He first saw national success in the hardcore punk/metal/rock band AKO , which he co-founded , whose debut album received favourable reviews in Kerrang ! , Metal Hammer and Total Guitar . The band ’s unique combination of punk , hardcore , nu-metal and melodic rock caught the attention of Tony Iommi ’s management , who gave Christo one of Iommi ’s old Laney amplifiers and arranged for the band to meet with renowned producer Bob Marlette ( Alice Cooper , Shinedown , Rob Zombie ) , to discuss collaboration on their sophomore album . However , 9/11 severed trans-Atlantic links to such an extent that the plans were shelved indefinitely
9/11
September 11 attacks
Ben Christo