On Thursday, April 3, Ethan Kahn of Chained Saint made a memorable appearance on Loudwire Nights to celebrate the release of his band’s debut studio album, Blindside. He was joined by the talented producer of the album, William DuVall from Alice In Chains, adding significant industry insight to the conversation.

Catch the entire discussion by listening to the player located towards the end of this article for an in-depth perspective.

“The inception of this band was quite humble,” Kahn shared with host Chuck Armstrong. “It all began with me and my friends jamming out to Metallica covers in my garage. It was an incredible experience, the best way to unwind after school. We dedicated ourselves to playing five out of seven days each week, focusing solely on covers.”

As time went on, the band began to evolve creatively, venturing into writing their own original music. It was during the creation of their third song that they discovered they might have something unique to offer.

“The track that really sparked this realization was ‘Neanderthal,’ which is included on the album,” Kahn elaborated. “We were genuinely excited about it. We believed it was fantastic and were eager to continue writing more music, and that’s where our journey truly took off.”

DuVall’s introduction to Chained Saint came through Kahn’s father, who was already a friend of DuVall. He would send DuVall videos showcasing the band’s performances and share glimpses of their musical creations.

While DuVall appreciated the clips, it was Chained Saint’s initial demo tape that truly caught his attention and piqued his curiosity.

“Hearing their demo tape was a pivotal moment for me,” DuVall admitted, reflecting on that first listening experience.

“It transcended the typical scenario of a proud parent sharing cute videos of their child having fun; it unveiled a potential that was genuinely impressive and reached another level.”

After several discussions, DuVall decided to travel to Miami to see the band perform live and subsequently joined them in the studio. He recalled what specifically compelled him to make that trip after hearing the demo.

“Everything I heard was compelling, particularly in terms of the risk-taking and the innovative arrangement ideas they presented,” he expressed.

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“These musicians possess an innate understanding of what makes a song resonate, and while they are still in their developmental stages, we made adjustments and refined their sound. Nevertheless, what they were creating in their rehearsal space or garage was astonishing; it reflected a wisdom that seemed far beyond their years. All of them were still in high school, yet they were rocking out at this impressive level. It was certainly enough to motivate me to be there in person.”

Upon meeting the members of Chained Saint and recognizing their eagerness to absorb his guidance, DuVall felt confident in producing Blindside.

“Once I saw that determination, it was game on. I knew we had more opportunities ahead of us to collaborate. I am definitely looking forward to working with Chained Saint again and exploring what we can achieve together in the future.”

Engaging Topics Discussed by William DuVall and Ethan Kahn on Loudwire Nights

• Why they opted for recording Blindside directly to analog: “We believed it perfectly encapsulated the essence of the music, and the idea was sparked by William. Initially, we had some reservations, but once we got into the studio, the sound matched our vision flawlessly. It was just perfect.”
• The significance of collaborating with an influential figure like DuVall for Kahn: “It was truly a game-changing experience…he pushed us beyond limits we never thought we could reach, especially during the recording of tracks like ‘Corrupt to the Core.’
• Upcoming plans for Alice In Chains: “We have an exciting run scheduled for May, and we can’t wait to see everyone. Beyond that, I’m always working on new material. I don’t want to reveal too much just yet, but rest assured, there are plenty of plans in the pipeline.”

Experience the Complete Interview in the Podcast Player Below

William DuVall and Ethan Kahn made a special appearance on Loudwire Nights on Thursday, April 3. The show replays online here, and you can catch it live every weeknight at 7 PM ET. Tune in via the Loudwire app, or check your local radio station to see if the show is available. You can also listen to interviews on-demand for more engaging content.