How
did you first learn about Metal-Rules.com?
I heard about it through searching for Internet resources to promote
SOTW. Then again at Snakenet and decided to send a package.
Are you a regular visitor to the Metal-Rules.com webzine?
I visit Metal-Rules about once a month when doing updates to our
links. We have quite a nice page of banner links to good promotion
resources for metal and Metal-Rules.com is right there. We call our
links page the SOTW Worldwide Allied Forces page. It is a good place for
any band looking for strong support of a metal release.
How important is Metal-Rules.com or the Internet in general for
getting your music?
Well, we started SOTW back in 1988 and for several years had a nice
build up through the underground fanzines. Once the Internet starting
catching on in 1996 many of those same people started webpages for their
zines and the quick communication of the Internet really helps speed
things along a bit more. It is a very important tool these days. Bands
must have it.
In
your experience, either as a reader or as a band, what has
Metal-Rules.com meant to you?
Metal-Rules.com is what I consider to be one of the veterans on the
Internet. Strong support for our particular genre of music and a very
good source for more visual layout. People like eye candy and
Metal-Rules has that and more with good in-depth reviews of a release.
Do you think webzines like Metal-Rules.com are, or maybe someday
could, replace traditional published magazines?
As we head into the future it is hard to tell what may happen.
It is very important to have the Internet, but at the same time
people still like getting those magazines to read in their hand while
sitting at the dentist office or taking a lunch break. I don't think
regular print media will go away any time soon. But, I also think the
Internet is becoming a strong competitor.
Younger people seem to use the Internet more for this particular
genre of music and that is a good thing with so much confusion going on
about what real metal is these days. I think online mags such as
Metal-Rules has helped to clear up some of that confusion and educate
younger fans about the real deal and the newer bands that play the real
deal.
Can you please list the members of the band and what they each
person plays?
SOTW's current line-up:
Wes Edward Waddell - Vocals
Barry (Skully) Waddell - Guitar / Backing Vocals
Dennis Ristow - Keyboards/Backing Vocals
Bill Bois - Bass
Wayne Hoefle - Drums
How long has the band been together and what goals would you like
to achieve in the coming years with the band?
SOTW
has been together with my brother Wes, Dennis and I as the 3 original
members since Oct, 1988.
We are using fill-in players right now for drum and bass but shopping
for new permanent replacements.
So, SOTW has always been and always will be together as long as the 3
originals remain intact.
Right now we are concentrating on searching for a new drummer.
Meanwhile still working in the studio recording new tracks for our 4th
album, and producing several music video for a SOTW rockumentary of
sorts that will include interviews and other special eyecandy. We plan
to release that on DVD as soon as it is finished.
Touring the world is always in our mind. Hopefully in the near future
we will have created enough demand to do just that. Until then...we keep
busy.
We have plans to release 3 more albums in the next 2 years, and one
of them will be live.
In your opinion, what style of metal would you say best describes
what you play?
Ahhhh yes. What style? I suppose we can just call it good old
traditional, dark, melodic, atmospheric, heavy metal. But, wait...that
would be too long I think. At this point we really don't know anymore.
It really depends on which SOTW track you are listening. We have a
couple songs that are more progressive rock and would not even fit heavy
metal. But.. only a couple. I have to admit we like to stay heavy most
of the time.
So, lets just make things simple and call SOTW a Heavy Metal Band.
hahaha
Who have been some of your main influences?
Blue
Oyster Cult, Montrose, Thin Lizzy, Tangerine Dream, Black Sabbath,
Utopia, Iron Maiden, and a ton of others. We would not be able to list
them all.
Is your band currently signed to a record label?
We are signed to our own label, Earth Mother Music - Worldwide
Independence.
Are you currently looking for a label or distribution?
Always looking for more distribution. As far as major labels go, we
would do a exclusive deal for manufacturing/distribution. But, they
would have to be cool, like what we have put together on our own, and
the deal would have to be sweet.
We all know that a deal like that dose not exist...so, until one does
we will continue on with non-exclusive deals with several small labels
around the world as we have been doing.
We have 32 distributors now. Some large, some small. But, it works.
Mostly all we need is a nice chunk of cash to get more exposure.
Have you contributed work to other compilation CDs?
Yes. We have been on 7 other compilations and 3 Tribute albums.
Iron Maiden - Children Of The Damned
Black Sabbath - Dehumanized Witch
Queen - The Attack Of The Dragons
All the other compilations out have songs from our first 3 albums.
That is what is very different about the Metal-Rules.com Compilation. We
recorded the new SOTW song "Behind The Eyes Of Evil"
exclusively for Metal-Rules. A fan of SOTW will not be able to get that
song on any other disc unless it ends up on a SOTW live album sometime
in the future.
Where did you hear about this compilation?
I was hanging out at SnakenetMetalRadio and saw the ad.
Why did you choose this compilation to get your music to potential
fans?
It fits. And I know it will reach a lot of cool people.
Besides your song, what is the best feature of the Metal-Rules
compilation and why?
All the people and bands involved in making this disc are way cool in
our book, and the artwork is cool.
Why did you choose this particular song for the compilation?
hahaha Well....we all know EvilG. And it was really a coincidence
that our new song was titled "Behind The Eyes Of Evil".
How appropriate. Funny how that shit just works out sometimes.
Where did you record the song & who wrote it and produced it?
-
Seasons Of The Wolf - Behind The Eyes Of Evil
-
Written 1994
-
Lyrics by Wes Edward Waddell
-
Music by Barry "Skully" Waddell, and
Dennis Ristow
-
Produced by Skully and recorded at our very own
Level-D-Green recording studio in Bradenton, Florida during October
2002.
-
Engineered by Dennis Ristow
-
Mixed by Skully and Dennis Ristow
-
Published by Earth Mother Music / ASCAP
Would you say that your song on this compilation representative of
all your material?
Absolutely not. We have many twists and turns. It is a good
representation of maybe 30% of our writing style and subject matter.
What is your song on this compilation about and what was the
inspiration behind it?
It is about a Wizard. But, is it a good or evil wizard? You never
know what goes on behind the eyes of evil. Basically we were just toying
around with the simple idea that you never know what is going on in some
peoples minds. We just took it from there and my brother has a good way
with words and came up with the lyrics. It is one of those songs where
the music and lyrics came together simultaneously.
What about this song made you select it for this compilation?
We were going to record it for our 4th album. But, then the
opportunity came to be on this compilation. And again the simple fact
that the title goes along with EvilG struck us funny. It was just way
too cool not to give it to Metal-Rules. We also know this song is a
powerfully original melodic form of atmospheric metal and will ad a bit
more diversity to the compilation.
What kind of expectations do you have towards this particular
compilation?
I hope it sells out and makes a nice chunk of cash for
Metal-Rules.com.
What do you hope to gain by being featured?
More exposure of SOTW therefore selling more of our catalog,
therefore creating more demand and adding one more feather in our
wolf-cap.
We can use all the help we can muster, mister.
Are you hoping this might help you in some way gain the kind of
exposure that may lead to a label picking you up?
Sure, why not. At least get their interest so we can turn them down.
hahaha No really....we do like exposure to anyone in the business and
welcome anyone that may become interested to check out SOTW a bit more
close-up.
As you know, most of the bands on this compilation are not
extremely well known. Do you think a compilation CD with a group of
mostly underground bands is a great way to help get your music noticed?
Sure. If it is packaged and promoted properly it will damned sure
help everyone involved in some way whether it be big or small.
What do you think of compilation CD’s overall?
Out of 8 so far that we have been on only 3 of them are cool.
Metal-Rules is in the cool catagory. Over-all...most compilations are
very poorly put together and the mastering is usually lousy.
What kinds of things should a compilation feature in order to make
it worth purchasing and what makes a compilation worthwhile?
All the artists providing professional recordings. Music needs to be
some what genre consistent but, also diverse. The mastering sonics
should be consistent as possible. The artwork needs to be cool. All the
information for bands available just in case a fan or resource wants
direct contact.
If you had a chance to put together this type of compilation, what
would be some of the unsigned bands you’d like to feature?
Twisted Tower Dire (from US) , Frost (from Norway), Abigail (from
Romainia), Solitude (from Japan), Iron Cross (from US), Beyond Salem
(from Canada). Oh...there is more. Many more.
Would you be interested in sacrificing another song for “Metal-Rules.com
- Vol. II” if the opportunity presented itself?
Of course. We have plenty. Just let us know when!
Where can people order your other recorded material?
101 Distribution, Hellion Records Germany, Amazon.com, CDnow, and all
the Transworld owned retail outlets across America such as FYE mall
stores.
What are your band’s upcoming battle plans?
A handful of live shows in our west coast region of Florida and
finishing up the 70 minute SOTW music video rockumentary.
Do you have any live dates coming up that you’d like to list
here?
We will be playing a 2 hour show at the Brass Mug in Tampa, Florida
on Friday night January 3rd, 2003....about 5 weeks from today.
