Fozzy "Judas" album review

 Hey guys. So I just listened to Fozzy's new album "Judas" which was released today, and I am blown away. This album is just outstanding. So I wanted to share a couple things about it. But you should definitely check it out when you're done reading this.

So there were a couple songs that stood out to me because they had a different style to them then what I'm used to when it comes to Fozzy. They definitely experimented with this album, but it still works great. Now taking that into consideration, technically all of the songs stand out. But the ones that stood out to me were Weight of my World, Three Days in Jail, and Elevator.

But listening to this album reminded me of Fozzy's last two albums. It has the dark lyrics of "Sin and bones" mixed with the sort of techno/rock instrumental from "Do You Wanna Start A War". But then they sorted of added a little twist. For example, in Three Days in Jail, they had some rapping mixed in. Was not expecting that, along with Rich's growling. Which was beautiful. But I also noticed they have a bit of a biblical theme going on like they did back in 2010 with "Chasing the Grail". So "Judas" is new but also sort of familiar in a way with these little throwbacks.

But in all, it's a great album with some banging tunes for sure. They are just really catchy and were written well. Fozzy has really outdone themselves with "Judas".
So I say if you haven't picked up this album yet, then go check it out. If you're a Fozzy fan, you're gonna love it. If you're not a Fozzy fan, then I think this album would be a great start. It's already number one on the Itunes metal charts in five countries on its release day, which is outstanding. This is definitely the breakthrough album Fozzy fans have been waiting for.

Thanks for reading. Go check out "Judas" and rock out. Cause Fozzy is taking over the world. Yeah Boyeee!

Band Recommendation: Act Of Defiance

 Hey guys. So my band recommendation today is this band called Act Of Defiance. The band was formed by Ex-Megadeth members Chris Broderick and Shawn Drover. But I must say, this band is really impressive. Their music is a little different from your typical metal bands. Their style is heavy, and honestly that's the only way I can really describe it. If you check out their music, then you might have a better way of describing it. If so then let me know in the comments.

But anyway, If you're into metal and want something a little new, then I definitely recommend this band. Their debut album Birth and the Burial is a mix of thrash metal, with hints of melody here and there. I definitely recommend checking it out, and hopefully it will make you want more because they will be releasing a new album called Old Scars, New Wounds. It comes out September 29th. I got early access to it and it is amazing. I should have an album review up in the next day or so. So keep an eye out for that.

Thanks for reading guys. If you check out Act of Defiance then let me know in the comments or on twitter @Y2_MJ. Be forever metal.

4 years of being a Jerichoholic

   Hey guys. This post is for you wrestling fans out there. I want to share my 4 year anniversary of being a Chris Jericho fan by sharing how much he means to me.

Chris Jericho has shown me that anything is possible. That you can accomplish anything if you put hard work into it, and believe in yourself. He wanted to be a wrestler and a musician. People told him he was too short to be a wrestler, and couldn't be a wrestler and a musician. He didn't listen to them. Instead, he focused on his dream. He never once gave up. It's this reason that Jericho motivates me.
Whenever I think I can't do something, I think about what all Jericho has accomplished.

It was in 2013 that I started to become a fan. Something about him just clicked with me. I enjoyed him as a wrestler, a musician, and even as a podcaster. I also really enjoy his books. To me, he is MR. Entertainment. To me, there isn't one thing he can't do. He really is the G.O.A.T

I will never stop supporting Jericho and all the stuff he does. The day I stop supporting him is the day I die. He means the world to me, and I hope I get to tell him that one day.

I hope you guys enjoyed this. Thanks for reading.

Sean Delson Interview

Hey guys.
So I had the pleasure of interviewing Ex Fozzy and Stuck Mojo bassist Sean B. Delson. Enjoy.


I first wanted to ask how you got into Fozzy and Stuck Mojo? And I also want to know what your experience with them was like.

"Thanks for taking the time and seeking me out to do this interview. The very short answer is..."Richard Park Ward". I've known him (if memory serves) since either the late 80's or early 90's? We use to work a day job together, and our 2 bands played a lot of the same venues. Years went by and Rich approached me at a Music Conference to play on his solo record. "My Kung Fu is Good". It is a GREAT RECORD!!! I hope that it will be re-released on a proper label and get the credit it deserves."

As you mentioned, you worked on "My Kung Fu is Good" with Rich Ward. Did you enjoy it?

"Of course I very much enjoyed the process. It was amazing working with Rich again and producer Rick Beato on some of those tracks. Once I played on that record, Fozzy and Mojo fell into place."

When did you start Agent Cooper?

"Agent Cooper was an offshoot of our old band, "Salem Ash", which was born in HollyWood, CA(I think) around 1987. Our singer, Doug Busbee formed Agent Cooper years after Salem Ash had run its course after we all moved to Atlanta. Sometime in the mid 90's I think."

Are you enjoying your time with the band?

"I have actually been enjoying a bit of the quiet life after nearly a decade of non stop touring!! I've been taking some time to travel a bit more and go back to those distant lands that I discovered whilst touring. The time has really given me inspiration for my love of music and new ideas are flowing. It's a great feeling that's hard to explain."

Are you currently working on anything?

"Yes. Agent Cooper is trying to tidy up and finish 3 tunes. In fact, Doug is coming up here later today and I hope to get a fair amount of work done (in between a few adult beverages!). I think the last album I played on what just after we finished a 6 week European tour with Tony MacAlpine. He asked me to play on his record. How could I say no?"

What can we expect from Agent Cooper in the future?

"If I had my way...(and I will be talking about this with Doug later on today) I'd like to go back and work with a producer on our body of work, and perhaps get some fresh mixes and production ideas. I'd really like to do that."

I would also like to know what it was like to be in Fozzy and Stuck Mojo, and also just wroking with Rich Ward in general. 

It’s funny that most people use that phrase “working with…” when it comes to music. I will tell you what it felt like “playing with Rich”, because it was much more play than work! Now because I had known Rich for so long before we teamed up, it was like seeing an old friend. Our bands had crossed paths many times before. We even worked an actual day job together way back when… So the history has some real history.

There used to be this big music showcase event in Atlanta called “The Atlantis Music Conference” that was put on by Mark Willis. Its aim was to educate new artists about the industry through information sessions, give them exposure through talent showcases, and connect them with industry professionals through networking events. It ran from around 1998 – 2008. (Mark manages Fozzy, Rich, and Mojo to this day) I guess it must have been around 2003 when Rich was ready to really push his solo record. If memory serves, and as you know, it was going to be a bit of a departure from the “Heavy Metal” that he was known for. At that time, Mark had landed us (Agent Cooper) a good slot at the conference. That night, Rich came out to check us out. Frank Fontsere on Drums, Eric Frampton on Keys, Doug singing, and me, of course…. On bass. After the show Rich walked up and explained his idea for the record and asked if I would be interested in playing on it. I didn’t hesitate for a second to say, “Of course!” Well…. It seems that asking me to play on the solo record more or less “ruffled the feathers” of Fozzy’s then bassist. He upped and quit! So I got another call from Rich saying, “We (Fozzy) have a gig in NY some 48 hours from now. Can you do it?? “Uhhhhh…. YES! Send me the set list ASAP!” The rest, as they say… is History. That gig in NY, lead to the permanent position in Fozzy. Then came “All that Remains”, that lead to the Stuck Mojo revival. And that lead to more tours and more records. Insert about another 10 years of that. I swear it was non stop! It was just natural. We were family. Almost all the members that I mentioned at the Agent Cooper gig above also played on those records. It’s a big family down south and it we were very much interwoven.

Pretty much from moment I played with Rich on The Duke Project, that was it for all the bands. The core band remained the same, and only the singer changed. So it became a “cycle” if you will. We would record a Fozzy album, then a Mojo album. Many times we would also “stack” the tours. For example: Fozzy would do a 3 week run across the UK and then into some other part of Europe. Let’s say the tour ended in Paris. CJ would fly home after the gig to fulfill his WWE obligations, while Lloyd “Lord” [Nelson] would have been flown over to Paris to see the gig, rest, and then a Stuck Mojo tour would begin. It must be said that making all this work out smoothly is largely due to Mark Willis. He’s the man behind the curtain that manages EVERYTHING for the 3 bands. He even helps Agent Cooper, so hats off to Mark. As for my favorite band…that’s very tricky. Talk about 4 totally different bands. From a sheer musical standpoint, I would have to say Agent Cooper and The Duke Project. I can expand on that if you wish. Fozzy was so much FUN! Of course having a world famous superstar celebrity as your lead singer really opened a lot of doors that afforded us many great opportunities that we may not have otherwise been offered. I’m sure you can see that. MOJO was a machine. Plain and simple. The vibe was very different in that band, and the crowds that it drew. Intensity! So they each have their place, you see?

Because you have listened to “My Kung Fu is Good”, you will know that it was a serious departure from Stuck Mojo and Fozzy for Rich. It was his solo record and these songs were so much “from the heart”. The songs came from a “different” place. Not the angry riffs everybody was used to. There is so much musicality on the record and I enjoyed having the freedom to write and create my bass lines on those songs. Even pulling out some fretless bass, which you don’t really get to do that much in metal! Working with the world famous Rick Beato was great as well. He also did “All that Remains” as a result. There’s nothing wrong with riffing, mind you, but this record was nothing like Rich had ever done and I was honored being given the task to play bass on it. Two old friends…. Just doing what we do. A few months ago he called me and asked if I’d like to play a charity concert down in Atlanta. “Of course”…. Always my standard answer. So we played a Taylor Swift song for a children’s charity. Very very cool."

Big thanks to Sean Delson for taking the time to do this interview. It was great getting to chat with him and learn about his time in Fozzy and Stuck Mojo. Hope you guys enjoyed this interview. If you haven't already, go check out Agent Cooper and go give "My Kung Fu is Good" a listen. It's a great album.
Thanks for reading. Be forever metal.

Alice Cooper "Paranormal" Album Review

Alice Cooper is back with his newest album "Paranormal". This album is a masterpiece. I hope you guys check it out if you haven't. I hope this review helps you decide if it's worth checking out, in case you were on the fence about it. 

Paranormal- I love how this is the opening track. It's got this creepy vibe to it. Like I can almost imagine  a scene from a horror movie in my mind, as I listen to the song. It's just great.  

Fireball is definitely the song that sticks out on this album. The reason I say this is because it's different from most Alice Cooper songs. It's got a different vibe, but it's really catchy. Although It's different from most of Alice's songs, it still sounds like a song he would do. It's different but still works, if that makes sense. 

Paranoiac personality was the first single to be released. I automatically fell in love with it and couldn't wait for the rest of the album. After hearing it, I was like: "Yes. Alice Cooper is back." 

I could go on and on about this album. It's definitely a 10/10. The album is a little different from Alice's other albums, yet it doesn't sound totally different to where you're questioning if it really is an Alice Cooper album. 

The second CD with the original members of the band was really good. It was nice to hear them reunited even though it was only for 2 new songs. Then the live songs were also great. All together, definitely worth the purchase. 

So I hope you guys enjoyed this review. The album is definitely worth checking out. So if you haven't listened to it, go check it out. You won't be disappointed. 

Thanks for reading. Be forever metal. 

Megadeth albums ranked

Hey guys. So I decided to rank Megadeth's albums. Hope you enjoy.


1.) Rust in Peace
This album started what most would say was Megadeth's best era. The 90's. It paved the way for more great Megadeth albums to come.

2.) Countdown to Extinction
What most would say is Megadeth's greatest masterpiece. It's not my favorite album of their's, but it is great nonetheless. It also helped show metal heads and everyone else what Megadeth is all about.

3.) Dystopia
The latest masterpiece. This album is a great throwback to those that grew up with Megadeth in the 90's. Despite not having Marty Friedman and the late, great Nick Menza, this album still has little hints of the beautiful artwork of "Rust in Peace" and "Countdown to Extinction". With the addition of Kiko Loureiro and Lamb of God's Chris Adler, this album will satisfy not only old school Megadeth fans, but new comers as well.

4.) Killing is my business...and business is good!
The album that started it all. After getting the boot from Metallica, Dace Mustaine formed Megadeth to show that he wasn't giving up. This made a huge impact on the metal community. Which is why  it's still being talked about 34 years later. Megadeth contributed a lot to the metal community starting with this album, and still do to this day.

5.) Peace sells...but who's buying?\
An album that made a statement as far as Dave's political views. Now yes, most Megadeth albums show Dave's political views. But this is the album that started it. The song "Peace Sells" acknowledges the period of time where people were calling Megadeth a anti-religious and anti-political band. How Dave fires back with this song and album is what makes it a masterpiece.

6.) So far, so good...so what!
What makes this album so good is the grittiness of it. It's also what makes it so different. But it has great tunes such as "Set the world afire" and the famous "In my darkest hour".

7.) United Abominations
Named the greatest metal album of 2007, "United Abominations" was the call back to the thrashiness of Megadeth. Dave finally went back to Megadeth's roots, after a long struggle that including the band's short break up.

8.) Cryptic Writings
An album that started to show a little bit of Megadeth's alternative metal side. A little different compared to their albums, which caused it to be not too well received with the fans. But it still worked and did well for the famous thrash metal band.

9.) Youthanasia
Talking about a little different than Megadeth's usual work, "Youthanasia" as I describe it, is a little softer. In the way that's still metal, but not thrashy like "Rust in Peace". But this album changed my life and a lot of other's as well. With it's masterpiece "A Tout le Monde".

10.) The System has Failed
The return album of Megadeth after their short break up. Dave had gotten nerve damage in his hand, and was told he would never play guitar again. Well, eventually it got better. So he was originally going to go solo with this album and his career, but decided to reform Megadeth for this album. It was so well received, that he decided to continue Megadeth.

11.) Thirteen
Megadeth's 13th album. A lot of great songs on this album including "Thirteen"(which has an amazing opening), "Deadly Nightshade", "Public Enemy No 1", among others. This album was a nice return to Megadeth's style after "Endgame" which went in a different direction.

12.) The World Needs a Hero
This album is underrated because it's different. Dave was still trying to find his way after recovering from drugs and also losing Marty Friedman. I think fans were just upset to see the 90's era go, and couldn't accept the change. Though Megadeth got better down the road, and fans started to accept them again.

13.) Super Collider
This album, despite not being thrash metal, is still great. Megadeth was trying different styles with this album and the next two. They are underrated but are still worth listening too. They all have at least a couple great songs.

14.) Endgame
Again, underrated but still good. It's not Megadeth's best. But still has great songs like "The right to go insane" and "The hardest part of letting go../sealed with a kiss".

15. Risk
What most say is Megadeth's worst album, we end the list with "Risk". Now I will admit it's not their best. It should've been a Dave Mustaine solo album. But, it's not as bad as most claim. The band just took a different direction by recommendation of Marty Friedman. I think most people don't like this album because they compare it to "Rust in Peace" and "Countdown to Extinction". Now yes. compared to those two, it's not good. But set those two aside, and it's not that bad.

Honorable Mention: Just wanted to mention Megadeth's EP "Hidden Treasures". It turned 25 today. It includes songs that were from movies and tribute songs. Those include "99 ways to Die", "Paranoid" and "Angry Again".

I hope you enjoyed my ranking. I would love to hear your opinion on this, so leave a comment or hit me up on twitter @MJWesney.
Thanks for reading. Be forever metal.

The Struts "One Night Only"

Hey guys.
So today, The Struts released a new song called "One Night Only". If you haven't listened to it yet, I highly recommend it. It literally gave me goosebumps. That's how good it was.
The Struts are literally keeping rock n roll alive with their music, which is a good thing. It's something I've been wanting to see for a long time.
This song also is a great example of the amazing vocals by none other than Luke Spiller. Who is like the new Freddie Mercury. Seriously, this guy doesn't even need auto tune. He's that good.
I never thought someone would ever get on that level, but it happened.

Anyway, if you are fan of Queen, I highly recommend The Struts. Their music will give you a vibe that is a mix of not only Queen, but also The Rolling Stones. I never thought a newer band could sound like an old rock band, but thankfully I was wrong.

So again, you should definitely check this band out and go listen to "One Night Only". You won't be disappointed. I know I wasn't, and now I'm super excited for their new album.
To keep you busy, go check out their first album "Everybody Wants", till their second album comes out. Don't miss out on The Struts. This band is hot right now.

Hope you enjoyed this little review/recommendation. Thanks for reading.

Top 10 Megadeth guitar solos

Hey guys. So I decided to do a top 10 list for Megadeth Now this list was hard to do, because there are so many great solos. So I just picked ten of the best. Hope you enjoy.

1.) Tornado of Souls- Rust in Peace (1990)

2.) Hangar 18- Rust in Peace (1990)

3.) Wake up dead- Peace Sells...But who's buying? (1986)

4.) Peace Sells- Peace Sells..But who's buying? (1986)

5.) Burnt Ice- United Abominations (2007)

6.) The Emperor- Dystopia (2016)

7.) The Threat is Real- Dystopia (2016)

8.) Dystopia- Dystopia (2016)

9.) The Dread and Fugitive mind- The World Needs a Hero (2001)

10.) Holy Wars...The Punishment Due- Rust in Peace (1990)

Hope you guys enjoyed this list. Let me know what you're top ten is in the comments, or let me know on twitter @MJWesney.
Thanks for reading. Be forever metal.

General Bastard Interview

Hey guys.
So I got to interview General Bastard. Which if you don't know who he is, I'll provide a link to his bio. You'll also learn a bit about him here too.
Here's the link to his bio on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GeneralBastard/     If you click on about, his bio will pop.
Hope you guys enjoy this interview.


First off, thanks for taking the time to do this interview.

''Thank you for having me its my pleasure to do this"

You're welcome. I'm happy to do this. 
So looking at your influences, I've noticed that they range from like old school music to what looks like a little more current stuff. So I wanted to ask if your older influences like Frank Zappa and Alice Cooper were musicians that you grew up listening to?

"The Beatles,  Alice Cooper and Kiss is what got me started.  I didn't discover Zappa until maybe I was thirteen but once I got a good dose of him that pretty much became my model that I based myself on both as a musician and in the business sense as well."

That's cool. Alice Cooper and kiss got me into rock and metal. They're both great. 
What was it about your influences that made you want to be in a band? Was it the style of their playing? Or maybe their attitude? Or was there something else that pulled you into wanting to he a guitarist."

"Well when I was 8 or so I saw the Beatles movie  a Hard Day's Night and saw all those girls chasing them down the street and I said to myself "that's what I want to do"  and never looked back or considered doing anything else"

That's funny, and really cool. 
How have you used your influences to build your playing style? Is there like a piece of everything in the way you play?

"In many ways yes,  but I think if you look  at the overall body of my work see the bits and pieces but alot of the time I think might go unnoticed.  For instance the guitar solo in "Devil and the Deep Blue Sea"  I was thinking about it in terms of being a big band horn solo which unless I told you it just sounds like another guitar solo.  But if you listen to it and imagine horns instead of guitar you can picture what I am talking about.  Otherwise though it just sounds like another shredding guitar solo"

Now that you mentioned that, I might go back and listen to it. Just to imagine horns. 

I do want to talk about your style. I like it. It's very unique and very different from what I've seen. From the way you dress to how you play. Did anything influence how you dress, or did you come up with it?

"Originally my plan was to do a band that did only TV theme covers. I figured we'd dress up in ridiculous costumes that were reflections of the TV shows we grew up watching.  Anyways that band never happened but I semi had this character already designed so I just went with it.  It then became a doll act doing originals with dome TV themes mixed in for fun and ridiculousness factor."

That's honestly really cool. It's so different and I'm like in love with it. 

I've noticed you've got quite a fan base. What do you think fans love about you and your band? Do you think it's the unique style you guys have?

"I would like to think it's because of good songs but I think it partly the guitar playing and partly the humor. I think most music today lacks humor and that was one of the things that was great about early rock n roll.  Music should be fun for the listener and there's nothing like that ridiculous song you sing along to while driving down the road.  It makes you feel good"

Exactly. I totally agree with that. I feel that music has more anger than humor these days. 

So how would you describe your journey to get this far in your career?


"There nothing wrong with an angry song but you gave you have balance as well.  I try to turn the things that puss me off in the world into humor much like Zappa did.  But sometimes you need that anger to get your point across.  But I think if that's all you're about is anger your music is probably going to bore me quickly.


Let's see,  the journey has been long, hard,  strenuous but at the same time I've been blessed by being able to travel all over the world doing what I love and gave met so many great friends that I would never have met otherwise including many who are my musical idols and people I look up to and admire."

Yeah like I listen to music that is angry but there's no humor. It would be nice of some musicians were like you and added a little humor to mix with it. 

Last question. Is there anything you are working on and would like to talk about?

"Man I have so many projects in the works tight it's crazy.  There's several full lengths that are almost done that just need the odd guitar or vocal track to be finished . Not to mention some new ventures with some incredible all star musicians who've accomplished quite a bit on their own but I will let them remain nameless for now until the projects are closer to being finished. I am currently completing an EP right now that should be released in August."

Big thanks again to General Bastard for taking the time to do this interview. Go check out his music if you're interested. It's definitely something worth checking  out. You can follow General Bastard on Facebook linked in the intro, and on Twitter @GeneralBastard.
If you enjoyed this interview leave a comment or let me know on Twitter @MJWesney.
Thanks for reading.

Eric Frampton Interview

Hey guys.
So I had the pleasure of getting to interview Eric Frampton. A lot of you might not know him, but he did the piano work on the album "My Kung Fu Is Good", which I've mentioned before. Go check it out if you haven't. It's underrated, but really is a beautiful album. He also didn't just play piano, he did the  synthesizers, hammond, and string arrangements. Along with some keyboard stuff. So he did a lot of cool things on that album.   Hope you enjoy the interview.


So first off, thank you for taking the time to chat with me. I really appreciate it. 

"Hi MJ. Thanks for inviting me."

I first wanted to ask, how did you get into music?

"Well, I started playing piano when I was five, and I got into electronic stuff really early on as a kid, so I guess it was just a matter of time before all that came together."

Who were your influences and how have they helped you form your style?

"They’re from kind of all over the place. As a kid it would’ve been The Who, Yes, Rick Wakeman’s solo records, show tunes, and some classical music. Definitely Wendy Carlos’ work in there as well. Then as a teenager I discovered Chick Corea, Stevie Wonder, Howard Jones, Thomas Dolby, Lyle Mays, and Pat Metheny. My dad’s a concert pianist and arranger, so I’ve certainly picked up bits and pieces from him too. I’m classically trained, so everything inevitably has to filter through that sieve."

What was your mindset when you got into the music business? Did you know exactly want you wanted to do and accomplish?

"I got into it by default. I really don’t know any better, and every time I start looking for a way out of it I seem to get drawn back in. I’m not one of those folks who’s hyper-driven to a specific goal. Things seem to land in my lap, and I make the best of them that I know how."

I want to talk about Rich Ward. What was your relationship like with him? 

"Rich and I met through a mutual friend, Sean Delson, who played with Rich for many years. Sean kept saying we’d get along famously, and sure enough when we finally got in the same room and started working together it seemed really natural. It was a highly creative time, and a fun hang to boot.

Rich and I ran into each other at the airport last year, each headed out on separate transatlantic flights for separate shows, and it felt like we picked right up where we’d left off the last time we’d seen each other. We hadn’t talked in years. We sat there and talked for so long that we almost missed our flights."

How long did you know Sean Delson? Were you friends/partners at all before you both worked with Rich Ward?

"I know Sean through our band Agent Cooper. Sean was already friends with Doug (singer/songwriter/guitarist in Agent Cooper) from childhood, and he’s a brilliant musician, so it made perfect sense for him to jump in and start making proggy noises with us. We hit it off immediately - his sardonic wit is the stuff of legend. My memory is fuzzy on the exact timeline, so I had to go back to my old calendars: it looks like Sean joined us in 2000 or so, and my first notes about my working with Rich are from January, 2005."

I also want to talk about your work on "My Kung Fu Is Good". I really enjoyed it. What was the process for that album like?

"Thank you! I really don’t remember a whole lot of the specifics about it, but the takeaway is that it was fun, positive, and super creative in a sense of batting ideas around a room and not being afraid to run with them, no matter how ridiculous they might be. I’m really proud of the work we did on that record.

Rich tends to do his production work by himself, so he’d bring a hard disk full of song files to my studio, where I had my collection of vintage keyboards set up, and we’d start listening to the various songs or pieces of songs he was working on. Some of it would be fairly complete and he would have pretty specific ideas of what he wanted to hear, and some of it was still kind of early along, so we’d sit there and work out the ideas together. Very often I’d come up with a keyboard part or sound or something for some unfinished bit, then Rich would use his editing magic and come back with that part dropped into some completely different song in some utterly unexpected spot, and make it work even more effectively than what I was hearing in the first place. So he’d bring these new edits back to me with other things he’d added in the meantime, and we’d build up the layers that way."

Did you enjoy working with Rich?

"I had a brilliant time and would love to work with him again someday."

Have you been working on anything lately? 

"Honestly, not really. My wife and I moved to Charleston, South Carolina back in February, and my studio has been in storage since then. Not having all my cool toys at hand has been a little frustrating. But I’ve been out on the road as a keyboard tech (the other hat I wear) for the past month or so, so I haven’t had a whole lot of time to think about it."

Looking back on all you've done and accomplished, are you satisfied with how your career has gone? Or is there still stuff you want to accomplish?

"You’re very kind to say that because, in my mind, I’m only trying to earn a living the best way I know how and, on the good days, have some fun while I’m at it. When I took the flying leap in 1996 to quit my day job and attempt to make a living by making music (or by fixing broken things), I didn’t really have a goal except to pay my bills and earn enough to occasionally buy new toys. So if that’s one’s definition of success - meeting your responsibilities and enjoying what you while you’re meeting them - then I’ve succeeded, and I guess I ought to be satisfied.

That said, still to accomplish? Well, I’ve never had a high-profile playing gig, like an arena-level act that could keep me on retainer or something, and that would be nice. And I’d like to think I could co-write or produce a hit song or two, and I’ve never done that. Someday I’d like to make enough to buy my own grand piano for the house, and those don’t come cheap. I could go on, but the bottom line is today, I’m still a musician (or sometimes a technician), and I still get to make a living creating notes out of thin air, one way or another."

Again, big thanks to Eric Frampton for taking the time to do this interview. I really enjoyed it and i hope you did too. Again, if you haven't checked out Eric's work on the album "My Kung Fu Is Good", I highly recommend it. Also you can check out Eric's website at  www.ericframpton.com.
Thanks for reading. 

Gene Simmons trademarking devil horns?

Yes you read the title right. Rock legend Gene Simmons of Kiss is wanting to trademark the devil horns. The one thing I have to say is, has he not heard of Ronnie James Dio? Because Ronnie is the one that made the devil horns famous. It's his thing. I like Gene and respect him, but sometimes. Also, he's not even doing the gesture right. Instead of doing the devil horns, he's doing the sign for love. Which is the devil horns, but with your thumb sticking out.

Another thing is, why is he wanting to trademark it? He didn't come up with it. He also doesn't do it right, like I mentioned before. From what I've heard, The Beatles are credited with using the devil horns first. All I know is that Ronnie James Dio made them famous, and to me that's all that matters.

What do you think about this? Let me know in the comments, or send me a tweet @MJWesney.
Thanks for reading. Be forever metal.

Why Dean Ambrose is underrated, and why it needs to change

Hey guys.
So I wanted to talk about why WWE superstar Dean Ambrose is underrated. He is underrated because a lot of people don't see his true talent. But that isn't his fault. He just isn't being booked right. But I want to talk about why he should at least get some respect.

First off; there are 3 things that make a wrestler. Those 3 things are: The look, the in ring skill, and the entertainment value. Now Dean has two of these. He's great in the ring, and he is very entertaining. But he doesn't have the look of a wrestler. Now to me, this doesn't matter. I believe that you don't always have to look the part to play the part. But, I think Vince looks for guys that have that wrestler look, and that's how they get a push. Take for example, guys like Roman Reigns and John Cena. Both aren't really that good in the ring, but they have the look. Now this isn't always true. Some guys that don't have the look or physique, get a push. Take Kevin Owens as an example. But hopefully you get my point.

Now I'm not trying to say that Dean should be overrated. He doesn't need all your love and praise. I just think that like him or not, he should at least get some respect. The guy cares about wrestling and is willing to work really hard to get to the top. He doesn't kiss butt to get championships. He works towards them. Which I honestly think that's why a lot of old school wrestling fans, including me, like Dean so much. Because some wrestlers use shortcuts to get to the top. Whereas Dean works to prove he should get a  title shot. I'm not trying to shoot down any of the other talent on the roster. Because believe me, there are a lot of hardworking guys. I'm just trying to prove my point of why Dean should get some respect, and shouldn't be underrated.

I'm not trying to start a debate or anything. You can like or hate Dean, because it's your opinion. I just wanted to share mine, and maybe get people thinking. But I would love to hear your take on this, so leave a comment if you wish. Or you can send me a tweet @MJWesney.
Thanks for reading.

Why Chris Jericho is the G.O.A.T

Hey guys.
So I wanted to tell you guys why I think WWE wrestler Chris Jericho is one of the Great of all time, or G.O.A.T.

I think he is one of the greatest of all time because he has been able to adapt and change over the years. Back when he debuted, he had long hair, with a ponytail on the top of his head. He then had short curly hair around 2005. then finally settled for his famous faux hawk that he is still rocking. He's also been able to change the look of his character and how he approaches being a heel or face. In my opinion, not a lot of wrestlers can do this and make it work. Sometimes when a wrestler does a makeover, whether it be their look or personality, it doesn't always go well. But Jericho was always able to make it work.

Another thing about Jericho is, he can still put on great matches. He's currently 46, but is putting on great matches like he's till in his prime. This is because he takes good care of himself. He does DDP yoga, which has helped him out a lot. But the way he takes care of himself shows you that he is still passionate about wrestling. He wants to do his best and be entertaining. His last run proves that.

He'll be known for his great matches from over the years, but also his catchphrases. Ranging from old ones like "Armbar!", to "I'm from Winnipeg you idiot!", to new ones like "Stupid Idiot!" and "You just made the list!"

So there you go. These are my reasons as to why I think Chris Jericho is the G.O.A.T. What do you guys think? Do you agree or no? Let me know in the comments.
Thanks for reading.

Aeternus Prophet Interview

 Hey guys.
So yesterday I interviewed the death metal band Aeternus Prophet. They are from the Ukraine, so they are not that well known over here in the US. But I listened to their music, and it's really good. So I hope you enjoy this interview, and if you are interested in checking out their music, then you can check out the links to get you started.


When did you first get into music?

"Our band was founded by drummer Dessident and Sergey «Oberon» Voitenko 

in 2010 year.The date of creation Aeternus Prophet is August 14, 2010 (that 

was first perfomance) which were played early versions of songs included in 

the album "ruthlessness".Band's image was first used on the second gig ( called «Black Winter Day», 

same name of Amorphis song ), where the mantle were gray-black, later on 

was changed to black."

What is it about music that made you want to form a band?

"Definitely heavy music, mainly extreme styles."

Were there any specific bands or musicians that you used as an influence?

 "Dessident (drums) started listening to Russian heavy metal and 

Ukrainian alternative stage, thrash metal, but his the biggest impact was 

in teenage years, it was Slipknot, Kreator, but today his inspirations is 

Deathspell Omega, Marduk, Mayhem, Svartidauði. Oberon started listening to 

heavy metal music from the band Rammstein, Korn. Today his inspiration is

Black metal and Pagan metal - Marduk, Emperor, Nokturnal Mortum, Ufomamut, 

P.H.O.B.O.S., Crowbar.

Veritas was inspired at an early age by the following bands - Led Zeppelin, 

Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd, Deep Purple. Now he listen Belphegor, Behemoth, 

Fear Factory, Entroned."

Do you have any goals?

"Today we have two albums (first was self-released, second on 

"MetalScrap Records"), many gigs in our country (Ukraine), and perfomance 

in Romania at RITES OF THE BLACK MASS in 2016. In future we want to make 

tour in Europe, record third album, and maybe some split with other band."

What can people expect from your music?

 "People can expect a lot of motivation, philosophy in our lyrics, 

powerful drums and guitar parts. We thanks to our fans for support."

Big thanks to Aeternus Prophet for taking the time to do this interview. If you want to check out some of their music, then here are a couple of links. 

Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jh0zl6Hbxto

Here: 

https://soundcloud.com/veritasprophet

Hope you guys enjoy the music, and I hope you enjoyed the interview. 

Thanks for reading. Be forever metal.

10 metal facts you may not know

Hey guys. Here are 10 metal facts you may not know.

1.) Did you know that Dave Mustaine was in a band before Metallica? Well, he was. Before joining Metallica, Dave was in a band called Panic.

2.) The tattoo of the name Ozzy, that Ozzy Osbourne has on his knuckles, was done in pencil. He did it as a teen when he was serving time for petty theft.

3.) Corey Taylor isn't the original singer of the band Slipknot. He replaced the former singer Anders Colsefini in 1997.

4.) There are secret messages on the cover of "Powerslave" by Iron Maiden. Some of the secrets include Mickey Mouse. and phrases like "bollocks" and "Indiana Jones was here".

5.) Megadeth's song 'Countdown to Extinction' won the Human Society's Genesis award back in 1993, because it helped raise awareness about animal rights.

6.) There is a metal band called Hatebeak, whose lead singer is a grey parrot. This is no joke.
Here's a link to one of their songs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwXKR9EWhXo

7.) Slash (Guns n Roses) tried to audition for the band Poison, but decided not to join when he was asked about wearing makeup.

8.) The U.S military played Metallica's 'Enter Sandman' for hours to aid in the interrogation and torture of prisoners.

9.) Ronnie James Dio is the one that made the iconic devil horns famous.

10.) Black Sabbath wrote their famous song 'Paranoid' in 20 minutes to fill up the remaining 3 minutes they had left on their album.

Well there you go. 10 metal facts you may not know. I might do another one of these, because there are so many metal facts that I would love to share. So look forward to that. I hope you guys enjoyed this.
Thanks for reading. Be forever metal.

Why the WWE brand split is a bad idea.

Hey guys.
This post is for WWE fans who are aware of the brand split.

Now the brand split was done to give superstars a chance to be on TV weekly, by dividing the roster. Now this has honestly done more harm than good. We're still seeing the same stars every week. while their are some we haven't seen in awhile and have forgotten about. Then, they said it would allow new match ups. Yet, we are still seeing the same matches every week. They seriously did not think this through. Like, this isn't a bad idea if done right.
Another thing is the fact that they did to make Raw and Smackdown watchable. But, all they've really done is made Smackdown watchable. Like they put all the good superstars like Shinsuke Nakamura on Smackdown, and left people like Roman Reigns on Raw. Now I'm not saying that Raw has no talented people, cause they do. But, when they did the superstar shakeup, Raw lost some of their talent in exchange for no talent.

I'm not a fan of how this all turned out. If they had put more thought into it, and maybe moved some different people over, then it wouldn't be so bad.
One thing that really ticked me off was when they said there would be new rivalries after the shakeup. Which there have been, but some superstars are still in the same rivalry they were before. Like for example, Dean Ambrose is still feuding with The Miz, despite them both being moved over to Raw.

This whole thing is just stupid and ridiculous, and I'm sure most of you who know what I'm talking about would agree.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed my little opinion piece. I know I enjoyed sharing it.
Thanks for reading.

Top 10 Metal bands

  Hey guys.
So this list is Top 10 Metal bands. As you are reading, please keep in mind that this list is not in any specific order. So like greatest to least, or vice versa. It's just in the order I listed the names. So here we go.

1.) Megadeth
Megadeth is a band that resulted from Dave Mustaine's anger after being fired from Metallica. They have done so much for metal, and continue to. They are a perfect example of what good metal should sound like. Honestly, they are my favorite metal band. But they deserve the number one spot because they are well respected, and legendary. They are also immortal because their music never gets old.

2.) Iron Maiden
What metal fan doesn't up the irons?! Yes, the almighty Iron Maiden is at number 2. I just love air guitaring to classics such as "Number of the Beast" and "Fear of the Dark". Iron Maiden is definitely another perfect example of what a metal band should sound like.

3.) Metallica
Another band from the big 4, we have Metallica. One of the most well known metal bands, even among non metal fans. Metallica has done quite a bit for metal too, though some would disagree. But they've had great albums such as "The Black album"(or Metallica) and "And Justice for All..."

4.) Pantera
Though I am not a fan of Pantera, I am putting them on the list because they are another great metal band. Plus, this is top 10 metal bands. Not, my personal top 10. Anyway, the guitar work of DimeBag Darrel is unlike any other. There will never be another. It just blows my mind how great he is.

5.) Stuck Mojo
A band that is not very well known, but is a great rap/metal band. Stuck Mojo is known as the band that founded rap/metal, and paved the way for other rap/metal bands. I'm not a fan of rap, but I love this band. They put more aspect on the metal, and their music is great. So if you are looking for something new, then check this band out.

6.) Black Sabbath
Ah, a classic band with some really great songs. Black Sabbath. Nuff said.

7.) Judas Priest
Another influential metal band. One that is very loved by most of the metal community. They are well respected.

8.) Motley Crue
Another personal favorite of mine. Was sad that their reign of awesomeness had to end, but at least their music and legacy will live on. If you haven't checked them out, then do yourself a favor. Trust me. They're good.

9.) Anthrax
One of the big 4 of metal alongside Slayer. Megadeth and Metallica. Anthrax is another rap/metal band.

10.) Slayer
The last of the big 4. I'm personally not a fan because I don't like christian metal, but they are part of the big 4. So, nuff said.

I hope you guys enjoyed this list. I enjoyed sharing it with you guys.
Thanks for reading. Be forever metal.

Recommendation: Fozzy

 Hey guys.

So my recommendation today is a band that is taking the world by storm. The band is Fozzy. Fozzy was formed by Stuck Mojo lead guitarist Rich Ward and WWE superstar Chris Jericho. They were a band that know one took seriously, mostly because people thought that Jericho couldn't sing because he's a wrestler. Plus they had gimmicks. Like Jericho was known as Moongoose McQueen and Rich was Duke LaRue. By their third album, they ditched the gimmick of being a cover band and started taking things seriously. They have released some really good albums including "Sin and Bones" and "Do You Wanna Start A War". They also just recently released a music video for the single Judas off of their new album which should be coming out sometime in the fall.
You can watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqURPBtGJzg

Judas will definitely get stuck in your head, and make you want more. So I recommend checking out Fozzy's last two albums that I mentioned. "Sin and Bones" and "Do You Wanna Start A War". I would also recommend checking out the rest of their discography to hype up for their new album. Their others albums are "Fozzy", "Happenstance", "All That Remains", and Chasing The Grail."

Well, I hope you guys enjoy this recommendation. Fozzy is a great band and one of my favorites. Which is why I want to share their music with you.
Thanks for reading. Be forever metal.

Top 10 Metal Frontmen

Hey guys. So my next list is top 10 metal front men. Now keep in mind, this list is not in any specific order like least to greatest, or vice versa. It's just in the order I wrote the names down. So here you go.

1.) Chris Jericho
WWE superstar Chris Jericho has taken the world by storm with his band Fozzy. More so as of late with the release of their new single Judas. Judas has been number 1 on the rock and metal charts in the US, Canada, the UK, and more. They are also currently on their Judas Rising tour. Now, I've never been to a Fozzy show, but I have looked up performances on a YouTube. The one thing I took from it is the fact that Jericho is good at working a crowd. Though he does have experience from being a wrestler, he knows how to get the crowd into the show. He's definitely one of the best.

2.) Robby J Fonts
Though he hasn't been in the music business very long; Robby J is a good front man. He is currently the front man for Stuck Mojo, and was originally in a band called Hasta La Muerte. But I've seen him perform on YouTube too, and he is so energetic. He's hand banging and bouncing around on stage, which gets the crowd into the show. I feel like you better connect with your audience if you do what they do, which includes hand banging and dancing.

3.) Dave Mustaine
Though Dave has never danced, or done anything super energetic cause he plays guitar, I still call him a great front man. The reason being, he still knows how to keep the audience interested. You have to grab their attention, otherwise they'll get bored and boo. But honestly, his guitar playing is enough to get your attention. The dude can thrash like no other.

4.) Ronnie James Dio
First of all, RIP to the legendary Ronnie James Dio who passed away 7 years ago today. He is not on the list for this reason. He is on the list because he is one of the most legendary front men in metal history. Doing vocal work for both Dio and Black Sabbath, Ronnie stole the hearts of many. He will forever remain in the hearts of metal fans out there.

5.) Bruce Dickenson
Up the ironsssssss!!!!!!! We have the legendary front man Bruce Dickenson of Iron Maiden. Though he wasn't the original front man for Iron Maiden, he is still loved by many and has done well in Iron Maiden.

6.) Ozzy Osbourne
All aboard the crazy train! We have Ozzy Osbourne. The other front man for Black Sabbath, Ozzy has made a huge impact on the metal community. The guy may not be easy to understand when he talks, but man can he sing, I'll never forget hearing Crazy Train for the first time. Go check it out if you haven't.

7.) Lemmy Kilmister
Another RIP to Motorhead front man Lemmy Kilmister. Another man who made an impact with his music in Motorhead. I'll never forget Ace of Spades, and also his performance at Wrestlemania for WWE superstar Triple H.

8.) David Lee Roth
Might as well jump. David Lee Roth of the might Van Halen. Definitely deserves a spot on this list. He controlled the crowd like no other, He is definitely one of the best in the history. Nuff said.

9.) Brian Johnson
Though not the original front man for AC/DC, Brian Johnson has done much for the band and has become a favorite among the metal fans. When original front man Bon Scott died, Brian took his place. Over the years, AC/DC released classics such as Back in Black, Thunderstruck and You Shook Me All Night Long.

10.) Dee Snider
We're not going to take it...if Dee Snider isn't on this list. Ok, here he is. Dee Snider of the mighty band Twisted Sister. Definitely another favorite when it came to getting the attention of the fans, whether it was on stage, or releasing songs like We're Not Gonna Take It.

Well, I hope you guys enjoyed this list.
Thanks for reading. Be forever metal.

Top 10 Metal guitarists

Hey guys. So I decided I want to try something new. I am going to start doing top 10 lists. I'm going to be doing top 10 greatest metal albums, top 10 metal front men, etc. So today I'm doing top 10 metal guitarists. Now, this list is just opinion based. I'm also not ranking it from greatest to worst or vice versa. The names are in the order that pop in my head. Hope you enjoy.

1.) Dave Mustaine
When I think of metal, I think of Megadeth. They have done so much for the metal community over the years, and continue to keep metal alive. But a big part of Megadeth's music is the guitar solos by self taught guitarist, Dave Mustaine. His speed along with the spider chord, are in my opinion, the glue that keeps the instrumental together in every Megadeth song. Their music wouldn't be the same without it.

2.) James Hetfield
When I think of metal, I also think of Metallica. Both them and Megadeth make half of the big four of metal. Now Metallica has also done a great service to metal, and is a big name among the metal community. Their lead guitarist and front man, James Hetfield, is very talented. I mean, singing and playing guitar is no easy task. But he does it so flawlessly, that he's definitely inspiration for anyone wanting to do it for themselves. Like Dave Mustaine, who said in an interview that he used James as an example on how to play guitar and sing.

3.) Rich Ward
A personal favorite guitar player of mine, but not very well known. Rich is the lead guitarist for the bands Stuck Mojo and Fozzy(led by WWE superstar Chris Jericho). Though Rich isn't very well known, he is very talented and respected among his fan and peers. He has also played on more than just his bands, and finding those projects are like cool Easter eggs. If you want to hear his guitar playing, then go check out Fozzy and Stuck Mojo. He does some singing in both bands also, and even has a solo album called "My Kung Fu is Good". So you can check that out too.

4.) Zakk Wylde
Black Label Society, Ozzy Osbourne. Two big names, and Zakk was a part of both. This is another guitarist who can sing and play the guitar flawlessly. He not only plays the electric guitar well, but he also plays acoustic.

5.) Kiko Loureiro
A name that wasn't very well known, until being brought into Megadeth in 2015. This guy is very talented. His solos will melt your face off. Don't believe me? Then go check out "Dystopia", and enjoy what Kiko can do.

6.) Marty Friedman
Another Megadeth member, though belonging in the alumni section after leaving January of 2000. Marty was the lead and rhythm guitarist for Megadeth in the 90's. Talk about another guy with amazing solos. My favorite solo of his is in Tornado of Souls. He also did a cool solo on Fozzy's album "All that Remains". The song for that is Born of Anger.

7.) Dimebag Darrell
This next guitarist isn't a favorite of mine because I don't like Pantera, but he is still good nonetheless. From what I heard on Pantera's "Vulgar Display of Power", Dimebag definitely had a talent and deserves to be on this list.

8.) Tony Iommi
Black Sabbath.There's a big well known name among the metal community. Tony Iommi was their bassist, and in my opinion is one of the best and most well respected bassists in metal.

9.) Slash
Another personal favorite. Slash plays for Guns n Roses. He is also very talented when it comes to playing. You can hear it in his playing. An example is in one of my favorite Guns n Roses songs, Sweet Child o' Mine. The opening instrumental is just beautiful to me.

10.) Eddie Van Halen
They say save the best for last. So we end our list with the very talented and legendary Eddie Van Halen. The guitarist for the mighty band Van Halen.

Well, I hope you guys enjoyed this list.  I hope some of your favorites made it. If not, then let me know. You can hit me up on Twitter @MJWesney.
Thanks for reading guys. Be forever metal.

The Dreaded Marco (Feat. Mike Martin)

Hey guys. So my recommendation today is a band called The Dreaded Marco. This is the band that was discussed in my interview with Mike Martin. If you haven't checked that out, then go check it out after you read this, to see what he's working on.

Anyway, this band is really cool. I'm starting to really dig their music. So I want to share it with you all.
So the first album I checked out was "Safe Word". Now in a way, they kind of remind me of a old school band. Which to me makes sense, considering Mike's inspiration. Including his idol, Frank Zappa. (Again, check interview. Simply titled: Mike Martin interview)

If you're looking for a rock band with shades of old school rock, then definitely check out this band. Everything from the vocals to the instrumental just fits smoothly. Honestly, I have nothing more to say. Let's just say the music speaks for itself.

I hope you guys enjoy this recommendation.
Be forever metal.

Fozzy Judas music video review

Hey guys.
So I want to talk about the music video for Judas by Fozzy. This video and song are simply amazing.
If you haven't checked it out, here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqURPBtGJzg

I want to talk about the song first, because it is seriously amazing. It has the groovy, catchy chorus made famous in the album "Do You Wanna Start A War." It also has the heavy theme from "Chasing the Grail". Which is a beautiful combination. The song is so heavy and catchy, that you will be banging your head all day, cause it will get stuck in your head. The chorus is so catchy, which is what makes it memorable. I seriously love this song more than Sandpaper, and that's saying something. Cause Sandpaper used to be my favorite Fozzy song. But after it was released, I always dared Fozzy to make a song that was better. Judas is this song.

Now about the video. It currently has 205,899 views. By the time you read this, it will be higher. Trust me. The video is entertaining, and a little strange. By strange I mean different from most videos I see. But I can't stop watching it. I've seen it so many times that it plays in my head when I just listen to the song. With all the views it has, I guess I'm not the only one. Which is amazing because it was just put on YouTube yesterday. This really goes to show how hard Fozzy has worked to get where they are at. I have so much respect for this band, and am proud to see how far they've come.

I hope you guys enjoyed this review and the music video. I know I enjoyed watching it countless times and sharing it with you guys.
Be forever metal.

Robby J (interview/conversation)

Hey guys. I had a great conversation/interview with Stuck Mojo frontman Robby J. Hope you enjoy it.


So one of the things I wanted to discuss is something I've heard older musicians talking about. It's about young musicians complaining about touring, saying it's too much work and they don't want to do it. So being a young musician yourself, I wanted to get your opinion. Does this mean they're not dedicated?

"I think the thing with young musicians is they're pretty disillusioned to how things actually are. They're expecting getting into the music industry to be one way, when it's actually pretty different. It's a lot of work, especially now for younger artists. Music's gotten to a point where you've kind of, if you're starting from zero, you kind of can't expect to do this as a full time gig. It kind of has to be something you're extremely passionate about, and something that you're willing to invest a lot of your own personal money into. It's kind of more as a hobby, so there's a lot of work to do.
Starting up your own band; and I think another problem is it's very difficult finding band mates who are on the same exact page as you. Cause you all kind of have to have the same mindset going into this moving forward, cause if there's one person in the band who has a different view, there's always going to be this butting of heads going on, and it's going to be very hard to get out there. Because of that clash. So I don't think it's a matter of musicians not being passionate, I think it's just a matter of these younger musicians getting a little disappointed and realizing; oh wow, this is a lot of work. I've got to try to be my own booking agent, i have to figure out how to sell the merch for my band. I have to create music, I have to in a lot of cases, fund my own album. So it's a lot of work and I think now musicians have to do more than simply being musicians.
They have to do everything, they're their own PR people. They have to go out and get their own shows. Find other bands to tour with. So it's just a lot of work. I think that's the main issue. It's probably an overwhelming lot of work. Especially for younger people who aren't used to this because music industry is very similar to; running a band is like running a business. At the end of the day, a lot of people realize that, and that's what I say about that matter."

So what was your mindset, like when you first started the music business? Were you like disappointed, were you ready, did you know what to expect? Like, what was going through your head at that time?

"When I first started, I actually realized very quickly that you need to smarten up. You need to be very serious about these things. It's not something that's going to be handed to you. So right off the beginning, like just for some context; When I was growing up and I was very young and going into college, I was a very actually liberal minded person, and you know I was kind of like living childishly, recklessly for a long time. Up until I stopped going to college, and I started doing my own music stuff and I realized, wow there's a lot of funding that needs to go into this; and I didn't want to have to rely on, ya know there's these government artist funds that give out to new musicians. But how it's set up is, if you take those funds, you actually aren't allowed to work a certain amount of hours.
 You're very limited on the amount you're personally allowed to work, because the government is giving you money just for your art. So I thought that was pretty stupid, and was like, why would any musician want to do this? So I've realized that the best way to go about things, especially if you want to pursue music, is just, I say to: have a job, have a full time job outside of music, save up as much money as possible, that's what I was doing at the time. As soon as I finished school, I had a part time job at the time, while i was still in college, and I just decided to pursue it full time. I saved up a ton of money, I worked all the hours I could, and then every penny that I saved up, it ended up, a lot of it, ended up going into my band Hasta. I told the guys: I was like, hey listen. I know you guys might not have money, but I want to do this so, right now let's agree to for me to front everything in the band, and then you guys just owe me that at a later time when you guys can accumulate your share of the payments we have to make.
 So I feel like as soon as I started taking music seriously, I understood that it's like, it was a lot of work. My guitarist Dave and I, we decided to start finding contacts in the industry. So what we did was, we found a list of a bunch of different journalists, that we could reach out to, so that they could possibly write about us, or get some interest in us at least, and show us to other people in the industry. That's what we did, we made a bunch of lists, stayed up countless hours, sent out a bunch of emails to people, and then luckily for us; Carl, the guy from BraveWords, he actually took interest in us, and then he compared us to Stuck Mojo, and I ended up getting to join Stuck Mojo because of it."

Speaking of Stuck Mojo, I want to ask; when did you first meet Rich Ward? Did you ever meet him before joining Stuck Mojo? Or was it when he brought you in?

"When I first met Rich, it was after. I hadn't met Rich prior to doing anything in the music industry. I don't know if a lot of people know this but, my video with Hasta La Muerte Pour Anotha Shot, that was my first debut of original music ever. Like, I hadn't put out anything before that so that was my real debut to the local scene here in Montreal, and to just the music world in general, cause we got thrown into the spotlight pretty quickly shortly after that. So what happened was, we put out our video around May 5, 2015; and then it was the very next day we put out, my guitarist Dave had just reached out to Rich Ward on Twitter and was like, Hey check us out. We got compared to Stuck Mojo.
This journalist said we sound like Stuck Mojo and then for whatever reason, Rich actually checked that video out and he was like blown away. That very day he's like; Hey Robby, he reached out to me on Twitter; and he was like, here's my number, call me later, and then that very night, I did. I spoke to him for about an hour, and we were just talking about things. I guess he was getting a feel for what kind of person I was, and then about less than a month later, he flew me down to Georgia to start working on some songs for what would end up becoming"Here Come The Infidels"album. So the first time I met him was in person in Georgia, like around, it was June, or the end of May; and yeah it was cool, I met him and it was like, woah it's Rich Ward. At first, the person that picked me up at the airport was our manager Mark Willis's assistant Lee.
She comes out on the road with us, she does a lot of our merch, and she tour manages us when we're doing shows in the U.S., and then shortly after I met Lee, I met my manager Mark Willis; and he was cool, he showed me around the amphitheater  in Atlanta. He actually runs the whole place. He was like the head guy in charge, and he just took me on this tour of one of the main stages in the amphitheater, and he told me; "This is what you want to play on someday. So stay focused on this." He was like, you're going to be playing on this one day; and I was like, blown away and then and bout an hour later, we finally met up with Rich and we had lunch and we all sat down together. It was very cool, we were just , it wasn't just straight to business or anything, we were just talking things through and just getting to know each other, really."

That is pretty cool. I love hearing stories about that because it really proves how much hard work and a little stroke of luck can really get you somewhere. Switching into something a little different, talking about metal, and I know you kind of discussed this on The RANTidote a little; but I wanted to talk about if it's alive or dead. Do you think it's rebellious as it used to be? Like are metal musicians still trying to not be one of the so called "cool kids", trying to stand out? Or do you think they've kind of got sucked into some of the other genres through like politics or whatever?

"I think up to probably up to the last big artists that mattered came from 90's, and I'm talking about artists like Marilyn Manson, bands like Slipknot, the people in Linkin Park or Fred Durst from Limp Bizkit. I think the reason that those people were relevant is because they were counterculture, they were different from what was going on at the time. It was shocking to see. You know, guys in masks like Slipknot, talking about the lyrical content they did and that stuff was becoming mainstream at the time. You were hearing that type of heavy music on the radio, which stuff like Marilyn Manson, it was just constantly thrown out there; and I think the problem with metal today is we don't really have any of these figures who are clashing with the mainstream culture. Cause in the 90's, it was still different to be against that stuff and display those values as like, this is what we're all about, and it was shocking people.
But now, things have gotten to a point where that stuff isn't shocking to people. There are average people out there who live this freakishly and deprived lives to the point where it's like, none of that shocks people. What shocks people now is, just being like hey you know what? I actually don't care about your depressing values like, doing drugs isn't cool. Getting wasted is not cool. You know what's cool is starting a family and taking care of the people around you.
 It's being sober. That's what's being cool cause that's what's being intelligent, and that's what gets people places. That's what makes the world go round, and saying those things, like people seem to get offended. It's like, what are you talking about? We worked all these years to destroy all that mindset and take it all down, and now you're trying to bring that back. So it's like, I feel a lot of these younger artists; they're either too politically correct or afraid to just say these things, or they're actually disillusioned and they think that that's not the way to go about things.
So they think a life of partying is what's cool. I think that's why the only people who I say are kind of like have that rick star image, that are in the industry from younger bands like the past 10 years or so; are maybe the guys in the bands, there are this warped tour bands like Asking Alexandria or The Black Veil Brides. I would say guys like Andy Black and Danny Worsnop are like at the forefront of this rock star image thing. But I find this point, what they're doing is kind of like passe. Because all they're trying to be is like a recreation of guys like Sebastion Bach from Skid Row, and it's like; it's not even cool to get wasted all the time. Act like an idiot on stage, you've got plenty of videos that I'm sure Danny is embarrassed about right now, of him just like freaking out with Asking Alexandria, because he was so wasted he couldn't so his job properly. It's kind of embarrassing to see , it's like, I'm not trying to tear the guy down, though it's pretty much what I'm doing right now.
 But it's kind of sad. But I think a lot of these guys learn from their mistakes and they're getting better, and still putting out great music. But I think that whole, we need to party till we drop, that needs to go. Because it's like, you can see all these countless legends; like guys from Jim Morrison to Jimi Hendrix, to Bon Scott from AC/DC. All they did was party till they couldn't and it's like, man, we're human beings. We are not machines. The human body is not meant or built to withstand all these drugs and alcohol abuse.
Ya know, and it's like, you think after all these instances of famous rock stars dying, that people would get the message. but a lot of these people still don't, and I think that's still a problem with a lot of these younger bands. It's about the partying and ya know, about the fame, hooking up with girls and doing a lot of drugs, and it's really not. Especially now, you need to really smarten up if you want to make it, and you've just got to work really hard. Just be nice to people, really."

So how do you feel about bands that were still around in the 90's, like big metal bands, like Megadeth or Metallica? Those two always come to mind. Do you think they still have that rebellious, metal music that they used to? Or do you think they've kind of like, strayed away from it? 

"I think they'll always have that different edge to them, ya know, they're the forefathers of what came. So I think they're still, ya know anything; the old school bands are the only ones who I feel are putting out quality records still. They're the ones that are passionate about making records and putting out the best they can possibly put out. I think ya know. Megadeth's last album "Dystopia" and Metallica's "Hardwired", was probably some of the best records those two bands have put out in years. So I definitely think that, yeah they still have that rebellious edge to them. Ya know there are guys like James Hetfield who, he might not outwardly speak about what he believes in, but ya know I think he kind of upholds the constitution; and Dave Mustaine from what I know, I think he's pretty much a guy who's not afraid to speak out against like the mainstream of what's going on. So I definitely  and admire and respect both of those guys for that."

How do you feel about metal having so called "acts of satanism"?

"Well as far as satanism goes, I think the only bands that really push that stuff, I think it's a big part of their ethos, like the black metal bands. I think there's like a saying in the black community, it's like you're not even a true black metal band if you don't uphold the thoughts of satanism. I don't know too much about, you know that cult or religion, whatever you want to call it. But from what I understand, I don't think it's a violent thing. I think from what people tell me, it's more of a peaceful mindset. Going on, I think people if they use any satanic imagery in their albums, like especially more of the mainstream artists, like Slayer or Marilyn Manson. I think they were only using that imagery just for shock value, or just to speak up against it.
Like, at a certain point in their lives, I think guys like Tom Morello were speaking out against christian churches because of what was going on with all the scandals and what not. So I think it was used more as like a political statement, more so than the musicians and artists actually believing in satanism. I think it was more just to make a statement, shock people with grotesque imagery than anything else."

Do you have any advice for up and coming young musicians who might be struggling?

"I would say what any new artist should do is: they should have a job, whatever it is, outside of music, or however they make money. Save up as much as possible because you never know when you're going to need an extra wad of cash to get yourself somewhere else. As far as, you know, starting a new band, a brand new band from scratch; I think that is extremely difficult. I think it should only be done with people who are exactly on the same mindset, so that means either people who are already in the industry coming together and making new music. But brand new musicians coming out of the woodwork, I think it's very tough for a brand new band to succeed. So suggestion is like, because really, I'll go back to this.
 It's like, you're band is only as good as the weakest member in it. So whoever the least talented guy or the least motivated guy in your band is, that's as far as your band is going to go. So you really need to be at a high level, and there's like less than probably 1% of all musicians in the world, actually play all these big festivals like Download in the UK, or Bloodstock, or The Brutal Assault. So it's really tough. I said like, if you are serious and you're a young musician, and you want to get yourself out there; you will do whatever it takes, and that means even if you have your own original project; if you get an opportunity to join another band, you have to take it. You have to put yourself out there. You have to take any gigs that put you out there. That means if you need to go out on the road, and some band needs a fill in guitarist, you take it.
 You practice constantly, that's what you have to do. You have to be better than everybody else, and you have to want to be. So I'd say like, put yourself out there. One of my mentors in the industry is actually one of my good buddies. His name is Max Georgia, and I just take after his work ethic. I follow whatever he does. It's like, be like Max Georgia; and what that means is like he's a guitarist but he's willing to play bass for bands.
 He's currently the fill in bassist for the band Escape the Fate, and he just works his ass off. I see this guy, he's constantly playing guitar. he's constantly putting up guitar videos. You can see him in a bunch of videos on YouTube. He's just always putting out work, and he does different styles of music as well. You've got to be open to that. You got to be willing to play rock. You got to be willing to play pop, you know classical music, jazz, heavy metal, whatever.
 He's got the look for it too. He understands that if you want to make it in a certain aspect of the music industry, like a certain genre, you have to look a certain way too. So if you're in heavy metal, you should try to be growing out your hair. You should be trying to get tattoos. It's not to fit in, well, it is and it isn't. Like it's, like working at an office.
 You kind of have to come in and wear a suit and tie, if you're working at one of these higher  office buildings. So it's like the same thing in metal. If you want to be a metal musician or like specifically in like the hardcore scene, or like the death metal scene; you kind of have to have to look a certain way. It's just part of the gig. So just put yourself out there. Try to get whatever opportunities you can, and you can't afraid to let go of being in a band with your friends, just for the sake that they're your friends. You got to understand that, you just have to look after yourself and not everybody has the same mindset as you. So I say it's a lot of hard work, but it's definitely do able. You know, I think the only things stopping people is the idea that they can't do it, and that's a bunch of bullshit. If you want to do anything in life, just got to go out there and do it. Pretty much."

Big thanks to Robby J for answering my questions and giving his opinions. Hope you guys enjoyed this.
Be forever metal.