Gatekeeper was sort of my first attempt to put a little bit of a frame and boundaries around songwriting, and try to figure out a way to approach it that had a sort of end result in mind. I havent written many like that.

I don't think that village idea of actually knowing what you're contributing to the whole exists anymore.

I've always been a bit wary of keyboards because there's an invisibility to it - you're not really hitting anything.

I was grateful to be away from all that familiarity, to have a chance to do something anonymously.

I think that's more a reflection of the fact I've never been a student of any particular school of writing, or even listening.

There's real potency in metal. Metal fans love metal as if it's a nation they would fight for. It's not diluted by pop culture.

I know I'm sane I don't give a care for the crown or the shield I will not protect you or happily yield To the one who makes me come undone