From a recent change in band members to headlining at one of South Africa’s biggest heavy metal festivals… From being play-listed on London’s Total Rock Radio to actually planning a UK tour, it is guaranteed that Chromium is one of South Africa’s most unstoppable bands. We’ve kidnapped the members of Chromium (including their new guitar slashing vocalist) and sadistically interrogated them, empowering our metal-hungry minds with the eardrum-popping excellence of Chromium’s musical plans and gigging intentions for 2010!

Interview By: Scream

Chromium are: Justin du Preez – Guitars and Vocals
Jared Gunston – Guitars and Vocals
Hannes Matthysen – Drums
Shaun Pearson – Bass Guitar

Headbang Today: Welcome back to the headbanger’s crib and a special welcome to Justin for having his first interview with Headbang Today as an offifcial member of Chromium! You’ve just had a show with UK metallers, Seven year Kismet! How did that go down?

Chromium: Hey Scream, well its hard to find the words to describe the JHB tour with SYK, but all i can say is it’s one of the most fun things we’ve ever done, and besides just touring with the guys we hung out with them on their off days and really got to know the guys.  I dropped the guys off now now at the airport as they are on their way to do Cape Town this weekend, and i’m gonna be sad when they leave.

Headbang Today: Now with your next gig being at MotherFUDD 2010, tell us what headbangers can expect from Chromium – Which one of your songs from your set do you think will get the entire crowd to viciously nod their heads to?

Chromium: Shame we’re really throwing Justin into the deep end huh? J  We’re playing a few new tracks off “Confessions Of a Hero”, World Of Lies and I Wait should get them going nicely!

Headbang Today: This is a question for Justin! You’ve just recently joined the band a month or so ago… How have you been fitting in and tell us a bit about what  you’ve been up to personally to prepare yourself for Chromium?

Chromium:  Well as in my previous interview I was explaining how nerve wrecking it was to hit the stage (not club but out door festival )

with a band as big as Chromium. I am sure there were skeptics out there and there are probably still a lot of them, although as we played each gig I began feeling more and more confident within myself and within the band.

Like I always say, you can’t please everyone and at the moment all I care about is pleasing the band. If they are happy with me I couldn’t care who has what to say. My purpose in the band is to play every song and every gig to the best of my ability and of course blow the living crap out of each fan.

Personally I would say I have been through quite a unique change this past month. I have decided that this is my dream and I am honored playing with the band. I am giving up my life here in PE to do this “band” thing and I am willing to give it a 150% man and there is no turning back now!

Headbang Today: Spill the guts! When can we expect a new release from Chromium?

Chromium:  What i can tell you, is we’re doing pre production on the third album, still adding more and more material to our DVD and currently working on a few live clips, etc… so there’s lots coming your way real soon!

Headbang Today: You’re still planning to hit the stages in the UK? How’s all that going and what about the international tour are you looking forward to the most?

Chromium:  UK Dates are 98% confirmed, I’ve been shown on a map where we’re going and it’s literally all over UK, the fact that we can do this as a band, and experience a new culture of metal heads excites us.  Being in a bus for just over 2 weeks and being on the road and dirty is what i’m looking forward to.

Headbang Today: What do you look forward to the least and why?

Chromium:  Carrying the equipment J hehe, we are yet to find people willing to roadie our stuff, the heads and cymbal stands are heavy damnit!  Oh and the 14 hour travelling time on the plane!

Headbang Today: Name some of the bands that will be supporting you over there.

Chromium:  “Circle Of Rage” not too sure on the rest just yet!

Headbang Today: You’ve also got a live DVD set for release sometime this year. Give us an inside scoop and reveal a little something about it to us… Any special features we can look forward to?

Chromium:  Well, its gonna be packed full of live performances, music videos, studio footage, making of the video stuff, LOTS of goodies!

Headbang Today: We can only imagine the hellish schedule ahead for you guys. As with most bands, the members have day jobs to maintain… Is that also the case with members of Chromium? And if so, how do you go about telling your ‘boss’ that you need a month off to go rock the shit out of UK headbangers?

Chromium:  its a tough one i’ll admit, but the guys are usually up front with their bosses and things just seem to be working out.

Headbang Today: Back to the MotherFUDD topic. Would you consider Chromium’s music to be moshable? If so, do you think that you can get the crowd to fire up moshpits larger and more vicious than that of Hatebreed’s?

Chromium:  hmmmm, our music is defiantly something you can rock out too, and some tracks such as “i wait” get a few circles going.  Hatebreed is heavy, i wouldn’t wanna take em on! hehe

Headbang Today: Tell us about each of your individual pre-gig rituals before you hit the stage.

Chromium: Justin: Be nervous as shit  (helps with going crazy when you get on stage)

no drinking (ok maybe a shot or two and lots of water)

Vitamin B tablets (Thanx to Chris from Knave)

and just eventually letting everything in your mind go……………….

Hannes: I drink max. 3 beers.

Jared: A good dvd at home such as Unearth or Killswitch Engage, a few casual beverages and a shot or 2 of Sambuka, takes the edge right off!

Headbang Today: We wish you all the best for MotherFUDD 2010 and we hope that the crowd will headbang just as hard to your music as we will! Any last words?

Chromium:  Its been great man, this ride has only just begun.  I know it’s hard to explain this correctly, but now with the international tour in place our band is only truly beginning right now.

CHROMIUM, PEOPLE! CATCH THEM AT MOTHERFUDD 2010!

www.motherfudd.com

HEADBANG TODAY WILL BE FEATURING AND CHATTING TO ALL THE BANDS THAT WILL BE PERFORMING AT MOTHERFUDD 2010! WATCH THIS SPACE!

INSTRAMETAL INTERVIEWED

MotherFUDD 2010 Official and final press release.

MotherFUDD, South Africa’s renowned metal festival is proud to announce that they will be hosting the first ever Official Guinness World Record for the “Most People Headbanging Simultaneously” at the seventh annual MotherFUDD – The Gathering 2010 on 13 March 2010.

Motherfudd is extremely proud to fly this exciting and unusual flag as it will not only spotlight the massive following metal music and has in this country but also that this epic event will take place on South African soil.

The bands under Mother’s care this year are: Agro, All Forlorn, Architecture of Aggression, Bile of Man, Chromium, Emperium, Erebus, Fragmented Children, H aggis & Bong, Instrametal, Juggernaught, Loathe, Mazaru, Nighthawk, Reverend Henry Kane, Red Helen, Riddare av Koden, Rhütz, Sacrifist, Sathern and Stigmata Dawn.

Tickets are R220 for the entire weekend and are available from www.webtickets.co.za.

This includes weekend-long parking, camping, lots of drunken arm-in-arm metal camaraderie, the best South African metal bands and your name down in the history books!

For added mojo there are game drives, Bubble-ball, skating and bmxing, swimming, lots of food and flea stalls, a tuck shop and a huge, well-priced bar with DJs that will be satisfying FUDDers’ metal appetites well into the early hours.

On a serious note:

Because of the heightened media interest this year we had to put certain criteria in place and thus have RESTRICTED ENTRY to 1500 tickets only. NO GATE SALES and NO EXCEPTIONS. It’s best to avoid disappointment, a copious amount of egg on your face and your buddies’ endless ragging by buying your tickets through Webtickets early, as they will also close automatically as soon as the limit is reached.

MotherFUDD would not be possible without our like-minded partners in crime: Monster Energy Drink, Aqua Seltzer, Headbang Today, Revolution, Killer Truck Co, Locally Whipped Magazine, Midrand Stereo, Maganstarr Productions, EA Games, Star Gazers Extra Mural Centre, The Cameraman, Viking Records, Sound Decision, Synergy Productions, Music Connection and Schecter Guitar Research.

MotherFUDD – The Gathering is the brainchild of Yvonne Pennicott, long-time band manager and festival extraordinaire who inspired a gathering of the best musical talent in the country to bring about a 2-day camp-over festival showcasing the pick of the crop. 2010 sees MotherFUDD hosted from 12 – 14 March 2010 at the acclaimed Malonjeni Guest Resort just south of Johannesburg.

For enquiries please go to www.motherfudd.com or visit us at Facebook, Myspace or Reverbnation.

For line-up, logistic and festival liaisons please contact:

Yvonne Pennicott

Cell: 082 441 1256

Email: motherfudd@iburst.co.za

For press, media and advertising opportunities please contact:

Trudy Currie

Cell: 079 752 0159

Email: fuddpromo@gmail.com

Very quick drive, if it takes you longer than half-an-hour from Alberton, call us…

you’re lost.

Coordinates: S26, 36’ 24.07”

E28, 10’ 41.58”

PLEASE NOTE: The off-ramp called “Randvaal Road” on the map is actually the

“Randvaal/Walkerville” off-ramp off the R59. (the one AFTER the Engen Blockhouse!!!)

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ChromiumMainIntervie20Banner

Credit: Mindless design and imaging

Chromium Are:
Jared Gunston – Guitars & Vocals
Matt Engelbrecht – Guitars & Vocals
Hannes Matthysen – Drums
Shaun Pearson – Bass Guitar

Born from the small town of Port Elizabeth South Africa, Chromium immediately pushed forward to break the stereo-type of a small town band. With 2 albums behind their name, a DVD on its way plus a third album in the pipeline, nothing can stand against the strong offence of Chromium!

Chromium

Interview by Scream

Interview answered by: Jared

Photography By: Chris Preyser

Theinterview

Headbang Today: Welcome brothers! Welcome to Headbang Today! We are thrilled to have you a part of the Headbang family! Straight to the meat! You’ve recently released your second album ‘Confessions Of A Hero.’ earlier this year. How does it compare to your 2007 release of “Intro Of Spectre” musically? What have you done differently?

Chromium:
We concentrated a lot more on details this time, since our first album was more of an “experiment” this time we could try new things since we’d already figured out what our “sound” was.  Truth be told, when we released that album it felt good and felt right.

Headbang Today: The name ‘Chromium’. Tell us the story behind it and how it originated.

Chromium:
A band name is defiantly one of the hardest things to come up with, it was a random find but the meaning is perfect, go Wikipedia it and you’ll see

Headbang Today: You’re planning on touring the United States from early 2010 onwards. The downside of that is that you’ll be missing the 2010 World Cup back home! Yet the pros obviously outweigh the cons by far! How are the plans going though?

Chromium:
As we speak our UK/European tour is being confirmed, we’ve seen a few drafts of the tour and its looking at about mid march for about a week or so in UK and the same in Europe.  We are in constant communication with our USA agent and that is being planned too.  Keep checking our gig guide for those details!  Can’t wait to meet new fans from around the world!

Headbang Today: Tell us abit about your nation-wide tour. How’s it been and do you have any crazy tales from the tour that you would like to share with us?

Chromium:
It’s defiantly been a bonding experience as a band.  We’ve all figured each other out, and have met some crazy people along the way.  Not too sure how much detail I can go into but we’ve had a few crazy stories.. From girls trying to sell themselves on to certain members, to dodging cops on the way home from a show, it’s been a crazy ride of insane proportions! And it hasn’t even begun yet!

Guitarin

Headbang Today: Your main influences are big names in the industry such as Dream Theatre, Metallica, Trivium and so forth… which two international bands would you love to share a stage with one day?

Chromium:
Metallica and Iron Maiden

Headbang Today: Name your favourite local SA bands…

Chromium:
Knave, Only Forever, Agro, Sacrifise (please check spelling!!!)

Headbang Today: Which region within South Africa would you say have stood out the most for you during your nation-wide tour? Which city bares the craziest breed of metal head, Durban, Cape Town or Jozi?

Chromium:
Durban defiantly, they are still a strange breed though!

Headbang Today: You’ve entered the Global Battle Of The Bands competition in September this year. How did that go?

Chromium:
We’ve made it through, now waiting for the final to be announced!

Headbang Today: Give us your views on the metal industry here in South Africa. How do you think we as bands, fans , promoters and media can work together to improve it?

Chromium:
Exactly what you just said there. WORK TOGETHER.  We all know that everyone gets something out of everyone else, but if it’s done in a manor that brings the industry closer then we can’t lose!  There is too much competition for a prize that is so much further than where our heads are.  Let me explain, you wanna live the dream right? Coming from a small town that meant !@#$ all to Johannesburg. the same could be said about Johannesburg, how big is it compared to the ultimate dream? Almost invisible.. so stop fighting and lets work together to help the few that will hold their heads high and make it to the dream!

Drummer

Headbang Today: A typical day in the life of a Chromium band member?

Chromium:
Sleep. eat. day job. party. sleep

Headbang Today: Apparently you’ve now got a third album in the pipeline. How many tracks have you worked on since the anouncement and can you give us some more exclusive information on what we can expect?

Chromium:
Way way way heavier, we’ve decided to try write a lot of tracks in Standard Tuning, well our normal Tuning is usually Drop B, but we’re in standard C# for those new tracks.  Gonna bring back the trash!  It’s also got a slight Swedish tone to it too.  But we’ll see how it turns out!

Headbang Today: How do you feel about NASA bombing the moon? Do you rate the U.S thought Osama was hiding in that crater?

Chromium:
NASA bombed the moon?  Really? *surprised face*

Headbang Today: You’re planning on releasing a DVD soon… What material should we be looking forward to along with a documentary?

Chromium:
A live performance, music videos, bonus features and documentary telling the story of Chromium up till where it is today.

Guitarin2

Headbang Today: Have you headbanged today?

Chromium:
Not yet but i can guarantee it’s gonna happen later after some vodka! \m/

Headbang Today: How often do you guys get together for rehearsals and what usually goes down before, during and after your jamming sessions?

Chromium:
Once every few months, and we usually jam metallica covers, and maybe 1 or 2 Chromium songs. Seriously..

Headbang Today: Last but not least. Do you have any strange pre-show rituals before doing a gig that we should be aware of?

Chromium:
A few beers, a shot or 2, er, and that’s it hey. sometimes I’ll put on a rad Music Video before I leave to remind me of what I wanna achieve!

Headbang Today: Give us your thoughts on:

Emo bands and their followers: Smile! Linkin Park writes the best break downs?

Your Groupies: Our what?

Headlining for a Headbang Today Festival one day: Awesome!

Port Elizabeth: Miss it, and hope we’re making them proud!

The future of SA metal: It’s growing and if we stick together it could become something amazing one day!

The20Band20Of20Brothers

Headbang Today: Any last words?

Chromium:  Thank you to everyone who’s ever been to a show, bought an album, or just commented on our page!  We read everything and appreciate it! mmmmmmmmmwa!!

Instructions to all headbangers:

1. Download THIS WALLPAPER.

2. Buy their album: Confessions of A Hero!

New_Album_order

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