Getting to Know… Shattered | Interview

For the 18^th interview in our ‘Getting to Know’ series, we get some background and career perspective from Floridian metal band Shattered.

According to Florida metal band Shattered, their personal interests include “kicking ass on stage and bringing music to everyone.” Rock on!  Indeed, Shattered also manages to “kick ass” as they as they give us – the humble online music blog/website better known as The Musical Hype – the inside scoop on the background of the band, goals, and most importantly, the music.  Hold tight folks! Interview #18 with this rocking metal, thrash, hardcore collective is a good one!

Brent Faulkner, The Musical Hype (BF): Let’s get this started off right. For those who may not be familiar with you, what would you say makes Shattered distinct or unique? How do you rock the audience’s socks off?

Shattered: What makes us distinct from most is our dedication to our music with very decisive starts, stops, and time changes that follow the emotion, and lyrics of the song. We include the audience by connecting with them as we perform. We love to feed off the energy being created!

BF: Okay, let’s explore some juicy backstories. How did Shattered form and what were some of the goals or the visions you had early on?

Shattered: We have always wanted and have thought outside the box! We never wanted, or want to be that band, that all the songs sound like one long song! When I was asked to join my brothers in Shattered, it was like coming home! We all share the same musical vision. To continue to push each other to be a better musician and be open-minded to new and exciting ideas!

BF: Let’s talk more about goals.  Have your goals or your perspectives changed since first starting out? What do your aspirations or goals look like now?  

Shattered: Goals really haven’t changed …That is to conquer the world! LOL! But seriously, our goals are to always create the best metal possible! To grow as musicians, to play with 100% of everything, every time! To share the passion of our music with everyone.

BF: Everybody is influenced by somebody else. Who would you consider some of your biggest musical influences and how are they influential?

Shattered: Wow, there are so many! The reasoning for that is my biggest influences are a lot of Tampa Bay Area bands, and bands from the surrounding area such as Deicide, Cannibal Corpse, Psykotribe, Chlover, Tower 7, The D.O.O.D., Re-Birth, Burning Fair Verona, I could keep going! But I am honored to have a personal friendship with some of the members from the bands mentioned. They have inspired me personally to push forward, to be better as a musician and person than the day before. To never stop learning, or stop being thankful for the fans that share the same passion of music. For they are the true inspiration!

BF: Ah, the fun stuff.  What’s your craziest tour story or the wackiest thing that’s happened during a performance?  Feel free to be creative.

Shattered: One that I will never forget! Before my 18th b-day, my band in California was opening for Tom Huting of Exodus in Oakland, got to hang out with him before I hit the stage. We were in the middle of our third song that had some fast, heavy double bass rhythms, one of my bass heads broke! Tom being backstage had his guys replace my bass drum with his! So cool! But it came with a warning… He said if I broke his bass drum head it would be my ass!! Super cool dude!

BF: Up until this point in your career, what would you describe as your favorite song you’ve recorded or performed live? What makes that song special?

Shattered: I would have to say our song “Battle March.” So many grooves and time changes! It’s a whirlwind that keeps your body thrashing!

BF: Is there anything else awesome, cool, or left of center the world should know about you? Secret talents or surprising tidbits?

Shattered: When we are not writing new material or performing, I run sound with my partner, Jay Wells at different venues in the Tampa Bay area. Also, on downtime, we like to have BBQ get-togethers with our friends and other bands, and jam in the home studio.

BF: Closing this thing out, what is you/your band currently working on, promoting that you can share with us or want us to know about? We love secrets, but there’s no pressure.   

Shattered: We are currently hard at work writing our new album Skinwalker! Very excited how it is coming along! This is definitely one of the heaviest, tightest, challenging albums I have done to date. Guitars are crushing, bass lines cranking, drums fat and fast, and the lyrics are mind-blowing! We can’t wait to tour with our new show! It will definitely be one for the books!

BF: Thank you so much for sharing taking the time to answer these questions, and best of luck moving forward. 

Shattered Socials: Website • Facebook • Twitter • Instagram

Photo Credit: Flash Flood Photography