Metal Mayhem: Firstly, can you please introduce yourself and the rest of the band?
Bill Halliwell: I'm Bill-bass guitar, P.C-vocals, Al-guitar, Mas-guitar, Sandy-drums

MM: Can you tell us a bit about how you all got together to form Strain?
BH: We've all known each other since being kids and playin in other bands, learnin to play together, when we all got to about 18 yr old we decided we wanted to commit to a serious band and make a real go of things and strain was born

MM: After releasing a few demos over the years, this year you finally signed a deal with the new UK based label Total Impact. How did this deal come about?
BH: We've known nigel from extreme radio for a few years and he has always been a fan of the band playin our demos on his shows, he set up TIR with a business partner so came straight to us first

MM: Your debut "Strain" has just been released, to some very impressive reviews amongst the majority of the press. Are you surprised at all by just how well it has been received? BH: We're all really happy with the reviews, not really supprised as i think people have been looking for bands like us over the past few years as there has been a lack of new bands playing this old school kind of metal, a few people have said we are not original or its all been done before but we do what we do cos thats what we think is fuckin cool, we arnet gonna try and be original just for the sake of it like gettin an electric violinist or somethin MM: Whilst on the subject of being well received, I hear you guys were highly praised by Iron Maiden front man Bruce Dickinson on his BBC Radio 6 Radio show the other night. Can you tell us what was said?

BH: Yeah he said if you like heavy groovy bands like corrosion of conformity and pantera youll like strain, one of the coolest things ive ever fuckin heard cos i love all the maiden stuff and the bruce stuff like tattooed millionaire and balls to picasso ect...

MM: Overall, what can people expect if they haven’t heard Strain yet?
BH: Old school, straight up, groovy heavy metal with screaming vocals. nothing too uptight, just kick arse music

MM: What sort of subjects do you deal with lyrically?
BH: I cant really speak for Paul but i know he sings about personal things not stuff like politics or comedy stuff, just his own things

MM: Despite a relatively short career, you’ve already toured with some very impressive bands and appeared on some great bills. Can you tell us a bit about them and what would you say has been your favourite gig so far?
BH: Yeah weve been lucky to play with some cool bands like ORANGE GOBLIN, CHARGER, RAGING SPEEDHORN, MENDEED and KYRBGRINDER. Its always great and a bit nerve racking to play with a band with such experience but its a good thing as you learn from stuff like that. Weve just come off a 9 day tour with charger and that really opened up our eyes to what it takes to be a touring band and be good at what you do. As far as favourites go it'll definately be one of the gigs off this last tour just cos charger were such cool guys, prob the one we did at the dome in london as we played with the mirimar disaster as well and the gig just fuckin rocked then we all got wasted afterwards

MM: British Metal has been on the rise over the last couple of years. Do you think is has improved and what is your opinion on British Metal at the moment?
BH: I think its gettin a lot better, more bands are startin to play the old school style of metal what we have always been into instead of finding new trends so its cool

MM: Now that the album is out and about, how do you plan to build on this success? BH: Lots and lots of touring, just getting our name out there really, that plus writing a fuckin jawdropping second album, plus more of these MM: Is there anything else you hope to achieve before the end of 2007? BH: Rock superstardom ;-) MM: How about upcoming tours/gigs, are there any big ones we should know about coming up? BH: We have alot of dates being booked now leading up to our own official headlining tour in september followed by a tour in october with kybgrinder (tbc) then plans for a big band tour towards the end of the year so were gonna be keeping busy (not a bad life eh)

MM: Thanks for answering a few our questions. Is there anything else you’d like to say to our readers, or any last comments?
BH: Metal up your ass! (in a young dave mustaine voice)

Till next time, take it easy Bill

Chris Rogers