Interview with Mexican Thrashers Strike Master
By Mick Michaels
COSMICK VIEW: Hello! Welcome to The Cosmick View. Thank you for taking some time out of your day to chat with me, it's greatly appreciated.
Strike Master: Thanks to you, time is on our side.
CV: Traditionally, Thrash bands have centered around two guitars. Is there ever a concern with Strike Master being a one guitarist, three piece Thrash band, that there may be some limitations when it comes to song writing, especially in a specific genre format such as Thrash?
SM: Strike Master was funded as a 3 piece thrash band, we've never discard the idea of having a second guitarist and we agree that would be a very important reinforcement on live shows…bad thing is we have never found one interested in this band, and none has submitted to play with the band. Limitations come when it’s about playing live, one guitar has to do work of both that were recorded in some arrangements at studio.
CV: Do you ever feel that writing in such a specific genre could also lend itself to limitations at one point or another as the band continues to progress.
SM: I think Thrash Metal is one of the most diverse branches in Metal…progression is part of it and it’s endless to explore
CV: Is Metal viewed differently in Mexico compared to the United States based on your touring experience? If so, why do you feel that is the case?
SM: Of course, nowadays Mexico holds the biggest Metal festivals in North America up to 120,000 people attend, with multiple stages playing simultaneously…becoming one obligated destination for Metal bands every year to visit us. On the other side, the United States of America has the most important record labels and distributors, and very important bands in each branch of the Metal genre that makes it a very important country for the development of this music. Those are some of the differences I have noticed in my experience.
CV: With seemingly every aspect of the world affected on some level because of COVID-19, do you feel the music industry can bounce back from this massive shutdown? Will it find a way to survive and begin to thrive again?
SM: Honestly at this point of the epidemic it’s hard to say, I think one day things will go back to normal yes, but when? I don’t know… concerts or gigs won’t be allowed for a while, this because of the danger of gathering audiences in one place…even worst if it’s an international festival…that makes a time bomb out of it…not unless there is a cure or vaccine for this shit.
CV: What do you hope Strike Master's new album will do for the band? Are there certain things you are looking for the album to achieve? Is there new ground to cover?
SM: Of course, every released material has a purpose. This time we don’t have to rush to record, mix, master and release. With our next full length album we want it to be signed to a deal…a distribution deal, some administrative movement for it to reach as much of the world as it can. Independence is a hard way to survive, that’s why we need to get positioned before we fucking die.
CV: When do you see the new Strike Master album dropping and will a tour quickly follow its release if bands are permitted to tour again?
SM: for this year the album looks to be composed during the lockdown and then off to the studio for recording. Then it’s a matter of when the time is right to get it positioned for release…this will take a while. We don’t know how much or how less. We are not in a rush to release since we released “Death based Illusions” last year and it’s still fresh
CV: The COVID pandemic has taken over the world, leaving many bands without the ability to perform and without a level of return revenue. What effects has the global crisis had on Strike Master and its ability to be a band?
SM: It helped us to restructure our administrative ways of doing business…we’ve sold a lot of merchandise and it helped us close some important deals…so in a way, we took the best out of this shit.
CV: Has this crisis given you some deep insight into how you plan to carry on as a band once everyone and everything is given the green light to return to "normal?" Will there be new protocols the band will look to follow or is returning to "normal" something that should be taken with a grain of salt as the world is surely destined to be different place post COVID?
SM: To be honest, we don’t know how normality will be, and how economy will take part in all this… We will look to play those events that got cancelled and continue to move the band further by promoting the music to the world.
CV: How has Strike Master been keeping in contact with its fans? Do you feel social media has proven its worth over the last two months as a solid way for people to truly stay connected?
SM: Of course the social media has kept us connected with our audience…as always; we are here to respond to any message sent to us. There is no other way to be close to our people now.
CV: What's next for Strike Master? What can fans expect to see from the band post COVID?
SM: At least this year there will be a couple gigs around Mexico. We really hope the world reopens soon and those promoters who had plans with us will carry on them. New music is being composed now, expect the worst…!
CV: Thank you again for spending some time talking and sharing with
our readers. I wish you all the best and continued success.
SM: Thank you, keep on, stay safe, and contact us whenever you want.
Col.KMU/STRIKE MASTER
Check out Strike Master at:
Official: https://www.strikemaster.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/strikemasterofficial/
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My name is Mick Michaels...I'm an artist, music fan, songwriter, producer, dreamer and guitarist for the traditional Heavy Metal band Corners of Sanctuary. Writing has always been a creative outlet for me; what I couldn't say in speech, I was able to do with the written word. Writing has given me a voice and a way for me to create on a multitude of platforms including music and song, articles, independent screenplays, books and now, artist interviews. The Cosmick View is an opportunity to raise the bar and showcase artists in a positive and inspirational light. For me, it's another out-of-this-world adventure.
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