We’re two chicks that run this site dedicated to the blackest music there is. And we’ve got a few other amazing people who put their talent into reviews, columns and some classic rock and metal entertainment for you guys.
Instead of putting together some formal bio about each of us, we figured that we’d just throw out a few basic questions that we’d answer together; well, together but separate. We’ll have more fleshed out bios of the rest of the crew soon, but you can check out briefs about them below their stories and columns.
Onto the Q&A:
IDENTIFY YOURSELVES, PEONS!
Michelle: I am Michelle, the photographer of faces and places. Most know me as Minerva, although this is not my name. No, I’m not a Roman Goddess of crafts, magic, and the inventor of music… although I’d LOVE to be. So go ahead, call me Minerva. I’ll eventually correct you and make you feel stupid.
Stephanie: As you’ve probably guessed, my name’s Stephanie. Due to the extreme length of my name, on the internet circuit I go by Steph Rose. I’m the sole (at this point) programmer of the website, an an absolute music fanatic. I’ve been known to come to tears listening to everything from Rachmaninoff’s Second to Crimson Glory or Angra. But believe me, they’re the most metal tears ever streamed down a mere mortal’s face.. And the only tears you’ll ever see me cry.
What’re you doing here?
Michelle: Co-running this shin-dig with Stephanie and providing you with enough tasty visual treats to last a lifetime. It’s just what I do.
Stephanie: Taking over the world, of course. The same thing we do every night, Pinky….
No, really. I dabble in photography but suck compared to Minerva—I mean, Michelle. I’m here to cover what I love best: metal. And hopefully make you laugh in the process. I’ve got plans to write reviews, bring out the cliches in metal in my blog Tea and Metal, and hopefully deliver some kickass videos in the process.
What is your quest?
Michelle: To only spend 9 of my 10 marbles. I will eventually own all of the marbles in the world with the help of compound interest.
Stephanie: To search for the Holy— okay, okay. It’s obvious I made up this question. Despite writing it myself, though, I think I forgot what I was aiming for, here. Because I definitely answered that above. Related: I may have caused Michelle to lose a few of her marbles in the process of creating this site.
What got you into metal?
Michelle: I took the road less traveled, since that is what anti-social middle school children do. Let’s say it just all blossomed from there.
Stephanie: Back in the days of Napster, I was downloading tons of music. At one point, a friend told me I had to listen to something. Through AOL IM (they were not separated yet), he sat online for 30-45 minutes to send me a 3MB version of Symphony X’s “Fallen.” I sat, listening, and felt my soul darken and become liberated all at the same time. From that moment on, I knew I’d never listen to Matchbox 20 or 311 again.
Name some fav bands / genres.
Michelle: When it comes to metal, my friends know me as the power metal girl. Then they all know that I, for some strange reason, have this extreme obsession for pagan/folk/Celtic metal. There are people out there who claim that they have a very eclectic, broad taste in music; that they “listen to everything.” Well, nothing is going to compare to what I’m about to tell you. Some of my top favorite bands of all time that I have been religiously listening to solidly for as long as I can remember are (in no particular order):
- Eluveitie & Equilibrium (yay folk metal!)
- Heavenly & Freedom Call (yay cheezy power metal!)
- Blind Guardian (yay blind guardian!)
- Foxy Shazam and Hanson (yay… wait… what the fuck?)
Stephanie: This one is so hard for me. I started out my years listening to symphonic and power metal, but times change. These days, I never stay on one band long because I’m a music whore and listen to 20,000 new CDs every month. I love everything from the cheesy-cheese-power metal to epic-symphonic-movie-soundtrack metal to break-your-neck-headbanging thrash. I think if I list an artist for every letter of the alphabet, you’d see how I could just take all metal in my arms and hug it all. Okay, that wasn’t metal. But hey, it’s true.
If I had to pick 5 bands to take all of their past and future works with me to a desert island, though, they’d probably be:
- Tobias Sammett’s works (Edguy, Avantasia) (Yes, I’m already cheating you bastards.)
- Dream Theater (it’s timeless!) (or maybe Symphony X)
- Savatage (also timeless)
- Gamma Ray (can I add Helloween in here, too? I mean..)
- Something heavier. Maybe Testament or Death Angel
What’s the most overrated concert you’ve ever been to?
Michelle: Cradle of Filth. You’d think with their getup that they’d put on one hell of a show, right? No. I felt like I was in party city during Halloween season, and they looked so absolutely un-enthusiastic about their job. Made me feel awkward. I also lost my phone that show, so I guess overall I didn’t have much of a great time.
Stephanie: Uh…Lady Gaga. No, I’m not kidding. I’m dead serious. Before she was famous, I saw her in a small venue and thought it’d be a kickass show. All it did was reconfirm how mainstream music is people putting on images that don’t fit them. And my camera got lost that night — and it’s not like there was even a mosh pit! Reading Michelle’s response, I guess losing expensive shit at shows doesn’t bode well for your overall concert experience.
Metal-wise? Epica. I’ve seen ‘em twice, and they put on a good show, but I guess at this point I’m just over the whole female singer thing. I thoroughly enjoy their albums, but I don’t think the venues I’ve seen them in do their music justice. So, I leave disappointed. I definitely keep their albums around for a listen, though.
Best concert you’ve ever been to? Why?
Michelle:
Top two in no particular order:
1) Blind Guardian at the Roxy Theater in Atlanta, GA. 2006. Why? BECAUSE IT’S BLIND GUARDIAN! If anyone needs me to elaborate they need to be smacked in the face with a 2×4.
2) Helloween & Gamma Ray @ Center Stage in Atlanta, GA. 2008. Why? BECAUSE IT’S HELLOWEEN AND GAMMA RAY! Everything about it was perfect. Every second of their presence on stage was enchanting. The entire crowd performing in a sing-a-long at both shows is always a plus in my book.
Stephanie:
I’ve gotta agree with Michelle about the Helloween & Gamma Ray show at ProgPowerUSA. Seeing the two of them together, killer sets and all, and then come out together for the encore to sing Future World and I Want Out was orgasmic.
Aside from that, it’s hard to say. I think it depended on the point I was in. Kamelot always puts on an excellent show. I’ve seen them a few times, and each time they get better. Iron Maiden is also in my top five. Iced Earth live was also mind blowing; by the time they finished, it was close to 2 in the morning and I didn’t want it to end.
I’ve also had a few surprises in concerts that made me fall in love with the bands: Crimson Glory, Seventh Wonder, Amorphis, Orphaned Land, etc. I’ve found that live shows are one of the best ways to assess how worthy a band truly is.
Who is the musician that you’d go all groupie for?
Michelle: Zac Hanson and/or Eric Nally. It’s okay, you can revoke my metal license now. I never claimed I had one.
Stephanie: Why am I creating a metal magazine with this chick, again? She’s mentioned Hanson twice now.
I’m not sure about going groupie for anyone. (I’ve had my chances.) But I gotta say, the singer from California-based Holy Grail has the most gorgeous hair I’ve ever seen. And I told him so. I might go groupie for that. (See our Holy Grail photo gallery and assess for yourself.)
Michelle: It’s because I’m fuckin’ awesome. And so is Hanson. FIN! End of discussion!
What is your superpower?
Michelle: Framing the unframeable. My second super power is stating that which is obvious. This comes with the territory of being a photographer, I just can’t help but notice things.
Stephanie: In everyone’s words, when at metal shows, I’m a self-generating-crack machine. I get so hyped up, you might think I’m 8 years old with an inexhaustible stream of energy. Scratch that. It’s not a stream, it’s a fucking TSUNAMI of energy. It can be 3am, and if I’m just leaving a metal show, I’ll still have so much energy that I’ll want to go run 5 miles. I can’t help it. What can I say? I love metal.
What’s the most metal thing you’ve ever done?
Michelle: Attending three Hanson concerts in a row and living to tell the tale. I’m still confused on why almost all of their roadies had metal shirts on. Maybe one day I’ll get the chance to ask.
Stephanie:
Alright, that’s IT Michelle, you’re FIRED! I’m revoking your super admin status now.
Most metal thing I’ve ever done? Survived 4 days of ProgPowerUSA on too little food and too much beer (related: I can drink beer, I’m German) each day to sustain me. I didn’t miss a beat or a band, and hardly slept. I am awaiting the day I can take this to an extreme at some metal festival in Germany or Belgium. Hey, if you all want to fund me, send me an email and we can hook you up to my PayPal account. I promise I’ll take lots of video!