Severe is a band of thugs and gangsters from the Ohio area. They play brutal blastcore/powerviolence and have a 7" that is now out-of-print. This interview was done around 4-5 months ago.
Name and role in Severe?
Silk Nasty - the Don, financial backing, 625 hookup, Philly associate
Repoman - pushing weight, repo'n people's shit, illegitimate children, gun runner
Payroll - drug trafficking, snitch killer, Severe's payroll, burglary & larceny
Freebird - illegal sex ring, drug running, illegal gambling, putting pressure on the cops
I heard that Severe has been inactive because once Repo got out of jail he decided that he wanted to be a born-again Christian can this be true?
This rumor is false... if it were true the news would have been reporting of finding Repoman's body in a field and the death to another snitch.
How do you guys spend your label advances? I've heard you guys get paid just to have your name on the 625 website?
Shit ya we get paid... you gotta be getting something out of this. We had messed around before with these other Rink-E-Dink Records. But they were only offering us like $7,000 up front. You can't do shit with that. We got offers from Max and he was willing to advance us some loot. 625 is the label that pays me!
Do you guys work regular jobs outside of Severe, or is all your income from robbery and other similar activities?
Fuck a job, I'd rather be getting paid.
How did that whole illegitimate twins thing with Repo turn out?
We had it taken care of...
Since Severe moved to Cincinnati, it seems the crime rate more than doubled. Does your presence make it not safe anymore?
We control the whole Wheeler Street block clique. This city is ours.
How do you feel about the current powerviolence scene? Do you think it's a bunch of kids trying to get rich quick on a trend?
They shouldn't even try to cash in... we got this shit on lock. Stop trying.
Are Christians and snitches the same to you?
Same shit, different pile... beat the weak.
Do the police pose a threat to you?
This question should be, "Do we pose a threat to the police?"...
I heard Gucci is making custom Severe ski masks with some exotic material that breathes better on those hot summer nights, any truth to this rumor?
We got clothing deals with Gucci, Supreme, BAPE, and ROCA Wear. Also be on the lookout for the Jordan 3's and Jordan 5's Severe Editions. Perfect shoes for when you're running from the cops.
Is it true that you have a phone-tap on the police station, and listen for when someone is narking someone out, you find them and remove one more snitch from the population?
People now days have turned snitching into a sport. We just fuck their game up.
What is Severe's next move?
Dropping that new 7"... dominating hardcore. Staying out of jail.
What can we be on the lookout for?
Us driving up next to you, rolling down the windows and a gun pointed at your dome piece. Be on the lookout for that.
Any thank you's or no thank you's?
Shot out's to the Wheel Street Clique, all of our family in the 513 and 614, Cleveland and Columbus you know what it is. Our associates in Philly and also world-wide. Project Pat for holding it down in jail. Big ups to Weed Stealer & Killed In Action (our extended family).
Contact: http://www.myspace.com/youshopatsnitchmart
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Thursday, November 11, 2010
MUDLARK - Hornswoggled #5 (unpublished circa Summer 2009)
BLOG NOTE: My friend Jordan once did this zine entitled "Hornswoggled" and he has a small collection of interviews from the last, unpublished, issue that he was kind enough to send my way. Here's the final installment.
I hate to start on a heavy note, but I was recently shocked to learn that your friend Michal Majewski passed away in Squamish just last week. I only met Michal very recently (at a Mudlark show, actually) and then ran into him a few more times in Vancouver and Victoria, and I was really saddened to hear the news. How did you come to meet Michal? Could you tell us about the benefit you played for Michal's family?
I first met Michal when he came out to Van with Mesrine and Suckcess about three or so years ago. We hit it off right away and then a couple months later Mudlark journeyed out east for the first time and he hooked us up amazingly with killer shows, amazing beer / food, and great company. We stayed in contact consistently after that bro down session, we're both grind freaks, and when Mudlark and Scumbelly did our tour this June he jumped in the van with us after a FATO show and came all the way to PEI and then back to Van with us where he was staying with me and ScumbellyBob. I'd like to add that having him with us on that tour was awesome, he was stoked at every show, good or bad, and would always make us keep playing so he could thrash, amazing.
So yeah, after the sad turn of events Gord organized a benefit show to help his family in any way we could as they were always so killer to us. Burn in Hell played first, an amazing band who we were always ranting to him about, seemed fitting, then our favorite locals War Hero, then Osk and Mudlark played. It was the perfect way to tribute a good friend who lived for fast music and art.
When and how did Mudlark form? What bands have you guys played in previously?
Mudlark got together about 4 years ago. We were all playing in other bands at the time. Jay and Gord had a stoner band called Obey the Eye going, and I was playing in Meat of Mankind. We started jamming on the side when we had time, then playing shows a bit, then all of our other bands kind of disintegrated leaving us with lots of time to do Mudlark. So we did.
How is the DIY scene in Vancouver? Is there a healthy network of bands and venues?
I think there is a killer scene right now in Vancouver, other people might say differently but judging by the shows I've seen / played the last year it's awesome right now. There are a ridiculous amount of killer bands right now, all styles, and all the small sub catergories and all that bullshit seem to be merging slowly which is cool as it makes for bigger, funner shows. A lot of touring DIY punk bands that come to Vancouver seem to be fucking stoked on the turnouts and energy of the scene. There's always your bullshit "scene" crap but I try to keep my head down and avoid that waste of energy at all costs. A band is a band, we're all doin' this for fun, period.
Unless I'm wrong (quite plausible), Mudlark started out as a more traditional doom/ sludge band, then eventually brought in more grindcore elements. Why the stylistic change?
I think we've always had grind type shit in our music, but yeah definitely in the past little while we've become faster, live anyway, and I don't know why. That's just the way it happened. I don't think any of us did it on purpose. Personally, playing fast live is super fun, maybe that s why, but, we'll always have sludge/doom elements, that's what Mudlark is.
You guys have a couple new releases out, including a new LP with 7", as well as a split 7" with Half Gorilla. How did the records turn out? Are you happy with the first full length?
Yeah, I think the records came out fucking great. I'm stoked on the job Schizophrenic Records did on the LP & 7" release, we were lucky to have Craig be interested in putting out a record for us, thanks again. I'm stoked on the HG split too, we met those guys three years ago at Arsonfest and immediatly we all knew we should do a project together. Luckily Gord was able to make it happen.
Any new releases in the works?
I think there are some splits coming up in the future, three are being talked about right now, a 7", a 10" and a LP, so we'll see what happens. I'm stoked on the possibility of all of them, time will tell.
Mudlark recently completed a pretty hefty tour across Canada and back. Any highlights or lowlights? Any cities surprise you?
Yeah that was a great tour, Vancouver to PEI and back. There was definitely no lowpoints, a couple weird / dead shows but we still managed to get wasted and make a good night of them. Highlights would be Charlottetown, Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal I guess, it's hard to say. Those shows were all super nuts. Musically, I was blown away by some bands I saw on the east coast, Slave Class, Eyesore, Sound Asleep, and Quebec ragers SOIL OF IGNORANCE!!!!! Check them out, you will shit yer pants. I could go on all night really, we met awesome people everyday and came home with a lot of new friends.
You also play guitar and sing in the band Osk. How did Osk come about? What are the differences between playing in Osk and in Mudlark?
Osk came to life when Meat of Mankind ended. Me and Braden (drummer) wanted to keep playing together so we asked JerseyJay to jump on the bass and we just kept rolling with a different name and new songs. Playing in Osk is a lot different from Mudlark because I'm playing guitar which is what I usually and most often play. Also in Mudlark, Gord comes in with most of the songs finished, in Osk we all come in with songs, and then together edit them or ditch them or leave them how they are. Stylistically, Osk is all over the place, hence the PV tag, where as Mudlark is pretty much set on its course of brutal grind/sludge. Either way, I have a great time playing in both bands.
Any plans for Osk? I know you guys are touring out to Arson Fest this August, anything else planned?
Yep, we did the Arsonfest tour this summer with the northwest coasts best band, War Hero, and it was a blast. As for the future, we've got some things coming out, I think there are 3 splits lined up and this box set thing (ala Tomorrow Will Be Worse) that may or may not ever see the light of day. The next release will be the split with War Hero, stoked on that one. Other than that we tend to take it as it comes, we'll probably tour sometime next year, hopefully in foreign lands, and we've probably got 30-40 songs we need to get recorded before we forget how to play them, and if were lucky we'll get asked to play some sick local shows.
Thanks again for everything, if people wanna get in touch with you, how should they go about that?
Thank you for all help this summer with shows, we had a great time in Nelson and are definitely gunna come back, and if you want to get in touch with us I suppose hit up the MySpace page. Stay grind.
I hate to start on a heavy note, but I was recently shocked to learn that your friend Michal Majewski passed away in Squamish just last week. I only met Michal very recently (at a Mudlark show, actually) and then ran into him a few more times in Vancouver and Victoria, and I was really saddened to hear the news. How did you come to meet Michal? Could you tell us about the benefit you played for Michal's family?
I first met Michal when he came out to Van with Mesrine and Suckcess about three or so years ago. We hit it off right away and then a couple months later Mudlark journeyed out east for the first time and he hooked us up amazingly with killer shows, amazing beer / food, and great company. We stayed in contact consistently after that bro down session, we're both grind freaks, and when Mudlark and Scumbelly did our tour this June he jumped in the van with us after a FATO show and came all the way to PEI and then back to Van with us where he was staying with me and ScumbellyBob. I'd like to add that having him with us on that tour was awesome, he was stoked at every show, good or bad, and would always make us keep playing so he could thrash, amazing.
So yeah, after the sad turn of events Gord organized a benefit show to help his family in any way we could as they were always so killer to us. Burn in Hell played first, an amazing band who we were always ranting to him about, seemed fitting, then our favorite locals War Hero, then Osk and Mudlark played. It was the perfect way to tribute a good friend who lived for fast music and art.
When and how did Mudlark form? What bands have you guys played in previously?
Mudlark got together about 4 years ago. We were all playing in other bands at the time. Jay and Gord had a stoner band called Obey the Eye going, and I was playing in Meat of Mankind. We started jamming on the side when we had time, then playing shows a bit, then all of our other bands kind of disintegrated leaving us with lots of time to do Mudlark. So we did.
How is the DIY scene in Vancouver? Is there a healthy network of bands and venues?
I think there is a killer scene right now in Vancouver, other people might say differently but judging by the shows I've seen / played the last year it's awesome right now. There are a ridiculous amount of killer bands right now, all styles, and all the small sub catergories and all that bullshit seem to be merging slowly which is cool as it makes for bigger, funner shows. A lot of touring DIY punk bands that come to Vancouver seem to be fucking stoked on the turnouts and energy of the scene. There's always your bullshit "scene" crap but I try to keep my head down and avoid that waste of energy at all costs. A band is a band, we're all doin' this for fun, period.
Unless I'm wrong (quite plausible), Mudlark started out as a more traditional doom/ sludge band, then eventually brought in more grindcore elements. Why the stylistic change?
I think we've always had grind type shit in our music, but yeah definitely in the past little while we've become faster, live anyway, and I don't know why. That's just the way it happened. I don't think any of us did it on purpose. Personally, playing fast live is super fun, maybe that s why, but, we'll always have sludge/doom elements, that's what Mudlark is.
You guys have a couple new releases out, including a new LP with 7", as well as a split 7" with Half Gorilla. How did the records turn out? Are you happy with the first full length?
Yeah, I think the records came out fucking great. I'm stoked on the job Schizophrenic Records did on the LP & 7" release, we were lucky to have Craig be interested in putting out a record for us, thanks again. I'm stoked on the HG split too, we met those guys three years ago at Arsonfest and immediatly we all knew we should do a project together. Luckily Gord was able to make it happen.
Any new releases in the works?
I think there are some splits coming up in the future, three are being talked about right now, a 7", a 10" and a LP, so we'll see what happens. I'm stoked on the possibility of all of them, time will tell.
Mudlark recently completed a pretty hefty tour across Canada and back. Any highlights or lowlights? Any cities surprise you?
Yeah that was a great tour, Vancouver to PEI and back. There was definitely no lowpoints, a couple weird / dead shows but we still managed to get wasted and make a good night of them. Highlights would be Charlottetown, Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal I guess, it's hard to say. Those shows were all super nuts. Musically, I was blown away by some bands I saw on the east coast, Slave Class, Eyesore, Sound Asleep, and Quebec ragers SOIL OF IGNORANCE!!!!! Check them out, you will shit yer pants. I could go on all night really, we met awesome people everyday and came home with a lot of new friends.
You also play guitar and sing in the band Osk. How did Osk come about? What are the differences between playing in Osk and in Mudlark?
Osk came to life when Meat of Mankind ended. Me and Braden (drummer) wanted to keep playing together so we asked JerseyJay to jump on the bass and we just kept rolling with a different name and new songs. Playing in Osk is a lot different from Mudlark because I'm playing guitar which is what I usually and most often play. Also in Mudlark, Gord comes in with most of the songs finished, in Osk we all come in with songs, and then together edit them or ditch them or leave them how they are. Stylistically, Osk is all over the place, hence the PV tag, where as Mudlark is pretty much set on its course of brutal grind/sludge. Either way, I have a great time playing in both bands.
Any plans for Osk? I know you guys are touring out to Arson Fest this August, anything else planned?
Yep, we did the Arsonfest tour this summer with the northwest coasts best band, War Hero, and it was a blast. As for the future, we've got some things coming out, I think there are 3 splits lined up and this box set thing (ala Tomorrow Will Be Worse) that may or may not ever see the light of day. The next release will be the split with War Hero, stoked on that one. Other than that we tend to take it as it comes, we'll probably tour sometime next year, hopefully in foreign lands, and we've probably got 30-40 songs we need to get recorded before we forget how to play them, and if were lucky we'll get asked to play some sick local shows.
Thanks again for everything, if people wanna get in touch with you, how should they go about that?
Thank you for all help this summer with shows, we had a great time in Nelson and are definitely gunna come back, and if you want to get in touch with us I suppose hit up the MySpace page. Stay grind.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
THE KETTLE BLACK - Hornswoggled #5 (unpublished circa Summer 2009)
BLOG NOTE: My friend Jordan once did this zine entitled "Hornswoggled" and he has a small collection of interviews from the last, unpublished, issue that he was kind enough to send my way. Here's the second of three.
How long have you been performing as the Kettle Black? Were you previously in any other bands or projects?
My first show as The Kettle Black was May 29th 2004 at Pub 340 in Vancouver. I played guitar in Jack Feels Fine in the early 90's, bass in The Askmasters in the late 90's, drums in Jang Mo Jib, drums in Ship Shapes at the moment. I used to be called Bystander but changed the name in 2003.
You've got a really unique stage setup. What instruments / gear do you use when you perform?
I play acoustic and electric guitars, bass and synth/piano, I use samples, a couple of loop peddles, a drum machine, analogue and digital delays. I burn candles, trigger lights and use paper mache.
You've done plenty of touring all across Canada. What are some of your favorite cities to play? What are some of the worst?
I like a lot of places, Kamloops, Grand Forks, Ymir are great. Winnipeg, Peterborough, Waterloo, St John's as well, the list is pretty big and I'd still miss someone. It's usually not the city that's bad it's the venue/promoter (or lack of).
Any plans to tour the US or Europe?
I'm working on booking Europe now for shows in November. I tried to do the USA last summer (do it all legit) but it was just a headache and would have ended up costing me $1350 just for the paper work and they could still turn you away at the border if they wanted to. The USA will have to wait for now.
You play all kinds of shows with all sorts of different bands- folk artists, indie rock, punk bands, metal bands, etc. Do you find certain audiences react differently to your music?
Yes and no. There is always someone who gets into it and listens to the lyrics. I have done a few shows where they decide cause I'm a solo act I should be with acoustic singer/songwriter shows and then people don't like that I'm loud, the folk people holding their hands over their ears running out of the venue (no joke). Been told I should just play the quiet songs for these shows but that's not really what I'm doing so I opt out of these shows now. Interesting enough, it's the metal / death metal / punks that are the most open to music. I don't really listen to metal (I listen mostly to folk and indie rock) but have run across some awesome metal bands. They are also usually the nicest people and there for the music.
You record all your own music, in addition to releasing it (as well as other bands') on your own label, Capital Punishment. Was this a necessity for you, or do you simply prefer being self sufficient (or is it both?)
It was the path of least resistance. I would work with someone if they could help me with touring and/or promotion but seems people only want to help you when you don't need their help any more. The recording I always have done. I think I'm getting better at it, I have better mic's these days and I've learned a lot on the way, but to me it's more about the performance than the sound. Capturing that sometimes takes time and the costs / pressure of being in a studio would be unrealistic for me. Organizing the label and releasing the music is another part of it, I like doing all the art work, I do all the distro to stores when I'm touring, I'm pretty open to anyone one who wants to take some discs for physical / mail order distribution. I use only CD-Rs and I hand paint them all to look like vinyl, I do all the manufacturing myself (from burning/painting/cutting all the labels and inserts). For digital distribution I'm on Zunior and The Kettle Black is on iTunes and sites like that, but you still have to get people to go to the site and download, that's where touring comes in. I also have "PayPal What You Can" on my site. You can download the mp3s and PayPal me what you can. It's better than iTunes cause I get all the $$, so if someone leaves $5, I can buy a beer, and so can they with money they save from buying at iTunes. I like being self sufficient, but I do get help from my roommates with printing T-shirts.
Any planned releases for Capital Punishment?
Les Taberfucks recorded last summer in Ottawa but I've been so busy I have not got the mixing done yet, should be soon though. Destination Gutter will be the first thing on the label that I will not have recorded, they are friends from Peterborough (The Spill) and wanted the Capital Punishment logo on their CD.
You're joining Wax Mannequin on bass for an upcoming tour (and opening a number of dates). How did that come about? I always thought Wax Mannequin was a solo enterprise, like yourself.
I played my 4th solo show with Wax in Toronto when I was called Bystander in 2002 at NXNE. Over the years we've become friends and done a lot of shows together in the east. He plays mostly solo but also with a band (Mark Raymond on bass and Aidan Campbell on percussion) in Ontario. We had talked about touring together in the west for a while. I've always been a fan and Mark couldn't do the western shows, so he's asked me to fill in. Mark and Aidan are an awesome rhythm section. I think Wax is awesome but with the backing band it’s huge, It brings the songs to a new level. Hope I can do it justice cause I'm still trying to figure out the songs.
You also recently put out a split 7" with the Ship Shapes from Ottawa. Is vinyl a worthwhile format for you? Can we expect any more The Kettle Black releases on vinyl?
Yea, we did a split single, my first vinyl. It costs more to make and you have to come up with money up front instead of the way I do CD's (make them as I need them). I like the format, I would like to eventually put my stuff out on vinyl. It's more a matter of money.
Thanks again for everything. Any fixations you'd like to share with us? Any final wisdom you'd like to impart?
Eternal life is found in the now, uniforms are a bad idea and yellow snow is not for eating (unless you're into that kind of thing).
How long have you been performing as the Kettle Black? Were you previously in any other bands or projects?
My first show as The Kettle Black was May 29th 2004 at Pub 340 in Vancouver. I played guitar in Jack Feels Fine in the early 90's, bass in The Askmasters in the late 90's, drums in Jang Mo Jib, drums in Ship Shapes at the moment. I used to be called Bystander but changed the name in 2003.
You've got a really unique stage setup. What instruments / gear do you use when you perform?
I play acoustic and electric guitars, bass and synth/piano, I use samples, a couple of loop peddles, a drum machine, analogue and digital delays. I burn candles, trigger lights and use paper mache.
You've done plenty of touring all across Canada. What are some of your favorite cities to play? What are some of the worst?
I like a lot of places, Kamloops, Grand Forks, Ymir are great. Winnipeg, Peterborough, Waterloo, St John's as well, the list is pretty big and I'd still miss someone. It's usually not the city that's bad it's the venue/promoter (or lack of).
Any plans to tour the US or Europe?
I'm working on booking Europe now for shows in November. I tried to do the USA last summer (do it all legit) but it was just a headache and would have ended up costing me $1350 just for the paper work and they could still turn you away at the border if they wanted to. The USA will have to wait for now.
You play all kinds of shows with all sorts of different bands- folk artists, indie rock, punk bands, metal bands, etc. Do you find certain audiences react differently to your music?
Yes and no. There is always someone who gets into it and listens to the lyrics. I have done a few shows where they decide cause I'm a solo act I should be with acoustic singer/songwriter shows and then people don't like that I'm loud, the folk people holding their hands over their ears running out of the venue (no joke). Been told I should just play the quiet songs for these shows but that's not really what I'm doing so I opt out of these shows now. Interesting enough, it's the metal / death metal / punks that are the most open to music. I don't really listen to metal (I listen mostly to folk and indie rock) but have run across some awesome metal bands. They are also usually the nicest people and there for the music.
You record all your own music, in addition to releasing it (as well as other bands') on your own label, Capital Punishment. Was this a necessity for you, or do you simply prefer being self sufficient (or is it both?)
It was the path of least resistance. I would work with someone if they could help me with touring and/or promotion but seems people only want to help you when you don't need their help any more. The recording I always have done. I think I'm getting better at it, I have better mic's these days and I've learned a lot on the way, but to me it's more about the performance than the sound. Capturing that sometimes takes time and the costs / pressure of being in a studio would be unrealistic for me. Organizing the label and releasing the music is another part of it, I like doing all the art work, I do all the distro to stores when I'm touring, I'm pretty open to anyone one who wants to take some discs for physical / mail order distribution. I use only CD-Rs and I hand paint them all to look like vinyl, I do all the manufacturing myself (from burning/painting/cutting all the labels and inserts). For digital distribution I'm on Zunior and The Kettle Black is on iTunes and sites like that, but you still have to get people to go to the site and download, that's where touring comes in. I also have "PayPal What You Can" on my site. You can download the mp3s and PayPal me what you can. It's better than iTunes cause I get all the $$, so if someone leaves $5, I can buy a beer, and so can they with money they save from buying at iTunes. I like being self sufficient, but I do get help from my roommates with printing T-shirts.
Any planned releases for Capital Punishment?
Les Taberfucks recorded last summer in Ottawa but I've been so busy I have not got the mixing done yet, should be soon though. Destination Gutter will be the first thing on the label that I will not have recorded, they are friends from Peterborough (The Spill) and wanted the Capital Punishment logo on their CD.
You're joining Wax Mannequin on bass for an upcoming tour (and opening a number of dates). How did that come about? I always thought Wax Mannequin was a solo enterprise, like yourself.
I played my 4th solo show with Wax in Toronto when I was called Bystander in 2002 at NXNE. Over the years we've become friends and done a lot of shows together in the east. He plays mostly solo but also with a band (Mark Raymond on bass and Aidan Campbell on percussion) in Ontario. We had talked about touring together in the west for a while. I've always been a fan and Mark couldn't do the western shows, so he's asked me to fill in. Mark and Aidan are an awesome rhythm section. I think Wax is awesome but with the backing band it’s huge, It brings the songs to a new level. Hope I can do it justice cause I'm still trying to figure out the songs.
You also recently put out a split 7" with the Ship Shapes from Ottawa. Is vinyl a worthwhile format for you? Can we expect any more The Kettle Black releases on vinyl?
Yea, we did a split single, my first vinyl. It costs more to make and you have to come up with money up front instead of the way I do CD's (make them as I need them). I like the format, I would like to eventually put my stuff out on vinyl. It's more a matter of money.
Thanks again for everything. Any fixations you'd like to share with us? Any final wisdom you'd like to impart?
Eternal life is found in the now, uniforms are a bad idea and yellow snow is not for eating (unless you're into that kind of thing).
XBRAINIAX - Hornswoggled #5 (unpublished circa Summer 2009)
BLOG NOTE: My friend Jordan once did this zine entitled "Hornswoggled" and he has a small collection of interviews from the last, unpublished, issue that he was kind enough to send my way. Here's the first of the batch.
First I wanted to ask about the correct pronunciation. Is it 'Exbrainiacs', 'Brainiacs', 'Brainia', or does the x function as a z-sound, as in xylophone?
It's actually pronounced "Lemon Curry."
You guys recently toured the west coast, how did it go? Discover any new cities or bands on the trip? Any touring plans coming up?
There's a band from LA called Fed Up who were pretty damn good, also a band from SF called Thousands Will Die who were some pretty bitchin' grindcore. Vancouver was the big new city for us. I'd never been there. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a really cool place.
When can we expect the new LP? Any EPs or splits in the works?
Well, we'd like to have the LP mixed by the end of the summer. We're spending more time on it than our other releases because there's so much stuff we want to do. We want to get it as polished as we can get it. So, aside from that, I can't really give a time frame. We recorded some extra material for a split, but that release is a little up in the air as of this exact moment.
Most of your releases have been nonstop speed for the most part, but when I saw you in Vancouver you also did some crazy-slow sludge type stuff. Are there gonna be any slow moments on the new album?
The 10+ minute song you heard us play back in Vancouver is called Deprogrammed. It will be appearing on the LP, which is also titled Deprogrammed.
Who designed the hypodermic needle pentagram logo? Taken any flack for it?
It was sort of a group effort. I always really liked that one. Maybe that's why I plastered the new CD with it... Took us awhile to sell all of those "Satanic Dopesmoking" shirts though...
You guys write fairly structured songs, which isn't always the case with bands that play at your speeds. Are you consciously trying to put more effort into your music? Do you find a lot of extreme music to be too generic?
Yeah, I think song structure is the most important thing when it comes to fast music. If you just spam the 'blast beat' button throughout your songs and don't do anything interesting with the parts, it'll get stale quick. I think that's why a lot of bands in extreme hardcore/punk disappear so quick. They are boring. The bands that influenced us the most were more meticulous with their song writing.
Are there any other projects (bands, zines, labels, or otherwise) that you guys are involved with?
Zach, our guitar player, does about one hundred billion different things at a time. He's doing a Japanese noisy hardcore band by himself called Merciless Game. They've done a few split 7"s and tapes and stuff. He's even gotten a band together to go on tour with. He also does Not Very Nice zine and puts out records and shit. I'm working on a few things but nothing I want to divulge at this point. Joe, our bass player, played guitar in I Accuse!. They just played their last show on July 12th.
Thanks a bunch for doing the interview. Where can people get a hold of your stuff?
Our 99 song Hail Fastcore CD is available through us and through To Live a Lie and Ebullition. Email us if you want a copy, XBRAINIAX@GMAIL.COM
Thanks!
First I wanted to ask about the correct pronunciation. Is it 'Exbrainiacs', 'Brainiacs', 'Brainia', or does the x function as a z-sound, as in xylophone?
It's actually pronounced "Lemon Curry."
You guys recently toured the west coast, how did it go? Discover any new cities or bands on the trip? Any touring plans coming up?
There's a band from LA called Fed Up who were pretty damn good, also a band from SF called Thousands Will Die who were some pretty bitchin' grindcore. Vancouver was the big new city for us. I'd never been there. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a really cool place.
When can we expect the new LP? Any EPs or splits in the works?
Well, we'd like to have the LP mixed by the end of the summer. We're spending more time on it than our other releases because there's so much stuff we want to do. We want to get it as polished as we can get it. So, aside from that, I can't really give a time frame. We recorded some extra material for a split, but that release is a little up in the air as of this exact moment.
Most of your releases have been nonstop speed for the most part, but when I saw you in Vancouver you also did some crazy-slow sludge type stuff. Are there gonna be any slow moments on the new album?
The 10+ minute song you heard us play back in Vancouver is called Deprogrammed. It will be appearing on the LP, which is also titled Deprogrammed.
Who designed the hypodermic needle pentagram logo? Taken any flack for it?
It was sort of a group effort. I always really liked that one. Maybe that's why I plastered the new CD with it... Took us awhile to sell all of those "Satanic Dopesmoking" shirts though...
You guys write fairly structured songs, which isn't always the case with bands that play at your speeds. Are you consciously trying to put more effort into your music? Do you find a lot of extreme music to be too generic?
Yeah, I think song structure is the most important thing when it comes to fast music. If you just spam the 'blast beat' button throughout your songs and don't do anything interesting with the parts, it'll get stale quick. I think that's why a lot of bands in extreme hardcore/punk disappear so quick. They are boring. The bands that influenced us the most were more meticulous with their song writing.
Are there any other projects (bands, zines, labels, or otherwise) that you guys are involved with?
Zach, our guitar player, does about one hundred billion different things at a time. He's doing a Japanese noisy hardcore band by himself called Merciless Game. They've done a few split 7"s and tapes and stuff. He's even gotten a band together to go on tour with. He also does Not Very Nice zine and puts out records and shit. I'm working on a few things but nothing I want to divulge at this point. Joe, our bass player, played guitar in I Accuse!. They just played their last show on July 12th.
Thanks a bunch for doing the interview. Where can people get a hold of your stuff?
Our 99 song Hail Fastcore CD is available through us and through To Live a Lie and Ebullition. Email us if you want a copy, XBRAINIAX@GMAIL.COM
Thanks!
Monday, November 8, 2010
IN DISGUST - Mindless Mutant #4 (2008)
What's the point in trying to describe a band like In Disgust? Actually, what's the point of interviewing a band like In Disgust? They do not want you to know who or what they are. They include no lyrics and not a shred of information about the band. If you came across their records without ever having seen them they would be a complete mystery to you and that's just the way they want it. Getting straight answers out of these guys was like pulling teeth and I'm pretty sure they've still eluded all my questions without giving up any real information. The music is a relentless blast of hardcore. The music quite literally does not stop it's assault on your ear drums, if you ever get a chance to see them stop at nothing to get your ass in front of their amps. Unfortunately this interview was conducted via email this winter because I'm in the Midwest and they're all the way out in California. Do not get in touch.
Who writes the lyrics for In Disgust, and why are they not included in the records?
Jose: Matt. Fuck lyrics.
What's the point of even writing them then? Why not just be instrumental?
Rich: There isn't a point. Excruciating Terror never had lyrics, so don't expect us to.
They never had lyrics or they never had printed lyrics? I have this theory that bands that don't print their lyrics have dumb or embarrassing lyrics, so who's to say you guys aren't just idiots without any idea of how sing a song?
Rich: What do you consider dumb lyrics?
Pizza, partying... the usual.
Rich: Those lyrics are not dumb.
You do not include pictures of band members in releases, but you use photos of gangbangers. Are you trying to confuse people? What's the deal with the artwork?
Rich: Gang Bangers!
Jose: Cuz that shit is the real deal.
Okay, so then by dodging the question, are you admitting to the fact that you are trying to confuse people?
Rich: We're not fooling anybody. San Jose is nothing but Mexicans and Vietnamese.
Jose: Expect nothing but Vietnamese Crips in the next record. At least it isn't some wack ass MITB ripoff bullshit.
Rich: Or zombies.
Jose: That SMOKE weed!
Above you said "Excruciating Terror never had lyrics so don't expect us to." So are you saying it's ok to ape the style of one band but not another? Or was that a shot at Caution?
Jose: Nah, Caution is the real deal! Caution was talking shit just like we are.
Rich: I'm not biting off anybody. Less is more. I'm just into bold imagery.
Most people who will read this zine are from the Midwest, so for our sake can you explain the scene in Santa Cruz? i.e. bands, venues, record stores, how shows usually go down...
Rich: This is San Jose NOT Houston.
What?
Rich: Exactly.
Jose: We all live in San Jose. San Jose - Drunk ass fuckers. We've been doing sick shows in our basement and there's MACLA. Don't get in touch. We won't do a show for your shitty band. Most shows involve complete drunkenness and breaking something. Mosh Hard.
I am in complete agreement that you should not book shitty bands, however, who are some bands outside of your community that you support?
Jose: WEAKend Nachos.
Rich: HAHAHAHAHA!
Jose: Tom Arley.
Rich: Only bands with legit dudes. No one out for scene fame.
Jose: Anyone we've ever raged with.
I spent a few days in California with ID this summer and you are a self-proclaimed racist band. I would say this is only half truth. Why do you propagate this type of nonsense?
Jose: Are you kidding? I'm Mexican, Rich half Mexican and half Black, and Matt is a Jew. I'm gonna have to play the race card here. We might make stupid ass jokes, but most "PC" people that get angry over that shit need to take a look at themselves.
I'm not kidding. In Oakland you told me with that drunk smile to "Fuck In Disgust. They're a racist band."
Jose: Me or Matt "Jew-Run Media" Gomes?
Rich: It doesn't really matter at all.
Rich, I'm getting the feeling that nothing matters to you. What does matter when it comes to being a punk/hardcore band?
Rich: Nothing. It doesn't matter at all. That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. I enjoy fast and loud hardcore, supporting legit bands, breaking shit, and stage diving feet first.
I'm thinking of moving to San Jose. Do you support this idea? Who is your ideal new scene member?
Jose: Sure. We could use more hyper angry dudes that mosh hard. Gilman, SF, and Santa Cruz aren't too far. So there's always as how to go to at any time. Ideal scene member? Anyone punk and doesn't give a fuck.
Rich: Can you handle drunks, drugs, fights and shitty bands? Cuz that's all that's in San Jose.
Jose: Must love the Sharks.
Actually I want to move to Santa Cruz to live by the beach. Come to think of it, I want to live anywhere near Maniac. I recognize the fact that he is indeed a Maniac, but where and when did he get that name?
Rich: He was in some really shitty thrash band in SJ that no one liked. His number was on the website and I called him and asked if he wanted to hang. So I picked him up to hang with friends, and the moment he hung out, he arm wrestled two people, then bent the rim off this guy Luke's wheel in half. His dad wouldn't let him go out late, so we dropped him off at home and a half hour later he called us and snuck out of his house. We went to Safeway and he stole some food and we went to John's house, said he was too hot, pulled his pants down, and passed out in the living room. And dude was gone in the morning before we woke up.
I don't know what your songs are about so can you tell me at all what's going on with the lyrics? You don't have to give anything away, just a general overview.
Jose: Fuck man. I don't know. Hatred. Dismal shit. I couldn't tell you. They all come deep from Matty's heart. I know What Comes Around is about his homie that got shot in a home robbery.
Rich: They're not about sweatpants.
Jose: Or about pizza and skateboarding.
Rich: I'm pretty sure most songs are about somebody getting curbed.
Jose: Yeah. Cali Smile.
I agree that songs about skateboarding and pizza are lame, but you print no lyrics so how the fuck are we to know what you're singing about? How do we know you're not just as lame?
Jose: We are lame, but we rage hard so everyone wants to hang with us.
Rich: Just know that they're really hateful.
I heard some gossip about the split 7" artwork with Sidetracked, care to explain?
Jose: They didn't want to use the Virgin de Guadalupe with guns all around her head.
Rich: I think Jay might be Christian, but who cares that guy is legit. Beside I think Haymaker already used that art.
What [sic] does the typical In Disgust show go down?
Jose: Usually a house show.
Rich: Destruction and Mayhem.
Jose: Getting drunk in the van before and after we play.
Rich: Get Loud.
Jose: Do stupid shit.
I would consider myself completely new to the idea of grind, can you fill me in on what's that all about? What's with the anti-music note logo? I've seen that around before, but Matt has it tattooed on his neck, right?
Jose: Get into porno grind.
Rich: It's the international punks is noise symbol.
You played This Is For You Fest all the way over in Florida. How did that go? I wasn't there, so give me the ID play by play.
Jose: I was the fucking bomb!!!!
Rich: We didn't make it farther than the SF Airport.
Wait, you guys didn't even make it to the show? Do tell.
Jose: Denver was snowed out. So we couldn't catch our connecting flight. No drama, just bad weather.
This is from a zine called Slash and Burn: "IN DISGUST sound good but they seem to be trying for this bad ass bullshit gimmick like they are fucking thugs our [sic] something, and to me, it's just coming off as funny and making some killer hardcore sound weak. Either way you get some fast fucking hardcore." This is my point: you've made the band a mystery by not including lyrics and using artwork that our little minds can't comprehend. This might turn some people away from your band, so what do you say to that?
Rich: That's awesome. Who cares. I will not lose any sleep. You'll never see a poser at an In Disgust show.
How many 10"s are there?
Jose: Pressed? I don't know. 600?
Are you gonna record new material?
Jose: I don't think so. It's too much effort.
Rich: Maybe, man. Shit is moving slow at In Disgust headquarters.
Fuck offs?
Jose: Shout outs to all the homies! Gabe, Nick, Jeff, Maniac, Tour Manager Book, Substance Manager Tom Arley, George, Ronnie, Edwardo, Miguel, Weekend Nachos, Mass Grave, PLF, Sidetracked, Bastard Sons Of Apocalypse, Godstomper.
Rich: Terror's "lowest of the low" is the greatest D-Beat record of all time!
Jose: Fuck the Canadian Border Patrol.
Rich: Dear John Caution, Sorry I crushed your nachos.
Who writes the lyrics for In Disgust, and why are they not included in the records?
Jose: Matt. Fuck lyrics.
What's the point of even writing them then? Why not just be instrumental?
Rich: There isn't a point. Excruciating Terror never had lyrics, so don't expect us to.
They never had lyrics or they never had printed lyrics? I have this theory that bands that don't print their lyrics have dumb or embarrassing lyrics, so who's to say you guys aren't just idiots without any idea of how sing a song?
Rich: What do you consider dumb lyrics?
Pizza, partying... the usual.
Rich: Those lyrics are not dumb.
You do not include pictures of band members in releases, but you use photos of gangbangers. Are you trying to confuse people? What's the deal with the artwork?
Rich: Gang Bangers!
Jose: Cuz that shit is the real deal.
Okay, so then by dodging the question, are you admitting to the fact that you are trying to confuse people?
Rich: We're not fooling anybody. San Jose is nothing but Mexicans and Vietnamese.
Jose: Expect nothing but Vietnamese Crips in the next record. At least it isn't some wack ass MITB ripoff bullshit.
Rich: Or zombies.
Jose: That SMOKE weed!
Above you said "Excruciating Terror never had lyrics so don't expect us to." So are you saying it's ok to ape the style of one band but not another? Or was that a shot at Caution?
Jose: Nah, Caution is the real deal! Caution was talking shit just like we are.
Rich: I'm not biting off anybody. Less is more. I'm just into bold imagery.
Most people who will read this zine are from the Midwest, so for our sake can you explain the scene in Santa Cruz? i.e. bands, venues, record stores, how shows usually go down...
Rich: This is San Jose NOT Houston.
What?
Rich: Exactly.
Jose: We all live in San Jose. San Jose - Drunk ass fuckers. We've been doing sick shows in our basement and there's MACLA. Don't get in touch. We won't do a show for your shitty band. Most shows involve complete drunkenness and breaking something. Mosh Hard.
I am in complete agreement that you should not book shitty bands, however, who are some bands outside of your community that you support?
Jose: WEAKend Nachos.
Rich: HAHAHAHAHA!
Jose: Tom Arley.
Rich: Only bands with legit dudes. No one out for scene fame.
Jose: Anyone we've ever raged with.
I spent a few days in California with ID this summer and you are a self-proclaimed racist band. I would say this is only half truth. Why do you propagate this type of nonsense?
Jose: Are you kidding? I'm Mexican, Rich half Mexican and half Black, and Matt is a Jew. I'm gonna have to play the race card here. We might make stupid ass jokes, but most "PC" people that get angry over that shit need to take a look at themselves.
I'm not kidding. In Oakland you told me with that drunk smile to "Fuck In Disgust. They're a racist band."
Jose: Me or Matt "Jew-Run Media" Gomes?
Rich: It doesn't really matter at all.
Rich, I'm getting the feeling that nothing matters to you. What does matter when it comes to being a punk/hardcore band?
Rich: Nothing. It doesn't matter at all. That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. I enjoy fast and loud hardcore, supporting legit bands, breaking shit, and stage diving feet first.
I'm thinking of moving to San Jose. Do you support this idea? Who is your ideal new scene member?
Jose: Sure. We could use more hyper angry dudes that mosh hard. Gilman, SF, and Santa Cruz aren't too far. So there's always as how to go to at any time. Ideal scene member? Anyone punk and doesn't give a fuck.
Rich: Can you handle drunks, drugs, fights and shitty bands? Cuz that's all that's in San Jose.
Jose: Must love the Sharks.
Actually I want to move to Santa Cruz to live by the beach. Come to think of it, I want to live anywhere near Maniac. I recognize the fact that he is indeed a Maniac, but where and when did he get that name?
Rich: He was in some really shitty thrash band in SJ that no one liked. His number was on the website and I called him and asked if he wanted to hang. So I picked him up to hang with friends, and the moment he hung out, he arm wrestled two people, then bent the rim off this guy Luke's wheel in half. His dad wouldn't let him go out late, so we dropped him off at home and a half hour later he called us and snuck out of his house. We went to Safeway and he stole some food and we went to John's house, said he was too hot, pulled his pants down, and passed out in the living room. And dude was gone in the morning before we woke up.
I don't know what your songs are about so can you tell me at all what's going on with the lyrics? You don't have to give anything away, just a general overview.
Jose: Fuck man. I don't know. Hatred. Dismal shit. I couldn't tell you. They all come deep from Matty's heart. I know What Comes Around is about his homie that got shot in a home robbery.
Rich: They're not about sweatpants.
Jose: Or about pizza and skateboarding.
Rich: I'm pretty sure most songs are about somebody getting curbed.
Jose: Yeah. Cali Smile.
I agree that songs about skateboarding and pizza are lame, but you print no lyrics so how the fuck are we to know what you're singing about? How do we know you're not just as lame?
Jose: We are lame, but we rage hard so everyone wants to hang with us.
Rich: Just know that they're really hateful.
I heard some gossip about the split 7" artwork with Sidetracked, care to explain?
Jose: They didn't want to use the Virgin de Guadalupe with guns all around her head.
Rich: I think Jay might be Christian, but who cares that guy is legit. Beside I think Haymaker already used that art.
What [sic] does the typical In Disgust show go down?
Jose: Usually a house show.
Rich: Destruction and Mayhem.
Jose: Getting drunk in the van before and after we play.
Rich: Get Loud.
Jose: Do stupid shit.
I would consider myself completely new to the idea of grind, can you fill me in on what's that all about? What's with the anti-music note logo? I've seen that around before, but Matt has it tattooed on his neck, right?
Jose: Get into porno grind.
Rich: It's the international punks is noise symbol.
You played This Is For You Fest all the way over in Florida. How did that go? I wasn't there, so give me the ID play by play.
Jose: I was the fucking bomb!!!!
Rich: We didn't make it farther than the SF Airport.
Wait, you guys didn't even make it to the show? Do tell.
Jose: Denver was snowed out. So we couldn't catch our connecting flight. No drama, just bad weather.
This is from a zine called Slash and Burn: "IN DISGUST sound good but they seem to be trying for this bad ass bullshit gimmick like they are fucking thugs our [sic] something, and to me, it's just coming off as funny and making some killer hardcore sound weak. Either way you get some fast fucking hardcore." This is my point: you've made the band a mystery by not including lyrics and using artwork that our little minds can't comprehend. This might turn some people away from your band, so what do you say to that?
Rich: That's awesome. Who cares. I will not lose any sleep. You'll never see a poser at an In Disgust show.
How many 10"s are there?
Jose: Pressed? I don't know. 600?
Are you gonna record new material?
Jose: I don't think so. It's too much effort.
Rich: Maybe, man. Shit is moving slow at In Disgust headquarters.
Fuck offs?
Jose: Shout outs to all the homies! Gabe, Nick, Jeff, Maniac, Tour Manager Book, Substance Manager Tom Arley, George, Ronnie, Edwardo, Miguel, Weekend Nachos, Mass Grave, PLF, Sidetracked, Bastard Sons Of Apocalypse, Godstomper.
Rich: Terror's "lowest of the low" is the greatest D-Beat record of all time!
Jose: Fuck the Canadian Border Patrol.
Rich: Dear John Caution, Sorry I crushed your nachos.
UMMM - Decaying Youth #1 (August 2007)
Please say your names and what you play in UMMM
I'm Matt, I play guitar. I used to play drums in the beginning. Grant plays guitar too, right now John plays drums, and we have a sketchy singer type... We've had many line-up changes, Joshs, Keiths, Petes.
How did UMMM come together?
I don't think it ever really did. UMMM has been the band that exists between other bands. I've always wanted to be in an ultracore/powerviolence type band but it's hard to find kids listening to that stuff. So members start and quit often.
What has UMMM released thus far?
UMMM releases:
-Demo
-Self-titled cassette
-Split 7" with Hasrat
-7" EP, Not For Distribution To the Public
-Two tracks on The A.P.O.S.C. pt. 2 Comp
What does UMMM have planned for the future?
We are just finishing up writing the new 7" hopefully to come out before the end of this year. We're playing a show here in Calgary with Eye Gouger on May 5th. It will be fucking killer!!! We've been asked to play some out of town shows around Alberta but UMMM doesn't like touring or cars so I can't see that happening any time soon. In the distant future I see UMMM breaking up so we can all live in the woods free and at peace with our environment.
Do you care to tell me about your pro-gun vegan stance? Is this a stance for everyone in the band?
I take it upon myself to formulate and distribute all the official propaganda concerning the band. I've never had anyone in the band take an opposing side to positions stated, so I guess they're kinda neutral and let me go about my business.
About the ve-gun thing,...
I read Ward Churchill's Pacifism as Pathology and the views presented in this book guided all thought and action afterward. You'll have to read it because I wouldn't do it justice trying to sum it up here.
I'm NOT paraphrasing the book here, ... cops have weapons, the military have weapons, the politicians have the military, and most of the general population have weapons. If someone stands against the government, and/or police, how could they also ask them for protection and safety? It seems hypocritical.
-Humans (as well as many lifeforms) have demonstrated their ability to be violent and self-serving. Humans (as well as many lifeforms) can also display caring, empathy, and self-sacrifice. I guess the trick is to be empathetic and self-sacrificing in an environment full of self-serving violence.
I might be wrong, but, if one wants to combat or end oppression (if that is even possible) or at least end as much as possible, without inflicting some form of oppression to another, would be to make oneself un-oppressible? (If that is even possible). That whole self-empowerment thing.
A gun is a tool, like a hammer or a book. Neutral, to be manipulated by its user. It is an extension of the user. Life was extinguishing itself and the life around it long before guns, which means guns aren't the problem, the state of mind is the problem.
Veganism, for me, is an action and a state of mind. It displays understanding, empathy, and an independence of the common way of thinking. For me, being pro-gun ties into veganism well by seeing and understanding a tunnel vision used by individuals to justify their actions, and the independence to protect oneself from harm. Killing, imprisoning, raping, and torturing others is not acceptable behaviour, unfortunately most people do not share this mode of thought.
My life is mind to end.
What's the scene like in Calgary?
I've lived in Calgary for 5 years, and there has always been good things going on in the all-ages scene. In the last two years there has been a big influx of fast hardcore/grindcore type stuff. Like, I Die Screaming (Daughters' first LP meets metalcore), If I Look Strong You Look Strong (spastic indyrocky-grind), Act Fast (thrashcore), Think Don't Pray (pv/grindy, like Head Hits Concrete), Black Wednesdays (fast and rad, total posi), Cold Dead Hands (like His hero Is Gone only doomier).
The crowds are all pretty young, high-school kids or just out of high school. Most of the older kids come out to see touring bands and catch the locals as openers. One thing that happens a lot in Calgary is a band will play tons and tons of shows in Calgary, house shows, community centers, bars, like three or four a month, just in Calgary, and then burnout before they could record and release something, or release a CD and breakup.
It's boom time in Calgary, so for the next little while there will be mad shit I'm sure...
Last words?
Last words? I believe Karl Marx's last words were, "Last words are for fools who haven't said enough."
ummmviolence@hotmail.com
or
myspace.com/ummmviolence
I'm Matt, I play guitar. I used to play drums in the beginning. Grant plays guitar too, right now John plays drums, and we have a sketchy singer type... We've had many line-up changes, Joshs, Keiths, Petes.
How did UMMM come together?
I don't think it ever really did. UMMM has been the band that exists between other bands. I've always wanted to be in an ultracore/powerviolence type band but it's hard to find kids listening to that stuff. So members start and quit often.
What has UMMM released thus far?
UMMM releases:
-Demo
-Self-titled cassette
-Split 7" with Hasrat
-7" EP, Not For Distribution To the Public
-Two tracks on The A.P.O.S.C. pt. 2 Comp
What does UMMM have planned for the future?
We are just finishing up writing the new 7" hopefully to come out before the end of this year. We're playing a show here in Calgary with Eye Gouger on May 5th. It will be fucking killer!!! We've been asked to play some out of town shows around Alberta but UMMM doesn't like touring or cars so I can't see that happening any time soon. In the distant future I see UMMM breaking up so we can all live in the woods free and at peace with our environment.
Do you care to tell me about your pro-gun vegan stance? Is this a stance for everyone in the band?
I take it upon myself to formulate and distribute all the official propaganda concerning the band. I've never had anyone in the band take an opposing side to positions stated, so I guess they're kinda neutral and let me go about my business.
About the ve-gun thing,...
I read Ward Churchill's Pacifism as Pathology and the views presented in this book guided all thought and action afterward. You'll have to read it because I wouldn't do it justice trying to sum it up here.
I'm NOT paraphrasing the book here, ... cops have weapons, the military have weapons, the politicians have the military, and most of the general population have weapons. If someone stands against the government, and/or police, how could they also ask them for protection and safety? It seems hypocritical.
-Humans (as well as many lifeforms) have demonstrated their ability to be violent and self-serving. Humans (as well as many lifeforms) can also display caring, empathy, and self-sacrifice. I guess the trick is to be empathetic and self-sacrificing in an environment full of self-serving violence.
I might be wrong, but, if one wants to combat or end oppression (if that is even possible) or at least end as much as possible, without inflicting some form of oppression to another, would be to make oneself un-oppressible? (If that is even possible). That whole self-empowerment thing.
A gun is a tool, like a hammer or a book. Neutral, to be manipulated by its user. It is an extension of the user. Life was extinguishing itself and the life around it long before guns, which means guns aren't the problem, the state of mind is the problem.
Veganism, for me, is an action and a state of mind. It displays understanding, empathy, and an independence of the common way of thinking. For me, being pro-gun ties into veganism well by seeing and understanding a tunnel vision used by individuals to justify their actions, and the independence to protect oneself from harm. Killing, imprisoning, raping, and torturing others is not acceptable behaviour, unfortunately most people do not share this mode of thought.
My life is mind to end.
What's the scene like in Calgary?
I've lived in Calgary for 5 years, and there has always been good things going on in the all-ages scene. In the last two years there has been a big influx of fast hardcore/grindcore type stuff. Like, I Die Screaming (Daughters' first LP meets metalcore), If I Look Strong You Look Strong (spastic indyrocky-grind), Act Fast (thrashcore), Think Don't Pray (pv/grindy, like Head Hits Concrete), Black Wednesdays (fast and rad, total posi), Cold Dead Hands (like His hero Is Gone only doomier).
The crowds are all pretty young, high-school kids or just out of high school. Most of the older kids come out to see touring bands and catch the locals as openers. One thing that happens a lot in Calgary is a band will play tons and tons of shows in Calgary, house shows, community centers, bars, like three or four a month, just in Calgary, and then burnout before they could record and release something, or release a CD and breakup.
It's boom time in Calgary, so for the next little while there will be mad shit I'm sure...
Last words?
Last words? I believe Karl Marx's last words were, "Last words are for fools who haven't said enough."
ummmviolence@hotmail.com
or
myspace.com/ummmviolence
MASS GRAVE - Hornswoggled #3 (April 2008)
Mass Grave has been blasting away since 2001, pummeling Vancouver and beyond with their brutally grinding crust. Their drummer, Hesher, was kind enough to answer some questions. The questions are bold, his responses ain't.
You used to play with Fort Nelson / Vancouver grinders NeckBeerd, whom I got to see once when I was 16, opening for the Dayglos to a tiny audience at the local youth centre. That was one of my first exposures to grind, and was a pretty big turning point in my interest in more extreme music. How long was NeckBeerd together, and are there any recordings still available?
I remember that show. The best part was the promoter of that show cut the Dayglos a check for like 15 bucks or something. I think it was a benefit so that's cool but that's some funny shit. We also played the Royal too and I remember all these hippies skanking around to the Dayglos and it was really weird. Neckbeerd was around for quite a while. We started in 1997 and I think we played our last show in 2003. My good friend Braden and I were the 2 constants in that band. We had a few different bass players. We just wanted to emulate all the Slap-A-Ham Records type bands. Spazz, Hellnation and all that stuff. You know power violence or whatever. Looking back it is kind of amazing that we found out about that shit coming from such a small town. One of our friends went crazy and gave all his records to Braden. In the collection we had all of the Bllleeeeaaauuurrrgghhh 7"s. They were old Slap-A-Ham comps with like 70 bands we liked. That's how we heard about Assuck and Man Is The Bastard and all that kind of shit. We used to call all the numbers too. I remember calling the guy from Black Army Jacket and just shooting the shit. We also called the drummer from Eyehategod's house at like 4 in the morning and talked to his mom. We were just dumb ass 16 year olds. Neckbeerd released a few CDs and split 7" with Suckcess. There are still a few copies of the record kicking around.
Mass Grave has a bunch of releases on tons of DIY labels, including several on Unrest Records. How did you guys first hook up with Mikey and Unrest?
Goat has been friends with Mikey for a long time. Mikey has always been really cool to us and when it was time to do a record he offered to help us out. He has a lot of bad ass bands on his label and a killer record store in Edmonton called Octopus Ink. People should check that shit out. Another label that we are working with right now is Mangled Ankle Records out of Calgary. Todd is going to be putting out our new split 7" with In Disgust and the split LP with Stormcrow. He has a killer distro and is an all around solid dude for sure.
Lots of Mass Grave reviews cite Disrupt as a major influence (largely because of the dual vocalist format). Do you see Disrupt as a major influence? Who are some of the drummers that have influenced your playing?
Disrupt is definitely a major influence. We even took our name from one of their songs. We don't mind getting compared to them. That's how music is- you start off emulating a style or a band and then expand on it. Some of my favourite drummers are Dave Lombardo from Slayer, Anders Jakobson from Nasum and John Bonham of course. You can't fuck with that dude.
You did a major tour with Catheter this summer. Are there any highlights from it that stick out? Are there any touring plans in the works?
That tour was so much fun. I think for all of us playing the Bay was a highlight. It was just such a rad day. We hung out with the dudes from Stormcrow and they took us to this huge cemetery in Oakland that overlooked the whole Bay Area. We got blazed up and took a bunch of pictures and shit, then went and played Gilman with Diskonto, Catheter, and Stormcrow. It was killer playing that venue and having everyone get into it. Also playing with Bloody Phoenix in L.A. was sick as fuck. Our set got shut down at the original show spot and got moved to the Bloody Phoenix jam garage. It was a really bad ass night. It ended up turning into a raging party and man Bloody Phoenix played and just fucking killed it.
Touring with Catheter was awesome. We got along really good and grinded our asses of for about 2 weeks together.
Mass Grave's lyrics tackle issues like war, deforestation, pollution, and apathy. Do you see music as a legitimate social tool, or are you more one for rocking out and having a good time (or possibly a combination of the two)?
I don't write the lyrics so I can't really elaborate too much. The guys basically write about what pisses them off. We take our music and lyrics seriously but we try to keep it fun. I do think lyrics can change things for sure. Maybe not society as a whole but I know I have been affected by bands' lyrics in positive and negative ways. I personally get into music first and if it has cool lyrics to go along with it then that's great. Birdflesh is one of my favourite bands right now and their lyrics are absolutely ridiculous and funny as hell. For me music is fun and when bands take themselves too seriously it kind of makes it not fun. I guess if you want to get into the lyrics would should talk to Woody or Goat.
Thanks for answering my questions. Do you have any final words for the bored suburbanites that might read this?
Start bands that are influenced by Black Flag, Black Sabbath, and Discharge. Oh yeah, and fuck hard drugs. Thanks for the interview and for the interest in Mass Grave.
You used to play with Fort Nelson / Vancouver grinders NeckBeerd, whom I got to see once when I was 16, opening for the Dayglos to a tiny audience at the local youth centre. That was one of my first exposures to grind, and was a pretty big turning point in my interest in more extreme music. How long was NeckBeerd together, and are there any recordings still available?
I remember that show. The best part was the promoter of that show cut the Dayglos a check for like 15 bucks or something. I think it was a benefit so that's cool but that's some funny shit. We also played the Royal too and I remember all these hippies skanking around to the Dayglos and it was really weird. Neckbeerd was around for quite a while. We started in 1997 and I think we played our last show in 2003. My good friend Braden and I were the 2 constants in that band. We had a few different bass players. We just wanted to emulate all the Slap-A-Ham Records type bands. Spazz, Hellnation and all that stuff. You know power violence or whatever. Looking back it is kind of amazing that we found out about that shit coming from such a small town. One of our friends went crazy and gave all his records to Braden. In the collection we had all of the Bllleeeeaaauuurrrgghhh 7"s. They were old Slap-A-Ham comps with like 70 bands we liked. That's how we heard about Assuck and Man Is The Bastard and all that kind of shit. We used to call all the numbers too. I remember calling the guy from Black Army Jacket and just shooting the shit. We also called the drummer from Eyehategod's house at like 4 in the morning and talked to his mom. We were just dumb ass 16 year olds. Neckbeerd released a few CDs and split 7" with Suckcess. There are still a few copies of the record kicking around.
Mass Grave has a bunch of releases on tons of DIY labels, including several on Unrest Records. How did you guys first hook up with Mikey and Unrest?
Goat has been friends with Mikey for a long time. Mikey has always been really cool to us and when it was time to do a record he offered to help us out. He has a lot of bad ass bands on his label and a killer record store in Edmonton called Octopus Ink. People should check that shit out. Another label that we are working with right now is Mangled Ankle Records out of Calgary. Todd is going to be putting out our new split 7" with In Disgust and the split LP with Stormcrow. He has a killer distro and is an all around solid dude for sure.
Lots of Mass Grave reviews cite Disrupt as a major influence (largely because of the dual vocalist format). Do you see Disrupt as a major influence? Who are some of the drummers that have influenced your playing?
Disrupt is definitely a major influence. We even took our name from one of their songs. We don't mind getting compared to them. That's how music is- you start off emulating a style or a band and then expand on it. Some of my favourite drummers are Dave Lombardo from Slayer, Anders Jakobson from Nasum and John Bonham of course. You can't fuck with that dude.
You did a major tour with Catheter this summer. Are there any highlights from it that stick out? Are there any touring plans in the works?
That tour was so much fun. I think for all of us playing the Bay was a highlight. It was just such a rad day. We hung out with the dudes from Stormcrow and they took us to this huge cemetery in Oakland that overlooked the whole Bay Area. We got blazed up and took a bunch of pictures and shit, then went and played Gilman with Diskonto, Catheter, and Stormcrow. It was killer playing that venue and having everyone get into it. Also playing with Bloody Phoenix in L.A. was sick as fuck. Our set got shut down at the original show spot and got moved to the Bloody Phoenix jam garage. It was a really bad ass night. It ended up turning into a raging party and man Bloody Phoenix played and just fucking killed it.
Touring with Catheter was awesome. We got along really good and grinded our asses of for about 2 weeks together.
Mass Grave's lyrics tackle issues like war, deforestation, pollution, and apathy. Do you see music as a legitimate social tool, or are you more one for rocking out and having a good time (or possibly a combination of the two)?
I don't write the lyrics so I can't really elaborate too much. The guys basically write about what pisses them off. We take our music and lyrics seriously but we try to keep it fun. I do think lyrics can change things for sure. Maybe not society as a whole but I know I have been affected by bands' lyrics in positive and negative ways. I personally get into music first and if it has cool lyrics to go along with it then that's great. Birdflesh is one of my favourite bands right now and their lyrics are absolutely ridiculous and funny as hell. For me music is fun and when bands take themselves too seriously it kind of makes it not fun. I guess if you want to get into the lyrics would should talk to Woody or Goat.
Thanks for answering my questions. Do you have any final words for the bored suburbanites that might read this?
Start bands that are influenced by Black Flag, Black Sabbath, and Discharge. Oh yeah, and fuck hard drugs. Thanks for the interview and for the interest in Mass Grave.
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