Greetings and welcome to the new ShotgunReviews.com. Since 1999, we’ve done our best to give you worthwhile (and often funny) reviews and columns, and it’s time to shake off the rust and do it a little differently. We’ve kicked around a few ideas regarding how we’d do this new thing, and we hope you like what you see.

The new design comes to us from Barb Hallock, a student of mine with the appropriate attitude for this place (that is, bad). The more bloggish format puts us more on par with the current landscape. After all, we’ve been doing this almost eight full years. It was time for a big change. I think that you’ll agree that the new format, with a huge list of categories and easy searching, is a good one.

As part of that big change, we’ve brought in an influx of new talent from a variety of places. The entirety of our Best Shots team, responsible for the Best Shots column that runs every Monday at Newsarama.com, is now operating here in several capacities. You’ll also meet several talented young writers, including Barb herself, who will be tackling a variety of topics.

However, if you’re one of the rare folks that has read us since 1999, don’t get too worried. Shawn Delaney will still grace us with terrific music reviews, as will Jonathan Birdsong and the Lyrical Lounge crew. The Russ is back on wrestling coverage in full force. L.I. Rapkin’s already kicking in some culture. Eric Barker’s already opened the film vaults. And they aren’t the only familiar faces lurking around.

In the next few days and weeks, you’ll see the roster expand a little more and you’ll see some new recurring columns and features that we hope will become favorites. If you want to check out the old stuff, the old site currently still exists in its full glory under the archive button. If you want to talk about any of the stuff, old or new, visit our newly established forums.

So there’s my big speech. Enjoy yourselves, express yourselves, and invite friends. ShotgunReviews.com never went away, but we are most certainly back. Thanks for your time.

The Big Question with Steve Janiak of Devil To Pay
by Troy Brownfield

Many are the mentions of the Indianapolis music scene here at the mighty Shotgun. You may recall our descriptions of last year’s epic Battle of the Bands that culminated in a victory for the hard-working Devil To Pay. The four member band (l.tor. Chad Prifogle, Rob Secrist, Steve Janiak, Matt Stokes) pulled down the grand prize of 10-large and went on to release their highly acclaimed Thirty Pieces of Silver on Benchmark Records. DTP’s record has made an impact on both sides of the Atlantic. Heavy sources like Sleazegrinder hail it as “a clusterbomb of stoney booze metal” while the sentiments are echoed from as far away as France, Germany, Hungary, Italy and Australia. The group recently shot a video for their sublime anthem, Tractor Fuckin’ Trailer, and their laundry list of gigs keeps expanding throughout the Midwest and East Coast.

What may be better than the band’s constant ascent is the fact that it gets to happen at all. The extremely friendly Janiak, who serves as vocalist and guitarist, has had to conquer some difficult health issues in the past, including a genetically-related blood clotting disorder and some serious surgery. It was a true testament to the Indianapolis scene when bands threw in for a benefit to help out their pal.
(A sterling account of this tale by Danica Johson can be found here).

With that in their past and untold worlds to conquer in front of them, Steve Janiak of Devil to Pay took the time to visit and talk about throwing horns, the definition of troll, and how he outplays himself.
Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Steve Janiak.

THE BIG Q&A

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Best Metal Band Front-Man Stage Banter Cliches
by Troy Brownfield

10) “Hey ladies! Time to lose those T-shirts!”

9) “Is everybody ready to rock and roll toniiiiiiiiight?!?!”

8) “Check it out! Drum solo!”

7) “This is a good time to start feelin’ BAD, if you know what I mean!”

6) “Who wants to ROCK?!”.

5) The clever segue (for example, when you introduce a song by making it part of a sentence. “When Ratt comes to town, we’re ready to Lay It Down!”)

4) “This one is for all the lovely ladies in the audience tonight!”

3) “Let’s everybody put your hands together now!”

2) “Are you ready for us to kick your fuckin’ asses?”

1) “We’ve played in lots of places, but you fans in (insert city name here) are the best anywhere, and we mean that!”