After a philosophical discussion on the merits of Sriracha hot sauce, ghost chiles, and other such spicy condiments, we got down to business and talked all things Holy Grail with vocalist James Paul Luna and guitarist Eli Santana. As they prepared to perform at the Webster Underground on May 2, 2011 in Hartford, CT, the band members told us about the history of Holy Grail, what influenced the sound of their debut album Crisis in Utopia, and the new wave of traditional heavy metal.

After Blackguard opened for Symphony X at the Worcester Palladium on April 23, 2011, we pulled aside vocalist Paul “Ablaze” Zinay to pick his brain about the band’s slight change in sound, his thoughts on concept records, which song is the most important off of their latest release Firefight, and much more.

Prior to Eluveitie’s headlining show at the Worcester Palladium on February 3, 2011, we were able to get in an interview with vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Chrigel Glanzmann and vocalist/hurdy-gurdyist Anna Murphy. In a quick chat before dinner, we talked about keyboards versus folk instruments, why folk metal bands always seem to tour in the winter, and the wonders of Gaulish.

We sat down with Devin Townsend, the legendary musician behind such acts as Strapping Young Lad and the Devin Townsend Band before his show to discuss the new Project tour, the energy of dance pop, and, of course…all things Ziltoid.