Posted by QueensOfMetal.com on Jul 21, 2013 in Blog | 0 comments
We had an interview with Merel Bechtold on this site before. She is a rad guitar player from Netherlands, rocking the stage with Purest of Pain. She has been already endorsed by Engl Amps and she recently added Bo-El Guitar Company to her endorser list. We congratulate her for her new deal!
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Posted by QueensOfMetal.com on Oct 12, 2012 in Interview | 0 comments
Merel Bechtold is the lead guitar player and founder of Purest of Pain, a death metal band from Hilversum, Netherlands. Since the release of their 2011 EP, Revelations in Obscurity, Purest of Pain has played many high profile shows, festivals, and awards events in the Netherlands, and their bright future has more in store for them, including a headlining tour in France this October, 2012. We are stoked to interview Merel for QueensOfMetal.com!
QueensOfMetal.com: Purest of Pain has been together since 2008. How did it form?
Merel Bechtold: Well, I founded the band in 2008, but the real Purest of Pain in its current lineup was formed in August 2010. We have had a few lineup changes and got rid of the old songs. Purest of Pain was reborn.
QueensOfMetal.com: Purest of Pain has been nominated for and won awards in the Netherlands, including a nomination for Best Live Act Award by 3voor12, Gooise Goden, and Clash of the Titans 2nd place winner. Can you tell us about these experiences?
Merel Bechtold: Our first show with the ‘new’ Purest of Pain was at the Gooise Goden, a local band competition, in September 2010. We won out of 5 bands which was a great and very encouraging start for us. It was a sold out show in a pretty big venue! Then we participated in the Clash of the Titans during the winter of 2011. It was competition between 60 bands, none of which were metal bands. It were all great bands in this competition though. At the finale, sold out also, we ended second, because the other band made lovely indie rock which of course is ‘better’ than metal music, haha. Although we were a bit disappointed, we received great reactions. In May we struck again in our home town and won the ‘Grand Finale’ of Gooise Goden. In the period of autumn/winter 2010 and spring 2011 we have played many shows. Mostly with other small bands, but it was a good way to get some stage-experience. Then, in August, we played our first really big show with Unearth, Evergreen Terrace, Bane and Nasty. From that moment on it really started rolling. We played Occultfest with Onslaught (UK) and a support show for Torture Squad (BR). In December we got an e-mail that we were nominated for the 3VOOR12 Award ‘Best Live Act’. In the Netherlands that’s one of the biggest platforms for music journalism and criticism, so that is something we are very proud of.
There is more! Please click here…
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Posted by MetalMarysia on Aug 14, 2012 in Blog | 0 comments
So after taking my sweet time to edit Emi’s footage of my interview with physiotherapist Grace Cheung, it’s finally here: 4 videos, about 5 minutes each, on how to take care of your body while playing guitar. (Actually, I have 3 metal projects and a life, so it was more about cramming it in somewhere between practicing and work. Sweet time? what sweet time?!).
But I learned some basic video editing in the process, got to write some fun riffs and try my hand at programming some drums, and after listening to Grace promote stopping and stretching over and over and over, I’m pretty sure I’ll never have a repetitive strain injury again. Which is why I wanted to make this — (did I mention that?) Fast thrash-riff-picking-induced constant pain sucks!! I hope you never have it. If you follow Grace’s advice, you may be in the clear from that little piece of hell.
You can click here to see the article with the interview.
So, we hope you enjoy the vids, and shred healthy!
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Posted by QueensOfMetal.com on Aug 3, 2012 in Blog | 0 comments
The founder, vocalist and rhythm guitar player of the Polish metal band Crystal Viper, Marta Gabriel has been announced as a guest player for the legendary U.S. Power Metal act Jack Starr’s Burning Starr. We found this a good excuse to have a chat with her and learn more about her and her band, which has been around since 2003 and released 4 full length albums as well as a few singles and played a lot of festivals around Europe.
QueensOfMetal.com You are founder of the band Crystal Viper. Could you also tell us more about your band?
Marta Gabriel: Crystal Viper started when I decided to make my biggest dream coming true – to create a real, heavy metal band, with dedicated musicians, and kickin’ ass music! To define my band in a few words: Crystal Viper is a powerful female fronted heavy metal bomb, inspired by bands such as Mercyful Fate, Candlemass, King Diamond, Nifelheim, Judas Priest and the whole NWOBHM… Come and see us live – and you’ll never forget it.
There is more! Please click here…
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