Follow the Hollow: Who are you, and what do you do?
Markus: Rhythm Guitar
Kevan: Drums
Follow the Hollow: The story goes that you became an instrumental band because you couldn't find a vocalist.
Now that you have built somewhat of a reputation for yourselves, will you still continue to be instrumental, or perhaps find a vocalist who knows of you and will gladly join Mastery?
Kevan: Well, the story goes exactly like that! All we can say for sure right now, is that for at least all of the Lethal Legacy touring we will do, that will
definitely be done instrumentally. Beyond that, it's really a matter of where the music takes us!?
If someone shows up that can blow us away and make us sound better.....the world is full of possibilities.
I have to admit though, when we really embraced this idea as a band of venturing out there totally
instrumental, I couldn't have imagined at that time just how much fun it would be TO be purely instrumental, nor could any of us have imagined how
overwhelmingly positive the response has been! It's been very humbling, to say the least!
Markus: Of course we're being asked that a lot lately hehe... but like Kevan said, this IS Mastery, we're not missing a singer.
We're very confident in what we're doing and we're definitely going to continue on this path.
Follow the Hollow:
How long has Mastery been playing together, as a band?
Kevan: In it's current incarnation, just over 2 years....at least with Jeff, Markus and myself.
Anthony just started playing with us almost a year ago now.
Follow the Hollow:
What do you think of the current state of Canadian metal?
Kevan: I think it's AMAZING!!!
Markus: Very positive! There's quite a few Canadian bands that consistently put out good music and that definitely puts Canada on the map as a country where metal lives and breaths.
Follow the Hollow:
How do you see Canadian metal, maybe five years down the road from now?
Kevan: Difficult to predict. I mean, there are so many Canadian metal bands out there right now that I feel are some of the best of the best in the scene at what they do!
Bands like Quo Vadis, Into Eternity, 3 Inches of Blood, Cryptopsy, Kataklysm, Annihilator.....just to name a few!
And another band, friends of ours that I think you'll be hearing a lot more about soon...Wetwork.
My hope is that the strong lineup of Canadian talent making their mark on the scene right now will only inspire and open the door for many more aspiring musicians!
 Follow the Hollow:
What do you think of the current state of metal, in general?
Kevan: I tend to think we're at an interesting junction in the perpetual evolution of music right now, particularly metal.
Things really do seem to be coming full circle in a sense. We've been through all the grunge metal, math metal, grind metal, nu-metal, hardcore, post-hardcore (whatever the hell THAT is?!?!)....all these different mutations and more.
But now people seem to be hungry again for the straight up, in-your-face SHRED!!
And even more 'popular' bands are finally starting to do guitar solos again!!!
How exciting is THAT!?
Markus: The underground scene is definitely getting bigger and stronger.
For example the internet is a great tool that allows you to connect with people all over the world and it's quite amazing to see so many people being involved with promoting metal through websites and setting up forums etc etc.
The mission of "spreading the word" is definitely happening.
Follow the Hollow: Where is your favourite place to play?
Kevan: Ask me in a year!! ha!
Markus: I second that!
Follow the Hollow: While touring extensively to promote Lethal Legacy, have there been any other bands you've met that are ether really good guys or that put on a great show?
Kevan: Well, we're actually only just beginning to tour extensively for Lethal Legacy.
I had to have some unexpected surgery this past spring, so it's put some of our touring plans on hold....but come fall time, look out!!!
But so far, with the shows we have done, the band I've been most blown away by is Quo Vadis.
Amazing musicians, and super nice guys.
 Follow the Hollow:
Megadeth or Metallica?
Kevan: Uh-oh....."the" question!! For me, gotta say Megadeth!
Markus: I love both these guys! And what's so amazing is that they're still around and still a huge force in the scene!
I definitely have to thank them personally one day to let them know what a tremendous impact they had and still have on me.
No choosing sides here, Metallideth hehe!!!
Follow the Hollow: Exodus or Slayer?
Kevan: Ssssssssssslayaaaaaaaaaahh!!!! Yeah!!!
Markus: And another two of my favourites!!! Long live THRASH!!!!
Follow the Hollow: How does the song writing process happen in Mastery?
Markus: A song idea usually starts with two or three riffs.
The challenge really lies in the arrangement of all the riffs and drum parts.
The focus then is to keep the dynamics interesting and to keep the intensity at a peak throughout the whole song.
Follow the Hollow: Do you feel that it's a constant challenge, being an instrumental and progressive band, to write original material but music that still falls within the boundaries of your sound?
Kevan: Well, it's the challenge that I find so inspiring to begin with!
And I'd say the one cool thing about the fact that we are an instrumental Thrash band, is that it's a little more difficult to define the boundaries of our sound.
Markus: Yes, it's a constant challenge. I think every band faces that when it comes to writing a new song or a new album for that matter.
We're no different that way.
Follow the Hollow: What was it like being in Decibel Magazine?
Kevan: About as awesome as it's been to get reviewed and interviewed by Kickedintheface.com!!
It certainly seems that we have at least one or two fans in the Decibel camp though, and I can't tell you how incredible that feels to us!
They gave us an amazing review and also ran a full page feature/interview on us, so that was VERY cool!
Follow the Hollow: What was it like to have the same magazine compare Lethal Legacy to Master of Puppets?
Kevan: Ha-ha.....in one sense it's like, 'not AGAIN with the Metallica comparison!!!!
ARRRGH!' But in reality, that they said Lethal Legacy was like taking all the best riffs and solos of both Puppets and Justice, two of THE most influential metal albums, EVER!?!?!.....that's freakin huge man.
I'll take that comparison ANY day!!
Follow the Hollow: How has the overall response been to your band and your music?
Kevan: Very positive.
Follow the Hollow: How did Mastery get hooked up with the Stanley Cup-Winning Carolina Hurricanes?
Kevan: Well, I guess the team's music director somehow got a hold of our
CD, really liked it and thought it would be great music to pump the team up....introduced it to the team, and same thing, a few of the guys just loved it!
We were completely blown away to learn that they had edited those promo videos to our music!!
Who knows, perhaps we even helped to pump them up for that final game!?!?!
Ha! Go Hurricanes!!
Follow the Hollow: If you could play a show with any band of your choice, who would it be, and why?
Kevan: Daaaamn! Saving the tough ones for last!! haha Just one band??
Well, without meaning to be too predictable, near cliché, I'd have to say
Metallica. Why? Because they are the most successful metal band on the planet!!
What bigger honour could there be, than to share the stage with THE most influential metal band, ever....a band that some critics and publications have compared us to more than once in a very positive way.
Hell, we'd even let them play 2 full sets before we went on! D-oh!!!
Just kidding, of course....
Markus: There's nothing like paying tribute to the bands that you love.
I'd be more than honored to play with any of the Bay-Area bands!
Follow the Hollow: How long does it take to set up Kevan's massive drum set?
Kevan: By myself, it takes about an hour and a half. With all hands on deck, it can go from cases to sound check in under an hour.
Follow the Hollow: What's next for Mastery?
Markus: We're preparing now for an extended tour throughout the United States and Canada.
Starting early September we'll play a few Canadian cities and then hitting the States for several months!
It'll be an intense tour, as we're planning on staying on the road until well into 2007.
We'll announce the first few dates very soon, you can get the info at
www.masterymetal.com / www.myspace.com/masterymetal for when we come to your town!!!
Thank you for the questions!
We'll see you all on tour!!!
CHEERS!!!
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