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Category Archives: Pure Metal/Interviews
Metal artist/band interviews.
Interview with MATT BARLOW (Ashes Of Ares, ex-Iced Earth) – 27 September 2013

There are not many singers whose contribution to the mid-90s Metal scene has been as instrumental as that of ex-Iced Earth front man Matt Barlow – a man whose unique pipes have blasted classic compositions, such as “Dante’s Inferno” and … Continue reading →
Interview with MAURIZIO IACONO (Ex Deo) – 10 September 2013

When you put a passionate and dedicated student of history (yours truly) in the same room as a very intelligent musician who loves all things related to ancient Rome, the likelihood of the conversation following a pre-planned line of questioning … Continue reading →
Interview with DANIEL CAVANAGH (Anathema/Leafblade) – 25 July 2013

Anathema are currently going through the most productive and commercially successful period of their long and fruitful career and that fact alone is enough to get guitarist and founding member Danny Cavanagh in high spirits. Smiling and accommodating, the forty … Continue reading →
Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Interviews
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Tagged Anathema, Daniel Cavanagh, DVD, interview, July 2013, Leafblade, progressive, Sean Jude, Universal
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Interview with JON OLIVA (Oliva/Savatage/Trans-Siberian Orchestra) – 15 July 2013

It is not often that one gets to have a conversation with a music legend, especially one as pleasant, humble and down to earth as Jon Oliva – a man whose musical journey has created music of unsurpassable quality under … Continue reading →
Interview with ANDY TILLISON (The Tangent)

Andy Tillison is a man of an mission! Two years after the release of the amazing “COMM”, and with his progressive sensibilities in full swing, the British composer came up with another mind-blowing album in the form of “Le Sacre … Continue reading →
Posted in INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Interviews
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Tagged The Tangent
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Interview with MARK “THE SHARK” SHELTON (Manilla Road)

Throughout my relatively lengthy time as a music journalist I have often had to communicate online with artists who, for various reasons, I could not meet in person. I can say that Mark “The Shark” Shelton is one of the … Continue reading →
Interview with OLLY PEARSON (Moss)

Finding a spot where you can hear yourself think so as to do an interview at the Underworld in Camden is a real challenge, but when the interviewee is as accommodating as Moss’ frontman Olly Pearson, then everything is possible. … Continue reading →
Posted in INTERVIEWS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Interviews
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Tagged interview, metal, moss.olly pearson
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Interview with UDO DIRKSCHNEIDER (U.D.O), May 2013

Since first fronting the mighty Accept back in the early 80s, Udo Dirkschneider had to overcome many obstacles to present us all with his fine blend of classic-sounding, honest Heavy Metal. The most recent blow, the departure of both his … Continue reading →
Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Interviews
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Tagged album, German, Germany, Heavy Metal.May 2013, interview, Steelhammer, U.D.O, Udo Dirkschneider
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Interview with JARLE (Hvàll) KVALE from VREID (April 2013)

Norwegian Black Metal has come a long way since the early 90s, a sentiment that is definitely shared by Jarle (Hvàll) Kvale – bassist and leading Member of the Norwegian quartet Vreid. Having released a splendid album in “Welcome Farewell”, … Continue reading →
Posted in INTERVIEWS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Interviews
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Tagged 2013, April, Black Metal, interview, Jarle (Hvàll) Kvale, Vreid
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Interview with BIFF BYFORD (Saxon)

I have been in the presence of many fellow music journalists, all of whom had at least one disappointing tale to tell of meeting with a music idol who failed to meet their expectations. Though I dreaded the same, I … Continue reading →
Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/10 Questions, Interviews/Rock Stars, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Interviews
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Tagged Biff Byford, heavy metal, interview, Sacrifice, Saxon
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JOLLY (Joe Reilly) Interview

None of the interviews I have conducted so far has ever been as revealing about the artist as this one! Apparently, I’ve been choosing the wrong breakfast cereal for the past (almost) four decades of existence – thanks for … Continue reading →
FEAR FACTORY (Dino Cazares) Interview

Dino Cazares is a man who needs no introductions. When not blasting riffs through projects of true extreme quality such as Brujeria and Divine Heresy, he is responsible for all those killer riffs and flamboyant melodies that have made Industrial … Continue reading →
TESTAMENT (Alex Skolnick) Interview

There are not many guitarists in Thrash Metal who can compete with Testament’s maestro Alex Skolnick in terms of sound, feel and execution and his performances in “Dark Roots Of The Earth” have been an integral ingredient in the album’s … Continue reading →
OPETH ( Mikael Akerfeldt) Interview

Swedish prog metallers Opeth are currently back on tour around the UK and Europe and I caught up with mainman Mikael Akerfeldt before the tour commenced to talk tours, recording and more … You’re back out on tour around … Continue reading →
Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars, Pure Metal/Interviews
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Tagged MIKAEL AKERFELDT, OPETH
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1 Comment
Interview: BOBBY LIEBLING (Pentagram) – January 2012

When I first interviewed Bobby Liebling, the frontman of the legendary Doom Metal outfit Pentagram, back in 2011 I thought that this would be a one-off experience but the Gods seem to be favouring us all recently. Following another classic … Continue reading →
Posted in INTERVIEWS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Interviews
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Tagged 2012, Bobby Liebling, Doom Metal, interview, Pentagram
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VOIVOD (Denis “Snake” Belanger) INTERVIEW

I remember how there was a time in my life when the idea of seeing the Canadian Prog Metallers Voivod live would have seemed like a dream but this October, not only was I to enjoy a one and a … Continue reading →
MARDUK (Morgan Hakansson) INTERVIEW

Morgan “Evil” Steinmeyer Håkansson is a man who should really needs no introduction, having been the founding member and undoubted leader over the past 22 years of the Swedish Black Metal war machine Marduk– one of the most original and … Continue reading →
Posted in INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Interviews
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Tagged Marduk, Morgan Hakansson, Serpent Sermon
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BEARDFISH (Rikard Sjöblom) Interview

I rarely become truly hooked on an album these days, but Beardfish’s latest Prog Rock/Metal offering “The Void” has certainly proved to be an exception. After having spent numerous hours enjoying layers upon layers of technically demanding and emotionally charging … Continue reading →
KAIPA (Hans Lundin) INTERVIEW

KAIPA (Hans Lundin) INTERVIEW Hans Lundin is a very talented multi-instrumentalist who has been providing the world of Prog Rock with albums of outstanding quality through Kaipa – a group of similarly-minded musicians who have been active since the early … Continue reading →
Posted in INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Interviews
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Tagged Hans Lundin, Inside Out, Kaipa
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JON OLIVA’S PAIN (Jon Oliva) INTERVIEW

JON OLIVA’S PAIN (Jon Oliva) INTERVIEW Jon Oliva is one really difficult guy to get a hold of for an interview. Though I did manage to meet him for a signing session when touring the UK for the promotion of … Continue reading →
Posted in INTERVIEWS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Interviews
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Tagged In The Hall of the Mountain King, Jon Oliva, Savatage, TSO
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WRATHBLADE (Nick Sotiriou) INTERVIEW

WRATHBLADE (Nick Sotiriou) INTERVIEW The genres of Epic and classic Heavy Metal have long enjoyed great support in Greece but what is very rare is to find a band from the land of the twelve Olympian Gods who are capable … Continue reading →
JOB FOR A COWBOY interview
Chris Martin catches-up with bass player Nick Schendzielos to discuss the new album ‘Demonocracy’ and the band’s knack of attracting a female following… There’s a lot of buzz going around about the new CD Demonocracy. Seems from the couple songs I have … Continue reading →
ODDLAND (Sakari Ojanen) INTERVIEW

ODDLAND (Sakari Ojanen) INTERVIEW Progressive Metal has witness a surge of good quality young bands over the last few years but only a handful have managed to make such an amazing impact from the start as Oddland – a Finnish … Continue reading →
THE FLOWER KINGS (Roine Stolt) INTERVIEW

THE FLOWER KINGS (Roine Stolt) INTERVIEW There is a rumour that has been circulating over the years about how warm and pleasant of an interviewee Roine Stolt is – something I was really looking forward to finding out for myself. … Continue reading →
Posted in INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Interviews
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Tagged Ronnie Stolt, The Flower Kings
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NECRONOMICON (Rob Tremblay) INTERVIEW

NECRONOMICON (Rob Tremblay) INTERVIEW There must be nothing more annoying than having to undertake your first ever European Tour after twenty years of existence while being down with the flu! When hitting the stage of the London Underworld on the … Continue reading →

