First of all, thank you for taking the time to do this interview with me. Before we really get rolling, please introduce yourself and can you please give us some information on your band and its background?
I’ve been in music for the last 30 years. But much more involved in movie score composing, movie directing, acting and also jingles writings for TV/ radio for the last 10-15 years. I’ve decided lately to jump back in metal music and then released my first solo album. Frank X & The project: Earth album
Please describe your band’s style. Genre, similar bands, etc. What should a potential new fan expect upon hearing your music for the first time?
Frank X is kinda catchy thrash prog metal. But perhaps more thrashy then prog except for instruments I use like pipes organ, strings, brass and choirs on many tracks on top of downtuned heavy guitars and bass. The project: Earth album is a concept and tells a funny story from track to track with awkward characters gravitating around God and Lucifer changing the course of humanity’s evolution. There are few humoristic dialogs here and there along the way. I received very good response so far, and all agreed to say it’s funny and different.
What other bands have you played in previously?
I’ve been playing with 2-3 members of Gorguts in my early bands. My first serious band “DAMAGED” line up was Stephane Provencher(first Gorguts drummer) and Steve Cloutier(Gorguts bassman on 2nd album) who played also in my next band called Psychicthrob. Got also a side band with Steve Macdonald(Gorguts 2nd drummer) a few years before he passed away. Luc Lemay being an old schoolmate and friend, our respective histories have been inter-connected a few times.
What are some of your musical influences both in metal and maybe in other styles of music?
My biggest influence is definitely Devin Townsend. Zierler/Beyond Twilight, Mr bungle, Alice in Chains are on top of the list as well. From an earlier musical background, King Crimson, Emerson Lake and Palmer and Gentle Giant definitely influenced me much in my writings.
Can you please share with us your band's recording history and any interesting stories and experiences from the studio?
I did this album alone, entirely. I’ve studied score composing and sound design as well then sound engineering so it was inevitable to happen someday I guess. The fun fact is that I’ve recorded all the tracks in a chronological way. Track 1, then track 2 and 3 etc… which is quite unusual. But being a concept album telling a chronological story, I guess it was meant to be done that way. I have my own studio at home and took around 6 month to write and record. Got also much fun recording the funny dialogs between God and Lucifer. Humor is definitely the base of this project.
How about your bands live experiences? Any amusing or memorable shows you would like to share with us?
With Frank X, there’s no possible show since I’m the only instrumentalist but some ever showed interest and offered to join me but frankly it’s not part of my plans for the moment. But who knows, someday maybe. But if ever it has to happen, it will be very visual and theatrical that’s for sure.
We have all heard of the big 4 of thrash. Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax. It has been talked about in the past and critiqued quite often. In your mind, what are the Big 4? You don't have to just list thrash bands, lets open it up to all metal genres, past or present, what is the big 4 in your mind?
That’s a hard one !! regardless of the 4 you mentioned that are unquestionable for their influence on most of the metal bands. Black Sabbath definitely cannot be dissociated to almost all of nowadays Metal bands. They’ve been the first ones to downtune to reach pounding grooves.Iron Maiden is probably the fifth one from your big 4 in my opinion. Celtic Frost has certainly contributed the most to the black and death metal genre by introducing a very different kind of vibe in their playing style and is probably the ancestor of many “core” styles. I think AC/DC has brought energy and power playing to the modern rock and metal even though none sounds like them really. We cannot disregard, not being very metal though but more like heavy rock I would say.
What would be your dream supergroup? Again lets open it up to past or present musicians, what would be the dream band lineup?
There are so many amazing performers nowadays known and unknown it’s barely possible to say which one is the best but I think I would rather go with a nu-prog rock/metal line up. I would therefore choose Bill Bruford(King Crimson) on drums, Les Claypool(Primus) on bass, Keith Emerson(E.L.P.) on keyboards, Piggy(Voïvod) on guitar and Ozzy on vocals. Whhoooo, I ‘d like to listen to this band, don’t you ah ah ???
Now if you were to be a member of any band, who would you love to join up with?
If you want a very honest answer, I will spare you of bullshit, being playing my trade for many years, I would not like to be part of any existing bands actually but doing my own stuff is much more exciting and gratifying. However, I’m totally in awe for bands like Devin Townsend and Zierler and would be a dream for me to meet these guys someday these 2 being among my very bests.
Now it’s time to get philosophical. What IS heavy metal?
Mmmhh, what is common to every metal band is the aggressivity against the establishment or conformity as well then brutal expression of harsh feelings and moods such as anger, hatred, war etc… Metal is a kind of tool to pump frustrations out of you while giving a feeling of control and power over things you can’t handle by the very strong, pounding sounds of guitars and speedy or distorted rythms. It’s meant to be marginal for sure and for minds looking to explore what’s out of the mould. Huuh this description could fit drug too ah ah !!
What has heavy metal done for you thus far both in music and in your personal life?
Troubles, hard experiences, poverty ah ah, but also good time and friends. I would not change anything to my metal experience since old enough to understand what is music..
If you were not playing in a metal band, what do you think you would be doing currently?
Well, what I did in the last 10 years I guess, movie special effects, directing, acting or probably 3D animations .
What is your heavy metal dream? I am not talking about goals here, I am talking about going to bed and dreaming...what is the dream you are having? Or is it a nightmare?
Since I was very young, I always dreamt about the end of the world and did this nightmare soooo many times, seeing people dying in natural or incredible disasters. Much closer to Black metal nightmare then heavy metal ah ah..
What is your view on the current state of heavy metal?
Astounding, so many artist nowadays, so many genre and mixes. It is an unbelievable effervescent musical era I enjoy much diggin’
What are your thoughts concerning the digital era of metal. I am curious what you think of digital downloading, recording in the modern era and anything else that has changed since the early days of the industry.
My album is a digital release exclusively. No hard copy available, so I think that’s the way it is now. At least less pollution !! For my part, I’m not doing this for livin’ so I offer my independant album for free as a contribution to the world, Music is a passion for me and people appreciation is my wage. Things are much simpler for me this way and have full control on everything. I think it helps taking your time and releasing a more artistic product freed of timing or non artistic compromises from labels etc… Piracy is a calamity for many artists but on the other hand fame and big money always spoil artistic expression that must be digestible and formatted for the masses to keep sustaining the money flow. I think the most original musics and artists who really made the music to evolve always came out from poor backgrounds.
Heavy metal has gone through some changes since the early days. New movements have come and gone as has its overall popularity. With that in mind, what direction do you see heavy metal going in the future?
Metal definitely influences much modern music of all styles, we hear sometimes metal guitars in truck advertise on TV for instance. It will definitely bring something to the modern music in the future as well while the minds will open wider to different strength levels of expression. It already did actually, but there will always be a marginal side of metal, I mean when actual heavy metal will become as old led zeppelin now playing on radios, there will certainly be new metal genres even more evilish than what we can hear today that will still crawl in the gloom ;-P
Several musicians have gone on record to say that the full length album is dead. That with the digital age there is no need to produce a full length release. What are your thoughts, is the full length dead or still viable?
My album being a concept album that unfolds from track to track, chopping in separate tracks would be a sacrilege and would definitely kill the essence of the overall mood and progression experience. I cannot imagine otherwise then writting full length album with all tracks wrapped in a specific context and ambiance to enhance the whole thing as a movie or book with chapters. But maybe I’m too much influenced by theatrical projects from my background. Although, if each of your track has no specific link or line direction to others, I agree full length album might not be necessary or appropriate.
Okay time to talk and promote your band some more. What is the current news coming from your camp. Any new music, tours, festivals or anything going on?
Now working on video and album promo on radio stations. You can download the full DIGIPAK album for free on my website. www.frank-x.revolublog.com Share with your friends and drop me a word anywhere anytime, always a pleasure to discuss with metalpals from all around the globe.
What are the immediate short range goals for your group?
Like much interacting with people on the web, I enjoy much connecting with metal bands running and sharing their and my stuff. Social is very important for me and part of my musical gait as a metal artist. I’d like to spread the word on the way I’m doing music which is much a kind of theatrical experience or musical comedy, at least I’ve been thinking in this way when working on it but still being metal. So my short term goal is to establish good relations and connections with the Metal neighborhood and looking for either friends, fans, radios or webzines.
What about ultimately any long range goals?
will start working on the second album which is to be the rest of the first album story this next summer and expect to release on next October/November 2016.
Finally if you have any last words you wish to express to your fans and the metal community in general please do so here.
I thank each single metalhead who supports me. Hope to meet new friends out there on any social media. Thanks to you and TRUE METAL LIVES, keep the good work ! \m/
Interview by Mark Vander Zanden
Original link
I’ve been in music for the last 30 years. But much more involved in movie score composing, movie directing, acting and also jingles writings for TV/ radio for the last 10-15 years. I’ve decided lately to jump back in metal music and then released my first solo album. Frank X & The project: Earth album
Please describe your band’s style. Genre, similar bands, etc. What should a potential new fan expect upon hearing your music for the first time?
Frank X is kinda catchy thrash prog metal. But perhaps more thrashy then prog except for instruments I use like pipes organ, strings, brass and choirs on many tracks on top of downtuned heavy guitars and bass. The project: Earth album is a concept and tells a funny story from track to track with awkward characters gravitating around God and Lucifer changing the course of humanity’s evolution. There are few humoristic dialogs here and there along the way. I received very good response so far, and all agreed to say it’s funny and different.
What other bands have you played in previously?
I’ve been playing with 2-3 members of Gorguts in my early bands. My first serious band “DAMAGED” line up was Stephane Provencher(first Gorguts drummer) and Steve Cloutier(Gorguts bassman on 2nd album) who played also in my next band called Psychicthrob. Got also a side band with Steve Macdonald(Gorguts 2nd drummer) a few years before he passed away. Luc Lemay being an old schoolmate and friend, our respective histories have been inter-connected a few times.
What are some of your musical influences both in metal and maybe in other styles of music?
My biggest influence is definitely Devin Townsend. Zierler/Beyond Twilight, Mr bungle, Alice in Chains are on top of the list as well. From an earlier musical background, King Crimson, Emerson Lake and Palmer and Gentle Giant definitely influenced me much in my writings.
Can you please share with us your band's recording history and any interesting stories and experiences from the studio?
I did this album alone, entirely. I’ve studied score composing and sound design as well then sound engineering so it was inevitable to happen someday I guess. The fun fact is that I’ve recorded all the tracks in a chronological way. Track 1, then track 2 and 3 etc… which is quite unusual. But being a concept album telling a chronological story, I guess it was meant to be done that way. I have my own studio at home and took around 6 month to write and record. Got also much fun recording the funny dialogs between God and Lucifer. Humor is definitely the base of this project.
How about your bands live experiences? Any amusing or memorable shows you would like to share with us?
With Frank X, there’s no possible show since I’m the only instrumentalist but some ever showed interest and offered to join me but frankly it’s not part of my plans for the moment. But who knows, someday maybe. But if ever it has to happen, it will be very visual and theatrical that’s for sure.
We have all heard of the big 4 of thrash. Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax. It has been talked about in the past and critiqued quite often. In your mind, what are the Big 4? You don't have to just list thrash bands, lets open it up to all metal genres, past or present, what is the big 4 in your mind?
That’s a hard one !! regardless of the 4 you mentioned that are unquestionable for their influence on most of the metal bands. Black Sabbath definitely cannot be dissociated to almost all of nowadays Metal bands. They’ve been the first ones to downtune to reach pounding grooves.Iron Maiden is probably the fifth one from your big 4 in my opinion. Celtic Frost has certainly contributed the most to the black and death metal genre by introducing a very different kind of vibe in their playing style and is probably the ancestor of many “core” styles. I think AC/DC has brought energy and power playing to the modern rock and metal even though none sounds like them really. We cannot disregard, not being very metal though but more like heavy rock I would say.
What would be your dream supergroup? Again lets open it up to past or present musicians, what would be the dream band lineup?
There are so many amazing performers nowadays known and unknown it’s barely possible to say which one is the best but I think I would rather go with a nu-prog rock/metal line up. I would therefore choose Bill Bruford(King Crimson) on drums, Les Claypool(Primus) on bass, Keith Emerson(E.L.P.) on keyboards, Piggy(Voïvod) on guitar and Ozzy on vocals. Whhoooo, I ‘d like to listen to this band, don’t you ah ah ???
Now if you were to be a member of any band, who would you love to join up with?
If you want a very honest answer, I will spare you of bullshit, being playing my trade for many years, I would not like to be part of any existing bands actually but doing my own stuff is much more exciting and gratifying. However, I’m totally in awe for bands like Devin Townsend and Zierler and would be a dream for me to meet these guys someday these 2 being among my very bests.
Now it’s time to get philosophical. What IS heavy metal?
Mmmhh, what is common to every metal band is the aggressivity against the establishment or conformity as well then brutal expression of harsh feelings and moods such as anger, hatred, war etc… Metal is a kind of tool to pump frustrations out of you while giving a feeling of control and power over things you can’t handle by the very strong, pounding sounds of guitars and speedy or distorted rythms. It’s meant to be marginal for sure and for minds looking to explore what’s out of the mould. Huuh this description could fit drug too ah ah !!
What has heavy metal done for you thus far both in music and in your personal life?
Troubles, hard experiences, poverty ah ah, but also good time and friends. I would not change anything to my metal experience since old enough to understand what is music..
If you were not playing in a metal band, what do you think you would be doing currently?
Well, what I did in the last 10 years I guess, movie special effects, directing, acting or probably 3D animations .
What is your heavy metal dream? I am not talking about goals here, I am talking about going to bed and dreaming...what is the dream you are having? Or is it a nightmare?
Since I was very young, I always dreamt about the end of the world and did this nightmare soooo many times, seeing people dying in natural or incredible disasters. Much closer to Black metal nightmare then heavy metal ah ah..
What is your view on the current state of heavy metal?
Astounding, so many artist nowadays, so many genre and mixes. It is an unbelievable effervescent musical era I enjoy much diggin’
What are your thoughts concerning the digital era of metal. I am curious what you think of digital downloading, recording in the modern era and anything else that has changed since the early days of the industry.
My album is a digital release exclusively. No hard copy available, so I think that’s the way it is now. At least less pollution !! For my part, I’m not doing this for livin’ so I offer my independant album for free as a contribution to the world, Music is a passion for me and people appreciation is my wage. Things are much simpler for me this way and have full control on everything. I think it helps taking your time and releasing a more artistic product freed of timing or non artistic compromises from labels etc… Piracy is a calamity for many artists but on the other hand fame and big money always spoil artistic expression that must be digestible and formatted for the masses to keep sustaining the money flow. I think the most original musics and artists who really made the music to evolve always came out from poor backgrounds.
Heavy metal has gone through some changes since the early days. New movements have come and gone as has its overall popularity. With that in mind, what direction do you see heavy metal going in the future?
Metal definitely influences much modern music of all styles, we hear sometimes metal guitars in truck advertise on TV for instance. It will definitely bring something to the modern music in the future as well while the minds will open wider to different strength levels of expression. It already did actually, but there will always be a marginal side of metal, I mean when actual heavy metal will become as old led zeppelin now playing on radios, there will certainly be new metal genres even more evilish than what we can hear today that will still crawl in the gloom ;-P
Several musicians have gone on record to say that the full length album is dead. That with the digital age there is no need to produce a full length release. What are your thoughts, is the full length dead or still viable?
My album being a concept album that unfolds from track to track, chopping in separate tracks would be a sacrilege and would definitely kill the essence of the overall mood and progression experience. I cannot imagine otherwise then writting full length album with all tracks wrapped in a specific context and ambiance to enhance the whole thing as a movie or book with chapters. But maybe I’m too much influenced by theatrical projects from my background. Although, if each of your track has no specific link or line direction to others, I agree full length album might not be necessary or appropriate.
Okay time to talk and promote your band some more. What is the current news coming from your camp. Any new music, tours, festivals or anything going on?
Now working on video and album promo on radio stations. You can download the full DIGIPAK album for free on my website. www.frank-x.revolublog.com Share with your friends and drop me a word anywhere anytime, always a pleasure to discuss with metalpals from all around the globe.
What are the immediate short range goals for your group?
Like much interacting with people on the web, I enjoy much connecting with metal bands running and sharing their and my stuff. Social is very important for me and part of my musical gait as a metal artist. I’d like to spread the word on the way I’m doing music which is much a kind of theatrical experience or musical comedy, at least I’ve been thinking in this way when working on it but still being metal. So my short term goal is to establish good relations and connections with the Metal neighborhood and looking for either friends, fans, radios or webzines.
What about ultimately any long range goals?
will start working on the second album which is to be the rest of the first album story this next summer and expect to release on next October/November 2016.
Finally if you have any last words you wish to express to your fans and the metal community in general please do so here.
I thank each single metalhead who supports me. Hope to meet new friends out there on any social media. Thanks to you and TRUE METAL LIVES, keep the good work ! \m/
Interview by Mark Vander Zanden
Original link