Interview with Shane Clark of 3 Inches Of Blood
December 14th, 2007 by Stephanie Stevens
In 2004 Roadrunner records introduced us to a band from Vancouver who was creating a stir in the music world bringing back the old school metal sound with a singer who could hit the notes of the mighty Halford and created music that only brought anthems to the forefront but also ripped and roared with metal prowess. 3 INCHES OF BLOOD is the band and they are back in 2007 with their sophomore album called FIRE UP THE BLADES. With a lethal potion of black metal, thrash, straight up metal riffs and the lashing of dual guitar attacks and shredding high octave vocal ranges this Vancouver band is a great treat doing something on the edge when everyone else is playing it safe jumping on the trends. The music is headbanging, crushing and just a full on good time.
I had a chance to catch up with the band when they hit Rhode Island on the GWAR tour. Taking a seat backstage at Lupos with Mr. Shane Clark (guitarist) was a treat so read on and enjoy this interview and the Metal they bring to the current boring music world.
Steph: The new album has been out for a while and seems like it is doing well?!
Shane: Yup, it’s been out since June and Yea so far so good it’s been doing well. Through constant touring we have gained a few more fans so we noticed that right away.
Steph: So are you semi new or are you from the old album?
Shane: I would be semi new because I joined the band two weeks before the old album was released. So all the touring for that record I was involved in but not on the record
Steph: The same with the rest of the guys besides your singers?
Shane: It’s the same with me and the other guitar player, Justin. The singers are original but our rhythm section has since changed, actually a couple of times over the years. Recently we just got a new drummer.
Steph: Who writes mainly for the record when its time to write?
Shane: It’s mainly me and Justin and our two singers. Nick our bass player joined in that period so he threw ideas around, but it’s pretty much just meeeeeee (laughing)
Steph: That is why I’m talking to you right? (laughing). So was there a new goal or perspective as you went into the writing process for record number two?
Shane: We wanted to raise the bar as far as, since we toured for the last record for so long and played those songs got stifling and we also didn’t want to go into it and write an ADVANCE AND VANQUISH part two. So we just went in and started writing our favorite type of metal songs and as soon as the guys sang on it the 3 INCHES OF BLOOD sound was all there. There is a lot of peaks and valleys on the album, and it is not so one dimensional. The first album is a great album but it really doesn’t stray from the formula that was on there. So this one has more of a rockin Deep Purple feel to it and some blast beats, kind of getting into black metal territory but not really and everything in between. Since our attention spans are very low there is something for everybody.
Steph: You know what I love about you guys is your doing something new and not following trends but not going too over the top that it is cheesy and it doesn’t look gimmicky you really show your love for old school music and doing what you love.
Shane: I take that has a very high compliment because like you mentioned we are just playing music that we grew up on and love in the metal genre. We cover a wide variety of music.
Steph: Were you surprised when Roadrunner came and offered you a deal?
Shane: That was right before I joined the band, not very long but maybe within six months. When I heard about them getting signed, because I knew them from before, I thought it was weird because Roadrunner’s roster has been less and less underground metal and more commercial and lots of rock bands. So it’s good in one way that the band sticks out because we are like one of the old school Roadrunner bands like Mercyful Fate. But now the agenda of the label to me is kind of very much into the pop spectrum.
Steph: Wasn’t it this year though they signed a lot of the older bands back, like Megadeth’s back to Roadrunner
Shane: Yeah, they were never actually on Roadrunner but they signed Megadeth which is obviously a classic metal band. They resigned Obituary for one record, so your right, they are still involved in the metal thing but I think where we’re at and where the level our band’s at is still pretty much, we’re just so lucky to be on a label that has some really good distribution. That’s the main thing for us.
Steph: Now, being from Vancouver, is the scene in Vancouver what you guys are influenced by because it seems like you’re influenced by the old school metal, like you guys mentioned ManOWar as being an influence?
Shane: Some of the guys, not me, I’ll tell you why. I’m not into metal at all. You look shocked and you were just about to give me the thumbs up for liking the band.
Steph: (Laughing)
Shane: I’m sorry. That’s just a band I never got into
Steph: Really? You know what band got me into the whole scene?
Shane: What?
Steph: Nevermore
Shane: Nevermore
Steph: Yep, Sanctuary/Nevermore
Shane: Yep, they’re from Seattle. No, that’s a good example. I think as far as Vancouver goes, it’s a really small city and there isn’t another 3 Inches Of Blood in Vancouver, there are bands that our influenced by others, I don’t know what you’d call it, old influences, like our two old guitar players and our old drummer have a band together, they are very Thin Lizzy sounding. Then there are some doing rather slug metal bands, there are a lot of death metal bands in Vancouver but I wouldn’t say that we are influenced by the scene. There is a little bit of a family scene but in Vancouver it’s like, when your band receives some success, everyone talks shit. It’s like any scene in any city, there’s clicks involved. Our band strays from that and like travels, doing what bands naturally progressively do and take the music to the people. I guess some people say success is the best revenge. I think it’s unfortunate when people start talking shit because they’re not doing as good as their friends, ya know, it can be unhealthy but there’s all that kinds of shit. I’m kind of rambling now
Steph: Yes, ramble on, we like rambling. So Joey Jordison produced the record, it must have been great working with him but if you had to walk away with one lesson learnt from him musically and personally what would it be?
Shane: Musically he personally helped me focus on ideas and arranging. I learnt a lot of arranging skills from him. Personally I learnt how much beer I can drink with him
Steph: How much is that?
Shane: A lot. He can party and we saw eye to eye on a lot of things like Paps Blue Ribbon was one. Myself, Joey, Justin and Jamie tore through many a case since we met that guy. So I learnt about good times with him.
Steph: So what is up with your music incorporating all this Medieval, fantasy, mythology type of stuff in it. Are you all big fans?
Shane: I like certain mythology and old philosophies. Everyone is a fan of fantasy
Steph: Like Dungeons and Dragons?
Shane: More like movies, comics and novels. Cam One of our singers plays D&D. He has a squad of dudes who play every Sunday when we are at home. Myself I just don’t have the attention span for that, I think it’s cool. The whole reason behind the lyrics being what they are is escapism. Your definitely not going to listen to our album or see a show coming from a bad day or bad relationship problems and come here about us and our problems and get even more bummed out. Like I’ll go see a horror movie to escape and that’s where that comes from. There is a big influence of the metal we grew up with and music in general and movies and shit. It’s just fun to make up your own fantasy stories and imagery and mythology and squash mythologies together to make your own. It’s art, you can do whatever you want.
Steph: So in the future this is what we will see from 3 INCHES OF BLOOD?
Shane: We are not going to adopt political agendas. You may see vague religious themes. But it is vague and all fantasy stuff. We are taking ideas from history and twisting them around into a satanic majesty. (laughing)
Steph: So I hear your fans are quite interesting?
Shane: We haven’t seen a lot of interesting fans lately because we have been on package tours with bigger bands so we are introducing ourselves to them. Do see some really steadfast old school fans at some shows but when we go out on our own we will see lots of crazy stuff. We have seen some pig heads, deer heads. They dress in armor or characters of songs and they basically go into battle in front of us
Steph: You’re like there leaders!
Shane: Yea pretty much. It’s cool cause they are actually listening to the music
Steph: How is this GWAR tour going for ya?
Shane: Awesome. Coming off the Static-x tour into this tour is like a completely new world. GWAR fans are a little like Slayer fans, they sometimes just want Gwar or nothing, but lots of people come to see Gwar cause they are just into metal and will give bands a chance. We gained fans on this tour.
Steph: Any thoughts on new music yet?
Shane: I’m always writing new stuff. So we will have a new record ready to rock one day. One thing I would like to plug actually is we released a digital EP on ITUNES and the main song is TRIAL OF CHAMPIONS which is on the record and then a studio track and a cover song which is IN THE TIME OF JOKE by a band called LUCIFERS FRIEND. They are an early 70’s German band. Really good song and Cam our singer does a really awesome job. Then one other song called KEY TO OBLIVIAN. It’s really cheap and really good.
Steph: Okie time to have fun. One fact that no one knows about your band?
Shane: We all like to listen to Tears for Fears. I have the greatest hits on my Ipod.
Steph: One ritual you do before you go onstage?
Shane: Smoke a couple of cigarettes and smoke pot.
Steph: One alcoholic Beverage you can’t live without?
Shane: Whiskey. Bourbon actually
Steph: If you could go into the past and live someone’s life again who would it be and why?
Shane: My first cat cause he was a rad cat and had a good life. (laughing)
Steph: (laughing) Best advice you got and who from?
Shane: Ok the best advice I got and this is a serious answer. The best advice I got to do with music was to really listen to yourself and don’t listen to the wrong suggestions and play music for the sake of playing music. I am very lucky I am in a band and I don’t have to go back to work for a while anyway. But the fact I am doing this is a total fluke but even if I wasn’t in this band I would still be playing music. So that was really good advice and I got it at a young age so it was good. There are some people who are great musicians but they find out they are good musicians and get into music they hate because they can make money out of it. That’s what I am getting at I’m just enjoying art and music.
Steph: Do you carry a sharpie with you?
Shane: You know what (as he searches his pockets)
Steph: What kind of rockstar are u?
Shane: I do look, I’m a total fuckin rockstar (laughing)
Steph: Famous last words?
Shane: quit school or hey kids yell at your parents…(laughing) no I don’t have famous last words. No but seriously my famous last words are these peanuts and Green. Those are famous words
Steph: Anything we missed you want to talk about?
Shane: We are going to be touring with Black Dahlia Murder starting January 15th to Feb 15th ending in Detroit. Check our myspace page: www.myspace.com/3iobÂ
Website:Â www.3inchesofblood.com
This interview was conducted by Stephanie Stevens on behalf of The Daily Rock.
