7: For "Goin' Under" Joseph wrote the lyrics. Is he still in charge? Or did any other member write lyrics?

PS: No. Joseph still write all the lyrics. Which works for the best, since he write all the vocal melodies. 

8: When I first heard this album it was more diverse than the debut album. I guess this was just a natural result of having a bigger songwriting team?

PS: As I said earlier. I guess we all has come closer to the concept of the band, and knowing what works, and don't work for the band. Which is great!

9. All the band members have really different backgrounds, specially linked to extreme Metal (Necrophobic, Nifelheim)…. How do your other bands, or the bands you were part of in the past, affect what you are doing now with BLACK TRIP? 

PS: Nothing at all actually. I can still come up with ideas for songs that wouldn't work with Black trip. But when I write songs for us, it's clear to me if it's gonna work for the band or not. But since I have a background as a drummer it really helps me in understanding the building stones of a good rock song I guess. 

10: For instance "The Storm" is a really dynamic song. A 5 minute song with a lot of different elements, it's a bit what "No Tomorrow" was for your first album. Did this song just come out naturally? Or did you have to work on it and create it to how we hear on the album?


PS: As everything in BLACK TRIP seems to be honest and spontaneous.
The storm came from a demo Joseph wrote and recorded around the time we wrote the first album actually. We all heard that it would become a great epic song!


11.Were you specially listening to certain bands while shaping "Shadowline"?

 PS: Both Geordie and böc has been a good ease for the ear. But a band that has influenced me the most while writing both the songs for Shadowline and Goin' under is the band The hand of doom that released one album in 1979 named Poisonoise. It has so much that I'm looking for in music. Filthy, dirty rock with a punk attitude. Check them out! I just love everything about them!


 10. The songs are just BLACK TRIP 100%, as the title track. I guess this is exactly why it's the title track but, was it easy to choose? As well as the first single, "Berlin Model 32". Why did you pick that one?

PS: I think all the songs on the album qualify a 100% as Black trip. Actually. The first single, which we're gonna do a video for is Danger. But I had a gut feeling that Berlin model 32 would work out fine as a teaser for the album!

11. I also think this album blends even better the 70's Hard Rock with the early 70's/80's NWOBHM sound. Was it more clear this time around to get your sound? 

PS: We talked a lot with Nicke Andersson before we went into his studio. We wanted a luxurious 70's sound. And I think we nailed it. It's hard to have a totally clear idea before the studio. Everything changes a bit, and take new turns when recorded properly. That's the beauty with music. You can never be to sure how it's gonna turn out in the end. 

12. Sound-wise "Shadowline" is amazing. It sounds thick, organic, it has soul... This time you recorded with Nicke Andersson, How was it like? Didn't you consider working again with Fred Estby?

PS: It was a blast recording with Nicke! He has good ears and great ideas for the production. He has the ability to bring the best out of you! I already think about doing the next album with him. 

13.  And finally, what are your near-future plans? Any plans to play Spain? 

PS: Yes. We're finally going down and do some proper touring in Europe! We would love to come down and play in Spain! Spanish people has always had a great ear for good rock n roll! Contact us through Facebook or our homepage if you wanna book us down there! Cervezas and rock 'n roll forever! 

14: That’s all, thank you once more for answering my questions. Do you have any last words or shoutouts? 

PS: Thanx for the interview! See you all when we come down to the USA! Cheers!"


https://www.facebook.com/pages/Black-Trip/184303701663532?sk=timeline

Photo I took at the Riff Haus (Night Demon album release show) 


 1. Hi Kelsey, thank you for your time. How is everything in the Blade Killer camp at the moment?

KW:  Hey Nathan, thanks for the interview! Things are going well over here in the world of Blade Killer! We've been playing some shows, writing new material and planning some exciting things for the future! I'm very stoked for what is to come!


2. Blade Killer former in 2012, how did you join the band?

KW: . Yes, Blade Killer formed in 2012. I'm one of the original and founding members of the band. Carlos contacted me one day asking if I would be interested in starting a Heavy Metal band, and of course I said yes! The original members consisted of myself, Carlos, Jay and Andrew (our past drummer). It wasn't unit a few months later that John joined the band to relieve Carlos of second guitar duties so he could focus on doing vocals. 
 
3. I read that the band name came from a Sortilege song? Have you guys ever thought about covering a song by them? 

KW: We sure have thought of covering one of their songs before. Carlos thought of the idea for the band name, Sortilege is a big influence of ours. We've toyed with the idea of covering one of their songs, but it hasn't yet fit into our set list. Eventually though I'm quite sure that we will pay our respects to them! We’re quite particular on which songs we choose to cover, so far we only have a few that we’ve played, some live, the others just at rehearsal. 

 
4. The song lost angels is pretty damn good. Is that going to be released as a single later this year? If it is will it get the vinyl treatment or just a digital single?

KW: Thank you! Lost Angels is one of the songs to be featured on our full length album, but it is also going to be debuted on an exclusive upcoming release that we will be announcing details for soon, and not to mention that I'm really excited for! We've been writing a whole arsenal of new material that we are eager to record and release to all our fans out there. We've been getting asked quite frequently when this full length will be released, we hope to have a date in mind soon so we can let you all know!
 
5. You guys got an official drummer now, Tommy. Was he already playing live shows with you guys before joining the band?

KW: Tommy was our session drummer for more than a year, he has actually played all of our shows with us, not until recently did we make him an official member. When Andrew left the band, he left before we had played live, it brought about a bit of a delay in getting us on shows, I guess having a drummer is an important thing haha! We waited a while before making it official due to the fact that if we were going to bring someone in this band they needed to have the same vision as us, the same passion and drive that this band deserves. Bringing in someone new into such a tight knit group of people was a big decision, it's only 5 people in this entire world that make up Blade Killer, to hand over that title to him as the official drummer took time, and I'm glad we did. He's young but has the fire in him, he's a hell of a drummer and I couldn't be happier to have him behind the kit backing us up. 

So this interview was conducted at an IN N OUT in San Bernardino. After their set at the Conquered & Chaos fest the band packed up and during that time. I watched a Ska band also playing which they were actually quite good I must say I don’t remember their names but I liked what I heard. So I headed to the parking lot after my friend came to tell me that the band had loaded up and they were ready to do the interview. I suggested we got to In n out (because who can say no to that? Hehehe) So before the interview we ordered and we started talking about past concerts that turned into the new Beetlejuice, Batman. Also, as the drummer put it the “most intense show” Dragon Ball Z. So after we ate and all of that we headed out side to do the interview. Here’s what I got. 


Michael Sanchez- Bass
Alan Hinojosa- Guitar 
Brian Beni Torres - Drums/Percussion
Katherine Leon- Vocals
One of the members didn’t participate in the interview. 


1. Hello guys introduce your self and what you do in the band.
 KL: Hello, I’m Katherine Leon *In n out loudspeaker interrupts. “Guest 41 please 41” everyone starts laughing.* I’m 41… I’m Katherine Leon and I’m the vocalist of the band
MS: I’m Michael Sanchez and I play the Bass
BBT: I’m Brian Beni Torres and I play the drums
AH: I’m Alan and I play guitar.

2. So who were the founding members of the band?
AH: It was me and Michael and some other guys their names were Edgar, Aaron, and David. Which left for personal reasons. 

3. How do you guys feel from the past line up how things have changed.
AH: A lot! 
MS: It was the musical component, the guys we were with before they had the passion for it but not the technicality. So it has improved, sky rocketed. It’s been great.
AH: Plus less drama. 
KL: Oh god yes. 
MS: Less drama, less bullshit. *laughs* It helps out to stay together. 

4. So obviously you guys have a new singer. Do you guys feel it was was a pretty easy transition and it was accepted off the bat?
AH: Yah, they even liked it more! 
MS: You can tell the difference. Before the singer was a little bit pushy. And now people take notice. People that didn’t know us pay more attention. Kathy can really get a crowd going. So it’s pretty cool. 

Me: Yah, because when I saw you guys with Possessed to me it was almost a total different band compared to now. Vocal wise and everything as a unit.

KL: Yah! 

5. For people who don’t know you have a demo out. Can we expect an EP or or a possible full length soon? 
Whole band: Yah! 
MS: We’ve been talking about it and checking what we can do. To provide people with music they want. 
AH: Now, were actually going to go into the writing process. To write new and better songs. So we can get into the studio and get something done. 

6. Can we expect the same songs re-recorded or just a few songs off the demo. 
BBT: Umm probably not because the song we recorded on the demo were already made and we have newer songs that we all wrote together. So probably those. 

7. How do guys feel about the San Bernadino show you guys just played. How was it?
KL: Bad ass. 
MS: It was cool.
BBT: It was hot!
MS: You can see Kathy’s stage presence come in. Like you were there throughout the whole show. No band (at the show) has gotten really anybody to go their stage. People are just scattered all over. We where like no one is going to watch us play because people are doing what the fuck they’re doing. But when we started people are just drawn into it. That what’s pretty cool about it. 
AH: It had a back yard show kinda feel to it. So it was fun. 

8. You guys have played with bands like Visigoth and Night Demon. Let’s take the riff haus for example are you able to have more like lights and stuff and customize the stage more to your liking? 
MS: For us it’s just straightforward we get there do what we have to do get out or stay. And leave our stamp there.
AH: Sometimes we do the lights but…
KL: The red lights were horrible. 
Ah: Yah, they weren’t that powerful so it was really hard to see. So we’re still working on that on that and stage props and stuff like that to enhance the show. Because in the end of the day it’s a show.

9. Last time I saw you guys you used the intro that Night Demon uses for the chalice. Was that like a nod to them or just by coincidence?
AH: Yah..
BBT: That was done by accident.
AH: Yah, we didn’t know. Actually, It’s from Crowley.. No, it’s from Lavey’s satanic mass and it’s like’s an album of their (black) masses. It’s just like him talking and prettying much praying and shit like that. I was listening to it and it kinda fit to the song and it sounded familiar but I didn’t recognize it from the Night Demon show. Until you pointed it out.
KL: How dare you, how dare you *laughs*

10. With the writing proess does someone come with a riff or do you guys come as a unit and jam it out? 
AH: Well it’s pretty much both. Pretty much, either I or Michael or Benny or anybody can come with an idea. Someone can come to practice and do something like this or bring a riff into it. It also helps we practice outside the studio. Pretty much just guitar and bass so we can get tighter. We have been messing around with new riffs. That’s why after this show we’re going to focus more on writing. So it’s a lot of different ways. 

11. Any other local bands you guys are fans of. 
AH: Infinite death they are friends with us.
BBT: Plauge, Hazardous Terror
AH: Hazardous Terror are good. 
BBT: Cataclysmic spawn, Chemical X, The Semiautoics
AH: A good band that just came out is Morbid Eclipse. They got a really good…
MS: They got a really good stage presence. 
BBT: Madrost! 
AH: Shit like that.
BBT: Exmortus!
AH: Yah, they’re not that local but yah.

12. Last show Alan we were talking about your sound do you want to be labeled just as a heavy metal band and not be labled as a “thash” or “black/thrash”. Do you want to be able to add different elements and not be boxed in. 
AH: Yah, now metal is kinda getting fussy. Like the newer generation want to add a lot of elements into it. I like a lot of black metal you can kinda hear it in the riffs. They don’t like black metal but it still goes through them because of the melodies and stuff like that. So we don’t want to box ourselves into a sub-genre we just play metal! We play heavy and fast and dark we just love it.
Me: So we shouldn’t expect a Funk album from you guys? 
AH: Maybe, you never know. Probably Load and Re-load and St. Anger. You can expect that in about 10 years.

13. What gear do you guys use? 
MS: I play through a Peavey TNT. And my bass just broke. It was an old bass but it was getting the job done. So I guess I’m getting an Ibanez later this week
BBT: I play Yamaha drums and  Zildjian cymbals and drum sticks.
AH: I use a line 6 head amp it’s a tube a Peavey amp 5150 and my guitar is pretty much custom. It was a low end kinda guitar but it had good quality wood and It was a really good find. I have been working on it for about 5 years. So It’s my little Frankenstein. And Richie he plays a Les Paul through a Peavey 5150 and the cab is the same. We just try to play what we like and what sounds good. We don’t really focus on brands too much. 
BBT: As long as it works and sounds good.
AH: And we get the tone that we want.

14. Do you think the Thrash trend of 2008 is over or is it still prominent. 
BBT: Well the biggest sub-genre of metal is Thrash. The biggest band is a Thrash band being Metallica. 
AH. Well they were a thrash band. Now, you can kinda see that it’s not really dying out. 
BBT: What is really big now is tech-death .
AH: Yah, tech-death also the newer heavy metal the old school heavy metal is making it’s way back. With bands like Night Demon and Visigoth.
BBT: Also a lot of DJENT. Yah, DJENT is expensive 
AH: But yah a lot of the newere generation is a lot of people wanting make things of their own. 
BBT: We take the spirit of bands that we like and bring it to our generation.

15. Vocal wise what are your influences?
KL: Oh god Chuck (Schuldiner)! That was the only reason why. One day I was like fuck it I’m going to look up a song and just try it by myself and just did it. 

16. Bass Influences ?
MS: Cliff, Lemmy, I like the style of heavy metal. I like how it encompasses everything I like the fills. I’ve been playing bass instruments since I was in Elementary school. I played the Tuba. It taught me that the focus isn’t the bass but it’s really what everyone else depends on. That’s where I push my tone into it. I find that sweet spot where everything goes together. 

17. Drum influences?
BBT: Black Sabbath, Bill Ward, John Bonnam, Mitch Mitchell, Lars Ulrich, just doom. I like doom that influences me a lot. 

18 . Guitar influences?
AH: For me music wise it’s a lot. I’m really inspired by a lot of classical stuff. Like Beethoven, Mozart, Tchaikovsky all of that. When I write I like to make melodies kinda of like that. But guitar wise it’s Ace Freehly from Kiss that’s the reason I started playing guitar. And you can kinda tell from my style. Also, Doyle from the Misfit. He’s really aggressive and straight to the point riffs and he beats the shit out of his guitar on stage. That’s what I picked up from.

ME: the Misfits rule!
AH: Yah
BBT: Yah, Michael Graves forever.
ME: I’m shocked I never find people who like the Michael Graves era. I think it rules.
BBT: Yah, famous monsters and freaking Pumpkin Head that is one of the heaviest Misfits songs. There is. 
AH: Yah, those fucking riffs dude it’s like pretty much Heavy Metal mixed with Punk Rock. 
BBT: It’s a heavy metal singer singing in a freaking punk band,
AH: But the guitar is pretty much heavy metal too. 

18. Music wise what’s something people wouldn’t think you would like? Like for example the Kaiser Chiefs. 
BBT: Fleetwood Mack! I love Fleetwood Mack! 
AH: Me I listen to a lot of 80’s kinda pop. Like… A lot of shit like that. It’s my guilty pleasure. I don’t even want to name the bands.. 
KL: Do it! Just do it!
AH: OK, Okay..
KL: Don’t say Nirvana.
AH: No, that’s 90’s. Pretty much stuff like Blondie.
BBT: I listen to a lot of Blondie. 
ME: Like new Wave Stuff?
BBT/AH: Yah…
BBT: A lot of Joy Division..
AH: Trans-x Living on video like shit like that. Just the melody if it has a good catchy melody that’s what I like.
BBT: A lot of Joan Jet! I listen to that.
AH: Oh yah Joan Jet! 
KL: the B-52’s
MS: I listen to everything I like gangsta rap, like NWA, I also like Chicano rap.
BBT: I think Chicano rap has like the best beats. 

ME: I’m kinda out of questions but thanks for your time!



Some pictures from the show below!  Darkult killed it! Even though it wasn't the best stage or venue they gave it a 100%. Once they started a lot of people really gathered around their stage. Katherine during one of the songs ran into the pit. They sounded tight and the whole set was good. If you can see them I suggest you do. After the interview I came back to the venue to watch Skeletal Remains and other bands. However, the promoter would not let me back inside. He then told me there was no in's and out's (there was no signs). Even though many people were walking in and out of the venue. They tried to get me to pay a 10 dollar re-entry fee. Even though I had already payed them ten dollars before hand. So I left and didn't get to see any of the other bands. So, I'm sorry I couldn't had more of a review for you (the readers). However, it was still worth it to see Darkult! They rule!

https://www.facebook.com/Darkult