ROCKET Interviews Steve Callaway Of DEMOLITION FACTION

Dover, Delaware’s DEMOLITION FACTION in ’08 has unleashed an explosive sophomore release, in follow-up to 2004’s The Damage Is Done debut, with a collection of nine “take-no-prisoner” tracks that are set to go off like dynamite in your ears. Recorded and mixed by John Wyman at Halo Studios, Hasten The Apocalypse is an all-out “Goddamn Electric” display of old school thrash-style guitar playing from Steve Callaway and Mike Valerio, with the Phil Anselmo-inspired vocal intensity of Jay Hackney, led down the twisted road of ultimate heavy music purgatory thanks to one singularly destroying, non-stop double-bass drumming performance from Eric Kelley. Featuring the stalwart ass-kickers : ‘Spoils Of War’, ‘Plague Of Seasons’ and ‘Psychopath Incarnate’, the album is unrelenting in its all-out end of the world rampaging. The group understands that good songwriting is what truly wins the war, spitting out a steady diet of mean as all hell tracks here – one from the next, dressed meticulously in Callaway/Valerio’s machine-gun-like chugger-riffs and Mark Stevenson’s assaulting at the low end.

The Metal Den’s Randy “Rocket” Cody interviews:

Steve Callaway

of DEMOLITION FACTION

Rocket: Where were you born and raised?

Steve: I was born in Greenwood, Delaware then lived with my mom in San Diego, CA for several years, and ended up back in Delaware in 1987. I’ve been living in Dover, Deleware for about fifteen years now.

Rocket: Do you come from a big family?

Steve: Yeah, my Mom and Dad both had good sized families. So when they divorced and both remarried my family basically doubled in size. Anyway, I’ve got three brothers and a ton of cousins.

Rocket: Killer. What first drew you to playing music?

Steve: As far back as I can remember, I’ve always at least had a record player. I use to sit and listen to my mom’s 45’s over and over again.

Rocket: When exactly did you first start playing the guitar?

Steve: I think I was about 14 when my mom and my step dad finally got me a Hondo acoustic.

Rocket: Did you ever take any formal guitar lessons?

Steve: Yeah, I’ve taken lessons from several teachers over the years.

Rocket: Who are some of your biggest playing influences of past and present?

Steve: I’d have to say my earliest influence was Richie Blackmore. I started listening to Deep Purple when I was very young. Other influences were Jimmy Page, Michael Schenker, Tony Iommi and Randy Rhoads.

Rocket: What kind of guitars are you playing live and in the studio?

Steve: I use the same guitars as I do in the studio. For this band I’m using a total of four guitars. Two main guitars and two backups.

MAIN – JACKSON PRO SERIES DINKY -TUNING -CGCFAD

MAIN – JACKSON SL2H TUNING – DGCFAD

BACKUP – JACKSON DINKY (MODIFIED @ STS GUITARS) TUNING -CGCFAD

BACKUP – ESP M-2 DELUXE – TUNING – DGCFAD

I also have an early 80’s model Charvel Strat I play at home a lot. A 1989 ESP M-2, and a Ovation acoustic.

Rocket: What kind of amp rig(s)?

Steve: For The Hasten The Apocalypse CD, I used my Line 6 Bogner and the studio techs Mesa Boogie 50/50 with a Tri-Axis pre-amp. I recprded the tracks separately using XXX cabs. My live rig is the Line 6 Bogner with two 4-12 XXX cabs and a Line 6 shortboard.

Rocket: Your band has just self-released your 2nd full length studio album entitled “Hasten The Apocalypse”. How has the reaction been so far and where can fans get their own copy?

Steve: It’s been great. We’ve sold almost 400 copies just playing locally. Everybody really seems to be diggin’  it. To get a copy of the CD just come to a show or contact me on MySpace. The Demolition Faction online store will be up and running ASAP. I’ve been working on the store about a week now, and I just want to make sure every thing’s perfect before I launch it.

Rocket: Have you guys been getting any offers from labels yet?

Steve: Yes. As a matter of fact, we’ve just signed with Romulus X Records in New Jersey. The CD Hasten The Apocalypse will be released worldwide. It will be available at Amazon.com, Best Buy, Target, etc. The CD will also be released in England, Sweden, and Australia. For more details be sure to check our MySpace. I’ll be posting more info soon.

Rocket: It’s been another great year for heavy metal in 2008. What are some of the new album releases this year that have impressed you the most?

Steve: I’d have to say the new Gojira.

Rocket: Who are some of the other local “un-signed metal” acts on your scene that you think are worth mentioning right now?

Steve: Just check our top friends on our MySpace. Most of the local bands we play with are on there, and they are all pretty damn bad ass.

Rocket: What are some of the upcoming shows for DEMOLITION FACTION?

Steve: As for now, we’re booking shows for after the 1st of the year. We plan on covering a lot of ground. So please check back for our tour dates.

Rocket: Thanks very much for taking time out to do this interview. Best of luck with it all. Go ahead and give a shout-out to your biggest supporters.

Steve: Thanks for the opportunity. Just like to thank our friends, families, fans for sticking with us. I hope to see all of you soon again.

Visit Demolition Faction on MySpace:

http://www.myspace.com/demolitionfaction