INTERVIEW WITH ANGEL C. FUENTES

Formerly the frontman for the kick ass band Mercynary from Texas, Angel C Fuentes is a talented, driven, and successful metal musician. He has been a vital part of projects such as IBM, Devoured Existence, Sinthetic, and SA Sanctuary. He is a very dynamic guitarist with strong vocal ability. He is currently starting a new project and looking for professional musicians to audition.

1-What's up Angel? Let's start this interview already.
How did you form Mercynary back in the day?
I had been playing in metal bands since high school and was successful in the local scene. I decided that I wanted to start something with a more extreme sound that would go national, possibly international. I auditioned 80+ musicians before I  finally found what I was searching for and then formed Mercynary.

2-What were some of the things about Thrash metal that made you play that kind of style in such a brutal way, with that voice? I'm talking about the demo "Plagues Of Death"?
A lot of my style came from musical influences such as King Diamond, Rob Haford, Geoff Tate, Bobby Blitz, Bruce Dickinson, Ronnie James Dio, too many to name.  When I write and perform, that creative brutality just naturally flows.  "Plagues of Death" was born from that same brutal creativity and energy. The support of the band members and the way they flowed together was also what made that demo possible.

3-What's been your best live experience, in your opinion? Playing live is still the best way to get the band's name on people's lips, do you agree?
 There have been so many remarkable experiences like opening for Obituary and Fear Factory in 1994. That show produced monstrous mosh pits that transformed into hurricanes before my eyes. The coolest moment is looking into the audience and seeing the fans singing your songs word for word. But this was just one of many awesome experiences.
Playing live has always been the best way to develop a fan base and allow the audience to experience that brutal energy we spoke of earlier. Sometimes recordings just don't do a band justice.

4-Did you play outside the states with Mercynary?
Yes, we did a tour in Germany and other parts of Europe in the 1990's, a reunion put together by promoters but by then the line-up had changed except for myself.

5-How was your local Metal scene? Would you say it was pretty healthy compared with today's scene? Are there some new Thrash metal bands that are seriously working on getting somewhere?
In those days the local metal scene was very strong.  However, today we have lost a lot of musicians to other genres of music . It has weaken over the years. There is still a local scene and I'm sure there are new bands that are seriously working hard on their careers. I've just been very caught up in my own projects and haven't networked locally in recent months. I am focusing my efforts in other directions beyond San Antonio
.

6-Tell me about your musical career after Mercynary broke-up.
After Mercynary, I joined a band called IBM, which was a grind/death metal band. For many years I stopped singing and just played lead guitar.  After that, I joined a black/death metal band called Devoured Existence and simultaneously formed SA Sanctuary, which opened and toured with bands like Judas Priest, Budgee, Saxon, Lynch Mob, Flotsen and Jetsen, Exciter, Exodus, Overkill, Y&T, Queensryche, and others. I'm also the vocalist for a new melodic, experimental metal band called Sinthetic. Recently, I have started writing a lot of music with a new personal project but haven't found the right musicians to bring it to life yet.

7-If you had to name other bands from your area, what they would be?
The only local bands that really influenced me are Watchtower, SA Slayer, and Karion. There are a lot of new death metal bands that play well but I've noticed not much creativity to be unique. Most of the bands sound the same.

8-The lyrics of the demo deal with violence and torture. What drew you to this subject matter?
The lyrics and messages in the songs were basically about the human condition through my eyes. We were all born to die and in the meantime we experience an array of emotions and suffering.  Most of the lyrics were written based on personal feelings and experiences...they just flowed out naturally.

9-Have you had a chance to reunite with the members of Mercynary?
Yes, we have attempted to reunite several years ago but unfortunately, the reunion did not go well. There were a lot of old wounds that hadn't healed yet. Basically, they just couldn't get along anymore.

10-Are there any current bands you like to listen to?
I've always been  diverse listener but I naturally prefer metal and some rock. If I had to name a few they would be Dimmu Borgir, Mudvayne, new stuff from Death Angel, Exodus, Testament.

11-Do you get a lot of requests for the old material and does that bother you or are you comfortable with the band's past?
Yes, that was the most memorable band I have ever played with. I am always getting request for reunion shows and a new album. I loved Mercynary, that was my baby. I just need musicians that can back me up and I can start the monster rolling again.

12-What are some of the lessons you've learned during your time in the music, specifically heavy metal business? What things would you pass on to young bands starting out?
Find talented, dedicated musicians. Make sure you can get along with them and have all the same goals so you can make music for many years to come. Don't waste time on nonsense, life is short. Just go for your dreams!!!

13-Thanks for your time in answering this interview. It's cool to have the chance to interview one of the members of the most underrated band in the underground thrash metal scene. Please tell the readers of Soulgrinder Zine, what are your future plans as a musician. Maybe a reunion tour with Mercynary? a new album? This space is for you.
I am currently working on a new project, writing new songs. You can find sample of this project on www.reverbnation.com/angelcfuentescom . It's amazing...I have made it all the way to #1 on the charts in San Antonio and I don't even have vocals yet. The fans and supporters have been great.
My biggest obstacle at this point is finding dedicated, talented musicians that are interested in pursing a serious project and have the ability to play that brutal. I have also put together a website that combines samples of all my past and present projects in one place: www.angelcfuentes.com
I just look forward to continuing my dream and KEEPING METAL ALIVE!!!
Interview by Paul Caravasi

INTERVIEW WITH TOXIC WINE

The band is from Buenos Aires-Argentina. Formed in March 2010 with the only reason to play covers, basically influenced by thrash metal of the 80's. The band shared the stage with several bands , including NECROPSYA ( Peru ), Betrayer FTM ( Colombia ), Sacrario ( Brazil ), Luciferian ( Colombia ). During the months of February, March, and April of 2012 the band went to their first extended  South America tour by the hand of Macabre Records, performing 21 dates in Argentina , Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, and Uruguay. Becoming the first thrash metal band in Argentina Under an  extensive tour.
In November of 2012 through the production " The Board productions ", the band released their first official video in high quality " Corrosive Waste " from the Ep " Violence on the Streets ".Toxic Wine currently is in phase composition of what will be his first official studio album and playing live throughout the Greater Buenos Aires and surroundings.

1-Hi and welcome to Soulgrinder Zine. Let's start by telling me the most relevant event for the band in 2013.
In 2013 the band was playing live recently, only a few shows compared to previous years where we played average of 1 time per month, we only did some presentations by the fact that we focus a lot on new songs and that was it, many rehearsals and composing riffs, lyrics and new ideas always remain true to the style. We wrote 6 or 7 new songs and they're are finished, just missing details, and start rehearing new material soon. At the end of 2012 we released our first video with professional quality  "Corrosive Waste", and we are very happy because in a few months the video had great acceptance and has been rotated by TV channels in Argentina and other countries as well, in addition to the 11,000 views it has on our YouTube channel in just a few months and a positive feedback from many countries, it's very rewarding for us to have a video clip and the support from metalheads.

2-Tell me about the line-up of Toxic Wine?
Toxic Wine are a trio of friends and also a band, Matias Cieri on drums, Rodrigo Leon on vocals/ guitar and bass Mauro Luna.

3-What have been the most memorable concerts in the history of the band so far?
For us it is best to play in our neighborhood, with all the friendly people that always come to see us, Hurlingham has something special because we feel very comfortable sharing music with our neighborhood friends. We had very good dates in January of 2013 in the main city where Thrashers organize a festival with bands from the country and the place is packed with people, we also have great memories of dates outside Argentina when we toured, for example Cali  or Bogota in Colombia, or Cochabamba in Bolivia, big nights .

4-What other bands you can recommend us from Argentina?
There are plenty of bands in the Thrash Metal cene here in Argentina. I can name a few, Rigor Mortis, Manifesto, Kimera, Lobrega, Bestial Malevolencia, Moshing da Law, and many more that i personally like, a great high level bands around here.

5-Is there any offer to play outside of your country now?
Last year we had an offer to play in Paraguay, everything was ready but it was canceled a few weeks before, and this happened twice with Paraguay, it's a shame but hopefully someday we'll play in that country.

6-Well, let's talk about what the Argentinian music scene: How do you see the level of the groups that are currently in your country?
There are great bands that know how to make Metal, great ones and we even could say they were "historic" in the metal scene.Militia, Escabios, Nepal and Lethal. The problem with our country is that among the musicians there is a lot of envy and they  criticize instead of helping each others out and say bad things in whatever they do, but when they see they act friendly, now with the whole stuff of Internet and Facebook, it's easier for the backstabbers ,they throw shit at bands in their profiles and stuff and in other social networks, that's the big obstacle that exists here in Argentina because between bands they try to savatage concerts and stuff. If bands would focus more on putting their heads on their own business things can go better, rather than criticizing the other, it would be much better.

7 - What does Thrash Metal mean for you?
For me it is my ground wire, it i great to release my fury and anger in a rehearsal room with my  friends, it's all about this music that has something different to other genres, is a violence expression that makes you feel alive and good, I say it is my ground wire because it works well when we play or rehearse after working all week, isolate a while playing or listening to bands is very good.

8-What would you say to those people that begin in the world of Metal?
Let them do whatever they want, they will not notice where others will say, what they like or think is good, keep forward because always there will be people who criticize you in a bad way, do what you want but always remain true to yourself.

9-What would you say to your fans and your detractors?
To our followers we always thank them at shows, thankfully little by little we see some new faces at shows and we are like one big family when we play, we know we are all very grateful haha always encourage to them to moshing or stage dive, make us feel happy for what we do. And to the detractors, envious, i can tell them how much they suck and we give a damn what they say because we are real people who know who we are and the humility we have, whatever they say , we will continue doing our stuff without asking. They all can suck my dick and die.

10-How Toxic Wine was created? Why the name?
Toxic Wine Emerged in the summer of 2010 as a cover band and to fuck around. After a while it was getting better and more "serious" because friends were asking for our own songs because the band sounded good. The name was created on a drunken night haha, the drummer was joking with that name because there was no money to go to a birthday party and we did buy a cheap wine, very cheap, and he said "uh this is a toxic wine" and the name stayed there...

11-How do you see the band currently compared to your first demo?
Fully renovated and better, while still playing the same style from the 80's like the first demo, we have more energy, we feel more comfortable playing or rehearsing, but when you got two guitarrists sounds more "complete" having all sounds, more compact, neat and tight, and not just my word but the kids who come to see us say the ame thing. There is a cool friendship between the three of us today, and helps a lot to make music, no more lies, no silly excuses, nothing negative. As for the musical part , there are some changes that you'll see in the new songs from the lyrics and the music, crossover and hardcore touches on drums you'll hear, we really burned our heads to create songs now, before we were more spontaneous, and something good came, now we are connected and we look in making arrangements of drums or vocals and chorus. We are excited and we all agreed that the band is better than before definitely.

12-What were and are your main influences when composing?
The influences are usually the German Thrash, Sodom is our main influence when composing, old Metallica could also be. We hear many Thrash metal bands and also band like Creedence or Pink Floyd, or hear classic heavy metal, death, grindcore, rock and roll, or even classical music. It would be boring to always listen to the same style, we have a lot of music influences besides Metal.

13 - What is the difference between Argentine metal and Metal from Brazil?
I think maybe here we always begin playing for circle of friends and not thinking in being popular or without seeking to reach success, sometimes we don't have the chance to have large productions for recordings, and many people only support bands going to their shows or buying their records and stuff, it is important to know that we have great metal bands, but there are always bands that look forward to the record labels in Brazil and see that country as a big step, it is true that they have killer bands and always been but I believe them to sing mostly in English is because it opens to a different market, each country have great bands.

14 - What do you think of this whole resurgence of classic thrash metal bands of the 80's that are taking the stages once again?
It's great because i never had the chance to see them live back in the day because at the time i was a little child lol. Having the chance to see bands from the 80s is something unique, and maybe in a few more years we won't have the chance,we are very lucky , in the near future i don't think that will happen again.

15 - Who would you like to share the stage someday?
With Sodom or Kreator, that would be killer, it would be something unique because they are our main influences.

16 Thank you for this interview, it was a pleasure and I hope to hear your full lenght soon, and see Toxic Wine live.
Many thanks to you Paul for having us in mind to participate in this issue of Soulgrinder Zine along with such monsters of Metal, it is great to get a band like us with kick ass bands or people already established many years ago in the metal scene. We send a big hug and look forward to having a copy of this killer issue in our hands and why not maybe seeing us playing live someday......Exitos!
Contact: : www.facebook.com/toxic.wine.thrash.metal
Youtube.com/toxicthrash14
Interview by Paul Caravasi

INTERVIEW WITH HELL:ON

Hell:On is an Ukranian Death/Thrash Metal Band that is ready to conquer the fucking world. Here's a cool interview with one of the members of the band.

1-This is Paul from Soulgrinder Zine and I’m here with…
Alex from Hell:on

2-For those who are not yet familiar with Hell: On , give us some info on the band and tell us who does what in the band.
We are ukrainian metal band HELL:ON and we began to play in the spring of 2005. In the course of the creation of the songs it turned out that the musical material was a fusion of Thrash, Death and Groove Metal, which corresponded to the different aspirations of the musicians.Now we released three full-length albums and ready to release fourth at 25th ofNovember via british-german label Ferrrum.

3-What are the difficulties and differences between playing live and when you are recording?
These are different types of works and both of them has its own specific features of course. We love to work in studio and we love to touring. I’m even cannot tell you about any disadvantages, because music it’s our passion and we really mad about what we do. Of course, on our way we find a lot of troubles, but it doesn’t matter, what doesn’t kill us – makes us stronger.

4-What are your favorite bands? Any new good bands from your country you’d like to mention here? If you had to pick your three all-time favourite metal (or other) bands who would they be and why? Where do you draw influences from? Are they all rooted in old school Thrash?
There are a lot of bands that we are really like. But mostly our interests cross with our "big three". Slayer, Metallica, Sepultura. As you see there is not only old school thrashJ. Of course this is only small part of bands that we are listening to. We all have different tastes in music and this is not only metal music. We see the influence of some “big” bands not in a blind copy or inheritance of classical riffs, but in the inheritance of the spirit of their creativity, its processing through the prism of our perception. And I think this is the only right way to create some individual things, with its own face and style.
Regarding Ukraine, we have here very strong and fast growing metal stage and lots of great bands. We have several big names like Khors, Morton, Hell:on of course J.

5-What three books and movies would you consider essential?
Very difficult question. You know, the man and his mind, tastes and interests is not a static entity, but a dynamic ever-evolving system. So it is very difficult to stop at one thing. Today I am inspired by a book or movie, it could be changed tomorrow.

6-What can we expect of the newer Hell:On material?
On this album you will find more influence of death metal than previously. It is still thrash metal, but we developed our skills and our music is grew with us. We became more professional, more skilful, more interesting as a musicians. On this album we invited to play with us Andy LaRoque (King Diamond, Death) and Marek “Spider” Pajak (Vader) and of course their participation also made a mark on our new album.

7-There's some quite interesting album artwork. Can you tell me more about it?
Yes, Artwork was done by talented greek painter Seth Siro Anton, leader of death metal machine Septic Flesh. We have long been familiar with his work and consider it a great artist. He is not just able to create a good picture, he understands the essence of metal music.
That’s why we chose him. We had conception of this album (titled “Hunt”) and we explained him our thoughts about it.  He is well understood our ideas and implemented them in his trademark manner. We are very satisfied with our cooperation.

8-Any Hell: On exclusives you can give us?
Yes, during the recording of us had an accident, which is worth paying attention to. We have entrusted the part of the  work on the album to James Murphy, paid him a deposit. He stole our money and did nothing of the promise. It is unprofessional and despicable. Do not have any deals with that bastard.

9-What kind of touring plans does the band have?
We proud to announce that we nominated like best metal act 2013 in Ukraine and will play on a big ceremony in October in Kiev.
Later in October we will start European tour with Sinful and Craving and we will visit Poland, Germany, Belgium and Czech Republic with concerts.  Also till the end of the year we will play several shows in Ukraine.

10-If you could tour with one band, past or present, who would it be and why?
He-he, Slayer maybe))) it will be like dreams come true. But, really, this list of wishes could be very big.

11-How long would you say it took to write, record and produce "Age of Oblivion"? Was it relatively fast?
It seems we spent about a couple years to make a third album. After “Re:Born” (2008), we released an EP “In the Shadow of Emptiness” in 2010 and this EP was like a first step to understanding how new album will look. So, composing of materials took a couple year for sure. Also we had accident with a studio, when all materials were damaged and we started to record everything again. So, it was very long and distant way to the “Age of Oblivion”. But we gained a big experience of studio work.

12-How did you get involved with Metal Scrap records?
Metal Scrap is a best metal label in Ukraine. After we collaborated with the re-release of our second album "Re:Born", we realized that this is the best option for us. And so there was no doubt who have to publish our new release. Metal Scrap team are very good people and real professionals.

13-What does the future hold for Hell: On? What are your plans for 2013-2014?
After release of the new album and European tour we have a plan to make a music video. Also we will start working over new album; I suppose it will be ready in 2014. And then it will be European tour again.

14-What merchandise do you have available?
We have several types of T-Shirt, also badges and other small things. You can order it just contact with us through our official pages: www.hell-on.net

15-Well good luck with your album and tour, and thanks very much for your time. This space is for you.
Thank you very much Paul for your attention to our band and see you on the concerts!
Contact: www.metalscraprecords.com
Interview by Paul Caravasi