Backstage Pass - Thrashole - Interview

ATP

For the record, who's answering the interview?

THRASHOLE

This is Nick Bonsanto the drummer for Thrashole!

ATP

What is your band's name? How did you come up with that name?

THRASHOLE

We're called Thrashole and the name comes from our bassist Andrew and singer Matt writing names in marker on the refrigerator, unable to think of a good one Andrew realized they were just two assholes playing Thrash Metal so they went with Thrashole, we're all just a bunch of Thrasholes haha

ATP

So who's in the band and what instruments do you each play?

THRASHOLE

Thrashole is Matt Elg who is our lead singer and guitarist, Andrew Campbell who plays the bass, Jonathan Catsoulis on guitar and I'm Nick Bonsanto and I bang the drums.

ATP

How would you describe your sound. What makes you unique?

THRASHOLE

I always describe us as a sort of mesh between Megadeth and Black Sabbath. What makes us unique is that we stick to the classic sound that made Thrash a popular style of music in the first place, we really listen to a wide variety of music but we all love the classics and people seem to dig it because its an old school vibe that's infectious while we still bring something new to the table and piss our own mark in metal. We dig melody, speed, intensity and good lyrics that say something we care about. Another cool thing that's different about us is we bring a bit of doom into the sound as well in honor of our Sabbath roots and me and Andrew's love for sludge/stoner music which adds a ton of heaviness. Fans have compared us to Exodus, Slayer, Megadeth, Overkill, Metallica, and Pantera.

ATP

What bands have influenced each of you?

THRASHOLE

Definitely Black Sabbath as a big one for all of us but more individually I'd say artists like Pink Floyd, Exodus, Megadeth, Sleep, Mastodon, Dream Theater, Lamb of God, Machine Head, Anthrax, Overkill, Pantera, Iron Maiden, Led Zeppelin, Haken, Warbringer, and Testament.

ATP

How experienced are you on the stage, a virgin or whore?

THRASHOLE

Definitely not a virgin but I wouldn't say a whore…yet hahaha. Matt, Andrew and I are pretty experienced, we know the ropes, have been playing for over three years live but Jonathan is our newest and youngest member, he just turned 18 and this is his first band so he only has a year of gigs under his belt.

ATP

How would you describe your shows?

THRASHOLE

Infectious and memorable. We've had absolutely INSANE nights where the whole place has erupted in violence and we've had those shows where you're playing in front of your girlfriend. People tend to come out again and again and our fanbase keeps growing so people are definitely latching on to the tunes. We try to go wild on stage and get the crowd participating as well, I'm really all about entertaining, a show is a full on experience not just a place to watch random musicians stand there and "play" their songs. There's always a ton of headbanging, yelling, moshing, and good times with our metal family at the gigs, its why we do it.

ATP

Tell us about your favorite show and why?

THRASHOLE

My favorite show was probably our EP release party. It was awesome putting the lineup together and orchestrating our own show and for the first time getting to play for a whole hour and doing all of our tunes. People went nuts during our set and everybody had a great time all night and enjoyed the opening acts we picked. Tons of friends were there and we had a little bake sale to make some money along with new merch for the first time. Really felt like the beginning of something awesome especially seeing all those people there for us! That night we also got told by someone's opinion whom I respect a lot that he thinks we're the best Thrash band in our area. To hear someone who sees all the local bands in New Jersey that come through tell us he thinks we're the best ones around really wowed me, maybe we're doing something right after all?

ATP

Tell us about your worst show and why?

THRASHOLE

The worst show this band has played was at a venue called the blue room I think, I wasn't in the band at the time but the guys always tell me it was a nightmare and they played in front of one person.

ATP

Tell Us About Your Dream Show, who you'd like to play with and where?

THRASHOLE

Our dream show would probably be to open for Overkill or Exodus preferably on a tour but to even share the stage with Overkill at Starland Ballroom in New Jersey would be surreal, that's home turf for Overkill and the energy they had playing there last time was amazing!

ATP

Do you have a street team and how can you join?

THRASHOLE

We currently do not have a street team but we do encourage people to spread the word of the 'Hole and share our stuff online, we're currently working on getting our merch up so maybe in the future we will have stickers and handouts for a Thrashole street team! For now, you can check out our Facebook page and follow all of our updates and see all links from us there!

ATP

Do you have a record label and if not are you looking for one?

THRASHOLE

We are unsigned at the moment and are doing everything 100% DIY and yes we are looking for a label, we want to put together a tour soon and get on the road as we finish up writing for our first album! Thrashole's first album release could be on YOUR label! Sign us today! hahaha

ATP

What are your plans for the future, in a year, 5 years?

THRASHOLE

In a year we hope to begin recording the first album, we are currently finishing up the writing and its shaping up to be pretty awesome, we have nearly an hour long record in the works of all new material so get stoked! In 5 years we'd like to be on the road touring, we want to make this our living and quit our day jobs to entertain all you heathens like us, we live to play live and we love the music more than anything. Hopefully by that time we'll be supporting someone like Warbringer or Havok on a tour or maybe opening for Overkill or Exodus! We also really want to play over in Europe and travel the world, heavy metal fans are so passionate over there and the landscape is incredible, that's where Thrashole wants to be!

ATP

Finally, do have any words on what Arm The Pit means to you?

THRASHOLE

We want to thank you for the opportunity to get our message out there and spread the joy of metal to fans in places we can't reach, check us out online, check out Arm The Pit, keep going to local shows and keep spinning Heavy Metal, as long as groups like this exist and we share what we love it will never die and our music will continue to inspire for generations! Long live heavy fucking metal! \m/