Interview with CHAIN WOLF
!!!BLACK EVIL SPEED METAL FROM THE USA!!!
Welcome to the FILTHY DOGS OF METAL Webzine.
Tell us a few things about CHAIN WOLF (Members, Starting Year etc).
Chain: Chain Wolf originally started as a solo project of mine. The original demo was written during 2019-mid 2020, and released to minimal fanfare, with just enough enthusiasm and lingering resentment for me to continue moving forward with the project.
Axe: I started as a fan of the band listening to the first album, Dark Premonitions. After having the opportunity to meet Chain, I was asked to join as a guitarist in November 2023.
You have recently released your EP ''Black! Evil! Speed!''. What is the feedback from your audience as well as from the press?
Chain: This was a surprise release to a lot of the local community, and I can genuinely say that they weren’t ready for the higher standard on these songs. We’ve gotten a lot of praise on the style//riffage//production on the single. We saw a lot of social media shares//tags//couple of independent reviews as well. Most importantly, we noticed a dramatic increase in attendance to our shows and a lot more bodies killing bodies during our live performances.
Label or DIY and why?
Chain: I’m voting label. I genuinely feel that our label pushed us in a direction to be more professional direction and opened up some opportunities that I wouldn’t have been able to obtain on a solo venture. Shout out to Paul//Penny//Minerva, at our label MOTORPUNK RECORDS.
Is there any funny or weird story from the recordings or from your live shows that you would like to share with us?
Axe: My favorite is always when the cable pops out of the pedal after running to the other side of the stage and I’m jamming to essentially silence.
Do you prefer Vinyl, Tape, CD or Digital Format and why is that?
Chain: At home, strictly vinyl. Otherwise, I prefer digital.
Axe: Digital for the convenience but I do enjoy vinyl.
Your music style is Black MetalPunk. Which are your main influences (Favourite Artists / Bands etc.)
Chain: I listen to a massive variety. My main sources are usually “the classics” and I do a lot of listening to the bands in the Los Angeles scene and get inspired.
Axe: My top 3 are Demolition Hammer, Vio-lence, and Warbringer. Others heavily in my rotation are Detherous, Schizophrenia, Carnosus, and Bad Bunny.
Which things do you think a band should sacrifice in order to succeed? Have you ever sacrificed anything in your life for a better future for your band?
Chain: I think a lot of time needs to be dedicated to at-home practicing. Personally, I’ve lost a couple of dead end jobs and canceled on clients to get extra rehearsal or rest for studio time.
Axe: I think leaning into what you think will benefit the band most will allow the best chances for the band to succeed.
Describe your ideal live show as a performance band. Have you already experienced that?
Chain: Ideal situation for CW would be the band being incredibly well rehearsed as well as being complimented with an exceptional sound engineer.
Axe: Ideal live show is when the band and crowd is vibing together really well and feeding off each other’s energy.
What attributes do you think that a new MetalPunk Band should have in order to gain identity and be unique?
Chain: Sincerity. Following the tropes is a solid starting ground and I think speaking from the heart and giving a damn about everything a band chooses to focus on gives an edge to identity and uniqueness.
Axe: Cohesiveness in their messaging as a band. This helps communicate what the band is about and who they are.
Do you believe that Digital Platforms help the new MetalPunk Bands? Which, do you think, is the ideal way for a band to promote its work?
Chain: I think Instagram, specifically of all the social media platforms, is a solid start in conjunction with BandCamp. From my understanding, I’ve heard great things about Facebook but CW as a whole doesn’t use the platform.
Axe: If digital platforms are used correctly, they are be a very powerful tool for connecting with listeners and spreading the music. TikTok and Instagram seem to be the best way to quickly connect with the scene.
Do you see any differences between the US Metal Market & the EU Metal Market (Labels, Bands, Fans etc)?
Chain: I’m on the opinion that the EU market has a stronger sense of camaraderie. I also tend to favor more EU records//albums//labels//festivals.
Tell us a few things about the New Underground Metal Scene in Los Angeles, California (Bands, Fanzines, Webzines, Metal Clubs etc.)
Chain: Mandatory venues to check out would be 1720 in downtown Los Angeles// 1st Street Pool Hall//Bricks in Maywood// and my personal favorite, Knucklehead in Hollywood. Some of our favorite locals are VBN//Velocity//Corrupt//Siege//Speed Burner//Sebek//Holy Death//Cross Breaker//War Ghoul//Fueled By Fire//Satans Grasp//Rot Within.
Do you know anything about the Hellenic Metal Scene?
Chain: Other than I would love to incorporate CW into the scene, I would love to learn everything.
The last 4 years, worldwide in the world, we have faced many dark, strange & new situations in our everyday life (covid, lock-down etc.) Did all of this affect you positively or negatively?
Chain: On a positive note, it gave time to write the music of CW and help reinforce how driven I am to back this project.
Axe: It really gave an opportunity to slow down and focus on music. Not only did I write more, I discovered more music at the same time.
What are your future plans?
Chain: Releasing a split record Autum ‘24//album 2 mid 2025//get some touring time//we film a music video in the next month or so//keep writing music until we’ve run out our time on this earth.
Axe: Thrash.
By Steve the Filthy Dog.
CHAIN WOLF CONTACT:
https://www.instagram.com/chainxwolfx/
https://chainwolf.bandcamp.com/album/black-evil-speed
https://chainwolf.bigcartel.com/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/5Lv03tz6kMTBr0j7BlixyL
https://www.deezer.com/en/artist/131801032