A Dirty Dozen with STEEL ZARD from RISING STEEL – August 2020

According to a recent press release: “French heavy metal merchants RISING STEEL have released the title track to their upcoming album, “Fight Them All” for your listening pleasure! This is fast and furious heavy metal akin to legends like Nevermore and Annihilator. If you like classic heavy and power metal with a touch of thrash thrown in, then this is for you. Play it loud and let us know what you think.” We get drummer Zard to discuss new music, influences, and much 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 that only diehard fans might find?

Zard: Do you mean some mistakes or bad recording? Yes you can find some! That’s what makes the music live haha! Yes, seriously. I think that with all records, you have to listen a number of times to pick up on everything. And of course there are some little surprises with some parts. We have a great time arranging and recording all of those!

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

Zard: I don’t really know. I remember attributing it to an adventure with some good friends  when I was 14.  We decided to form a punk rock band but we had no instrument and had never even played before! After convincing our parents to buy us instruments I took the spot in the band that was available (the bass) because the guitars, drum and vocalist parts were already taken (for picking up girls probably! )  : ). I don’t think there was  an exact moment I wanted to be a musician. Maybe it was the opposite and the music chose and invested in me! At some point you realize that you play or rehearsal every week since… 1989. And then it’s too late! I really cannot live without music.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

Zard: Aha , it’s hard to say : ) My first vibes were when I was around 7-8, listening to my father’s LPs. That’s where I found some Van Halen, Scorpions, ACDC, Trust … thinking about “what’s the power in that?” Or the first time I heard the Decade Of Aggression from Slayer, what a slap!

4. Who would be your main five musical influences?

Zard: Personally I think Slayer, Metallica, Sepultura, Entombed, and Biohazard have done the job : ) But in the band we have tons of different influences. Ask everyone and you will get five different answers!

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

Zard: Difficult question… as there are so many possibilities when dreaming of working with artists!  I think an original collaboration could be to make a song with Mike Patton. His style is so original and eclectic. That would be a way to push our limits even further.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

Zard: We definitely play Metal, so I would say Metal first! Somewhere between Heavy and Thrash Metal riffs, with a bit of rock power, and a clear and angry and melodic voice. Regarding comparison on review, I am sometimes tired of being compared to so-and-so. I think it’s a bit of the evil of our time; needing everything to be put in boxes.

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

Zard: Being a musician is not an easy way to make a living in fact! It’s hard at first as you spend more money than you have when you enter! You might be organized and have a family, but relationships in bands are not always easy too! And you must manage a lot of things in the life of the band! But on the other hand, playing LOUD music is really peaceful for your mind! And you have great vibes when being on stage.

8. 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?

Zard: I do the cooking part as I love it : ) Generally Matt and Fab get the drinks and Tony always has something to play! And Flo repairs the amps and guitars : )

9. When was the last time you were star struck and who was it?

Zard : A few months ago we were opening for Annihilator, and we were really impressed by the performance of Jeff Waters! We had the honor to speak with him and he’s a very nice and brilliant person… a true legend and a one-of-a –kind guitarist!

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

Zard: Sound engineer maybe? I love all those things and buttons! Or winemaker 🙂

11. 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”, even if it didn’t change your current situation?

Zard: No, as I have a pragmatic mind, what is done is done, and what has not happened didn’t happen. Simple! The principle is to always move forward without regrets!

12. 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?

Zard: You know, one time I was surfing on the net and came across a one-of-a-kind photo from the recording session of Reign In Blood from Slayer. In that photo you have all members of RUN DMC, Beastie Boys and Slayer… laughing and having fun! I would have loved to be there! But I cannot compare myself to Dave Lombardo as he is a god king for all drummers, and that album is very difficult and technical! Those records are my “proust’s Madeleine” as we say in French.

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Category: Interviews