Interviews

First Steps Out of the Gate An Interview with Borderlands

Published

8 years ago

June 8, 2016

George Archibald

First Steps Out of the Gate

An Interview with Borderlands

By: George Archibald

Portuguese progressive metal-core outfit Borderlands are on the verge of releasing their debut album, Voice of The Voiceless (check out the album review in our CD reviews section to find out more). I had an opportunity to conduct an email interview with the band and ask a few questions to this aspiring group. I tried to learn more about this new band, and what makes them tick. In an attempt to make this interview interesting and a platform for their self-promotion, I feel that something may have got lost in translation, see for yourself. This is that interview…

First off thank you very much for agreeing to an email interview. I gave your album a listen and it was quite good. I am looking forward to what the future may hold for you all. I appreciate any details you may give and being this is an internet interview length is not an issue.

GA: Where is the band located? I’ve seen you are a Portuguese metal band but was wondering if your main operation is in Portugal or elsewhere.

Borderlands: We are all from Portugal except Yuri, who is from Egypt, but the band is in Portugal.

GA: Do you find it difficult to play throughout Europe/United States because of Language barriers?

Borderlands: We only find it hard to reach the rest of the world because the internet is a big big web, and there are tons of bands out there just like us, wishing to make it big. There are no language barriers.

GA: It states you are progressive metalcore but would you like to span on this? What kinds of music do you play? Are you strictly looking to stay in the metalcore genre, or eventually looking to span into other genres?

Borderlands: We do what we love, and we write what comes up to our minds, so the band may change of course. Seasons change, and so do we.

GA: Where does your music influences come from? The music that got you into the style you perform now.

Borderlands: ERRA and Northlane are our biggest influences. We all used to listen to different kinds of metal before.

GA: What are some of the non-metal bands you like to listen to on your off time?

Borderlands: We listen to a variety of artists and maybe that’s what makes some of our music so unique. From Pop, Hip-hop, Metal, we listen to everything.

GA: What got you into this band? Were any of you in previous bands? Did any of you have formal teaching i.e. lessons, or did you learn on your own?

Borderlands: We were all schoolmates back in the original lineup and we just created the band. Some of us did have teaching lessons, others learned on their own.

GA: Where have you all preformed/ where would you like to preform?

Borderlands: We performed in a lot of different places but our biggest achievement was RESURRECTION FEST in Spain. We would like to perform in every single metal festival around Europe.

GA: What was your favorite part about recording Voice of the Voiceless?

Borderlands: Everything! We loved all the process.

GA: Where was Voice of the Voiceless recorded at, and with whom?

Borderlands: We recorded our album at home. Vocals were recorded at a friend’s studio (Santa Catarina Studios)

GA: Were there any difficulties in making this new album?

Borderlands: Not really, it went all very smoothly.

GA: Where would you like to be in the near future/ what is the future for Borderlands?

Borderlands: We would like to hit Europe soon and expand our music to the world.

GA: What kinds of endorsements and gear do you guys preform with?

Borderlands: It is hard to have endorsements in Portugal. We perform with POD and Kemper amp, ESP, Schecter and LTD guitars.

GA: Anything else you would like to add to the interview? (I usually leave this open ended so that if I forgot something above you guys have an opportunity to touch on something of your choice.)

Borderlands: Check out of new album “Voice of The Voiceless” which comes out this Friday on all online music retailers!

Short and straight to the point. Borderlands new album Voice of the Voiceless is set to be released on June 10th. A follow up to 2012’s EP, Awaken Dreamers, Borderlands hopes to create a foothold in the metal community with Voice of the Voiceless. For now, you can check out the album review in the Extreme Empire CD reviews section, or watch the video for “Children of the Sun” on YouTube. I wish you guys well and thank you for the interview.

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George Archibald

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Related Topics:Awaken Dreamers Borderlands spotlight Voice Of The Voiceless

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Interviews

INTERVIEW WITH OF VIRTUE

Published

2 months ago

March 4, 2024

Ron

Where does the band name come from? Wanting to be the best version of yourself at all times. The name is a reminder to hold ourselves accountable.

How is the music scene in Michigan? The Michigan music scene has always been vibrant and in my opinion, important. Do we get the credit we deserve? Absolutely not. But for the state that brought you Motown, Eminem, Lizzo, The White Stripes, I Prevail and so many other incredible artists – it’s kind of hard to believe that Michigan remains a hidden gem.

How’s the reception from the fans of the latest album “Omen”? It’s been incredible. From seeing people singing along at shows to us seeing new supporters of all different ages, colors, and creeds joining the journey. Omen has been a pivotal album in our career and we’re proud of it!

If you could tour with 2 bands, which bands would you want to tour with? Spiritbox and Bad Omens. They’re both making waves, changing who the metal audience is, and surely they’d be fun to hang around with.

Where do you draw inspiration for the lyrics? Honestly, the lyrics are our stories. The stories of our struggles, our trials and our tribulations.

What’s been your favorite tour or show? We just got off of a tour with our labelmates, Any Given Day. They treated us to a handful of sold out shows over in Europe, which at this point we call our second home. Those were great shows, but any show we’ve done in Europe is typically one for the books!

If you could bring back a dead musician, who would it be? Prince for sure. An incredible musician I would love an opportunity to chat or make music with!

About Author

Ron

Ron has keen eye for new talent, a love for the underground, and a tremendous passion for music of any genera. You’ll probably bump into him at a horror convention or some seedy club checking out the next need-to-know band.

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Interviews

INTERVIEW WITH TWIN TEMPLE

Published

2 months ago

February 16, 2024

Ron

Being Married and being in a band together. Do you feel that makes it easier or harder?

We love to do the Devil’s work together so for us its a match made in hell.

What’s your favorite horror movie?

That’s hard to narrow down but the first few that come to mind are Rosemary’s Baby, The Devil Rides Out, Wickerman, The Devils Reign featuring Anton Lavey, Mario Bava’s Black Sunday, anything starring Vincent Price. We also got to see an advance screen of “Late Night with the Devil” featuring a very evil performance from our friend Dave Dastmalchian. We’re also looking forward to Bryan Fuller’s “Dust Bunny” and are positive it will be a new favorite. The list goes on…..we are huge horror fans.

Favorite Non Horror Movie?

Alfred Hitchcock’s Rebecca (which is horror/noir adjacent) and The Burbs (also horror adjacent…haha.)

All of Quentin Tarantino’s films- our latest favorite is Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, because 1960’s LA…

What misconception of Satanists would you like to educate people on?

We’re not here to proselytize, force our beliefs on people, or educate people on them Selves, Satanism or anything else. If people are interested in exploring Satanism, we encourage them to do their research and question everything.

If you could bring back any dead musician, who would you pick and why?

We would have loved to do a song with Ronnie Spector who recently passed. Also would have been amazing to collaborate with Jack Nitzsche who arranged so many amazing songs.

If you could tour with any 2 bands, who would you want to tour with?

The Ronnettes & The Shangri-Las.

What has been your Favorite Tour so far?

The God is Dead Tour that we’re currently on is definitely the most evil and blasphemous tour yet. We find it very pleasurable to be able to continue expanding the rituals and seeing our nightmares come true on stage.

You were on “Dragula” with the Boulet Brothers, how was that experience?

It was a fiendish delight to collaborate with some of our fav monsters.

What was it like Touring with Danzig?

Another nightmare come true! We’ve both been fans for a long time and we’re obviously inspired by the wicked world Glenn has conjured. So to get to spend time with him and watch him live every night and to now call him a friend is completely surreal. He’s a legend— but was also one of the coolest, kindest, most unholy people we’ve had the carnal pleasure of touring with.

How’s the reception of the last album “God is Dead”?

Personally, we love the record and are very proud of what we’ve accomplished. As far as other peoples’ reactions…. we don’t know and don’t care! We pleasured ourselves and that’s what matters most.

What got you interested in the style of music you play? And how would describe your music?

We’ve always loved classic American music from jazz to blues to country to rock and roll and so on. We also love the pageantry of heavy metal and theatre. So for us it was a very organic culmination of our obsessions. Rock and roll has always been the devils music.

Have you visited the Satanic Temple in Massachusetts?

No we have not but Lucien did attend one of our rituals so we had a chance to share where we get our babies blood and all things Satan.

Have you had any bad encounters at shows because of the misconception of satanism?

No! We purposefully foster a live show environment where all are welcome, all should come being the most important person in the world which is themselves, whatever that may be. Even Christians! We believe music is meant to bring joy, transcendence… We just want to share the things we love; pink, rhinestones, big hair, great rock ’n’ roll, Satanic ritual, you know… but we have had churches assemble outside our shows, screaming through distorted PA speakers that God is not dead & wishing us all a “terrible time”. Why would their God not want us to have fun? This kind of behavior is only makes us more proud to be who we are and do what we love.