Take5 with Grace of Terror

The Grace of Terror lineup includes:

Stephen Soliz, 16, bass, Brownsville

Michael Vidal, 18, lead guitar/vocals

Isaac Gonzalez, 16, drums/backup vocals

Julio Castañeda, 18, rythm guitar/backup vocals

How did the band get it's name?

Michael: It was an idea from one of my friends.

Isaac: Grace of Terror represents the lighter side of heavy metal. That's what we are. We are heavy but with a melodic twist that's easy to sing to.

How did you get into music?

Isaac: I started playing piano at a very young age. That's where my influences in music started. That quickly changed to an interest in drumming in middle school and high school band 

Stephen: Ever since I was a little kid I would listen to the radio - I would listen to 94.5. My dad would put on the radio station and we'd listen to rock bands. I would hear some power chords and guitar chords and think ‘Oh, that's so cool.' When you're a kid, you think everything is cool. He bought me an electric guitar, a Behringer, and I practiced on that. Then I started listening to more rock bands - like, mainstream bands like System of a Down and The Offspring. Then I met these guys and they got me into metal.

Julio: My cousin introduced me to music. It wasn't metal, but it's what got me going.

Michael: I got into music, literally, when I was 15 years old. I hated music - I was just all about video games. It was really this band that I saw, a punk band. I saw them and I thought it was the coolest thing. This punk band getting all the girls and I was like ‘You know what, I'm going to do this too. I'm gonna play guitar and I'm gonna get all these girls.' (laughing) It kind of backfired on me. But I did stick to the guitar. Many kinds of music came to me. I started off with heavy metal like Metallica, Megadeth. And love the '80s metal scene. I love the big hair, the makeup, the spandex.

How did the band start?

Isaac: Myself and Julio were the founding fathers of GOT. Mike was in a band called Divine Fury when we met him.

Michael: We played with them at a talent show. When I left my old band they picked me up and we started just rocking. We went through, I think, two bass players that didn't work out and we went through a lead singer. It was a joke. Nobody liked us. Our first two shows were the worst. I wanted to walk out and cry. We needed somebody with a dedication and a drive. When we found Stephen Soliz, that's when we started getting really serious.

Stephen: I went through like four bands and none of them were serious. GOT picked me up on bass to be in one show, for the Battle of the Bands. I played that one show, learned five songs and we came in third. They asked me to be their permanant bass player and I said ‘hell yeah.' Is it ok to use this? It's what he said yeah JG. Our one year anniversary will be June 2.

How would you describe your sound?

Isaac: Metal. Progressive, in-your-face, thrash metal.

Julio: Our sound is more old school, '80s metal. We are heavily influenced by old school bands, not really any new ones.

Michael: There are a lot of influences really. From the Beatles to something as hard as Dream Theater and Symphony X. It's very progressive, melodic '80s heavy metal. I can name so many bands Rush, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Megadeth.

Stephen: My influences are like Judas Priest, a bunch of metal bands. We kind of get influences from every single band and put them together in our music.

How do you write your songs?

Isaac: It all starts with a foundation that I write, then Mike, Julio and Stephen embellish it with all sorts of different rythms and melodies.

Michael: Isaac is the composer here. He's really the heart of the band. He writes the skeleton of the songs and what me and Julio do is add flavor to it. Stephen adds texture to it.

What are the plans for the band?

Michael: I'm personally planning on staying with Grace of Terror for a very long time, as long as i stay in the Valley. I think it has a very original sound. Our next gig is going to be at Yo Yo's Bar & Grill in Houston. We would like to get more exposure around Texas. Playing in Houston, and Austin later in the summer, is going to be great exposure for us.

Ray Soliz, manager: We just got through recording, which is a big step. In the next couple of months we will be going back into the studio to try to get an EP out. We are also gearing up to do a Texas tour at the end of June, first of July.

Anything you would like to add?

Michael: We would like to give a special thanks to a lot of people. Our dearest friends, our parents, our manager, the fans especially. Without the fans we would be nothing.

If you are in or know a band you think should be featured in TAKE5, call (956) 982-6622 or e-mail us at thescoop@brownsvilleherald.com.