Exclusive Interview with Battlecross

Q & A with Don Slater and Mike Kreger of Battlecross

by Ian Pfister

    I recently had the pleasure to sit down and chat with Don Slater and Mike Kreger, a couple of regular looking dudes who happen to be the monster rhythm section from the Detroit based metal band Battlecross. I shared a beer with the guys as we joked & talked about the local scene, dealing with major labels, the work you gotta put in, the hours of sacrifice and the satisfaction you feel when it all comes together. This is just days before setting off on a Fall/Winter Tour supporting metalcore vets Full Blown Chaos with help from a revitalized Rose Funeral and fellow thrashers Diamond Plate. Here's what they had to say...

Hi guys, how goes it? First off, let me say congrats on your deal with Metal Blade earlier this year. I know all of you must've worked your asses off to earn your spot on such a prestigious roster along side some of the greatest bands in metal. What would you say is the most important aspect for a band trying to get recognized by a major label?

Mike Kreger: It goes good here! Thanks for the props on the MB signing, it feels surreal. My advice would be: play shows and go to shows to help get your name out there & build fans. Book small tours, buy an advertisement in a well known magazine or website. The more your name is recognized and seen the better chances you have at "creating a buzz". Also, biggest point..... Work your ass off and have EVERYTHING ready for the label. The less work they have to do the better the chances of them having interest. Get merch & a bad ass recorded CD, use Facebook, My Space, Twitter, You Tube and make your own domain page. These are a must!!!! YOU have to spend money, to make money.

Don Slater: Thanks Ian! It's honestly like any other job interview; your previous work history, eagerness for the jobs to come and overall ability comes into play. Show them you mean business and you've already got a heads up on the competition.

  
Who would you say are the musicians that had the biggest influence on your own playing style?

Don Slater: When I started off, I wanted to be the next Matt Freeman from Rancid (except with my fingers), and then Les Claypool was introduced to me and I wanted to mimic his style to a tee. I could name drop a list of inspirations, but to be honest, I'm not limited to bassists anymore. Someone whistling the right notes in
sequence can trigger a song idea just as easily. (Don is also a big fan of video game & theme music)

Mike Kreger: I'd have to say Igor Calavera, Dave Lombardo, Shannon Lucas, Vinnie Paul and Tomas Haake to name a few.

You guys played the prestigious CMJ showcase at Club Europa in Brooklyn, NY a couple weeks ago, sharing the stage with heavyweights Skeletonwitch and Kvelertak, as well as fellow "up-and-comers" Barnburner and Turbid North, what was that show like?

Don Slater: The show was very cool. The crowd was a little tougher than we are used to here in Detroit, but that's to be expected being the new guys in town.

Mike Kreger: It reminded me know how tough this business really is. NY was brutal! An amazing time none the less. It was also inspiring playing with those great bands. I have much respect for them all. 

Detroit is a long way from NYC, what was the most memorable thing about your trip to the big apple?

Mike Kreger: The first thing we seen when we got in our hotel room in New Jersey was Ron Jeremy sucking his own "COCK" on the t.v.! Then our drunken merch guy (yours truly) left 4 packs of pre-rolled cigarettes in a plastic bag outside on the ground and was stuck paying $12 a pop in New York... Epic! 

Don Slater: Everything about it. The long drive there and back, the city, the people and the show. NYC lived up to the hype; Brooklyn was very cool as was Times Square. The show was intense and was my first time seeing all four of those bands live - definitely a treat. Hope I can make an extended visit in the future!

Kyle "Gumby" Gunther, Tony Asta, Don Slater, Mike Kreger, Hiran D.

The reception for your Metal Blade debut, "Pursuit of Honor" has been extremely positive.The album is getting tons of airplay on radio stations & college radio across the globe, including SiriusXM's Liquid Metal (channel 40), where in just 1 week, the 1st single "Push Pull Destroy" has quickly moved up to #6 on the Devil's Dozen after debuting at #12 the week prior*. What do you guys think about currently being one of the top 6 most requested bands on Liquid Metal, next to such greats as Anthrax, Megadeth, and Machine Head?

Mike Kreger: It's awesome! To think how appreciative everyone has been about something that has our blood, sweat and tears in it. This is exactly what I wanted.

Don Slater: I actually had to ask a friend if this was a big deal or not. I live in my own sheltered world when it comes to music, and when it was explained that it's all requests and I was shown the roster of bands we're contending with, I was taken aback. Very cool, and very humbling!

The bass playing in most metal usually doesn't stand out very much, and sometimes you can't even hear it at all! But the bass has a very prominent role on Pursuit of Honor, sometimes even taking over center stage for a bit on a few tracks such as Push Pull Destroy and Man of Stone. How do you come up with those amazing leads? Do they come to you while jamming as a band, or is it a more carefully constructed thing?

 Don Slater: I don't carefully construct anything, my man. I just throw ideas against the wall and use whatever sticks! The solo for PPD had a little bit of planning to it, but for MoS; it just happened in the studio. I fiddled with it prior to going in, not really set on using it. But when it came time, I looked at Josh and the guys and said "Hey. Mind if we try this?" Then I blasted it out, and after listening to it a few times the guys and I thought well of it! If you wanna be heard as a bassist, you gotta let it all hang out, man. Having thoughtful and compromising band mates is a huge plus as well.

Battlecross is about to set off on their first major tour, which kicks off in Trenton, New Jersey on Nov. 11th with Full Blown Chaos, Rose Funeral and Diamond Plate. What are some of the necessities that you must have on the road with you for those long interstate drives in the "Battlebus"?

Mike Kreger: BABY WIPES, H20, tooth paste and Brush!

Don Slater: Music, smokes, puzzles, ear plugs, TP, DS, sanity. A healthy sense of humor helps too!

What will be on the MP3 playlist?

Don Slater: Dude, who knows.. Probably by week 2, Gumby or Kreger will throw on some shit like Enya or Ke$ha.. Thus the need for earplugs.

Mike Kreger: Slayer, Metallica, Death, Necrophagist, Meshuggah, The Dahlia, Despised Icon, Primus, Al Green.

What are you most dreading about being on tour?

Don Slater: Not having a readily accessible bathroom or shower facilities.

Mike Kreger: Being away from my girlfriend Tarra Hunt.

What would you say to a metal fan who has never heard of you to get them to one of your shows?

Mike Kreger: Dude can I get your attention?... COCK!

Don Slater: You like heavy? You like fast? You like energy? Then you'll love us.

Okay, here's the shot out of the cannon: Betty White, Lindsy Lohan, Sharon Osbourne... You gotta fuck one, marry one, kill one... go!

Mike Kreger: Fuck Sharon Osbourne, Marry Betty White, Kill Lindsay Lohan

Don Slater: Fuck: Lohan.. I'd triple wrap it, no doubt. Marry: Osbourne. She'd make for a great sugar mamma. Kill: Betty White. She's cool enough to know that out of the three, she'd be the first to go anyways.

Anything else you want to say before you hit the long and brutal road ahead?

Mike Kreger: Yes! Stay Classy Michaganders!

Don Slater: DSDFA, baby. DSDFA.

Thank you very much to Don and Mike for taking the time from their busy schedules to bullshit with me. I highly recommend you check them out this tour if they are coming anywhere near your town. \\nn//

*EDIT 5/13/12 Since the posting of this interview, the Battlecross song "Push Pull Destroy" stayed on the top 12 most requested songs on SiriusXM's Liquid Metal for over 25 weeks, including being the #1 song in North America for 5 weeks straight! Their 2nd single, "Breaking You" is currently #7 on the Devil's Dozen.


You can catch Battlecross live this summer on the "Trespass Mayhem Festival Cruise erica Festival Tour 2012", as they open up the show for 5 Finger Death Punch, Killswitch Engage, Trivium, Pop Evil, Emmure and God Forbid (http://trespassamerica.com/). They will also be playing the very 1st Mayhem Festival Cruise Dec. 7th - 10th (http://www.mayhemcruise.com/splash).




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