The latest episode of Mars Attacks Podcast features interviews with Hades guitar tandem Dan Lorenzo, and Scott LaPage. The first half of the episode contains an interview with Scott in which he touches on his new band The Freeze Tag Assassins, his blues playing and the Hades reunion (among other things). During the Dan Lorenzo segment, he discusses not only the Hades show, but being featured in Moshed Potatoes, the soon to be released Hades and Non-Fiction split DVD, the possibility of their being new music from either band, and the current status of The Cursed which features Blitz from Overkill, and Scream Metal the cover band he shares with Alan Tecchio (also of Hades and Non-Fiction) and Mark Strigl, and John Ostronomy of Talking Metal fame.

Dan not being one to mix words has some interesting comments regarding the Big 4, and alludes to the fact that Hades was playing a certain Joe Jackson cover well in advance of another New York Tri-state area band.

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This was originally going to be posted on another site, but for some reason was vetoed. In any event this is what I put together.

ACCEPT
Blood Of The Nations

I had the pleasure of speaking to WOLF HOFFMANN a few weeks back regarding this album for my Mars Attacks Podcast. Unfortunately due to technical difficulties the interview was not saved. In any event, I was able to discuss this album at great length with him, along with the insertion of new lead singer MARK TORNILLO, silencing the pro-UDO DIRKSCHNEIDER critics, etc.

Interestingly enough he mentioned that the band got back together again sort of by accident. He and PETER BALTES had decided to jam, and write some music just for fun, and see what came out of it. Shortly after that a mutual friend introduced them to Mark, and there was really no turning back, no audition process what so ever, they knew he was going to be a great fit, and is he ever! As like many ANDY SNEAP produced albums Blood Of The Nations is strong throughout, and in my opinion right up there with some of their classic UDO fronted albums.

Before delving deeper into the album, let me quickly touch upon the UDO subject. I have no issue with ACCEPT continuing without him. The main songwriters in the band have always been Wolf and Peter. Udo did not want to work with them any longer, so why should the band just sit around and do nothing if he’s only interested in his solo career? Also, listen to the material, its much stronger than anything Udo has done throughout what I deem to be a mediocre solo career. Being that I’m also a Hispanic that is originally from New Jersey like Mark (his last name means screw, as in nail, screwdriver, hammer, etc.) helps their cause as well!

Blood Of The Nations does two things, it captures the band’s classic sound, and brings it into the now, making it very fresh and relevant for 2010. As I’ve mentioned this a bunch of times with groups that have been around as long (or longer) than ACCEPT, this is exactly what you want as a fan. I’ve reviewed albums by such bands as RAGE who try and do the same, but it just ends up sounding very thin, and dated. MOTLEY CRUE is another, where they’ve tried to go with what’s hip today, and not stick to what got them to the dance. Again this at least for me it comes off sort of cheap. Similar to how Mark was brought into the band Andy Sneap contacted the band, and offered his services as a lifelong fan of the band. No other producers where even considered, the end result is instant classic worthy material.

Standout tracks in my opinion are the opening track “Beat The Bastards”, the anthemic “Teutonic Terror” which is guaranteed to stick in your head for a few days, “The Abyss” which was the very first track I heard off of the album, the title track “Blood Of The Nations” and “Pandemic”. This album is easily one of the best that has come out in 2010.

Grade: A+
Victor M. Ruiz

During this episode we have two interviews, one with Dan Lorenzo from Hades, The Cursed, and Non-Fiction. With Dan we discuss his entire musical career, covering all of the bands listed above, his solo work, and his involvement in Screaming Metal. We also discuss his love for basketball, various festivals, musical influences, etc.

The other interview included in this episode is conducted with brothers Joe and John from the band Misery. This interview with was conducted as a way to prepare for the release of their debut album. This interview goes over all of the basic information surrounding the band, touching on how the band got together, how they transitioned to be the band they are today, what is was like working with Joey Z, among other things. We’re planning on doing a follow up once the album has been released.

Tracks heard during this interview include:

Keep It Together – Dan Lorenzo
Save You – Misery
Take The Power Back – Misery
A Flower Without Sun – The Greatest Fear
In The Know – Non-Fiction
Absorbed – Hades
Evil In The Bag – The Cursed

Topics covered during both interviews include:

Misery, Visions Of Disorder, Metallica, Guns N Roses, Korn, Joey Z, Life Of Agony, Pantera, Super Metal Records, Method Of Groove Studios, System Two Studios, Metal Army America, Type O Negative, Devil Driver, Metallica, Megadeth, Iron Maiden, Free Reign, Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth, Tony Iommi, Black Sabbath, Kiss, Aerosmith, Heaven & Hell, Dio, Steppin Out Magazine, Mark Strigl, TMetal.com, The Cursed, Tim McGillis, Big Blue Meanie, Non-Fiction, In The Know, Room Full Of Sinners, Overkill, Savatage, Pete Steele, Tom Coughlin, Hades, Bang Your Head Festival, Twisted Sister, Jimmy Shulmann, Scott LePage, Kevin Bolembach, Infernophonic, Keep It True, Alan Tecchio, Watchtower, Rick Colaluca, Ron Jarzombek, Doug Keyser, Zakk Wylde, Gary Howe, Dimbag Darrell, ZZ Top, Waken Festival, Metal Blade Records, JJ French, Lamour, Dave Mustain, Cassius King, Draw The Line, Talking Metal on Fuse, Screaming Metal, John Ostronomy, Ron Lipnicki, Metal Mike, Halford, Rob Dukes, Exodus, John Kosco, St. Caine, Drop Box, Steve Zing, Danzig, Mark Tornillo, T.T. Quick, Accept, Ace Frehley, Anomaly, C.C. Banana, Merciful Hate, Riot, Swords And Tequila, Judas Priest, Testament, Megadeth, Priest Feast, Cory Proctor, Mark Colombo, Scott Stapp, P.O.D., Don Jamison, Jim Florentine

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