Did a Q&A Interview for Metal Army America with New Jersey’s own Doc Coyle. For those of you that don’t know he’s the guitarist for God Forbid. You can read the interview here.

On a side note the top picture was taken back in March at B.B. Kings in NYC, while the second shot was taken in June 09 at the now defunct Kobetasonik Festival in Bilbao Spain.

This episode is a special joint release between Mars Attacks and Talking Metal. I touch upon this during the episode mentioning that it was put together as a tribute to Pete Steele. We deliberated at great length regarding this as it wasn’t the original intention. If you listen to Episode 306 of Talking Metal you will find part of the Mars Attacks live show I did with John and Mark last month while in the states. That episode contains an interview we conducted with Anthony Esposito from Ace Frehley, Lynch Mob fame. The next episode of Talking Metal, and Mars Attacks for that matter, was supposed to contain the first half of the live show. During this segment Mark and I interview Joey Z from Life of Agony, Stereomud, and Carnivore.

Joey was nice enough to come down to the studio, and sit in with us. He came in early, and sat on the couch while Mark, John and I did our opening monologue if you will. During the podcast you’ll hear me reference a few songs, one by Warrior Soul, and another by Slash. We spoke to Joey off mic while these songs where playing, immediately he started talking about Pete Steele. He mentioned what an honor it was to be asked to play with Carnivore, and he also spoke about how funny, and quick witted Pete was. He said Pete could come up with things right on the spot, and could roll with the punches during any given situation. I mentioned this during the Dan Lorenzo segment. He also started talking about what good man Pete was, which seems to be a common theme with all of the comments that are being posted on the web. Unfortunately this was off mic, and we had so many things to talk about (we spoke almost twice as long as we originally intended), we never really got into Pete or Carnivore on mic, except for a quick mention by Joey. Due to this, I have included part of his previous interview where he talks exclusively about Carnivore.

Joey is a great guy, who will always have an open door on any of my shows. I a big fan of his music, and have come to learn what a genuine, and nice person he truly is. He was the first person I turned to when I heard the rumor of Pete’s passing. He spoke so genuinely about Pete; it was hard not to think of him when I started reading the posts on the web. During the episode I read an excerpt of the response he sent me.

The reason I included Dan was because I read his comments on Blabbermouth.net. I reached out to a bunch of different people from the NY/NJ music scene to see if anyone might be interested in providing me with a statement regarding Pete. People treat death in different manners, I know for a lot of people this has to be a difficult situation. As a result, it would be foolish for me to be upset over people not wanting to partake. Maybe the situation is difficult for them, other are on tour, and couldn’t come on with such short notice, etc. In any event, Dan immediately came forward to share stories, and help celebrate the memory of Pete.

There are no ulterior motives here, like so many others out there we just want to celebrate the life of Pete Steele. By putting this episode together, I feel that we are doing our part to pay homage to the man, and his music. I’m sure some will say that we’re doing this to ride the publicity surrounding his untimely death, but it can’t be farther from the truth. Mark and I spoke at great lengths yesterday deliberating over whether we should release this episode now, or wait a few months. I personally think that we’re doing the right thing by releasing the interview in the format we have chosen. As a fan, I don’t want someone’s memory or music to ever die. I truly believe that both Joey and Dan have helped us to do this by sharing their thoughts, and experience with Pete.

Over the course of the next few weeks/months we’ll start to hear about Pete, hopefully all good things, but I’m sure some bad will come out as well. All I can say is remember him for what he meant to you, and don’t let others sway your judgment.

I’ll close this in the same fashion that I closed the podcast, long live the memory and music of Pete Steele.

Podcast: Download

This is the premier episode of Mars Attacks Podcast. This episode features an in-depth interview with Erik Kluiber regarding his playing concepts, his gear, and the jump from Overloaded to White Wizzard.

Other items covered include the writing and recording process of Over The Top, Talking Metal, Dave Meniketti, Robert Fleischman, Ace Frehley, Chad Bryan, Dimebag Darrell, Dusk, Earache Records, ECW, Iron Maiden, Jake E. Lee, Jason Becker, Jimmy Page, Jon Leon, Kerry King, Kill Em All, Killswitch Engage, Kirk Hammett, Korpiklani, Lamb Of God, Led Zepplin, Les Paul Studio, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Marty Freidman, Metallica, Misfits, Motor City Pick Ups, Overloaded, Randy Rhodes, Regeneration, Slipknot, Steel Panther, Tyr, Viper Room, White Wizzard, Wyatt “Screamin Demon” Anderson, Yngwie Malsteen

Podcast: Download

Tonight on Mars Attacks it’s all about you the listener. For weeks I’ve been asking you to submit your favorite albums of the previous decade 2000-2009. Tonight’s episode centers around that very list.

The episode features songs from the 20 most voted albums, it actually consists of 21 songs total as we highlight two songs off of the album you guys voted number one. You’ll hear some classic bands, some newer bands, some surprises.

I will post the complete list a few days after the show airs.

Update: Here is the complete List

20 – Tool – 10,000 Days
19 – System Of A Down – Mezmirize
18 – Slipknot – Iowa
17 – Nine Inch Nails – With Teeth
16 – Mastodon – Crack The Skye
15 – Lamb of God – Ashes Of The Wake
14 – Iron Maiden A Matter Of Life And Death
13 – Amon Amarth – Twilight Of The Thunder God
12 – Opeth – Water Shed
11 – Lamb Of God – Sacrament
10 – Deftones – White Pony
09 – Iron Maiden – Brave New World
08 – Tool – Lateralus
07 – Testament – Formation of Damnation
06 – Pantera – Reinventing The Steel
05 – Megadeth – Endgame
04 – Mastodon – Leviathan
03 – Queens Of The Stone Age – Songs For The Deaf
02 – Metallica – Death Magnetic
01 – System Of A Down – Toxicity

During this episode we interview legendary Thrash Icon Bobby Blitz from Overkill. Among the items discussed during this interview are Overkill’s new album Ironbound, and subsequent tour, the early days of Megaforce Records, the “Big Four”, his 30 year musical partnership with DD Verni, Randy Blythe of Lamb Of God, Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater, the NY Steel Benefit Show, the project he did with Dan Lorenzo called The Cursed, Hail! and his involvement in Turtlehead!

Here is a full rundown of topics covered:

Bobby Blitz, Overkill, Ironbound, DD Verni, Immortalis, Dave Linsk, New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, Iron Maiden, Feel The Fire, Killers, Punk Rock, Warbringer, Hardcore, Pop, Green And Black Army, Exodus, NY Steel, In Union We Stand, 9/11, Sid Falk, Sebastian Marino, Merritt Gant, Rob Cannavino, Bobby Gustafson, Tim Mallare, Rat Skates, Joe Comeau, Megaforce, Metallica, Anthrax, Testament, Alex Parialas, Terry Date, Chris Tsangarides, Judas Priest, Ozzy Osbourne, Anvil, Colin Richardson, Pete Townsend, Peter Tagtgren, Death Angel, Megadeth, Slayer, Kreator, Destruction, Randy Blythe, Lamb Of God, Gigantour, Dave Mustaine, Willie Adler, Chris Adler, Jamey Jasta, Dan Lorenzo, Hades, Non-Fiction, The Cursed, Black Sabbath, Turtlehead, John Ostronomy, Fuse, Motorhead, Mike Portnoy, Frank Bello, Hail!, Tim “Ripper” Owens, Andreas Kisser, Dave Ellefson

During the episode you’ll hear the following Overkill tracks:

Ironbound
Bring Me The Night
Skull & Bones
In Union We Stand

Behind my banter you’ll hear The Green And The Black

As voted by the listeners of Fusion Sonica and Mars Attacks:

Best Track of 2009 – Megadeth – 1,320′

Top 15 Albums of 2009

1. Alice In Chains – Black Gives Way to Blue
2. Mastodon – Crack The Skye
3. Dream Theater – Black Clouds & Silver Linings
4. Megadeth – Endgame
5. Deathklok – Dethalbum II
6. Rammstein – Liebe ist fur alle da
7. Ace Frehley – Anomoly
8. Black Crows – Before The Frost…
9. Cannibal Corpse – Evisceration Plague
10. Converge – Axe To Fall
11. Heaven and Hell – The Devil You Know
12. Lamb of God – Wrath
13. Muse – The Resistance
14. Them Crooked Vultures – Them Crooked Vultures
15. Baroness – The Blue Record

Best albums of 2009 in my opinion:

1. Mastodon – Crack The Skye
2. Baroness – The Blue Record
3. Alice In Chains – Black Gives Way to Blue
4. Ace Frehley – Anomoly
5. The Crooked Vultures – S/T
6. Megadeth – Endgame
7. The Devin Townsend Band – Addicted
8. Heaven and Hell – The Devil You Know
9. Dream Theater – Black Clouds & Silver Linings
10. God Forbid – Earthblood

11. Lamb of God – Wrath
12. Warrior Soul – Chinese Democracy
13. City of Fire – S/T
14. Ripper Owens – Play My Game
15. Street Sweeper Social Club – S/T
16. Snail – Blood
17. Slayer – World Painted Blood
18. Autumn Hour – Dethroned
19. New Keepers Of The Water Tower – Chronicles
20. Swashbuckle – Cruise Ship Terror
21. Arkaea – Years Of Darkness
22. Throwdown – Deathless
23. Steel Panther – Feel The Steel
24. Seventh Void – S/T
25. Municipal Waste – Massive Aggressive
26. High Spirits – S/T
27. Paradise Lost – Faith Divides Us (Death Unites Us)
28. Kittie – Into The Black
29. Struck By Lightning – Serpents
30. Kiss – Sonic Boom
31. Lacuna Coil – Shadow Life
32. Mob Research – Holy City Zoo
33. Shadows Fall – Retribution
34. Austrian Death Machine – Double Brutal
35. Divine Heresy – Bringer Of Plagues
36. Kreator – Hordes Of Chaos
37. Marilyn Manson – The High End Of The Low
38. Shrinebuilder – Shrinebuilder
39. The Agonist – Lullabies For The Dormant Mind
40. Immortal – All Shall Fall

Non-Metal

1. Franz Ferdinand – Tonight Franz Ferdinand
2. U2 – No Line On The Horizon
3. Wolfmother – Comic Egg
4. Pearl Jam – Back Spacer
5. Muse – The Resistance

Best albums in 2009 recorded by national groups from here in Spain:

1. Wayne – The Moon Effect
2. Hell’s Fire – Eleven Roads To Hell
3. Aloud – Regeneracion
4. Guldin – Moralia
5. Blood – Seppuku

Best tracks of the year in my opinion:

1. Mastodon – Divinations
2. Lamb Of God – In Your Words
3. God Forbid – Empire Of The Gun
4. New Keepers Of The Water Tower – Pursuit of Yeti
5. Ace – Sister

6. Seventh Void – Closing In
7. Fear Factory – Power Shifter
8. Megadeth – This Day We Fight
9. The Devin Townsend Band – Addicted
10. Mastondon – Oblivion

11. Them Crooked Vultures – Scumbag Blues
12. Alice In Chains – Check My Brain
13. Killswitch Engage – The Reckoning
14. Baroness – Swollen and Halo
15. Warrior Soul – The Fourth Reich
16. Lamb Of God – Fake Messiah
17. City Of Fire – Carve Your Name
18. Megadeth – 1,230
19. Municipal Waste – Mech-cannible

20. Snail – Mental Models
21. Ace – Too Many Faces
22. Devin Townsend – Supercrush!
23. Dream Theater – A Rite Of Passage
24. The Company Band – Spellbinder
25. Shrinebuilder – Science of Anger
26. Baroness – A Horse Called Golgotha
27. Street Sweeper Social Club – Promenade
28. Heaven and Hell – Neverwhere
29. Marilyn Manson – I Have To Look Up To See Hell
30. Alice In Chains – Your Decision

31. God Forbid – War Of Attrition
32. Them Crooked Vultures – No One Loves Me Like I Do
33. Swashbuckle – Scurvy Back
34. Trivium – Down From The Sky
35. Autum Hour – Techcceleration
36. Slayer – Americon
37. Sepultura – We’ve Lost You
38. Alice In Chains – Last Of My Kind
39. City Of Fire – Gravity

40. Snail – Sleep
41. Danzig – Thirteen
42. Austrian Death Machine – In Need Your Cloths, Your Boots, Your Motorcycle
43. Chevelle – Sleep Apnea
44. New Keepers Of The Water Tower – Rise Of The Lizard King
45. Devin Townsen – Awake!
46. Megadeth – 44 Minutes
47. Ripper Owens – Death Race
48. Alice In Chains – All Secrets Known
49. God Forbid – Walk Alone

50. Immortal – Rise Of Darkness
51. Mushroom Head – Your Soul Is Mine
52. Slayer – World Painted Blood
53. God Forbid – Stockholm Syndrome
54. Hatebreed – Ever Lasting Scar
55. Slipknot – Psycho Social
56. Bruce Kulick – No Friend Of Mine
57. Shadows Fall – Still I Rise
58. Them Crooked Vultures – Gunman
59. Echos Of Empires – Ten Swords

60. Steel Panther – The Shocker
61. Otep – Rise, Rebel, Resist
62. Wayne – Till Death Do Us Part
63. Alexis On Fire – Young Cardinals
64. Alice In Chains – Acid Buble
65. Street Sweeper Social Club – The Oath
66. Lacuna Coil – I Survive
67. Cycle Of Pain – Dead Man Walking
68. New Keepers Of The Water Tower – The Three Headed Cow
69. Mob Research – Tribe

70. Kiss – Say Yeah
71. Shadows Fall – King Nothing
72. CKY – Hellions On Parade
73. Dream Theater – The Shattered Fortress
74. Killswitch Engage – Never Again
75. Keator – Hordes Of Chaos
76. Halford – Get Into The Spirit
77. Living Colour – Ass Hole
78. Mastodon – The Last Baron
79. Heaven And Hell – Eating The Cannibal

80. Ray West – No State Of Grace
81. Seventh Void – Heaven Is Gone
82. Slipknot – Sulfer
83. Static-X – Lunatic
84. Sylosis – After Lifeless Years
85. Arkaea – Locust
86. Baroness – War, Wisdom and Rhyme
87. Warrior Soul – She’s Glaswegian
88. Lamb Of God – Set To Fail
89. Yngwie Malesteen – Live To Fight
90. Megadeth – Headcrusher

91. Arkaea – Beneath The Shades Of Grey
92. Throwdown – The Scythe
93. Swashbuckle – Cruiseship Terror
94. Lazarus A.D. – Last Breath
95. Marilyn Manson – We’re From America
96. Heaven & Hell – Bible Black
97. Ace Frehley – Outerspace
98. Chimaira – Frozen In Time
99. Satyricon – Black Crow On A Tombstone

100. Mastodon – The Czar
101. Municipal Waste – Wrong Answer
102. The Agonist – Thank You, Pain
103. ZO2 – Painted Lady
104. Believer – The Brave
105. Otep – Smash The Control Machine
106. Divine Heresy – Facebreaker
107. Leeches Of Lore – I Am The Raptor
108. Arkaea – Years In Darkness
109. The Agonist – Waiting Out The Winter

110. Anvil – Bombs Away
111. Rammstein – Rammlied
112. Evile – Now Demolition
113. Them Croocked Vultures – New Fang
114. Devin Towsend – Disruptr
115. Red Fang – Prehistoric Dog
116. Throwdown – Tombs
117. Struck By Lightning – The Watchful Eye
118. Paradise Lost – Universal Dream
119. Ace Frehley – Pain In The Neck

120. The Elite – Kill The Sun
121. Immortal – All Shall Fall
122. Freakshow – Everyone
123. Masters Of Reality – King Richard THL
124. Dream Theater – A Nightmare To Remember
125. Devil Driver – Pray For Villains
126. Devin Townsend – The Universe In A Ball!
127. Heaven & Hell – Eating The Cannibal
128. Killswitch Engage – Starting Over
129. Alice In Chains – A Looking In View

130. Lamb Of God – Contractor
131. Motley Crue – Saints Of Los Angeles
132. Queensryche – Silver
133. Satyricon – Wolfpack
134. Street Sweep Social Club – The Oath
135. Sepultura – What I Do
136. New Keepers Of The Water Tower – The Strafing Lobster
137. Slipknot – Butcherhook
138. Snail – Via
139. Kiss – Modern Day Delilah

140. Them Crooked Vultures – Mind Eraser, No Chaser
141. Trivium – Into The Mouth Of Hell We March
142. Leeches Of Lore – Black Cognac
143. Warrior Soul – Don’t Believe
144. Steel Panther – Eyes Of The Panther
145. Queensryche – Man Down!
146. Black Pyramid – Mirror Messiah
147. Kiss – All For The Glory
148. Motley Crue – Mother Fucker Of The Year
149. Autumn Hour – End User

150. Heaven & Hell – Atom & Evil
151. Autumn Hour – Everyday
152. Ripper Owens – Believe
153. Ace Frehley – Foxy & Free
154. Amorphis – Silver Bride
155. Cycle Of Pain – Cycle Of Pain
156. Dream Theater – The Best Of Times
157. Kreator – War Curse
158. Lacuna Coil – Spellbound
159. Marilyn Manson – Four Rusted Horses

160. Megadeth – Endgame
161. Mob Research – Wambulance
162. Seventh Void – Slow Decent
163. Austrian Death Machine – Gotta Go
164. Cave In – Retina Sees Rewind
165. Chevelle – Jars
166. Chimaira – Coming Alive
167. Divine Heresy – Bringer of Plagues
168. Gallows – Crucifucks
169. Ripper Owens – Pick Yourself Up
170. Sirenia – Path To Decay

During this episode I was lucky enough to interview Doc Coyle from New Jersey’s God Forbid. We discussed the following items during the interview:

his stint with Lamb of God, God Forbid’s future plans, the official incorporation of Matt Wiklund in to the band’s ranks, playing with Corey Taylor, Vinnie Paul and Phil Dremmel at The Ride For Dime, meeting Adam Jones of Tool, Mike Mushok of Staind, touring with Slipknot & Metallica, his gear, influences, his upcoming instruction DVD from Rock House, and online lessons through Jam Play.

Other items touched upon:

Mark Morten, Buz McGrath, Unearth, Sonishere, Chris Adler, Marty Friedman, Mesa Boogie Mark 4, EMG Pickups, Set To Fail, In My Words, ESP Guitars, LTD Guitars, Seymour Duncan Pickups, EMG 81, EMG 85, EMG 60, Dimebag Darrel, Jason Christopher, Tony MacAlpine, Van Halen, Ozzy Osbourne, Yngwie Malmsteen, Kobetasonik Festival, Metalway Festival, Fear Factory, Muse, Stockholm Syndrome, Kanye West, Alice In Chains, Throwdown, Pearl Jam, Incubus, Glass Jaw, Jimmy Eat World.

Songs played during this episode:

God Forbid – War Of Attrition
God Forbid – Stockholm Syndrome
Lamb of God – Fake Messiah

This episode features an in-depth interview with Erik Kluibert regarding his playing concepts, his gear, and the jump from Overloaded to White Wizzard.  Other items covered include the writing and recording process of the new album, and their upcoming tour with Korpiklani, Tyr and Swashbuckle.

The episode also features the following songs:

Quite Riot with Randy Rhodes – Look In Any Window

Pantera with Kerry King – God Damn Electric

Overloaded – President’s Day

White Wizzard – Megalondon

Badlands – The River

Behind my banter you will hear tracks from White Wizzard, Overloaded, Misfits, Slash’s Snake Pit

Other topics covered include:

Quiet Riot The Randy Rhodes Years, Dimebag Darrell, Kerry King, Rex, Vinnie Paul, Anthrax, Stomp 442, We’ve Come For You All, ECW, Slash’s Snake Pit, Jake E. Lee, Ray Gillen, Killswitch Engage, Lamb Of God, Randy Rhodes, Metallica, Kirk Hammett, Jimmy Page, Led Zepplin, Kill Em All, Regeneration, Iron Maiden, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Deep Purple, Ritchie Blackmore, Yngwie Malsteen, Jason Becker, Marty Freidman, Steel Panther, Motor City Pick Ups, Les Paul Studio, Tyr, Korpiklani, Wyatt “Screamin Demon” Anderson, Earache Records, Slipknot, Ace Frehley, Viper Room, Steel Panther, Dusk, Jon Leon, Chad Bryan, Slash