April 2001

Wasteland is a relatively new band on the Japanese metal scene, but the members are veterans of the scene and clearly know how to deliver great metal. The band's lineup includes U.S. guitarist Wes Moehlenbruck, who migrated to Japan to escape the weakening metal climate in the U.S. I decided to get the gaijin perspective on Wasteland and Japanese metal, so I asked Wes some questions about his journey from the West to make music in the East for metal fans all over the world.

What inspired you to play guitar, and what led to you heavy metal as your chosen musical style?
I grew up in a family of musicians; my uncles, my father, and my stepfather all played the guitar. They were the ones who initially inspired me to learn the guitar. Since 1986 when Gun's N Roses came out, I fell in love with rock and roll and heavy metal music. But the real inspiration behind my reason to play metal was Metallica.

What was the first metal album you bought? Was there a specific record or band that made you say, "Wow! Metal rules!"
My first "real metal" album would have been the "Black" album by Metallica. I was 13 then. But before them, I was really into hard rock music like GNR, Def Leppard, and Van Halen. Metallica's "Black" album was the record that started it all for me.

Who were some of your earliest influences as a guitarist and developing musician?
In the beginning it was mostly Metallica. My band Dragonyx would cover almost every song. It wasn't until I heard the guitar work of Yngwie Malmsteen that really changed it all. I bought Fire and Ice, and that was it for me. I lived by Yngwie's playing and wanted to be just like him. (Of course, this has changed now.) Yngwie also inspired me to discover classical music, which has also been a big influence on my playing.

What type of music did you play in your first band, Dragonyx?
Dragonyx was a heavy metal band from day one. When we started, it was mainly Metallica covers. We played almost every song they ever wrote. But we knew we'd never have a chance just playing covers. We eventually developed our own style and wrote our own songs.

Did you have another guitarist in the band, or were you the only guitar player in Dragonyx?
We had three guitarists! We were the only metal band in the area to have three guitars then, so it helped us get some recognition. But also, Iron Maiden had become a huge influence for us as a band, and we kind of adopted the dual harmony thing, but with a heavy rhythm section.

Where was the band located? Was there much of a metal scene in your area?
We were out of the San Francisco Bay Area, the same place great bands like Metallica and Testament came from. There wasn't much of a metal scene, but it seemed to be on the rise. I think we were the only metal band then who hadn't jumped on the rap-metal thing.

Did Dragonyx ever make any recordings or demos?
Yeah, we made a demo called "Metal Hangover." It was really raw and messy, and we recorded the whole thing in our drummer's bedroom on an analog 8-track. We started making a second tape, re-recording the old songs and adding new stuff, but we never finished it because we broke up before it was completed.

What were your expectations for Dragonyx?
In the beginning, Dragonyx was my life. All I thought about was Dragonyx and becoming the best metal band ever. I was so sure we would make it, but unfortunately this never happened, and the band broke up.

Why did the band split up after five years?
There are a lot of reasons, actually. There were some pretty nasty fights between the members, some even physical. But the main reason I would say is that we all were growing as people and finding interests in new music and other hobbies. Girlfriends, religion, and lack of interest in metal are just a couple of reasons for the band's split. The bass player (who is now in Total Eclipse) and I were the only ones who seemed to really want to continue Dragonyx. He and I continued to audition people to hopefully keep Dragonyx alive, but no one really fit the slot we wanted. We found a good singer, but things didn't work out with him as well. When I came to Japan, it was really the official end of Dragonyx.

Why did you decide to move to Japan? Did you consider going to Europe or any other places?
When Dragonyx ended, I was really bummed out. I wanted to play heavy metal music, but I couldn't find enough people with the same musical tastes as me. I even lost my passion for metal for a while. I started listening to a lot of dance/techno music and really got into swing bands like Cherry Poppin' Daddies. I even cut my hair all the way off, which at that time was almost down to my ass, ha ha. (It's back now, not quite as long, though.) I was working full time, not going to school, and pretty much bored with my life in the States. I felt as there was nothing going for me, and that I needed a change. Suddenly, an opportunity opened up for me in Japan, and I took it. I had always heard how the Japanese loved metal, and that Japan was full of extremely talented musicians. This was perfect for me because I knew there had to be someone there who had the same interests in music as I did. In the summer of 1998 I came to Japan for the first time to see how I'd like it. I loved it, and in the fall I moved here. I didn't really think about any place else. It wasn't like I was just choosing Japan among a whole list of places to go. It was just that Japan was the place an opportunity had opened up for me.

Was your family supportive of your decision to move to another country?
Yes, 100%. It was a little hard on my mom though. She understood my reasons, but as a mother, she really didn't want me to go. Overall, my family was very happy for me and they were all excited that I had a chance to experience a new culture and language. They knew it was an opportunity of a lifetime, and I'd probably never have this chance again.

Did you listen to much Japanese metal before you moved to Japan? Did you know a lot about Japan before you moved, or did you speak any Japanese?
No, almost none. I knew of Loudness, but not their music. And I knew Japan had a pretty good metal scene, but I hadn't heard any Japanese metal bands because not many have made it out of Japan. I knew a little bit about Japan because when I was younger, I had an interest in Japanese history and martial arts. But really I didn't know too much about the country, nor could I speak any Japanese. I do OK now, though.

When was Wasteland formed, and how did you hook up with Seki san and Iwata san? Were you familiar with their former bands (Guardian's Nail and Maelstrom, Led Stream, etc.)?
Wasteland was formed in the summer of 1999, during my first year living in Japan. When I arrived, I had hooked up with some Japanese musicians and tried to form a band playing my old Dragonyx songs. This went OK for a while, but I could tell we all differed musically and that it wasn't going work. We split, and I continued on my search to find musicians. One day I found this Japanese band called Guardian's Nail on the Internet. I downloaded a couple of their songs, and thought they were great. I decided to email the band to see if maybe they were looking for someone, or knew someone who was. Kyoshi Seki emailed me back, saying that Guardian's Nail had broken up and that he was already playing with a new band called Maelstrom, but if they ever stopped activity, he'd contact me. Well, that's exactly what happened. He contacted me saying he wanted me to meet him in Tokyo, and that he had a friend who was interested in singing. I think it was June of 1999, when I first met them both (Seki and Iwata) at the Silver Elephant in Kichijouji (Tokyo). We hit it off pretty good and decided to meet again soon to discuss song ideas and a musical style. Before this I hadn't heard of either Guardian's Nail or Led Stream.

How would you describe Wasteland's musical style and overall sound?
That's a hard one. Hmmm...I would say our music is very melodic, but at the same time very heavy. That's the intention. I wanna play harmonies and melodies, but I also want the music to be heavy and full of power and energy. I would say our style is power metal, but it's a bit different from the traditional power metal coming from Europe.

You were the only guitar player in Wasteland for a while, right? Why did you want to add a second guitarist?
Yes I was. I've never wanted to play in a one-guitar band. I like playing dual harmonies, and melodies, which isn't possible with just one guitar. Also, when playing live, two guitars are much heavier, and produce a thicker sound. From the beginning we knew we wanted to add a second guitar player, and I think two guitars make a better team.

You and Koizumi san have similar musical influences, especially Yngwie Malmsteen. Do your playing styles go well together, and are you comfortable as a team?
At first I wasn't sure if our styles would go together. He came from more of a hard rock background, and mine was more of the fast power metal stuff. We got along good, and he liked playing with Wasteland and knew the style we were aiming for. Maybe at first Wasteland wasn't exactly his style, but he has fit in great and is great guitar player. As a team we have taught each other new things that have hopefully helped us both to improve as musicians. Now I wouldn't want anyone else on guitar. He fits in perfect with Wasteland.

It seems that you've had several drummers already. How did you end up with Louis Sesto, formerly of Blindman?
I met Louis at a Blindman show in Meguro. He came up to me and we started talking about why I was in Japan, and how he knew Seki and Iwata. When I heard that Louis had left Blindman, I suggested we give him a call. I called him up and he agreed to try out and play with Wasteland, but only as a support member until we found somebody else. Power metal wasn't exactly his style of music, but he agreed anyway.

Why did Sesto san leave Wasteland?
Louis had said from the beginning that he would stop supporting Wasteland one day when he formed his own band. And while he was playing with us, I think he was also playing in two other bands. It got to be too much for him, so he had to cut his ties to the band. Since then he has returned to Blindman. It came at a bad time for Wasteland since we still had some shows lined up, and suddenly we were once again without a drummer.

Did you consider other drummers before asking Takano san (ex-Stillfire) to join the band?
No. Takano was the first person to audition after Louis left. Stillfire was breaking up at the same time Louis had left Wasteland, and we grabbed Takano right away. He came to our rehearsal and we asked him to join as a permanent member on his first audition.

How is a Wasteland song written? Is it a group effort, or do individual members write by themselves and then present a song to the band?
It's mostly a group effort. We all contribute our ideas and in the end we usually have a song written by all of us. I've come up with the majority of the material, but everyone adds their input, so it really feels like a group effort when it's all done. I will usually come up with a riff or basic theme and then present it to the band. Then we work with it and each person will throw in some ideas. Also, Kazu writes all the vocal melodies, which sometimes inspires a new idea or riff.

Who writes the lyrics, since they're in English? What inspires the lyrical themes and concepts of the songs?
Since they're in English, I write most of the lyrics. Kazu writes a basic melody and then I work with it into some words. He is pretty good at writing lyrics though, for someone not native to the English language. I'm inspired to write from stories I've heard or books I've read. "Valley of the Kings" came about from the story of the Ten Plagues of Egypt, after watching a TV documentary. (It has nothing to do with Gamma Ray's "Valley of the Kings," just to clear things up.)

Do you incorporate any songs or riffs from your Dragonyx days into the Wasteland material?
Yes. "Valley of the Kings" and "Fates Warning" are both old Dragonyx songs. The guys liked these songs when I showed them, and I thought that if we don't play them, no one else will. My previous members of Dragonyx certainly weren't playing them, and I didn't want these songs to die. Also, both songs were written by me, so I've never felt like I'm stealing songs that Dragonyx wrote. There are some other Dragonyx songs I'd like to try, but since they were co-written by my previous members, I wouldn't feel comfortable playing them with Wasteland. Also, when I brought these songs to the band, we rearranged them with new parts and finally finished the lyrics.

How many completed songs do you have? Describe them briefly, and tell which is your favorite.
We have six songs completed, but more in the making.

Valley of the Kings
An epic song of pure power metal about the Ten Plagues of Egypt. A real fast and driving song with a cool chorus, my favorite lyrically and a great live opener!
Sword of Stone
A hard driving mid-tempo song, very heavy. About the fake people of the world, the ones who deceive and lie.
In My Darkest Hour
This song is an upbeat, hard rock sounding song, a little different from the other material, but still Wasteland and still heavy.
Fates Warning
My favorite of all the songs. Another long epic song, but written around a story with a lot of meaning. A very heavy and powerful song, partly because the guitars are drop-tuned to D.
Into the Sky
The fastest song Wasteland has written. This song is definitely very power metal, and my favorite to play live. It really gets the crowd going.
The Killing Fields
The latest Wasteland creation, but the title may still change. A mid-tempo and melodic song that is easy to sing along to.

Tell us about some of the new material you're writing. "The Rapture" is supposed to be really heavy...
There's actually a lot of material, but since we've been playing shows pretty frequently, it's been hard to find time to finish the songs. "The Rapture" is one I've had in the making for a quite a long time. It's another drop D-tuned song and very heavy. 90% of it is done, including the lyrical theme, but it still needs some work though. We have lots of riffs and ideas still; they just need to be arranged into workable songs. I'm looking forward to giving our audience some new material in the near future.

Do you have plans to record a demo? Actually, you already have enough material for full EP or mini-LP...
It would be nice to finally make a demo. Actually we had started one about a year ago, but never finished it. It wouldn't have sounded too good anyway, since we didn't have a drummer at the time, and all the drums tracks were made on a computer. Now that we have Takano, I hope we can go into the studio soon and get something recorded, at least a two-song demo.

How often are you able to return to visit the U.S.?
I've been going home about twice a year, usually at Christmas and then a short trip in the summer. But as the band gets busier, it will be harder and harder to leave.

You're good friends with the guys from Total Eclipse, who were interviewed in HMF #2. How long have you known them?
I've known the bass player, Owen Hart, since birth, and we've grown up on heavy metal together. He and I were the only remaining members of Dragonyx. I've known the other guys in Total Eclipse since 1998 when Owen joined the band. Hopefully someday we can get them here to Japan and do some gigs together.

Do you think that your connections to the U.S. will help you bring Wasteland to the U.S. to play live at some point?
Yes, I believe that's possible. I have some friends there with good connections who can arrange some gigs if I ask. Playing the U.S. is always a goal, but I want to concentrate on our Japanese audience at the moment.

What kind of response has Wasteland received from international metal fans?
So far there hasn't been a lot, but we really haven't promoted internationally too much yet. I'm sure once we make a CD, we'll start trying to get some international recognition.

Do you think it's harder for a Japanese metal band to make it big internationally than for bands from Europe or elsewhere? I mean, great bands like Vigilante and Concerto Moon have only just recently had their records released in Europe, and of course nothing gets released here in the U.S...
The metal in Europe spans lots of countries with the help of bigger acts supporting the local unknown bands. In Japan it's not quite so easy to get heard outside the country. I think sometimes language barriers also pose a problem.

How often are you able to play live?
Lately we've been playing live a lot. We played last month, this month, and next month we've got two gigs. On May 5 we play with Vigilante, Mastermind, and Heritage, and May 6 is a special metal event with members of various bands jamming on cover tunes. Then there'll be a break to work on new material, and we have a show in July. There's also been a little talk about playing in Osaka this summer, but nothing has been decided yet.

What are some of the bands you've done gigs with?
Wow, there have been a lot of great bands we've played with. Let's see: Mastermind, Vigilante, Fairy Mirror, Heritage, Maverick, Tiananogue, Blasdead, Aiming High, Jack Daisy, Powersquad, and Takeru to name a few.

Which songs get the best response from live audiences at your gigs?
I'd have to say "Into the Sky." It is our fastest song and seems to put out the most energy. We usually save this one for last in our set.

I think you recently played your first show as a headliner?
Yeah, that was a great show. The crowd was really hyped and we ended with "Fates Warning" for the encore. It was pretty exciting for us as a newcomer band.

How was your recent show with Heritage? You were going to do a HammerFall cover tune...
Another great show with lots of great bands. Heritage put this show together and asked that every band throw a cover into their set. We played "Heeding the Call" by HammerFall, which the audience knew and sang along to.

If you could compile a short set list of cover tunes, what songs would you want to play?

• HammerFall — Heeding the Call (We've already played this!)
• Edguy — Power and Majesty
• Gamma Ray — Rich and Famous
• Kamelot — Nights of Arabia

What records have you been listening to lately? Do you have any favorite new bands?
I listen to a lot of underground power metal, Japanese bands, and various stuff I've found in Japan or on the Internet.

Some records I like are:

• Gamma Ray — Power Plant
• Edguy — Theater of Salvation
• Edguy — The Savage Poetry
• Tobias Sammet — Avantasia
• Rage — Welcome to the Other Side
• Kamelot — The Fourth Legacy
• Halford — Resurrection

My favorite new bands are Kamelot and Edguy.

What is your favorite album of 2001 so far?
The Savage Poetry by Edguy. The album is a re-recording of a 1995 album they did. The production is excellent, and the songs are awesome. A must for all power metal lovers.

How does the Japanese metal scene compare to the U.S. scene? Do you think there's any hope for metal to make a comeback in the U.S.?
The underground metal scene in Japan is great. There are shows every weekend, and the bands have lots of interaction with each other and really help to support one another. In the States it's not quite as good. There's metal, but the definition of a metal band in the U.S. seems to have changed. Bands like Korn, Limp Bizkit, and Papa Roach are classified as metal in the U.S, very different from the music heard in the metal clubs of Japan. There's always a chance metal will come back full swing, but radio and MTV are no help to most forms of metal. It might take another 15 years, but someday I think it'll be back.

That's all I have, Wes. Thanks very much for the interview. Feel free to add anything you'd like.
Thanks a lot Chris and HMF for the interview. This is the first interview I've done, and it's been a lot of fun answering your questions. It brought back some good memories of my days in Dragonyx. Well, the future for Wasteland looks bright, and I hope someday we can help the great metal coming from Japan to spread to the rest of the world.

For more information about Wasteland, visit the official Wasteland web site or send Wes some e-mail.