Byron Davies (vocalist) answered our questions.


Birmingham Carling Academy Friday 3rd December 2004

How are you finding the UK?

It’s been cool man, we’ve been having a good time, we’ve been over here a little over two months now and it’s good fun to be in the UK right now.

How’s the tour going?

It’s been real good you know. The crowds have been really responsive, and we’ve been to a couple of mainland European places. And thanks to Machine Head we are able to play to a bunch of new crowds and try to pick up fans every day.

Have you guys toured with Machine Head before?

Yeah we did the Weapons of Mass Destruction Tour in the States with Machine Head, Arch Enemy and 36 Crazy Fists.

The website says you’ve been having a quite the parties on this tour…

Yeah you know we be trying to live it up, party wise, it helps you stay focused.

So where you guys from?

We’re from New Jersey, been around about 8 years now, but born and raised in New Jersey on the east coast next to NY and Philly, and it’s got a good scene. We know our scene you know, but we have been travelling so much that we loose touch but things are looking up right now.

How did you guys form?

Me and my bass player went to high school together. Then we had a couple of mutual friends and we got together and had a jam in his basement and that pretty much was it.

Any musical influences or idols?

We got a lot of influences you know everything from rock, classical jazz, some black metal, a little bit of everything we like all good music. We like all good music.

Your new album GONE FOREVER was out earlier this year, and you also have DETERMINATION and BETTER DAYS. You’re also a band that spends a lot of time on the road. So where do you get your musical ideas from and what sort of things do you carry from record to record?

Just a lot of lyrics and as far as the music goes we are influenced by a lot of different bands. From all the touring we’ve done you kind of pick up things. You also try and experiment and see how far you can take it, we take a lot from our roots, and we also try and experiment and see what we can grow on and evolve from what we’ve already accomplished. I mean, the last record was a learning process it was three years in the making basically.

Any news on new material?

We are working on some stuff right now actually, and once this tour ends we are doing four shows in the States, through Christmas and New Year, then we are going to write through January and February and get in the studio April-May. We’re hoping to have the record out by October, that’s what we are shooting for. We have one more tour left in the States then we might do like a two week headlining stint over here.

So what do you guys do to chill when you’re out on the road?

This right here man - sit and watch a few movies, hang out with my friends drink a few beers, just party on and reflect on everything. We did just try and get back into shape stay motivated and pay our bills.

Do you guys ever miss being home?

You really don’t miss home until its close to going home. You know like when you leave you’re like ‘yeah were going off…’ and then the closer the tour gets to the end you’re like, ‘I can’t wait to be back.’ But then when you do get home you want to go back out, so your never happy (laughs).

So what would you say has been your best gig to date?

We have done so many amazing things, especially this year, it’s hard to think of just one really good gig. We where fortunate enough to do the Ozz Fest in the States and then we went to Japan. After Japan we are here now so I’d definitely say we have too many shows to pinpoint one. I think all the touring we have done in 2004 has been amazing, we’ve met a lot of different people, crazy people and just had a good time.

You’re back out with Hate Breed after this aren’t you?

Yeah, we are doing four shows with them and Agnostic Front that should be cool.

Is there was anyone dead or alive that you guys could play live?

Mmm, we have played with a lot of amazing bands, but I’d say maybe Layne Stayely from Alice In Chains or Metallica or Living Colour, and maybe System Of A Down.

Finally, where would you like to take your music?

We are trying to knock down the walls and any kind of limits to our style. We think that GONE FOREVER is definitely our best record but we all feel we have an even better one in us. We are just going to keep writing and keep the process going so it never ends, and just keep pushing horizons so people keep getting things differently from the normal one-sided thinking. It’s freedom of expression and we would like to express ourselves more, maybe later on get into more kind of record label shit… We just want to stay entertained and have a good time.

Adrien Perrie