Songwriting Chops

Diamond Rowe Explores Melodic Shred

- Michael Molenda

THE MEMBERS OF TETRARCH ARE OBVIOUSLY too young to have starred in some golden-era-of- Hollywood film celebrating the American Dream, but their story would have made an excellent script for a ’30s feel-good flick, nonetheless. The timeless plot revolves around hard work and a maverick spirit, but, today, when so many bands struggle to find an audience and a viable way to support their art, the Tetrarch narrative also becomes a kind of beacon of hope.

The band formed in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2007, and while it has released a bevy of albums and singles— and gained tour-support spots for major acts such as Avenged Sevenfold, DevilDriver, and Seether—it has never had the commercial and promotional benefit of a major record label. Even more intriguing, Tetrarch’s latest album, Freaks, cracked the top 20 of several iTunes charts on its release. That’s a pretty stellar accomplishment for a band that is entirely independent. Go team!

Diamond Rowe shares the guitar duties in Tetrarch with guitarist/vocalist Josh Fore, and here she provides some insights about the current metal scene and how she forged her own unique style of shred.

What started you on your guitar journey? Did a particular guitarist blow your mind and inspire you to start playing yourself?