When a band out of Pittsburgh formed in 04', I don't think that they expected to be an instant success like they were. And when the "Roses on White Lace" Ep was released, fans were taken by what Icarus Witch had to offer. They resonate a NWOBH sound and style that is true to the core. As "Capture the Magic," their first full-length cd was released, the band hit a major home run in the eyes of those watching. In fact "Capture the Magic" is not only one of my favorite songs of all time, but the Vid is my absolute favorite as well. Never have I seen a band so new in formation, rank right up there with the Gods of Metal that we have grown up listening too. This band definitely carries a torch for the next generation of traditional metal. Beautifully composed and mastered music with angelic melodic vocals. This band is not just up there with a look, they bring a drive that is true of themselves. All it takes is one listen to notice that the passion is from the heart and right up there with the perfection that both Iron Maiden and Judas Priest have delivered throughout time, and staying true to their genre.

The Band consists of: Chris Batton --drums, Quinn Lukas--guitars, Matthew Bizilla--vocals, and Jason Myers--bass..

With the band's latest release of "Songs for the Lost," two things can be said:
The music is off the charts, this band is definately in for the long haul. Secondly, this in my opinion was one of the best cd's of '07 in this genre, if not the best. With this being said lets see what the band had to say...

MB: = Matthew Bizilia / Vocals
JM: = Jason Myers / Bass
QL: = Quinn Lukas / Guitar

Metal Mike and The Montalian: As Icarus Witch has progressed beautifully since the band's inception, and you have done quite a few songs... we were wondering if there is one tune that you guys do, that stands above the rest in your opinion and why?

JM: That's a good question. I don't know that we've penned our definitive anthem yet. I'd have to say "The Sky Is Falling" is probably our best effort overall, in terms of balancing the large memorable hooks with a healthy dose of classy musicality. It's not a show off song, and I've always held that we're not a show off type band. I think there is too much of that in general and ultimately it becomes futile & forgettable. So rather than trying to cram as many chops & "look at me" tricks into every bar, we focus on writing the strongest, hopefully long-lasting songs. With that criteria, I'd say "Sky" has been the pinnacle.

Metal Mike and The Montalian: Would you say "Songs for the Lost" is your best cd, or the best work you have done to date?

JM: Overall, I think it is our strongest work to date. As for whether it is a great metal CD, of course, that's up to the listener. Obviously, we think it is, or we would never have released it or spent a half a year producing it. We hold ourselves to a very high standard, as does our producer Eric Klinger. Our best work lies ahead, but SFTL is surely a landmark for us, and a healthy measuring stick for us to attempt topping the next time out.

Metal Mike and The Montalian: As we are fairly new overall to your band, as far as knowing about each member and the bios and such, We were wondering how the band formed? as well as where the name Icarus Witch came from?

JM: The band technically began in early 2003 when I was still living in Los Angeles and wanted to form the ultimate, classic metal band that would bring back the style and energy of the early masters of metal from the 70s & 80s. After many disappointing auditions and attempts, I decided to try a different approach, returning to the area that I grew up in back in western Pennsylvania. It had been years since I went back there, but I had kept in touch with a few players and had a hunch that there would be more metal heads who stayed true to the old ways in an area like this that was more blue collar and, frankly, a bit stuck in the past, which in this case was something I considered to be a positive.

When I moved to Pittsburgh around Halloween, 2003, I hooked up with a drummer named Keith Hurka who I was in a band with many years ago. He turned me on to a demo CD that he had featuring 2 songs by a singer named Matthew Bizilia. I was so impressed with what I heard and couldn't believe this guy wasn't already a signed star with pipes like that. I knew he had the perfect voice for what I wanted to do so we arranged a meeting & jam session. After hanging out at his studio and rummaging through his CD collection, where I found things like Awaken The Guardian, Uriah Heep, Rainbow's Long Live Rock & Roll & nearly every Mercyful Fate, well, let's just say I knew I found a kindred spirit in this mission.

If I went through every musician we've had in the band, it would take hours to explain, so I'll just say, we've had several fantastic players over the years who contributed their part to each phase along the way. In terms of the current line-up, we met Quinn a few years ago when he was still in mortuary school training to be a mortician and playing in a phenomenal 80s metal cover band as well as playing the part of Randy in an Ozzy tribute band. These chops combined with the original songs he'd worked on in other bands and his explosive stage presence made him the ideal candidate for our band. It was obvious, he intimately knew the styling, technique and work of the classic metal gods, yet he had a very unique sound & energetic flair that I knew would translate perfectly to our original music. He joined us in the summer of 2006 and became a vital part of our stage show and a writing partner for the Songs For The Lost sessions.

Just prior to entering the studio for SFTL, our drummer at the time decided to quit so we did those sessions using our producer, Klinger on drums, who fortunately, is a world class drummer in his own right with the heavy hands and an impeccable sense of timing. Throughout those lengthy recording sessions we were advertising for and auditioning drummers from all over. One guy by the name of Chris Batton stood above the rest in terms of how he fit with our style and mission. One of the reasons we'd gone through so many drummers up 'til this point was because, again, we favor the early style of playing, guys like Cozy Powell, Nicko McBrain, Scott Rockenfield, Tommy Aldridge, those heavy hitters that knew how to rock and play for the song without getting carried away by excessive speed or trying to cram blast beats into songs that could be better served by tasty grooves. We'd played a show with Chris's former band and had stayed in touch with him. He contacted our management when we were auditioning and came out to the rehearsal room very prepared, very professional and just as importantly had the sense of humor and personality that immediately clicked. These details become more crucial when you're on the road for days at a time, cramped in a van or sitting in an airport for hours. You need someone that not only can keep up with the chops, but that will keep you entertained and not losing your mind. Chris had obviously already lost his and always managed to keep us in stitches. Ironically, he's one of the most normal looking guys you'd see in a metal band, but beneath the mild-mannered facade is a total freak show.

Metal Mike and The Montalian: What is the metal scene like over all in Pitt. PA?

MB: It's hit or miss like most cities. We only play Pittsburgh a few times a year and the turnout and support is always fantastic, but we're on the road or in the studio so much that its tough to keep track of what everyone else is up to. I know there are some great new bands like Crown The Lost, Grave Desire & Argus who we've played with that are each unique from one another & stand out in their own right. There are a few clubs that are cool to play, but the biggest gripe I have is the lack of professional clubs that allow all ages shows on a regular basis. It's set up to where a band like ours, that does have a younger fan base at home, often has to choose between making money and playing the 21+ venues or losing money and keeping our under 21 fans happy. We try to balance those and look for unique situations that can accommodate both. It shouldn't have to be that way, but it's a reality of the situation in the Pittsburgh scene.

Metal Mike and The Montalian: Jason how did you become a bass player? And who pushed you down the avenue of becoming a musician?

JM: I remember when I was a little kid looking in my mother's Sears catalog at the guitars. This was before I knew the difference between a standard electric guitar and a bass. I just knew that the bass was bigger and looked cooler! [laughs]. Also, for whatever reason, my father always had the bass cranked all the way up and the treble almost completely down on our home stereos, so I guess I got used to really hearing pronounced bass lines in music, especially when that's all you hear from the other room. Like, "what is it that's making THAT noise" It seemed so powerful because it moved the speakers more and rattled the walls.

Of course long before I got my first bass at age 13, I was acting the part of Gene Simmons in our fake KISS concerts, using things like tennis rackets and home made wooden guitar cutouts. Once I got my first bass, my life changed forever, it became all about Geezer Butler, Steve Harris, Geddy Lee, Chris Squire, John Entwistle...guys that really defined the sound of their bands by their bass style. I took classical and jazz lessons for a few years, which at the time I thought was jive. I liked the classical stuff because I was really into Yngwie and the way he played bass, but the jazz just seemed corny at the time. Now, many years later, I appreciate having that foundation and find myself incorporating elements of those walking bass lines into our songs. If you listen to a song like "House Of Usher" you'll hear straight up jazz bass in a metal context. As a child I just wanted to learn how to rock, now I find myself listening to Charlie Parker, Miles Davis and cats like that nearly as much as I do with rock. You never want to think that adults know what they're talking about when you're a rebellious snot nosed kid, but I'm thankful that I did get a healthy dose of classical, jazz, traditional country, nu wave, disco, 70s pop, anything that makes your ass move!

Metal Mike and The Montalian: Are there any side projects in the works, or is Icarus Witch all there is?

JM: Icarus Witch is it. I know that the guys in the band, myself included, have interests outside of classic metal and will probably at some point branch out with some solo projects. But to be honest, this is what is happening for us now and it takes so much time and focus every single day to push Icarus Witch that we don't have time for bands outside of this. If someone started to play out regularly with another band or put a lot of energy into a side thing, I'd understand from an artistic side, but at the same time I'd be really pissed because I know that every day I wake up & immediately start working on something to benefit Icarus Witch, be it writing songs, designing merch, doing interviews, booking shows, etc. The way I feel is that if anyone has a minute to spare, it should be put into promoting the cause of this band. I know that's what I do, and I expect the same dedication from anyone in the band. It's only fair.

Metal Mike and The Montalian: As support for our fav bands is key in making metal last. We were wondering what are some of the bands and cds you may have recently seen or purchased?

JM: I buy sell and trade CDs all of the time. Though as you've likely gathered from our sound, the records I generally buy are classic metal bands from the 70s & 80s. In terms of newer bands though, I recently bought the newest Gotthard album on iTunes. I also picked up CDs from a Swedish band called Black Bonzo who really have that early Uriah Heep / Queen vibe down. Very theatrical and epic sounding. My favorite band of recent years is a another Swedish band called Eclipse. Just outstanding melodic rock that falls somewhere between Europe, Malmsteen, Badlands and maybe a darker Mr. Big. Also, Witchcraft from Sweden get me in a good mood with their doomy, retro Pentagram type rock. Man, I guess I should just move to Sweden!

Though we have much in common, the tastes of the other band members varies. Quinn is really into bands like High On Fire, Mastadon and a lot of those dirty, Southern metal and stoner bands. Matthew's more of a traditionalist, listening to early psychedelic bands as well as some of the lost classics like Tony Martin era Sabbath or pre-87 Whitesnake. Chris is also into a lot of progressive rock & metal. All of our styles and interests blend pretty effortlessly, balancing the dark doom with the melodic beauty, the balls-out riffing with just enough intricate virtuosity to keep the musicians alert while not putting the basic heavy rock fan to sleep by noodling on scales & solos for minutes at a time. I think our differences add as much to the Icarus Witch sound as our commonalities.

Metal Mike and The Montalian: Matthew, what lead you to become a
vocalist, and what kind of formal training have you had, if any?

MB: As a little kid, it started with radio hit bands, you know, Hall & Oats, Billy Idol, the early MTV stuff that you mimic things like Rod Stewart that my mom would listen to. But soon the first Motley Crue and Def Leppard albums were taking over. "Shout At The Devil" changed my world. That was a gateway into darker territory like King Diamond, Rob Halford, John Arch, Paul DiAnno, guys like that. Strong band leader types. Now I can look back and appreciate the masters like Freddie Mercury, Robert Plant, David Coverdale. Again, the real masters of their domain.

As for formal training, I haven't had any, though I've played drums in previous bands as well as some guitar & bass, so I have a pretty good understanding of music and the role vocals play in the songwriting process.

Metal Mike and The Montalian: Do you guys hang out when you're off the road - outside of making music?

MB: Sure, occasionally, but since several of us live over an hour from each other, any time we can get a spare moment to be together, we figure we should be working on music or band-related activities. But you know, after a long rehearsal session, it's not unheard of for some of us to end up at the pub knocking back a few.

Metal Mike and The Montalian: Quinn, what is the coolest show you have done so far?

QL: H.O.A. was by far one of the coolest shows to date. Anytime you get a chance to play a festival scene, is an incredible experience. Thousands of metal heads banging their heads and screaming every word...... awesome!!!!!

Metal Mike and The Montalian: What plans does the band have left for the summer, after you have finished with MetalFest?

QL: Keep touring, keep reaching out to new markets while revisiting the ones we've done good in and get back into the studio to record a new album one song at a time.

Metal Mike and The Montalian: As Doro is one of my fav metal ladys and one hell of a talent, we were wondering if you guys had played with her before, and have you seen her live performace?

JM: Matthew and I saw her do an intimate "unplugged" type of set at the BWBK 6 Pack Fest in Cleveland a few years ago. That's where we met her. I don't think I've seen her full band perform yet, so I'm looking forward to opening for her, and then kicking back to take in her show. We're all fans of hers, especially Matthew, he's got it bad for her, I think dating back to the earliest Warlock days!

Metal Mike and The Montalian: What are the shows like for you guys when you hit the Pittsburgh Area?

MB: They're a bit more stressful at home actually. When you're on the road, it's like your band vs. the world. You pull into a different city and a different adventure each night. When we do hometown gigs, it's more involved. You've got all of the guest list drama, friends, family, etc. Band members driving and arriving separately. More pressure outside of just the performance. But those shows are often the largest, most enthusiastic crowds as well, so in the end it's worth it to put some extra effort into making the Pittsburgh gigs really shine.

Metal Mike and The Montalian: Whos idea was it to cover 'Mirror Mirror'? You guys did an awesome job on that tune bye the way. I did however think it was a little bit of a reach from the NWOBHM sound that you guys resonate.

JM: That one was Matthew's idea and the reason we chose a Def Leppard song in the first place was because we were invited to take part in a high profile Def Leppard tribute album that was going to also feature guys from Motley Crue, Quiet Riot, Dangerous Toys and the like, so we said absolutely. However, after we began tracking, the label put the tribute on the shelf. So essentially, we had the basic tracks ready to go. Next we started recording "Songs For The Lost," and decided that "Mirror Mirror" would fit in well with the originals we were creating. It may seem like a stretch, but to be honest, that's more rewarding and exciting to go for something a bit unexpected. And after all, Def Leppard were part of the N.W.O.B.H.M. originally, before they morphed into a pop band later in their career. We love those early Lep albums and that song gets a real good response on the radio and at shows. It gives us a nice break in our set to just rock out and lock in with the crowd.

Metal Mike and The Montalian: What is next for Icarus Witch, and when can we
expect to see a new vid?

MB: Funny you should word it like that, because working on a new video IS what's next for Icarus Witch. Actually, we're working on 2 videos for songs from the new album as well as collecting footage for an ultimate live DVD. Also, we're writing and demoing new songs for the next album and putting together new merch for the next run of road shows we're about to embark on, including gigs with Doro, Candlemass and a small tour with Trouble interspersed with headline dates around the east coast and some really cool festivals coming up this summer.

Metal Mike and The Montalian: In closing is there anything you guys would like
to add or say?

JM: Oh no, I've said too much... lol

myspace.com/icaruswitch