Kyle Howard Martriden
Interview May 2008

by Matthew Hoffman
Staff Writer

Hardrock Haven: Where did this “sickness” (affinity for extreme metal) come from?

Kyle: It’s kind of natural how it happened actually. I listened to Metallica’s And Justice for All and other similar bands when I was in school. And I guess I never really grew out of it. You could say, I never lost my passion for it.

HRH: What specifically attracted you to that style of metal?

Kyle: Back then it was the intensity, the aggression of bands like Megadeth. When I was off in college my kid brother and his best friend (band members Shane and Will) were jamming all of the time together in our basement trying to cover all the guitar parts from bands like Megadeth and Slayer. Meanwhile while I was at school I was getting into heavier stuff like In Flames, so when I returned it was a natural progression into harder and darker stuff.

HRH: Back in the days they used to list the solo work like Solo Hanneman/Solo King on the liner notes of the album. On your record who plays what as three of you are listed as guitarists?

Kyle: I actually did not play any of it. I wrote the guitar parts, but Will and Shane recorded them. I played the keyboards on this record.

HRH: How were you able to write the guitar parts? What sort of formal training did you have to prepare you?

Kyle: I have a Musical Education Degree (from Northern Colorado) and believe it or not I teach High School Band. Will takes lessons and is going to school for classical guitar; Shane and I were self taught.

HRH: The main reason I was attracted to your EP last year and names you guys Band of the Month on www.hardrockhaven.net was the piano pieces really set off the aggression with a nice beauty that is rarely combined in darker metal genres. What is the actual instrument you recorded with as much of it was rather diverse?

Kyle: I used a keyboard and several expensive programs for enhancements (to make the notes sound like they came from other things like Hammond Organ etc...)

HRH: What were your inspirations?

Kyle: When I was in high school I was big in the piano so all of the great classical composers like List, Chopin, Rachmaninoff you know the romantic piano virtuoso guys.

HRH: I got to know a few of those from the shred guys that have taken a bunch of their material that was meant to be played by an orchestra and positioned it to be played only on the guitar. What’s your take on the neo-classical genre?

Kyle: I actually hate that shit. I think all those neo-classical guitarists are a bunch of show offs.

HRH: Yeah I hear that occasionally from serious musicians that see it all as masturbatory and how fast can you play nonsense. I happen to like it because of those exact reasons, but see much of it for what it is.

HRH: What do your parents and grandparents think of this extreme music and the dark messages?

Kyle: Well my only grandmother has Alzheimer’s so she really is not able to understand it, but my mom and dad are cool with it, although my mom does check out the lyrics of the songs pretty closely.

HRH: In this small town, do they understand that you guys are being spoken of all around the world? Do they get Martriden?

Kyle: Not really many of these kids are into that stupid American Idol garbage, but those that know us only know it’s loud and heavy.

HRH: They playing any of your stuff on the radio like XM or Sirius?

Kyle: I actually don’t subscribe to the satellite stations but many people have come up and said they heard our stuff which is rather cool.

HRH: What are your dreams?

Kyle: Will and Shane are pretty close to finishing college, so I’m biding my time ‘til we can start getting on the road and playing gigs.

HRH: Well thanks for your time tonight, take care and good luck in the future with Martriden.

Kyle: Thanks for all your support.