Ninetail
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Ninetail

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"Interview With Ninetail's Max Melton"

Published: November 2006
Story: Randy "Rocket" Cody
Photo: N/A

The Central PA music scene has a real heavy metal war machine in its midst with NINETAIL. The band is simply shining like glinting chrome over all other acts in its home scene. They have been touring around from one venue to the next with an increasing army of fans in support of their debut CD entitled 'The Process Of Conversion' from Level Nine Entertainment. I got a chance to get some Q&A done with their drummer, Max Melton. Let's take a deeper look into the brilliance behind these steel-toed musical soldiers.

Rocket: Where are you from originally?

Max: I'm born and raised in York, Pennsylvania.

Rocket: When did you frist start playing the drums?

Max: I first started my drum experience at age 8. Began by playing the snare drum for about 6 years, then moved on to a full drumset at age 14. Been playing the set hard for about 8 years.

Rocket: Who are some of your biggest playing influences? Past or present.

Max: My first biggest influence was Lars Ulrich (pre-"...And Justice for All").

Rocket: Everyone always refers to the good Metallica as pre-Black album. Haha. But you take it one album further.

Max: Although I draw from different influences nowadays, Lars helped me develop a concept that I haven't forgotten; the ability to mix simplicity and power, and create a synergy of those elements. As for today, Chris Adler of Lamb of God has really been catching my ear. Noone can touch the man.

Rocket: Right on. Adler is awesome. Can you give us the specs on your drumkit?

Max: I use a 5-piece Tama Rockstar kit bought in 1998. Bass Drum - 16"x22", First Tom - 9"x10", Second Tom - 10"x12",
Floor Tom - 16"x16", Snare Drum - 8"x14" (Tama Artwood Maple Series). I've just purchased a Pearl ICON rack system,
and have found that to be an excellent replacement for 5 or so stands! The other Pearl item I own is the double-chain drive Eliminator slave pedals, and they're smooth. Maybe too smooth, haha. I've found a really good sound with Remo Pinstripes (toms, batter), Remo Diplomats (toms, bottom), Remo CS Dot (snare, batter), and the Remo Powerstroke 3 (bass, batter w/ Falam Slam kickpad). Screw the drumset, it's all in what heads you use and how you tune them.

Rocket: That's quite a setup! Thanks for all the detail. So did you ever take any formal drum lessons?

Max: From 2000-2002, I was instructed by Don Frey of York, PA. He taught me everything I know about music, and he was a fuckin' hard ass about it to, which, at the time sucked. But in the long run, that knowledge helped open up a lot of doors I may never have seen be opened.

Rocket: Teachers take a lot of heat, man. But they are so vital from the big picture standpoint. So how did you initially join up with Ninetail?

Max: That's like asking what was the exact and real cause of WWII!

Rocket: Oh, man. He slams me! Haha. It's cool, man. I can hang.

Max: So many things happened. I was in a band (Shattered Beneath the Shade), Don and Chris were in Spinebelt, and Jay and Jerad (former member) and Jose (former member) were in a band called Contention League. When Spinebelt decided to call it quits, Don and Chris wanted to get together a group of heavy hitters. "Brutal" was the word Don and Chris kept telling us about what they wanted in a band, "Fucking Brutal". So we all (Me, Jerad, Jay, and Jose), left our respective bands to join this endeavour. This happened in December '04/January '05 area. And we didn't even have a band name until 3-4 months into the project!

Rocket: Damn, that was complicated shit! Haha. Now I know you guys just rocked out at the PA Halloween Metal Fest on
Oct. 28th at the G-Man in Mechanicsburg. How was it getting to perform with Hostility? Are those guys awesome live or what?

Max: It just so happens that those guys will nail your balls to the wall and lay some shit down! Their stage show was killer, their full-length CD is very well produced, and they happen to be some super nice and respectable dudes! Hard to find people like that somedays.

Rocket: Yeah, real dudes like Greg Haran and Tony V of Hostility are much appreciated. I was happy that I could help put them on that show bill with you guys. Total honor. When I hung with those guys out in front of The Whisky weeks back drinking The Crown, I couldn't get over just how down to earth they are -- and too cool for words. Alright everyone knows I like to have some fun at this. What's the funniest thing that's ever happened to you on the stage?

Max: In terms of funniness, this band (Ninetail) has been DAMN straightforward about knocking people's teeth in during our performances and not apolozing once for it. The best things I can think of are people ralphin' all over our speakers during our set, and definitely cat-fights. They make me giggle, hehe.

Rocket: Nothing like seeing chicks rip eachothers clothes off, huh? That IS heavy metal. Bro, Ninetail has been getting real strong praise for its new album "The Process of Conversion". How do you feel about the end results with it? Are you satisfied with how it turned out overall?

Max: The end results with "Process" were excellent. Our producer (Frank Phobia) and mixer (Mike Radka) were awesome to work with, and gave us a killer end result.

Rocket: Are you guys working on some new material already? And what can we expect?

Max: As of the middle of November, we have lightened up our schedule enough so that between work, family, and performances, we will work on material for the upcoming album. We succeeded well with "Process", and couldn't be happier with it, but it has also set a standard for us as a group. Progress is necessary, and our next production will make "Process" seem like a garage-recording.

Rocket: So what's been your favorite metal album for 2006 so far?

Max: Easily Lamb of God "Sacrament". The music is god-damn tight, the drumming is phenomonal, and LoG is just a forced to be fucked with. I love that band so much because I want to defeat 'em! They set a high bar for extreme metal bands, and (respectively), I want myself and my brothers in Ninetail to surpass LoG. It's all respective competition.

Rocket: What are some of the upcoming shows for the band that we need to watch out for?

Max: Well, I have to mention we did just tear up some shows with Soulfly, Mushroomhead, and Marc Rizzo as of recent! But as for upcoming shows, we're at Marysville Tavern on the 22nd of November, the Wheelie Bar on the 25th of November (Thanksgiving Throwdown!), the downtown Gingerbread Man on the 1st of December, and Nightcap's on the 2nd of December! If anyone wants to get details or check out more of our performance listing, check out www.myspace.com/ninetail or www.ninetail.org! Much love, stay metal, and come have killer times with the boys who wear nines!

Rocket: Thanks for taking the time on this with me. Give a shout out to your biggest supporters.

Max: Greg and Haley Bowman of Level Nine Entertainment, our families and friends, and our fuckin' fans!

Visit Ninetail on the web:

www.ninetail.org
www.myspace.com/ninetail - MetalUnderground.com (Frederick, MD)


"Spotlight Artist: NINETAIL"

Published: April 2007
Story: Tracy Huberdeau
Photo: press photo

Amongst the modern marvels of metal, births a band from York, PA that inhibits all the characteristics encompassed in what you expect a high-energy soldier of destruction to contain. They’re loud, fierce, full of high-voltage intoxication and they are Ninetail.

Performing with bands like Static-X and Otep, you’d expect them to be a brutal and paralyzing, powerful presence. They definitely don’t disappoint with their hostile metal melodies (loosely implied, of course) such as ”Forgive Me”. Packed with edgy, dark, gripping metal guitar riffs, complimented by growling vocals – picture Pantera meets God Forbid.

Metal supremacy is not far from delivered with a song like ”UHA”. A “fast-paced, get up off your freaking lazy butt and head-bang” explosion of gruesome, grinding vocals accompanied by a solid mass of total raging mayhem.

Ninetail embraces you in a fury of diabolic metal madness in ”God Willing”. Loaded with a powerhouse of brilliant guitar master-piecing and insanely non-stop drums, debauchery is forthcoming.

There is no dearth of metal bands today, but when it comes to preference I would put Ninetail on the top of my list. Ninetail can be captured on their personal website or on www.myspace.com/ninetail. Be sure to spread the word! - Indie In-Tune/TheMetalHorizon.com (Epping, NH)


"Ninetail: Nice Guys, Brutal Music"

Published: January 2006
Story: Jeff Royer
Photo: press photo

Calling Ninetail “heavy” is like calling Paris Hilton “not a genius.”

“Heavy” really doesn’t begin to express the seriousness of the situation. The York-based band is like a six-piece wrecking machine. These guys are angry, loud and deadly serious, channeling the spirits of Sabbath, Slipknot and Cradle of Filth to write what sounds like the soundtrack for a genocide.

Ninetail is actually in its second go-round right now, having broken up for about a year while members served stints in local heavyweights like Spinebelt and Contention League. Now, reformed and rejuvenated, the new-and-improved Ninetail is quickly becoming one of the area’s biggest and best hard-rock bands.

“We’re more focused than we ever were,” says Don Belch, guitarist and shredder extraordinaire. “We’re very tight. All of us are pretty much like brothers. That’s what I love about it – not only the musicianship, but we’re like family. I feel we’ve got a lot of chemistry, and it’s making it pretty easy.”

Ninetail version 2.0 began in June 2005, when original members Belch and guitarist Chris Evan decided to do something seemingly impossible: come up with a style of music that was even heavier than what they were playing before.

“The old Ninetail was all about speed and being fast and that kind of thing. I wanted to do something different, really, really heavy. We’re a pretty heavy band,” Belch says, chuckling at the understatement. “The older I get, the crazier I get.”

The fruit of the band’s labor, a full-length release titled The Process of Conversion, is slated for release in early spring. The album chugs along on the strength of jackhammer guitar riffs, blisteringly fast and tuned down to octaves you’ve never even heard before. Frontman J. William Heitmann’s vocals complement the musical ferociousness with a hound-of-hell growl that will leave you shivering in your socks. What really gives the songs dimension is the atmospheric keyboard work of Jerad Gohn, which adds extra creepiness while simultaneously bringing the music about as close to artistry as black metal can get.

Once the album is out the door, it’s go-time for Ninetail. The group plans to take the music to the streets gangbusters-style. “We’re looking to just play as much as we possibly can and just get the name out there. Just play, play, play, play,” Belch explains. “It’s going to take a lot of work to get where we want to be. The big goal is to get signed and tour and do all that. But for now, the realistic goal is just to play and play and get our music out there ourselves.”

If the last several months are any indication, Ninetail has every chance of being successful, at least to the degree that a band that sounds like a choir of chainsaws can be successful. Anyway, so far, so good.

“I was actually kind of discouraged when we first [reformed], like, ‘Oh, here I am starting at ground zero again. It’s going to take forever.’ But right now, I think that we’ve accomplished a lot in a little amount of time that we’ve been together,” Belch boasts. “I’m loving it. I’m loving every minute of it.” - FLY Magazine (Harrisbrug, York, Lancaster, PA)


"An Interview With Vocalist J. William Heitmann"

Published: July 2006
Story: Anthony Caroto
Photo: press photo

Origivation: Some bands have a CD release party to celebrate a new album- Ninetail finds it neccesary to have two. Kind of ballsy. Care to explain?

Heitmann: We actually had a really tough time trying to figure out where to have the CD release. It was a no-brainer to have one at The Wheelie Bar in York. That's where our roots lie. The crowd we pull there is just vicious. We owed it to our home town fans and the staff at the Wheelie, who have taken excellent care of us, to have one there. We were torn though because the producer (Frank Phobia) and engineer (Mike Radka) of our album are manager and sound guy, respectivly, at The Silo in Reading. We played our 1st show there and those guys have been unbelievably helpful to us. Plus that gave our underage fans a chance to join in on the festivities. We look at it as more diplomatic than ballsy.

Origivation: How would you compare the "new" Ninetail to the previous inception that broke up in 2002? How has it affected you on a personal level?

Heitmann: The new and old Ninetail are like night and day. The first version was a four piece. Your basic two guitar, bass and drums outfit with the guitarists' sharing the vocal duties. Being that I wasn't part of that, I don't want it to seem like I'm talking down about what it was, but you can ask anyone in the band and they'll tell you that the new version blows the old one away. Actually, this is what the only original members left (Don Belch, Chris Evan) envisioned. A six piece, with all of what the old-school Ninetail had, but with a bonafide frontman and keyboards/samples. It makes the live show that much crazier, mostly because it allows the guitarists to roam free without being tied down to a mike. Everyone's moving all the time.

Musically it has progressed like you would expect it to when you put six guys who were ready to take on the world in the same room. I think all of us feel pretty lucky to be in this band right now. It's angrier, bolder, and here to stay.

Origivation: The new album- tell me about the title and cover concept. Does the girl represent anyone specific?

Heitmann: The title and the cover art are inspired by a concept which our original members had in mind long before the inception of the new band. It's a concept of the world being enslaved by a machine, whether it be the government or Ninetail itself. Those are just examples. The girl on the cover represents a slave to Ninetail, hence the barcode on her forehead.

Origivation: I'm digging "God Willing" the most right now. Live that must make for a pretty sick pit. How has that power and energy translated for the crowds, especially when opening for nationals. Are the kids moving enough?

Heitmann: It's funny you mentioned that particular song in that vain because that is what we open our set with. It definitely sets the tone for what we're about to bring. It's great when we open for nationals because the kids are hungry. They paid good money to see a show and they want to get the most out of it. When God Willing goes off, so do the kids.

Origivation: How did you hook up with Level Nine Entertainment? What's their background?

Heitmann: Again, a brainchild of the original members. It was really just a name and a logo until we introduced it to a friend of ours who had the skills to turn it into a notable, credible management company. We are investing a lot of time and energy into Level Nine Entertainment. The future is bright.

Origivation: I see you've got a lot of regional shows booked- any touring planned?

Heitmann: With our day jobs on top of our show schedule it sure as hell feels like a tour. Really though, the hope is to one day go on a real tour. We'll be sure everyone knows when that happens.

Origivation: What's the plan for the rest of 2006?

Heitmann: We want to be heard by as many new ears as possible, get our music out there, and leave our collective boot mark on skulls everywhere. We're embarking on a journey that includes the systematic destruction of the east coast.

www.ninetail.org - Origivation Magazine (Philadelphia, PA)


"Interview With Chris Evan Of Ninetail"

Published: August 2006
Story: Randy "Rocket" Cody
Photo: N/A

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania's industrial/death metal act NINETAIL have just newly released this past June a full-length debut LP, 'The Process of Conversion' off the Level Nine Entertainment indie label and have been making one strong wave after the next with their live performances in the underground, opening for acts such as Marilyn Manson, Dry Kill Logic, 3 Inches of Blood & Metal Church. It's now blatantly apparent that this band is going major places. In my busy and hectic schedule, I have certainly wanted to find time to get to know the band better and now is the time. Chris Evan on rhythm guitar and backing vocals obliged me by taking time out to answer questions.

Rocket: So are you a native of Pennsylvania, brother?

Chris: Yes, I've lived here my entire life.

Rocket: When did you start playing electric guitar?

Chris: I've been playing since I was 15 years old.

Rocket: Did you take any formal lessons or was it 'by ear and tablature' training like the rest of us? Ha!

Chris: I actually took lessons for almost 3 years before going off on my own. I probably spent the last 6 or 8 months of lessons learning nothing but songs rather than stuff from books because I wanted material to play in the band I was in at the time.

Rocket: Who are a few guitarists that have influenced your playing the most?

Chris: Tony lommi and Dimebag are definitely my all time favorites. Their impact on the genre will be heard and felt forever.

Rocket: How did you join up with this band? Are you a founding member?

Chris: Me and Don have been playing together in bands for years. We are the founding members of Ninetail.

Rocket: Now you guys recorded a full-length debut LP, The Process of Conversion, which was released in June 2006 by Level Nine Entertainment. How has the reaction been to that and where can fans go to buy that right now if they want?

Chris: Reaction to the CD has been amazing. It took us a while to finally release it, so we had plenty of time to play a lot of shows and really generate a lot of interest in the record. People can go to our website, www.ninetail.org, cdbaby.com, or any Ninetail show for a copy.

Rocket: How does the songwriting work? Is it equal say or is there one of you that really is the main one coming up with it all?

Chris: Don writes most of the guitar parts and J. handles the lyrics. Everybody definitely puts their stamp on each song before it becomes complete, though. We have six guys in the band and sometimes six different opinions. It can be crazy, but somehow we make it all work. In the end, we're all here for the same reason, and sometimes it takes a little compromise from each of us to reach our goal.

Rocket: So you guys are working on new material, right? How's that coming along?

Chris: We have a lot of ideas, but haven't been able to put them all together yet because we've been so busy with shows. Hopefully soon we'll have some new songs for our fans to check out.

Rocket: What kind of guitars are you playing live and in the studio?

Chris: I have a couple of Les Paul's and a Telecaster. Don's main guitar is a Fernandes, and Griff has Spector and Peavy basses.
Rocket: What kind of amp rig?

Chris: I use a Peavy Triple XXX, Don uses a Mesa Dual Rectifier, and Griff has an Ampeg.

Rocket: What's your favorite metal album for 2006 so far?

Chris: So far, "Rebirth of the Temple" from Silent Civilian is my favorite. There's a lot of great bands putting out new records this year, so we'll see what happens.

Rocket: What are some of the upcoming Ninetail shows we need to be aware of? Aren't you guys on a bill with Devildriver coming up?

Chris: We are scheduled to play with DevilDriver on August 17th. We're also playing on August 13th with one of my favorite bands, Dog Fashion Disco. There is always new stuff popping up, so people can check out ninetail.org or myspace.com/ninetail for the latest show info.

Rocket: What's the funniest thing that's ever happened to you on stage?

Chris: A couple of weeks agowe were opening for 3 Inches of Blood and the whole front of the shorts I was wearing ripped open. I guess it's good that I wear underwear.

Rocket: Haha. No doubts. Do you actually ever take time to answer your fan mail on MySpace?

Chris: I don't, because I'm not online that much, but somebody else in the band always ends up taking care of it.

Rocket: Thanks for taking the time out with me, bro. Go ahead and give a shout out to your biggest supporters.

Chris: Thanks to you and The Metal Den for your interest and support. It means a lot to us. Thanks to Greg Bowman at Level Nine Entertainment for working his ass off for us, the Gallagher Family for giving us a rehearsal space and occasional transportation help for shows, our wives and girlfriends, and of course the greatest fans in the world. Without all of these and many more people, the struggle would be a lot harder. Keep those horns high and keep it metal. Thanks!!! - MetalUnderground.com (Frederick, MD)


"Ninetail - "The Process of Conversion""

Published: September 2006
Story: Randy "Rocket" Cody
Photo: N/A

"Ninetail is harvesting what worked best in the past and simply make their approach remain true to that."

An air raid starts off the opening track 'God-Willing,' soon launching you into a doom-impending, storm bringer of a heavy metal song. Harmonic squealing, guitar distortion and thick as cement wall chugger riffing is the obvious weapon of choice for this mix-it-up nice and brutal underground sensation. Lead vocalists, J. William Heitmann, is a literal clone of Burton C Bell back from the old school Fear Factory days. And track number two's 'Retribution Song' doesn't pull back on the mighty Fear Factory influence. It's almost as if former Spinebelt guitarists, Don Belch and Chris Evan, have graduated top honors from the Cazares school of heavy metal guitar, because it seems like the material from this debut is directly influenced by the classic 'Soul of a New Machine' and 'Demanufacture' albums that are responsible for making Dino a guitar hero in the first place. Track three 'Constrict' starts off with double bass drumming and eerie keyboarding from Max Melton and Jerad Gohn, soon taking you down the path of its dual-guitar attack that doesn't ever get flashy or technical, yet makes you unable to doubt the prowess of Belch and Evan because the simple choices they make just seem so right. Song four is 'Forgive Me' and it's my personal favorite. It starts out with a macabre-ish keyboard start and then builds into a wall-to-wall mosher, sorely missing in so much of what's being released today by other metal acts.

Lead singer, Heitmann seals the deal with his high-pitched howling: "Push it to the limit, there are no boundaries", giving off a sense of bravado and fearlessness that is very affecting to the listener, in terms of drawing you closer to the fight as Ninetail expects from you. Song five is more Nine Inch Nail's inspired as it sprawls its web-like chill over you and pulls you into its awaiting horror-filled landscape that Ninetail has been carefully leading you up to... "With my ability to destroy" croaked out in proclamation for whoever challenges them. Belch's lead solo work on this track is more than satisfying and cuts straight through the bulshit that so many other leads opt to take when showing fretburning skills. Song number six, 'Ruination Theory', is not any slower and chaotic then what's come before it, offering a more Slayer-esque feel. Track number seven is the title track of the album, "The Process Of Conversion" and what is most refreshing about it is that finally it seems the band has found a way to carve out its own unique identity for songwriting. Here Ninetail certainly sounds influenced by all the earlier aforementioned but stand up as a group trying to make their own unique mark and matter-of-factly getting the job done.

Track number eight is 'The Emptiness Pill' and has a techno-like keyboard part, soon joined by the band's non-stop, always driving forward energy, making the biggest impression on this reviewer with the lyrics "Corruption is choking me... God please set me free, I can't deal with this shit... I can barely breathe." Song nine is 'Where Darkness Grins' begins with an Anselmo-like bark from Heitmann that takes you next into what certainly is one of the more pissed off tunes out of the entire collection, sending out an obvious homage to the once great Fear Factory with the lyrics: "Fear is not a factor". And it truly seems that fear is not a factor with this band, even though they will be touted by many as just another band doing what's been done before, I feel Ninetail is harvesting what worked best in the past and simply make their approach remain true to that.

The final track 'U.H.A.' starts out with a Spanish flamenco guitar seemingly serenading dead lovers that have just gone the 'Romeo and Juliet'' suicide route, "Leaving all the suffering behind" are chilling words and planned out as perfect as ones effectivness in removing their pulse from this earth. Heitmann's biggest vocal acrobatics have been saved for the end here as well, sounding like the love child spawned from the festering wound of Satan's own dark loins, accompanied by the coolest Rock n Roll line I've heard in a long time: "Welcome to the united hate of America."


Highs: There is not one song on this album that doesn't simply kick your ass.

Lows: Being it's a full length, two more tracks could have been added to the ten here.

Bottom line: "Fear is not a factor" for Ninetail. - MetalUnderground.com (Frederick, MD)


"Metalunderground.com's Best of 2006 Awards"

Published: January 2007
Story: Doug Gibson

Metalunderground.com announces its staff picks for 2006's Best Metal Album, Best Metal DVD, Best Metal Newcomer, Best Live Act, and Most Anticipated Release for 2007…

Best Metal Newcomer of 2006

Bands eligible for "Best Metal Newcomer of 2006" included bands who have released their first full length album or released their first album on a somewhat major metal label, or even have no formal release at all. This is a tough category to get consensus on, since we all have different tastes in metal and will hear of only relatively few new bands each year. The band that rose to the top, however was:

Burn In Silence

Newcomers Threat Signal also got a couple nominations. Many more bands were mentioned, and therefore worth checking out, so I’ll list them all at the end of this article…

… Finally, here is the entire list of nominations for the “Best Newcomer” category in 2006, provided simply because these nominations should make good leads for you, our readers, to discover some new bands:

Burn In Silence
7th Son
Crown The Lost
I
Mutiny
Ninetail
Dead Mens Dreams
Deliver Us From Evil
Suspyre
Triosphere
Threat Signal
Gojira
Gutworm
Moment Of Violence (formerly Lofat)
Sahg
Sanitarius
Dark Empire
Heavenly Trip To Hell
Hostility
Norman Bates
Centralia
Fall To Grace
Iliad
Job For A Cowboy
One Man Army and the Undead quartet
Throne of Katarasis

No doubt there are others worth checking out, but these were our staff picks and were limited to 5 bands per person.

Here's to a very metal 2007!
- MetalUnderground.com (Frederick, MD)


"Interview with Don Belch of Ninetail"

Published: February 2007
Story: Randy "Rocket" Cody

York, Pennsylvania's NINETAIL has stuck with the same headline on their MySpace music profile all along: "Fuck you, come and get us!". And I can't help but see that this daring attitude they've put out there among the swirling ocean of thousands of competing metal bands - to indeed be that thorn in everyones side - is now what's truly started to reflect itself in their recorded music and live shows, performances that have included them sharing the stage with some of the biggest names in the business like MUSHROOMHEAD, DEVILDRIVER and SOULFLY. Back in 2004 the early version of Ninetail hooked up with the two driving guitar forces behind SPINEBELT, Don Belch and Chris Evans. Its been a match made in heavy metal hell since. I am really pleased to be able to get some Q&A done with lead guitarist, Belch.

Rocket: So are you originally from York, Pennsylvania, brother?

Don: I was born in Luzerne County (Northeast PA), but moved to York, PA when I was just two years old - and have lived in York ever since.

Rocket: When did you first start playing electric guitar?

Don: I began playing guitar when I was eleven years old, and currently teach guitar for a living at Campbell's Music in Dallastown, PA.

Rocket: Who are some of your biggest playing influences? Past or present.

Don: Most notable among my influences are Alex Scholnik & James Murphy. Bands that have influenced me include American Head Charge, Slipknot, Fear Factory, Pantera, Segovia, Bleed the Sky, Cradle of Filth & Nothingface.

Rocket: What kind of guitars are you playing live and in the studio?

Don: I currently play Fernandes guitars, but have recently been endorsed by Osira. Both Chris Evan and I will soon be playing signature Osira models.

Rocket: Congrats to both of you on that. And it's about damn time someone stepped up to you two. Ha! What kind of amp rig?

Don: My head is a Peavy 5150, and my cabinet is also a Peavy.

Rocket: Let's talk about the new album Ninetail is working on. Who is producing and engineering it and where is it being recorded?

Don: We are currently in the early stages of writing, so it's a little early to know exactly which direction we will take. I like everything to come together right from the start - from the music to the artwork, and every little detail in between. The next chapter of the Ninetail saga will most likely be engineered by Mike Radka at Akdar Studios in Bernville, PA (the same guy who engineered "The Process of Conversion.")

Rocket: Is there a title yet?

Don: Not yet - since we're still in the early stages of writing, we have yet to decide what theme we'd like to go with.

Rocket: Compared to the mayhem you guys unleashed with "The Process Of Conversion" from last year, what can we expect with this next collection of songs? Please tell me there's not going to be any ballads involved. Haha. Let's leave that stuff to Zakk Wylde and Evanescence!

Don: Definitely no ballads - we're shooting for an even crazier and more insane sound, without sacrificing our groove. We've really grown a lot as a band since the release of "Process," so we have a lot to prove to ourselves - that we can and will out do ourselves with the next release.

Rocket: That's great to hear. Everyone knows that I like to have fun with this next one. What's the funniest thing that's ever happened to you while performing on the stage?

Don: I got a woody when we played with Soulfly & Mushroomhead – ha, ha! The funniest moment was probably at the Mushroomhead show, when I jumped off the drum riser and nailed our keyboardist in the back of the head with my guitar.

Rocket: Last year was truly one unholy year for metal, wasn't it? A ton of great albums got dropped on our ever loving metalheads from Maiden, Lamb Of God and Cannibal Corpse to name only a few. What was your personal favorite?

Don: I can’t really pick a favorite – DevilDriver (Fury of Our Maker’s Hand – Special Edition), Lamb of God (Sacrament), Unearth (III: In the Eyes of Fire), All That Remains (The Fall of Ideals).

Rocket: Now it's no secret that Ninetail is after a solid record deal in 2007. Who isn't, right? But I really think you guys are pretty much at the top of the heap right now and deserve that more than most. Who are a few of the labels that have your interest and why?

Don: There’s a bunch of different labels that have peaked our interest, but we refuse to sign a record deal just for the sake of signing a record deal – would like to make sure that the label has our best interests in mind. We recently kicked ass at the Crocodile Rock in Allentown, PA in support of Silent Civilian – and were asked to headline the 2nd Annual Industry Expose at Croc Rock on Friday, February 16th, where we’ll be showcasing for Sony, Epic, Roadrunner & more!

Rocket: I firmly believe you guys holding out like this is going to pay off in the long run for all your efforts. How has the street team effort in 2007 been going for this band? And is that something that you'd like to see get improved upon? What would you like to see fans doing in that area for this hard working metal band?

Don: Our street team is currently being organized and will hopefully be in full effect shortly. Appropriately dubbed, “The Converted,” the street team will consist mostly of true Ninetail fans – those who have been supporting the band all along by purchasing tickets and making road trips to see us perform. As we continue to generate interest in other parts of the country, members of “The Converted” will receive free tix and lots of unique promo materials.

Rocket: Very cool. What are some of the upcoming shows for Ninetail that we need to watch out for?

Don: The most important show on the schedule is probably the 2nd Annual Industry Expose that I already mentioned, which will take place on Friday, February 16th at the Crocodile Rock in Allentown, PA. In addition, we were recently invited to jam on the Project Independent stage at Milwaukee Metalfest XIX, which is scheduled to take place on May 11th and 12th.

Rocket: Listen, thanks so much for taking the time out on this with me. I wish you and the band much continued success here in 2007. Please give a shout out to your biggest supporters.

Don: Thanks to Greg and Haley Bowman at Level Nine Entertainment, and to all of the local and regional bands with which we’ve shared the stage: From Dissension, Scars of Hatred, Anthrophobia, Primal Embrace, Spit Can, Spinebelt, Stuck in Kaos – just to name a few. Thanks also to the Metal Twins from Killadelphia, PA –

Rocket: -Aren't those two just amazing? And now they're kicking ass in this Maxim magazing model search even. They are on their way to the semi-finals.

Don: They never fail to show their love and support for Ninetail! - MetalUnderground.com (Frederick, MD)


"Interview With J. William Heitmann of Ninetail"

Published: December 2006
Story: Randy "Rocket" Cody

There's only a handful of unsigned metal acts going in America today that I think truly have earned a chance at being signed to a respectable label that can really bring them to the masses as they so justly deserve and have outright earned with their diehard tenacity and composure in the clinch and without flinching to make the first choice, NINETAIL out of York, Pennsylvania is one of them. They have been putting their money where there mouths are at every single venue they've stepped into here in 2006 in support of their debut LP "The Process Of Conversion" and even when they haven't played up to their full potential on a night, the first guy in the room that will admit it is this gentleman right here, J. William Heitmann. This interview is an honor for me and every single one of you that are looking to start up a band or are in the midst of the process, need to take notes from who I plainly see as metalunderground's classiest act going and a true talent who is only starting to find his big stride as a great metal vocalist.

Rocket: Let me start this thing off with a congratulatory handshake of metal brotherhood, dude. Ninetail has simply owned the underground scene this year, along with other great names like My Ruin, Lofat and Deliver Us From Evil. Looking back on all that's gone down here in 2006, what ranks at the top as the biggest moment for you and the band?

J: First off, thanks for the props. We’ve been working our asses off, so that compliment is much appreciated.
To be honest bro, our biggest moment in ’06 is gonna be when we take the stage on Dec. 16th and ’06 is over for Ninetail. It was a huge year for us. There was a lot of adversity, a lot of headaches, and a lot at stake. We made it through 2 member changes without canceling or postponing a show, and you’ve seen our schedule….its been busy. That says a lot about the guys we brought in too. For me, staying together, and still being the force that we’ve been this year is our crowning achievement. That tells me a lot about the guys I’m surrounded by. And people wonder why we destroy every venue we walk into. We are venting our frustration on you people!

Rocket: Haha. Where are you from originally, brother?

J: I’m originally from Syracuse, NY. Home to the late Hellfest, and my beloved Orangemen.

Rocket: Right on. So when did you first start singing and did you take any vocal lessons?

J: I’ve been singing since I could open my mouth, dude. There wasn’t any problem that couldn’t be solved by singing a sick ass song. There are different songs for different problems, you know? I’ve been in a band of some sort since I was 14. That’s pretty much the extent of my vocal lessons. I’d like to take REAL lessons. I’m sure it’ll happen eventually.

Rocket: Who are some of your biggest vocal influences? Past or present.

J: I think Pantera is the sickest band to ever grace a stage, so you know Mr. Anselmo is on that list. He’s a brilliant metal singer. Layne Staley, Max Cavalera, Tim Williams, and Corey Taylor round out my top five influences. I could keep goin’ with that list.

Rocket: I hear a lot of Burton C Bell of Fear Factory in your approach too. Big ups to Mr. Bell! Now I just interviewed your drummer, Max Melton. He says you guys are in full swing of writing material for the next album. He says it's going to bury your debut album 'The Process Of Conversion'. Can you tell us from a vocal standpoint what you plan to do to elevate your game?

J: I think just maturing in the writing process with my guys is going to elevate us all. We banged out the first album in six months with two shows under our belts. We’re going into the next album in full swing. We’re like conditioned athletes, man. Our playing is there. Nobody has to get their “chops” back, you know? There’s definitely a confidence factor too. Coming from two shows and six months of practice, my game wasn’t where it is now going into the first album. I don’t want to put too much pressure on ourselves though. We wrote a great first record. Let’s everyone pick that one up first!

Rocket: The lyrics on "Process" are so cool, man. I really enjoy a great sounding metal album that also has depth in the words its spitting out at the same time, you know? Is there a general way you go about becoming inspired to write lyrics?

J: Thanks, bro, that means a lot. The lyrics on “Process” are very important and real to me. Honestly, you wanna know how I become inspired? All you have to do is take a look around you, man. This is a truly fucked up world. It’s not hard to draw anger out of thin air in this day and age. Turn on CNN. That’ll piss you off. We’re gonna have to take our country back someday,man. Wanna be on my side?

Rocket: Looking at what you guys accomplished this year, with all the great 'established' metal bands you shared the stage with, what exactly are you looking to do in 2007 that hasn't been done so far with Ninetail? Is it pretty much getting the record deal finally? Or do you target other great acts to play with as your goal and just filling as many clubs up?

J: For Ninetail at this point, I don’t think it’s WHO we play with necessarily, but WHERE we play. Believe me, I’m not saying I don’t want to share the stage with a sick national band in a full club, but we have to stretch our boundaries and be heard by more ears.

Rocket: Very cool thing to hear you say, man.

J: I think a record deal could happen in the future, but really, it’s up to us to go and get it. I think we still have a lot of work to do. They don’t just hand those things out anymore. You gotta pay your dues. We’re gettin’ there man.

Rocket: Yeah, I totally agree. So many bands that even have established players in their lineup think they are owed that and the fact of the goddamn matter is they are not. There's a sea of competition out there now more than ever in metal with its popularity back on the rise. You have to work your ass off. Period. Let the chip's fall were they may. Now as far as unsigned acts, who are some of the other bands on your scene that have impressed you this year?

J: Thanks for asking that question because we really have a good scene goin on here in PA with a ton of hidden talent. Our boys in From Dissension have really turned it up a notch in the last year. Our boys from Scranton, Spitcan, are always nasty as fuck. Scars of Hatred, Primal Embrace, Stuck in Kaos, Shined, Black Baccara, The Divining, Horsecop, Tapered Mind, Se7en Heads, and Anthrophobia everytime, just to name a few.

Rocket: I like to have fun with the next one of course. Tell me what the funniest moment has been for you while performing on the stage. I want to hear about one of them Spinal Tap moments. They happen all the time, don't they?

J: It was a balls hot night in Philly, and we were playing at a joint called Whiskey Dix. It’s the type of place where you can walk by and see exactly what’s going on inside, and vice versa. Next door at the infamous Electric Factory, The Strokes were playing a sold out show for a shit load of confused kids. It just so happened that the Strokes show let out during our set. I’ll put it to you this way….all of the make-up clad boys got a tongue lashing from my drunk ass. I showered them with profanities and politically incorrect comments. It was pretty intense. And VERY funny. One of my finer moments.

Rocket: Haha. Hell yeah, man. I wouldn't expect it any other way from you, dude. Metal UP! It's been a great a year for metal in 2006. What one album released among them all stands out as your numero uno choice?

J: Wow, that’s a tough one because you’re right….it has been an unbelievable year for metal. But you asked for numero uno. Unearth III:”In the Eyes of Fire” kicked my ass. “Sacrament” from L.O.G. is a close second though.

Rocket: How does a fan go about becoming a Ninetail street teamer exactly? And do you guys send out cool band merchandise to the ones who kick the most ass?

J: We’re currently setting up details about that, so keep an eye on ninetail.org for “The Converted” (that’s the name of our street team) if anyone out there is interested. Basically it’ll be your run of the mill street team “You hook us up, we’ll hook you up” deal….You flyer the shit out of your town and bring twenty kids to a show, you get in for free. Stuff like that. I’m sure we’ll work free Ninetail shwag into those deals too. There’s only one prerequisite: You must be able to kick ASS!

Rocket: Does Ninetail have any scheduled shows between now and 2007?

J: The only one left in ’06 is the one I mentioned before on December 16th at the Tourist Inn in Hellam, PA. Believe it or not, that is where we played our very first show back in ’05. We haven’t been back since so I’m hoping there’ll be a hungry crowd waiting there for us. I want to end ’06 in total destruction. We’ve already got six shows on our ’07 schedule, so we’re not going anywhere.

Rocket: Well, I'm out of questions, though I could shoot the metal breeze with a cool cat like you all day long for sure. Thanks so much for taking this time out with me. I wish you and Ninetail nothing but the best in 2007. Please give a shout out to your biggest supporters.

J: Man, the pleasure was all on this side of the interview. My personal shout outs are going first, to my ladies, Kristi, Cecilia and Laila for keeping me grounded and honest. I love you guys! Level Nine Entertainment for countless hours of hard work and dedication, especially Greg and Haley Bowman. My band members for exceeding every expectation I had for them. My friends and family for buying tickets and being there when it really matters. The Metal Twins for promoting the fuck out of this band for nothing else but the love of Heavy Metal. Those girls rule. YOU, and everyone at the Metalunderground. Frank Phobia and Josh Rosenblatt for being mentors in this fucked world of the music biz. ALL of the sick bands we’ve played with. Yuengling Lager, Jagermeister, Mary Jane, and Old Grandad. And last but not least, THE FANS. We’re nothing without all of your support. You’re our lifeblood. - MetalUnderground.com (Frederick, MD)


"Interview With Griff Of Ninetail"

Published: December 2006
Story: Randy "Rocket" Cody

What a year in metal it has been for York, Pennsylvania's NINETAIL.. And what a great group of people involved here, from Greg Bowman with Level Nine Entertainment to each and every bandmate in this act. I have to deal with a lot of headaches or 'head cases' if you will from so many countless upcoming acts that come nowhere near the level of greatness that you will surely find here with this underground phenomenon. They have been stomping through one venue to the next on their local scene in support of their debut LP "The Process Of Conversion" here in 2006, playing alongside some really big names, and seem to have built up an an incredible following that should certainly help propel them to the top names of the business in 2007. I had the opportunity to get some Q&A in with their bass player, Griff. Watch it go.

Rocket: I first wanted to congratulate you and Ninetail on a seriously incredible year in 2006. You guys have been absolutley crushing the east like metal beasts unleashed! When did you start playing the bass guitar?

Griff: I have been playing guitar and bass for about twelve years. I started out on guitar and later moved to bass. I still enjoy playing the guitar in my spare time.

Rocket: Is that the only instrument you've ever played?

Griff: I like playing alot of different instruments. When you're at practice you can't help it. You start to play a little bit of everything.

Rocket: So who are some of your biggest bass playing influences?

Griff: Geezer Butler for sure of Black Sabbath, Rex Brown of Pantera, Ryan of Mudvayne and Les Claypool of Primus. There are a lot of good ones out their.

Rocket: Hell yeah. and people forget about ole Les, man. Dude is one of the greatest for sure. But he never sold out. Always has remained an underground hero and I fully commend that kind of real artist. What kind of bass guitars are you playing live and in the studio?

Griff: Right now I am playing a Spector and a Peavey Grind Bass.

Rocket: What kind of amp rig?

Griff: I am playing through an Ampeg SVT Series head and a SWR Working Pro cabinet.

Rocket: You guys have shared the stage with some great acts in 2006. What's been the most memorable show for you personally and why?

Griff: That's a very tough decision. We've played with a lot of great bands. The most memorable would have to be the Soulfly show. I have been listening to Max Cavalera for a long time and he is a legend to me and rightfully so. Just listen to some of the older Sepultura stuff and you'll find out what's up. Especially the "Roots" album.

Rocket: There you go. Now a lot of acts in your scene now look up to you and this band. And unlike many bands that start to get into that larger spotlight, you guys seem to keep it down to earth from all accounts with other musicians. Who are some of the other upcoming metal acts from your scene that we should all be watching out for?

Griff: Some of the other bands that I really like in the scene are bands like Scars of Hatred, Primal Embrace, From Dessension, Stuck In Kaos, Sinaria, Spitcan, Shined, From Their Eyes, and Fed Up. Just to name a few.

Rocket: You just have to love Spitcan formerly Cyphilis. Now, brother man, you all know I just simply love Ninetail's new album "The Process Of Conversion". Are you guys working on some new material for the next one and yet what can we expect?

Griff: Yeah, we are working on some new stuff now. We are playing one of the new songs at some of the shows. The song is called "My Belief" and we have been getting good crowd reaction from it. The only thing you can expect from Ninetail is more brutally heavy music.

Rocket: We certainly wouldn't want it any other way. Alright, I like to have fun with this next one.What's the funniest thing that's ever happened to you while performing on the stage?

Griff: One night I was standing on a monitor and a piece of the stage. When I took my foot off the monitor to get back on stage. Jay was in the middle of a big jump and accidently knocked me off stage. So I played the rest of the set in the mosh pit. Jay jumped off the stage and joined me. It was a lot of fun.

Rocket: There's that brotherly love I'm talkin about with this band. See, J messed up but he still had your back! Ha! Man, there's been a ton of killer metal released in 2006. What's your personal favorite? And you can include last year too.. shit, everyone else does. Haha.

Griff: I'm going with "The Fury Of Our Maker's Hand" The new Devil Driver. I am a huge Devil Driver fan.

Rocket: Aren't we all? Haha. Their drummer is one of the best going in the game. Top five easy. So what are some upcoming shows for Ninetail?

Grif: I'm real excited about playing The Rock 'n' Roll Hotel in Washington D.C. Also we will be in Camp Hill @ Gulifty's on the 26th of January. So stop out and have a good time.

Rocket: Well, listen. Thanks very much for all the great music and taking the time out on this with me. Go ahead and give a shoutout to your biggest supporters.

Griff: Most of all I would like to thank my Mom, Dad,and my Grandfather. They have supported my love for music ever since I can remember. Also all my freinds. You guys are the shit. My band members, Greg and Haley Bowman, Primal Embrace crew, Scars of Hatred, The Wired, and everybody who made all of this possible. - MetalUnderground.com (Frederick, MD)


Discography

"Half Truths & Hand Grenades" (2009)
Ninetail's first release on DRP Records featuring:
"Trials of a Madman" &
"Half Truths & Hand Grenades"

"Project Independent - Volume IV" (2007)
Compilation CD featuring 17 bands
includes Ninetail's "Westboro"

"The Process of Conversion" (2006)
10-song LP featuring:
"Forgive Me"
"God Willing" &
"U.H.A."

"Gimme The Medicine" Compilation - Vol. 2 (2003)
Compilation CD featuring 46 bands
Only release to include Ninetail's "Failure of the Flesh"

"When Chaos Takes Human Form" (2002)
15-song LP - limited quantity available

"Gift of Music" Compilation (2002)
18-song compilation CD featuring 13 bands
Benefit for the GOM Foundation

"Purpose By Design" (2000)
3-song EP - no longer available

Photos

Bio

Originally formed as a 4-piece in early 2000 with current guitarists Don Belch and Chris Evan shredding not only the axes, but also the microphones, the current 6-headed, York, Pennsylvania-based metal monster known as Ninetail was established in the Summer of 2005. Since its rebirth, the band – with Belch and Evan (guitars), joined by J. William Heitmann (vocals), Griff (bass), Greg Weber (keys & samples) and Chris Appenzeller (drums) – has enjoyed a slow and steady rise to the forefront of the American underground metal scene. Having thrilled more than 200 audiences in 35 different states with its ultra-violent, high-energy live performance, Ninetail has built a fanatically loyal fan base across the United States.

With the release of their debut full-length album, “The Process of Conversion,” in June of 2006, Ninetail quickly introduced the world to a crushingly brutal new brand of heavy metal, with its down-tuned, jackhammer guitar riffs, growling, hound-of-hell vocals and atmospheric, industrial-esque keyboard/sample work inspired by bands like American Head Charge, Bloodsimple, Pantera and Lamb Of God. A fervent response to the album throughout the Mid-Atlantic States prompted invitations to share the stage with many different national acts, including: Static-X, Soulfly, Chimaira, God Forbid, Mushroomhead, Devildriver, Otep, Byzantine, Full Blown Chaos, Bleed The Sky, Silent Civilian, Goatwhore, High On Fire, Watch Them Die, In This Moment, The Autumn Offering, Soil, Brand New Sin, Black Market Hero, Halo Of Locusts, Marc Rizzo, Suicide City, Dog Fashion Disco, Rumpelstiltskin Grinder, The Red Death, Whitechapel, Temple Of Brutality, November 5, 1955 and many more.

In the Fall of 2007, the band’s blistering performance at the Project Independent Pennsylvania State Invitational earned Ninetail a coveted spot alongside seventeen of the underground metal world’s elite on the nationally-distributed Project Independent Volume 4 compilation CD – leading to a worldwide, online vote at www.projectindependent.net to determine the best unsigned metal act in the United States. With Ninetail’s newly recorded track, “Westboro,” receiving more than 800,000 of the 1.6 million total online votes, the band was awarded the title of “2008 Project Independent Featured Artist” on January 1, 2008. During the Spring of 2008, Ninetail maintained its ridiculously busy schedule of live performances throughout the Mid-Atlantic States, while at the same time writing, recording, mixing & mastering their second full-length album, “Half Truths & Hand Grenades.”

With “Half Truths & Hand Grenades,” Ninetail have taken their devastatingly intense variety of metal music to an entirely new level. Faster, heavier and more technically complex than their previous release, the band’s sophomore effort promises to help Ninetail leave their collective boot mark on metalheads’ skulls everywhere. In anticipation of the album's national release, Ninetail toured the country on the 2008 Project Independent Showcase Tour from August 29th - November 2nd, 2008. The tour, which consisted of 58 performances in 33 different states, introduced Ninetail to metalheads all across the country, and gave the band a chance to connect with countless new fans. As Ninetail makes plans for its next tour in 2009, the question remains the same...

WILL YOU JOIN THE FIGHT WHEN NINETAIL WAGES WAR IN YOUR NECK OF THE WOODS?