Holy Grail originally formed in Pasadena, California through a mass exodus of the members of the traditional metal band White Wizzard. With the addition of guitarist Eli Santana, the band injected itself with the distinct sound of extreme metal while maintaining the classic structures of British legends like Judas Priest and Iron Maiden. This mix has caused them to be exposed to a diverse crowd. They’ve played for the faithful at Germany’s Wacken Open Air and on a recent tour with heavyweights Anthrax. But they’ve also wowed the crowds at SXSE and even managed to find themselves on folk-metal or punk bills.
Now having released their second full-length album “Ride The Void” back in January, fan support continues to grow, and Holy Grail have managed to carve themselves a unique little niche in the ever-growing pack of so-called “retro” bands currently being signed and promoted. I had a chance to speak with Eli outside of Toronto’s Hard Luck Bar (on Ronnie James Dio’s birthday no less) about the band’s mix of styles, avoiding the retro tag, and a couple of the weirder moments he’s experienced on stage.