’t have the chance to record or launch our work. We were all in rock bands in Cuba.

What songs or albums are on your current playlist?

All different 70s 80s and 90s Rock bands.

Do you sing in the shower?

Not really but I’m sure Nelson Comas did.

Do you have any plans for the band for this year and into next year?

We are working on new material at the moment.

Do you currently have any new songs/albums ready to be released?

We are working on a new album release. This will be Nelson’s Solo Album. Something he has always dreamt of and then we will return as Souls United.

If you could play at any venue in the world where would you choose?

Wembley Stadium.

Do you have a favourite album? If so, what is it?

Too many good albums out there to mention just one.

Do you have any guilty pleasure songs/albums?

Moving Pictures by Rush and Audio Vision by Kansas

If you were putting together the greatest show on earth, who would be playing?

Whitesnake, Rush, Dream Theater, Scorpions, Metallica and Souls United.

Can you remember the first album you bought with your own money? What was it and do you still have it?

Somewhere in Time by Iron Maiden and Ride the Lightening by Metallica. I left them in Italy a few years ago.

As your fans will be reading this, is there any message you would like to send out to them?

We are so grateful for your support, we will continue to create music, we have accumulated more than 30 years of ideas that we want to release, please share our music with others, stay safe and Rock On! 

Finally, let us know all your social media sites so your fans, old and new, can find and follow/like you!

Our website soulsunitedmusic.com is unfinished but you can still view it and contact us via the website.

 Twitter @souls_united

Soul United group on Facebook

We, at The Metal Asylum, would like to thank you for your time. Is there is anything further that you would like to add?

We thank you for giving us this opportunity. I believe is our first interview outside Cuba.

All answers here have been provided by Sonny Pimentel in Liverpool, as leader of Souls United.

This interview is solely the property of The Metal Asylum

Can you tell us about the origin of the band name, a history of the band and a little bit about the various members?

The name Novacrow came out of our guitarist Jonyx – he was helping his brothers think of names for their band by opening the dictionary to random pages and picking out a word they liked. The words “nova” and “crow” came out and he claimed it as his own before those pesky siblings could steal it.

Novacrow as a band formed in 2013. Kitty and Jonyx lived in Liverpool when Kitty had the idea to start a band. They met Freddy who was also studying in Liverpool through a complex chain of people and the rest is history. Sexy history.

We’re all quite fascinating characters. Kitty is the charismatic one, and she’s also secretly the most sensible. Jonyx is the stoic one, but is secretly the most goofy. And Freddy is just a wildcard in general.

Are you all from the same area? How did you get together as a band?

Kitty and Jonyx are from Wolverhampton and have been together since before the band became a thing. They both came to Liverpool to study circa 2011. Freddy, on the other hand, is half Italian and half Brazilian and he came to Liverpool to study music in 2012. They all met about a year later when Kitty and Jonyx were looking for a bassist.

Who are your favourite artists/bands and how have they influenced your own sound?

We all like a large variety of music. We’ve always wanted Novacrow to primarily be a metal band of some kind, but the specifics can be as blurry as we want them to be. As far as the metal side of things go, Kitty is more influenced by grunge bands such as Nirvana and Alice in Chains, as well as lots of doom metal and goth metal. Freddy is more of a prog-head when it comes to metal, so he’s very much influenced by bands such as Devin Townsend, Igorrr, Leprous, amongst others.

But they can really let their freak-flag fly with Novacrow, taking influences from funk music, industrial metal, experimental rock, dance music, you name it.

Did you always have the ambition to be a musician and in a band or did you originally have other plans?

Kitty has always wanted to be in a band and do music in some form or another as a part of her life. Might not be her career, but it’ll always be something she does. Freddy, on the other hand, is more tunnel-visioned when it comes to music – he is a full time musician and has always wanted to pursue it in whichever way he can. And then there’s Jonyx, who just enjoys playing guitar – he thinks it’s neat!

What songs or albums are on your current playlist?

We have a band playlist that we listen to when we’re on tour. As it stands, it’s over 14 hours long and has 220 songs. I’ll just pick five random songs from it as an example: ‘Canned Head’ by Jamiroquai, ‘Baby Got Back’ by Sir Mix-A-Lot, ‘Your Disposal’ by Cattle Decapitation, ‘You’re The One That I Want” from Grease, and ‘Hello Kitty’ by Avril Lavigne.

Do you sing in the shower?

No, I’m usually too busy crying.

Do you have any plans for the band for this year and into next year?

We got some big-ass plans we intend to rub all over your faces. We got a BRAND SPANKING NEW ALBUM coming out next month – ‘Look At Me Now’ is our debut album that’ll be released September 30^th. So far we’ve released two new singles from it, ‘Hollow Armour’ and ‘Day Break’, both of which feature stunning new music video that you should all watch. After that, go to our website www.novacrowofficial.com/store and pre-order our new album along with some sexy new merch for you and your significant other. After that, we’re gonna focus on touring for a bit.

Do you currently have any new songs/albums ready to be released?

See the above answer. Oh, but we will be releasing another single within the next couple of weeks so keep them peepers peeled.

If you could play at any venue in the world where would you choose?

The Red Rocks Ampitheatre in Colorado, USA looks like such a gorgeous venue. Playing there would be absolutely fantastic.

Do you have a favourite album? If so, what is it?

We all definitely have Type O Negative’s ‘October Rust’ as one of our top 5 albums, so I’m gonna go with that one. It’s such a beautiful album from start to finish. And it’s the perfect album to bang to (aside from our upcoming new album ‘Look At Me Now’ which you should definitely pre-order)

Do you have any guilty pleasure songs/albums?

Nope. We’re super proud and unashamed of our listening habits.

If you were putting together the greatest show on earth, who would be playing?

It would be just us playing the same one hour set about five times. But each time we finish a set we get increasingly more naked.

Can you remember the first album you bought with your own money? What was it and do you still have it?

Freddy’s was L.D50 by Mudvayne, and a copy of Mozart’s ‘Jupiter’ symphony. He definitely still has both at his parent’s house.

As your fans will be reading this, is there any message you would like to send out to them?

Thank you guys for all the support you’ve shown us over the years, it means the world to us! If you want to make sure you listen to our album as soon as possible, pre-order yourself a copy of our new album as the pre-orders really help us going!

Finally, let us know all your social media sites so your fans, old and new, can find and follow/like you!

www.novacrowofficial.com

www.facebook.com/novacrowofficial

www.instagram.com/novacrowband

https://www.youtube.com/c/kittysynthetica

https://www.tiktok.com/@novacrowofficial

We, at The Metal Asylum, would like to thank you for your time. Is there is anything further that you would like to add?

Thanks for having us, it’s been a blast! Next time, drinks are on us 😉

This interview is solely the property of The Metal Asylum

Can you tell us about the origin of the band name, a history of the band and a little bit about the various members?

The band name is actually just my last name with the vowels removed. I started using that name when I was making more synth-based music as a solo artist. When I got the band together, I had a long list of names we might be able to use, but they convinced me to stick with GLDN, much to my chagrin at the time. But now that it’s been a couple of years, it feels right.

Currently, the band consists of 5 members: Dan Lupkin on drums, Cara Radom on bass, Kevin Marambio and John Gonzalez on guitars, and myself on vocals and samples.

I do generally write most of the music alone (save for a few songs that I’ve worked on with my creative partner and former guitarist for the band, Collin Cleaver), but I have immense faith in this group of musicians to bring life to my ideas. As much as I tend to be a loner, I know that the band and the music itself wouldn’t be where it is today without my time with them.

Are you all from the same area? How did you get together as a band?

As is often the case in a city like New York, we are all from different areas originally.

Around mid-2017, I started making music on my own. I have been around and involved with music my entire life, but it was my first time trying to compose my own. In the beginning of 2019, I got my first guitar, and that became my main mode of composition. By that summer, I was very much aware that the music had become something that only a full band could do any justice. So, that was when I started searching for band members.

It was a little difficult to convince them to make a blood pact with me once they found out I’d sold my soul to the devil, but I convinced them eventually.

Who are your favourite artists/bands and how have they influenced your own sound?

I have a very long list of favourite artists, but I’d say the most influential to me are Nine Inch Nails and Marilyn Manson. Still, I’m very inspired by plenty of artists from many different genres and eras. Everything I listen to has an effect on my psyche, whether that comes through the music in an obvious way or not.

Did you always have the ambition to be a musician and in a band or did you originally have other plans?

I’ve been performing all my life, but it was never my intention to become a musician or be in a band. I knew I’d end up being a performer in some capacity, but I never imagined it happening this way. I guess music as a mode of expression just struck a chord with me.

What songs or albums are on your current playlist?

1. Poppy – Say Cheese
2. Puscifer – The Undertaker
3. Deftones – Elite
4. Kittie – Spit
5. Marilyn Manson – Rock n Roll N****r

Do you sing in the shower?

Absolutely.

Do you have any plans for the band for this year and into next year?

Hopefully to just keep consistently performing. We just released our first EP, First Blood, so I just want to keep pushing forward from here. Hopefully we can do a small tour soon, but who knows.

Do you currently have any new songs/albums ready to be released?

We do! We have a remix album, Hemophilia, coming out on September 16th. It’s got a bunch of remixes of the songs from First Blood, and it has two covers and three new original songs. The first single, ‘Animal’, which is a cover of the Antinowhere League song, is going to be released along with a video on September 2nd.

If you could play at any venue in the world, where would you choose?

Damn, this is a hard one. I’ve honestly never thought about it, but I’d probably have to go with The Belasco in LA. I just love super old theatres because they have so much character. Also, they might be haunted, which makes it even more fun.

Do you have a favourite album? If so, what is it?

That’s gotta be a tossup between Antichrist Superstar (Manson) and The Fragile (NIN).

Do you have any guilty pleasure songs/albums?

Honestly, I just looked through my entire library of music, and there isn’t a single thing I’d be embarrassed to admit listening to. There are some surprising things in there, though: Milla Jovovich, Lana Del Rey, Peaches, and Roberta Flack, to name a few.

If you were putting together the greatest show on earth, who would be playing?

Marilyn Manson (circa 1997), Slipknot, Pantera, Nine Inch Nails, Korn, and Rob Zombie.

Can you remember the first album you bought with your own money? What was it and do you still have it?

Yeah, I believe it was Evanescence’s Fallen. I don’t have it anymore, sadly.

As your fans will be reading this, is there any message you would like to send out to them?

I guess I’d just like to say thanks for listening, and that you can expect bigger and better things from us coming very soon.

Finally, let us know all your social media sites so your fans, old and new, can find and follow/like you!

Instagram
Instagram (Band Page)
Bandcamp
Facebook
Twitter
TikTok
Website

We, at The Metal Asylum, would like to thank you for your time. Is there anything further that you would like to add?

Thanks for taking the time to speak to me. Make sure to check out the “Animal” video on September 2nd and Hemophilia on September 16th!

This interview is purely the property of The Metal Asylum.

Can you tell us about the origin of the band name, a history of the band and a little bit about the various members?  

The name “Low Gear” was Gotti’s idea. Its really to reference a sick, mentality. Not sociopathic. More like a neurotic savant. That was the original concept for the music. Turned out we didn’t need a concept after hiring Minister Roach as the front man. He’s got hundreds of hours logged with several psychiatrists. They’ve studied him for years.

Low Gear is:

Minister Roach – vocals                                                          

Gotti – drums, media production, sound engineer                 

Goat – bass guitar/earthquakes                                         

Mucky – 6,7,8,11 string guitars                                                                

Sam I Am – guitars, hawser-ligature composer

Low Gear is a Dallas, Texas based heavy metal band that has been recording and performing together for over 20 years. We recently released Siktunes Redux under WormHoleDeath Records / Sony Music.

When we show up, it gets loud.

 Are you all from the same area? How did you get together as a band?

Dallas, Fort Worth Metroplex.

Gotti managed to recruit the Dallas Metal Scene top draft choices for 2000.

Who are your favourite artists/bands and how have they influenced your own sound?

Conway Twitty, Meshuggah, Mr. Bungle, Bolt Thrower, Judas Priest, Pantera, Dead Industry, Henry Rollins, Slipknot, Willie Nelson, Motley Crue…….

As a musician, when you experience music produced by someone that’s connected with the universe it helps to decipher what’s quantified through experience and creation. Musics inclusion into anyone’s life circumnavigates emotion and directs the flow of energy into the ether and our  eben flow. A conclusion to existence that refuses to cease, perpetuates rhythm and intersects with the masses. That pinnacle of sound  gives life to the dark, provokes thoughts of fantasy. Its influence demands creation from the creator.

Makes Goat drink beer.

Did you always have the ambition to be a musician and in a band or did you originally have other plans?

I think Sam I Am was an author or something. Goat had a career in the Porn industry early on but to many injuries, he decided it wasn’t worth it so he moved on to metal. Gotti was about to get his associates in medicine I think, or maybe it was bull fighting when music called him up to the majors. Mucky has played guitar since he was 2 days old. That fool wants to jam, get out of his way. Roach wanted to be a rock star since 6^th grade when he found out he couldn’t be himself, because of the massive amount of traffic in his head.

What songs or albums are on your current playlist?

Siktunes Redux – album

Chemical Burn

Scablab

Mexican Radio

Bloodworm

Its My Train

Carnival

Do you sing in the shower?

I scream getting in and getting out, but not in.

Do you have any plans for the band for this year and into next year?

We have colossal plans. We are recording 4 new songs in about 4 weeks. We’ll be releasing those individually every 4 or 5 weeks.

Netflix is using 2 of our songs in some upcoming movies. Very cool.

Our label is discussing some dates in Brazil, Germany, and Finland. And of course Italy. I think were staying at Carlo’s pad. The chics love us over there. Its crazy. They love us in Brazil too. They do not like Roach in Canada for some reason.

Do you currently have any new songs/albums ready to be released?

So, Siktunes Redux is a remake of our debut album from 2002 titled Siktunes. The one after that was Picture Show. We’re about to start work on Picture Show Redux. The reasoning  behind all of that is that those albums are bad ass. Unfortunately the recording equipment back then was not able to envelope the true sound, the essence of the audio, Gotti had in mind. So we went in around July 2020 and fist throated it like trippin, and it was like full throttle ! Holla at them ho’s! you know? It’ll ride on the cool. For Real. Look out though, it can break your fingers too. Its right on, these fools Do Not mess around. I mean, These fools Do Not fuck around. May need to edit that.

If you could play at any venue in the world where would you choose?

Michigan Stadium with: Ozzy, Slipknot, Five Finger Death Punch, Megadeth, Judas Priest, and Meshuggah   

Do you have a favourite album? If so, what is it?

Motley Crue – Too Fast For Love

Do you have any guilty pleasure songs/albums?

No! I do.

If you were putting together the greatest show on earth, who would be playing?

Conway Twitty and Kiss. But they could only play Lick it up.

Mr Bungle for like 5 hours straight. Then Kiss with Love Gun.

Can you remember the first album you bought with your own money? What was it and do you still have it?

Motley Crue, no wait it was Eddie Murphy. I do not have it. My grandfather took it away after about 12 seconds. But I learned all 12 seconds of curse words instantly. I still use those same curse words today.

As your fans will be reading this, is there any message you would like to send out to them?

Yes, to our fans: Thank you for listening to our music. We set out to create awesome music with a very distorted flight plan. Our intent was to expand through sound our experiences with the world . A lot of which was disturbing and dark. I imagine much like the rest of the world. We diced all that up and added our twisted sense of humor and turned it up to boil. The reason we suffered in the beginning, and the reason we make music, is so that you will listen. Listen to our song. We made it for you.

Finally, let us know all your social media sites so your fans, old and new, can find and follow/like you!

https://www.lowgear.band     

https://www.linktr.ee/LowGear

This interview is solely the property of The Metal Asylum

Can you tell us about the origin of the band name, a history of the band and a little bit about the various members?

Daredevil Pilots came down to a band vote. Several names were obviously considered but this one felt right. Almost as if it was a license to take whatever influences inspired us to play whatever we wanted. I believe this shows on our debut album. 

Who we are and how we came to be. If you ask each member I’m sure we’d each have a unique story. But for me, Tyler, I had a series of strokes in 2018 and got deeply depressed at the all-to-human feeling of not being invincible. Took 6 months to recover (thankfully) from the physical side, but I think I’m still grappling on the emotional/psychological end. I reached out to my friend, Matt-band leader, because I needed an outlet. Needed to play music. He went online and pulled guys (Dan& Trav) together. Called up Dave. Later, Adam (drummer) joined us and really set things off. Collaboration came easy. Covid was a nightmare, so we only managed about 12 practices in the last 2 years before making this album. Now that it’s out, we’re excited for more!

Are you all from the same area? How did you get together as a band?

We all live within about an hour of each other. Not too bad. 

We got together via internet and relationships. Amazing how pieces fell in place.

Who are your favourite artists/bands and how have they influenced your own sound?

Again, I’m sure each of us has a unique answer. Lol! I grew up on Chevelle, Anberlin, Blindside and Underoath. Matt lives on Thrice. Adam swears by King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard. Trav is a musical mystery. Dave loves so much it’s hard to pin down. And Dan… Metallica. There are so many influences. It’s extremely eclectic, but we love it.

Did you always have the ambition to be a musician and in a band or did you originally have other plans?

Even now it doesn’t really feel real. I’ve written lyrics since I was about 8 years old (absolutely terrible at the time, and sometimes still bad. Lol). Started playing guitar and writing song at 15. It’s just in my blood to get things off my chest in this form.

What songs or albums are on your current playlist?

La Dispute, Broods, Sweet Pill, Manchester Orchestra, Foxing, Visitor’s Tongue, Fuzzy Coleman, Foggieraw, Alt-J, Prof, Drop Dead Playboys, The Epidemic, Don Broco, Mastodon… I’m everywhere 

Do you sing in the shower? 

Absolutely 

Do you have any plans for the band for this year and into next year?

Play some shows and have fun. Patience for recording certainly isn’t my strong suit.

Do you currently have any new songs/albums ready to be released?

Easy now! Lol! Our debut album just dropped June 10th! But yes, we’ve already have eyes on a few singles.

If you could play at any venue in the world where would you choose?

Wherever people who love music are. I don’t care if it’s in a backyard. That being said, I have been fortunate enough to open for some idols of mine with previous projects. It’s a blast, that’s why we do it.

Do you have a favourite album? If so, what is it?

Anberlin’s Never Take Friendship Personal is my personal favorite album from start to finish. It just holds up. I wish they’d remaster it.

Do you have any guilty pleasure songs/albums?

Hell yeah, I’m crazy about Squad Goals by Prof. Such a fun song and incredibly catchy.

If you were putting together the greatest show on earth, who would be playing?

I mean, I’ve been on a tear with concerts this year. Manchester Orchestra, Foxing, Straylight Run, Taking Back Sunday. The Gaslight Anthem, Sweet Pill, La Dispute, Incubus, Sublime… I’m even going to see Harry Styles and if I’m honest, I’m psyched about every single one of them.

Can you remember the first album you bought with your own money? What was it and do you still have it?

Well, it’s kinda embarrassing. I grew up in a strict Christian home. I’d have to give my first album credit to DC Talk. Toby Mac still puts on a banger show though. Hits me right in the nostalgia! Lol

As your fans will be reading this, is there any message you would like to send out to them?

Don’t stop moving. I’m not qualified to say much more. But we have to keep going. Keep learning and be kind to each other.

Finally, let us know all your social media sites so your fans, old and new, can find and follow/like you!

We’re on the standard socials these days (ie. Twitter, IG, FB) but I like directing people to daredevilpilots.hearnow.com 

It’s kinda our linktree site.

We, at The Metal Asylum, would like to thank you for your time. Is there is anything further that you would like to add?

Keep doing what you’re doing. I’m honored you’d spend this time on independent artists. I’m a fan of The Metal Asylum for sure.

This interview is solely the property of The Metal Asylum

Can you tell us about the origin of the band name, a history of the band and a little bit about the various members?

OneFromTheNorth is a one-man band based in Finland. I started the band somewhere around 2015 when I started making songs and developing the sound. I wanted to create a different kind of music and I realized that this is what I can do myself. I have a live lineup that includes my good friends and very talented musicians with convincing backgrounds.

The band name was actually at first From The North, and it just came from somewhere. I don’t remember where it was exactly, but it is surely related to the country I live. But then I noticed that there was someone operating with that name, so I decided to change it. One person in the band, so why not OneFromTheNorth.

Are you all from the same area? How did you get together as a band?

With the live lineup guys, yeah. We are basically from the same area.

Who are your favourite artists/bands and how have they influenced your own sound?

I like to listen to a lot of a different kind of music. And the idea of this band is combine different music. But there are of course some favorites I like to listen to. Let’s say for example Iron Maiden, Dimmu Borgir, In Flames (especially the older In Flames), Rammstein, Korn etc. A lot of bands, but those aforementioned bands have had a huge influence on my sound.

Did you always have the ambition to be a musician and in a band or did you originally have other plans?

I’ve always wanted to make music and I have done music years and years since I was, what, 12 years old. Making music is a way of life for me, and I haven’t had any other plans in the past, but of course, I have a day job, and I’ve tried to develop myself there as well during the years. But making music is close to my heart.

What songs or albums are on your current playlist?

Now there is this new Rammstein album, the latest Seth album (France black metal), and this new band The Halo Effect, full of old In Flames members. But I also like to listen to some new underground/smaller artists as there are lots of talented artists out there.

Do you sing in the shower?

Haha, yes, I do! Definitely, and in a car, when having a walk, and, well you name it.

Do you have any plans for the band for this year and into next year?

Yes, there are some plans. For instance, making a third album, but there is also something else, but I’d like not to say anything as it is not certain.

Do you currently have any new songs/albums ready to be released?

I have songs ready, but when aiming to release an album at some point, there is still work to do. I have demos ready, like, for two albums, but those are still just demos that need some more work. But yeah, the album is the main target during this year/next year.

If you could play at any venue in the world where would you choose?

There are lots of nice places I’d like to play but let’s go with Rock Am Ring, for instance. That is something I’d like to experience someday. But if I’d get a slot from Wacken, I wouldn’t say no! trust me!

Do you have a favorite album? If so, what is it?

Yes I actually have: Cradle of Filth – Cruelty and the Beast. I don’t know how many times I’ve gone through the album, and my opinion is that there are no bad songs in it. Talented stuff! There are also lots and lots of good albums, but this is one that came to mind right away.

Do you have any guilty pleasure songs/albums?

Great question! I guess we all sometimes do, haha! But I’m quite open and honest about what I like as there are always good songs from every genre, and I openly enjoy if the music or song is good. But let’s say here, for example, Miley Cyrus – Mother’s daughter. Great song!

If you were putting together the greatest show on earth, who would be playing?

OK, this is hard, but I’d say it would last a week at least! Let’s say the headline would be Queen with one and only Freddie Mercury. All the good artists from different genres would be nice, and even Miley Cyrus could do that one song, ha!

Can you remember the first album you bought with your own money? What was it and do you still have it?

Yes, I do. Iron Maiden vinyl – Fear of the Dark. And yep, I still have it.

As your fans will be reading this, is there any message you would like to send out to them?

Thanks for reading this interview! I hope you go check OneFromTheNorth’s music and support the band. That helps a lot if you follow social media, buy albums, subscribe to the YouTube channel, etc. Come to say hello!

But all in all, check out some smaller and unknown/underground bands if you haven’t already! You’ll be surprised how talented stuff there is.

Finally, let us know all your social media sites so your fans, old and new, can find and follow/like you!

You can find all the main links from here:
https://linktr.ee/oftn

We, at The Metal Asylum, would like to thank you for your time. Is there is anything further that you would like to add?

Thanks a lot! and enjoy the music!

This interview is solely the property of The Metal Asylum

Can you tell us about the origin of the band name, a history of the band and a little bit about the various members?

Hey, Jorge here, one of the guitarists!

I’ve been in the UK for about 8 years now…and when I arrived up until December 2019 I didn’t touch a single guitar basically!

I was feeling down about music, as I previously was in other bands back in Portugal, where I’m from…and I just kept talking about it to my gf, who told me to buy a guitar and meet some people through Facebook, and so I did!

Formed literally when Covid started (March 2020), we faced a hard time to get together and compose our first tracks.

Name of the band was something we wanted to be catchy, unique, different and with a meaning…Paradox means “absurd or contradictory statement which may prove to be true”.

Basically the name represents us…a constant force fighting for our unique sound and still trying to figure who we really are if that makes sense!

Me (Jorge) and Adrian just kept producing/creating some tracks at home, sending them to the remaining band members until we were all happy…however along the way we had to swap band members due to timing and commitment issues.

After a bumpy start, we finally became an actual band in August 2021 with:

Drums -Lorenzo, Italian

Guitar – Jorge, Portuguese

Guitar – Oliver, English/Danish

Bass – Andre, Brazilian

Vocals – Adrian, Spanish

…after a few rehearsals we managed to get our first gig mid October and we’ve now been an active band for about 8 months or so…

Are you all from the same area? How did you get together as a band?

We all live in London yes, relatively close to each other.

Funny enough when we had to swap members, Lorenzo/Oliver/Andre joined same week by pure coincidence!

Lorenzo already knew Adrian, they were good friends…and he kept saying he wanted to be our drummer.

On the same week that we kicked out our drummer and bassist, Lorenzo joined straight away and we met Oliver through a Facebook reply in our search for a guitarist.

Andre worked in the same venue Jorge did and after he blasted some Black Sabbath one night, Jorge found out he was a bassist…!

Who are your favourite artists/bands and how have they influenced your own sound?

Influences fly from all over the place between the 5 of us…we all like a bit of everything and we feel like our songs should always show that.

From cleans to gutturals, slow breakdowns to shred solos…we want to give fans all of it.

Lorenzo loves his progressive and technical metal as a drummer.

Adrian is a die-hard fan of classic metalcore.

Oliver and Jorge share a big love for modern metal such as Bleed From Within and late Trivium.

Andre loves his classic thrash metal and stoner/doom rock and metal bands.

As for vocals Adrian says:

“Apart from the classics like Howard Jones, Matt Shadows, Randy Blythe, Tim Lambesis and Austin Carlisle which influenced my teenage years when I began to sing metal, I’m starting to look up to modern singers like Andy Cyzek, Manuel Gardner and even Will Ramos, Tyler barber or Phil Bozeman for screams”

Did you always have the ambition to be a musician and in a band or did you originally have other plans?

As per Adrian:

ALWAYS. Since I was very young

And this answer goes to pretty much all members!

What songs or albums are on your current playlist?

Lately a lot of Deathcore…bands like Brand of Sacrifice, Lorna Shore, Left To Suffer and a few more are a shared taste between Jorge and Adrian, a lot!

Do you sing in the shower?

Adrian:

That’s where I practice the most!

Do you have any plans for the band for this year and into next year?

We’re trying to take it to the next level.

We started not long ago, but so far things have been very positive and we take all critics and feedback on board as well.

We are touring with Akkadian later on this year around September and another tour early 2023…so we are very excited!

Do you currently have any new songs/albums ready to be released?

We have been cooking, so you should all stay tuned for the new Perpetual Paradox stage!

If you could play at any venue in the world where would you choose?

As a band we all share the dream of playing in all famous metal festivals and venues…but I would say The O2 Arena in London would be amazing!

Do you have a favourite album? If so, what is it?

Adrian:

I’d say my gateway album into metal was Self Titled by Avenged Sevenfold, it’s been on repeat for so long that even my family still puts it when I go back home!

Do you have any guilty pleasure songs/albums?

Oliver:

I love ‘Cold Water’ by Major Lazer, Justin Bieber and MØ.

I’m also a huge fan of the album OutRun by Kavinsky and Young Chasers by Circa Waves.

If you were putting together the greatest show on earth, who would be playing?

Jorge:

Can I get artists that passed away? I would get Dean Martin, Elvis and Queen with Freddie of course!

Metal wise… Trivium, Bleed From Within and Fit For An Autopsy same day would be unreal!

Can you remember the first album you bought with your own money? What was it and do you still have it?

Oliver:

It was the ‘Megadeth Greatest Hits: Back to the Start’ album.

I was just getting into metal back then and saw the album at a record store and bought it.

It blew me away – I hadn’t actually heard Holy Wars before and if I remember correctly it’s the first song on the album, so the moment I pressed play I became a die-hard Megadeth fan.

As your fans will be reading this, is there any message you would like to send out to them?

Don’t hesitate, if you have a dream, just wake up and go for it!

Don’t feel like you need to stick to the 9-5

It is hard, it really is, but giving up definitely doesn’t make it work…and for us we feel like this is our all or nothing as a band!

Finally, let us know all your social media sites so your fans, old and new, can find and follow/like you!

Spotify:

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/Perpetualparadox

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/perpetualparadoxband/

We, at The Metal Asylum, would like to thank you for your time. Is there is anything further that you would like to add?

Thank you for taking us in at The Metal Asylum, we are very grateful…and keep metal alive!

This interview is purely the property of The Metal Asylum