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| Interview with: Trey Gadler By: Blissfulviolet |
Blissfulviolet: Give us some history on the band.
Trey Gadler: The band consists of myself, Trey
Gadler, on vocals, Jeff Clifton and Chuck
McFadden on guitars, Brent Marches on bass, and
Rick Ward on drums. We formed in 2002. Jeff and I
had been playing together previously in another
band. When that band broke up the two of us
decided that the chemistry was too good to walk
away from, so we set out to form a new band. We
found the most over the top and bad ass musicians
we could, and with the additions of Brent, Rick and
Chuck, we found what we were looking for. Azrael's
Bane was the result, and we've been doing our
damnedest to wreak havoc ever since. We self
released our first CD in 2004 and managed to
make enough noise to attract the attention and
sign a deal with our label, Chavis Records. Chavis
re-released our debut with a bonus track in ’05.
Gadler, on vocals, Jeff Clifton and Chuck
McFadden on guitars, Brent Marches on bass, and
Rick Ward on drums. We formed in 2002. Jeff and I
had been playing together previously in another
band. When that band broke up the two of us
decided that the chemistry was too good to walk
away from, so we set out to form a new band. We
found the most over the top and bad ass musicians
we could, and with the additions of Brent, Rick and
Chuck, we found what we were looking for. Azrael's
Bane was the result, and we've been doing our
damnedest to wreak havoc ever since. We self
released our first CD in 2004 and managed to
make enough noise to attract the attention and
sign a deal with our label, Chavis Records. Chavis
re-released our debut with a bonus track in ’05.
Blissfulviolet: How has the recording process for Modern Day Babylon been coming
along and when can we expect to see this release?
along and when can we expect to see this release?
Trey: It's been a bit of a slow process, slower than we wanted really, but we're trying
to make the best record we possibly can. We’re spending more time on micing
techniques and experimenting a bit more. We’re working with Gregg Gill again, but
this time we’re in his new facility, Diamond Studios which is a kick ass place that has
a lot more available to us than we had last time around, so we’re just like kids in a
candy store in there. The songs so far are really amazing. We're touching on new
ground, exploring things we haven't done before. The end result should be a really
strong record that we hope will please our fans, as well as introduce us to some new
people that haven't heard us before. The songs are all over the map stylistically.
We've got some heavy stuff, some mid tempo stuff like we did on our last record, and
some softer material as well. I don't know what songs will make the final cut just yet.
We're recording a bunch more than we'll need for the final cut and going from there,
but I think the songs are really strong. It should be released this summer.
to make the best record we possibly can. We’re spending more time on micing
techniques and experimenting a bit more. We’re working with Gregg Gill again, but
this time we’re in his new facility, Diamond Studios which is a kick ass place that has
a lot more available to us than we had last time around, so we’re just like kids in a
candy store in there. The songs so far are really amazing. We're touching on new
ground, exploring things we haven't done before. The end result should be a really
strong record that we hope will please our fans, as well as introduce us to some new
people that haven't heard us before. The songs are all over the map stylistically.
We've got some heavy stuff, some mid tempo stuff like we did on our last record, and
some softer material as well. I don't know what songs will make the final cut just yet.
We're recording a bunch more than we'll need for the final cut and going from there,
but I think the songs are really strong. It should be released this summer.
Blissfulviolet: What are some of the lyrical
and musical concepts present in the new
album?
and musical concepts present in the new
album?
Trey: Lyrically we're all over the place. I touch
on a lot of things when I write lyrics. I'm
inspired by everything from what I see on the
6 o' clock news to watching my four year old
playing on the swing set and wondering what
kind of world I'm leaving for him. It's all about
inspiration. I'd say that overall the subject
matter is a bit darker than what we've done in
the past though. Musically, I think the guys just
on a lot of things when I write lyrics. I'm
inspired by everything from what I see on the
6 o' clock news to watching my four year old
playing on the swing set and wondering what
kind of world I'm leaving for him. It's all about
inspiration. I'd say that overall the subject
matter is a bit darker than what we've done in
the past though. Musically, I think the guys just
write what they're feeling in the moment. This record is heavier and more complex
than our last one, but it's really just a matter of us growing as a band and trusting
each other more.
than our last one, but it's really just a matter of us growing as a band and trusting
each other more.
Blissfulviolet: Describe the sound of Modern Day Babylon?
Trey: Heavier, darker and more complex, but there are a couple of really pretty
tunes as well. We've got stuff on there that’s heavier than anything we’ve done in the
past, a couple of songs that sound like they should have been on the Warning, and
we've got a song or two that sound more AOR radio friendly. It's really all over the
place right now. We're just recording everything we've got, and when we get done
we'll put them through the grinder and the best of the best will end up on the record.
tunes as well. We've got stuff on there that’s heavier than anything we’ve done in the
past, a couple of songs that sound like they should have been on the Warning, and
we've got a song or two that sound more AOR radio friendly. It's really all over the
place right now. We're just recording everything we've got, and when we get done
we'll put them through the grinder and the best of the best will end up on the record.
Blissfulviolet: Will a tour follow after the album’s
release?
release?
Trey: Hopefully so. We'll do a few short runs as
well as some fests here and there for sure, but
beyond that we’ll just have to see how things go.
well as some fests here and there for sure, but
beyond that we’ll just have to see how things go.
Blissfulviolet: Azrael’s Bane is scheduled to
perform at this year’s Milwaukee Metal Fest. Is the
band excited? What can one expect at a live
Azrael’s Bane show?
perform at this year’s Milwaukee Metal Fest. Is the
band excited? What can one expect at a live
Azrael’s Bane show?
Trey: We're very exited. We've been locked in our
rehearsal room and the studio for six months
working on this record. We're all itching to play
live. We're a very high energy band that lives for
the stage, so we're just gonna explode in
Milwaukee. We don’t stare at our shoes live. All of
rehearsal room and the studio for six months
working on this record. We're all itching to play
live. We're a very high energy band that lives for
the stage, so we're just gonna explode in
Milwaukee. We don’t stare at our shoes live. All of
us are crisscrossing the stage and running full throttle the whole show while Rick
pounds away like a madman behind the kit. We have a good time on stage, and we
like to think that the fans enjoy the fact that we’re having some fun up there while still
playing well. We have every intention of giving everyone who buys a ticket their
money's worth in the time we're allotted in Milwaukee.
pounds away like a madman behind the kit. We have a good time on stage, and we
like to think that the fans enjoy the fact that we’re having some fun up there while still
playing well. We have every intention of giving everyone who buys a ticket their
money's worth in the time we're allotted in Milwaukee.
Blissfulviolet: Coming from Houston, Texas, what’s the scene and fan base for
Azrael’s Bane like?
Azrael’s Bane like?
Trey: The Texas Metal scene has grown in the past few years. We went through a
period after the initial explosion of the 80's where things were just stagnant, but in the
past few years that has all changed. There are dozens of phenomenal bands coming
out of Texas that have come up in the last few years, gotten signed and are out there
kicking ass right now. Our local fan base is amazing. They are loyal as hell. We'll play
a local show before we hit the road, and they all show up to wish us luck. We'll play a
show when we get back home, and they all show up again to welcome us back with
open arms. They're proud of us, and the rest of our local brethren that are out on the
road representing Texas, and they let us know it every chance they get. We thank
God for 'em.
period after the initial explosion of the 80's where things were just stagnant, but in the
past few years that has all changed. There are dozens of phenomenal bands coming
out of Texas that have come up in the last few years, gotten signed and are out there
kicking ass right now. Our local fan base is amazing. They are loyal as hell. We'll play
a local show before we hit the road, and they all show up to wish us luck. We'll play a
show when we get back home, and they all show up again to welcome us back with
open arms. They're proud of us, and the rest of our local brethren that are out on the
road representing Texas, and they let us know it every chance they get. We thank
God for 'em.
Blissfulviolet: What goals have the band set
for the rest of 2007?
for the rest of 2007?
Trey: We're just looking to put out the best
record we can, and play it for the most people
we can. We're planning to do a few short runs
in the US. From there we plan to do a few
weeks in Europe. After that, who knows?
Hopefully the record goes platinum, but I'll
settle for aluminum as long as we can keep
doing what we love to do in front of people that
appreciate it.
record we can, and play it for the most people
we can. We're planning to do a few short runs
in the US. From there we plan to do a few
weeks in Europe. After that, who knows?
Hopefully the record goes platinum, but I'll
settle for aluminum as long as we can keep
doing what we love to do in front of people that
appreciate it.
Blissfulviolet: What do you enjoy best about
being in Azrael’s Bane?
being in Azrael’s Bane?
Trey: I love making music with 4 other guys
that I love like brothers and performing it in
front of people. I'm proud of being in this band.
that I love like brothers and performing it in
front of people. I'm proud of being in this band.
When we're on stage, and we're on top of our game I feel like we can hold our own
with the best of them. It's a great feeling.
with the best of them. It's a great feeling.
Blissfulviolet: What would you
consider to be one of the bands
greatest moments?
consider to be one of the bands
greatest moments?
Trey: We've had a few. Playing
the Monterrey Metal Fest in '05
was one of them. The fans were
amazing. We were an unsigned
band at that point, and the fans
were just amazingly receptive to
us. There were literally thousands
of them out there singing the
words to our songs. It was awe
inspiring for us. That one
opportunity helped us kick things
the Monterrey Metal Fest in '05
was one of them. The fans were
amazing. We were an unsigned
band at that point, and the fans
were just amazingly receptive to
us. There were literally thousands
of them out there singing the
words to our songs. It was awe
inspiring for us. That one
opportunity helped us kick things
up a notch or two and brought us to a new level. We all realized how special that
band and audience connection could be, and it made us work that much harder to
make sure that we could experience it again. We've had the chance to play some
legendary venues the past year like CBGB and the Whiskey that were particularly
cool for us just because of the legendary status of those clubs as well. Beyond that,
we've had a few shows here and there where the stars aligned and everything went
right and we played like some kind of high octane, flawlessly tuned machine. It
doesn't happen all the time, but when it does, it just makes you want to work that
much harder to have it happen more often.
band and audience connection could be, and it made us work that much harder to
make sure that we could experience it again. We've had the chance to play some
legendary venues the past year like CBGB and the Whiskey that were particularly
cool for us just because of the legendary status of those clubs as well. Beyond that,
we've had a few shows here and there where the stars aligned and everything went
right and we played like some kind of high octane, flawlessly tuned machine. It
doesn't happen all the time, but when it does, it just makes you want to work that
much harder to have it happen more often.
Blissfulviolet: Any final comments?
Trey: Thanks for the time, and thank you to all the metal fans out there for checking
us out! Our new album will be in stores this summer, and we hope to see a lot of you
at the Milwaukee Metal Fest in May as well as on the road this summer! All the best,
and keep the faith!!
us out! Our new album will be in stores this summer, and we hope to see a lot of you
at the Milwaukee Metal Fest in May as well as on the road this summer! All the best,
and keep the faith!!
| Keeping the essence of metal alive, Azrael's Bane of Houston, TX continue their progression of melodic metal. Their scheduled appearance at this years Milwaukee Metal Fest is just some of the great news of what is yet to come from these fellow rockers. |