Interview With 'BackBlast'

Firstly, introduce yourselves and tell us a little bit about the band and how you came to be?

We’re BackBlast from Manassas, VA (just outside Washington D.C.). BackBlast has been together since 2015 playing shows throughout the east coast. We first got together as a recording project only, but it evolved into a full time band after 6 months of writing and recording. We’ve had the pleasure of playing with some incredible bands over the past few years (Tim “Ripper” Owens, Kataklysm, Carach Angren, and more). Our band consists of Dan Cunningham ( Lead Vocals), Adam Pritcher (Guitar/Vocals), Jake Ford (Lead Guitar), Chris Tamberella (Drums) and Wilsen Rivera (Bass).

What were you all up too prior to the band, was this always the chosen path or did you have other dreams and aspirations?

We all have a pretty diverse background and story. Dan was in the Army, Adam was in the Air Force, Wilsen was in the Army, Chris was working as a bartender in New Jersey, and Jake has moved all over the east coast for work. All of us were in a number of different projects and bands prior to BackBlast.

Tell us about your latest EP and why our readers should check it out.

Our latest EP is called “The Ringmaster” (you can purchase or stream it on any major online distributor). The EP was released just a few months ago (November 2017) and tells the story of a being called “The Ringmaster” who was a tortured soul in his mortal life, and has now started to bring in the disenfranchised to mount revenge on the privileged, bullies and any sort of person who takes life for granted. It is 4 song concept EP that will have you rooting for the villain.

Have you ever come face to face with someone within the music scene who has left you awestruck and why?

We had the privilege of playing with Tim “Ripper” Owens this past year. We are definitely big Judas Priest and Iced Earth fans, so being asked to do this show had us ecstatic. Not only was in incredible live, but truly a nice guy to all of us. His vocal range is just truly out of this world. The fact that he can perform at that level live is amazing.

If we were to head out to one of your live shows what can ourselves and others expect?

Expect to participate, because it is an interactive event. We play music because we love to play live. We are in your face, hard hitting and there to make you move, sing and hit somebody.

If you had one artist/band that you could go on tour with tomorrow who would it be and why?

That is an absolutely loaded question. I think we all have multiple answers to this one. I think the band that we would all want to tour with would be Lamb of God. Not only have they been putting out incredible music for 20 years, but their also from Virginia, and definitely a major influence for our band. Every time I’ve seen them live, they have blown the doors off the stage.

You can spend an hour with a musical icon living or dead, who would you pick, why and what would you speak about?

Another Loaded Question! I guess if it was just one icon, I would have to pick Lemmy, for the stories alone. Everyone in Metal loves Lemmy, so god knows what kind of amazing shenanigans he has gone through will some of the greatest musicians alive or dead. Just sit with him at a smoky bar and drink some Jack & Cokes.

And finally and most importantly is Die Hard a Christmas Movie?

That’s not even a real question. Of course it is. We’re real Americans!

Website - www.backblastmetal.com

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/backblastmusic