Image: Joseph MauroLast year Providence, Rhode Island rock dogs Power Masters released a tape of bluesy proto-metal on small local label Wicked City. It was described as “Brainbombs doing some sort of fucked up Judas Priest impression, or if Dead Moon had gotten really into heavy metal in a really good way”.That description alone should pique your interest, but the fact that the cover is a direct rip off of the Kinks 1981 album Give the People What They Want, and their singer Gerry has been known to extinguish cigarettes on his forehead while in the pit, and Home of the Grave becomes a “must get”.Thankfully Boston label Surveillance Investments has just re-issued the record on vinyl which will hopefully enable more people to appreciate the genius of songs such as "What Happend to Brody?" and "Knightsville Manor".We caught up with Taylor, Chris and Gerry to find out more about the power of Power Masters.Noisey: You have been described as a "gunked up Van Halen". This is no doubt a compliment.
Taylor Warf: We're definitely "gunked up". I'm sure it's meant to be a compliment.
Gerry Sucio: On a side note, Van Halen’s "Good Enough" actually drives me into quite a hysteria.I saw Van Halen play with Aerosmith and Steven Tyler served DLR his arse on a plate. In 2015 who would prefer to see if you had to pay money?
Gerry: I would go for Steven, to drift into prime decadence during “Kings & Queens” and to see his grand lips in action.
Chris Veader: I don't think I'd pay to see Aerosmith. Did you pay? Van Halen > Aerosmith.Gerri you have some distinct/powerful vocals. Who or what are your main influences?
Gerry: Thank you. I’d say heavy metal of the likes of Accept and Priest have made me shoot for the more amply due to the fellows cranking it up. Also punk ties to greats like Nick Blinko, David Johansson put through the crucible with Gothic brooding delights.“Knightsville Manor” is a song about a public housing building. Is this where some of you have lived?
Chris: Gerry still lives there. It's a low income housing high rise.
Gerry: Knightsville is where I spend time in arcane decay and renovations of the not so glamorous.
Chris: "The 13th floor they find an answer," I think the suicide count, at least as far as jumping off the roof goes is at three since he's moved in.One of the album highlights is "What Happened to Brody?" Who is Brody and what happened to him?
Chris: Brody wrote a check his ass couldn't cash and found himself waking up "beneath the rubble."
Gerry: Brody is an abstract concept.
Taylor: Yeah, so abstract that I don't even know who the hell he is or what happened to him.
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Taylor Warf: We're definitely "gunked up". I'm sure it's meant to be a compliment.
Gerry Sucio: On a side note, Van Halen’s "Good Enough" actually drives me into quite a hysteria.I saw Van Halen play with Aerosmith and Steven Tyler served DLR his arse on a plate. In 2015 who would prefer to see if you had to pay money?
Gerry: I would go for Steven, to drift into prime decadence during “Kings & Queens” and to see his grand lips in action.
Chris Veader: I don't think I'd pay to see Aerosmith. Did you pay? Van Halen > Aerosmith.Gerri you have some distinct/powerful vocals. Who or what are your main influences?
Gerry: Thank you. I’d say heavy metal of the likes of Accept and Priest have made me shoot for the more amply due to the fellows cranking it up. Also punk ties to greats like Nick Blinko, David Johansson put through the crucible with Gothic brooding delights.“Knightsville Manor” is a song about a public housing building. Is this where some of you have lived?
Chris: Gerry still lives there. It's a low income housing high rise.
Gerry: Knightsville is where I spend time in arcane decay and renovations of the not so glamorous.
Chris: "The 13th floor they find an answer," I think the suicide count, at least as far as jumping off the roof goes is at three since he's moved in.One of the album highlights is "What Happened to Brody?" Who is Brody and what happened to him?
Chris: Brody wrote a check his ass couldn't cash and found himself waking up "beneath the rubble."
Gerry: Brody is an abstract concept.
Taylor: Yeah, so abstract that I don't even know who the hell he is or what happened to him.
'Home of the Grave' is available now through Surveillance Investments.