Please note this interview is done in a narrative style due to technical issues. Please do not assume Mr. Ballinger’s words as direct quotes. Enjoy a great interview:
WLM: Congratulations on Axe to Grind. How have things been going since its release?
Bob: We have been getting a lot of recognition which is good. We have also added a second guitar to our band. The highlight for us has been opening for Accept.
WLM: A lot of the success you have had seem to be driven by internet sites like us. Does that work, or is it better to be a part of the mainstream media?
Bob: We’ll never be in the mainstream media because we’re not mainstream. It’s guys like you who help guys like us. Having a good PR firm is really important, but you still have to do a lot of your own work. It may not be as grandiose as it used to be, but maybe that’s a good thing.
WLM: What are your influences in your sound?
Bob: We don’t set out to mimic others, but we do reflect the bands we listen to like Sabotage and Gravedigger . Our sound is definitely not mainstream like the Big 4.
WLM: February 2013 is the hopeful release date of your next album. Can you talk a little about that?
Bob: It’s coming together really well, especially with the second guitar. All of our sounds are coming together and sounds great.
WLM: The vocals are really sounding great.
Bob: Yah. We did an email interview once and we were asked if Dave uses auto tune on his vocals. He doesn’t. That’s just not right.
WLM: That’s not metal.
WLM: Has the second guitar helped during live shows?
Bob: God yah. The two guitars gives a layering that now happens live like it sounds on the album. It sounds full, sounds great. It also helps if, like, last year I had an issue with my guitar at a festival and having a second guitar really helps with issues like that. You can add a twist to the live material. I played more than one guitar in the studio so it sounds really sinister on the album. Now it sounds like that live.
WLM: Is it hard to bring someone in to an established band?
Bob: The person we had hoped for just happened to be available when we were looking for someone, so it worked out great. He was already familiar with the band.
WLM: Where does Power Theory go from here?
Bob: Our main goal is to go on tour in Europe and do the underground festivals in 2013. We are playing Warriors of Metal in Ohio again next year. We had a great time there last year. We also have a couple more shows scheduled for this year. And we have to work on the new album. We have a plan, and you will be getting a press release on it soon. All I can say is that we are negotiating with different people internationally. Our big goal is always to have fun!
WLM: If fans are not able to get to you, what band should they listen to?
Bob: Definitely Accept. The band now, not the one from before.
WLM: We are all out of time, but we want to thank you for talking to us.
Bob: No problem. It was great to talk to you.
Metal on,
Bill
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