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Hi,
ERiK, Overloaded is a new band from steel (correction – MOTOR
CITY – sorry my mistake,
Kenn) - city Detroit, which has so far only released a promo
CD and not many might know your background, so if you could fill
us in on the history behind it all?
ERiK -
Overloaded has been together since August 3rd 2004.
Lorenzo, John, Michael, and I all played in an alt/rock band
called Inner Recipe. Chris Gillen sang in a cover band. Neither
project satisfied any of the musicians involved. Chris’s cover
band broke up the same time we were looking for a new singer. We
initially wanted Chris to sing Inner Recipe songs. We scratched
that idea when we wrote our first song “Feeling Overloaded”.
Our new song was 100 times better than any Inner Recipe material
and in a more powerful heavy metal direction. We scrapped all
Inner Recipe songs and soon changed our name to Overloaded.
How
has your music been received by the media?
ERiK -
Our music has been received very well in
Europe. There has been some positive American response, but not as much
as in Europe. The American Metal scene is mostly focused on Death Metal and
Hardcore. Most American Metal Press has little concept of any old
school heavy metal values.
Lorenzo -
USUALLY BY MAIL. SOMETIMES WE SEND SAMPLES OVER THE NET. lol
And
what were your expectations?
ERiK -
I expected exactly what has occurred. I expected
Europe
to be more on the ball and still have some old school metal values.
American press is more close minded and trendy.
Lorenzo - FOR
THEM TO USUALLY RECIEVE IT IN A COUPLE DAYS. OR TO AT LEAST CLICK
ON THE LINK AND REVIEW IT. lol
I
know artists don¹t like to put a label on their music - but a
spaceship from outer space has just landed in your backyard, and
is demanding an answer - so how would you describe your music to
an alien from another galaxy?
ERiK - Head banging heavy metal
with real singing. We are a cross of the Thrash Metal Scene ala
Anthrax, Metallica, Megadeth, and the Glam Scene ala Cinderella,
Crue, Twisted Sister, Guns n’ Roses. We get rid of all the
cheese of both genres and focus on the power, melody, and energy.
Lorenzo -
IT’S
ROCK! JUST ROCK, BABY!!!
If
your music was an emotion, which one would it be?
ERiK – Excitement.
Lorenzo -
BLISSFUL
ENERGY!
When
I listen to your music it really brings back memories of bands
like Love/Hate, Bang Tango, Cinderella etc. – the more raw kind
of glam metal bands, who I think has been a huge influence on you
guys. Am I way off here, and how do you feel about being compared
with such bands?
ERiK -
I’m fine with the comparison. I don’t think we are a rehash
wanna be band. Cinderella's “Night Songs” is one of my absolute
favorite albums of all time. I think that album is heavier than a
lot of the extreme metal out now. I think there is more to us than
just glam metal. But currently, if you are not part of the death
metal/hardcore trend wagon you are usually summed up as simply
“Glam Metal”.
Lorenzo -
I
DON'T MIND THE COMPARISONS, JUST DON'T LIKE TO HEAR THAT WE RIPPED
THEM OFF. BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, SKID ROW DEFINITELY
HAD A BIG INFLUENCE ON ME (LORENZO).
Who
and what inspires you when you write a song?
ERiK - Feeling and emotion. It is
very natural. If a riff gets me excited, then I’m on to
something. Redundant crap riffs will bore me and I’ll know
it’s not happening. The good riffs fill me with power and energy
like a hit of LSD.
Lorenzo -
INSPIRATION
COMES FROM A
LOT
OF DIFFERENT THINGS. EVERYONE PRETTY MUCH DOES THEIR OWN PART.
Walk
us through the creation of a song?
ERiK - Someone writes a
riff. The rest of the
band jams on it. If it
is a good jam, more parts will happen off the first. We write at least 83% of the music first then Chris starts
working with the vocals. From
there we arrange and finalize the song.
Which
subjects do your lyrics refer to, and who writes them? And what
inspires you when you write your lyrics?
Chris Gillen -
I've noticed that most of the lyrics in the songs are about
subjects that are bothering me at the time. Slutty unloyal
chicks, backstabbing friends, people who don't drink, authorities
that destroy the environment, past mistakes, people who use the
name of God and religion for their own selfish gain, Satan (and
why everyone can use a little dose of the devil in their
lives once in a while), and the frustrations of pitiful unsigned
rock star life.
I
normally search within the greasy filthy vibe of the music to
inspire an emotional topic to write about. Sometimes I take
a fast food and beer break for further inspiration.
Who
has produced and mixed the demo, and are you pleased with the end
result, and what could have been done better?
ERiK -
Darren Trentacost and Tim Hicks out of Midwest Studios in
Rochester Hills, Mi, USA. These
guys know tone. They
are a dream to work with. Things
move very fast and there is no stress level.
I’m extremely happy with the production. The
only thing I would have done better on the guitar end of things is
the fast power chord riff (second riff) of "King of the Landfill"
does not have the power it has live. It sounds tinny and small on tape. I’d just beef up that part w/ another overdubbed guitar
to get that live feel of huge power there.
Lorenzo - THERE'S
ALWAYS ROOM FOR MORE DRUMS!!!!!! LOL
The artwork for “Hail the
Kingdom” is very simple and to the point, who has done it and is
there a deeper idea behind the concept? And don’t you think
it’s important to have a great cover?
Michael -
Yes, it’s absolutely essential to have a great
cover and great artwork, especially for our genre of music. Unlike
garage rock, or other pre-packaged trends in music, heavy metal is
a visceral art form. Having a great cover that conveys the
band’s attitude and the concept of the CD is an integral part of
the overall delivery. Think of the great album artwork of bands
like Iron Maiden, Led Zeppelin, Judas Priest, Def Leppard, and
King Diamond – the covers were always an extension of the music.
One look at the cover of “Killers” by Iron Maiden, or
“Screaming for Vengeance” by Judas Priest and you were cocked,
locked and ready to rock. I came up with several concepts for the
cover, but the final one, with the monitors stacked in an austere,
military-like hallway, was agreed upon by everyone in the band
I
bet the title of your demo CD has made some people think: “This
is true metal”, so why did you choose that title?
Chris -
"Hail the Kingdom" is derived
from lyrics in the song "King of the Landfill" which
go..."only demons hail the kingdom, don't you hail the king?" Besides
having a ring to
it, the title is meant to imply the core of all of the lyrics
which entice listeners to live the Overloaded lifestyle.
Michael -
The cover of “Hail the Kingdom” simply states that we are but
a reflection of what we create, which will eventually come to
control us. It’s Nietzsche, Orwell and McLuhan all wrapped up
into one, which fits in beautifully with the title of the CD,
“Hail the Kingdom” and the song of the same name. It’s about
the insane and pointless gluttony of western civilization, and the
sad fact that we are all now part of a global “village” where
our basic motivations are noted, and feedback registered by
corporations that monitor our discrete actions and determine the
best way to control us through manipulation of national economies,
wars, and racial strife.
ERiK –
I view the
title as a tribute to the old school of Heavy Metal which is more
powerful form of music than the modern extreme metal movement.
What are the immediate
plans for Overloaded, can we expect another demo or maybe an
album? I know you have a new promo CD ready (because you were so
kind to ship it along with your first demo), but will that one be
available to the public or is it meant just for record labels?
ERiK - Yes, we have a 4 song ep all recorded are ready to go.
We are talking to some small labels. If we decide to work with
them, then we will not release the 4 song ep. If we decide to
remain independent, we will release the 4 song. Our fans are
salivating over the ep and want it now!
In the mean time we are writing new material. The song writing
process takes time for us.
Do
you have any touring plans, or is it only possible to play shows
locally?
ERiK -
It is only possible to do local shows or any place within 1 hr of Detroit. Clubs do not pay bands money in the
US. Gasoline is too expensive, and we can not afford to tour.
Let’s speculate – you
have been granted a free slot on a tour of your own choice – who
would be your ideal touring partners?
ERiK - There are so many fantastic bands. Judas Priest,
Cinderella, Iron Maiden, Anthrax, Scorpions…
Even Metallica, Megadeth, or Crue because even though I
don’t like their new material, our sound has a lot of the energy
and power they used to have. Their fans would really get it.
As for newer bands that are great Avenged Sevenfold and Brand New
Sin.
Lorenzo -
WELL
THERE'S NOT THAT MUCH TO CHOSE FROM THAT ARE CURRENTLY TOURING.
BUT I'D HAVE TO SAY: IRON MAIDEN, MOTLEY CRUE,
ALTER
BRIDGE
, VELVET REVOLVER, DEF LEPPARD, THE 2005 ROCK NEVER STOPS TOUR
featuring CINDERELLA, RATT, QUIET RIOT AND FIREHOUSE. I
THINK WE'D BE A PERFECT OPENER FOR ANY OF THOSE BANDS.
What
kind of wishes and expectations do you have for a record label and
management?
ERiK -
A label/management team that can get us on the road and allow us
to be full time musicians who’s only job is to write music and
perform.
Lorenzo -
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
The
internet is a very important source for many metal fans – how do
you use the internet and how important is it for you and other
bands?
ERiK -
Incredibly important. We sell many Cd’s to
Europe
through Cd baby. We’ve gathered a lot of fans on our myspace
page. Obviously there is the official website. The webzine reviews
and interviews are tremendously important. I also read about up
and coming bands on music related websites.
Lorenzo -
TO
FIND PORN!
And how do you feel about
the glam metal scene at the moment, if it even exists?
ERiK - There is a strong scene here in
Detroit
for veteran glam bands such as Stephen Pearcy, Skid Row, etc. We
have been very successful moving merch to the fans of those bands.
Any glam band who wasn’t a superstar previously in their career
is going to have an extremely hard time. American people only go
to see bands that are or were popular with the media. The glam
scene (basically any metal that isn’t death metal) is not
acknowledged by most media which is devastating. American
media is fascinated with hip hop culture and what metal they do
push is all death metal.
Lorenzo -
IT'S
NON-EXISTENT. AT LEAST AROUND HERE.
Which song do you consider
to be the best one you have ever written?
ERiK – Hellfire.
Lorenzo -
HELLFIRE. IT
IS MY FAVORITE
Which
song do you wish you had written and why?
ERiK – “Trapped
Under Ice” by Metallica – unrelenting power.
Lorenzo -
BORN
TO BE WILD. and why? BECAUSE IT'S THE MOST USED
SONG IN MOVIES. IMAGINE HOW MUCH ROYALTY $ IT'S GENERATING!!!!!
Name
an album, person or event that has had a huge influence on your
life … and why?
ERiK –
“Night Songs” by Cinderella is amazing from start to finish.
Great guitar tone, unmatched riffs and solos, great song structure
writing, the singing is just sick. Tom Keifer’s voice is way
more brutal than all the extreme metal clowns.
Lorenzo -
DEEP
PURPLE- MADE IN JAPAN person RITCHIE
BLACKMORE … or event that has had a huge
influence on your life and why? TAUGHT ME HOW TO PUT EMOTION AND YOUR BODY
INTO THE MUSIC. AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO SOUND
AS CLOSE AS YOU CAN TO THE RECORDING WHEN PERFORMING LIVE.
THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT. CAN YOU PULL IT OFF LIVE? IF YOU CAN'T..............................YOU
SUCK!!!
Which
music do you personally listen to at home?
ERiK -
Top 3 albums I bought this year – Judas Priest - Angel of
Retribution, Avenged Sevenfold – City of
Evil
, Brand New Sin – Recipe for Disaster.
Lorenzo -
FROM
SKID ROW AND DEEP PURPLE, AND FROM ENYA TO KEITH URBAN.
Vinyl
has had a small comeback lately – do you still prefer “the old
sound” or are you a CD/DVD kind of guy?
ERiK -
I’m a cd/dvd type of guy.
Lorenzo -
VINYL
ONLY FOR THE ARTWORK. BUT FOR SOUND AND SALES, CD/DVD. HARDLY ANYONE
HAS A RECORD PLAYER ANYMORE.
Last
question - do you have any famous last words for our readers?
ERiK -
Lars Ulrich was right to sue Napster. I teach kids guitar and I
know for a fact that most kids steal anything through the internet
including movies, video games, and music. This stealing is
bullshit and it will destroy the music industry. Artists and their
management need to be supported financially. Ten dollars is not
too much to ask to purchase their life’s work.
Lorenzo -
YA,
THIS ONE GOES OUT TO ALL THE LED ZEPPELIN FANS OUT THERE......................
DEEP PURPLE RULES!!!!!
Overloaded
is:
Chris Gillen – Vocals
ERiK Kluiber – Lead Guitar
Michael Massie – Bass
Lorenzo Gonzalez – Drums
John Sullens – Rhythm Guitar
A
huge thanks to ERiK and Overloaded, and all the best of luck in the
future to them.
Kenn
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