| First off, I’d like to welcome Noel of
Scavenger to Metal Fanatix, and to congratulate the band on the debut
“Madness To Our Method”! On to the questions… Noel Maher: Thank Jeffrey for the interview and thanks for supporting underground bands. Glad you liked the cd. Wait til the next one though! 1. How would you describe what the band sounds like? What influences have you contributed to the band? Noel Maher: Well it's mix of all our influences really. Main influences being Metallica and Megadeth but mixed with some prog rock like Dream Theater and Rush and then some heavier styles of metal like Death and At the Gates and then some modern metal like SOAD or Queens of the Stone Age. 2. How did Scavenger form? Does the band’s sound differ back then compared to what the band sounds like on “Madness To Our Method”? Noel Maher: Myself, Peter and Niall were in a band called Disorder. We did Slayer/Metallica type of tunes. We gigged locally for a few years until members fell out and the band just faded away. Johnny was in a band called Cisko Pike. They played everything from funky to heavier kinda stuff. Then myself and Peter wrote eight songs on our own, four-tracked them, and then went looking for a drummer. We got Niall for bass and met up with Johnny for drums. We jammed a couple of times, got the songs together and went straight to the studio to record them. And it all went from there ... 3. If you weren’t playing guitar in a band, what would you be doing? Would you still be working in music? In the arts, is there anything else that interests you? Noel Maher: I'd love to work in music production or in studio engineering. I also would like to run my own label. If we do make it big someday, I will definitely start my own label, and help bands along. That’s a big ambition of mine, and it can be my pension fund. 4. If we were to look at your music collection, what would we find? Favorite albums and bands? Noel Maher: Metallica, Megadeth, Maiden, Dream Theater, The Haunted, At the Gates, In Flames, Death, Opeth, Judas Priest, Def Leppard, Black Sabbath, and loads more. Ride the Lightning and Heaven and Hell are one of my faves. 5. Where do you pull inspiration from, when you are writing songs? Include anything you can think of…bands, books, movies, environment, etc. Noel Maher: Bands for me would be Metallica, The Haunted, Dream Theater, Forbidden, Megadeth and so on. Not really any movies, but more situatuions that I’m in, like having shit times in life with your family, sad times, fucked up times, drunken funny times. I really like emotional riffs, and so if it was to sound emotional, the best had to be a sad lonely emotion. Does that make sense? 6. What’s the meaning behind songs? Is there a special message you want to convey? Noel Maher: The whole album gives me a feel and picture of dreamy times or liquidy moments that surround you when your listening to it – kinda like the clean part in Ethereal Journey. 7. What in your experience has been the best equipment you have used? Anything you would suggest people to stay away from? If you were to get an endorsement, what guitar and amp companies would you support? Noel Maher: Marshall Amps and Mesa Boogie amps – top class, no complaints at all. And Gibson guitars, heavy and sturdy as fuck. Those fuckers can take loads of abuse. So for endorsement, it would have to be Gibson, and Mesa Boogie or Marshall, I wouldn’t be that fussy between the two. 8. I understand, that the band is still young. Are there plans for any elaborate tours? What have been your favorite live experiences? Any chance of Scavenger coming to the U.S.? Noel Maher: We have played a few dates in England recently and we hope to be heading to Germany in January/February, and we might even be heading to the States then too, as we recently did a tour with Lord Weird Slough Feg over here and they asked us over to the States to play with them – we look forward to that one. 9. Beer or Liquor? What’s your favorite drink? Some musicians like a specific beer or drink while they play. Is there something special you drink when you play live or just jamming? Noel Maher: Beer! Smithwicks to be exact. Lovely stuff, and gives no hangover. During a gig I'd probably just drink water, and during jamming, I'd drink bottles of Heineken. Or water, coz I drive a lot! 10. What does the future hold for the band? New music? Where do you see the band in 10 years? Anything else to say? Noel Maher: We are currently writing for our new record with some new songs finished. In ten years time, every metaller will have a Scavneger album in their collection hehe!! Thanks for the interview!! Keep up the good work! Noel Maher: Thanks for the interview, the review and the support. Much appreciated! STAY METAL \m/ |
