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**Photo used by permission of THROATPUNCH**
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Metal
Pit: Greetings guys and welcome to the Metal Pit. Never has a name
for a band been more appropriate than Throatpunch, who came up with
that name?
ThroatpuncH: In the early stages of the
project there were only 3 members, Victor Ferlaino, Rob Arsenault and
Paul Lawrence. Names for the band were the last thing on our mind. We
wanted to come up with songs and post them as soon as possible on our
MySpace page. After posting our first demo on MySpace we started
throwing around names, all three of us had some really good ideas.
Instead of one of us naming the band we decided to have our new fans
vote on names that we came up with. We posted 10 names every week for
four weeks. ThroatpuncH won by a large margin.
Metal Pit: Can you introduce yourselves to our readers?
ThroatpuncH: Adam Lahr: Lead Vocals, Rob Arsenault: Guitar, Victor
Ferlaino: Drums, Paul Lawrence: Bass Guitar, Ashley Taylor: Lead Guitar
and Samplebocker: Samples.
Metal Pit: Before I ever heard one note of music from this band I saw a
pic on your profile of the "Samplebocker" and thought to myself "Oh
yeah, this is gonna be some intense shit here" and obviously I was right
but how did he come into play with the overall sound of this band?
ThroatpuncH: We wanted to incorporate samples in the music.
Singer/Front man Adam Lahr knew of this phenomenon known as
Samplebocker, he acquired his email address through an unknown source
and suggest he try out. We asked Adam to email him to see if he would be
interested. Adam came to the next practice and said he emailed him,
gave him the address and time. As the band anxiously waited he showed up
at practice. Guitarist Rob Arsenault and Drummer Victor Ferlaino were
warming up when Singer Adam Lahr inspired from what he heard in the warm
up started singing, Samplebocker immediately plugged his sample station
into the PA dialed in on our sound and started adding samples. That
night we wrote Mr. Moneybags and Samplebocker was part of the
ThroatpuncH family. The mystery behind Samplebocker is that no one knows
his real name, what he really looks like. At our concerts he shows up
10 minutes before we hit the stage. After the show he stays for about 20
minutes to take pictures and sign autographs, and then he’s gone
without a trace. Legend says that he was burned in a Metal refining
accident on over 90% of his body. We had also heard that he is seasoned
in martial arts and carries a 20 inch machete harnessed to his back.
Metal Pit: How would you describe the Throatpunch sound to a potential new fan?
ThroatpuncH:We tried to incorporate many metal genres in our songs
to grab the attention of but those who like Hard Rock, Thrash, Hardcore
and Death. We would say our sound is an eclectic mix of Metal. Hard
Groove Metal.
Metal Pit: How did you all first get together?
ThroatpuncH: Guitarist: Rob Arsenault and Drummer: Victor Ferlaino
were in a band together, Victor was also in a side project with Paul
Lawrence. Rob and Vic’s band needed a bass player and Victor recommend
that they try out Paul Lawrence to fill the void. Paul came in on the
first day and killed it. He was eager and very excited to be in another
project and had a lot of input. Victor still searching for the ultimate
band wanted to form another project, Victor and Rob had chemistry aside
from their main band that was heavier and more brutal than anything they
have done. Victor feeling like he had the foundation for a successful
project, asked Rob and Paul if they would like to form a new band
incorporating the new sound that Rob and Vic created and then it all
started.
Metal Pit: Had all of you previously played in other bands in your hometown before hooking up?
ThroatpuncH: Yes every one of us played in different bands.
Metal Pit: Did you all pretty much click right away or did it take some time for the chemistry to develope?
ThroatpuncH: Rob and Vic already had chemistry and Paul very quickly
caught on. When Adam came into the picture he was a perfect fit. He
immediately started singing over what we had produced and it sounded
like he already knew the material.
Metal Pit: What bands or musicians can you say have been the most influence on you and your music?
Black Sabbath, Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax, Megadeth, Biohazard, Sepultura,Tool
Metal Pit: The band hails from Atlanta Georgia (U.S.) which is in the
southern part of the country and I would say over the years has not
really been a hotbed for Heavy Metal music, at least not in the
mainstream but ThroatpuncH seems to have a pretty rabid and loyal
following there, what makes this band stand out from some of the rest?
ThroatpuncH: We are unlike any other band in Georgia; we have a
stage show with added lighting and sound. Our front men jump in the
crowd and mosh with the audience. We hang out with our fans after the
show. We throw BBQ’s and parties for our fans.
Metal Pit: The band recently released your first CD entitled
"ThroatpuncH" which is an eight song metal punch right to the throat my
friends, was this cd a long time in the making and is the band happy
with the final outcome?
ThroatpuncH: The CD took approx. one year. That includes writing all
the songs and recording them. Once we recorded the meat of the tracks
we handed them over to Corey Lowery. (who has worked with-Stuck MoJo,
Dark New Day, Switched, Stereomud, Sevendust, Eye Empire) We fired our
Lead Guitar player while we were recording and we were very fortunate
that Corey’s brother Clint Lowery agreed to help us out in a jam. The
Vocals and Lead Guitar were recorded at Corey Lowery Productions studio.
Corey mixed and mastered our CD and we are very pleased with the end
results. Each member has their own issue with their performance on the
CD, but the overall outcome was good.
Metal Pit: With songs like "Mr. Moneybags", "No thank you", and "Devil's
Parade" the band definitely has a political and social edge to its
lyrics, who writes the lyrics for the band and where do you get
inspiration from?
ThroatpuncH: We
leave the lyric writing to Adam Lahr. He is the singer and that is his
art. Not one of us object to anything he has done vocally.
Metal Pit: ThroatpuncH is currently an unsigned band, how hard was it getting this CD together without any help from a label?
ThroatpuncH: We
were very lucky to be working with Stage Manager Albin Blomkvest, he
has connections in the industry that played a big part in the production
of our CD. He is personal friends with Corey Lowery. We were also
fortunate that his Corey’sbrother Clint Lowery of Sevendust liked the
music so much that he agreed to play all the lead guitar parts on our
CD.
Metal Pit : This business is a Freaking day to day fight as I am sure
you guys know and so many bands drop out of the scene because it just
gets too much for them sometimes, how can this band stay focused and
keep fighting while not selling out and staying true to your roots and
to your fans?
ThroatpuncH: At
this point in our career we have not been pressured to change our style
or format of music, everything we do musically comes straight from the
heart. We only have one CD completed and our new stuff is heavier and
more aggressive.
Metal Pit: Ok, guys if I were a record company exec tell me why I should sign this band?
ThroatpuncH: We're
very marketable, we have great stage presence and we have somewhat of a
gimmick, with our lighting show and stage antics we would be
non-stoppable. Plus our music Kicks Ass.
Metal Pit: Unfortunately as of yet I have not had the opportunity of
seeing this band play live; tell me and our readers what we can expect
from a live Throatpunch show?
ThroatpuncH: Every
show ThroatpuncH has ever done we are told by several people
that....that was the best and most powerful show they had ever seen,
better than most National acts with tons of energy. So we would tell
your readers only what we've heard from our fans.....
Metal Pit: Are there any favorite clubs of yours in the Atlanta area that you really dig playing at?
ThroatpuncH: We
don't have one favorite club or clubs. Every venue we played we had a
great time, 9 out of 10 times we would all agree that we would play that
venue again.
Metal Pit: Any horror stories from the road you can share with us today, haha?
ThroatpuncH: We
have been very fortunate till this point to have had successful road
trips to where we arrived safe and sound and didn't have any
transportation issues.
Metal Pit: What's your opinion on the state of the Metal scene today?
ThroatpuncH: The
Metal scene in Atlanta is not huge but very tight, the scene has a lot
of die hards that come out to shows as often as possible. There is a
certain comradery amongst metal heads that is not evident in any other
genre.
Metal Pit: Ok, what are some of the things about the scene or the business that piss you off?
ThroatpuncH: Well,
we all are over getting pissed off over certain situations. Hate to say
it.....but it’s all who you know.....like any business, it takes money
to make money. Funding your own project is like opening a business.
Metal Pit: With the digital age things with Metal are much different
today than they were a few years back with mediums like I-tunes and
You-tube, do you think most bands utilize these mediums the way they
should and are these tools something ThroatpuncH has taken advantage of
to help get the word out about your music?
ThroatpuncH: Yes,
Throatpunch has been very aggressive in marketing our music as well as
our merchandise. Bassist: Paul Lawrence and Stage Manager: Albin
Blomkvest heads that department with other members of our Brutal Family
working many nights into the early mornings making sure they get the
word out about ThroatpuncH.
Metal Pit: Yeah, I guess the days of cassette trading and plastering
flyers on telephone poles all over town are kinda things of the past,
huh?
ThroatpuncH: We
still get out there in the public eye to post flyers at venues, retail
establishments and hand out free demos. It's somewhat primitive
marketing but not everyone has a computer or an i-phone. We actually get
great responses when we go to a venue, stand outside, hand out free
demo's and patrons recognize us and say.....Yeah!!!! I saw one of your
shows.....it kicked ass!!!!
Metal Pit: Where do you all see this band in the next five years and what can you do to take it to the next level?
ThroatpuncH: Well
if all goes according to plan, five years from now we would all be
notable musicians with several successful tours under our belt with many
endorsements and our own label.....A literal ThroatpuncH Empire....
Metal Pit: Where can potential fans find out more about the band or check out your music?
ThroatpuncH: We
are everywhere, we are Third in Atlanta, GA. on reverbnation out of one
hundred and fifty metal bands, and our music can be heard for free
and/or purchased. Check us out.
www.throatpunchmusic.com
www.reverbnation.com/throatpunchmetal
www.facebook.com/throatpunchmetal
www.youtube.com/ThroatpuncH1
www.twitter.com/throatpunch1
www.myspace.com/throatpunchmusic
Also download our music at:
iTunes, Rhapsody, e-music, Amazon mp3, Spotify, Napster, iHeartRadio, VerveLife,MediaNet
Metal Pit: What does the near future and the rest of 2011 hold for the band?
ThroatpuncH: We
were very fortunate this year to have landed some national openers this
year. We opened for Straight Line Stitch, 36 Crazy Fists, Flaw, Future
Leaders of the World, and Saturate. We hope this good run of shows
will continue and bring us much success.
Metal Pit : On behalf of myself and the Metal Pit we want to thank you
for your time today.I think the band is Awesome and we look forward to
hearing great things from you guys in the future.
Throatpunch
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