I had the pleasure of speaking to Ken Johnson, the guitarist from the heavy metal band Blitzkrieg about the band’s new album, their career and their future plans
I had the pleasure of speaking to Ken Johnson, the guitarist from the heavy metal band Blitzkrieg about the band’s new album, their career and their future plans
TRUE TO ROOTS
How do you think the band’s career has evolved since you started out in the 1970s?
Brian, our singer is the only original member of the band left, I’ve been with the band since 2002. I think we’ve evolved in certain aspects, but also kept true to our roots, which is classic British metal, moulded by bands such as Judas Priest and of course the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. And personally, for me, guitarists such as Glen Tipton, KK Downing, Ace Frehley and Michael Schenker have been huge influences as well.
Could you talk through the process of making the new album?
For me personally, I tend to write from the heart, and focus on what comes from that, obviously as with anything sometimes outside influences will creep in, but I try to keep that down to a minimum. I grew up with the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, so I guess I’m sort of in the right spot to understand it from a mental perspective. As for songs that I’m really liking on this record, I’d say Who Is Blind and Heretic, which was sort of moulded a little on Hellion/Electric Eye by Judas Priest, originally it was just one song, but then Brian wrote the lyrics so we changed it, so that Heretic was the opening intro, and Who Is Blind was what it moved into. Forever Is A Long Time is a really catchy number, Loud and Proud is a rocker, something we thought would get crowd participation going as it were. Falling Into Darkness is another one, I absolutely love what Brian’s done with the lyrics there, they really stand out to you. And of course, there will be an alternate version of Judge Not on the record as well, which comes from the Reign of Fire single. That song’s just too good to leave off the record.
FROM THE HEART
FROM THE HEART
Could you talk through the process of making the new album?
For me personally, I tend to write from the heart, and focus on what comes from that, obviously as with anything sometimes outside influences will creep in, but I try to keep that down to a minimum. I grew up with the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, so I guess I’m sort of in the right spot to understand it from a mental perspective. As for songs that I’m really liking on this record, I’d say Who Is Blind and Heretic, which was sort of moulded a little on Hellion/Electric Eye by Judas Priest, originally it was just one song, but then Brian wrote the lyrics so we changed it, so that Heretic was the opening intro, and Who Is Blind was what it moved into. Forever Is A Long Time is a really catchy number, Loud and Proud is a rocker, something we thought would get crowd participation going as it were. Falling Into Darkness is another one, I absolutely love what Brian’s done with the lyrics there, they really stand out to you. And of course, there will be an alternate version of Judge Not on the record as well, which comes from the Reign of Fire single. That song’s just too good to leave off the record.
TWO SETLISTS
What plans have you got for the future?
The album comes out on April 27th and the next day we’re playing an album release show in Newcastle with another New Wave of British Heavy Metal band called Mithra. Then we’re heading to play Metal Bash, and Nordic Noise in Denmark, then in September we’ll be doing a proper tour of Europe. Just got to keep an eye on costs, and ensure our promotion is done properly. We’ll most likely play a core of four songs off the new record, with a rotating fifth song, as we’ve got to make sure that things remain balanced for the fans. And we might do what we did last time and go out with two setlists to keep things fresh for us.