Sunday, October 28, 2012

Interview With Dave Felton Of Sludgy Groovers, Kriadiaz!

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Kriadiaz

Country of origin:
United States
Location:
Cleveland, Ohio
Status:
Active
Active since:
N/A

Genre:
Sludge/Southern/Groove Metal
Lyrical themes:
N/A
Current label:
Shark Sausage Records

Members

Bryan Trembley: Bass
See also: ex-Spawn
Emery Ceo: Drums
See also: Ritual of Torment, ex-Arenah, ex-Ritual, ex-Torment, ex-Tormentor, ex-Dark Arena
Dave Felton: Guitars
See also: Hatrix, ex-Centurion, ex-Purgatory, ex-216, ex-Mushroomhead, ex-S.O.S
Mike Ruz: Vocals

THE INTERVIEW

1. I'm sure that you guys get this a lot, but what exactly does the name "Kriadiaz" mean? Who came up with it?

I suggested it to the band when we were throwing names around. It came from the bizarre foods show on travel channel. It's bull's balls when served as a food item. We just changed the spelling to look more metal and not like something off a menu.

2. Explain the recording process for your self-titled album. What was it like? What was the most difficult part of that process?

Recording was awesome!! It was actually very simple. The engineer( Joe Husak) really knows what's up and was able get us the raw, violent, old school vibe we were looking for.

3. Many people don't even know that you were in undoubtedly one of my favorite metal bands of all time, Mushroomhead. I still catch myself listening to the band's early albums, (particularly Xx, M3 and Superbuick) it's the stuff I cut my teeth on when it came to metal. But even though you guys were lumped into the Nu-Metal category, I've certainly considered your early material to be undoubtedly metal, even hinging on death metal in some areas. What was it like working in Mushroomhead? Who were you in the band, and what are some great experiences that you had while in the band? What was it like working with J Mann and Nothing? What songs are you most notable for?

Gravy was my stage name in MRH. It was great to be able to do Ozzfest in the states and Europe. Got to share the stage with some legendary band(slayer,down,Meshuggah,...etc.) I'm grateful to have been able to experience that. Recording with those guys was cool. Very professional.

4. Explain the ridiculous battle with Slipknot. You were in the band during the time, and I myself heard little about it.

The rivalry was stupid. It started before I was in MRH. I never really gave a shit cuz I wasn't an original member.

5. Explain why you were kicked out of the band. You told me that there was some ridiculous reasoning behind it. I'm also curious as to whether or not the band was ever pressured by the label to move towards a certain style of music. XIII and Savior Sorrow had some incredibly stark differences. I still think Savior Sorrow is probably the worst disc that I've ever heard from the group. I'd never have thought they'd go that poppy.

It's something that took years to build up to. MRH is more a dictatorship than a band. It's based on ego and entitlement, and although I was the new guy back in 2000 I was left with the majority of the writing. That's why the style changed. believe me, I tried to bring some honesty and integrity to those records. If you don't like em' blame the producer. So after years of things not being up to snuff I started speaking my mind. Some people just don't like having a mirror held up in front of em'. That's basically why I'm out.

6. Finally, have you heard the band's newest album, "Beautiful Stories For Ugly Children?" And if so, what did you think of it?

I think bsfuc could have been a great album...if it was finished. I did a lot on that cd and that's where the frustration boiled to a head. Like I said before, ego and entitlement.

7.So in MRH, you were left to write most of XIII, Savior Sorrow and Beautiful Stories For Ugly Children? I really feel that the latter album had a lot of potential.

Well, savior sorrow and beautiful stories were recorded and produced at the filthy hands studio. To me there's always been sound issues there and whenever I brought them up I was told that I was negative and wasn't happy with anything. So needless to say I didn't have much to do with the production on those records. So producing the Kriadiaz cd was very liberating to me. And if you like as much as you say you do then you know what could have been. Guess I just have different standards when it comes to sound.

8. Fast forward to 2012. You've got a new band, a new album and a brand new sound. What do you want people to know about Kriadiaz? How did the idea come about to do a southern thrash band with stoner elements?

Nothing new about it, I'm myself in this band. In MRH I wrote for MRH. In KRIADIAZ I'm doing what comes naturally.l

9. Pantera is obviously a large influence on the band. Have you gotten this album out to any of the former members of Pantera yet? If so, what have they said? What other bands are influential to the sound of Kriadiaz?

Haven't got it out to any of the Pantera guys, but it would be cool to hear what they had to say about it. As far as influences go ya, we (Kria & Pantera) all come from the same era of music so that's why we have a similar sound (Van Halen, Sabbath,..etc).

10. Your label is called Shark Sausage Records. Is this is a real, legit label? (According to metal-archives it is) Do you plan to sign anymore bands onto it?

Ha! no, it's not a real label. It's just a silly thing I came up with when I released my demo. I have made SSR shirts though for a select few who want to be part of it, And some friends have even put the logo on their cd's as well.

11. What bands inspire you these days? What do you think of the music industry as a whole? Do you have any words for those who want to be famous "rock stars" in the recording industry?

I think the industry is hurtin' big time cuz of the free downloading. It is promotion though so there is a trade off...I guess. To all aspiring musicians out there, good luck!

12. Alright, what is your take on the shows "American Idol, X-Factor, The Voice, exc." Is there anything that you think people should know before signing the dotted line on a big time recording contract? Also, what is your take on these child music stars? It seems like any 16 year old can have a million dollar song if they do something on youtube.(Carly Ray Jepsen, Justin Bieber for example.) Do you think this is exploitation?

I have no idea, I don't watch any of those shows. I would say to them before signing a contract though not to give up their publishing.

13. Election season is afoot, and this country's never been in a worse turmoil. What are your expectations in the coming election? Are you going to vote? And do you think it will make any difference?

I'm not getting into political stuff. I just hope whoever gets in does the right thing.

14. Finally, imagine that you can look into the future ten or twenty years down the road. What do you see?

Dinosaurs!!!

Thanks for your answers, and for making one of the best southern thrash albums since Pantera's "Far Beyond Driven." I definitely hope to hear more from you guys soon.

THE REVIEW (REPOST)

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Kriadiaz - Kriadiaz (2012) - What starts up with a little of acoustic in the beginning, soon becomes a plate of southern fried heaviness with Kriadiaz's debut self-titled debut. Though the disc has it's raw quality, this is the best stab I've heard at Pantera in a long time. "Bloodline 4:01" reminds me a hell of a lot of "Fucking Hostile" and it's complete with a definitely "Dime-Approved" solo.

But these guys don't just do Pantera, they redefine Pantera. Each and every track in here offers something different, but it's all just as dirty, gritty and sludgy as Pantera were at their heaviest. One could even say that this band filled in what might have been that next Pantera record that none of us ever got to hear because of an enraged football player. The solos are massive, making their presence widely known in the drumming that favors Vinnie, and the vocals which sound very close to, if not damn near the same as Phil Anselmo's bark.

Truth be told, there's not a bad track on this disc. Everything comes out hevay in way or another, but like The Great Southern Trendkill, the band is not afraid to experiment with their dirty southern thrash. For those who thought the new Down album was good, but not near as heavy as it should've been, these guys bring that heaviness ten-fold with tracks like "The Rebuilding 3:34", "Soul Chaser 4:02" and "Torching The Earth 3:53." But don't forget that those songs also come with a healthy dose of once again, "Dime- Approved" solos.

Somebody has got to get this one down to Phil or Vinnie. It's really that fucking good, and I think it would really bring back that sense of nostalgia that these guys had when they were playing this shit back in the day. If this some kind of goddamned Pantera tribute album, then it's the best that I've heard in fucking years. Make that, it's the best Pantera tribute album that I've ever heard in my life, or since ever hearing fucking Pantera.

The disc even ends on an instrumental that I could only assume was written as a tribute to Dime's memory. It's called "Stoner Funeral 4:36" and it might even bring a tear or two to your eye, when you listen to this one and remember how much of a pioneer he was, and what a great all around person he was.

But that's the kind of message that Kriadiaz want to make, and even though you can't fucking pronounce their name now, you're going to fight with yourself to get that name right when you're recommending them to other people. Because you will - yes, you will; be recommending them to other people.

The best Pantera album I've ever heard, since the real Pantera. An absolute must for the year. If you don't have this album, then you need to GET this album. Check them out on Shark Sausage Records. You'll be glad you did.

(14 Tracks, 48:00)

10/10

Grab The Record Here:

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kriadiaz

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