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Interview with Shannon from
Avenger of Blood
October 2007 by Metal Mark
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Avenger of Blood are based in Las Vegas, Nevada
and play an old style of thrash metal. They have been around for about
four and a half years. They are signed to Heavy Artillery records and
have been featured on the “Speed Kills…again” compilation. I recently
interviewed their drummer Shannon to find out more about them and what
they are working on.
What should people know about your band?
Well we are a German Thrash influenced band located in Las Vegas NV.
The band is a 4 piece consisting of Eric on vocals and guitar, Shawn
on bass and backing vocals, Marc on guitar, and myself Shannon on
drums. We formed in early 2003 and continue on to this day.
Who are your influences?
Well the main influences are Kreator, Sodom, Destruction, and Slayer.
It's not only music, its a certain feeling and aggression that also
influences us.
How is it that you are so influenced by bands
whose real prime was twenty years ago?
Well, Eric and I have been thrash fans for a long time. We were both
there at that time 20 years ago and listening to those bands, going to
the shows, buying the tapes/vinyl, and etc. When the whole industry
changed, all the thrash bands broke up or changed sounds. It was hard
to get a thrash band even started for a long time. When we formed the
band, it was with the sole intention of playing thrash. It just so
happened that people liked it. Those old thrash bands that inspired us
had reformed or come back to playing thrash. With Sodom, they never
stopped. All these bands had fire in them again and the feeling they
gave off that we got 20 years ago was there. That really helped to
push us.
What’s the first thrash album that you really
got into?
"Reign In Blood" by Slayer. That album still rules! |
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You originally started out in the
San Francisco area, but then moved to Las Vegas a few
years ago. Why the move?
At the time, it was still not long after the big layoff
period that was happening up in the Bay. It was still
difficult to find a decent paying job at the time to
even survive. It is very expensive to live there. Vegas
didn't really have a metal scene here. There was one,
but it was really small! Vegas needed more metal and we
needed somewhere to establish ourselves further as a
band. So we moved here to Las Vegas. We also have family
here and that’s a cool thing about it as well.
What’s the metal scene like in Las
Vegas? Are there any other old-style thrash bands there?
The metal scene in Vegas is small but it's growing. We
have some death metal bands here like Guttural Secrete,
Kinam, and State of War. There’s an awesome classic
style metal band here named Pancho Villa. The other old
school style thrash bands here are Ablivion, Postmortom,
Shredmill, and a new band that is just starting up
called Tyrant Attack. There is a band here that also
does a lot of metal covers from the 80’s called Highwire.
Vegas is mostly a mallcore and hip hop city. |
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What bands have you opened for?
This list is long! Rigor Mortis, Destruction, Tankard,
Raven, Agent Steel, Helstar, Usurper, Cannibal Corpse,
Sadus, Incantation, Hirax, Suffocation, Morbid Angel,
Satyricon, Dekapitator, Exhumed, Heathen, Into Eternity,
Dew-Scented, Novembers Doom, and more.
What are the inspirations for the
topics of your songs?
Just real life I guess, anger as well are what inspires
topics. A lot of it is stuff that has happened in the past
personally to us or to others. Other subjects are like war
and horror. We take scenarios and write a story out of
things and its portrayed in different ways. It works well
because the songs can be whatever the listener makes them
out to be.
Tell us about your album and why
people should buy it?
Its true to the art thrash metal! The cover for “Death
Brigade” was painted by Petagno (Motorhead), and it looks
phenomenal! The songs are excellent. It’s fast with great
midsections and has a great vibe. Everything about this
new album is as metal as it gets!
I know you toured some in the
summer. Do you have any upcoming tour plans? Any chance
you will make it to the East Coast?
No plans as of right now. But there will be a tour put
together real soon. Definitely planning to go out to the
East Coast! I’m looking forward to playing everywhere.
Where do you hope to be in five
years?
Still playing in this band, just being more established.
Any last words about your band, your
music or anything else you want to promote?
Thanks for the interview! Be sure to check out “Death
Brigade” when it’s released. I’m sure you all will dig it!
We’ll be out on the road to support it soon. Keep flying
the flag of metal!
www.avengerofblood.net |
www.myspace.com/avengerofblood |
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