Even with hemochromatosis, I still need to get a fix of heavy metal once in a while, and who better to satisfy that itch than the hard-touring practitioners of the dark arts themselves, Witchgrinder. Dripping in iron clad riffs with a rumbling sound steeped in industrial metal, Witchgrinder are composed of Travis Everett (Vocals and guitar), Scottie ‘Pacino’ Anning (lead guitar), Jake Parr (bass), and James Shelverton (drums).
The last Witchgrinder gig in Brisbane was last year at Eaton’s Hill Tavern where they worked the crowd into an early frenzy, as if adding heavy drops of blood to brackish piranha infested waters, setting the scene for alt-metal legends SOiL and ultra nu-metal heavyweights Static-X. After that, I was hooked. I was lucky enough to catch them on their Nothing Stays Buried album tour in Brisbane, and with the band finally back in my part of town, I caught up with Travis and James before their show at the Stranded Bar to welcome them once more to the river city:
1. Using dark Witchgrinder magic, if there was one album that you could bring to life and summon it into a beast to do your bidding in battle, what would that album be?
Travis: Iron Maiden, Number of the Beast. Yeah, Eddie, the way he is controlling the devil (on the cover) I guess.
James: Hmm… yeah. I would say Iowa by Slipknot. Just everything on that album is brutal and angry.
Travis: I’m just thinking of (Album) Covers even Metallica, jump in the Fire has got that big Beast on it, he’d be cool.
OB: I must say when I wrote this I was thinking of Eddie.
Travis: We’ll go with Eddie.
James and Travis (in unison): Lock it in Eddie!
2. Your new album, Nothing Stays Buried, is kicking arse around Australia, with fans loving the tour. My favourite track is the song Queen of Sin. Who would be you choose to be your ultimate Queen or King of Sin?
Travis: Well we (already) got the ultimate Queen of Sin; it was Mistress Aida.
James: Yep, Mistress Aida.
OB: Oh, the one in the film clip?
Travis: Yeah, that’s our ultimate. That’s who we wanted so, that’s who we requested, and that’s exactly who we got for the film clip luckily.
You can view the film clip here.
3. Is the name Witchgrinder a confusing thing to say around or on 4/20? Does it grind witches? Is it to question to specify which grinder to use? Is it a grinder that belongs to a witch? Or last but not least, is it a risqué dating app for medieval wizards?
Travis: I like that last one! No, no James, I’ll let you answer this.
James: Well, there is some grinding of witches in there occasionally isn’t there?
Travis: Well, you’re telling them ha-ha! I’m not answering this one.
James: Oh no, I like the last one as well, it’s pretty good.
Travis: It’s up to the individual.
James: Yes, it is totally open to interpretation… Different things for different people.
Travis: They were all correct answers. But my last one that was my favourite.
4. This one is for James Shelverton and it’s a two-part question. Firstly, are you familiar with the term nepotism? And secondly, do you find it difficult being one of the greatest metal drummers in Australia, with so many bands begging for you to do their percussion work because of this demi-god status?
James: Nepotism? No, never heard of it… Great to meet you, Stephen Shelverton. No, I love it, I love what I get to do, I’ve been blessed to work with so many awesome bands. It can be hard being a drummer, you are sought after by great bands such as Lady Crimson and Satanic Panic, but Witchgrinder is where it’s at for me at the moment, and we are kicking Arse, so I’ve joined the ranks and having an absolute blast, it’s great.
OB: Anything to add Trav?
Travis: Ha! Shelvo is ah… number one!
5. If you could have any musician alive or dead join the band who would you choose and why?
James: Dead or alive?
OB: Yeah, dead or alive
Travis: Well in that case, if it’s dead, I’ll chose Joey… Joey Jordison (the original Slipknot drummer) to replace Shelvo.
James: I’ll let him have the reins, if he came back.
Travis: Joey or Vinnie, Vinnie Paul (the drummer co-founder of Pantera).
James: Yep, Vinnie Paul.
OB: No nepotism here James, you are out!
James: Totally out, I’d leave the ranks and sticks for Joey or Vinnie.
OB: With those guys in the band, it would be a pretty hectic rider request.
Travis: It already is, our rider request already is that big, but we don’t ever get it. So, if we had one of them in the band maybe we would.
James: I ask for red M&Ms all the time and we get none, it’s just…
Travis: Brown M&Ms… in a brandy glass!
James: In a brandy glass!
You can get into the new album and merch here and here.
Better yet, you can get your head blown off a the last show of the tour in Melbourne at the Northcote Social Club on the 24th of May!
