Interview with Blade Killer

Last week I covered Blade Killer's recently-released (and absolutely fantastic!) debut release "Blade Killer" (link provide below). As a result I was able to arrange a short interview with this L.A.-based band which, among others, features Fueled By Fire's drummer Carlos Gutierrez on lead vocals. This four-piece collective, which is truly a force to be reckoned with(!), combines the best parts of traditional heavy metal and N.W.O.B.H.M. into one (must-hear) beast of a band. All of which proves that there is still plenty of fire left in field of straight-up heavy metal and that the scene will no doubt will be alive and well for YEARS to come! I want to thank Blade Killer for taking time out of their busy schedule to talk with Heavy Metal Time Machine and if you haven't read my review yet of the group's 4-track debut EP then be sure to do. And of course be sure to head over to the group's Facebook page afterwards so that you can show the band some love!

Andy-Could you give us a brief run-down on how the band came about?

Blade Killer-The band was formed by Carlos and past drummer Andrew Gomez. Jay and Kelsey joined fairly soon after the idea of creating a Heavy Metal band was brought up. Jon joined a few months after that we we began to look for a second guitarist.


Andy-What made you decide on the name Blade Killer?

Blade Killer-The name came from the French Heavy Metal band Sortilege. They have a song called Blade Killer, the french version is entitled "Bourreau" Always thought that would be a killer heavy metal band name?! No pun intended lol

Andy-While I picked up on early Iron Maiden, Cloven Hoof, Tokyo Blade and Tygers Of Pan Tang are their other N.W.O.B.H.M. bands that have influenced Blade Killer?

Blade Killer-It's funny that you hear Cloven Hoof, non of us really ever listened to them haha. Maiden and Tokyo Blade are some of our main influences. There's are all kinds of NWOBHM band that influence us like Wolf, Saxon, Satan to name a few. But there all not British bands that influence us. Sortilege, Nightmare, Stormwitch, Tyrant(Ger) Armored Saint, Mercyful Fate, Even bands like Ratt and W.A.S.P. Have a great influence on us.

Andy-How did the deal with Stromspell Records come about?

Blade Killer-We were planning to release the 4 track EP on our own, Mike Mendyk of Swords and Chains Records contacted us about releasing a tape with him. Some things had come up and it ended up not working out as he planned. Because of what happened  Mike shared our music with Danny McKane from Storm Spell and they liked it! Mike and Danny decided to release it together. So actually Stormspell and Swords and Chains are releasing the E.P.! Cheers to those guys for giving our music a chance! We are also planning on releasing the EP on vinyl as well! You can purchase our EP through Stormspell Records web store, also keep a look out for the release of the vinyl, we will be letting everyone know where they can get that.


Andy-Who played drums on the EP?

Blade Killer-Carlos played drums for us on the EP. Since he already plays drums for Fueled By Fire it was the most logical answer to our problem at the time in trying to find a drummer. If we would have waited until we found a permanent drummer the EP probably wouldn't have been recorded or released yet! Haha

Andy-Is Blade Killer going to be a live band as well?

Blade Killer-We are hoping to be a "live band" soon. We have yet to play live, but are very much eager to hit the stage. We have put most of our efforts towards getting this E.P. released so that we have solid material out and available. We'd love to get out there and tour!

Andy-How has reception been for the new EP so far?

Blade Killer-The reception and response that we have received from everyone has been really positive. Releasing it through Stormspell Records and Swords and Chains Records have given us a huge boost in getting our name and material out there for people to hear.

Andy-Now that you've released "Blade Killer" what else can fans expect out of the band in 2014?

Blade Killer-We are definitely hoping to play some gigs, maybe some festivals or tours! We will continue writing more material and eventually get back into the studio and start this full length album. We are looking forward to 2014, especially since we started out the year strong with the release of our first E.P.

Andy-I always give bands the last say. Anything you'd like to add?

Blade Killer-I think we would pretty much just want to thank everyone for showing so much support for our music. We are really stoked for what is to come in the near future! Cheers!!

Blade Killer's Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/bladekillerheavymetal 

Review of the very awesome (and must-own!) "Blade Killer":
http://metalmark.blogspot.com/2014/01/blade-killer-blade-killer.html 

Blade Killer-Blade Killer

Stormspell Records
2014

Stormspell Records has yet to steer me wrong when it comes to the high quality of their releases and with their latest signing their perfect track record continues on into 2014! Formed in 2012, and hailing from Los Angeles California of all places(!), Blade Killer are another young act floating (or is it flirting?) the fine line that exists between traditional heavy metal (80's style of course!) and N.W.O.B.H.M. Have no fear though as this is not just another White Wizard or Enforcer (or for that matter about 2/3 of the bands that appeared on Earache Records 2009 compilation "Heavy Metal Killers"). Not even close. Here we have another shining example of how to do it and do it right. There's nothing retro about this act, which is incidentally lead into combat by the very capable Carlos Gutierrez*, and it's never a case on this recently-released EP where you walk away with the impression that Blade Killer is just playing a part or something. Rather this is a band paying homage to the greats (chief among them would have to be early Iron Maiden) while staying true to the notion that they are (first and foremost) A) A real band brought together through an obvious shared love of great heavy metal and B) Not a bunch of musicians simply trying to catch up to and jump aboard the already-overcrowded/please let it crash soon bandwagon that lies at the very heart of retro-worship. For most retro-worship bands wouldn't bleed real blood if you cut them (or for that matter owe a debt to the likes of Tokyo Blade, Tygers of Pan Tang and Cloven Hoof!), but if you were to cut this bunch? I have no doubt that you'd find that heavy metal, real heavy metal and not the retro-worship fluff, was/is encoded in their D.N.A. like many of the greats that have come before them! Now, besides Carlos Gutierrez (whose voice is heavily drenched in all things eighties metal while also reflecting a bit of the rougher grit that made some of those early nineties hard rock/heavy metal bands so appealing) Blade Killer has two former members of defunct California thrash band Armory (guitarists Jon Rubio and Jay Vazquez) and features ex-Unholy Lust bassist Kelsey Wilson. As no drummer is mentioned I'll just assume that this L.A.-based act simply dug up the remains of several deceased eighties metal drummers and, after first (carefully) assembling the perfect studio drummer (using duct tape and guitar strings to hold him/her together), used a combination of black magic and lighting to bring said individual/metal monster back to life in order to (properly) fill the drum stool! That could happen right? Anyway, getting back to the task at hand (ie: what makes up the bulk this cool, 13 plus minutes, 4-track heavy metal EP!) and, besides the likes of Iron Maiden, Tokyo Blade, Tygers of Pan Tang and Cloven Hoof, the material here reminds me at times of French bands like Warning, Satan Jokers, Nightmare, High Power and (specifically) Sortilège. In fact it wouldn't surprise me at all if I was to find out that Blade Killer took their name from the English version of Sortilège's "Bourreau"! But, that's neither here nor there and really it's a conversation better suited for another day. For now I'll just get back to my initial point that Stormspell Records has a real winner on their hands with Blade Killer. Of the four cuts here on the band's self-titled EP my favorite is probably "Raise Your Fist" although it's closely followed by the hard-driving title cut! But really all four of these cuts are just too good to pass up. "Made of Steel", as with the other three tracks present here, features the same kind of twin guitar attack that makes fans of eighties heavy metal (Iron Maiden/Judas Priest) all giddy inside. Meanwhile "Don't Hold Back (Break Away)" offers an uncensored look at the gritty underbelly of underground heavy metal and yes, it does make you want to take a walk back over to the dark side of town where these kinds of bands would have rocked the foundations off of many a small club/bingo hall back in the mid-eighties (and we all loved 'em for doing it!). If this EP is just a sneak peek at what this California band has to offer down the line then fans/collectors of true heavy metal (and yes, as always boys and girls, I count myself in both groups thank you very much!)  may just be looking at their favorite new band/obsession! With releases like this 2014 is going to be every bit as good as 2013 was when it comes to good, old fashioned, well-love and never-forgotten, heavy metal!


*If the name sounds familiar it is because Carlos, in addition to being a former member of the brutal band Sodomizing the Dead, is the drummer for Norwalk, California thrash act Fueled By Fire!

http://stormspell.bigcartel.com/product/blade-killer-blade-killer-ep