Keri Kelli and Greg Koch made a special appearance on Loudwire Nights on Wednesday, August 13, to explore the exciting debut album from the innovative animated band Metal Warrior, titled The Crushed Souls of Our Enemies. This engaging discussion delves into the creative process behind the album and the unique concept of the band.

To fully experience their conversation, be sure to listen to the complete interview in the audio player located near the end of this article.

Kelli expressed to Loudwire Nights‘ Chuck Armstrong, “We’ve been dedicated to this project for a considerable period, pouring our hearts and souls into it.” He emphasized their excitement over the culmination of their efforts, stating, “It’s an expansive undertaking, and we’re thrilled that it has finally come to fruition. The album is now available, and the reception has been fantastic. It’s exhilarating to launch with a double album; why not go big right from the start?”

With an impressive background of working alongside iconic artists such as Alice Cooper, Night Ranger, and Slash, Kelli is well-acquainted with the dynamic world of rock and roll. In contrast, Koch, who co-founded Stone Brewing and is recognized as a trailblazer in the West Coast IPA movement, is venturing into album creation—a brand-new and thrilling experience for him.

For both artists, Metal Warrior represents an entirely new frontier, as the band exists in an imaginative, intergalactic universe that is completely animated. Kelli remarked, “We immersed ourselves deeply in this concept.”

Koch added, “We envisioned an entire world, a universe—the Metal Warrior-verse. It’s visually stunning. We collaborated with an extraordinary illustrator named Ben Fellows, whose talent in character design and storytelling breathes life into our ideas through graphic novels.”

The debut album of Metal Warrior is complemented by a rich narrative of graphic novels that chronicle the journeys of four heroes, each possessing a detailed and intricate backstory, as they unite to champion righteousness across the galaxies.

Kelli elaborated, “Initially, Greg approached me to create some short bumper music, around 30 to 90 seconds long, for clips featuring these characters.” He continued, “I produced these four brief musical clips, and Greg was genuinely impressed, saying, ‘These are incredible.’ Before long, we found ourselves expanding this project, transforming the clips into full-fledged songs, developing the characters, and crafting comic books that tell a complete story.”

As Kelli reflected, what started as a playful endeavor evolved into a massive undertaking that surpassed both of their initial expectations.

“We began to shape it into something monumental,” he remarked. “What started out as simple bumper music for each character has now blossomed into a double album, accompanied by nine comic books, tokens, NFTs, and more.”

What Insights Did Keri Kelli and Greg Koch Share on Loudwire Nights?

• How did their friendship develop? Kelli shared, “Our band used to rehearse at Greg’s rehearsal studio in Los Angeles. While we weren’t close friends at the time, he was the person we had to send our payment checks to. Over time, we reconnected about 20 years ago through our shared passion for craft beer.”
• What was Koch’s experience collaborating with Kelli? He stated, “I previously dabbled in songwriting, albeit without significant success. It wasn’t until I started collaborating with K.K. that my creative flow truly unlocked. I found myself saying, ‘Oh, wow, I really love this!’
• What are their visions for the live performance aspect of Metal Warrior? Koch expressed, “I’ve been contemplating and seriously considering the live aspect from the very beginning. Visuals play a crucial role in this project. I envision a spectacular showcase that combines the most incredible metal show you’ve ever experienced, weaving together the storylines and characters throughout.”

Catch the Complete Interview in the Podcast Player Below

Keri Kelli and Greg Koch joined Loudwire Nights on Wednesday, August 13. The show replays online, and you can catch it live every weeknight at 7 PM ET on the Loudwire app. Additionally, check if the show is available on your local radio station and listen to interviews on-demand.