INTERVIEW – BLACK DENIM RAGE (USA)

Florida’s BLACK DENIM RAGE took some time out of inciting metal riots to answer some questions in the lead up to the release of their debut album “State of Emergency”.

THENWOTHM: Can you introduce yourselves for our readers, and tell us why you do what you do please?

BDR: Hello NWOTHM, we are Black Denim Rage, and we play Old School Speed and Thrash Metal. As an upcoming band based in South Florida, our goal is to whiplash the crowd with high-energy Heavy Metal. Truly something that can get one’s heart pumping. Our unique blend of Speed, Thrash, NWOBHM, and Hardcore Punk styles and ferocious live performances are what sets us apart from other bands. We’re proud to be a part of the South Florida music scene. So if you’re ready for an electrifying experience, come check out Black Denim Rage and join us in our musical journey!

THENWOTHM: How did Black Denim Rage come about, and is there a story behind the name?

BDR: Black Denim Rage was formed by Singer and Lead Guitar Player Kevin James Balcazar (aka Speed Veteran) and Lead Guitarist Matthew “Thrashing” Sanders, both of whom shared a passion for thrash music and wanted to create something that was uniquely their own. We met at a local venue here in Lake Worth called Propaganda. While our encounter was brief, it was the start of something truly electrifying. After coming back from deployment, James contacted Matthew through Facebook, and thus the skeleton of “BxDxR” was established. We started playing and writing as soon as we could, and over time, we honed our sound and began playing shows around our hometown.

As for our name, it actually came about in a pretty funny way. We were brainstorming ideas for a band name, and Matt was wearing a black denim battle vest at the time. We wanted the name to be simply “Black Denim” but the name was taken, possibly by a rap group of some sort. We needed a noun or adjective at the end of it. We went through many ideas, like “Black Denim Fire” and “Black Denim Anger”, and similar names such as those. After much debate, we finally landed on “Black Denim Rage” and we immediately loved it. It just had a certain ring to it and perfectly captured the high-energy, rebellious spirit of our music.
Since then, the name has become synonymous with our band, and we couldn’t imagine going by anything else. We’ve come a long way since those early days, but the passion and energy that inspired our name still drive us forward today.

THENWOTHM: On the upcoming album “State of Emergency”, can you tell us about any difficulties you faced in getting it to this point?

BDR: Absolutely. The making of “State of Emergency” was definitely a challenging process, but one that we’re incredibly proud of. First, the obvious: the COVID-19 pandemic added an extra layer of difficulty to the process. We had to cancel shows and postpone recording sessions due to safety concerns, and it was definitely a challenge to stay motivated and inspired during such a difficult and uncertain time. We were ready to record in 2019 but had to wait an entire year to do anything related to music.

After the long wait, one of the biggest difficulties we faced was finding the right producer to work on the album. The State of Emergency Demo was originally supposed to be an EP. Our original producer messed it up so bad; we had to send it to Chile to be redone the right way. Lots of money wasted, but we are thankful for its success and the response we got from it. The process was essentially the same for the full-length album. Who would be the best fit for our sound? Unfortunately, that took a painfully long time to figure out. But we got it done, and love the results overall. Despite all of these obstacles, we managed to pull together and create an album that we’re incredibly proud of. “State of Emergency” is a true representation of who we are as a band, and we can’t wait for our fans to hear it.

THENWOTHM: There’s a huge amount of quality old school metal bands, from all around the world currently active. Can you tell us what it takes to stand out from the crowd?

BDR: That’s a great question. With so many talented old school metal bands out there, it definitely takes something special to stand out from the crowd. In our experience, the key to standing out is to stay true to yourself and your sound. We believe that authenticity is key – if you try to imitate other bands or follow trends, you’ll end up blending in with the crowd. But if you stay true to who you are and make music that truly speaks to you, people will take notice.

For instance, all four of us in the band have very different influences. James is the German thrasher, Matt is the melodic metal and Hard Rock guy, Shazam (our drummer) is very much into Prog, Jazz and Big Band music (as well as more modern metal styles), and Tom (Bass) is more along the lines of Bay Area and South American Thrash. Combining all of the elements together not only makes our songs a full buffet for the listener, but it makes everyone in the band satisfied as well. It’s important to have full cohesion in the band, as the positive direction will also reflect in the performances of each song.

Another important factor is putting on an incredible live show. In today’s music industry, touring and live performances are more important than ever, and a truly unforgettable live show can help you build a dedicated fan base and stand out from the competition. Whether it’s extra lights, decorating our amps with police tape and chains, or have stage moves, we try to put on the best visual show possible, as well as an auditory one.

THENWOTHM: What’s the metal scene like in Florida? It’s renowned for spawning legendary death metal bands but is the scene still fertile?

BDR: While the metal scene in Florida is still very much alive and well, with a rich history of legendary death metal bands like Death, Morbid Angel, and Obituary, there is this overall sense of pessimism that is permeating throughout nowadays. Lots of egos, cancel culture, and competition. All of which are very unfortunate, as we see Metal as a brotherhood type thing, not crabs in a barrel that all drag each other down. There are many venues and clubs throughout Florida that are slowly but surely closing down, and many bands are starting to host underground, “Do it Yourself” type shows in warehouses. Especially down south towards Miami. Of course there will always be the big arena and stadium shows, but the local scene is in need of help.

THENWOTHM: For “State of Emergency”, can you tell us what inspired the songs and a bit more about the bands writing process?

BDR: Of course between bands not getting along and venues closing down, writing angry “Rage” type music has been very easy for us. Not necessarily targeting anyone or anything in particular, but expressing ourselves about the overall situation. Of course the pandemic did not help whatsoever.
Also talking about general worldwide events such as protests, riots, and government-type topics. Lots of messed up things going on in the world to talk about, as we let our music do the talking for us.

THENWOTHM: If you were to recommend one album to anyone to some who has never heard of heavy metal before, which would you pick and why?

BDR: Matt: If I were to recommend one album to someone who has never heard heavy metal before, I would recommend “Rust in Peace” by Megadeth. There are a few reasons why I would recommend this album. First and foremost, it’s an absolute classic of the genre and a masterpiece of heavy metal music. The album is widely regarded as one of the greatest metal albums of all time, and for good reason – it’s packed with killer riffs, epic solos, and unforgettable anthems. But beyond its musical merits, ” Rust in Peace ” is also a great introduction to the world of heavy metal because it’s accessible and easy to listen to, even for those who aren’t familiar with the genre.

The album strikes a perfect balance between heavy and melodic, with catchy hooks and memorable choruses that will stick with you long after you’ve finished listening.
Finally, Megadeth is one of the most influential and iconic bands in the history of heavy metal, and ” Rust in Peace ” is their crowning achievement. By listening to this album, newcomers to the genre can get a sense of the history and legacy of heavy metal, and why it continues to be so beloved by fans all around the world.

James: If you want to dig deeper into the underground thrash/speed, I highly recommend “Malevolent Assault Of Tomorrow” by Violent Force. First and foremost, the album is packed with killer riffs and intense performances. The band’s raw and aggressive sound, combined with their tight musicianship and powerful vocals, creates a sense of urgency and intensity that is impossible to ignore. But beyond its musical merits, Malevolent Assault of Tomorrow is also notable for its influence on the thrash metal genre. The album helped to define the sound and style of German thrash, with its fast tempos, intricate guitar work, and aggressive vocals.

In addition, Malevolent Assault of Tomorrow features a number of standout tracks, including “Dead City”, “Sign of Evil”, ‘Destructed Life” and the title track, all of which have become classics of the thrash metal genre. Overall, Malevolent Assault of Tomorrow is a classic underground thrash metal album that continues to be revered by hardcore fans of the genre. Its combination of raw intensity, killer riffs, and influential style make it a standout record not just in the German thrash scene, but in the wider thrash metal genre as well.

THENWOTHM: Heavy metal is all about passion and community. Recommend some fellow bands for us to check out that we might not of heard of!

Leather Whip from Miami are a great bunch of guys. Having just released an all Spanish EP, This band plays traditional heavy metal with a modern edge. Their music is fast, aggressive, and full of catchy riffs and hooks. Fans of classic bands like Judas Priest and Iron Maiden will definitely enjoy Leather Whip’s high-energy sound. You may want to keep an eye out for the English version coming out soon, as James and Matt do guest vocals on it (featuring intense falsetto performances you won’t hear anywhere else).

Midnight Vice is a Traditional Heavy Metal band takes inspiration from classic bands like Judas Priest and Mercyful Fate. Their music is full of blazing guitar solos, powerful vocals, and catchy choruses that will get stuck in your head for days. They are fellow Northern Floridians from Sarasota.

Another band from South Florida that plays Thrash Metal with a “Xentrix” type sound are called Chained Saint. These guys are a fantastic example of our youth carrying the torch. They are just barely eighteen years old and put on a spectacular show. The modern day “Death Angel” equivalent, if you will. No music out yet, but we have had the opportunity to share the stage with them and they blew our minds.

We would also love to shout out bands that are not in the Florida scene, but we have good relations with: Gallower (Poland) , Deadwolff (Canada) , Violent Sin (Belgium) , and Sphinx (Germany).

Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your site, NWOTHM. Let’s continue to grow together!