Blackened Horde: How did the band get started?
Scott: The band started around 2012 after the break up of the NJHC band In Search Of (stillborn, scorpion records). I had an idea to create something in the vein of Bane, Comeback Kid, Ignite, Terror and all the NJ and NY influence. To mesh melody and hard breakdowns and try not to to put up barriers.
Blackened Horde: What kind of music do you play?
Scott: Simply put, Hardcore. But it has major influence of Punk and Metal also.
Blackened Horde: How has the fan response been?
Scott: Great! Ever since signing to Eulogy Recordings we have reached a much broader audience around the globe. At shows people always have a great time singing and dancing along. We treat our fans like friends and family. We never pull that rock start BS that so many do.
Blackened Horde: Where did the band name come from?
Scott: Going back to the break up on In Search Of, after the band was over I felt like I was lost. I had no outlet, no voice. Thinking about this the name came to mind. I didn’t seek to use the already popular phrase, it must have been in my subconscious. But the correlation between the gay rights and the band meaning are still pretty spot on so we have no reservations about using it.
Blackened Horde: Introduce the band members and what they do in the band.
Scott Earth: Vocals
Freddy Pipes: Guitar
Wade Eaglesniper: Guitar
Brett Holloway: Bass
Ryan Bertone: Drums
Blackened Horde: Who writes the music? Lyrics?
Scott: We all write the music together. The majority of the lyrics are written by myself (Scott) but I am always open for input.
Blackened Horde: And where do the lyric ideas come from?
Scott: They are mostly personal. Sometimes topical about what’s going on in the world. I like to encourage and inspire people to stand up to oppression and to get involved. On a personal note, I feel like listeners can often relate to hearing someones inner struggles and feel that they are not alone in what they are experiencing.
Blackened Horde: What is your view in Satanism and Occultism?
Scott: I think all religion is simply fantasy play.
Blackened Horde: How many albums/CD’s have you released?
Scott: In 2012 we released the 4 song “Resurrection EP”. On April 7th we just released our full length CD “End Times” on Eulogy Recordings.
Blackened Horde: Tell me about some the songs on the latest CD?
Scott: Peacemaker and End Times are songs about revolting against oppression. End Times deals more with what would happen if/when things got much worse. Common Ground is about the unity between the band and it’s fans. Hope and Devotion are about standing by your loved ones in times of need and looking forward to a brighter future. Life Hurts More (title taken from a line in the Doors movie) deals with the inner struggle we all go through in daily life and the search for happiness.
Blackened Horde: Do you have any side projects?
Scott: I play bass in the NJHC band Crime Scene.
Blackened Horde: Who are some of your musical influences?
Scott: I find influence is all forms of music. My Ipod has everything from Ray Charles to Slayer. I think every form of music brings something to the table. Take Ray Charles for example, if you listen to the soul in his voice and some of the pain in his lyrics you can tell that it’s not simply a guy singing words. That’s what I try to do. I want to convey to the person listening on the other side that I am not simply yelling empty words that rhyme.
Blackened Horde: Which current bands?
Scott: Right now I love Stick To Your Guns, The Ghost Inside and Comeback Kid. Obviously there are many more, but those 3 are the first to come to mind when thinking current.
Blackened Horde: What is the band like when you play live?
Scott: I feel like we step up our game on stage. I can not help but jump and stomp around when we play our songs in front of people. I think we all feel the passion in what we write and use the stage as a release of all that daily anger and frustration.
Blackened Horde: Have you guys ever played in another country?
Scott: Not yet.
Blackened Horde: How big of crowd shows up at shows usually?
Scott: We play so many different types of shows. From 200+ shows with band like Agnostic Front and Leeway to 40 kids in a basement.
Blackened Horde: How is the crowd response when you play?
Scott: Since our CD just came out it has been building. people are really digging the music, but it’s hard to sing and dance along when you don’t know the songs. Crowd participation has been getting better and better. Even without knowing the material, we have many people come up and tell us how we put on a great show. That’s always awesome to hear.
Blackened Horde: What do you think of the US Black Metal/Death Metal scene?
Scott: I don’t know much about it, but I do see videos of shows and they are always packed. Fred and Ryan are also big fans of the genre a seem to go to a lot of shows. So i would guess it’s thriving.
Blackened Horde: What do you think of the Overseas scenes?
Scott: I have a few friends from other countries and have been to a fest in Germany and played in Puerto Rico. From my experience there is a lot less judgment of US bands by people over sea’s, But then again the same can be said from state to state here in the USA. I’ve found other countries to be more about having fun as opposed to many area’s in the USA where kids are trying to prove how tough they are, which complete and total bullshit if you ask me. The scene should be a place where the unaccepted can feel like they belong. many here think the intent is to hurt others at shows because that’s what hardcore is about. I feel like these people are missing the point of the foundation this scene was built on. Yes there is violence when you are going hard to a song or band you like, but if you hit someone you should turn around and make sure they are okay. Intentional violence leads to less people at shows, venues getting shut down and hurts what so many have fought so hard to build.
Blackened Horde: What are some of new favorite black metal/death metal bands?
Scott: None.
Blackened Horde: When do you guys plan on writing any new material?
Scott: We have a new song “Ghost” coming out on the Tripsquad Records comp CD titled “just for us hardcore kids”. That should be out in the summer. We also have another new song (No More Ashes) which will be included with the new Terrorizer magazine.
Blackened Horde: What does the future hold for the band??
Scott: We have a bunch of shows lined up leading to the summer that should be awesome! We’re hoping to shoot a video in the coming months, and we’re always writing new songs. We are also looking into getting our new album pressed on vinyl.
Contact them at:
https://www.facebook.com/silenceequalsdeath/
http://www.silenceequalsdeath.net/
scottearth@aol.com
