MIKE PORTNOY

'Metal Is Bigger And Better Than Ever'

Former DREAM THEATER and current SONS OF APOLLO and METAL ALLEGIANCE drummer Mike Portnoy was recently interviewed by Anne Erickson. You can now listen to the chat below. Asked for his opinion on the state of the current heavy metal scene, Portnoy said: "I think metal is bigger and better than ever. It went through a rough period in the late '90s and all of my favorite metal bands went through these horrible changes and the industry kind of just shut it out. But I would say the last 15 years or so, it's been back and bigger and better and stronger than ever." Portnoy added that the sophomore album from METAL ALLEGIANCE will tentatively arrive in June or July via Nuclear Blast. Initially conceived as a covers band, the project, which features Mike, David Ellefson (MEGADETH) and Alex Skolnick (TESTAMENT) alongside a rotating cast of high-profile musicians, "basically taps in to my love and involvement in the metal world," Portnoy said. In addition to Portnoy, SONS OF APOLLO features guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal (ex-GUNS N' ROSES), bassist Billy Sheehan (THE WINERY DOGS, MR. BIG, DAVID LEE ROTH) and vocalist Jeff Scott Soto (ex-JOURNEY, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN'S RISING FORCE). SONS OF APOLLO's debut album, "Psychotic Symphony", was released last October via InsideOut Music.