THE CREATOR OF SENSATIONAL CLOUD RAP: AN INTERVIEW WITH LIL PERCY

Lil Percy is a 19-year-old rapper from Richmond, Virginia. Percy is a force to be reckoned with, his cloudy sadistic beats, and his versatile flow make it easy for him to rap over any type of beat. Percy is a "sensational cloud rapper" which isn't your typical cloud rap music, yes the atmospheric beats are still there, but his lyrics are pessimistic and also optimistic. With some songs talking about his drug use and sadness, even some songs talking about politics, to playful lyrics with WWE and anime references, and then talking about a girl he once dealt with. Percy's projects Moon, and Redemption filled with songs you can cry to and also turn up too. Percy is one of the most promising rappers to come out of the RVA music scene.

Q. Chay - What are some of your influences outside of rap music?

A. Percy - Definitely Wrestling, I watch some shit of Wrestling like before I wanted to rap I was at a stage where I wanted to be a pro-wrestler cause it was around me a lot as a child, my family loves that shit so I grew up watching it and you can hear it a lot in my references when I be rapping and shit, and definitely Anime I'm into a lot of Drama and shit like I like a good love story ya know? I watch a lot of anime that involve drama like example I'm on Orange right now it's a really good show I highly suggest you watch it cause it's deep as shit I got a soft spot for shit like that.

Q. Chay - How has Richmond influenced your music? Are you willing to experiment with other Richmond artist?

A. Percy - It doesn't really influence my music but it's like my hometown and since we don't really have a "sound" that's established because this city isn't really as established as it should be in the music scene, but like the people of Richmond, the artists in it are like what influences me because of how I genuinely fuck with people from here and it's like they influence me cause I don't want to let them down, cause I'm sure a lot of people here just have that certain chip on their shoulder cause they know the history of where we're at.

 Q. Chay - How long have you've been recording music? How did you get into it?

A. Percy - I've been making music since middle school, I had no mic at all and I was recording off the school laptop based freestyling out loud to the mic built into the laptop straight off audacity, I have a whole tape out under a different alias from when I was like 14, I had been freestyling and shit long before that though but actually recording was like 2012.

Q. Chay - Based freestyles, you must be a Lil B fan?

 A. Percy - Fan? Hell no I'm Bitch Mob Task Force Member for life. I took a picture with Lil B at a show in RVA, his SECOND only show being in RVA but first headlining and he took a picture with everyone who waited in line after it, and seeing him at the time in 2013 I was like... 15 nigga gave me a positive ass hug and signed my vans, I still have those vans till this day I've been listening to Lil B since 2011 like I'm really based as fuck and I hate that people think they based when they the same niggas who used to clown and call people like me gay for wanting to be positive and liking the Based God, my favorite tapes are Red Flame (not the evil red edition even though I fuck with that one too) White Flame, #1 Bitch, and Blue Flame like this nigga really dropped a tape every month in 2012 I owe Lil B my life.

 Q. Chay - What is the origin behind the names Lil Percy and Percgod?

 A. Percy - Percocet, I was popping them while I was going through some shit and a lot of shit went downhill during that period of time in my life so I don't really want to talk much about shit like that, so I didn't want my name to be associated with a drug even so adding a Y to Perc makes Percy, which has become like my 3rd name now other than my real name I'm cool with being called Percy.

 Q. Chay - How long does it take you to create an EP?

 A. Percy - Not that long but the longest I've worked on one was Redemption and that was over the course of a month because that was me and Poozy actually like working together with fresh shit, and the shortest one was Percgod is Lonely 1 which I recorded all 3 of those songs in about 15 minutes

Q. Chay - How did you come up with sensational cloud rap?

A. Percy - Well I'm a Cloud Rapper, don't want to be known as anything else so because it's not exactly cloud and I don't really sound like anyone out I'm sure it's okay to make my own genre, I have a definition for it too it's on Urban Dictionary.

 Q. Chay - How is it working with Poozy, someone who has worked in hardcore music and now working in Noise Rap?

 A. Percy - THAT NIGGA IS A G O D, no boost, like I'm always give credit where credit is due that's like the homie too so like not even trying to be biased either but when we work together shit always nice, like he knows how I think and he can translate that into how things should sound, like he’s really a talented dude, totally a different breed of musician because of what he does and how much he does, easily one of my favorite people to work with shout out P_R.

Q. Chay - Lastly, when are we getting new music from you?

A. Percy - Never.

Meet Yung Flex

Niguel Deloatch also known as Yung Flex and Yung Flex La Flare is a 17-year-old rapper from Newport News, Virginia. Flex is different from other rappers not only does he make art, rap, and produce, he has a real passion for music that you don't always see in the rap scene. He doesn't just want fame and money; he genuinely loves music. Yes, there is a lot of rap metal fusion going on in the underground scene, the difference with flex is he loves metal music and can actually name the samples he uses, he doesn't just want to seem trendy and edgy. With his chokers and color nail polish he's very much not hyper masculine, it's cool though he's like the hood version of Sworn In. What samples from bands such as Mastodon, Slayer, and Knocked Loose Yung Flex's hardcore rap style will sure to have you ready to drop kick someone in the neck.

Q. Chay - Who has influenced you the most outside of rap music?

A. Flex - Probably Jeff Hardy & Marilyn Manson because, in their own ways they express the message to be yourself and express yourself no matter what anyone else thinks

Q. Chay - How did you get into Marilyn Manson and other Nu metal/Industrial metal music?

A. Flex - Mainly through WWE, I've always loved the late 90s Attitude Era since I was little and hearing musicians like Manson and Limp Bizkit and Drowning Pool got me super into those subgenres. Also, a girl I had a crush on in 5th grade put me on to a lot of similar bands like Slipknot, System of a Down, and Papa Roach.

Q. Chay - I've noticed you do a lot of art for other rappers/musicians, is art another passion of yours? If so what got you into art? who are some of your favorite artist? 

A. Flex - Art's something I've always been in to as far back as I can remember. I've just always been attracted to anything where I'm able to be creative and I've been making art since I was a little kid. Some of my favorite artists are Marilyn Manson of course, Salvador Dalí, Frida Kahlo, Tim Burton, Sergio Garcia, Keith Haring, Andy Warhol, and Banksy.

Q. Chay - What are two albums, two movies, and two art pieces that you'll say has similarities to your music?

A. Flex - For albums, I'd say WWF Aggression & Limp Bizkit's Chocolate Starfish because they both incorporate rap & rock/metal like I do with my music. For movies, I'd say 8 Mile & Get Rich or Die Tryin' because they both show what the artists went through to get to where they are and I try to rap about my own struggle getting to where I want to be (in my more serious songs). For Art I'd say The Old Guitarist by Pablo Picasso because to me, it shows that no matter what you're feeling or going through music will always be there and I've always been one to keep pushing with my music no matter what's happening. I'd also choose this one piece by Marilyn Manson that kind of looks like a melting skull, I feel like that's a physical depiction of what my music sounds like. 

Q. Chay - Who are some of your favorite producers that are local? Who are you favorite producers you've worked with?

A. Flex - Even though they're technically not local I got to show love to my favs in Richmond: ItsGottii, Poozy, Sensei2400, SoundsBySoy, Yung Regret, and I'm probably forgetting. As for the 757 my favorites are probably Big Los and Memphis909. My favorite producers I've worked with directly are definitely Ghoulavelii/Big Bitter, Crimewave, BruhManeGod, Craigslist/Chainsaw and Martyr Boy

Q. Chay - Why should people care about Yung Flex? Why should people click the link to your music?

A. Flex - I feel like I bring an element to rap music that's rarely done correctly, and I make music for everyone whether you want something where I'm more serious or just having fun and saying whatever. I think it's easy for anyone to get into my music.

Q. Chay - Lastly, when is Pitmode dropping?

A. Flex - I don't have a concrete date yet, but it's definitely soon. It's about 98% done I want to make sure it sounds as good as possible. I feel like it's the best work I've done yet.

"SHOUTOUT TO CHAY, SHOUTOUT TO ALL MY BROTHERS IN DEATH CAMP, AND SHOUTOUT LOST APPEAL"

Interview W/ Doug Brown (Dir. "Slave To The Grind")

One of the most amazing things about a genre or culture of music is when hundreds and thousands of it's loyal fans and followers can band together and all fully support a developing piece of it's history. Doug Brown, a filmmaker from Toronto, is the spearhead for this unity by creating the first feature length documentary about the history of grindcore. "Slave To The Grind", is a film that has had a profound presence on the internet, and has weaved it's way through the grindcore scene worldwide. Teaser trailers, kickstarter campaigns, and the genuine, humble and enthusiastic attitude of Mr. Brown himself have been shared and passed around by fans, musicians, and labels over the past year. The anticipation of a professional documentary about our favorite genre is exciting enough, but Doug's obvious passion and dedication to making sure the story gets told correctly solidifies to me that "Slave To The Grind" will be a masterwork. Eager to find out more information, and do my part is spreading the word, I decided to interview Doug via email. Please enjoy. 

Operation Grindcore: Hello sir! Please introduce yourself

Doug Brown: My name is Doug Brown.  I’m a schoolteacher; grind freak, record collector, filmmaker, and concert goer.  I have a wife and daughter that I love very much, but do not like grindcore…

OG: Explain the genesis of "Slave to the Grind". Where did the idea first come to you?

DB: My last documentary was on collectors and why they collect.  While it was a great experience, I found that my topic was too broad. I interviewed people who collected everything from My Little Ponies to Cadillacs. I knew that I wanted to continue investigating topics that influenced my life, and I knew that I wanted to do it on something more specific.  Collectors are very passionate people, and I find that grind fans are too – so it was a logical next step. Plus, I collect grind records – so it made sense. Outside of my personal love for grind, It was about time for there to be something retrospective on the genre.

OG. What was your first exposure to the grind, and how your passion for it grew over time.

DB: My first grind album I wouldn’t even consider fully grind – Soilent Green’s "Sewn Mouth Secrets". I would likely call it sludge-grind, though that damn guitar tone is filthy. I still love S.G. to this day, and I was happy that Ben was the first interview that we got for the film.                 

Soilent are a great entry point for those not fully ready for grind. Keep in mind it was 15 years ago when I first heard it, so my tastes have gotten more aggressive since then. I grew up on thrash, then got into death metal, then death grind, and now I’m digesting grind at an absurd rate.  

OG: To my knowledge there hasn't be any in depth documentation about grindcore ever before. A little in books like "Choosing Death", but never about just specifically grindcore itself. Is this lack of exploring into this genre surprising to you?

DB: It is and it isn’t.  To me it’s all about timing.  When "Choosing Death" came out it was a huge step for heavy metal documentation. I remember reading that book front to back in awe of all of the stories and anecdotes from the musicians. In the last 10 years a lot has happened historically. Jesse Pintado passed away. Seth Putnam passed away. Brutal Truth got back together, then broke up again. Dave Witte recorded another thousand albums.It just seemed like the right time for a film.  An original title for the film was ‘The Complete Fucking History Of Grindcore” – but we realized that there was two things wrong with that.  1) There was no way we could capture all of history (Yes, we will include history…but I think people will be happy that this film will be about passion more than anything) and 2) By the time people watch it, history will have changed. 

OG: I've been loving the trailers that you've been posting. You've interviewed so many people I actually want to listen to. Like Dave Witte! Tell us about that, experience. Obviously he was a big part of one of our favorite albums.

 DB: Dave Witte is  one of my favourite drummers of all time. I’ll admit, doing that interview was one of the first times I was nervous to meet someone. As you will see in the film, he is an unbelievably relaxed, controlled, and pensive person. Beyond loving grind, Dave has played with an unbelievable breadth of musicians, in an absurdly diverse quantity of styles. Being able to talk about all of it was a treat. I’ll admit that I got a little side tracked when interviewing him.  I know it won’t make the film, but we chatted beer, jazz, and cats. It was totally badass in the nerdiest way. 

OG: Do you talk about the genre's that were created out of grindcore's influence at all? Like powerviolence, goregrind, deathgrind, etc?

DB: For sure. It’s important to investigate the reach of grind. This said, I know that the film will be 90 percent grind, but expect a slew of offshoots. Also expect bits on proto-grind, (The genres that contributed to the sound).  

OG: Talking to the pioneer's, Napalm Death, must have been a high honor. You mentioned Shane Embury was one of your longest interviews, is he an opinionated fellow on grindcore and were it is now?

DB: I am going to not say much about this interview. Mainly because it is so fucking good I don’t want to spoil it. Embury is the man. 

OG: The wide spread support for "Slave to the Grind" is incredible. I've seen everybody from Agoraphobic Nosebleed and Fuck The Facts to the littlest up and coming bands spread the word of your movie. This kind of support has to really goes to show not just how excited people are for it to come out, but just how much people love grindcore, and care that it is properly documented. Response?

DB: What is particularly exciting is know that people truly want this film made, and more importantly, people have been assisting me to make it properly. I’ve received nearly 2000 emails since December from fellow grindheads, musicians, and label owners sending me positive vibes. I’ll admit that it has far surpassed the reach that I anticipated, but I’m not shocked by the strength of the underground.   

 OG: You've got some very alluring merch up for grabs on your kick starter to help fund production. Kickstarter has been a pretty polarizing way of funding yourself. Is that the suggested way to go? Seems like a win-win to me.

DB: I believe that Kickstarter is good to kick start a project that might struggle getting funding in a traditional way.  I’ll admit it was a huge decision for us. We knew that making a film on grindcore was going to need a lot of support from the community.  From day one we have been asking for fan filmed footage, audio from up and coming bands, photos shot by fans… It only made sense for it to be funded by the fans. I’m not going to lie – I know it has frustrated some people, though I need the world to know that we had meetings where execs offered us money to make this film.  In fact, more money that we will likely get from the Kickstarter campaign. BUT, there was limitations on content, swearing, and they would have say on the final cut of the film. No way in hell were going to allow this to happen. Like Kickstarter or not, for us to make this film in a timely manner AND to have control of the output is dependent on this campaign.  Many extreme music genres are already ostracized, and while I am not trying to make Grindcore mainstream – I do believe it should be humanized. The last thing I was to do is make a, ‘These bands scream and are abrasive – Isn’t that silly?’ film, which many investors wanted us to make. So fuck it – we went with a Kickstarter. If anything, having so many people pre-order it is just going to egg us on to make it as good as we can. 

The perks are set up as exclusives.  The only way to get the bonus featurette and the uncut interviews is by donating in advance.  In turn it will help us make a better film, and fans can have a little more than those who will buy the film when its actually released.

OG: You definitely seem like a guy who'd connected to what's happening in the underground. Your "Underground Shout Out" posts on the "Slave To The Grind" FB page obviously say that. Are you a lurker of bandcamp like all of us? Interested and connected to the the smaller bands and scenes?

DB: Oh, I’m a huge lurker – I have been for years.  I can’t tell you how hours of my life have been spent on Grindcore Karaoke,  Bandcamp, and blogs like Operation Grindcore. I often buy a 7” directly from bands and small labels, which is something I suggest that everyone does.   

From a documentary stand point; I am starting to think geographically.  I love that there are mini scenes popping up where there are a 5-10 grind bands able to play regularly.  While I live in a city with an amazing metal and punk scene, It’s a shame that we have so few grind bands. 

OG: Are there any bands active right now that you find particularly impressive?

DB: There are endless bands that impress me. I was recently sent an unreleased recording of the next Organ Dealer release.  If you are a deathgrind fan, you will dig this. I’ve also been enjoying a band called Deboned quite a bit.

OG: Now, we've actually done an interview before for a very short lived column on OG. Point being, I know you are an avid vinyl fan. Any great scores as of late?

 DB: Killer score – I just got a first pressing of "Ready For Freddie" by Freddie Hubbard.  I’m a huge jazz head as well, and I likely spend just as much on Jazz as I do on grind.  

 I also just got a collection of nearly 1,000 classic rock albums.  Mainly things I have, but I’ll be doing some upgrading and swapping with friends.  I have a lot of albums…

OG: What even are Mr. Brown's favorite grindcore albums?

DB: Ugh… this is tough.  And I bet I will miss a few. I own an absurd quantity of records, so  I’ll do 15 (IN NO ORDER)

1)   Terrorizer – World Downfall

2)   Insect Warfare – World Extermination

3)   Napalm Death – From Enslavement to Obliteration

4)   Rotten Sound – Exit

5)   Nasum – Human 2.0

6)   Noisear – Subvert The Dominant Paradigm

7)   Lock Up – Necropolis Transparent

8)   Brutal Truth – Sounds From The Animal Kingdom

9)   Repulsion- Horrified

10)   Pig Destroyer – Book Burner/Prowler at The yard (pending on the day)

 11)  Fuck The Facts – Die Miserable

12)  Assuck – Anticapital

13)  Discordance Axis – The Inalienable Dreamless

14)    Dahmer - Dahmerized

 15) Antigama – Warning

OG: Do you think we'll ever see a "Slave To The Grind Part 2" in the future? I'm sure there is more that can be told haha! And you know we'd love to see it!

DB: No. We are going to do this once, and do it right. There is a lot to be told – that’s for sure. We are currently offering a ‘bonus film’ with anyone who pre-orders the film on Kickstater. This is our way of addressing that we will have way too much footage to cram into a feature.  It is also a way of thanking those who had faith in the project from day one.

OG: What do you think the next great grindcore subgenre will be? 

DB: Murderviolence (which I actually read on a forum the other day as someone said ‘if Slave To The Grind doesn’t include any Murderviolence bands, they are fucking too mainstream.  I hope it was a joke, as I was very confused) .  

OG: Any final words?

DB: I said a lot… is anyone still reading? 

Slave To The Grind Kickstarter: HERE

~VII

Interview With Bridgeburner

A huge thanks to Bryan, the vocalist for the supremely excellent Six Brew Bantha, for getting at me and submitting this interview he conducted with Bridgeburner, a seriously kick ass grinding powerviolence band from Kamloops. Any chance I can get to help support the Canadian scene, I take, so I hope you enjoy, and please check out Bridgeburner!

• Bryan: So first off, who all plays in Bridgeburner? Names, instruments and your favourite non-punk/metal band or artist.
  
  D: I'm David, guitars, Westside Connection.
  J: The names Jesse, drums, vocals, Motley Crue
  B: I'm Brian, I play bass, and all three of us do vocals. My favourite would probably have to be something classic rock oriented, ……its hard to pin one down

  Bryan: Where do you draw your influences from musically? Does one person do most of the writing or is it a collective effort? I've heard several people make stylistic comparisons between you guys and The Endless Blockade, how do you feel about that comparison?

  B: Our influences can be pretty broad at times, from sludgy stuff like GREIF and HAGGATHA, drone like SUNN, or modern PV/grind like OSK, SEA OF SHIT, MUDLARK, IRON LUNG, and DEFEATIST, and of course OG PV like MITB, INFEST, CROSSED OUT, and obviously (I suppose) THE ENDLESS BLOCKADE hahaha. I am personally stoked whenever I hear us being compared to them, as they are top 5 for me for sure. Whenever we write, it usually start as either Jesse or David bringing in a riff, or a couple of riffs and we just jam it, and move things around, slow it down, speed it up, or try to play it different ways until it sounds weird enough.
  D: We get together, talk about rad bands like OSK and COOKED AND EATEN, then just jam. The Endless Blockade rules.
  J: We draw our influences from the scene we're involved in and just get stoked and go grind. East Van and Squamish are always killing it! And yes….The Endless Blockade comparison is pretty cool too hahaha

  Bryan: How about lyrically? Who writes the lyrics, what do you guys sing about and is there anywhere/anyone in particular you draw lyrical inspiration from?

  B: We tend to get together and collaborate on the lyrics. Save for a couple of songs that we have brought to the table fully written. Our lyrics are usually inspired by day to day situations and things that we are interested in or that really piss us off.
  J: Maybe one of these days we'll break out of the habit of writing our lyrics right AFTER we record the instruments...

  Bryan: You guys are from a small town in interior BC, not really the kind of place one might expect to find bands playing this music. How did you discover grindcore/powerviolence/sludge/etc?

  B: Personally, I just kept searching for new and more exciting bands than the stuff I heard all the time, whether it be on the radio at work or mainstream metal bullshit. I started going to shows and found more and more bands that I was in to, and researched their influences.
  D: Living in an even smaller interior town, I found MUDLARK on the interwebs.
  J: From always being on the lookout for more violent, heavier, and faster music.

  Bryan: When and how did Bridgeburner form? What are some previous bands you've all played in and do you have any projects on the go aside from this one?

  B: Bridgeburner was formed in 2010. Jesse had written and recorded a bunch of songs, and asked me if I would be interested in playing them with him. We were at a show (I think) and asked David to play with us. And here we are…. I used to play in DYSPHORIA and JENKEM. I am currently in in a noise project with David called BVRMVDAN, and a grind band called WORST OF EARTH.
  D: I also play in HAND OF THE HORSEWITCH, HONOUR & DEVOUR, and MERV.
  J: I play drums in a death/grind band called BLOOD DRUNK and my most recent project FAMINE which is straight up crust along the lines of State Of Fear and Consume.

  Bryan: For those unaware, tell us a bit about Kamloops... how's the scene? Where and how frequently do shows happen? What local bands are you guys stoked on? Any bands you've had the opportunity to play with in town who stand out as particularly special for you?

  

  B: Kamloops is a small town in the interior of British Columbia. We currently have an amazingly vibrant scene for the size of our population. There are constantly shows at our local punk house, the Little Big House, as well as the occasional bar show. Local standouts would be SKUFF, SHITHAWK, DAMNED GRAVE, FTL, D//COMPOSE (RIP), and YOUNG OPPRESSION (RIP). Bridgeburner has had the honour of playing with MASS GRAVE, VILE INTENT, NAPALM RAID, WINTERS IN OSAKA, and so many others there.
  D: Little Big House rules, pretty much the only grind location here. We got to play with those SixBrewBantha guys once or twice there I think. All the bands from Squamish and Vancouver help keep this place alive.
  J: If it wasn't for LBH we wouldn't be where we're at right now. I could list hundreds of rad bands that i've seen in that basement. Mostly Skuff like 1000 times.

  Bryan: You recently completed your first tour out to Winnipeg's almighty Arsonfest, tell us about your experience on the road. Best shows, memorable bands you played with, crazy random shit that went down, etc.

  B: Yeah, we shared a bunch of dates with our friends in VIOLENT RESTITUTION. Arsonfest was an amazing experience, I am so grateful that we were asked to play this year. Tour was amazing, so many awesome people and bands. GOWL, MISANTHROPIC NOISE, SHOOTING SPREE, NORTHLESS, ARCHAGATHUS, VIOLENT GORGE, THE GREAT SABATINI, and every date the we saw VIOLENT RESTITUTION were standouts for me. We had a couple of nights where we camped with VR where crazy shit happened, like when I fell off of the front of the van straight to my back, hahaha. All in all, it was an amazing time, and I can't wait to get back out on the road!
  D: Arsonfest was at Negative Space this year, great venue. GOWL ripped me a new one. Brian got stoned once (while he was "sleeping"). Gas station fried chicken, the freshest. Played with GRIMACE in Saskatoon. Saw BURN COLLECTOR, PALE FACE, and VIOLENT RESTITUTION at a house in Edmonton. INTENTIONAL VEHICULAR MANSLAUGHTER killed it during an afternoon Arsonfest show, and so did the poutine.
  J: Arsonfest was so sick this year. Gowl was definitely my favourite performance that whole tour. Your an idiot if you bail on a chance to see them. Winnipeg also has the best poutine in Canada.

  Bryan: You guys have also made the journey to play the last three editions (and counting) of Squamish's now bi-annual blast extravaganza Fastcore Fest, discuss your experiences with this fest and what makes it special enough to be worth the long drive every six months.

  B: Fastcore Fest, is a definite highlight of the year for us. We love all of our crazy Squamish friends. If anyone gets the chance to play, or even just attend this fest, it is completely worth it. Camping in a beautiful setting, listening to rad bands, and partying with the coolest people, how could you get any better?
  D: Keep putting us on Fastcore! Brian somehow gets a nosebleed whenever we go there.
  J: We will always put time in our schedules to play fastcore every year. It's pretty much a fucking holiday to us!

  Bryan: What does Bridgeburner's discography look like so far? Your recordings sound deadly, where and how do you record? Where can the public go about acquiring copies of your releases?

  B: We have four releases to date, half of which are so DIY you are lucky if you have a physical copy hahaha. Our first release was a 3-way split tape with Squamish buddies SHOOTING SPREE, and HYPEREMESIS from Campbell River. After that we did a split with local party-rockers and good friends SHITHAWK. We have just released a split 12'' with Vancouver's AHNA, and a split tape with locals SKUFF. Everything is up for download and streaming on our Bandcamp site, and you can grab anything recent from us at any of our shows. All of our recordings so far have been done at the same place that we jam, the 'SlaughterHouse.'
  D: I live at the 'SlaughterHouse', which we've turned into a DIY studio. So far we've put out the Bridgeburner stuff, Honour & Devour tape, DAMNED GRAVE's new release.

  Bryan: Plans for the future? Upcoming shows, releases, tours?

  B: We have a couple of splits that we are writing for currently. Sometime next year we would love to tour the states.
  D: Play a bunch of local shows I imagine.
  J: Ask us to do splits with your band!

  Bryan. Where can we go online for information on what's happening with bridgeburner? How does one get in contact with you?

  B: We try to keep our Facebook up to date as much as we can, just search our name on there. We also have a Bandcamp (www.bridgeburner.bandcamp.com) with all of our releases on there. Our contact information is on both of those sites for anyone that wants to get in contact with us.

  Bryan: Any final thoughts you'd like to add?

  B: GRIND OVER MATTER

  
  

  ~Bryan

Fuck...I'm Dead Interview

The Australian grinders are back to deliver "Another Gory Mess"! Here's an interview Alex Cha did with Fuck... I'm Dead's, Dave Hill, who also plays with The Day Everything Became Nothing. Enjoy!

Operation Grindcore: Can you describe the grind scene in Australia? Is it better now as oppose to the year 2000 when Fuck... I'm Dead was created?

Dave Hill: I have to say its a fair bit quieter now in in my opinion, than how it was back in 2000. There are still some great grindcore bands from around here, but perhaps not as many and the scene doesn't seem as big at the moment. From 2000-2008(9) or so it was awesome, heaps of shows and heaps of great bands, playing shows and releasing material.

OG: What is your favorite Fuck... I'm Dead song to play live?

Dave: It would have to be "Colon Commando", its such a fun song to play live and I get to execute one of the very few lead breaks we have, a sweet tapping solo! Some of the new songs are great to play too, like "Horrified" and "Sanguinary Overture".

OG: Besides your own band's name, what is the most offensive band name you've come across?

Dave: Anal Cunt would have to be at the top of the list for most offensive and ridiculous.

OG: Given that we haven't seen you since Maryland Deathfest, are there any plans to tour America in the future?

Dave: Unfortunately we currently have no plans to tour the US at the moment. We've been concentrating on writing, rehearsing and recording the new album for the last 6 months or so and have only arranged and Australian tour in support of that so far.

OG: Talk about the artwork for "Another Gory Mess". Who's hands are those... and what exactly are those hands holding?

Dave: They are actually my hands in the photo, and I'm scooping up another gory mess. Its an absolutely horrendous concoction that myself and Xavier (guitar) put together. Xavier took all the photos and layed out the booklet as well.

OG: Your releases have touched nearly every format. We've seen Fuck...I'm Dead cassettes, vinyl, CDs and DVDs. Is there a particular format that you guys prefer?

Dave: I love CDs for the convenience, but the vinyl is probably my favourite. Hopefully we'll get Another Gory Mess released on vinyl!

OG: What is the first grindcore album you ever owned and what are your feelings about it today?

Dave: "Reek Of Putrefaction" by Carcass, and today its still one of my favourite grind records and it has definitely stood the test of time.

OG: What do you think happens more often: a drummer (not necessarily yours) dropping a stick or a technical difficulty with the drum machine?

Dave: Haha I reckon the drum machine having a technical problem. For us it has been a great change to have Darren Condy on drums for the last few years. It has added much more dynamics to the songs, especially live. And if there is any stick dropping going on there is always the opportunity to improvise. When there was a error with the drum machine, like no stage foldback, or not playing the correct song, there isn't much you can do, you just have to go with with and hope for the best.

OG: Here's a fake scenario: you're on tour and (knock on wood) your drummer accidentally gets injured to the point where he cannot play. Do you cancel the show or bring back the drum machine? And is that even an option with the new material?

Dave: There is no going back to the drum machine under any circumstances, a human on the drums is a vast improvement For Fuck...I'm Dead's sound. I wrote a lot of the new material using drum programming to start with before rehearsal it with the rest of the band, but there is really only bits and pieces of songs scattered through the drum machines so it really wouldn't be an option anyway.

OG: Any last words for your American fans?

Dave: Thanks for all your support over the years, it was awesome to tour the US and play Maryland Deathfest in in 2008. Another Gory Mess will be out officially on November 12th 2012 through Blastasfuk Grindcore (www.blastasfuk.blogspot.com), grab yourself a copy to mosh to.

~Alex Cha

Interview: Pig Destroyer

Pig Destroyer have been pumping out some of the some of the most brutal grindcore since their creation in 1997. The band has just put the finishing touches on “Book Burner”, their newest record which drops October 23, 2012 on Relapse Records. I’m sitting in the control room of Visceral Sound in Maryland where I have in front of me vocalist JR Hayes, guitarist Scott Hull and sampler Blake Harrison. While newly-appointed drummer Adam Jarvis, also of Misery Index, shoots drum endorsement videos in the next room, we get to talking about the new record, studio, drummer and more. 
                               

Photo by: Nick Martin

Cha: We had short straight grind on "Prowler in the Yard" and "Terrifyer", slightly longer songs on "Phantom Limb", straight up ambient doom on "Natasha". What can we expect from "Book Burner"?

Scott: Shorter grind. It’s a mix of a lot of different things but definitely a lot more shorter grind on "Book Burner" then there was on "Phantom Limb".

Blake: When Scott was starting to write and get some ideas, he asked JR and me what we wanted and we were like “lean, mean and stripped down”. Let’s just make it raw. I think the longest song clocks in at 4 minutes. The rest are about a minute long.

Scott: We got some new blood in the band and that blood wants to grind a little more so we’re trying to play to that strength.

Cha: Speaking of which, this new record is your first with Adam Jarvis on drums. Can you discuss the events surrounding the exit of Brian Harvey, the brief involvement of Dave Witte and any other drummers you had in mind, to Jarvis being a full time member?

Blake: Brian left. Let’s just leave it at that.

Scott: He had other issues in his life that sort of diverted his focus. He was our brother for 13 or so years, but I think the effects of the bad economy and his home life and work life kind of prevented him from being able to push forward with the band and we sort of let that situation dangle. 

JR: There was a little while where we thought we could work it out like we have in the past but it just got to a breaking point and we had to move on.

Cha: Ok, so Harvey is out. Where do you go?

Interview: False Light

False Light, if I way be so bold, is one of the most impressive new grind/powerviolence bands I've heard in the last couple years. Even when they put up half of their excellent self-titled EP on bandcamp, it was some of the best music I've heard this year. I've listened to their EP countless times, and it really is one of the most enjoyable releases of 2012. In my effort to spread the word and get every single person aware of the force of nature that is False Light, I bring you this interview, done via email, with their vocalist, Patrick(I never got his last name).

Operation Grindcore: Boring question first, how did the band start? 

Patrick: We were all in bands that either broke up or that we stopped playing in around the same time. Brian's old band was actually also called False Light which I almost did vocals for when I was still in my old band, but it never worked out. But I stayed in touch with him, and we finally were able to work on something together.  

OG: Your EP is one of the best things I've heard all year, How long did it take to write the whole thing?

Patrick: Thanks! We started jamming together as a band at the very end of 2011 and recorded in March. We had some songs come and go, but everything was done in that time. 

OG: The recording sounds absolutely disgusting and raw, in the best ways possible, of course. Did you guys intentionally go for a sound like that?

Patrick: Absolutely. Grind should sound disgusting. Our friend Cory who recorded us is a genius, and he nailed the sound we were trying to capture.

OG: My friend wants to know how you get your massive bass tone. Care to share the details? 

Patrick: For the recording we ran an Electric Volume Unit 120 through an Emperor 2x15 and used an HM-2 and a Peavey t-40. This gave us the tone we were 

looking for, but we also recorded a clean DI track that really pulled out a lot of clarity and punch. Nothing overly intricate.

OG: Do you guys generally prefer the rougher sounding recordings, or do you see False Light getting a more refined studio recording in the future? 

Patrick: We definitely appreciate quality studio recordings. We're not pretentious enough to act like that isn't something that is important. The trick is still keeping a gross sound but one that is clear at the same time and hits hard. 

OG: Where do your lyrical themes stem from? They's some pretty grotesque and negative things being described.  

Patrick: Like most aggressive bands, I tend to write about things that piss me off. Whether it involves politics, religion, animal rights, or human nature, it's easy for me to write about issues that trigger emotion. Which is why a lot of my lyrics also deal with really personal issues like anxiety and depression. 

Interview WIth Sebastian Rokicki (Antigama)

It's with great pleasure and an honer to bring you this exclusive interview with Sebastian Rokicki, the guitarist for one of my favorite grindcore bands, Antigama. We talk about the new line-up, what has been happening with Antigama the past couple years, and their excellent, new EP, "Stop The Chaos"(available now from Selfmadegod Records). This interview was conducted over email.

Operation Grindcore: It's been a few years since there's been any new Antigama material, and it appears that a lot has happened in the band since 2009. Can you give a brief run down of what happened after the release of "Warning"?

Sebastian Rokicki: Well... we went on European tour with Fuck The Facts and Dr.Doom after 'Warning' was released; then in May 2009 we came to the US for shows with Complete Failure. Later that year and a through the half of 2010 we took part in a few dramas as a live soundtrack band and played in theatres in Poland. It was completely different experience but very important for us as a band. In the beginning of 2011 we recorded the material for a split CD with Psychofagist from Italy. Everything was going great when the bad news came. Lucas' daughter was diagnosed with leukemia... We'd spent that hard time supporting our friend until his daughter got better. The year has passed and we have a new minialbum recorded. We're back.

OG: The band has gone through some very heavy line-up changes, including the departure of your long time drummer, Krzysztof Bentkowski. Why did he leave the band?

Sebastian: He did not leave the band. I asked him to leave. Krzysiek is a very good and original drummer but a very tough partner in the band. After 11 years of playing together his conditions were unacceptable. 

OG: How did your new drummer, Pawel Jaroszewicz, join the band? I'm sure his impressive resume of bands he's been in was a big deciding factor. 

Sebastian: Pawel and Antigama happened to rehearse in the same building. To be honest, it came pretty naturally. I asked him if he would be interested and he was. And his experience in a band like Vader is a very positive factor for us.

OG: This year also sees the recorded return of founding vocalist, Lukas! Something that I'm very excited about. How did he get back into the band?

Sebastian: Thanks! Lucas is a monster on vocals. I love the way he does all the stuff and I'm very happy he's in the band again. All that time he had been very close to us but just busy with lots of things. He's been back in the band since 2010 to be precise...