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"No one has the right to end another person’s life, and the absolute mindless stupidity of someone believing that they will get 72 Virgins as a reward for killing innocent people is ludicrous. Why would you even want 72 Virgins? I’d rather have 2 or 3 seasoned veterans that know how to get down, if you know what I mean" |
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CR: Hey man thank you so much for the time and opportunity, how you doing?
Jim Gorman: Great!, Hallows Eve sounds tighter and better than ever. The level of musicianship and talent along with chemistry is better than ever. Also, creatively we all participate so that’s awesome!...
CR: Can you please explain to us when was it exactly that the band split up or at least why so many people thought that happened and when did you guys officially got back together?
Jim Gorman: From my understanding, the road was really the culprit. The constant brotherly bickering and hazing that goes on along with the grind took its toll. To answer your second point, the band reunited for the Metal Blade 25th Anniversary show in Boston.
CR: There was some difference of opinion between Stacy and Tommy about the whole touring aspect of Hallows Eve, has the band managed to come up with a solution for this? I heard that Stacy wasn’t up for playing really, really low budget tours and Tommy wanted to do exactly that. (I read it here http://www.legionsoftheabyss.com/tommystewart.htm)
Jim Gorman: You are correct! Hallows Eve now plays choice shows when the situation is right. We are all settled in our lives and families. We are all at our best now physically and creatively so we can really write and envision the new songs as their being written. We are currently writing the next record. We are going to re-record a lot of the classic Hallows Eve songs, they will be improved where need be. The record will also include a couple of new tracks.
CR: What would you say to the audience and fans of Hallows Eve to “prepare” them for this album, “The Never-Ending Sleep”, what do you think is the best characteristic this work provides to the legendary career Hallows Eve has already?
Jim Gorman: This record is reclamation of the classic Hallows Eve style. It’s old school, most everything out currently out there sounds the same to me. It’s like a production line. This is a return to melody, hook and stripped down pounding.
CR: On this new record “The Never-Ending Sleep”, at first listen the album sounds very stripped of a big production, the instruments are not very thick and it does sound very raw, very direct if I may; what type of sound where you aiming at when producing the album?
Jim Gorman: We were aiming to make an old school Thrash record with the punk feel that Hallows Eve always went for.
CR: Correct me if I’m wrong here… “The Never-Ending Sleep” was meant to be released on 2007, why was it delayed?
Jim Gorman: We had originally set out to complete it before the end of 07. We ended up having some shows at that time so rather than get into recording mode, we stayed in rehearsal-show mode and did the live thing. Once, we completed those shows we set out to record…no big deal.
CR: Does “The Never-Ending Sleep” has a label behind it, or this is just an independent release?
Jim Gorman: We are currently un-signed. This record was completely created and funded by the band.
CR: For this record you don’t have Skully on the line up, what can you tell us about the line up for “The Never-Ending Sleep” and how it affected the song writing on it?
Jim Gorman: Everyone in this band writes. Riffs, lyrics etc.. We have 5 very creative and talented people bringing ideas to the table..that’s why the feel of this record isn’t just one style..
Doyle Bright is a shredder, Chris Abbamonte brings the tasty groove and classic metal…Tommy Stewart is as solid a bass player as I’ve ever played with..Stacy Andersen’s vocals are better than they have ever been…we are very tight and precise…a very deadly band…
CR: On the new record there is a song titled “72 Virgins”, obviously about the whole martyrdom suicidal bomber issue, why do you think it was important for Hallows Eve to deal with this issue? And can you feel empathy for people in the Middle East that don’t want US presence on their countries?
Jim Gorman: It’s more a strike against religious fanaticism….No one has the right to end another person’s life, and the absolute mindless stupidity of someone believing that they will get 72 Virgins as a reward for killing innocent people is ludicrous. Why would you even want 72 Virgins? I’d rather have 2 or 3 seasoned veterans that know how to get down, if you know what I mean. As far as US presence in the Middle East, we’ll leave that one alone. I only have to say 9/11 and you can read between the lines.
CR: What was the toughest part about releasing a new record, or is it like riding a bike… you never really forget how is done?
Jim Gorman: Nothing to it, money and creative vision sometimes cause obstacles, but we all have a similar goal so we get it done.
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| Pic courtesy of: Hallows Eve |
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| "Everyone in this band writes. Riffs, lyrics etc.. We have 5 very creative and talented people bringing ideas to the table..that’s why the feel of this record isn’t just one style.." |
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CR: Is there any tour planned to promote this new record, or just a couple of gigs?
Jim Gorman: We are playing where we are invited to play…
CR: Every single musician always and very understandingly so claims that their latest album is the best they have done, have you ever personally felt when you released an album that it wasn’t the best work you could have put forward?
Jim Gorman: For these 5 musicians, this is the best we could put out at that time. The new stuff is even better. Just being able to create and play in this band with the talent is very rewarding.
CR: On the previous record “Evil Never Dies” Tommy is in charge of the vocals, there is a significant difference between him and Stacy, how would you describe that difference of vocal approach?
Jim Gorman: Stacy is an awesome front man. Tommy is a bass player that fronted the band out of necessity. No difference in approach…it is what it is…
CR: What do you think differentiates the way Hallows Eve plays thrash, from the rest of US thrash metal outfits that are better known by the “traditional” fans?
Jim Gorman: Hallows Eve is old school…Thrash is rooted out of the New Wave of British Metal…Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Motorhead…we just do it with a punk attitude..Ramones, Misfits are big influences. Every day is Halloween you know…
CR: Hallows Eve is supposed to be releasing a DVD right? When can we expect it and why was it postponed?
Jim Gorman: We are currently gathering live footage from our shows. Once we have the content completed, we’ll be releasing the DVD. No release date has been set.
CR: You guys where one of the bands that belong to the “first wave” of thrash metal in the US, what has change in the scene since those glorious days?
Jim Gorman: The music has changed a lot. While there are some great bands out there currently, there is a lot of mediocrity in my opinion. A lot of it sounds like the same song played by the same band.
CR: I have seen your album “Death & Insanity” in a couple of “best of all time” thrash metal lists… which Hallows Eve album looking back do you think cause the biggest reaction on the metal scene?
Jim Gorman: It would have to be Death and Insanity…With Lethal Tendencies being in a couple of pretty big movies and songs like the anthemic D.I.E..it goes a long way in the hook department…
CR: You have probably notice that thrash metal is back on the public’s eye, and a lot of old school bands are coming back, what do you think make this “re-born” possible from your perspective? Was it the need of fans to listen to some real metal or perhaps it was forced by the labels looking for a way to sell more albums?
Jim Gorman: I think it was time to return to the mold…the original mold… All the cookie cutter cookie monster vocal bands wear thin…no substance…while aggressive, there’s not much to grab onto.
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"I think it was time to return to the mold…the original mold… All the cookie cutter cookie monster vocal bands wear thin…no substance…while aggressive, there’s not much to grab onto." |
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CR: According to “metal history” thrash metal was pretty much influenced or spawned thanks to two musical movements , the NWOBHM and Hardcore punk, which if any of this two genres inspired you and the rest of the band to play the type of music that can now be catalog as thrash metal?
Jim Gorman: Hell yes, like I said earlier…we came from Priest, Maiden, Motorhead, Ramones…Bloodrock, Sabbath….
CR: You guys were part of the “Metal Massacre VI “compilation cd back in 85, seen how important or legendary those compilation albums have become for metal, how “big” of a push did it cause for Hallows Eve?
Jim Gorman: The first few Metal Massacres had some pretty big bands on them…How important were they? They got it out there you know…there was no internet, no myspace, no digital recording home studios…so these things were word of mouth…
CR: In your personal experience what has been the most difficult part of dealing with record companies, how do you “identify” a company that will best benefit what you have in mind for Hallows Eve?
Jim Gorman: Record labels are important when it comes to marketing infrastructure…but the music, a label shouldn’t own it…
CR: This is election year in your country, are you pleased with the choices that you have for president or what’s missing for you… the entire world is following your elections very closely.
Jim Gorman: Politicians suck!!. They are all liars, one side lies from the left and the other from the right..they meet in the middle…they are all the same…power hungry self centered morons who think they know what’s right for me…screw them both….
CR: Do you see this so called “thrash revival” era that we are living as an opportunity for many old school bands to really show the world what metal is all about? And do you fear that because of this huge amount of bands playing thrash that the people are just going to get tired of so much material on the genre and switch back to another genre let’s say black or even power metal?
Jim Gorman: Everything is cyclical….It all comes back around… people will always get tire of anything that gets over played or over done…Music is powerful though, you like what you like and what connects with you might not connect with me…as long as someone brings the real…I’m cool with it…
CR: Well man it has been a pleasure, please I encourage you to close the interview with some words for the people out there reading…
Jim Gorman: Listen up people, If you never saw Hallows Eve, get out here and see us. This lineup is the best HE lineup ever! Everyone is healthy and strong, and kicking ass….we are trying to play everywhere we can….and get your copy of The Neverending Sleep…it rules..be on the lookout for another new release in the next 6 months too…later
