A song that made you want to make music?
There’s been several over the years so it’s hard to pick one. But I do remember seeing Fu Manchu‘s “Squash That Fly” video and thinking “Now this is something I wanna do”. Before them it was probably everything from Nofx and Bad Religion to Guns N’ Roses and maybe some Bush-era Anthrax!
Best rider you have had?
Probably during our tenure opening up for Metallica doing stadiums when we had access to their catering and just filled up our rider with Dr. Pepper, Cherry coke, american redneck beer and Cheetos Jalapeno crunch and cheese pizzas. Had to get rid of some of that to not become the (physically) biggest band in the world.
Craziest moment in the band?
Probably when we drank from midnight till noon with Lars Ulrich! That’s a bucket list moment!
Deepest lyric one of your songs features?
That sounds like a question for metalcore-bands or Warped Tour-screamo acts with song titles like “Fallen Angel” or “My Suffering”.
Easiest song you wrote?
I find the best ones are always the easiest ones to write. I think “Garden of Heathen” on our new album came out pretty quick.
Favourite song in your set?
At rehearsals at the moment it’s “Bradford Death Squadron.” We haven’t played it yet since we had to cancel a festival due to an injury, but we’re all pretty pumped about that one. There’s something about the riffage that is so fun to play!
Guest you’d most like to feature on your record?
I mean I think we got some of them already in Aaron Beam from Red Fang and Lou Koller from Sick of It All, but Neil Fallon from Clutch would be a dream come true. And also Andrew Falkous from Future of the left and Mclusky for his satirical lyrical wit! I bet he’d hate us though, haha.
Hardest thing about being in a band?
I wouldn’t call it hard as no one forces us to be in a band and play, but the most energy draining part for a band like us is probably to have to be on social media and always “sell” our music there. Feels like spamming, and I for one do not respect the noble art of influencing so if I ever feel like we are starting to post stuff that likens what a former contestant on “Ex On The Beach” could post, then I’m out. If you ever see us posting those lame ass videos where bands explain moronic lyrics or something, then it’s already too late!
Interesting fact about one of your members?
Our former bass player used to make commercial jingles. For example, if a car dealership or whatever couldn’t afford Linkin Park or Black Keys music, they hire him to make something similar. Now I ain’t no big city car salesman, but I would imagine there are far better genres to sell cars with than nu-metal. Country, for example.
Jokes you have in the band?
Many! Mostly based around our sound guy who prints hat’s with his own self made nickname on or people that like to mansplain what our band is to us!
Key to writing a song?
I think either you can do it or you can’t. For the people that can, it just kinda happens naturally, for others I think you have to work very hard for a song. I’m not basing this on anything at all other than the fact that I just thought about it right now. But for me there is no key to it, I just do it. So I really don’t have any good answers here.
Longest distance you’ve travelled to play a show?
Probably Athens, Greece, although we flew from Norway so it was fairly easy for us. We’ve had some horrible drives to Finland and Estonia though. They felt very long, at least in a van with no suspension, haha.
Most inspiring musician you’ve experienced?
I saw Chris Hannah play a shreddin’ solo while singing in Trondheim in 2012 and it’s still one of the most impressive things I’ve ever seen. When I first saw A Wilhelm Scream live, that was insanely impressive as well. They are a technical band, but also have a lot of melodies and harmonies and everything was spotless live. I was very impressed! If it had been one of the newer corporate metal acts I would’ve just thought it was tracks, but not in this case!
New band you’d recommend?
I haven’t discovered a “new” band I liked in many years I’m afraid. Unless you consider Turnstile a new band? If so then Turnstile, but it feels weird to call them new as I remember first hearing “Blue by You” in 2016. Wasn’t until 2018s “Time & Space” that I became a fan though, so maybe six years is fairly new? Yeah, let’s go with Turnstile, haha. They’re great! Just remembered Better Lovers now, but that’s basically ETID though, but let’s go with them as well!
Opening for this band would be ideal?
I think both Red Fang, Clutch, The Bronx and Billy Talent would be a good fit for us. A bit unsure how the latter’s fans would react, but in my mind we have a lot of similarities with Billy Talent as they also have a lot of riffs and big hooks in their music.
Place you’d most like to tour?
It doesn’t matter where as long as it’s warm and sunny!
Quote that you’d like to pass on to our readers?
Check out our new album “All Out of Dreams”, 9 out of 10 people with taste call it their AOTY.
Reason for the title of your forthcoming release?
It’s a collection of songs that all in some way deal with resignation and failure and “All Out of Dreams” was a fitting name for that!
See us live at?
Our upcoming Norwegian tour, Resurrection Fest in Spain, Greenfield Festival in Switzerland, Tons of Rock, Wacken, Summer Breeze, Elbriot, Reload Festival, Altenbergen Rock N Revel and more!
The old days of music were better than the current, do you agree?
Nah, I think a lot of stuff sucked back in the day and a lot of stuff sucks now. I think a golden rule is that what’s very popular or being pushed by magazines/labels is usually the absolute worst. Be it rock, metal, punk, pop or whatever. I mean there are obviously many exceptions to this rule, but mostly I find it a good rule to live by!
Unusual merchandise?
Wanted to make golden crocs for our song “Crocodile Dundee” but the cost was too high.
Variations you’d like to do on one of your songs?
We already do! We changed a riff on one of our songs and some backup vocals on another for the better!
What do your fans mean to you?
Everything! Without them we would just be playing to local crew and bartenders. Which we have over the years, and it’s usually not very fun!
X-rays or any treatments needed for band injuries?
We just cancelled a show because of a back injury so yeah probably, haha!
You’re late for a show, whose fault is it?
Usually german tour managers!
Zoo animal that best describes the personality of your band?
The sassiest cat at the zoo!