Paladin: How New Power-Metal Heroes Rose From Data-Entry Hell

PT KONTAK PERKASA - Spending years stuck in a mailroom transcribing seminars for tax professionals was not how Taylor Washington expected his life to turn out. A trained guitar virtuoso with an eruptive vibrato, he was born to play music — but after a decade spent unsuccessfully shuffling between various local Atlanta bands, he accepted the fact that there was more security running his fingers rapid-fire over a computer than on his fretboard.

PT KONTAK PERKASA - He never stopped playing, though, and in 2015, well into his seventh year of data-entry oblivion, he once again felt a glimmer of hope, in the form of his then-new power-thrash band Paladin. The group had major promise — which it recently delivered on with a scorching debut LP, Ascension, that situates them at the forefront of rising guitar-hero acts — but at the time, Washington would have to survive a few more pitfalls before he found his footing.

The first setback arrived when Paladin's drummer left, effectively killing their momentum, followed by Washington unexpectedly getting laid off from his job — events that triggered a full-blown existential crisis and a profound life change for the musician.

"I was just contemplating my whole life, like, I have no idea what I want to do or what I'm doing," the singer-guitarist says now. While adversity plunges many into darkness, Washington went the opposite direction; he doubled down on his desire to shred and decided "to try paying the bills by playing music."

The power of positive thinking worked wonders for Washington. Scouring classified listings for cover band gigs, the six-stringer came across an opening with Metalsome Live Band Karaoke, an A-Town institution that offers barflies the chance to belt out everything from Metallica to Katy Perry. He landed the gig, and, to this day, spends three-to-four nights each week jamming on a catalog of over 400 songs. He gets to dedicate his days to writing originals for Paladin. (He also periodically moonlights as touring guitarist for technical death-metal veterans Arsis and live bassist for power-metal combo Theocracy).

Freed from data-entry hell and armed with his boundlessly optimistic "just go for it" attitude, Washington was able to focus and refine Paladin's absurdly uplifting power-thrash sound into the 11 crushers that eventually made their way onto Ascension. "It's basically about following your dreams, and doing things regardless of setbacks," says Washington of standout "Shoot for the Sun," which epitomizes the abiding inspirational message of the entire album.

Source : revolvermag.com