3 Inches Of Blood Interview

3 Inches Of Blood's own Cam Pipies, hot from the onslaught that was the Road Rage Tour, Metal Chaos broke down the news, views and opinions of what has been an eventful year for the band.

How are things with you guys?
Decent I guess
The band has just finished up in Europe the Road Rage Tour, how was this tour? Any highlights you'd be able to share?
It was all a highlight for us. We'd never been to most of these places in Europe before so it was a thrill to tour all those new places for the first time. We drank excessively, that is 3 inches of Blood did.
How was it to be out on the road with Trivium and Still Remains?
Quality bands that should do well in the future. We got to know those bands on the US leg of the tour so it was cool to experience Europe with people we knew already.
"Advance and Vanquish" has been out for some time now, what has been the reaction from fans and press alike?
Excellent by any of our standards. We get some very humbling reactions from fans we meet in person, I mean sometimes we get the most delightful compliments from people and we feel at a loss to convey our appreciation. It's been all good really.
The album is the first with Roadrunner Records, how did the deal the Roadrunner come about?
They saw us play and were floored so they asked to make a deal.
The album features "Deadly Sinners", which you have recently shot a video for. How / where was the video shot? Have you been surprised by the success of this song?
Yes and No. Deadly Sinners is the "single" and it gets more air play than the rest of the songs, so I'm not surprised people are identifying with. Plus it kinda felt like a "hit" when we wrote it. On the other hand, we're not the kinda band that is gonna write hit singles on a regular basis, so it's weird that any of our songs in particular would inspire people to be singing along to them all day.
"Advance and Vanquish" is the first to feature Brian Redman and Matt Wood. What have Brian and Matt brought to the band? How did they come to join 3IOB?
Matt was a good friend of ours before and Brian was in bands we've played with before and knew our manager. Both of them play hard and with a furious energy, so they were brought in after our previous drummer and bassist quit the band.
The band's lyrics feature Cyborg's, pirates and all sorts of creatures not of this world. Where do the band draw influences from for your lyrics and how do you approach the writing process, is it a collective or individual effort?
Jamie and I write the lyrics. We collaborate on ideas and song structure, but we each write our own parts.
The album was produced and engineered by Neil Kenon and Colin Richardson, both of whom have a wealth of experience. How did the band decide upon Neil and Colin? What did the band learn from these guys?
Neil and Colin both have a long list of credentials and have worked on amazing albums. They were both interested in working on it so it wasn't a tough decision.
Ed Repka of Vic Rattlehead fame provided the artwork to "Advance and Vanquish". How did Ed become involved in the project and how much input did the band have in the overall concept?
We sent Ed a rough sketch of what we wanted and he based it on that.
What do you feel are the bands biggest steps forward between 2002's "Battlecry Under A Winter Sun" and "Advance and Vanquish"?
Touring the hell out of Battlecry helped us get on Roadrunner so probably that...touring.
	Much is made of your similarities, in vocal style, to that of Rob Halford. While extremely complementary, do you feel the band is beyond these type of comparisons?
	Bands will always be judged based on their influences, so comparisons will always be made.
	"Advance and Vanquish" is as much a Thrash album as it is homage to the NWOBHM. In an age of Nu-Metal domination, where do you see 3IOB fitting?
	Anywhere Nu Metal doesn't.
	With such a diverse influences within the band, what do you individually bring to the band?
	I bring a vocal style that is more commonly heard in European bands and not Canadian or American bands.
	After this spell of US dates, what is next up for the band?
	More touring probably.
	Is there a last message to the fans? Thanks for the taking the time!
	Extol the Necro Wizard.