Content:

Jessica Shroy (Model/Actress)

www.Myspace.com/jessangel2003
Photo by: Rudy Stone
BIG BLACK NOVEL PG. 18
BURN HALO PG. 55
CANNIBAL CORPSE PG. 14
CD REVIEWS PG. 124
CHEVELLE PG. 36
CHIMAIRA PG. 68
CKY PG. 94
DEAD RAGE PG. 78
DIVINE HERESY PG. 90
DYING FETUS PG. 69
ELECTRICA MIAMI PG. 34
EMBER PG. 110
GLASS WOLFE PG. 60
GODSMACK PG. 4
HEAVENʼS BASEMENT PG. 72
INDEX CASE PG. 44
JANUS PG. 24
KENELIS PG. 84
KINGDOM OF GLASS PG. 10
LIVE REVIEWS PG. 104
LOVE HATE HERO PG. 22
OF THE WRECKAGE PG. 87
OPUS DAI PG. 114
QUEENSBURY PG. 107
SAMMY HAGAR PG. 76
SAVING ABEL PG. 52
SHAMANʼS HARVEST PG. 74
SHAOLIN TEMPLE OF BOOM PG. 30
SUICIDE SILENCE PG. 80
TERROR PG. 40
THE CASUALTIES PG. 98
Contributors: G. Cataline, Shauna OʼDonnell, Jeanne Thomas (JET), Macavity, Slavewriter6, THE COLOR TURNING PG. 100
BC Blonde, R.L. Segarra, Karen Fader McBride, Yvonneʼs World, M Lazar, AngelDevil, THE CULPRIT PG. 119
Charly Gienau, Shannon Lindsey, Tracy L. Forsyth-Lundy, Jus Forrest, Morbid Miller, Q5, Ron THEORY OF A DEADMAN PG. 26
“Roosterpuddin” Isbell, Cerys, Morbid Miller, Diana Price, Metal Mike, Natalie Perez, Tina Rose,
Heather Armstrong, Nik Vicious, Laya, Brittany Todd, Warren Meyers, Jori Pierson, Darcee TOXIC HOLOCAUST PG. 70
Brian Cade, Bianca Malise, Seegal, Eric Eaton, Chris King WAITING FOR DECAY PG. 64
YVONNEʼS WORLD PG. 78
Spokesmodels: Penny Layne, Saphira Spanks, Suzie Q, Jessica Shroy
Toy Kitten (Genocide), FluxXx Mutation, Danielle Fornarelli,
Ethel Hallow, Bianca Barnett, M Lazar, Helen Limon, Paris Inez, Kelly Chaos MUEN Magazine
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Shauna OʼDonnell and
Dino Cazares at this yearʼs
Mayhem.

The beautiful Helen Limon... she

models and represents MUEN in
Russia. Xелл the EC!! (translation:
Geffen recording artists, hell yes!!)
Garbage from Madison, WI Myspace.com/limon69
released "Absolute
Garbage" on July 24 2007.
One of the 90's most influen-
tial rock bands put together
a collection of their best.
This came after four albums
and seven Grammy nomina-
tions. The “best of” which in-
cludes both CD and DVD!
Along with the new track
“Tell Me Where It Hurts,” Ab-
solute Garbage features 17
songs of extreme and in-
tense emotion, from “Stupid
Girl,” “Queer” and “#1 Crush”
to “Special,” “Bleed Like Me”
and “Why Do You Love Me.”
M Lazar (MUEN writer)
Why are we talking about an
and her band September
album released 2 years
ago? Because this band hasMourning have recently
opened for The Birthday
stood the test of time, and
will never be outdated :P Massacre, and is now on
tour with Marilyn Manson!!
Myspace.com/garbage The letter “M” shall not be
underestimated!!
~MUEN myspace.com/mlazar
GODSMACK
Universal/Republic record- MUEN: YOU GUYS ARE first band, Iʼve known the THATʼS PRETTY COOL
ing artists Godsmack are ON THE ROAD WITH singer John Allen since I THEN. YOU GUYS ARE
back! MOTLEY CRUE, THE- was fifteen years old. We WORKING ON A NEW
ORY OF A DEADMAN, both came up in the Vir- ALBUM THAT IS TO BE
Shannon Larkin (Drums) DROWNING POOL AND ginia, DC, Baltimore RELEASED SOME TIME
CHARM CITY DEVILS. area, so itʼs been a IN 2010. YOU RE-
Boston, Massachusetts IT SOUNDS LIKE A pleasure hanging out LEASED ONE NEW
BADASS LINE-UP TO with them too. Of course, SONG TITLED
Myspace.com/godsmack
ME. HAVE YOU Iʼve known Tommy Lee “WHISKEY HANG-
By: Shauna OʼDonnell
PLAYED WITH THESE for a few years, so weʼve OVER” FOR CRUE-
BANDS BEFORE? knocked a couple Jager FEST RIGHT?
MUEN: HI SHANNON shots back.
HOW ARE YOU Godsmack hasnʼt, but in Thatʼs right and itʼs doing
TODAY? my previous band Amen, MUEN: SO YOUʼRE really well on radio. In
we toured with Drowning PARTYING WITH MOT- fact, itʼs # 2 or #1 right
Iʼm great, Pool and their original LEY CRUE AFTER THE now. We took two years
thanks. singer. Itʼs been a pleas- SHOW THEN? off, so you know thereʼs
ure seeing those guys, always that thing where
hanging out and drinking Well Motley Crue doesnʼt you worry a little bit if
with them. Their new party, but Tommy Lee people are going to
singer is great. Charm parties! remember you
City Devils,
the MUEN:
or if you are going to go
out of style. So itʼs been
really cool and itʼs been
testament to our fan
base. We love you guys!
MUEN: HOW FAR
ALONG ARE YOU IN
THE PROCESS OF
WRITING THE NEW
ALBUM AND WHO ARE
YOU WORKING WITH
AS A PRODUCER?
That is still up in the air.
We are talking to several
guys and Sully has al-
ways self-produced our
records. We are thinking
of having that fifth ear in
there because we donʼt
want to keep making the
same record over and
over again on the one
hand. On the other hand,
we canʼt change too
much. We are thinking of
bringing someone in this
time and let go of the
reigns a little bit and see
what we can come up
with that is fresh and
original. We have seven-
teen songs on the board
musically, we typically
write the music first and
then Sully goes and
works on the lyrics and
melodies. So right now
where we are at we prob-
ably have six songs full
on with lyrics and
melodies and a bunch of
other ones that we think
are kick ass, but are not
complete yet. We are ba-
sically not even trying to
complete them until we
indeed get a producer so
he can come in and help
in the pre-productionguys are going to run
process. with the Another Animal
ball and hopefully in the
MUEN: IS THERE A SET future we will do another
RELEASE DATE YET? record someday.
We are hoping to get it
out in the first quarter,
but if you want a set re-
lease date, I would say
before summer because
we want to be on tour
during summer. We will
really push to have it out
by then.
MUEN: DO YOU STILL
HAVE YOUR SIDE
PROJECT ANOTHER
ANIMAL AND WHAT IS
HAPPENING WITH
THAT BAND?
We had to come back to
Godsmack. We did that
because we had a cou-
ple years off from Gods-
mack because
everybody wanted to
take a break after ten
years of touring and
making records. Basi-
cally, me, Tony and Rob-
bie had a bunch of music
and so we did the An-
other Animal thing. When
we had to come back to
Godsmack full on, pretty
much Whit and Lee are
continuing on with An-
other Animal with other
musicians filling in for us.
Evidently, they have a
European, Australian and
Japanese release. The
album was only released
in the states and we only
did one little tour for it. It
wasnʼt something we had
a lot of time for. Those
talked to that are starting
out playing drums said it
was real helpful.
MUEN: YEAH I WAS
WATCHING PART OF IT.
MUEN: LETʼS TALK NOW YOU NEVER
ABOUT THE IMV “BE- TOOK ANY DRUM LES-
HIND THE PLAYER” SONS AND YOU
DVD. IT IS AN INTI- TAUGHT YOURSELF
MATE BEHIND THE HOW TO PLAY IS THAT
SCENES LOOK AT RIGHT?
YOUR LIFE AS A MUSI-
CIAN. TELL US A LIT- Thatʼs right, well John
TLE ABOUT THE DVD. Bonham and Neil Peart
taught me how to play.
I was approached by a
good friend of mine back MUEN: THATʼS RIGHT
in the day named Sean BECAUSE YOU WENT
Ian, he is part owner of TO STORES AND
this IMV Company. Itʼs a BOUGHT BOOKS AND
brand new company. LEARNED THAT WAY.
They had secured Munky
from Korn, itʼs not just My sister was a couple
drums. I had never done years older than me and
an instructional DVD be- one day she gave me her
fore because Iʼm not re- Rush Hemispheres
ally a soloist, Iʼm a band record and said “Youʼve
guy. When he ap- got to listen to this
proached me the idea record.” I wasnʼt a drum-
was to take a couple mer yet, but that made
Godsmack songs and me want to play drums.
break them down slow to She then gave me Led
show the kids how itʼs Zeppelin II and thatʼs
done and how I play when I asked my parents
each song. I got to pick for a drum set for Christ-
the two songs that I mas.
wanted to represent. I
thought it was a wonder- MUEN: DO YOU THINK
ful thing, it turned out THAT BECAUSE YOU
great, the sound is awe- NEVER TOOK LES-
some and it has a bunch SONS YOU WERE
of cool features where ABLE TO CREATE
you can go in and see YOUR OWN STYLE?
the footwork and hand-
work. It will show you Well, that and the fact
how to play the songs at that I was playing basket-
half speed and then I ball and I jumped on a
work it up to speed. All basketball and a guy
the kids that I have jumped on me. I heard
my collarbone snap and Online at IMV.com and at MUEN: I READ THAT good. Itʼs about a guy
this was in the early 80ʼs.most Guitar Centers YOU HAVE A CLOTH- who dies and is hovering
Back then, they put me in across the country. ING LINE CALLED over his own funeral. He
a full torso cast, but I still “WERD WEAR.” doesnʼt quite know heʼs
had my wrist. I had to MUEN: ROBBIE HAS dead yet so itʼs that kind
raise my snare and lower ONE TOO RIGHT? Well, thatʼs not my cloth- of vibe.
my high-hat and I could ing line; Iʼm an endorsee,
actually still play in the Robbie has one too, itʼs like Iʼm the face of the MUEN: SO I HEAR
cast. Typically, a drum- great. He plays “Voodoo” company. I donʼt have THAT YOU HAVE WRIT-
mer plays with his right and some cool bass any business to do with it TEN SOME GRAPHIC
hand over his left hand songs. except for I can veto art STUFF OF YOUR OWN.
so that your right hand is designs I donʼt like.
the high-hat and your left MUEN: NOW, HE When they get the art Yeah, Iʼve been writing
hand is the snare. Now, GUEST STARS ON and shirt ready, they since I was sixteen and I
all of a sudden because YOURS, DO YOU PLAY send me a picture of it have a couple novels
Iʼm in this cast I switchedON HIS? and I can say “Yeah, done. I have never tried
with my left hand on top thatʼs cool or No, thatʼs to pitch them or anything
of my right hand so I Yeah I do. lame.” That is about my because rock and roll is
could continue to play involvement. Itʼs a really my life. I figure a lot of
with a broken collarbone. MUEN: SOME OF THE cool company that uses my favorite authors didnʼt
When I got the cast off PROCEEDS GO TO AN all organic cotton and the even publish books until
my right hand was used ORGANIZATION designs are real simple. they were in their fifties. I
to being underneath my CALLED LITTLEKID- Itʼs not Affliction style with figure Iʼve got some time
left hand, so to get back ISROCK.ORG. a bunch of crap all over and Iʼm hoping that
would switch over without it. Its simple designs that someday when this all
missing a beat. When I We do a lot of charity I try to keep rocker/biker ends, which inevitably it
would switch over I events. We just played in heavy. will, then I will just try and
started swinging my arms Texas; we went out there write and publish my
and thatʼs how the style for free. We did an MUEN: THATʼS NOT works. Itʼs kind of like a
was born, from a broken acoustic show because ALL, YOU ARE ALSO A song when you are writ-
bone. one of our buddies got BIG FAN OF HORROR ing; itʼs very personal, no
hurt really badly on a MOVIES AND YOU matter how you cut it. I
MUEN: THATʼS A BMX bike and so we COLLECT THEM. HOW want to make sure itʼs
GOOD STORY. TELL tried to hook up. There MANY WOULD YOU great before I unleash it.
ME ABOUT YOUR KICK are so many of them that SAY YOU HAVE? When we were doing the
TECHNIQUE AND sometimes they come to Faceless record, I would
WHAT IS THE TRICK me and say “Hey, can we Iʼve got over 500 in my get drunk at night and
TO PLAYING A POWER- do this one?” and Iʼm like collection right now. put up short stories. I
FUL PEDAL? “Yes, of course.” would write them, put
MUEN: DO YOU COL- them online and get
I think that you keep the MUEN: I NOTICED YOU LECT HORROR NOV- feedback. Some of it is
heel of your foot up, play HAD A TOY TRAILER ELS AS WELL? pretty hardcore stuff and
on the ball of your foot BACK THERE SO YOU so I ended up putting
and let the pedal do most MUST HAVE BROUGHT Yes, Iʼm a big reader; I thirteen short stories to-
of the work. SOME TOYS OF YOUR always have a book gether and it is like nar-
OWN. open. Right now, Iʼm rated by Satan so I call it
MUEN: WHERE CAN reading the new Glen The Devilʼs Diaries. I def-
PEOPLE PURCHASE Our toys are big Harley Duncan book, he wrote initely need more stories
IT? Davidsonʼs. I,Lucifer. I just got it the because I think that the
other day, but itʼs really short stories should be
fifteen pages or less. In
actuality you can have a
hundred page short story,
but I want to keep them
really short and sweet
with wicked twists right at
the end. Like, the last
sentence will mess you
up, you know what I
mean? Itʼs exciting and I
love to write.

MUEN: SULLY HAS

WRITTEN A BOOK AS
WELL CALLED THE
PATHS WE CHOOSE.
ITʼS A MEMOIR OF HIS
LIFE.

Itʼs a memoir, right. Itʼs

the actual true story of
his life. He had a really
interesting upbringing.
He was raised poor with
all the fighting and
gangs. I was raised mid-
dle class in West Virginia
so I really donʼt have a
back story. Iʼve been
playing drums all my life.

MUEN: THANK YOU SO

MUCH FOR TALKING
WITH ME TODAY. IT
WAS A LOT OF FUN.
BEFORE I LET YOU GO
IS THERE ANYTHING
YOU WOULD LIKE TO
ADD OR SAY?

No, youʼve covered it.

That was a good inter-
view and thank you for
having me.
 FOR ADVERTISING INFO
EMAIL:
MUENMAGAZINE@GMAIL.COM
 KINGDOM OF GLASS

(United Kingdom) with it – although it wide spectrum of the better of us.

does eat any profits. music. Bring on the
www.myspace.com/kin tuba! During the last year
gdomofglass WHO PLAYS WHAT? weʼve focused on ex-
HAS THERE EVER ploring our song writ-
By G. Cataline Ok youʼve got us - the BEEN ANYONE ELSE ing abilities without
computer plays most IN THE BAND? AND prejudice. Weʼve also
SO IT'S JUST THE of it and takes none of WHAT ABOUT LIVE had to get up to speed
TWO OF YOU IN THIS the credit, LOL. How- SHOWS? with the latest tech-
BAND? DAVID ever, we have to pro- nologies (thatʼs Daveʼs
BLACKMAN AND gram each and every Not in this band. Back department). Next year
CHRISTOPHER note. A key ambition in the 90ʼs we both weʼll be forming a live
LLOYD WHITE? was to make it sound formed an Industrial band to take on the
as well produced as band call Neuronet, road, however, creativ-
Yes, with a PC centre possible with a mix of gigged around the UK ity will remain with us.
stage as a passive real and electronic in- and recorded an
third member - thank- struments – whatever album. However, this HOW LONG HAVE
fully we donʼt have to it needs, which has al- was in our salad days YOU BEEN DOING
share any royalties lowed us to explore a and family life then got THIS?
Iʼve been involved in This was our first at-
music for as long as I tempt at writing re-
can remember – or at motely across
least since late teens. continents and time
Following a ʻfamily zones and borne
breakʼ to recover, I ʻMake Believe Angelʼ
managed to trace and ʻKilling Angelʼ .
David down through Thatʼs the way to com-
Friends Reunited last pose – on a beach,
year. After a night of drunk! Once the
heavy drinking (by chords are in place Iʼll
Dave) and re-living our lay down a rough vocal
youth (or what he line so that Dave can
could remember!), we build the production
decided to stop remi- around. This allows us
niscing and get back to to build the songs iter-
what we love doing – atively.
song writing, producing
and drinking. HOW DID YOU
CHOOSE KINGDOM
YOU HAVE SOME OF GLASS FOR A
CATCHY SONGS.. I NAME?
LIKE "SLOW DIVING"
AND "TO GET BY" We hated choosing a
ESPECIALLY... HOW name. Initially we tried
DO YOU GUYS GO picking song titles out BACKING VOCALS
ABOUT THE SONG- of a hat and combining ON "TO GET BY"?
WRITING PROCESS? them, however, some
of them spelled out as Iʼd like to say we em-
The process usually if by an Ouija board! ployed a 30 strong
starts by writing chord So, scared witless, we choir. However, a
progression by what dumped this idea and cheaper solution was
ever means (some- Kingdom of Glass just to use a virtual choir
times even on a real popped into my head. application on the PC.
piano). However, we It seemed to describe You program the pho-
donʼt limit ourselves how we felt about our netics and after many
and will use anything songs – being a portal boring hours (and
on hand to keep the or looking glass into beers) fine tuning – it
creative juices flowing. another reality or time. eventually sings. Well,
Even while on holiday At the time we didnʼt sort of.
in the US, Dave wrote realise it was a glass
some chords using his making region in Swe-
IPOD (iShred), and via den – at least they
email we outlines the might by the album.
ideas of the songs so I
could write the lyrics. WHO IS DOING THE
 Tune-in to FM 107
Southeast New Mexico and West Texas
By: Jeanne Thomas
Yes. Eric is
MUEN: You are out
an incredible
on Mayhem tour
guitar player and
right?
singer. So when
he produces he
Yes. Yes thatʼs right
Oh has more of an in-
yeah, side track than some
MUEN: Howʼs it
hehe Itʼs definitely dif- him - of these other guys.
going for you?
ferent than being at plus working Heʼs been in the stu-
the smaller venues. with him on the last cd dio and heʼs been on-
Oh itʼs been the best
is also a bonus. We stage and he knows.
tour ever! The crowds
MUEN: Letʼs talk know what to expect He understands more
have been huge and
we are making a lot of about your latest cd from him and he of- when I am talking
new fans. It's the best that came out earlier course pushes us to about singing a certain
tour we ever did. I this year... “Eviscer- the limit. Itʼs hard for track. Heʼs been there
mean I can tell you for ation Plague". How me to describe how all and that definitely
does it differ from the cds differ. The plays a big part. All
me itʼs the most fun
the past cds that recording process is our other producers
tour I've ever done for
you've done? different I think. I don't were great too, but
sure. I mean itʼs a lot
know if this is an evil Ericʼs lived this like we
different than playing
the clubs.The smaller Well as a band, when word in the metal are do. Heʼs been
clubs interaction with you do new cds you world, but this cd has here done that. We all
always strive to make groove. It has this
the fans is a lot closer.
just have a better un-
Here at Mayhem the a better one. We had doom approaching derstanding of ea-
stage is so high and Eric Rutan producing sound. chother.
you are farther away again. We know him
and he is also a musi- MUEN: Well I am MUEN: He's in the
from the people.
cian. So with both of sure as a band you genre and heʼs play-
try to evolve with ing in the genre.
MUEN: Yeah itʼs like these factors it makes
every cd... And this last cd is
being God up there. it easier for us to have
the highest grossing are only concentrating record in their stores. at first, but it was awe-
one you ever had so on Mayhem. The book They are saying that some. I was like OMG
you must be doing is out and itʼs doing re- your listeners are the this is really happen-
something right. ally well. Itʼs awesome part of America they ing it was so awesome
that our music and do not want to cater and now itʼs been like
Oh yeah sure. heh lyrics are actually in to. But if that part of 15 years since then.
that never hurts. one. I grew up collect- the public became the
ing comics. So yeah majority, those moth- MUEN: Do you re-
MUEN: Is this last cd itʼs really cool. The erfuckers would member the crowdʼs
a concept cd? artist has done all our change their minds so reaction?
cd covers so heʼs like fast. Itʼs all about
Na na na. The title another person in the money. And thatʼs dis- Yeah they were all fa-
track is obviously a band. gusting to me and miliar with the old
story, but the rest of about everything that I songs we did, but not
the songs aren't fol- MUEN: And speak- am against. It is what with the new stuff. The
lowing that story of ing of artwork. In the it is. Censorship will reaction was great
Evisceration Plague. past your artwork always be there. Now and people immedi-
They are all separate has prohibited you we just ignore it. Itʼs ately accepted me as
stories. from playing in many barely even a topic the new singer. And
countries. How are anymore. 15 years later ya
MUEN: So this cd is things now? know? I am still here.
unique in the fact MUEN: Have you
that you can get a Well a lot of the cen- ever had to pay any MUEN: Yep people
comic book with the sorship we encoun- fines or have some- still love ya George!
cd that follows along tered earlier on has one try to arrest you What are the typical
with all the songs. been lifted. Countries at any one of your cc fans like?
Have you seen it? that have banned us concerts?
in the past, we can go They are metal heads
Oh yeah we have to now. Like Germany Oh no no. it sucks ya know? They all
been doing book sign- banned us because of when we can't play look different some re-
ings everyday. And our first 3 albums - we songs people want to ally clean cut some
you can get both for a can play there now see and hear though. not so much so. But
pretty good price I though. There was a But its time to move they all extreme metal
think. problem in New on I guess heads. This tour is
Zealand and Korea, crazy so many differ-
MUEN: Has there but all that has been MUEN: Do you re- ent people. We are
been any talk of cleared up now. Cen- member the first even surprised by
doing a series of sorship sucks. I mean time you set foot on some of our fans.
comic books for CC? anybody in any band stage? What was it
can tell you its b.s. Itʼs like? MUEN: Do you see
We thought about it a problem thatʼs a the crowds as being
and maybe some- pain to deal with. Es- The first show I did more diverse today?
where along the line pecially here in Amer- with CC was in Florida
we will make that deci- ica because people with Kreator. It was Oh yeah sure. Some
sion, but right now we don't want to put your definitely a little scary of these people were
just being born when I particular song that bands doing old Yup.
started out. And then you do that is your school death metal.
we have fans from favorite to play on There are the hybrids, MUEN: Did you re-
back in 88 too. And we stage? and there are the ally play Elijah
love them all. more technical bands Blueʼs birthday
Hammarsmash face. now. I think itʼs all party?
MUEN: What do you The reaction of the great. It keeps it di-
attribute to your crowd to that is unbe- versified. Yes we did. It was
longevity? lievable. awesome. It was at
MUEN: Do any of The Viper Room when
Well our fans. We all MUEN: Do you think you have side proj- Johnny Depp owned
work hard to perform with the introduction ects? it. Cher invited us to
well, to play well, prac- of internet radio and her place the day be-
tice, and we have alot satellite that it helps We have a few things fore, we had a little
of dedication. We bust get you heard and kicking around here party and she treated
our ass, but in the end attracts new fans? and there. All the us really well. She
the dedication of the things we have are was an awesome
fans is what keeps Oh Sure without a back seat to CC. I hostess. Elijah is a
bands on top. Thereʼs doubt. The internet have a few things, and great person and he
that drive to play good has made things so Alex did a cd with a has a band that really
that elevates us. Our much easier for different band too, but kicks ass too.
fans have been with bands. Now instead of like I said, it all takes a
us through member shopping a demo you backseat to CC. MUEN: Youʼve been
changes and every- can just put it on My- with Metal Blade for
thing. They're loyal space. And so many MUEN: So what are a long time now,
and we are to them as people can hear it you doing in your whatʼs it like to have
well. there. downtime? a label stick with you
like that even
MUEN: Are your fam- MUEN: So what di- We all have different through all the shit?
ilies supportive of rection do you see hobbies. I play War-
you? death metal going in craft. Itʼs awesome. Our first
now? album was with them.
Oh yeah yeah. MUEN: Any plans on They take good care
Brutal! The way it making a CC movie? of us we have no com-
MUEN: Even from should always be. plaints :)
the start? Well the idea has
MUEN: Thereʼs lots been thrown around. MUEN: Ok.. What
Well yeah. Everyoneʼs of bands incorporat- We would definitely be last words do you
families are behind us. ing newer sounds into it. Itʼs just getting have for your fans?
If they were not, weʼd into their music now. around to it.
still be doing it... But Do you think thatʼs Stay metal!
yeah they are all sup- cool, or do you miss MUEN: Well thatʼs
portive. old school stuff? more stuff you can
do on your down-
MUEN: Is there any There are lots of time.
Los Angeles, CA Thanks for talking to band Big Black Novel?” attempting to get “ac-
us about Big Black It stuck! Big Black quainted.” I really was
Interview by: Macavity Novel. Iʼve heard one Novel is one of the NOT in the mood.
version already, but songs that I wrote. After he realized that
Although they have have to ask where did my only topic of inter-
been around the L.A. the name come from MUEN: You have only est was musical, he re-
Music scene a short and does it have a been together as a treated to his best
time, they have already real meaning for the band for a short time. friend Javier, who sat
made quite an impres- band? Can you explain the quietly in the shadows
sion on their fans. funny way that the near the pool table.
After listening to them, Devon: We had been two of you met and Javier approached,
I wanted to catch up to tossing around names then how all four and we immediately
the band to ask more like “Ginger Fox,” came together to seemed completely
about them. We found which was a comment make this lineup? compatible on a music
Devon, Javier, Miguel a boy passing by at a level.
and Steve to chat with reggae fest had called Devon: I had miserably
and saw that Devon me and “Crimson Fox,” stumbled into a dingy Javier: She kept talk-
and Javier were quick but people kept telling dive bar after a really ing, and I was afraid to
to answer about the us those names were confusing break up on interrupt because I RE-
passion they have for “lame.” After fretting Valentineʼs Day. This ALLY HAD TO PEE!!
the band. about a name, my young energetic, very
mom said hastily, “Why enthusiastic kid named Devon: We exchanged
MUEN: Hi guys! donʼt you just call the Benny came up to me numbers and then
came the first en- intriguing for us. The to say that most bands while on the road?
counter when we had crowd hushes and is dread answering. I can
our acoustic guitars in almost lulled by our tell you who our influ- Devon: We once
hand in the back room music! It no longer ences are but to de- played a show where
of my house and it was matters male or fe- scribe a sound that has there were strippers
musical magic! male. It is the music, yet to be defined is dancing during our
the voice, the song, the nearly impossible for songs, which was kind
MUEN: How did you solo, the emotion. It al-me. The best analogy I of cool because we
know this was the ways seems that it car- used to use was “Janis had deemed our song
right lineup? ries through. Joplin is making love to “Give it Up” as an in-
Chris Cornell, musi- side joke “Stripper
Devon: I had been try- MUEN: Do you still cally of course, and Song” because of the
ing out different combi- get “pegged” as a fe- they are suddenly in- sexy guitar lick. It was
nations of the perfect male fronted rock terrupted by Zakk the after party for a
band with guitarists band though? Wylde. play called “Strip.” Two
and bassists, drum- other unusual encoun-
mers etc., but with Devon: We indulge in Javier: I donʼt like that ters come to mind and
Javier it was different! the fact that we are a analogy, because I find both were wardrobe
We seemed to be on female fronted band it pompous to compare malfunctions. Once
the same page stylisti- and use it to our ad- myself to the great was a split down the
cally, musically, men- vantage. Though there Zakk Wylde. back of my pants (hello
tally, etc! are not many female butt cheeks) and the
fronted bands that I MUEN: I understand other was down the
MUEN: So many draw inspiration from, some of you play front of my blouse.
bands that are full on the ones that I do are mostly shows in Cali- Lucky for me, I know
rock donʼt always incredible. I would love fornia. Do you have how to hide things be-
have such a strong to one day play on the any plans to tour any fore they show to the
lead singer to keep same stage as my fe- other states any time crowd!
up with the music, male counterparts, soon?
but you do. Have you Heart, Lacuna Coil, or MUEN: Good thing
had any grief from In This Moment. Devon: We would you do! You have
new fans, venues or (Laughs) Aretha eventually like to build samples up on My-
the music business Franklin! up such a following Space from work you
when they see a fe- that we could tour the have been perform-
male lead vocalist? Javier: We do not see it world!! We are cur- ing live. When can we
as a negative aspect. rently in talks with one expect to see the
Devon: Even if we are of our dear friends to three or six song EP?
in the most obscure MUEN: How would venture all the way out
piece of shit hole in the you best describe your to Sacramento yes! Javier: Our six song EP
wall place and not one music to someone that Still California, but it is is available but only at
soul is paying atten- has not heard you live one heck of a drive. our live shows. We are
tion. We walk up to the at your gigs in Califor- currently working on a
stage and upon the nia or on MySpace? MUEN: Speaking of merchandise page and
first chord struck all shows, what has release date for
eyes and ears are Devon: This is one of been the most un- iTunes.
upon us! It is a phe- those questions that I usual or odd thing to
nomenon that is quite would go out on a limb happen at a show or MUEN: How were the
tracks decided upon words and tune imme- with you!! known as West Covina.
for the EP and do you diately popped into my
think they cover the head, “Please go away MUEN: What should Devon: I dabbled in the
full spectrum of your cuz weʼre not open we expect to see acting world when I
live performances today.” As I woke up, from Big Black Novel was younger. At the
and recordings? and my imagination for the rest of 2009 age of 9, I landed the
went wild, the song other than live gigs? part of “Neat Broom
Javier: We drew from completely took a dif- Girl,” little Bette Midler,
the crowd response at ferent course from an Javier: Promotion, new in the feature film
live shows and from acute irritation with my material, merchandise Hocus Pocus. When I
our fans on our My- mother to a timeless and sexeh hard bodies! was in high school I
Space page. rock ballad about ro- was mocked as “Mostly
mantic immortality. MUEN: For the fans likely to get gonorrhea
MUEN: Where did that think they know of the mouth” in the
you record and how MUEN: Do you have everything about you, year book due to a role
did you choose the any videoʼs planned what do you each do I played as Moira, a
studio and producer? for the one of the for fun that does not teen who obtained
tracks from the EP or have to do with play- gonorrhea of the
Javier: We found him to show the band per- ing/writing music? throat, on NBCʼs ER. I
online. We respect forming live for those am still trying to es-
what he supplies be- that cannot see you Javier: Connoisseur of cape that. Sheesh!
cause it is true to our in person? fine beers and burgers.
sound and he is very, MUEN: Wow! Good
very affordable. We Javier: Currently our Miguel: Beer pong and luck living that down
pretty much produced fans can see our video joining the marines. now that it is in inter-
the tracks ourselves. on Flashrock. We defi- national cyberspace.
nitely want to do a new Steve: Playing base- Thanks guys for tak-
MUEN: How is the video. We are consid- ball. ing the time to talk
music written for the ering doing a dark with MUEN. Looking
band and by whom? humor flash animation Devon: Learning the forward to seeing you
for a song that I wrote art of making amazing and hearing you a lot
Javier: When we first called “Suicide.” ribs!! more soon!
started we played the
songs that Devon had MUEN: How useful MUEN: Is there any-
already written. As time has MySpace been to thing I have not
went on, I would bring the promotion of the asked that you think
in a riff, and Devon band so far? our readers should
would bring in the lyrics know about Big Black
and melody. Devon: MySpace has Novel?
opened so many doors
Devon: Songs just for live shows, new Javier: Though Devon
come to me. For in- fans one of which and I did not meet until
stance, the morning I drove 6 hours just to we were old enough to
wrote “Dead Inside,” see us play! And if it grace a bar legally, we
my mom had abruptly werenʼt for MySpace, lived only blocks of
woke me up from a we wouldnʼt have each other growing up
very deep slumber. The landed this interview in a quaint little town
LOVEHATEHERO MUEN: YOU RE-TOOLED
YOUR SOUND WITH THIS
Ferret Music RECORD. WHAT DID YOU
DO DIFFERENTLY?
Pierrick Berube (Vo-
cals)
Well, I think that
Hollywood, we decided not
CA to show off
so much. All
My- of the mu-
sicians in
the band
are at the
highest
level so they
decided to
space.com/love- stop showing off
hatehero by doing really
flashy solos and that
By: Shauna OʼDonnell type of stuff. We decided to
concentrate more on writing
MUEN: HI PIERRICK full rock songs, big complete
THANKS FOR TALKING songs. That is basically it.
WITH ME TODAY. We wanted to be more ac-
cessible to a broader audi-
Of Course. MUEN: THIS IS YOUR I know, we are going to have ence. We wrote a little bit
THIRD ALBUM TO DATE IS a hundred by the time we are more radio friendly songs.
MUEN: YOU HAVE A NEW THAT CORRECT? done.
ALBUM COMING OUT ON MUEN: WHO PRODUCED
SEPTEMBER 29TH Yeah MUEN: YOU MUST WORK THE RECORD AND WHERE
CALLED AMERICA UN- VERY HARD. DID YOU RECORD IT?
DERWATER. CONGRATU- MUEN: YOU GUYS SEEM Daniel James and Leah Hay-
LATIONS ON THAT. SO YOUNG, YET YOU Actually, our youngest mem- wood at Dreamlab Produc-
HAVE THREE ALBUMS ber is 21 and Iʼm 25, so we tions in Studio City, CA at
Thank you OUT. are not that young. their house. They have a stu-
dio in the back. and one would drop off. They tour in Mexico. The following until I was eighteen, which is
couldnʼt handle having no month we are going to South when we started this band.
MUEN: I WAS NOTICING money or their girlfriends America for a tour. Thatʼs when I dropped the
THAT ALL THREE OF wouldnʼt put up with it. Itʼs not guitar and started just
YOUR ALBUM COVERS an easy life. MUEN: WHO WILL YOU BE singing.
ARE BEAUTIFUL. HOW GOING OUT WITH?
DO YOU DECIDE WHAT MUEN: RECENTLY YOU MUEN: YOU HAVE A GUI-
GOES ON THERE? SHOT A VIDEO FOR THE We donʼt know yet, we are in TAR PLAYER WHO GOES
TITLE TRACK. CAN YOU the process of figuring it out. ON TOUR WITH YOU AS A
Well, that takes forever; we TELL US ABOUT IT? In Mexico and South America FIFTH MEMBER RIGHT?
just go back and forth with we are going by ourselves.
the artist. We tell him what The video is amazing. We We went to South America Right and I play guitar still on
we are trying to convey and spent three days at Lake Mo- once, to Brazil and the tour one song and thatʼs it.
our ideas. They usually send jave in Arizona on a house was amazing. We were so
us something and it goes boat. Itʼs about a band com- much bigger down there just MUEN: DO YOU REMEM-
back and forth for a few ing together type of video. because we were an Ameri- BER YOUR VERY FIRST
weeks until we are happy. That is the theme of the can band. CONCERT?
song, coming together, so we
MUEN: I REALLY LIKE THE are just out there being bros. MUEN: WHAT CAN SOME- I think it was Korn and I was
SONG “ECHOES.” Our girlfriends are there and ONE EXPECT FROM ONE eight years old. My older
there are just epic shots. The OF YOUR LIVE SHOWS? IS brother was like a big hess-
Thank you shots are incredible and I IT HIGH ENERGY? ian and Korn was the heavy
canʼt wait to see it. I still new band. I was freaking out
MUEN: TELL ME WHAT havenʼt seen it. I saw it Yeah, we try and get a lot of because I was so young and
THE SONG IS ABOUT. through the lens of the cam- crowd participation. Itʼs pretty it was insane.
era. high energy with sing-alongs
That song is about the record and stuff like that. Itʼs pretty MUEN: WERE YOUR PAR-
and how we are trying to MUEN: WHEN IS IT GOING cool. ENTS ALWAYS SUPPORT-
change it up a little bit. TO RELEASE? IVE OF YOU WANTING TO
MUEN: DO YOU GUYS BE IN A BAND?
MUEN: WHAT DO YOU I hope pretty soon. It will be PLAY AT CHAIN REACTION
THINK MAKES YOUR right around the same time IN ANAHEIM? Yeah, totally, still to this day.
BAND UNIQUE? as the record or right before. They support me in every-
We have played there a thing I do, not with money,
We are very talented musi- MUEN: YOU RECENTLY thousand times. You should but with love and support.
cians and I like to think my JOINED THE WARPED come out next time. Yeah,
voice is unique. I try to keep TOUR ON THE SMART- that is pretty much our home- MUEN: THANK YOU SO
my unique aspects in the PUNK STAGE. HOW IS IT town venue. We live in Los MUCH FOR THE INTER-
recording and not sing so GOING AND HOW ARE Angeles and Inland Empire VIEW. I WISH YOU THE
straight forward. Itʼs very THE CROWDS? so itʼs like in the middle. VERY BEST OF LUCK. BE-
pop, but itʼs got an edge to it. FORE I LET YOU GO
Itʼs a little bit heavy at times. Awesome, we are doing MUEN: WHAT IS YOUR FA- WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD
much better than we thought VORITE THING ABOUT OR SAY ANYTHING?
MUEN: YOU HAVE HAD weʼd be doing. There are big BEING ON TOUR?
SOME LINE-UP CHANGES crowds and we are about Look out for the new record,
SINCE YOU FIRST right in the middle in the On this tour, playing for sure, itʼs pretty awesome. Pre-
STARTED OUT. DO YOU draw. There are some larger the kids come out and sing order it now at
THINK THE LINE-UP YOU acts that are drawing a lot along. Smartpunk.com and thanks
HAVE NOW IS PRETTY more obviously, but we are for the support to everyone.
SOLID? doing very well. MUEN: HOW OLD WERE
YOU WHEN YOU FIRST
Yeah, this line-up that we MUEN: IT SEEMS LIKE GOT INTO MUSIC?
have now has been for three YOU ARE ALWAYS ON THE
years. All the changes hap- ROAD. ONCE WARPED IS I was fourteen when I first
pened right away pretty OVER WILL YOU CON- started learning guitar from
much; we had never toured TINUE TOURING? my friends and covering
or done anything. We got songs by myself. I would play
signed, we started touring After Warped, we are doing a acoustic and sing. I was in
local bands all the way up
JANUS leery of daytime outdoor DAVE NAVARRO WHAT INSPIRED YOU
shows because I prefer ADDED IT TO HIS POD- TO WRITE THE SONG,
the whole dark rock club CAST "DARK MATTER" AND WHO IS THE MAIN
By G. Cataline vibe, but these daytime RECENTLY... WHO LYRICIST AND SONG-
gigs turn out to be some WOULD YOU CREDIT WRITER OF THE
SO HOW WAS THE of our best shows! After- FOR ALL THE GREAT BAND?
SHOW AT POINTFEST? wards we got to hang out PRODUCTION ON THE
PRETTY AWESOME with Shinedown, Chevelle VIDEO? David is the sole voice of
YOU GOT TO SHARE and Aaron Lewis from the band as far as lyrics
THE STAGE WITH Staind. Very cool people. Noah Shulman di- go. The song is about
SHINEDOWN, STAIND, Everyone was really ap- rected/edited the video. being yourself and the
AND CHEVELLE... proachable and modest. He did something like person you become when
300+ hours of post pro- you allow others to influ-
Pointfest was amazing!!! YOUR SONG, "EYE- duction work on it. He's ence your life. It was in-
105.7 KPNT (The Point) SORE" IS VERY WELL such a great guy to work spired by our experience
has been giving the single DONE, AND THE VIDEO with and easy to get within the music industry
a lot of love so it was IS OUTSTANDING! WE along with. We knew and the long journey to
great to come down and PUT IT ON OUR going into it he was going get to this point. It actu-
play for all the listeners PLAYER AT MYSPACE to step up and hit it out of ally reinforces our whole
and show them what SOON AS WE HEARD the park. drive for making this
we're about. I'm always IT, ALSO WE NOTICED record.
WHEN DID YOU GUYS
FIRST FORM, AND
WOULD YOU SAY IT'S
BEEN A LONG HARD
ROAD TO WHERE YOU
ARE NOW, OR DID
THINGS SEEM TO
COME EASY?
The current lineup has
been together a couple
years now, but David and
I (Mike) have been mak-
ing music together for
much longer than that.
It's been a very long hard
road of not only self dis-
covery, but insight into the
internal workings of the
industry. It's been years
in the making, but things
are really starting to pick
up for us.
WHERE WAS THE
ALBUM RECORDED,
AND WHERE DO YOU and is depicted as a head endary.
DIRECT PEOPLE TO with 2 faces, one looking
PURCHASE IT? forward to the future and WHAT IS THE NEXT
the other looking back to STEP FOR JANUS?
We tracked drums and all the past. It really encap-
the heavier guitar parts at sulates our approach to We're hitting the road for
a studio called I.V. Lab writing music. We're al- the next 3 to 4 months!
Studios in Chicago with ways looking forward to So far we've secured a
Manny Sanchez. Then the future to do some- few dates with Framing
we finished the recording, thing different, but also Hanley, Chevelle, and
mixing, and mastering at looking at what we've Pop Evil for September
our own studio. The done in the past to learn and should be jumping on
record "Red Right Return" from ourselves and build some longer tours in Oc-
will be available online on on what we've done be- tober to finish out the
iTunes and in stores on fore. year. We can't wait to get
9/22. The single and WHAT DO YOU LIKE out in front of all these
video for "Eyesore" are AND/OR DISLIKE people and rock! It's
available on iTunes right ABOUT YOUR LOCAL going to be great!
now! MUSIC ENVIRONMENT?
www.janusmusic.com
WHY THE NAME I really like that there are www.myspace.com/janus
JANUS? so many local clubs to www.facebook.com/janus
play at that have such a band
Janus is the Roman God long history attached to www.twitter.com/janus
of gates and beginnings them. They're truly leg-
Tyler Connolly playing so hard that I cut THERE ANY PARTICU- MUEN: DO YOU PARTY
my hand and I was LAR CITY YOU ARE WITH MOTLEY CRUE
(Vocals, Lead Guitar) bleeding all over my gui- LOOKING FORWARD AFTER THE SHOW?
tar. It was rad. TO MORE THAN OTH-
CANADA ERS? Yes! Every night… No,
Myspace.com/theory- MUEN: OH! THAT IS those guys keep to them-
ofadeadman COOL. HOW MANY I donʼt think so, we really selves. We see them
PEOPLE ARE WE EX- love coming to the west backstage all the time.
By: Shauna OʼDonnell
PECTING HERE coast because we never Tommy has his party
TODAY? get to. We played San room with a massive PA
MUEN: I AM SO EX-
CITED TO FINALLY Jose last night and it was running with subs. He
Like a million, I donʼt the first time we ever has his party and he
MEET YOU GUYS.
know. There is definitely played San Jose. The hangs out. The other
going to be like 12,000 or crowd was great. It was guys kind of lay low.
Yes! Iʼm very excited to
something. one of those things They have been doing
meet you too.
where you are very ex- this for thirty years.
MUEN: DO YOU PRE- cited to be in a town that
MUEN: HOW DOES IT
FER PLAYING AT FES- you have never MUEN: ANY
FEEL TO BE ON CRUE-
TIVALS OR MORE played in be- PRE-
FEST2?
INTIMATE CLUBS? fore. SHOW RIT-
Unbelievable, I remem- UALS YOU
ber Cruefest1 was such
I guess I would say WANT TO
a huge ordeal. Being on
both. At festivals you SHARE WITH
Cruefest2 is pretty rad.
get to play in front of a US?
lot more people and
you get to win
MUEN: DO YOU GUYS
over a lot of new
EVER GET NERVOUS
fans. There are a
BEFORE TAKING THE
lot of people who
STAGE?
are coming here
just to see Motley
Ummm.. there is defi-
Crue and will probably
nitely a lot of nervous en-
even miss our set,
ergy. We did a tour
but there will be a lot
earlier this year with Mot-
of people who will
ley Crue, The Saints of
come to check us
Los Angeles Tour. It was
out who donʼt
an arena tour and so it
know that much
felt really different. This
about us. On the
one is an outdoor am-
other side, the in-
phitheatre, thereʼs a
timate stuff is
bunch of bands and
rad because you
there is a second stage
can see the
so everyday feels like a
faces and really
festival. For some reason
get up close
there is a lot more nerv-
and personal.
ous energy, you get on
stage and you are really
MUEN: IS
pumped. Yesterday I was
Joey our drummer gets
naked and dances
around. Itʼs really
screwed up and crazy.
MUEN: NAKEDʼS
GOOD.
Yeah, we just listen to
music and get pumped
up.
MUEN: I WANTED TO
SAY CONGRATULA-
TIONS ON SCARS &
SOUVENIRS BEING
CERTIFIED GOLD RE-
CENTLY.
Yeah, thank you very
much. Itʼs unbelievable.
MUEN: IʼM SO HAPPY
YOUʼRE ALBUM IS
DOING WELL!
Ahaaa!! No pun in-
tended.
MUEN: NONE AT ALL,
YOU GUYS GREW UP
TOGETHER AND HAVE
BEEN TOGETHER IN A
BAND FOR A WHILE
NOW. WHAT IS THE
KEY TO KEEPING
THINGS FRESH AND
NEW?
Uhh! Picking on our
drummer. We are humor-
ous guys and we are re-
ally low key. I really donʼt
think we are a bunch of
alpha males so we really
just kind of goof around.
There are a lot of bands
that takes things too seri-
ously. We really donʼt
take things too seriously.
MUEN: WHO WAS NOW BEING FEA- some.
“BAD GIRLFRIEND” TURED ON TRANS-
WRITTEN ABOUT? FORMERS: REVENGE MUEN: LETʼS TALK
OF THE FALLEN-THE ABOUT
Thatʼs about my now ALBUM RIGHT? TELLTYLER.COM.
wife, who is probably WHAT IS IT?
calling me on the phone. Yes
That is when I met her; I The label set up this
met her at a bar. She MUEN: DID YOU SEE thing about how if you
was like this “bar star.” THE MOVIE? have any kind of prob-
Every time I would go to lems you could email me
this club in Vancouver, I have seen the movie. and ask “What do I do?”
she was there hanging and then I would give
out with her friends. MUEN: DID YOU LIKE you advice. They havenʼt
Sheʼd be doing shots and IT? sent me any new ones
dancing on chairs. Itʼs a lately. I think itʼs kind of
true story. I thought it was great. It wrapped up.
was about 2 ½ hours too
MUEN: WHICH SONG long though. Nah, they MUEN: WERE YOU GIV-
OFF THE ALBUM IS make movies 3 hours ING OUT BAD ADVICE?
CLOSEST TO YOUR long now, itʼs insane. Itʼs
HEART? impossible to not have to No, I was giving out awe-
go to the restroom while some advice.
I donʼt know if there is youʼre watching the
one, I mean, “All or Noth- movie. It was good with MUEN: DO YOU HAVE
ing” is a song about how lots of explosions and the ANY SIDE-PROJECTS?
I met my wife and how chick in slow-mo with her FOR INSTANCE DAVE
we got married. Thatʼs a boobs bouncing up and MANAGES BANDS?
good wedding song. We down, so it was good.
are getting some com- No, Iʼve got nothing else
ments from people on MUEN: I LOVE THE going on. I write songs
our MySpace saying how VIDEO FOR IT AS for the bands here and
they chose that song for WELL, HOW EVERY- there, but I really have
a wedding song. So itʼs THING MOVES FOR- just been so busy. Dave
pretty personal. WARD AND THEN on the other hand, isnʼt
BACKWARDS. WHOSE as busy; he just goes to
MUEN: ARE YOU GUYS IDEA WAS IT FOR THE bed all day. He does
WORKING ON A NEW VIDEO? nothing, heʼs lazy.
ALBUM?
That was the director, he MUEN: HE PLAYS
No, were not. Weʼve wrote that treatment for GOLF.
been touring so much us a year ago for that
and we have tours song. It took forever be- He plays golf and video
booked until the end of fore we made it. I donʼt games, thatʼs about it.
the year. They are al- know why. When we first Heʼs a ladies man.
ready talking about next read the treatment we
years tours. Iʼm sure we were like “Okay, it could MUEN: WHAT DO YOU
will start working on stuff be cool, but you just THINK YOU WOULD BE
next year in 2010. donʼt know.” After it was DOING IF YOU
shot and we saw it we WERENʼT IN A ROCK
MUEN: THAT SONG IS thought it looked awe- BAND?
Iʼd probably be dead.
(Heʼs kidding) Iʼve always
been into music so Iʼd
still be into music. If I was
in a band Iʼd be recording
or producing.

MUEN: WHAT IS THE

DIFFERENCE BE-
TWEEN CANADIAN
BEER AND THE BEER
HERE IN THE STATES?

Canadian beer gets you

drunker faster. A lot of
Americans canʼt keep up
with the Canadian beer.
Thatʼs why if you live in
Michigan and sneak
across the border (the
drinking age is like nine-
teen and in some places
eighteen) some kids
canʼt handle it.

MUEN: IʼM SURE YOU

HAVE A LONG AND
SUCCESSFUL CAREER
AHEAD OF YOU, BUT
WHEN ALL IS SAID
AND DONE, WHAT DO
YOU WANT TO BE RE-
MEMBERED FOR?

A three inch…..Uh what?

(Laughing) I donʼt know.

MUEN: MUSICALLY.
Musically? I guess that
we have affected peo-
pleʼs lives in a positive
way. Thatʼs what music is
all about. Even though
we have songs like “Hate
My Life” I think music is
therapy in a way. We
look at Motley Crue and
the greatest thing about
touring with them is the
fact that they have been IS ONE OF THOSE
YOU ON STAGE. ANY-
a part of peopleʼs lives CASES WHERE IT IS
THING YOUʼD LIKE TO
for thirty years. Thatʼs ADD OR SAY? SO MUCH BETTER TO
pretty amazing, so thatʼs LISTEN TO IT RATHER
what we want to be re-
Itʼs not really three THAN READ IT. BE
membered for. inches. SURE TO CATCH THEM
ON TOUR AT SOME
MUEN: THANKS SO MUEN: TYLER HAS AN POINT, THEY ARE
MUCH FOR THE INTER- AMAZING SENSE OF AMAZING LIVE.
VIEW. IT WAS GREAT HUMOR AND MADE ME
TALKING WITH YOU. I LAUGH THROUGHOUT
CANNOT WAIT TO SEE THE INTERVIEW. THIS
Jessica Shroy (Model / Actress)
www.myspace.com/jessangel2003
DAVID ALVAREZ of
SHAOLIN TEMPLE OF
BOOM
Los Angeles, CA
By Shauna O’Donnell
MUEN: WE HAVE TIONS ON THAT! the sun“ Itʼs a very (www.myspace.com/sh
DAVID ALVAREZ OF NOW LETʼS TALK grungy heavy rock track aolintempleofboom or
SHAOLIN TEMPLE OF ABOUT YOUR MUSIC. and there is a very ex- www.trueAnthem.com/s
BOOM TODAY. HI WHAT ARE SOME OF perimental track called tob). Itʼs free and high
DAVID! HOW ARE THE NEWEST SONGS “After the Fall” which is quality Mp3, you just fill
YOU TODAY? YOU HAVE WRITTEN? a very electronic eight- your name in and fill out
ies sounding song. I the little questionnaire
STOB: Hey Shauna! STOB: Iʼm going to be think I am going to sur- and youʼre good to go.
How are you doing? doing vocals for a song prise a lot of people be- The great thing is you
called “Always, Every- cause it sounds like it is donʼt just have to down-
MUEN: IʼM DOING OK thing” which will be the straight out of the eight- load Shaolin. Thereʼs a
AND FEELING BET- first time I release any- ies hip hop genre but wide range of artists
TER. thing that is just piano, itʼs mixed with rock and available. Once you
vocals and orchestra. when the chorus comes have an account you
STOB: Thatʼs good! It's really kind of a de- in it has this horror just go and see what
You sound a lot better. parture in some ways movie metal type feel. artists have put out
but on the same vein of their music for free to fill
MUEN: SO TELL US stuff I have done be- MUEN: HOW DO YOU your iPod up with.
HOW DID IT FEEL TO fore. Iʼm really excited THINK YOUR FANS
WIN THE WONKA about that track actually WILL REACT? MUEN: WELL THATʼS
BATTLE? because it just flowed COOL AND YOU GET
out of me. I just want to STOB: I think my fans AN AVERAGE OF
STOB: It was two get it out there, thatʼs are used to SToB music TWO HUNDRED
months of night and how much I feel about being eclectic so Iʼm THOUSAND PLAYS A
day talking to street it. pretty sure they are DAY.
teamers and organizing going to enjoy this one.
things. When it was MUEN: SO IT JUST The way I look at it is STOB: Yeah. That is all
done it was definitely a FLOWED OUT OF that I have always writ- throughout the internet.
big help for me to be YOU EASIER THAN ten songs for myself so Itʼs pretty amazing be-
able to create more SOME OTHER ONES? if I enjoy it then I am cause one of the major
music. It feels great be- hoping people out there benefits of this contest
cause there were a lot STOB: In some ways will enjoy it too. The is the music is spread
of bands that were ac- yeah, because a lot of Main thing is to please everywhere so itʼs the
tually on the Warped times Iʼll start a song by myself. best type of promotion.
Tour and have manage- creating a beat or elec- I canʼt really think of an-
ment and record labels tronics or something MUEN: YEAH, I UN- other company that has
and it was just SToB and it kind of develops DERSTAND WHAT a player that lets you
against some of the la- over time but this one YOU ARE SAYING. spread your music out
bels out there so it felt came out without me NOW WHERE IS THE this way. You can get
pretty good to win that. even thinking about it. BEST PLACE TO the music directly from
The piano and the DOWNLOAD YOUR the widget, I think it is a
MUEN: GREAT! FIF- words and the melody SONGS? pretty powerful piece of
TEEN THOUSAND just flowed out of me. technology.
DOLLARS CAN RE- Then there are some STOB: Right now the
ALLY HELP OUT A other tracks which will best place is through us MUEN: NOW I UN-
LOT! THATʼS COOL be full band. There is on our trueAnthem DERSTAND YOU ARE
AND CONGRATULA- one called “Last day of player THE FIRST UN-
SIGNED ARTIST TO
BE ENDORSED BY
ENGL AMPS. THAT IS
AWESOME!
STOB: Yeah. That was
pretty amazing. I was
contacted by Michael
who is A & R for Engl
and I looked on their
website and they put
me in the professional
users section back
when it was only bands
like Cradle of Filth and
bigger signed acts in
that section. But I think
the best part of
Michaelʼs philosophy is
that they look at the
artists that have a lot of
potential. But when I
was first endorsed I
was the only one that
was unsigned and un-
managed. What really
blew me away was that
they put me in maga-
zines all across Europe.
The main one was
Rock Hard, which is
kind of the Rolling
Stone of Germany.
When I actually saw the
full page ad, I felt like I
really need to live up to
this. It was a huge sign
of faith and their amps
are absolutely amazing!
I play the Powerball.
Theyʼre really huge in
Europe and they are
starting to make their
way here.
MUEN: ARE THE
SHOWS GOING TO
BE LOCAL?
STOB: Starting out in STOB: Yeah, times Tim Thompson that has
California. I donʼt want have changed so much a lot of really cool visual
to say L.A. but instead that film directors have ideas. I want to do
California and branch- more access to music something that is an ex-
ing out from there. But you may never have tension of the music.
also looking for spon- heard of before be-
sorships and there are cause you can go on- MUEN: DO YOU HAVE
some possibilities that line and get introduced SOMETHING IN
might be happening to a lot of bands that MIND?
soon. are unsigned. And there
is a lot of great music STOB: I have a couple
MUEN: THAT WILL BE out there that is un- of things in mind. The
GREAT SO MAKE signed. Part of the win- whole thing deals with a
SURE YOU LET US nings that I just got is metaphorical apoca-
KNOW. NOW, DO YOU going to go to a video lypse thing. I kind of
HAVE ANY LICENS- even though it is lim- want to have some top-
ING DEALS? ited. But I think it is im- ics to showcase in the
portant because it is an video. And it will be fun
STOB: One thing about artform you know and I too since we are on a
my music is that I get really appreciate it. I really serious budget,
asked all the time by donʼt care that it doesnʼt weʼll have to be very
film studios or directors bring cash flow or there creative.
who are starting out. is not as many venues
There is one film in the because for me it is MUEN: NOW CHRIS
UK actually that is about creating some- VRENNA, HE MIXED
using “Evil” and a cou- thing that is visually BOTH “I WILL DE-
ple here in the states. beautiful and interesting STROY” AND “EN-
Lately, there has been and it is a piece of art. TWINED.” TELL ME A
interest in taking things LITTLE BIT ABOUT
MUEN: I COM-
to the next level so I WORKING WITH HIM?
PLETELY AGREE
donʼt want to say any-
WITH YOU AND I LIKE
thing yet since nothing STOB: Well I have
WATCHING THEM
is concrete. There is never heard anyone
ʻCAUSE I WANT TO
definite licensing possi- like him who mixes
bilities real soon. SEE WHAT THE BAND drums and music the
LOOKS LIKE WHEN way he does. I mean
MUEN: VERY COOL! THEYʼRE PERFORM- when I hear his music I
SPEAKING OF FILM ING. SPEAKING OF have this thing where
STUDENTS, THERE VIDEOS, ARE YOU colors come into my
ARE A LOT OF GOING TO BE DOING mind and every time I
BANDS STARTING TO A VIDEO FOR “I hear one of his mixes
USE THEM FOR WOULD DESTROY”? either his own music or
MUSIC VIDEOS. THEY like Marilyn Manson
HAVE FRESH MINDS STOB: Yes, itʼs planned thereʼs always certain
AND ALL THESE to start filming in the colors that come to
FRESH IDEAS SO I middle of August I think mind. I mean it is just
THINK THAT IS COOL. with a very talented di- perfect for Shaolin you
rector by the name of know. Every time a
song was mixed in the mean we have a first ALLY LIKE TO DI- other communities like
past, I have had com- shirt that is up right RECT PEOPLE TO MTV.com and your pro-
plaints but the first time now. The “I Will De- WWW.SHAOLINTEM- file changes with each
I heard “I Would De- stroy” shirt. itʼs on my PLEOFBOOM.COM. different community that
stroy”, which was the website. So far people TELL US A LITTLE BIT you join. You can also
first song Vrenna mixed like that design a lot. ABOUT YOUR WEB- share your blogs with
for SToB, it was perfect! Iʼm going to do things SITE. all the communities and
He has a long history in that are both musical be featured. And you
music and was one of and not. So if I do a STOB: It's the first band can upload videos too.
the founding members piece of art that will go website of its kind. Itʼs a Artwork can also be up-
of Nine Inch Nails and on and that is some- band website but it is a loaded and featured!
he had a lot to do with thing that is going to website that isnʼt just
the early records. Out- happen in the very near devoted to the band. MUEN: ITʼS BEEN
side of that he has future. Itʼs also devoted to fans AWESOME TALKING
been in Marilyn Manson that make up the com- WITH AND I WANT TO
and his own music MUEN: I NOTICED munity that is shaolin- THANK YOU SO
through Tweaker. THERE IS A LOT OF templeofboom.com.Thi MUCH FOR THE IN-
FAN ART BEING s is about a community TERVIEW AND I HON-
MUEN: SO I ALSO DONE ON YOUR type of movement or ESTLY THINK YOU
WANT TO TALK TO PAGE AS WELL. WHO lifestyle and not just the ARE A VERY VERY
YOU ABOUT YOUR ARE SOME OF THE band. TALENTED GUY!
CLOTHING LINE. GRAPHIC DESIGN-
ERS YOU WORK MUEN: PEOPLE STOB: Thanks Shauna!
STOB: Itʼs very early WITH? NEED TO DEFINITELY
still. Itʼs still a baby. Itʼs CHECK IT OUT AND
cool for me though. I STOB: The main one is YOUR MYSPACE
am visual artist as well Mikio from Silent Q De- PAGE TOO!
and I like to express sign. He is a great
myself that way and I artist and does a lot of STOB: MTV just
kind of feel like it is time CD artwork. bought Flux, if you join
for me to do stuff with shaolintempleof-
shirts and whatever. I MUEN: I WOULD RE- boom.com you can join
By G. Cataline TO SEE US OFTEN! pleased for this, and for or to record stuff at the
YOU DO HAVE BOTH the attention you gave studio.
MUEN: HOLA ELEC- LOS ANGELES AND to us.
TRICA MIAMI! IT'S MEXICO LISTED ON We are from Tamauli- MUEN: WHO ARE
BEEN A LONG TIME YOUR MYSPACE pas, Mexico. It is a very THE BAND MEM-
SINCE WE INTER- PAGE... WHERE ARE nice part in northern BERS, AND I SEE
VIEWED AN ARTIST YOU BASED OUT Mexico, very close to THE FEMALE OF THE
FROM MEXICO, AND OF? WHAT CITY ARE the gulf, and just three BAND HAS LEFT?
BESIDES YOUR YOU FROM? hours from Texas.
MUSIC BEING AWE- Sometimes we spent At the present moment
SOME, IT'S VERY Thanks for the inter- some seasons in Mex- we are only three. Is
COOL YOU POP IN view, we are very ico City for some gigs Alex, Guss and I (Vic-
tor). For this moment, the best moments to AS WELL ON MY-
Karen is doing some write. The first material, SPACE. IF YOU
DJ set around Mexico, I wrote it for an ex girl- AGREE WITH THIS,
but we think we are friend, that inspired me WHY DO YOU THINK
going to have her back a lot, you know, the THAT IS?
in a while. moment, the nostalgic
feelings. Now I write I don't know if it is the
MUEN: DO YOU USU- and I find inspiration on same in every country, YOU FIND DIFFICULT
ALLY SING IN SPAN- my friends, and for that but sometimes I feel TO DO?
ISH OR ENGLISH? people that has some- exactly the same in
thing in common with Mexico, I mean, as an Waking up early!!! ha-
We have songs in both, us, I mean, people like artist, you most have to haha. No, well, in
english and spanish, us, nerds, geeks or build a name in other music I wouldn't say
but generally, it de- freaks. places to have a better there's something diffi-
pends on the moment, promotion in Mexico, cult, because is the
depends on how it MUEN: WHO ARE moreover on mass thing I like the best, so I
sound, if it sounds bet- YOUR BIGGEST IN- media, such as radio really enjoy it and that
ter in english we don't FLUENCES? and TV. Nevertheless, makes everything easy.
hesitate to sing it in we have been doing re-
english, or vice versa. Is hard to say, you ally good, we have had MUEN: SO YOU HAVE
know, you find some very good experiences. AN EVENT COMING
MUEN: HOW ARE music very good for UP ON SEPT 19TH IN
YOU RECEIVED IN you, and the next year MUEN: WHAT DO SAN LUIS, MEXICO?
MEXICO AS COM- you prefer other kind of YOU CLASSIFY
PARED TO THE U.S.? music. Still, at this mo- YOUR MUSIC AS? Yes the show this 12th
ment I'm very into tele- of September! It will be
In Mexico we have a popmusik, fedde le I should say electro great!
very good acceptance, grand, pornois, Yves pop, even though
but we do consider that larock, Cassius, among sometimes depends on MUEN: WELL
sometimes is better in others, but is the kind my mood. THANKS FOR THE IN-
the US, as in Mexico is of music I hear the TERVIEW AND KEEP
very hard when you most right now. MUEN: WHAT ARE IN TOUCH!
play something that is SOME OF THE BEST
not rock. This genre is MUEN: JUST AN OB- THINGS THAT HAVE Well, thanks a lot for
still the most important SERVATION HERE ON HAPPENED FOR THE this interview, We really
in the country. MYSPACE.. BUT BAND LATELY? appreciate the time
MEXICANS SEEM TO spent and interest, and
MUEN: YOU SEEM TO GIVE WAY MORE As I told you before, we hope you like our
HAVE A REAL TAL- SUPPORT, AND many things have hap- music and everything
ENT FOR WRITING SHOW WAY MORE pened, but I think that about Electrica Miami!
CATCHY SONGS. ENTHUSIASM TO- what I like the most, is Talk to you soon.
WHAT INSPIRES YOU WARDS THEIR OWN, to be traveling, meeting
TO WRITE A SONG? THAN AMERICANS people and places
DO TOWARDS AMER- where ever we give a
Well, thanks for that ICAN BANDS... I'VE show.
comment, I really try to NOTICED THIS IN
do my best and to find OTHER COUNTRIES MUEN: WHAT DO
CHEVELLE
BY SHAUNA OʼDONNELL
Epic recording artists
Chevelle
Sam Loeffler
(Drums)
Grayslake, Illinois
Myspace.com/chevelle
By: Shauna OʼDonnell
MUEN: HI SAM AND
THANKS FOR CALLING
TODAY HOW ARE YOU?
Iʼm great, no problem.
MUEN: YOUR LATEST
ALBUM SCI-FI CRIMES
ISNʼT OUT UNTIL SEP-
TEMBER 1ST BUT AL-
READY YOUR SINGLE
“JARS” IS A HIT. IT EN-
TERED THE TOP 20
AFTER TWO WEEKS SO
CONGRATS ON THAT.
Thank you, yeah itʼs a
pretty big deal to think
that people keep coming
back to hear more music.
MUEN: YEAH, THAT IS
COOL. NOW, CUR-
RENTLY YOU GUYS
ARE ON THE ROAD
WITH SHINEDOWN AND
STAIND ON THE “STIM-
ULATE THIS” TOUR
AND IʼM SURE YOU ARE
PLAYING SOME OF THE
NEW SONGS. WHAT
HAS BEEN THE RE-
SPONSE TO THEM?
Itʼs been pretty good, you
know, the more “Jars”
gets played on the radio,
the more people get famil-
iar with it and the better it
goes over. We also have
a song called “Sleep gree burns. It was a really alien life on this planet, it
Apnea” which is the first interesting article so that did not come to Roswell.
song on Sci-Fi Crimes kind of encompassed that
and it has been going whole thing, like a sci-fi MUEN: WHAT KIND OF
over even better. I wonder crime. It doesnʼt neces- STUFF IS IN THE MU-
if at some point that will sarily have to do with SEUM?
become a single. aliens or anything, just
anything unexplained. I There were pieces of
MUEN: THIS TOUR IS guess we just thought it weather balloons. Itʼs re-
REALLY SPECIAL BE- was an interesting title to ally, really lame.
CAUSE YOU WORKED sort of sum up what is es-
HARD TO GIVE PEOPLE sentially eleven or twelve MUEN: AND “HIGH-
A LOT OF SHOW FOR tracks. LANDS APPARITION”
THEIR MONEY. I THINK WAS INSPIRED BY AN
THAT IS REALLY COOL MUEN: HAVE YOU EVER ALLEGED HAUNTED
OF YOU GUYS. MET ANYONE THAT HOUSE. TELL US
HAS HAD A CLOSE EN- ABOUT THE EXPERI-
Yeah, itʼs definitely a cool COUNTER LIKE THAT? ENCE YOU HAD THERE.
thing, but I wonder if it is
working or not. I guess I Oh sure, I think we have We lived there, thatʼs kind
would have to go out and all met people who have of a joke too. Everyone
talk to some people. had experiences of being slept in the same bed-
Some people are still pay- over tired and driving or room and we all had simi-
ing $50 for a ticket. drug induced, whatever it lar nightmares. It felt like
Granted you are going to is. people were touching
pay more if you want to sit them at night while they
up front, I get that, but I MUEN: WHO DESIGNED were sleeping. It was
donʼt think every venue THE CD JACKET? creepy. This woman came
was cool with selling to the house, we were
cheaper tickets. Some Dean, our bass player, he looking at her through the
venues were not cool with actually did an oil painting window and she was
it, so it only happened in which is essentially the dancing in the front yard.
some places. You do what artwork. It turned into a We went out there and
you can I guess. backdrop and t-shirt. Itʼs she said “I grew up here;
nice to have somebody my dadʼs buried in the
MUEN: THATʼS UNFOR- who really appreciates backyard.” Are you al-
TUNATE, TELL US being able to add some lowed to bury people in
WHAT INSPIRED THE art to what is our art. the yard?
NAME SCI-FI CRIMES.
MUEN: “ROSWELLʼS MUEN: I DONʼT KNOW,
Itʼs hard to title a bunch of SPELL” WAS INSPIRED EVERY STATE PROBA-
songs as one thing be- BY A VISIT TO THE BLY HAS THEIR OWN
cause each song deals ROSWELL UFO MU- LAWS.
with something separate, SEUM RIGHT?
so it was basically an arti- Itʼs definitely not legal by
cle that Pete read about Yeah, we were there. We us.
this woman whose hands were out on the road and
were badly burnt by what we stopped by there to MUEN: ITʼS NOT LEGAL
she claimed to be a space get a glimpse of some- HERE EITHER. I DONʼT
craft taking off from her thing funny. The real point THINK ITʼS LEGAL TO
backyard. She had was that by going to BURY YOUR PET. ON
shielded her face with her Roswell, it confirmed the YOUR LAST TOUR
hands and got third de- idea that if there had been YOUR EQUIPMENT WAS
STOLEN. I REMEMBER
THAT DAY LIKE IT WAS
YESTERDAY. SOME OF
THE BANDS I KNEW
WERE TRYING TO HELP
YOU GUYS GET YOUR
STUFF BACK. BUL-
LETINS WERE BEING
POSTED, IT WAS COOL
TO SEE PEOPLE HELP-
ING LIKE THAT. WHAT
WAS THE OUTCOME OF
THAT? DID YOU RE-
COVER YOUR STUFF?
Yeah, we recovered about
half of it or maybe a little
bit more. The stuff that
came through was from
people who said “Hey, I
know who this belongs
to.” and they called some-
body and let them know. It
worked out really well.
There are two sides to it.
There were a lot of people
who wrote to us and said
“You guys are a bunch of
pansies. Open up your
wallets and buy some
new gear. You guys are
millionaires.” That is not
true and even if it were
true, it is still personal
items that we have done
all these records with.
They have sentimental
value and no matter how
much money someone
has, it doesnʼt give people
the right to steal from
them. Thatʼs ignorant and
thatʼs how people hide be-
hind the internet. The
good news is that some
things did show up in
pawn shops, eBay and
people let us know. We
were able to either get the
cops to get it back for us
or we were able to buy it
back, which is fine too.
We are an established
rock band; we have insur- SONG ABOUT IT one was in agreement.
ance to help us pay for CALLED “LETTER We kept working towards
those things. We lost FROM A THIEF.” YOU it and eventually it con-
$130,000, itʼs a lot of GUYS WORKED WITH nected.
money, itʼs a lot of money BRIAN VIRTUE ON THIS
to me thatʼs for sure. Even ALBUM. HOW WAS IT MUEN: THEY CAME TO
still, we were grateful to WORKING WITH HIM YOUR SHOWS AND
get back the pieces that AND WAS IT YOUR SUPPORTED YOU
we got back. There were FIRST TIME? RIGHT?
a couple of pieces that
were really important to Yeah, it was the first time. Without a doubt, many
us. One of them was this Brian is great; he is a very times there wasnʼt anyone
original red Paul Reed established in his ideas at our shows except fam-
Smith guitar that we did kind of guy. He has ily and friends.
Point #1 and Wonder worked with Janeʼs Addic-
whatʼs Next with it and we tion, Deftones and 30 MUEN: AT WHAT AGE
had, had it on the road. It Seconds to Mars. He has DID YOU START PLAY-
was the first nice guitar done so much cool stuff ING DRUMS?
that Pete had ever bought and we were really happy
and we bought it used for to work with him. It was I was fourteen when I
$900. We had gone in half really nice to do some- started playing drums.
on it and it was a really thing different, we love
important piece to us. We Elvis, he has done all of MUEN: HAVE YOU EVER
got it back and a couple our other records with us. THOUGHT ABOUT
other guitars that were re- ADDING MORE MEM-
MUEN: ONE THING
ally important to us. It was BERS TO THE BAND?
really cool. THAT PEOPLE MAY NOT
KNOW ABOUT THE Not for any real reason,
MUEN: I KNOW THERE BAND IS THAT YOU once in a while we
IS A LOT OF BAD ARE ALL FAMILY. PETE thought it would be nice to
THINGS ON THE INTER- IS YOUR BROTHER be able to mix it up and
NET, BUT THERE IS A AND DEAN IS YOUR give Pete a little more
LOT OF GOOD TOO. IT BROTHER-IN-LAW. freedom on stage. When
IS GOOD TO SEE WHEN WERE YOUR PARENTS you are recording you can
PEOPLE COME TO- SUPPORTIVE OF YOUR do whatever you want,
GETHER AND TRY AND CAREER CHOICE? thereʼs no reason for an-
HELP EACH OTHER. other musician.
I wouldnʼt say it was a ca-
Oh yeah, I thought that reer choice because had MUEN: TELL US ABOUT
was amazing, I agree with we come out of the box at YOUR NEW MUSIC
you. fourteen or fifteen years VIDEO FOR “JARS.”
old and said “Hey, were
MUEN: IʼM REALLY going to be in a rock Itʼs finished, we did it a
HAPPY YOU GOT MOST band,” I would imagine couple weeks ago and I
OF YOUR STUFF BACK. most parents would be think we got the finished
SOME THINGS ARE “Yeeeaaahhh.” It hap- edit a few days ago. It is
PRICELESS. pened gradually and by an interesting concept. I
the time we decided to didnʼt know if it would
Coincidentally, we got make a run for the career work. It is basically an ac-
back the things that were in vision we had estab- tion video. It was fun; we
really important to us. lished ourselves as hav- shot it out in the desert of
ing the ability to play and California. It was basically
MUEN: YOU WROTE A write songs. I think every- watching someone be a
daredevil. It depends, on show days
we usually have quite a
MUEN: WERE YOU THE few interviews and things
DAREDEVIL? to do. We run our own
merch company and so
I wish the business part of things
takes up a lot of our time.
MUEN: WHEN IS IT We get our long boards
GOING TO RELEASE? out and go skateboarding.
We go to dinner and try to
I would imagine now. I experience local cuisine,
hope so. things like that. We do the
best we can to have a life
MUEN: YOU HAD A when we can.
GRUELING TOURING
SCHEDULE AFTER MUEN: I BET YOU HAVE
VENA SERA. WILL YOU SEEN SOME REALLY
BE DOING THE SAME NICE BACKSTAGE
WITH THIS RECORD? AREAS.

Yeah, we will take breaks They are pretty dingy ac-

here and there, but we tually. There is nothing
definitely plan on staying glamorous about being
out for a while. We love to parked next to the dump-
play, itʼs what we do. ster.
What else are we going to
do? We could go home MUEN: I KNOW YOU
and sit around. STOPPED BY THE NEW
YORK BALLET.
MUEN: DO YOU HAVE
ANYTHING DIFFERENT Yeah, that was backstage.
IN MIND FOR THIS The ballerinaʼs dressing
TOUR THAT YOU room was next to ours so
HAVENʼT DONE ON we went in there. We
PREVIOUS ONES? were going through there
stuff.
We brought out full pro-
duction on it with a light MUEN: DO YOU HAVE
show and everything. It ANY WORDS OF WIS-
adds to the music, I think, DOM FOR YOUNG drummers, every single WITH ME TODAY. IT
when you have lights and DRUMMERS OUT day, practice something WAS AWESOME. GOOD
little things like that. We THERE? new. As a band, Iʼd say LUCK WITH YOUR RE-
have ideas for our head- the only thing that has LEASE AND HOPE-
line shows, but right now
Well I can tell you that worked for us is play liter- FULLY WE WILL TALK
we are doing a support
learning to be a good ally every show you are AGAIN ONE DAY.
show so we donʼt really
drummer is easily the offered. It doesnʼt matter if
have a lot of freedom.
hardest instrument you itʼs a backyard party or Yeah, no problems at all.
can choose. You spend a what it is. The other thing
MUEN: WHAT DO YOU whole lifetime learning is, write original music.
DO TO KILL TIME everything and then an-
WHILE YOUʼRE ON THE other lifetime learning it MUEN: THANKS SO
ROAD? backwards. Iʼd say for MUCH FOR TALKING
Interview with Hardcore
Legends “Terror”
By Morbid Miller
Myspace.com/morbidmiller
Terror has been kicking
some hardcore ass for al-
most ten years. Scott
Voegel formed the band
soon after leaving his for-
mer Buffalo, New York
band Buried Alive and
making Los Angeles his
home. Terror has toured
around the world several
times, playing with almost
every band underneath
the sun. This is a band
that will continue to put out
albums despite what is
going on in the music busi-
ness. They have a grass
roots following that crowns
them the kings of the un-
derground. The following
interview is with Martin
Stewart the bands current
guitarist.
How Did Terror Form?
Terror: Well I wasn't in the
band when it first formed
but I know it started with 5
dudes that just wanted to
play hardcore music. Not a
real spectacular begin-
ning, but definitely a
"REAL" beginning.
How has Buried Alive in-
fluenced or inspired Ter-
ror?
Terror: I would have to
say not at all. That's
Scott's old band and it's
just history just like any
other previous bands any-
one in Terror has had.
How has Los Angeles in-
spired your music? fun and share that fun with shouldn't be forced upon
anyone and everyone anyone. All that cliché
Terror: I guess just the around the world that is stuff, you know?
whole vibe that Los Ange- willing to participate with
les has comes out in our us. For us, if there's no fun
music and attitudes. Kind then there's no band.
of like Suicidal Tendencies Are any of you guys
in the 80's; Hard, aggres- Whatʼs your message to Straight Edge?
sive, pissed and all the the world?
while fun. That's exactly Terror: Our drummer Nick
what our city is like. Terror: It's very simple: and bass player David are
You do you, we'll do us both straight edge. They
Whatʼs your most mem- and if all goes well we'll party harder and crazier
orable show so far? meet right in the middle than anyone you'll ever
and have some real fun. meet though (A couple of
Terror: Man, that's a Hardcore is a place of ac- animals).
tough one. We've been ceptance especially for
fortunate enough to play in those that don't feel ac- When Terror first started
all corners of the world so cepted anywhere else in out did you think that
it's hard to say. Being able the world. If you've ever you guys would have as
to play in Moscow, South seen us live then you've much success as you
Korea, being the first heard Scott say it before have?
"hardcore" band to ever and that's genuinely how
play in Venezuela. Every we all feel as a band. Our Terror: I don't think the
show brings about a good shows should be a place popular idea of "success"
memory with us. of release and solace. was on anyone's mind in
Somewhere you can go this band when it was
How did Trustkill where you're away from started or even currently.
Records help bolster the outside world and truly Our idea of success is
your career? be yourself. You can re- reaching as many places
lease all that anger and in the world as possible
Terror: Well we're working aggression that has built and having fun and I can't
with Century Media now, up throughout your week stress that enough. We
but we had a good run in a positive way by find ourselves blessed to
with Trustkill. Three thrashing around like an be able to do what we've
records and 1 DVD is animal or doing some done and have the plans
pretty damn good accom- sweet stage dives. It's all that we have for the future.
plishment, that wouldn't about stage diving man. We've had the opportunity
have happened without to tour with bands that I
them I guess. I think that Give me your take on don't think any of us had
label has a niche following Straight Edge Hardcore? ever even dreamt of tour-
as well that maybe would- ing with. Behemoth?
n't have heard this band if Terror: I'm personally not Come on! I've shared mul-
someone else had been straight edge so I feel like tiple stages around the US
releasing the record which my take on the matter with one of my favorite
is always good. We're al- shouldn't exactly matter to bands of all time. It's crazy
ways trying to spread what someone who is. I see it man.
we believe to new people. serve a purpose to friends
of mine who come from al- If it was all over tomor-
What is Terror's purpose coholic families or from a row would you be satis-
or goal as a band? history of drug abuse. In fied?
my opinion it's a complete
Terror: Ultimately to have personal choice and Terror: Although there's
still places I want to go, I Terror: 2 words: internet had fun with us. Hopefully miliar with these days that
would absolutely be satis- explosion. It's like where I those people will come it feels like a home away
fied if it all came to and used to buy a record and back around next time we from home.
end. check a thanks list to find have tour through their city
new bands, now people and maybe we'll be able to Would you rather tour
What bands are some of download the record, open them up to a new overseas or in the
your influences? check the MySpace and way of life. states?
listen the bands in their
Terror: For me personally top friends. It's just a new Any sold out shows on Terror: At this point I enjoy
my influences are always generation. I don't neces- that tour?(if you remem- touring overseas a bit
changing. I listen to such a sarily like or dislike it, it's ber) more since I've seen so
wide variety of music that just so foreign to me I just much of the US so many
it would be impossible to have a hard time keeping Terror: From what I re- times now. I'm all about
just stick to one thing. One up. member a lot of the shows new places and new expe-
day it might be Otis Red- were if not sold out then riences. Also, this band
ding and the next maybe What does the future completely packed. It was seems to get more recog-
Testament or Warzone. I have in store for the a very good tour as far as nition overseas so our
listen to tons of hip-hop music industry? attendance goes. Every shows are more appreci-
and R&B music and pretty band being so different ated. That's a good feel-
much everything else Terror: I don't know my- from each other made for ing.
other than country. I would self but I know it's going to a large good mix of people
say that as a band as a be something very differ- coming to the shows with Who two
whole there's a lot of ent than we're used to. minimal problems. It was steps/moshs/stage dives
Venice style thrash and Time's have definitely really awesome. better, the Europeans or
NYHC in our overall influ- changed and are still in the Americans?
ence though. the process of changing. What do you think of
Those "360 Deals" seem Emmure? Are they help- Terror: Ha! moshing is like
to be happening a lot now ing to save the integrity taboo. We all do it but it's
What do you think about with mainstream music of Metalcore? so damn goofy at the
Hatebreed? Did they where a company not only same time. I think every-
make Hardcore main- controls your music but Terror: Emmure is not a one looks weird while
stream? everything else involved band that I personally lis- doing it so no one can re-
with you as an artist. ten to. I can't speak on be- ally be "better" than any-
Terror: Hatebreed can do That's probably going to half of the "metalcore" one else.
no wrong in my eyes as a be the new thing. scene because it's not
band. I love everything something that I know too How come you guys are
they've released and I was much about. There's a lot not on the Bamboozle
even really excited about of new music going on festival? What do you
the new cover album they Tell me about the Atticus these days that I'm not re- think of the Bamboozle
put out. I don't think they Tour that you did awhile ally familiar with. festival?
made hardcore main- back?
stream in any bad sense. Whatʼs your favorite city Terror: The word is that
They just took their game Terror: Atticus Tour was or venue to play at when Bamboozled was afraid of
to a whole new level and I sweet. We were a lot dif- you go on tour and why? the "reputation" that the
can respect what they've ferent than all the other band has. This is some-
done. bands on that tour but that Terror: Any venue in Los thing that I don't under-
didn't matter at all. It was a Angeles because then I stand since a band like
good experience and it get to go home after the Trash Talk who is known
How has the music in- was nice to significantly show and sleep in my own for pushing limits and
dustry changed since see that most people there wonderful bed. But really, going overboard is asked
you guys started out in had never heard of us be- there are cities and certain to play. I would rather
2001? fore but in the end appre- venues all over the world them just tell us they think
ciated what we did and that we've become so fa- we suck as a band and
that's why we can't play
rather than that bullshit. I
went to the festival for
about 40 minutes the day
we would have played and
watched my friends band
Eye Alaska and then im-
mediately left. I couldn't
get down with the whole
vibe. Maybe I was just
pissed about the whole sit-
uation, but whatever. We
still had our own show that
night with tons of our
friends and I couldn't have
asked for a better night.
Although it would have
been cool to play, we don't
need that bamboozled shit
in the end.
How was the New Eng-
land Metalcore festival?
Terror: It was a great time.
All day festivals can be a
bit hectic because the
whole atmosphere is so
tense and crazy but it's
still such a good time be-
cause all these bands that
you've come to know from
touring with or playing
shows with in the past all
come together in one
night. It makes for a good
party. There was a Grate-
ful Dead gig going on
across the street so there
was like a hippy village set
up in the same parking lot
as all the bands. Don't let
hippies fool you. They're
not the peaceful fun loving
people they want you to
think they are. They were
some of the rudest people
I've ever come across in
my life.
Whatʼs the Terror song
"Always the Hard Way"
about? Asia, Eastern Europe, sweet.
Alaska, and the list goes
Terror: I think the lyrics of on. Once we get to all What is Vogelism?
that song are pretty up- those places then we'll get
front and bold, kind of self back in the studio. Terror: Hahahahaha,
explanatory. It's spoken in well...Scott just says what-
the words of someone that Do you have a producer ever he feels on stage I
was never handed any- for the new album? guess. Like in this band
thing ever in life, telling a we all talk to each other
story of climbing out from Terror: There's no one like idiots because we're
the bottom and surviving lined up now but I'd say all friends. We joke non-
without any help. Some- we're open to ideas. stop and say the weirdest
one that lives like that way stuff to each other. With
without anyone guiding How would you describe your friends and peers you
them is going to learn all your band if you were feel comfortable saying
of life's lessons the hard talking to someone that anything and making jokes
way. has never heard Terror? or just letting loose when
you're having a good time
If you could only listen Terror: You'd be surprised and saying whatever
to one album for the rest on how often I have to do you're feeling. That's how
of your life which album that. When you're on tour it is at our shows. We don't
would that be? and and stop at a gas station look at people in the crowd
why? and the cashier sees your as anything else but
van and trailer and asks friends and peers so it
Terror: Infest "Slave". "you guys a band or brings a natural level of
They're my favorite band something?", "What's the comfort for us. So some-
of all time and that was the name of your band?", one had the great idea to
first record I heard by "What kind of music do keep track of some of the
them. It's completely nos- y'all play?". Now I just tell funny shit Scott has said
talgic yet still so hard and them "Loud, aggressive on stage and compile
aggressive and good at and obnoxious music" and them onto a website.
the same time. A lot of then laugh. www.vogelisms.com. Peo-
records that I used to love ple should check it out if
as a kid didn't really stand What is the Correlation they haven't yet.
the test of time and when I with stage diving and
hear them now I almost hardcore shows? What advice so you have
question how I ever liked for up and coming
it. Terror: Stage dives take a bands looking for their
good show to a whole new big break?
When can we expect a level. It's like that ultimate
new Terror album? rush at a gig. It shows that Terror: Quit looking for a
people are going so wild big break and just do it be-
Terror: There's already that they're willing to do cause you love music and
material that has been something crazy. Some- you want to have fun. If
written and record as times people think that it's you're supposed to survive
demo versions but there's only a hardcore thing but if because you're a good
no rush. We have a lot of you look at old punk band and have the heart
touring to do before we get videos, metal videos and then it will happen for you.
back in the studio. There even the Pantera DVD
are a lot of new places in people have been doing it
the world that we're going throughout all genres of
to play coming up soon. music. Even Pearl Jam.
South Africa, Southeast It's crazy and it looks
Index Case: 10
Long Fucking
Years
By: Morbid Miller
Myspace.com/morbidmiller
In a place and time where
most music endeavors no
matter how unique or
miraculous that might be
are left unseen. From
great local bands as what I
would like to think as
Iowaʼs version of System
of a down we had Heroic
Dose, 35 Inch Mudder was
like our very own Limp
Bizkit, Deadfront sounded
to the likes of Korn,
Domeshot was compara-
ble to Tool, Painface was
our Sepultura and
Smakdab was our Kittie. In
the midst of all this raw tal-
ent, only one band was
signed (Slipnot). The rest
were lost only to be found Case form? nally one day I just
in the memories of those grabbed the microphone
who were there in the time
Dirt Joe: Index Case and started free styling.
and place that I like to
formed in 1998. We all Before I knew it, like a mil-
refer to as the Midwestwent to Indianola High lion people were coming
Movement. I remember School in Iowa. Josh over after school, watching
thinking that every one of
Parker (Guitar) and Korey us play and hanging out
those bands would some the original bass player with us. Eventually we
day be touring around the
were two years older than were like letʼs start a band
world signed to major la-
me and Jordan Spence and we started writing
bels and I would be apart
(Original drummer). None songs. It kind of went
of that. It was the greatest
of us really hung out in from there, on weekends
time in my life and it high school. Once I was a we would have 20 people
seems as if it was all a
senior in High school Josh over at Jordanʼs house
dream. In the same state
and Korey had already watching us play.
where one of the most in-
graduated. I hung out with
fluential and successful
Jordon a lot and he was What was the first Index
bandʼs in the world waslike “Hey you need to Case song written?
spawned, many were leftcome over to my house
behind. The band that had
sometime, Iʼm jamming Dirt Joe: The very first
the most impact on my life
with this guy that we went complete song was “Drop
was the band were aboutto high school with and Your Neighbor” off our first
to explore. Index Case is
heʼs really good”. So I album Birth.
truly one of the most used to go over to Jor-
unique and original bands
danʼs house after school I love that song and
in the world. and watch Jordan and album!
Josh jam. They would im-
When and how did Index prove and shit like that. Fi- Dirt Joe: That first album is
pretty hard for me to talk
about. I know a lot of peo-
ple like it, but its nothing
like what we are like now.
Kind of like the Beastie
Boys never claimed that
they did the album License
to ill and that was their
coolest record.
Did you ever want to be
in a rock band? You lis-
ten to a lot of Rap Music.
Basically Index Case
was formed under the in-
tent that starting a band
would be something fun
to do right?
Dirt Joe: It was something
to do. It occupied my time
and it was fun. I was on a
microphone and people
were taking interest in
what we were doing. I
wasnʼt just stuck on hip
hop. I listened to a lot of
rock music. I liked what-
ever lyrically inspired me.
What Josh was doing on
guitar was inspiring me.
Then when Jordon
showed me the Deftones
album Adrenalin for the
first time, I remember ʻI
was like man I have to get
into a band, this is what
Iʼm supposed to be doing”.
That album Adrenaline by
the Deftones woke me up.
Thatʼs so weird that you
say that, Mitch from sui-
cide Silence said that
exact same thing.
Dirt Joe: Yea, Adrenaline
is what made me want to
be in a band as a vocalist
Early on in your career,
how did the local Des
Moines legends 35 Inch
Mudder help Index Case Los Angeles to pursue ways be the first one wait-
out? Check these guys other careers. He ended ing in line just standing
out up getting some good con- there watching all the
(www.myspace.com/35in nections in the music and sophomores, juniors and
chmudder) film industry. Ultimately he seniors eat. Eventually, I
started managing us and just went in and started
Dirt Joe: At the time I did- from there we have been talking to people, hanging
nʼt know anybody in the working with Chad for the out and I made friends
band. When Index Case last 10 years. 35 Inch with one of my best friends
was first jamming, we Mudder put our foot in the to this day Paxton. Iʼm
thought 35 Inch Mudder door for sure. sure you know P-Tates.
was like Metallica. They
were the biggest thing in I know that you donʼt Oh yea, heʼs a talented
Iowa for sure. We would want to talk about your rapper!
go to all of their shows. first album Birth but itʼs
We were the little punk such a great album. Will Yup, he was one of them
kids in the front row and you tell me about how in the cafeteria that I used
after the show we would Birth came together and to hang out with. I started
go back and jam and say why you think that it was hanging out with these
we want to be like Mudder. so popular? guys. All we would do was
I found out that the singer listen to the Wu-Tang Clan
C-Bone worked at a CD Dirt Joe: Yea, itʼs hard to all day long. I loved
shop on the south side of talk about, but it is who we OlʼDirty Bastards first
Des Moines. I went to the were. It was so long ago, album. Paxton aka P-
store and applied for a job. we were so young. I wish I Tates started to joke
I wanted to work there be- could go back and do it all around and call me
cause I knew C-Bone (Vo- over again. OlʼDirty Joe. Eventually, it
cals for 35 Inch Mudder) turned into Dirt Joe and
worked there. I got the job What about the track now its just Dirt. To this
and he trained me. He “Boredom” on the Birth day I answer when some-
worked for Lazer 103.3 the Album, have you ever one says Dirt; I turn my
rock radio station here in thought about re-record- head “they talking to me”?
Des Moines and he was ing it and putting it on a
like “Iʼm hosting this big new album? Itʼs such a So was this before Joe
event and I donʼt have any kick ass song! Dirt the movie came
opening bands” and I was out?
like “dude, Iʼm in a band” Dirt Joe: We have it. We
and I still remember the want to keep “Boredom” Dirt Joe: Way, way before
way that he looked at me, how it was. Thatʼs how (Laughs).
it was like “Oh god, I donʼt people remember it, so
want to say no to this kid, thatʼs how we are going to After you recorded the
but Iʼm sure this band keep it. We donʼt want to Birth album Index Case
sucks”. So he put us on go back and re do it or gained a solid following.
and we opened the show. something like that. On your follow up to
We played like at 11 am Birth you record an
for like 20 people, but after How did you get the album that doesnʼt
that man he dug us and nickname Dirt Joe? sound like your former
took an interest in Index album at all. You move
Case. Eventually we be- Dirt Joe: Oh, Dirt Joe away from the rapcore
came really good friends (Laughs). I was in 8th stuff, into something
with the guys in 35 Inch grade and I used to wait in that I canʼt even begin to
Mudder. Their bass player line to go to lunch at the explain. One thing about
Chad Calek moved out to high school. I would al- Index Case is that you
have always been origi- hate us right out of the album. Now tell me Dirt Joe: Yea, he gradu-
nal. Tell me about your gate, but then eventually about your third full ated from Music Tech in
sophomore album they will be like I get it length album The Weak Minnesota. All he did was
Glass. now. We are one of those and the Wounded. learn about sound and
bands you know. Still to music. That helped us get
Dirt Joe: Birth became a this day we are working on Dirt Joe: The Weak and the most use out of what
hometown favorite. We our 5th album right now the Wounded is when we little recording equipment
grew up in a small town and I have people coming started taking the band that we had at the time.
south of Des Moines up to me from all over the real serious. Thatʼs when
called Indianola. Birth was country telling me that the we said “Ok this is what Back to The Weak and
all that town had, the Glass album is there fa- we are going to be doing the Wounded. You guys
record was huge to them. vorite album. for the rest of our lives”. were started taking the
Josh came up to me one Capital Records passed band serious. Realizing
day and said “Hey man, How did things change on Glass which looking this is what you want to
lets record a new album”. for the band after your back now was understand- do for the rest of your
We never even thought of released the Glass able. Our sound at that life.
recording a new album. album? Didnʼt you guys time was very original. No-
We were like “Yea, why get some sponsorship body was doing music like Dirt Joe: Right, so after we
not we are a band you with Amp Energy Drink that. Everyone was listen- recorded The Weak and
know, so letʼs do a new and play some shows in ing to limp Bizkit and Korn the Wounded we started
album”. Josh came to me Hollywood? and we werenʼt in that shopping it to different la-
with all this new material. genre. So, we were like bels again. We received
It was all the stuff on Dirt Joe: After Glass we letʼs get a record deal. We some interests from labels
Glass and I was like “Wow came out to L.A. and did decided to do it all our and we had some more
dude, this sounds like we some touring with Amp selves again. The first show cases but everybody
grew up real fast in one Energy Drink sponsoring three records were passed. We shopped it to
years time”. I didnʼt even us. We actually show recorded DIY style. every label twice and they
plan on changing our cased the Glass album for all passed. We have all
sound; what happened, Captial Records out in L.A. Yea, tell me about the these fans that are telling
happened. Thatʼs just and Capital was digging it, Dex Inn were you guys us that we are great. We
what he wrote and what they really liked the song recorded your first three are playing sold out
he wrote inspired me vo- “Living so Muster”. We did albums. shows, but we canʼt get
cally to do what I did on a lot of stuff after the anyone to get behind us.
that record. At the end of Glass dropped. A lot of Dirt Joe: It was just this lit- So we kind of regrouped
the album I remember lis- people couldnʼt under- tle garage area that was and reworked a couple of
tening to it and thinking, stand it. They couldnʼt connected to Joshʼs par- the songs on The Weak
this isnʼt even the same compare it to anything entʼs house. The Dex Inn and the Wounded. Some
band. This isnʼt even close else that was out at the was just this big room of the songs we thought
to being the same band at time. It was totally original where we recorded. Our we could make better and
all. We originally thought and I think thatʼs what first three records were we started writing more
that everyone was going people liked about it the recorded there all by our- material. We recorded a
to hate us. most. selves. We actually couple of demos to send
recorded other local bands to labels again. Then all of
I did at first. I was so Glass defiantly opened there as well. We had hor- a sudden we get a phone
pissed when you guys the doors for you and rible recording equipment, call from our manager
put out the Glass album. you started playing out- but we made it sound as Chad and heʼs like “Hey
Completely changing side of Iowa. Catching good as we could and man. their was an Amp
your style but I later ap- the attention of Capital worked with what we had. Energy Drink Commercial
preciated it. Records and picked up a on KROQ and for the10
sponsorship from Amp Did josh go to Music seconds your song “Lis-
Dirt Joe: Yea, you know Energy Drink as well as Tech in St. Paul, Min- ten” was playing and in
thatʼs how it is still to this recording a couple of nesota to learn how to those 10 seconds the
day. New index case fans music videos for the record? head A&R for No Name
Records was listening and didnʼt here from you tracks and sampler discs lucky band in the world.
went to AMP to find out guys for a long time. The trying to get our names out But now we look at it as
what band that was and next thing I heard was before the album drops. something prevented us
found out that it was Index that you guys landed a They were also lining up from being on that label.
Case”. No Nameʼs mother track on The Texas tours such as Ozzfest, We believe that everything
label was Elektra. No Chainsaw Massacre they had it all mapped out. happens for a reason.
Name was the label that Soundtrack. We were just excited to
signed Mudvayne and get the album done and go So what happens next?
Slipknot. It was No Name Dirt Joe: Yup, we had a out and tour like crazy. We You guys start playing
Road Runner for Slipknot track on The Texas Chain- were finally living the more local shows in
and it was No Name Inter- saw Massacre soundtrack. dream. Iowa, but you end up
scope for Mudvayne. So We also landed a track on losing half your mem-
were like all right lets gothe first UFC compilation You get the album done. bers within the first few
do this. If someone be- disc called Ultimate Beat What happens? months.
lieves in us lets go show Down Volume 1. After
case. So we went out to Lazer fest we moved out Dirt Joe: We get the Dirt Joe: Yea, it was a
L.A. again and played at to L.A. for 6 months. We album done and go home. while before we even
the Whisky a Go Go for were in the Malibu area Two weeks after we get talked to each other after
Steve Richards the Presi- living in a huge multi mil- home our manager calls all of this went down. We
dent of No Name. After the lion dollar mansion sitting saying “Steve Richards were depressed. A lot of
show He stood up and on top of the Topanga the president of No Name bands at that point in their
said “Alright letʼs go backCanyon Mountains. It was died from a brain tumor”. career usually quit. We de-
to the office and sign picture perfect. Now he had a brain tumor cided to go out and start
some papers; we want to since I have known him. touring a little bit. We were
offer you guys a deal”. I So you were there for six He kind of talked with a in Indianapolis, Indiana
remember all of us looking months, tell me what slur and it affected his vi- playing the Midwest Music
at each other and saying happened? sion. Steve was the only Summit. I remember it, be-
“Seriously is this happen- guy in the music industry cause it was the first time I
ing? we played once and Dirt Joe: Things were a lot at the time who believed in met the guys from the
he wants to sign us”. So itdifferent, then what we us. So the only guy who band “10 Years” and they
was kind of interesting to were used to. We were believed in us and had the opened for us. 10 years
actually see someone that recording 7 days a week, money to back it up is was going to be the next
believed in us who had the 16 hours a day with a pro- dead now. We are thinking band signed to No Name
money to back it up. Just ducer “James (Jimbo) Bar- whatʼs next. Well just Elektra after us. I remem-
like that we were signed, ton”. Heʼs done work for a when we thought that it ber while we were record-
all of our hard work finally
lot of bands such as couldnʼt get worst. Elektra ing the A&R from No
paid off. Thatʼs where The RUSH. He comes in and has its house cleaning and Name brought me this
Weak and the Wounded sets down and listens to fires 60% of their staff. album and told me to
led us. The album did its all of our songs. Then we One of them happens to check a song out and it
job. It was made specifi- spent the first month lis- be the president of Elek- was “Waste Land” by 10
cally for those people who tening to all the tracks try- tra. There were two names years. So they were going
didnʼt believe in us. We ing to figure out how we on our contract Steve to be the next band on No
made the album to make can make them better. Richards and the Presi- Name. Anyway we finally
people believe in us. Then recording, recording, dent of Elektra. They no meet these guys and we
and arguing. We were like longer exist. So therefore connect right away. We
I was at the Lazer Fest in brothers sitting in the our contract is no longer. are still good friends to this
2004, when Cory Brown house non-stop being cre- No record, no Nothing, we day. So we were sitting
announced before you ative. We did that for 6 were out 2 weeks after we down eating and Korey
played that Index Case months and in the mean got back home after our bass player just looks
recently signed to No time while we were bust- recording for 6 months. up and he says “Man, I
Name Elektra. You guys ing our asses recording Our dreams are shattered. canʼt do this anymore, I
came out and you the new album. The label At this point we are think- canʼt do it and Iʼm not
rocked the show. Then I was putting us on sound- ing we are the most un- going to do it, I will stay in
the band until you find over again. We start tour- like that. So we asked him That sucks; the label
someone else” and at the ing and promoting the new to leave. Then we were didnʼt back you guys up!
time we still had a booking album immediately. We back on the hunt for an- At anytime in your ca-
agent and were out on went out with (Hed) pe for other drummer. reer are you making any
tour with Mushroomhead, three months, Bobaflex, money from the band?
Soil, and Dope for a cou- and American Head Surely, by now you have
ple months. So at this Charge. We were touringthought about throwing Dirt Joe: No, none at all.
point theirs still no word on in the towel?
like crazy, eventually we Even on tour we were only
whatʼs going to happen were playing a show in At- making 100 dollars a
with the album and Korey Dirt Joe: I canʼt speak for show. That was barely
lanta,GA and at this point
just couldnʼt take it any- the other guys, but for me, enough money for gas.
you can tell that Jordan
more. He was done. No has just had it. He can“No”. As frustrated and de-
hard feelings itʼs totally un- pressed as I get some-
barely make it through our You guys also con-
derstandable not everyone times about how nothing
set without getting pissed tributed a track to the
is meant to do this. ever goes our way. Still
off or throwing stuff every- Sound Garden tribute
thereʼs nothing in the
where. It was starting to album around this time
You lost Korey your world
look very unprofessional. like making your in 2006?
bass player. When did own songs. Before I was
We get to the show in At-
you lose Jordan your in a band, I didnʼt do any- Dirt Joe: We were on the
lanta and he pretty much
Drummer? thing. Even if itʼs miserable American Head Charge
just says “I canʼt do it any-
more”. We assumed that being in a band trying to tour in North Carolina;
Dirt Joe: Well when we make it, itʼs even more
he quit, we left the tour when we get a call from
got back home, we tried and came home. About a miserable not being in a guy out of Minneapolis
out bass players and we band for me.
week later we get a call putting together a Sound
got Nick (Snake Head) from Jordan acting like he Garden Tribute album with
Borror. Nick was in a band You rebuild your band
didnʼt quit. We were like all the Midwest bands. He
we used to play with called and find a label to put
“No you did quit, we left asked us to pick a song
Feathers are beautiful. He out the album that was
the tour and came home”. and it took us like ten min-
called me up and wanted supposed to be on No
Jordan to this day is one utes and “We were all like
to try out for the band. We of the best drummers I Name/Elektra. What kind we have to do Jesus
knew before he even tried of distribution did you
have ever seen in my life. Christ Pose”. Jesus Christ
out that he was going to get for your self titled
We didnʼt click. We clicked Pose sounded like a song
be the one for Index Case. debut
for several years, but you album? that we would write al-
We were working on could tell that Jordan didnʼt ready. Itʼs a real drum ori-
teaching him all the music Dirt Joe: We went through ented song and we
like us as people. Itʼs hard
and at the same time we a company called
to be with somebody when incorporate a lot of toms
were shopping the album Fontana. We changed the and drum rolls in our
you feel that youʼre con-
we recorded for No Name stantly walking on egg album from The L to self ti- music. When we finished
Elektra Called The L. At shells. We decided thattled. They put out 10,000 the tour we went to our
this point we are good copies of it on our release friendʼs studio in Iowa City
we were going to continue
friends with Tim King of without him. date. It was in Best Buy and did the song in like 2
Soil. He started up an across the country and in days. It was fun, still to this
Indie label out of Chicago Was your next drummer ma and pa stores like CD day we play that song live
called Mortal Records. He Ryan Berrier? warehouse. We were just and people love it.
called me up saying that happy to have an album
he wants to sign us and Dirt Joe: Yup, we knew out on the shelves that You were interviewed for
wants to put this album Ryan forever. He came on people have been waiting the award winning docu-
out. Due to the fact that to help us out. We did to hear for a couple of mentary The Clown
we already have a fan some touring for about a years. They all sold, they Short of Destiny. Can
base and have a record year with him as our drum- did their job, selling fine. you tell me about that
ready to put on the mer. Then it came to a They just never pressed and if it was ever re-
shelves. Tim signs us and point, where we had cre- anymore more records to leased?
we start the whole thing ative differences and stuff put out on the shelves.
Dirt Joe: That was a film
put together about the Des
Moines Music scene as a
whole. A lot of people think
that itʼs a bash on Slip-
knot. I didnʼt think of it like
that at all. Itʼs about a
scene. I was asked “What
my part was to the
scene?” for the documen-
tary. I was asked ques-
tions about how the Des
Moines local music scene
was like. The intention of
that film was to show peo-
ple what the music scene
was like in Des Moines.
Pretty much every band
that I have ever known in
the scene was featured on
that film. It was never re-
leased; it won some
awards at the Sundance
film festival. But I donʼt
know if it will ever be re-
leased.
Whatʼs this Ghost
Hunter thing that youʼre
doing all about?
Dirt Joe: Chad Calek our
manager is also a film
maker. He was the one
that made Clown Short of
Destiny. His friend that
works at Yahoo tells him
that they are looking for in-
dependent film makers to
do a web series called The
Ghost Hunter. He tried out
and got the job. They
wanted to use Index
Caseʼs music for the show.
Our music is pretty fitting
for a ghost hunting show
you know. They ended up
asking me to try out to be
a cast member. They
thought it would be a great
idea to not only have our
music but to have the
singer on the show as
well. So I tried out and got
the gig. The next thing I
know Iʼm on tour again,
but Iʼm not on tour with the
band. I was touring with 20
people going to the most
haunted places in the U.S.
and staying the night at
the places for 5 days and
5 nights. Traveling with all
the cameramen and cast
members was pretty inter-
esting and it was actually
a paying gig which was
cool. It was my first time
out on tour and getting
paid.
So whatʼs your verdict?
Are ghosts real?
Dirt Joe: Yea man, I have
always believed in ghosts.
There is something out
there. Rather if you want
to call them ghosts or not.
Thereʼs something thatʼs
not in our dimension..
Thereʼs to much unex-
plainable stuff in this world
for nothing to be going on.
People never ever believe
in ghosts until they see
something that they canʼt
explain. In my opinion you
have go to see it to believe
it. If you never see it then
you have nothing to worry
about, because you donʼt
have any proof. But there
are things out there that
are weird and I have wit-
nessed several of them. I
defiantly believe. I donʼt
care to push that on any-
one. I donʼt care if anyone
believes me or not. Iʼm a
believer.
I feel that your music is
very spiritual. It always
has connected me with
something outside of
myself. Do you incorpo- our music. When you see
rate some sort of spiritu- us, we are always down to
ality in your lyrics? party with everyone.
Thatʼs how we like to keep
Dirt Joe: The music that it. People come up to us
we make is moody. I want all the time and be like “Oh
to paint a picture with my god youʼre in Index
words. When people here Case, man you must be
my lyrics I donʼt want them rich”. No actually were not.
to be able to understand As a musician if you can
what Iʼm meaning. I want a just pay your bills and live
picture or a scene to be comfortably and pay for
painted for them. Itʼs hard your apartment just off
to describe without sound- your music. You are a very
ing crazy. I can right an 8 successful musician!
minute song about how I Thatʼs how hard the indus-
just touched the wall. I try is. Were just a well
have always written my known band that has been
lyrics that way, even be- around for 10 years. We
fore I was in a band. I have been there and done
have people come up to about everything you can
me and say “Hey I love do as a band. We have
that song and I know itʼs been through the whole
about this” and I will be label thing and done a lot
thinking “No, thatʼs not of major tours with some
what the song is about at big bands. We have stuck
all” but its cool that they it out and have never
think thatʼs what its about. given up, no matter what
bad shit has happened to
All and all itʼs not that us. I think people like that
bad for you guys. Index about us, so they hold on
Case is a well respected to it.
band in the Midwest. I
would say you are local Tell me about your new
celebrities in Iowa. I re- album that you have
member being in high been working on?
school and I was so in-
spired by the Birth Dirt Joe: The new album
album that I wanted to once again, is going to be
start a band. I showed different. Every Index
the album to my friends Case album changes but
and we started a band. we still keep or unique
We wanted to be just like sound. Itʼs a little more
you guys. Unfortunately beat heavy and up tempo
we didnʼt make it far and then our previous records.
we totally ripped you Not so much of the real
guys off. Check my old heavies then stop stuff
high school band out! that we are known for.
(www.myspace.com/bur
ntrapcore) Do you guys have a re-
lease date?
Dirt Joe: (Laughs) I love it
that people connect with Dirt Joe: We donʼt have a
release date. We are right unique creative band is What about Deadfront? I Dirt Joe: Yea, we donʼt
in the middle of recording kind of like a curse. Some always thought of Dead- man and we recently just
our asses off. We are hop- bands make it like Tool is front as Iowaʼs version started talking about doing
ing to have the album a prime example. Tool can of Korn. some things together. Itʼs
done by the end of July. do whatever the fuck they not like we donʼt get along
Weʼre not going to press want. They have proved Dirt Joe: Yea, Deadfront or we donʼt want to play
hard copies right away. themselves; they have was my favorite local Des together. The opportunity
We are going to just re- stuck together and made it Moines band of all time never came along set
lease it all online and on work. Eventually they blew and still is to this day. something up.
ITunes. We are just going up from an underground Without a doubt they were
a digital release for the level and now they can do sweet. What advice do you
first 2 months and see what ever they want. We have for young musi-
what happens. If we still are getting to the point What did you think of cians thinking about
have all these fans that we where we donʼt need a Down The Sun (Band starting a band?
think we have and we can record company. We want signed to Roadrunner
see that itʼs selling good. to get to a point through Records featuring mem- Dirt Joe: Be prepared for
Then we are going to start the underground to where bers of Deadfront, De- failure. Maybe that wasnʼt
pressing hard copies and these labels are like “Oh strophy, and Stone Sour) the right word. But be pre-
start getting it out to my god these guys did it www.myspace.com/dow pared for everybody to ex-
stores. on their own?” We want to nthesun pect you to fail. No body
be apart of it and we can ever hears there kid say
Everyday I hear bands say “You know what FUCK Dirt Joe: Down the sun “Oh Iʼm going to be in
that just suck! I see a YOU” because you didnʼt wasnʼt bad. I never bought band” and think “Oh sweet
hundred bands that are want to be apart of it be- the album. I didnʼt like it thatʼs going to be success-
horrible and have a label fore, so now we donʼt that much. I saw them live ful”. Everybody thinks
and are out touring, need you. Thatʼs the ulti- before I heard the album. I thatʼs itʼs a big joke. If you
playing major festivals. mate goal. We are not was a bigger Deadfront canʼt handle criticism then
It pisses me off that a looking for a label at all. fan. I didnʼt like the whole you canʼt be in a band be-
band like Index Case, We donʼt need it! I think thing with the two vocal- cause its 90% negative.
who has so much talent with the things going on ists. Negative things happen
starve. right now. We have a good and you have to be a cer-
chance of blowing up on What did you think of tain kind of person. Even if
Dirt Joe: Well man its just an underground level. Painface? (featuring youʼre the only person in
luck. Itʼs all about the right original lead singer of the world that believes that
timing. If one band does What do you think of the Slipknot) your music is good then
well in the music industry, old school Iowa bands? thatʼs what you got to do.
then for the next couple of Dirt Joe: I loved Painface.
years all those labels only Dirt Joe: Smak Dab was a I remember Painface
want to sign bands that good band. They were shows and that shit was
only sound like that. Thatʼs from as era where there scary. I remember being
why every time you turn wasnʼt any female fronted terrified of those guys. It
on the radio everything groups doing that kind of was different; nobody in
sounds the same. I canʼt extreme music or in a Des Moines was doing the
even tell you the band metal band. God she was death metal thing with the
names anymore because amazing as well as the low growls and screaming.
itʼs all the same. Nothing is rest of the guys in the A lot of people didnʼt get it.
unique. If your original and band!
creative then you are con- Face Cage (Signed to
sidered a lottery in the Alexis was hot! Corey Taylors Label)
music industry and they they are another huge
donʼt want to gamble with Dirt Joe: Yea, sheʼs attrac- band in Iowa. I never see
their money. Labels want a tive that didnʼt hurt any- you guys playing with
sure thing. So being a thing at all! those guys. Why not?
Virgin recording artists, LATIONS ON THAT. first time working with him. MUEN: I HAVE BEEN A
Saving Abel I learned a lot from him, FAN SINCE THE BEGIN-

Eric Taylor
Yes, in March, it went gold. heʼs a really good pro- NING. I ACTUALLY HAVE
We are very pleased with ducer. Heʼs like a little kid A COPY OF THE
that. with a Gameboy sitting be- RECORD THAT YOU
(Bass) hind a console and com- GUYS SELF RELEASED.
MUEN: WOULD YOU SAY puter. Heʼs really good to I AM SO HAPPY FOR
Corinth, Mississippi THAT THIS IS AN ALBUM work with, heʼs funny and YOUR SUCCESS.
THAT APPEALS TO he gets the job done. I
Myspace.com/savingabel ALL? wouldnʼt want to use an- I appreciate it.
other producer.
By: Shauna OʼDonnell I think so because we MUEN: DO YOU STILL
have a wide spectrum of MUEN: SO YOU WILL RUN YOUR OWN MY-
MUEN: HI ERIC THANKS sound on it. We are some DEFINITELY WORK SPACE PAGE?
FOR TALKING WITH ME southern rock boys, we WITH HIM AGAIN IN THE
TODAY. HOW ARE have some southern rock FUTURE THEN? I think the label does most
THINGS GOING? on it, some heavier rock of it. We all have our own
and some soft ballads that We are working with him pages that have pretty
Things are going well. seems to have done very right now on our new much turned into fan
well so itʼs got a broad album. Hopefully, we will pages. As far as the
MUEN: AWESOME, IʼM sound on it. continue to use him on al- bandʼs page, we still get
GLAD TO HEAR IT. bums to come. on and check all the com-
YOUR SELF TITLED MUEN: THERE ARE ments and stuff.
MAJOR LABEL ALBUM THREE KILLER SINGLES MUEN: AWESOME! SO
RELEASED IN MARCH ON THE ALBUM. WHAT THEREʼS A NEW ALBUM MUEN: THE SONG ”NEW
OF 2008. IT HAS BEEN WAS IT LIKE WORKING IN THE WORKS? IʼM EX- TATTOO” IS BASED ON
DOING GREAT AND WAS WITH SKIDD MILLS? CITED ABOUT THAT. ACTUAL EVENTS
CERTIFIED GOLD THIS RIGHT?
YEAR. SO CONGRATU- It was insane; it was my There is Yeah, our guitar player
went on a spur of the mo- an amazing military video Los Angeles is in the back- FANS?
ment, wild trip. He bought out in San Francisco on an ground.
a couple cases of beer, as aircraft carrier. To this day, I believe we all are. I am
it says in the song and he every night that we play it, MUEN: WHERE CAN myself and our singer is a
and a friend went on a we give a shout out to our PEOPLE CHECK THE X- Nascar fan, but he is more
road trip. It is based on a troops. You donʼt have to RATED VERSION OUT? of a Jimmie Johnson fan.
true story. support the war, but sup- We actually played the
port your troops. They must have it up on Brickyard 400 a couple
MUEN: AND HE CAME Playboy.com; I know itʼs on weeks ago in Indianapolis.
BACK WITH A NEW TAT- MUEN: YOU RELEASED YouTube. We played the pre-race
TOO. AN EP CALLED “18 and he was giving a shot
DAYS TOUR” RE- MUEN: SPEAKING OF out to Jimmie. There were
Of course CENTLY. TELL US PLAYBOY, YOU GUYS some mixed feelings from
ABOUT THE EP. ARE AN OFFICIAL the crowd, some booed
MUEN: TELL ME ABOUT ARTIST OF “ROCK THE and some yelled. Jimmie
THE SONG “18 DAYS,” Itʼs a bunch of different RABBIT.” TELL US Johnson ended up winning
IT WAS WRITTEN FOR takes on acoustic songs. I WHAT THAT ENTAILS. that race. We did a race
OUR MILITARY RIGHT? think there are some unre- out in California last year
leased tracks on there too. Thatʼs true; they had a and Jared predicted that
We ended up turning it into We had some time off ear- promotion going on where he would win and he won
a military song. There is a lier this year so we went they were trying to incor- that race also. They need
legendary Sheriff close to into the studio; everybody porate rock music with to somehow contact each
our hometown by the in the band grabbed some Playboy. They were trying other. Anytime there is a
name of Buford Pusser, acoustics, wrote some of to blend them together. day off and there is a race
they actually made the the songs and gave a dif- They got a couple bands on, itʼs always on the bus.
movie “Walking Tall” back ferent view of them. I be- to design some t-shirts We are pretty big fans.
in the late 70ʼs or early lieve it is available on and we were one of them.
80ʼs about it. I think the ITunes, online. I think our album cover MUEN: THE OTHER
The Rock re-made one had little rhinestone Play- BAND THAT IS BIG
probably ten years ago. MUEN: THE SONG “AD- boy bunnies on the pock- NASCAR FANS IS 3
He was involved in a drive- DICTED” IS REALLY ets. Itʼs been pretty cool, DOORS DOWN.
by, he and his wife were KICKING ASS. I HEAR we have yet to go to the
sitting on the side of the YOU HAVE AN EX- mansion, but we keep our Itʼs a southern thing.
road and it killed her and RATED VIDEO FOR fingers crossed. Weʼve done a couple
he got shot in the face re- THAT SONG. shows with them, they are
peatedly. There was a doc- MUEN: HOW DO YOU amazing live.
umentary and there was a We have like three or four GET PICKED FOR THAT?
line in there that said “It videos for it. We shot a DO THEY COME TO YOU MUEN: YOU ARE ON
had been 18 days since he homemade video back be- OR DO YOU HAVE TO THE ROAD WITH NICK-
had looked at himself in fore we started touring and SUBMIT YOUR PRESS ELBACK, PAPA ROACH
the mirror” because of the got signed. We shot one KIT? AND HINDER. HOWʼS
bandages. That is what in- that was pretty much x- THE DARK HORSE
spired that first line in the rated with a bunch of I think itʼs a little bit of TOUR GOING SO FAR?
song “18 Days.” We were women, drugs and nudity. both, of course, they pre-
recording the album and Playboy.com premiered it miered our video. I think Itʼs big, there are probably
everybody in this band has and it had over a million that started the tie with over a hundred people in-
military background as far views in one week, so that them and they wanted to cluding the bands on this
as family. We are really big was amazing. We tried to keep working with us. tour. There are probably
supporters and we started get it on networks, but they twenty tour buses, but its
thinking “Hey, when the said no, so we went back MUEN: SPEAKING OF fun because we are play-
troops are deployed, after and shot another one that VIDEOS I LOVE THE ing for 20,000 people
their deployment, they get was more PG13. It was NEW VIDEO FOR every night. Nickelback is
an 18 day leave.” We kind shot at a house in Holly- “DROWNING.” ARE YOU a great bunch of guys,
of connected it and shot wood Hills and Downtown GUYS BIG NASCAR even down to the smallest
person on their crew. MUEN: DO A SHOT? DO MUEN: GETTING BACK CHANCE TO WIN AN AU-
Everybody is amazing, I YOU GET NERVOUS BE- TO YOUR NEW TOGRAPHED SAVING
couldnʼt be on a better FORE GOING OUT ON RECORD. HOW FAR ABEL PRS GUITAR
tour, I donʼt think. STAGE? ALONG ARE YOU IN THE RIGHT?
PROCESS?
MUEN: HOW HAVE THE I donʼt know about the Thatʼs right
CROWDS BEEN? other guys, but me person- We have about five or six
ally, I have never been of them already tracked MUEN: WHAT DO THE
They have been really re- nervous. I love playing and recorded. We have FANS HAVE TO DO TO
sponsive; we are getting music and itʼs what I do been writing on the road, WIN?
our name out now. We are every night. which is fun, because you
still a baby band and we see things out on the road. I know we give one out
are trying to put a face to MUEN: I NOTICED YOU Getting the songs every night on tour. At the
our music. I think its work- HAD SOME PICTURES recorded is the problem. concerts you text a num-
ing and hopefully we are OF A BUS CRASH ON On our days off, we fly our ber and itʼs a random
winning people over every YOUR MYSPACE PAGE. producer in and go to the draw. The fan gets to
night. We are doing our WHAT HAPPENED? studio. If we have more come back, take pictures
job. than a couple days off, we and hang out a little bit. If
Yes, that was earlier this fly in to our studio, but we they want us to sign it, we
MUEN: REALLY? YOU year. I think we were in have about fifteen more sign it with them.
CONSIDER YOURSELF A Pennsylvania or Ohio and written and we are still
BABY BAND STILL? we were driving, passing writing them. We are look- MUEN: THANK YOU SO
an 18 wheeler in a curve. ing at probably early MUCH FOR THE INTER-
Yes, compared to the The driver of the 18 spring of 2010 for a re- VIEW ERIC. ITʼS BEEN
bands we are touring with. wheeler looked down, lease. FUN. I WISH YOU THE
Hinder has been around jerked the wheel and VERY BEST AND I HOPE
for ten years. Papa Roach slammed us over into a MUEN: DOES THE NEW TO TALK TO YOU AGAIN
has been a big “A” list concrete wall where they ALBUM HAVE A NEW SOON.
band for over ten years were doing construction. It SOUND?
and so has Nickelback. totaled our bus and threw Alright, thank you
We are two years in as far some of us out of the Itʼs a little bit heavier. The
as major releases. bunk, but no one got hurt. ballads are a little softer. MUEN: IS THERE ANY-
We just heard our driver Thereʼs a little bit of THING YOUʼD LIKE TO
MUEN: THE KIDS KNOW up there screaming “No, change, but Iʼm sure we ADD OR SAY?
WHO YOU ARE no, no, no!!” He did a re- will make new fans as well
THOUGH. ally good job, but it com- as keep our old fans.We have a fall headline
pletely totaled our bus. tour coming up, so check
Yes, they do and we feel Once a year, we seem to MUEN: WAS THERE ANY out our website and My-
blessed because of that. get involved in some kind ONE BAND THAT YOU Space. Come catch a
of accident. We are lucky WOULD LISTEN TO show!
MUEN: DO YOU HAVE to still be here and we are THAT INSPIRED YOU TO
ANY PRE-SHOW RITU- still touring. WANT TO BE A BASS
ALS THAT YOU DO BE- PLAYER?
FORE HITTING THE
STAGE AT THESE Actually, I was a guitar
SHOWS? MUEN: WELL, THE player up until I was sev-
GOOD THING IS THAT enteen and I got into Tool.
No, not really, some of our EVERYONE IS OKAY. I got their second major re-
guys warm up. We take lease and realized that
the weights out and kind of Right, we are doing eight was the bass making all
get pumped up a little bit, to twelve hour drives every those sounds. Thatʼs what
get the blood flowing, get night; we get in and pray got me into playing bass.
warmed up, do a shot and that we show up at the
play a show. next show. MUEN: FANS GET A
B
U
R
N

H
A
L
O
BURN HALO eral.
in the song writing in gen-
It is definitely a mod-
duce the record, but be-
cause I felt the songs
opposite. I would get
handed a full bed of
(Rawkhead Rekords) ern rock album; it is were already there and music and they basically

James Hart
definitely something youʼd didnʼt need any tweaking would hand it to me and
hear today. I think a lot of I felt like it made more say ”Here, write some vo-
bands from the 80ʼs that sense to make the record cals.” It was very difficult
(Vocals) are still around making with him. to maneuver vocal
new music forget that melodies around some of
Orange County, CA they have to appeal to MUEN: YOU DREW IN- the pre-existing melodies.
todayʼs crowd. They get SPIRATION FROM There wasnʼt a lot of
Myspace.com/burnhalo
stuck with what they are COUNTRY MUSIC room for me and I really
used to doing and what WHEN WRITING FOR struggled at times coming
By: Shauna OʼDonnell
theyʼve been doing for the THIS ALBUM RIGHT? up with good melodies
last twenty years. I think a and hooks. It took me a
MUEN: HI JAMES!
lot of that stuff is great in Yeah, you know, I guess lot longer to be satisfied
THANKS FOR CHAT-
complimenting a modern some of the ballads have or find a good place for
TING WITH ME TODAY.
rock sound and that is re- a country vibe to them. It vocals for an 18 Visions
HOW ARE THINGS
ally what I wanted to try is more so lyrically with song, whereas with this
GOING?
to do. the story telling of it all. we built it as we went
The guitars kind of bring along. It was a very sim-
Everythingʼs great, how
MUEN: TELL ME WHAT out that vibe as well, but I ple guitar and we built the
are you doing?
PART ZAC MALOY just think the story telling guitar around the vocals. I
PLAYED IN THE MAK- part of country music is felt like with 18 Visions
MUEN: IʼM DOING
ING OF THE ALBUM. great. I think a lot of it we built the vocals
PRETTY GOOD. YOU
gets overlooked by peo- around the guitars a lot. I
PLAYED WITH SALIVA
I met Zac in May of 2007 ple in the rock, metal, hip- think that is the main dif-
LAST NIGHT.
and we sat down and dis- hop and pop industry ference. Obviously, itʼs a
cussed writing a record because itʼs too twangy. I different type of record,
We did, yeah, we were in
together. I went out to think it really paints a pic- the song writing is differ-
Houston. We had a good
Tulsa, Oklahoma a cou- ture for the listener and ent and it is a different
time, the show was awe-
ple weeks later and wrote that is want I wanted to brand of rock music. I
some and the crowd was
a couple songs with him, do on just about every think itʼs a lot simpler and
good. We were actually
recorded a song that he song here. I think they come across
there not even two weeks
had written and then we better.
before that doing our own
recorded a song that I MUEN: HOW DID WRIT-
show. It was good to do
had written. We had re- ING THIS ALBUM DIF- MUEN: WELL, YOU
our own show and have a
ally good chemistry right FER FROM WHEN YOU HAVE BEEN QUOTED
bunch of people come
off the bat. I liked the WOULD WRITE FOR 18 AS SAYING”THIS IS
out. It was a good oppor-
process of our song writ- VISIONS? THE ALBUM YOU HAVE
tunity for us.
ing so I went out there ALWAYS WANTED TO
once a week for about a It was like night and day MAKE.”
MUEN: YOUR SELF TI-
month and we ended up to be honest with you;
TLED DEBUT ALBUM
writing the whole record with this we picked up Yeah, itʼs been a long
RELEASED IN MARCH.
together. He ended up two guitars and pieced to- time coming for me. I
DESCRIBE THE ALBUM
producing the album as gether some chords and think that when you are in
FOR ME.
well, which I think is a the changes. We would a band with two other
good thing. Usually, I write a vocal melody over songwriters and two more
Yeah, it is a modern rock
would want to have it and then just kind of opinions, it gets very
record. It is a very pure
somebody from the out- build off of that. It had a tough at times. Every-
and organic record with
side that really didnʼt very natural, organic feel body kind of has to com-
the sound. It also has a
have anything to do with to the process. In 18 Vi- promise ideas that they
classic rock vibe to it too
the songs come in pro- sions, it was the complete do not necessarily want
to compromise because tle bit more intense, it RECORD YOU up winning American Idol
the next person might not wasnʼt as carefree as it BROUGHT IN QUITE A a couple years ago. Heʼs
like it or it might not be was before and things got BIT OF NOTABLE TAL- out doing that now, but at
the best thing for the rougher. It was five differ- ENT. LETʼS SEE THERE the time we were able to
song. You come across ent opinions on how WAS DANIEL ADAIR OF have him track the whole
those issues, those bat- songs should sound, NICKELBACK, CHRIS record. Synyster Gates
tles and feelings get hurt, what the record should CHANEY OF JANEʼS has been a good friend of
egos get bruised and itʼs do, the imaging of the ADDICTION AND mine for a long time and I
really tough. I was always band and what kind of SYNYSTER GATES OF wrote a song with him as
pushing the band to be tours we should take. I AVENGED SEVEN- well for the record. We
more of a rock band and think it lead to the decline FOLD. had him come in and
to try to branch out and of the band and the track it and thought it
rebuild ourselves as a morale. Yeah, I didnʼt have a would be cool to have
band. I got resistance band assembled at the him play on “Dirty Little
here and there, but like I MUEN: IT SOUNDS time so I really wanted to Girl” as well. I had a
said that kind of goes with LIKE ALL THE FUN utilize the time in the stu- pretty good cast of play-
the territory. WAS SUCKED OUT OF dio in the best possible ers.
IT. way. I think that was to go
MUEN: IT SOUNDS out and hire a great MUEN: WHEN YOU
LIKE THINGS ARE BET- It seemed like it got to drummer and profes- WERE DONE RECORD-
TER FOR YOU NOW. that point. I know a cou- sional bass player. Chris ING IT ISLAND
ple of people in the camp Chaney has been a stu- RECORDS DECIDED
I think so; I think a lot of it went into the record with dio musician for a long NOT TO PUT IT OUT
has to do with where Iʼm the mindset that they felt time and he has done a AND YOUR MANAGER
at in my life too. Six or like radio should be able lot of great stuff. He has DECIDED TO START UP
seven years ago I didnʼt to do everything for us made some records for HIS OWN LABEL
put up a fight or argument and that the song was my manager in the past CALLED RAWKHEAD
with 18 Visions. Every- going to react at radio or so that was a no brainer. REKORDS. ARE THERE
thing was really carefree. its not and that we didnʼt As far as drums go, the ANY OTHER ARTISTS
The second we got our need to go out and do guy that I really wanted to ON THE LABEL AT THIS
major label deal with this tour and that tour and get in there was Daniel TIME?
Epic, thatʼs when things play this market or that Adair of Nickelback. Iʼm a
really started to change market. If itʼs a hit, itʼs a big Nickelback fan, I love No, itʼs just me and thatʼs
and things needed to be hit and it doesnʼt matter. I the drum sounds, I love all itʼs going to be. Basi-
a certain way. If we were kind of completely dis- the style and I thought cally, we had a hard time
going to be on a major agree with that. I think itʼs that his style would defi- finding a home for the
label we had to do things important to go into those nitely compliment my record once the Island
the way we wanted to do markets, play for those music. There was some- thing fell apart so he
them, but at the same stations, play for those body that Zac mutually knew somebody over at
time we had to keep in people and do those knew that made a phone the Warner Music Group
mind that they are trying shows to build a fan base call. We sent him a through ILG and they
to take these songs to of life long fans. You record; he was into it and loved the record and be-
radio. They didnʼt sign the have the power to change had some down time. He lieved in it. We are doing
band so that they can things to a certain extent. was great. My buddy pretty well on our own,
have us do what we have If youʼre not out there and Neal Tiemann from Tulsa, obviously, we would love
been doing. They wanted doing the work and doing Oklahoma did all the to have somebody bigger
to outsource us in differ- what you can on your end demo work with me. He step in and take over the
ent ways that we had it is kind of pointless to wrote “Dirty Little Girl” record. We would like to
never been outsourced or me. and “Save Me” with us have more resources and
promoted before. Every- and he was actually going more behind it then what
one had to step up their MUEN: WHEN IT CAME to be in the band until one weʼve had. I think the
game and things got a lit- TO RECORDING THE of his good friends ended number one priority was
to get the record out
there, get the track at
radio and let people know
that this is real.
MUEN: HOW DID YOU
GO ABOUT FINDING
THE MEMBERS FOR
YOUR BAND?
I met our bass player
Aaron in Tulsa when I
was doing the record. He
was a friend of Nealsʼ and
I went down and saw him
play at a country bar. He
was playing in a country
band at the time. Heʼs a
younger kid and I was
looking for guys that kind
of were in the music in-
dustry that wanted to get
out and tour that didnʼt
have a whole lot holding
them back. I sat down
and talked to him about it,
we discussed the record,
the songs, the direction
and the future. He was all
about it. I found Joey
through a mutual friend of
me and my manager
Brett. Jacoby from Papa
Roach put the Joey bug
in our ear. We brought
him down to Southern
California for an audition
and he totally ripped it at
guitar. I was actually
blown away because I
had been working with
Neal for the last year and
was blown away by his
talents. To have someone
up to his standard was
something I didnʼt think
was going to be possible.
Our drummer Timmy
came from a friend of
mine out of New York
who knew I was looking
for a drummer and he
worked out great. We re- we could shoot every- find a support tour or that
cently added a new thing there. Our budget it will make sense for us
rhythm guitar player wasnʼt super high. My to do some of our own
Brandon, out of Tulsa, best friend has a super shows in the area be-
Oklahoma who was nice home down in Mis- cause I know there are a
friends with Darin. He sion Viejo and he let us lot of people wanting west
was in country bands and film down there. I called coast tour dates.
in a rock band for a while. Jeremy up and told him
We really wanted to get that his bar would be MUEN: THE LAST TIME
back on the road and give great for what we wanted I SAW YOU ON STAGE
it one last shot. to do with this video. He YOU WERE WITH ES-
was all about it and super CAPE THE FATE IN
MUEN: THE LEAD SIN- cool. They were very hos- POMONA.
GLE “DIRTY LITTLE pitable to us and it made
GIRL” IS DOING VERY for some great footage. Yeah, that was our first
WELL. WAS THE SONG show of that tour and our
WRITTEN ABOUT ANY- MUEN: SO I DO NOT first show in Southern
ONE IN PARTICULAR? SEE ANY WEST COAST California.
TOUR DATES ON YOUR
Yeah, it was written about PAGE. WILL YOU BE MUEN: WHICH OF THE
a girl that one of my very HEADING OUR WAY SONGS DO YOU ENJOY
close friends dated. They SOON? ARE YOU PERFORMING MOST
had this very chaotic, un- GOING TO BE ADDING LIVE?
stable relationship. I DATES?
guess the song kind of Thatʼs a tough one; I like
speaks for itself on what Right now we are routed playing the ballads live,
kind of a girl she was. until August 23rd and like “Too Late to Tell You
The idea of the song is then we are going to take Now” and “Here with Me”
that he is dating this girl a few weeks off. We are even though itʼs not a
and she does these still waiting to see what proper ballad. I like play-
things, fools around be- September and October ing those songs because
hind his back, hooks up are going to look like. I when I was with 18 Vi-
with his friends, flirts with guess the majority of the sions, the last three al-
every guy that comes to reason that we do not bums had ballads on
town, sheʼs partying it up have any west coast them and for whatever
and she doesnʼt have any dates is because the ma- reason they didnʼt want to
regards to what kind of jority of our airplay is in play the ballads live. I
affect that has on the re- the Midwest, the South kind of get it because we
lationship. For whatever and the east coast. The were more of a metal,
reason, he just kind of al- Pacific Northwest has ac- hard rock band, but Iʼm
ways keeps her around. tually been a big sup- not a fan of putting songs
MUEN: THE VIDEO IS porter of our record from on a record that youʼre
REALLY COOL. WHERE day one so we definitely not going to play live. I
WAS IT FILMED? need to make our way donʼt see the point or pur-
back there. We just hap- pose in it. Singing those
We did that at the Slide- pen to be doing a bunch songs is great and itʼs a
bar in Fullerton, CA. Je- of support tours and lot of fun. Vocally, itʼs out
remy from Lit owns that those tours for whatever there and alone for me,
place with another guy. I reason have not been so itʼs a little scary at
was looking for a venue routed that way. Iʼm hop- times. If you hit a bad
that had two or three dif- ing within the next month note everybody is going
ferent rooms in it so that or two that we can either to hear it because itʼs in a
ballad. If you hit a bad MUEN: WHO ARE and they were great peo- in just about every tattoo
note in a heavier rock SOME OF THE NEW ple. Itʼs good to see magazine at the time. We
song it goes a little bit BANDS OUT THERE bands like that do their did a lot of tattoo maga-
less noticed. I love play- TODAY THAT YOU ARE thing and climb the zine features for sure.
ing those songs because INTO? charts. Rev Theory is an-
they have a great vibe to other cool band. Those MUEN: THANKS SO
them. I think that there Thatʼs tough, huh? are the bands we dig for MUCH FOR TALKING
are songs that if they are sure. WITH ME; IT WAS A
not connecting right off MUEN: THAT STUMPED LOT OF FUN.
the bat with people who YOU. MUEN: YOU WERE RE-
are not familiar with the CENTLY IN INKED MAG- Yeah, thank you very
record, as soon as they Yeah, are there a ton of AZINE. I LOVE THE much.
get the record they defi- new bands out there? PICTURE THEY USED.
nitely will know those Thatʼs the question. We PEOPLE NEED TO GO MUEN: BEFORE I LET
songs. just wrapped up a tour OUT AND GET IT. WAS YOU GO DO YOU WANT
with a couple bands THAT THE FIRST TIME TO ADD ANYTHING?
MUEN: DO YOU PLAY Halestorm and The Veer YOU WERE FEATURED
ANY INSTRUMENTS? Union. They have proba- IN A TATTOO MAGA- Keep on Truckin!
bly been around a lot ZINE?
I play a really, really bad longer than us, for sure,
guitar. Iʼm probably good since we are the epitome With Burn Halo, yes, I
enough to throw together of a new band. We were think with 18 Visions be-
a few chords and write a formed in October and cause there were three or
riff or two, but thatʼs about out touring in December. four of us who were so
as far as it goes. Those bands were great heavily tattooed, we were
GLASS WOLFE
PW: Yes she has so
far... but that doesnʼt
mean that I wonʼt write
some too.

MKG: Phil wrote some

lyrics on our first CD,
otherwise I wrote the
rest.

MUEN: I SEE THAT

SHE HAS ALSO WRIT-
TEN LYRICS FOR
KEITH EMERSON OF
EMERSON, LAKE
AND PALMER! TELL
US, HOW DID THAT
OPPORTUNITY COME
ABOUT, WHAT
SONGS, AND WHAT
YEARS WERE THEY?

PW: I had been playing

in an Emerson Lake
and Palmer tribute
band

http://www.myspace.co
m/theendlessenigma

and Keith Emerson

came to one of our
shows. We hit it off and
one day

Los Angeles, CA frequented by many of http://www.myspace.co we learned that he was

LAʼs legendary musi- m/philipwolfelifeforce looking for a lyricist and
By G. Cataline cians. I had played I recommended Maria.
there in the early 90ʼs I saw Maria at a table
MUEN: HOW DID THE
with my solo project with her girlfriends and Within a day or two
TWO OF YOU FIRST
WOLFEGANG which introduced myself. We after getting her lyrics
MEET?
turned into my solo got to talking and the they had demoʼs of a
album LIFEFORCE rest is history. couple songs and we
PW: We met at the FM
with ex Yngwie and Im- have a cassette tape
Station in N Hollywood
pellitteri singer Mark MUEN: DOES MARIA with the tracks. Unfortu-
CA, a local rock and
Weitz. WRITE ALL THE nately they never got
metal club
LYRICS? released as ELP broke
up and havenʼt got sufficed. First, it wasnʼt stuff like Emerald Lady, lar in CA, Florida, Ohio,
back together. long enough, then Keith Rise Above, Helen of PA, NY and that nearly
wanted all the refer- Troy and Queen of 40% of our listening au-
MKG: Keithʼs manager ences to Caesar re- Tragedy. dience is female be-
had told Philip that moved and I had to tween 14 and 45 yrs of
Keith was looking for replace his name with MKG: I would have to age.
some lyrics for a new “the general” and so on agree with Philip, al-
ELP album. Philip and so forth until finally though I also really like MKG: We get great re-
gave him a number of I was told that Keith “The Tempest” and action from a lot of our
my lyrics and Keith im- and Greg Lake had a “Rubicon” as well. I am songs so itʼs hard to
mediately liked one I falling out and since doing all the vocal parts say. The material on
had called “False Greg came up with the on “Rubicon” with the Xotica seems to be
Prophets”. That was title of the song, all the exception of the low very different from what
the song he did the “Crossing the Rubicon” voice in the middle - in- many of the bands in
demo of. Then I was lines had to be re- cluding the low voice LA are playing so that
requested to write lyrics moved. I was stunned. on both verses so I re- in and of itself gets at-
for a song entitled All that work to write ally get to show off my tention. Weʼve played
“Crossing the Rubicon”. lyrics around a title that range. The low verse places where a number
Greg Lake had come they didnʼt want to use part in that song is of patrons stopped
up with the title. I never anymore. After many pitched down a little, whatever they were
even heard the music months, I heard nothing but not much. I had re- doing to watch us. Tak-
nor did I ever get to as I more until we were told ally only recorded it to ing out their cellphones
wrote the lyrics. I had Keith was in Europe give Philip a model so and cameras to take
absolutely no idea what touring with Rick Wake- he could do those pictures, etc. And they
I was supposed to be man. A couple of years parts, but he liked the had never even heard
writing to or even how later, I tried the lyrics feel I had on the parts. our music before. It
long the song was. I out on a song we were was amazing.
just had to wing it. I did working on with some MUEN: WHAT SONGS
some research and dis- players in our Glass DO YOU GET THEMUEN: PHILIP IS
covered that the title re- Wolfe project, but I MOST RESPONSE ALSO A VETERAN TO
ferred to a famous wasnʼt really happy with FROM, AND WHY DO
THE L.A. MUSIC
battle Julius Caesar the song. When Philip YOU THINK THAT IS?
SCENE AND HAS
fought against General was writing the music PLAYED KEY-
Pompey of Rome and PW: We recently got
for Xotica, I decided to BOARDS FOR WASP,
Caesarʼs victory paved aboard JANGO radio
use the lyrics on one of VINNIE VINCENT, AND
the way for him becom- and from their charts
the songs, which on the MORE... WHILE LIS-
ing emperor. A friend and graphs it seems
new CD is “Rubicon”. TENING TO YOUR
then told me it was also that fans of After For-
With all the hard work I ALBUM, I WAS
an expression for had done on those ever, Nightwish and THINKING THIS IS
crossing the line and Epica seem to like our PRETTY INTRICATE
lyrics, I didnʼt want
not being able to go XOTICA CD very much STUFF... WHAT WERE
them to go to waste.
back. I didnʼt know and favor the sym- SOME OF YOUR
which of the two con- WHAT SONGS DO phonic tracks Emerald BEST ACCOMPLISH-
cepts Keith wanted so I YOU FEEL THE MOST Lady, Rise Above, MENTS, AND WHAT
tried to incorporate ACCOMPLISHED BY? Helen of Troy and Rubi- TIMES IN YOUR CA-
both. Then we sent it con. Jango also show REER DO YOU CHER-
off to Keith to see if it PW: Mostly the new that we are very popu- ISH THE MOST?
PW: I enjoyed playing tracks in our home stu- my efforts I took it to thought his artwork was
in Japan at the Tokyo dio in about 4 hours Universal Mastering stunning. He incorpo-
Dome with Impellitteri while Rudy Sarzo and Pete Doel put his rated Stephenʼs pho-
in front of 90,000 recorded his bass in his finishing touches on it tography with his own
screaming fans and the studio and gave us a and graciously gave me embellishments and
Monsters of rock Eu- CD with the audio file. the mastering credit. ideas. Therefore, both
rope tour with WASP , Neil Citron recorded his of their work was show-
opening up for Iron tracks in Steve Vaiʼs MUEN: TELL US cased and the end re-
Maiden and Black Sab- studio and gave us a ABOUT THE ARTIST sult was nothing short
bath in front of crowds CD with the tracks. All THAT CREATED of spectacular.
of 85,000 the keys and vocals YOUR ALBUM
were of course COVER, ETC... MUEN: WHERE IS IT
and more at venues recorded in our studio AVAILABLE?
like Donnington UK and as well as the Choir MKG: We were very
Manheim Germany. that we got from a local fortunate in the talented http://www.cdbaby.com/
Also playing clubs with LA opera company. photographer and artist cd/glasswolfe3
lots of history like the who made the artwork
Marquee in London and It was relatively easy to of Xotica so excep- http://www.glasswolfe.c
The Hammersmith comp them together in tional. Stephen Manley om ( check or money
Odeon UK. I also re- Nuendo as they were was our photographer order )
leased the very 1st all recorded with and a good friend of
Hammond B3 and Mini- SMPTE timecode. ours who had been not and also on Apple
moog CD Rom only a professional Itunes
But XOTICA It took photographer at one
(for sampler keyboards much longer than ex- time but a child actor as MUEN: WHAT ARE
like the Kurzweil pected to finish due to well who worked on a YOUR THOUGHTS ON
2500XS, Akai 1000 , my health problems number of shows and THE POWER OF IN-
ProTools, Emu etc) in that resulted in my life mini-series in the TERNET RADIO?
1994 and got a 5 star being saved in the 1970ʼs. His most no-
review in keyboard Emergency room 3 table role was the PW: We are currently
magazine. times, a major surgery teenage Spock in Star being played on over
and the long healing Trek III. Consequently, 100 stations - 70 inter-
MUEN: THIS THIRD process that I endured he came up with all the net and 30 college sta-
ALBUM THAT YOU afterwards. Thankfully locations to shoot our tions, a few P3 stations,
HAVE OUT NOW, my dear friend John photos for the CD. He etc.
"XOTICA"... FEA- Rotondi helped with the was very meticulous
TURES CHRIS mixing (and walking my and creative and the It is wonderful ... we
SLADE, RUDY dog when I was inca- photos reflect that. He were being played on a
SARZO, AND MORE pacitated with pain). really did great work radio show out of Ger-
FAMOUS MUSICIANS. with us. After all the many and at the same
WAS IT HARD PUT- And then there was the photo shoots were time were in the chat
TING THIS ALBUM journey into the world completed, we turned it room interacting with
TOGETHER, OR DID of mastering. I used the over to artist Ed Unit- fans and DJʼs from
IT COME EASY? TRacks software for 2 sky, who has done CD around the world. The
months and mastered it artwork for a number of next show had a DJ out
PW: Chris Slade 5 or 6 times till I was other bands. We found of Norway etc .
recorded his drum exasperated. Doubting him on myspace and
MKG: It has been re- with label deals that got the great response we CD.
ally positive so far. We some of the same pro- have been getting we
have a number of inter- motion that we were are looking for a book- MKG: We would like to
net stations that have getting by virtue of our ing agent and a tour in- truly thank everyone
featured us, inter- hard work and network- cluding clubs and that has supported us -
viewed us and sup- ing without a label. We festivals. every bit helps and is
ported us and we so related to these we- definitely appreciated.
appreciate it. They are bzines, journalists, re- MUEN: ANYTHING We couldnʼt do it with-
helping to get our name viewers, etc on more of COMING UP IN THE out you!!!!
and music out there. a personal level than NEXT COUPLE
We have tried to return an artist with a label MONTHS THAT WE PW: We would like to
the favor by posting doing the promotion. SHOULD KNOW thank the people and
their banners, tuning Plus, we never were ABOUT? companies that have
into their shows and forced to compromise
chatrooms, posting our artistic beliefs to a PW: More live radio in- endorsed, supported
blogs, etc. Plus, we trend because of indus- terviews, a new video and encouraged us .
have met some great try pressure to make a and some live shows Brian Chung from
new friends along the buck. Sure, weʼd like to leading up to a bigger Kawai for letting me
way. be more successful, but tour. record on their 9ʼ Grand
not at the expense of piano, Doug Rogers
MUEN: HOW ABOUT our artistic integrity. MKG: Every week we and Rhys Moody of
THE MUSIC BUSI- Iʼve seen other bands are getting word of Sounds Online for the
NESS IN GENERAL, that I have been a fan more airplay, requests orchestra and choir
AS IT STANDS of put out a CD that for interviews, reviews. software, Yamaha,
TODAY? seemed like an attempt Soon we should have Steinberg, T.C.Elec-
to make them more reviews coming out of tronics, Arturia, Korg,
PW: In some respects it commercial and fit into Italy and England, inter- Sibelius, Kurzweil, for
is a lot harder because the current trend which views out of Canada, software and key-
you have to do so in turn, to me, made the airplay out of the Pa- boards, Marshall and
much of the work your- band lose itʼs magic. cific Northwest, New Peavey for amps and
self instead of having a But it is a lot of very York, etc. Our my- speakers, Mark Ludmer
label to promote and hard work, determina- space site is the best of Rode Micʼs, and Don
market you. tion and perseverance. way to keep up with it Griffin, Rick Waite and
since we work that site Mark Spiwak at West
On the other hand you MUEN: HOW OFTEN ourselves and are on it LA Music (we get a lot
can record, mix and DO YOU PLAY OUT almost daily. of great gear from that
master the project in LIVE? store).
your own studio and MUEN: IS THERE
then promote it to radio PW: We have been in ANYTHING ELSE
and market it all over and out of the studio YOU'D LIKE TO ADD?
the globe from your (and the hospital) for
computer. the last 3 1/2 years and PW: We are already 22
have played only a songs deep into the
MKG: It seems like handfull of shows dur- writing and recording of
there is a lot of uncer- ing that time . our next CD which will
tainty out there. We But now with the re- be a concept album
have known musicians lease of XOTICA and and possibly a double
WAITING FOR DECAY
(Dirtbag Music Records) We are from a town
called Hesperia in South-
Dewayne Clifton (Vo- ern California. I live in
cals) Oklahoma though and
the rest of the band lives
Myspace.com/waiting- in California.
fordecay
MUEN: HOW DOES
By: Shauna OʼDonnell THAT WORK?
MUEN: HI DEWAYNE, Itʼs actually working
THANKS FOR TALKING pretty good, because
WITH ME TODAY. what they do is record
materials, send it to me
Itʼs my pleasure. through email, I down-
load it, upload it on my
MUEN: FIRST A LITTLE recorder and we just
HISTORY ON THE bounce back and forth
BAND. WHERE ARE sending each other new
YOU GUYS FROM IN stuff. When we get new
CALIFORNIA? songs written, we meet
up and just record it. Our
management helps us
book shows, so I go out Five years
there whenever shows
are booked or they come MUEN: IS THIS THE
out here. ORIGINAL LINE-UP?
MUEN: THATʼS COOL, No, I wish it was. We
HOW DO YOU LIKE IT went through so many
IN OKLAHOMA? different band members.
I love the current line-up
I love it, I grew up here that we have now; I wish
for about seventeen that these could have
years and then I went to been the guys in the
California for about sev- band the whole time.
enteen years. I have Just like any other band
been back in Oklahoma we went through
for about a year and a changes and stuff until
half now. we found the right people
that can travel and have
MUEN: HOW LONG the time to be in a band.
HAVE YOU BEEN TO- We finally got the perfect
GETHER AS A BAND? line-up.
MUEN: I KNOW THAT end up blowing my voice BAND? pletely on a different
YOU ARE THE VOCAL- out. I started doing some page. Itʼs a neat little
IST OF THE BAND. DO acoustic stuff with an old Yes, there were a couple collaboration of ideas.
YOU PLAY ANY IN- friend and we did some songs on the last album
STRUMENTS? coffee shop stuff. I that each one of the gui- MUEN: THATʼS COOL
started enjoying that tar players had written WHEN EVERYBODY
Nope. I can barely walk, more and more. I was and then we collaborated BRINGS SOMETHING
talk and chew gum at the still throwing some of the together, but for the most DIFFERENT TO THE
same time. I took guitar screaming stuff in there part they wrote two TABLE. THAT IS WHAT
lessons and found out and that is what kind of songs lyrically. The guy GIVES YOU YOUR
that I wanted to sing. I freaks people out. We that writes most of the UNIQUE SOUND.
enjoyed singing more are an all acoustic band music in the band now is
and I didnʼt have the pa- and then Iʼll just start Mike, our guitar player. Exactly, every time we do
tience to do both. screaming on certain Whenever we get to- a show somebody tells
parts, but our guitar gether we just try to do us a different band that
MUEN: YOU TAUGHT player kind of beefs it up crunch time and record we sound like, so thatʼs
YOURSELF HOW TO when it comes time for as much as we can. Itʼs cool.
SING. that, so it kind of has its kind of a fun process, I
own unique sound. like doing it like that. MUEN: WHO ARE
Yes, when I was a kid, SOME OF THE BANDS
they used to make me MUEN: YEAH, AND IT MUEN: WHERE DO THEY TELL YOU THAT
get up in front of the WORKS. YOUR INFLUENCES YOU SOUND LIKE?
church and sing, which COME FROM?
went on for about five Yeah, so far. Weʼve been told Alice in
years. Sometimes, they My influences are Slip- Chains, Days of the New,
would make me get up MUEN: HOW MANY knot, Metallica and Godsmack and every
there and do it by myself. CDʼS DO YOU HAVE Slayer. I canʼt do any of once in a while Metallica.
I got over that nervous OUT? that stuff the way that we Itʼs all over the map.
feeling real quick. I never write this music. Thatʼs
thought I would end up We have one out, but we where I come in and try MUEN: I GUESS
doing this, but it was a are in the process of to scream on different EVERYONE HEARS
good starting point. recording another one. songs and the funny SOMETHING DIFFER-
That should happen this thing is when people see ENT.
MUEN: ABSOLUTELY, I year. I think we are going us when we play and
THINK THAT EVERY- back in the studio around they see us put up the They do and itʼs probably
THING WE DO IN LIFE, September. We have acoustic guitars and stuff coming from their influ-
LEADS TO SOME- about thirty to forty songs it kind of freaks them out. ences and what they like.
THING. to choose from. We did They say “You know you
the last album back in are playing with heavy MUEN: I USED TO
I believe the same thing. 2007, so I think weʼre rock bands right?” and PLAY DRUMS AND SO
due. We have a couple they say “Are you sure WHEN I GO TO SHOWS
MUEN: HOW LONG different producers that you want to do this?” We I TEND TO WATCH THE
HAVE YOU BEEN PLAY- have been talking to us. have to convince them DRUMMER. THAT IS
ING IN BANDS? by saying “Itʼs going to PROBABLY WHAT
MUEN: WELL YOU be okay, just let us play. PEOPLE DO WHEN
Only for about eight BRIEFLY DESCRIBED Youʼll see.” They always THEY ARE IN THE AU-
years. I started off in a YOUR WRITING invite us back, but that is DIENCE; THEY WATCH
heavy, hardcore, metal PROCESS. ARE YOU some of my influences. I WHAT INTERESTS
band. I ended up THE ONE THAT also like Alice in Chains THEM MOST.
screaming so much that I WRITES ALL THE and Godsmack. The
thought I was going to LYRICS FOR THE other guys are com- Thatʼs what I do; Iʼll sit
there and watch the and Iʼm sure there will be Most of them are just just came off of a small
singer. more things that will clothing companies and I tour. The whole time that
come. We definitely want have one that sponsors we have been a band,
MUEN: WHEN DID YOU to get the new album me called Darker Image weʼve done quite a bit.
SIGN WITH DIRTBAG? going. I am talking to a Clothing and Dirtbag ob- Weʼve been to Colorado,
guy right now, the same viously. I have a sponsor Texas and California. It
We have been with them guy that shot the last from New Zealand who kind of goes with what-
for about five months, we video, about shooting a works with a company ever time that we get to
are pretty new. They new video for us for the called Dead Ringer and do things. We will do ten
have about thirty bands new single. We are really he sent me over all these or eleven shows at a
that they are working excited to work with him. skull rings and jewelry. time. We havenʼt had the
with right now. We are re- He gave it all to me for opportunity yet to do
ally excited, we just had MUEN: A LOT OF free and he made all the thirty or forty day tours or
a conference call with the BANDS ARE USING rings for the last Pirates anything, but I think we
owner and he was telling FILM STUDENTS FROM of the Caribbean movie. are getting close to that.
us some of the new di- COLLEGES TO SHOOT He made all the rings for
rections that we are THEIR VIDEOS. everybody who went MUEN: HAVE YOU
going to go in and what down the red carpet. I PLAYED IN OKLA-
he is going to do to take Thatʼs what I heard and I was shocked that he HOMA?
us to the next level. We think itʼs a great idea be- gave me all this stuff. We
are really excited about cause everyone is kind of Not yet, you know whatʼs
have Dunlop who gives
being with those guys. struggling with money to crazy is when I do a lot of
us guitar strings and
put towards this and that. friend requests off of My-
picks. Nothing for me, but
MUEN: WELL THATʼS Space through Okla-
the rest of the band, I
GOOD. LETʼS TALK MUEN: I DID SEE THAT homa, it seems like the
guess when I got all the
ABOUT SOME OF YOU HAVE DATES IN Oklahoma, Texas and
jewelry they pretty much
THOSE THINGS. WE TEXAS COMING UP. Arkansas people like our
told me I wasnʼt going to
LAST INTERVIEWED AFTER THAT YOU get anything. music the most. Iʼve been
YOU FOR MUEN BACK HAVE A MIDWEST telling the band that we
IN DECEMBER SO TOUR PLANNED? MUEN: YOUʼRE LIKE need to be hitting some
LETʼS TALK ABOUT READING YOUR BIO IT “LOOK, I GET ALL THE of the states where we
THINGS THAT ARE SAID YOU WILL BE CLOTHES AND THE are receiving a lot of at-
CURRENTLY GOING HEADING BACK INTO JEWELRY AND YOU tention. We were actually
ON NOW. HAVE YOU THE STUDIO IN SEP- GUYS CAN HAVE THE going to do that in Sep-
OR ARE YOU CUR- TEMBER OF 2009. STRINGS, OKAY?” tember, but then my
RENTLY WORKING ON manager saw the email
ANY MUSIC VIDEOS? We put that up because (Laughing) Exactly and he said “No! You
we never know how guys get back in the stu-
We did a music video for things are going to turn MUEN: YOUʼRE THE dio. Stop trying to book
one of our songs called out. We may go in to the FRONT MAN, THAT these shows.” Heʼs
“Savannah Rose.” It studio and they will say MAKES SENSE RIGHT? dying for us to record an-
turned out great and that “Okay, thatʼs going to be other CD. We are show-
is actually how Dirtbag $25,000” and we will be Yeah, exactly ing so many different
discovered us. After they like “Okay, weʼre going people this new album
watched the video they on tour.” (Laughing) MUEN: HOW MUCH that have never heard it
went and listened to the TOURING HAVE YOU before. Thatʼs the fun
music. We have a couple MUEN: WHO ARE DONE AS A BAND? part, even though we
more shows we want to SOME OF THE SPON- think itʼs old, they are
finish out the year with, SORS YOU HAVE With this line-up weʼve hearing it for the first time
we are heading to Texas BACKING YOU? just started. We actually and it kind of re-sparks
the whole band.
MUEN: HOW WOULD doing that involve music.
YOU DESCRIBE YOUR I also enjoy being with
AUDIENCE? my kids.

Thatʼs weird because MUEN: WHAT KIND OF

when we were on the MOVIES DO YOU PRE-
phone with Dirtbag, they FER?
were trying to find our
target age group. We I love scary movies.
were just in Colorado Every year I throw
playing a music festival. haunted houses for the
There were kids on public. I love the Evil
skateboards riding Dead trilogies. I like
around and when we being scared.
started playing they
came up and before you MUEN: THE REASON I
know it by the end of the ASKED WHAT KIND OF
night there were hun- MOVIES YOU LIKE IS
dreds of sixteen year BECAUSE I WAS CURI-
olds with their parents OUS AS TO WHAT
standing behind them TYPE OF MOVIE YOU
watching the whole thing. THINK YOUʼRE MUSIC
It was just kind of shock- WOULD BE GOOD IN?
ing. We havenʼt found
our target age group yet, Thatʼs a good question
because the songs go because half of the CD is
from one extreme to an- more of a hard rock style
other on the CD. Dirtbag and the other half is re-
told us they need to tar- ally kind of light and mel-
get an age group, so low. We have had guys
they are even trying to that used the songs in
figure out what age dirt bike videos and an-
group to target. other guy used it in a B
flick movie in a sadder
MUEN: OTHER THAN scene. There are so that I know are just going and listen to our music.
MUSIC, WHAT ARE many different places to surpass our previous Itʼs acoustic all the time
SOME OF YOUR IN- that I think it would fit in CD. with kind of like a metal
TERESTS AND/OR well, I guess it would de- edge to it. I think people
HOBBIES? pend on what kind of ac- MUEN: I WISH YOU will enjoy it. Itʼs not a
tion is going on in the GUYS THE VERY BEST combination that too
I like playing on my boat. movie. Iʼm kind of curious OF LUCK. THANK YOU many people use, but I
I love going to the river. too; I hope someone else SO MUCH FOR THE IN- think it is going to be
When I was in California, figures it out. (Laughing) TERVIEW, IT WAS something fresh. We
I would go to Lake GREAT TALKING TO wish you the best of luck
Havasu all the time. MUEN: IT WILL ALL YOU. BEFORE I LET too!
Since Iʼm in Oklahoma, I COME IN TIME. YOU GO IS THERE
do a little bit of hunting. I ANYTHING YOUʼD LIKE
like to browse on the in- I just want to get back in TO ADD OR SAY?
ternet and find new the studio, we have three
things that people are or four songs right now Visit our MySpace page
CHIMAIRA what you want to do with MUEN: Are you looking
your music? forward to any specific
around makes the music
process a lot easier.
venues or cities on this
Matt DeVries Matt: Whatʼs cool about tour? MUEN: Does that make it
difficult when the time
this record is having us as
(Guitar)
a whole grow up and being Matt: Thereʼs some Iʼm try- comes to practice or
able to combine our cer- ing to think all the Califor- write? Is the writing
By Natalie Perez
tain favorites together to nia dates I love coming out done separately and
create a style all our own. here in the West Coast but then sort of pieced to-
Chimaira formed in 1998
I also like going out to gether, or is it more of as
based out of Cleveland,
MUEN: What are you Austin. group effort?
Ohio these metalcore
currently listening to?
thrash addicts have taken
MUEN: Any tour anxi- Matt: We write on our own
the metal genre to a whole
Matt: We kind of go back eties? at first then come together.
new level after unleashing
on what we grow up with Then we get together and
"The Infection," Expanding
Iʼve been listening to Pan- Matt: Not really anymore piece it altogether.
a series of new material to
tera lately. everything is pretty much
express itself to not only
going well. MUEN: How do you feel
the old school fans but the
MUEN: If every member like "The Infection," is
new comers as well. Matt
of Chimaira was locked MUEN: Is everyone in different than the other
spoke to me briefly on the
in a room together what Chimaira still sort of lo- albums that Chimaira
band's tour bus right out-
could you all agree on to cated in Ohio? Or have has released?
side their last stop in Cali-
listen to? some members
fornia before heading out
branched out and moved Matt: Yeah itʼs definitely
East to finish up the re-
Matt: Whatʼs cool a lot of away? different than anything else
mainder of what is left is
us have the same back- weʼve released.
The Decimation of the Na-
grounds like Pantera, Matt: Everyone is in Cleve-
tion Tour.
Metallica, Slayer, land, Chris moved down in MUEN: How does it
Megadeth, any of the old Florida stayed out there for make you guys feel to
MUEN: So you must get
school heavy metal acts 2 years then moved back. hear so many other
a lot of freedom to do
we can all relate too. So having everyone bands trying to sort of
 CHIMAIRA
mimic your sound? Is it Nation Tour.
flattering or…?
MUEN: Does the Photo by Natalie Perez
Matt: I think itʼs flattering whole album
for sure itʼs not like some- creating
one is trying to rip us off process simply
but I think its cool overall. get more diffi-
cult as time
MUEN: Of all of Chi- goes on? Have
mairaʼs albums, what is you ever felt
your personal favorite? pressure to top
Or is that like asking you yourselves?
to try and choose a fa-
vorite child? Sean: You al-
ways feel pres-
Matt: Iʼd have to say this sure to top
one because itʼs fresh and yourself. Defi-
new. nitely the song-
writing process
MUEN: Any last words of gets easier but
wisdom? the whole
process does get
Matt: Thanks for all the harder as each
support. album comes
around.

DYING
MUEN: That
being said was

FETUS
there an inten-
tion to create an
album which

Sean Beasley
was a reaction
to “War of Attri-
(Bass) tion,"?
comparison? How do doing.
By Natalie Perez Sean: Not really it was you view the leaps of
what it was and the same growth Dying Fetus took MUEN: What's left at this
One of the most brutalizing goes for this one coming between "Purification point? Are there still
and intense acts around out. Through Violence," to things left to challenge
within the death metal pool "War of Attrition," from Dying Fetus?
is known to many as Dying MUEN: How is the cur- "Killing on Adrenaline,"
Fetus. These three musi- rent tour going, getting and from that to "De- Sean: Yeah get back on
cians combine death metal along with everyone? scend Into Depravity"? the bus than riding in a
with a combo of grind and van, just go out and tour.
hardcore to establish a Sean: Yeah itʼs going great Sean: Iʼm not an original
mixture of metal unlike any so far weʼve been playing member of the band so as MUEN: So what do you
other out right now. a lot of smaller places. So far as that goes this band have going on this year?
Bassist Sean Beasley itʼs a lot more different has gone through some
spoke to me outside the than our usual standards. line-up changes so that Sean: After this tour is
Glass House in Pomona makes a difference here over our next release
while the band was out on MUEN: What kind of and there. Music wise itʼs comes out in September
the last stop in California steps does "Descend gotten a lot more intense then weʼre going off to play
on The Decimation of the Into Depravity," takes in expressing what Dying with Cannibal Corpse. In
Fetus Is truly capable of the meantime weʼre wait-
ing for the release of our Joel Grind DYING FETUS
two new music videos to founded Toxic Photo by Natalie Perez
come out which should be Holocaust in
anytime now.
1999 being the
MUEN: What are the original team
biggest and smallest mate who
crowds you've played in wrote and
front of? recorded
everything
Sean: The biggest crowd
within his very
was probably at Wacken
2002 about 40,000 or so own bed room.
and the smallest was 11.
*Laughs* It was just the After a couple
other band mates and their of demo re-
girlfriends standing and leases (Radia-
watching us perform. tion Sickness,
1999; Critical Mass, Nation Tour. to travel and need to
MUEN: Any last words?
2002), an official LP get a backup band,
Sean: Any last words was revealed entitled MUEN: Tell us about heading out to Austria
check out the new album "Evil Never Dies Toxic Holocaust... a need to backup band,
once itʼs released. (2003). Two years went little history... a little going to Brazil backup
by and after some con- about the band mem- band. So a solid line-
TOXIC stant touring hiring bers. up wasnʼt set yet. I did
HOLOCAUST backup back after one more demo - I be-
backup Grind had gone Joel: Toxic Holocaust lieve in 2007 and sent
Joel Grind off to release his sec- started in 99 I had that off to some labels
ond attempt "Hell On started in high school where Relapse came
(Vocals/Guitar)
Earth" (2005) then an- with a couple friends. out to be the best re-
By Natalie Perez other round of touring We did a demo tape sponse. Since then we
followed. Soon after but it didnʼt really work replaced our old drum-
What do you get when Relapse Records con- out they werenʼt into mer, have this new guy
you combine a toxic tacted Grind and the punk thrash music along with our bassist
with a holocaust? Give everything fell into style. So I started and everything has
up? Toxic Holocaust! place from that day, recording my own stuff been working out great
These punk-inflected bringing forth "An in my bedroom for a ever since.
thrash metallers out of Overdose of Death," couple of years which
Portland, Oregon have (2008) and thus the lead to “Critical Mass.” MUEN: If you had to
been kicking it old birth Grind like's call Then this record label describe your sound
school since the "Nuclear Speed Metal" out of California called to someone what
1980s. Their musical was born. Joel Grind Nuclear War Now took would you tell them?
influences had ranged spoke to me briefly interest and released it
from a wide variety of while the band was on via vinyl. So from doing Joel: I would say
acts, Discharge, Hell- their last California that, it lead to under- thrash punk basically
hammer, Bathory, date before heading ground tours, gigs etc. combining different
Venom and Possessed out East to finish off styles of music similar
just to name a few. The Decimation of the But then I would have to sounding a lot like
Hellhammer. Joel: Yeah got a bunch for Toxic Holocaust? and the interviews we
of new songs ready to do. The bad thing is not
MUEN: Your debut An record so everyone Joel: Just get on the making any money but
Overdose of Death... should be seeing that road and release more I do enjoy doing what I
is out. Tell us about very soon. records. I donʼt really do.
it. have any goals just
MUEN: You guys meet more fans and MUEN: Anything else
Joel: Well itʼs not really have been constantly make new friends and you'd like to add?
our debut album but itʼs touring, what is one get our music heard
our third record thatʼs of the most memo- while out on the road. Joel: Hopefully youʼll
actually received the rable places you've see us on the road
most disruption. It has been too? MUEN: What are one weʼll be coming to your
new songs that Iʼd like good thing and one tour so come check us
to call “Nuclear Speed Joel: Most memorable bad thing about out!
Metal” I donʼt know re- place would have to be being in a band?
ally but I like how the in Japan itʼs so differ-
recording came to- ent than any other Joel: The good thing is
gether and how raw place weʼve been too. all the girls we meet,
and intense it is over- Itʼs a com-
all. pletely different
culture than
TOXIC HOLOCAUST
MUEN: Pick one song anywhere else.
Photo by Natalie Perez

on the "An Overdose

of Death...," and tell MUEN: What
us about it. How was are your up-
it inspired? coming plans
for the rest of
Joel: Well Iʼd have to 2009?
pick “Nuke The Cross,”
a lot of people hear the Joel: We got a
title and automatically tour with
think itʼs a Satanic Satyricon hap-
theme song itʼs actually pening and
more about ending reli- then another
gion than the title with The Black
claims it to be when Dahlia Murder
looking at the lyrics. Iʼm coming up
not a big fan of a reli- along with
gion or a Satanist I just heading to Eu-
like doing my own thing rope in Decem-
and believe what I be- ber so
lieve in. basically lots
more touring
MUEN: Do you have going on.
any plans for the next
release? MUEN: What
are your goals
HEAVEN’S BASEMENT

Heavenʼs Base- hardcore metal has opened for some you read this.
ment : Knockinʼ brought us all here to-
gether. I love this stuff,
MAJOR acts in a damn
short period of time. Hereʼs what Sid shared
on the Upstairs man! I free-lance for a Thereʼs a reason. In my with me.
Door” lot of music publications opinion, they stand out
because I am a music in todayʼs music indus- Your browser may not
By enthusiast, and today try that is saturated with support display of this
Ron “Roosterpuddin” Isbell MUEN is the vehicle… a lot of “clones”. Their image.
Plain and simple. You song-writing is very
Wassupʼ MUEN Maga- can look me up on My- tight, and theyʼve Q) So how does it feel
zine Fans!? If youʼre space, and see that. knocked it out in the to open for Black
reading this now, that studio, also….but Iʼll let Stone Cherry, Shine-
means that we are all Today, I want you to you guys make your down, and
already friends. Our focus on “Heavenʼs own call. Make sure you Buckcherry? That's
penchant for raw, pure, Basement”. They have give ʻem a listen after pretty impressive.
 It's great, all of those Michael Jackson, it with "I LOVE JOHN- like to do when not
bands, plus Papa would have been cool FRED" written across performing? What
Roach, are some of our to be around such an her to cheer him up. makes you happy?
favorite bands that are intense performer. (Yes, Iʼm laffinʼ;)
around right now. It's al- Having as much fun in a
ways cool to share the Q) What bands are Your browser may not foreign city as possible,
stage with bands you're you guys diggin' on support display of this carnage seems to fol-
into. Plus we had a low us around more .
fuckinʼ good laugh with Yeah, we can't wait to
all of them! come over to the states
sometime and give you
Q) How did the band all a taste of it.
form, and how did you Your browser may not
come up with the support display of this
name? image.

We'd been mates from Well, there ya go, peo-

various other bands, ples. These guys have
and one night at a party already opened for four
at Richie's we started MAJOR acts in a short
jamming some tunes time. Thereʼs something
out, there was a real to be said for that, and
good vibe about it so now? image. ( Black Stone I respect that. Iʼm just
we just went with it to Cherry with Heavensʼ glad I caught these
see how far it would go. We're getting some Basement) young men before they
Heaven's Basement good use out of the go big. Make sure you
was a name I came up Shinedown cd we stole Q)What are some of catch their myspace
with to describe the off them. Pearl Jam and your favorite foods / page. They have some
room we were in, and it Alice in Chains, too. drinks? damn fine spins! Iʼm
just stuck. glad I could share this
Q) Whatʼs the Pasta, pizza, curry, with you, and am hon-
Q) What equipment strangest show so Clunge, Belgian beers, ored to be associated
are you guys using far? fajitas, Hoegarden, with MUEN Magazine. I
now? tequila, Sumbuca, hope to bring yʼall more
The last show of the cider...loads really, de- stuff to the table here.
We're Black Stone Cherry tour pends on the job you
gibson/fender/mar- was pretty funny. Jonny wanna get done.
shall/ashdown/tama and I walked onstage ʻTil Next Time,
guys at the moment, during "maybe some- Q) Celebrity shovel
and I can't see it chang- day" dressed in cowboy time....If you could hit
ing too soon. They can boots and BSC hot- any celebrity with a Ron “Roosterpuddin” Is-
take a beating! pants to freak them out. shovel, who would it bell
John-Fred had broken be?
Q) If you could tour his hand in the 1st song
with any deceased and was still playing the Bill O'Reilly (Hell, I
musician, who would set so we got a nice would, too;)
it be? Dutch girl to come on
with us and get topless Q) What do you guys
Jeff City, MO as musicians
Myspace.com/shaman- since then.
sharvest
WHO DID YOU
By: Shauna OʼDonnell
USE AS A PRO-
Josh Hamler DUCER FOR
THE ALBUM
and Drake Hunt the Bastards” was a SHINE?
If we were forced to de- mathematical, riff ori-
THANKS SO MUCH scribe the music we ented piece. It was co-produced by
GUYS FOR TALKING would say working us and L. Rich
WITH ME TODAY. class, blues influenced, WHAT ARE YOUR Criebaum @ Trailer
rock n roll with a lyrical THOUGHTS WHEN studios in St. Louis.
Our pleasure. conscience. “Shine” YOU LISTEN TO THE
has a sense of per- SONGS YOU WROTE ARE THERE ANY
YOUR FOURTH RE- sonal growth as musi- FOR THE FIRST LYRICAL OR MUSI-
LEASE SHINE cians. ALBUM IN COM- CAL THEMES
IS NOW PARISON TO GOING ON
AVAIL- WHAT EVENTS THE WITH THE
ABLE. ONES
YOUR YOU
MUSI-
CAL

STYLE
HAS CHANGED CAUSED YOU TO GO WROTE RECENTLY? ALBUM?
SINCE YOU FIRST IN A DIFFERENT DI-
STARTED THIS RECTION? Ouch, from a critical We approached
BAND. HOW WOULD standpoint. Most of our “Shine” with the inten-
YOU DESCRIBE Well, we had lost a gui- early stuff began way tion of creating as di-
YOUR STYLE AND tar player since our last back in high school verse album as
HOW WOULD YOU album and decided to when we didnʼt know possible while still
SAY THIS RELEASE focus on the songs as our ass from a hole in maintaining its fluidity.
DIFFERS FROM THE a whole instead of indi- the ground. We can
PREVIOUS ONES? vidual riffs. “March of only hope weʼve grown I LOVE THE SONG
“DRAGONFLY.” TELL the world and what Emotionally charged, tion from over 2000 AIC
US THE INSPIRATION they have to offer spiri- sweaty, lots of scream- fans.
BEHIND THE SONG. tually. We wanted to ing… All the primality
sum up what our music needed to successfully WHAT NEW MUSIC
DRAKE: The dragonfly does for us on a thera- create a dirty rock ARE YOU LISTENING
to me is a symbol for peutic level and just show. TO THESE DAYS?
change. Lyrically, I thought it fit.
tried to capture the FOR SOMEONE WHO As far as newer re-
need for change w/ us HOW LONG HAVE HAS NOT HEARD OF leases go, we listen to
as a band while tying YOU GUYS BEEN YOU BEFORE, a lot of Mastodon,
changes happening en- PLAYING TO- WOULD YOU PRE- Clutch, Coheed and
vironmentally, and with GETHER? FER SOMEONE TO Cambria, the Leo Proj-
the current state of SEE A LIVE PER- ect, Kings of Leon, and
economics in our coun- The current line up has FORMANCE FIRST more Mastodon .
try. “Dragonfly” is one been together since OR LISTEN TO YOUR
of those songs that mu- 2000. RECORD FIRST? WHAT ARE YOUR
sically that came to- PLANS FOR THE
gether in a few hrs. WHAT ARE THE AD- Itʼs hard to pull off the REST OF 2009?
What you hear on the VANTAGES AND DIS- emotion in recordings
album is pretty true to ADVANTAGES OF that come naturally at Weʼre going to continue
the first time we played BEING A BAND OUT the live show. We pre- promoting “SHINE” and
it through. OF JEFF CITY, MO? fer live. our single “Dragonfly.”

A LOT OF BANDS Well, not may advan- WHAT KIND OF FAN THANK YOU SO
THESE DAYS ARE tages but when your BASE DOES YOUR MUCH FOR THE IN-
PRESSING VINYL AL- out on the road for a MUSIC APPEAL TO? TERVIEW. IS THERE
BUMS. IS THAT while itʼs nice to come ANYTHING YOUʼD
SOMETHING YOU home to a nice quiet Hmm… We hope LIKE TO ADD OR
HAVE EVER CONSID- place. And the people everyone. SAY?
ERED DOING? really dig music.
YOU GUYS HAVE Weʼd like to just say
We grew up listening to HOW WAS IT PLAY- PLAYED WITH SOME Thank You to the peo-
vinyl and have the ING AT POINTFEST NOTABLE BANDS. ple who have gone out
opinion music is meant 25? THERE WERE 35 WHICH SHOW to get “SHINE” and
to be heard on vinyl. BANDS ON THE BILL, STANDS OUT THE continue to help us cre-
Nothing beats that WAS THAT THE MOST FOR YOU? ate a buzz. This has
warmth. That being BIGGEST SHOW YOU been done pretty grass
said, hopefully soon! HAVE DONE TO All stand out but the roots, so if youʼre into it
DATE? Alice in Chains call your radio stations.
WHATʼS THE STORY acoustic show in St. And thank you Shauna
BEHIND THE NAME It was fun, tons of great Louis was way cool. for you and your time.
SHAMANʼS HAR- music. It was defiantly We had 2 days to com-
VEST? up there on the list. pletely rework our set
for an unplugged show
DRAKE: Iʼve always TELL ME ABOUT and some how we
had a fascination with YOUR LIVE SHOW. pulled it off and re-
indigenous peoples of ceived a standing ova-
www.RockNation.us
www.RockNation.us
 yvonne’s world
placed them along with
music he and William had
written, onto a Myspace
account. The chosen
name, DEAD RAGE, was
actually an amalgam of
two band names formerly
used by the duo in the
past, Deadbolt and Wicked
Rage.

There was an immediate

and overwhelming word of
mouth response the first
day the band appeared
online. Hundreds of site
views, hundreds of song
plays, and emails on top of
emails wanting to know
more about DEAD RAGE.
Even the corporate big
dogs at www.meez.com
got involved, launching a
press release introducing
DEAD RAGE to even
more metal and Meez fa-
natics. They also created
a custom DEAD RAGE
DEAD RAGE: Heavy wagon. ceptualized by musicians themed merch shop for
Freaking Metal, Baby! Don Harrison and William use with their 3D animated
In March 2007, that band Scott, set themselves icons, with Don acting as
Band Members: was DEAD RAGE! Check apart as being the 'MEEZ an advisor as to what
out this amazing story of generated, live musician should be included. The
Wicked D - voice how a couple of washed powered, heavy metal most obvious items being
out, has been, wanna-be band'. spiked leather gauntlets,
Fast Willie - guitars 80's rock stars renewed ala Rob Halford and a
their faith in Heavy Metal, Created using the 3D I.D. DEAD RAGE t-shirt. For-
Aqua - bass and gained a loyal follow- MEEZMAKER, available at mer Meez publicist, Mayka
ing in the process, new www.meez.com, Don was Mei, stated, "Hopefully,
Thunder Cock - drums media style. first exposed to the idea by with help from Meez, Dead
way of Anthrax's Scott Ian, Rage will be able to cross
Once in awhile there Hailing directly from the in- OTEP's Shamaya, and for- geographical borders and
comes a band that defies fernal depths of Cyber- mer FUSETV icon, Mis- find fans from all walks of
all logic, and we ask our- space Hell, animated tress Juliya, all of whom life."
selves "what the hell"? rockers, DEAD RAGE, had 3D likenesses created
Then we find ourselves keep the flames of old from the site. Taking it one So powerful was the buzz,
reading more about them, school heavy metal burn- step further, he created a that DEAD RAGE received
eventually singing their ing bright. The band mem- fantasy band, dressing an endorsement offer from
songs in our heads, finally bers, 3D computer them in 80s metal fashion Halo Guitars (the band de-
climbing aboard the band- generated avatars, con- and face paint, then clined the offer), a licens-
ing offer from BravoNYC Sickness' has nearly
Production Company to 10,000 YouTube views
have their music featured with a near 5 star rating!
in a documentary, and nu- Not bad for a fictional band
merous interview requests playing dinosaur music. A
from internet radio stations second video was re-
and e-zines. leased for the song 'Dream
Killer' which
The band was spliced to-
also invited to gether Meez
participate in characters
the newly cre- and film clips
ated Metal from the 'A
Ryche Band Nightmare
Contest, top- On Elm
ping all other Street' series
competitors by of movies.
way of popular than 1600 miles apart how to manage, market
vote, winning Dead Rage doesn't affect their partner- and promote a fictional
the contest by may appear ship in the least. "We band. For the time being,
a sizable margin. Further- to be a band making the used to write songs to- it appears DEAD RAGE
more, a group of profes- most of modern computer gether by way of phone, will remain MEEZ gener-
sional animators technology, but while the back in the day, when we ated, live musician pow-
approached Don with the imagery may be new lived only a few miles ered!
idea of a 3D stage, com- media, the music is old apart and didn't have time
plete with light show and school, through and to get together in the jam http://www.myspace.com/d
pyrotechnics. Unfortu- through. Inspired by the room", says Don. "This is eadragemusic
likes of Judas Priest, Iron
nately, that didn't pan out. really no different", he
Maiden, Dio, Scorpions, adds. http://www.reverbnation.co
Shortly after W.A.S.P., and m/deadrage
launching others, the Despite DEAD RAGE's
DEAD RAGE DEAD RAGE targeted popularity on My- About the creators:
upon the world, characters Space (over 30,000 views
a video was definitely by less than 800 loyal Don Harrison aka Wicked
created for the show the in- fans) and Reverbnation D, is a former touring mu-
power ballad fluence of (#4 on the local Houston sician and music consult-
'Mourning Sick- their creators. metal charts), there are no ant. He is also a
ness', done Old school immediate plans for a CD co-founder/manager of
completely with doesn't stop release or merchandise Metal Music Promotions,
the Meez ani- there, as the sales. The creators had, an artist development and
mated charac- music was at one time, consulted pro- public relations company
ters set to the recorded by fessional animators to for the metal genre.
music. It was an instant way of reel to reel, passed bring DEAD RAGE to life
success with tons of posi- on to each band member with a full blown stage William Scott aka Fast
tive feedback. This in- to add their prospective show, but negotiations fell Willie, is a former touring
spired other part(s). William claims, "It apart at the last minute. musician and guitar
musicians/Meez users to instills authenticity to the They had also toyed with teacher. He continues to
create videos using their almost forgotten art of the idea of a live perform- work as both a recording
own characters. Most no- Heavy Metal”. ing version of the band, studio and live session
tably, hip hop artists, but that was finally guitarist.
FROM DUVAL, and indie The fact that Don (in deemed not cost effective.
rocker, LINDSAY RUSH. Texas) and William (in Don and William are still
To this day, 'Mourning Massachusetts) live more working out the details of
Century Media recording MUEN: ITʼS COOL THAT MUEN: RIVERSIDE IS RELEASE NO TIME TO
artists Suicide Silence YOU ARE FROM RIVER- REALLY HOT THOUGH. BLEED. THIS IS YOUR
SIDE, IʼM FROM WHIT- SECOND STUDIO
Mitch Lucker TIER. Oh God yeah! Imagine ALBUM RIGHT?
(Vocals) every time we practice the
Our drummer is from same house we have writ- Yeah, The Cleansing
Riverside, CA
Whittier. ten music in, rehearsed record was actually in the
Myspace.com/suicidesi- for shows and practiced in studio but we recorded it
lence MUEN: OH REALLY? is in a house in Corona. live if that makes sense.
THATʼS SO COOL. I Itʼs in a garage with no We just said “1234 Go!” to
By: Shauna OʼDonnell USED TO HANG OUT IN ventilation, air condition- every song and kept the
RIVERSIDE A LOT ing or fans and its like 110 best take of it. With No
MUEN: HI MITCH WHEN degrees. Time to Bleed we actually
THANKS FOR CALLING I WAS YOUNGER. took our time like a
ME UP. MUEN: AND IT IS PROB- mother fucker. We moved
Riverside is a cool place. ABLY SURROUNDED to New Jersey for five
Of course The whole Southern Cali- BY ORANGE TREES. weeks and that way we
fornia area is sick as fuck had no distractions.
MUEN: HOW ARE to grow up in, as you Oh yeah! Itʼs all orange Everyoneʼs whole focus
THINGS GOING? know. I feel bad for people groves and avocado or- was just on making a
I think we are on the 7th who donʼt grow up here. chards. badass record. We defi-
or 8th show of the Pedal As much as it sucks ass, nitely liked recording that
to the Metal tour. The itʼs badass at the same MUEN: CONGRATULA- way a lot better than
shows are amazing. time. You love to hate it. TIONS ON YOUR NEW recording live. Weʼve al-
ready been talking about MUEN: I READ THAT PRODUCED BY MA- throw it out to the world
doing the new record. THERE ARE SEVERAL CHINE. WHAT WAS IT and see how people re-
What we are going to do DIFFERENT VERSIONS LIKE WORKING WITH spond to it. Itʼs kind of the
to write and record the OF THIS ALBUM. HIM? really cool thing about
new record is we are being a vocalist.
going to move up to Big Yeah, there is a record Machine is out of his
Bear, get a cabin and lock which is limited; we al- mind. He got the best out MUEN: WHAT DO YOU
ourselves in there for ways try to make vinyl be- of everybody in the THINK SETS YOUR
three or four weeks and cause itʼs badass. People coolest way possible. MUSIC APART FROM
just write the whole new like to collect it, so there is When we were working OTHER BANDS IN
record. We will be totally a black vinyl, but then on vocals he really drilled YOUR GENRE?
secluded writing good ass there is a clear red vinyl me to get the best out of
fucking music. I think that with black blood splatter. me. He would say “I know Iʼd say 90% of the bands
would be cool as fuck to Those are limited to you can do better.” and Iʼd in our genre sound like us
get a cabin for a month. I 2,000. There is the Hot be like “No, dude that and are just ripping us off.
think itʼs kind of cool for a Topic release which is the sounds fucking awe- Thatʼs why with this
band of our style to take regular standard record some.” He would make record we totally stepped
the writing process that with a DVD of a live show. me do it again and Iʼd be outside of the box and we
seriously. To be a suc- I think there is also an like “Whoa! That sounds did shit that every other
cessful band you really do extra song. The ITunes so much better.” Working band doesnʼt do. We
need to have awesome version is the record plus with him vocally and as a didnʼt soften up at all; we
fucking songs. We are on the Alice in Chains “Them producer is definitely fuck-just went outside of the
the brink of discovering Bones” cover and then ing amazing. I really hope box. We tried to have this
the awesome and cool thereʼs the box set. There we get to do it again be- record have our sound.
songs we can write as a are only 10,000 printed cause the combination When you hear that
band. We work really well and inside the box are and the chemistry of our record you will know it is
as a unit so now we are trading cards, a t-shirt, a band and him together Suicide Silence, it is our
just tapping into it. poster and an extra song. made it a very awesome sound. Itʼs not just death
record. We just want to metal, nu-metal or heavy
MUEN: THIS ALBUM MUEN: WHY DID YOU keep doing that. metal, itʼs a barrage of
MADE IT ON THE BILL- CHOOSE TO COVER shit and you canʼt really
BOARD TOP 200. “THEM BONES?” MUEN: WHAT DO YOU put your finger on it ex-
ENJOY DOING THE actly. We are just a heavy
Yeah, The Cleansing didHonestly, everyone in the MOST WHEN IT COMES metal band and we are
that as well, but The band is a fan of Alice in TO THE trying to make it open to
Cleansing was at #93 orChains. Everyone in this WRITING/RECORDING anyone who enjoys any
#94. This one debuted at
band is heavily into music. PROCESS? type of metal to come to a
#32 the first week and the
We have done a Deftones Suicide show.
second week it debuted in
cover before and so we A big chunk of time for me
the 90ʼs so it was cool.
were like “What do you goes into writing the ac- MUEN: I WAS THERE
guys want to cover for this tual lyrics of the song and WHEN YOU PLAYED AT
MUEN: THAT WAS HIS- record?” I came to prac- that just happens through- MAYHEM. THAT WAS
TORY IN THE MAKING tice not knowing which out my everyday life. Itʼs THE FIRST YEAR WAS-
SEEING AS HOW YOU song we were going to do all the time, I can be tak- NʼT IT?
WERE THE MOST EX- and they had already ing a shit on the toilet,
TREME BAND TO EVER done a rough demo of have my phone with me That was the first year of
DEBUT. THAT MUST “Them Bones” in A and it and just start typing ran- Mayhem. It was so much
HAVE FELT GREAT. just sounded so fucking dom thoughts. I think that fucking fun.
heavy. It was kind of an is one of the coolest parts
That was a really good easy choice. of my job is to be able to MUEN: YEAH, IT WAS A
feeling, flabbergasted just sit there and unleash LONG DAY THOUGH.
would be the word. MUEN: NOW IT WAS my brain onto paper,
That was everyday, if you Thatʼs a metal fucking Hot Topic is one of the lining tour over here and
werenʼt blacked out, drunk show and it doesnʼt get biggest supporters in the went over to Europe. Ever
and sunburned by the any better than that. That extreme music scene by since then weʼve been
time the sun went down, is where the real energy is fucking far. They do a going back. We tour there
then you did something at, when you see people shitload for us and they just as much as we tour
wrong. really losing their fucking do a shitload for a lot of here in the U.S. If we are
shit. I remember taking other bands. not on tour here or have a
MUEN: ITʼS TRUE, I showers after that and month off, we are proba-
WAS, PLUS I WAS COV- when you took the shower MUEN: YOU GUYS bly over there touring. We
ERED IN DIRT. I WENT you could see brown just HAVE HAD A REMARK- may be in Australia or
IN A LITTLE SUNDRESS pouring out by the drain. ABLE YEAR THUS FAR. some part of the world.
AND SANDALS. YOU PERFORMED AT
MUEN: I WENT AGAIN THE GOLDEN GODS MUEN: IS THERE A DIF-
You must have had THIS YEAR. AWARDS; YOU WON A FERENCE BETWEEN
muddy toes. I remember COUPLE AWARDS… PLAYING THERE AND
that was our hometown Did you go to the San HERE?
show and it was one of Bernardino one? You We got lucky; we were
the biggest days of May- probably saw our dudes like “Is this supposed to Itʼs like night and fucking
hem and one of the most there. Everyone from our be happening?” Did day. Metal is so main-
insane days of Mayhem. band was there except for someone fuck up? stream over there. Ex-
We made a video for one myself and our drummer. treme music over there
of the songs off The MUEN: HAVE YOU MUEN: YOU PLAYED isnʼt considered extreme
Cleansing called “Unan- MADE ANY VIDEOS FOR MUSIC AS A WEAPON music; itʼs just music. The
swered” that day and it THE NEW ALBUM YET? AND I BET THAT WAS fan base is massive. Itʼs a
shows when everyone is Yeah, we made a video FUN. little more accepted so the
moshing that the dudes in for “Wake Up.” shows are bigger and the
white t-shirts have turned Music As A Weapon was shows are just insane. I
brown. They had mud MUEN: I WAS WATCH- fun, we played on the side love touring Europe and
rings in their armpits and ING THE VIDEO THAT stage everyday and head- the UK, itʼs always a fuck-
mud around their neck. SHOCKHOUND PUT lined it. It was always in ing blast.
When we were playing, I OUT. THAT IS A KICK- parking lots or fields and it
remember being on top of ASS VIDEO. IT LOOKS would always get rained MUEN: YOU ARE GOING
my rock box jumping and I REALLY GREAT. out. You would be playing TO BE PLAYING WITH
looked down at the stage to kids just standing there DEVILDRIVER, EM-
and the whole stage was We went to the Hot Topic miserable in pouring rain. MURE, MUDVAYNE AND
blanketed tan and white. Corporate office and just There was really good MANY MORE IN THE
After the circle pits started played songs for them. shows, but there were re- UPCOMING MONTHS. I
going it blanketed the The Hot Topic Corporate ally bad shows too. AM SO HAPPY FOR
whole stage, I lifted my office is the size of two YOU GUYS.
feet up and there was major shopping malls. It is MUEN: AND NOW YOU
black where I had been fucking massive so they HAVE JUST AN- Iʼm glad you enjoy.
standing in one spot and have like 500 to 600 em- NOUNCED A EURO-
the dust had settled ployees working there all PEAN TOUR. IS THAT MUEN: YEAH, I DO. YOU
around me. Those were the time. They asked us YOUR FIRST TIME HAVE SOME MAJOR
the days when you look in to come down and play GOING TO EUROPE? ARTWORK ON YOUR
the mirror and there is like three or four songs for BODY.
mud piled up in the the office so we did a No, it will be like our twen-
creases of your mouth photo shoot and they tieth. The very first time Iʼm working on it, I still
just from breathing in were just so awkward we went to Europe we did have to finish parts, but
shitty dirt. Your eyes are going “This is just our it by ourselves, we didnʼt Iʼm almost done.
tearing with dirt and you lunch break.” I donʼt know have a label. We saved
are like “Oh, this sucks!” it was pretty cool though. up money from our head- MUEN: YOUR UPPER
BODY IS PRETTY MUCH
COVERED, WHAT
ABOUT THE LOWER
HALF?

Thereʼs a lot of stuff on

my lower body, but I wear
jeans most of the time so I
said “Fuck it.” The stuff on
my upper body is more
significant and cool be-
cause it is a bigger area
to work on. There are
parts of my arm that need
to be finished and a little
bit of my torso. Then Iʼm
probably going to take a
little break. My body goes
into shock now every time
I get tattooed. I get cold
sweats, chills and literally www.Myspace.com/OfTheWreckage
my body just fucking www.OfTheWreckage.com
hates it.

MUEN: THANKS FOR

THE INTERVIEW, I AP-
PRECIATE IT.

No worries, thanks for the

interview.

MUEN: BEFORE I LET

YOU GO WOULD YOU
LIKE TO ADD OR SAY
ANYTHING?

Come out to the Pedal to

the Metal shows. We
have some California
dates coming up. There is
a good chunk of Southern
California Suicide shows
coming up. Two of them
are headliners and two of
them are the Mudvayne
shows. Go to
Myspace.com/suicidesi-
lence for show dates.
 KENELIS

Farmborough, UK after this gig so if you can arse for a company that COME UP WITH YOUR
make this gig you must couldn't give a fuck about ART?
www.myspace.com/kenelis come! Buy tickets on you, Give Her The Gun is
www.kenelis.com NOW! warning that you shouldn't
Observer, kind of. Itʼs more
By G. Cataline You have to shameless treat people like shit and if
about expressing myself
promote these days and you lie and cheat you will
because I have tons of
MUEN: CAN YOU TELL I'm pretty shameless so itʼs get yours. Drained is about
emotions and if I don't sing
US ABOUT THE SEPT never a problem! wanting someone to be
or yell or talk about how
19TH SHOW? WHERE happy even though you
I'm feeling I just can't deal
WILL THIS BE, AND MUEN: LOVE YOUR know itʼs hard because our
with anything. Itʼs much
WHAT CAN THOSE IN SONGS, "CORPORATE lives get drained by unim-
easier for me to write
THE AREA EXPECT? CANCER," "GIVE HER portant crap that over-
about something in a song
THE GUN," AND shadows what really than explain it in a conver-
Its at the Monto Water "DRAINED" IS FANTAS- matters; we all have to
sation. Anyone can say
Rats, Kings Cross. We TIC AS WELL! ... WHAT earn money... shit but writing a song
have a diverse, rock loving INSPIRES YOU TO about it is full on expres-
fanbase and we haven't WRITE? MUEN: DO YOU SEE sion. I love the extremity of
played a gig since our July YOURSELF AS A STORY it. I need it.
tour so expect your socks Everyday life inspires me. TELLER OR MORE AN
to be rocked right off! Corporate Cancer is about OBSERVER OF REAL MUEN: YOU HAVE A
Weʼre back in the studio working you're fucking LIFE SITUATIONS, TO GREAT VOICE. HOW
LONG HAVE YOU BEEN
SINGING FOR AND
HAVE YOU ALWAYS
BEEN A SOLO ARTIST,
OR HAVE YOU PLAYED
IN ANY OTHER BANDS?
Thanks! I was never a
singer as a kid, I always
played drums in school
bands. Then I taught my-
self guitar and these songs
that I'd always written sud-
denly sounded quite good!
I started at open mic night
level and formed Kenelis
when I got a gig that
needed some more noise
behind it. Not only are my
band amazing musicians
but weʼre all really good
friends. We get along so
well and that's so impor-
tant because without that
you're fucked. Or Oasis
haha how can they hate
each other so much? If itʼs
actually for real?
MUEN: WHAT ARE
SOME OF YOUR MOST
MEMORABLE EVENTS
IN THE PAST YEAR,
GOOD OR BAD?
All good this year! Were
back in the studio record-
ing the second album
which I'm hugely excited
about and the most confi-
dent I've ever been about
our music (I think this is
the one, seriously second
albums are always the
mega ones) We've played
amazing gigs, London and
Nottingham Prides, leg-
endary London venues like
229 and of course most
massively the launch of
our debut album! Sales ex-
ceeded all of our expecta-
tions and getting such
good feedback for 5 years
hard work is awesome! Nothing that's better than tertaining people I've ever
what we can do ourselves met. Music, magic, fire,
MUEN: WHAT IS THE to be honest. Weʼre a very eating bleach blocks, you
MUSIC ENVIRONMENT hardworking band and name it he's done it. I'm
LIKE IN YOUR AREA OF have great support from not sure what he wouldn't
FARNBOROUGH, UK? my girlfriend who does a do to be honest! All of my
phenomenal amount of band are really good guys,
It used to be compared to work getting us heard on none of them are wankers
Seattle! Reuben, Hundred ALL mediums. We've got or up their own arses and
Reasons and Vex Red are ourselves to a stage where always fun to be around.
all from our local area. once we have a demo of
Then venues closed and the new album we can go MUEN: THEY SEEM TO
fanzines stopped, it really to the bigger labels as a CONTRIBUTE ALOT TO
died down. Saying that readymade product. THE MUSIC WITH
though all the bands still GREAT BACK VOCALS
going for it played Guilfest MUEN: OK, WHO ARE AND INSTRUMENTAL.
this year, it was awesome! THE OTHER MEMBERS
Spectrum7, Flame to Fire, OF YOUR BAND, AND I know, and itʼs me that
D'raven and the Retox are WHAT CAN YOU TELL does all the interviews and
all doing really well but we US ABOUT THEM? takes the credit! Haha you
all play UK wide itʼs not as are spot on though all of
local anymore. Andy Seabrook-Harris ours styles compliment
plays guitar. He will some- each other so well, we've
MUEN: PEOPLE DEFI- times disagree just to look been together a long time
NITELY NEED TO KNOW at things from all points of and gel so well together
WHERE TO BUY YOUR view which is sometimes a musically. Sam used to
ALBUMS. WHERE IS total pain in the arse but front his old band and our
THE BEST PLACE TO other times completely vocals compliment really
GET YOUR MUSIC? necessary to contrast my well. We kinda sound the
'yes' attitude. He's very same sometimes! Does
CD's on hmv.com and creative and will fly across that make him girly or me
itunes for downloads. All Europe on his own for a boyey?!
£7.99 and free delivery on week with his camera all in
CD's, all proceeds go to- the name of art. James MUEN: WHAT ARE YOUR
wards making the second Chilton also plays guitar PLANS FOR THE REST
album so very worthy and he's very geeky but OF THE YEAR AND
cause :o) very cool at the same time, THROUGH THE NEXT?
geek chic? He rarely dis-
MUEN: WHAT RADIO agrees and is a very good Lots more gigs, lots more
STATIONS WOULD YOU band banter sport. We writing and as much expo-
CREDIT FOR ACKNOWL- mock him the most but I sure as possible! Feel free
EDGING YOUR TALENT? know he likes it. Sam to whore us to everyone
Franklin is our drummer you know. People have the
XFM, Total Rock, all the and he is the coolest power!!!! :o)x
good alternative ones. member of the band. He
Were yet to break Radio 1 has the same temper as Next gig - 19th September
but itʼs a working progress! me, I think itʼs called short @ The Monto Water Rats,
person syndrome? Which I London
MUEN: HAVE YOU EVER fully endorse. Thank god Tickets now onsale on our
BEEN OFFERED A DEAL because a non angry website www.kenelis.com -
FROM A RECORD COM- drummer is just not going watch our vids!
PANY? OR TELL US to pound hard enough!
ABOUT BLACK GRASS Andy Henry plays Bass.
RECORDS? He's one of the most en-
 www.GlassWolfe.com
www.Myspace.com/GlassWolfe
OF THE WRECKAGE

www.myspace.com/ofthew together being the Toledo: I said hell Matt: After hearing
reckage only two death metal yeah! after being ex- there single "Deluge" I
By G. Cataline
musicians on the cam- posed to overdosing HAD to join ! :)
pus we immediately amounts of open note
HELLO OF THE began writing music chugga chugga death WHERE DO YOU
WRECKAGE! SO together. breakdowns i was def- ALL ORIGINATE
THE BAND WAS initely ready for some- FROM?
STARTED BY Christian: I got online thing more interesting
MIGUEL AND CHRIS- one day and mes- Toledo: Matt and I are
TIAN... HOW DID sages Toledo who was Miguel: I asked Toledo from Orlando, Florida
YOU ALL MEET UP, currently vocalist of an if he knew any bass we're city folk.
AND ARE THERE established local hard- players that could
ANY PRIOR BANDS core band and asked keep up with the Christian: Miguel and I
WE SHOULD MEN- him if he'd be inter- music and he asked are from St. Cloud,
TION? ested in doing vocals Matt who played in a Florida, a small town
for a Technical/Death previous band with
Miguel: We attended Metal band him and he was com- Christian&Miguel: (si-
Harmony High School pletely down. multaneously) THE
SOUTH!!!!!!!!!! of the song I feel that AKA Slater the Drum- you ! lawl.
Music is the sound of mer of Blessed by a www.myspace.com/_l
(laughter fills the emotion so in order to Broken Heart. ost_productions
room) better impact our lis-
teners I strive to make Christian: Ian actually HOW MANY SONGS
WHO DOES MOST all songs from my is featured in our song WILL BE ON THE
OF THE SONGWRIT- heart "Burn The Settlement" ALBUM?
ING, AND BEING doing a short Synth
THAT THIS IS Matt: We are going to solo at the ending Miguel: This album will
PRETTY HEAVY AND stay a Death Metal chorus. have 6 songs
SCREAMO TYPE band. We will defi-
METAL, DO YOU nitely expand our mu- I HAVE TO ADMIT, 1.Anchors
THINK YOU WILL sical style we have so YOU ARE DOING 2.Burn The Settlement
EVER EXPLORE many musical influ- PRETTY WELL IN (feat. Ian Slater of
OTHER GENRES IN ences it would be THE GRAPHIC DE- BLESSED)
ROCK AND METAL? dumb to put ourselves PARTMENT.. WHO 3.The Lycan
in a box unless in my DO YOU HAVE DO 4.The Reconstruction
Miguel: Well Everyone girlfriend was inside YOUR GRAPHICS of Berouqe (feat. Mike
Writes...Christian will that box. yum! FOR YOUR WEB- Chandler)
write some shit then ill PAGE, AND WILL 5.Deluge
come over and jam WHERE ARE YOU THEY ALSO BE 6.Cowboys Kill
write some beats over RECORDING, WHEN DOING THE GRAPH-
it, then I leave and CAN WE EXPECT A ICS FOR THE Support and buy our
Christian will structure RELEASE, AND DO ALBUM? album!! Me and Bryan
the ideas of the day. YOU HAVE A NAME have to eat!
FOR THE DEBUT? Toledo: Ahh thank
Christian: Yeah, i basi- you! our good friend IT SEEMS THAT YOU
cally sit in my room Christian: we have fin- Gabe Rembart ARE UPLOADING TO
with my guitar and ished recording our 6 founder of Lost De- YOUR MYSPACE AS
start to put together to song EP titled "Os- signs created the lay- YOU COMPLETE
pieces to create a siriand" and it will be out for our myspace THE SONGS... ARE
complete song, During released Mid Septem- page and the promos YOU LITERALLY IN
that time the song is ber and will be Avail- were shot by Mike THE WRITING
like a bunch a scat- able on ITUNES for Chandler of Mc7 STAGE AS YOU
tered Legos that are Worldwide audiences. Records who is also RECORD?
starting to be put to- creating artwork for
gether Toledo: o0o0o0o our album. If your Miguel: No, instrumen-
Child!!!!! Mc7 reading this as a band tally the songs were
Toledo: Blasphemy! Records, its our home member currently finished and recorded.
we hate that screamo away from home! looking to hook up However Toledo would
junk :) haha well, i just your page profession- come in song by song
wait for the instrumen- Miguel: Yeahh! we are ally on a Great and write lyrics being
tals to be completed working with two budget, Hit up Gabe at one of the newest
then I write my lyrics amazing producers Lost Designs and tell members we have
according to the mood Mike Chandler and Ian him Wreckage sent successfully created
an album that we are lador!
all very proud of.
Christian: for me the
Toledo: Haha yeah Guitarist I strive to
being the n00b of the play as well as are
band was a struggle Dimebag Darrell, Mark
so I wrote the songs Morton, and Corey
literally days before Deaulieu. Bands
recording them. Now would be The black
we are awaiting the dahlia murder, Triv-
mixing and mastering ium, Job for a Cow-
process from Mike boy, Morbid Angel,
Chandler because he and Lamb of God.
accepts nothing but
perfection in his work. Toledo:Vocally I am
eternally baffled by the
Christian: yeah, he awesomeness of
takes his sweet ass Howard Jones, and
thank Led Zepplin played out live and in
time too! :P Mike Patton. My fa-
They played a Critical such a short time we
vorite bands are Kill-
part of what metal has are happy to have
(another burst of switch Engage, The
become today. grown such an enor-
laughter) Dillinger Escape plan,
mous following.
The Mars Volta, In
Toledo: Iron Maiden!
Matt: But the songs Flames, Glassjaw, and
Everything you could WHAT ARE YOUR
came out REALLY Between The Buried
want in a Metal band GOALS AFTER THE
GOOD!! and Me but I often lis-
is in Iron Maiden epic ALBUM IS COM-
ten to MF DOOM, Im-
vocals and shredding PLETE?
WHO ARE SOME OF mortal Technique,
guitar dayum!
YOUR INFLUENCES, Nas, and Kayne West
Of The Wreckage: Get
AND BEING THAT rap music is extremely
Christian: Black Sab- signed! Metalblade,
YOU ARE PRETTY lyrical and inspires my
bath! They were the Roadrunner, Ferret
YOUNG.. WHAT writing.
first to play in low tun- Music, Century Media,
ARTIST FROM THE
ing they are the face Nuclear Blast, etc.
1970'S WOULD YOU Matt:I love the clas-
of Metal. Hit us up!
PUT IN A GOOD sics, Van Halen, Led
WORD FOR? Zepplin, and KISS! but
Matt:Blind Guardian Toledo: And tour the
you'll always catch me
wowww they Shred, world!!
Miguel: Musically my at an August Burns
they have a song
biggest influence is Red, Attack Attack!, or
called "Valhalla" How
drummer Derek Between The Buried
metal is that!!? lol
Roddy. but..as far as and Me show. Soo
bands go Mastodon, sick!
HAVE YOU PLAYED
Divine Heresy, Dying
OUT LIVE YET?
Fetus, Ensiserium, Miguel: First and fore-
Suidakra and Cel- most everybody has to
Toledo: Yes we have
By Shauna OʼDonnell
DIVINE and devour everything MOST OF THE WRIT- sole. He is amazing.

HERESY
that it comes in path with. ING?
It is us bringing to new MUEN: IT WAS A GOOD
Divine Heresy to the Iʼm not too sure how it EXPERIENCE THEN?
(Century Media) world. went with the first record.
I think Dino did a lot of Yes, it was very good and
Travis Neal MUEN: WHAT KIND OF writing with the drummer. Iʼm really excited to hope-
(Lead Vocals) RESPONSE HAVE YOU Basically, Dino and Tim fully get back in the room
Los Angeles, CA BEEN GETTING SO laid out all the roughs for with that production team
FAR? this record and did a lot again. They both are fan-
www.myspace.com/divine- of the hammered out. Joe tastic.
heresyband Things have been good. came in and wrote as
There has been some well. They wanted me in MUEN: YOU HAVE AN
By: Shauna OʼDonnell negative from the people the room to work with EXCLUSIVE PACKAGE
with Tommy (the old them, but my preference DEAL GOING ON THAT
MUEN: HI TRAVIS HOW singer) and stuff like that. for writing is to have a INCLUDES A T-SHIRT
ARE YOU AND HOW As for 89 to 99% of it, itʼs complete demo of the WITH THE CD FOR
ARE THINGS GOING? all good. People are song so I can tear it WHAT $20?
down for the change and apart. Instead of impro-
How are you doing? they love the new sound. vising, I can come up Yes, as far as I know, and
Things are going good. Everything has been on with something solid. I think its $22 for plus
the up and up. Itʼs time They did all the ground sizes.
MUEN: IʼM GOOD, JUST for us to get out there work and wrote all the
ENJOYING THE NICE and start playing now. music. I came in after MUEN: THAT SOUNDS
WEATHER. YOU ARE that and laid all the LIKE A GREAT DEAL
HERE IN CALIFORNIA MUEN: THE ALBUM melodies and lyrics over TO ME.
AS WELL RIGHT? HAS BEEN DESCRIBED the top of that.
AS MORE BRUTAL AND Yeah, a lot of people
Yes, in San Diego. FASTER THAN THE MUEN: LOGAN MADER were really excited about
PREVIOUS ONE. PRODUCED THIS that.
MUEN: YOU GUYS RE- WOULD YOU AGREE ALBUM; HE HAS
CENTLY RELEASED WITH THAT? WORKED WITH THE MUEN: THE DRUM-
BRINGER OF BAND BEFORE RIGHT? MING IS SO POWER-
PLAGUES, YOUR LAT- Yes, I would agree that FUL IN THE SONG
EST ALBUM. I LOVE what we set out to do Yeah “FACEBREAKER.”
THE TITLE. WHAT IS was to have no bound-
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF aries with this record. I MUEN: WAS THIS Yeah, Tim is an amazing
THE TITLE? wanted the heavy, brutal YOUR FIRST TIME drummer, heʼs flawless.
stuff to be heavier and WORKING WITH HIM? Iʼm a drummer as well,
The title could be mis- more brutal. I wanted the my vocals are my num-
taken for biblical. When I melodic stuff to be more Yes, well actually with ber one instrument, but
came up with the title, ba- melodic and everything in Dirty Icon, it was my first the second instrument
sically we looked at our- between. We didnʼt want time. Logan and I worked that I love to play is
selves as being an to have any set walls. We together when we did the drums. When I first came
established band, but a wanted to write what we remake of the track into the band, I was trying
re-invented band. To us, wanted to write. I think “Bleed the Fifth” for the to sing their stuff and I
our new album was con- we did just that. video. This was my first was just watching him
sidered like we were un- time being in the studio play in a closed environ-
leashing our plague upon MUEN: WHAT WAS THE with him and seeing what ment. I was watching his
the world to take over or WRITING PROCESS that guy is capable be- feet and his hands. I was
to get into everyoneʼs ear LIKE? DOES DINO DO hind an engineering con- like “How do you do it
man?” Iʼm a well rounded end of all and we wanted with.” Park isnʼt the most metal
drummer as far as play- our video to portray that. band in the world , but to
ing all kinds of music, but Brian Thompson and his MUEN: I AGREE WITH be compared to a front
I honestly donʼt think that crew did an amazing job YOU AND TO BE HON- man of a band that has
guy is human. on that video. I couldnʼt EST I THINK YOU ARE accomplished what they
believe I was on a video A GOOD FIT WITH THE have, I take that as a
MUEN: HOW LONG that was that good. When BAND. THERE SEEMS compliment.”
HAVE YOU BEEN PLAY- we were filming it we TO BE A GREAT CHEM-
ING THE DRUMS? were in front of a green ISTRY THERE. MUEN: IT IS A COMPLI-
screen. There were no MENT, LOOK HOW
I have been playing the props, all the props that Thank you, I appreciate MANY RECORDS THEY
drums for twelve years. I were in front of us were that. SELL. I ONLY SEE A
only played them in one added in later. COUPLE DATES UP ON
band and it was just a MUEN: THERE ARE AL- YOUR PAGE. ARE YOU
band with a bunch of MUEN: YOU CANʼT WAYS GOING TO BE PLANNING ON DOING
friends back in the day. EVEN TELL. WHEN PEOPLE THAT TALK. SOME TOURING IN
YOU WATCH IT, IT SUPPORT OF THE NEW
MUEN: I LOVE THE LOOKS SO REAL. You have sites like Blab- ALBUM?
VIDEO FOR IT AS bermouth where people
WELL, IT LOOKS VERY A lot of people were like” are playing World of War Yes, right now Dino is fin-
APOCALYPTIC. Where did you get those craft and they get on ishing up and I believe he
props?” I was like “I have there and are mad be- has less than a week to
Yeah, that is definitely no idea where they got cause they havenʼt ex- go on the new Fear Fac-
something that we them from; they were not celled. They just want to tory record. We are basi-
wanted because of the existent when we were in down everyone that they cally doing a few warm
content in the album. We the room recording it.” possibly can. A long time up shows just to get out
do a lot of different stuff. ago someone made a there. I believe there is
There are a few songs on MUEN: IT PREMIERED bad comment about me stuff in the works that is
there like the last song AT REVOLVER WHICH (at this time I was in a not set in stone so I donʼt
“The End Begins” was IS SO COOL. local San Diego band) want to say anything
written around the con- and I was just like “I know about it and get peoples
cept and idea of the Yeah, I was reading the it is someone in San hopes up. We are hope-
rumor of the big “2012” responses and like I said Diego, I want to find fully going to be going out
thing. Itʼs trying to pre- there were a few on there them.” The drummer said on a U.S. tour this fall. I
pare yourself for some- that were pro the original “Look Travis, if you are know for sure all next
thing you cannot prepare vocalist, but most of them going to let what people year we will be on tour
for. “Bringer of Plagues” were positive. Thatʼs al- say get to you, then you with Fear Factory.
the track is written ways good. I told Dino are in the wrong busi-
around the biblical story when I first got in the ness. There is always MUEN: DOUBLE DINO
of the Seven Plaques, band, I said “Look, Iʼm going to be somebody HUH?
the Four Horsemen, coming into an estab- who is going to talk shit
famine, locusts and stuff lished band and Iʼm com- and there is always going Yeah, double Dino, the
like that. Obviously, ing into a band with a big to be somebody who is guy is an animal. He can
thereʼs “Enemy Kill” set of shoes to fill. Not going to praise.” We do play a full set with one
which is more of like an everybody is going to like what we do, if you like it band and get up fifteen
end all war song, fighting it and we are going to then you like it and if you minutes later to play a full
for survival in the worst lose some fan base, but I donʼt then donʼt listen to set with another band.
case scenario. That was guarantee you we are it. I had someone say
the beginning theme of going to gain 3xʼs more “Oh, that guy sounds like MUEN: LETʼS TALK
the record. We wanted to back with the new sound the singer of Linkin Park.” ABOUT YOU A LITTLE.
write a record about the we are going to come up I was like “Okay, Linkin WHAT BANDS WERE
YOU IN PRIOR TO DI- that comes through is tiac Firebird and his wife EVER BEEN TO LA-
VINE HERESY? generally answered by walks in and says GUNA SECA IN MON-
one of us. “Whatʼs that in the drive- TEREY?
I was in some unsigned, way?” He puts his hands
local San Diego bands. MUEN: ITʼS GOOD TO in the air and says “Itʼs a No, I am planning on
There was a band called INTERACT WITH THE 71 Pontiac Firebird, the moving out of California
Mother May I, but actu- FANS. car Iʼve always wanted next month, just because
ally my involvement with and now I have it. I rule!” money will go farther
the Swedish band The I definitely do a lot of that That is exactly what I somewhere else. My dad
Bereaved was prior to Di- on my personal page. I said when I had it. rides as well and we defi-
vine Heresy. A lot of keep my MySpace IM up nitely want to do a track
press statements say ex- and when people mes- MUEN: YOU LOVE MO- day at Laguna Seca. I
Bereaved, but I am very sage me, I will sit there TORCYCLING TOO. would love to do that.
much involved in The Be- and talk your ear off. Itʼs WHAT KIND OF BIKE
reaved still. It is basically just the way I am. DO YOU HAVE? MUEN: YOU MIGHT
my other band, but other MOVE TO TEXAS?
than that they have all MUEN: I ACTUALLY I have a 2007 Kawasaki
been unsigned, local WAS AT YOUR PAGE ZX6R Ninja; I donʼt have Yeah, I was just out there
projects. TOO. YOU HAVE A LIT- anything too crazy so I because I got hired to
TLE BANNER THAT donʼt get hurt. produce a band out
MUEN: YOU ARE ACTU- SAYS YOU LOVE YOUR there. I like the area and
ALLY INVOLVED WITH S14. WOULD YOU LIKE MUEN: THAT SOUNDS the cost of living. Gas is
A COUPLE OTHER TO TELL US ABOUT IT? REALLY FAST. only $ 2.19 a gallon and
PROJECTS RIGHT? a 2,200 square foot
Yes, I am a huge rice Itʼs definitely good; it house is $1,100 a month.
Other than Divine burner guy. I love my car, does what I like it to do.
Heresy, yes, there is one it is my baby. MUEN: NOT ONLY
band from Los Angeles MUEN: DO YOU GO TO THAT, BUT MUSIC IS
that is unsigned and The MUEN: WHAT COLOR THE MOTO GP RACES? REALLY BIG OUT
Bereaved as well. I try to IS IT? THERE.
stay busy. I am a huge fan of MOTO
Itʼs like this greenish/pur- GP, unfortunately I have Yeah, there is an incredi-
MUEN: THE BANDS ple color that Nissan had not been to any of the ble local scene out there
MYSPACE PAGE at that time. Itʼs a stock U.S. races. I would love and there are a lot of very
LOOKS BADASS. DO color, but itʼs kind of a to go. This year has been talented musicians out
YOU GUYS RUN IT AND dark green, if you look at tough because there is there that are not getting
ANSWER ALL THE it just right it kind of turnsone guy that I follow and the recognition I feel they
MAIL? purple. he is no longer racing deserve. The first real
MOTO GP because U.S. tour that I did with
We have a designer that MUEN: ITʼS YOUR Kawasaki pretty much cut Divine Heresy was only
designs it, as for emails, DREAM CAR. their whole budget. in Texas. We played for
comments and any re- Those guys are amazing; eight days and it was
sponse that you get; Dino That was the car I always when you watch that stuff amazing.
does a lot of that. Iʼm get- wanted. Itʼs funny, when I it just blows your mind.
ting ready to start doing a got that car; I got it at an You see guys coming MUEN: THANKS SO
lot of that since he has auction. Someone got it around corners dragging MUCH FOR THE INTER-
been so busy and we impounded and never got their elbows they are so VIEW TRAVIS. IT WAS
have a good friend that it out so I got it for super low to the ground. Thatʼs GREAT TALKING WITH
pretty much handles it. cheap. I felt like Kevin awesome! YOU.
He and Dino are pretty Spacey in that movie
much family, so anything where he got his 71 Pon- MUEN: HAVE YOU You too.
Roadrunner recording TODAY? going over well so thatʼs caught up with us, I
artists, CKY always good. guess you could say. It
Yeah, itʼs like 100 de- ended badly.
Jess Margera grees with 100% humid- MUEN: THE ALBUM AL-
(Drums) ity. MOST DIDNʼT HAPPEN MUEN: WELL IʼM GLAD
BECAUSE YOU GUYS YOU GUYS ARE BACK
Westchester, Pennsylvania MUEN: THAT SOUNDS ALMOST PARTED AND THAT THERE IS A
LIKE FUN. YOU GUYS WAYS. HOW MANY NEW ALBUM OUT
Myspace.com/cky TOOK SOME TIME OFF YEARS WERE IN BE- THERE.
AND NOW YOURE TWEEN YOUR AL-
By: Shauna OʼDonnell BACK WITH A NEW BUMS? Yeah, it is interesting be-
ALBUM CALLED cause everyone thought
MUEN: HI JESS, HOW CARVER CITY. Yeah, itʼs been four years the band was done and
ARE YOU TODAY? since the last one. We the album wasnʼt coming
Yeah, itʼs been a fun had some trouble on out. Thatʼs when you see
Hey, howʼs it going? tour so far for tour, things pretty clear, like
sure. The ten how lucky you are to be
MUEN: ITʼS GOING new years doing this as a job. Why
PRETTY GOOD, SO songs of tour- piss in the well really?
YOUʼRE IN DALLAS are ing
MUEN: LETʼS TALK
ABOUT YOUR NEW
ALBUM. WOULD YOU
SAY THIS IS YOUR
BEST ALBUM TO
DATE?
Yeah, for sure, because
we definitely came back
from that break and it
was like we were a new
band again. It was really
exciting and we took a lot
of time making sure all
the sounds were exactly
perfect. We experi-
mented a lot which we re-
ally didnʼt do on the last
record. It was good to be
back and I think we all
gave our best perform-
ances on this one.
MUEN: WHAT WOULD
YOU SAY YOU DID DIF-
FERENTLY ON THIS
ONE?
It seems like on previous
records we didnʼt really
want to add to much stuff
and this time we went
with it. Anything that
sounded cool, we just did
it. There is a lot going on,
on this new album, in a
good way. There were no
boundaries, before if we
did something weʼd say
“Yeah, thatʼs a little
cheesy.” This time we
were like “Dude, letʼs just
add everything.” In this
day and age nothing is
cheesy anymore.
MUEN: DID YOU GUYS
USE ANY DIFFERENT
KINDS OF INSTRU-
MENTS ON THIS ONE?
Yeah, we used lots of We are all big fans of old CDʼs, still buy records.
synthesizers and stuff horror flicks and stuff. It is Itʼs a collectible thing and
like that. We kind of more exciting for us to try itʼs really cool to have. I
toyed around with that on and create an audio hor- buy mostly vinyl still, with
our second album and ror movie, I guess you an IPod you play the
this time we really went can say, rather than just song and there is nothing
all out on it. cry about our girlfriends. to it. Iʼm thirty years old
so I remember when I
MUEN: THE THEME OF MUEN: SO CARVER was a kid and I would just
CARVER CITY IF PART CITY IS A FICTIONAL play records and stare at
FANTASY AND PART NAME. the album cover for
AUTOBIOGRAPHY. hours. It was just awe-
TELL ME ABOUT THAT. Yeah, but in our minds it some and I feel bad that
is definitely a town on the kids kind of donʼt know
The first song we did was Jersey shore. If you have what thatʼs like. Itʼs 2009,
“The Boardwalk Body” ever been to those so what are you going to
and that was pretty much places you will know do? I love IPods because
a true story. Our singer what I mean. Asbury I travel all the time, but at
Deron went to Wildwood, Park, New Jersey used to the same time when Iʼm
New Jersey, which is a be raging in the 50ʼs and at home, I need a record.
sketchy beach town. It is 60ʼs. Now, if you go there Itʼs something that you
kind of like a family vaca- it looks like a nuclear can hold in your hands
tion type of thing, but it bomb hit it. Yeah, itʼs re- and be stoked that you
kind of got overrun by ally crazy looking. have it.
Philadelphian hoods or
whatever. He was down MUEN: WHO DID THE MUEN: I HAVE A
there, his parents let him ARTWORK FOR THE WHOLE BUNCH OF
stay out kind of late at the ALBUM? CDʼS THAT ARE
little arcade on the board- SIGNED, LIKE SOCIAL
walk, heʼs walking back It was a guy named DISTORTION.
to the hotel with his Travis Smith; he has
buddy and there is just a Social D is a great band.
done a lot of really cool
full on dead body under We did a tour with them a
record covers for some
the boardwalk. Itʼs pretty long time ago. It was a
old school metal bands.
crazy when youʼre twelve Tony Hawk tour with mo-
Itʼs cool to have a guy ac-
years old. That was the tocross and skateboard-
tually paint something
first song that we wrote ing. There was us, Social
rather than just digital art.
and it kind of just built D and Devo was on there
from there. We wrote MUEN: YOU RELEASED for a little while. It was a
about this fictional beach IT ON VINYL AS WELL. really cool line-up.
town that is supposed to
be this nice, happy, fam- MUEN: I SAW YOU
Yeah, finally, I know it
ily place, but in reality it is took a while. PLAY A WHILE BACK
pretty terrible. ON THE CRADLE OF
MUEN: WHAT FILTH TOUR WITH
MUEN: KIND OF LIKE PROMPTED THE DECI- GWAR.
AMITY WAS IN SION TO PUT IT OUT
“JAWS?” ON VINYL? Gwar is good friends of
ours and they are cool.
Yeah, we tried to do that. It was just because a lot
We try and tell stories. of people who still buy MUEN: THAT SHOW
WAS PACKED WITH MUEN: YOU GUYS Sometimes it doesnʼt turn ON THE ROAD?
PEOPLE THAT NIGHT. SELF PRODUCED THIS into anything and we just
IT WAS AT THE ALBUM. HAVE YOU AL- abandon it. Yeah, definitely, itʼs tough
WILTERN IN HOLLY- WAYS SELF PRO- because Deron and I
WOOD. DUCED? MUEN: WILL YOU BE have families now. Itʼs
RELEASING A DVD IN- definitely a challenge to
Yeah, the Wiltern is a All four of our albums we CLUDING FOOTAGE OF go on the road, but at the
great venue. When Gwar did with Chad, our guitar YOUR STUDIO SES- same time I wouldnʼt be
is done playing there is player, producing. I think SIONS? able to not play shows.
so much fake blood that is how we have our Itʼs what I do. Taking that
everywhere. They lay sound. I have never I donʼt know, I think we year off was really tough.
down carpets on the heard a band that sounds filmed the studio stuff, but
stage. I love watching the like us. You can tell it is I donʼt know if itʼs going MUEN: HAS ANYTHING
kids that donʼt know what us from a mile away just to turn into anything. It UNUSUAL HAPPENED
Gwar is about and they from the guitar tones and would be pretty cool if it ON THE TOUR SO
are right up front. They stuff. When you work with did, I think. When we are FAR?
get hosed down and they a producer that works in the studio we mean
are like “Whoa! What?” with a ton of other bands, business so, there is not Well, we got pulled over
he is just going to do his a whole lot of crazy, en- yesterday and got
MUEN: ALSO TO LET thing and you might tertaining stuff going on. searched. A friend of ours
EVERYONE KNOW sound just like those Maybe people would find has a charge for posses-
THERE IS A SPECIAL bands. It is really cool to that interesting, I donʼt sion of weed or some-
EDITION AVAILABLE have it all in house and know. thing from a while ago, so
TOO. IS IT ONLY AVAIL- we are just doing our own that of course, showed
ABLE AT HOT TOPIC? thing. I think more bands MUEN: YOU GUYS ARE up right away. The guy
should try and do that. OUT THERE SUPPORT- was like “Alright, every-
No, its available every- ING YOUR ALBUM body out!” The guy ended
where. There are four MUEN: WHAT IS THE RIGHT NOW AND YOU up being cool and let us
more songs on there. BIGGEST CHALLENGE SAID IT IS GOING RE- go. We were speeding
There are two songs that WHEN WRITING A ALLY GOOD SO FAR. and he didnʼt even give
are kind of an instrumen- RECORD? WHO ARE YOU OUT us a speeding ticket or
tal type of thing. We were WITH? anything.
planning on giving those We write and record al-
to movies. There are an- bums really strangely. Itʼs We are with a band MUEN: DID YOU TRY
other two songs that got not like we hit the studio called Graveyard from AND SELL HIM A CD
left off the record, but I with all these songs. We Sweden, which is one of OR ANYTHING?
donʼt know why. They are get ideas, like two guitar my favorite bands right
really good, kind of my riffs that sound really now. They are amazing. No, he just looked at us
favorites I think. I canʼt great together; we go into We are also with a band and went “Camp Kill
pick a favorite, but the the studio and build the called ASG, who we have Yourself?” We are in
four bonus tracks are def- song from scratch. It been friends with for a Texas, which is kind of
initely awesome. A lot of takes a long time, but itʼs long time. They are on like the “Bible Belt” here.
times bands will throw really interesting for us to Volcom Records, which The guy wasnʼt reacting
demos on as bonus see a song turn into this was a label that we were too well to that.
tracks, but these are the huge thing from nothing. on a bunch of years ago.
real deal. They are great We build it from the There is also a band from MUEN: BUT, IF HE
songs, but we couldnʼt fit ground up. Itʼs just the Canada called Fall from HEARD YOU, HE
them on the regular edi- way we have always Grace too. WOULD LOVE YOU
tion. It is definitely worth done things. It is very in- RIGHT?
it to get the special edi- efficient, but exciting to MUEN: ARE YOU
tion. see what it turns into. HAPPY TO BE BACK Yeah, I know “Hey man,
do you like hard rock?
Cuz youʼll dig it.”
MUEN: YOU SHOULD
HAVE GIVEN HIM A
TICKET TO YOUR
SHOW.
Yeah, he definitely had
his game face on. So, I
donʼt know, I didnʼt want
to joke with him or any-
thing.
MUEN: DO YOU DO A
LOT OF PARTYING ON
TOUR?
Yeah, Iʼve calmed down a
bit, I used to be com-
pletely out of control. I
think a lot of us were,
hence the whole break-
up thing.
MUEN: WELL YOU
GUYS HAVE MATURED
SINCE THE LAST TIME
YOU WERE OUT ON
THE ROAD.
Yeah, definitely, I canʼt
get too crazy anymore.
Last night we partied with
all these people in Amar-
illo, Texas because it was
our day off. It was cool.
MUEN: THAT IS COOL,
IS THERE ANY PART
OF THE COUNTRY YOU
PREFER MORE THAN
OTHERS?
Obviously, because Iʼm
from Philly, I like the east
coast. I like doing Balti-
more, Philadelphia, New
York and Jersey. All those
places are really cool to
me. We just did a live CD
in Pittsburg and it was Iʼm going to have to kick kids buying their records
awesome. We also just some serious butt! now because of me being
did Canada, which was in the band. They are
really awesome. I had MUEN: SO TELL ME stoked on that and Iʼm
never been to Western ABOUT YOUR SIDE- stoked to be in the band,
Canada, like Edmonton PROJECTS. so itʼs really cool.
and Calgary.
One of them is me, Neil MUEN: FOR THOSE
MUEN: WHAT WAS THE the singer of Clutch, Brad WHO DO NOT KNOW
RESPONSE THERE? Davis of Fu Manchu and THIS, YOU ARE BAM
a guy named Reverend MARGERAʼS
It was great. Iʼve noticed Jim from an awesome BROTHER. WHAT IS IT
that in Europe, Australia band called Fireball Min- LIKE BEING BAMʼS
and Canada, rock is still istry. They are heroes of BROTHER?
doing well there. In Amer- mine to be completely
ica, it seems like it faded honest with you. Fu Itʼs definitely interesting.
out a little bit. It seems Manchu and Clutch have
like country and rap are been my favorite bands MUEN: IʼM SURE IT IS.
really popular. We just since I was in high school
did a show in England so itʼs kind of trippy to be There is always some-
and it was huge. It was working on a record with thing going on. There is
double the size of the those guys. never a dull day in
places we play here and Westchester, Iʼll tell you
sold them out. Iʼm sure MUEN: I INTERVIEWED that.
being away for four years CLUTCH A WHILE
doesnʼt help, but at the BACK. MUEN: THANKS SO
same time Iʼve noticed MUCH FOR THE INTER-
that there is a bigger re- Oh really? They are one VIEW JESS. IʼM GLAD
action to rock music of the best rock bands YOU GUYS ARE BACK
there. out there hands down. In AND I HOPE TO CATCH
my eyes they are todayʼs A SHOW SOON. ARE
MUEN: BESIDES CKY, Led Zeppelin. They donʼt YOU GOING TO BE
DO YOU HAVE ANY pay attention to trends or COMING OUT TO CALI-
SIDE-PROJECTS THAT anything like that. They FORNIA?
YOU ARE WORKING make amazing rock
ON? records every single year, We just played The Roxy,
they are an amazing but we will be coming
Yeah, I do, Iʼm in two band. In regards to the back shortly. It was really
other bands actually. Iʼm second band, Iʼm a huge cool, I had a blast.
really busy these days fan of a band from Eng-
with three bands and land called Viking Skull MUEN: I WISH YOU
three kids. Iʼve got two and they have done tours GUYS THE BEST. IS
girls and a boy. Itʼs a lot with us a lot whenever THERE ANYTHING YOU
of fun. we go to Europe. They WOULD LIKE TO ADD
lost their drummer and I TO THE INTERVIEW?
MUEN: WELL, WAIT think I had something to
UNTIL THEY BECOME do with it. It was a win- Thanks for having me on.
TEENAGERS. win because I said that “I
would love to play in the
I hope the girls donʼt look band and Iʼm a huge fan.”
like their mom because They get a lot of CKY
New York City
Hardcore Punk
Gets Its L.A. Fix:
The Casualties
By: Natalie Perez

I caught up with The

Casualties on their lat-
est touring run making
their eighth stop on their
current U.S. route mak-
ing their mark upon the
Los Angeles terrain.
Their new album "We
Are All We Have," has
just been released on
Side One Dummy
Records, and it's easily
their most aggressive
album to date. Prior to
their sold out show their
bassist Rick Lopez
spoke to me over the
phone about the new
CD, and their upcoming
tours. DyingSceneʼs Na- since. tour, weʼre going be fun and have a couple
talie Perez was able to heading out to Japan laughs, when people
catch up with Rick con- MUEN: How does it next month and then come to a show. We
ducting a brief phone in- feel to play back in the South American in De- want to make sure that
terview just before U.S. and how is the cember pretty much hit- all of our attention is fo-
hitting the stage at Hol- current tour going? ting the road non-stop. cused not only on us
lywoodʼs very own Key but the audience as
Club. To check out the Rick: The current tour is MUEN: "We Are All We well. We donʼt want to
entire interview click going great we just re- Have," came out this suck on stage, so when
leased the new record past Tuesday have we drink and party we
MUEN: How, when, and this tour is to sup- you gotten all the par- save it for afterwards
and why did you port that record. Weʼre tying out of the way? because when we do
form? out on the West Coast play we want to make
right now weʼre about o Rick: Well the partying sure we donʼt totally
Rick: For the love of play L.A. tonight – one is part of the tour and suck!
punk rock music be- of our favorite cities to itʼs something we do -
cause there wasnʼt any play. Weʼve been having itʼs why itʼs there. We MUEN: What are a ma-
at the time. It was all for huge turn outs, having donʼt want to get up on jority of your songs
the music, we formed in kids who are into the stage and look like re- about? Is there an un-
the 90s and have been punk scene and punk tarded drunks. We want derlying theme?
playing strong ever music come out, having to make sure we play
lots of energy. After this good, go out and have Rick: We donʼt have an
agenda on what we questions you've been chance to talk to them donʼt listen to what
write about we just write asked? about music was awe- other people say - do
about whatʼs currently some. Circle Jerks a fa- what you want to do.
going on around us and Rick: “What does punk vorite of mine was Screw what everybody
the world. What weʼve mean to you?” I just another really cool ex- else has to say just go
seen or heard about. hate answering that. Itʼs perience for me, to be out and play and do
Sometimes we have po- not something that you able to hang out and what you love to do.
litical themes to our can really describe and talk with those guys
music like our previous what it means to you. I about music was great. MUEN: What should
albums, but this one not know the answer I just As of right now weʼre people know about
as much basically what- canʼt put it into words. I touring with a band you? What sets you
ever is the most impor- sit down and think about called the Krum Bums apart?
tance to us is what we it but just donʼt know theyʼre an up and com-
like to discuss musically. what it really means. Itʼs ing band from Austin, Rick: I think what sets
one of those questions Texas, and those guys us apart is that weʼre
MUEN: What are your you just canʼt answer. are great. hardcore and more
immediate music ca- louder and thatʼs what I
reer goals? MUEN: Out of all the MUEN: What has been like we have our own
shows you have your biggest chal- uniqueness and Iʼm like
Rick: Just make the played, on this tour - lenge as a band? Were that as a person and all
best records we can is there one that you able to overcome of us in this band and
make and do a lot of stands out as a fa- it? we do what we really
touring and make sure vorite? Is so, please feel we should do.
people like our music explain. Rick: I really think the When you see us play-
and have a good time. biggest challenge is all ing weʼre not doing this
Doing what we like to Rick: L.A. is one of our the people within the for a paycheck weʼre
do as long as we can. favorite places to play – world talking down on doing this because itʼs
Making sure the music the Key Club is a us and talking crap. what we love to do and
we make is what we smaller venue to play Saying things such as what sets us totally
want to do. Not writing and normally always “You guys canʼt play apart from everyone
songs on topics that packed, which is good music” this and that sit- else.
arenʼt our thing, whatʼs so Iʼm really looking for- uations, you then worry
important to us and ward to playing it. about what other people MUEN: Thanks for
what we like doing. will say either online or doing the interview,
MUEN: Who are some in person. So you won- anything you'd like to
MUEN: What can you of your favorite bands der how many of those add?
say about your secret you've shared the people will be talking
show on September stage with? Can you crap. Itʼs a real chal- Rick: Our new record is
27 out at the Cobalt name some of the big- lenge from all angles. out now and weʼre tour-
Cafe? ger bands that you've ing on it, so come check
played with if any? MUEN: What advice out a show pick up a
Rick: Oh yes, weʼre do you have for fans record and come check
doing a secret show in Rick: Yeah one of the who want to start their out The Casualties.
L.A. before we head out bigger bands weʼve own bands?
to Japan the following played with was Bad
day. Religion really cool guys Rick: Itʼs a lot of hard
and we pretty much fol- work and you should
MUEN: What is one of lowed them growing definitely do it, no mat-
the toughest interview up, so having the ter how hard you try
The Color Turning

Los Angeles, CA sort of open ended. In you form the lineup for
MUEN: Hi guys! the end, it was either the band that includes
Interview by: Macavity Thanks for taking The Color Turning or all four of you?
some time to talk to “Dragons of Nazereth.”
Not much is known TCT: We actually met
MUEN today.
about The Color Turning MUEN: I understand over a Halo LAN party
but that has already
TCT: Hello Hello. Thank that you have been to- Jason was hosting.
started to change with a (Laughs). No, weʼve all
you for having us, itʼs an gether since before
new CD out and touring 2002. How long have been friends for quite
honor.
with Stone Temple Pilots you been together to some time. There have
amongst others. We been a few members
MUEN: My usual ques- become this
knew there had to be
tion to start is by ask- “overnight” success? come and gone and
more upcoming, so we Garet and David were
ing how you came up
sat down to talk with
with the unusual name TCT: Ha! Well, success friends of ours before
David Del Fonzo (Guitar is hardly overnight and they were in the band.
and what it means to
and Piano) to find out We always liked what
the band? weʼve yet to feel like
what is next for this ex- weʼve earned that sort of they were doing, and
citing new band.
TCT: The impetus for the bravado. But itʼs good to they were into what we
band name came from a hear from an educated were doing, so it was
The rest of the band is:
song Steve had written. source that weʼre doing kind of an easy decision
Steve Scavo (Vocals, to get together. All in all,
The name sounds sort of well!
Guitar), Jason Abraham the 4 of us have been
unusual, but we like how
(Bass) and Garet Powell playing and writing to-
it leaves its interpretation MUEN: So, how did
(Drums)
gether since 2005. to these massive stages just doesnʼt happen to TCT: Itʼs pretty hard to
and luxurious back- many people. To be fair, do really. I think some-
MUEN: Why are there stages. Those tours we havenʼt let it get to one said something like
four of you? Have you meant sharing the bill our heads. We know that “Writing about music is
each a special talent with Black Rebel Motor- most of those people like dancing about archi-
that makes the band cycle Club and Frank werenʼt there to see us, tecture.” I think thatʼs
just click so well? Black. STP obviously is but getting 11,000 poten- pretty accurate, espe-
a monster show, but cially your own music.
tial fans to give us a lis-
TCT: At points we were BRMC and Frank Black ten is just as good to us.And being so close to
actually a five piece are fucking incredible. the music I, my descrip-
band. Those decisions Scott Weiland has been MUEN: You did an un- tion is going to be miles
of who and how many a fan of ours for a little usual acoustic set in off from what someone
people to have in the while and actually Tucson. How was that else might say. Given all
band are really just signed us to his label, experience and what that, Iʼd say weʼre an
based on what the band Softdrive Records. He made you think to do eclectic mix of instru-
needs. All of us fortu- invited us out on the that? ments with some elec-
nately play a few differ- road, and itʼs an oppor- tronic and ambient
ent instruments, so there tunity you just donʼt pass TCT: WeLikeItIndie.com sounds playing our inter-
really isnʼt a lot of up. asked us to do an pretation of a rock song.
ground we canʼt cover at acoustic set and they If you like Eno, Tortoise,
the moment. The strug- MUEN: How has the wanted to film it. Weʼre Kent, and Elbow; youʼre
gle of most bands isnʼt touring been and what big fans of the guerrilla more likely to easily feel
musical; itʼs the personal is the most memorable style band performances out where weʼre coming
stuff, and getting along moment of this past of things like La Blo- from than say, a Nickel-
as people. Weʼre very year? gothequeʼs “Take Away back fan might.
lucky to all have been Show” and saw this as
friends before the band TCT: The touring has an opportunity to do MUEN: The video for
and it makes long tours been great, and the re- something similar. In- “This Is How That
and the long hours of sponse has been really stead of samplers, we Feels” give us a taste
being a band much eas- good, especially consid- put loops to cassette of your live perform-
ier. If thereʼs something ering weʼd never been to and played them out of ances from your EP.
that makes us click, itʼs many of the venues an old clock radio, and Are there any new
that weʼre good at keep- weʼre playing. We had a performed acoustic in an videos planned to
ing the ship together, if few days off in Portland art gallery. Later that showcase more songs
that makes sense. recently, which was re- night we took a broken off of your latest CD
ally cool. We caught a guitar we had and set it “Good Hands Bad
MUEN: It does! You are secret Dandy Warholʼs on fire. We used it to Blood” or to showcase
just finishing up a tour show out there, which light the alleyway where your live talents more?
and have been out with was kinda nuts. The we performed more
Scott Weiland and most memorable thing songs. Weʼre fans of TCT: Actually, when the
Stone Temple Pilots. for us was definitely what Ruben and Lynette summer touring is all fin-
How did those come playing the Greek The- from WeLikeItIndie are ished, weʼre going to do
about and especially ater in Berkeley. The doing right now. a few videos for the
the opening for STP? place is legendary. It album. We have some
was the first stop on our MUEN: We see genre really talented friends
TCT: Those tours were STP tour. It was like, we tags about you. But who have wanted to
pretty incredible experi- played a 150 capacity how would you de- work together on a
ences. We went from venue one night, and the scribe your music to music video or some-
relative hometown next night weʼre playing someone that has not thing similar. Our friend
shows and small touring for 11,000 people. That heard it? Robert Marshall made a
sort of documentary ferently to make the amazing original art faster than ever before,
about the recording of great sounds on there came about for the CD which is pretty incredi-
the new album. Youtube and why? cover? ble. Itʼs really not a thing
“The Color Turning” and we feel itʼs safe to rely
you should find it. Itʼs TCT: We had access to TCT: Yeah, actually it on though. Thereʼs really
pretty incredible. He a proper studio and our was originally a photo- nothing that compares to
came in with some old producer really helped graph I took on a trip to hitting the road and gain-
film cameras during our us work out any of the Mexico. The imagery of ing flesh and bones
recording of the album kinks we had along the Mexican religious and fans….and friends for
and his footage really way. Really, the things a cultural arts has always that matter.
set the bar for what weʼd band shouldnʼt have to turned us on. Weʼre re-
like to accomplish visu- think about while record- ally sensitive to the kind MUEN: Who writes the
ally. ing an album were taken of imagery thatʼs been songs and how are
care of. All the cables poorly co-opted by sub- they written?
MUEN: Speaking of and equipment worked urbia to represent dark-
your CD, you have pre- (laughs)! So basically ness and angst. The use TCT: Weʼre all contribu-
viously released two whatever we came up of Day of the Dead art is tors to the music, al-
EPʼs and a CD. Has the with, we could pretty a play against that. A though someone might
touring and time spent much get it done. It was sort of lightness and cel- bring in an idea or occa-
together changed what daunting and pretty ebration that ironically sionally a complete
you placed on this scary for a first album to touches on what this so piece. We tend to run
most recent one? such freedom, but the called “dark imagery” through ideas over and
challenge was good for has come to mean. over until they take
TCT: Yes, being to- us. Limitations can be Being from Southern shape. Add, Add, Add,
gether more has defi- comforting, you have California itʼs almost im- Subtract, Add, Subtract.
nitely influenced how we something to blame if it possible to not let all of Itʼs kind of a constantly
wrote. This album has goes wrong. this influence you. Jenna evolving process. Even
much more of a band Gibson, an incredible when songs are “fin-
feel than say an album MUEN: Also one strik- artist, recreated the ished”, theyʼre only as
that a solitary songwriter ing distinction of the photo in watercolor for finished as we feel like
might come up with. band is the passion us. at the time. Weʼll take
With that, many of these not only for musical songs and turn them on
songs came together artistry but also visual MUEN: Should get you their head, almost remix-
while we were signing throughout. What moti- a couple of free meals ing ourselves. Weʼre big
with the label, and vates that visual artis- now on the road! So, fans of flipping things
thereʼs nothing like tic side so much? how useful has My- around live.
“business” to make a Space been to the
band closer. We were TCT: Weʼre all very vi- band? MUEN: Has the
stepping into what wassual people. Even when process of writing
for us, a very big pond.
we talk to each other TCT: Social networking changed since the be-
We really looked out for
about music itʼs often in makes the spreading of ginning and you have
each other in ways that
visual terms. So when music a lot easier, but toured so much?
affected our lives andwe see something that the cost is that itʼs be-
our music. That close-turns us on, we gravitate come so easy that the TCT: Touring has defi-
ness comes through on towards it and often try sheer amount of infor- nitely given us the op-
the album. to incorporate it into our mation out there makes portunity to write as a
music or in some in- it hard to be noticed. My- group, since weʼre to-
MUEN: Was the record- stances the artwork. Space and Facebook gether so much.
ing and production of have helped bands get
this CD done any dif- MUEN: Is this how the up and running way MUEN: Changing a bit,
you have a base in
Hermosa Beach. Are
there any plans to
move or is there a
compelling reason to
stay there?
doing more festivals like
SXSW and CMJ. There
are some plans for tour-
ing with some bigger
acts as well. A new
album? Weʼll see.

TCT: Well, weʼre actu- MUEN: With all the

ally based out of Santa
Ana. We like it quite a
bit. Itʼs not quite Los An-
geles, and its not com-
pletely Orange County,
but its close enough to
either, which is impor-
tant. We definitely feel at
home there. Weʼve got
some good friends
around us and some re-
ally great music too like
Local Natives, Living
Suns and Union Line.
Thereʼs a lot of good
work coming out of the
area.
touring and playing
such high energy
shows what do you
each do to relax?
TCT: We canʼt really get
away from music too
long but if we had to list
any non musical hobbies
Iʼd have to say golf, cy-
cling, reading (a lot on
the road), and exploring
the towns weʼre in. Like
many bands, were into
photography. Oh, also, if
thereʼs a swimmable
lake, weʼll be in it.

MUEN: What should MUEN: Is there any-

we expect to see from thing I have not asked
The Color Turning for that you think our
the rest of 2009? readers would like to
know about The Color
TCT: Lots of touring still Turning?
in the works. We really
want to push the album TCT: Weʼre foodies. Itʼs
and get out on the road pretty serious, and weʼve
as much as possible. even considered starting
Once winter sets in, a food blog based
weʼre going to start around our travels, finds,
working on some videos and tips. In every town then its Bedouin Tent. It lot more from you in
and possibly another EP. we visit, we have to find makes visits and revisits the future.
We have a lot of material the best local thing and worth the trip, for sure,
weʼd still like to get out. get into it. It turns mun- especially when the
dane touring into this show may not be up to
MUEN: And, what is weird road trip where par.
the most exciting thing you get to look forward
planned for 2010 and to a town for more than MUEN: Thanks guys
beyond? just a show. If you want for taking the time to
Mexican in Portland then talk with MUEN today.
TCT: Touring again. go to Por Que No. We look forward to
Next year we hope to be Lebanese in Brooklyn seeing and hearing a
LIVE REVIEWS

HATEBREED
3. War is Hell comes to Los Angeles lo-
4. 666 cals Winds Of Plague.
5. Nuke the Cross Who kept the enraged
crowd impacted and ready
Nothing more or nothing to mingle? Fans did just
less could come of the that, jumping onto one an-
almighty Toxic goers Toxic other shouting along with
Holocaust. Next up was a the lyrics and rocking out
different type of thrashingto the beat of the music.
one consisting of pure The musicians themselves
death metal aggression by were going right along with
none other than Dying it. When it was all said and
Fetus. Another 3-piece done, several vocalists in-
combo that put brutality tocluding their keyboardist
the test, the whole room jumped in on all the fun.
erupted in chaos every- One of the vocalist literally
where you looked. Gui- jumping onto the crowd

Hatebreed
tarist John Gallagher holding the microphone
enraged the crowd growl- out as the fans held him

Bashes the
As the crowd slowly ing and shouting with all high in the air, while others
formed background music his might getting everyone jumped in to share the

Nation
buzzed - playing numer- in an adrenaline rush. spotlight. What could be
ous tracks as the fans Nothing but madness better than to have un-

with his
stood waiting for the night came out of the 30 minute known strangers standing
of the Decimation of the set up that Dying Fetus on top of you singing their

Comrades
Nation Tour lead off to a had thrown out doing any- heart and soul into the
toxic start? Britney Spears thing they possibly could music they so love. Itʼs
“Toxic” filled the air as the to get the crowd up in heatcalled weird but entertain-
stage darkened lights shin- and utter rage. Musically ing fun!
By: Natalie Perez ing on/off a blood shade of speaking the instrumental
red. Until the song had work Dying Fetus played Winds Of Plague Set List:
When it comes to any type drawn to a close, utter si- was fast and brutal nothing
of tour, during any time of lence cluttered the air as but heaviness came out of 1. Decimate the Weak
year there is one thing to each member of Toxic them in the end rounding
do in a time like this, Holocaust walked upon off to being intensely bru- 2. Origins and Endings
"Loose Your Mind!" This is the stage. Each of the 3 talizing for all to see.
exactly what the 900 peo- musicians grasping a hold 3. New Song 1
ple scattered about the of their instruments as the Dying Fetus Set List:
Pomona Glasshouse did set started off without hesi- 4. Angels of Debauchery
on the night of August 18 tation. Lasting for a mere 1. Homicidal Retribution
2009. A sea of black t- 20 minutes total, dishing 2. Your Treachery Will Die 5. New Song 2
shirts and long hair cov- out “Nuke The Cross, Wild With You (New Song)
ered in sweat ran up and Dogs and Endless Ar- 3. Justifiable Homicide 6. The Impaler
down if not all around the mageddon,” thrashing and 4. Pissing in the Main-
Glass House, screaming bashing was all that could streem But the weirdness not to
and shouting throughout be seen. 5. Grotesque Impalement mention fun doesnʼt end
half the night. The night it- 6. Praise the Lord (Opium there, the night raged on-
self having had started off Toxic Holocaust Set List: of the Masses) ward wrapping up with the
fast and heavy, with an in- two headliners Chimaira
tention that wouldnʼt fade 1. Wild Dogs You shall soon believe the and Hatebreed. After tak-
away anytime soon. 2. Gravelord brutalizing fate, when it ing their sweet time Chi-
LIVE REVIEWS
maria came on to show
the crowd why they had
taken their time. It was
merely because they had
wanted the audience to
bear witness to the may-
hem within. Thatʼs exactly
what had happened, may-
hem that kept flowing way
into the night, Chimaira
just warming it all up with
3. Secrets of the Dead
4. The Dehumanizing
Process
5. Destroy And Dominate
6. Pure Hatred
The almighty conclusion of
the night life, that couldn't
bear to turn away such a
mention “At the end of this
show you will leave with a
smile on your face, this is
called "Perseverance".
Jasta had said a handful of
catchy remarks that left
the audience begging for
more. Clearing out the
night with some cover
tunes taken off their all
covers album “For The
Lions,” Jasta saying “This
is a tribute to Slayer, this is
“Ghosts Of War,” along

TOXIC HOLOCAUST

DYING FETUS

CHIMAIRA

such memorable tunes as warm welcoming. Playing

“Resurrection, “ and “I
Hate Everyone.” As the so-
called night was drawing
to a closing point, last but
not least was of course
Hatebreed!
Chimaira Set List:
1. The Venom Inside
2. Ressurection
for only an hour Hatebreed
threw together a set list
containing the old, new,
and latest material that
would last late into the
night. Jasta shouting “This
doesnʼt even feel like a
week day it feels like the
weekend”. Adding “You
900 people make it feels
like 9,000 people.” Not to
LIVE REVIEWS
with Black Tideʼs cover of
“Thirsty and Miserable.”
When it was all said and
done though, Hatebreed
and the rest of the Deci-
mation of the Nation Tour
line-up had proven a point
that night. That this night
was a night Pomonaʻs
Glass House would never
forget but cherish to re-
member walking away with
smiles slashed upon their
faces.
Hatebreed Set List:
1. To the Threshold
2. Live For This
3. I Will Be Heard
4. Doomsayer
5. This Is Now
6. Proven
7. Perseverance
8. You're Never Alone
9. Defeatist
10. Destroy Everything
11. Last Breath
12. Before Dishonor
13. Ghosts Of War
14. Thristy and Miserable
THROTTLE
HOUSE OF BLUES, ANA-
HEIM
By: Shauna OʼDonnell
I attended the Inland
Empire Metal Inva-
sion at the House of
Blues in Anaheim,
CA tonight. The
place was packed
with people so much
that I could barely
make it through the
crowds at times. The
venue was hot from
all the bodies as I
searched in despera-
tion to find a seat.
Seven bands played,
but for me, the one
that really stood out over Southern Cali- ther get out of the
was THROTTLE. fornia since 2005. way or prepare to
The band moves Recently, their tal- THROTTLE Up!”
about the stage as if ents were discov-
they owned it as the ered by Neurotic
crowd yelled “Throt- Records and the
tle, Throttle, Throt- band has decided to
tle!” THROTTLE is a join forces with them
band out of Whittier, to take their music to
CA and has been the next level. Like
playing on stages all the band says “Ei-
Cardiff, Wales U.K. MUEN: Hey Guys! biguous enough not to too far apart. Amazingly
Have to start with the pigeon hole us into one Deian had moved to
Interview by: Macavity obvious question. type of sound. Cardiff two days before I
Where did the name contacted him which
Welsh-based Queens- come from and does it MUEN: You have only made us believe the
bury has hit the music have a particular been together as a whole thing was just
scene in the UK very fast meaning for the band? band of the four of you “meant to be.” From
and very noticeably with since 2008. How did there Ed and Dewi were
some great hard rocking Gump: The name unfor- you meet up and de- invited to join us for a
shows at some of the tunately doesnʼt really cide that this was THE jam and it just kicked off
major festivals and ven- have much of a mean- band for you each to straight away. This is
ues. Many more of the ing! We were toying with be in? THE band for us be-
same is planned for this Queensbury Rules, how- cause we all fit perfectly
must watch band so we ever we donʼt wanna just Gump: Myself and Deian into the framework and
sat down to talk with sell records to boxers. the drummer met we all love what comes
Gareth (Gump) Ed- Itʼs so hard to find a through MySpace which out when we write and
wards, Deian Elfryn, Ed band name that no-one sounds straight forward, practice.
Oleszko and Dewi else has used already however we had already
Williams to find out more we were just happy to met on MySpace two MUEN: What other
about them. find one which was am- years previous but lived bands have each of
you been in? hard in the past we have just want a label to come walked over to the pole
amassed a hell of a lot of on board and believe and started stripping half
Gump: I have been in contacts up and down that too! Then give us a way through the third
about 6 other bands all the UK. Also I think be- few million dollars. song and grinding on the
together, the most fa- cause we are so pas- pole. It was off putting to
mous called AXLANBAY, sionate about our band MUEN: I understand say the least; however
and we were almost we find it easy to sell some of you have we played much slower
signed to Warner in ourselves because we toured with other than usual just so we
2005. Deian the drum- love it. This seems to rub bands in the states. could stay on stage
mer has been involved in off on people who we Do you have any plans longer and keep watch-
such bands as Melys, meet and come across to tour in the states ing.
Guacamole and big Liv- all the time and they just any time soon as
erpool songsters Amster- wanna help us out with Queensbury or are you MUEN: You have sam-
dam. The other two guys gigs and contacts. The still building your fan ples up on MySpace
have been in a clutch of first few gigs we base in the UK first from your EP. When
bands together also the arranged ourselves with with this band? can we expect to see
biggest namely THE hard work and promo- the EP and how are
PEAKZ who had lots of tion, everywhere we Gump: We would love to you going to get it to
success but kind of im- have played they want tour the states as soon the fans there and
ploded after a year or so. us to come back and as possible as we seem here?
play again as soon as to be getting some really
MUEN: How would you possible. great feedback about our Gump: The EP hard
best describe your sound stateside. I think copy has now arrived;
sound to someone that MUEN: See that you the way we craft our you guys can get copies
has not heard you live have signed with a songs and the bands we from us we have a Big
at all your gigs or on management company, are influenced by make Cartel link on the My-
MySpace? Klash, and have sev- us lean towards the Space for those. Also the
eral labels looking at American market. Obvi- EP will be going up on
Gump: I would say we you. What are you ex- ously touring the states iTunes in the next two
are a mix of modern and pecting from a label is not an easy thing to days or so and various
old school rock. Proba- right now? arrange, nor is it cheap. other well known down-
bly the closest sound However I am certain we load sites.
would be a mix of Alter Gump: We have signed will tour the states within
Bridge, Alice in Chains with Klash yes! They are the next year, we donʼt MUEN: How many
and Faith No More. two amazingly hard care how it happens, tracks did you finally
working guys with some and we KNOW it WILL place on the EP and
MUEN: You have really good contacts. happen. how were the tracks
played many gigs and They believe in us and decided upon?
seem to play more thatʼs all we ask of them. MUEN: Speaking of
than most unsigned We havenʼt really got touring, what has been Gump: We short listed it
bands and some very any expectations other the most unusual or to five tracks in the end.
large festivals already. than world domination, odd thing to happen at The tracks werenʼt easy
How did you achieve the way I see it is why a gig or while on the to decide upon, however
that when so many sell yourself short and road? we think we finally got to
other bands struggle why expect something choosing the most
to just get a foot in the small? We believe we Gump: We played a gig punchy and powerful
door of a pub gig? have the sound and the in a huge marquee once songs we have which
determination to sell lots and there was a massive also have a commercial
Gump: Because we of records to lots of peo- pole in front of the stage validity. At the end of the
have worked so damn ple for many years. We holding up the roof. A girl day we wanted everyone
to hear a fusion of power ucts. We even have our
and melody. own official tattooist!
Free tattoos? Thatʼs
MUEN: How is the fuckin cool right?
music written for the
band and by whom? MUEN: How useful has
MySpace been to the
Gump: Itʼs written by all promotion of the
of us! We write most of band?
our songs in the practice
room after someone Gump: We believe that if
comes in with a single it wasnʼt for MySpace
riff. We build the song this band wouldnʼt exist,
from there and love itʼs the easiest way of
doing it this way. Itʼs promoting your music on
easy when we are all to- the web. Although there
gether as there are no are some competitors
EGO clashes during now, we still use My-
practice and we are all Space for our sole online
willing to try whatever it presence. ways have time for our
bars after gigs. We really
takes to improve the friends and fans. If you
want to sign with a solid
song. Most songs take MUEN: Changing a bit, record label who will want to contact us at any
around ten minutes to you have a base in take us forward. time I guarantee we will
write. The lyrics are gen- Cardiff, Wales. Are reply to you ourselves.
erally left to Gump. there any plans to MUEN: What do you Thanks very much for
move or do want to each like to do when letting us talk with you
MUEN: Do you have a stay based there? not playing/writing today, we are now going
video planned for the music other than drink- out to get drunk and
one of the tracks from Gump: I think we all ing and tattoos then? watch a burlesque show!
the EP or to show the want to move to the
band performing live states as soon as we Gump: We canʼt really
for those that cannot can, to live the rock and tell you as we are MUEN: Thanks guys
see you in person? roll dream two doors wanted by several au- for taking the time be-
down from Tommy Lee. thorities around the fore the burlesque
Gump: We have a video In all seriousness we globe for our extra cur- show to talk with
planned to come out in think America would be ricular activities. MUEN. We look for-
September time for the the best place for us and ward to seeing and
track “CUT IT UP. “ our music to really thrive. hearing the name
MUEN: Is there any- Queensbury and your
MUEN: You have sev- MUEN: What more thing I have not asked music a lot in the fu-
eral sponsors listed on should we expect to that you think our ture. Have fun tonight!
your MySpace. How see from Queensbury readers would like to
did those come about for the rest of 2009 know about Queens-
and what help are they other than a large bury that wonʼt get the
to you? amount of live gigs? attention of those au-
thorities?
Gump: The sponsors are Gump: You should ex-
generally friends of ours, pect more tattoos, a hell Gump: We are four of
they believe in the band of a lot more songs and the nicest guys you
and we love their prod- a huge amount of dry could ever meet! We al-
EMBER having us. than my man Chewy. do you feel so
strongly about play-
Austin, Texas
MUEN: Your base or MUEN: How best ing and supporting
Interview by: Macavity “home town” is would you describe the troops other than
Austin now but your sounds as you what the obvious
Ember has burst on to where are each of list American feels in
the music scene in a you from and how Christian/Rock/Alt as wanting to support
town with many many did you all get to- your genres but I did those that fight for
talented bands. But gether and how long not hear anything but us?
they have already has this lineup been great rock with some
made an indelible together? alt thrown in? D: Again, speaking
mark not only on that more to the previous
city but worldwide with D: Iʼm from Bakersfield D: Everyone in the answer. Most of us
their touring and visit- CA but did most of my band has a strong have or had friends
ing the troops to bring growing up in San An- Christian foundation. that serve or served.
full on rock to them as gelo. Matt (Chewy) is We are real dudes in a Family ties, not to
they defend our free- also from San Angelo. real rock band talking mention the "good old
doms. Their live per- Jared is from San An- about real issues from boy" factor they are
formances, music and gelo/Lubbock. Chris is the heart, soul, and FAMILY!
almost constant shows from Canyon and road.
and touring caught our Dusty is from Waco. MUEN: How was the
interest to find out This line up really so- MUEN: You have experience touring
more about this band lidified in Austin about toured in July I be- there and what made
that has a debut CD a year and a half ago. lieve to play for the you decide to return?
coming out October troops in an effort to
1st. With their hectic MUEN: While you all bring Rock music to D: Touring for the
schedule we had the seem very different entertain the troops. troops left most of us
good fortune to catch in personality you Was this part of speechless. You canʼt
up to Deuce to speak seem to work great Charlie Robisonʼs ef- imagine the look on
to him about Ember. together. Has this al- forts to get bands the faces of the men
ways been the case like yours and Edi- and women who see
The full band is: Chris and continues to be? son there? nothing but desert,
Martinez-Vocals, guns, and cammo for
Deuce Wanier-Guitar, D: (Laughs) We're all D: Itʼs about the re- years; to a rock band
Jared very different crea- spect and love being in in jewelry, hair product,
tures, however this our blood. We LOVE to and guitars. Seems al-
Duyck-Guitar, Chewy creates an amazing give back, to look most like a pre-
Linton-Bass and Dusty dynamic both on and those in the face that Madonna reference,
Saxton-Drums off the stage. Dusty is fight for our freedom but it's more about the
the quiet intelligent, Iʼm and ability to rock. music, the rock, the
MUEN: Hi Deuce! the outspoken "sales- sweat, and the change
Thanks for talking to man" and Chris is the MUEN: When this of scenery.
MUEN today about reserved "VOICE." issue comes out you
Ember. Jared is the guy with will have returned to MUEN: I have seen a
the biggest heart but Qatar and beyond to lot of bands that
Deuce: Thank YOU for only a tad bit more entertain again. Why work hard but after
seeing you live you sometimes opening and Target. If not, cidentally puts three or
really work hard even bands are hard to they'll still be able to four of the parts to-
at a show. What come by. We donʼt buy on CDBABY and gether and things fall
drives an unsigned mind the extra work. thru iTunes. in to place. Unique to
band to play almost say the least.
nightly and how do MUEN: Hard question MUEN: You have one
you pull something but which show or of the most fascinat- MUEN: What may we
like this off as you event has been the ing and unique debut expect to see from
rarely have a day off? most fun to play and CD in that it is all live Ember in the rest of
why? performances but 2009?
D: Every time we step with a very different
on stage could be our D: We played a Boy twist. How did the D: Canʼt go much in to
golden ticket. You Scout show some time recording process detail, but there are
never know whose life in 2004. Eighteen happen? quite a few things in
you may touch, who wheeler trailer, all the the works. And if all
may be watching, or PA gear we owned, From the floor! It was else fails we'll have
who may be judging. sunset, and about 800 recorded "live" and in more music, more
Not to mention it is a Boy Scouts plus par- just 3 short days. love, and more
passion much like a ents and troop leaders. Where most albums friends/fans to share
mother to a child or a Half way through the are recorded take after our ongoing dream
soldier to his or her set Chris announced take and overdub after with.
gun. This is OUR mes- that merch would be overdub we plugged in
sage. for sale at the side of and all played to- MUEN: What is the
the stage and within gether. Just like you'd most exciting thing
MUEN: I noticed that ten minutes we'd sold see it live. It takes a planned for Ember in
you often donʼt have EVERYTHING we had. special kind of band to 2010?
an opening band but There were eight-year- do that, one that has
rather play different olds running around in played together for D: REALLY?? Iʼm not
styles with different XXL's because it was quite some time and is sure I could tell you
members of the band all we had left. comfortable playing to much more than where
to act as opening a click track and has our first show in Octo-
acts that are acoustic MUEN: In addition to good gear that doesnʼt ber will be much less
and then the tours and all the require much tweak- next year. (Laughs)
electric/acoustic. shows you are doing, ing.
How did you decide you have your debut MUEN: You have a
upon this unique ap- CD about to come MUEN: Who writes great performance
proach to a show? out October 1st. How the songs and how vid of “Blind.” Is this
will people be able to are they written. going to be your first
D: I donʼt know that get your CD other “single” to be re-
this is really a decision than at shows? D: We write all the leased or is this just
as it is a necessary jams and more often to showcase the
evil. We'd prefer to D: HOPEFULLY (fin- than not they are by more ballad side of
play our stuff, give our gers crossed) we'll accident. We'll write the band?
"120 percent" for 50 have some way for song after song, and
minutes versus spread fans to buy online thru not like it. Next thing D: Blind is an older
over three hours. But BestBuy, Wal-Mart, you know someone ac- song and something
we'd decided to put to D: I don't understand been as a promo- our readers would
video a long time ago. bands that DON'T tional tool for the like to know about or
We have not decided SELL! Each of these band? should know about
on a release yet but people staring back at Ember?
have a few ideas in the us on stage PAID D: MySpace has be-
works for the next money, are giving their come more spamful (is D: My brain is TOAST
Ember video. attention, and are that even a word?) at the moment. We
sticking around for US. than helpful. However started setting up at
MUEN: Are there any We'd be rude to not there are still REAL 3pm. After sound
more videoʼs say hello, to say people using MySpace check, MySpace,
planned? "Thank you", and to and as long as it is an Facebook, Twitter, 3
get to know them as avenue to keep in Lo-Carb Monsters,
D: Nothing in concrete. best as we can for the touch we'll continue to pizza, and enough
But we're working on 20 or 30 min we have use it. People still have loud music to deafen a
it! on break. home phones donʼt village I am glad I see
they? I might be wrong the light at the end of
MUEN: What advice MUEN: Loaded ques- on that one. (Laughter) the... interview.
would you give to the tion, but do you think
many other young you will lose that per- MUEN: For those that MUEN: Thanks
bands that are start- sonal touch with fans do know you well or Deuce for taking the
ing out with little or as you make it big? think they do, can time to talk with
no money and a lot you tell them one MUEN. Know we will
of talent? D: Itʼs inevitable; we're thing about each of be seeing and hear-
a group of five guys you they may not ing a lot more from
D: Make sure you have and letʼs say we are know? you in the future and
the heart. The rest you great at keeping in look forward to the
can beg, borrow, and... touch with 500 fans. D: Well, I love dogs, CD being released
well... ask nicely. When we've got 5000 play piano and have a October first.
fans it wonʼt be so high heel fetish.
MUEN: One thing I easy. We find that Chewy has the sickest D: Thank you SOO
noticed that most even now we are collection of video much for having us. It's
bands seem to oblivi- stretched thin but I can games. Jared watches been a pleasure know-
ous to is that you promise that each of more movies than any- ing you, and canʼt wait
need to “sell” the us gives every ounce one should and Chris to grow the friendship
band offstage as we have back to those can quote more further.
well. I saw each of who support us. Thank movies than Jared has
you approach old you to all of you even even dreamed of
and new fans to reading this interview, watching. Dusty has
“capture” them on a and for the chance to the ability to grow the
personal level by just put it out there! BEST afro on the
talking to them. What planet but wonʼt do it. I
made you decide to MUEN: You seem to keep asking.
do this as most have a huge follow-
bands usually es- ing of fans on My- MUEN: Is there any-
cape from fans to Space. How thing I have not cov-
rest rather than sell? important has that ered that you think
Opus Dai

By Macavity
OPUS DAI
www.myspace.com/opus-
dai

Los Angeles, CA

Interview by: Macavity

Many have seen or

heard of Opus Dai in
various forms and they
are breaking new
grounds by with a new
EP and upcoming art
and music shows and
also a tour of Japan.
We sat down and
talked with Jagger who
is one of the founding
members (and drum-
mer) for Opus Dai to
find out more about the
band.

The full band includes:

Atsushi Miyamoto (Gui-
tars), Tim Neighbors
OD: The Guitarist At- been with this line up power to fix it with a lit-
(Vocals) and Michael
sushi and I go back since then. Itʼs all gone tle work and effort. I
John Adams (Bass)
sometime; we were in a by so quickly when I was still excited about
few other bands before think about it. the chance to take the
MUEN: Hi Jagger!
this one. Together we new material to a new
Thanks for sitting
rebuilt Opus Dai after MUEN: Most bands level and really what
down and talking to
all the touring for the would have folded seemed like a set back
MUEN today.
first album, starting with with a lead singer actually turned out to
Tim sometime near the leaving yet you seem be a great addition to
Opus Dai: No prob!
end of 2007. Murv to have thrived. What the band. At first it
Thanks for having us!
jumped on board just has been your seemed like it would be
before we recorded biggest inspiration to a tough transition. But
MUEN: I understand
“Touch the Sun” and rise yet higher? really after the first au-
that you have been
we immediately went dition with Tim we were
together for some
on the road with Fair To OD: Itʼs just what we do excited to have the
time. Have long have
Midland for a short tour I guess. I couldn't really chance to start over
you been together
so that would be some- imagine stopping or let- and create with a fresh
with this current
time around summer of ting something hold us new perspective. I re-
lineup?
2008. So, we have back when we have to ally dread the audition
process, especially ritual to it all that feels Snot, System of a there again next month
when it comes to audi- good to us, like a labor Down, Static-X, Linkin so maybe we can do
tioning vocalists but and reward aspect. Itʼs Park (they were called some more damage.
much to our luck, Tim not always pleasant, Xero back then) Seven- (Laughs)
was the first person we but the struggle is part dust, Machinehead,
auditioned and we hit of growing as an artist Hed-Pe, Papa Roach MUEN: You had a
the ground running with and person. The road to name a few. It was a memorable touring
him. Itʼs been a really is a great environment lot of fun and an excit- this spring with
great experience and to really challenge our- ing time to be in a band SXSW included. How
we are fortunate to selves and test our lim- in LA. Looking back I was that experience
have found one an- its and night after night think it really made us to play such a large
other when we did. this process really take being in a band music festival with
helps us bond with the and making music quite some impressive
MUEN: You have over songs and with the seriously early on in bands?
500 shows that include people who come out life.
a lot of touring to your to hear it. OD: Yeah it was great!
credit and just finished MUEN: How has the There is SO much en-
another tour. What MUEN: You have touring been recently ergy there and itʼs ALL
drives you to tour and toured with the likes and what is the most about the music! I saw
do live performances of Linkin Park, Sys- memorable moment some amazing shows!
so much? tem of a Down and of this past year? Fair to Midland, Dredg,
Sevendust just to Metallica, Silversun
OD: The live context name a few you have OD: Touring has been Pickups, Nothing More,
reveals a completely shared the stage. Put- great! Itʼs a bit of a blur Valiant Thorr, Sound
different side to the ting you on the spot when I try to think and Shape all in the
recorded material; re- but what band do you about specifics... so same day! Itʼs pretty
ally itʼs a more honest most like to have a many people and inspiring to see what
rendition of the songs. show with and why? places. But SXSW was the other bands are
Itʼs where the music a highlight for sure, SO doing around SXSW
starts, being played OD: Well that may be a much fun to be out and I always walk away
live. No over dubs, no bit misleading. Atsushi there! There was a with a new favorite.
polish. Itʼs raw, itʼs live, and I have been play- show in Atascadero, Also it allows us to
itʼs real and itʼs loud. ing together in different CA where we actually come back to Texas,
Itʼs also a great way to bands around LA since broke the stage during which we love. Texas
hone in. When we are we were kids. In the our set. It literally came as a whole has been
on tour, each day re- early days we were for- down while we were really good to Opus
volves around that 45 tunate enough to be a playing "Sleeping Dai, but during SXSW
min set. Itʼs like you part of the whole "Nu- Giant." There is some itʼs out of control and
give your self over Metal" scene that came footage out there, you SO much fun to be able
completely to the out of LA round the late can actually see it to get back out to the
music. From the time 90's so, while we were come down but we kept other cities! There are
you choose to sleep, to still just kids learning playing though. That tons of other indie
what you eat and when what it was to play in a was pretty exciting. I've bands doing the same
you eat it. It all comes band in LA, we had the heard since then the route so we end up
down to making that chance to play around venue has a gotten playing with bands from
one set the best it can town with some great new stage, I think we all over the country on
be. There is a certain artists from that scene. are stopping through our way there and
back. That state is so several times over but made with a compila- they could have held
huge we always end up this will be our first run tion of raw footage shot up better. So having
spending half the tour outside of the country. over the course of the chance to get really
there. nearly two years of intimate with those
MUEN: We see differ- touring the west coast. songs live and learn
MUEN: Speaking of ent genres associated It was really about the what we wanted to ex-
huge. You have with you. But how live show and being out plore and what we
shows coming up in would you describe on the road. We plan wanted to do differently
November in Japan. your music to some to do some more video the next time around
Great crowds! How of the very few that blogging and I think the played a big roll in the
did you decide to play have not heard it? next video goal is to newer songs in addition
Japan and will any- shoot a more formal to the new band mem-
one tour with you OD: Hmmm, itʼs tough video maybe some- bers. Working with Tim
there? to say. Within the band thing a little more con- was great too, cause
we all have a pretty ceptual, but we aren't he could do all these
OD: We are playing out wide range of musical really there yet so itʼs new things, we sud-
there with a kick ass taste so Iʼm sure that tough to say at this denly had all these new
Japanese band called shows in the music. point. options to work with, it
Aggressive Dogs. This Iʼm not one to limit was like getting a new
tour came to us as a music to genres, but for MUEN: Speaking of toy as a kid and finding
result of the venue / us we have a lot of du- your CD, you have out all these cool new
management owner in ality in the music. Itʼs previously released ways to tinker around.
Japan. He owns sev- both hard and soft, ag- two CDʼs. How has There were countless
eral venues out there gressive and tender, the music changed hours in pre-production
including the ones we fast yet moody. Simul- other than the obvi- just exploring with Tim.
are playing are in taneously there are ous singer changes It was really a lot of fun.
Tokyo and Osaka. Ba- some edgy, more con- for this newest one In a way it gave us the
sically he missed one temporary influences “Touch the Sun”? chance to really ask
of our LA shows while as well as a healthy ourselves what is Opus
he was in the states dose of the classics. OD: I think the lineup Dai and what do we
last month and decided Ultimately we try to change was just part of want it to be? I guess
to book us in Japan keep an honest quality an evolution for us. Be- those are questions
pretty much so that he to the music and hope fore the first two re- that we never stop ask-
would be able to see us that it takes the listener leases we hadn't done ing really.
live! Apparently he was somewhere they want nearly the amount of
impressed enough by to be. touring that we now MUEN: How much
the turn out and reac- have. That was a big use has MySpace
tion of everyone at our MUEN: The video for influence for us and a been to the band
show that he booked “Sinking Ship” give great way to test out throughout?
us on the spot without us a taste of your live the old material over
even seeing us live. Al- performances from time and see what we OD: Itʼs been great!
though he was a fan of your EP. Are there did and didn't want to Especially in the begin-
our music sometime any new videos do with the new mate- nings of it, now there is
before then. We are planned to showcase rial. In some cases the a lot of spam and
REALLY excited to get more songs? older songs flourished everyone seems to
out there for sure! We within the live setting have some kind of
have toured the states OD: Yeah, that was and in others we felt music page up but,
even today itʼs a huge recording demo tracks MUEN: And what is ing a tire earlier that
tool for us to use keep constantly as we wrote, the most exciting day also while driving
in touch with fans and so in a way it made us thing planned for on the freeway. To this
people we meet when approach the songs 2010 and beyond for day that was our most
we are away from more from the perspec- Opus Dai? "Spinal tap" moment
home. Itʼs been huge in tive of a producer and the perfect folly
allowing us to reach out rather then a musician. OD: SXSW 2010! Pre- filled way to kick off a
to other bands and That kind of distance production on a new tour. Iʼm glad to say we
make friends with some was really helpful. Also, album and possibly a have come along way
great artists that live in we worked with pro- video. Definitely more since then in terms of
other parts of the coun- ducer Jun Murakawa touring in California up organizing our own
try and even the world. on the EP and had until the end of the tours and we have a
In many ways itʼs like much more of a chance year. much better vehicle
the new "scene". to explore our "sound" now.
Everywhere we go, than we ever had be- MUEN: For all the
bands and people say fore. It was such an fans that follow you MUEN: Is there any-
the same thing about awesome experience and think they know thing I have not asked
their town "oh, the to work with someone everything about you, that you think our
scene is dead here" but like Jun and have the can you tell us some- readers should like to
really itʼs alive. Itʼs chance to learn from thing that will sur- know about Opus
alive everywhere and his experiences and prise them? Dai?
its not limited to stand- feedback.
ing in front of your local OD: Tim has 3 testicles OD: Iʼll be showing
rock venue or music MUEN: What should but I guess thatʼs not some of my art work at
store handing out flyers we expect to see from much of a surprise the Third Eye Gather-
with other bands and Opus Dai for the rest thanks to the internet ing festival we are play-
fans. SNS sites like of 2009 other than the (laughs). Hmmm, sur- ing Sept 22nd. Art work
Facebook, MySpace, touring to Japan and prise them? Well, our I've done both for the
Twitter, etc. keeps us the other dates set al- first tour van caught on band as well as other
all together in one big ready? fire while on the free- art pieces.
scene! way! We were 6 hours
OD: There are some into the first day of our MUEN: Sounds like it
MUEN: Who writes new songs in the works first tour and we myste- will a great combina-
the songs for the and we should be riously started getting tion of visual and mu-
band and how are pulling them out for a light headed. Turns out sical art and perfect
they written? test run at some of it was from the fumes! for you guys! Thanks
these up coming Eventually one of our guys for talking with
OD: Itʼs mainly a col- shows. And also some road crew, Joe... MUEN today. We look
laborative process be- new video blogs. If you opened the door while forward to seeing and
tween Atsushi, Tim and are in our mailing list, we were sitting in traf- hearing a lot more
me. There isn't much of there are some promo fic. He saw a huge from you in the fu-
a formula in fact we things coming up that blanket of flames com- ture.
avoid getting to formu- we do exclusively for ing from underneath
laic about it. The last our mailing list sub- the van! This was just
EP was written a bit dif- scribers (things like se- after breaking the only
ferently then the other cret shows, free songs, key to the ignition off in
releases as we were giveaways etc.) the door lock and loos-
 The Culprit

Stratford-Upon-Avon, MUEN: Hi guys! often it can freak people call the real line up with
United Kingdom Thanks for talking to out to have secrets kept whom we have recorded
MUEN today about The from them and from that the album and toured ex-
Interview By: Macavity Culprit! the name came about. tensively with.
Have to ask the obvi-
The Culprit is a band ous question. Where MUEN: You have only MUEN: What other
that many have already did the name come been together since bands have you been
seen and heard in the from and does it have 2008. How did you de- in and do you still work
U.S. but have many a particular meaning? cide on who was going with any others each of
more fans to conquer. to be in the band and you?
We had a chance to talk The Culprit: The band actually who started
with Tommy, Russ and was initially put together the band? The Culprit: Russ is in
Luke recently after they by ex members of vari- another metal band from
finished a summer tour ous bands of the local The Culprit: The original where we live called Al-
of part of the states and area, but we kept it a se- line up included a differ- terVertigo, but other than
got some great and very cret at the time as to ent rhythm section upon small session roles etc,
definitely witty answers who was involved. Peo- conception, but that was the Culprit is the main
in our interview from the ple have always had a just early stages and creative outlet for the
guys that matches their fascination with mystery local shows. June 2008 rest of us.
great music very well. and anonymity. Very was the start of what we
MUEN: How would you think we try to cherry start somewhere! Our the live sequences,
best describe your pick the hooks from a bookings management is swapping the modern
sound to someone that range of styles. I have based in Texas, so it synth sounds etc for or-
has not heard you live always thought that made sense to start and chestral instruments. It
or on MySpace? bands who only listen to end the tour there and worked quite nicely.
their kind of music can route a months touring
The Culprit: We have become stale fairly around that. We hope to MUEN: That is a great
had a number of descrip- quickly. Russ: My origi- hit the East coast next, outlet to be heard by
tions; electro rock, multi- nal roots are soul and and then West coast/Cali rock fans. How did
media metal, alternative funk, so Iʼm really fo- areas after that. The US playing at Hot Topic
synth rock. Basically our cused to creating groove is so damn big we gotta come about and are
tag line is six strings based music. But as break it up into chunks! they to now carry your
meets sawtooth. It is a Tommy said I think To give you an example merch and music?
heavy modern rock band everyone has a broad of how different it is for
format (guitars, bass, taste in music! Anything us, you could fit the UK The Culprit: It was all
drums, vocals) plus elec- from The Police to Weird into Texas twice! booked as part of the
tronic sequences (loops, Al Yankovic! Luke: All tour. We did something
subs, synths etc) with music is an influence. It's MUEN: You have been like thirty odd shows in
the live show incorporat- all around us everyday, to the states before. about twenty-five days
ing film samples etc. Itʼs everywhere. I find it diffi- Where did you go on as we played twice in a
quite an interactive cult to be able to pinpoint tour then and why did day sometimes. The Hot
show! If anyone from a specific group or genre you choose those Topic shows were a
Apple read this, Can we when writing music. It al- places? great way to promote the
have some free stuff? ways should come natu- evening concerts, and
Most people who listen rally and from the heart. The Culprit: We were reach a wider potential
to our music or those over in March doing the audience. They seemed
who have seen us live MUEN: You have South by South West to go well with the stores
recently have related us played many gigs and festival in Austin, Texas. promoting the album and
to groups like Deftones seem to have toured It was just a week, but merch should be arriving
and Thrice, but with a more than most new those shows opened up soon!
dancy Electro side. I bands which is a great a lot of other opportuni-
usually describe it as accomplishment. How ties! MUEN: Glad it went
Heavy Electro Rock. did you get a SXSW well and speaking of
slot and also main MUEN: It is not easy to touring, what has been
MUEN: Who influences stage at Bulldog Bash get an in store session the most unusual or
you most in your writ- for this year? with Hot Topic and you memorable thing to
ing and playing? did many on this latest happen at a gig or on
The Culprit: A careful tour. How was it play- tour?
Tommy: Tough one. Well balance of hustling and ing in a mall and
to be honest, between back scratching. acoustic? Tommy: Ahem…In no
us we all listen to such a particular order…insects,
variety of genres that MUEN: You just came The Culprit: Very weird pink limos, firearms,
this would be a some- off a tour of the U.S. at first. Until now we had theme parks, stuffed buf-
what vague response. I that included mainly never played our stuff falo, jaw dropping heat,
work outside the band as the Midwest and Texas. acoustically. However, breathtaking views, alti-
a producer, and so am What made you decide we have been calling it tude sickness, strippers,
fascinated in all types of to do those particular ʻAcousticʼ, as we police, pool parties,
music; Rock, Dance, places for this tour? swapped the electric gui- ʻDonky Tonkingʼ, Ever-
Classical, Hip Hop, any- tars for acoustics, but clear, 6th St, Swine flu,
thing! I would like to The Culprit: You gotta continued to maintain fast food, VIP privileges,
Festival appearances, MUEN: When are you MUEN: Changing point. Itʼs a secret and
Rodeo bulls, tutus, returning to record the some, you have a base up to you to find out! All
GREAT AUDIENCES! next full CD? in Stratford-Upon- it takes is a few drinks.
Luke: Ha-ha, amazing! Avon. Are there any
That's everything I can The Culprit: Well weʼve plans to move or do MUEN: Is there any-
remember. Russ: Weird only just released the want to stay based thing I have not asked
people dancing on the new full length, and we there? that you think our
pavement whilst waving are now going back into readers would like to
a ʻSALEʼ sign and Big the rehearsal room to The Culprit: We are des- know about The Cul-
Johnʼs (our tour man- write new material. We perate to move to the prit?
agerʼs) laugh. will put up new demos US. So if thereʼs anyone
as they happen so all we reading this that can find The Culprit: We work
MUEN: Sounds like it can say is watch our My- us all a wife or a job then very hard with a DIY
was very interesting to Space page! hit us up! We are all ethos. We take care of
say the least! You have housetrained! Joking everything within the
samples up on My- MUEN: Do you have a aside, we do feel that the band; production,
Space from your EP video planned for the nature of our sound videos, graphics and
“The Stable Sessions.” one of the tracks from pushes us more natu- website. If you get in
I understand you have the EP other than the rally to an American au- touch with us on the site
new recordings? live performances you dience. you can be sure that it
have on YouTube? will come straight to us.
The Culprit: Well that EP MUEN: Do you think Anyone who gets in
is now kinda old as we The Culprit: Yes hope- you have more fans in touch, we aim to main-
have now released the fully being completed the states or at home? tain communication per-
new full length album. over the next couple of sonally. Check out the
We have re-recorded the months. The Culprit: The US MySpace for a series of
songs that now include now! blogs from our recent
the electronics etc. MUEN: How useful has U.S tour.
MySpace been to the MUEN: What more
MUEN: How is the promotion of the band should we expect to MUEN: Thanks guys
music written for the or what outlet other see from The Culprit for taking the time to
band and by whom? than live has been for the rest of 2009? talk with MUEN. We
most beneficial to the look forward to seeing
Tommy: It comes to us in band? Tommy: New video, new and hearing a lot more
dreams, or on the back shows, new tracks, pos- from you in the future.
of cereal packets. No in The Culprit: Vital. Partic- sibly even a progression
all seriousness, Luke ularly in the U.S. market. in direction. Same hair Tommy: Our pleasure.
and I wrote most of the It is a fantastic tool in though. Russ: And our Russ: Thanks. Luke:
songs on the album to- that it enables anyone in Christmas single, Santa Goodbye MUEN!
gether prior to Russ and the world to access your Clause is ʻComingʼ
Scott joining, but we are material for free. You (smirks). Luke: Hah!
now writing altogether canʼt ask for better pub-
for new material! Luke: I licity than that. In the MUEN: For your loyal
can't wait to write again. U.K.I think it has become fans that think they
We've come together so a bit ʻlast seasonʼ as au- know all about you, tell
well as band and it's diences there can be us something that
going to be really excit- somewhat more fickle, most donʼt know about
ing to see what we can but it is still a massive each of you.
create together. culture here in the U.S.
The Culprit: That is the

JANUS
“Red Right Return”
Janus looks beyond the
status quo of modern rock
music of today. This album
marks the start of what
some believe is sure to be
the beginning of a new
and changing modern rock
world of tomorrow. If you
like the Deftones, Perfect
Circle or Earshot you will
be blown away by Janus.
Every track on this album
is infectiously melodic.
One can only describe this
11 track song collection as
a very well crafted, re-de-
fined and re-designed ap-
proach to the genre.
Track one “Six Letters
Sent” starts with pounding
drums that you can feel
Send CDʼs For Review right in your chest. The
chorus is an amazing
MUEN Magazine demonstration of the ability
P.O. Box 11446 that the lead singer holds.
Towards the end of the
Whittier, CA 90603
song they break it down
before building it up into
another explosive Chorus
“If you keep running, will
you know my name”. The
ending riff reminds me of
something straight of a
Deftones album. “Eyesore”
is the bands first single. It
has a Breaking Benjamin
vibe but in a good way.
These guys really have
something special here.
Some other tracks that you
have to check out are the
melancholy fueled angst of
“Maybe Itʼs You”, or the
catchy hooks of “Say It”,
as well as the hard hitting
song “Skin Deep”. Red
Right Return is a must
have. I feel its one of the
best albums I have heard
from an independent artist
since the Destrophy
demos. This band has
what it takes to go to the
next level. They recently
played with Sevendust in
there home town of
Chicago. They have all
been road tested and are
in it to win. Drummer John
Salazar has already been
through the ringer with the
music industry with his for-
mer band Relative Ash.
They were signed to Island
and released a classic
album “Our Time with
You”. Unfortunately they
were dropped due to the
change in the music
scene. His new project is
destined to surpass the
former and bring great joy
to thousands. For more in-
formation check them out
at
www.myspace.com/janus-
band or
www.myspace.com/mor-
bidmiller
~Morbid Miller
CD REVIEWS
showcase the true vocal
talents and the versatility
of the musicians while
crossing parental advisory
perfectly and most of all
humorously. “Panther”
pleads for you to drum on
whatever surface close by
in an attempt to match the
mind-blowing drumming
and bass line. “Turn Out
STEEL PANTHER The Lights” and “Death to
“Feel The Steel” All But Metal” will be run-
ning in your head for days
Rarely do you get a after listening to these
chance to review a CD great performances.
that you already know is
going to be totally killer With a true homage to
without even hearing a eighties hair metal and
note. But such is the case rock sounds, Steel Pan-
with Steel Pantherʼs “offi- ther has managed to turn
cial” debut CD “Feel The a CD of that genre in to
Steel.” From the very first something that is so rele-
riffs and screams of vocals vant and entertaining that
there is not one note or you can NOT stop listening
tune that disappoints on to the album. Anyone that
any level of this kick ass enjoys supremely talented
album! Many things can be musicians with a heavy
said of parody style of dose of humor in raunchy,
metal rock but the one explicit lyrics is going to
thing that cannot be ig- listen to Steel Pantherʼs
nored is that you have to “Feel The Steel” and be
have extraordinary talent laughing and in awe simul-
to pull it off well and they taneously! This is one of
MORE than deliver the those albums that you will
goods on this album. not want to buy just one or
two tracks because you
Within this legendary apti- donʼt want to miss one
tude lies amazing guitar second of the brilliance of
riffs that make you listen their collection of talents!
over and over to try your Run, donʼt walk, to buy the
best to air guitar their CD and laugh, head-bang
tunes since you could and most of all appreciate
never match that level of the incredible talents while
talent! The same can be attempting to match the
said of the chameleon vo- vocals singing along wher-
cals that rivals Roth, ever you are.
Coverdale, Tyler and
Meine at their best voice. ~Macavity
“Community Property” and
“Stripper Girl” are two bal-
lads on the CD that really
POP EVIL
“Lipstick on the Mirror”
“Lipstick on the Mirror” is
the latest and definitely the
best that Pop Evil has of-
fered in the way of a com-
pilation of their
mind-blowing music. What
makes this compilation
truly unique and entranc-
ing is their music has
something that transcends
genders and genres with
their multiplicity of tracks.
But with this diversity,
within the CD, not one
track sounds out of place
and all implore to be lis-
tened to many times over
to hear what true rock is
supposed to sound like in
the digital age. It would be
far too easy to try and
compare them to another
band but they have proved
with this brilliant CD they
are incomparable! Their
stellar rock vocals, full on
versatile musicality and
expressive lyrics and,
most of all, raw emotion
flow throughout and within
the music and the lyrics of
“Lipstick on the Mirror” and
indeed provides the lis-
tener with a need to hit re-
peat many times to
appreciate every nuance
this band offers.
After many plays it is hard
to pick just a few stand out
songs since all seem to
stand equally strong on
their own merits and indi-
viduality. If you must pick a
few tracks to listen to be-
fore you buy the CD then
“Breathe” is certainly one.
This song has some of the
best rock vocals to be
heard and enough of pop
catchy lyrics to have you
hooked into singing along.
All of these qualities are
encased in truly incredible
musical talents with intri-
cate changeups and varia-
tions. Their skillful
distinctions and variety
can also be heard so ef-
fectively in the subtle sultry
vocal bridge in “Ready or
Not” and the passionate
slower tempo raw emo-
tions heard in “Romeo &
Juliet” not just with the vo-
cals but also within the as-
tounding guitar work.
If you think this is going to
be a pure emotional roller
coaster without substance
then you would be wrong.
Pop Evil has given a gift of
their musical talents in this
CD that is unparalleled to
any other rock CD out right
now. They have stretched
the boundaries to give
music lovers a wide variety
to entice them with every
song on the album for its
own individuality and gifted
subtleties that make you
rock your way through the
album over and again.
~Macavity
CD REVIEWS
produce a retro track. The more tracks that are sim-
bass anchors the song ply incomparable in their
beautifully to make it cross talent. Both exhibit the
the line to rock retro with a range of vocal talents that
fresh flavor. “Captivated” shows how far they can be
is aptly named as it is an- stretched and still remain
other tune that does in- clean and clear. Alongside,
deed captivate you to and equally as important,
listen to every articulate is the melodic instrumenta-
lyric that is exceptionally tion and performance of
sung and again perfectly these talented musicians
THE DARLINGS SUICIDE CITY
mixed with amazing musi- executing stellar composi-
“Self Titled” “Frenzy”
cal performance. Within all tions that have you hooked
this high energy punk is a with each note heard.
This self-titled EP by The rock ballad, “Love Story,” “Frenzy” is an appropriate
Darlings shows that exact that would make most any name for this full length
This great tight production,
consideration to every first offering from Suicide
artist envious of the qual- performance and writing
minute detail can produce ity. Once again the atten- City. They have that in-
you will make you wonder
an EP that is nothing short tion to detail tells this story deed and much more in
why you have not listened
of perfection and a delight with an outro of acoustic this mind-blowing album.
to them before when you
to listen to many times The CD also contains
guitar that ends the EP ex- have been listening to Bio-
over. They convey this heavy dozes of rock, nu
ceptionally well. hazard and 36 Crazy Fists.
awareness throughout the metal and alt to make a
But once you do listen to
EP with killer music that brilliant masterpiece of
This entire EP is so per- the catchy tunes and fren-
has the greatest of atten- fectly done that it leaves what these genres mixed
zied music you will want
tion to writing and song together should sound like.
you looking for the repeat yet more from Suicide City.
structure along with amaz- to play it over and again. Headbang to these fifteen
ing performances by the They could easily be com-
The Darlings display kickass tracks and eagerly
entire band. pared to early Faith No
sounds that are completely await their next CD to see
More but they have taken
fresh and quite unique what gifted things could
It is within those perform- that sound many levels
which makes it impossible higher. With such clean possibly top this astound-
ances that it is difficult to to compare them with any and articulate vocals that ing album.
extract one element that other band. They have
stands out more than an- have great range and vari-
mastered a way to com- ~Macavity
other. They have every- ation combined with adroit
pletely own their individual use of programming and
thing so well mixed and talents and sound con-
tight that it all makes for a instrumentation they could
summately. easily make FNM wish
perfect balance of punk
and rock performed to ex- they sounded as good on
~Macavity an album as this one is.
ceeding levels. One fea-
ture that must be They use the dexterity of
mentioned is the brilliant their sound to make tracks
use of stellar basslines to such as “Painted Horse”
make the backbone of the and “Not My Year” stand
melodies and truly make out with their frenetic high
all their tunes rich, full and energy that makes you
energetic punk with a want to headbang your
great dose of rock. This is way through both tunes
best revealed in “Lacerate” and sing along at the top
where the unbelievable vo- of your lungs to match the
cals, together with the gui- remarkable vocals. “Un-
tars and amazing drums, done” and “Cutter” are two
CD REVIEWS
ROBIN
“Thunder & Speedumb”
The latest offering, and the
first U.S. release, for
Robin is a kickass rock
psychobilly album that is a
must have for all fans of
this genre. They utilize
their collective talents to
put forth a CD that that
mixes punk and rock with
touches of metal and
enough southern rock fla-
vor to make if truly unique
and stand up to their genre
exceptionally well.
However, a unique use of
a variety of basses com-
bined with fantastic gui-
tars, drums and vocals,
which are found through-
out this CD, set it apart
from their peers and
makes a statement to
cross genres. Each ele-
ment has a standout track
within the album to high-
light the individual talents
of the band. This is partic-
ularly notable in “Vul-
canus” which incorporates
in to the punk some grind
core and metal compo-
nents through amazing vo-
cals and shredding riffs. It
is the longest tune on the
CD and worth every sec-
ond to hear all their talents
work together superbly.
“Flying High” brings in ele- “Chemical Gods” also has
ments that are reminiscent some of the smoothest vo-
of The Sex Pistols only far cals that cleverly place an
better with their clever use edginess to them when
of the bass and vocals that needed to match the musi-
demand to be heard. cal changes. “Baby Blue”
“From Hell” is another is bluesy to the core with a
standout track that truly retro, almost analog,
brings to light their psy- sound that takes such a
chobilly sound with a defi- turn from the rock yet
nite southern rock with a seems to fit perfectly
THE CROSSING
harder edge feel to the within the rock tracks be-
“Chemical Gods”
music. cause of its use of modern
programming techniques.
The Crossing has done
This may be there first re- “Rot” is yet another song
more than one thing differ-
lease in the U.S. but will that stands out for more
ent with their latest CD
certainly not be their last! than just the remarkable
“Chemical Gods.” For one
They are a great punk sounds that are found
it is a compilation of 40
band that utilizes all their throughout. It makes an
tracks. However, the most
talents so well to make astounding amount of
striking difference about
their music cross genres statements with well writ-
The Crossing is that they
and grab fans that would ten lyrics that leave the lis-
have blown all genres to
normally turn away from a tener to derive their
hell and just created their
tag such as punk or psy- interpretation if they are
own called VERSATILE!
chobilly. For a fresh take political, world or societal
With this versatility though
on compound genre statements. This attention
and the amount of tracks,
music, this album that is a and adroit use of lyrics is
quality of sounds do not
must have for anyone that found throughout and
suffer nor get diluted in
want a new and com- crosses all their songs to
any manner!
pletely rocking out sound make each an ear-catch-
with intriguing composition ing tune no mater the
They have managed to
and performance added. tempo of the music.
garner talents that pull in
pure rock and add ele-
~Macavity ments of alt, blues, grind, Although the easy way out
would be to say they
clean metal and still throw
sound like this band or that
in to the mix some of the
it simply cannot be done!
greatest mid-century
The Crossing have their
sounds that harkens to
own sounds that are as in-
balladeers such as J.
tricate and Technicolor as
Frank Wilson. “357” and
their album art and some-
the title track both stand
thing that should not be
out as stellar examples of
passed by. This is one of
the range of talent dis-
those rare CDʼs where
played by the band mem-
there is something to
bers both musically and
please any music fan that
vocally. Both are full on
appreciates quality at its
rock tunes that showcase
highest form!
an amazing set of vocal
range and versatility and
~Macavity
also some mind-blowing
guitar and drum talent.
CD REVIEWS
and again to catch each rapidly becoming a fa-
drum beat and guitar lick. vorite. Do you like Edward
“Anthem” and “Killers” slow Sissorhands? Well then
things enough to catch you should like "Contro-
each lyric sung and per- verse." "Distant" descends
formed and give yet an- weightlessly back into a
other view of this bandʼs more mellow realm again,
outstanding abilities. with a mix of both "acoustic
sounding" and electronic
It would be very easy to keys, followed by the heav-
PAPERBACK FREUD compare them to Aero- FRIGHTDOLL ier "Leaving You".
“All In A Dayʼs Work” smith meets ZZ Top and “Assimilation Illusion”
Stevie Ray added in but The later part of this album
The sophomore offering Paperback Freud are in a The music of Frightdoll is is good... songs like "Gen-
from this Swedish rock class all their own. They do written, performed, erate" and the somber
band shows how far the have the elements of these recorded and produced "Endings," which has some
band has come to express bands and yet have taken solely on her own. It is a interesting programming.
their electric live perform- them to a higher level with dark mix of transgressional
ances on disc. It is always their kickass fusion of all type goth executed in an Lastly, "Sweet Serenity"
hard to beat a great debut three influences. This is a electronica and industrial wraps things up with much
album but Paperback CD that all rock fans must manner, complete with of the same... but even
Freud has blown their have to complete their col- bold synth tracks and more twisted acoustic
debut album out of the lection of what modern day metallic beats. Frightdoll, piano accompanied by
water with this mind-blow- boogie blues rock should out of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, some insanely soft twisted
ing CD. sound like when written is the entire deal, not shy vocals, which conjures up
and performed brilliantly of provocative, and not visions of Frightdoll curled
Somehow they have cap- well! afraid to lure you with se- up in a corner down in a
tured the bluesy boogie ductiveness. cold damp cellar, plotting
southern rock sound and ~Macavity her next album. Her latest
made it their own unique Ironically, the disc starts release includes much
style of pure rock and roll out with what sounds like color and attitude, not only
that has no hint of the tra- an acoustic piano in the in the music, but also in the
ditional offerings from very lightweight sounding, artwork of Synthestruct
Swedish rock bands. “High "Lost". After this lullaby of a and photography of
Speed Rock and Roll” is a start, track 2 swiftly Janette Valentine. It is a
perfect example of this swoops in with a more an- four-panel fold out com-
unique musicality with their ticipated goth/industrial plete with all the lyrics and
tight performance and pro- tone, "Alone In This" and is various Frightdoll imagery.
duction exhibited with a followed by the same with A professional production
stellar balance of shred- "Caused," containing up- throughout. There are a lot
ding kickass riffs, beats tempo synth beats and of ways to describe it... in
and vocals. These talents electrically charged vocals her own words: "a search
are found, impeccably that are becoming a staple for a sense of self within, a
done, throughout the CD in the Frightdoll sound. It is medium in which the dis-
no matter what tempo the now safe to say, you may tinctions between the
tune has. “My Frequency” find yourself slipping into a human mind and digital
and “Bad” showcase their trance, while the vocal processes have become
versatility to fuse boogie parts and synth become blurred."
with full on rock and add more and more fixed in a
enough of a blues flavor to gothic landscape, as in the G. Cataline
make you play them over song "Evolution," which is