Interview STRANGELAND

A Talk With WES WATSON

METAL TO INFINITY

Hey Wes, appreciation is on my side due to you’re able to answer some questions. Everything alright there in the US? Who are the guys in charge Wes? A few lines about the current line up would be good to know? What’s your role within the band actually?

Yes -everything is good - thanks for asking!

As for my role(s) in the band; I'm the bass player - the webmaster - and I do alot of promotion. We do pretty much everything for the band internally - not that we don't want outside help - we've just been doing it ourselves the entire time we've been together, and we haven't had anyone else offer to help - so we do it ourselves.

All members that played in other bands before? Which ones?

Several of us have been in previous bands:

KARL MUSTARD- Ex-Trashcan Muffy
   


KEVIN GROSE - Ex-Violent Mercy

How and when did you guys found each other?

Well, Wade and I have been very good friends for more than 20 years. He and Kevin G were in Violent Mercy together, Kevin and Kevin went to the same high school - there are many connections, as you can see!

Does the name Strange Land means something special to you? What’s the story behind prefering a name like this above many others?

No, not really. I mean we point to the fact that we are certainly living in strange times, with war, disease, hunger, poverty - all these things we hear about in the news daily, running rampant. But Joe came up with it at practice one night - and it stuck.

About StrangeLand’s style of music…are there any particular musical influences, that have inspired you? What I’m trying to ask here is to discribe the style yourself and please, name a few bands to compare if it’s possible.

Oh, yes. Many influences. Personally, I have a number of folks and bands that influence me musically - and specifically as a bass player - Dream Theater, Stryper, Rush, Yes, Kansas, Symphony X, Threshold, Michael Manring, Stewart McKinsey, Scott Hubbell - I'm sure I can't give a complete list - but this is a start!

Talking about the lyrical subjects! Does the lyrics have a special meaning to the band? An explanation please.

Yes. As you can tell by our lyrics, we are Christians.   

You see, Jesus was sent into this world, this Strange Land, to lead us back to God. We are separated from Him due to sin.  But it is God’s desire that we all be reacquainted with Him!

Everybody’s gotta choose their own faith, right. How deep is your own believe?

My beliefs are such that God is #1 in my life – before family, work, fun – everything.

My favourite Christian Metal bands through the years are: Deadly Blessing, Sacred Warrior, Tourniquet, Barren Cross, Reckon, Saint, Bloodgood, Angelica, Whitecross, Messiah Prophet, Deliverance, Believer, Bride…What about yours?

Great choices - I would add to that:
Guardian, Audio Vision, Rob Rock, Narnia, Harmony, Divine Fire, Akashic, Stryper, Jacob's Dream, Jerusalem, Leviticus, Bloodgood, Messiah Prophet, Neon Cross - I probably forgot a few!


How’s the local White Metal / Heavy Metal scene the last few years?

With bands like Narnia, Divine Fire, Audio Vision, Stryper and Rob Rock coming out with new stuff - it seems to be getting better. I'm hopeful for a full resurgence - as people come back to real music! \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\m/ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\m/

WES & ROBERT SWEET (STRYPER)

StrangeLand released a three track demo at the beginning of 2005 through Tower Records. What kinda demo is it like in your opinion?

Actually- we are not on Tower Records. That is a record store where our demo is available for purchase. We are an independent band - not signed to a label.

IMO - the demo turned out very strong - but I think we sound heavier live than on the disc. With 3 guitarists- there is certainly some crunch that we can stir up!

Are you satisfied and what would you change if you had the chance?

Yes I'm satisfied - now don't get me wrong. There are some things I'd go back and change - make better - but if we always did that - we'd never finish! We are not shooting for perfection, but to have the best sounding recording we can - in the time we have.


A three track demo awaiting a full length or no further plans at all to realize that?

Oh,yes - we will be doing a full length at some point in the future. We are continually writing, and we have added a couple numbers to our live set.


Please give an address where to order the demo.

It can be ordered from our website - http://www.strange-band.com/music.htm  via paypal

or cdbaby - http://www.cdbaby.com/slandband

or indieheaven - http://www.indieheaven.com/ct/?ad=3&ref_id=47935

or tower records at http://www.towerrecords.com/product.aspx?pfid=CDB1036920012

or in Europe at Nordic Mission - http://www.webhotell-spesialisten.no/nordicmissionnet/sqlbutikk/index.cgi?cart_id=9455256.27400&pid=1202

Some other works released in the past?

Some of the guys have done some other recording - Violent Mercy I believe had a demo - as did Street Light.  I’m sure those are out of print now…..This is my first recording.


Were the world-wide reactions pretty good, bad or midranged…tell me about it Wes.

We've had a pretty positive response all over! Which is really exciting for us!


Imaging that some people spreading negative news around regarding StrangeLand. Can you dig it and what’s your first reaction if that happened?

Well,there's no accounting for taste - right? Actually, I'm sure there are some folks that don't like the music - and I understand that - and that's ok. Not everyone will like us. I don't take that personally.  We aren’t for everyone – but we do want to make the best music we can – in our genre – metal!

Do you know there is another band with the same name, only spelled in a different way?

Yes- Strange Land is a progressive metal band out of Wisconsin. They are really good.
Unfortunately, when we started the band, the website, logo's etc - we did not find them in all our searches. And even now - if you google "StrangeLand" - you get our website in the top 2.

We certainly mean them no disrespect, but we don't feel the need to change our name at this point. If we feel we need to at some point in the future, we will deal with it with all the wisdom and knowledge we can.

Can you tell me about StrangeLand’s live experiences. Many live gigs below your belt so far and give a few names of bands you’ve shared the stage with in the past?

We love to play out live! We have played with: Nineteen 88, Justin Robbins and New Fire, Shade Tree, Mutiny. We have always been treated very well by other bands.

What do you have in mind for the near future? What kinda plans are on the list the fulfill?

World tour!

Seriously, we hope to be able to play out more and more as we are offered the opportunity. We would love to tour the US and Europe, and if the opportunity arises, we would do everything in our power to make that happen!

Haven’t got no more questions here, so time to leave Wes? Thanx for your time, all the best with the band and finalizing this interview is in your hands.

Thank you!  We certainly appreciate the support!...Wes

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