We recently caught up with Michael Gilbert, guitarist for legendary thrash band Flotsam and Jetsam, to talk about their latest release Blood in the Water, the band's evolution, gear talk, and why he traded in his lawn for desert landscaping.
After a long day of interviews, Michael jumped on the phone with us—and didn’t miss a beat.
💥 “13 or 14 interviews today!”
“Our PR guy packed them all into one day. Honestly, it helps get me into that focused mindset.”
🎧 On the New Album: Blood in the Water
“We had a big task ahead of us after The End of Chaos. That record did really well. With Blood in the Water, we knew we had to match or beat that. I think we did—it’s possibly our best record ever.”
The fans seem to agree. Songs like Burn the Sky have over half a million views on YouTube, and the reviews have been glowing. One word keeps popping up: relentless.
“That’s probably the best compliment. If it’s relentless, we’re doing something right.”
🎸 The Flotsam “Trifecta”
Since their 2016 self-titled album, Flotsam and Jetsam have been on a tear—producing three high-quality records back-to-back.
“People are calling it our trifecta. That’s what every band is trying to do—string together great albums. It’s where fan momentum really builds.”
😈 The Demon Returns
Fans of Flotsam’s artwork will be thrilled to know that the band’s iconic mascot, The Demon, is back.
“He disappeared for a while. We’re assuming he went deep into the ocean—but he came back on The End of Chaos, and now he’s back to destroy again on this record. He definitely needs anger management.”
🎤 The Band Chemistry
Gilbert attributes much of the band's creative energy to the current lineup.
“We’ve got Steve Conley pushing me to play better. Ken Mary’s a monster on drums. Billy Bodily on bass is a great fit. And AK—he’s the best vocalist in metal, in my opinion.”
Speaking of Billy, he originally filled in back in 2019 and quickly became the obvious full-time choice.
“He’s got the chemistry we were looking for. Great player, great dude. He drinks beer—that helps too!”
🛠️ Gear Talk
Michael may have started as a Les Paul guy (inspired by KISS Alive), but these days, he’s all about Kemper amps and ESP LTD guitars.
“I had to retire my Les Paul after I watched a baggage handler throw it across a cart in Greece. It’s never left my house since.”
🎶 Favorite Records & Songs
“Hands down, Blood in the Water is my favorite. The older stuff has great moments, but this album just feels complete. Everything came together—the songwriting, the playing, the production.”
They’ve played almost their entire back catalog live—though Gilbert recalls that Flotzilla has only been performed once.
🚐 Life on the Road: Highs and Lows
After 35 years in the business, Flotsam has seen it all.
High points?
“Playing festivals like Hellfest and Wacken. It’s like the Super Bowl of metal.”
Low points?
“Touring northern U.S. and Canada in the winter. Fifteen below in Buffalo? Brutal.”
They’ve also dealt with buses catching on fire and, of course, the decline of metal in the ‘90s.
🤘 Staying Relevant After Three Decades
“We’re all hungry. That’s the secret. Everyone in the band shares the same vision. We’re trying to write the best music we can—right now.”
🎯 Side Projects?
Michael revealed that Jason Newsted once asked him to join the Newsted Metal project—but the timing didn’t work out.
“We’ve always had good chemistry writing together. I was bummed to miss that, but the stars didn’t align. Still, I wouldn’t jam with anyone else now. Flotsam is my band.”
💸 On Music in the Digital Age
“Streaming platforms give music away, and artists don’t get paid fairly. These days, bands rely more on merch and live guarantees than royalties. Even big acts like Trivium are doing things like Twitch to stay afloat.”
Gilbert says he hasn’t dived into streaming platforms like Twitch yet—but it’s on his radar.
👀 Final Thoughts
From Blood in the Water to surviving brutal winters and industry shifts, Michael Gilbert and Flotsam and Jetsam are still relentless, still thriving, and still writing some of the best music of their career.
We’ll see them on the road soon—and you can bet we’ll be blasting Blood in the Water until then.
Stay heavy. Support the underground. Long live metal.
Want more? Follow Flotsam and Jetsam on their Website, Spotify, Facebook and catch them when they come to your town.
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