March 2009



The Acacia Strain have unleashed upon the world their current release "Continent," and have been touring non-stop showing what they got to their loyal fans all over the place, their front man Vincent talks to me about how it's all been going.


1. So how is "Continent," current going?

Vincent: It’s doing really really well probably the best selling we’ve ever had and getting a lot of great responses from the crowds and probably my favorite album of everything we have.

2. What's the story behind the album title?

Vincent: Basically it’s about one person’s quest to destroy the human race and to do that he creates his own continent. He lives ironically and sober.

3. How did you feel when you guys released your first record and performed for the very first time?

Vincent: It was pretty exciting, it was the first time we really got to showcase what we had to offer and we played shows before but nothing with a CD to back it up and very exciting and I’m always excited to hear about what people have to say about what we’re doing.

4. If you had a chance to go back in time, where, what, and why?

Vincent: Back in time eh, I’d probably go back to the prehistoric age, because there’s no people and there are a lot of dinosaurs and I’d always want to see dinosaurs in person but I don’t think I’ll ever be able too. Actually science is working on a way to clone dinosaurs so it’s kinda fucking weird. But yeah prehistoric age would be the age for me.

5. Have you ever met an over obsessed fan?

Vincent: hmmm I’ve met some BIG fans but nothing over obsessed when you say that I think like they find my phone number of follow me around no I’ve never met a fan that has gone that far. But I did meet one fan of a girl that made a collage of our bass player it was weird because it was all these sneaky shots. It was creative but weird.

6. How's this current touring going for you? Getting along with all the other acts.

Vincent: It’s awesome, I was friends with two of the bands before we started and getting to meet Bleeding Through and touring with them it’s been a dream of mine and today is the last day and I’m really excited for it to be over but I’m also kinda bummed out because it’s such a good tour.

7. What’s the one place in the world you have yet to tour or play?

Vincent: We have never been to Japan, never been to Russia but we are going to both those places this summer very excited about that. And some places we never really been but I’d like to go is probably South Africa and Brazil I really want to go to Hawaii and Alaska because those are places in the United States I’ve never really been too.



8. If you were to compare your band to another band in the same category as you guys who would you pick and why?

Vincent: I would pick probably compare us to Bloodshed and we’ve been compared to Messugah a lot.

9. What's coming up next for you guys after this tour and the rest of the 09 year?

Vincent: We’re playing new England Metal Festival and play Bambozle and we’re going to Europe in June with Aborted and then going to Japan in August and the rest of the year is wide open but we’d like to play the U.S. again so we’ll see what happens.

10. How's it been being a part of the current record label you're on, toured with any of the other bands?

Vincent: Yeah we’ve toured with all of them toured with Through the Eyes of the Dead, Light This City, and a bunch of the bands on the label and it’s good to be on a small label there’s a lot of one on one focus with the owner and I could pick up a phone and call the label directly and always good to have that family style and vibe and I’m really happy with it.

11. What do you think when you hear the word "emo"?

Vincent: emo? I think of back in the day bands like Pinball, and Saves The Day and I think of kids wearing sweater vests and big framed glasses and mopy hair cuts is what I think of.

12. Any technical difficulties during any of your performances?

Vincent: Always, always what of our first shows we ever played the drummer’s stumble came down and hit the bridge of my nose and there are always wires and guitar straps and strings everything happens. When we first started playing we would forget certain songs we would play. But it’s a lot different now.

13. What do you prefer seeing when performing in the crowd, hard dancers or mosh pits?

Vincent: I honestly don’t have a preference as long as the kids are having a good time whatever helps you feel good and have fun at a show I like seeing people headbanging and people holding their beers in the air and whatever has you have a good time.

14. Describe an Acacia Strain show.

Vincent: Well its loud, it’s violent and very intense and we try to keep the intensity level during the show and try to keep it loud because that’s what people want to hear.

15. Thanks a lot for taking the time to do this interview, anything else you'd like to say?

Vincent: If you come out to a show, expect a loud and violent performance and have a good time.



Impending Doom shall we not be scared by hearing this name? I think not because that what it is, is just a name right? Impending Doom's bassist talks to me about the band's upcoming plans and newest album set to be unleashed upon the masses soon!

1. How did the name come about?

David: Our lead singer thought of basically he liked the name “doom” but doom is already a band name, so the name came to him one night because it means without God our lives on Earth are impending doom.

2. How is the current album going?

David: Good it comes out in 2 days out on Tuesday.



3. How did the title, artwork, and lyrics come about?

David: The title with the first song we wrote was a while ago back in June and we started playing it on the last tour and after that tour we had to think about the new album and then named the album after it. And our singer Brooke and had an idea of how he wanted it to look.

4. When did the band form?

David: Our first show was October 31st 2005 and the band formed in 2005 as well and we’ve been going strong ever since.

5. When was the first show you played?

David: Well I’m not a originally member I joined 6 months after the band started, and my first show was performed in Coroa,California at the Showcase Theater I was pretty nervous, and that show was with All Shall Perish and The Faceless and Underneath The Gun I’m not too sure but it was fun.

6. How’s the current tour going?

David: It’s going good, it’s a pretty long tour 6 weeks but everyday was pretty insane but the dudes of The Acacia Strain and Bleeding Through are super nice and fun to hang out with so it’s been a great tour.

7. Any technical difficulties during your performance?

David: Oh yeah happens all the time like a cable will go out or break a string that’s the most common one, that’s why you have to have a back up guitar handy.



8. What do you prefer seeing while performing, hardcore dancers or mosh pits?

David: Mosh Pit, not a fan of hardcore dancing if you have crush pits and everyone jumping just everyone having a good time.

9. How you getting along with everyone?

David: Pretty good no bad vibes really. We’ve known As Blood Runs Black, and The Acacia Strain for a couple of years now so it’s been fun hanging with them but Bleeding Through we never met until this tour but they’re accepting and nice dudes.

10. What are your plans after this tour?

David: We have a month off and then we do a week in Mexico and then come home for 3 weeks and then start our headlining tour in June. It will be us and Carnifex for sure.

11. Did you do anything for St. Patrick’s Day or Easter?

David: St. Patrick’s Day we played a show, and everybody in that city was running around drunk and wearing green and Easter probably be with my family.

12. Any final thoughts or comments?

David: Pick up our CD when it comes out “The Serpent Servant,” and yeah check it out!



Set List:

Finnis Fatalis Spei
Declaration
For Love And Falling
Orange County Blonde and Blue
Sweet Vampirous
Revenge I Seek
Germany
Kill To Believe
Confession
Love In Slow Motion

The minor heat wave that was brought upon Hollywood, California that unforgiving Saturday afternoon leading into the evening could only mean one thing that we were going someplace and it wasn't just to a rock and roll show. I think this place was much, much worse it is a place I'd like to call HELL! The night began off as any other night would the crowd slowly began to swarm into the Key Club venue awaiting their faint. The first act began things rough and hard dishing out all the right moves with double the power, having three guitarists one being a female and two vocalists the bassist and drummer probably felt left out but all in all the band rocked out the crowd from beginning to end.






Next up to the stage came Impending Doom an act that loves everything they do! Throwing out a solid 30 minute set list of pure aggression and anger from start to finish these guys got the crowd in a uproar of pure energy and excitement from bouncing off the walls to dance parties in the center of the floor these guys knew how to rock and they rocked out long and hard performing their older material and newest material off their soon to be unleashed album "The Serpent Servant." The guitars were fast and jammed packed with adrenaline the vocals and drums picking up the pace just making the music that more enjoyable. Once they had departed the stage the crowd was just in the right mode to get them soaked in sweat and energy they wouldn't remember that had just occurred.






The next performance was brought on by As Blood Runs Black a young deathcore act that has a powerful punch hidden within their screaming souls. The crowd sure knew their potential and they dished it out hard and fast getting the crowd all caught up in the high heated energy having people being pushed and thrown up in the air to up on stage the entire venue was caught up in all the excitement you didn't know what to expect next.






After their enjoyment and excitement from their fast pacing set up The Acacia Strain just kept the crowd on going putting together a 40 minute set list that kept on going and going the crowd of on-goers just loved every second of it. A massive pit of hardcore dancers got their groove on and people just as before went flying up onto the stage and right back into the crowd while others weren't so lucky and gently sat upon their shoulders of their friends just to grab the mic and give a shout out to the music they so adored.







Wrapping up the entire night of course was Los Angeles' very own Bleeding Through that rocked out 60 minute set list was no talk just pure rushing music from all angles. The whole crowd was in a bigger uproar than ever before pushing and shoving pit falling groove dancing the whole works you name it, it likely occurred, Bleeding Through started off the night right dishing out their new tunes off their latest "Declaration," and then went back in time with hits off "This is Love, This is Murderous," and "The Truth," which included "Germany," Orange County Blonde and Blue," "Love Lost In A Hale Of Gunfire," "Sweet Vampirous," "Revenge I Seek," "Rise," "Love in Slow Motion," and a ton of others. Bleeding Through alone throws out one hell of a show and ride getting you in all the right places. The Declaration has begun and will forever reign by Bleeding Through because they are the ones that hold the power of total disaster.



Germany has thrown out a variety of musical acts since the beginning of time but there is one band that is unlike any other. This band are legendary and far most important on top of that, known as German Thrash Veterans known to everyone as DESTRUCTION! Bassist Schimer discusses with me about the band's 25 years of being together as a whole, as well as the current tour and upcoming over all plans for the rest of the 2009 year.




1. How is it going touring in the U.S. again?

Schimer: It’s a really good time together, we love coming over. We come here and play and play other countries and sometimes the promoters and stuff don’t give a fuck and get mad but we come out for the fans and to promote us and play and then tonight we’re playing in Anaheim and we can only play an hour what the fuck is that.

2. Everyone knows about metal music and people who love to headbang how do you tend to do it night after night? Have you ever had your neck go all wack where you were stuck in that position?

Schimer: I’m really trained and we started the bang we practiced for 2 years in my garage and we got use to headbang and now headbang for over 25 years usually no problems as of yet. On a long tour it does get painful but you get use to it but nothing really bad.



3. I got into you guys because of your song "Desecrators," off "Metal Discharge," (2003) how does it feel when you hear a fan give you a remark like that?

Schimer: It’s great ya know when people get into Destruction when they hear something from the band. It’s great to see the band writing material, and seeing what the fans think of it. We get a lot of new fans and old fans and what makes all the new and old stuff too.

4. What was the idea for the VIP Competition Contest you have running on your site, what did you think of what I told you, why did you pick me?

Schimer: We wanted to get some fans, to have a chance and get stuff signed and sometimes ya know it’s not too easy to get in contact with the fans or they tend to miss us because we go eat or if I hang at the merch table I try to meet the fans, I think it makes the show more special.

I was looking for people who had good stories to tell and there was this one guy traveled 18 hours from the North of Canada or why they love Destruction and the band so much and I was looking for something that was interesting or had real meaning that hits you right away and a lot of people wrote to us and it was very overwhelming and we’re going to announce the last 5 winners this week for the last couple of shows. Like at the Key Club it was more difficult because it was hard to accept our passes and stuff.



5. You guys have only one DVD around "Live Discharge," why just the one?

Schimer: It’s the Anniversary DVD which should be out by Christmas time, which will have a few shows on it and then we’re releasing a double live album that was filmed at the Key Club in Hollywood and New York that should be out this summer. Overall it should be very entertaining.

6. Happy 25 Years by the way, how does it feel to be around for that long, done any parties in celebration?

Schimer: We have a party everyday actually we’re celebration and this tour is the biggest tour we’ve ever done as Destruction and it started back in September in South America and since then we’ve been on the road countless we just love being on the road and just tour and it’s going to end come December in Austria and we just party everyday on the tour bus. I remember so much from the old days and it doesn’t seem that long actually.

7. I read in another interview floating around the net that you guys have toured with other thrashers Slayer, any chances of seeing you guys going out on tour again?

Schimer: It depends on if we get invited ya know we had great tour with them on the Hell Awaits Tour but when they had Metallica’s tour manager and he was a total prick to us. We always want to play with other thrash legends and bands. But that manger isn’t working with them anymore sine that tour so that’s good. Fans like Motorhead and supporting them on tour many times. Even after 25 years its all about touring.

8. "D.E.V.O.L.U.T.I.O.N." is your tenth accomplishment Happy 10! What was the whole process for this record, i.e. title, artwork, lyrics does it go down the routes of your earlier works?



Schimer: It’s actually 13 I think and then the other guys did like 3 or 4 without me, I think it’s 10 albums with me and then like 3 or 4 live albums with out, but altogether probably 17 albums actually. I’m not sure I don’t really count the albums I’m not sure. *Laughs*
The race of mankind and people can relate and how they’re selfish and don’t care anymore about others and all about them and rule all over the world. It’s still a global effect and the lyrics on it and it starts in the daily lives and goes through what the economy is going through. Its necessary we basically behave like caveman and how we act ya know.

9. I noticed you guys rarely tour North America last time you were here was in 2006.

Schimer: It’s difficult for us, the shows are far and it costs a lot of money the tour bus, and traveling costs a lot of money and we don’t really make money we try and sell our merch and make money from that. We had a lot of great shows last year and we played here in 2000, 2002, 2006, 2007, and now 2009 it’s not so bad. If we get invited for another tour then we will come back. There are so many states and spots we haven’t played its hard to get around, and then we get people that say when you coming back to the USA and then I’ll tell them we were just there!

10. What do you think of all these online communities, i.e. MySpace?

Schimer: I think those sites are really cool and MySpace is a global network and helps bands connect with their fans and have people listened to bands music. I run the MySpace of ours and our website and I dislike the people that hang out online and just talk shit to one another. In general I think the internet is great and when we started the band, it was impossible to connect with the fans but now that the internet is on I go on the Message Boards and communicate with the fans.



11. How is the current tour going, getting along with the other acts, what do you think of Mantic Ritual? I also got to interview them.

Schimer: It’s going really well and they play a fresh and thrash style that’s great and we have a great time and love what they do, their a young band and people at this age play music all sorts of metal, from metalcore and Mantic Ritual bring out the old school thrash.

12. What are the largest and smallest crowds you've played in front of?

Schimer: I think it was 80,000 was the biggest crowd ever and smallest crowd was in the middle of nowhere in Canada in a small little and it was probably a hundred thousand people. Playing so far out in the woods we play no matter the size big or small.

13. Do you remember the first show Destruction ever played?

Schimer: the very first show we played we were headling it was Sodom, Morbid Angel, Kreator and they were supporting it was back in September 1984 I think, and I remember I was so nervous I kept losing my bass pick I remember that really well.

14. Where do you see yourself and Destruction in twenty years?

Schimer: OMG Well who knows we’ll see how many years we will have at least 10 or 15 years my body will work but 20 years, we will see what happens.

15. So, how would you describe your sound to a stranger in three words?

Schimer: Sonic, Aggressive, Destruction music!

16. If you were interviewing yourself, what question would you ask yourself?

Schimer: Are you really the asshole everyone says you are?



17. What’s it like having me win your VIP Contest and getting the chance to interview you, double the trouble?

Schimer: What’s it like? I don’t know I saw your name on the guest list the same day, and saw your name on the list Natalie Perez and thought it was a funny thing.
And the Key Club I’m sorry there was a lot of chaos and stress and then the guest passes and some of the other guest passes didn’t have trouble but sometimes shit happens ya know?

18. Any final thoughts or comments?

Schimer: We’re gonna be at the B.B. King’s in New York, and hopefully we will be back in the future in maybe 2 years and thanks for supporting old school metal. Thrash till death!