Interview with James "Stikman" Ismean!

1.First of all, can you introduce yourself for the people, who don’t know you?

The infamous James "Stikman" Ismean singer of Fury of Five!


2.Most people know you as the frontman of the famous Fury of Five. How it all began with FOF?

We started in 94!A band I was in had just broken up(position of power)and was in the midst of looking to start something new,when Mike Terror from my first band (locked up in life/fof) called me and ask to come check out these two dudes he was jamming with!one who ended up being the great Jay fury and the rest is history!


3.Last Week Fury of Five had a reunion after a long time.How did this happen?

12 yrs was the last time Fury played!but this recent show all happened when Chris (Mushmouth/Boxcutter) and I was on the plane back to the US started politicking about doing Fury!I down played it and said let's do one song!Every man for himself!we both agreed and were down with it. Then about a week or two later he tells me to give him a set list of 6 songs,were doing a Fury Jam with a all star line up on June 12!The East Coast Tsunami Fest!I was like yeah right but he wasn't lying!so all credit goes to him!

4.How many orginial FOF Member stand on the stage last week?And what is about the other origninal member?

I was the only original member!all the others have moved on,had other obligations or straight out hate me!lol!


5.Was it a one time reunion or could the people in europe maybe have the chance to see you on stage again with FOF?

Well this wasn't a reunion!even though it could possible be the stepping stone for further shows!so yes its possible!but nothing definite!if the ECT Fest is any indication on how the band is still loved because that show was incredible!I'm seriously thinking about it but have to weigh out the pro's and con's to see if its really worth it!


6.In March 2010 you was in Europe with Boxcutter. I never believe that I have the chance to see you live on stage. Who asked you and was it difficult to get all boxcuttermember together for a trip to europe?

Ah yes!the BBTG Fest!an other incredible show!Boxcutter's first time in Europe!I think my man Jurgen hooked that up!that show only happened because a few members are in Wisdom in Chains and were on tour at the time!so they flew Chris,Battle and myself for the that show!that's the only thing about boxcutter the members are in all different bands that play out which makes it difficult for us to play shows!

7.What do you think about the Boxcuttergig in Europe?Tell us a little bit about your days in europe,please.

The show was awesome!the crowd response was overwhelming!I couldn't believe it!everybody was dancing and sing along!I didn't know Boxcutter was that popular because we don't play really!definitely one of my top shows of all time that I've played!hopefully we'll be back sometime soon!


8.Can you tell us,how did it start with boxcutter? You can really say it's a ALL STAR Band.

Boxcutter started in late 2000 or early 2001!not sure!but anyway!Rich(krutch/wic) and I got reconnected!we would talk here and there!then one day he hits me up and asked me if I wanted to sing on four tracks they had!now me,coming off a break up of fury didn't want to be compared that!so I had this whole idea of a real gangsta rap metal band and he told me to do what I wanted with the tracks!so I wrote some lyrics and we called the first ep Thug Rock!now were 2 full lengths and possibly a 3rd!will keep y'all posted on that!

9.How do you feel about the hardcore scene today? What changed since you came into it?

The hardcore scene is what it is!I don't pay attention to the scene!I just do what I do!I don't think its any different then the 80's,90's and the now!only the faces change!the music don't really progress to much!its a vicious circle of people who are trying to find an identity in life and who they are!when you live hardcore you don't talk about it!you be about it!

10.What are some of the most memorable gigs for you?

Definitely the ECT fest and BBTG fest!but if I go way back I'd have to say the Dynamo fest,any Asbury Park show Fury played!The Warp tour was other good one!but actually anytime I hit the stage its a good show!as long as the people love it!its all good!


11.When it comes to your roots, what bands and styles in particular have influenced your sound?

Me,myself!I'm a big metal fan!hardcore bands don't move me so much!unless I know the band personally!I'd have to say some of my favs are Sepultura!fear factory,slayer,and suicidal tendencies just to name a few!the new meruader is definitely hard!and a lot of rap!mobb deep,dmx,biggie etc..mold my style of hardness!


12.What's the scene like out in your area at the moment? Are there a lot of newer bands we should keep our eyes out for?

Jer-z is wack right now!violence pretty much killed it!I see a lot of 90's hardcore bands reuniting for shows!but that's about it!I don't know any upcoming bands!so I can't speak on that!

13.What are the future plans for you?a new band? touring?

No really plans!I just take it day by day!I have a life,a son,and responsibilities!I have love for music so anything can happen!especially after the ECT Fest!I see the people still need an angry voice and I'm still filled with hated!so stay tuned because you never know what I may do!

14.Thanks for the interview, anything you would like to add?

Haters keep on hating!you motive me!shout out to all my BFL soldiers!and thanks for interviewing me!can't stop the unstoppable!

ALL OUT WAR Interview

1.Hi, tell us a little about the history of All Out War,please.How did AOW get together?

All Out War started in the fall of 1990 with Chris from Merauder, Tom and Sam from a band called AWOL, and myself (Mike). We wanted to start a hardcore band heavily influenced by metal. I guess it turned out to be totally metal. We had no interest in sounding like any youth crew band or post hardcore band.

2.What are some key elements and influences that have shaped the band over the years?

Carnivore, Slayer, Kreator, Destruction, Cro-Mags and Leeway


3.Your lyrics are about the bad influence and faults of religions worldwide amonst other stuff. what made you pick this specific topic as the lyrical theme for the band?

The lyrical content of the band evolved into the exposing of the corruption of organized religion. I personally have a strong faith in God, but do not adhere to any organized religion or association. Any religion that condemns others who do not see the world the same as they do or places limitations on free will is not worthy of God.

4.In a few weeks you'll release a new record.What can we expect from it?

In a few weeks we will record a new record. Everyone always says that their new release is going "to be the bet thing they ever did". I'll hold off on saying that and let people judge it as they will.

5.What will be different compared to your releases back in the day?

What will be different? I guess if I were to compare it to other releases I would say it has a combination of Condemned to Suffer and For Those Who Were Crucified. Brad Mader is back in the band and he contributed a lot to Condemned to Suffer. It's a good mix without being the same.

6.What will be the name of the new record and how did you come up with the name of it?

As of right now, the name of the release is FEAR THOSE WHO SERVE THE LORD

7.You are a teacher as far as i know. Do you ever had problems in your job because of the band, like it gave you a bad rep among colleges!? do they even know what you do in your time away from school and how about your students? are they aware of All Out War?

My colleges know of the band and some of them judge me in a negative light. I don't care. I am who I am and have constantly been on the outside ever since I can remember. Even in the "hardcore" scene I have never been on the inside, so it's not so different at work. I am very dedicated to my work as a teacher and that is all that should matter.


8.You are coming over to europe together with Breakdown for a few shows in august. What can we expect from those shows and what do you guys expect from them?

We will be playing most of the songs off of For Those Who Were Crucified as well as a few from all the other releases. Hopefully, we will have a limited release just for those shows as well. I have learned to never expect anything in life because the unexpected always seems to occur anyway.

9.How do you feel about the hardcore scene today? What changed since AOW started?

Music/music scenes are all a moment in time. Trying to recreate the past is pointless. It is better to sit back and let things happen.

10.Thanks for the interview, any final thoughts or statements for the readers of my blog?

Thanks for the questions. Hopefully. I'll see you at the shows. Thanks again.

Purify Interview

1. Hi, first of all, could you give us a rundown on Purify – who is who, how did you guys get together and what was the reason to start a band?
In the beginning, we all played in many bands from various music styles.We all knew each other before we decided to play together.
We just did it due to a lack of motivation from some members of our last bands we played with.

2. In which bands did the member of Purify played in the past?
A lot of bands but the last ones were Time Has come, Out For The Count, And The Angels Die, Kickback & more...

3. What are the band's main influences?
So many bands people probably don't know the existence of, so we will give you just these words to redefine PURIFY :
Anger, dirt, unholy things, loudness...

4. What are some of the topics you touch in your music and how important is message in hardcore for you?
We like hardcore and metal music as long as it stays near our influences. We play in a band defined as a hardcore/metal band but we really don't give a fuck of this scene and even the other ones, and of course people involved in it. So we don't have any message to share with them. Our lyrics are not about typical hardcore bands like "unity", "brotherhood", or typical hardcore bands faking to be tough and talk about "gangs", "guns", "brassknuckles"... Our words are just some themes about "suicide", "dirt in this world", and all around the words we said in answer number 3.
5. What makes your first record significant and what can we expect from it? When do you will release it?
We planned to start recording in 2010. We have a lot of ideas for this record and how it should sounds. We don't want to communicate anything else about it, just wait & see cause we don't want to tell stories about something that's not released yet.
6. How do you think the genre of hardcore has evolved over the years? Do you think it’s all going in the right direction?
From an external point of view, we think that the hardcore scene is today what the "neometal" scene was 10 years ago.
Kids begin to listen to hardcore very young, buy some "Terror" stuff, come to hardcore shows. For people involved in this scene we think it must be great, but like we said, it's just our point of view.
If you want to know if they're all going in the right direction, we will answer "yes". Just because they all are going in the same direction, good or bad we don't care, because this is not the direction we decided to follow.

7. What are tour plans for Purify?
We'll just make some shows to promote the name of PURIFY until starting to record our full lenght in 2010.
Some shows we were supposed to do got reported in 2010 so we can keep working on this record.Next crib we will play is a fest in London called "Warfare fest" in the end of november, next ones will follow in the beginning of 2010.

8. What is your label situation?
We are dealing with many labels.
We will work with the one who will be able to fit our needs, not necessary the biggest one, but the righteous one with a same vision of the music we play.

9. What are the bands plans for 2010?
For dumb people who didn't understand : Shows, record, shows.

10. Thanks for the interview, anything you would like to add?
No.

The Platoon Interview

1. Could you give an introduction of the band for all who don’t know you? How long you’ve been around and what have you released so far?
Alright, so The Platoon is based in Germany and we're around for a some years now. We released a split cd with Luca Brasi a couple of years ago on MadMob
from Berlin and did an EP called "Like Hyenas In The Desert" last year on FWH Records. Besides that we did some some songs here and there that were available on our myspace so
that's about it.
2. How would you describe The Platoon to someone who has never heard you before?
Angry, honest, heavy music. Don't know what else to say.
3. What is your main inspiration when writing?
Everyday life. I mean this is what hardcore is all about, right? When it comes down to the music, well everyone of us listens to different stuff
which is always an influence if you like it or not. But there's no gameplan for a particular sound or whatsoever.
4. Can you tell us some bands that have influenced your style?
Like said we all come from different musical backgrounds but on the bottomline it's still hardcore with some other flavours thrown into. I personally listen
to that new york/east coast stuff like Crown of Thornz, Rag Man, Madball, Integrity etc.when it comes down to hardcore music besides the other styles of music I love.
I guess that's also where things are heading with the band somehow.
5. How do you feel about the hardcore scene today?
Actually the scene is doin' pretty good in this part of Germany. Lots of shows, lots of bands poppin' up. Sometimes I get the feeling
that the fact that so much is going on somehow spoiled people and made them less openminded towards all the differrent styles of underground music that are out there.
But like in any other scene there's always stuff you yourself feel wrong or different about then back in the days. We keep doin' our thing and support our friends in doin' theirs.
6. You guys played with a variety of bands, small shows and festivals. What are some most memorable gigs?
Since we don't play that often every show is kinda good and fun but that release show we did for the "Like Hyenas" EP was totally off the hook.
We didn't expected anything and kids were going nuts. What else can you ask for.
7. What are the bands plans for the future?
Right now we're writing new material for the follow up to the hyenas EP. Already finished some songs and see where it will take us. There's no tour or anything like that on focus
cause we try to come up with a new release in the first half of 2010. After that we'll see or we get bitter,hahah.
8. Anything else you would like to add?
Thanks for your time and good luck with the zine.

Cold Existence Interview

1. Hi, can you introduce Cold Existence for our readers and let us know where you are from?
Bobby: Cold Existence is Anthony SOSF on Vocals, Bobby Blood on Guitar, Phillip "Blood" Gonzales on Guitar and Larry "Blood" Red on Bass. We hail from Sin City! Las Vegas, NV


2. When you will release your first stuff and what can we expect from it?
Bobby: We have finished our first E.P. It's called Mob Firing/Six Terror Six. It is 5 original tracks and 3 cover songs that we recorded for a movie soundtrack. It is being released world wide through Filled With Hate Records. We have no release date yet, but we are shooting for a mid December release. I have a very simple concept and formula for Cold Existence and the music I write for us. We keep it raw and we keep it simple. We play what we want to hear. We're not going to be showcasing skills and we're not going to be showcasing fashion. We look at our recordings as little more than a way for people who want to have a great time at shows to know our songs and be able to participate in the show. At the same time, we take a lot of pride in the quality and production of anything we release. We are a DIY band and we do everything we can to keep our business inside our hardcore community, but nothing gets released unless it is worthy. So to wrap the question, expect a very raw, well produced, in your face E.P. that is a solid representation of what the band sounds like live.




3. How would you describe the lyrics and where do you find your inspiration?
Anthony: The lyrical content of Cold Existence comes straight from the streets. It is based upon real life situations that I have dealt with growing up. Las Vegas is a melting pot for crime which has molded my point of view since a child. I've gone through situations which many people might have gone through also and I write the way I do hoping that others can relate. From being in gangs, writing graffitti,Family,Brotherhood, selling drugs, murder, death, and anti-racism
I try and hit all aspects of issues that we deal with on a daily basis in this city we call home.The world is a cold fucked up place and you wont make it out alive without struggle and sacrifice.


4. Which bands have been the major inspirations in developing your style?
Bobby: My guitar style mostly comes from some of the earlier Death Metal stuff like Napalm Death, Obituary, etc. Not really the fast stuff just the slow heavy stuff they do. As for music in general, Biohazard is a big influence and definitely Suicidal Tendencies especially their first record. Lots of vintage punk bands like Black Flag and Fear. Can't really say our songs are structured or toned like any of that stuff but those are definitely where my style comes from.

Anthony: I dont even know where to start. A lot of bands that have inspired me and made an impact on my life are older bands like Cold As Life, Fury Of Five, Bulldoze and All Out War. A lot of east coast hardcore, none the less, I also have always loved and respected hiphop and rap music. Rakim has been one of my favorite lyricst since I was a kid. The way he would paint pictures with his words and metaphors, like an artist would use a paintbrush, would always intrigue me and make me bug out. Anybody can sit down and write about bullshit, and thats what I stray away from, because theres a lot of it everywhere. When I'm dead and gone, I want people to look back and say he wasn't full of shit and he kept it real. I speak the truth whether you like it or not!!

5. What is the hardcore scene like in Nevada?
Bobby: We have a very good scene here in Nevada. We have guys like Dustin Shaw of Suffer The Loss who has almost single handedly kept the local scene going for years by finding and providing venues for bands to play, including his own house. We have the band Folsom also from here who's singer Stu did a very similar thing for many years before they started spending so much time on the road. Now we have an amazing venue called Eastside Joe's run by Joe who is a great supporter of the scene that really helps keep things going. Most importantly we have a pretty strong number of loyal kids who come to the shows and support the local bands as well as the touring bands. All in all we have a great thing here.

6. What bands, labels, crews are the most active in your area?
Bobby: As far as hardcore goes the main bands around here would be Folsom who are pretty much on the road all the time now but still do some great shows in Vegas when they're home. Suffer The Loss are a great band who are active both headlining shows and being used to help draw on the bigger tours that come through. Rule Of Thumb are some good friends that get on a lot of the bigger shows with the popular touring bands. Them and their fans are a lot more metal friendly for the venues and security. Stay Cold are great friends and have done a lot we're hoping they can work it out and get back together. As for Cold Existence, we know it's not gonna work out if we take our shows into the Vegas metal venues so we don't even try. Nothing against them but they don't understand our thing and the way our fans are at the shows. We're not trouble makers but we hold it down strong for us and ours and we know where we belong and where our people can be themselves without people who don't understand getting themselves wrecked. We're just not trying to spread our appeal to those other genres here in Vegas. When we're on the road we will respect other peoples home turf and house rules but at home we already have the fans we want. Everyone is welcome, but if anyone is interested in Cold Existence and what we do and stand for, they will find us.
Anthony: The most active crew in our area would have to be my crew SOSF (SWING ON SIGHT FAMILY). We have had a chapter in Vegas for a few years now and our impression has definatly been felt in our scene. From beating up nazis and bullies at shows, to organizing hangouts and bbqs for all the kids in our scene, to setting up shows and getting our friends bands from outta state to come through and play. It is all built on respect and we show respect to a lot of people in our city. If you take that for granted your gonna get rolled over no doubt!!
We are a world wide family with chapters all over the world including: Ohio, Pennslyvania, Indiana, Kentucky, Nevada, Japan, and Germany. There is also going to be a SOSF compilation coming out soon with all SOSF related bands so keep your ears open in 2010!!

7. What is your label situation?
Bobby: Our primary interest as a band is to keep everything DIY as much as possible. There are some things we cannot do ourselves though, so we have partnered up with Filled With Hate Records to oversee the release and distribution of the new E.P. For what we are doing, they are the perfect partners in crime and the missing piece of the family we were searching for. They are putting our CD in the places we will be touring in 2010, and that is all we need. We will handle the rest.


8. What are the future plans for the band?
Bobby: We are filming a video for the song Fueled By Hate in 12 days. Then we will be announcing a release date for the E.P. We have already started getting our plans for 2010 together. We are doing the Summer Of Hate Festival in Ohio next year, and we are piecing together a tour through Europe as I type this. We will also be writing for the rest of the year and will do a full length recording in the near future.




9. Thanks for the interview, anything you would like to add?
Bobby: Thanks the interview, it is very much appreciated! We really look forward to getting out to Europe in 2010 and hanging out with everyone. Keep an eye on our myspace page for updates myspace.com/coldexistence
SEE YOU ON THE ROAD! THANKS!

SOSF Interview

1. First of all, what does SOSF stand for?

Rob:The original meaning was Swing On Sight Family, it simply meant that you were down for your brothers, through thick and thin. The letters or numbers (59) can stand for a couple of different things now, but the basic beliefs are still the same; defend your letters and defend your crew.

Rene: i start this interview with a qoute by my sosf bro ACE from Las Vegas:"when theres problems, theres no need for words. talking shit is weak, if your gonna fight just swing on sight."


2. Could you give us a rundown on the SOSF Germany – who are the members?

Rene:
The staff is located in Western Germany, the so called Ruhrpott.
We have a clear hierarchy, so that we can organize stuff easily and only a few guys will decide the important stuff.
Iam the so called national head. i mainly talk to the guys from america and i meet monthly with my 5 national advisors. I tell them what our brothers from america are planning to do and besides we dicuss national stuff.
The advisors are Olli RBS from IBWT, Sandro from DLS, Samis DRM/RBS from Reduction and Mark DRM/RBS from BAM. They all run different types of Chapters. the smallest chapter has 5 people the biggest over 20 guys.
Each Chapter has the goal to gain bigger and stronger. Besides that we are planing to create new Chapters. But we dont hurry to become bigger, because future member and chapter have to prove themself to be worth to rep SOSF letters.


3. Can you tell us something about the SOSF? Where did it start?

Rob:It was based primarily out of the youngstown, ohio area and some surrounding cities, like pittsburgh , pennsylvania , and erie, pennsylvania. There were other city crews that weren't very serious , just friends hanging out at shows. We decided around 2001/2002 that we needed to combine everyone into one united front. Then it secured our friends in other cities, since we had friends everywhere. People who were cool with us , were cool with our friends in other cities, keeping peace between crews/kids in our combined areas.

Rene: SOSF Germany startet 10/10/2009. I met some of SOSF guys during our tour in america in 2k7. Everyone i met were awesome dudes, they showed hospitality and it was cool to hang out.
This year we played a short tour with represent, and i tried my best to make their stay as cool as possible. After that i wrote some mails with them and Rob, and we found out that we share the same goals.



4. What was the reason to start the SOSF Germany? Do you still growing up?

ROB: There are SOSF chapters in multiple cities , including Tokyo, Japan, so international expansion always made sense to us. This crew is all about brotherhood, no matter what country you are in, so Germany just made sense to us. SOSF members over here told me about interest from Rene and others from In blood we trust after they toured here. It had been talked about for a while, and after an SOSF member came back from tour from Germany this year, we made it official. We aren't into recruiting but recognizing people that are the same as us , just in different areas. RBS/DRM showed us nothing but respect and brotherhood, so we decided to return the favor. We will continue to grow , when and only it makes sense to the SOSF.

RENE: As i said before, i met some of them, and knew that they are all cool. After Rob asked me to run this Germany chapter, i was excited and honoured at the same time, and i thought about the connections my friends and brothers from different Bands and crews have and the connections we can build when we are linked and/or be a part of a crew from america with a japanese chapter.
SOSF Germnay is an independent Crew with members all over Germany. On the one hand we have individuals that were not in a crew before, but who did alot for hc music and on the other hand we have brothers and friends from other crews that run the SOSF Letters and their Crew letters at the same time. Like the National Leaders Olli, Mark, Samis and me are RBS. Besides that Mark and Samis are DRM too. But Sandro were never in a crew before but was a close friend for years.
We work together with DSA RBS/DRM to set up shows, and get bands and brothers from america over here, and make sure that they will have a great time and must not care about stuff like "where can we stay tonight".
Besides we want to bring german bands and friends to america, to play shows and to hang out with our 5 9 amigos.
Our stedy goal is steady growth. We just build up the base. 5 9 Germany wants to have connections all over Germany, and recruit people who are worth it.
A Example for this is, that we made the whole DSA crew a 5 9 Chapter. These dudes are all awesome and try their best to put hardcore on the north germany map.
But everyone can get in touch with us, and apply as a member. the national chapter will discuss it and make them prospects when we have a good impression and see sense in making people sosf.

5. What bands and labels do you support?

Rob: Band wise myspace.com/SOSFbands also widom in chains, stout, enemymind, suburban scum, cdc....labels , Hardass Records/Filled With Hate records

Rene: Besides the stuff Rob mentionend we support all RBS DRM and DSA Bands. Check our topfriends on www.myspace.com/sosfgermany, to get to the crew pages to check the bands!
It is simply to much to mention here6.

6. How do you think about other crews, like the RBS or DRM?

Rob: As far as other crews, i don't put too much thought into them; we are cool with most u.s. crews and as far as we are concerned , they do what they do, and we do what we do. Nothing but respect to our friends in other crews around the u.s. As far as RBS/DRM , we have nothing but respect for them and the things they have done in the german hc scene.

Rene: 3 words: FRIENDSHIP LOYALTY RESPECT.

7. I heard something about a SOSF Compilation. Can you say something about it?

Rob: There has been a u.s. one in the works for a while, but now with the addition of german and japanese bands, its looking like it will be a worldwide release. Might take a while to get out, but it should be great when it finally gets released.

Rene: Right now theres a lot of stuff to handle. And i cant say any details, because i dont even know them yet.
Every Band that has SOSF Member, can or should put a song on this comp.
It is planned that it will be released online. So that you can just download it.
But you will hear all the details, like release date early enough.


8. What do you think about the HC-scene today?

Rob: Im almost 30, so to me hardcore in the current state is about as weak as it could be. Theres no sense of brotherhood or comraderie in the scene that i see around me. Just kids that have no interest in reality, but in the fake image or sound they are told to buy into on a messageboard. Its their lives so they should live them however they want to, but i think the hc scene is terrible. SOSF came out of a scene where alot of people were weak fakes that have long forgot about hardcore ethics or values. They became what they hated and faded into society. We still live by the same values we always have and will.

Rene: Well it is true, that the hc scene has a lot of fake ass kids that suck cock to gain scenepoints. BUT that are kids i dont know and i have nothing to do with them. Every Scene has faggots, look at the metal, punk scene or whatever.
Hc can be fucked up, like internet thugs, that run their mouthes but are never be seen at a single show. BUT HC has it good sides too, like friends you can rely on and it is easy to get in contact with people around the world because of this music.

its funny, while iam writing this answer i feel, that i could write stuff about the scene till tomorrow.
To come to an end, the the scene, like my scene, is one of the most importants things in my life. And iam not talking about just the music, iam talking about the guys, friends and brothers, that are going to every single underground show for years, when kids thought that hardcore is dutch tecno. haha fuck that


9. Whatare the future plans of the SOSF?
ROB: We will continue to do what we've always been doing; expand when it makes sense, hold it down for our brothers worldwide, and rep our letters where ever we go. We are takin things to the next level where ever we are at.

RENE: 5 world domination 9

thanks for the interview!

xRepresentx Interview

1. Hello, give us a brief introduction to xRepresentx. How did the band come about?
In 2003, I decided to keep the long lasting legacy of Erie Straight Edge alive in my own way. We've always had a lot of sxe bands, and I had some ideas of where I wanted to go musically and what I wanted to say. So i put it together with some friends, and after many years, and member changes, here we are still today.

2. When it comes to your roots, what bands and styles in particular have influenced your sound?
A lot of real deal hardcore bands: Buried Alive, xDISCIPLEx, Ringworm, Earth Crisis, Figure Four, really the lis could go on forever. In a time where there's so much crap, we strive to be a view on what a true hardcore band should/could sound like.

3. How would you describe songs on “The new inquisition”? Lyrically and musically
Musically and lyrically, I'd say this album was the matured next step from True at all Costs. Both hit hard and fast, and both have well put lyrics, I feel atleast, but I really took a lot more time to say what I wanted to say on this album. Musically, ultra-hard.


4. How did you come up with the name of the album?
It's in reference to the Inquisitions of the middle 20th-century, as insane of an idea as they were, their job was to rid the land of heretics and non-believers. In comparison, the name is referring to ridding the lands those tarnishing the name of straight edge.


5. What are some of the topics you touch in your music and how important is message in hardcore for you?
Obviously we sing about straight edge. I feel I hit on subjects not said 1000 times by other bands, or atleast in different ways. I try to be thought provoking. Not comforming to the public ideals and not killing each other based on religion are also some things we've written about. I think it's a great travesty to hardcore to not be able to come up with some type of proactive message. This is a genre of people trained to open their mind and live outside of the box, so to speak. To drone on, talking about basically nothing, is a waste of a chance to make a difference.

6. You are on famous xseventh daggerx label. How works the collaboration with them?
Great. I love Danny and the Label. He's a fantastic gentleman, and every chance I've had interacting with seventh dagger has been top notch!!


7. You’re straight edge. What means straight edge for you?
Straight Edge means personal liberation from the shackles of drug, alcohol, and tobacco use. Not everyone becomes an addict, but those who do I'm sure wish they could re-think their first life destroying experience. And with so many people visibly destroying their lives, straight edge only makes more sense. However, I'd like to point out the main test of someones edge in my eyes. Some live clean because they chose to be straight edge, but the truest will be straight edge because they chose to live clean. The title shouldn't be the reason you are poison free, it should be a badge of honor once you've decided to live against those poisons.

8. xRepresentx were a long time in Europe in 2009 on Tour. What can you say about the tour? What do you think in special about the German HCscene?
Hands down, German HXC shows were always fantastic. I speak german, so maybe I'm partial, but I loved every one. Scotland was also great, belgium too. So many great places, and so many awesome people. I'm happy to say the Euro Hardcore scene is thriving from what I've seen. To anyone reading this that came to one of our shows, thank you. It means a lot. Not every band thanks the people at the shows the right way, but you are the only reason we could pay to get home and eat. We'd do it again in a heartbeat.

9. What's the scene like out there in Erie/PA at the moment? Are there a lot of newer bands we should keep our eyes out for?
Erie has always had a thriving hardcore scene, what can i say, I love it here. Lots of good shows, and lots of cool kids. Huge straight edge scene too. Keep and eye out for domestic war, and taste the steel. Maybe TTS will rejoin at sometime.

10. Thanks for the interview, any final thoughts or statements for the readers of my blog?
The only way to keep hardcore alive , no matter where you live, is to support any legit hardcore show that comes through. If As I Lay Dying wants to charge 30 euros or something, fine, but when some smaller(but good!) legit hardcore band comes by you, GO SEE THEM! Tour isn't cheap. If you know them, they'll be back if they see love. If you don't, you may like them. And if promoters know they won't lose their ass, they will book more and better hardcore shows. Support you scene, because if you don't, who will? It's everyone's job!