Good day to you sir – welcome to Sentinel Daily and thanks for joining us to look back at 2017! Firstly, for those who may not know, please identify yourself, and your role in Mega Colossus… “My name is Bill Fischer. I play guitar”.

First ‘proper’ question: What was the best album you bought this year? “Off the top of my head… The new Mutoid Man album, War Moans. Genius and furious. Less well known here in the states though, an album called Dressage, by Running Death, out of central Germany. They were the first band we met in Europe, and this album completely rips!”

Ah, Running Death – Kaufbeuren’s finest! A real classic Megadeth edge to that record. But back to you – what was the highlight for you personally in the last year? “Our European tour was one of the coolest things to have happened to me as a musician this year and possibly to date. It was our best tour, for sure. We were rejuvenated after that one. Really helped to know that there are folks who want to rock out, and all we have to do is get there, then we can all share this great time. Truly inspiring!”

Fantastic! But what about lowlights? Who stunk the place out musically in 2017? “Well, in keeping with recent tradition, pop country ruined music this year. But they just keep tearing down the very idea of music, and it’s up to the rest of us to rebuild. I think we have it in us. This is like the Battle of Britain, or Minas Tirith, or some such situation. They tear down, we recreate. It will all work out. I’m sure we will prevail”.

We must. If we don’t, the consequences don’t bear thinking about… What have you found disappointing about the wider world in 2017? “Well… I think we could all write a book on the subject. This year has been utter bullshit, if you live in the US. I think historians will be looking at this for decades and will be asking questions like ‘how the fuck?’ Sorry, that is not an answer that applies to the wider world. I have been distracted… We also lost Tom Petty. But I’m still on the ropes from Dio and Lemmy, so that gives me some perspective”.

It certainly does. Perhaps more cheerily, What’s on the cards for Mega Colossus in 2018? “We are writing a new record! Super stoked to work on new material! As we do this, we will be sure to have some quality rock time locally as well as regionally. We will rock Alehorn of Power and Mad With Power fests in the spring, and more are in the works. All is in preparation for spring 2019 MegaTourII, already coming together. We have to think way farther ahead these days, but that’s a cool problem to have!”

We’re currently up to our necks in the party season – what’s the better night – Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve? And what will you be drinking? “Well, Christmas Eve is cool for watching Die Hard or Lethal Weapon, but New Years is good for raging! I will likely be at the local arcade bar (Baxter), drinking either super shitty or super awesome beers, depending on my mood. Will not say no to celebratory liquor and champagne either…”

Good man. Don’t mix it up too much though. I find beer, bourbon and red wine to be the optimum combination. What’s the first thing that springs to mind if I say ‘Australian metal’? “You guys still listen to the Hard-Ons? I’m an old punk, and the Hard-Ons are one of my faves. They were pretty thrash at times, and their artwork was metal as fuck. Just the first thing that popped into my head. Gonna go listen to Hard-Ons in a minute”.

I said hello to Ray only the other day! And yes, we still listen to the Hard-Ons… Talking of listening to music, We’ve just started Sentinel Daily Radio – what five songs should every metal radio station have on it’s playlist? “Iron Maiden2 Minutes to Midnight, SlayerSouth of Heaven, Dio‘s Last in Line, Nightfall by Blind Guardian, Van Halen Atomic Punk“.

Marvellous. Many thanks for the input! Finally, is there anything else you’d like to say to the readers of Sentinel Daily? “We can’t wait to rock the southern hemisphere! See you soon!”

Thanks for taking part! “Fuck yes, thank you for your interest!”