Page 5 - ISSUE 9

ROCKNATION ISSUE 9 PAGE 5
www.myspace.com/blacktide

Interview with Zakk Sandler of Black Tide by Jeffrey Easton

Black Tide have ushered in a return to classic metal in Rocknation: Considering the state of and there has to be hope and we loved
America and they are determined to be heard. Light From the music scene, how do you plan on the title.
breaking through the crappy scene?
Rocknation: What are your thoughts on
Above is not just another metal album, it is THE metal Zakk: I feel that with the management the current music scene?
record to have right now. Zakk Sandler, their stellar bass and the team that is behind us, getting Zakk: I think it is a lot better now than
player, took the time out of their busy schedule to feed us on tours and getting our name out maybe 6 years ago. You see some
Rocknation on what’s up with their band. there, we have a chance. bands doing better but there aren’t any
Rocknation: What are you playing and bands doing anything new.
why? Rocknation: I would put your sound as
Zakk: Right now I am playing Schecter the first two Motley albums meet the
basses and Peavey amplifiers. first two Metallica albums.
Rocknation: Why did you go with Zakk: That is exactly how I describe
Schecter? our music.
Zakk: I needed a bass that I was com- Rocknation: What made you guys
fortable with, sounded good and was decide to cover Metallica’s "Hit The
not expensive. Their basses sound Lights?"
better than most $2,000 basses. Zakk: It was suggested to us by our
Rocknation: The album cover is differ- A&R guy. We felt it would be a great
ent. Where did it come from? song. Covering Metallica is hard but
Zakk: A friend of our drummers is an we took the risk.
artist and we gave him the song that RockNation: Now that the album is out,
was going to be our title track and he are there plans for touring?
sent us back his idea of the song. Zakk: We are confirmed to be on the
Rocknation: Did he tell you what it Rockstar Mayhem Tour with Dragon-
meant? force, Disturbed, Slipknot and Mast-
Zakk: If you listen to the song “Light odon.
From Above" it is imagery to that song.
RockNation: Why did you decide to Black Tide may be made up of teenag-
go with “Light From Above” as the title ers but their attitude and conviction are
track? that of seasoned vets. Their metal is
Zakk: There is a lot of sh*t going on true, buy into it.

Rocknation: When did Black Tide get Zakk: We took the approach of "take
together? it and see where it goes." It was not
Zakk Sandler: About 5 years ago we planned out or anything.
got together because we all knew each Rocknation: Are you surprised that you
other from school. I joined the band a guys have taken off so far so fast?
few months after because they needed Zakk: I am incredibly surprised. It is
a bass player. kind of a hit or miss in this industry
Rocknation: When did you start playing and sometimes some things do not
bass? work out. We had another record deal
Zakk: Literally the day that they before this one and although we were
needed a bass player. We had mutual excited about it, we never moved for-
friends and I played guitar in another ward with it.
band . They had a show coming up Rocknation: How did the deal with
and they needed a bass player so I Interscope come about?
offered. Zakk: That came through a publisher
Rocknation: When you started put- with EMI. We just signed a publishing
ting the songs together for Light From deal, and our rep said that he had to
Above, did you know where you get us away from our last deal and had
wanted to go with the material? a rep from Interscope check us out.