Hi Dan and Michael… Glad that
you finally released this heavy metal dynamite. So, do you think that classic
heavy metal music can still be interesting in 2007?
M: Thank you! Well it
has to be! “The Last Of My Kind” has just proven that! (sound of hand
patting back). But seriously, in my opinion, music is interesting if you
believe in it. If it is forced or imitated and not from the heart… it’s
boring.
Did the split up of Onward give
you the message that time was right in order to take things more seriously and
become a full-time band? What do you think about “your death my life”
motto?
M: I was sad when Onward
ended. But yea, I turned lemons in to lemonade by getting back on my feet,
calling Dan and saying “Let’s give Crescent Shield true life!”. In the
end I am so glad how things turned out. CS has been so much fun and rewarding.
It truly is the best band I have been a part of. As for the “your death, my
life”… see song “Unfinished Ashes”… it’s all there!
Do you believe that is easy to
create classic heavy metal music in the way that the big bands were doing it
in the 80s? Can heavy metal music be genuine nowadays or it can only re-offer
what the big ones were playing in the 80s?
M: This music is easy to
us because it is what we grew up with and lived with. It is in our hearts. So
no, we are not re-creating anything. This music comes natural to us. We are
not trying to copy the past. We are simply carrying on the tradition of the
music we love. Nothings is easy, but it sure is a lot of fun. I have to admit,
today’s “power metal” as it has come to be known, is quite homogenized
and stripped of it’s intensity. You need more than a chugging guitar riff
and some double bass coupled with bland high pitched vocals. To be heavy is
not just sounding loud. You have to believe in it, convey true passion for it
and feel the metal. Not just play it.
D: I wouldn’t say
it’s easy. We put a lot of effort into what we do and we really strive to
come up with great songs, but also original songs and an original approach. I
think it’s harder when you are playing in an established and classic style
because so much ground has been covered and you cannot rely on production
techniques and tricks as the basis of your uniqueness. You have to do it with
riffs, melodies, and arrangements. As far as being genuine… yes it is 100%
genuine and from the heart.
Since it’s the first time that
we talk can you tell me why did you name the band Crescent Shield? Who’s
idea was?
D: We wanted something
that sounded cool and METAL but fresh and different. Not some tired, generic
metal name like Dragon Power or Steel Warrior or whatever.
M: Remember those
Reeces’s peanut butter ad’s? It
was kinda like that. Dan always loved the word “Shield”, and I “Crescent”.
It just worked. It was also guaranteed that nobody else had this name. Turns
out it is a weapon used in the 4th century. I like the idea that one thing can
be used to slay and defend. That’s what we are trying to do with our music!
The artwork of the album it’s
very good indeed and it brought on my mind the Japanese anime cartoons (manga
etc). Does it have to do anything with that? Why did you name it “The Last
Of My Kind”? Who is the last? And of what kind do you mean?
D: Yes it does have a slight manga feel but it
really reminds me of the type of thing I used to see in Heavy Metal Magazine. I’ve
loved comics for a long, long time and I really like that style of art. I
wanted a cover that was unique in style for the heavy metal field but still
very “heavy metal”. I also did not want something modern looking or
obvious computer graphics. Also economics were involved - he he!! The cover
represents the title track of the album. ‘The Last of my Kind’ is based on
a science fiction story from the 1930s called “In the World’s Dusk”
written by Edmond Hamilton. The figure on the cover represents the character
from the story. It’s essentially a tale of loneliness. The main character is
a super-genius who is also the last man on earth. So the “kind” is
humankind. Of course, he’s lonely so he uses his super intelligence to come
up with ways to repopulate the earth – like reanimating the dead, building a
time machine, etc. Unfortunately, he ultimately can’t quite achieve his goal.
M: I love how the
artwork actually paints a picture of what the title song is. It is so rare to
find that nowadays.
How the album’s title, the
lyrics and the artwork are connected together?
D: Yeah, the art
directly represents the lyrics and epic feel of the title track. You can see
the remnants of his failed experiments and the dying earth and decaying city.
Gerry Alanguilan, the artist, really captured just the mood we were looking
for.
Are there any details about the
album that you would like to share? Funny stuff, way of recording it, etc.?
D: Well, we recorded
this album on our own. I engineered the record and we recorded it all at my
studio, which is in my house. Michael and I produced it together but I did all
the technical stuff. Many people have commented that it sounds 80s and epic,
but not over-produced and sterile. That’s just what I was trying to do. The
was one sort of funny thing. When we started, I was living in a house where I
had built a studio so we recorded drums and most of the vocals and guitars
there. After I moved, I had no studio so we had to record the bass and mix it
in my daughter’s nursery. So this powerful work of heavy metal glory was
mixed in a bright yellow room with pink and purple butterflies hanging
overhead! METAL!!!
M: I wouldn’t say
there was anything funny or crazy that happened. Maybe the funniest memory was
singing “Above Mere Mortals” in a sound proofed bathroom! We had to do
that because of the studio move. I can say that I loved the experience. Even
though it took a long time, it was ok because there was no pressure to finish
it on a deadline. That gave us the power to finish it on our terms. We had
total creative control. That ruled. Recording this record was a total pleasure.
Dan is clearly the best producer I have worked with. He got the best out of me
and then some. But his masterstroke was the mixing. The way he got that true,
organic metal sound just blew me away. The human element is all there in the
end, not some computer.
By the way, are you totally
satisfied with the production of the album? Would you like to co-operate with
a big producer in the future and with whom?
D: I am thrilled with
the sound and very proud. It sounds like real people playing, not robots and
computers.
M: See above answer. I
couldn’t be happier with the production. We have gotten a note or two that
the mastering was a tad low, but I like that because when you “crank it”
you get that great explosion of sound. Personally, I don’t want to work with
some big name producer. We have proved that we can do this ourselves. We
don’t need some guy coming in that we have to pay money for to boss us
around.
D: Yeah maybe the
mastering could have been louder but I did not want a modern over-compressed
sound. I wanted it to breathe and have some dynamics; not everything loud.
That said, it probably is a bit low.
Which are the songs that you
prefer the most from the new album? Which are your favorite ones to play live
on stage?
D: “Rise of the Red
Crescent Moon” is great to play live. People can easily latch onto that one.
“Above Mere Mortals” as well. As far as which I like the best, I really do
like all of the songs and I haven’t grown tired of them yet. That’s saying
something because for me these songs are old. Ha ha!!
M: All of them! haha.
But to answer that politely, I love the title track of course, “North For
The Winter”, “The Passing” and “Unfinished Ashes” are the ones I’m
chummy with at the moment. All the songs work live. I know that sounds like a
copout but it is true. The record is pretty live sounding anyway.
Now that I mentioned live shows…
have you planned to do some gigs to promote the album? Are you going to
participate at any Festivals this summer?
M: I am working on that
today actually. I’m putting together packages for promoters and venues for
some gigs. This is “Year of the
Shield”! We plan to start rehearsing in a few weeks and hopefully play some
local and national shows. As for
D: We are doing a Cruz
Del Sur festival in
Are you satisfied from the press
and the fans reaction, so far?
M: Better that satisfied!
We seem to be getting more reaction than we anticipated. Overall the record
has been warmly embraced the fans and metal community. Oh sure there are one
or two dickheads out there… but they quickly go away.
D: Most people
understand exactly what we are trying to do and really like the record. Of
course there are few that don’t and some who are completely nuts over it! I
think most connoisseurs of fine traditional metal love this album.
Do you plan to release any video
clips? And if yes, which song will it be and when it will be released? In
general are you totally satisfied from your music company or you feel that you
need more support from them?
M: Not sure on this one.
Videos are expensive and very little actually see them. However for fantasy
purposes, “Burn With Life” would be cool. (you can find a really really
really low budget version of that on You Tube). Also “The Path Once Chosen”
would work well.
D: We might do something,
but no one’s throwing money at us. We will have to do it ourselves.
What are your expectations from
this album and what should we wait from Crescent Shield in the future?
D: I expect it will
bring joy to a number of metalheads, probably a fairly small number. Hehe!
M: To find as many
people who are aching for this music and give them the gift of true heavy
metal. We are still introducing ourselves to the world and it’s fun watching
people discover us. We will always continue to write and make more music.
Do you believe that the American
heavy metal scene is growing stronger now? Where are all those bands that the
M: The scene comes and
goes. It’s true the scene is much more subdued here in the States than in
D: One thing I know, we
will forge ahead regardless of the scene around us.
And some weird Questions now!!!
Do you believe in luck and in coincidences or do you believe that the human
mind and will can affect all the things in life?
M: Good, I like weird!!
Luck is a series of coincidences that align for better or worse. We make our
own destinies. We choose our path and we make all decisions. Not some god, or
weird otherworldly force or aliens, or our president for that matter. We write
our own stories.
D: I can’t top that
answer.
So how difficult is it to have a
day-job and to be in a band? Do you think that day-jobs hold the musicians
back?
D: Jobs certainly suck
up a lot of time that could be spent making music, by ya gotta eat and have a
roof over your head.
M: Well, a day job is
necessary. We don’t live at home, sponging off rich parents. I always had
this paranoid sense that all the successful bands are the ones with endless
money already provided. So yes, day jobs hold us back. But it is not the only
thing. We have gotten good at balancing the jobs and our musical careers.
Do you believe that internet has
helped the bands to become more popular or has caused many problems?
D:
Hell yes it helps. It’s huge for small bands and independent labels. It’s
a great promotional tool. Speaking of the internet, everyone
can hear and download our entire album from our website www.crescentshield.com.
It’s a promo version with a couple of voiceovers on each song but you get
the full songs!! Not just a lousy 30 second preview.
M: It has helped
tremendously! I hate to admit it, but if it weren’t for Myspace, we would
not have the outreach to fans that we have now. Also it has given the public a
chance to download the record (with promo voiceovers of course) for free. Sort
of a “try before you buy” kind of thing. We have gotten lots of very
positive feedback from that. I think it has helped sales as well.
How difficult is it survive and
to succeed in a music world that is ruled by irrelevant people that promote
shit-wannabe-good pop music all the time… without carrying about music’s
quality?
M: The “pop music
industry” is so far away from what we do, I really don’t think it affects
us. The people who want to hear our music will seek out and find us. The
“pop” industry finds the public. So it is easy to survive.
D: Agreed. For us,
succeeding is getting our album released and getting some promotion behind it.
Hey! We’ve succeeded!!!! Ha ha!!
What is missing from today’s
music industry and most albums are not having the quality that they used to
have back in the 70’s and 80’s?
M: The human element.
There are too many records with triggered drums, vocal pitch correction,
timing corrections, etc. Many records are too “perfect”. It sounds like
the computer is making the music in the end and not the musicians. This is
where we step in and fix that.
D: Yeah I think Mike is
right. I think the people are getting carried away with the power of digital
editing. A lot of metal albums are sounding over-produced. And to compressed.
And where’s the bass guitar nowadays? Today’s records seem to be all
guitars and kick drums.
Which are the things that piss
you off from today’s music industry?
D: Clone metal bands.
Trivium? Hmm… Let’s rip off Metallica. Communic. There’s reason why every review of them mentions Nevermore.
They sound just like ‘em! Come on! Persuader, yeah I already heard Blind
Guardian. And Savage Circus… I don’t get that one. Why quit Blind Guardian
and recruit people from a Blind Guardian clone band to form another Blind
Guardian clone band?! And how many bands are ripping off Pantera nowadays? A
million? Every band on Headbangers Ball sounds like a Pantera clone. It’s
sickening.
And
another thing that gets to me is all this fucking mindless shredding going on
nowadays. Guys, those scales and arpeggios have been done to death already…
in the eighties! Do something new! Write a melody! Stop playing canned
patterns please. The really sad thing is when it’s a really great song and
you come to the solo and it’s… blah. Play from the heart. Create!
M: The quick buck. I am
so happy to be a part of Cruz Del Sur because they believe in the long term
investment of classic music that lasts through the ages and not finding the
“fad” bands that come and go.
What things can make you laugh
and cry in your life?
M: Funny things and sad
things. … just kidding! ;) I love weird humour. The things that make me the
only guy laughing while the rest of the room is looking at me strangely with
one raised eyebrow. Can’t really explain it. As for sadness… see my lyrics.
Hint: How religion still has a noose over this world.
Which is the most overrated band
today?
D: I’ll stick to the
metal realm. I’m sorry but I gotta say Dragonforce. To me they are a gimmick.
They’re like side show freaks. Extreme power metal? It sounds like they just
play the same Helloween song really fast over and over. It’s vacuous music.
And the solos are so long and boring. Stop shredding, you sound like a video
game. They play fast but what are they playing? Boring, trite, tired, crap.
M: Nirvana. Yeha I know
the guy is dead and all but people still talk today on how much of a
revolutionary band they were. HA!! whatever. They still suck! They conned
everybody into thinking they were brilliant. They were marketed brilliantly.
Those fuckers almost killed metal. I’ll bet you anything that if that doofas
were still alive today and working on his 8th same sounding record, they would
be classified as a forgotten, dated, joke fad band. I tell you death has a way
immortalizing people who don’t deserve the legacy’s they are given. That
skanky ugly slut wife of his knew that. I still believe to this day that she
murdered him. (Interviewers note: How
can I disagree? You’re totally right dude…)
D: Wow!
If you could go back in time in
any time-period where would you go and why?
M: This is going to
sound weird… but the fifties! It seemed like a bizarre time. Everything so
perfect, so taken care of. Plus it was when my dad was a teenager. Boy it
would be funny to see what he was like at that age! It would be fun to find
that one odd beatnik and introduce metal to him and see how he would react. It
was also the time before instant communication. No cell phones, internet and
such. Back then, a phone call was a big deal. People had to talk to one
another instead of typing their way to friendships!
D: I’d rather go to
the future. Spoken like a true sci-fi nerd.
That’s all for now my friends.
Thanks for everything, please leave a note to Grande Rock readers… Take care!
D: Give us a listen: www.crescentshield.com. And thanks for the great review Grande Rock.
M: Become a SLAVE TO THE
METAL HORDE!! And thanks for listening! J
by Thanos Aggelakis