15 Feb 2009 // An interview by Shade
Thanks to Kane for answering these questions:

What is the best gig you have ever performed at, and why?

Rock2Wgtn without a doubt! Met some of our biggest heroes and played at the same event as them! It was absolutely amazing.

What is your favourite NZ venue?

Oblivion is always a bloody good place to play. Intimate and usually the intensity levels are high! That and the Kings Arms always gives a good kick in the face.

What NZ musicians or bands would you like to see more of, and why?

We played a few shows with Agent a couple of years ago at Hysteria in Auckland. Those guys were awesome. I believe they relocated so I hope they're getting the recognition they deserve. Also, Cripple Mr Onion is a force to be reckoned with! Fantastic live show.

What is your most embarrassing on tour/gig moment?

Zakk Wylde hitting on my mum at Rock2Wgtn was pretty fuckin' funny... Hardly even embarrassing, I was pretty chuffed actually.

How did you come up with the band name Sonic Altar?

It just sort of happened. For a while we weren't even sure if it was a good name or not but I think it was at the Battle of the Bands when the MC said it and we all went, "Hey that didn't sound too bad!"

How do you describe your music?

A combination of everything we've heard and loved. We acknowledge that we draw a lot of inspiration from the older school of metal/hard rock but somehow that's just what comes out when we write. I think its a good balance of old and new and the most important thing is that we love playing what we play... So if we love it, surely someone else will too!

What can we expect to see from Sonic Altar over the next year?

This year is pretty exciting for us. Every year we've stepped it up a level and I don't think this year will be any different. We're just in the midst of finishing off 8 tracks that will either go towards an album or be released as an EP early this year. These tracks are very exciting which is mostly due to a healthy line up change we went through six months ago. The new stuff is powerful but still very melodic and we're all really proud of the work we're doing. Other than that we're planning a big nationwide tour and got a music vid in the bag with another on the way. Theres a list as long as both my arms of things that we're planning to get done. So keep a look out!

What advice would you like to give to other aspiring musicians?

Well I'm not sure if I've been doing it long enough to give out advice... But sure why not? The biggest thing to me is sticking to what you want to do. If you have a vision, stick with it. If you love what you do, keep doing it. Because as soon as you stray to meet somebody elses idea of what you should be, you lose yourself. Not that I've experienced that personally but I can see it happening to bands... Just to get something on the radio or whatever. Who gives a fuck about that? If you look back at most of the biggest bands in history, they made their own road. They weren't all overnight successes. They worked hard and did what they did. Play what you want to play! If it turns you on then do it and then you might just get lucky. Or better yet, create your own luck! Rock on! Oh and for gods sake rehearse your shit!!!

Echoing the ghosts of the classic metal hey-day with a revatilized sound, a unique blend of style and influence, Sonic Altar are a force to be reckoned with. The worship of music, a translation of the band name, is really what it means to be Sonic Altar. With a mission of bringing back the melodic substance to hard rock and being a live act to remember, the band have worked themselves to the bone since conception. Sonic Altar is here to melt your face.

Formed in early 2006, Sonic Altar began as a jam band amongst school friends. That year the band played in Hong Kong and recorded a single which received national air play in New Zealand. Between 2006 and 2008 the band progressed, undergoing some line up changes and solidified it's harder edged direction in late 2008. With a firm direction set, the band set about writing a new catalogue of songs and played all over New Zealand in 2009, blowing audiences away with their live performances. Sonic Altar have also supported some very big names in their home country, such as Ozzy Osbourne, KISS, Alice Cooper and Whitesnake.

In late 2009 the band decided that they had the right material to make an album. Instead of waiting to be discovered they decided to bite the bullet and make the album. In December of that year the band began recording with producer Mike Exeter (Black Sabbath, Jeff Beck, Glenn Hughes, Cradle of Filth) and finished mixing their debut album No Sacrifice, in May 2010.

Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Sonic Altar

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