When I finally got the call to do a story for whatzup, I was elated. When Mr. whatzup told me, “I figured that since you work for the Bear, you liked the harder stuff so I would like you to do a story on a really good metal band, Consumed By Fury.” I got a bit nervous. Do I like the harder stuff - like the really hard stuff that doesn’t have much of a home on the radio? Sometimes. Do I know anything more about metal than this years’ Ozzfest line-up or Slayer? Nope, that’s Drew Cages’ (host of Bear Metal) job, not mine. That being said, what better way to get a “metal education” than from the four metal vets who make up Consumed By Fury?

So, with a slight hangover, a full cup of coffee and only the third Powerbar that I’ve ever bought in my life, I got to go to school on a Sunday afternoon.

Here’s the line-up: Pat Martin (vocals), Adam Bricker (guitar), Rory Grams (bass) and Brian Tonne (drums).

According to Pat, “Metal is that two-seconds before you punch the wall.” Perfect. I can relate; who couldn’t? Within seconds of hearing his definition I completely understood where these guys get their music, and good music it is. Consumed By Fury is a relatively new band (their live show count was at six during the time of the interview, although it’s gone up a few since then). But don’t be fooled by how many times these guys have played live shows under the name Consumed By Fury. They’re all hardened veterans who have played in many other bands, including Little Green Men and Industrial Strength. These guys have families, jobs and all the other responsibilities people are bound by. They just happen to have a hobby that consists of putting together all-original and in-your-face music during their free time. I might add that they do a hell of a job with that so-called hobby.

Sitting in Adam’s living room, it’s very easy to see that the guys are thrilled just to be hanging out and having a conversation about what they love. It’s also easy to see that Brian is the quiet one. I think Pat, Adam and Rory keep him in the area of “that two seconds before you punch the wall,” and once you see him play the drums you’ll know why they do. It’s always the quiet types that surprise you the most, maybe because you don’t expect too much from quiet people, let alone someone that can destroy every inch of a drumset with skills that most people could only dream of.

You would think that four guys in a metal band may be hesitant to open up, but I found quite the opposite on this day. The conversation was jumping around like a one-legged man on a trampoline, and I managed to get quite a few things out of them. When asked of their influences, Sepultura, Rush, Pink Floyd, Slipknot, old Metallica and Kiss seemed to take the cake. When asked of their “guilty pleasures” (you know, the stuff you listen to when no one is around and that you’d never admit to), I got responses that would make an accountant smile and included The Gorillaz and Evanescence.

When the discussion went to metal and where it’s at today. the tone became quite a bit more serious.

“Metal is not the genre to make a bunch of money or be a rock star,” Pat says. And what he says is true, unless you look at the attendance of Ozzfest week in and week out, state by state and country by country. But I know what he means. What are, really, the chances of being the next Ozzy? That statement only means one thing: Pat and the rest of the guys love what they do. With a world of material and motivation all around them, these four guys regularly step into a realm that most don’t have the nerves or, more importantly, the ability to pull off.

“We’re not the kind of band that makes music to dance around to with balloons and confetti. It’s about having a brew, getting a little sweaty and jumping into the pit without getting into a brawl,” says Pat. When asked about moving the crowd, Pat bellows, “If we see the people moshing, we know we’re doing our jobs”.

One thing that has kept me from truly understanding the metal genre is that the lyrics aren’t spoken or sung; they are mostly screamed. I’ve always liked the blazing riffs, thunderous drums and bass lines that could deafen small animals, but I could never grasp the lyrics. I posed this outlook to them (after all, I’m still in class), wondering if I was going to get expelled. Not even close, thank God. Rory on understanding screamed songs: “It’s hard to get at first, but once you get it, you get it.” As they say of beer, it’s an acquired taste. Says Adam, “Everybody needs to realize it’s not just screaming. There’s talent in that to do it and do it well, and we’ve got a guy that does it really well.”

On hearing Consumed By Fury, talent is one of the first things that come to mind. To un-trained ears, metal music may sound confused, but the guys in this band know exactly what they want the final product to sound like, down to every note and noise the echoes from the stage. Even though they average only six-hours a week in practice time, they make the most of it. “We don’t mess around in practice. We get on each other for everything in order to make it right,” said Rory.

Later in the day, Pat had left and the other three took me to Adam’s basement, where they proceeded with an impromptu session without their vocalist. The seriousness in what they do combined with their passion for music had every bone in my body rattling and wanting to hear more. Consumed By Fury is the real deal, whether you’re a metal fan or not. Talent is talent, and these guys have more than their fair share.

Metal’s popularity is growing quickly. Bands such as Slipknot, Lamb of God (for whom Consumed By Fury opened for at Piere’s not too long ago) and Shadows Fall are already household names, while Bloodsimple and Killswitch Engage aren’t far behind. With that said, what does the future hold for Consumed By Fury? Record deals? Tours? Pat humbly responds by saying, “Playing anytime we’re able and selling 1,000 CDs.”

A very modest goal for such a talented band, yet it clarifies the point that Consumed By Fury does it for the love of the music (and, by the way, if anyone wants to put together a full-fledged metal show and has the land to do it, these guys are game).

You can also look forward to a new album by Consumed By Fury, as they plan to go into the studio to record an album as early as November.

So the next time you have a moment in which you find yourself in that “two seconds before you punch the wall” area, take a deep breath and relax. You’re not alone. There’s a whole world of music right here in Fort Wayne waiting to help you out. Catch Consumed By Fury live, and you won’t be disappointed. Nor will you have a broken hand from actually punching the damn thing. Class dismissed.