Interview with Brian Griffin, guitarist of

and

Broken Hope have been a death metal mainstay for years, and with good reason. They have consistently churned out brutal, well-executed death metal despite current trends and popular opinion. Their recent drop from Metal Blade and re-signing with new label Martyr Music Group, as well as all of his recent high-profile studio work, leaves much to be discussed with guitarist Brian Griffin. Read on to find out more about the current state of Broken Hope, Brian's new project EmSinfonia and all other things plant, animal, and fecal!

Interviewed by Al Kikuras.

Al Kikuras: What happened to the deal with Metal Blade? Was it an amicable or bad split?

Brian Griffin: There were a few factors involved in the split with Metal Blade. They say it was lack of sales but I have heard many other things from people on the inside that say it was due to certain people at the label not getting along with a few of the members in Broken Hope. I dealt with them very little so I don't really know what happened. My personal opinion is that they hit rough times and needed to get rid of a few bands and sign some low maintenance acts. We weren't being pushed good enough and it was time for a change anyway. The lack of sales was probably due to nobody being able to find our records anywhere. The last tour we financed on our own with very little help with promotion. I don't have any bad feelings for Metal Blade. None of the same people work there from the old days when we were signed anyway. It was much different back then. Brian Slagel and Mike Faley deserve much credit for taking on bands like Broken Hope and giving them a shot.

A: A lot of people have been complaining that the Broken Hope Metal Blade releases are near-impossible to find. Have they stopped pressing the discs?

B: I have also heard they are not pressing any of our material. I guess you would have to ask them about the "bad blood." I don't know... it sounds like bad business for a label to not make their money back if the band supposedly put them in debt. I hear from many Broken Hope fans who could not find the last release.

A: How did you wind up signing with Martyr? Do you have a release planned yet?

B: We signed with Martyr because they were willing to do more for us financially than any of the labels in our past as well as the current ones we were talking to. The promotion factor was definitely in our favor and that is important to us. We will be a priority with a real experienced staff and not a bunch of interns. They are just starting out as a label but they have been in this business longer than most of the people you will talk to at a more established label.

A: Any new songs completed? Is there a working title for the album?

B: The title for the album will be Grotesque Blessings and we will begin recording in a few weeks. There will be nine songs and possibly a cover. I am so swamped in the studio with projects and I want to give it my full attention. That is why we have been delayed. It is not the fault of my band members or lack of effort, it is just because I am so over-booked this time of year.

A: What is the concept behind the title Grotesque Blessings?

B: Jeremy handles all of the lyric writing and usually comes up with some sick concepts. At this point in time I really couldn't say what they are because he works on them up until they are recorded and is always re vamping his material to keep it fresh.

A: How has the band progressed from Loathing? Is the material as technical as it was on the last L.P.?

B: The material will be a big step up from Loathing. We have progressed as players and with a new drummer it has inspired us to break from the norm. and just try some different stuff. It is definitely MUCH more technical and better structured. I will be doing most of the bass, which is something I want to bring to the forefront in Broken Hope for a change. We have written some riffs that definitely have some good spots for basswork. We will also be having some guest appearances for the bass tracks. I am very happy with the material we have written.

A: Which is your most and least favorite Broken Hope album and why? I have found that a number of people that aren't into any of the other albums love Bowels of Repugnance. What do you think it is about that album that appeals to them?

B: My favorite is always the latest one because it always shows a progression. People probably like Bowels the most because it is the rawest of all the albums. It's funny how that works, I haven't been able to listen to that one because the guitar solos suck and the production isn't too good. It has some catchy riffs though. I think on Repulsive we slowed down too much. We got a new songwriter in the band and split it up too much. There is too much individualism going on there. If people actually could find Loathing they might like it (laughs). I am happy with it considering the songs are over 3 years old now. From the beginning we never claimed to be virtuosos, we just like to play death metal!

A: I understand Ryan left the band. Is this true? If so, what happened and have you found a replacement?

B: Ryan is definitely out of the band. He was handling the merchandise for Broken Hope and it came to our attention that he was dropping the ball. Many fans ended up getting screwed out of t-shirts and inevitibly getting ripped off. This started making the band look very bad. The checks were written to him so we had no control. He ended up stealing all of the merchandise from us as well as any money that was sent in. For that we apologize. It really fucked things up for us. He also got married and moved away to Wisconsin and never wanted to rehearse and was always demanding too much money from promoters which held us back from doing shows. I liked to think in the back of my mind that Ryan would change but it just got out of control. He is a great drummer but he has no work ethic and can't be trusted.

We have a session drummer for the album (Larry DeMumbrum of EmSinfonia). Larry is by far the best drummer I have ever worked with. As far as a replacement, we have been talking to someone who will definitely fit in with Broken Hope and we are excited to work with him. Unfortunately I can't say who until it is official.

A: Broken Hope's Canadian tour was cancelled due to the promoter... did he/she totally drop the ball or what? Is this someone you have worked with in the past, or will ever work with again?

B: I didn't have many dealings with the promoter of that tour. I also didn't expect it to ever happen. Unreturned phone calls add up and I could tell from day one that it would probably never see the light of day. As far as working with them again, we will definitely need contracts!

A: Were you financing the tour yourselves or was Martyr carrying the brunt of the costs?

Broken Hope, during the Hangin' Tough era.

B: At that time we weren't with Martyr. Broken Hope has always taken care of themselves and will most likely be carrying the brunt of the touring costs as we have done in the past. We want Martyr to concentrate on the promotion and distibution end.

A: Do you plan on headlining on the next Broken Hope US tour? Any bands you would like to take on the road with you?

B: We have discussed touring and we are hoping to put together a good sized package of extreme bands. In my opinion the same bands tour year in and year out. I commend them for that but there are other bands that need to be heard as well. We did the Extremities tour with Vader and Monstrosity for that reason. Those bands were great bands that we thought people wanted to see. We do hope to go out with Deicide again. They are our metal brothers. We will be out by late spring I am sure.

A: Do you think Neo-Nazi's insist on working on Jewish holidays?

B: I've never met a Neo-Nazi and I think holidays are a bore. I work on them too.

A: Did you make enough with Broken Hope to sustain yourself or were you holding down another job?

B: I haven't made a cent from Broken Hope!! In fact, I have spent more on this band than I will ever make from it. You will find this to be true with 90% of deathmetal bands. The only people who made money from Broken Hope were the labels and possibly our ex-drummer from stealing it. We did our first record for free. The label never paid the studio or gave us a cent. Then they sold it to Metal Blade for a supposed 12K which put us in greater debt with them. I call that a profit. Selling it 5 years later!!

A: How about the other members?

B: The other members had jobs except Shaun. He lived at home still.

A: I would imagine that, now, producing is bringing in the green. Is that proving to be lucrative for you?

B: I have my own studio now and that is how I support myself. It is not as lucritive as it sounds though. All of that stuff in it costs money to buy and maintain. It is not a cheap little ADAT digital studio that you can put together for 5K in your basement. Death metal bands don't walk into my studio with large recording budgets either. Most of it is done for the enjoyment and to help my fellow bands put out recordings that don't put them in debt but yet still sound good. Everyone has to make a living though and I wouldn't say I am in bad shape, but I work the long hours for it. I made a choice when I entered into musician land, I wanted a back up plan that I enjoyed and it turned out well. I make alot of great friends with my band and my work.

A: Are there any bands you have turned down recording because you thought they just plain sucked?

B: Maybe there have been, but I go about it more politically than that. Ha Ha! You could ask that at any studio and they would say yes. I am sure there have been bands that I actually did record that suck too. Everyone has there own opinion. I like the bands I work with. Many people think Broken Hope suck but just as many like us as well. Making someone sound better than they actually are is a producers job and sometimes it is very challenging other times it isn't.

A: What album that you have produced do you feel came out the best? I am talking as far as your personal opinion, not how happy the client was.

B: Not to dance around the question but I feel my best work is yet to come. I am still learning and trying to keep up with the technology like everyone else. To be honest, I really don't listen to my work once it is completed. Not because I don't like the band i worked with but because I get too critical of my work and find it hard to enjoy the music. I usually give it a listen 2 or 3 months later and I like it much more. I have done a few hundred projects by now (big and small) and it would be hard to list them all as good or bad . Death/Black metal is by far the most difficult music to record and make sound good. Most of the bands have shitty gear and "think" they can play fast. If only the fans knew what went on behind the studio door. A project is never bad, it just didn't get rehearsed enough before the studio. I respect the producers who do it because I know what it is like. Death/Black metal producers could do a pop music album in a day because that shit is so easy. Put those highly paid producers in our chair for a day and they would break down and cry after the first hour. I think one of the good records is the Loathing album. The Hateplow, Novembers Doom, EmSinfonia and Malevolent Creation records came out good to but I am never satisfied.

A: Any albums that you completely were not happy with while the band was totally satisfied?

B: There are many recordings that I am unsatisfied with while the band totally liked it. I don't think it would be right to say which records were like that, but the band and I have that discussion during the recording process so they know where I stand. Sometimes the greatest studio in the world can't save lack of preparation. A: What is the crappiest album you have heard in your life?

B: You mean I only get one???? I guess Nitro's O.F.R. We had it on the Death tour and I suffered through it many times. It was a good laugh!

A: Would you rather have to eat through your ass and have everything you eat taste like it was tainted with shit or would you rather you farted from your mouth and your breath always smelled like a rotten dump, but food tasted fine going in?

B: I would rather fart through my mouth. I eat enough shit already! Some would say I already do that anyway.

A: Describe EmSinfonia. How did you wind up starting a side project?

B: EmSinfonia started about a year and a half ago. It started out after Broken Hope did the Extremities tour. I jammed with a few friends of mine - Rick Alexander (keys) and Rob Stephenson (guitar). I told them what kind of music I wanted to try and we started to throw out some riffs. We collabarated for awhile and got Larry DeMumbrum to drum for us. The four of us put together 4 songs. While we were doing that I was recording Novembers Doom and decided that Paul Kuhr (vocals) and Mary Bielich (bass) were just what I was looking for because they understand where I am coming from and they are some of the coolest people I know. We went in and recorded the songs, and it took us 4 months to locate April Domet (vocals) and Sean Baxter (Violin). They finished their tracks to the songs and we are going to put it out as an e.p. entitled In Mourning's Symphony. We are going to begin a full length this spring which will prove to be a far more mature recording because we have all of the members in place for the writing process this time. We weren't going to put out the e.p. because the recording was so prolonged and we just wanted to test the waters. Martyr thought it was killer so we are going to let them do it.

A: What can you express in EmSinfonia that you cannot in Broken Hope?

B: EmSinfonia is a more melodic and challenging outlet for me as opposed to Broken Hope. I write lyrics, do some backup vocals, keyboards, and guitars. It is something I am doing with great friends just for fun and we are all happy with that.

A: How is the recording of the album going? Are you working on both the EmSinfonia and Broken Hope albums at the same time?

B: The e.p. is finished and will be out in a few months. The full length recording of EmSinfonia will begin this spring after the Broken Hope, Novembers Doom, and Internal Bleeding albums are finished. The EmSinfonia website will have up to date info for anyone interested.

A: If both bands grew to the point that it was veritably impossible to be involved in both at the same time, which would you give up? What would go first (ignoring monetary considerations): Broken Hope, EmSinfonia or Qualitone?

B: Well, the studio will never go because without that there would be no Broken Hope or EmSinfonia. The choice between bands has been presented to me many times and I have thought about it. EmSinfonia has so much to prove before i could possibly make that decision. Broken Hope's bassist left to be with his side band full time. I am not willing to give up on a 8 year process so easily. The fans of Broken Hope mean too much to me so I don't think I will ever quit that. After going out on the Death tour and meeting so many Broken Hope fans every fucking night, I know that I want to continue to get the music out to them. I will just have to work hard to do both.

A: Have you found another bassist yet?

B: We haven't found a permanent bassist yet but as you can imagine we have alot of interested people. We decided to hold off on getting someone permanent until after the recording. Jeremy and I have written 100% of the music so we are ready to just lay it down without having to work in a new member. The recording will be much tighter this way because a new member won't have to learn all of our riffs and be under pressure.

A: Chuck has a reputation as being a hardass to work with. When we interviewed him he was nice as pie. Since you were on the road with Death for a long-ass time, did you find his reputation was at all well-deserved?

B: I had also heard many things about Chuck being difficult to work with. I will set the record straight and say that everything I heard was false. Chuck is all about metal and performing. They played for 2 hours every fucking night!! He is dedicated to music and the fans of Death, and above all that he is the coolest guy you will ever meet. After the tour was over , before I went out with Hammerfall to Puerto Rico, he hung out with us for the 3 days we had off in Florida even though he was currently moving and just got off the road for the past 2 1/2 months. He even threw us all a party at his new house! I call that above and beyond. I never heard him speak badly of anyone that didn't deserve it. The guy was there from the beginning of death metal and never compromised and I respect that a great deal. When it came to me doing the sound he never complained about my work, he was never late for sound check, and he never hesitated to compliment me on a good job. Most of the bad press you read are a few isolated incidents that probably got blown out of proportion because someone decided to be a dick.

A: How was the Death/Hammerfall tour experience for you? Is this the first time you have gone on the road to do sound for a band?

B: I really enjoyed doing the tour. I did, however, learn that the promoters across the U.S. need to get their shit together. Many of the sound systems we ran across were not fit to be at a back yard barbecue, let alone a metal show. It's not metal if it isn't loud and crystal clear. It was very difficult putting on a good show with some of the shit we had to use. Some clubs didn't have proper lighting either. This is the first full tour I have done. I went out with Meshuggah the last time they were here for a few shows. I have done sound at Metalfest. Meshuggah will be here this spring and hopefully I will work with them again. I like to tour with friends and have a good time. Hammerfall were a great group of guys as well!

A: Are any other Broken Hope members are involved in side projects?

B: As far as I know there is only one in existence at the moment and that would be EmSinfonia. Jeremy had one but I think he is more dedicated now to finishing up his novel and getting that published in the next few months. I doubt the other guys will be doing any side projects.

A: Any idea what his book is about?

B: The last title he gave me was "The Thing That Should Not Be." It is about a prehistoric monster that is said to exist in the ocean. You may have to ask him for a detailed answer, because I haven't really followed up on it. He got the concept from a true story, I guess.

A: What albums have you been listening to lately?

B: Theater of Tragedy's Aegis is my favorite right now. Also Death's Sound Of Perseverance, Meshuggah's Chaosphere, and Nevermore's Dreaming Neon Black. After 5 weeks on the road I haven't heard much else!

A: Dreaming Neon Black is an incredible album isn't it? One of my favorite metal albums of recent years. I think they pulled off the concept album perfectly... the music really conveys the mood of the events.

B: I have always been a Nevermore fan. I went to high school with Jeff Loomis, the guitarist, and have always been in awe of his talent. They are truly the best the U.S. has to offer when it comes to killer metal!! The song structuring is amazing. It definitely has a mood all it's own.

A: What non-metal artists/music do you listen to?

B: Non-metal stuff would be Tori Amos, Sarah McLachlan, Sevendust... that's hard because most everything these days is under one of those metal categories.

A: Have you head the Divine Empire album? How do you think it holds up to the new Malevolent Creation?

B: I have heard a few tracks. They are two different bands. I feel the Divine Empire record is very well done and I am impressed. The Malevolent Creation is great also. I was there for the Malevolent recording and I know what they went through just to pull it off. Dave (Culross) learned and recorded the songs on the spot. It turned out well considering that.

A: Are you a fan of pornography?

B: Yeah, definitely.

A: Do you prefer old-school porn or the new stuff?

B: I like new and old porn. I favor the new porn because the girls are more crazy.

A: Any favorite actresses or movies?

B: I like Asia Carrera, Taylor Hayes, Anna Malle, Jeanna Fine... it's a long list! My all time fave is Arianna. I never remember the titles of the movies though!

A: Is there any celebrity you have always wanted to fuck that probably no one else does?

B: One that nobody else does??? I don't think that's possible. How about Flipper?

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