A Dirty Dozen with ALIGN THE TIDE – July 2022

According to a recent press release: “HOLLOW the much anticipated follow up album from the 2019 Dead Religion album by the Maltese Metal Heads – ALIGN THE TIDE. Formed in September 2015, the band experimented with several different music sounds while working alongside different local musicians, extracting influences and styles. The founders of the band, have been exploring music genres for the past nine years before settling in the active sound you hear today in Align The Tide! Together, they composed music based on thrash, groove & melodic metal resulting in the recording of their debut album Dead Religion & videos for “The Golden Throne” & “Welcome to Hell” from the same record. Merchandise has been designed & produced to accompany the above release.” We get the band 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 you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

“Judgement” is the first song we have released from the upcoming album Hollow. This release will immediately hit the listeners with a new voice, sound and songwriting from previous releases, as we have recently had line up changes to the band.

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

Johnny: At a young age I used to skate which introduced me to the band CKY, from then I started to learn guitar to be able to play their riffs. Things snow balled from there and finally I turned to the guitarist which I am today.

Chippy: When I started to like rock and later on metal music, I had a few friends in school whom were already in their own bands. Influenced from this I really wanted to start learning the guitar, when my friend found out he pushed me into trying out the bass instead as they needed a player, it wasn’t long before I fell in love with the instrument.

Danny: My father had a band which was formed in the early 80’s which is called X-Tend so I basically grew up with a musical background literally since birth. I’ve travelled with my dad’s band on many tours and I’ve always wished I could do the same so I started playing drums at the age of 7.

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

Danny: Avenged Sevenfold and Linkin Park were the bands that led me to my musical career in Metal, however, today, I’m listening to various styles such as bands like The Killers, Sum41, While She Sleeps, Bring me The Horizon, Lamb of God and many others.

Johnny: The first few years I got into music, I was a big fan of Iron Maiden, Manowar, and 80’s music. Nowadays I listen to progressive music such as Animals As Leaders, Meshuggah, and Periphery amongst others.

Chippy: In the early years I was obsessed with Geezer Butler from Black Sabbath and Steve Harris from Iron Maidan but growing up I wanted to listen to faster and faster music and today I listen to bands like Archspire and Rings of Saturn.

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

Bring me The Horizon as they can provide an alternative sound and a fresh view on the industry as they are always thinking outside of the box and come up with cool stuff.

5. What is your favorite activity when out of the studio and/or not on tour? What do you like to do to unwind?

We like meeting up together as friends not just as band members, usually hanging out at our very favourite local spot.

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?

In your face.

7. When your band is hanging out together, who cooks, who gets the drinks in, and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a sing along?

Danny cooks, when it comes to drinks we always pay in rounds and Johnny’s the one that provides the Gypsy Jazz vibes.

8. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

Whilst touring in America and playing a show in Colorado when all of a sudden we see Jordan Mancino from As I Lay Dying in the crowd watching our soundcheck, we just had to go take a photo with him.

9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

Feeling the fan’s energy in the audience whilst we’re playing is the best thing ever. If it wasn’t for music we’d probably be going crazy right now.

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

How did you feel receiving the Grammy award? Honored, as it’s a milestone of an achievement. The question we’re absolutely tired of answering is “What other artists are similar to you” as we feel as if we have a unique identity.

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?

Although we have minor regrets, we always view them as stepping stones that brought us to become what we are today.

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?

Danny: I would choose Guns n Roses – Appetite For Destruction as that’s a masterpiece, grew up listening to this record.

Johnny: Animals As Leaders – The Madness Of Many as I love their sound and would love to be a part of that project.

Chippy: Black Sabbath – Black Sabbath. I just want to have what they were on while writing the album.

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Category: Interviews