Fearsmag's own Christopher Mygrant recently got a chance to sit down and chat with Martin Van Drunen from metal band HAIL OF BULLETS on death metal, staying real and the plight of the record industry.

Fears Magazine: Martin, first of foremost, thanks for taking time out of your schedule to speak with us; we greatly appreciate it. Okay lets get started shall we?

Martin van Drunen: Sure man.

Fears: Let me just say when the name Martin van Drunen is synonymous with the heavy metal genre You have quite a resume and have experienced many successes. With that said, how does a musician that has been around for some time, been in several bands gear him or herself up to once again promote a new band? By that I mean it is hard enough keep an existing band on the radar, but even though names may be known, the process of starting over, or at least that is how I view it, must be grueling. Why go through it all over again?

On a recent stop in Florida, the six-piece band known as Chimaira simply ripped through their set. The pit was immediately whipped into frenzy and left the crowd exhausted. Prior to the utter mayhem, Fears sat down with lead guitarist Rob Arnold to get some insight on these Cleveland, Ohio based metallers.

Fears was granted the opportunity to interview Cannibal Corpse on the last day of the Metal Blade Records’ 25th Anniversary tour, but at the last moment, plans changed and the interview was canceled. Then an e-mail was received stating an interview could be arranged, but it would have to take place the day before the previous scheduled day via the telephone.

Phone tag between bassist Alex Webster and myself took place throughout the evening, but no contact would be made that night. However, after all was said and done; a meeting did take place the next day in Orlando, Florida.

I want to thank Alex greatly for granting Fears some of his time. No interviews were to take place on the last day of the tour, but Alex was gracious enough to make an exception.

Christopher Mygrant and Cannibal Corpse Bassist, Alex Webster Christopher Mygrant and Cannibal Corpse Bassist, Alex Webster

Bassist Alex Webster! Bassist Alex Webster!

Cannibal CorpseCannibal Corpse

“RELENTLESS” so says vocalist James Eason when asked to describe DROID

After completely listening to DROID’s newly released endeavor, one will get the sense of returning to the days of when metal music possessed something special - a singer with vocals laden with emotion (James Eason) backed by hard-driving, neck-snapping riffs (Jamie Teissere and Bruce Childress) and a solid bass and percussion foundation (Duke and Nick McWells). Signed to Korn guitarist “Munky” Shaffer’s Emotional Syphon Recordings label, the band’s self-titled debut surely is a standout of 2007.

While stopping in Tampa for the Family Values Tour , Fears had the opportunity to not only attend the gig, but to speak with vocalist James Eason. We caught up with James about an hour after the band’s second stage headling performance and as the phrase goes – here is what he had to say.

Fears: How is the word success defined by you? Has the band, in a sense, “made it”?

James Eason: No where near it. We have to pay our dues for a lot more years to come. I think once you think you’ve made it, it would seem like kind of a way to stop being creative. Stop driving yourself to do more things. But U2 made and they still make great records, so my statement could be wrong.

So I am sitting at the computer surfing the web with the stereo cranking out some classic, yes I said “classic”, eighties hair/glam metal tunes. It is a CD that contains bands like Bullet Boys (Smooth Up In Ya), Faster Pussycat (Bathroom Wall, Slip of the Tongue), Jackly (Dirty Little Mind), Poison (too many to list) and a host of other feel good performers that made the eighties metal scene what it was - great. As I continued to read an article, a familiar guitar riff comes across my ears; it is the opening to Never Enough by L.A. Guns. A song, that at the time, I had not heard in years. I quickly grabbed the remote, turned it up and sat back and relived the good ol’ times. Upon the song’s completion, I started doing my investigation on how I would be able to contact any member of the band in order to conduct an interview.

After reading some older interviews, I discovered that there are actually two bands performing under the L.A. Guns moniker. One contains drummer Steve Riley and vocalist Phil Lewis. The other version of the namesake has guitarist Tracii Guns leading the way. Well, to make a long story short, I e-mailed what looked liked the management company for the band. I did not receive any reply for about two weeks, when one day while retrieving messages from my voicemail, I hear the following: “Yeah, this message is for Chris. Chris, this is Steve Riley from L.A. Guns and I hear you would like to do an interview.” Steve leaves me his cell number, which I ring as soon as I finish listening to his message. Him and I set a time and day and below is the outcome of our conversation.