Interview @ True Metal Lives

1. First of all, thank you for taking the time to do this interview with me. Before we really get rolling, please introduce yourself and can you please give us some information on your band and its background?
Paminos: We are Motherfaster, a three piece heavy metal band. We play straight to the point heavy music, decorated with dirty stories.

2. Please describe your band’s style. Genre, similar bands, etc. What should a potential new fan expect upon hearing your music for the first time?
Jim: The style of Motherfaster is like an avalanche of riffs. I don’t actually like the term genre, because all of the band members of Motherfaster are grown and raised with the true essence of music, which lies out of any specific genre. For example, we worship bands like W.a.s.p, Whitesnake and Alice Cooper, the same way we love Asphyx, Impaled Nazarene, or Gorefest. As for the expectations of a new fan, after listening to our album, I believe he will hit the repeat button on the cd player, when the last song ends…

3. What other bands have you played in previously?
Bill: The three of us have been involved in numerous projects over the past decade!
After dusk is the first band we created in 1998. We have recorded two death metal albums with Dominate, where Jim did the vocals and the lyrics and I wrote the music. Then after that, Paminos, Jim and Theodore of After Dusk created a black metal project called En Tafo!

4. What are some of your musical influences both in metal and maybe in other styles of music?
Bill: Dimebag Darell, Randy Rhoads, Tonny Iommi, Lemmy, Danzig, Rory Galagher, Gary Moore, Manolis Hiotis, Andy La roque, Chuck Shuldiner,
ZZ top and the list goes on.

5. Can you please share with us your band’s recording history and any interesting stories and experiences from the studio?
Paminos: We have recorded one full length album, which came out on February 2015. A funny story I can remember, during the recordings, is the following. Jim has a strange phobia about midgets. When I told that to our friend and sound engineer George Emmanuel, he found it very funny. He laughed and said to me something like: “Man this guy is 2 meters tall! How can he be afraid of midgets?”. After Jim had finished with the drums, we were in the control room and George sneaked behind him, while on his knees and poked Jim in the back. I can’t describe to you what happened in there, when he turned around. We had a great time recording the album.
6. How about your bands live experiences? Any amusing or memorable shows you would like to share with us?
Paminos: Every show is different. I remember a Halloween show, when we dressed up as zombies, another one that everybody in the club was drunk, including us! Someone even showed up with a inflatable sex doll on that one. Last year’s appearance at Wreck Athens fest was great too.

7. We have all heard of the big 4 of thrash. Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax. It has been talked about in the past and critiqued quite often. In your mind, what are the Big 4? You don’t have to just list thrash bands, lets open it up to all metal genres, past or present, what is the big 4 in your mind?
Paminos: I think this Big 4 stuff is mostly marketing. Ok, all the 3 of us LOVE Metallica, Megadeth and Slayer. But Anthrax? Why should be Anthrax there and not Testament, or Kreator, or Destruction, or Sodom? But if you have to have 4 bands, I think it would be Sabbath, Maiden, Priest and Megadethallica. I don’t fit Motorhead in there, because Motorhead are the Big 1.
Bill: For me there is no big 4, cause there are bands out there that perform way better live than the big4, but they are underestimated! And now a few examples
Saxon the best live performing band on the planet, Carcass kicks ass, Cannibal Corpse, Celtic Frost, Testament, Grip INC, King Diamond and many, many more!

8. What would be your dream supergroup? Again lets open it up to past or present musicians, what would be the dream band lineup?
Paminos: I don’t like the concept of supergroups. How can I know if Randy, Dime, Cliff and Cozy Powel would produce something good?

9. Now if you were to be a member of any band, who would you love to join up with?
Paminos: There are many musicians that I love and respect and it would be awesome to write, play, or compose a song with them, but being in a band is a lot more than that. So I have to say that, being a member of Motherfaster and After Dusk, fulfills me 100%!

10. Now it’s time to get philosophical. What IS heavy metal?
Paminos: Heavy metal is loud, distorted, controversial music

11. What has heavy metal done for you thus far both in music and in your personal life?
Paminos: Musically I think metal and rock music can be close to the classic and the traditional at the same time. It can combine many different musical cultures. It helps you to enjoy music out of the box, not only for entertainment. In personal life it helped me learn the English language well, plus I had great times with friends at concerts.
12. If you were not playing in a metal band, what do you think you would be doing currently?
Paminos: I would be very miserable! The only other thing, that interests me remotely as much as metal music, is motorcycles.

13. What is your heavy metal dream? I am not talking about goals here, I am talking about going to bed and dreaming…what is the dream you are having? Or is it a nightmare?
Paminos: Being able to release an album, without worrying about anything else, than the music and the sound.

14. What is your view on the current state of heavy metal?
Jim: The way I see it, heavy metal is in a comatose state. There is war going on between bands in all the musical platforms. Imitation, useless battles in soulless technical displays.. who’s the faster..who’s the most shocking.. The true heart of heavy metal lies mostly in the underground bands, those bands who play music because they get richer in their souls and not in their wallets.

15. What are your thoughts concerning the digital era of metal. I am curious what you think of digital downloading, recording in the modern era and anything else that has changed since the early days of the industry.
Paminos: As a music fan, I don’t like downloadable stuff and I don’t like streaming services either. I prefer cd’s and vinyl records. Have I ever downloaded an album? Yes, but only to check it out. If I like it, I always go ahead and buy a copy. Paying to download a digital album is another option available the last few years and also cheaper. It is just not my favorite medium. Bottom line is this: if you enjoy an artist, or a band, buy a copy of their work. It is your responsibility as a music fan. Most of us are not rich, but spending 10-20-30$ per month for art is not a big deal. We all spend more money for less important things anyway. The digital era of recording on the other hand has only benefits, because it reduces the recording costs by a large factor.

16. Heavy metal has gone through some changes since the early days. New movements have come and gone as has its overall popularity. With that in mind, what direction do you see heavy metal going in the future?
Jim: Heavy metal is a die-hard motherfucker… Despite the fact that everything has been played, over and over again, by every band out there in the last three decades, it has a bizarre and unique way to reinvent itself. It’s like a phoenix. It rises, then burns to dust and comes to life again. Even someone who has grown up to heavy metal and for some reason he quits listening to it. For example, when he turns to 50 years old or something like that. If you play him an Iron Maiden or a Metallica song, he will remember it.. It has an impact on you. Thus, I believe, it will keep its steady direction for many years to come. Just like lava..it bursts..it explodes..it calms..but there’s always more..burning.
17. Several musicians have gone on record to say that the full length album is dead. That with the digital age there is no need to produce a full length release. What are your thoughts, is the full length dead or still viable?
Paminos: It is dead from the point that you can’t expect to make much money from the album. On the other hand how many albums have you bought in the past that should have been singles, or EP’s? Like 2-3 great songs and the rest for the trash? You can’t be a musician without producing new music. And the best way to do that, is to record an album, if you have the inspiration. I mean you can record a single song every other month, but that is not any cheaper than to do it all at once. And it’s not cool, if your fans haven’t heard anything new from you for some years, to give them only a couple of songs, or use a new album as an excuse for a tour.

18. Okay time to talk and promote your band some more. What is the current news coming from your camp. Any new music, tours, festivals or anything going on?
Paminos: We are still getting great feedback for our debut album! We have written new songs for the sequel and we will keep working on that, so that we hit the studio before the end of 2016.

19. What are the immediate short range goals for your group?
Paminos: Last month, we recorded a cover song. We’ll make a video for that, to keep you guys wired until the next album.

20. What about ultimately any long range goals?
Paminos: To spread the music of Motherfaster as far as we can!

21. Finally if you have any last words you wish to express to your fans and the metal community in general please do so here.
Paminos: Be critical about the things you hear and read. No matter who wrote them. Admit when you are wrong.

Link: http://www.truemetallives.com/blog2/interview-motherfaster