Black Tide
Black Tide could, put simply, very well be the heirs to Metallica, Iron Maiden and Pantera's respective thrones.
Though it's still very early days, the Miami four-piece has already demonstrated they have the ability to succeed at the highest level and set about making a name for themselves, while sending shockwaves through the metal scene.
With a Velvet Revolver tattoo down his right forearm and frequently wearing a Guns 'N' Roses t-shirt, Black Tide bassist Zakk Sandler has made no secret of who one of his main idols and influences is – the legendary Duff McKagan.
Oddly both Zakk and Duff started off playing guitar before switching their efforts to the bass, as well as sharing some similar musical influences.
"I got to meet Duff McKagan in Japan just a few months back, it was absolutely amazing but kinda embarrassing as well," he says.
"I was in the middle of a TV interview and he was stood about six feet away from me and the guy interviewing me was going though his questions while Duff was just watching.
"Then the interviewer turned to me and said 'So Zakk, who's your biggest influence as a bass player and as an idol?'
"Obviously the answer was Duff, but at the same time I just knew I'd feel like an idiot by saying it with him stood right next to me.
"I just went ahead and told him and got on with the interview. Then when that was all done, having totally embarrassed myself, I went and said hello to him.
"He was a really nice guy and it was just such an unbelievable experience. I just couldn't believe that I was stood talking to someone I've idolised since I was really young."
Black Tide first began to make an impact in January when they supported Avenged Sevenfold.
They followed it up with an appearance at Download Festival in June and then two memorable performances at Leeds and Reading festivals.
"Leeds festival was an amazing experience. We'd heard that our newest single Shout had been picking up a lot of airplay over here and that was really weird for us because as we were driving around we heard it played on the radio literally every couple of hours," says Zakk
"We thought that maybe the exposure would bring more people down to watch us.
"Then again we thought maybe less people would watch us because they don't like the whole commercial aspect – so we we're really unsure as to what to expect.
"Then when we first came out and saw only a few people we just thought 'great another typical festival, we're in the tiny tent and nobody's here' but then it started growing until towards the end of the set the tent was packed.
"Not only was it packed inside the tent but there was a huge crowd outside too.
"By the time we'd got onstage at Reading the tent was already packed out. I guess it kinda shows that if you put on a good show, the news travels fast and who knows what will happen.
"That was the really strange thing about when we first came over to the UK, we'd never been here before and yet there were fans of the band here waiting for us.
"Not only were they turning up to our shows, but they were also singing our lyrics back to us.
"That was brilliant, weird in a way but it gave me a real buzz."
Despite being young in age, Black Tide has a sense of maturity, both onstage and off.
Coupled with their passion for music, their youthful enthusiasm simply cannot be ignored.
"I like to get up in the morning and go and explore wherever we are" says Zakk.
"We're here for the music ultimately and to get onstage and perform, but I do like to make the most of the time that we have here.
"I tend to go for a wander around the town or city, not knowing where I'm going and just see where I end up – often in the corner of a bar or something.
"I know that I'm going to have fun in the evening when I'm onstage, so why not go and get a feel for the people that I'm going to be playing for later on?
And as for spending his 20th birthday on the road in the UK Zakk said: "It's a bit weird I suppose but I really enjoy being on tour, it's great fun.
"You get the chance to go to new places, meet new people and play music all at the same time.
"It's not always been easy though, for the first one or two tours it really sucked being away from our friends back home.
"You don't get time to talk to them every day so it's like they're not really your friends for the month or so that you are on tour.
"It was really hard at the start, we just didn't know what to do. It's such a disconnected feeling.
"I enjoy it a lot more now though, especially seen as certain things are more in our favour over here because of course, when we get home the laws are different again.
"I certainly enjoy some of them more over here than back home, I'm not going to say which ones - but they involve lots of drinking," he laughs.
Black Tide plays the Northampton Roadmender on Monday November 17 where they will be supporting Bleeding Through.
Tickets are available from www.wegottickets.co.uk.
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