Away Team

Shooter Jennings has just released the video for Outlaw You off his yet to be released Family Man album due early 2012.

The single is available on iTunes now.

For more Shooter Jennings click here.

BOBAFLEX- Hell In My Heart

BFX Records/Megaforce

Rating: 9 out of 10

Reviewed by: Jay Rybak

My first introduction to this quintet out of West Virginia came back in late 2007, with the killer (albeit mellow) single “Home”.  Since then, the band has endured line-up changes, and became a victim of the highly publicized TVT Records bankruptcy.  In the dog-eat-dog world that is the record industry, success is inevitably preceded by disappointment and persistence, and now that the first two are out of the way Bobaflex is poised to make their presence known on the active rock radar.

Upon first hearing the band name, Bobaflex, one can’t help but conjure up images of the masked bounty hunter Bobba Fett of the STAR WARS saga.  It turns out, that’s exactly the intention; the only difference is that this time around, the bounty is on your ears, and Bobaflex is cashing in!  The latest offering, Hell In My Heart, runs the gamut of the diverse musical talents of Bobaflex.  From the first 30 seconds of the opening song, “Chemical Valley”, you realize that you are in for a pulse-pounding adventure.  Little do we know that this multi-dimensional album is much more than meets the eye.

As we delve further into “Hell…”, we are met with the first single “Bury Me With My Guns”, a brilliant mixture of Hinder-meets-Black Stone Cherry.  The journey continues, as we live a “Low Life”, one that sounds like Burn Halo-meets-early Poison and leaves us begging for more cowbell.  From there we fall into the bloodsucking arms of a “Vampire”, one that is bred from the aforementioned Black Stone Cherry, but it’s anthemic traits could also very well be the illegitimate offspring of Gene Simmons himself.  The vampire’s bite leaves us “Playing Dead”, so we don’t become her “Slave”  (two tracks that scream Stone Temple Pilots).

I would be an “Empty Man” if I didn’t mention the 80′s rock influence of the previously named track.  A feeling that was no doubt present when the band wrote the equally 80′s inspired “Last Song”, a track that is dedicated to the perils and misdirection of record label fatcats (TVT anyone?).  Another track that tickles my 80′s rock funny bone (that’s a good thing), is the anthemic “On That Night”.  But not establishing an identity of your own could be “Dangerous”, which is no doubt why the boys decided to incorporate all of their influences into their own kick-ass sound on this melting pot of melodic goodness.

The journey is nearing an end, but before we go and play with “Pretty Razors” , there is a little message that needs to be delivered; one that is forcefully evident on the politically driven, presidential fuck you, entitled “Hate You”.  And now, we have reached our destination, and are left with nothing but the “Sounds of Silence“, a brilliant cover of the hit song by Frank the Tank… err I mean Simon & Garfunkel.

All in all, the latest offering from Bobaflex delivers the goods, and comes very highly recommended!  It hits stores today, so get your ass off the couch and get to your local record store and pick it up!  Or if you’re a lazy piece of shit like me you can pick it up here

For more Bobaflex visit the band’s official website here

Some fans figured that with the passing of Ronnie James Dio in 2010, one of metal’s greatest voices of all-time had been silenced forever.

But Dio‘s music will live on forever, and many of his friends and/or former band mates are making sure of it, as they have reunited as Dio Disciples – a concert celebration to the former singer of Black Sabbath, Rainbow, and Elf (and successful/respected solo artist). And while Dio Disciples has already performed overseas, US fans have waited patiently for their chance to catch the group. Soon, their wish will be granted.

The band (which is comprised of singers Tim “Ripper” Owens and Toby Jepson, guitarist Craig Goldy, bassist Rudy Sarzo, keyboardist Scott Warren, and drummer Simon Wright) has announced a string of dates (with more to be announced), which as of now, kicks off on September 22nd at the Chance in Poughkeepsie, NY, and wraps up on October 9th at Trees in Dallas, TX.
Keep your eyes peeled to Dio Disciples‘ Facebook page for announcements regarding additional US tour dates.

Touching upon almost every era of Dio‘s stellar career, you can expect to hear faithful and heavy renditions of such classics as “The Last in Line,” “Rainbow in the Dark,” “Holy Diver,” “Heaven and Hell,” “Neon Knights,” and “Man on the Silver Mountain,” among countless others.

Get ready US fans, as it will soon be time to “Stand Up and Shout” to an evening of Dio music once again.

CONFIRMED US TOUR DATES [more to be added]:
9/22/2011 Poughkeepsie, NY The Chance
9/23/2011 Asbury Park, NJ Stone Pony
9/24/2011 Springfield, VA Jaxx
9/26/2011 Buffalo, NY Town Ballroom
9/27/2011 Pittsburgh, PA Altar Bar
9/28/2011 Cleveland, OH House of Blues
9/29/2011 Chicago, IL House of Blues
9/30/2011 Medina, MN Medina Entertainment Center
10/6/2011 Baton Rouge, LA Varsity Theatre
10/7/2011 Houston, TX Scout Bar
10/8/2011 San Antonio, TX Sunken Gardens
10/9/2011 Dallas, TX Trees









For more DIO DISCIPLES click here.

During their latest summer festival run in Europe, TERROR took a day off to make their new music video for the song “You’re Caught“. The video is a bit on the extreme side, so it isn’t for the faint of heart! “You’re Caught” takes the band in a new direction and into territories they have never crossed before, but the graphic nature of the video is completely tongue-in-cheek, as front-man Scott Vogel explains:

“This video was by far the most fun to make. TERROR is always known for the generic hardcore video, and we wanted to do something different-something that had nothing to do with us playing instruments or jumping around all mad. I don’t think this is brutal or disturbing-it should make you laugh at us and see a new side to us. Come on, can you really take this thing seriously?? Thanks to Chad Gilbert for coming up with the first idea of this video and letting us run with it.”

This music video will also be available on the band’s new DVD “Defining The Faith“, which will be included in their CD/DVD reissue of their latest album, “Keepers Of The Faith“. Due out November 1st, this special reissue is a must-have for all hardcore TERROR fans!

In support of this upcoming release, TERROR will be back on the road this Fall with THE ACACIA STRAIN, STRAY FROM THE PATH, and HARM’S WAY for the “God Damn” tour.

“God Damn” tour dates feat. TERROR with THE ACACIA STRAIN, STRAY FROM THE PATH, HARM’S WAY
Oct 26–Albany, NY @ Northern Lights
Oct 27–Jermyn, PA @ Eleanor Rigby’s
Oct 28–Pittsburgh, PA @ Altar Bar
Oct 29–Columbus, OH @ The Outland
Oct 30–Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick
Oct 31–Indianapolis, IN @ Emerson Theatre
Nov 1–Des Moines, IA @ Vaudeville Mews
Nov 3–Denver, CO @ Summit Music Hall
Nov 4–Salt Lake City, UT @ In The Venue
Nov 5–Boise, ID @ The Venue
Nov 6–Spokane, WA @ The A Club
Nov 7–Seattle, WA @ El Corazon
Nov 8–Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre
Nov 10–Oakland, CA @ Oakland Metro
Nov 11–Anaheim, CA @ Chain Reaction
Nov 12–Anaheim, CA @ Chain Reaction
Nov 13–San Diego, CA @ Soma
Nov 14–Tempe, AZ @ The Clubhouse
Nov 16–Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live Studio
Nov 17–Austin, TX @ Emo’s Inside
Nov 18–San Antonio, TX @ White Rabbit
Nov 19–Dallas, TX @ The Door
Nov 20–Tulsa, OK @ The Marquee
Nov 21–Sauget, IL @ Pop’s
Nov 22–Chicago, IL @ Reggies Rock Club
Nov 25–Cleveland, OH @ Peabody’s
Nov 26–Syracuse, NY @ Lost Horizon









For more TERROR click here.

Message to Venus will be shooting a music video for their upcoming single “Universal You” during the month of September. The video will be directed by Andres Ramirez who also directed the soon-to-be-released Puerto Rican film The Witness (El Testigo).

The track will be featured in the movie and as part of the movie soundtrack album. Set to hit select theaters this December 2011, fans can get a sneak peak by viewing the movie trailer here.
And with updated blogs on the Facebook page.









For more MESSAGE TO VENUS click here.

After 2 years of extensive international touring, guitar virtuoso, singer/ songwriter Richie Kotzen is back to unleash his new album 24 HOURS, releasing November 11 on Headroom-Inc.

24 HOURS reflects the guitar style’s that has defined his career as a virtuoso, while taking it to another level of playing. “I feel like I have reached a new level of soloing on the opening track 24 HOURS,” explains Kotzen. “I stopped using a guitar pick on electric a few years ago and my playing has evolved in a different way. Some of the solo lines I play on the song 24 HOURS, and others as well, are lines I would have never been able to play with a guitar pick. So I would say the solo’s on this CD are at a different level than previous recordings.”

24 HOURS is an absorbing collective blend of Kotzen’s musical influences and diversity. 24 hours takes you on an inspired, musical journey as the opening track sets the tone that falls stylistically somewhere between early Van Halen and Sly and the Family Stone. Kotzen also brought in his talented daughter, August Kotzen and friend Jerry Cantrell of Alice in Chains, to complete the album. “My daughter, August is singing with me on a few songs and is playing electric piano on the song STOP ME,” states Kotzen. “My friend Jerry Cantrell is singing backgrounds on LOVE IS BLIND and does a very cool lead vocal ad-lib in the final chorus of the tune.”

24 HOURS is an album that has been in the works since Kotzen started playing guitar. The guitar virtuoso burst onto the heavy metal scene as a teenager with a lightning-fast guitar techniques. With his talents Kotzen has played with some of the best musicians; securing such major collaboration with the band Mr. Big and renowned jazz great Stanley Clarke as well as his own solo projects. “I have been lucky in the sense that I have been able to play with guys who I could learn from,” explains Kotzen. “The biggest musical lesson for me was playing in a band with Stanley Clarke and Lenny White. Obviously these guys are jazz musicians and I am not, but I learned so much from the time we recorded and toured together. My favorite rock bassist is Billy Sheehan and we were in Mr. Big together for 3 years which was awesome.”

24 HOURS was recorded and produced in Kotzen’s studio Headroom-Inc. 24 HOURS will be released on 11.11.11. Expect the first single, title track 24 HOURS to hit airwaves sometime soon.









For more RICHIE KOTZEN click here.

Tom Morello‘s new album, World Wide Rebel Songs is out today via New West Records. You can currently stream the full album at AOL Spinner or purchase it directly from Amazon and iTunes. When describing World Wide Rebel Songs, Morello stated, “Troubled times call out for troubled songs. World Wide Rebel Songs is an album of rousing hopelessness and this time The Nightwatchman has brought along his electric guitar to tip the scales. I wanted to capture a vibe midway between Johnny Cash and Che Guevara, murder ballads and Molotov anthems.”

To coincide with the release of World Wide Rebel Songs, Rolling Stone has premiered the video for “Black Spartacus Heart Attack Machine.”

“‘Black Spartacus Heart Attack Machine’ is a song about my new steel string guitar,” Tom Morello says of his latest single as the Nightwatchman. “Mick Jones of The Clash reffered to his main guitar as a ‘heart attack machine’ and I named my new jet black acoustic axe ‘Black Spartacus’.”

TOUR DATES
9/1 – City Winery – New York, NY (solo/acoustic)
9/2 – The Birchmere – Alexandria, VA (solo/acoustic)
9/5 – The Barrymore Theatre – Justice Tour – Madison, WI
9/6 – Grog Shop – Justice Tour – Cleveland, OH
9/7 – The Machine Shop – Justice Tour – Flint, MI









For more The Nightwatchman click here.

Word on the street (ok, word on the internet) is that Jonathon Davis and his merry band of feel good warm and fuzzy song writers (called KORN) are currently working with several Dubstep producers on their new album.

Originally it was to be an EP, but the band took to the vile new dance style of music and are reportedly doing an entire album worth of this vomitous dreg with Skrillex, Kill The Noise, Excision, and 12th Planet.

KORN has already debuted a track from the upcoming album on SPIN.com called Get Up.

I’ve included the link, but, really, you’ve been warned.

If that wasn’t bad enough, someone took dog shit and tried to make nastier dog shit out of it! Jonathon Davis posted a remix of Get Up by AutoErotique on SoundCloud. I’m attaching it here so you can… well… torture yourself if you must.



Korn Feat Skrillex – Get Up (Autoerotique Mix) by kornofficial




Supposedly the new KORN album will be out on November 15th, but neither Korn nor their label RoadRunner Records has confirmed it.

If THAT wasn’t bad enough Halestorm has just unleashed a remix of a cover they did of Heart‘s All I Wanna Do Is Make Love To You. Lzzy Hale just posted on twitter and their website that this Dubstep cover was not the band’s idea, but that SIX5 (whomever that is) did it on their own and submitted it to their label. You can read more about that right here.

I am attaching the SIX5/Lzzy Hale song here. Again, you’ve been warned.









Why am I telling you all this?

BECAUSE.

We must stop this right here. And now. The rap/metal thing has finally run it’s course, unfortunately nobody has told Fred Durst. And we do not need Metal/Dance/Dubstep/WTFever to begin.

Kill this illegitimate form of music now before it spreads like the incurable Bieber Fever epidemic of 2010.

For all that is Metal… Kill it now.

You’ve been warned… You’ll thank me later.

GiveMeMyXXX.com and Black Country Rock are proud to present ‘Southern Independent, Vol. 2‘ the second official XXX compilation, absolutely FREE. All you have to do is register an account and download the compressed archive file to your hard drive, and turn that som’bitch up!

‘Southern Independent, Vol. 2′ tracklisting:
1. Honky Tonk Carnie / Lonewolf OMB
2. Devil In New Orleans / Powder Mill
3. Quittin’ Time / Joecephus and the George Jones Town Massacre
4. Codeine / Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit
5. I Like The Way / The Imperial Rooster
6. Whatever Kills Me First / Joey Allcorn
7. Chevy Beretta / Jonny Corndawg
8. Santa Monica / John Carter Cash
9. Sweet Delta Water / Black Oak Arkansas
10. Down and Out / Honky Tonk Hustlas
11. Canteen Full of Dreams / Roger Alan Wade
12. I Ain’t Drunk / Whitey Morgan and the 78′s
13. Hear The Hills / North Mississippi Allstars
14. Hootchie Kootchie Man / Jerry McGill*

* a historical track, recorded at Sun Studios, by one of the original Outlaws featuring Waylon Jennings on guitar, Jim Dickenson on piano, Ritchie Albright on drums, The Memphis Horns and more…

Click HERE to download NOW!

As one of the very first Swedish death metal bands, the now classic GRAVE has inspired countless metal acts to deliver unrelenting death metal to the masses. While others have fallen victim to the latest music trends, they’ve persevered the metal ages by remaining true to their roots since their humble beginnings in 1988. They truly are the MOTORHEAD of death metal-GRAVE has never broken-up, reunited, or deviated from their same, classic sound!

To celebrate the longevity of their career and the 20th anniversary of their debut album, “Into The Grave“, GRAVE will be touring North America this August and September. In regards to their upcoming tour, vocalist/guitarist Ola Lindgren comments:

“We are really psyched to get over to the states and Canada again after 5 years of absence. It’s great to be back on the Century Media train again and to celebrate the 20th anniversary of ‘Into the Grave’ with another visit to North America. During the summer festivals here in Europe, we set out to play the entire first album from start to finish in the order that the songs are on the album. It turned out to be extremely well received from our fans, so we decided to bring the concept on the road for this upcoming tour. Since we are headlining, there will be more material than just the ‘Into’ album of course. So be there or be square…C y’all!”

BLOOD RED THRONE, PATHOLOGY, and GIGAN will also join GRAVE on their North American trek, so be sure to catch this epic death metal show at a city near you!

GRAVE North American Tour 2011 with BLOOD RED THRONE, PATHOLOGY, GIGAN
8/30–Tampa, FL @ Brass Mug
8/31–Raleigh, NC @ Volume 11
9/1–Charlotte, NC @ The Casbah
9/2–Trenton, NJ @ Championship Bar and Grill
9/3–New York, NY @ The Gramercy Theatre
9/4–Montreal, QUE @ Petit Campus
9/5–Toronto, ONT @ Mod Club
9/6–Buffalo, NY @ Broadway Joe’s
9/7–Cleveland, OH @ Peabody’s
9/8–Detroit, MI @ Blondie’s
9/9–Chicago, IL @ Reggie Rock Club
9/10–St Paul, MN @ Station 4
9/11–Winnipeg, MB @ The Osbourne Village Inn
9/12–Regina, SK @ The Exchange
9/13–Calgary, AL @ Dickens
9/14–Edmonton, AL @ Pawn Shop
9/15–Vancouver, BC @ The Biltmore
9/16–Seattle, WA @ El Corazon
9/17–Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre
9/18–San Francisco, CA @ Slim’s
9/19–Los Angeles, CA @ Key Club
9/20–Anaheim, CA @ Chain Reaction
9/21–Las Vegas, NV @ Area 702 Skatepark
9/22–Tempe, AZ @ Clubhouse

For more GRAVE click here.

WAYNE STATIC will embark on a string of dates this fall in support of his first solo album, PIGHAMMER, releasing October 4th, on Dirthouse Records. STATIC will be accompanied by special guests EYE EMPIRE, KYNG, ONE EYED DOLL and GEMINI SYNDROME.

STATIC will play select tracks off the new album and a barrage of classic Static-X giving fans the hard driving metal they crave. “I can’t wait to get on stage again,” exclaims STATIC. “It’s been far too long! I know everyone is curious as to what the new show will be like… and it’s going to be even a bigger party than before with some fun surprises. I have an awesome new touring band that includes some of the best players in LA. We’ll be doing plenty of shots on stage, playing some new songs off “Pighammer,” and of course playing a ton of classic Static-X songs. Let the Evil Disco party begin!”

PIGHAMMER has a disarming raw quality of heavy driving guitar riffs and lyrics that will take hold of your bowels and into the mind of STATIC’s dark past and warped mind. This is blatant as the first single Assassins Of Youth, was inspired by WAYNE STATIC’S last days of drugs and partying. “I wrote this song while living in a hotel room, listening to Pink Floyd, drinking Crown and doing whippits,” explains Static. “I started the song in that condition but never finished it until years later after dumping off the drugs. Now the song has a whole new meaning from when I started it.” Assassins Of Youth is an old-school term for drugs. The first verse is about doing drugs, the chorus is going dry and the 2nd chorus is about getting off and no longer being slave to the drugs.

WAYNE STATIC TOUR (More Dates To Be Announced Soon):
Tue 27 Sep Sacramento CA Ace of Spades
Wed 28 Sep Portland OR El Corazone
Thu 29 Sep Boise ID Knitting Factory
Fri 30 Sep Spokane WA Knitting Factory
Sat 01 Oct Seattle WA Studio 7
Mon 03 Oct Billings MT Mannys
Tue 04 Oct Colorado Springs CO Black Sheep
Thu 06 Oct Lubbock TX Wreckers
Fri 07 Oct El Paso TX Trickey Falls
Sat 08 Oct Albuquerque NM Sunshine Theater
Sun 09 Oct Tempe AZ Marquee
Mon 10 Oct Los Angeles CA The Key Club




Wayne Static – Assassins Of Youth MP3




For more Wayne Static click here.

Guitarist / founding member / songwriter Craig Locicero of the Bay Area thrash band FORBIDDEN has issued the following update:

“This has been the week of all weeks for FORBIDDEN highs and lows. It started with losing a drummer and cancelling an entire tour. Really low. But there has been a few silver linings as well.

“If you deserve to sit on the same throne as Paul Bostaph, Steve Jacobs, Mark Hernandez, and Gene Hoglan, you’d better get ready to bring it out in the open! As far as we’re concerned, those are 4 of the greatest drummers in Thrash Metal so give it your best shot! What are you drummers waiting for? Let’s see what you’ve got!”

Send a Dropbox, Fileblaze, or Mediablaze download link to: forbiddendrummer2011@gmail.com.

By sending in your submission, you are granting your consent to having your video file uploaded onto the FORBIDDEN Drummer 2011 YouTube channel and other social media sites for comments.

Make sure to include your name and contact information in your e-mail.

Visit FORBIDDEN’s YouTube Drummer Auditions channel here.

A Brand New Solo Album from notorious Warrior Soul/Trouble Frontman Kory Clarke is the first follow up to the Opium Hotel Album that was released to critical acclaim in 2003, and continues the series. The New York Vocalist/Lyricist has rediscovered his most (dis)trusted lyrical muse – Corporate America – and thrown up a 21st-century psychedelic spew of dense sound collages, lo-fi beats and mangled guitars to vent some serious spleen.

Musically, it’s a loose-fitting departure from Clarke’s WS recordings, but the cocksure swagger and snot-punk attitude is 100% intact…

Order now and you will receive FREE (Selected) Tracks From Opium Hotel 1, as an introduction to the Opium Hotel series sent as mp3′s straight to your email once your order is received and an 8×10 Painting!

To per-order Opium Hotel II click here.
For more Kory Clarke click here.

Away-Team: I’m sitting backstage at Mayhem Fest with Dave McClain from the Bay Area’s Machine Head. Thanks Dave for your patience while we navigated through the ridiculousness that was the venue trying to get the gates open an hour late. Let’s just get right into it shall we?

Dave McClain: Absolutely man, no problem.

Away-Team: Machine Head released The Blackening in 2007 to critical praise. To many, myself included it was the album of the year, and again for myself it was the best album Machine Head has ever put out.

Dave McClain: Awesome, wow! Thank you.

Away-Team: There was a ton of press overseas that embraced you and the album and sang the praise of Machine Head and The Blackening. While the US press didn’t seem to even acknowledge Machine Head even existed. It seemed to me that you guys couldn’t even get arrested here. What is it about Europe and their fans that seem to embrace metal so openly and fully, and yet the states can seem to be bothered with it? What I’m asking is… Is it the fans that feed the media over there or the media embracing the music and opening up the fans to it?

Dave McClain: It’s something you really can’t put your finger on here. You go anywhere else in the world and it’s the same mentality as when we were all kids getting into metal. When I started getting into Judas Priest and Iron Maiden and the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal back then… I think it’s the same thing here now, it’s a sub culture a community of misfits that latched on to this type of music and to this day around the world people simply live for this music. There are so many different things going on in the States to take your time and attention. It is so big over here territory wise that it’s harder to get to everyone or get everyone together for larger shows. Where Germany is the size of Texas and we can spend a week just in Germany hitting thousands and thousands of people, where in Texas there is a lot of empty space between towns and we’re playing to hundreds of people instead. There are so many types of music pushed here in the states and so many of those avenues don’t promote metal, I think Revolver is pretty much the only US magazine that promotes metal. And they are warming up to Machine Head now which is cool. There definitely was a while there in the US before The Blackening even where we couldn’t get any attention at all. We were sitting there like, ‘come on man, we’re right here!’ and they were just, ‘No thanks we’re going to go cover hip hop’ or whatever. So now, Through The Ashes was the record that finally kicked the door in a little and got our foot in. And The Blackening was the one that re-established us. It is getting better here; we are definitely NOT giving up on the US. We’ve never been that band in the US that’s just exploded! It’s always just been a fight for us, and that’s cool to us. Back in the day when gold records mattered we’d still be playing the same size venues as bands that had gold records. But it is coming around again now. Thank god for festivals like this. That are really band friendly and people like John Reese the guy that puts this thing on (John Reese is co-creator of Rockstar Mayhem Fest) loves metal, he tours with the festival, gets the bands together and has theme parties during the tour for the bands. It’s very cool to have the organizer be that involved with the tour and with the bands on that level. And then today with the internet the way it is, any interview you do can go anywhere, be read or heard anywhere in the world now. So that helps a lot in getting the word out about Machine Head.

Away-Team: So to you what is the main difference between US festivals like Mayhem and the European Festivals?

Dave McClain: Well mainly the festivals over there are just like for a weekend, where these are tours. It’s a lot of camping out over there, tent cities and stuff. They’re like the super die hards there. You’ve got some popping up here now like that, like Bonnaroo and Coachella. It’s really just a matter of time I hope before you see Metallica do like a Sonisphere over here you know? Just have a two day festival and do four or five of them around the country. And over there the festivals are pretty diverse music style wise.

Away-Team: You get a little bit of everything in a two day festival there. More of a “Lollapalooza” feel over there.

Dave McClain: Right, exactly. And this, while it is a tour, it’s different. Because for us, well, for the side stage bands, that’s the crowds we’re used to, the kids are flying around, the dirt is flying around, and everything is going crazy. Then you come over here to the main stage and you’re playing to a lot of people that don’t even get here till six o’clock and could give a shit about Machine Head or even Megadeth or Trivium. They’re just here for Godsmack or just Disturbed.

Away-Team: Those would be the people telling me to sit down and shut up as I’m trying to enjoy the show and your set.

Dave McClain: Right! Right. And we’re trying to win them over. And it is a great feeling really, because it’s just as good as having your crowd on the other stages in front of you, as having a new crowd being won over as they start to stand in their seats as our set goes on. We and Trivium have been doing this… and some days you come off the main stage and you’re just like ‘Fuck, man, those people could just give a shit about us.’ But then the days you do win them over, it is like the best feeling in the world.

Away-Team: You are getting ready to release Unto The Locust next month (out September 27th!!!), what can we expect from the new stuff? Is it a progression from The Blackening? Is it a foray into a new Machine Head sound? Have you finally gone Dub Step to get on the radio?

Dave McClain: (laughs), Yeah! That’s it! Really, we just definitely challenged ourselves going into it. We were in no way going to make The Blackening II. From Through The Ashes Of Empires to The Blackening to now, there are the same feelings going on and we’re just pushing them further. The main difference is that we now have total musical freedom; no one is looking over our shoulder. Roadrunner is just like, ‘Just give us the record and we’ll run with it.’ We’ve tried to challenge ourselves as musicians. The first song we wrote called This Is The End, Robb and I got together one day after everyone had taken a couple months off and he’s like, ‘It’s not complete yet, but I’ve got this song here…’ and he goes into this classical guitar thing that he couldn’t really play that well yet because he’d just gotten into the classical guitar thing. Then the song just goes into this super blast beat thrashy thing and we were just, ‘FUCK! It’s the first song and it is already a super hard one to play!’ And that just set the tone for the whole album writing process. On this new album we have the hardest, fastest, most brutal stuff we’ve done. And then we have the song Locust which is middle of the road, like almost a rock song for us with groovin’ beats, it’s just really weird. We’ve got some super dark stuff on there and then some mellow stuff that gets heavier, but over all just super dark theme wise. Robb Flynn went up to New York and started taking classical guitar lessons from this guy at the same time he was taking vocal lessons from Lady Gaga’s vocal coach. It’s all just us trying to push ourselves into a new place.

Away-Team: According to your bio, you are originally from Germany, yet speaking to you, you have no accent.

Dave McClain: Well I was born there; my dad was in the military…

Away-Team: Ah, that explains that…

Dave McClain: Yes, I am not a German. (laughs)

Away-Team: So how did you end up in the Bay Area and in Machine Head?

Dave McClain: I joined Machine Head in the end of 95 and I moved there in January of 96.

Away-Team: I know Machine Head went through something like 3 drummers in one year…

Dave McClain: Yeah, by the time I got to them they were pretty sick of drummers!

Away-Team: They were through playing Spinal Tap?

Dave McClain: Totally! But instead of their drummers dying there were just… ah, never mind, I’m not going there…

Away-Team: Ok, moving on!

Dave McClain: Yeah, moving on (laughs), so I was in a band called Sacred Reich out of Phoenix,

Away-Team: Yes, I am very familiar with Sacred Reich!

Dave McClain: Awesome! So a mutual friend of ours, who worked for Century Media at the time, knew they were looking, so he was helping them find a drummer, and he called Igor from Sepultura who also lived in Phoenix at the time. Igor was like, ‘Call Dave man.’ So Robb called me and at first I said no thanks, I was going to stick it out with Sacred Reich. That day I was laying in my bed and I was like, ‘What am I doing?!?’ Don’t get me wrong, I love Sacred Reich, but they were notoriously kind of lazy, and talking to Robb and only hearing Burn My Eyes once or twice… Just talking to Robb and hearing his passion and determination I was like, ‘What am I doing? These guys are where I’m at we’re like on the same wave length here.’ So I called Robb back and I’m like, ‘Hey man, I thought about it and I really want to do this!’ So he said to come in and audition. So I went out and auditioned, we played the whole Burn My Eyes record a few times and I could tell they were really into it, we were jamming really good. Then they kind of left me hanging as they went through the audition process for another week or so. And they called me up and told me to move out.

Away-Team: You were out on the road with Metallica for like a year, year and a half off and on. What are the pros and cons of supporting the biggest metal band in the world?

Dave McClain: There were definitely way more highs than lows on that tour. When they first asked us we had to tell them no! We’d already committed to doing the Slipknot tour over in Europe. They said, ‘That’s cool, we totally respect that, we’ll be touring for a while so we’ll work something out.’ Then they offered us all these dates and…

Away-Team: Yes, you were basically on the second leg of the Death Magnetic Tour correct?

Dave McClain: Yes, we did the US, Europe and then other countries like Poland and a bunch of little weird countries too. And with them being the not just the biggest metal bands, but being one of the biggest bands on the planet… the way they treat bands is fucking amazing! They are at the point where they just take bands out that they want to take. I mean they didn’t need us. They didn’t need The Sword, or Lamb Of God, they didn’t need Mastodon, but they WANTED us and them. They just take really good care of everyone. Like once a week they’ll take the bands out to a restaurant and just hang, and eat and drink. They took us on their jet for a show and, just made sure we were taken care of while we were out with them. The one thing about opening for them is that everyone in that crowd is there for them. Metallica didn’t need us to open, and the crowd didn’t fucking care that we were there (laughs)!

Away-Team: I can totally see that here in the states than Europe because they tend to be much more open minded musically there…

Dave McClain: Yeah, but still you get the Metallica die hards that follow, literally follows them around, go to multiple shows and it was hard. We were on the stage in the round and all the people on the floor are like fan club people and die hard Metallica fans, just rabid fans and you end up playing to the people way up in the stands that are actually into you. And you have those same nights where you’re, ‘Fuck man, we just couldn’t get it going tonight!’ It’s just very frustrating, then other times you have the crowd and it’s just killer. You don’t have them like Metallica has them, but you have a part of them. Probably THE best show we did on that whole thing was in Paris and it was like that was our crowd, everyone in the crowd was into us and they were all singing along like it was our own show, our own crowd.

Away-Team: Is that the show that Metallica released a DVD of?

Dave McClain: No, this was a different show. As amazing as that set was for us, when Metallica came on it was like being on a movie set and the director is like, ‘I want everyone to act as crazy as you have ever been!’ and yells action as they take the stage (laughs).

Away-Team: 2002 was a rough year for you guys; you had just released Supercharger and a video a few weeks after September 11th, 2001 that depicted falling buildings. It seemed everyone even your label stood against you and pulled the plug on the band. You negotiated out of your contract with Roadrunner. How close where you guys in the band to pulling your own plug?

Dave McClain: We were real close man. It was a super bad time and we were just so pissed off about everything that had happened. We weren’t working the record and we just felt like we were at an end, with Roadrunner and with the band. But after Roadrunner, we went out to test the waters with other people that had always been there for the band in the past, ‘you know, anytime you need anything, we’re here for you.’ Well we needed something, and nobody was there for us. They all disappeared. ‘Well we’re here now, you know?’ ‘Oh, yeah, well… ya know? Um…. ‘

Away-Team: ‘Had you come to us six months ago…’

Dave McClain: Right! ‘Who’s this? Prank call! Prank call!’ (laughs) I told our guitarist at the time, to basically leave the band. He was wanting to do a side project, and having us stick around funding his side project so I was like, run, go, do it, get out. It was bleak man. It wasn’t that we didn’t want to do it anymore; it was that we had no avenues TO do it anymore. So we started writing a couple of songs. Just trying to do something. And it was pure shit. It was bad. And it WAS fucking shit, and it felt horrible. We had a band meeting and I told the guys, ‘You know this fucking sucks. This is shit; this isn’t why I play music. And if we’re a heavy metal band, and we’re going to write an album. Let’s write the heaviest shit man. Let’s just write for ourselves. Let’s just take all this and put it into writing.‘ And that became Through The Ashes…

Away-Team: Which explains all the piss and venom in it…

Dave McClain: Yeah! It was definitely an angry and a dark record but Roadrunner UK never wanted to let us go, and they were still there quietly supporting us, and it turned out to be a great thing, it turned out to be more of a licensing thing for us which at the time was great. We were about to sign a deal with an American label for the US and Roadrunner US came up and came to us and said, ‘We want to be a part of this again!’ It made us all real happy, because it was a clean slate at that point.

Away-Team: Well at that point, with that album in the can ready to go, you kind of have them over a barrel, and you can say, ‘Well you want us? Here’s what it is going to take to get us back!’

Dave McClain: Yeah, but more than that, there were people there genuinely behind us again. There were people that cared about us and about the band. For us we never wanted to leave in the first place, we just wanted things to be right you know? And since then everything has been great. Not that we don’t go back and forth with Roadrunner on some things, but its constructive, it’s a good thing.

Away-Team: Great! So once Mayhem is done, what does Machine Head have on its plate? You’ve got Unto The Locust coming out in September, what are the current tour plans for that?

Dave McClain: We’ve got a month off after Mayhem. We headline the Soundwave Revolution metal stage.

Away-Team: Nice!

Dave McClain: Yeah, it is. It’ll be awesome, and we’ll get to see Van Halen! (laughs) We’re just as excited about seeing them play every day as we are to headline the metal stage! Then we’re doing our first headline run of South America since I’ve been in the band. We’ve got Sepultura there for the shows which is awesome. And then a headlining run of Europe with Bring Me The Horizon, DevilDriver, and Darkest Hour. First quarter of next year our main priority is doing a headline run here in the states.

Away-Team: You guys are definitely due.

Dave McClain: Yes, it’s been over four years we are so ready for it.

Away-Team: Well congratulations, and good luck on the new album, I can’t wait to hear it! And hopefully we’ll get to see you in 2012 in a theater or large venue around here soon! Thanks again Dave!

Dave McClain: Thanks! See you soon!

Away Team would like to thank Jay Beadnell and Stageshotz Photography for his permission and photos from the Raleigh stop of the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Fest used in this interview.

There is a long list of people to thank for making this and all of our Mayhem Fest interviews happen, so, forgive me if I forgot anyone, but thanks to Lilly at Roadrunner, Bill at eOne Music, Rikki, Natalie, and Jessica at Adrenaline, and Laura Jean with Mayhem.

For more MACHINE HEAD click here.
Pick up what is sure to be on everyone’s top ten of 2011 Unto The Locust here.

Away-Team: Alright so I’m here with Chris Broderick the guitarist for Megadeth. Hello Chris, thank you for taking the time to do the interview with us today. Appreciate it. So you were in Jag Panzer before Megadeth…

Chris Broderick: Yup!

Away-Team: And you played live with Nevermore for a couple of years?

Chris Broderick: Correct.

Away-Team: Didn’t actually record anything with them just kinda filled in, is that correct?

Chris Broderick: Right! Right, I did do Year of the Voyager the DVD with them.

Away-Team: Ok so Jag Panzer very intricate very tough stuff to do guitar wise very impressive work, Nevermore was no slouch musically there either doing the two of them at the same time, you just a glutton for punishment?

Chris Broderick: No! (laughs) I mean you know it’s just part of the reason why I do what I do. I love to play music and I love to play out. With Jag Panzer all the guys are awesome but they couldn’t always get the amount of time they needed to tour quite often and so I had always wanted to play out as much as possible and the opportunity arose to tour with Nevermore as well so I took that. And then there were cases where I had to pull double duty and play with both bands at the same festivals!

Away-Team: Nice (laughs). Makes for a long day no?

Chris Broderick: Definitely(laughs)!

Away-Team: So how did you end up with Megadeth coming off of Jag Panzer?

Chris Broderick: Well it was really Glen Drover, you know the guy that I replaced, him and his brother Shawn had recommended me to Dave who had also seen some of my YouTube clips online as well and so that’s how I got the call I guess a fairly short casting call for that. Then from there we just talked about what each other expected, what the roles would be, and stuff like that. And I just got to work because there was a tour coming up and I had 22 songs to learn in less than a month! So I didn’t even have time to consider that I was joining such a great iconic band it was just ‘let’s get to work’ you know.

Away-Team: For the readers that don’t know, YouTube Chris and check out some of his work online. You’ve got some amazing videos out there… some great, great guitar work… just blows people away. So you recorded parts of the Endgame, were you actually part of the writing process or was it pretty much complete when you came in?

Chris Broderick: No. No, we all submitted material and at the end of the day it’s just the process of going through and making sure it fits the Megadeth sound. I did get a small writing credit on Endgame and it was awesome to be able to get that on the record. And then of course also a lot of things that we do that don’t necessarily…you know there’s only two things that generally warrant writing credit on a CD – there’s the lyrics and there’s the main rhythmic component the music side of the song and then everything else is just considered I guess ‘embellishment’ over the top. But I think all of us have a lot to do with that embellishment whether it’s the melodies or counter melodies or guitar solos all kinds of things that you can do to add a lot of character to a song.

Away-Team: From Endgame to TH1RT3EN which is coming out reportedly November? Is there actually a street date yet?

Chris Broderick: Not that I know of…what they’ve told me as the tentative date is November 1st, so that’s…

Away-Team: What you’re going with for now?

Chris Broderick: Exactly, you know my guess is as good as yours beyond that.

Away-Team: So did you get more as you call it ‘embellishment‘ on TH1RT3EN? Was it more interactive between you guys because you had a little more history together now a little more comfortable with them?

Chris Broderick: You know this CD came together completely differently than Endgame did. It came together really fast. It’s the fastest CD I’ve ever been a part of to tell you the truth. From concept to finished product it was really just a lot of riffs that were written in the last two years and stuff like that brought togethe. Put it on the table right away and then we started looking at how you develop it, choruses, the bridges, the pre choruses all of that stuff, and the arrangement. And then from there we went onto our roles as individuals writing. For me it’s writing the melodies and counter melodies on the guitar and solos of course.

Away-Team: So Dave being no slouch on the guitar himself, getting the two of you in a room together must get pretty nuts at times? Pushing each other, trying to come up with a better riff a faster riff?

Chris Broderick: I don’t know if there’s ever a competition like that (laughs) but it is one of those things where we will play off of each other a little bit. If I present a riff he’ll be like ‘oh yeah, yeah that’s really cool but maybe you could straighten that part out.’ So it’s very back and forth I think sometimes when we play together that’s the cool part about it.

Away-Team: Absolutely! Dave also stated for the sound for the new album that it’s something completely un-Megadeth, it’s a sound Megadeth has never done before the guitars are completely different sounding. He actually hearkens back to, I think it was… I forget what album he kinda compared it to, but he said sound wise it was something that Megadeth had never done before.

Chris Broderick: I would agree with that as far as the mix and the mastering component absolutely this album sounds huge and just very raw in a way because we did put it together so quickly I think it’s got a raw component to it. But also with Johnny K producing I think it just has a much bigger sound to it so in that concept I agree. But I’ve always likened TH1RT3EN to almost like a cut in time from each CD of the past Megadeth discography so you know it’s got stuff that hearkens back to Peace Sells all the way up to Countdown to Extinction to Endgame so you kind of hear aspects of the whole timeline and that’s why I like it so much.

Away-Team: Speaking of Peace Sells, the band is celebrating the 25th anniversary of that. Which would have put you at 15 years old maybe? You’re the youngest guy in the band now right?

Chris Broderick: What was that ’84 right?

Away-Team: Yeah…

Chris Broderick: So I would have been 14.

Away-Team: 14. So do you count that as one of your inspirations as one of your…?

Chris Broderick: You know what’s funny I always heard the title track from MTV and stuff like that.

Away-Team: When they played videos?

Chris Broderick: Yeah back when they actually played videos (laughs). But I didn’t really start getting into Megadeth until Rust In Peace which is when Marty came in and that’s the whole reason why you know I’ve always kind of come from the guitar shredder root kind of thing. I was huge fan of Jason Becker and Paul Gilbert and all those guitar noodlers and still am to this day so when I followed Marty Friedman into Megadeth I was like ‘oh well what’s this all about’ and that’s when I got into the rest of the CDs.

Away-Team: So how’s Mayhem treating you guys? Dave had posted towards the beginning of the tour that there was a lot of problems, he had never contemplated walking off a tour before and then he posted a couple of days later thanks to whoever, whatever problems there were, were fixed…

Chris Broderick: There were some issues; they were mainly technical issues and stuff like that. I think once we got the right people notified they handled it really well and things were taken care of like that. So it was I think a minor glitch but once the right people were notified it was good.

Away-Team: You guys recently toured in support of the 20th anniversary also of Rust In Peace you guys were playing it in its entirety you’re now on the 25th like I said for Peace Sells. Do you guys have plans of possibly doing the same thing with Peace Sells that you did with Rust?

Chris Broderick: We had talked about it but I think because we’re coming off with TH1RT3EN that it may not happen because we’re definitely going to want to support TH1RT3EN in its…

Away-Team: Do a true cycle for that album?

Chris Broderick: Yes exactly, but you never know we might do something in tandem. I think that’s a really good idea we kinda did that with Rust In Peace and Endgame a little bit.

Away-Team: Did the first leg supported the album second leg you did that plus like a greatest hits afterwards type of thing at least knock out a DVD for the fans of you guys playing it live. So you talked about Rust In Peace was kind of your intro to Megadeth, what do you cite as your main influences?

Chris Broderick: Well it definitely it started with Eddie Van Halen of course! And then from there it quickly went to Yngwie and then onward to Jason Becker, Greg Howe, Paul Gilbert, you know all of those guys… Richie Kotzen, I mean I could go on and on and on. But as far as bands go during that time it was also like Queensryche and King Diamond.

Away-Team: So you’ve always had that kind of progressive lean towards at least what you like, what inspired you…

Chris Broderick: Exactly yes!
Away-Team: And with Jag Panzer and even Nevermore you still had that progressive lean, do you feel you’re getting that, you’re bringing that to Megadeth?

Chris Broderick: I don’t know if I would turn the ship that far that’s for sure. There are things I’ll want to try sometimes where they’re like ‘mmm nah that’s a little too progressive’ you know, but that’s ok. (laughs)

Away-Team: ‘Save that for the solo album in a year or two‘ …

Chris Broderick: I’m fine with that. And you know for me this is all a learning experience as well. And I love trying to be able to acquire new styles and new genres and thrash is definitely one of those!

Away-Team: So what was the worst name of a band you were in?

Chris Broderick: The worst name?

Away-Team: The worst name of a band you were in…

Chris Broderick: Oh, the first band I ever joined with my best friend was a band called Slaymaker and I have no idea what it meant…

Away-Team: Funny usually when I ask that question everybody always says it’s the first band they were in …

Chris Broderick: Well, you know, you’re young.

Away-Team: Because that’s your garage band you throw on some stupid name that you think sounds cool and gets attention and 20 years later you’re like what the hell does that mean?

Chris Broderick: Right (laughs).

Away-Team: So after Mayhem you guys are doing the Big Four in New York, Yankee Stadium a month or two after that in theory TH1RT3EN comes out what’s next for Megadeth tour-wise?

Chris Broderick: Then we’re going to do like a three week maybe a little over a three week tour down in South America which is will be the first tour where we actually support TH1RT3EN. So I’m really looking forward to that! And then we’ll probably take the holiday season off and then come the new year we’re going to look at gearing up for the whole tour cycle on TH1RT3EN.

Away-Team: Ok sounds good well I appreciate it Chris. I appreciate your time Chris and good luck with the show I haven’t seen you perform with Megadeth yet so I’m really looking forward to catching it tonight. And for everybody out there stand by because TH1RT3EN is coming soon pick it up when it does!

Chris Broderick: Thanks man!

Away-Team: Thank you Chris, appreciate it.

There is a long list of people to thank for making this and all of our Mayhem Fest interviews happen, so, forgive me if I forgot anyone, but thanks to Lilly at Roadrunner, Bill at eOne Music, Rikki, Natalie, and Jessica at Adrenaline, and Laura Jean with Mayhem.

For more MEGADETH click here.