MAY 5th 2024
ANGELS ON THE BATTLEFIELD
EXCLUSIVE
Our very own Metal Mom Rita had the opportunity to chat with JD McGibney about Angels On The Battlefield's new music video/single release. For those who haven't heard of Angels on the Battlefield, they are an epic instrumental metal band devoted to promoting self expression and finding your inner confidence. It was a pleasure to chat with JD again, and of course to promote their latest material. Check out the exclusive interview below for more.
MT - You released a music video for your new single 'Modern Prometheus' that was inspired by Mary Shelley's classic horror/Sci-Fi novel Frankenstein, did it turn out how you wanted ?
JD - The video for Modern Prometheus turned out better than my wildest expectations, in all honesty. This was our very first music video, and we handled every step of the project ourselves. From initial conception, to funding, even editing. We originally had the idea to put something together that would show off a bare-bones version of what people might see from us on stage, and it ended up turning into a full fledged music video. We pulled together a team of friends that believed in the project, and spent a whole day getting the footage we needed. Then I spent the next few weeks learning how to use Adobe Premiere and edited the video myself haha.
MT - Was it a long process from writing to the final production ?
JD - Writing the song, originally, didn’t take me all that long. It was one of those artistic moments where inspiration basically washed all over and through me back in 2019. The main structure of the song was finished in just a few days. The final recorded version came about a few years later in early/mid 2022. During lockdown, I was talking to Jason, Chris, and William, and each of them in turn joined the project and we started recording near the end of 2021. We took our time with it because we were trying to figure out how to meld each of our artistic styles into this piece without actually stepping into a room with one another to work things out. In the end, we ended up with a recording that all four of us are proud of.
MT - I know you were diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder, explain what this is and how it effected you ?
JD - Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD for short) is a mental health disorder that produces fear, worry, and a constant feeling of being overwhelmed. It is characterized by excessive, persistent, and unrealistic worry about everyday things. It’s something that has affected me for literally as long as I can remember. My earliest memories, even as a little kid of about 3-5 years old, there was this sense of worry and caution in the back of my mind at all times. I was always expecting something to happen, some danger to present itself, or something to go wrong. As I grew into adolescence, and eventually adulthood, it grew into this always present, yet subtle sense of impending doom that was alway with me. It affected most aspects of my life from my friendships and romantic relationships, my ability to focus and general productivity, even my ability to sleep.
When I was in high school, though, I picked up guitar, and playing music was a major source of therapy for me. Eventually, I went and sought the help of a licensed therapist to really work through everything that I was struggling with, but music definitely helped me stay grounded enough to come back to some kind of baseline for most of my life. I can easily say that if I wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for music.
MT - How do you manage it to conquer and move on in a positive way ?
JD - That is a very difficult question to answer because there are so many different ways we all conquer our myriad of battlefields each and every day. But, in general, having an artistic outlet in my life such as music helps me keep myself balanced. It lets me put my emotions into a physical context that I can understand and analyze in order to process what it is I’m feeling.
MT - I don't imagine it is an easy task, but I am thinking you have lots of wonderful people supporting you and making it a little easier ?
JD - I consider myself very fortunate to be surrounded by amazing friends and family. The guys in AOTB have been extremely encouraging and this project would be nothing if they were not part of it. My aunt and uncle, too, have helped me in so many different ways that it would take me a week just to list everything.
The truth it that I’ve been fortunate enough to have wonderful people by my side the majority of my life. It hasn’t been until relatively recently that I really started to understand and accept that. Once I did, though, life seems to have growth mush more colorful and vibrant.
MT - What made you decide to be all instrumental and no lyrics ? Great choice by the way, makes it much more epic.
JD - Angels on the Battlefield started out years ago as a personal artistic venture for me to just have fun. I’d tried working with several vocalists in the past, and I even tried doing vocals myself at one point. Nothing seemed to fit in my opinion; adding lyrics and vocals felt… forced, almost. So, I just decided one day that AOTB would remain instrumental.
MT - I see you were the first 'Brave Ambassador" , congratulations, and how did that come about, did you approach them to say you were interested, or did they come to you with this ? I love the idea as you really fight for those that struggle.
JD - Thank you for the kind words! I just like making people feel good, and want them to feel worthy and confident in their lives.
My relationship with This Is My Brave goes back to 2022, when I spoke at a fundraiser show they put on in Los Angeles. I opened up about my struggles with anxiety in public for the very first time, and followed that up with a short performance with Angels on the Battlefield. I had kept in touch with some of the corporate people since the show, and over time the opportunity arose to join their new Brand Ambassador program. Basically, Brave Ambassadors help spread TIMB’s mission of opening up about mental health struggles through their own already built communities. It’s a more intimate grassroots campaign that goes beyond the organizations public fundraising shows.
MT - Who did the artwork for this ? Very cool.
JD - The artist for the single is a guy named Kiren Bagchee (Kiren In Digital on Instagram). I’ve been following him on Instagram for a few years because I absolutely LOVE his work. I’d seen that he did this piece a while ago and thought “That would be PERFECT for Modern Prometheus!” When it finally came time to release the song he still had the piece available, so I reached out to him and snagged it.
MT - Can you explain the image to us, my first thought when I saw it, was who are the 3 white figures in front ?
JD - Kiren had done the art prior to even knowing about the song. I’m not sure what he was originally thinking, but for me, I always saw those three figured as representing Victor, his love Elizabeth, and the Creature (or in our case “Prometheus”).
MT - Your band consists of yourself, along with bassist Jason Klein, drummer William Liermann, and award winning TV and film composer Chris Wirsig on keyboard. How did everyone come to be in the band, friends, you searched for the best ?
JD - I actually met each of the guys at different points in my career, and built friendships with everyone over a few years. They only met each other for the first time through me when we had our first rehearsal! We actually recorded the song song and they hadn’t met yet haha. I met Jason when I was on tour with a band that was opening for his old band Butcher Babies. We got along well those few weeks, and stayed in touch. I met William shortly after that when we both played for the Chinese folk metal band Voodoo Kungfu. Again, we got along well enjoyed jamming with one another, and stayed in touch. And Chris, I met at this music event through some mutual friends. We ended up working on a small project of metal songs for his music library a few years ago, and then he eventually joined AOTB!
MT - What are your plans now for Angels on the Battlefield ?
JD - Up next we’re working with our manager to plan out some live performances this year, as well as finishing up a full length record.
MT - If you could up coming bands some advice, what would it be ?
JD - Some advice that I found very helpful, that did not hear quite nearly enough, is keep your art separated from your business. What I mean by that is when you are being creative, just be creative; don’t think about the business or writing “the next hit song.” Write what YOU would feel proud of putting into the world. When it is time to think of business, put your artistic mind aside and think of how to run your band like an actual business: What makes sense in the Long run? Make a business plan that outlines what you want to do in the next few years. Don’t be afraid to plan out finances and costs. Treat your art with love and emotion, and treat your Band like any other business and the two will feed and support one another.
I want to thank you so much JD for allowing Metaltitans to do this interview with you, we really appreciate the opportunity.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AOTB_band
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AngelsOnTheBattlefieldBand
New Song: Modern Prometheus