Meliah Rage – אולדסקול שממשיך לתת בראש

Meliah Rage has been one of my favorite metal bands since the late 80's, back when I heard their 1988 debut album – Kill To Survive. The band had a perfect balance of aggression and melody, and could write songs that elevated it well above most of the bands active in the US metal scene at that time. Their second album – Solitary Solitude took what the first album achieved and then added more depth, longer and more epic songs, and a fuller sound – in what I still view as one of the greatest American thrash/power metal albums

The band's last two albums featured new vocalist Paul Souza who did a good job, but it was a while ago that I heard the great news that original vocalist Mike Munro was back in the band, to me – the one and only man for the job. With a new album called "Masquerade" about to be released, it seems that Meliah Rage is once more ready to deliver another classic metal album – so we thought it was the right time to speak with the band's guitarist and song-writer – Anthony Nichols, and returned vocalist Mike Munro.

Hi guys, I'd like to start out with Masquerade, your new album. First – why did you choose that certain title and will the cover show?
Mike: It started with an idea I had on how all of us wear masks. How we hide our pain behind smiley faces (work, family, etc…) and how lost we really are. I thought almost everyone could relate to that. The CD cover is a type of mask, but heavy. After all this is Metal.

It's been three years since The Deep And Endless Sleep, apart from the line up changes, how different is the music in the new album?
Tony: No doubt the new songs are longer with more parts. Also probably a lot more speed on the record. We wanted make the reord a bit more epic let's say.

On the return of Mike Munro, to me Mike was always the one and only vocalist for the band, since back in the late 80's and his vocals in "Kill To Survive", so first – why did Paul leave, and how did Mike get back in the picture?
Mike: I guess I'll answer this one since it's kind of about me. First, thanks for the compliment. There was some friction with Paul and the band – so, the search started then with a new singer tryout. Tony had a couple singers try out and one had a promising start but, he had more of a Geoff Tate style. Not really MR sounding. Tony, Jim, Rich Spillberg and I always kept in touch and they gave me a call. I thought it would be a good opportunity to come back after all these years, play some metal and write some great lyrics for an album.

As far as I could ascertain from the new video, his voice sounds almost similar to his "Solitary Solitude" days, was he doing any professional singing during his time away from the band?
Mike: When I left Meliah Rage, I was in quite a few different bands and music became more enjoyable for me at that time; Heavy Rock, Metal, Blues, Praise Team from church. I also am currently singing for a Heavy Rock Christian band called Truth Be Told. Singing is in my blood, both my parents were opera singers. I don't take singing for granted like I used to, although MR is probably the hardest singing I've ever done. Especially this CD.

In what ways did his rejoining the band affect the music in the album?
Mike: None – the music was done and recorded before I came back. Tony gave me a CD and some direction of where verse/chorus would go, but, also said 'Just do what you do'. I did, and ended up writing words over one of Jim's leads (sorry Jim).

When was all the material on the album written? Was it during these last three years, or only since Mike's return as to fit his vocal style?
Mike:– I wrote the lyrics over a 3 month time. I heard the CD and the music style was completely Meliah.

The tracks on the new album seem much longer than the ones on the former two albums; did you seek to capture the "Solitary Solitude" vibe of longer, more complex songs?
Tony: YEP!!!! When i writ the music for a record i get into a certain mode. This record i definitly was thinking longer more complex songs but hoping they would'nt be to boring. In my book it's a fine line between writing long songs that can hold one's ear. I hope we have done that??

One of the things I always liked about Meliah Rage was that there's a perfect combination of aggression and melody, what caused some people problems in defining your genre, be it power metal, or thrash. What would you say are the ingredients that are important to you when writing a song? What's the process in writing one within the band?
Mike: I always thought of Meliah as Power Thrash.

Tony: Like you said… Aggression with melody. I try to write stuff that has some serious heavy riif/hooks and throw in some melodic guitar parts.. I think the same is with Mike. I think Metallica and Arch Enemy are the best at writing heavy stuff with nice melody parts.

Back to the past, you were signed to major label Epic Records during thrash's heydays, what do you recall from working with such a large label?
Mike: Understanding that if someone at the major label is not in your corner it's easy to get lost. We also had the opportunity to tour in a bus as opposed to a van with a trailer. It was a great opportunity.

Tony: No complaints ever on that one. Though we never really made it big, releasing 3 records on Epic while getting all the goodies like tour bus's, lot's of gear ect was and always will be cool!

What kind of a metal scene was there in Boston , Massachusetts during that time?
Mike: Pretty Cool time. I remember there were a lot of places to play and a strong metal scene. Everyone supported each other. You could go to several shows during the week and never hit the same club. It was underground to a point with college radio. Some bigger radio stations would play but, it was mostly after midnight.

Any experiences from that time you recall more fondly than others?
Mike: It was a brotherhood. I remember playing shows with my friends – we all hung out and spent most of our time together; Wargasm, Quick Fever, Formacide, Only Living Witness, Temporary Insanity, Warhead, Dusty Top Hat

You guys have been on hiatus before the Almost Human album, for quite some time, what caused that during that time?
Tony: You mean "Barely Human"? Well after we released "Death Valley Dream" in 1996 it didn't take a brain surgeon to figure out that the metal scene was at a low point. We pretty much just our own ways without ever really breaking up. We all did other music projects and other things in life. Screaming Ferret gave me a call in 2002 and asked if we wanted to release the demo's with Sully Erna playing drums. I said sure and that became "Unfinished Business" Then they asked if we'd do a new record and here we are!

What's the situation now that still drives you to continue creating this kind of music? It's like true metal bands such as yourselves are making any money off it…
Tony: We do it cause we like playing LOUD music! Just about all the $$ we make goes back into the band. I get ascap checks but nothing that's going to make me rich.

What is your take on were Heavy music went these last few years in the US, with the emo movement and its pseudo guitars, and the heavier – metalcore and deathcore genres, do you listen or like these genres?
Tony: I'm an old foggy. I pretty much listen to the same records I've been listening to for years. AC/DC, Original Alice Cooper band, Metallica, Zep 4, Arch Enemy, Wargasm, Priest ect…The usual stuff for a guy my age,..

How different is it working with a small label like Screaming Ferret than with the labels you worked with in the past?
Tony: They've done pretty much everything that a major can do as far as getting major distribution, pay for a video Ect. They just don't have the clout to get us on a big tour or spend lots of $$

Did you check an option of re-releasing your two first albums, or are the rights to them buried in Epic Records' backyard, along with a lot of other excellent albums?
Tony: Technically there still in print on Sony Classics as far as I know.. They re-released "Kill To Survive" and "Live Kill" and split up the tracks on "Solitary Solitude" and used them as bonus tracks. Yes the rights are buried some where.

Finally, what are your plans once the album is out? Do you plan to tour, and if so, where?
Mike: stay tuned…

Tony: It's gotten so late in the year that we're probably looking at 2010 for any touring. I know we're going to do a show in Boston and record it. Maybe a dvd?? Like the big guy said. Stay tuned!