Hello there, and welcome to Sentinel Daily! Please, identify yourself, and your role in the band. “I’m Al, singer of the band Ravage from Boston, Massachusetts in the USA”.

Good to have you aboard! Here’s your first question, and it’s an easy one: What was the best album you bought this year? “WalpyrgusWalpyrgus Nights“.

Ah yes, a very good album indeed. Corking American metal! And what was the highlight for you personally in the last year? “We finally released a new full-length recording, Return Of The Spectral Rider, and we released it on vinyl… so getting a recording out on vinyl is one of the highlights of anything we’ve done musically, ever”.

And a very good album it is too. Here’s something from it for our readers to get their teeth into:

Now, what about lowlights? Who stunk the place out musically in 2017? “I listen to a lot of albums on You Tube, Spotify etc, but I only buy albums I like now, so I wasn’t really disappointed with anything I bought this year. I also stopped reviewing music a long time ago because I can’t bring myself to criticise other people’s music knowing how much work is put into it”.

That’s why websites like Sentinel Daily exist. Although we too like to accentuate the positive wherever possible. There are enough knockers outside the world of metal without us getting involved too! Away from music, what have you found disappointing about the wider world in 2017? “I’m disappointed in the spread of terrorism, but also the weird xenophobia and fascism that also are appearing in a lot of places. I’m disappointed that our government seems to be going backward in terms of environmental protections, work on a universal healthcare system and world peace. The political dialogue has become poisoned and insufferably partisan… there is a lot of international tension in regards to nuclear weapons… just seems like everyone is going crazy and there is a lot of instability. The advent of new technologies has brought a lot of good and bad alike”.

On a hopefully more positive note, what’s on the cards for the band/you in 2018? “We are hopefully going to finally record the double album we have written and get to play some good shows. We will be appearing at the Headbangers Open Air Festival in Germany and we are working on some other appearances”.

Good news! Now, we’re coming up to the party season – what’s the better night – Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve? And what will you be drinking? “Christmas Eve is better for me because I don’t like crowds on New Years and there aren’t usually any good metal shows on New Years anyway, so there’s not much to do. With Christmas there is always armaretto-spiked Egg Nog in addition to the home-made brews and whatever else we’ll be having with family and friends”.

Sounds good! What’s the first thing that springs to mind if I say ‘Australian metal’? “Elm Street because they have one of the coolest band names and I’ll be seeing them open for U.D.O. next year. I usually think of Lord when I think of Australian metal, but you asked for the first thing…”

We did indeed, but you can have both! Staying with music lists, we’ve just started Sentinel Daily Radio – what five songs should every metal radio station have on it’s playlist? “Only five? Oh jeez… Iron MaidenKillers, Judas PriestHell Patrol, Lizzy BordenMe Against the World, Black SabbathThe Sabbath Stones and Mercyful Fate A Dangerous Meeting“.

That’s one of the best sets of five we’ve been offered so far, not least because you picked some Tony Martin-era Sabbath! Finally, is there anything else you’d like to say to the readers of Sentinel Daily? “Check out Ravage’s new release Return Of The Spectral Rider on CD, vinyl and digital download. Check out our website and join us on Facebook“.

Thanks for taking part!