• Hi I'm Nikos and through the wonder of internet technology I can offer this interview with the band WARHAG, a euro-metal style band from Canada. I ALSO HAVE TO SAT THAT RIOT RULE AND THAT WE HAVE A VERY WONDERFULL CHAT!!!

1.GIVE US A SHORT BAND BIO. WHO ARE WARHAG AND WHAT MADE YOU START A BAND?

• OK Nick Here we go!!!!! Hang on it's gonna be a fun one...
•      1) WARHAG is Kyle Schkorche:       Vox
•                               Joy Toyota-Phillips: Bass Backing Vox
•                               Kevin MacEachern   Drums
•                               Kurt Phillips             Guitars
• After I moved back from Los Angeles in the mid-80's I was continally trying to get a band going to record some songs. Various people came and went but nothing was able to have the "right" stuff. In 1991 I took over a guitar store in Kelowna B.C.  and that took me out of bands for a few years. After playing as a sideman in some cover and some original acts,there was a gradual evolution to being a quasi-band leader. The reality of having this material done to disc now seemed a goal to be realized.Through the grace of God, we assembled as a quartet,rehearsed and hit Whiskey Cove Studios (www.whiskeycove) to do this mini c.d..The line-up worked,and the bass player recently became my wife. Good deal!!! We played our first live show in Jan 2002 which we have on videotape!!! The rest is happening through the amazing support of people that know people that like what we did. Thanks to the Metal Forces throughout the world for their support!

• When I was in Witchkiller, I answered the mail and  that kind of  stuff and I always thought a band needed a production company,I guess it seemed "official". Anyway I called it WARHAG Productions and had a little logo of two eyes peering out of a cage with one hand holding the bars. When the time came to have a name it really seemed the only choice to me... the rest of the band made little grumbling noises because I think it made them embarassed  to tell their friends, but after a while they didn't really kick up a fuss!!! A name is important but in different ways to fans   and groups. I think Aerosmith is a great name as is Soundgarden. But since they already have a sound you now have something to say Oh thats this band or that band. But if either of them was a  metal band and you had never heard anything about them at all,would it still be a good name?. To me yeah because the names sound [powerful to me. So you have a name and then you're stuck      with it good or bad,just try and write the kind of songs that are good!!!!!

• Well I have to say Iron Maiden for sure...and maybe Judas Priest.I recognize the name of Jag Panzer and of course know Saxon but not well enugh to say either way that we sound like      those two bands. I guess I like to think we do sound European,because that is truly where my musical heart is,although I love the U.S. band "RIOT" especially" Sons of Society" with all that great two guitar players sound.I am the only guitar player and although I enjoy the liberty and spontaneaty that offers, I would rather share the duties and expand the potential of that style of playing.If the player could play keybords too that also is a bonus!!!!

• To answer the last part first,YES we are all satisfied with it. I think any band would change a bit no matter what, that doesn't mean it would sound better just different. It took 110 hours over a two or three week period.We have done a good pre-production demo @ Lakewood Media (www) a year or so earlier,and felt it was quite good especially some spots.After we rehearsed them some more, they just seemed to evolve in a more crystallized way and go to newer and more interesting and challenging musical place. This was also a result of a good concentrated period of quite      intense and productive jamming. Then we moved into Whiskey Cove Studios and began the recording process.Of course there are moments in the studio where a song can change and that is a blessing and a curse because it can be hard to know if that is better for the song.. Overall however the songs were very complete.The disc is our first release.The original demos ( from      Lakewood) are on one-inch tape and it is hard to find a one inch machine near to where I live, so they are unavailable to be re-mixed for now.So yeah we are satisfied but ready for the new     songs and re-mixing the older ones to ensure a consistent sound throughout.

•  The key elements in most of the writing i seem to do for this style of music is "epic" I would guess. There are also strong words reflecting my faith in GOD, who is so amazing and yes      fantasy does come into play as does sci-fi, but not like early Genesis etc. more straightforward.      FIRST NATIONS/RAGE OF ANGELS: I always like a good instrumental  intro to a record....... and then slam a whoop-ass upside the head. "First Nations" was something I played around woth on  acoustic but could not seem to get a complete composition out of.It seemed to segue well into "RAGE" so thats the way it's been. Kyle does the melody line in an ad-lib style live and it's      cool. "RAGE OF ANGELS" is a total barn-burning song that starts off dramatic and ends up like a good trainwreck. I think it is  the most powerful cut on the record in terms of how well it      seemed to evolve and I felt quite exhilarated playing the two-guitar stuff with myself,and wishing to hear it that way live!!!! The song is about the apostasy prefacing Christs return to earth,and ties in with nuclear war,and the last days.
• MEAN MOUTH: is not as heavy musically as the rest,but it is about the sadness and futlity of racial hate,or basically hate in general.Lyrically to me it is very concise and strong and as I feel very strongly against this kind of backward thinking (hate), so much so that it came out as this song.It is the first one written with strong contributions from Joy and Kevin plus the intro riff was written by a friend (Steve McGovern) Originally it was supposed to have been after "Into the Castle" but we zoned out with the master and it ended up after "RAGE" instead of "Castle". WHOOPS!!! It is very ACCEPT "Balls to the Wall" sounding to me,and worth keeping and re-doing so we will still try and re-write it for the full-length without losing the power of the words but more chunky and grinding.
• INTO THE CASTLE : is about vampires both figuratively and metaphorically. It also features a great cameo by Joy at the end on vox and has an interesting kind of musical vibe, not so heavy      as really kind of creepy and unsettling.Anyway I think the chorus says it all.
• "SINISTER GRIP" started out similar but different to the way we recorded it, and through jamming the parts near the end suggested themselves and we jammed out the ending live in the studio.Kevin and Joy layed it down great and I got to add a couple more solos, plus we had the engineer Bob Gabelhouse play a couple of solo parts and the riff that goes into the fast part because he has this unique rhythm style that is very aggressive that I can't seem to get!!!!!! KYLE did what I thought was an outstanding intro scream and psychoed out on the Sinister grips in the outro. Very Sabbath sounding to me.
• "SAXONS RETURN" I just wanted to have another fast cut and we had some new ideas to spruce up the song. I think it finishes the mini off with a good feel and it will not be on the full-length      so get the disc if you like the version.

• It is definitely the last of the three. I think it is album quality on par with other records in the style we play.But there are now more nearly completed songs and the band is just preparing to do another round of productive riffing to finish off at least four or five new songs,

• Well it is a limited edition and there are 500 copies minus the ones we've sold so we need to sell    that run to pay the bills and start the rest of the record. We're getting a handle on having something on the net where people can see digi-phots and hear parts of the songs, and although it's a lot of work, it's exciting and we are gearing up for that. To promote the disc are very blessed to have support from yourself,Snakepit mag and especially Laurent Ramadier,plus people that bought the disc and like what we do.You are all so important.We are of course looking to play shows,but right now get the pre-production done,and be ready to play. If any bands are touring in the Pacific Northwest or Western Canda that need a  support act...call us, or e-mail us ([email protected])!!!!!

• I'll cheat a little bit and choose one instrumental and one song with lyrics!!!!!! "Northern Winter" is an instrumental that may be on the full-length and "Rage of Angels" are what I consider to be best examples of the work I enjoy, but I hope to continue to raise the bar as we produce a bigger catalogue of work!!!!

• That person would be me marrying Joy!!!!! We play an acoustic duet of a song called "Bells" and I would choose that as it is so beautiful to play with her!!!!

• We have only done one live show so far but the wedding occupied three months of  work .... however we will be ready to do shows at the end of June with an 8 or 10 song set......I think that any band that doesn't uplift the dark lord satan we would like to play with as long as they have a similar style or sound.

• I can't say that there is a specific Canadian sound. One thing for sure, in a lot of parts of the country when winter sets in you either play hockey,watch hockey or play music. This is why there are a large number of bands that are quite excellent. But as for a sound like I said it's not really very identifiable, anyway, it's all just METAL,so that's what matters.However, I feel it could be said that we walk a line of influence between U.S. metal and euro-metal together as  the beginning point.

• See the next question because they have the same answer.

• If I had that power I would encourage everybody to accept Jesus as their Saviour,and through Him salvation. Follow the most important things in life, Love GOD first and totally, then love thy neighbour as thyself. Love and forgiveness is the basic fundamental need of everybody no matter  how tough you are, and the Lord showers down His blessings and talents to everyone who would seek Him.

• I think a good prologue would be something like...... Hi I'm Nikos and through the wonder of internet technology I can offer this interview with the band WARHAG, a euro-metal style band from Canada. As for a title, how about....How a Sinister Grip became a ...

• Without a doubt to be in the Holy Land and have a chance to be in the presence of Jesus      Christ,to see His miracles and hear His promise of eternal salvation for everyone when He first walked this earth,amazing.The thing I would miss most from now would be the ability to communicate throughout the world immediately through the inter-net.

• I think the industry is not any different between pop and metal, just the scale of the industry makes pop more prominent

• Greed and pride are the foundation of most of our sins,when you get right down to it.They often lead us to temptations that we  are unable to control and thus do us in....Thanks to the mercy of      GOD and through forgiveness of ourselves and others we can recover and carry on.

• The bible as a book and as for movies I don't know but I sure  prefer comedies although a great Hitchcock thriller can have me droolin' in no time!!!!

• Really the only thing that I want to say is THANK YOU to the metal world for allowing me another opportunity to produce a body of work...and to the people who have supported me as players, fans, family, and people in the media who toil endlessly behind the scenes without getting their fair standing ovation. To the music that inspired me,and that I may in some small way help pass on the torch of this great music would be cool. Peace out.