Rick Scythe interview Scythe, Usurper

1. Is your band Nightshade on hold or did you end the band.

RS: Nightshade is over. It was an experimental music project which involved many different musicians. It was something to do when Usurper ended; something still heavy but much different than Usurper. Dan Geist (bass) and Tim (drums) were both members of Nightshade for live shows. When that band ended SCYTHE was formed. We still do some Nightshade songs like "Tunguska Death Ray" and "Opus Dei of the Dead".


2. Do you have a Personal Favorite Usurper album?

RS: I like all the albums for different reasons, but the two I like the best are, "Threshold of the Usurper" and "Cryptobeast".

I like the overall sound, songs, production and feel of "Threshold of The Usurper". To me it is classic era Usurper, that IS the Usurper sound. "Cryptobeast" was a modern era Usurper classic. Every song was a blast to play live and I feel we individually and collectively reached our pinnacle as musicians and as a band as a whole.


3. How did you form your new band Scythe and was it hard to find members?

RS: At first it was supposed to be a solo album, where I got to record some Usurper songs that Usurper never got to record. I had a drummer named Ben Mulvey and a second guitarist named Joe Martinez. It didn't work out with them, so myself and Dan Geist got Tim to play drums. We recorded our debut album and then parted ways with Tim, who was replaced by drummer Joey "King Kong" Contreras.


4. Your lyrics deal with conspiracies,occult,supernatural and other topics concerning those types of ideas. How do you get inspiration to write those type of lyrics?

RS: It comes from the types of books I read. I have always been fascinated by the hidden side of reality. Most people ignore this stuff, or pass it off as whacko shit, but whether you believe it or not, it makes great topics for metal songs.


5. Ok last question, Do you think in the past 20 years the Metal scene has gotten weaker or stronger?

RS:It's gotten bigger, that's for sure. However, just because something gets more popular, does that make it stronger? I'm not sure? I don't follow the scene, or current trends. I play metal for die-hards only, I don't care about being popular.

Scythe FB page. http://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/scythe.chicago

Usurper FB page. http://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/usurper.chicago


Here's a recent interview I did with Rick http://wwwtotalmetal.blogspot.com/2013/05/rick-scythe-interview_14.html

Fueled By Fire

 Fueled By Fire is a Thrash Metal band from Norwalk, California. They released there first demo in 2005 and another demo in 2006 and their first album in late 2006 and their last album in 2010. Well I actually knew about this band since 2008 and I remember hearing Thrash is Back and being really impressed with this band. The music is awesome and I really like the vocals. I really like their song Metal forever which pay tribute to bands like Megadeth, Slayer, Iron Maiden and Testament.

  Striking Death is another awesome song well actually all their songs are awesome. So if your looking for some really good Thrash Metal listen to Fueled by fire.

Nuclear Assault Game Over album review

                                                          Nuclear Assault Game Over

I just got this album a few weeks ago. This is easily one of the best Thrash Metal albums in the 80's. This is in a way a precussor to Crossover but then again it's still alot Heavier than most crossover bands. Before I got the cd's I had alot of these songs on my IPOD and I have to say Nuclear Assault opened me up to Hardcore and D-Beat and all that. 
The first song Live,Suffer, Die is an awesome instrumental.
 Sin and Cold Steel are great thrashers. Betrayal goes to more a midpace and I like the lyrics to this song I guess I can relate to them alot.
 Radiation sickness is another fast number with a really awesome riff. Hang the pope almost sounds what bands like Napalm Death would do. After The Holocaust slows the pace down but is another stand out cut. Mr.Softee theme is joke song.

Stranded in Hell is another great song even thought this line made me laugh "Stranded in Hell, Ring Satan's bell" that's so "Evil" lol.  Nuclear War is my favorite song on this disc I always thrash to this song.  My America is a punk rock song that lasts 31 seconds.  Vengence and Brain Death are both awesome songs this album is classic I would pick this album up when you get a copy. Also my cd comes with the plague ep which is great to. ."(You Figure it Out)" is freaking Hilarious.