A Dirty Dozen with SEAN MALLETT from UNVEIL THE STRENGTH – November 2021

According to a recent press release: “UNVEIL THE STRENGTH released their brand new single “KILL (All The Memories)” to all major platforms along with a video based on the bands love of video games. Unveil The Strength will also be releasing “KILL” coffee which will be their second batch following the release of “Vengeance” morning blend. What is Strength? Is it what you have, or is it what you have when you have nothing at all? Unveil The Strength is a choice. It’s the unrelenting fortitude to overcome and conquer ourselves. It’s that voice that says never give up and it’s that push to fight that demon day in and day out. Unveil the Strength is an international metal band based in Austin, Texas. Formed in 2018 by Mark Wölfe, Matt Snell, Sean Mallett, and Ryszard Gabriel. With heavy riffs, monstrous bass, and thundering drums the sound is heavy and technical enough to appeal to metalheads while also incorporating melodic solos and catchy vocals to bring in active rock fans. Foundations was recorded with Producer/Engineer Rob Kukla (Studio Fredman), and Mixed/Mastered by Henrik Udd (Henrick Udd Recording) in Gothenburg, Sweden.” We get drummer Sean to discuss new music, 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?

The song “Kill” is a very relatable song for most people. We all have those memories we’d like to go away so we can move on with our lives. It’s also a great tempo song for crowd energy. Listening to it a couple times in a car setting, that could be missed.

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

A friend of mine gave me a tape of Nirvanas’ Never Mind on the A side, and In Utero on the B side when I was in 6th grade right before summer. It  really surprised me how fast I memorized the songs from both albums and I thought, I don’t love to anything as much as I loved playing drums.

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

That era of music had so many great bands, but what did it for me was album Master of Puppets from Metallica. My friend introduced me to another friend of his David Tracey, who’d played guitar better than anyone our age I’d ever heard. We started talking back and forth on the phone and he’d be playing “Sanitarium” through his tiny amp while we’d be talking. That song just hooked me. We started a band and naturally Metallica was the band of choice to start learning. It blew my mind we were nailing even their harder to play songs at 13/14 years old. Music was all we wanted to do.

4. Who would be your main five musical influences?

Soilwork (Dirk Verburen), Testament (John Tempesta, Dave Lombardo, Gene Hoglan), Porcupine Tree (Gavin Harrison), Tool (Danny Carey), and Machine Head (Chris Kontos).

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

Ivar Bjørnson or Kjetle Grutle from Enslaved. I love their unique ability to reach from black metal to sound-scaping on tv shows. And they do it all on their terms. I feel like a collab with them could bring something powerful and memorable. They’re also great people and I’m proud to say friends.

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?

I’d ask them to check it out and tell he what they thought. I find if you plant the seed with your perspective, they can’t hear otherwise.

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

Being able to move a crowd physically and emotionally. There’s nothing like the energy feed back and forth.

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?

We’re a metal band. That’s not our vibe.

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

I think it was around 2010 when I was rehearsing a project and Gene Hoglan walked in the room with one of our rehearsal roommates and he was going to play a show with them. Super random to see a huge influence just walk in on me playing drums. It was awesome.

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

I’d be a pilot. I always been into planes since I was a little kid. I was in the Army for a minute and they said I was color blind on their standards test, pretty heartbreaking. But I was still able to serve as an MP.

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?

I had an opportunity to join a major band when I was 16, I look at that as a thing I wish I had done to get my name out in the scene at that level. My mother stepped in on that one, and made me finish high school. I wish I would have moved on that had it not had an effect on my family life now.

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?

I’d have to say The Living Infinite record from Soilwork. That album is a masterpiece. It connects with me on a musician level as well as a fan. Amazing production, the hooks are phenomenal and and the musicianship is second to none in my opinion. It’s something I strive to perfect, playing for the song and people noticing the caliber of dedication to the craft.

UNVEIL THE STRENGTH LINKS:

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Category: Interviews