The mostly still-teenaged Scottsdale, Arizona-based Age of Evil, easily keep pace with the big boys on their latest release, the six-track EP, ‘Get Dead.’ Picture vintage crushing thrash metal with sweeping Iron Maiden-esque guitar harmonies, and you’re not far off from what the group (which is comprised of two brother teams) – singer/rhythm guitarist Jeremy Goldberg (age 19), lead guitarist Jordan Ziff (18), bassist Jacob Goldberg (18), and drummer Garrett Ziff (20) – specialize in. Are you ready for a chat with Goldberg and Ziff? Then let’s hit it…
Jordan Ziff & Jeremy Goldberg
Photo Credit: Shelley Jambresic
How and when did you start playing guitar?
Jordan: I started taking lessons at age 6 or 7 – I don't really remember. But I always for the longest time wanted to play guitar and be really good at it. I also wanted to play in front of thousands of people every night. There is no place more enjoyable than being on a stage playing guitar.
Jeremy: I started playing guitar when I was about 12 years old. Jordan had already been playing for about 4 or 5 years and I was motivated to catch up. Especially when I saw all of the chicks he was getting I knew I wanted to be in the guitar playing business.
Early influences?
Jordan: I'd say they were probably Carlos Santana, Jimmy Page, Angus Young, Marty Friedman, Randy Rhoads, Eddie Van Halen, Yngwie Malmsteen, John Petrucci, Jake E. Lee, Nuno Bettencourt, Zakk Wylde, Warren DeMartini, Jimi Hendrix.
Jeremy: Jimmy Page, Randy Rhoads, John Petrucci, Marty Friedman, Jason Becker, and Zakk Wylde to name a few.
How did the band form?
Jordan: Well my brother Garrett and I started playing around the same time and we both had the dream of being in a band and touring the world. So did our best friends Jacob and Jeremy. Jacob bought a bass guitar about 2 or 3 years after I started playing guitar and soon after that Jeremy bought his guitar and we started jamming.
Jeremy: I'd have to say that first off, I wouldn't be in a band if it weren't with the other three guys. We've known each other for 13 or 14 years and it wouldn't be the same with any one missing. The movie \”That Thing You Do\” really inspired us to be in a band and I do believe that movie is pretty much based off the story of The Beatles, so I gotta say that The Beatles indirectly started our band.
Jeremy Goldberg
Talk about latest release.
Jordan: Well it's a pretty damn metal album I have to say. It's very raw. I really dig the rawness cause you can hear the attitude. It's all about the attitude and thats what all these new fuckin' bands are forgetting. Its like metal is turning pop with the vocal tuning and the fake ass drums. A shit ton of bands now a days have fake programmed drums or triggers. On top of that they usually can't play their own fucking songs live for shit. Our album in my opinion is the exact opposite of those douche bags.
Jeremy: Our new EP “Get Dead” kicks your ass from start to finish. There ain't no turnin' back once you press play. After it's done we'll kick your ass some more at one of our live shows.
Explain your guitar/amp/effects set-up.
Jordan: I use a Marshall Jcm900 and Jcm2000, a Fulltone Ocd Overdrive, and a T.C. Electronics G Force. I Use Jackson Guitars almost exclusively because of an Artist Endorsement and I occasionally use my 1980 Gibson Les Paul Custom.
Jeremy: Simple. The way it should be. Vintage Marshall and a bitchin' Les Paul. I also like the Cornford amps. Throw in a tube screamer and you're ready to rock.
Jordan Ziff
Photo Credit: Shelley Jambresic
Favorite modern day guitarists and why.
Jordan: I don't like a lot of modern day guitarist because they all sound repetitive except for Synyster Gates because he has a great sense of melody. Most modern guitar players don't have a sense of melody and they play as fast as they can all the time.
Jeremy: Matt Bellamy of Muse. I think he's one of the only guitarists/songwriters of this generation that gets it.
Future plans?
Jordan: We plan to tour more frequently and keep writing and releasing records. I will do this til' the day I die.
Jeremy: We never think small because we don't put limitations on where we can go and what we can do. But for now it's writing and touring as much as possible.
Question: These guys obviously love their Les Pauls – but would they ever play a Firebird X Gibson? – post your answers below.