Local headbangers will gather this Saturday afternoon for the Secret City Metal Meltdown Fest. Answers in Blood will share the stage with a stacked lineup of Underground talent at Historic Grove Theater in Oakridge. Joey Boots interviewed the band in this exclusive story for 93.7 WVLZ.
Who is the best band or artist you’ve seen live?
Terry: Best show I've ever seen was, no doubt, Tool. . . all threetimes.
Second best was Metallica on the …And Justice for All tour.
Keith (Guitar): Tool, Rage Against the Machine, Pantera, NIN.
John (Drums): Rush - 2112 In its entirety at Starwood Amphitheater.
Josh (Bass): Slipknot, with support from Trivium and Coheed and Cambria.
How long have you guys been together and how did Answers in Blood form?
Terry: Keith (guitar), John (drums), and I have been together writing for about four years. We were a studio project for about a year when we got our first bassist, Don. He stepped away, and we've had Josh on Bass for about five months. We're super grateful to have him and he has really dug into the material and mastered it. He adds a tremendous pulse to our sound.
We formed when I posted on Facebook looking for a vox spot in a band, and John responded. He and Keith had met months prior and were jamming as a duo. We met, hit it off and started writing an album. No bassist, that came later.
Listening to your Acts of Violence Album, your influences shine through. Doing research, I see you guys all like Metallica. I also think there is a little Slayer and I even hear a Pro-Pain influence (That bass line is THICC). What other influences do you have and do they come through when writing?
Terry: You named some of my personals influences I guess you could say. But as for my other personals I would say, Ronnie James Dio, Tool, and the great John Fogerty are my all-timeheroes. There are others but that’s my core. I would be honored to say those influences come through in anything I do vocally or lyrically.
the other guys will say completely different things....
Keith: Dimebag and Hetfield - end of story. While playing bass on the first album, mainly Tool and Mudvayne
John : Influences range from Ryan Martini, Sam Rivers, Randy Meisner, Robert Trujillo.
We are Appalachian roots metal. Most of our songs are inspired by actual events - Not all, but most.
Your website and older albums show use strong artistic imagery. With the way everything is consumed digitally in today’s world, how do you balance keeping the imagery alive with your music in a streaming world?
Terry: We do what we like. We enjoy this project first and foremost and the hope that others will like it, and the stream it. We truly just want to have fun. Make music that is unique and interesting in theme and sound and play it live as often as possible.
As for imagery. All that is just who we are.
You’ve got the Secret City Metal Meltdown Fest coming up. What do you look forward to when playing shows like this?
Terry: Show’s like the Metal Meltdown are an opportunity for local bands to network and perhaps become allies. It gives the listener a chance to catch several bands they either like or hopefully will like as a result. Meet and greet with people is always a plus, the music scene genuinely needs these types of events to thrive.
What lies ahead for Answers in Blood as we roll into Spring and Summer?
Terry: The future will surely bring more shows. Epic shows. . .
We also have an EP coming out quite soon. Then we begin writing our third installment of AiB. First album written with Josh as our fifth family member so that is guaranteed to be solid bangers front to back.
We will have fun doing what we do.
Where can people check out more of the band?
https://www.facebook.com/AnswersinBlood
