MAD PARISH
MAD PARISH “Iron And Dust”
By Colonel Angus
MAD PARISH is a great Canadian metal outfit that brings together the best of 70s hard rock, NWOBHM, and even prog metal. I have not heard of them previously but they released a record almost a decade ago and they are back with a new concept opus titled “The Dust of Forever”. The fact that their sophomore effort is a full-on concept release shows that MAD PARISH are not playing by any rulebook but instead carving a path all their own. I was lucky enough to catch up with guitarist Bob Eaglesham to discuss, among other things, writing process, influences, and touring.
WORMWOOD CHRONICLES: What happened, besides the Covid pandemic that caused the long timeframe between “Procession” and “The Dust of Forever”?
BOB EAGLESHAM: We had to restructure the band due to personnel leaving the group, also one of our members had a health issue that necessitated delaying the recording for over a year.
WC: Was the new record always going to be a concept record?
BE: Yes. We decided to try something a little more challenging and base it on one of the songs from the “Procession” album. We wanted to explore the world and the history of the character in that song.
WC: How did the story come about?
BE: “Experience Hunter” is a MAD PARISH song on ‘Procession” 2014 that is inspired by a DC Comics 1985 release called “Me and Joe Priest” ...in America of the future due to decades of war, pollution, and disease, human males have lost the power to sire children. The human race is dying out. Joe is the only man who has the power to procreate. He's the product from a past that is woven in a backdrop of twisted occultism and fanatical religion.
Our new album's story (the Experience Hunter Chronicles) takes place before and after the events of the aforementioned.
WC: Do you find writing a concept record easier or harder than just coming up with a collection of songs?
BE: Neither, really. I suppose you could say that the story might have helped dictate some of the kinds of songs we needed for the album, but the process was the same as for any album, we just composed the music we needed.
WC: This new record is quite different from “Procession”. Your first album was firmly rooted in the NWOBHM style but “The Dust of Forever” has a lot of 70s hard rock and prog metal in there. What caused this change or development?
BE: Even on “Procession”, there are parts of songs that lean towards progressive music, so on this new project we wanted to push the prog aspect a bit more. We wanted an epic type of record so we pushed everything to see how far we could take it.
WC: Not only is the music different, the cover art for the new album is very different. How do you go about picking the artwork for your music?
BE: We were fortunate enough to have met an independent artist from Montreal (Niall Skinner) who's artistic approach seemed to suit our new guitars/synth galactic sound direction of the new album.
WC: What are some of your influences or musical heroes?
BE: IRON MAIDEN/CAMEL/ ELO/ ABBA/ JETHRO TULL
WC: What was the defining moment in your life that made you follow your musical dream?
BE: Once you realize that not only do you have a passion for music but you also naturally possess the ability to write it, there isn't much choice involved. You do it because you love to, always with the hope that someday you might write something that people will love, just like the songs and albums we love.
WC: I love that you have a comic book available to go along with the new record. Was this something that you wanted from the start or was it something that came about as your concept record unfolded?
BE: It was decided early on that if the album was going to follow a story then it made sense that we should have a comic book to go along with it. This way listeners have the complete story to read and the soundtrack that goes with it.
WC: Do you plan on touring in the states or possibly other countries and if so, what bands would make up your dream tour?
BE: Obviously that depends on how well the new album is received...dream tour would be.. with GHOST / HÄLLAS/STYX/ JUDAS PRIEST/IRON MAIDEN
WC: Because the new record is a concept, it is almost like it needs to be performed in its entirety. Is this something you would do or would you just pick certain tracks and play them along with tracks from “Procession”?
BE: We tossed around the idea of performing the album in its entirety, and to include costumes and actors and such...we may still do that at some point. For the most part though, we will choose songs that stand well on their own and mix them in with songs from the first album. First and foremost we're a heavy metal band, so our show has always been focused on that - a good energetic live performance.
WC: What was the last CD purchased?
BE: “Parchment Farm Blues” by BUKKA WHITE.
WC: What was the last concert you attended as a fan?
BE: Montreal's very own (double bill) TAXI GIRLS/THE LOOKOUT.
WC: Have you had any Spinal Tap moments with your shows?
BE: None come to mind.
WC: What’s next for MAD PARISH?
BE: Shows, and the next album.
WC: Any last words for your fans?
BE: We hope you like the new record, we worked really hard on it. But we won't make another album like this again.
