Is English the language of Metal?

I rarely hear buzz about a band that sings in another language, even if that language would sound great. 

A.N.I.M.A.L. From argentina is a good example. 

Imagine is Sepultura sang in Portuguese. Morbid visions woulda been their only album. 

How do you become the hottest act?

I believe it’s timing, in a huge way. 

Baroness and Mastodon began at the same time, but now Mastodon opens for Metallica, and Opeth opens for them. 

I listen to both, and they have things in common, and they’re both awesome bands. 

Baroness is still opening medium shows. 

People onstage wih baseball caps.

It just looks amateur. Take it off. 

Do you want to be associated with a lame band?

You don’t have to say yes to everything, even if you’re starving for being in a band. 

Or if you’re starving for money, but the band it’s just not good, and you’ll know that for a low price, you’ll be recording not so great musicians and having to edit for hours on end.

 Sometimes people just end up using you. Is it worth it? 

You would sound so tight. If you forget yourself.

It’s not about the notes, its about you, and music. The general concept of music. 

Are you making music, or just following the guitar player? 

People say Ringo Starr sucks, but he played like no one at the time, and that was creating music. 

I love it when I get confirmation from the veteran professionals. Mid/Side encoding/decoding plays a very important part in my mastering. 

How do you decide what guitar to play?

I played this Ibanez for years, and took certain things out of me. Made me play in a certain way. 

I have owned a Gibson Nighhawk for 14 years, and it just made me play so different that I fell in love. 

How do you choose your gear? 

Immersion. The more you know about a band… the better?

I’m thinking back when I saw “Anthology”, the Beatles doc. 

The more I knew about them, the less I liked “Let it be”, for example . THey were fighting, and the album was just put together because they had to. Plus Spector, geez. 

What if the single was…

Imagine your favorite records, the ones that you have been listening to for a long time, the ones you know inside and out. 

Imagine if what propelled that album to be what it was (is) would have been a different single (all albums have a single)

I’m thinking Slipknot’s “Iowa” The single was such a lame song, but the album is awesome. 

Or Bowie’s “Heathen” Conversation piece is such a powerful song. 

Any others? 

NJ vs NY shows.

I hate to make comparisons, but hell they are fucking different. Less people who drive, for one thing.

I guess riding the subway and having to deal with people all the time has an impact. On everything. 

If there is no contrast or impact, you should definitely revise the way you make music.

I’m not talking change the key, I’m talking dynamics.

If everything is louder than everything else, there will be no longevity to your music, either the way you write, or the way you record it, produce it and manipulate it. 

I need surprises!