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8. Interviews/Rob Rock

Interview with Rob Rock - MTUK Metal 'Zine (2007)

INTERVIEW WITH ROB ROCK


Rob Rock


MM: First of all, "Garden of Chaos", what an album! Are you proud of it?


RR: Yes, I'm very happy with the new album. My goal was to carry on where Holy Hell left off and then bring it to a new place with a lot of diversity and different vocal performances and ranges. I believe I reached my goal and have delivered a very worthy follow up to the Holy Hell album.


MM: Is there any logic behind the album title or artwork?


RR: The title refers to modern day society and how it has evolved from the Garden of Eden to the Garden of Chaos. To be fair, all of your album artwork is stunning. Thank you. There are actually two different covers that I worked on with two different artists and released for Garden of Chaos. One for Europe (Felipe Machado) and one for Asia (Liza Rock).


MM: Your voice is extremely prolific, but it is especially praiseworthy in "This Time is the Last Time". Do you have any favourite tracks on "Garden of Chaos"?


Rob Rock


RR: Yes, many... the one you mentioned as well as Only a Matter of Time, Unconditional, Metal Breed and the title track...to name a few! The album has been released in Europe (AFM Records) as well as Japan (JVC/Victor Music) and of course in the U.S.


MM: Do you plan to make tour dates in Europe & Asia any time soon?


RR: I hope to be touring in 2008. Right now we are looking at the opportunities and hope to make plans soon for next year. Rob, it has to be said, you look every bit the Rock star that you sound like.


MM: Would you credit your success to the efforts of yourself and your musicians, or the artists who influenced you primarily?


RR: I would say it's the songs and the voice and the musicians that I've had the good fortune to work with over my career.


MM: Do you prefer your solo ventures, or do you miss the band life which you recorded within previously?


RR: A little of both, I like being able to call the shots as a solo artist but I also like being in a band and not having all the weight on my own shoulders.


Rob Rock

MM: Any crazy tales you'd be kind enough to share with readers? Any events which still leave you bemused to this day?


RR: Not any that you could print! hahaha! I've definitely seen some crazy stuff over the years but the most memorable was the time when we were all eating in a restaurant and ended up making a bet with one loud mouth roadie. We bet that he didn't have the balls to "leave his mark" (in a big way) on the front table of the restaurant - well he did - and I hear that we have been banned from that restaurant ever since!


MM: Your musical output, many would agree, juxtaposes the classic sound with the modern demands of today. While many try to acquire this skill, some inevitably fail. However, have you come across any bands or artists who have particularly impressed you?


RR: Thank you. Well there's been many over the years but not too many lately. I like bands like Firewind, Masterplan and others who have a classic sound yet it's quite modern too.


MM: On http://www.robrock.com/ you offer vocal tips, would you like to offer any other pieces of advice to aspiring bands?


RR: My advice is to concentrate on songwriting. Songwriting is the key to longevity. Good songs will always last and be appreciated beyond any fads or labels.


MM: "Garden of Chaos" is not just an 11 track album. It's a piece of art, delivered by a musical virtuoso, and it is a definite must for any fans of melodic metal. Why would you implore readers to check out Rob Rock & "Garden of Chaos"?


RR: I would say that one should buy the album with complete faith that you will get what you expect plus even more. I think there are some great songs and melodies here and the production is state of the art. Enjoy!


Interviewed by Matt Malek







Rob Rock - Garden of Chaos Review


Artist: Rob Rock
Album: Garden of Chaos
Type: Album
Label: AFM Records


Rob Rock - Garden of Chaos

Many of my favourite musical moments of the eighties revolves around a project in which vocalist Rob Rock participated. Joshua’s 1988 release Intense Defense was one of the first to catch my attention, a melodic metal masterpiece showcasing top of the line production values and the superb playing of guitar virtuoso Joshua Perahia. Rob parted ways with Joshua following the release of Intense Defense and formed the commercial metal outfit Driver with guitarist Roy Z. While Driver never signed a deal with a label, it did put together a five song cassette only demo of a high professional quality. After joining forces with Canadian guitarist Dennis Cameron to record the melodic hard rock of Angelica’s 1989 self-titled debut, Rob teamed up with another accomplished guitarist, Chris Impellitteri. The nineties found Rob releasing four albums with Impellitteri that are now considered mainstays in the metal and hard rock community: Grin And Bear It (1992), Answer To The Master (1994), Screaming Symphony (1996) and Eye Of The Hurricane (1998). By the turn of the century, however, Rob recorded his final album with Impellitteri, Crunch, before departing the group and pursuing a solo career. His debut solo release, the 2000 effort Rage Of Creation, combined elements of melodic metal and hard rock while in 2003 he followed up with the more guitar driven melodic power metal of Eyes Of Eternity. Rob’s first two solo albums moved in a progressively heavier direction and he maintained that trend in 2005 with Holy Hell, a work featuring some of the darkest and most powerful musical moments of his career.


Returning two years later with his fourth solo outing Garden Of Chaos, Rob has put together a work taking the guitar driven heaviness characteristic to Holy Hell and imbuing it with the melodic sensibilities of Rage Of Creation and Eyes Of Eternity. Noteworthy hooks abound throughout the project, particularly on the catchy melodic metal of “Savior’s Call”, “This Is The Last Time” and “Spirit In The Sky”- three tracks heavily influenced by the eighties. If, on the other hand, you are looking for a more aggressive sound then check out “Garden Of Chaos” (a fast paced track backed by periodic outbursts of double bass), the bottom heavy “Satan’s Playground” and aptly entitled metal anthem “Metal Breed”. “Millennial Reign”, a sublime piece with a neo-classical feel, stands alongside the mid-tempo “Only A Matter Of Time” and straightforward hard rock of “Ride The Wind” (a Japan only release remixed version of a song that made its initial appearance as a bonus track to Holy Hell). You will also find two very well done acoustic ballads in “Unconditional” and “Ode To Alexander”. Rob, as one would expect, remains at the top of his game on lead vocals. (He is not called the Voice of Melodic Metal for nothing!). Continuing to display a smooth sounding and melodic based vocal style with copious range, he has never sounded better on “Satan’s Playground” and “Spirit In The Sky”, two tracks in which he really cuts loose. “Only A Matter Of Time” and “Metal Breed”, however, find the artist mixing in occasional elements of low key grit to his vocal delivery. To say that the guitar playing here is incredible would be an understatement (particularly when considering the talent Rob recruited to participate on the project). Narnia guitarist Carl Johan Grimmark handles the majority of the lead work on Garden Of Chaos – cutting loose best on “Only A Matter Of Time” – but Gus G. (Firewind), Roy Z., Bob Rossi and Peter Hallgren lend their abilities to the album as well. As a matter of fact, fans of dual lead guitar would do themselves a favor by checking out the trade off taking place between Hallgren and Grimmark on “Savior’s Call” and “Millennial Reign”. The Narnia rhythm section of drummer Andreas Johansson and bassist Andreas Olsson also perform on the album. It must be noted the aggressive drumming of Johansson on “Garden Of Chaos” and “Savior’s Call” helps put both pieces over the top. Drummer Bobby Jarzombek furnishes his tight playing to two of the albums tracks while Mistheria provides added touch on keyboards.


Production wise, Garden Of Chaos maintains the same high standards found on the artists three previous solo outings.


http://www.robrock.com
http://www.afm-records.de


John Lambeth

- 인터뷰 원문 페이지(Original Interview Page) : http://www.metalteamuk.net/interview-robrock.htm (Closed)

- 리뷰 원문 페이지(Original Review Page) : http://www.metalteamuk.net:80/cdreviews-robrock.htm (Closed)



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