Interview with METAL DOMINATION (Greece)

1) First of all I would like to congratulate you for your new album! It
sounds very good despite it's so alternative.

KH: Haha...thanks. I'm not sure what you mean by "despite it's so alternative". It certainly is something a little different for Relapse so I think people are surprised by it when they hear it...hopefully "pleasantly surprised".

2) Since I have no press sheet included with the promo copy, I would
like you tell me about the line-up of the band and some historic info of
yours.

KH: Ah, that's boring! How about I tell you about our drummer Jeff nearly dying from a spider bite in Canada last month on tour instead? Anyway, the story goes like this: Clayton Ingerson [bass] and I have known each other since we were 15 in high school. We formed Dysrhythmia when we were 21. I'm 26 now. We wrote a bunch of music that was to become our first self-released album 'Contradiction', but it took us 6-7 months to find the right drummer in Jeff Eber. We began performing in July '99 in the Philadelphia area. At the end of 2000 we went on our first tour. We've done 8 more since then. 'No Interference' was our second album which we released ourselves again. It's done OK in terms of getting us attention as a band. Between 'No Interference' and 'Pretest' there were 2 split vinyl releases, a 10" and a 7", both released on small indie labels. In October of 2002 we signed with Relapse and here we are busier than ever now.

3) So since you don't play in any way conventionally tell us the reason
you started playing like this. What was your motive for doing this?

KH: I like the sparse sound of a trio. The instruments have room to breathe. I didn't want a vocalist because I wanted to write music that could stand on it's own without lyrics or vocals and still convey what I was feeling emotionally. Just like good jazz or classical music does. It's a challenge and that's why I enjoy it.

4) Do you believe that most bands in our days play the same and same
all over again? I mean, is there lack of originality in bands? Is this
annoying to you? I must admit it is to me.

KH: Yes, it always seems one band comes along with a somewhat unique sound and then 8 million other bands copy that sound and beat it into the ground. Soon after, labels begin signing all those copycat bands and then they're everywhere all at once and the sound finally becomes old and a new trend comes along. We played with this band the other night whose songs were so full of clichés and riff-stealing that I actually thought they were a cover band at first, but they weren't! Unfortunately, the general public likes to hear music that is "familiar", so originality is usually the last thing most people look for in their music.

5) So talking about originality, which are your influences as a
musician? I could ask you about your lyrical theme but there is not any but
this does not mean that you can't influence one emotionally. Is there any
philosophy of your band? There must be.

KH: Influences in this band run the gamut from early hardcore punk, progressive thrash metal, noise-rock, avant-jazz, classical, ambient music, world music. My influences, personally, include Piggy from Voivod for his unique, warped, chord progressions, acoustic guitarist Michael Hedges for opening my eyes to alternate tunings and it's endless possibilities, and bands like Sonic Youth, Slowdive, My Bloody Valentine, for their more "textural" approach to playing guitar.

6) The fact that you've signed with one of the biggest (the "biggest"
word goes for their importance) record labels in extreme music is it any
satisfying to you?

KH: I think it's great. I never expected or even thought about it really. I always knew we were good enough to deserve a decent label that would promote us properly, but I guess I assumed being instrumental would hold us back from anyone too large being interested in us as a band they would want to work with. It's nice to see they are aren't afraid to branch out. I think they will even more in the future. We are only the beginning.

7) So let's return to your music. The lack of vocals doesn't bother you
at all? I mean people like singing a group's songs especially when in live
performances.

KH: Yes, I am aware people like to hear songs they can sing along with and lyrics they can relate. I do too myself, but we are not that kind of band.

8) Your music could be a work of art (well actually it is) but if you
were to describe how would you characterize it? Is it a painting, a
sculpture or what? If you don't want to characterize it this way do it as it
pleases you the most.

KH: Our music is a 5 year olds first watercolor painting of their pet cat.

9) So, are you going out on a tour or not? Generally, which are your
future plans?

KH: Lots of touring! And hopefully writing lots of new songs for the next album in between. Live performances are really the best way for a band like us to get our music out there and establish a following. It's been such a slow process but it's encouraging to see it picking up lately!

10) That's all from me and Metal Domination webzine. I would wish you
good luck with your effort and hope to listen from you in the future. End of
the interrogation. The ending is all yours to tell what you want.

KH: Come see us live. And if anyone out there has a copy of the movie 'The Soul Brothers of Kung Fu", please send it to me.