Jason McMaster recently sat down with 69 Faces Of Rock's Mark Kadzielawa to discuss the new Ignitor album, and also offered an update on prog metal legends, Watchtower. McMaster reunited with Watchtower last year, and they performed at the Keep It True Rising III festival on October 6 at Posthalle in Würzburg, Germany. The band lineup also includes Doug Keyser (bass), Ron Jarzombek (guitar) and Ric Colaluca (drums).
Asked what's new on the Watchtower front, Jason reveals: "We have a show in January here in Austin. Behind the scenes, we have been working on a four-song video presentation that was filmed at Keep It True Rising last year, a year ago, and we hope to release those four songs as like a 12" EP, like the old-school days where you had Iron Maiden live at the Marquee, two or three songs on either side, you know, still a 33 RPM kind of thing or a 45 sometimes, but a 12". I wanna do that as a 12" live Watchtower four-song EP with a piggyback DVD.
"The 40th year anniversary of Energetic Disassembly [Watchtower's debut album] is coming soon, it's next year, the 40th year anniversary. So, we have been working on that, and we've been remixing... we have the original tapes, which a lot of bands can't say that. 40 years later, we have the original tapes, and we were able to digitize those a few years back, and a friend of mine has remixed the whole record. Also, I will add that the original recordings of 'The Eldritch' and 'Instruments Of Random Murder', with my vocals, the original versions of those were also recorded at Cedar Creek, where the bulk of Energetic Disassembly was also recorded, in the same cutting floor, the same microphones, the same studio, and those were on the 'Energetic' master tapes, and we didn't even know that until we opened up those sessions, it was two sessions on one reel. So we've remixed and mastered all of that, and I will say this, there's a couple of Easter eggs, there's a couple of bonus things, like the intro to 'Argonne Forest' is completely different and it was chopped from the record to make space for other songs on the vinyl. So that's gonna be available now, as well as a couple of things that I'll keep under my hat.
"There's two little things that were recorded in the Energetic Disassembly sessions that were not on the record when it came out. So we're excited about that, we don't know exactly what label will take that, because a lot of labels just like to go, 'No, we want the original recordings. We want the original packaging. We just want it to look and sound', you know 'cause it's a reissue, celebratory kind of a thing, they wanted to be legitimately, you know, the purists. And I get that. I'm one of them. I come from that. But it's really hard for all of us in the band, in the Watchtower camp, and it's a small camp, to listen to the original mixes of Energetic Disassembly because there's so much reverb, and so much high end, it's just really hard for us to listen to. So to be able to go in and calm down those mixes a little bit… the EQ on it alone, the guitar tracks alone were just fairly noisy, and to be able to go in and take a lot of the effects off and actually hear every note cleaned up, is exciting. And so that's what we're working on, not a whole lot of gigs in the future for Watchtower, just the one in January right now. And we don't know, but the focus would be that one show next year and then getting these other releases together, the live EP and the reissue of Energetic Disassembly. That's what we're working on."
Ignitor recently unleashed a video for "Machine Gun," originally recorded by New Wave of British Heavy Metal legends, Saxon. The cover song is taken from Ignitor's new album, Horns And Hammers.
The track and video features cameos from vocalist Marc Lopes of Metal Church, Let Us Prey and Ross the Boss, as well as Ross the Boss Friedman himself of Manowar and The Dictators.
Jason McMaster explains. "I was in Germany playing a festival with Watchtower, where we were direct support for Metal Church. I met up with Marc and we became fast friends. It was an obvious idea to me to ask him to guest on a track on the new Ignitor record. This great Saxon cover of 'Machine Gun' was perfect. He kicks so much ass on it, I am super proud of it."
Ignitor guitarist, Robert Williams, weighs in on the idea to get Ross the Boss, with whom Marc also works. "Jason called Marc and so it only seemed fitting that I reach out to my friend Ross to throw a ripping guitar solo into the mix. Ross was immediately into the idea and just killed it. They both shine on this rendition of "Machine Gun." We have a ton of respect for both of these guys."
The video concept was created by Marc Lopes himself. Marc has his own digital creative design company called Sonatheria. It was convenient and hands on for Marc, as he created content for the "Machine Gun" video in his own studio. Basic B-roll footage was shot in Texas, and then sent to Marc by the band to incorporate into the editing.
Jason on the video: "When we finally saw the final edit, we were blown away. Excellent work by Marc at containing the energy for this video. I am stoked to share a song with him and that involvement even goes beyond contribution of his voice. He is one of my favorite singers in metal, and then, his digital video production work truly added to the power of the track.”
“Machine Gun” is available on the U.S. version of the album. The European version of Horns And Hammers features a live performance of Ignitor's 2020 track, “Hell Shall Be Your Home.”
"Machine Gun" is available on all streaming outlets and available for download.
Horns And Hammers is available on Bandcamp via Metal on Metal Records, and in the United States on Revolt Vinyl Records. Revolt Vinyl Records will make it available on CD and vinyl.
Expect nothing less than a top-notch mix of US power metal with classic heavy metal and NWOBHM influences, with distinct style and arrangements on the same level as, if not higher than on their last album. It's simply a must-hear for all fans of '80s metal, and in particular of bands such as Attacker, Dio, Riot, Saxon, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Accept, Jag Panzer and Raven."
"Robert (Williams, guitars) brought a ton of songs and riff ideas to the table and Billy (Dansfiell, bass) had some great ideas that blossomed into full-blown songs", the band's founder and guitarist Stuart "Batlord" Laurence said. "Once we started jamming with Pat's pummeling backbeat, we knew we had something special."
"As the arrangements started coming together, I found myself completely immersed and inspired to come up with the lyrical themes and characters to carry the songs to completion", Ignitor's vocalist Jason McMaster added. "I'm really proud of the band's individual and collective contributions, and I think we all agree that 'Horns and Hammers' is a triumph by any measure."
"The cover art was painted by Claudio Bergamin and depicts a weathered warrior in a brief moment of repose after a battle. It resembles the plight of true metal warriors like Ignitor, who strive to inject both power and passion into their craft with every performance, keeping the flames of heavy metal stoked and smoldering for the gathered masses."
Tracklisting:
“Horns And Hammers”
“Imperial Bloodlines”
“Dark Horse”
“Cyber Crush”
“Shattered Crosses”
“Taking Up With Serpents”
“Ferocious The Martyrs”
“Suicide Anthem”
“Chaos Maximus Eternal”
“Terminus”
“Hell Shall Be Your Home” (Live / bonus track)
“Imperial Bloodlines”:
“Ferocious The Martyrs”:
Teaser:
