The BIG Über Rock Interview: David Reed Watson (Kill Ritual)
Written by Linzi A
Saturday, 17 February 2018 13:05
The Kill Ritual story started in 2010 when former members of Imagika, Dark Angel and Eldritch threw their heavy metal influences into a pot, stirred it up and created the masterful band which we have here today.
With a new album under their belt, this SF Bay/Las Vegas-based band are about to head back out on the road, as opening act on Iced Earth’s epic North American tour, which kicks off this coming week in Indianapolis and runs through until the end of March.
As the band started packing their bags and re-stringing their guitar, we dialled up ye olde trans-Atlantic telephone connection to grab a quick chat with vocalist David Reed Watson (also known for his work with Rage Of Angels, Electric Messiah and D.N.A.)…
‘We are extremely excited for this tour. Iced Earth are icons in the metal world and this is a great opportunity for us. We’ll be playing to a much broader audience than we’ve had the opportunity to in the past. I think the fans are really going to love our new album, ‘All Men Shall Fall’.
What can we expect from you guys on tour?
Everyone can expect a lot of energy. We’ve got a solid line-up from our European Tour with the exception of the Drummer, but the new guy is going to blow you’re minds.
Have you seen Iced Earth’s latest video ‘Black Flag’? What are your thoughts on this?
Yes… I’m well aware of the video. I love the concept and the production of it. Kudos to them for still bring us great music throughout the years.
Speaking of new videos, you guys have released a lyric video for the track ‘Megalomaniac’. Do you want to tell us a little about the production of the album, and where you came up with the concept for the lyrics for this video?
The production for this album was done by Steven and myself. Like the previous album I did all of the vocals, lyrics, melody lines in my Kundalini Studio in Las Vegas and Steve did the guitars, bass and keys in his studio in the Bay area. The drums were done in Texas by our friend Matt Thompson from King Diamond. When we got all of that in order we sent it over to Andy LaRocque (King Diamond guitarist) in Sweden where he mixed and mastered the whole thing. We are really excited for this release. It is getting released by Dissonance Productions in the UK.
The concept and lyrics are a correlation between ancient Rome and the political climate in the US today. It’s very tense and something is going to blow… at least that is the feeling. Rome ended up falling, and if we don’t look at history and learn from its lessons we might end up in the same boat.
Can we expect the same amount of power and riffage from the album that there is in this video?
Definitely! Steve is the master of riffs so you guys are in for some big surprises.
You guys signed to Dissonance Productions in December: how did all that come about?
We had been shopping for a new label and when we did the European tour with Raven, our name crossed their desk. We are excited to be working with them considering the bands that are with them. And if I’m not mistaken we’re the only band from the US!
Do you feel like with this now in place that Kill Ritual is on their way up in terms of profile status?
Most definitely. We’ve been working hard for the last three years that I’ve been with the band, doing our best to come out with new material every year, as well as touring every year. We’re ready to take it to the next level.
What have you guys got lined up for the rest of the year when you finish the Iced Earth Tour?
We’re already lining up for another tour in Europe, as well as the summer festival season over there. I love Europe. The fans are amazing. They live for music. Not only that… I’m a vegetarian, and they seem to be more health conscious with their food. I mean, Monsanto [an American company that is one of the world’s biggest manufacturers of genetically-engineered seeds] is banned over there.
‘All Men Shall Fall’ is released next Friday (23 February). You can get your copy HERE.
www.facebook.com/davidreedwatson
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