Steamroller Assault

 
Genre: Heavy/thrash metal

Origin: Greece

Current line-up:
Namiroth - Vocals
Trouble - Bass
Witchkiller - Guitar
Mad Dog - Drums

Current label:
Independent

Discography:
Steamroller - 2002
Raw & Filthy - 2006

Official Site:
www.myspace.com/steamrollerassault

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