ROCKER TWINS
REVIEW
"The keeper of the flame...is the girl on the side of the stage."
~Cameron Crowe
PRIMAL FEAR - Delivering The Black
By The Rocker Twins
The Rocker Twins get a chance to interview Randy Black about PRIMAL FEAR'S newest album and of course throw in a few of our favorite questions. Find out what his favorite venue is, to the most played song on his ipod.
*Post date January 28th, 2014*
With their 10th studio album DELIVERING THE BLACK. Delivering is EXACTLY what PRIMAL FEAR has done. With one of THE BEST Metal albums to come out in a long time you see that PRIMAL FEAR is at the top of their game.
In this 10 track release you see and hear just how great they really are. Knowing and seeing how many projects these members are involved in, some of you might have thought that they wouldn't be putting their all into it. Happily we are here to report that they DID, and then some.
The whole CD is amazing from beginning to end, starting you off you will hear the powerful drumming of Randy Black with King For A Day, this track starts you off with a pounding in your chest that gets you pumped and primed for what comes next. Continuing on you hear the mesmerizing song writing on each track, which paints you a picture you can visually see through your ears. The playing and technical composition by these more than talented musicians will leave you asking the question "how do they do that?" or better yet telling yourself, "I want to do that!".
With the mix that Mat Sinner (bassist) and Jacob Hansen have done on this, all producers should be telling themselves, this is how you do it! The dueling guitars of Magnus Karlson and the more than beautiful Alex Beyrodt on this release will make any axe man stand up in admiration for these two. And last but definitely NOT least, the versitility of Ralf Scheepers vocals on this album lets you know exactly why he is one of the MAJOR voices in METAL today! From his METAL growl from track one, to his achingly beautiful tenor for album ballad, BORN WITH A BROKEN HEART, we are more impressed and awe inspired than ever before from these METAL MASTERS. If this album isn't in your Top 10 of best releases of the year, by years end, then lets just say it's gonna be a damn good year!
Getting a chance to talk to Randy Black was MORE than a treat for us. We gotta see what his approach was this new release and catch up with him on getting ready for the new tour! Hope you enjoy it as much as we did.
RB: Hello. I think I'm ready for you now. We're just busy trying to get everything ready. (LAUGHS)
RT: Oh, we figured. We were wondering how late it was gonna be for you over there.
RB: It's only 9pm, but its been a long day. I was up at like 6am this morning.
RT: Man that's early. Well, we talk a lot did they warn you? (LAUGHS)
RB: Oh, that's okay. That's what an interviews about right.
RT: Right on. So we're obsessed with the new album. It's fantastic!
RB: Aw, that's great.
RT: Your drumming on it was amazing. We were kinda scared to talk to you after we heard your work on this. It was again amazing.
RB: Oh come on, you probably talk to lots of good drummers.
RT: Well you're one of our favorites. You always blow us away. And this time was no exception.
RB: Great, thank you.
RT: Oh you're welcome. So did you have a different approach on how you did the drums for this album?
RB: Yes. Actually that's a good question. Normally the way it works is I get demos from the guys with the songs. Mostly without vocals but just a basic structure of the songs, and then I go into my practice room and I work on stuff that I think is gonna be cool. What was different this time is that I had a bunch of new recording gear and I started getting into recording my own drum tracks. I had all the mics set up like I would in the actual studio with PRIMAL FEAR and I recorded each song over and over and over again in my own studio. Then I drove down and recorded it for real with the PRIMAL FEAR guys and I was very, very, very well prepared. For me that is the biggest difference on this record than any other one that I've done with PRIMAL FEAR so far.
RT: Well it paid off. Like we said, we were totally blown away with your work on it. Was it a different energy working with Jacob Hansen as the producer this?
RB: Well you know what, he really didn't produce it. What he did was mix the record.
RT: Oh really? Okay.
RB: So we recorded it with Achim Koehler who has worked with us for years. Engineered it, recorded the tracks, we did all that in Winterberg, Germany. Then Matt Sinner (bass) and Ralf Scheepers(lead vocals) flew up to meet Jacob in his studio; I wasn't there, but he mixed it. And I have to admit the end result is a different sound then we're used to, and me personally I loved the new sound, or you know, the difference that he made so far. I think it sounds great. Really, really powerful, full, and modern. So yeah we're all really happy with the job he did on it.
RT: Oh us too. We were telling everyone that if it's not your favorite album of the year then what possibly could be? It has to be in the top 5 at least of the METAL albums coming out this year.
RB: It's really nice to hear that. Just because, well personally again, all the work that went in on my side and the guys who also spent a lot of time writing the songs. You know the effort was really put in by everyone to make this the greatest album as possible. I mean we always do that. But yeah. And with Magnus Karlsson (guitar) this is the second album that he has been really involved in the writing. I think him and Matt and Ralf and the guys have really jelled now and they are writing really great songs together for PRIMAL FEAR.
RT: Yeah they're great. And your drumming was amazing on this album, I mean eveyone I've talked to has said that this is "your album" for drumming. And we totally agree.
RB: Oh, thats good to hear.
RT: Right. So did you have a different approach when it came to the ballads on this release? Because the ballad "Born with a Broken Heart" was beautiful, but you know we're girls so of course that was our favorite.
(LAUGHING)
RB: Well hey, I loved it too.
RT: Was it a different take on it for you, or a little harder to slow it down? Cause we haven't heard too many ballad, ballads out of you guys. And that one was just awesome.
RB: Okay, I'll let you in on a secret here. You know this is a running, well it's kind of a joke, but it's the truth. On the PRIMAL FEAR tours,at least the last 2. On the tour bus every night after you know a few drinks, guess what the band was playing constantly every night.
RT: Bon Jovi?! (LAUGHS)
RB: Nope... Journey!
RT: Well of course. Faithfully..highway run... (ALL LAUGHING)
RB: Definitely. So no, those kind of songs..I mean, you know I grew up in Canada and played in a lot of cover bands for a lot of years before I started playing mainly METAL, and I was covering songs like that and I love those kind of songs. That song for me, "Born with a Broken Heart", I really, really liked and it was not a problem for me to record it all. I enjoyed it and loved it, so you know it's definitely one of my faves. Probably the favorite ballad of ours that we've done.
RT: We agree, like you said out of the other ballads you have done, this one was our favorite as well.
RB: Right. And Ralf did an amazing job.
RT: Yes, totally.
RB: You know he's a screamer, but on that song he shows his versitility for sure.
RT: Yes, he really did. He's awesome on it. So lets talk about the 10 minute opus you guys did. Did you guys decide to do that as kind of a play on the Rock Meets Classic stuff, to showcase that project a little bit more?
RB: That's a good question, good take on the song. But no, I think what it is, is Matt and Magnus writing they just enjoy writing those type of songs. I don't think there was a
thought behind it where they were like we should go in this direction to highlight Rock Meets Classic. No, I think it just came out of them. You know they did a lot of writing over SKYPE and they just came up with it and were like, lets just keep going with this song and see where it takes us. And it ended up being 10 minutes. (LAUGHS)
RT: It was awesome though. We enjoyed the whole 10 minutes of it, it felt like you were in a movie or something. (ALL LAUGHING)
RB: Oh, thats a cool comment for it. Great.
RT: Was it a hard sell to the lable to do that?
RB: I don't think so, no. You know we signed with FRONTIER, this is the third record now with them, but they knew that in the past we had done songs like that before. And I think they were sure to expect more of the same.
RT: Well again we loved it. We can't say enough about it. Rave reviews from everyone and us for sure.
RB: Aw, thank you.
RT: We were gonna ask, this is your 2nd year with the Rock Meets Classic lineup right?
RB: Yes that's correct, it will be my 2nd year with them.
RT: Okay we were right. (LAUGHS) Are you excited that Alice Cooper is headlining this year?
RB: Oh, actually all of the acts. But...yeah, for sure Alice Cooper, when I was growin up and learning to play I was learning those songs. And Uriah Heep, you know now when I'm listening and learning those songs to prepare I get chills, I get goosebumps thinking, man I'm gonna be playing with these guys. You know it was the same thing last year. On stage there were nights where it was hard to keep the tears back to be honest.
RT: Aww, well you played with Bonnie Tyler last year. I mean Total Eclipse of the Heart makes us cry everytime. We couldn't imagine actually playing it on stage with her. (ALL LAUGHING)
RB: That was definitely one of the songs where it was like, WOW I can't believe it. In the middle of the song I'm in the middle of a 35 piece orchestra, I've got great sound in my ear, and I got Bonnie Tyler in my ears. And we had Paul Rogers too who was also great, I mean all of them were great and this year is not exception. I'm really, really looking forward to it.
RT: How tough is it to prepare for something like that? I mean with just the catalog of songs alone. How much more energy is that then preparing for your own tour?
RB: Very good question. You know what, it's a lot more energy. Because these days, you know I was telling someone else earlier that this is my 11th year now with PRIMAL FEAR and there are some songs I can play blindfolded and one arm tied behind my back basically. But we have 4 artists this year and I've got about 26, 27 songs I've got to learn that I haven't played before and a limited time to do it, cause we're going on tour next week for 4 weeks, then we have 2 and a half weeks off before the rehearsals start for Rock Meets Classic. So I'm
gonna be learning songs on the tour bus for it. So it does take a lot more energy, just because of the fact that I have to learn 26 songs for it. And for PRIMAL FEARS tour I have to learn 5 or 6 of the new ones. So there's the difference. (LAUGHS)
RT: How important is the PRIMAL FEAR tour gonna be for this new release? Cause the last time you guys were in the States was when we discovered you.
RB: Oh yeah? Where?
RT: It was in Denver, Colorado at the Bluebird.
RB: Oh yeah. Well it's very important, cause for one we don't get to America too often. Actually not often enough. And it's all because of finances, you know we would play there every year if we could. I mean with the reviews and also what we're seeing thru the internet is that there is great interest from the METAL fans over there that they do want to see us. So we want to play and people want to see us, so we're excited to play for the fans that don't get a chance to see us as much.
RT: Right. Well you guys have such a great presence on the internet, I mean your probably one of the best social networking bands we've seen in a long time, do you think that's helped your album sales and you getting requests to play? Cause you guys are very personable on your pages more so then other bands we've seen.
RB: Oh? Okay, well that's good to hear. Um, I don't know. I think it can't hurt, and yeah I do think it helps for sure. I mean you can't deny it. I think you'd be kinda stupid not to use it. We're not RAMMSTEIN or IRON MAIDEN who see millions just when they put out a record. So I think we kinda have to pay attention to that. I think basically everyone enjoys it.
RT: You guys do seem to enjoy interacting with your fans and we feel like maybe that's why you're getting bigger, it's certainly why we promote you, you guys were great when we
met you.
RB: Well we're playing the BLUEBIRD again right?
RT: Yeah, we'll see you May 8th for sure up in Denver. You know your drum tech is one of our best buddies. (LAUGHING)
RB: What? Justin?!
RT: Metal J! Hell yeah! (ALL LAUGHING)
RB: Oh no he's gonna kill me when I tell you this then. You can call him J LOVE from now on.
RT: Oh we so will. Oh, he's gonna kill you for that one. (ALL LAUGHING)
RB: That was his handle on the last tour poor guy. (ALL LAUGHING)
RT: Well yeah, you gotta give him hell, don't go easy on him for this tour.
RB: Of course, but he's great. I'm glad we're working with him again.
RT: Yeah, he loves you guys. We were telling him, "guess who we're interviewing tomorrow." and he's like, "Oh my God, ask him this, this, and this." He sounds excited for the tour.
RB: Cool, also some our buddies that we toured with are from your area right?
RT: Um, yeah it was Havok and Silencer opened too. We'll be there, we're planning a big to do for it.
RB: Cool, cool. Sounds like fun.
RT: Of course, we'll have a great time. So we' ll see you for sure in May. So moving on. (ALL LAUGHING) You know the METAL scene is way different here in the States than it is in Europe, why do you think that is?
RB: Well I don't know really, but what I've found over here in general is that the METAL FANS, when they are into a band they seem to be loyal till basically the end. Unless you're a METAL band and you turn around and start doing rap or something like that. But I just haven't experienced it anywhere else like I have over here. I mean I come from Canada, and I know when I was there it seemed like everyone was just into what was popular at the moment, and when the radio stops playing them or MTV is done with them then so is everyone else. And that doesn't happen over here. That's why you see the huge METAL festivals, and there is many of them. And they're sold out.
RT: Exactly. You could never do that here.
RB: I've met some fans and have given lessons to some of the drummers and stuff, and they are so passionate and loyal. They will buy every version of a CD that will come out just because they want to support the band. But I really don't know the reason for it. Maybe it's because of the way the media is here verses how it is over there. So that's my answer on it. (ALL LAUGHING)
RT: That was a good answer. (ALL LAUGHING) So you say you do give lessons, let's talk about THE BLACK BOOK. What prompted you to do that?
RB: Well one of the companies I was endorsing at the time asked me for some professional promos that they could use on their website for promotional DVD's. So I did some research and for me to do that for the company was gonna cost so much that the company said, "have you ever thought about doing a drum instructual DVD?". I really hadn't, so I gave it some thought, thought of a plan and ended up doing it and it turned out really well. It got picked up by Hudson music and its done well, I can't complain.
RT: Everyone we know of who's seen it said that you're so personable on it and they liked that you taught from the basics. So are you thinking of maybe doing a series of them, or was that it?
RB: I would like to do another one that is more advanced, but it's all a question of time and finances. This year, I don't know if you guys know, but it's probably gonna be one of the busiest touring years PRIMAL FEAR has ever had, with the inclusion of Rock Meets Classic. (LAUGHS) So it's not gonna happen this year. Maybe 2015.
RT: Definitely on that one. It was awesome.When we looked at it, we thought we could probably learn the drums from it.
RB: Oh cool. Yeah that was my point, you know introduction to METAL drumming, start with the basics and go from there.
RT: Right. We also wanted to ask about DUSK MACHINE. You did really good last year, are you guys planning on doing anything more, after all your touring with PRIMAL FEAR?
RB: Actually yeah. The bulk of the PRIMAL FEAR tour will end
after the U.S. leg, and that is when we'd like to focus on doing some DUSK MACHINE stuff for sure. I mean, it's such a shame, but the logistics of it too. You know our singer is from Florida, our bass player is in Vancouver, and the guitar player and myself are from here so it's tough. But it's definitely high on the priority list to do some shows this year, whether that's gonna be in the U.S. or Europe I don't know. So yeah. And are you guys aware we have a 2nd CD out?
RT: Yeah, we listened to it, but we've also seen that it has been picked as "BEST" on a bunch of lists. We were like this is HIM, we gotta listen, we really enjoyed it.
RB: It's a little different that PRIMAL FEAR.
RT: Yeah it was, but very good. That's why we were a little nervous when we started researching you. I mean the work you do with PRIMAL FEAR is great then DUSK MACHINE, and then we realized you were in ANNIHILATOR, how did we not know that?! (ALL LAUGHING)
RB: Ooo okay. (LAUGHING)
RT: Oh yeah, we do our research. So we have loved talking to you. We also do a little section called "Meet the Band" for our readers and its just a few little fun questions. You up for it?
RB: Sure.
RT: Okay, first question. What's your favorite moment you've ever had on stage?
RB: Okay you know what, if anyone actually wants to see that moment I filmed it. It's on my youtube channel. What happened was it was our last South American tour and we were playing Buenos Aires and I had a new IPOD that I was also using as a clip track for drummers you know. After about a minute, we finished playing the song and the crowd, if you talk to anyone that's played there...the fans there are insane. So after about a minute of them doing this wild
chant I said I gotta film this. So I picked up my IPOD and I filmed it for another minute and a half and it's just one of those magic moments that I'm so glad I gotta film, because it was rare. I mean the whole band felt it, and the crowd was insane. So if anyone wants to see it
they can do to my youtube channel, it's called Randy Black drums.
RT: Oh for sure. We love that. We're so glad we even get to see it, that's so cool. (Enjoy Video Above) Okay, question #2. Who was your biggest influence? Who was the guy that made you want to be a ROCK N ROLL drummer?
RB: Keith Moon. Do you know who he played with?
RT: THE WHO. Of course we know.
RB: I'm sorry sometimes I gotta ask. (ALL LAUGHING)
RT: Well Pamela Des Barres did write about us. So we know him for all kinds of reasons. (ALL LAUGHING) So was it his style or just the craziness of him?
RB: Yeah, what I loved about him was, it was just like controlled chaos. I think though it was mostly the energy that came across when I listened to the records. Before I had ever seen a picture of him or any live footage or movie or anything back then was just the energy his drumming had on the whole record. So I just started following them, and I guess when it comes to ROCK he would be the first one that really had that aggressive, energetic drumming.
RT: Exactly. Okay next question. What is the most played song on your IPOD right now?
RB: Uh oh, that might be embarassing. (ALL LAUGHING)
RT: Journey? (ALL LAUGHING)
RB: That's probably high up there. You know what it should probably be Lana Del Rey.
RT: Huh, we've never heard of her.
RB: What?!
RT: No, who is she. We're excited to know. See this is why we ask this question, because you guys always say someone we've never heard of and then we listen and get to discover another good artist.
RB: Well she's a female solo artist, she's not even ROCK I don't think. But now that I'm checking my list it's actually the Rock Meets Classic stuff.
RT: Well we're gonna mention your Lana Del Rey in here anyway.
RB: Uh oh, now I might be in trouble. That's not very METAL of me.
(ALL LAUGHING)
RT: Oh it just means your eclectic. That question is always so random with our METAL people we interview. You guys name stuff that we would never think of to listen to.
RB: Okay so Lana Del Rey, and the song is called, "Born to Die".
RT: Awesome. We're gonna go look her up. Okay besides Lana who is you favorite new artist or band?
RB: Oh God. That's a tough one. Well you know a band I mention a lot to my students are the HAVOK guys.
RT: Awww, right on.
RB: You know when we're talking about the business and this and that I always bring those guys up because they're DAMN hard working guys. They tour non-stop. You know I always think of those guys when my students are asking me what it takes to make it in the business. And I think about those guys because they're one of the examples. They just tour, tour, tour, tour, tour. We witnessed it when we toured with those guys. I mean they were in a van, sleeping in it. Doing what it takes. And look at them now. They're now playing Asia, and you see them on posters moving up on the bill. I gotta hand it to them, they've earned it. And if you've seen them lately they are a kick ass METAL band.
RT: Yes, they are awesome. Great METAL band.
RB: So for sure I would mention HAVOK. For sure.
RT: Aww, right on. Great shout out to them. Okay next question. What is your favorite venue you've ever played?
RB: Oh man that's very tough. I have to give honorable mention to a few. There's Club Chita in Japan, world famous with a lot of different bands. Some highlights of my career the 1st time was with ANNIHILATOR and I played there also with PRIMAL FEAR. The Gramercy in New York, The Key Club in Los Angeles, The Bluebird in Denver is a great theatre, but my absolute top is The Zed 7 in Pratteln, Switzerland. A lot of METAL bands play there. It's great, the bands love it because backstage there is amazing cooking, there's laundry. No really that's great.
RT: Oh we know we're concert promoters too so we know.
RB: Right. They also have a great sound system and great people that work there. So that's a highlight spot for touring bands in Europe, is to play that venue.
RT: Awesome. Okay last question. What is your favorite thing to eat when your on the road?
RB: Well everytime we go to Japan we get fed very well there. I think any good japanese food would be it. Or korean BBQ.
RT: Right on. Well we better let you go we loved talking to you.
RB: Well we'll talk more in Denver.
RT: For real. We will for sure. Well we better let you go and we'll see you in Denver for sure.
RB: Absolutely. Thanks for all the support.