Thrown Into Exile Make Their Big Break Touring Mayhem

Thrown Into Exile

Thrown Into Exile at Mayhem Festival June 29 in San Manuel Amphitheater

Relatively new to the metal scene, Thrown Into Exile plans to seal their fate as a band to follow as they hit the metal road with the Mayhem Festival tour this summer. They are not to be missed as they join the metal circus at their second stop on the tour at the San Manuel Arena in San Bernadino, CA on Sat., June 29.

OC Concert Guide (OCCG) had a chance to speak with guitarist, Mario Rubio, on what it takes to be on the road to metal success in todays crazy music market.

OCCG: The band formed in 2011 and you are already touring with Mayhem, what is the group doing to prepare for the Mayhem tour?
MR: Countless hours of rehearsal to make sure we’re spot on with our set.

OCCG: Which groups or musicians is the band most excited about sharing the stage with at Mayhem?
MR: That’s a tough one! We’re excited about Children Of Bodom, Battlecross, Machine Head, Mastodon, Amon Amarth, our friends in Butcher Babies and of course, Rob Zombie!

OCCG: Most of the Thrown Into Exile sites talk a lot about bands the group sounds like or is inspired by, can you elaborate more on what groups inspire your music?
MR: Absolutely, we’re influenced by bands like Black Sabbath, Pantera, Slayer, Metallica, In Flames, Machine Head, Slipknot, Killswitch Engage, Anthrax, Megadeth, The Misfits. I mean the list goes on and on and on! But there’s also stuff outside of metal, our drummer Chase comes from a jazz, funk, & R&B background and I really enjoy listening to Louis prima, dean Martin, Frank Sinatra etc.

OCCG: What type of music or groups would surprise your fans that the group listens to maybe while touring or when you are not working on music for the band?
MR: Me personally I really like listening to depeche mode, the smiths/morrissey, Louis Prima, dean Martin, along with a lot of punk that I’ve recently been getting into like dr.know, black flag, circle jerks, and the casualties. But as far as the other guys you would have ask them 🙂

OCCG: What is the performance and training history of the members of Thrown Into Exile?
MR: Training for a performance always happens in the studio while rehearsing a set we will all throw down in there to prepare for upcoming shows and structuring the set.

OCCG: How is the writing process for the group? Is it lyrics then music or music then lyrics?
MR: It varies, it could be Colin or myself coming in with a riff to practice or half written material and then we piece it together or chase and Erik will have a drum pattern idea and we’ll write to his beat. Once the music is there Evan brings the lyrics.

OCCG: Did you work with a producer on your latest LP or are you pretty self produced? How important is a producer to the metal genre compared to pop or electronic?
MR: Yes, we worked with Mike Spreitzer of DevilDriver on our ep and actually are working with him for a album. I think it’s extremely important for any genre of music to have a producer not only because its a extra opinion but its another pair of ears and a creative mind that can help steer the song in a new direction that will benefit the band as a whole and of course the right producer will push you to get the best material out of you.

OCCG: Many metal bands have collaborated with electronic artists, do you feel that would be something Thrown Into Exile would do and if so, which electronic artist or DJ would most suit the band?
MR: We’ve joked around with that idea, but we’ve never sat down and really discussed it. Which means I have to do some research on electronic and DJ artist that could work with us!

OCCG: What advise do you give metal or hard rock bands trying to get noticed by fans today? What has the band done that you feel sets it apart from the music industry model?
MR: How bad you want it and how hard you are willing to work for it. If you want something that bad there is no obstacles. Be active on all sorts of social media, you have a free promotional tool…USE IT TO YOUR ADVANTAGE! Put your band in front of the right crowds, being in a LA-based band it’s not that hard to get gigs out here, but a lot of bands aren’t really down with doing pay to play shows, which I get and understand BUT playing devils advocate when your a opening local band there’s no guarantee on how many people you will bring to the show so it’s a challenge, but if it means opening for a national act, why not?