|
Unchain the Underground is proud to present an interview with:
ENGORGED have been at it for years, and have always consistently been a great band, despite label problems and a number of set backs. It was a pleasure to speak with Ryan,
guitarist of the band, as despite their many trials and tribulations, his enthusiasm for the music ENGORGED play, and metal in general, is completely undiminished. Plus he has nice hair, and a very
soothing voice. Read on.
Interview by Al Kikuras.
 So Razorback, then Necropolis, then Razorback. What the fuck happened?
Well, our first CD was on Razorback Records (Death Metal Attack 2)… Then we went over to Necropolis for our "Self Titled" cd, which turned out to be an exercise in what NOT
to do for our band. We want to own all our music, we like to have a real hands on approach to every aspect of our band, and we want to work with a label that really likes our band and looks at
things the same way we do. We realized a lot of stuff, as far as the kind of band we want to do and the kind of band we don't want to do, and were very stoked when Razorback offered to put
out our 3rd album! It' great to be back where we belonged all along. Razorback work perfect with the DIY nature of Engorged, and have always been our biggest supporters. I've said it a bunch
of time before, but without Razorback Records, Engorged wouldn't even be around today!
In a genre where bands typically take themselves so seriously, you guys are writing songs about Transformers, giant squid, the Inhumanoids and so on. Have you guys ever experienced a backlash as a result?
If you're serious… you lose! Ha ha. Nah man, we like to write songs about what we know… beer, metal, monster movies, mosh pits, horror comics, pulpy splatter novels, etc. There's plenty of
bands with "serious" lyrics if that's what someone needs, Engorged is way more along the lines of bands like WEHRMACHT, IMPETIGO, THE ACCUSED, RIGOR MORTIS, TANKARD... bands that you could
tell where having a good time when they wrote their lyrics. We ain’t out to write poems or change the world…. Plus we'll out thrash, out blast, out drink, out fight and out fuck most of you
lame ass motherfucking "serious" rock stars 9 times out of 10.
Digestor with Engorged at the 2004 Vibe Awards.
I have a hunk of a meatball calzone that's been in my fridge for about 10 days. Do you think it is still okay to eat it?
Yeah, I'm sure you've had all your shots. Dig in.
You're a big thrash fanatic, right? What are your five all-time favorite classic thrash releases?
Fuck that's impossible for me, my list would probably change every day. But right now, off the top of my head I’d say SLAYER Reign In Blood" S.O.D. Speak English Or Die, TANKARD Chemical Invasion
, VOIVOD Killing Technology, and KREATOR Pleasure To Kill. Like I said, it’s impossible for me to pick just 5, so my list might be different next time you ask me.
What new thrash bands are you digging on?
Well, I really fucking the Japanese bands FASTKILL, ZOMBIE RITUAL and TERROR SQUAD, they all fucking rule!!! Other newer bands that I really dig that have those elements in their tunes are
THE GOLERS, GHOUL, FKU, MUNICIPAL WASTE, and CRANIUM.
Not that they are a new band by any means, but Tankard's new album "Beast Of Bourbon" is my fave release of 2004, and a god damn RULING thrash album.
 You recently had Digestor from GHOUL fill in on vocals. Where did Dave go?
Well, Dave is currently in California settling some scores, so he's gonna' have to miss a few of our gigs this year, but Digestor from GHOUL is kind enough to fill in for us live while Dave is MIA.
He has already played one of those shows with us (LORD GORE's cd release gig) and it was a true pleasure to work with such a consummate professional and all around class act.
How was working with him? Does he smell as a bad as he looks like he would smell?
As I said, you couldn't ask to work with a more classy, competent, and professional musician. That is, as long as you meet his daily rider demands. They include jars of fish heads, Rot Gut, and two
cases of PBR. And to your question, yes. He smells. Bad. He should really see a doctor. There's no way something that's alive should ever smell like that.
It's obvious you are close with them, so I can ask... I've heard that GHOUL are actually all former members of Menudo that are bitter because they "aged out" of the band.
To the best of your knowledge, is that true?
We actually were able to wrestle him to the ground to remove his mask, but when I went to pull it off, knock out gas bellowed forth from beneath it. When I woke up he was gone, along with my
Blockbuster card. I now owe $128 in late fees for Friday The 13th Part 2, Any Which Way But Loose, and some Marx Brothers movie….
Engorged with 50 Cent (aka ‘Fiddy’) sitting in (not pictured).
On to Where Monsters Dwell... you must know the album fucking kills. Is there anything about it that you aren't completely happy with?
Thanks for the cool words on the CD! Well man, to tell you the truth I'm pretty damn happy with it. In the past we've always been real disappointed in the recordings we've had sound quality
wise, but this time we had built our own studio, Mammoth Studios, and were able to record and mix the entire thing ourselves, which afforded us the time to really try a lot of different things, spend
as much time as we liked and get the performances and sounds that we wanted. We were also able to get a lot drunker during recording sessions. We always spend a lot of time writing, so its
really disappointing when the production comes out in the wrong direction then you intended, as it was on our self-titled CD. But we were able to learn from our past mistakes in the ways we
recorded, and we finally got the kind of sound we've always been trying for with the new CD. All in all I'm really REALLY pleased with how Where Monsters Dwell came out. I think it’s our best release
yet, but that's just my opinion, I know bands always say that.
What would your two dream tours be for Engorged to be on if one was comprised of bands that aren't around anymore, and the other bands that are? 5 bands each.
Shit! These questions are the hardest ones for me man! For the bands that are totally dusted now I guess it would be S.O.D., DARK ANGEL, IMPETIGO, RIGOR MORTIS and TERRORIZER. Damn
that would be a fucking show! For bands that around now, I'm really looking forward to touring with LORD GORE and IMPALED this spring, but If I could choose to add a couple more it would be THE
GOLERS, FONDLECORPSE, and FUNEROT! Also, lets add THE ACCUSED to the bill. They can headline!
 I ask this question a lot, but I can't help it. Did you ever have to take a shit so bad on stage you
had to go take care of business before the set is over?
Ha ha, nah, I'm usually pretty good at planning that out ahead of time. Most of the places we play, there's no way I'm using the crapper in their skuzzy bathroom, so I try to take care of business before
going to the club.
Who in the band has the crappiest "day job?"
I get paid to kiss the elephant's ass down at the zoo, so I guess that would be me.
# # #
www.engorged.net
www.razorbackrecords.com
|
