John "J.D." DeServio's career as a bassist can be defined only as formidable and impressive. His time spent with Black Label Society has taken him around the world and made him a sought after bassist for clinics from Japan to South America and back. But long before he began globetrotting, J.D. started out like most accomplished musicians, in the garage with a band and a bottle of Captain Morgan. Twenty-five years later, that same band has emerged as Cycle of Pain with an intense and diverse self titled hard rock album.

At 15 years old, J.D. began practicing his favorite Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, and Scorpions tunes with good friends Joe Taylor (guitar) and Gregg Locascio (drums/vocals). Despite the many high profile moments in their careers (Lita Ford, Vinnie Moore, Drill, Rich Kotzen and many more), the old band has always aspired to record and tour together. Cycle of Pain later added Rich Monica (Tantric) on drums.

"The band got so side-tracked with members getting other gigs that it became difficult to focus on what we started as kids," says Taylor. "But we never stopped writing together. We're like brothers, and the music's always been the strongest bond between us." With J.D. and Taylor's prior musical commitments, it took a lot for the old band to come together and record the 13 track album, which has already been lauded by many of Black Label's biggest fans.

"Cycle of Pain is like going through life with all these barriers holding you back," says J.D. "Life is like a never-ending cycle of pain. You go from highs to lows, and back again. With all the great shit comes a lot of bad. This band is about overcoming all these things that try to get in your way, about standing up and kicking ass."

If you would like to win your own copy, and you think you know all there is to know about the band Black Label Society, then just answer this easy question: On which BLS album would you find the track 'The Last Goodbye'?!

Send me your answers and if you're correct you'll be in the running to win one of these new CDs. Just send us an e:mail here before May 1st with your answer and the subject title CONTEST: CYCLE OF PAIN CDs to:

exclusivemagazine@flash.net

CD Purchase Link

Cycle of Pain - "Dead Man" - Audio Stream

Cycle of Pain - "14 Devils" - Audio Stream