Brave Words from the Voice of Many Metal Bands

An Interview with Giles Lavery

By Justin Smulison

Giles Lavery is a man of many bands and many talents. He’s the singer for several rock and metal groups:

• Warlord
• Alcatrazz
• Dragonsclaw
• Lavery/Magler
• Jack Starr

And probably some others I’m not (yet) aware of. As we’ll learn in this interview, Giles took years off from performing to be a force behind-the-scenes, managing bands and labels – including Global Rock Records and BraveWords. But he returned in full force in recent years to front Warlord – a doom metal fan favorite featuring drum maestro Mark Zonder that has always flown just under the radar – which was continued in 2023 following the passing of co-founder, guitarist and composer Bill Tsamis. Within about a year, the native New Zealander (now living in Germany) was doing double-duty as the singer for the longtime U.S. rock band, Alcatrazz.

The notoriety from these bands attracted the time fronting Jack Starr’s latest release as well as interest in other groups and collaborations (like Dragonsclaw and Lavery/Magler) that could ride the wave of his popularity. He’s also the A&R man for BraveWords Records, a talented producer and manages bands like iconic UK Thrashers Onslaught and rising start, Girlschool, whom he toured with along with David Reece’s Bangalore Choir in 2025.

As a metal fan, I felt an obligation to talk to such an influential figure in the metal scene, especially since he’s making his way to North America for Warlord’s proper live debut, which is decades in the making, alongside Onslaught. We talk all about the upcoming tour, what strategies he’ll employ to ensure his voice stays strong on the road, an update on upcoming albums and why he characterizes himself as an uninteresting man who happens to do fascinating work.

Clips:

Warlord: “Stygian Passage”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CPVRP4ER-w | from “Lost Archangel” via High Roller Records

Alcatrazz: “Stand And Wait Your Turn”: https://youtu.be/x1mJnQwPvw0 | from “Prior Convictions” via BraveWords

Dragonsclaw: Survival, from “Moving Target” via High Roller Records

Warlord and Onslaught, Force From Hell Tour Dates:

3/18 Houston, TX Hell’s Heroes
3/19 Dallas, TX Trees
3/20 Austin, TX Come And Take It Live
3/22 Tucson, AZ The Rock
3/24 Los Angeles, CA 1720
3/25 San Francisco, CA DNA Lounge
3/26 Sacramento, CA Colonial Theatre
3/27 Felton, CA Felton Music Hall
3/29 Portland, OR Star Theatre
3/30 Seattle, WA El Corazon
3/31 Vancouver, BC Rickshaw Theatre
4/2 Salt Lake City, UT Aces High Saloon
4/3 Denver, CO Marquis
4/4 Lincoln, NE Bourbon Theatre
4/5 St. Paul, MN Turf Club
4/6 Chicago, IL WC Social Club
4/8 Kansas City, MO Warehouse on Broadway
4/9 St Louis, MO Red Flag
4/10 Murfreesboro, TN Hop Springs
4/11 Pensacola FL, Handlebar
4/12 Atlanta, GA Masquerade

Buy the tickets here.

Warlord

► WARLORD Facebook: www.facebook.com/OfficialWarlord
► WARLORD YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Warlord_Band

Alcatrazz

https://www.alcatrazzofficial.com

https://www.facebook.com/alcatrazzband

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnLCCQe68LpSPWIwm-Dx14w

https://www.instagram.com/alcatrazz_official

https://www.bandsintown.com/a/57544-alcatrazz

Dragonsclaw

http://www.hrrecords.de/DRAGONSCLAW

https://www.instagram.com/highrollerrecordsofficial
https://www.facebook.com/DragonsclawOfficial

Lavery/Mergler – Redemption Day

Bandcamp: https://gileslavery.bandcamp.com/album/lavery-mergler-redemption-day

Jack Starr:

https://www.facebook.com/jackstarrofficialpage/
https://www.youtube.com/@stratluvr
https://www.instagram.com/jackstarrofficial/
https://www.bandsintown.com/a/184296