SOURCE – The God-Shaped Void is the fifth Psychotic Waltz album. Considering the critical approval and fan reception to your last album Bleeding from 1996, did the band members place more pressure upon themselves during the process to make things stronger and better than the last time?
Dan Rock (Guitars) – No, not really. We obviously took our time to make it the best we could (7 years), but I wouldn’t say there was “pressure”. We’ve always taken our time to do the best we can, and we have our own standards to live up to. If a part sounds lame, or even questionable, we’d explore other options. I mean, WE want to like it too! But we’ve always done this. It just takes longer now since we all have other things going on in life.
SOURCE – Can you tell us a bit about the cover concept for The God-Shaped Void? And can you discuss the importance of the band’s cover art over the years to maintain this solid theme that goes along with the lyrics and music?
Dan Rock (Guitars) – Travis Smith did another really great job. Basically we gave him demos of the songs we were working on, and he just drew what it inspired in him. We had a little input, a suggestion here and there, but the whole concept was basically his brain doing its magic. I do agree, that the album cover is essential to being part of the whole package. It can set a mood… or ruin it. I think I first really appreciated this when I saw a magazine ad for The Number Of The Beast when I was in high school. I spent most of my lunch break just staring at it, and without even hearing the album, it created a mood in me. Good stuff!
SOURCE – Discuss the video shoot for While The Spiders Spin – how did the process work between the band and director, and was this the obvious song to pick from for the album to give the fans a preview into what to expect?
Dan Rock (Guitars) – That video was actually the last one shot. First came the one for Devils and Angels, which we were very pleased with. Then came All The Bad Mem. Both were the animated type, so we wanted to see if we could try something different. The band wasn’t really involved at all in the process, other than supplying the music and letting the director Costin Chioreanu (who directed all three videos) explore his creativity. Since the other two videos were longer and more artsy, we picked While The Spiders Spin for its quick simplicity. Seemed like a good choice.
SOURCE – How do you see the state of the worldwide metal scene in 2020 – things that you are enjoying, things that worry you, things that could be better?
Dan Rock (Guitars) – That’s beyond the scope of my knowledge. I only take in very little parts of the worldwide metal scene that pertain to me. There is just SO MUCH music to choose from these days, so many ways to get it, sooooo many bands to see & discover. But overall, yeah, it’s a real bummer the coronavirus ruined so many peoples’ lives & plans, but the concerts and festivals will be rescheduled, and things will resume eventually. We were scheduled for the Rock Hard festival in Germany and some shows in Greece this year. Sadly, not to be… maybe next year.
SOURCE – Considering the worldwide pandemic with the COVID-19 virus, has it caused you to take further measures to protect yourself as a person or have you always been conscious of ‘social distancing’ as a musician, especially when you are out on the road with all the people, traveling, etc?
Dan Rock (Guitars) – Well, yes. We have to wear masks here in San Diego now, and stay 6 feet apart. I have to admit, I really didn’t want to do those gigs this year, it’s just not worth the risk as people are really dying. Especially since you really have no choice in being un-socially-distant in the airports, planes, trains, vans, backstage. People are always in your personal bubble.
SOURCE – What would you consider some of the greatest challenges or pressures you put upon yourself when it comes to Psychotic Waltz?
Dan Rock (Guitars) – Remembering all the damn notes that we wrote in our solos! Haha! Yeah, there’s a lot of them, and with our usual harmony leads it’s really important we hit the right notes, otherwise it sounds most unpleasant.
SOURCE – What records as of the last say one to three years have made a great impression on you – or do you find yourself still reaching back for a lot of the 70’s/80’s classics to fuel your passion and love for heavy metal?
Dan Rock (Guitars) – Not just my love for metal, but for many types of music. It’s no secret my favorite band by far is The Beatles. THE best band in the universe! Period. For those who don’t know, you just have to listen to Abbey Road and Sgt. Pepper. Their creativity was off the charts!
But I also love Sinatra and Dean Martin. Lately I have been reaching back and revisiting old classics, like Rainbow, Sabbath, Deep Purple, old Judas Priest. I did just finally listen to the new Ozzy album. I gotta say, I like it. The production is awesome and the songs are mostly really good. But… I guess I’m an old dog… it just doesn’t move me the way his first 2 albums with Randy Rhoads did. Blizzard Of Ozz and Diary Of A Madman were part of my formative metal years, my high school years, maybe that’s why they touch me so much. Or maybe it’s because Randy was just a godly musician who blessed us mere mortals with his presence… if only for a short time.
SOURCE – What’s on the horizon for Psychotic Waltz over the rest of 2020 into 2021 – as it probably puts you in a unique position to pick and choose what types of touring/festival opportunities you’ll do while in this holding pattern for live shows?
Dan Rock (Guitars) – Well as I mentioned, our gigs this year have all been cancelled. Hopefully we pick up next year where we left off, and hopefully there is still interest in us by then. I do enjoy touring, especially over in Europe. It’s really a bit of work but also a bit of a vacation, and mostly all fun. We never got to tour the Americas, weird, since we live over here, right?
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