Garza Podcast - 150 - PAIN OF TRUTH: Hardcore, New York Scene & Staying Grounded

Episode Date: November 11, 2024

Garza sits down in-person with Long Island, NY hardcore band PAIN OF TRUTH. Catch them on tour now! https://linyhc.com SPONSORS: Sweetwater - https://imp.i114863.net/rnrmVB PAIN OF TRUTH is: Michael Smith - Vocals Nik Hansen - Guitar Ridge Rhine - Guitar Nick Barker - Drums Zach Stachura - Bass CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Meeting at Guitar Center 04:31 - Yoga & Meditation 06:31 - Nik’s Motorcycle Injuries 10:15 - New York Hardcore, Childhood Concerts 14:15 - How Pain of Truth Formed 25:46 - Why Michael & Nick Stopped Drinking 35:48 - Energy Drinks, Nicotine & Bad Habits 43:30 - Playing Shows Associated with Drinking & Drugs 45:48 - Writing “Actin’ Up” 55:09 - Collaborating with Freddy Madball 57:33 - Biohazard 1:03:56 - Touring with Dying Wish 1:06:07 - Nik’s 1st Deathcore Band & 1st Shows 1:09:12 - Dealing With Outside Influence, Staying Grounded & Loyal 1:13:12 - Upcoming Tours & Music 1:14:10 - Today’s Hardcore Scene & Audience Crossover 1:19:24 - A Day to Remember

Pain of Truth, thank you for being here. Of course, man. Thanks for having us. Thank you. Any time of you guys were in L.A. yesterday. So, yeah, I keep seeing, I keep seeing your band name just attack my face. I'm just trying to go on Instagram, see cat videos, and I see just, I just keep seeing, like, I keep seeing the band name pop. Yeah.

Pop up. Fuck, yeah. Yeah, it's cool. I was just talking with your bass player, Zach, and I was at Guitar Center, which Guitar Center, which Guitar Center kind of sucks dude yes does I worked there for five years that's how he like that's kind of how he got into what would you say that's how you like oh yeah yeah I worked the guitar I mean not to just cut in but I worked there for like five years I had a buddy from the east coast that knew all of them who moved to Ohio where I'm from yeah and he kind of like introduced me to everyone I know now

just from guitar center I got connected to like I've always been into hardcore but like actually playing in bands and touring was because of that it was the best thing it ever did for me Everything else about it sucked. Wow. So he's just basically just solely from like networking standpoint. That's how you just. Yeah, essentially. I mean, he just had a band that had a show on the East Coast.

He needed to fill in. So I did it. Actually played bass. And then he knew our buddy Ridge, who plays in Pain a Truth, who's not on this tour. And then all just kind of connected from there. Interesting. Yeah. Well, yeah.

Well, yeah, well, it networked me to your bass player, too. It's crazy. Yeah. Damn. Shout out guitar center. I went there to get, uh, Fender tuners, which is the most basic, the most basic fucking thing they should have. And they didn't have fender tuners there.

I'm like, wow. Wow. It sucks, dude. You know, we, we know, when you do, because we're both playing New England Metal Heartcore Festival. And we flew in, so, yeah, one of my tuners broke off. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, worst case scenarios. And then, I remember I walked in to,

guitar center and you know when you just I feel like you know somebody yeah yeah so so so I saw a Zach I'm like oh I feel like I should know him but then I just continue my business and then I bought these shitty-ass tuners and then outside I was gonna get an Uber and so you got you got a cable right yeah literally just an instrument cable that was the only reason I usually wireless but we had some like bullshit and then I was like fuck don't don't have an instrument cable so it was like I knew that wake up early and hit guitar center.

That's literally the only reason I was there. I was like, well, okay, I think, okay, he's going to the festival, and something told me which I would never do. Hey, I'm bringing in Uber, you want to ride or something? Yeah. So I would never, I don't know, I would never do that. But I guess we're going to the same place. Yeah, and then I...

And you have... I just assumed you were going to the fest, too. So I was just like, oh, like, I don't need Uber. I got the rental car. You want to hop in, which I also literally never do. at all. I prefer driving alone. Yeah, yeah.

Yeah, then when you told me what band you were in, I'm like, dude, I was like, holy shit, dude, sick. You're on Painter Truth, man? That's fucking dope. Dude, it was mad funny, too, because obviously we didn't know each other, but I was just like, I know those dudes are going to the fest, and you're just like, oh, yeah, you're like playing a band, you're playing today?

I was like, oh, yeah, I play this band called Painter Truth. And you started doing that, I was just like, oh, God, dude, what did I just get myself into? Like, I don't know who you are. I thought I was like a little fan boy or something. And then it was like so funny. I'm straight edge, I'm cool. And then you like were so cool about everything.

I was just like, so like you go to the fest, you play? And you're like, oh, that's cool, man. What band? And you're just like, oh, just like suicide silence. And then it's like immediately just flipped. And I was like, no fucking way. That that sucks. No, not at all.

But it was awesome because even like after that, then we just started talking about like touring and the gym in meditation. It was just like a very genuine conversation. It wasn't just like, oh, that's cool. Anyway, it was, I don't know. The whole vibe shifted that day. Yeah, that was cool.

It ended up being a very, a very cool day. You know, flying days are always tough. You're always, like, kind of just tired as fuck. Yeah. Because we're older. But yeah, it was a very, it was a very inventful day. Yeah. Yeah, it was awesome.

Fucking dope show. Can we, can we do a quick intro? Yeah, yeah, sure. So people can attach voices to the names? Definitely. Who's going first? Killer guys. I'm Nick.

Hell yeah. What's up? I'm Michael. I sing in the band. Appreciate that. Yo, I'm also Nick. I play drums. Appreciate that.

Zach. I play bass. Nice. Do I try so hard to not talk about, like, meditation and yoga. Yeah, it's like a punishing topic, bro. I try not to be that guy, but just... I love that shit, man.

I just... I love that shit. So when I meet someone, that like starts talking about it. I'm like, oh, shit, I, I can finally talk about it. And not feel like a weirdo. Yeah, it always just feels like it's like some like high level like bullshit that someone turned to hold over you like, oh, dude, I meditate and I'm just like holier than now.

And I'm just like, brother, if I can sit alone for like 10 minutes and just clear my head, that's all I'm doing. It feels so good. Do you imagine being me. I'm talking to someone in pain and truth. And we're talking meditation and yoga. that's what that's that's that's that's makes the shit heavy yeah bro i mean it's like cool i haven't talked about that shit in years because like you said it's like not a topic i want to like just yeah

you guys like do this thing yeah but it was like cool it was it both it works for both of us yeah dude it's been i mean it's yeah it's definitely uh save my career oh shit yeah totally yeah just keeping uh keeping a keeping a straight mind which we were just talking about earlier straight mind on 38 so keeping your body healthy yep you know keeping the muscles around the spine healthy you know trying to challenge yeah it is it's a it's a daily a daily thing any you guys do mess with any of that stuff yeah i do like daily stretches i have like a 45 minute routine 45 minute a what it's just all for i have like neck and back injuries so i have like a whole like back neck, like my hips and legs

that I stretch out. What happened? I don't know, honestly. You don't know? Could be you flying off your motorcycle. I've crashed my motorcycle twice. Twice?

Yeah. So I think it might be that. Yeah, it's probably that. Dude, you're looking to be alive, man. Yeah, I know. The second one wasn't that bad, but the first one was very close. And it was like, I'm very lucky that I made it out of it. Did you have like a near-death experience?

Was it that bad? I wouldn't say it was that bad, but I did fly off the bike going like, it was probably going like 60 miles an hour. 60? Yeah. And I fucking, I flew over my bars. I wrapped my leg around a, like a street sign. And then, yeah, I like tore my MCL, fractured my knee.

And then I just slid on the ground for like 50 feet. Yeah. You say like it's just not a big deal. Yeah, I mean, it was, but, you know, obviously where shit happens and I'm lucky to be here still and still, like, functioning. Do you still ride a bike? Yeah. Man, people that ride bikes are just a different breed, man.

It's insane. So after the first time, you're like, oh, that's fine. Yeah. And the second time, you're like, oh, that's fine. Yeah. Oh, my. Gosh, that's my pain in truth is fucking heavy. You guys don't give a fuck.

And when was this? That was almost 10 years ago. Almost 10 years ago. And you still will feel it. Yeah, definitely. It's kind of scary. Once you mess with the back, it's kind of like a, it's pretty much there forever. Yeah.

He's learning to, like, maintain it. Yeah, you just got to figure out ways to kind of like alleviate it, I guess, you know, to just make it like, all right, it hurts, but like I can deal with it. Oh my gosh, dude. And weren't you doing construction? Yeah. Fuck, how, oh my gosh, dude. Yeah.

I mean, I work with machinery, like I operate machines. Yeah. So it's like, it's not super, like, labor. Sure. So I'm more kind of just sitting there playing with Joy Six almost the time. But I was doing for a while. while doing like directional drilling where I was actually like moving shit around and like actually working so that was like kind of hard but it wasn't terrible yeah it was like I was moving enough

throughout the whole day that was like you kind of your body like warmed up to it but besides that it hasn't I mean like it's affected my work a little bit but not that much and uh you would uh so so you being a kid you would like you would take the uh you would take the uh you would take the train to shows right yeah and that's and that's how you eventually met Michael right yeah but you guys don't you guys know each other for over 10 years so so did you already once once he crashed uh yeah i knew him already definitely there is a i went on your bike remember after i m h that one time definitely probably neither of us should have been on it no fucking cruising on that thing but it wasn't long after that i remember being like yeah because i crashed i mean we met when

I was like 14 or 15, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah. And then I crashed it when I was I think I was 18 or 19. Oh my gosh, you're so lucky, man. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah, I mean, we were kind of both going to like shows at the same time because we both had older brothers in it. Mm-hmm. But he was going to more like beat down shows. And I remember the first time that he walked into AMH.

I don't know. I can't remember what show it was, but it was just more of like a straight-up hardcore show. It's like, who the fuck is this guy? He had the tracks suit. No, he had the tracksuit on and like just fresh-ass fit. And you just started fucking everybody up. But he was younger and like he wasn't as big as he is now.

But he had crazy style and I was like, who the fuck is this kid? So he stuck out like a sore thumb like right away. I was like, yeah, that dude's fucking awesome. Then we started playing shows together. We were both in bands. And then I made the link, I was like, oh, it's the same dude. And then, yeah, but we realized, like, we don't live too far, like apart, town over. It's like five-minute drive down, like, one road.

Oh, that's pretty close. Yeah. Yeah, super close. So you guys aren't, so basically you're based out of Long Island, but you're not actually in Long Island, correct? We're both on Long Island. Okay, cool. Yeah, we're both on South Shore, Long Island. Nice.

I would say, like, probably a pretty much central of the island. Yeah, like central south shore. Nice. Yeah, right on the border and asphalt and suffolk. So you guys both have this in common. You guys both have

older brothers that got you into hardcore. Yeah, yeah. I wouldn't even say hardcore just kind of like music and shit. Okay. My brothers were into like all,

my brother Danny was more into like Ramones and like punk like CBGB's type shit, like that whole era. Yeah. My brother Chris was more like Long Island

had like taking me X on. Sunday and Saw Majority, like that kind of shit. Yeah. Then he got linked up with people that were doing more New York hardcore type shit. Like, he always knew about it and he liked it, but it wasn't his center point. And then when I was exposed to that, I think even like my brother's rega, like, Michael loves this shit.

Like, you know what I mean? So that was really, like, I connected definitely, like, the first hardcore show on, like, a floor, everyone Masha, and I was like, oh, this is. Like I fucked with Green Day and blink away too and all that shit But like go see them at like Jones Beach and there's like seats and shit Yeah, it's not like the videos I was expecting Yeah I mean like so the first time I was just like on a floor And everyone was like fucking each other up I was like like like like

Yeah, people are just climbing on each other like this is like what I was looking for Yeah so the so the first shows you're going to you were like Green Day shows you're like oh wait like Yeah so like bigger shows yeah yeah concert you know Which was epic too It was cool shit, but not what I was expecting from like watching videos and people like stage diving and more like crowd interaction type of shit. Yeah, something happens to you when like your like the first shows you go to your like concerts, I guess, big shows. And then we go to your first like, you're now, you're like a small club. Yeah.

And you see, oh, this is, oh shit, this is like a whole other thing. Yeah. I feel like it all comes back to that. You talk to like any bigger band. 100%, dude. Always comes back to that. Yeah. The first band I saw in a club was a carry-on.

Hell, yeah. It was carry-on and bang. Yeah. That's sick. I remember. And I was, I went in there like an idiot. Like I wore like a like a jumpsuit and I had spikes like this fucking tall. And like, and I didn't know what dance team was or nothing.

Yeah. Nothing. So I kind of was like pretty close to the stage. And the moment they fucking started through the singer carrying on, which I always wanted to meet him. He took my fucking head. He just fucking did that. I was like, it's just fucking like, it's just fucking, like, it grained in my head. I was, I was fucking scared, man.

Yeah. And I saw a banging and they were fucking sick, dude. Fuck, yeah, dude. It was cool. Love those guys. Yeah, it just, fuck it. It's just, it just goes, it's just ingrained in you. Yeah, for sure.

You know? And to see how far you guys have taken it in such, like, a short amount of time. Yeah. You know? Yeah, it was just like, I feel like the timing of COVID and everything. Mm-hmm. So, I mean, we're all in different bands doing different shit. And, uh,

kind of just came to like a point where I feel like no one had anything going on yeah I had the songs recorded already and I think they're in like D standard for my previous band I was in and I just tuned it down one night like to see just to see what it sound like and to sound like hey breed and I was like this is fucking awesome and so I uh yeah so I started like just tracking them uh like slowly and something to my friend Lumpy to sing on it originally. He runs Daze Records. That's like the record label on. So I sent it to him to sing on it. And he was like, dude, like, there's just too much going on right now. But these tracks are sick, whatever. So then COVID really hit.

And I guess I think he must have revisited it or something. And he sent it to me. He was like, yeah, I just listen to these instrumentals again. Like, they're sick. You should sing on it. Like, you should try to sing on it and see what it sounds like. Didn't have anything going on. I did it, sent it back to him

and he was like, dude, this is awesome. Like, I think he put out, what do you put out, the Queensway record before that? Yeah, it was like the Queensway cassettes. He was just posting, like, like hardcore, like, clips of hardcore bands from, like, back in the day, like, recent.

It was just an Instagram page at first. Then he put out this band Queensway's record just to, like, fuck around a little bit and just see if he could put something out. And then this was, like, the second release. He was like, yo, like, I think we should just put this out and just, like, blow it up

and try to just, like, make it dope. Because he heard it right away. He was like, yo, I think, like, this could be fucking awesome. I was like, I mean. Did he, do you think he heard something that you didn't hear? Not that, I just never had been in a band that, like, really, like, people were, like, overwhelmingly, were like, oh, yeah, this is sick.

So I didn't know. I don't hear a difference from that or like a previous hardcore band I'm in. You know what I mean? Like so, I mean, I thought it was awesome, but I didn't. I mean, still, we talk and we're like, this is fucked. And like, this is crazy. Like I, so the time, I think the timing was key. I think everyone was at home looking at their phones.

And if you like hardcore music, I mean, it's pretty straight up, you know. But yeah, if it wasn't for Lumpy, he was the one that really, like, push it was like, yeah, like, let's, you guys should, like, put this out on vinyl, put it out properly, like, proper release, like, merch with it, all that bullshit. And so we did. And, like, I feel like that helped, too, you know. And it gave kids and us something to look forward to when the shit was over, you know, when the COVID, the shit was over, so.

So what was it during the recording of the EP that, uh, that you brought in, Nick? So, what, did you, not? Did you come in, like, half? We were like, none of them knew each other, really, except for just like a high out of show. You know what I mean? Yeah. Even like, yeah, so I knew Nick, always wanted to be in a band with him. Obviously, he's talking about operating heavy machinery, so he's obviously busy.

I knew like he wouldn't be able to tour, but obviously that wasn't the intentions of the band. It was kind of just like a fun thing, like project for COVID. We always wanted to be in a band. We were always playing shows. Yeah, we always wanted to just like have some. something down just to look back on me like oh that's sick we were in a band yeah so I asked him to come through to do backup vocals I think the first song I put on was Pena Truth and he was just like yeah he just like he hit me up because like we like we're

he was telling me he was like yeah I'm like doing these songs whatever it's like I want you to play guitar like all this stuff I was right so the studio is right by our house too so he was like I'm doing vocals like just come by and do like backup stuff. Mm-hmm. So I still hadn't heard anything yet, so I had no idea what I was walking into. Oh, wow. And then I just sat down and he played the song through and I was like,

this is fucking insane. Really? This is like exactly what I want to be playing right now. Yeah. Dang. And but he told me, he was like, I'm not going to be able to tour and shit. I was like, I mean, I have no idea like what. I was like I would love the tour.

It definitely was the initial, like, start up of me writing. I was like, yeah, I just want to be able to tour. and not have anybody else say, like, hey, this isn't happening anymore. I wanted to be like, yeah, like, I just wanted to keep moving no matter what. You know what I mean? Fillins, like, whatever it is to, like, whatever it takes to, like, get it to fucking catch, you know? So, I don't know. I feel like I just always wanted to be in a band with him.

I would watch him fucking rip sets all the time on bass. And I only saw him playing bass. He wasn't, like, a guitar player that would, like, jump over to bass just for the fuck of it for fun, just to, like, fill in. Yeah. I was like, I want, like, a bass player. You want an actual bass player and a hardcore band. Yes, yeah, yeah, yeah. Not just someone who just, like, wants to fuck around, jump in.

So I hit him up. There was a different drummer at the time. He helped me record it. He couldn't really tour or anything. So I had already met Nickman. We played together. in a band called Life's Question. Epic drummer.

So he started filling in. That was like super organic too, like the way that came about. But yeah, like the first show, none of us, like I knew Zach, I knew I knew Kila, I knew Ridge, the other guitar player. I knew the drummer at the time.

But realistically, like, they all just met like a couple hours before. Like if you watched the video of our first set at AMH, like they just met. Like, they didn't know it. Like, they all learned. Yeah, they all, they learned the song separately. We met up.

We played through them. I was like, yeah, it sounds epic. We went to the venue and played the show. Oh, wow. So, and that, but at the same, and they're all, everyone. Everyone's, everyone, I would say that everyone's personalities are different in the band. But they clear, like, I watched them all click, like in front of my house. I was like, yo, this is fucking awesome right now.

Music does that to people, man. Yeah, and then we ripped a tour, like, right after the first. first show so then like we really we really uh meshed well like so almost like that's like what works people are like are you guys like all like best friends and I'm like sounds mad corny but I feel it's like more like a family like we're all so different but we all it just works you know it's like not like we all have the exact same interests we like the exact same music we like the exact same things but it's all different and I think that honestly that's like why it works it's like balanced out yeah yeah I agree man that's imagine if it didn't click yeah yeah yeah yeah

For sure. Yeah. For sure. We're very lucky, man. We all get along extremely well. Yeah. We have an amazing dynamic, I feel like. Yeah.

If one of us isn't here, it's still, it just feels off. Yeah. The whole vibe shifts a little bit in, like, one direction or the other. It's just off, man. Yeah. So just by the connection of the music, you guys just became a family. Yeah. Yeah.

You guys, like, skip their friend part. Honestly, yeah. I never really thought about that, but I think that's true. Because it's still, like, I could call these dudes anytime, like, day or night, pick up the phone but it's it was never like except Mike Mike doesn't yeah Mike's phone doesn't work for us it's weird I like when my phone dies I just yeah I don't think people are supposed to be able to fucking be that accessible to you at all times but I don't think we're designed to be like that well no but but that's what but that's why we have cell phones

I know but you like carrying it like I love key love yes I love key love I don't think I don't think Like I said, his own phone charger this whole tour. He uses mine every morning. It wakes me up and taps me on the shoulder. I'm still awake. I was like, can I use your phone charger? It's like a small game in my head. Just like surviving without a phone charger.

See how long I could go. Yeah, it's like you're connected, but you're not at the same time. It's not even that deep, bro. I just don't, yeah. I wish it was that deep. I really wish there was a reason behind the insanity. Yeah, it's like fucking this fucking fuels the band, dude. no but yeah man i fucking love these dudes they're awesome yeah yeah it's funny hearing you say you

were planning on touring because i remember getting in the texas like bro we're just gonna like open a few shows maybe you play like three shows and like that's gonna be it for paint a trip yeah yeah oh i didn't know yeah even ridge right now like ridge is super busy guy he's he's not here right now he's playing guitar uh with like's question but even when i first hit hit him hit him up like he was so psyched the song so he's like dude i want to be a part of this but i'm just so busy and i was like yeah i mean we're not like we all have different shit going on right now like he's at work he was in a band he was in a band i was in another band so like that wasn't the intention was to like run it full full course i guess i mean like i guess in the back of my head like if it worked i wanted to you

know but i didn't want to like get hopes up or nothing like that i just wanted to fucking play a couple cool shows with like cool people and uh it just ended up fucking being dope. Yeah, that's one thing I heard about your band where you have you have this batch of songs on the EP there's no expectation, there was no preconceived

nothing. Yeah. And then you guys were brought together and then it just, I guess it just connected. Yeah. You know, and no. So now you're just kind of figuring it out in like real real time still. Yeah, yeah. For real. We always say, like, I mean, we have people in our ear, like, you know, I think you could do this or this or this. And, like, we're always, like, we, it sounds cliche, but it's always been, like, day by day process.

Like, from the day we put it out. Like, we never get our hopes up. Like, we, like, we have plans, obviously, you know, like, and goals. But we don't, like, necessarily get our hopes up for anything until, like, it's in front of us and happening. you know yeah and i think that keeps it like exciting too and like fun we don't expect anything yeah yeah and it's like it's just it makes it funner you know because it's just a very that's a short span of time like 2020 to the first record was 2023 yeah and now we're in 224 that's yeah it's it takes it takes years to like kind of grasp like what like what the fuck your band's doing

Whenever I need music gear, I always go to sweetwater.com. If it's mics, headphones, or studio, and recording gear, Sweet Water has you covered. Next time you need any music gear, support the podcast by using the link in the description and comment section below. Yeah, for sure. This tour is actually three years since we played our first show. Really? Yeah. It was October of 21 was our first show.

It's crazy because it feels like we've done so much, like we've been a band for 10 years, but then it's only been three just because we played we just toured as much as we could and I think just try to get like the most out of it and it's really cool

to see like the progression over just three years I think that's like you know you're fucking fatty yeah you fucking I was still drinking then so I have an extra

40 or 50 pounds yeah me too dude once you start drinking dude like the weight just flies off man once you stop it's fucking insane bro huge in that video it's fucked up you look like a New York drinker for sure bro I was I was throwing

back gin and tonics all fucking day gin and tonic yeah Mike changed quick man he it was insane yeah it was awesome why you start drinking stop stop yeah um I I feel like I just I forget what show it was exactly but it was out of state somewhere and Chicago no no I mean that was like the day I thought about but like I remember we played a show somewhere and we got paid and had the merch money and at the time I was still kind of like doing that myself a little bit so I just remember having all this money and giving it to killa and we were both fucking trashed oh no and it was a it was a deed we counted it and we're like oh dude that's crazy and I remember just thinking like the only way it's going to last is if like we're just like if not treat it like a business because then it's not going to be fun no more but like i guess like show it respect like you got like respect it you know i mean and like not take advantage of it and like it's like yeah like that's fucking crazy like i don't know you know what i'm saying

and it just made more sense it was like yeah if there's if i'm gonna send it and like quit my job and do all this uh uh like immature decision making if there's like one thing that I can control and change like and I can do it like I might as well just like change that part of my life and like be it definitely helped you know I mean it just I could just tell like all right if I cut that out and I mean I've only every aspect of my life has gotten better since I cut it out you know I mean so um including the band and like the band just not that it was operating bad before, but it just operates like smoother and organically more like a business without it feeling like a business, you know? And I wouldn't say it's all because I stopped

drinking or because Killah stopped drinking, but it totally fucking helped, you know? And who knows, like, if we were drinking, like, what the past couple years would have looked like, like, what situations we would have got into what we would have walked away from, what we wouldn't have walked away from like just bad shit you know i mean i've only really seen bad shit come from it from alcohol so i don't knock it because i spent years partying and like i don't necessarily regret it like i got a lot of good times and shit but um and i'm not like super old or anything so i don't want to come off like preachy but yeah like i i spent years touring partying super fucking hard and now I've spent a few years not doing it.

I mean, from personal experience, it's so much fucking better. Really? Yes. Yeah. Like, just from just waking up, you know, in the morning, you know? Like, you just, like, you already feel tired. Like, I woke up today and I was tired, and I think about it.

I'm like, imagine I was fucking hung over right now. Like, how the fuck did I do that? And I'm only 30, so it's like, and I just, I can't even, I literally could not even. picture doing that now like just that alone just waking up like and then just eating like eating habits and fucking working out or fucking playing the show setting up for the show like just fucking everything man it's just like it's like it's like a dark cloud that hangs over your head even if you're having a good time you know i mean it's still fucking shot yeah but partying is awesome too at the same time

so that's the battle but it's like yeah you know if you could balance you know If people, if you could balance it out, like, you know, like, I don't diss anyone, like, look down on anyone for, you know, and respect when people could, could handle it and, you know, like, not have it fucking really make a dent in their life, you know. So it's not, like, not preachy, but personal experience, it definitely got better when we all stopped, like, partying as much, you know. So you had a moment. It was like, yeah. I mean, if you want to be honest, I don't know, you might have to cut it. because it has to do with drugs, but I took mushrooms, and I'd taken them before, and, like, I didn't go into it on purpose,

like, oh, I want to take these to, like, stop drinking. I was just chilling, and I don't know what the fuck it was, man. Like, literally, I don't know. I think I went to go make a drink or something, and I was just looking at it, and I was just like, really? What the fuck is this shit, man? Like, I think I literally poured a glass of water and looked at both,

like, and was just, like, I can't believe I just like put this in like in my body you know like I wonder what it's doing like inside and I just thought about it too hard I think and I thought I was tripping about it and the next the next day I woke up I think I went to a show to am age and ordered and ordered a gin and tonic like I normally would and it just fucking repulsed me man and that was the last drink I ordered and I just it was a cold turkey but it wasn't even like it was a battle sometimes like there was little hints like you know if I was like out of or something, I'd be like, uh, but it was pretty like, like, clear line. Like, I could remember the, like, point in time that I was, like, repulsed by it. And, like, I, yeah, I don't know. I just never, I just never drank again after that. Just fucked up. I also never really ate shrew.

I never really, like, abused mushrooms again after that either. Like, I've probably, like, eaten a small amount, like, since then. But, like, I haven't, even since then, yeah, I haven't, like, just ate mushrooms for the fuck of it, like, gained, honestly. It sounds corny, but, like, kind of, like, a respect for that, too. Like, I was like, that's fucking crazy because that was a big part of my life was drinking sulfur mushrooms to just fucking cut it out like that. I was like, damn, that's some powerful fucking shit. Yeah. Yeah, it was pretty hard.

People didn't even believe, like, I, like, when I was telling them, like, yeah, I'm not going to drink no more. people like what's fuck that's crazy because I was a fucking partier yeah what do you like what did like all the band say and all like your friends and family say well kill this man because I was like yeah I want to I don't think I want to drink anymore

but it's so attached which is so unhealthy with playing shows you know like partying playing show if you do that like it's just so attached so I was like I can't imagine it's going to be easy going on tour it's one thing sitting at home and like all right yeah I'm not going to make a drink whatever but being on tour

like the energy and just the schedule and everything like i was like i wonder how that's going to be and he was just like yeah i'll fucking i'll do it with you like it'll be easier and he did because he's fucking awesome and he's the best guy in the whole world and he did and i knew and i knew when he told me because he doesn't fucking go back on his words so i knew when he said it i was like he's not going to fucking drink and that probably helped too honestly so i won't i won't give it all the mushrooms i'll give it the killer guy too because he probably helped but i still smell an insane amount of weed so something I gotta work on. And weed, weed does help too.

Yeah, I mean, there was definitely like the crutch, like, you know, I'd like roll a join or something. If I was going out and everyone was drinking, I'd like always join on me or something. Speak on a smoke. Yeah. Yeah. I think it goes up to like 63 or something. What? Nick, what, was that hard for you?

Uh, there was definitely, like, Mike had stopped drinking. I think it was like during the summer. or sometime, right? Like August or something like that. And then I didn't stop completely drinking until the following, like, December. But, like, I slowed down a lot because it would be, like, every show

we were drinking or touring, whatever. Yeah, it's like a party of like that thing. Yeah, it was like we were just always drinking. And it was like, I was kind of like in the same mindset. Like, I just didn't feel as good when I was drinking. Yeah. And then same thing. with like waking up in the morning and like trying to just like still do touring like but

having like hangovers or whatever yeah sucks so I like I slowed down a lot like when he had stopped and then it was like got to the point where I was just having like one drink like once a month I think we were like leaving for something yeah the last time I had the conversation with you like yeah it's probably gonna be shitty honestly yeah like I think you're like how are you doing with it. And I was like, I'm fine. I don't want to drink, but I'm at home. So it's like a different atmosphere, different setting. Yeah.

So I think that's when you're like, fuck it. I think I'm just gonna, like, I haven't really been drinking. Yeah, I was like, I slowed down so much once he stopped. And then I just finally kicked it like a couple months later. And then now I've been sober almost two years. Congratulations, man. It's a big deal. It's cool.

I mean, I feel great now. So, and obviously, like, we're just watching that video. Like, I dropped so much weight just from not drinking. It happens, dude. The moment I stop getting blackoutre drunk all the time is drop like, like 30 pounds. Yeah.

Like, oh, okay. This is, this is nice? Yeah. You know? So is that, does that explain your addiction to, uh, C4? I actually, I haven't had a C4 in like five months.

What do you drink now? Just black coffee and water. Yeah, he's just like, put as many shots into that as you can. Yeah. I forgot about that, though. You did love that shit. Yeah. Skittles, bro.

Those things are hard to stay away from on the road. It's like fucking cancer in a can, bro. All of that. It's so crazy. C4, bang. I wouldn't drink that shit. They come in handy when you're driving at night, though. Yeah.

Energy drinks were my shit, especially the Skiddle C4. And it was like, especially like when I was working a lot too. Like, you know, my workday starts at like 5.30, 6 o'clock in the morning. Yeah, there it is. Yep. Yeah. Super human performance. Yeah.

It looks good for you. It's a carbon. And Beda aline, that just sounds terrible for you. I know. I'd watch him walk out of gas stations with like three of those. And he's like, it's crazy. Yeah. Yeah, what's in that thing?

Mostly just like vegetables and shit. Yeah, right. Yeah, it's a lot of... There's some stuff in there. Vegetables and fruit and... I see that we're caffeine connected to something else, whatever that word is with the A. Huh.

What did that say? Caffeine... Anhydrous? Something crazy. I don't know. I want to try, I just saw it as like a month ago, I want to try like a powdered caffeine. Oh, that's kind of scary.

I just, it looks like cocaine. Someone had, like, caffeine gum last night. Caffeine gum? Yeah. Yeah, I've seen those in gas stations before. Yeah, you can buy like caffeine pills at gas stations, just take it like a capsule and get like 100 milligrams of caffeine. Yeah, I don't know why that just seems like it's so much worse for you.

And then I just like walk out with like a five hour. I'm just like, this is fine. This is good. Yeah. I should have five hour once and it sucks ass. Bro, it's so bad, but that is like, I don't know. I stopped drinking, but I'm, Zins control my life. It's so bad.

Oh, yeah. It's so fucked up. It's really bad. Is that, that's the negative. Oh, yeah, those. Man, I don't, I tried it once. I got, like, anxiety. It, like, it like, it makes sure.

It's like, it's done my fucking live, dude. The dude, take him pictures. pictures on this tour came out me and killer working out we both put his in in and gave it's like you know can I try one where I get we give it to him and then 10 minutes later he sends me a picture just throw up everywhere on the street he was like bro that's not the first story I've heard of that happening either right rudsy takes pictures for speed our buddy Josh gave him a zin and he threw up too it's like usually if you give someone one that doesn't have like a nicotine tolerance it'll just make you what about the day you started like

guts out. Yeah, well, I was addicted to the vape, like the nicotine vape, is that what you're talking about? Yeah, and then, well, I had to be in California, too, and you started taking some Zins from Kila. And I don't even think you were, like, spitting them out. Oh, when I swallowed it? Oh. Well, no, we... Fucking psycho, dude. I didn't do it on purpose.

We started playing the set, and I was like, oh, shit, I have a zinn, and that's crazy. Like, mid-set, you know? And then same song, I'm, like, looking for it in my mouth. I'm like, where the fuck, there you go. And it definitely didn't fly out. I definitely swallowed it. because I just had an insane stomachate that whole, like, next, like, two days. We had to pull over every fucking 20 minutes because I swallowed a fucking Zen.

It fucked me up. Still love them, though. I just quit these. I'm like three weeks off of them. Yeah, right. Yeah, yeah. They keep trying to get me to take them still. Three weeks?

Three weeks. Are you counting a days or? I mean, I quit on a Monday, and it's been, like, every time Monday comes around, I'm just like, oh, it's like another week, another week. So I'm just trying to not give back in. Touring is the hardest. I can do it at home, but on tour, everyone's got them. Yeah, you're around me.

Yeah, you will power resist. Oh, gosh. Yeah. That explains that if you don't have, like, that nicotine tolerance. I put a Zen in my lip. I was like, if I don't get it out of my mouth right now, I'm going to go up. Yeah. I'm going to puke right now.

Yeah. It reminds me of the first time. It's got to be bad for you. Yeah. I stay positive about it, though. It's the same thing when I was like 10 and my brother gave me like, chew for the first time. Like, and I put that in and I threw up.

Oh, it's so gross. Yeah, that stuff's nasty. It's just, yeah, there's a certain substance that will just affect someone so differently. It's always, it's, like, shocking to me, like, either weed or alcohol or nicotine or coffee just affects people so differently, man. Yeah, it's very true.

Yeah. Like, I mean, cigarettes are so, like, addicting, and I could smoke a cigarette. I probably smoke, like, once a month or something. It's just no desire. Yeah, I never got in cigarettes. I never really smoked cigarettes. I just started smoking weed and then, I don't know, I just never really saw the, like, I tried them.

Like, even when I was drinking, I didn't really like them. But for some reason, when I stopped drinking, I started vaping, and that shit is so stupid, man, but I was so on it. Like, it had me locked in. We were on Toro Kubicon, and I threw it out the window. I was like, fuck this. I'm not hitting it. no more. Nice.

Thude out the window. And then like, let's go. But then like 10 minutes went by and I was like, bro, what I'm fucking dude? I was freaking out. Never already on the Zins. And they tried to give me one. And I was like, I don't fucking like those things because I put one in once.

It was felt insane. I took it out. Yeah. But I ripped one because I needed nicotine because it was fucked from the vapes. And then the next gas station we stopped out, I got a fucking tin. And now they're just control my whole shit out. Those things are way worse, though, the vapes. I hope.

What are you, a doctor? No, I mean, like, they're just, to me, they're more addicting. Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I had one, and I did the same thing. I wanted to get rid of it, and I'm the kind of dude who I was so addicted to it. I would throw it away and then go back and get it. But, like, so I'm like, I'm not doing that.

I ran it underwater, so it wouldn't work, and I threw it away, and then, like, 10 minutes later, I smell something, and it's just, like, on fire in my trash. I, like, I, like, shorted the battery or something. It was just smoking, and I was like, All right, well, I'm definitely not using that. I remember being at the airport and, like, you know, like, yo, film this. I'm throwing it out. And I'm like, all right, I'm filming it.

And you're, like, waving goodbye to it, throwing it in the trash. Next day, just send me a picture with a brand new. Oh, fuck. Try, try. Maybe she's dead. You try it. I'm doing this shit. You know what?

Go on, I'm buying a new one. Yeah, I would say, that's the kind of, that's the tough thing about any, having any kind of bad habit. Like, you need to replace it with something. Yeah. You know, so it's, it's tough, man. It's tough to get over. something.

Sit here just ripping this joint. It's fine. I like weed. Do you smoke weed? Yeah, more like a casual smoker. Okay. I know. I smoke too or I get

somebody would call it paranoid but I call it it makes you think about shit. Do you want this? Do you want a thing? Honestly, I would but to be honest I am a little hungover

and that might make me feel. Fair enough. Honest answer. Respect. Honest answer. It might make me puke. But, yeah, like last time we had a show.

Where was that? It was the Mayhem Festival. Oh, fuck, yeah. That was probably fucked up. That was last night. That's awesome. Yeah, it was a lot of fun. They fucking cut the power out of our last,

yeah, our last song. But it was, it was fun. You said they kept singing? Yeah. It was kind of like a... It's added to the fucking show anyway. Yeah, it just kind of couldn't have been any better. It was like it was planned on some weird,

some weird way. That's awesome. So it's kind of like this moment just kind of built up. It was cool. Yeah, that's fucking awesome. Good for you guys. So I'm still in a point of my life

where I do connect alcohol with playing the show. Yeah, yeah, totally. I mean, most, like, I feel like a lot of people do. You know what I mean? And it makes a lot of fucking sense because playing fucked.

I was just saying outside, like, people will ask me, like, how do you smoke someone? weed and then go play like a crazy show like that that sounds crazy to me yeah see like but for me even like with drinking too it kind of did the same thing like sometimes if i'm it's probably not healthy either it's the same shit as drinking and playing the show so i'm on the same shit with smoking weed still but sometimes like if i don't smoke i'll think ahead like mid verse or whatever and i'm like oh what are those lyrics and i know them i know i find

fucking know him because I sing them every fucking night. Yeah, yeah. But if I'm not stoned, I think about it too hard sometimes. Oh, yeah. Like, wait, what's the next first? I know I'd changed like two words here, but, and it's like, why am I having this fucking conversation in my head right now? I should just be saying, like, as opposed to if I just go on stage, just blitted,

I'll just fucking, it just flows out easier, you know? And I don't even fucking think twice about what's about to happen in 20 seconds. I'm just like in what's happening, you know? As opposed, and you said before, like, it affects people different. I know some people smoke weed in this back. I'm going in the corner and crouching down. Yeah, yeah. Staying here.

Yeah, yeah. But, yeah, I don't know. I've always... I smoke weed because I just like smoking weed, but I'm sure there's something there. Like, what? I don't know. Like, definitely makes me feel better.

I don't know. Like, it just makes me feel, like, more social and, like, get my points across. Unless I just am out here in California and we just get a stupid amount of weed. Oh, yeah. I'm just stupid. Yeah, this is where this is. And I'm just fried. Even in Arizona, I had to ask him, like, end of the set.

I'm like ringing out. We're about to play some fucked up breakdown. Like, yo, we're from Long Island, but you gotta represent. Because right now we're in, I'm like, I know, it was just like, Arizona. Where the fuck are we? And I had to go over to kill me. Or are you? It's like, where are you?

He's like, Arizona. I was like, Arizona. I think I heard you talking about when you write lyrics, you don't write lyrics you don't second guess yourself correct yeah like for the most part like so is it like the first thing that pops in your head and then that's it what's no I wouldn't go that far but sometimes like there's certain songs that I definitely just wrote like and just like kind of like more of the story ones are easier for me to write about rather than like a subject or something like if I

have something that like happened directly and there's like a beginning and end it's easier for me to just like get the point across because yeah i know the story already and i know what i want to say next you know as opposed to maybe like writing about like a subject of something that's like that you're mad about or that's like happening in the world or something like kind of have to just like piece shit together but if you're writing like a personal story i feel like it's easier to just like for it to just flow out because you're like one probably emotional about it because it's like direct and it's like personal but also yeah you just know what the beginning is and And the end is.

Yeah, like the timeline of it. And like, so, like, acting up, I just wrote that shit. Like, we wrote it in the studio, I mean, Killa. I was on the kit, and he was on the guitar, stoned his shit. And we wrote the instrumental. Now I was like, we have to put this on the record. And he was like, it's not a song. It's like, it's not a song.

Yeah, we got there like 10 o'clock at night. And we didn't start recording until the next day. And we stayed, like, there was like a loft in the studio that we, We recorded that? Yeah. So we were staying there, and he was just like, yo, let's just go in there and jam. Well, first of all, it's like an occasion if he, like, has a full smoke session with us. Like, he'll hit it sometimes, but if we sat, it was only me and him flew in first together.

Yeah. So it was just us in this little fucking space. And I was like, fuck, I should have brought weed. I should have brought weed. And a couple months before, I had rolled a bunch of joints and put them in these, like, tube tubes for, like, a fast we played. And, like, they had painted true stickers on them and shit. Oh, dope. And I brought the same jacket from that fest, like just on a whim.

So when I was like going through my bag, like these two joints just fell out in the tubes. And I was like, dude. So we just sat up there and watched like stepbrothers or something, just fucking smoke these two joints so hot. I looked down on. I was like, yo, I wonder if Andy would be cool with us jamming because everything was set up. But at this point, it's like one o'clock in the morning. Yeah, I was like, it would be sick to just jam. I don't know.

Like good. you know what I mean yeah cool shit happens so I texted Andy who recorded us and I was like yeah it was like is there like a time frame that like we can't be in the live room and he's like nice like you're in like an industrial area there's no neighbors so do whatever you want so we like we go in there and we set everything up and then acting up happened yeah we just fucking wrote acting up and then it was like just first try improv that's why like after the intro of the song it's just a ring out and then like just drums start because we just looked at each other we like rang out on the part

and I just started playing like a beat and then he was just looking at me and just just yeah really yeah kept you and then I stopped it and I was like yo that's the whole song we just need a fucking I think I was literally like we just need like a

yeah we stopped after like the second the second verse and you're like you just bring back bring that shit back on me yeah bring that shit back right now dude I remember we had finished recording all the other songs that we brought and we ordered food and we ate Bonchon, these chicken wings, we ate so much food and we were like done, checked out.

And I went up to Michael like, oh yeah, you guys wrote that song. We should probably just track it just because like it's awesome so we can have it. And they're like, yeah, we should. And there's a very last thing we did and end up being the first single we put out in like the biggest single from the record. And those two just wrote it in however long. Probably literally less than a minute. It was crazy. So insane.

I heard I already heard the verse in it, like the harder part. Like when he started playing the first, like the bouncy part, I was like, yo, all you have to do is just go into a hard part right there. And then we could just go back into the bouncy thing. And then just do the hard thing one more time. That's the whole fucking song. And he was like, nah. And I was like, yes.

It could be that fucking simple. Sometimes. Yeah. Yeah, I want to hear the ring out. Hey, Jay, crank this for like 10 seconds. Where's the ring out? It's right here. Okay, it's right after this intro.

Oh, sick. Yeah. That hit. Nice. Yeah, that's cool. That's cool. Yeah. And, like, that song...

You kept the ring out. Yeah. It's just, like, we rung out, and he was just, like, just started playing a part. We're just staring at each other, like, what are we doing? That, dude, that's the best when we're just, like, looking at, like, each other. Yeah. Okay, what are we doing? Yeah.

Yeah, for sure. And then the lyrics, the same thing. Like, they just float out. Wow. Because we recorded it probably... next day, like within the next two days. I was like, I gotta write fucking lyrics for this shit now. And I was writing them like in the room, like recording it.

Like, it was pretty fucked up. Yeah. Hmm. Did you, uh, do you write lyrics when you're smoking? Yeah. Or like half and a half or like what? Yeah. I probably was thinking about it.

I was probably fucking drunk when I wrote the lyrics for like, which kind of sucks but it's kind of awesome because I wrote like portions of like the older songs about like trying to stop drinking and shit wow

so like just little like parts like yeah there's little there's lines like I've been scratching out these walls I'm beat up I'm tired I'm still in the same spot like every time I sing that I'm like like last night at 1720 the first time we played 1720

fucking epic show Wouldn't change anything about it, but I was fucking trashed. Yeah. And it was, yeah. And, like, that was our first set that we were, like, had, like, a really overwhelming reaction where we were like, holy shit, that was really crazy. So to play there last night. And then, like, I was saying those words. And I was like, that's fucking awesome.

Yeah. It's not. On the other side of this. Yes. Yeah. Like, on the other side. But, yeah, I was probably, I was probably fucked up when I wrote a lot of the lyrics for, like, the EP, honestly. And, like, the split songs with age of apoc.

yeah dude I mean it's actually you know what scratch out the the split songs I wasn't I was straight-headed for sure when I wrote those yeah like that shit but yeah I'll smoke definitely smoke reading and write lyrics I like writing lyrics on the plane like when we're like flying somewhere yeah um it's like if I have like demos or something like I'll like I'll just because I'm just locked in. There's nowhere I could go. Yeah. And it makes time go by and fucking all that

bullshit, but I feel like I could just listen to like the song over and over again. It's just like same setting. It's just easy to get in the mood. It's kind of like you're writing a song to yourself. Yeah. Trying to help yourself

like quit. Oh yeah, yeah. That's crazy. Originally yeah. And then like even like the opening track on the newer record. I was already, like, not getting fucked up like that anymore. Like, lifeless on the ground, like I wrote. About, like, when you stop drinking, like, you see a lot of people. Like, you see people change, too, because the same people don't want to hang around you no more

because you're not getting fucked up. Oh, wow. Yeah, I'm sure I changed a bit. You know, I'm sure my... I'm probably a little less crazy or... Whatever, fun. But, yeah, I wrote that about just getting people just dying from partying, you know? I mean, I'm from Long Island.

I mean, that shit's everywhere, but, yeah. I mean, I was partying pretty hard, too. So, yeah, so it's crazy to play that song, too. And people, like last night, a lot of people fucking reacting, like a lot of interaction with that song. You know, it's like, that's fucking dope. That's a trip, man. Probably helps me, too. Like, you know what I mean?

I'm sure that shit helps me too. I've told people that. Like, people come up, you know, your music help me. And it's like a kid I've seen in the front row getting fucking dove on all night and fucking punched and shit. Yeah. Might not, dude. You don't even fucking know.

It's the same shit. Goes back and forth. Well, do you, congrats on the record, man. So it sounds like, it sounds like you guys got a straight, straight head. And, no, I'm pretty sure it's a. big deal for a band like you guys being like a hardcore band and um getting freddie from madd ball like a total ogy legend so to get like the nod yeah it's fucking cool man it's fucking

dope yeah that shit was fucking insane for sure i couldn't even believe that shit that's a good story with the lyrics yeah i mean what what do you mean i was with i was with you and you were like you know freddie said he's down to do the song we're both just like we're in the studio no yeah we're in the studio because we're about to do a weekend with them and that song was just so hold it down era like madball and i was like i can't stop hearing freddie's voice on this in my head that's like when i was time to put him yeah like when i would listen to it i'd be like i just can't stop hearing freddie at this part and we mean him had just started texting each other because we were doing a weekend together like in the coming months maybe like one or two months out yeah it was like a month

later um so when we were in the studio i'm literally listening to the song and he had just given me his number and he just texted me the first time like yo what's up and i'm listening to like the song like for the first time like tracked you know like no vocals yet or anything but like we're listening to it with andy i'm like yo what's up i'm literally listening to this pantry song right now that i i cannot stop hearing your voice on it like could i send it to you and see if you fuck with it. Yeah. Yeah, I sent it to him and he was immediately just like, yeah, that's fucking awesome, dude, I'm fucking down. He was like,

I'm gonna change the lyrics and then text me back like two minutes later. He was like, never mind this is fucking awesome. I'm just gonna sing him. That was what was so cool. And he just kept, yeah, and he was like, yeah, I'm vibing with the lyrics. Like, I'm down to use them. So he just used my lyrics and he tracked it quick too. Like, he got a ton really quick. He

used to fucking man about it. That was some shit when I felt like we were like both like 15, listened to Madball for the first time or some shit. and you were just like bro yeah he wanted to raise own lyrics he's just gonna use mine we were both just like this is this is gonna be special for sure that it dude that is very special you know oh geez man that madball the it knocks at front yeah yeah just let legends dude godfathers yeah you know literally godfathers when you meet people like like that you're just realize you're like a different breed of human yeah totally bro bands from the 90s and

And I can imagine how it was like the New York hardcore scene. Like those guys like lived it. Yeah, I mean. They like lived it. Yeah. People ask us sometimes like especially when we're out of the country. Like, God, it's so crazy. You guys are like from New York.

And they're like, why do you think it's like, like it's different though? Like it's not the same. And it's like, yeah, obviously. I mean, like I don't even know if there's a band, a New York hardcore band that has been born and raised. in the street like in New York City yeah I can't even think of a current band that yeah there's like no like actual bands from the like a younger band not not I'm not I'm not talking about the old guys I'm talking about like younger younger bands like I don't I think the reason why those bands are all so fucking awesome is because like you just

said like they were growing up and like the culture of it was what it like what what kids want it to be I mean like but they wouldn't be able to fucking take it like the way those dudes No they were doing it how they wanted to do it And there wasn't like

There was no money There was no fans It was all just your friends And they just like literally built it To what it can be today I mean And they still do it I just watch a video

Fucking Maball And like Bulgaria And then I'd go to the next thing And it was like AF And fucking Yeah Somewhere in Europe Insane show

I just think about that shit Like no cell phones No internet Maps Mmhmm Calling Like just being like Okay we have the show

here and then just driving there and just hoping it's happening. Yeah. It's crazy. Yeah, it's cool. What's really cool about the hardcore scene coming back. I like seeing the bands

that have been doing it. Like, oh, geez, getting, like, it's crazy how long it takes for a band to truly get that, like, that, like, O.G. status. Yeah, yeah. So, you know, it's really cool to see people like, you know, still talking about those

you know, Mattball, Biohazard. Bionazard's so fucking... A-F, you know? We just played with them like a couple weeks back and that was crazy. Amazing set list. Just like perfect.

Mikey and I were on stage... I guess we're all on stage, but it was just like... Yeah. It was really cool to watch. Yeah. Yeah, they were holding it down for sure. It was fucking awesome.

Yeah, it's fucking massive in Europe. Dude, why is it so massive in Europe? They just fucking love that shit over there. What is it? I don't know, man. I really don't know. It's awesome, though. Respect.

Yeah. Yeah. For that. I mean, I know that's, like, that's important for all these guys. They deserve it, too, you know? They do, man. They've been doing it when there was, like, Cro-Mags. They've been doing it when there was no scene.

That's fucking dope, man. Just doing things that you want to do. Killing time. And, you know, I'm born-raising California, so, man, I can only imagine, like, being born in New York City. I mean, it was even, it was still cool for us. I'm not saying it wasn't cool growing up in RR or two. Like we got to go see all of them

and they would come out to Long Island and play. But yeah, it's fucking awesome. And I could not believe that he was... 87. Down to fucking be a part of the record. Biohazard formed in Brooklyn, New York City, 1987. Man, when you hit the 80s, dude,

yeah. That is real shit, dude. Still watch that Dynamo video like probably once a week. Yeah. Literally, if I'm like, if I'm like, anyone that I person talk to that was in a band in the 90s, it's a different person. It's a different person.

Yeah. I can't even like compare the eras. It's just like this, how do you say it? It's just like a looseness to them. Like no, less of a filter. Yeah, yeah, yeah. When they speak to you. Yeah, definitely.

There's like a freeness to it, you know. Any band Name the genre This video is fucking awesome Dude Is this it? This is it bro This is it bro

This is like the This is like the The Bible Dude For me at least It's an epic Madball video from this And then an epic machine head video too

Everyone from machine heads wearing Chromeags windbreakers Oh yeah So fucking sick Y'all Bounce motherfuck Bounce Bounce

So fuck Nice. He's awesome. He's still spinning, bro. Spitting last weekend, bro. Yeah. Cigarette in his mouth spinning the other weekend? So what energy, bro?

What year was this? I was it 94 or 95? Yeah, something like that. I mean, yeah, this is just the blueprint. Yeah, it was really fucking sick. Yup. It's great to see him back together. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Very fucking sick. I saw him in Milwaukee. Oh, yeah? It was pretty sick. Yeah, dude. Just three dudes holding it down on stage with fucking guitars, just running around being crazy. Yeah. So fucking cool, dude.

It's dope. For 30 years later, still be doing it with the same energy. Oh, a little bit older now and still just fucking running around being crazy. It got me so hyped. That was 30 years ago, huh? Yeah. I keep forgetting him we're in 2020. The fuck is that?

I don't even know where we are right now, bro Sometimes, yeah Sometimes, well right now you are currently in Cincinnati Yeah, you know Jesus Christ It was so funny because Danny The Biohazer's drummer filled in for Madball We went into that weekend

And we're in like the little like green room and his killer And we're both just like, bro, it's Danny, bro, he's just like, Bro, is Danny, bro, he's just like stops What he's doing it, looks up? He's like, what's up guys? We're just like, oh shit, what's up, dude? Some, like, fan girl shit, but for real He's a legend, man, for real.

real epic drummer oh my god man sick man yeah bro well yeah also congrats on the tour you got you guys what is it a co-helling it with the dying wish yeah yeah yeah so we're just like switching off their their last picker it's fucking sick yeah epic band they're also fucking cool yeah yeah it's been going really well yeah we're like four four shows in i want to say yeah this is like the end of the first week yeah so we're hitting pretty much everywhere we're going all the way back to the East Coast. Yeah, and then in Brooklyn. Started in Texas.

So we're kind of like making our way around. It's sick. Yeah. Yeah, it's been sick, though. Do you guys handpicked all these bands? Yeah, it was like mainly, we definitely made a list for it, but it was mainly lumpy from days. I never seen a fly like this ever.

Dude, honestly, me neither. I think it's pretty... Interesting. I think it's pretty cool, though. I think it was like a swipe one. So like there was like two to it. Yeah. And yeah, I think it's cool.

I think it throws respect on all like the younger bands. Yeah. We hate that shit when there's like 15 bands. I don't know full US with like different symbols and shit. Oh yeah. It's true. Yeah, it's just too confusing. But this is just like, yeah.

I don't know. I don't even know who made this to be honest. It looks awesome. Really? Yeah. It looks like. When I saw it, I was like, damn, I could actually like understand. I think that's probably the easiest and best way to do.

differentiate between like what band is playing which day tour it's just so clean easy to read that's pretty clean man yeah it's weird why don't more bands do do this it's a little they probably will this is the new blueprint

right here all it takes is once someone doing it once and then it'll just it'll just catch on either a style or something yeah that's pretty sick yeah I don't

like the we had the like the like the simple thing yeah yeah it's like it just clutters up a a flyer and it's like it's hard to read it's like an arrow up or something they're like yeah yeah it's like an asterick and then a pound song yeah it's like Nick you were in a you were in a death chord band right I was my first band was a death core band first band that's awesome man yeah what was it like when I first met him that's like yeah type of shit he was it was called uh

Contagion. Nice. Yeah. It was bad. That's awesome, man. Yeah, it was fun, though. That was, like, how I got into playing shows. I was in that band for, like, I think, like, three or four years.

So I joined it when I was, like, 13. 13. Yeah. That's dope. Yeah. That's around the time I started playing. Playing the bowling alley? Yeah.

Played in bowling alleys. I played the Moose Lodge. I played the local Moose Lodge. on teen night. We'd be the only hardcore band there. And it's crazy because our booking agent

now was at my first show like when I was 12 or 13. It was like a team night and we pulled up and just played like a madball cover in like three hardcore songs. Of course.

And it was all these kids from like my school and then just like looking out into the crowd I could see her and I was just like a bunch of kids. and then the level, like, the,

like, the, you just seen, like, a group of, like, hardcore dudes, just fucking chilling in the back. And one of them was Jake, and he's our booking agent now. Nice. Our God, Jake Zimmerman. Nice. He was just out this fucking, is this, is this it? I think you scrubbed this off the internet.

Yeah, I think it's all gone off the internet, thankfully. Yeah. Oh, no, it's different. Yeah, that's a different band. Yeah, you're just holding your breath over there. Were you talking about stand your ground just now? No, yeah, I was, yeah. That's crazy.

You singing when you were like 12 years old. No, I was playing guitar. Oh, playing guitar. Yeah, I was playing guitar. I mean, I think that's also like why we appreciate this shit so much is because we've been doing this forever for nothing, you know, like just because we love it, not for money, not for like, yo, we're going to do this, then we're going to do this.

So then when this started, we're all like a little bit older. And I remember thinking this is the last thing I'm ever going to do, and then I'm going to be done. because I was like 30 sleeping on floors, you know. If you're lucky, maybe you all sleep in, like, a motel six and somebody gets a bed and you're on the floor, but it's like every single thing that happens, there's never been like an expectation.

So it's just like, oh, cool, we got to ask to do this fast. Oh, cool, we got to have to do this tour. But we also all know how fast this shit can go away and just be over tomorrow, you know. You ever know him, man. We're all thinking, I think, I think are all in the same mindset with that shit too. Absolutely.

You have a problem, man. You know what my problem is? I don't have any zins. I had to ask killer for a man. You started to see the time. That's my problem. I'm seeing what's happening right now. Okay, cool.

Killer guy is the guy who holds it down for all of us. I hear you guys talking about this. Is anyone trying to get in your guys' head? Like anyone trying to like, because usually when like you start up at coming, you get like this kind of outsider. thing kind of like in terms of what though

I mean maybe uh could be business could could be money could be uh like ego shit yeah I mean I was like I was like I was so sick yeah like people like definitely have gotten in our ear and like dude we're on days still it's like the most like that's like at the roots of like hardcore

like that's like the biggest hardcore label you could be on right now like we've been approached by bigger labels with like higher numbers for like stuff like they're not going to take care of us to wait lumpy does we've went out for the dinner and had the nice conversation and everything but it's more money you know not to like is but lumpy's the fucking man and like we're still hardcore man yeah i mean and we do want to make moves like we're making but i'd rather make the moves like just but i'd rather just play cool shows and like different types of shows rather than

like sign a fucking crazy record deal or something with like people I don't know you know what I mean but I am I am down to grow and do different shit I just if there's like a part of it that I like I just I think days is fucking awesome like the idea of it cool yeah I want him to like keep growing with us because we kind of been growing together yeah it's a whole time there wouldn't be painted truth without days yeah definitely not yeah well sometimes that to offer with the most money is actually the not the right decision. Yeah, I mean, yeah, especially when you start reading it. But also, I think if the right thing did come along and it was and it made sense and everything,

I think Days Lumpy specifically would be the first one out of our team to be like, yeah, you should fucking do that. Like he would never like. It's pure guy. Yeah, like I know. I know for a fact that he wouldn't be like, oh shit, that makes sense, but I'm scared to lose him.

Like, I know he would, he would be like, yeah, that's like the right thing that. You guys should do that. That's going to be insane. You know what I mean? Yeah. Even down like booking agent manager days, all people we've known for years,

all of our homies, you know, and we kind of did that on purpose. It wasn't just like, oh, this guy wants us. He's huge. Let's do that. It was just like, we know this dude. No, it was literally part of that conversation when I first sat them down and they didn't know each other.

I was like, yo, if it works, I want a tour. So, like, I'm going to have to, like, you know, like the right fill-ins or whatever. No booking agents unless it's Jay Zimmerman. Yep. And no one managing unless it's... Gold theory. Unless it's gold theory, which is... Fidelow...

James Vita. know that I've known since I was a kid and like we got approached by all different types of people to do to for people to handle that type of shit but I mean I don't know the stars just aligned that literally like you know I got a call from Jake and then eventually like months later I got a call from from gold theory so it was like kind of just like came together yeah I think the ego side too the ego fucking works hard man he does He's crazy. He's failing in for, he's playing guitar for us right now.

He's literally, he's literally, failing in for us on guitar. He's the best man. He's a fucking character. That's awesome, man. And I've known, I've known him since I was, he was at my first, my first show that I ever played or ever want to. Like, he's always just been there. And shout up. Yeah, man.

He's the fucking man. What do you guys get coming up? I don't know if you guys want to talk about it or not, but you guys don't have to. Yeah, I mean, nothing, like, anything we have coming up is an announcement. but it's all like good shit we got we're going to new music tours and we got the Europe we're going to Europe with high Viz right after this tour nice for like three weeks yeah that would be sick and then we have two more tours next year they're just not announced yet yeah yeah we're finally in the position of where we're like booking like we

kind of know what we're doing pretty far ahead and it's just like a I think it's a good feeling to just have that and be like yo here's what we're doing and be excited about it we all just get really excited over the course of the next, like, three, four months to do these tours. Recording a little something in the winter time, you know? Yeah. Yeah. No word on one that's, like, coming out, but... A little something, something. A little something.

A little something. Yeah. Yeah. Fueled by, uh, nicotine and C-4s. Essentially, yeah. Yeah. Well, cool. Anything that, um, anything that I might have missed or you guys want, one out there about

about your band? I mean... We're just happy to be doing this, man. I love these guys. These are my brothers. I was thinking about all the people that, like, came out to, like, the Arizona show the other day. Like, I'm just psyched on seeing kids, like,

fuck with hardcore music the way they're fucking with it. Because, again, I'm not, like, super old or anything. So, like, but at least when I was a kid, it wasn't what it is now. I mean, yo, I know kids from my high school are going to be freaking out when they see me on the podcast with you. everybody like everyone in my school like and rightfully so you guys are like you know like warped tour all that shit but i just felt i don't know maybe maybe i was just younger and saw it different but i feel like hardcore wasn't fully in that yet like i feel like it's it wasn't as meshed

and i think it's awesome that like people that fuck with like crazy metalcore music or fucking with hardcore music and vice versa yeah yeah this tour in general dying wish and i and painting truth together. It's seamless, too. It's not really like... It's awesome. You know, like... So I think it's just cool that kids are just coming to all types of different shows.

That's dope. And maybe it's because my brother Chris liked taking back someday and my brother Danny like Ramones and I'm... My best friend David, like Kill Switch, Engage. Maybe that's why I think like that, you know? Because I just got it from all different areas. Yeah. But I think it's fucking awesome.

Yeah, it's great, man. Yeah. So I just keep going to the shows, I guess. Bring your friends to shows. Start bands and shit. That's what's cool, man. You never know which friend's going to like it. Like, I brought kids to shows that I was like, oh, this guy skates and, like, he's going to love it.

And I thought it was crazy. People were just acting stupid. Yeah. And I brought someone that I wouldn't expect it to really click with it. And they still fucking do it for the rest of their lives. What's cool doing this, like, full U.S. is, like, going to a place somewhere. And then a couple years later, the same kids are there. and they're like, bro, I just started a band,

like, we're doing this, this is our next show and just, like, seeing that in that time frame. I think that's awesome. I also just, like, I think it's important to say, like, we're still just, like, hardcore dudes that we all check each other and we're like, if, like, crazy shit, like, this is happening, you know? If this ever becomes, like, feels, like, normal to us,

then it's, like, we've lost it, bro. Like, if there's ever a point where we're, like, nah, we don't want to play the 200-cap venue on the floor, you know? Like, fuck that. I'd rather play a room to, the size of this. Dead ass, yeah. We just did it the other night.

Yeah, it's like, you know, this is... It sounds like you guys made quite a few important decisions from your character and integrity. So that's, it's cool to see. And it makes a lot, a lot of sense why people are resonating with your band and people like me are just seeing it constantly. I was telling you.

Oh, shit, I keep, I keep seeing your band, only shit. It's awesome. Because you know what? We don't fucking pay extra money for shit to be popping up or anything like that. So it's probably just from people sharing it and shit. So respect to anyone who's doing that shit too because that's definitely helped a lot. Yeah, man. There's a bunch of like a day to remember edits that our friend dog pounded.

They're all like on our Instagram and shit. I think you might have played them before. There's like a whole like that video right there, Killip Playing. That's like a. video he did for acting up. It's all like analog, no digital DHS shit. Yeah, he's epic. Let's go.

Respected dog pound. He came to a show we played in North Carolina, I think, and just filmed it and just tagged us in the video. It was a couple of shows, dude. I saw him at like a couple this dude would just be in the cut, record us, not like blow our shit up or anything.

Be like, oh, I fucking came all the way down here, blah, blah, blah, like not trying to get money or anything. And he would come to the show, not say a word. and then like a week later would just send us like an insane edit. And I was like what the fuck. It's all on like a taste too. It just looks like some like bevis and budhead like music video shit. You know?

And like I was like, who the fuck is this guy? So then I caught him somewhere and I was like, dude, you're fucking awesome. Like who the, like, he's like, oh, I just like fucking around doing this. And then we played a show up in Philadelphia. And this band from Florida pulled up and he comes stumbling out of the van. And I was like, dude, that's crazy. and like, I don't know the logistics of it, but I doubt there was a lot of money there.

So I think he was just doing it because he fucks with it, you know? And I was like, yo, I fuck with that. And the day to remember tour was probably like the biggest tour that we've done. And, like, you know, like, playing like arenas and shit. And I was like, crazy. That's crazy. And someone was like, oh, yo, we should have a media guy. Like, who should we ask?

And I was like, Danny from Dogpin. Yeah, yeah. Put him on hard. You know what I mean? Like, he's toured and everything with, like, angel to us now. and like, but, and like prior to this, but I just knew he would be psyched to, like, do her in arena shit. And, like, he'd just be psyched to be there.

So we put him on. Oh, my God. Shout out. I did remember for that pyro. Yeah, shout out to a day to remember for the pyro for real because. That's cool, man. We didn't, we didn't. They were so cool about it.

Nick asked him as a joke on the first night, Jeremy came up to us and was like, if you guys needed anything at all, just let me know. And he was like, can we use your fire? He just straight up said no. He was like, no. And we're like, yeah. I mean, of course, we were just joking, but then the last night,

they surprised us with it, and we, our minds were just, like, blown. We never thought we'd be able to do something like that. Yeah, that's too. Let alone you play in those right. Yeah, so, man. Pretty sick. Cool.

Yeah. Well, dudes, I really appreciate your time. Hell yeah, yeah. Thank you, man. Thank you, man. Anytime, I'm honored. I'm honored to hang out with you guys, and thank you for showing me some new tunes.

It's cool, man. Fuck, yeah. Cool, check them out on tour, check out Thea record And check out what they're doing in the future You guys, you guys are sick Appreciate your brother Thank you. Thanks. All right, everyone, that's it, later

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