Hardcore humans come out to play! This Saturday, it’s fucking going down in Baltilmore, Md. It’s the A389 Recordings 8th Anniversary Bash, with way to many sick bands to name. If you have been paying attention over the past couple of months, we have been featuring Artist to Artist Interviews with some of the bands performing there, which has made for some interesting reading. So here is the last last interview in the series: EYEHATEGOD vs. INTEGRITY. CVLT Nation wants to give a huge shout to the whole event and everyone who is making it possible. Now just read this killer fucking interview!
EYEHATEGOD VS INTEGRITY
Mike Williams takes on Dwid Hellion
How has Integrity evolved/devolved since your formation and how much of the evolution/de-evolution has been a conscience attempt at change, as opposed to involuntary?
We basically just make music that we want to hear. Popularity or acceptance is not something we strive for.
Lately, we have gone for a less polished production quality with the music and focused more on content and intent.
Not a conscience effort to change, but if we push boundaries and lose some of the parasitic fat that was dragging us down, then that is an added bonus. Within the hardcore punk movement we have always been considered outcasts, and we will continue to embrace our inability to conform.
Cleveland has such a great underground and extreme musical history, from the Electric Eels to Pagans and Keelhaul, how was your growing environment crucial to your sound early on in Integrity’s origin?
The local Cleveland bands that existed before Integrity really had minimal impact, if any impact at all. We were mainly interested in Japanese punk like Zouo and G.I.S.M. , American metal like Slayer, Motley Crue, Van Halen, Goth/New Wave like Bauhaus, Joy Division, Classic Rock/Metal like Led Zep, Sabbath, etc, and horror rock stuff like Samhain/Danzig. Also Septic Death and Mighty Sphincter played a big part in our development. We wanted to frankenstein all of the music that we loved into one band.
The early local bands in Cleveland had its great moments. Defnics is an incredible single. Shadow Of Fear had cool creepy music. Most of our early musical focus was on different scenes.
Midnight are a great current Cleveland act.
Holy Terror is a record label, but is it more than that? Did you set out to create a scene around some of your ideas and beliefs?
Holy Terror reflects the intentions of creative terrorism. It is not a movement that longs to recruit. We prefer to separate ourselves from the mainstream and its ideals. This tends to confuse and aggravate many people, and we could care less what anyone else thinks of us.
How important do ATWA and Manson’s ideals play into the day to day life of Integrity as a band, and also Dwid as a person?
Manson has always had quite an impact on the band, both musically and lyrically. Growing up, Manson was the outlaw/outcast. A man ostracized for his beliefs and circumstance. A scapegoat, a pariah and a sorcerer. His music enchants, his ideas burn down preconceived notions of reality.
Who are you looking forward to seeing most at the January show?
I am psyched to see you and EyeHateGod. And of course my brothers of the cult of the seven crowns, The Infamous GEHENNA. I am also looking forward to seeing my friends who play in my band, as well as many of my friends who will be traveling to the show.
Thanks man!!
PS: Mighty Sphincter rules…
I agree! The Count continues to haunt the pale twilight!
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