10 Quick Ones with HEAT OF DAMAGE – October 2017

According to a recent press release: “California Rock/Metal Band Heat of Damage has released the Official Music Video for “The Gift,” the debut single off of their upcoming sophomore LP, due out next year. Originally premiered on Tattoo.com, “The Gift” was shot and directed by Ethan Parilla of Atrocious Works Productions.” We get David, Nick, and Julian to answer our 10 Quick Ones about new music, their influences, and more…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets the band put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

David: The Gift is a heavier song than those that were on our debut record. We’re hoping to stay in that direction for our next album. I wouldn’t say there are any Easter Eggs in the song itself, but the music video has some tiny, funny details that only those who know what to look for will find.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

David: The first song I heard on the radio that got me into heavy music was “Cyanide” by Metallica. Didn’t realize I wanted to be a performing musician until I saw Iron Maiden live a few years later. They were so damn sick live, and I wanted to be like them.

Nick: The minute I heard Stevie Ray Vaughan playing his song “Lenny,” I knew from that minute that I wanted to play guitar for the rest of my life.

Julian: I can recall one moment from my adolescence when I was outright blown away by John Bonham’s “Moby Dick” drum solo. After that I got a drum set for Christmas and would not cease to pound the living crap out of them and I enjoyed every damn second of it and still do to this day.

3. Who would be your main five musical influences?

Nick: The Beatles, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Gojira, The Who, and every thrash metal band in the world.

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be?

Julian: I would love to collaborate with Corey Taylor because he is the most badass vocalist out there and has very complex lyricism.

5. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before?

Nick: I’d say we are a heavy metal band with an interesting mix of hard rock, blues, and alternative flavors. There’s definitely something for everyone in our music.

6. What’s the best thing about being a musician?

Nick: Being able perform in front of people and seeing their positive reactions to the music that we’ve created.

7. When the band are all hanging out together, who cooks; who gets the drinks in; and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

Julian: Jared and I typically enjoy cooking the most although Nick can grill some mean burgers. Make it known that every member of HOD stays tipsy off that Pibb Xtra.

8. If you weren’t a musician, what would be your dream job?

David: I’m a huge airplane geek, so being a pilot would be fantastic. Bruce Dickinson does both though, so there’s the ideal.

Nick: Honestly either cooking or being a history tour guy in Europe. I’m a dweeb.

9. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over”?

Julian: I threw up from heat stroke after the first song at a show where it was 104 outside. Still finished the set but boy did I want to die.

David: At a ‘battle of the bands’ type show in Oakland I dove to the ground after a microphone stand that I had knocked over. Unfortunately it was right at the beginning of the set, so it was my first impression on the judges and crowd before I even began singing. Looking back now I can laugh at myself but damn it was embarrassing.

10. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

Nick: Definitely Abbey Road by The Beatles. The creativity in that album is simply astounding. It baffles me that humans are capable of making such great music.

Julian: I would go back to when The Beatles were recording Sgt. Pepper partially to see what the hell they were on. That album is a musical masterpiece.

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Category: Interviews