Tom Shirley is the drummer of the Thrash Metal Band Malviant from the Northwest GA/ Chattanooga, under the Georgia Metal Alliance Int’l H.M.C. and he is a proud member of the G.M.A , We had a chance to answking him some questions …..
Q1. Hello! How are you? How are things over there?
A2. Hello !! Things are very well here. I’m staying busy of course with Malviant as we solidify our songs to enter Blue Ogre Noise Lab with the legendary Tommy Stewart soon to record our debut album. I know we’re all pleased with the efforts of Soman Records to help us get this album out as well. I am also taking part in a Black Sabbath tribute band called The Rules Of Hell, in which we are playing only the Ronnie James Dio era, playing the Heaven and Hell album in it’s entirety as well as Mob Rules, Voodoo, and I. So I am staying very busy, to say the least.
Q2 . Let us get to the point of this interview. How and when did you decide to form Malviant ?
A2. It was an idea of mine to get a thrash band going. I’ve played many other forms of metal and rock going back to the mid 80’s when I started playing music, and thrash was one of the ones that was so hard to find members around in this area to do. Around 2011, Adam Cochran, who is now in Armed Chaos, he and I had the idea at one time to do it, and things didn’t work out due to conflict of schedules, and other things. A few months later in February 2012, we revisited that idea, recruited Billy Lynn, and grabbed bassist Krystofer Frashier. We decided on the name of Catastrofear. We went through some lineup changes, as Adam left and we brought in our now current lead man, Mike Smith, and on bass is Martin Landis, who I played with in the power metal band Emperion for a brief time. Sometime in 2015 (I believe it was 2015) we decided to change the name to Malviant, as it just seemed a better fit for us, and we had also discovered that the Catastrofear name was being used by a death metal band in Austria. So the timing to change the name made sense.
Q3 .What do you want to achieve with this band ?
A3 . I believe we have achieved so much already with this band, that anything else good that happens going forward will just be a bonus. In our second show ever, we opened for Billy Milano’s M.O.D. and we also opened for Crowbar back in early 2016. Getting signed to Soman Records was also a highlight, as well as having Tommy Stewart being our guy when we finally record this album, hahaha !!
Q4 .Was it easy for you to find a line- up from the start?
A4. Luckily yes !!
Q5. Can you tell me more about the new Album ?
A5 . We are going to go with an eight song album, as we decided to drop one of the ones that we recorded on our EP we did back in 2014. All the songs are contributed by all three of our string masters, too. Almost all of our tunes not only have the thrash sound, but also some traditional metal riffs, and some progressive metal elements as well. You’ll hear our influences in some of the songs. You’ll say “Hey, that sounds a little like Maiden, or that sounds like a Kreator riff,” Then yes, you’re probably going to be correct, haha! I hear that stuff as more as a tribute to our influences rather than a rip off. Everyone that plays music has some of their influences come out in what they play most of the time anyway.
Q6. How would you describe your band sound and which elements in your music do you thing make you stand out?
A6. I think the diversity that I mentioned earlier in the way our music is written, and the styles that everyone has that brings all this together. It’s not a straight line all out thrash at 100 miles an hour, and there is nothing wrong with that as I love that approach because it’s worked well for many legendary thrash bands over the years. The guys lead and rhythm abilities, both Mike and Billy, apply their style in the perfect way. It all just works well.
Q7 .Who writes the lyrics in the band?
A7 . Billy is the primary writer in terms of the lyrics.
Q8. Can you tell us which the lyrical theme of each song that you have included in your new album is?
A8.Without giving too much away, we have some stuff that covers Norse mythology, J.R.R. Tolkien, medieval times, werewolf, aggression, violence..
Q9. How do you feel about your album?
A9 . I feel it is a very strong effort. I know we all have written these to the best of our abilities, and hope whomever hears it, will be impressed and will want to let their friends know that they need to check it out as well.
Q10 . Is there anything that you would like to Bring to the Band?
A10. An impressive performance with a great album and great show every time we play live, while having fun while we do it.I think that you have been asked so many questions all these years. I would like from you to think a question that you have never been asked before or you would like to be asked and also answer it… Why do you still play metal at your age? Because it’s in my blood. I don’t feel my age when I am playing, and I hope I have the ability to play this type of music as long as I can.
Q11 . Do you think that new album can bring new fans to the band ?
A11 . I certainly hope so, of course. As long as we can get a good product out there, which I feel this album is strong, and with the luck here and there, that we’ll gain new fans that will appreciate what we do, and will want to continue to follow us throughout our journey
Q12 .What you think about Acier Doux Metal Management and Promotions Tunisia?
A12 .What a fantastic organization. Always spreading the word of up and coming bands, while still supporting legends like Tyrant, Ross The Boss, and others. We are lucky to be under their guidance and support, no doubt.
Q13 . Thanks for your time answering my questions. I wish you the best of luck.
A13. Thank you as well, I enjoyed. I hope everyone will check out our new album once it is out, and come out to a show too !!
Interviewer Med Manef Slama
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