Tuesday 18 February 2014

Interview with R.O.A.D.

 R.O.A.D cover art

Today on Sludgelord, I am interviewing a R.O.A.D who impressed here at Sludgelord HQ with their stunning S/T debut with it's style of good old fashioned hard rocking riffs and Stoner Rock vibes.

We described the album as:



If you're a fan of Motorhead, AC/DC, Corrosion of Conformity, or of the likes you are going to love R.O.A.D. Just look at the track listing and imagine those song titles completely brought to life. It's one of those records, you know? Really deep and emotional on a rock and roll fantasy type wavelength. It plays through fairly quickly at 37 minutes on 8 songs, which is just about right. Perfect soundtrack to smoke a cigarette, down a couple or three beers, and shoot a game of pool in the local hole in the wall saloon.”



Their debut album is about to be released on Vinyl through our good friends at Sunruin Records who released the brilliant Wheelfall debut album – Interzone. But this is all about R.O.A.D.



And I am glad to say that these party loving hard rocking riff maestros are going to talk to us here at Sludgelord HQ



1 – Hi guys. Thanks for doing this. How are things with you today. Thanks to talking to us at Sludgelord HQ. 

 

Joss: Hello. Thank YOU for the interview and for the great album review!!! We're fine, we're preparing our release party! It will be on 12th february. Will be awesome!!!!






2 – Can you give our readers a brief history of how the band came about and where it is today.



Joss: Of course. It's a chaotic history! With the former members, pete and mickael, we met on 2006 at Music Academy International, a prestigious music school in Nancy. We rehearsed for half a year and did a few gigs but I had to tour with other bands to earn money! A couple of years later I asked my bandmates if they were O.K to record our songs. And they were. We recorded the song and while mixing the album the studio has literally burned! The tapes were safe but it took more than a year to finish the album. After that, Pete and Mickael left the band so i was alone in the band with a debut album! I sent it to many many labels and booking agencies But I had no or negative answers. Until Sunruin records! We met a few years ago and we played for their "whellfall's interzone"release party with our new lineup. They knew we were looking for a label so we talked and agreed! Here's the album, now we can start to work!!!! 

 

3 – So. Lets start off with your sound. How would you describe your sound. As you guys include a lot of different styles. And from a lot of different decades as well.



Joss: We listen a lot of different musics and when we write a new song it's like : "Hey, this sounds good? Yeah? Cool". We're open-minded and it doesn't matter if it's "stoner", "hard rock", "Death metal" or “trash metal”..... We play Rock n'Roll!!!!



4 – Which bands and artists influenced you all as musicians.



Joss: So many!!!!! From Bob Marley to Mayhem......and I'm not joking!!!




5 – What made you decide to become a musician. Any particular band or life changing event.



Joss: We were born musicians. Some life events turned us into rockers......



6 – Where does the name R.O.A.D. come from. Any particular meaning behind it. Though I do love your original name for the band – Pussy Destroyer. Has a certain charm around it. HA HA.

Joss: R.O.A.D is for Return Of A Difference. Pussy destroyers was a cool name but i needed to have a new one with the new lineup. And a more sober one, haha!!!!!



7 – Was your debut album an easy album to write and record for. Sounds like you had as much fun making it as we did listening to it. Was that your intention to release a good old fashioned hard rock album.



Joss: We just wanted to do a good and simple album. We wrote it very quickly! 

  


8 – How did you guys hook up with Sunruin Records. Great label to release your first album with and on vinyl as well.



Joss: I met the wheelfall's drummer, nico, in the music school where i teach guitar. He was a student. When he came in wheelfall i met the whole band. Few month after nico told me that they had created a label to relaese their first album. So I told them about R.O.A.D.....but unfortunately they didn't have the money release our debut album. I had to wait a few month and fab called me back!



9 – I am a huge fan of the French Sludge/Doom/Stoner Metal scene. Thanks to bands such as Drawers, Wheelfall, Los Disidentes Del Sucio Motel, Crown and many more that I have forgotten. What is the Stoner Rock scene like in France at the moment. Do you get many opportunities to play gigs or do you have to travel abroad to perform regularly.



Joss: In fact we don't really perform regulary, we are currently looking for a good booking agency!!!



10 – What is the songwriting process in the band. Is it a group process or is it down to one individual.



Joss. Usually I bring the songs and we finalize them while rehearsing. 

  


11 – In 5 words or less what is the live R.O.A.D. experience like



Strenght, honesty, blood, sweat, tears, haha!



12 – We are massive Vinyl Heads here at Sludgelord. Are you Vinyl Fans yourselves. As you have released your records on Vinyl in the past.



Yes, of course! It's the best support.



13 - Have you toured with any famous bands or artists? If so who have been your favorite?



We toured with Devildriver, Loudblast and Peter Pan Speedrock. And our favorites are definitively Peter Pan Speedrock. They are really cool guys!





14 - Are you guys full time musicians or do you all have regular jobs to pay the bills. 

 

Joss: Me and Yann are full time musicians. Simon has a regular job. 

 

15 – What is your verdict on the whole crowd-funding scene currently going on. Are you a fan of this medium and would yourselves ever go down this route.



Joss: Yeah, it's a good way. Maybe we will go down this route but not now....



16 - What are your favorite bands around at the moment? Do you listen to modern day rock/metal or do you just listen to the classic era of Stoner/Doom Metal/Hard Rock. 

 

Joss: As i said, I listen to a lot of different musics. Now it's The black keys, Tyrant, Nino Ferrer and Alice Cooper's Welcome to my nightmare.





17 – If you could give any advice to someone wanting to start a band. What helpful advice would you give them.



Work, be patient and always believe in what you do.



18 – Finally, Thanks for talking to us here at Sludgelord HQ. Do you have anything to say to your fans.



Joss: Thank you so much for everything!!! Without you we would not exist.



Well guys thanks for doing this. All the best. Best of luck with your new album. Thanks to Fabien at Sunruin Records for arranging this interview.

 Check them out on Bandcamp and Facebook
 Written by Steve Howe