TWISTED TOWER DIRE – Interview with Scott

Hi Scott!!! Sorry but before I didn't know about TWISTED TOWER DIRE. Can you mention some important facts from the life of TWISTED TOWER DIRE.

TWISTED TOWER DIRE started back in 1995 and we've gone through several line-ups and released several demos EP's and our debut album “The Curse of Twisted Tower”. In October 2001 we will release the album “The Isle of Hydra” on England's Miskatonic Foundation label. It will be our most epic and fierce offing to date!!! The current line-up is Tony Taylor (vocals), Marc Stauffer (drums), Mike Engel (bass), Scott Waldrop (guitar) and Dave Boyd (guitar). We are currently preparing new material for a demo, which we will send to larger labels with the new album. Look out!!!

How is it like to play heavy metal in the USA? Is heavy metal popular in you're the country?

There's definitely a good scene here. We've got a wide array of metal bands in the U.S., more Death and Black metal than anything else but I think there will be a large resurgence of True Metal in the next few years. We always seem to copy Europe with our metal trends which is actually pretty gay in my opinion but there are dozens of other killer AMERICAN true metal bands like OCTOBER 31, WIDOW, THE LORD WEIRD SLOUGH FEG, SLEEPY HOLLOW, SKULLVIEW, DRIZZIT, DIVISION, and many more.

Many heavy metal bands follow the example of The New Way Of British Heavy Metal. Your music associates with HELLOWEEN and IRON MAIDEN (to name a few).. What bands do you listen to (heavy metal and other kinds)?

I'm mainly into old metal bands like MAIDEN, old FATES WARNING, old SLAYER, old DEF LEPPARD, old SCORPIONS, DIO, all SABBATH, PRIEST, TWISTED SISTER, MERCYFUL FATE, and stuff like that. I'm also into old thrash bands like DARK ANGEL, VIO-LENCE, KREATOR and classic rock like JOURNEY and ZEPPELIN, the list goes on and on!

Unfortunately I didn't hear “Hail Northern Virginia” and “Triumphing True Metal” – Can you characterize the materials?

Those demos are basically lame versions of what TWISTED TOWER DIRE was to become. They had different singers on them and the line-ups were pretty much totally different then what TWISTED TOWER DIRE is now. The firs demo was much slower and doomier but the IRON MAIDEN influence was always the most prevalent aspect of our sound. I don't like looking back much. I'm always driven to make TWISTED TOWER DIRE better and more monstrous with every release.

You played many shows in the USA and Europe e.x. at the Powermad Festival, The March Metal Meltdawn, The Milwaukee Metalfest and The Wacken Open Air, etc. Which ones do you remember best and worst?

Don't remember Wacken because I was sick so that sucked but one of my favorite fests to play is always the North Carolina Metalfest. It's small but the metalheads there are CRAZY!!! Lots of beer and insanity, the way I like it!

Where did you play your last show?

It was in New York city at a bar called Club Luxx. Yes it was awesome. The people up there are great and are definitely down to rock!

“The Curse of Twisted Tower”???

Our first album: really long and winding songs which make listening to it tedious but I'm very proud of it. I think this was when we first really developed our own very unique sound. The demos were always getting compared to MAIDEN even though they were pretty stylized as well.

“The Isle of Hydra”???

Our greatest accomplishment. Good production and great songs!!! I hope this album will open some new doors for us when it is released. Fans of OMEN, RUNNING WILD, GRIM REAPER, DOKKEN, CANDLEMASS must own it!!!

I yet would add HELLOWEEN. What you think on this?

Hell yes! I love old Halloween. Victim of Fate!!!

A little time already passed from the release of “The Isle of Hydra”, thus you can already say about possible, affirmative connected resonance's with new material.

The response has all be positive. We're really happy. It seems like “Hydra” has propelled us a little further along. It's nice to be appreciated and that we're making music that people are enjoying.

With full responsibility I dare to affirm, that you made this record a god piece of work, “The Isle of Hydra”!!! I am under the impression of this material – superb connection of aggression, dynamics, elements with melody. I must admit, that you are a hundred-percent true heavy metal band! Also, the material did not lack of wonderful ballads like “Dying Breath”, or a little sharper” Ride the Night”!

Thank you! I'm glad you like those two. We were kind of taking a chance with those two songs. A lot of people only want to hear the old Iron Maiden/Omen sound out of us but we've got lots of other influences that need to manifest themselves.

Who writes the heavy metal style lyrics?

Tony writes most of the lyrics and we all help put the music together

Why do you play heavy metal and not other a kind of metal? And yet at present heavy metal isn't so popular like many years ago.

Who cares if people aren't into it as much as they were in the 80's. I love metal and will never get enough! Besides, it'll come back. It's ten-year cycle.

I agree but after all in the later part of the nineties, we already had a world fruitful return of heavy of metal, so on following return it is necessary yet several of years will wait.

I don't care too much. We're just doing this because we love Heavy Metal. We'd be playing the exact same type of music if there were a resurgence of the genre or not. We started when it was unpopular and the way the scene's trends shift won't effect us. We're not trying to win any “hip and cool” metal contests.

On your photo I see you're standing together and you're drinking a beer and maybe a vodka. One man (first from the left) is like drunk – ha, ha, ha… and I'm thinking what do you do everyday?

Oh that's Jimmy. He was actually not very drunk in the picture. I think he just happened to blink when we took the picture. Ha ha ha. No we love to drink though and pretty much do it as much as possible I love beer, cider, whiskey, ale, stout, love it all!

How will TWISTED TOWER DIRE surprise us in future?

Well like I said we're already working on stuff for our third album so we'd like to get it out much quicker than our second. We're always making a point of writing catchier songs with a very specific vibe and personal style. People can expect to hear TWISTED TOWER DIRE evolve more and more with each release. We don't like to be predictable but at the same time we must remain TRUE TO OUR METAL ROOTS!

I hope, that you will reach your goal. Great thanks for the interview!!!

Thanks so much for the support! New web address: www.twisted-tower-dire.com. We've got new “Hydra” T-shirts and they look awesome! Buy one now before there all gone: $18 from Twisted Tower Dire, PO Box 223508, Chantilly VA 223508, USA. Also look out for a 7″ of “Daggers Blade” and a 12″ picture disc with our unreleased 2000 demo and a couple covers! METAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL!!!

TWISTED TOWER DIRE
P. O. BOX 223508
Chantilly VA 20153-3508
USA