TOTAL MANIAC - Street Metal Maniacs ! (Usa - Heavy-Metal - Interview with Diamond Dustin).

Hello ! Can you introduce yourself and tell us how it all began for you - your encounter with this musical universe, what appealed to you, what fascinated you and what made you want to get into music?
I’m Diamond Dustin, I’m the singer for Total Maniac. When I was six years old the video for Metallica’s One debuted on MTV, it both changed and ruined my life all at the same time, if it weren’t for that song, I might have done something productive with my life. All I’ve wanted since was to be on stage, playing music.



Tell me about the band... How you met - the current line-up - past experiences - and above all - WHY the need to form THIS band?
We’ve all known each other from being in the Baltimore punk and metal scene for years. Around 2016 I was trying to form a band, I reached out to Nick Etson (guitar) and Ben Martin (bass) separately, not knowing they already had a band going (Raw Filth). Their singer wound up leaving the band, and since I had hit them both up, they reached out to me to see if I’d be interested in forming something out of the ashes. We worked well together from the start, we wrote some songs, played some shows, and started to get a feeling for who we were. During covid our then drummer left the band, so we reached out to Vaughn Volkman, he locked in real quick with Ben. It wasn’t long after that we hit up Mike Brown to join the band on second guitar. We spent the rest of covid writing our first full length. Since then we’ve been playing as many shows as possible, and writing material for our newest album, Love Overdrive. As for why this band needed to happen, I’d say it’s for all the drink tickets we get from venues, and free beers and shots that fans give us at shows.

Describe your sound and explain why I should listen to YOUR band at all cost ?
It’s a mix of traditional heavy metal, punk, and 80’s sleaze. Throw the album on if you’re drinking before the sun goes down and you’re trying to pick a fight with your neighbor.

Lyrical and musical inspirations/influences ? How important are the lyrics for you ? Are there any specific messages or thoughts you try to develop and share through your lyrics ? 
The lyrics have a heavy influence from 70’s southern rock and 80’s hair metal, a lot of songs about drinkin, fightin, and women. Some of the songs are about what was going on in my life at the time, but usually embellished beyond the point of reality. Sometimes I need to get something out, other times I’m just trying to write lyrics that don’t make me feel embarassed.

About the band's discography... Imagine someone who doesn't know your band at all and wants to get interested in.. Which release would you recommend to start with, and why? 
Start with Love Overdrive. I love our demo and first album, but Love Overdrive is the one where I feel like we finally found our sound. This is what you’re going to get when you see us live.

About your latest release ? 
We recorded this album with Kevin Bernsten at Developing Nations, this is the third album I’ve recorded with him, and he’s a fuckin wizard. Art work by Jamie Rosier, we gave him a real rough idea of what we wanted, and he knocked it out of the park. I’ve always wanted to put out an album with a cover like this.

Future plans ? 
Play more shows, write more songs. Hoping to hit the west coast later this summer early fall.

Your most insane dream with the band would be ?
Touring with Metallica.

Your BEST & WORST concert - as a band - and why ? 
Best is hard, there’s been a lot of great ones, Motorfest 2022 in Pittsburgh was a fuckin rager. Worst? Probably the show where the stage sideways down the length of the bar, so if you stood on it like a normal stage you were facing a wall that was maybe 8 feet away, then while we were playing, the only person watching us was some drunk asshole who kept trying to sit on our effects pedals.

Next live-appearance(s) ?
Our next show is the record release show, we’re really excited to be opening for Savage Master and Hirax at the Metro in Baltimore (Man, it's gonna be wild ! Hirax are fuckin'legends! - Ed.)

Some words on your local scene - bands you're friends with and you'd like to name ? 
Baltimore has a lot of killer bands, definitely check out Lathe, Skallar, and Luxury Teeth.

Last word is yours.. 
April Wine’s classic hit song “I Like To Rock” is a great song to shotgun beers to. (Then, crank it up & cheerzzz ! - Ed)