Written By: Mandee Stock

What do you get when you cross trippy Indians with a heavy metal sound that only a Texas band could produce? You get the hard hitting San Antonio band Doctura.

In 1996 when they were just 14 and 15 year old band geeks listening to Jimmy Hendrix and Tool, four guys named Ryan Chadek, Nat Garza, Phillip Villagran and Chris Hillhouse decided to start a band. They began like most bands do, playing cover songs at local bars, but they decided that they wanted more as a band.

Now almost seven years later, they have a lot more as a band. They’ve opened for bands like Static-X , Staind, Flaw and Drowning Pool (for a complete list of bands see www.doctura.net). They played the 99.5 KISS Hog Heaven Holiday, Tearin’ Up Texas Tour and they released a CD in 2003. You guys think that’s enough? You obviously don’t know Texas bands then; they’re sponsored by DR Strings and they’ve been featured on Texas Tracks numerous times (tune into 99.5 KISS on Mondays at midnight or go to Kissrocks.com for more info).

Now you’re probably wondering where they got the name Doctura from. Well if you can believe it, the name actually came form a mispronunciation. They thought that Datura was Doctura and that’s were they got the name from. In case you’re wondering, Datura is a hallucinogenic substance that Indians used to use to bring them “holy messages”.

But what are these ex-band geeks turned metal rockers really like? (Not to be confused, the next section reads as follows: name, which cartoon character they would be and why, and what kind of gear they use.)

Ryan: Hong Kong Fuey (“Because he kicks ass!”) Plays guitar, uses Marshall amps and a Dimebag Washburn guitar.

Chris: Samurai Jack (“Because he kicks ass!”) uses a Tama drumset with Evans drumheads and Zildjan Cymbals.

Phillip: Gonzo (“Because he’s blue and he’s different.”) Plays bass, uses a custom something, something, something or other (he kinda lost me after the first word).

Nat: Bender (“Who doesn’t wanna be an alcoholic robot? Bender rocks!”) Plays guitar (that’s all I know)

This band has many different influences that range from Nirvana to PanterA. When they first started, they were influenced by bands like Nirvana and Tool. (it was 1996, everyone wanted to be Nirvana. Wait, it’s 2004 and all the garage bands in Bulverde still want to be Nirvana… Whatever, never mind.) Then it progressed to bands like Slayer, Mars Volta, Alice in Chains, Primus, PanterA, Lamb of God (need I say more?). With such a wide range if influences, these guy were able to mix, match and combine musical sounds until they came up with a sound that’s all their own.

When asked which song they liked by their band, they said “they like all their songs. If they didn’t like them, they wouldn’t play them.” Later on they said that a lot of people like the song Lucid Sedations. People who like this song include Bryan Kendall and one of the random people that was walking in and out of the house during the interview.

As far as their musical careers go, they have no regrets.

If they could go tour with any band, living or dead, they all agreed it would PanterA. Nat said “First we’d get PanterA back together and then we’d tour with them.” They also said Tool, Lamb of God, and “basically any band willing to fuck shit up.”

In five years (the infamous question) they see themselves on tour bus/ van promoting their first CD released on a major label.

If you live in San Antonio you know that there are a lot of heavy metal band wanna-bes. These guys are definitely not one of “those bands”. They’re edgy, hard- hitting and in-your-face.

If you want more info on the band, want to buy their merch, or listen to them; visit http://www.doctura.net