MOTLEY CRUE – Nikki Sixx Issues Update From The Road

BLACKDAMP

West Virginia's BLACKDAMP have issued a self-titled collection of tracks that range from sounding like Acid Bath meets NOLA's Down in a back alley knife battle to all out war in the low budget sound studio. With highly unique standout songs like "Outlaw Alchemists", "Sold To The Syringe" and "Ecstacy Weeps", which even features some cool acoustic work, highlighted by the gutter-low growl of vocalist Jason Adkins, solid drumming from Roger Ritchie, the unit is well rounded out with the Eyehategod/Superjoint Ritual-ish guitars of Chuck Adkins and Brent Holland, locked down nicely into an ugly deathbed with the ever steady bass work from E.Boo.Koone. If you are a fan of true underground metal at its most loyal and fiercest, check these guys out!

Rocket

Rocket: What first drew you to music?

Jason: I think it must have been drawn to me. Music came into my life as an infant and it has been with me every second since. It's pretty much all I've thought about my whole life for some reason. Everything else has always been secondary including life, love, and family. Since it has been the only love that ever stayed with me it is the only one to have my devotion.

Rocket: When did you start singing in bands?

Jason: About 12 years old garage wise. I didn't get to sing in an actual gigging band until I put in work playing bass for a local blues guitarist/singer and had sang back up for him at most the local bars. I was about 13 years old. I was 6 feet tall with sideburns though, so it wasn't as much trouble as it could've been.

Rocket: Who are a few of your biggest vocal influences?

Jason: Van Morrison, Dax Riggs, Ralph Stanley, Phil Anselmo and Townes Van Zandt.

Rocket: Did you ever take any formal voice lessons?

Jason: No formal lessons, but I have always been very open to direction of fellow musicians and music fans which has helped very very much.

Rocket: Briefly, how did you join BLACKDAMP band?

Jason: I knew about them locally and they knew about me but we never made the connection until about Jan 2006 when they were at the same bar as me and had to break me out of a fight. They ask me why I had never tried to audition and I said I'de be psyched as hell to. I came the next day and sent the prior singer home. They've been trying to keep me out of jail ever since.

Rocket: You guys just released a new album, correct? How has the reaction been so far and how can fans pickup a copy?

Jason: We are recording a new 5 song CD in September. Our self-titled was received well around here and actually sold faster then we could keep them but ultimately we weren't satisfied with it so we shelfed it. We are a much stronger band since that recording so we are scrapping that album and offering fans a 6 song live demo available on our myspace starting July 26th to hold them over until they can get thier hands on the one we are starting in September.

Rocket: I like to have fun with this next one. What's the funniest thing that ever happened to you on stage while performing?

Jason: I blew a fireball with jet fuel at a show in Louisville KY. The bar owner said it was OK but the ceiling paint was still a little wet so a big circle of flames kept burning after the fire ball was gone and I had to beat it out with a towel while we did the next verse of the song.

Rocket: It's been another great year for metal in '08. What one album is your personal favorite so far from this year?

Jason: TESTAMENT's The Formation of Damnation… Hands down.

Rocket: Thanks for rockin this out with me. Go ahead and give a shout out to your biggest supporters.

Jason: Jeremy Vaughn, Mike Hatcher, Muzz, Cassie Kevin and Jordan, Society Red, Voices of Anatole, Red Dragon Tattoo, Sharon, the Rock-It Club and Hillbilly Death Ride.

http://www.myspace.com/blackdamp

Tags: music