Natalie's World

Indie post-hardcore act TANG released their latest album "Dynamite Drug Diamond" but have already gotten into the process for their follow-up release. Drummer/vocalist Bastien Gournay discusses of the band's latest album plus future releases and plans.



1. Introduce yourself, tell me what you do in TANG, and how long the band has been together.

Bastien: TANG is made of four musicians and one lyricist. Two singers, one plays the guitar and the other one the drums, a guitar player and a bass player. We've been playing together for over 16 years…

2. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there?

Bastien: Are there any local bands you could recommend? Today, we all live in Lille, Northern France. Our lyricist lived London for a long time. There are many talented local bands here, in every kind of style. For good screaming hardcore sound, we recommend you General Lee.

3. Tell us the brief history of your band.

Bastien: In 16 years, we released three albums and played many gigs all around France and Belgium.

4. How did you guys come up with your band name?

Bastien: I remember that… We needed a band name to play our first gig at school. There was a plate with tangerines in front us, so we stopped thinking too long. We called ourself TANGERINE. Then it became TANG, two years later. We would agree to say that's not the best band name, but it is ours…

5. What type of band are you?
The type of band which doesn't earn money with music…

6. What are your songs about? (What specific themes do they cover?)

Bastien: We take our inspiration from a multitude of sources: It can be novels, poems, paintings, personal experience, newspaper articles… But we mostly deal about one's place in the world nowadays and human relationships in a kind of oeniric way. Therefore if you want to enjoy the music as a form of escapism it's possible, but if you look out carefully you'll see that the events happening in our parallel world can be quite close to what's going on in the news. It's like several layers of interpretation you're free to choose from, different vantage points.

7. Do you write your own songs? (Discuss the songwriting process in detail.)

Bastien: We write the music first and then place dummy lyrics with the rhythm patterns we deem most effective on it, then we send demos to the lyricist who listens to the structures intently and builds upon his feelings of their atmosphere. There has to be a genuine feeling for the music for the words to come out and it sometimes moves us into unchartered territory, especially in DDD. The more extreme we get, the harder the states of mind, the harder the lyrics. But it can be therapeutic, that's the second D.

8. Who are your musical influences?

Bastien: Regarding the music, we were influenced by bands like At The Drive-In, Envy and Refused. Concerning the lyrics, we would say The Lapse, The Van Pelt, (everything Chris Leo) The Beatles, Cake.

9. What's your take on "Dynamite Drug Diamond" as a whole?

Bastien: Dynamite Drug Diamond is about crashing into a wall, becoming aware of your mortality, and reassessing a set of values in order to move on. Regarding writing (Highway Encounter), nature (Hellisandur), friends (Eve of Ceasefire Talks), or family (In Loving Memories).

10. Is it important for you to paint visual pictures with the songs?

Bastien: We provide the words with the most connotation in the most attractive and compelling way so that people can paint their own picture. And we try to cram as much as we can in every album, a bit like a trunk in your attic you'd like to reopen after a few years. Quote one of our songs: "The many letters, thriving to make sense, the blooming words, colour to sentence - Word Necklace"

11. Is there any story or concept behind the "Dynamite Drug Diamond" title?

Bastien: It’s the english subtitle to something said enigmatically at the end of a Shozin Fukui cyberpunk movie called Rubber's Lover: We were trying to make sense of it while writing the album and it slowly began to exert a fascination on us by the amount of meaning it carried in relation to our music. The movie is about mad scientists torturing human guinea pigs with a drug called ether they activate by generating crazy distorted waveforms, in order to develop their psychic capabilities (!). So for our lyricist, this ironically echoes his mode of writing and is a form of homage to these extreme underground movies he's a massive fan of. Dynamite Drug Diamond is also about the process of exploding with honesty to solidify into something else, therapeutic writing, a cure.

12. Who produced "Dynamite Drug Diamond" and what was it like working with them?

Bastien: We recorded this album at the Boss Hog Studios, in France. We worked with Clément Decrock, a gifted drummer who is also a gifted studio sound engineer. We spent a lot of time over there, two months to record and one to mix. So, we didn’t have to release things in a hurry. The engineer was really involved in this creation. It was an awesome experience. Then we contacted Bob Katz to master the whole thing. He did good job, but you know, we never really met him, we just exchanged some emails.

13. Who did the cover art for "Dynamite Drug Diamond" and how much input did you have on it?

Bastien: N.G. Chi Wai did the French digisleeve version of Dynamite Drug Diamond. It was his first music lay out. He was very creative. We just told him to use the diamond symbol and silver ink on black. Then Sober Up Records released an English jewel case version with a new design this November. We gave the label the freedom to redesign it as they wanted and they chose Isabelle Pinder from Somethinkdesign who recreated the artwork. We are happy with it.

14. What's your favorite song on the album right now?

Bastien: As a whole it's "Run and Run and Die" but we all have our favourite ones, they all work differently.

15. Where is the new material headed?

Bastien: We are building new songs,  in a more instrumental and experimental way, with less lyrics. We are also trying new ways of tuning the guitars and are interested in using new instruments.

16. What are the upcoming plans for playing shows and touring?

Bastien: We intend to play some shows in England in 2014.

17. What can the fans expect to see from you in the future?

Bastien: After more than 16 years, people can expect us to continue giving the energy we're known for.

18. Anything else you'd like to say or want to add?

Bastien: Share a beer?

IN THIS MOMENT are proud to unveil "Whore" in its full cinematic splendor, and have released the song's official music video today across Clear Channel's nationwide network of websites. You can watch the video on your favorite Clear Channel Active Rock radio station website or Facebook page, or HERE to view the video at iHeartRadio.com.

The video has a stark voyeuristic feel, combining the theatrical aplomb that marks IN THIS MOMENT's live performances with visuals that are as compelling as they are disturbing. Directed by Robert Kley, who was also at the helm for the band's "Adrenalize" and "Blood" videos, "Whore" co-stars MOTIONLESS IN WHITE frontman Chris Motionless. "His look is so perfect for the dirty vintage feel of the video, and he was a perfect gentleman while being violated by me," says IN THIS MOMENT frontwoman Maria Brink.

"I knew how amazing placing the visual arts to 'Whore' would be when we wrote it, and I have been waiting to release this video since we recorded the song," Brink continues of the band's new video. "I am so passionate about the concepts and every single detail that goes into shooting a music video, and I created my own stimulating visual metaphor to make this - I am grateful to have worked with Robert Kley again, he always seems to help me bring what I see in my mind to life. 'Whore' is a song that pushes boundaries, and I needed the video to do the same. The song is about taking back control. It is about rising above and finding the power within ourselves. I hope everyone enjoys it!"

Adds IN THIS MOMENT guitarist Chris Howorth: "'Whore' is one of my favorite songs on 'Blood' and the video is the best we have created to date - it's just as creepy and sexy as our live show, with a bunch of extra surprises. Maria really outdid herself on this one... this is her twisted vision brought to life, enjoy!"

Mattel's Monster High line is expanding into the Christmas spirit with it's own Christmas tree! But this isn't your ordinary green or white or multi-colored tree this one is BLACK! It's 24 inches perfect table topper, comes with a tree topper of snowflake, tree blanket, and ornaments. It's available at Toys R Us retailers and on Toys R Us' website HERE.

Alexa Ferr first gained her start in the music industry with the release of her single “Fell” which features Mathew “M dot” Finely who’s predominately known for his role in Disney Channel’s Camp Rock 2. A triple threat, who not only sings but also dances and acts. For the past few years, Alexa has been in Los Angeles working with The Invaders who produced her debut EP Lipstick In The Glass. Developing her sound from the release of “Fell,” Alexa has been able to captivate a “rugged pop” sound that not only shows her maturation but also her potential as an up and coming artist. Alexa Ferr herself discusses her debut EP release and future plans for releasing her debut full-length album and much more!



1. Introduce yourself; tell me what you do and how long has this been going on?

Alexa: I'm an 18 year old Canadian artist. I sing, dance, acting and write songs, so I guess you could say I do a bit of everything! I love to perform for people and make music! I've always had a strong passion for both and it's been that way since I was little!

2. Where are you based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local artists/bands you could recommend?

Alexa: I'm grew up 20 minutes away from Toronto! Music has always been a huge part of our city! There's so much incredible talent all over Canada but of course everyone knows Drake and Bieber are from the same city! I'd definitely recommend those two artists, as well as Hedley, and Danny Fernandes!

3. What type of artist are you?

Alexa: I wouldn't classify myself as a specific type of artist, but I am definitely different. I love to listen to different genres, and experiment with different sounds. My music is, what I like to call "rugged-pop", it's my own take on r&b/pop!

4. Tell us the brief history of being an artist.

Alexa: Well, for me personally, my love and passion for music began at a very young age, I took vocal lessons, participated in local singing competitions and festivals and started flying back and forth to L.A in the 8th grade to work with different producers! It's definitely a lot of hard work, sacrifice, patience and takes a lot of effort, but I love doing what I do and I want to do this for the rest of my life!

5. What are your songs about? (What specific themes do they cover?)

Alexa: Some of my songs are about heartbreak; some are about getting over someone, or trying to play hard to get with a guy that you have your eye on. "Rum Cake" is definitely one of those fun, feel-good songs that makes you just want to dance, and it definitely reminds me of carnivals and the summer time!

6. Do you write your own songs? (Discuss the songwriting process in detail.)

Alexa: On this EP, I did not write any of the songs by myself, but for most of them I collaboratively wrote with Tyce from the Invaders (my production team), and being in the studio, working on a song from scratch is one of the coolest things to do when recording new music. I got the chance to hear the songs from beginning to end, and to really have an in put on what I wanted the song to sound like, what I wanted the message to be, and so on!

7. Who are your musical influences?

Alexa: Some of my musical influences are definitely some of the biggest r&b and pop singers in the world, Whitney Houston, Brandy, Jojo, Aaliyah, Rihanna, just to name a few!

8. Why did you want your two singles to be "Lipstick On The Glass" and “Rum Cake"?

Alexa: I chose "Lipstick On The Glass" as my first single, because I wanted to come into the music world with a bang! It's a trap-beat type of song, and it's definitely not a song that someone would picture me singing so I wanted to surprise everyone with something like that! The second single, "Rum Cake" was definitely the perfect choice, because by the time the single came out, a lot of people heard it already and gave me such great feedback for it so I knew I had to put out this song right away!

9. What can you tell me about "Lipstick On The Glass"?

Alexa: "Lipstick On The Glass" to me is a very mysterious, sexy, song with dope beats! The whole concept of the song was basically about a girl for example, playing hard to get with a guy, which will always keep him wanting more and keep chasing after her.

10. Why did you want to release a debut EP as opposed to a debut full-length album?

Alexa: I think it was a better choice for me to release a debut EP rather than a full-length album, because I wanted to get the reaction of my fans, both new and old, and see what kind of songs they'd prefer me to continue to make for the next EP! I would definitely love to create a full length album one day though, so maybe instead of a 2nd EP, I’ll just put out an album instead!

11. Where is this new material headed as far as future material?

Alexa: For my new music, I’m definitely going to be asking for my fans' opinions on what kind of songs they want to hear me put out. I also want to create with different artists, songwriters and producers so we'll see where it takes us!

12. What are your dreams and goals?

Alexa: My dreams are to travel the world, make music and perform for millions of people! So far, I’ve been travelling quite a bit, making music and performing, even though it isn't as big as I would hope for it to get, I’m currently living my dream only hoping to further expand my career and continue to grow as an artist!

13. How do you promote yourself and shows?

Alexa: I have a great team of supportive fans, friends, family and people I work closely with who help to promote my music via twitter, Facebook, YouTube, etc. Social networking these days is a big help to promote artists and their shows, and so far it's been helping me!

14. What can one expect from a show like yours, what makes it stand out above everyone else?

Alexa: When people come to see me perform, they can definitely expect to see a lot of dancing, engaging and connecting with the audience and my fans as much as possible, and just having a good time!

15. What inspires you to do what you do?

Alexa: My parents are truly my biggest inspirations. They've been supporting me since day one, constantly reminding me of my talent but also reminding me of how much work it takes to achieve my goals. They definitely keep me grounded, but they continue to inspire me to live out my dreams with their love and support!

16. What advice would you give to fellow artists/bands?

Alexa: The only advice I would give to fellow artists/bands would be to never give up and always keep dreaming. Never listen to the negativity of others and just keep pushing yourself with whatever passion you have!

17. How does music affect you and the world around you?

Alexa: I think music is such a universal thing. It definitely allows people to escape their problems and connect with a certain song, or it can simply just make people feel good and/or bring back memories! For me it's always been something that I can escape to, and it's always been very therapeutic, so I really can't picture my life without music!

18. Where can we listen to your music and where can we buy your stuff?

Alexa: You can purchase my EP "Lipstick On The Glass" on iTunes and you can check out my music videos and watch/listen to my covers on my YouTube channel www.youtube.com/alexaferrmusic :)

19. What do you have planned for the future?

Alexa: For the future, I plan on continuing to make music, performing more, collaborating with different artists, writers, producers and one day even start my own clothing line!

20. What is it you’d like a listener to remember the most when hearing your music for the first time?

Alexa: When listeners hear my music for the first time, I want them to remember me as a unique artist, who doesn't necessarily try to sound like other artists, but tries to bring out different styles of music to make her own, "rugged-pop" sounds! I also want people to be able to feel like they can connect with my songs and lyrics as well!

DEICIDE have partnered with InvisibleOranges.com, the heavy metal counterpart to Brooklyn Vegan, for the exclusive premiere of the band's new video. "End The Wrath Of God" is the first video from DEICIDE's new release 'IN THE MINDS OF EVIL', and can be seen HERE.

Beauty In The Suffering have released the much anticipated video for "The Crazies (The Zombie Song)" - the ultimate zombie apocalypse party/rally as told from the perspective of the zombies. The video, premiered on Bloody-Disgusting, is directed by Jonathan Shahan and Mike Walsh of Rev Hi-Fi Productions, the mixing performance footage with a horde of zombies descending on the band. Check out the video HERE.

Alternative rock duo Peter Anthony and Madelynn Elyse known simply as Polaris Rose have released their sophomore EP "The Moon and it's Secrets", making  a name for themselves as it were, by doing so they have gone on to play shows and have written material for several full-length albums plus so much more. The duo caught up to discuss the EP and future activity.



1. Introduce yourself, tell me what you do in Polaris Rose, and how long the band has been together.

Our names are Peter Anthony and Madelynn Elyse.  Peter is the songwriter and plays guitar/sings.  Madelynn (or Maddie, for short) sings and plays bass.

2. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?

We are based out of Los Angeles and there are a lot of great bands out here.  Lately, we've been hanging out with the guys from Tijuana Tears and Handsome as Sin.  Both great bands to check out.

3. Tell us the brief history of your band.

We met in Boston.  Both of us were out there, running around the city at night and playing in our own bands.  We met one night at a now-gone venue called Harper’s Ferry where we bonded over a mutual love for ‘Rock with You’ by Michael Jackson.  We started writing songs together and started a band out there.  Eventually we decided to shoot across the country and start making music in Los Angeles.

4. How did you guys come up with your band name?

We were working on an idea for an album and one of the songs was Polaris.  At the same time we were hunting around for a band name and that song title popped into Peter’s head one day with the word ‘rose’ attached.  It fit the aesthetic of what we were going for.

5. What type of band are you?

We consider ourselves Alternative Rock.

6. What are your songs about? (What specific themes do they cover?)

We have a lot of motifs that we like to sprinkle throughout the songs.  Mostly, we try to write music that is visual.  Our favorite songs are the type of songs that have so much character that it paints an image in your head.

7. Do you write your own songs? (Discuss the songwriting process in detail.)

Peter writes a lot of material that we are always sifting through.  If there’s a song that we feel we need to release, we start rehearsing and sculpting the tune together.

8. Who are your musical influences?

Peter loves the Smashing Pumpkins, Failure, and Steely Dan.  Maddie is into Alanis Morrisette, Foo Fighters, and the Chili Peppers.

9. Can you tell me about the video and song for "Dreamers”?

"Dreamers" is our second music video.  The song itself is about living your life for the right reasons and about being creative.  For the music video, we knew we wanted to show who the band is and what we do, so we decided on a performance video.

10. That song comes off your EP "The Moon and It's Secrets”.  Is this a concept release?

Yes and No. We like like to keep certain motifs running throughout our songs, so there are certain ideas/metaphors that you can catch in any of our recordings.

11. Is there any story or concept behind the "The Moon and It's Secrets" title?

We reference the moon a lot in our songs and - in our songs - we use the moon as a metaphor for desire.  You can desire the moon, but you can never capture it.

12. Who produced "The Moon and It's Secrets" and what was it like working with them?

We produced the record ourselves.  Along the way, we enlisted some amazing talents to help out.  Kiel Feher plays drums on the EP and we recorded at his studio.  When it came time to do vocals, we enlisted the help of Yan Perchuk, who is a terrific producer in his own right.  We were the ones overseeing the entire project, however.

13. Who did the cover art for "The Moon and It's Secrets" and how much input did you have on it?

The artwork was done by a friend of Peter’s.  Her name is Shelby Fitting.  Shelby created the moon artwork on her own.  One day Peter stumbled across it and instantly thought, that is perfect for the EP.  It was a lucky find.

14. Select two songs from "The Moon and It's Secrets" and what inspired the lyrics.

Both ‘Chartreuse’ and ‘Dreamers’ were written with Los Angeles in mind.  We had been living here for just over a year and we wanted to sum up our feelings about the city and where we were at in our lives.  ‘Oceana Sleeping’ is a song for anyone who has ever tried to ‘fix’ someone they love, only to become broken themselves.

15. Where are you in the process of a full-length release?

We have a couple full-length albums planned and written, but we've decided to take a different approach.  We are going to be releasing two songs this spring. We are already in the recording process and we are very excited about them.

16. What are the upcoming plans for playing shows and touring?

We are performing November 24th at the Virgil (Silverlake, CA).  We will be sharing the stage with some great bands.  There are a couple other shows in the works, but nothing confirmed yet.


17. What can the fans expect to see from you in the future?

We want to keep releasing new material consistently.  So you can expect new songs and new videos and more shows.

18. Anything else you'd like to say or want to add?

Thanks for taking the time to talk with us.  And please visit www.PolarisRose.com

All-female J-Rock band exist†trace is featured in the February 2014 issue of Otaku USA magazine. In the article entitled “The Ladies Are Ready to Rock,” the editors of the popular American anime magazine review the band’s latest release DIAMOND, calling the EP a “perfect introduction to an amazing band.”

Otaku USA’s February 2014 issue is on newsstands now.
http://www.otakuusamagazine.com
https://www.facebook.com/OtakuUSA

British rock n' rollers Cage The Gods have finished up writing and recording for their debut full-length release due out next year. But in the mean time they have recently released their debut EP "Favorite Sin" along with a video for the title track. The entire band took the time to discuss the EP's progress into the next level of rock with the upcoming release of their debut album!


1. Can I get a backstory on the band/ band biography?

Band: Irish vocalist Peter Comerford and Scottish guitarist Jam formed the band in the summer of 2012 to record and release material they had already begun writing. Before long, the pair crossed paths with 6’7” Welsh bassist Mitch Witham. Young English drummer Colin Jones is the most recent addition having replaced original drummer NJ who in true rock n roll fashion went on a booze fuelled week in Vegas with a 38 year old glamour model, got married by Elvis in ''The Chapel Of Love'' and hasn't been seen since.... Thankfully Jones was able to step up to the mark and solidify his place within the band after a charismatic debut performance supporting US-rockers Filter! PR BLURB

2. Where is the band based and how long has the band been together?

Mitch: The band is based in Brighton but I'm based in Lewisham, South East London.......which happens to be the home of the legendary Sid Vicious! Learning this fact a few years back made me all smiles!

Jam: We've been playing together since October 2012. We officially launched in November of that year and Colin (Drums) came on board last summer.

3. How did you guys come up with your band name? What does the name symbolize and represent for the band?

Jam: We bounced around loads of ideas for a name as we were quite fussy and wanted something which accurately reflected the music and was equally memorable (AC/DC was taken).

4. What bands have influenced your band and its sound?

Peter: I listen to a lot of rock n roll; our sound is definitely routed in it. 60s and 70s bands like The Stones, Skynyrd, Aerosmith, and Zeppelin. 80s bands like The Cult, U2, GNR and Metallica to some extent. 90s bands like The Black Crowes, Oasis & Rage etc. It all adds to the flavour.

Mitch: My influences....hmmm love, anger, depression, joy, sex, shame and sin......oh and Jack Daniels......yeah definitely Jack! On a serious note though....for me personally a lot of my influences are heavily rooted into punk so bands like The Ramones, The Sex Pistols, The Clash.......a lot of bands which start with "the"!

5. What lyrical theme do you guys use in your music? What message do you want to send?

Peter: For me, Lyrics are the emotional core of any song. A great lyric has the ability to inspire and connect with you on a different level, pick you up when you're feeling blue or get you out on the dance floor singing along. We usually write about life, love, love's lost and gained, how we're feeling or where the music takes us. Everything's game.

Jam: We like to spend quite a long time writing lyrics. There can be a tendency in rock music for the lyrics to come second to the music which is something we tried to avoid.  Thematically each song is usually our own take on a story that one of us may have experienced or know someone who has.

6. How did you guys get signed to The End Records? How has it been being a part of their family?

Mitch: We got signed to The End Records via the hard work our management team do for us! We're the new kids so the other bands pick on us at the moment....its freshman year of high school all over again!

Jam: We're all pretty psyched about working with the guys at The End, they've got a great roster of acts and so far they have been very keen and proactive when working with us!  We haven't actually met them yet, I’m still waiting on my plane ticket to NYC to come through the post!

7. What can you tell me about your debut EP "Favourite Sin"?

Peter: The title track is the first song we ever finished as a band. It felt right being our first release because to me it represents where we were before making the record. I think with the record behind us now we're in a slightly different place musically but it's been a great experience so far.

8. What's the story behind the "Favourite Sin" video and song?

Peter: We all have that one thing...that taboo...that guilty pleasure...the forbidden fruit that we know probably isn't good for us but is just too goddamn enticing to ignore! Well Favourite Sin is about leading the innocent down that path...showing them the hidden bliss within their darkest guilty secret!

9. What's your favorite song on the EP right now?

Mitch: For me it has to be the lead track "Favourite Sin"......mainly because sin is one of my favorite pastimes.....I'm like a veteran at it!

10. Where are you in the process of the new album?

Band: The album is recorded and almost ready to go. We're just finishing a few bits to do with the artwork and then we'll hopefully get it out in March. :-)

11. Who is producing the album?

Mitch: Our very own Jam! He's not just an amazing guitarist....songwriter and a man who has flowing hair so good he should be in a Head & Shoulders commercial but he's an amazing producer as well!

Jam: We produced the album ourselves.  We decided on this approach as we wanted to take our time and work out the best way to convey the songs we had written.

12. How would you describe the overall sound of the new album? How does it compare to the "Favourite Sin" EP?

Mitch: Imagine Batman wielding a lightsaber taking on a great white shark with lasers for eyes.....think how epic that battle would be......now take that level of epicness and imagine it in musical form.....for me thats what our album sounds like!.....thats what you can expect!

13. Are you using any new instrumentation you've never used in the recording process before?

Mitch: Well after the guys shot down my idea of a 45 minute didgeridoo solo performed by yours truly.....I kept my ideas for experimental instrumentation to myself.

Jam: Its mostly 2 guitars, drums and bass but we did in places add in some keys, synth and harp!

14. Did the band have any definitive goals they were shooting for before the recording process began for this album?

Mitch: An album capable of musical world domination!

15. How was the vibe in the studio?

Jam: Marvellous apart from Peter's constant moaning about it being sunny outside!

16. Do you feel any pressure whatsoever about releasing this debut album of yours?

Mitch: Yeah a little bit......management said if we don't make them millions soon they're gunna start harvesting and selling on my organs! I value my liver and kidneys.....I need them to consume alcohol!

17. When can we expect the new album to be released?

Band: March 2014!

18. What are the plans for you guys in 2014?

Jam: To anyone who likes our music we are all very grateful and if you haven't seen us live yet, we hope you will soon and come and say hello!

Colin: We can't wait to get this EP and Album out to everyone so you can hear what we have been creating and start meeting you, wherever you may be!

Mitch: I look forward to getting out to the States and meeting all you wonderful rockers and I hope you enjoy what it is that we do!.....Also bring Jack (Daniels)!

Blood On The Dance Floor's all acoustic album "Blood + Unplugged" has made pre-order packages available HERE with the album artwork and tracklisting listed below.

Tracklisting:

01. Redeemer (Unplugged)
02. Time Machine
03. Ima Monster (Unplugged)
04. Where's Wonderland (Unplugged)
05. Scream For My Ice Cream (Unplugged)
06. Believe (Unplugged)
07. Bewitched (Unplugged)
08. Sexting (Unplugged)
09 Death To Your Heart (Unplugged)
10. Something Grimm (Unplugged)
11. Yo Ho! (Unplugged)

Bonus Tracks!
12. Don't Want To Be Like You
13. Unforgiven (Acoustic)

Australian thrash metaller 4ARM has been touring across the North America terrain alongside Slayer and Gojira. During this touring cycle the band has had the chance to not only open up the showcases but being able to play alongside an act like Slayer who they have idolized and been influenced by their whole life. Vocalist and guitarist Danny Tomb discusses the current touring situation and what life is like out on the road.


1. How have the gigs you guys been doing been?

Danny:  They have been going really well. The crowds have been fantastic. The whole crew and shows have all been fantastic!

2. What did you do to prepare yourselves for this tour?

Danny:  I don't know if we ever think about what we do anymore we just do what we do. When it all leads up to the tour we just play shows and the rest of it, you just do it as it comes along and you get use to it, never really thinking about it after a while.

3. Is there any song that when you play it live on stage makes your adrenaline levels kick in and make you want to go hyper?

Danny:  Yes "Submission for Liberty" the title track for our most recent album probably. It's pretty straight forward and aggressive so we open with it every night and it's always getting us pumped every night.

4. When it comes to performing each and every night does the time stand still or does it fly by when performing?

Danny:  I'd say kind of when it first begins it feels slow then hold on we're half way through. So it does fly after a while the boring parts is the driving between cities for hours, but it does travel quickly loosing track of what day and time it is but does go pretty quick.

5. What is one special effect or stage prop that you would want to use or see during your shows?

Danny:  I don't know we've always been wanting to keep things basic so we wouldn't consider anything. We wouldn't want to try impressing the audience with lights or fire, we want to keep it more about the presents of the band and the music.

6. Who is the last one to get on the tour bus/van?

Danny:  Last one to get into the bus is the drummer. He's always trying to find someone to hang out with during that time.

7. Who has the worst tour hygiene or goes the longest without taking a shower?

Danny:  That would be me. I would go for a few days before I think I would really need one.

8. How many times do you have to wear the same piece of clothing because you couldn't find a laundromat?

Danny:  That happens all the time. That's a very common practice. We haven't had the time to find a place to wash our stuff. Every time we do it's always closed or we hang it out to dry while on the road. So we're always wearing the same pieces of clothing each and every night.

9. What is your source of traveling when it comes to touring a van or a tour bus?

Danny:  It's an RV so neither we're in between. It's a step up from what we were driving in previously a van. So this one is a lot easier and we can easily pull over and sleep every night.

10. Where do you usually sleep each and every night?

Danny:  Whoever's doing the driving and can handle it will drive and if not we will pull over maybe into a Walmart parking lot and sleep there. Then just cram into our spots and get as much sleep as we can before finishing the trip.

11. How has it been to be touring alongside one of the bands you've idolize and admired for so long? Did you ever see this day to come?

Danny:  It's very surreal we didn't believe it we thought it was a joke at first. Then we you get here it's surreal. So having Slayer wanting us is a dream come true for us. We've all been listening to Slayer for years as kids, so it's been amazing and good for us.

12. Have you had the chance to talk to the guys or meet Slayer?

Danny:  Yeah I told Tom as soon as I met him and the guys. So he was like no problem and I was like I've been a fan since I was a kid, it was hard to not be a fan boy at first but it was great all the guys in Slayer are nice and we're very happy.

13. What has Slayer thought about your ways with the thrash metal genre do they approve?

Danny:  Apparently so unless they're lying to us. Sometimes they come check us out during sound check or see us during our shows and have checked us out online. So whether they're lying to us or telling us the truth they are pleased with the inspiration they have caused for us I suppose.

14. How easy is it to keep the motivation going on a daily basis for 4Arm?

Danny:  I think it's more of the excitement of the next show. We've played a lot of the biggest venues and this tour is the biggest for us. So we're all excited to be here in the America and it's exciting to be able to do it on this scale. We're all pleased with ourselves.

15. What are the remaining plans for this year and leading into next year?

Danny:  For now until the end of this year, finish this tour then take Christmas off. Then January/February record new material. Then March have stuff in Europe then returning to the states so next year will be getting the new album out there and seeing where it will take us.

16. Anything else you'd like to say or add to the fans?

Danny:  We just want to say thanks really. We never thought this would happen, being able to tour with a band we have been influenced by all of our lives, it's a massive appreciation to the fans and the United States being able to play here and we're always thankful for that.

Bella Muerte have released a cover version of Shiny Toy Gun's "You Are The One" check out the video for it HERE.