Japan Nick's Rock And Metal Pandemonium

JNQP 28 122020 SVN Seeker interview Interview with Singer / lead guitarist Nikita Khrenov and Rhythm guitarist Geoff Chance. We learned about what prompted Nikita to create a new band after his exit from Archaic Decapitator. SVN Seeker is a melodic death metal band from Connecticut that formed in late 2017 that is about to release their first ep entitled Means to an End on February 21st 2021. We spoke about the history of the song Pilfered. We also looked at the writing of the instrumental Pilot and talked about favorite instrumentals in music and videogames. We finished things off speaking about a ghost story from Connecticut and some urban legends from Russia.

Japan Nick's Quarantine Podcast Episode 27 Mantic Ritual Singer Dan Wetmore Interview We learned about Dan's first guitar and working with a private music tutor helped him. We learned about the early days of Mantic Ritual along with early recordings from the band such as the Double Your Blood release. We spoke about visiting Germany and recording the Executioner (2009) with Andy Classen. The current lineup of the band was discussed and great detail was gone over when it came to 2 songs recorded with Dave Watson as well as the development of 10 other songs which 3 are pretty much complete. There also was some dialogue on living in Pittsburgh.

Japan Nick's Quarantine Podcast Episode 26 120620 Unhoped singer Jyri Luostarinen interview I interviewed Unhoped's lead singer and discussed his time learning about music in Finland as well as getting his first bass guitar. We went in depth on Unhoped's back history and learned about the current climate of the Finnish music scene.

Japan Nick's Quarantine Podcast Episode 25 Firing Squad Guitarist Jack Weiss interview We learned about Jack's first guitar, his experience in music edition including being in the Rock It Academy which Scott Ian was a part of. Jack spoke about when Firing Squad opened for Bay Area legends Death Angel. We discussed Police State of Mind. With the Firing Squad song Death Like Silence that was an allusion to the Lords of Chaos. We also talked about the Big 4 of German Thrash Metal.

Japan Nick's Quarantine Podcast Episode 24 Dismantle Singer/Bassist Adam Warrior. We discussed his early beginnings on how he started playing Bass Guitar as well as getting his first Bass. We went over the beginnings of Dismantle from its formation in 2006. We went into the new Dismantle songs "Crisis,"and "Within the Mind," and how the upcoming album is coming along. We finished things up by talking about some ghost stories from living in LA.

Japan Nick's Quarantine Podcast Episode 23 Void Vator Guitarist Erik Kluiber 111520 We discussed how he got his first guitar, and lessons he has takem throughout the years along with how he likes to teach his students about the guitar. We discussed Void Vator's beginnings as well as the new album Great Fear Rising set to be released in April 2021. We finished things off with a cool story from his days as a student in Detroit.

Japan Nick's Quarantine Podcast Episode 22 Mantic Ritual Guitarist Jeff Potts On November 1st 2020 Jeff Potts gave Japan Nick an interview to speak about the upcoming reunion Mantic Ritual are having with their original lineup. We also spoke about two never before heard Mantic songs recorded with Dave Watson featuring the original lineup. There also was talk about Jeff visiting Dan to speak about music that may be used for a possible new album from Mantic Ritual.

Japan Nick's Quarantine Podcast Episode 21 102420 Rick Perry Iron Jaw Interview Rick Perry is a North Texas based guitarist who is the lead guitarist of Iron Jaw. He is also known for doing lead guitar in 1980s DFW legends Gammacide as well as being part of Warbeast from the Krush the Enemy album. We learned about his origins in the DFW area writing Gammacide’s Victims of Science and recording Warbeast’s Krush the Enemy album. We also learned about what it was like working on Iron Jaw’s Chain of Command album and highlighted several songs such as “Crypt of Rodan,” and “Step Into My Cage.” We also learned about his most cherished guitar and treasures from his music collection.

JNQP 20 101820 LeathurBitch Interview 4 fifths of the band joined Japan Nick for an exclusive interview (Minus the drummer) We learned about the different band member’s first instruments as well as the singer’s vocal training over the years. We spoke about recording the 2018 EP as well as 2019’s Into the Night album. We went in depth to discuss LUST as well as Sleaze City’s recordings. They spoke about work on the next album. We also heard a somewhat amusing ghost story from Portland Oregon.

Japan Nick's Quarantine Podcast 19 Deja Gravy 100420 interview Deja Gravy is sludge doom band from New Jersey We spoke about how the band formed and their origins. We discussed their 2 part song about La’ppel do vide There was mention of most cherished musical possessions as well as some fun urban legends.

Japan Nick's Quarantine Podcast 18 April Jones Saving Channel Street Skatepark Interview! We caught up again with April to discuss her film Saving Channel Street Skatepark. We learned about what it is like handling the bureaucracy of LA politics. We also spoke about an urban legend from Hollywood.

Japan Nick's Quarantine Podcast Episode 17 JNQP 17 091220 Heathen Guitarist Kragen Lum Interview We talked about his first guitar and early lessons he took when he was younger. We looked at the 2020 reissue of The Evolution of Chaos which contains the bonus track Seasons of Purgatory as well as the 2009 Japanese appearance of Heathen at the Thrash Domination Concerts. We spoke about Gary Holt, Rick Hunolt, and Doug Piercey appearing on the album. We also learned about Kragen's most prized guitar as well as a very rare and deleted Exodus CD. We also spoke about a Bay Area ghost story with mention of Paul Baloff.

Japan Nick's Quarantine Podcast Episode 16 090720 Skeletal Remains Chris Monroy Interview Skeletal Remains's Singer/guitarist gave Japan Nick an interview about his band's new album The Entombment of Chaos. We spoke about how Chris got his first guitar and learned about his music education over the years including taking a lesson from Mantic Ritual, Warbringer, Gygax, and now Volcano. He told me about performing in Japan at the Asasuka Deathfest as well as on another trip to Japan scoring some amazing vinyl. We talked about the 3 singles for the album and what it means to release a single for a band in 2020. We looked back on the Decibel Magazine flexi disc exclusive Planetary Genocide. We discussed working with legendary death metal producer Dan Swano and his work on Planetary Genocide, Devouring Mortality and The Embodiment of Chaos. We also discussed recording techniques. https://soundcloud.com/japan-nick/012716-cd2-skeletal-remains-interview My first Skeletal Remains interview

JNQP 15 083020 Paladin Singer Taylor Washington Interview Taylor Washington is a musician from Atlanta, Giorgia who is the singer/lead guitarist of the Prosthetic Records band Paladin. Taylor told me about getting his first guitar and what it was like for him learning about music in his schooling years. He also spoke about his 1 year experience at the Atlanta Institute of Music. He told me about how his connection with producer Matt Smith from Theocracy was made who worked on both Paladin’s debut album Ascension as well as their ep Anamnesis. We talked about techniques used to record the album. We spoke about the beginnings of Paladin as well as focused on the songs “Call of the Night,” as well as “Shoot for the Sun.” Towards the end we spoke about last year’s Progpower Fest and meeting Japan’s Gonarius.

Andrew Marsh is from Bonavista Canada and is the singer/guitarist of the Black Thrash band WinterheartH. He told me about growing up in Canada and and filled me on the various lineups that were used for discography of WinterheartH. We spoke about the writing techniques used for the new WinterheartH album Riverbed Empire. We focused on the songs “North Star, Be My Guide” as well as “The Ship Wright.”

Japan Nick's Quarantine Podcast 13 Suss Law Alex Harker Interview Alex Harker is Portland, Oregon bassist for Suss Law, Brain Deth, and Antipsychotix. He spoke about earlier bands he was in like Radiation. We spoke about the splits with Sow Threat and Frantic that his band Suss Law contributed to. He told me about his label Extreme Headache Records, along with a zine he made. We spoke about gear he uses. We ended things off on a story about the last time I saw Suss Law back in 2016 in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

Japan Nick's Quarantine Podcast 12 Xoth Tyler Spurgis Interview On Sunday August 9th 2020 Xoth lead singer/guitarist Tyler Spurgis was interviewed by Japan Nick. He spoke about growing up in Idaho and his early beginnings with music. We spoke about his time at the Musicians Institute and living in LA. He now resides in Seattle and spoke about that scene as well. We looked back on his previous band Phalgeron. We spoke about the 3 releases and stand alone single that Xoth has produced. We discussed writing techniques used for Interdimensional Invocations.

Japan Nick's Quarantine Podcast 11 Silver Talon Portland Oregon's Silver Talon founding guitarists Bryce VanHoosen and Sebastian Silva gave Japan Nick an interview on August 2nd 2020 to speak about their new album Decadence and Decay. We learned about Sebastian’s early musicial history and his history working with Bryce. We spoke about songs like “Touch the Void”, “Next to the Sun,” and “Divine Fury” in great depth. I referenced an interview I had with Bryce in 2018 and spoke about song writing techniques for this album. The band explained how they came to be a band with 3 guitarists as well as their lineup. They mentioned how they got signed to M Theory Audio and working with Marco Barbieri.

Japan Nick's Quarantine Podcast Episode 10 Gravehuffer Ritchie Randall Interview Ritchie Randall is the guitarist for the Joplin Missouri metal band Gravehuffer. He spoke up what it was like growing up there as a young music fan that eventually got into bands. He spoke about the history of his band as well as the current lineup. He spoke about his personal interest in History. We spoke in depth about the songs Stalingrad’s Cross, and Demon Face. We spoke about folklore and local legends in Missouri and New Jersey. We spoke about his 3 favorite songs he composed for his band. Right now Gravehuffer is trying to stay active on social media. They have a new album on the horizon later this year.

Japan Nick's Quarantine Podcast 9 071220 Soulgrinder Publisher Paul Caravasi Interview. We spoke about Paul's introduction to music. We learned about zines he worked at before starting Soulgrinder Zine. He spoke about zines he admired like Reborn from Ashes and more. There was some discussion about the 2015-2016 Lima Metal Fests. The next issue of Soulgrinder Zine should be coming out in late Summer 2020.