Genre: Heavy/thrash metal
Origin: Greece
Current line-up:
Namiroth - Vocals
Trouble - Bass
Witchkiller - Guitar
Mad Dog - Drums
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Current label:
Independent
Discography:
Steamroller - 2002
Raw & Filthy - 2006
Official Site:
www.myspace.com/steamrollerassault
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1. Hello! How are you? First of all I have
to say that I am impressed with the quality of the two works that the band
has released so far. So, my first question is when did you form the band
and what were you led to the decision to create STEAMROLLER ASSAULT?
Witchkiller: Well, the band was formed some
day (don’t remember exactly when) around autumn 1999 by me and my buddy
Stormtrooper! We used to hang out on walking benches and basketball fields
writing lyrics and then at my place trying to play some riffs. Great times.
2. Between your two releases “Steamroller” (2002)
and “Raw & Filthy” (2006) four years have passed. Why did it take you
so long to release your second album?
W: The usual reasons man, day jobs and lack
of money plus the fact that we didn’t care to have any record company on
our necks. This band is D.I.Y. and it will stay that way.
3. One thing that I have noticed is that although
a certain time has passed between your 2 releases, the 2 albums have the
same musical identity. How did you manage to keep the same spirit on both
albums? Also which are the new elements that you have introduced to your
latest release?
W: As far as the music is concerned, it was
bound to be the same, more or less. New elements? Nothing new I guess if
we’re talking about modern stuff. But “Raw ’n’ Filthy” had a heavier sound
than the first CD, it was a bit faster overall with cooler lead parts and
a hell lot of better songwriting than the “Steamroller” CD.
4. From a little research I did, I see that many
members have passed from the line – up of the band. Why is that? How did
this affect the band musically and you as individuals?
W: Well you know, it’s that Rock’n’Rolf, Dave
Mustane kinda thing that influenced me, hehe. Actually the reasons were
that most of the guys had a thing with their day jobs and couldn’t make
it while some others went into different music styles eventually.
5. By the way I like the name of the band a lot.
How did you come up with this name and do you think that it can help someone
understand what kind of music you play?
W: The name of band was originally just STEAMROLLER.
We took the name from an obscure 80ies metal band called STORMTROOPER that
had released the “Armies of the Night” mini LP (A TOTALLY MASSIVE KILLER)
which was a major influence on us at the time (we still worship that one).
Then we discovered that there are 6 other bands under that name so we added
“Assault” and there you have it. Man, we’re called STEAMROLLER ASSAULT.
Can’t you imagine that the band is into something dirty and vicious? It’s
a name that feeds you the picture…
6. OK! Some people that will read this interview,
probably don’t know the band, so let me ask you for them, how would you
describe your sound and which major bands and artists do you think that
have influenced your style?
W: STEAMROLLER ASSAULT is a veeeeeery old
school heavy metal band! We got out thrashy momenths in the VENOM, early
RAZOR vein but they tend to disappear with the new stuff! We’re a heavy
metal band that’s for sure but we try to make our sound as dirty, street
wise and live as we can. Just like a bus falling from the 12 floor right
on your chest! Well, we worship the blues as well and from now on you’ll
hear a couple of bluesy tunes on your records.
What do you mean by “major”? To me major are
all the bands and people that influenced us: ACCEPT, RUNNING WILD, TWISTED
SISTER, PILEDRIVER, early EXCITER, early RAZOR, STORMTROOPER, KRATOS, LADY
KILLER, ACID, BLITZKRIEG, SATAN, VENOM, MOTORHEAD, ANVIL, BULLDOZER, early
RIOT, TANK, SAXON, SODOM, BROCAS HELM and rock, blues or blues/rock demigods
like Rory Galagher, Frank Marino, THIN LIZZY, early WHITESNAKE (up to 1982),
Stevie Ray Vaughn, John Lee Hooker, CACTUS, MUDDY WATERS, HOWLING WOLF
and some other folks.
7. Although, you have released 2 albums, I discovered
you by luck. Why do you think STEAMROLLER ASSAULT never received the presentation
of other Greek metal bands in the mainstream and underground metal press?
W: The answer to your question is very simple
my friend. ‘Cause we never cared about it. It’s not that we’re lazy, we’re
not but the band has achieved most of its goals and those are to make some
CDs (probably we’ll see that stuff on vinyl too) and play in front
of a few, devoted die – hards occasionally! We’ve done it! I hope that
we’ll be alright with our jobs in order to be able to spare some money
for the following recordings.
8. Also something relevant with the previous question
is that you have released both of your albums on your own. Why is that?
I find it extremely difficult to imagine that a band like you couldn’t
find an offer from a label.
W: Well, like I said before, the band will
always and I mean fuckin’ ALWAYS will be a D.I.Y. band. We’ve pressed T-shirts
on our own, patches on our own, paid for the production of the albums ON
OUR FUCKIN’ OWN and that’s how it’s gonna be ‘till we disband! No manager,
no record company, no fucking promoter will have say on our music and attitude!
9. By the way which are the biggest problems that
you confront when you produce and release an album on your own? Does this
effort pay off eventually?
W: Trying to find some free time from our
jobs in order to actually record, haha! But we handle it. Being short on
money is one thing that you can come across but if we do we just stop the
recordings, save some more and continue.
10. Let’s talk a bit about the lyrics. How important
are they for you and what kind of themes inspires you to write lyrics about?
W: Well, as you can clearly understand our
lyrics deal with women, getting laid, drunk and getting high on metal!
They also deal with the burning of some witches, hehe, prison convicts
and bosses that bust your nuts! Important? Let’s just say that I hate political/social
stuff! This stuff is on the TV, on the press so I don’t want them in my
band! I want people to have fun with us, not talk about the ozone.
11. From all the songs that you have composed
so far, which one do you think was the most difficult to compose and why?
Also which one makes you feel proud you have composed and why?
W: The most difficult one was “Red Light Mistress”.
That one was actually 7 songs and I threw the scrap and kept the best riffs
and so you have a song you just can’t live without. I’m proud of “The Ice
King”. I think this one is a top class instrumental song with some tricky
riffs. I’m proud I can play those riffs on time eventually, hehe.
12. What kind of comments do you receive from
people that listen to metal music so far about your sound? Is there a particular
comment you remember and you would like to share with us?
W: Comments vary depending on what one likes.
I heard comments from “you’re total crap, you should never form this band”
to “I can’t live without this band man”. One comment that I remember was
from a guy saying “I’m willing to pay you if you guys are to disband” and
another saying “STEAMROLLER ASSAULT should be played loud in every strip
joint”.
13. By the way do you have any new songs ready?
When do you plan to release your next album?
W: We have some stuff ready but we rehearse
a lot ‘cause we want to get them on live studio recording. So I don’t know
when the stuff will be ready ‘cause we have our day jobs to taka care too.
14. Thanks for your time answering my questions!
Hope I didn’t tire you so much. The last lines of this interview belong
to you…
Nick “Verkaim” Parastatidis
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