Interview with New Jersey Thrash Legends Blood Feast

Today I spoke with Adam from New Jersey Thrashers Blood Feast – these guys formed in 1986 but never saw the success of the bands like Anthrax and Overkill – disbanding in the late 80st he guys reformed 7 years ago – check what Adam has to say about coming back bigger and better than ever – read on

* First off guys congratulations on the come back album ” not many bands could be gone for so long and come back so relevant. So what were the factors involved in bringing the band back from the dead in 2010? What isnpired you to do this new album 7 years later?
ADAM TRANQUILLI:  Most of these songs were written about 5 years ago, a little while after we got back together.  I wanted to move forward with new material, but it was nearly impossible with Kevin (Kuzma, original drummer) living 6 hours away.  Once we made the change to the current line-up we were off to the races.  We working on “Off With Their Heads”, “The Burn” and “Who Prays For The Devil” at the first rehearsal with Joe & CJ.

* What’s been the best feedback you have got from “the Future State of Wicked” so far?
ADAM TRANQUILLI:  We’ve gotten a lot of great responses so far.  It’s definitely been more positive than negative.  Getting an 8 (out of 10) in Decibel Magazine was really cool.  The most important thing, though, is that the fans like it!!

* How did the deal with Hells headbangers come about?
ADAM TRANQUILLI:  They contacted us.  They’re fans of the band, and they wanted to work with us.  They’ve been great!!

* How much do you think the metal scene has changed since the 80s?
ADAM TRANQUILLI:  There are a lot more strains of metal since we were around the first time.  Death Metal was only starting up.  The Scandinavian Black Metal scene was in its infancy.  Symphonic and Folk Metal didn’t yet exist.

Things seem more friendly in the scene itself.  Maybe that’s because we’re all a bit older and wiser.

“I’m with you on Midnight – great band and cool dudes.  We just played with them down in Philadelphia”

* What young metal bands do you rate these days? I have to say I love that band Midnight from Cleveland
ADAM TRANQUILLI:  I’m with you on Midnight – great band and cool dudes.  We just played with them down in Philadelphia.  Another band we like is Game Over, from Italy.  We played with them in Japan at the True Thrash Fest in 2015.

* Are you surprised bands like Overkill and Kreator from the 80s are still out there and still doing it?
ADAM TRANQUILLI:  Not really.  Both of those bands have always put out high quality thrash albums.

* When the band was done in the 80s, did you carry on playing in other bands or just getting into family life, working 9-5 etc?
ADAM TRANQUILLI:  Yes, yes and yes.  I played in a few bands leading up to Headlock.  We put out an album in 1994 on Pavement Music, and toured with M.O.D. in Europe.  After that I took some time away from music, started a family and concentrated on business.  When we did the 1999 reunion that re-lit the fire.  Since Blood Feast didn’t carry on, I started Without End and put out 2 albums with that band.

* What would you say has been the best part of the modern internet smart phone generation?
ADAM TRANQUILLI:  Being able to communicate so quickly.

* The worst part?
ADAM TRANQUILLI:  Trying to get people to pull their heads away from their phones and live in the moment.

* Getting old is weird – like I am still the same retard I was at 15 but a lil wiser, what is the best advice do you think you would give “you” of the 1980s if you had a time machine?
ADAM TRANQUILLI:  Be patient, grasshopper.

Metal is blue-collar to the core, so it’s a perfect match.

* New Jersey is one of these states that is almost infamous for metal loving fans – why do you think that is?
ADAM TRANQUILLI:  New Jersey is very much a blue-collar state.  Folks work awfully hard around here.  Metal is blue-collar to the core, so it’s a perfect match.  NYC, Long Island and the Rockland and Westchester Counties of upstate NY are very similar.

* What were some of the accomplishments as a band you never got to do the 80s that you guys are doing now?
ADAM TRANQUILLI:  While we got to tour a bit back in the late ’80s, we never left the US.  Getting to go to Japan and Peru were amazing experiences.  We did Headbangers Open Air in 2010 and 2013, but playing there this year will be the first time with this line-up.  We’d love to get to the west coast – the original band never got to California.

* What plans do you have for the rest of 2017?
ADAM TRANQUILLI:  Now that the album is out we’re just taking it to the fans.  We have a lot of shows coming up.  Also, me and CJ have started writing for the next album.

* Any final words?
ADAM TRANQUILLI:  Thank you for the interview Alex!!  Cheers to everyone who has heard the new album, and we hope to see all of you at a show at some point.  Our web-site is www.BloodFeastLegions.com or catch us at www.FaceBook.com/BloodFeastLegions.  And… DRINK THE BLOOD OF EVERY CORPSE!!