NIGHTMARE TOYS

Tuesday, October 23, 2018

March In Arms interview

1. Please tell us about the about the band and its members.

Sheldon: The band consists of: Ryan Knutson-Vocals/guitar; Jon Parker-Guitar, Phil Mueller-Drums; Scott McGuire-Bass/vocals; and Sheldon Swan-guitar.

2. Who does the majority of the writing? Is it a group thing or does someone handle the writing duties?

Ryan:  The majority of the self-titled album is material that I had been working on years prior with a couple exceptions.  I still write all the lyrics and vocal melodies but the new material is 50/50 myself and Sheldon in the guitar riffs and song structure department.

3. Where is the band based out of? Where did you want the band to end up? What was the dream city to have as your home base once you got out of your scene?

Sheldon: We started in 2012 in Sioux Falls, SD.  I don’t think we’ve ever thought of relocating the band to a different city. 

4. What is your genre? What bands do you use to explain to people what you sound like?

Ryan:  We were so heavily influenced by Metallica that there is a strong focus on riffs but epic choruses are a part of every March In Arms song.  It’s like Metallica meets Blind Guardian and Hammerfall.

 5. Can we buy anything from you Cd's shirts etc and where can we buy them?

Sheldon: We are in the process of setting up a website for merchandise sales.  Keep an eye on www.marchinarms.bandcamp.com, maybe a few weeks.

6. Do you have studio time lined up anything new coming soon?

Ryan:  Yes we are in fact heading in to the studio the end of November for the follow up album.  The new songs had to pass the Wacken test.  If we were playing on a stage at a massive outdoor fest the chorus needs to be so huge and catchy that the second time you hear it you would be able to sing along and I am confident we have achieved that goal. 

7. Have you ever been on tour? If so where and with who?

Ryan:  Not yet but we won’t rule it out if the right opportunity comes along.


8. What is your favorite band? Who are the bands who influenced you?

Sheldon: Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Megadeth, Iron Maiden, Motorhead, Nightwish, Sabaton, Powerwolf, Stratavarius, Alice In Chains, Hammerfall, Queensryche, Rammstein, Blind Guardian, the list goes on.

9. Do you have a website? And do I have to verify that I am 18 to enter it?

Ryan:  I don’t care if you’re 5 years old, check it out www.marchinarms.bandcamp.com, you can stream all of our music for free there.  On November 20th we will release the reissue of the self-titled album with bonus live tracks of “Mouth Of The Kracken” and “Firebreather”.

10. What about your music do you want people to remember? What is the quality you want to hit people when they hit play?

Ryan:  Just powerful, epic, moving metal.  I also hope that anyone who has been in combat can relate to the lyrics.  I’m not putting forth an anti-war message and I’m not glorifying war, just the reality of war.  So many of the songs are historically based and I hope people find that cool that these are not just a bunch of random lyrics about really nothing.

11. Name a person who is integral to your band that nobody knows about , what person drives your band like they are part of the band? Who is the extra member ?

Sheldon: Ummm, I don’t think we have such a person.



12. Tell nerds like me tell us about your live rig and equipment.

Sheldon:  Drums-Ludwig, Zildjian, DW, Axis, Vater. Bass-Fender, Ampeg. Guitars-ESP, Jackson, Ibanez, Laney, Peavey, Mesa Boogie, EVH, Marshall.



Ryan:  I will most likely always take the stage with a Jackson V.  Right now I bounce back and forth between a USA Rhoads V and a mid level Rhoads V that is burn your eyes out lime green.  I’m pretty aggressive on stage so it’s a miracle no one has been stabbed yet by either of them!



13.What is your musical guilty pleasure that you are ashamed of?

Sheldon: I don’t really feel guilty about any of the music I like. If I like it, I like it, no matter the genre.

Ryan: I agree, there is nothing that I listen to that I would hide from anyone.

14.If you could custom build a band who would be the members?

Sheldon/Ryan: Steve Harris-Bass, Tuomas Holopainen-Keyboards, James Hetfield-Rhythm guitar, Rob Halford-vocals, Vinnie Paul-drums, Marty Friedman-lead guitar.

15.Message to the fans? What is it?

Ryan:  We will do everything we can to branch out our radius and play more and more shows.  With any luck we will make it overseas eventually!

(Answers provided by Ryan Knutson – Guitar/Vocals and Sheldon Swan – Guitar)

https://marchinarms.bandcamp.com/album/march-in-arms-self-titled


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