Thursday, November 29, 2018

BLOOD AND THUNDER THE GRINDER INTERVIEW

The band started in Fall 2008, inspired by the melodic death metal coming out of Europe and Scandinavia. The guys at the time were really into Bodom, Kalmah, Wintersun, Winds of Plague, stuff like that. All those different influences came together to make the Blood and Thunder sound. We released 2 EPs and 2 full length albums up until 2015, when the band broke up. Ryan and Nick spent the next couple years rebuilding a fresh lineup, and we released our latest EP, The Necromancer’s Catos, as a result of all that hard work.

2. Who does the majority of the writing? Is it a group thing or does someone handle the writing duties?
The writing is kind of split up into two phases - writing the instrumentals, and adding lyrics and vocals. We’re always refining our writing process, but lately the process has been that Major writes the bulk of the instrumentals first, and Ryan writes the vocals on top of that later on. Pretty much anybody in the band can contribute ideas though, so it just depends on the song. We start by programming the entire song in MIDI - drums, guitars, bass, and keys. This works great because we can tweak the song and make changes really easily, and it gives everybody a way to learn their parts note for note. Once we are done, we even use the MIDI drums in the studio to record along to before replacing them with acoustic drums.



3. Where is the band based out of ?
North of Seattle in Arlington, WA, USA.

4. What bands do you use to explain to people what you sound like?
We’d usually mention bands like Children of Bodom, The Black Dahlia Murder, Kalmah, Nekrogoblikon, Wintersun, and Mors Principium Est.

5. Can we buy anything from you Cd's shirts etc and where can we buy them?
Definitely! We’ve got a whole set of new merch for The Necromancer’s Cantos. We’ve got shirts, hoodies, CDs, and even shot glasses. You can get all that stuff at www.bloodandthundermetal.bigcartel.com. ( I WOULD LIKE A 3 X PLEASE )


6. Do you have studio time lined up anything new coming soon?
Not right now. Since we just released an album, we are focusing on promoting that and playing shows. We’re already working on a bunch of new material though, so a new album will definitely be happening!

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

Yeah, we’ve done some smaller local tours around the West Coast and the surrounding area. Most of these have been supported by other great local bands like The Devils of Loudun.

8. What is your favorite band? Who are the bands who influenced you?
Ryan: Children of Bodom, Megadeth, Rush, Kalmah, Norther

Nick: Carach Angren, Nile, Cerebral Bore, Rush, T.M. Stevens

Damian: Circa Survive, As Blood Runs Black, She Must Burn, Born of Osiris

Major: Eluveitie is definitely my favorite band. Lately my writing influences have been Aether Realm, Omnium Gatherum, and Euphoreon.

Michael: Ozzy Osbourne, Iron Maiden, King Diamond, Black Sabbath, In Flames.

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

www.bloodandthundermetal.com. No age limit :)



10. What about your music do you want people to remember?
The feeling of adventure, discovery, and mystery. Like when you read a really good book or play a video game and you’re just swept up in the story. That kind of transporting experience where you escape to another world when you listen to the song. That’s hopefully what people come away with.

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 ?
Steven “The Werewolf” Krogh. Absolutely crucial to the live performance when called upon, and always down to run the merch booth or haul gear for us when needed, no questions asked. Steven highly prides himself on having every single merch item we offer, on top of being the only one person to have a Blood and Thunder tattoo. So be on the lookout for him at a future show!

12. Tell us about your live rig and equipment.
Ryan: Right now i have a PDP Pacific drum kit with a black sparkle finish. I'm also a proud endorsed artist at Saluda cymbals, and I use custom hand hammered Diamond Brilliant series cymbals. Im also a proud lifelong user of ProMark sticks.

Nick: I exclusively use Dingwall basses. I have an NG3 6 string on the way, and a Z3 6 string custom. I play my basses through Mesa/Boogie bass amps and cabs. I use the M9 carbine head unit, and two 2*12 cabinets, as well as a Darkglass Electronics b7k pedal. 
Damian: Currently my main setup is the Korg, 61 key KROSS1, and the Korg RK100s keytar. 

Major: My two main guitars right now are my Schecter KM6 and my Jackson SL2Q. I run those through an Engl Powerball V1, and a Mesa 4x12 cab. I use a couple pedals, the main one being a Horizon Devices Precision Drive.

Michael: My go to are Caparison guitars, specifically the Dellinger model. I use the  EVH 5150III 50W head with matching EVH 2x12 Cabs. Less is more to me as I use only a Maxon 808 for a small boost using the Blue channel on the EVH as well as and ISP decimator to cut out excess noise. 


13. What is your musical guilty pleasure?
Ryan: ABBA

Nick: The B-52’s 

Damian: LIMP BIZKIT

Major: Marianas Trench

Michael: Kenny G

14. If you could custom build a tour who would it be with?
Ryan: Mors Principium Est, The Black Dahlia Murder, Nekrogoblikon, Blood and Thunder

Nick: Carach Angren, Omnium Gatherum, Kalmah, Blood and Thunder

Damian: The Black Dahlia Murder, Omnium Gatherum, Born of Osiris, As Blood Runs Black, Blood and Thunder

Major: Ensiferum, Children of Bodom, Wintersun, and Blood and Thunder

Michael: Soilwork, In Flames, Children of Bodom, Blood and Thunder



15. Message to the fans?

To any one of you who have supported us by coming out to a show, buying some merch, helping us load gear, buying us beer, weed, junk food, or generally hanging out with us, THANK YOU. It's your undying desire for more music in the greater Pacific Northwest that keeps us doing what we are doing. Keep going out to shows, keep buying merch from your favorite bands, keep supporting the local scene anyway you can and keep having fun with it all! That's why we write music and perform, and that's why we keep looking for the next show, the FANS.

16. If you could bring back one metal legend who would it be?

Given all the tragic losses we keep seeing, we would have to cast our vote for the great Warrel Dane.

17. Last but not least , Zeppelin or The Who

Ryan: Zeppelin 

Nick: Rush

Damian: Neither

Major: Zeppelin

Michael: Zeppelin





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