Steamroller Records Interview

Steamroller Records Interview

I conducted an interview with the founder of Steamroller Records, Will Borneman

Give a brief description of the origins of Steamroller Records. (story behind the name, when you got started, what made you decide to start an independent label etc)

"Steamroller Records was actually sort of the result of different things I was trying to do and basically me realizing that I was essentially trying to run a label. I'd been building up my home studio for 4 or 5 years and at different times during those years I was doing different things around the metal scene. Me and Mark McPheeters (who writes and does interviews now for SkullsnBones.com) tried to start a small metal booking outfit as far back at 2007/2008. I also got a CD printer together as well as continuing to record bands at the studio. I had always thought starting a label would be awesome - getting to work closely with underground bands, doing recordings, mastering and putting CD's out. So everything I was doing basically came together smoothly to form Steamroller Records. 

The name just came from trying to think of something huge and heavy like the metal we want to put out. Any other meanings it may contain you can imagine for yourself."

What was the first band you ever signed?

"The first band on the label officially was my own band Beeravore simply because of course we are using our studio to record and putting out our with CD with our equipment. The first band we officially signed a contract with, though, and released a CD for, is Plagues of Prophecy from Tennessee. Sort of black/death metal fusion with some real groovy parts too. Those guys are sick - definitely need to listen to them if you don't already. 

There were already a couple other bands associated with the label, like Severed Faith and Aborning both from Atlanta, but nobody else had signed an actual contract when Plagues of Prophecy did."

How many bands are currently signed to Steamroller Records?

"Currently we have Beeravore, Severed Faith, Control the Devastator, To Avoid Confusion, Plagues of Prophecy, Eyes of Torment, Cooter Punch, Desolate Anguish, Aborning and Dead Bastard, Perpetrator is in talks with the label and in our catalogue at the store we also distro for Exscruciate, Neuroblast, synapse Defect, Coathanger Abortion and more. So, about 11 bands putting out new material plus a few more we work with in other ways. "

Are there any specific bands you plan, or would like to sign to your label in the near future? 

"There are definitely tons more awesome bands out there, even just around Atlanta and the Southeast. A lot of bands I'm interested in turn out to already be on other small labels or doing their own thing, so it's my ultimate goal be offering bands the biggest percentages of money for their music, offering them the best services and the coolest most understanding label experience out there. I've been playing live music and releasing EP's and CD's for over a decade and I feel like have plenty of first hand experience knowing the thoughts and feelings and aspirations of underground musicians. I have a little help from Ryan (guitarist in Beeravore/bass in Coathanger Abortion) here and there and we both do this purely because it's what we WANT to be doing. I'd be doing the same stuff anyway whether it was called Steamroller or not. I don't make barely any money. I think artists can appreciate that and I hope that connection encourages more of the awesome underground acts that are out there to come talk to me about Steamroller."

What is your favorite band on the label?

"There's no way I'd pick a single favorite band on the label. All the bands on the label strike a chord with me musically in some way and that's why I wanted to work with them. All the music that's been recorded and/or released through Steamroller in the last year or so is awesome. Plagues of Prophecy's debut full length "Luscious Decrepit Bones" is really multifaceted and interesting. Really heavy and fast yet groovy at the same time. The upcoming debut album from To Avoid Confusion that I'm currently mixing is just pure badass brutality. Lots of brutal slam and actually some real soulful awesome sounding solos and leads throughout. Eyes of Torment is also getting their upcoming debut full length album together and all I can say is that a fervor is building around it. People loves those guys. The Control the Devastator EP is badass and they are getting ready to come in the studio and do a full length. And of course I love all the Beeravore stuff. Severed Faith is getting things going again also. Just lots of exciting stuff. 

And anything else you want to say about the label?

"Just that there is an absolutely immeasurable amount of brutal underground metal that is coming down the pipeline to be released on Steamroller, along with all the excellent music that we've already put out. These bands on this label are all growing and developing and turning into the next generation of well known top performing metal bands - and we are getting more of the best bands whenever and wherever we can. We are really just getting legitimately cranked up and I really believe Steamroller is reaching the artists who have the vision and talent to establish the next generation of brutal underground metal. So it's in every metal fan's best interest to keep up with us. The best ways to stay up to date with all this awesome music is at our facebook page and through our website - www.steamrollerrecords.com .

At our webiste - www.steamrollerrecords.com - you can get all the news about these guys' music, you can listen to and download some free tunes from our artists, check out reviews and interviews, take a look at their official pages, and a bunch more."