The Metal Crypt - Night Terror Interview

Interviews Night Terror

Interview with guitarist Jack Frost
Interview conducted by Luxi Lahtinen

Date online: December 3, 2025

Thanks to Jen Farhood from Chipster PR & Consulting, Inc. for setting up the interview

In the world of hard rock and metal, few names command as much respect and admiration as Jack Frost. Best known for his work with the legendary Seven Witches, Frost's contributions to the genre have earned him a place in the hearts of fans worldwide. But now, he's back with a vengeance, having teamed up with a formidable all-star lineup to form a new supergroup: Night Terror.

On the heels of Night Terror's highly anticipated debut EP, Return of the Witches, set for release on December 12, 2025, Frost is ready to take the metal scene by storm once again. The EP features an impressive roster of musicians, including Jason McMaster (Watchtower, Dangerous Toys), Karl Wilcox (Diamond Head, Tank), Dennis Hayes (Seven Witches, Iced Earth), and Eric Ragno (London). Together, this powerhouse band has crafted an explosive collection of tracks that blend old-school metal sensibilities with fresh, modern energy.

In this exclusive interview, I contacted the mastermind himself to talk about Night Terror, the creative process behind Return of the Witches, and what fans can expect from this new chapter in his illustrious career. With the heavy hitters in the band and the powerful tracks they've created, it's clear that Night Terror is a force to be reckoned with. So, get ready for an inside look at one of the most exciting projects in heavy music today.

Jack, you have had such a varied career, from your work with Seven Witches to collaborations with legends like Joey Belladonna, Aldo Nova, and Lizzy Borden. How would you say those experiences have shaped your musical approach today, especially with Night Terror?

Jack: Aldo Nova is so different from Seven Witches, and Seven Witches is so different from Joey Belladonna's Anthrax era, blah, blah. blah. What I can say for me is that it gets me to be like a chameleon. I adapt to different styles. I really like that because it makes me a better player. One day I'm playing '70s Van Halen, and then the next day I'm playing '82 Iron Maiden. For me, all those great artists that I've got to be a part of and I work with and I still work with, it was like going to college over and over again. You know what I mean?

I think in my own songwriting, I adapted a lot from each artist. I learn every day. Every day is a new lesson. I really feel that that's what has happened with my music. I've taken a little bit of everything, and I sprinkle it on. You know what I mean? You don't even realize it sometimes, brother. Sometimes it's like, oh, wow, that sounds like this.

RETURN OF THE WITCHES

Night Terror's debut 6-song release, Return of the Witches, draws on some classic vibes reminiscent of Seven Witches' Passage to the Other Side. What's the connection between those two projects in terms of sound, concept, and energy?

Jack: Well, I'll be honest with you. If you read the bio, a lot of this album and some of the ideas would have been a Seven Witches album. What I felt was that we've been through so many lineup changes, it really is hard for the fans and the audience to grasp hold of, like, oh, is this band going to actually stay together? Is this singer going to stay? I felt that what I did with Seven Witches was so magical and so special at the time. I don't want to tarnish anything. Jason's such an amazing singer. When John Corabi joined Mötley Crüe, they should not have called it Mötley Crüe. I love that album.

That's one of my favorite Mötley Crüe albums, but it was a different sound. When John joined Anthrax, Sound of White Noise is nothing like "Metal Thrashing Mad" or any of the classic Armed and Dangerous Anthrax albums. I just wanted to do it fresh. There's a big comparison to Seven Witches, but it's a rebirth. It's a new, fresh statement.

OF SEASONED MUSICIANS

You have assembled an all-star lineup for Night Terror, including Jason McMaster, Carl Willocks, Dennis Hayes, and Eric Ragno. What was it about each of these musicians that made them the perfect fit for this project? How did the chemistry between you all develop during the recording process?

Jack: Dennis, the bass player, and I have worked together for 15, 20 years now. He was in Seven Witches with me. He did Year of the Witch. He did tons of tours with me, and then he joined Iced Earth. He has a really natural approach. I've been wanting to work with Dennis again. Carl and I did the Brothers in Arms album last year. I've seen him so many times with Diamond Head. I just thought his drumming would be incredible. Eric, the keyboard player, is a good old friend of mine. He played on a Seven Witches record once, and he's in the DVD.

I've been such a fan of Jason McMaster forever, from the beginnings of Watchtower. The first two Dangerous Toys albums are just incredible. You think of Jason's history. He's filled in for Accept. He's filled in for Armored Saint. He also was doing Dirty Looks. He's got broken teeth. You just have to think about his history. I've always wanted to work with him. It was such an easy process because all of us love the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. It was just a natural approach, and we're really good friends.

Jason really brought a different vibe to the album. He wrote the lyrics, the melody lines, the choruses. He just brought a lot to the table, not just being the singer. You have Robert Plant and Jimmy Page. He was my Steven Tyler, and I was the Joe Perry. I have to say, Jason, man, what a fresh breath and nuance he brought to the band, for sure.

Of course, Jason McMaster is known for his vocal prowess in bands like Dangerous Toys and Watchtower. How does his voice complement the music of Night Terror, and how do you feel his contribution elevates the band's sound compared to some of your past collaborations?

Jack: Don't get me wrong. James Rivera's incredible. Wade Black's incredible. All amazing singers. Alan Tecchio, incredible. Anthony Ributo, incredible. Even the original singer, Bobby Lucas, incredible. Jason is just so all over. Jason can sing very melodic, like on the first single. He can do the Halford screams. Then we did a cover of UFO's "Lights Out." Man, he can go back to that original new wave of British heavy metal. Jason is just an iconic singer that can basically do anything. I feel his voice can take us to a different level that we never got to before.

Carl Willocks and Dennis Hayes are both legends in their own right. Carl with Diamond Head and Tank, and Dennis with Iced Earth. What do they bring to the table in terms of musicality and energy that you think is crucial to the sound of Night Terror?

Jack: Carl is that British style of drummer. He's got that Cozy Powell, that John Bonham feel. He brings a swing that a lot of American drummers don't get because he's British. He grew up listening to that era. He can also play double bass like, geez... His feet are just so-- His syncopation is just-- He's incredible. Dennis plays fretless bass. He plays five-string bass. They're just an amazing rhythm section. They just work so well together.

On this forthcoming Night Terror EP, you are bringing back some of the magic from the Seven Witches era, especially the Passage to the Other Side record. What was it like revisiting that sound, and how did you balance the nostalgia with creating something fresh and exciting for modern audiences?

Jack: You know what, man? It just happened naturally. I just started to write, and these riffs would come, and I'm like, wow, this is cool. I really wanted to go back to where I came from. I wanted to go back to the days when I was 13 years old. I put on my denim vest with all my metal patches: Saxon, Thin Lizzy, RJD. I just really wanted it to be like when I first heard British Steel or I heard Iron Maiden. What I wanted to do was give it a fresh approach because, again, don't get me wrong, those records are timeless.

Indeed they are. I totally agree with you 100%.

Jack: I wanted to take that era but not lose the raw energy and the raw feel of that music, and just give it a little bit of a modern approach, but not make it sound like a '90s band. That's really what I did, and I'm so proud of the outcome.

Yes. Then, Eric Ragno is a special guest for one song, playing the keys on the UFO song, ""Lights Out." How did his contribution enhance the overall atmosphere of your sound?

Jack: Basically, as you already said there, Eric just played on one song.

We really needed those classic keyboards, because, man, you think about UFO and Paul Raymond and all that stuff. The keys were really important. I know Eric. We went to grammar school together, so I know Eric. Then he moved out to California, and I moved. He just added that flavor that we needed for this.

"THERE'S NO BANDLEADER IN NIGHT TERROR"

With such a rich history of working with so many different musicians, how do you balance your personal vision as a bandleader with the creative input of all these talented individuals?

Jack: I'm going to say this and be honest. I'm not the bandleader. People think that I'm one of the guys in the band. I'm one of the four, one of the five. I always feel like, yes, I write the riffs. I write most of the music, but I'm just a part of it. Without Carl, without Dennis, without Jason, and without Eric, I couldn't do this. We're a unit. I never want to be a guy that's like, if Jason says, "I don't really like this part" and I say, "you have to sing to that, because it's my band." It's not like that.

You know what? We're a football team. You need a kicker, you need a quarterback, you need a running back, and you need good defense. That's how I feel about it.

The metal scene has changed a lot since your days with Seven Witches and other projects. What do you think is the biggest change in the way metal music is created or consumed, and how does Night Terror fit into today's landscape?

Jack: I think that the music that we all loved for a while, like in the '90s, died away, but the true fans kept it going. Especially in Europe, man. Europe has never turned its back on heavy metal, never turned its back on me. I feel that I've noticed a lot of my guitar students, they want to learn how to play old Metallica, old Megadeth, Diamond Head. I feel that everything comes in circles, and I feel that metal never went away. It's just been a little quiet. It's always been underground. I feel that it's making a big resurgence again.

It's never gone away. All I want to say is like, hey, check this out. We haven't forgotten where we came from. Take a listen. I think you're going to like it. I think metal is making a big comeback.

Yes, that's truly what is happening, which is great, of course. You have had an illustrious career with bands that defined eras of metal. How do you keep your passion for music alive, and what drives you to continue making records like Return of the Witches?

Jack: It's pretty easy, man. I'm that same kid that was 12 years old when I first heard Dirty Deeds, or I heard the first two Ozzy records, or I picked up Stained Glass from Priest. Basically, I'm a fan of music. I'm a fan. I was a fan then. I will be a fan now, and I will be a fan 20 years from now. I still buy albums. I still look forward to the new Judas Priest record coming out. For me, I just feel that I will always do this because I love it so much. It's such a passion and a part of my life.

The EP Return of the Witches drops on December 12th. What do you hope listeners take away from this release, both in terms of its musical impact and its message?

Jack: I just want people to turn it on and just say, "Wow, this is cool. This is what I remember growing up. This is when I used to bang my head. This is when I used to wait on concert lines to get tickets." I want to take you back to when Saxon first came out, when Priest and Maiden, when UFO came out. I just want to take you back to a time when life was fun and carefree, and nobody was worried about politics and money. Remember when it was just fun to wake up and listen to music? That's really what I want people to get out of this.

THE FUTURE OF NIGHT TERROR?

I hear you. I have one more question for you and then I will let the next interviewer start a question mini-marathon with you. Given your history with Seven Witches and the upcoming debut EP of Night Terror, how would you like to see the band evolve in the next few years? Are there any dream collaborations or goals that you are working toward for the future of Night Terror?

Jack: I just want people to really like the album. I really hope that enough people say, "Wow, this is really awesome," and we get to play some live shows, because that would be fun, because I really like the guys I play with. In the future, I would like to make a full-length album. We're hoping that everything goes great, everyone is on board, and we can do a full length. You know what? At the end of the day, if one person calls me up and goes, "This is incredible," that's all that means to me. At the end of the day, I just love what I do.

As for the future, we have four guys that want to play. Maybe we'll do a couple of festivals. Maybe somebody will take a bite and say, "Oh, man, this would be a great opening band." You know what I mean? We could go out and do the record, do some Seven Witches songs, do an Iced Earth song, do some Dangerous Toys, do a Diamond Head song. It would be a lot of fun.

Sounds like a proper plan then. Then again, you guys should come to Europe to play at some metal festivals next year.

Jack: I wish. I hope we can. I hope a promoter hears this record and goes, "I got to get this band on one of my shows."

Well, Jack, thanks for this very pleasant conversation. I'm really wishing you all the best with the band. I'm pretty sure I'm going to see you live someday here in Europe.

Jack: Thank you so much for taking your time out. Thank you so much for keeping this music alive. Without you guys, without the press, no one's going to know what's out there, man. Thank you, really. Thank you for taking your time out tonight.