-Interview- (5/29/26)
1. How did you get started with music and how did you develop your sound?
This question alone can be a story of tales. We are three dudes with diverse musical backgrounds. Evolution is the story with style. We grew up listening to great bands of 70s, 80s, 90s, 2000s. To be a metal band, you have to be a blender of styles and genres. John’s guitar playing looks like he choking the neck off and hammering the strings, Harley’s bass playing Al’s drumming sounds like he’s bashing them, but has the finesse of a blues player. We just blend well. This band is home.
2. What do you want people to take away from your music?
Our songs are dynamic, we blend styles, (blues, rock, metal, etc). We want to people to enjoy them, listen to them. These songs are meant for the gym, working out, driving fast, and getting into trouble or when you need a pick up from long day of adulting.
3. How would you describe your sound to the average listener?
To quote statements we have acquired, “you guys sound like if Pantera and Metallica had a baby”, “an angry Alice in Chains”, and best is the name of our CD “ I thought I was listening to a SOUNDTRACK to a BEATDOWN. To us, to be heavy does not mean fast, let the music breathe, let the guitar sing, the drums groove, and bass big and fat. The vocals and John’s style of singing brings it together. We have been labeled a biker band, a groove metal band, a thrash band, we are just a metal band. Too many genres to keep up with for being “labeled”.
4. Who are three bands you’d like to tour with?
At this point, anyone. LOL. The dream tour. Pantera!!, or Testament, or Black Label Society. I think our music would blend well with Volbeat, Five Finger Death Punch, Corrosion of Conformity. Tough question when there are so many killer bands.
5. What's your thoughts on AI generated music?
We don’t have any thoughts on Ai generated music. Learn how to read music, play an instrument, form a band and create. The great thing about a band, teamwork, friendship, adventure, pride, creativity and ownership, Bands are about people that interact with people; not a machine.
6. What’s your take on the current state of Metal?
Too many genres. In some cases, not enough originality and musicality. There is huge scene that seems to cater to certain metal genres. We always liked being the band that plays with all genres. We don’t care if its metal core, thrash, Rock-a-Billy show.
7. What’s the current local music scene like there in Maryland?
Lots of cover bands, and deathcore/ metal core in Maryland to Virginia area. Maryland is known for their Doom Metal Fest. There is a small rock-a-billy scene, which is always cool. A few local metal festivals that host local and regional bands. We have not played one of these events, though we want to, badly.
8. What’s your take on the royalties that streaming services pay out to artists?
Subjective response. Everyone needs to get paid. Since the demise of the recording industry, (Lars was right about Napster), technology has allowed that gap to be filled, and the artists’ financial returns are minimal, unless the volume of sales makes it viable. I guess if your music is getting played on radio, XM radio, etc,, the payouts maybe substantial. We don’t see those paychecks, LOL. The diverse streaming apps, distribution sites, it’s a lot, and everyone wants to see a band on them as means of their marketability.
9. What’s next for Black River Bloodbath?
We have been a band for 13 years now, we started out a cover band with 4 members, after one dropped out, the remaining 3 decided to ditch the covers, and play the music we wanted to play. We recently lost our bass play of 13 years, and have a new bassist. Our future is like any other band, write new songs, play gigs, record new CD, make a name for ourselves. We know we are not jumping on a tour bus anytime soon, so in-between then and now. It’s to have fun making the music we make, because it tastes like metal! No filler all killer
10. Any shoutouts?
Over the years, we have been grateful to make very good friends with other bands and fans. So our shout out is to our past bassist MUDDOG,, bands Dysfigure, NFYD (defunct now), the man who recorded and produced our CD Marcos Delmar, our adhoc band manager and band mom, Vince and Melissa, Jay who is there at every show we play, and our families.
