We're all from California, three from the south, two from the north. We got together in Santa Cruz, which was our home base for about two years, but now we're sort of homeless. We quit our jobs, moved out of our house, and sold all our stuff in an attempt to purge our societal restraints and really give our selves to music. So now we're on the road full? time until its time to stop and do the next record.

-WHAT'S THE SCENE LIKE BY THE WAY IN SANTA CRUZ, CA? ARE? THERE OTHER BANDS WITH YOUR STYLE AND ATTITUDE?? HOW ABOUT?THE CLUBS?

Santa Cruz is great for hanging out. Good weather, nice scenery, lenient pot laws, etc., but the ceiling is kind of low there, if you? know what I mean. We're way more excited about playing in far away places to more diverse audiences but Santa Cruz is very focused inward and everyone who lives there for long enough starts to feel as if they were living in a bubble. Also no matter where the individuals may have been from, participants in all the major American art movements have always been very mobile and yet eventually end up congregating in metropolitan areas. In order to take part in the artistic discussion and to really be involved in any real collective push forward in your medium, you have to sort of relocate yourself from the traditional suburban environment to the more focused and productive art communities evolving in larger cities. We'll definitely miss the comfortable life style and the casual folks, and we'll still play in SC about as often as we do now, but the scene is just like the town, small, isolated, and really very divided.

-I'M VERY INTRIGUED BY THE SOUND OF THE BAND, YOU CLAIM TO BE INFLUENCED BY A LOT OF CLASSIC ROCK, DESCRIBE YOUR SOUND TO US…

I think we sound a lot like early Riot and Diamond Head. Our record was produced to be fast and loose so we got juiced up and banged it out like horny 14 year olds. It's pretty much our summation of heavy metal from its birth up until the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal circa 79-81. From "Shes so Heavy" by the Beatles up until "Phantom of the Opera" by Maiden. The new material is heavier, way more groove oriented. Our record collections are getting deeper and the sound is maturing. I think it takes some time to find your sound and figure out exactly what kind of music you want to play. The first record is us figuring that out on tape.

-I HEAR A LOT OF THE CLASSIC ROCK AND 80'S SOUND MIXED IN WITH SOME MODERN ELEMENTS, BUT AT TIMES THE PRODUCTION (ESPECIALLY ON VOCALS) CAME OUT SO MUCH LIKE THE LATE 70'S SOUND IT'S SCARY! WAS THIS INTENTIONAL OR JUST THE WAY THINGS CAME OUT…

It was totally intentional yet at the same time, totally natural. The music that comes out of you is a combination of all the music that goes into you. When we recorded the record we were listening to a lot of Diano era maiden and the first few Cheap Trick records. That's sort of the sound we had when we plugged in and played live so the production just sort of compliments the material. Also I think good song writing doesn't need to be fixed up with fancy production. John Bonham recorded with one mic on his kit and we haven't toped that sound yet. Also if you put Hoobastank production on a ZZ Top record it would sound stupid.

-NOT TO REALLY COMPARE YOUR SOUND TO "THE DARKNESS" BUT DO YOU HAVE A SIMILAR PROBLEM BEING TAKEN SERIOUSLY OR IS THIS CLASSIC SOUND BEING EMBRACED AGAIN BY MUSIC FANS?

It seems to me like the Darkness over emphasizes their cheese factor, either that or they are trying to be overly ironic or something and that’s why people don't take 'em seriously. That just seems like a gimmick to me. Its just kind of pointless to try and do something over again that was already huge 20 years ago. When you simply recreate a past musical movement, with no new influence, or progressive thinking, then it’s pure novelty and totally exploitative. It’s true that we are mainly influenced by older music but we try and pull in a wider scope of influences to make it more interesting for everyone. There's way more good music out there than just NWOBHM, or 70's Glam, or 80’s Thrash, or 60's Garage, or whatever. It’s the combination of dynamic historical influences coupled with the urge to be relevant in modern contexts that makes a band truly interesting to its listeners.

-SO DO YOU GUYS GET OUT ON ANY TOURS OR HAVE YOU BEEN PRETTY MUCH PLAYING TO THE WEST COAST?

Unfortunately our touring circuit is pretty confined to the west coast right now although we will be doing about 20 dates a month. We haven't saved enough gas money to get over to the east coast yet but this summer we’ll be going as far east as Idaho, Utah, Colorado, Texas, etc. with repeat visits to all the usual cities on the West Coast.

-IF YOU COULD GO ON A MAJOR TOUR, WHAT BANDS WOULD YOU LIKE TO HIT THE ROAD WITH?

Man, there are so many good bands out there. I would much rather tour with a bunch of younger, like minded dudes like us as opposed to a bunch of jaded ass old dudes who think they're the shit. Touring with old dudes in established bands probably sucks. Basically, bands who are down to get stoned and nerd out on Uriah Heep and shit. So let me think, young, like-minded stoner nerds who are into metal, hmmm. I'm pretty sure that band exists.

-SO WHERE DO YOU GO FROM HERE, ARE YOU WRITING NEW MATERIAL? IS THERE ANYTHING YOU'D DO DIFFERENT ON THE NEXT ALBUM?

I love getting all pumped on our new material. But it takes forever to? write new stuff because we're paranoid of it sounding too much like ?everything else we've written already. But the new songs we're ?writing are coming along and we'll record once we run outta shows to? play. In general the new stuff is way riffier and groovier compared? to the first record. I think the lyrics are getting darker and less? campy, if you know what I mean. “Angel Witch” came out in ‘80, “Maggot Brian” and “In Rock” came out in ’70. The new record will sound more like ’70. Think about the mad genius of Uli Roth with the visceral rhythms of Golden Earring. So we'll see how that pans out. It ?might totally suck for all I know.

-THANKS FOR TALKING WITH US, ANY PARTING WORDS YOU LIKE TO?ADD??

Legalize it.

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