Saw*Kick Media

Scalera’s name my roll off the tongue like the latest STD to hit your local junior high school, but make no mistake these Cleveland thrashers deliver aggressive metal that is just as infectious. Formed in 2005 in the wake of other mildly successful local projects, Scalera have rubbed elbows with almost every A list metal act to come through town. We pinned guitarist James “J” Skrtich down to talk about the bands upcoming debut full length, hiding the ugly, and die hard metal fans.

S*KM: Let’s warm up the crowd a bit, for everyone out there who is unfamiliar with the band, paint us a quick self portrait of Scalera.

Scalera: Scalera is made of five guys with a huge passion for heavy music. Everyone in this band listens to different styles of metal. We think that’s what makes our music work so well. With everyone getting in on the writing we get all different feels.

S*KM: You guys have shared the stage with some high profile bands, are they generally cool guys or have you ever run into a band with an Axle Rose size ego?

Scalera: Everyone has been super cool. Especially Hell Yeah, Bloodsimple and Jamey Josta (Hatebreed). So far no Axl’s.

S*KM: It is rumored you are going to re-work a few tracks from your EP and that they will be included on the new album, what else can fans expect from the first extended cut from the band?

Scalera: There are a few tracks that we have talked about redoing. We have been writing a lot lately and we are totally digging the new stuff, it all depends on when we record and what we feel makes the album pound.

S*KM: You lent your track “My Tomb” to the upcoming documentary “Behind the Suit and Tie” which will attempt to unveil some truths about the business end of heavy metal music. Was this a project you were excited to be apart of?

Scalera: We are stoked about this project. The documentary is important so everyone understands how the biz works and it is a great way for us to get out to even more new fans.

S*KM: Do you have any suit and tie horror stories of your own?

Scalera: We do our best to fly straight and run Scalera as a band and do only good business. We have only canceled three shows in three years. Two were due to injury and one was due to bad weather.

S*KM: Metal fans seem to be one of the most dedicated fan bases in any genre, what is it about this style of music that provokes such dedication?

Scalera: We look at Scalera as a family. We are five brothers and the metal scene is the same way. It’s a giant family. I think what provokes it is the aggression and lyrical content. The pounding drums, the ripping guitars, gut wrenching screams. It’s all metal heads can relate too.

S*KM: All five members are sporting some kind of facial hair, what can a little man fur do for a band?

Scalera: It does nothing but hide the ugly.

S*KM: If you weren’t playing in a metal band, what type of music would you be playing, or is metal the only thing coursing through your veins?

Scalera:I love bands like Staind, Cold, Earshot, 30 Seconds to Mars. But metal runs in my veins. Its aggression and power keeps me moving.

S*KM: Can you recall the moments that lead to your decisions to pursue a career in music?

Scalera: I remember being like 6 years old watching bands like Guns N’ Roses, Firehouse, shit all the 80’s bands and just wanting to play guitar so bad. It was just something that never left me till I finally got one. Don’t think it ever will leave me either.

S*KM: If you had to evaluate the bands current standing of awareness amongst the metal community, where would you rank?

Scalera: Not as high as we want to be. There is always more work to be done. When you think you don’t have any more work to do, you find more. We want a Scalera CD in everyone’s hands.

S*KM: If you could pick two of your biggest influences to face off against each other in a metal showdown, which would they be and who would come out victorious?

Scalera: It is way to hard to say. I am a huge fan of Machine Head. But there are so many influences that are pulled from I think they would end up in a pile bruised and broken.

S*KM: Would you care to the leave the people of Saw*Kick and Team Scalera with any parting words or updates they should know about?

Scalera: We will be working a new album starting very soon! Scalera will be hitting the road hard. If you would like us to get to your area please send us club info so our management can get on it. All the help we can get is appreciated!

You can listen to Scalera for yourself at www.myspace.com/scalera and you can see them live next on Friday, September 19 at the Hi-Fi in Lakewood, Ohio.

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