Interview With Michael Amott From Arch Enemy By Wheeling Rampage Productions

www.archenemy.net

www.facebook.com/archenemyofficial

www.myspace.com/archenemy

For those out there who do not know who you are; where is Arch Enemy from and who is in the band?

Michael Amott - We’re from Sweden and we consist of five members…

• Christopher Amott − guitar (1996–2005, 2007–present)
• Michael Amott – guitar (1996–present)
• Sharlee D'Angelo − bass guitar (1999–present)
• Daniel Erlandsson − drums (1996, 1998–present)
• Angela Gossow − lead vocals (2001–present)

What gear does each member use? Is there any brand loyalty?

Michael Amott –  Yes, we all have signature equipment with various companies  such as Dean Guitars, Ibanez Basses, Pearl Drums, RotoSound Strings, Caparison Guitars, Zoom FX etc etc. A more complete list of what we use to make noise can be found here: http://archenemy.net/2011/?go=theband

Who writes the lyrics and is there any main theme?

Michael Amott – Angela writes most of the lyrics nowadays and the theme of the ”Khaos Legions” album is.

How was Angela Gossow chosen to replace Johan Liiva? What feelings went through you when you heard her vocals?

Michael Amott – It was a pretty relaxed process where we  jammed on some old songs which sounded great and then we worked in the studio on what was to become the ”Wages Of Sin” album. Once we started creating new music together we quickly realized this was the voice we needed to take the music to a more unique and powerful place.

How did it feel re-recording old tracks for the album The Root Of All Evil with Angela?

Michael Amott – It was a cool experience going back and re-discovering the early material. In some ways that process inspired us while writing the “Khaos Legions” album I think.

In recording Khaos Legions there is fourteen tracks, what made the band decide to put so many tracks on the album?

Michael Amott – Actually, three of those tracks are instrumental intros or interludes. I don’t feel you can ever give the fans too much music, as long as the quality is there.

What’s up with the album cover with the half terminator half gas mask and half soldiers?


Michael Amott – That’s three halves, that doesn’t add up now does it?

The riffs on the new album have a more dirty feeling to them, do you feel your participation in the Carcass reunion has had any effect on this?



Michael Amott – I wouldn’t be able to say… I think everything I do has some influence on what I play and compose, so that’s quite possible…

Has your participation in both Carcass and Spiritual Beggars had an effect on the performance and participation of Arch Enemy in the metal scene?



Michael Amott – No, I don’t believe it has. Spiritual Beggars does not take up much of my time as it’s more of a side project deal – something we do to have a blast with five friends.. The Carcass re-union shows did take up quite a bit of my time in 2008 and 2009, but it was a good break for Arch Enemy at that time and it re-energized Arch Enemy I think!

Arch Enemy has remained a pretty solid unit with the brief period where Chris left. How has the relationship been since his return?



Michael Amott – It’s good, thanks for asking. We have a very stable and productive atmosphere since he came back into the fold. 

Is this where you thought Arch Enemy would have been back in 1996?


Michael Amott – I never tried to look that far into the future, I just love creating music and playing guitar… I am proud of the fact that Arch Enemy and myself have proved to have longevity and success.

What has been the highest and lowest points in Arch Enemy’s career as a band?

Michael Amott – Lowest point would be the slow start between 1996-1999 when our brand of metal was not popular. Highest point would be becoming a self managed band in 2008 and everything that has happened after that. 

What is your favourite and worst venue/city to play in?

Michael Amott – That’s a tough one! For example. the first time I played in Bejing, China I did not enjoy it much… The second time I played there I loved it. So, you never know…

If you had to pick one track on the latest album to present to someone what would it be?



Michael Amott – That would be ”Bloodstained Cross”. That song goes through a lot of different moods and really showcases the talents of every member. It’s our new video too, check it out!

What about a brand new fan, if you had someone who has never seen or heard of Arch Enemy what track or album would you pick to say, "Hey if your gonna like my band give this album a listen."?

Michael Amott – I’d strongly urge to to check out our newest ”Khaos Legions” release – of course! Better still, come to an Arch Enemy show!

What do you think of metal in 2011?


Michael Amott – I think the fans are better than ever, and metal seems to be very strong overall… Although, there seems to be an increasing amount of subgenres, dividing into even more subgenres which kind of gets ridiculous? To me, it either kicks my ass or it does not. I don’t care what it’s called. But I enjoy being in the scene in 2011, Arch Enemy is strong and we’re having an excellent time doing what we do.

Any last comments?

Michael Amott – Thank you for the interview! Come and see Arch Enemy / Devildriver / Skeleton Witch / Chtonic on the ”North American Khaos 2011” tour!

Port Hope, Ontario - Rec Center - 62 McCaul Street - Saturday

Hey guys, I really apologize how August has turned out post wise, but I promise to get back into the swing of things after this Saturday. I am organizing a concert, on my own and this is the first time things are as bad as they could be. Many of the helpers I had now have other last minute plans they need to tend to. I am also struggling to be able to pay for the costs of the concert and as hard as this is to deal with myself the venue is now freaking out because they think I'm going to overflow the room I rented. So now they are like, here use the half gym, its only double the price, I'm sticking with the room.

Anyway, here is the information for the show and if you are in Ontario try to make it out:

August 20th
$5 until 6; $10 after 6
Port Hope Rec Centre
62 McCaul Street

Fallen Legion 10:15-11:00
Bolero 9:15-10:00
Immersed 8:15-9:00
Esoteric Doctrine 7:15-8:00
Pagan Ritual 6:15-7:00
Our Time Of Glory 5:30-6:00

Spotlight: My YouTuber Picks (Episode One - Vloggers [ShayTards, NerdzRL, yoursweetsix6six])

Hello everyone welcome to episode one, of a series I like to call “My YouTuber Picks.” This first week I think I’m just going to showcase the vloggers I like, since I watch them each day. There are three different users and they are very entertaining. I know you may be saying I missed a few vloggers, but these three are the only ones I watch religiously. Also I would like to let you know that I have made a FaceBook fan page for those who want updates easier. Now! On with the show!

They have been vlogging for two whole years and they are going for three. I am talking about the awesome, entertaining, humorous, Shaytards. This family will brighten up anyone’s day as Shay Carl and Katilette bring you their daily life raising four tards, SonTard, PrincessTard, BabyTard, and RockTard. You can follow them on their adventures as shoot for video, go to conventions and meet ups and just see their life at home. Even Shay’s two brothers do videos as well, which makes this family even better! I’ll leave links below for all of their stuff as well as videos so you get the feel about what their videos are like.

website    shaytards   iphonetard    shaycarl    katilette     shayloss    caseylavere    loganmckay55      shaycarlbook     clothes      twitter      dailybooth

The second vlogger I would like to share with you is NerdzRL. I must admit I only found out about her from TheStation2 Watching You video but since ShayCarl was showing how awesome she was, I had to check her out. She reminded me exactly like her, minus the kids and wife, because of how energetic, inspirational and fun to watch her videos are. As the Shaytards brings happiness at night, NerdzRL can make any morning a happy one. I have no problem admitting it but I usually always sing along with the intro theme songs of both ShayTards and NerdzRL. She also does other sketch type videos on her Nerdz4L channel and I must say every one of them makes me laugh. Also I must add that all this month you should vote for her on King Of The Web, ten times a day, and make sure she stays on top because she deserves it!

Nerdz4L           NerdzRL             Twitter             Dailybooth

Last and certainly not least we have Max and Amanda’s Daily Vlogs. I know these guys personally and they are awesome people. Max is actually the vocalist and guitarist of the band Esoteric Doctrine, they are regulars for playing at my concerts and they are very talented. What sets this vlog apart from any I know is the fact that Max doesn’t care what he says or what people think of him. That to me makes the vlogs more interesting because you never know what he’ll say next. He also has a thing for NOS and will not go through a day without his daily dose of energy. I hope one day NOS signs him for all his advertising he has basically done for him. Maybe they will sponsor Esoteric Doctrine and amp up their gear or give them national if not international concerts, the band deserves it! Also I want to congratulate them on their pregnancy and I hope for the best. A caution to those who want to watch, this vlog has a large amount of swearing so if you don’t like it “suck the f**k off.”

        Vlog           Esoteric Doctrine             Facebook          Twitter         

   Max            Amanda

Unboxing Duke Nukem: Forever (Balls Of Steel Edition)

Hello everyone, this is my brother's first video and he is unboxing Duke Nukem: Forever's Balls of Steel Edition. Hope you enjoy it. Review and gameplay will be out tomorrow.

L.A. Noire Walkthrough

Here I will continuously embedding my L.A. Noire gameplay footage as it comes available on YouTube.

L.A. Noire Review - 9.5/10

This is from the gaming blog that I made, that blog is no longer up and I am moving it to this blog as a sub category blog. For more BandOfNerdz, click the page name to the right. More to come possibly but we will see what ever happens.

Hello everyone, this is Aaron from Band Of Nerdz and I am here to bring you a review of the new detective game, L.A. Noire. Before I get into my thoughts on the game let me tell you a little bit about the game first so you can get an idea on what it is about. L.A. Noire was developed and published by Team Bondi and Rockstar Games. This is Team Bondi’s first game and as their introduction development into the gaming industry, L.A. Noire brings components in a game that have not been used frequently. The game takes place in 1947, in Los Angeles obviously, during a time where crime and corruption were the norm. The player takes on the role of Cole Phelps, who is an LAPD officer who is trying to rise through the ranks of is department. He joined the police force because he wanted to “right the wrongs” that he committed during World War II. He starts off as a patrol-man, and rises to traffic detective, then homicide, then vice, when he finally becomes an arson investigator. Each of the different ranks gives the player a different partner to become you aide as you investigate crime scenes as well as making arrests and getting into brawls with criminals who don’t come down easily.

The video aspect of this game is the best I have ever seen by any game developers to date. Team Bondi and Rockstar Games went all out in this game and the time they took into creating similar faces and likenesses of the voice actors is amazing. I have seen videos before the release date of developer’s diaries and by the looks of things they took 360 degrees visuals of the actors and then created the characters from there. This also includes facial expressions as well and to get these precision expressions that you see in the game, the actors actually acted out the scenes in real life to help the developers get a feel for how to make the expressions work. I am certain this is correct, but I am not for certain, but let’s talk about the in-game visuals. Rockstar Games is the best company for making sand-box style games look beautiful. The similarities that they were able to create on a visual aspect to the actual 1940s Los Angeles are absolutely incredible and they did a good job with it. Like I said before about the facial expressions, the developers made this game unlike any other game. Facial expressions make up for a lot of the games focal point, as during interrogations, you must carefully read the face of the suspects while they are talking and be able to correctly call them out on being the truth, a lie, and also things that they say that are doubtful. The audio in this game is amazing, be it the car radio or the characters talking to one another. The car radio plays soothing jazz music from the World War II era and bring the mood of being in that time period. When characters talk it is almost like you are watching a move, as the synchronization of the characters lips and the audio of their voice are, if not exact, the best in any game.

This game has a very well rounded hand out of driving, action, and investigating. It is like any Rockstar game with that format like driving to missions and carrying them out. While driving around you must be careful for pedestrians and other drivers as at the end of each case, there is a rack up of all the economic damage you did. Sometimes it is hard to dodge pedestrians while in a car chase because while tailgating your target they do cause you to drive into them. I am sure if I used my sirens more that would not be a problem, but just a heads up. Since this game is more for the detective genre fans, the action portion of the game is able to be skipped if you cannot get passed that part. For the interrogation portion of the game, I myself find it hard to correctly carry out the interviews. Sometimes it is hard to decipher which of the three choices (truth, doubt, lie) the suspect is communicating to you. This also goes to show that the real interrogators out there must have a hard time figuring out when someone is lying or not, unless they have been at it for years. For those of you who find specific interrogation parts hard, it is possible to bring up your book and either remove an incorrect answer or to even ask the community (those who have done this part before) and it gives you the percentage of which answers players chose.

The achievement list is a mix of driving, discovery, doing things in a certain way in different cases. Some awesome achievements and names are the following:

Asphalt Jungle – Chase down and tackle a fleeing suspect on foot as and LAPD Detective

Not So Hasty – Stop a fleeing suspect with a warning shot as an LAPD Detective

Public Menace – Rack up $47 000 in penalties during a single story case

Keep A Lid On – Complete a brawl without losing your hat as an LAPD Detective or Investigator

Give My Regards – Shoot every letter down from the tower at the Broadway Hotel

News About The Blog, Nerdz4L/NerdzRL, EpicMealTime: Pigs N’ Poultry And Live At Comic Con, ShayCarl: Epic Derby Baby, Jon LaJoie: F**k Everything, TheGameStation: Mario Takes Out Angry Birds (Godfather Parody) And The Legend Of Cucco, KassemG: California On Comic-Con 3, SimpleDating: Picking Up Girls at Comic Con, 331Erock: Harry Potter Meets Metal

Okay everyone, I just wanted to let you know that there has been some changes to the look of the blog. I have moved the pages to the right bar for a more organized look since there was so many pages. I also put clickable logos to my usernames on the website logos shown. These changes is because I am now opening my blog up to bands to use as a place to advertise, you can click on a band on the right to see their page and their news articles. The first band that will be advertising on here is Fallen Legion from Oshawa, Ontario, Canada (FaceBook, Interview, Blog Page). If things go well I am sure more bands or businesses, possibly, will also have pages on here as well. If you want to advertise on my website I would love to help you expand your audience for a small fee, email wheelinrampage@hotmail.com for inquries. Before I get into today’s blog I wanted to give a little special shout out to NerdzRL because she has entered the King Of Web contest and is in first place. I would love if you guys went to vote for her, you can vote tentimes daily, and I’d like to share a few videos of hers just as a tribute!

Down below is today’s videos I want you to see. First we have two videos from Epic Meal Time as they make food with pigs and poultry as well as do a live stage performance at Comic Con. Next is ShayCarl’s latest video as Shay, BabyTard, and Sam Macaroni take it to soap boxing and race down a hill, with some action packed scene. Jon LaJoie has come out with a new song called F** Everything, it is quite funny if you ask me and I believe him and Lonely Island both take rapping to a new level. The Game Station has come out with two new videos as Mario calls a hit on Angry Birds and we also see the Legend Of Cucco, brought to you by ChrisCrossMedia. The next video is KassemG’s new California On as he takes to Comic Con for his third time, let me tell you there is a bunch of hot girls for you to stare at. SimpleDating was also at Comic Con trying to pick up girls as they cosplay their way into their pants. Last I found an amazing guitarist who does remakes of popular songs, but turns them into metal. 331Erock has made an amazing video for Harry Potter and with the release of the last movie it is just in time.

I. FL writes a blog

Seriously,

How many people actually read these things anyways?

FALLEN LEGION HITS THE STUDIO AUGUST 5-7, 2011

We are recording a 6 song EP deep inside the underground Pagan Ritual lair.

The EP will consist of these songs:

1. Illusive Breed 2. The Fallen Conjuring Legions 3. Leviathan's Rage

4. Demented 5. Over the Lethal Limit 6. Inferior Superior

The band has decided on a compilation of songs they feel are heavy mixtures of old and new music. Song's from when FL had second guitarist Sam St. Louis and bassist Jon Kal (featured on FL's song: Nahemah) have been musically restored. Also, new music has been written, with assistance from new bassist Karsen Miller.

The four-piece band is gearing up for some long over due recording sessions.

PARTY WITH US LIVE, AUGUST 20TH @ THE PORT HOPE REC CENTRE W/ IMMERSED, BOLERO, PAGAN RITUAL, ESOTERIC DOCTRINE & OUR TIME OF GLORY!!!

CHECK US OUT ON YOUTUBE, LIKE US ON FACEBOOK (Recording samples available) & FOLLOW US ON TWITTER!!

Twitter.com/6FALLEN6LEGION6

Youtube.com/6FALLEN6LEGION6

Facebook.com/6FALLEN6LEGION6

Connect with Nick Sauter on Facebook, and contact Fallen Legion by emailing:

fallenlegion@live.ca

Spotlight: Horrible Bosses (Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis, Jennifer Aniston, Colin Farrell, Kevin Spacey, Jamie Foxx)

 

I saw Horrible Bosses a last week, but I forgot to put up a review, so here it is. Also don’t forget to check out the interview I did with Leeni-Marie from Kivimetsan Druidi. They are a folk metal band from Finland. Also if it is not a bother, I will be posting this every day. I need your help in voting for my favourite Canadian vlogger Nerdz4L on this website for King of the Web, you can vote ten times a day. I will link you to the voting page, her vlogging page, and her sketch/comedy page. It would make me happy if you helped her out.

Horrible Bosses is a comedy film that was directed by Seth Gordon and was written by Michael Markowitz, John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein based on a story by Markowitz. It was made by New Line Cinema and Rat Entertainment and was also distributed by Warner Bros. The main three men in this movie are Jason Bateman (The Kingdom, Juno, Hancock, Paul) as Nick Hendricks, Charlie Day (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Going the Distance, A Quiet Little Marriage) as Dale Arbus, and Jason Sudeikis (Saturday Night Live, Hall Pass, The Cleveland Show) as Kurt Buckman. The bosses are Jennifer Aniston (The Bounty Hunter, Marley & Me, The Break-Up, Bruce Almighty) as Dr. Julia Harris, Colin Farrell (Daredevil, Miami Vice, Minority Report, Phone Booth) as Bobby Pellitt, and Kevin Spacey (Seven, The Usual Suspects, L.A. Confidential, American Beauty, 21) as Dave Harken. Other characters include Jamie Foxx (Collateral, Ray, Redemption: The Stan Tookie Williams Story, Dreamgirls, Law Abiding Citizen) as Dean “Motherfucker” Jones, Julie Bowen (Modern Family, Happy Gilmore, Joe Somebody, Kids in America, Crazy on the Outside) as Dave’s wife, Rhonda Harken, Lindsay Sloane (Bring It On, Exposed, The In-Laws, Over Her Dead Body, She’s Out of My League, The Other Guys) as Dale’s fiancée Stacy, Donald Sutherland (as former boss of Kurt, Ioan Gruffud plays a small role, and Isaiah Mustafa and P.J. Byrne also has a cameos.

The main basis of the story is that Nick Hendricks, Dale Arbus and Kurt Buckman all hate their bosses for some reason of another. Nick works for Dave Harken who is head of a financial firm and is always abusing Nick. Dale works for Dr. Julia Harris as a dental assistant. The only problem is that Julia wants to have sex with Dale but he is engaged to Stacy. Julia sexually harasses Dale on a daily basis and he wants it to stop. Kurt works for an industrial company, ran by Jack Pellit, a man who treated him like a son. Unfortunately Jack died and left the biological son, who was also addicted to cocaine, Bobby. He threatens to run the company to the ground by firing the best employees and doing cocaine and also having prostitutes come to his office. This leads to the three annoyed employees to ponder the thought of killing their bosses, and they go ahead with it and find someone to do it for them. Dean “Motherfucker” Jones is their man, but instead of doing the hits for them, he only acts as their hitman advisory and says they should do it themselves. The plot gets funnier from here, but you must see it yourself.

 

This movie was quite entertaining and was always humorous the whole way through. It was just one funny part to the next and it really made for a great movie. The whole entire sexual harassment from Jennifer Aniston, as Julia, was very funny and the fact that Nick and Kurt did not feel bad for Dale at all made it even greater. I read up on the roles and it seems that all the actors/actresses contributed to their roles in a positive manner. For example Jennifer Aniston dyed her hair brunette for her role because she did not want to look the same as her other films. Colin Farrell contributed to his look as Bobby by suggesting a comb-over hairstyle, a big pot-belly gut, and the character’s interest in Chinese dragons. Jamie Fox also made a humorous contribution to his character as he suggested full-scalp tattoos and a retro clothing style. He also described his character to be “a guy who maybe went to jail for a minute and now he's living in his own time capsule. When he got out he went right back to the clothes he thought were hot when he went in." This movie is great for those who like this type of comedy, it is not like your happy comedy because it involves wanting to kill your bosses. I am sure this movie can relate to some people, not myself, that have had this feeling sometime in t heir life of wanting to kill their boss. The acting could have been a little better because I felt a little bored with it some times but the humour made up for it greatly. I give this movie a 3.5 out of 5.