Being as young as they are, it was no surprise that the crowd was a bit agitated at the decision the organizers of the event made when they slotted new local metal band from Singapore, Lepak into the bill to perform with Death Grind/ Black metal heavyweights Hydrophobia and Defiled from Japan. Some weren’t too thrilled at that fact whilst others, such as myself, were intrigued as to what this band was all about. Knowing they weren’t completely supported by everyone in the crowd, they went ahead and gave it all they’ve got. For that, I give this band big kudos for not giving a shit. And to be honest, I don’t think they’re all that bad either. After their slot, I got together with the band to have a little chat about their music. The experience of interviewing Lepak was quite an entertaining one. Shiv, Keith, Mike, Bran and Mark, ranging from the ages of 16 to 18, are pretty much as laid back as their band name suggests.

Shout!: For the convenience of our international readers, can you explain to us the meaning of your band name and why did you decide on such a name?

Shiv: The word Lepak basically means “chill out” or “relax” in (Bahasa Melayu).

Keith: We didn’t want people to take us too seriously. We felt it suited the band and our nature.

S!: Tell us more about the band.

Shiv: We have a wide range of influences. We’re obviously heavily influence by black metal. All the hardcore, death metal..

Mike: ..dark, dark shit

Shiv: yeah, dark shit. [laughs all around]

Keith: We try to incorporate them in all of our songs.

S!: Do you think you’re similar to any bands?

Shiv: We definitely listen and look up to a lot of bands but hopefully we …  Continued »

The crowd was insane and the band was spectacular. Hyrdophobia’s set at their recent gig in Singapore, did not disappoint the fans one bit. This Japanese band adds friendliness and smiles to the brutality that is metal. They came outside to mingle with everyone before the show and were the biggest sweethearts. I was incredibly surprised at how nice and adorable these bunch of guys were. The organisers had set an interview for me with their guitarist/vocalist Rin. Unfortunately, due to the barrier in language, I had to cut our interview short. Thanks to Defiled’s guitarist, Yusuke for helping us translate during this interview.

Shout!: Why did you choose to play Death Grind?

Rin: [long pause] We love extreme metal that’s why we decided to play deathgrind. It started from our love for fusion music.

S!: How is it like touring with Defiled?

Rin: Awesome! They are like our big brothers and we look up to them.

S!: Why did you decide to do an Asian tour now?

Rin: The underground music scene here in Asia has been constantly evolving and has been getting better day by day. Thanks to the internet, this type of music has had plenty of exposure. And there is so many new good metal bands rising these days.  That’s why we decided that touring Asia now, while the scene is rising, was a good idea.

S!: You’ve recently released your first album after forming the band 12 years ago. What challenges did the band face while recording this record?

Rin: Hmm…We wanted to be as original as possible and do the record exactly the way we wanted.  We wanted it to be technical but simple.

S!: What is the metal scene like in Japan?

Rin: There’s so many young bands rising up now but it takes a lot …  Continued »

Luckily for me, I got to talk to Truth Be Known, way before their set. Having a MySpace headline that read “Most alcohol induced band in Singapore”, I was excessively worried and had no idea what to expect. But fortunately, these guys were so easy to talk to. Not only were they sober and cooperative, Subash and Gene might just be some of the most decent and nicest guys I’ve ever met.

Shout!: Are you guys nervous at all for your upcoming slot with Defiled and Hydrophobia?

Subash: No.

Gene: No, we’re sorta already used to this.

Subash: It’s just that we’re sober right now. We’ve never been sober for any of our gigs. And this one will be no different.

S!: What do you think of the crowd today?

Subash: It was surprising, to be honest. We were very worried about the turn out as it’s the festive season like Hari Raya (Muslim holiday) here, but the metalheads did us proud!

S!: I heard the song “Build The Hate”, on your MySpace page. It’s pretty intense. How did that song come about?

Gene: Usually for most of our songs, our guitarists will start out by producing the riffs and I’ll follow up with the drums.

Subash: Lyrics will usually come last. After the composition of the guitar and drums, I’ll come in with the lyrics. It also depends on the song structure. Sometimes, if neccessary, I’ll do a bit of research to get the lyrics together.

S!: Research?

Subash: Yeah. I’ll carry out research on certain subjects or people to get inspired. For example, we have a song based on a philosopher called Frederick Mitchell.

S!: So lyrically, what are your songs usually based on?

Gene: For this album, …  Continued »

It was only a few months ago that our very own Jacki Spencer had the privilege of interviewing Jason from Bullet for My Valentine. Since their extensive U.S. tour, which is currently ongoing,  it was my turn to ask the guys from Bullet a few questions.

After a short break from writing for SHOUT! I was contacted  by the editors and asked if I had any interest in doing a phone interview with the guitarist, Micheal Padget. Although I’d never listened to more than one song from the band, I had heard so much from friends about them that I jumped on the opportunity to find out a little more about these Wales rockers. 

SHOUT!: We should start with a little bit of background. The sites I’ve read have a couple different histories for you guys, so what’s the real story?

Padge: We started out when we were 16 or 17 and still in high school. We played local shows for about 7 years, and then our bass player left. After he left we decided to write a bunch of new songs that  had a new vibe, and eventually we got signed.

S!: I read that you’re touring the U.S. Where are you today?

P: We’re in Murtle Beach, which is a really nice place.

S!: Do you find that there is a difference between touring the US and touring at home in Wales?

P: Not really. The only difference is the amount of time we have to spend here, because the place is so big, it’s not like we can do it in a week — it takes a good month or two. As for the shows, they’re pretty much the same. We have great fans everywhere we go, and they just go nuts at our shows. 

S!: You guys have …  Continued »

The sucky part of staying overnight out of town is the early checkout of the hotel. What are you to do for hours upon hours before you have to get back home? Duh, go interview and hang out with My American Heart! Well, I don’t know if anyone can say that but I sure can! It was a rainy day in Atlanta so I got to stay dry while hanging out at the venue and chatting with Larry Soliman. He dished on his views on MySpace, Warped Tour, and you, THE FANS!

S!: You’re featured on Punk Goes Crunk with the song “California Love”. What was it like remaking that song and putting your own touch on it?

Larry Soliman: It was fun! I mean, I’ve never rapped before but it was really awesome. I’m from California and I grew up listening to Tu Pac and Dr. Dre so that felt natural. It was a lot of fun.

S!: Fearless has made many Punk Goes… albums. Where would you like to see punk go next?

Larry: Uh, I’d like to see Punk go… disco. [Laughs]

S!: What song would you remake to put on said album?

Larry: Maybe some… um…Can I change my answer to Punk Goes Soul? And I’d want to remake some Al Green.

S!: In 2005, you were featured all summer long on the Ernie Ball stage on Warped Tour. Tell us about your experiences on a festival like Warped compared to club shows.

Larry: We’ve done it for like, three years in a row now. It’s not as fun as it may seem. It’s really hot, repetitive, and tedious. Just like loading your gear and walking everywhere all day. The fun part is hanging out with all the bands. Hanging out, meeting new people, new fans, new bands …  Continued »

When I got word that The A.K.A.’s were coming, I freaked. Then when I realized that I couldn’t make their live show, I had to find a way to ask them the questions that have been on my mind for a while now. Luckily I didn’t have to rely too much on my begging skills, as they were just as stoked to talk with us as I was with them! If you haven’t yet comprehended why I am in total lust with them and you aren’t quite following the situation I’ve come into, you really should keep reading (like you’d stop now!) The A.K.A.’s are a one of a kind band on a mission. Vocalist Mike Ski, was nice enough to chat us up on that misson, the industry, and how they plan to take over your town during Warped Tour…

Shout!: Can you shed some light on the background of the band?

Mike Ski: We started The A.K.A.s in 2003 in New York City with a mission in mind to create an ongoing musical reaction that would evolve as music, culture, and society evolved around it. Music, art, and history are a series of actions and reactions. We were tired of popular music and the way underground music was heading down a similar road, so we started a band with the freedom to do and say  what we felt was missing in the world around us. However idealistic it was, we’ve been equally successful making people stoked and keeping others pissed.

We’ve since released 2 full length albums and played over 400 shows all around  the US, UK and Europe. We’re still trucking and on a mission to empower listeners and create an open forum of discussion and debate. We’re impassioned about …  Continued »

The Presidents of The United States Of America is one band I can say has the attitude to do what they want, the way they want to do it. Anyone you talk to, including the band, will go on and on about how happy-go-lucky their music is. Without any rules, these Presidents are a lot more laid back than your traditional government officials. That doesn’t stop them from chiming in on this years election however. Read on to find out more about the music, the views, and what’s next for The Presidents…

Shout!: Coming out of the grunge era, was it hard to break out of the music scene in Seattle?

The Presidents: Not for this band! The Presidents are so different from everything that was happening then it wasn’t hard to tell the difference…and it seemed like people were ready for something a little more fun and a little less heavy.

S!: How do you feel the music scene has changed overall in the past 15 years?

The Presidents: Which one? The overall music scene or the Seattle scene? I’ll assume you mean the latter…the Seattle scene hasn’t changed too much, other than different bands coming along and such. It’s still a vibrant community with lots of new music and great clubs.

S!: Why do you think your style of music hasn’t had to evolve with the many different sub-genres of today?

The Presidents: Personally, I don’t care about evolution when it comes to rock and roll! My favorite bands don’t evolve…they are who they are, they do what they do, and if they keep playing kick ass rock and roll, then I stay with ‘em. When they stop making music that turns my crank, I move on. Keeping up with the Joneses is not what the Presidents are about. We’re about having a …  Continued »

I’ll be completely honest. I didn’t know a lot about Blacklisted before this interview. My roommate is into hardcore music and I often hear him talk about the band, but I honestly had not heard any of their material. But in an effort to branch out and to learn about a genre of music that i know next to nothing about, I gladly took the opportunity to interview hardcore favorites Blacklisted.

The band, who are from Philadelphia, released their new album Heavier than Heaven, Lonelier than God April 1st on Deathwish. Be sure to check it out.

Shout!: For those who may be unfamiliar with the band, can you give a brief band history?

Blacklisted: We formed in 2003, recorded a demo…and the rest is history. Check the blog - there is a more in-depth history of this band on there: imwithblacklisted.blogspot.com 

S!: You guys are out on tour now in support of your new album, Heavier than Heaven, Lonelier than God. How have the recent shows been?

B: The shows have been real good, it’s nice to be back on the road.

S!: How are the fans reacting to the new material?

B: It takes some time for new songs to sink in, but for the most part, things have been really positive, as far as reactions go.

S!: How is your relationship with Deathwish?

B: It’s great. We love them. They love us.

S!: I know you guys played a pretty crazy weekend of record release shows a few weeks ago. Would you like to give a rundown of the events?

B: You know that scene in Home Alone where they are running to catch their plane to France? It was kind of like that.

It was a wild weekend - Los Angeles, to Chicago, To Philly - 3 days, 3 parts of the …  Continued »

Many bands that moved from the 90’s into the 2000’s have not made it as far as The Banner. I could remind you that numerous bands go on hiatus, go through member changes, and end up in conflict. The difference between those bands that didn’t make it and the crew from The Banner is that these guys have heart. Sure, they’ve had more members than you have fingers, but the key to the band is their determination to overcome any obstacle they face and continue doing what they do. Read on to learn more of their hiatus, their latest album, and life on the road…

Shout!: Who are some of your biggest musical influences personally and as a band?

Joey Southside: For this record I would definitely say Ink & Dagger, Bastard, Murder by Death, His Hero Is Gone and Tears Of Frustration.

S!: What was the last straw that brought on the hiatus of the band?

Joey: The “hiatus”, as it has come to be called, really didn’t last more than 2 weeks. Honestly the last tour I had done with that line up was just draining, those dudes were from a completely different background and school of thought on music and punk than I was, and the clash just became more and more a hurdle as time progressed. I suppose when we decided they were done I was more concerned with perception of the situation than anything else. The band is very important to me and I didn’t want it to be viewed as one of those band member lottery things. The band honestly has always been mine or me and Garrett’s so I got over that nonsense pretty quickly. I still loved it and wanted to do more, bottom line.

S!: What encouraged a comeback?

Joey: I just really …  Continued »

Most people say that wisdom comes with age but since Elysia formed in 2003, their views have grown and spread through their music. Everything from being banned from venues, drugs, and even this year’s election is touched on, with a style and attitude all their own. Read on about this passionate band about their numerous opinions, their latest album, and you, the fans!

Shout!: Your band has had an abundance of lineup changes in the past. What do you feel the key to longevity is with this current lineup?

Elysia: This current lineup has toured a lot together, we’ve been through great moments, as well as awful moments. That really helps bring a band together and I think this lineup is the most solid yet. We all wrote this new album with equal input, which is quite rare usually, so everyone in this band has a lot invested in this new album emotionally. That makes us very tight-knit.

S!: I’ve read that your new album is said to mark a new era. How do you think your fans will react to this new material?

Elysia: I think our old fans are excited about it, like our fans and friends from when this band was first starting to play shows outside of Sacramento, in Vegas and southern California. All of us were just a bunch of young kids who grew up, and the music of Elysia has finally caught up with us. I also think there’re going to be kids who are sick of the same sounding bands all trying to copy all the major acts, who are going to be into this album. It’s a refreshing album if you’re sick of trends. However, we do know that there will be a lot of more recent Elysia fans who probably won’t …  Continued »

Another rising band joining the Ferret Young Guns tour is See You Next Tuesday. If you haven’t heard the controversy over the band’s nickname, you’re in for a treat! C.U.N.T, in the past three years, has already toured with the scene’s biggest influences and birthed three albums.

After mixing up their lineup a bit and escaping the next to nothing local scene in Bay City, MI, the band has come to what you know and love…or at least know of. Their latest CD had received mixed reviews, but I think you should go on what you know. Read on for the history everyone wants to know about, the coolest tour this summer, and their latest album. Then you can make your own decisions on just how much they rock!

Shout!: Wikipedia pegs you as “experimental deathcore”. What do you think this term means and do you feel it applies to your music?

CUNT: I am guessing it means a band that “experiments” with the genre that is “deathcore”. Which I don’t think we do or are. Honestly, people can call us whatever they want to, we just like playing music and having a good time doing so.

S!: The acronym of the band’s name is a fun play on words. (C. U. N.ext T.uesday) How did you come up with that?

CUNT: Well I wish it was us that actually came up with it, but its more of just a saying that’s been around. The first time I heard it was used on the TV show Sex and the City. Ever since then I have wanted to name a band that.

S!: How has the music scene changed in Bay City, MI since you formed?

CUNT: Well Bay City is a small town of 30,000, so there never really was one here, and honestly there …  Continued »

I hear people say “music is my life” day in and day out. It got me wondering to what lengths will music push someone? It can affect everybody in many different ways. Some hold it more true to their hearts than others it seems. One person I can say that truly lives for music is Richard Patrick of Filter. Since being a part of Filter, Richard has created something that has lasted over 15 years, been to rehab, and is still going strong today. That, my friends, is living for music. But I don’t have to try and convince you, I’ll let him tell you himself…

Shout!: Most bands break up within the first five years of forming. What is it like to be a part of something for over 15 years?

Richard Patrick: Filter has been around for about 15 years but the members of the band have changed during that time. The only constant is me. By alternating members, I have been able to keep it fresh and I allow the new guys to bring in ideas as well. The current lineup – Mitchell Marlow on guitar, John Spiker on bass and Mika Fineo on drums – is perhaps the most talented I’ve ever had. These guys were hired strictly for their talent, which is a first for this band.
 
S!: 15 years have passed now, but where do you see yourself in the next 15?

Richard: I see myself continuing my music career. I don’t think I will ever stop making music. I have had a lot of success writing music for films so I can see myself branching out into that arena as well.
 
S!: Some newer bands on the scene are being compared to you. Who do you think you would compare yourself to?

Richard: I come …  Continued »

It seems that just yesterday that Shout! was gushing over a certain up and coming band that we knew was going to blow everyone’s mind. Alesana. Oddly enough, the band you’re about to read about just toured with them, and if they keep going the way that their tourmates did, watch out! These first-time Warped Tourers are in for a ride!

Forming just three years ago, Sky Eats Airplane has already produced 2 albums, graced some kick ass tours, and are wining and dining their label. I think the staff here at Shout! have a pretty good feel to which band will be the next big thing, so get ahead of the crowd and read on about SEA and their new Wikipedia page, relationships with their fans [you!] and what’s in store for them next so you have something to ask them at their next meet and greet!

S!: It seems you can find everything on Wikipedia these days. Except you! Your album has a page but the band itself doesn’t. Why doesn’t SEA have a Wikipedia page and will one be in the works?

Lee: [Laughs] Well we actually had a Wikipedia a few times. The first time we had it everything was fine, and then a friend of mine, Daniel Hunter from Playradioplay, thought it would be funny to put a bunch of funny crap on there and apparently an admin saw it and locked it up. Recently we got it unlocked again after giving them enough info to make us wiki-worthy, but then someone else relocked it up. Its the most cursed thing ever! Hopefully being signed now they will unlock it. [Laughs] who knows.

S!: You finally signed to Equal Vision Records this year. What prerequisites did you have before signing with a label?

Lee: We already had …  Continued »

The name Seether has been tossed around here and there since 2002. I remember hearing random songs from their Disclaimer album and figured if Amy Lee agreed to do a duet with them then they couldn’t be so bad. My mom on the other hand has been completely obsessed with them since day one. At the time, I was just getting into music and concert photography and I remember telling myself one day I would photograph them.

Apparently that old saying “you can do anything you put your mind to” is right because six years later, here I am telling you how I’ve accomplished just that! Not only have I photographed them numerous times (as you have seen throughout previous issues) but I finally got the once in a lifetime chance to chat with bassist Dale Stewart. Read on to find out the answers we’ve all been dying to know about lineup changes, their expanding loyal fanbase, and their latest album…

S!: Having formed in South Africa, what were some advantages/disadvantages you had to deal with to place on American billboards?

Dale Stewart: It was actually not that hard once we had landed on the scene. I mean, when we first started out and started touring in South Africa, of course no one had heard of us anywhere else. Once we started to play gigs though and managed to get over to the US, the name I guess kind of stuck. It’s not like if you’re a band from Canada hitting the US Billboards or anything like that. I think our music was just ready for the US and we were welcomed on the charts since then.

S!: Why did Veruca Salts’ single inspire you to create a band name from it?

Dale: [Laughs] We just liked it. It was just something we were …  Continued »

Making it big with your high school garage band is about as likely as a successful marriage to your high school sweetheart; it just doesn’t usually work that way. Against all odds, All Time Low have taken advantage of what they see as an age revolution in the industry and have become one of the new generation of pop foreces to be reckoned with.

Singer Alex Gaskarth took time out to speak to Shout! recently while on the AP Tour…

S!: What one song from So Wrong, It’s Right would you choose to hook a new fan?

Alex: Probably “Dear Maria, Count Me In”. It’s kinda the “spokesperson” for the CD, I guess. It’s sort of the most in-the-middle of all of the songs, as far as the heavier side of the CD to the poppier side of the CD.  It’s right down the middle, so I would use that one.

S!: If you had to reference your sound by comparing it to one band, who would you compare yourselves to?

Alex: Skee-Lo! I’m joking, obviously [laughs]. I don’t know…I don’t think we sound like Blink 182, but I would say Blink 182.

S!: So, just heavily influenced by them?

Alex: Yeah, yeah…yeah.  Not the band The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Blink 182!

S!: If you could add anyone (living or dead) as a member, who would it be?

Alex: Umm…man [thinks]. The tambourine player from Josie and the Pussycats!

S!: You guys were signed by Hopeless Records before you even graduated high school and have been on the road almost non-stop since. Do you feel that the experience of touring has matured you? In what ways?

Alex: Yeah, I definitely think we’ve kinda been forced to grow up a little bit faster than a lot of people would, but I think it’s for the better. I think we’ve learned a …  Continued »