Bonding with Blood

Lately with the resurgence of Thrash Metal there have been some good bands and some bad bands. One of the better bands being LA thrashers in half shell, Bonded By Blood. The band has been slowly, but surely rising to fame through the power of metal. Having learned that their second album, Exiled to Earth, is coming out on August 24th, 2010, Review Fix was able to get in touch with their lead singer, Jose “Aladdin” Barrales, to discuss the origins of the band, the new album and upcoming tours with his idols, Exodus and Malevolent Creation.

Review Fix: The band was formed in 2005. What was it like in the very beginning?

Jose Barrales: We didn’t have any visions of “whoa wed be touring and blah” (Is it ok to leave it like that in quotation marks?) (whom we’d be touring). We just wanted to be a band. We were really young when we started and nobody took us seriously, especially because of the genre we were playing. Everyone thought thrash was dead. We were playing with hardcore and emo bands in the beginning, so it was hard to take us seriously, at first. Eventually, when more thrash bands started popping up, things got a lot better.

RF: The band name is quite significant being named after the Exodus album of the same name. Why did you choose this name and what names were almost out there?

JB: When we started the band, there were other names. The one I remember the most was God of War and we decided we didn’t want that because there was a video game with this name coming out. The name came about because there were mostly emo/hardcore kids around and at the time, that was the album we mostly listened to. We didn’t even know that people around us knew what we were talking about, or the whole reference to that album. And we didn’t think about the future or being where we are at. It stuck and it was cool and it was mostly for the song and not the whole album because we feel that we are all a brotherhood.

RF: Not many people know this, but Tom from the band Lich King designed the logo. How did you get in touch with him because Lich King is from Massachusetts and you guys are all the way from L.A.?

JB: Me and him go back before the band even started. I think it was on thrash unlimited forums and that was where people go online and discuss their views on different things. And I saw that he was an artist for his band at the time. I think I sent him a demo and he listened to it. Back then he didn’t even like our band. I remember that for sure, but he decided to do it. He was like “well, I’m willing to help you guys out; you are younger, blah,” but we became really good friends over time and he is a really cool guy. I am glad he got to do our demo covers and our album.

RF: The dude with the laser eye that’s on the cover of your earlier releases, was it his idea or yours?

JB: It was our idea and he drew it. We kind of dropped that guy now.

RF: Who did the artwork for the new album?

JB: One concept artist, who’s never done an album before. His name is Reid Southern. He has done movies and video games. He really liked the band and he does a really good job with sci-fi stuff.

RF: Shortly after you released the EP Extinguish the Weak, you singed to Earache Records. How did you get signed so quickly?

JB: We posted Extinguish the Weak online at Myspace and it was around the time when Myspace was booming and a lot of bands were getting signed like crazy. Through the magic of My Space someone from Earache heard us and liked us. He sent us a message and at first we thought it was fake because we had gotten messages before like “oh, I want to sign you” and they were regular guys, so we thought “oh, it’s nothing serious” and he’s like “oh, yeah I’m from Earache.” He sent us a message form, an official email and we were like “oh, shit, this guy is serious.” We were looking into a deal with Nuclear Blast at the time and what happened was with Nuclear Blast, it seemed like we were just going to be another band on a roster and with Earache we were going to be treated more like a family. So far, they have kept their word on everything they have ever said, so I’m glad we signed with Earache.

RF: In 2008 you released your debut album, Feed the Beast. What was the experience like?

JB: We had to rerecord it. We had to do two takes on it. One producer was Michael Rosen and he’s done a bunch of bands, like Ash Done Testament and Death Angel. And what happened was that we went to Sacramento to record this and he was really hard on making it more poppy and radio friendly and we were not. He cut a lot of things out that we didn’t want to and he kept insisting on doing choruses, like Green Day, and we didn’t want to do stuff like this. We didn’t finish recording there. We had to go back to where we recorded our EP and a whole month’s worth of recording we did in two weeks. I’m glad Earache gave us a second chance because it came out better than the actual recording. The whole feeling was a lot of power and angst into that recording and it came out good.

RF: On August 24th your new record, Exiled to Earth, is coming out. What was the process behind that like?

JB: It took us two years to come up with a new album and we wanted to top the first album. We also wanted to progress a little bit more as well and that’s what the technically and tightness and catchy songs we have matured as a band and people keep seeing us and go “oh, these guys are good; they’re getting better, they keep progressing instead of sticking to one formula.” That’s what we want because by the time the third album comes around, it will be really good so that’s what it all boils down to keep trying to top your last record.

RF: Exiled to Earth is also a concept album. Tell us a few details about the concept and who came up with it.

JB: That concept is what our bassist Jerry and I came up with. There is this alien race called The Crong that has been living here on Earth and they have always been there. They finally decide to get out into the world and this human revolution comes out because they try to take over the world. From taking over the world, some of them conform and some don’t and they get stuck in different sectors and become alien slaves. There are a few that start a revolution, but they stay underground because this big fucking bomb has gone off and the few humans that have started a revolution have died and the ones who survive are underground and they are not allowed to leave until 600 years after the bomb has exploded and that’s where the album starts off with the humans trying to take back earth from The Crong. Jerry is into government conspiracies and I am into alien conspiracies, so we just put them together and we asked the rest of the band. They were all like “cool” and we went crazy with it and the end result is Exiled to Earth.

RF: Who produced it?

JB: His name is Ralph Patlon. He has done Megadeth and White Wizard. He is a really cool guy and I am glad he did it because it came out really good.

RF: Have you ever considered Exodus’s Gary Holt producing at Sharkbite Studios?

JB: That would be really cool. I know Warbringer did it with their last album. It came out really good. We are going on tour soon, so I’ll probably talk to him about it.

RF: In August you guys are going to be touring with Exodus and Malevolent Creation. What is it like to be not only seeing your idols every night for a month, but playing with them and hanging out with them?

JB: That’s actually going to be really cool. We have opened for them a couple times, but the tour is going to be a whole different story because we get to see them every night and hang out with them. We played a show in Hollywood a couple of weeks ago with Heathen and afterwards we were talking with them and they were like “we are going to hang out and we are going to show you guys how to really party” and we were like “wow.” I mean it is like a dream coming true, so bring it on!

RF: You played L.A.’s Thrasho De Mayo festival this year?

JB: Yeah, we played it last year, too. With Exhumer, it was really awesome to play. Both times it was a really packed show.

RF: What was it like to see these two legendary bands returning to the stage after all these years?

JB: Exhumer was really cool. It was packed last year at the Knitting Factory. This year it was at this new venue I think it’s called the Ultraviolet and it was a great show, really energetic. I’m a big fan of Agent Steel and I’m a big fan of Evildead. It was a late show because a lot of things were going on and a lot wasn’t going according to the plan, but I’m glad I got to see them because I didn’t think it would ever happen. Our merch booth was right next to theirs and it was a cool thing. I was glad to hang out with them and I’m glad they reunited because it was great to see one of my favorite bands even better, plays with them!

RF: How did you get the name Aladdin anyway?

JB: That goes way back to sixth grade or something like that. I was going into a new school and I had long hair and my skateboard. At the time they were watching Aladdin and as I was a new kid, they called me that and it stuck. Eventually, I grew to like it. I mean, all the teachers knew me as Aladdin and so on. It’s really not an interesting story.

RF: Later this year you have a US tour with Overkill and the returning Forbidden plus UK and Irish thrashers Evile and Gama Bomb will be joining you. What does that feel like?

JB: That feels really good. I’m actually a big fan of Forbidden and Overkill and I’m looking forward to it. I’m a fan of Gama Bomb. They are really good. I can’t wait for them to come. We recently did a European tour with Gama Bomb and plus Evile is coming, so I can’t wait.

RF: What ninja turtle would you be and why?

JB: That’s easy: Michelangelo because he is the party turtle. Why wouldn’t you want to be him? All the other turtles are party poopers man!