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We are proud to present an interview with Dave Carlo of
RAZOR is one of my all-time favorite thrash bands, and one of the most underrated metal bands of all time. Though they have
achieved a respectable level of notoriety in the underground, they never broke out, even at a time where thrash was commercially viable, though they blew most thrash bands out of the water. We
originally interviewed Dave way back when in 1998 (see the original interview here) and Al Kikuras recently caught up with
the man to find out what has happened since.
Interviewed by Al Kikuras.
First and most importantly: is RAZOR still active?
Yes we are still alive and we are looking forward to making a new recording this year. The current line up is the "Shotgun" line-up (Dave, Bob, Adam, Rob).
The Shotgun Justice lineup.
Any plans for a new album?
I am writing new album and expect to have it completed in 6 weeks, which puts us somewhere around mid-July 2005 to be complete and then we will make preparations to record.
Any details on the new one? A title? Some song titles?
No title for the album yet. Lyrics are in progress and titles may change. I will send you some titles when the songs are complete.
How would you compare the material to previous releases?
The new material is faster than our previous release, Decibels. The guitar tuning will be more like what we had on Shotgun Justice. The song writing is more mature. This should not be confused
with being too complex or watered down. It is intense. The lyrics probably contain more wisdom than in the past. I will be writing some as well as Bob.
How did Rob and Adam wind up back in the band? What happened to John and Rich?
Rich was only involved in the recording of Decibels. We recorded in 1997 and had no plans to play live. When 1999 rolled around, we were asked to play at Wacken in Germany for the outdoor
festival. At that time, Rich wasn't around (I'm not even sure where he was living) and Rob was available. John worked with us from 1991 to 2002 and then also became unable to continue with
us for reasons that I think had to do with his job (lack of available time). Adam had wanted to rejoin for awhile, so we asked him in early 2003.
I guess BTK didn't really pan out for Adam?
I think there were some personality conflicts with the two vocalists. According to Adam, there was a lot of feuding and ultimately they couldn't hold it together. But I think Adam made
some decent bread and still gets some decent song writing royalties.
 Are any of the current RAZOR members involved in other projects?
Bob has his own band, BOBNOXIOUS. He has a CD out which has a devoted following in Canada. But be forewarned, it is not anything like RAZOR. It is your basic heavy rock.
Any chance of you guys playing the US, particularly the Northeast, some time soon?
I would love to play in the US Northeast (my favorite part of the states). But I think we need to get a new release ready and find an area that would be interested in booking us. Also,
we'd need to have enough people interested to make a good show. I'm not sure what kind of attendance we'd expect there these days.
There was talk a few years back of Hypnotic Records re-releasing the "latter day" RAZOR albums. What happened?
The original label (Attic Records) went bankrupt and our masters were auctioned off to some Quebec based company that released our first three LPs on CD. They did this in violation of our
agreement with Attic, without permission from us, and without contacting us or paying any royalties whatsoever, even though our contract stated that even in the event of bankruptcy, we
would be paid mechanical royalties if a third party bought them out. It did not happen. We are being ripped as we speak. We will be
suing. It has been difficult to make the time, but trust me, we never forget. One thing is certain, my memory is almost superhuman. I never forget anything. So if anyone from that
company is reading this, be advised that we will be in touch. We may release the first three (and more) on our own as well.
The first three full-lengths FINALLY received a re-release through Attic Records/Viper back in '02. Were you guys involved with that re-release? Did you get any royalties from it?
I believe I provided the answer to this in the previous question. As I stated earlier, they can expect to be sued. I don't even know their names at this point, because I have never thought of
going to the local record store to pay for my own recording, but I may have to hold my nose and do it just to get their contact info.
It seems those albums were available for about a year and are hard to find again on CD. Did Attic do a limited pressing?
Maybe the weasels got wind of our impending lawsuit. Or maybe the numbers weren't there for them to justify the release to continue. I'm not sure. We really have not been making any
effort to promote RAZOR in the longest time. The last time we really undertook any serious promotion would have been 1986 in my estimation.
 Is Violent Restitution still the only RAZOR album to see an "official" US
release?
Yes, I think so although we will definitely try to secure something on this next recording.
With all the interest in RAZOR through the underground, and the legacy of the band, have there been many offers to do re-releases of your catalog?
I have had several record companies contacting me over the years, but in many instances, I was usually just too busy with other businesses that I run. I couldn't make the time necessary to make
any decent deals. Metal Blade wanted to do a multi-year deal with us, but I did not indicate interest because, given our output of the last 10 years (only one release), I didn't think I'd be able to
deliver a CD every year for the next 4 years. Also, I would never get involved in any long term deals unless I was completely confident that some effort was going to be made to assist us in
getting the music heard. RAZOR has always been underexposed and I believe it was a huge reason we never tasted the success of some of our friends, like Slayer.
Do you own the rights to all of your music?
Pretty much, yes.
Which RAZOR albums are still in print?
To my knowledge, only Decibels is in print (sanctioned by RAZOR). But that could change too if Hypnotic does not provide some recent, up to date accounting to us. It's been a while since we
saw a royalty statement, and that is unacceptable.
Any chance of Custom Killing ever being released on CD?
 Sure, I just have to get around to arranging something. Funny thing
about Custom Killing. The experts of the day back in 1987 just ripped the shit out of that release. They called in the end of RAZOR and a disaster etc.... But over the years, there seems to have
been this respect that we got for that recording. More and more I find people commenting to me that they thought Custom Killing was innovative and a classic
recording. To be honest, I always disliked the production (although I like the guitar sound). The mix was weak, the drums were very poorly recorded and mixed, and Stace's vocals are not
intense enough for my liking. But people seem to respect the recording. The song writing was innovative and unusual. And we even used a different logo for that release. At one time I would
never have been willing to re-release it, but I have changed my mind.
There was also talk of a live RAZOR album coming out. Any chance of that still happening?
Not anymore. We asked Hypnotic to arrange for a high quality mobile recording of our appearance at the German "Wacken Open Air" Festival in 1999. That was our first ever appearance in Europe
and we had an incredible reaction from the audience. But it never got recorded. Hypnotic said they would arrange it, but it never happened. Hypnotic was instrumental in helping us pull off that
performance, so it is very puzzling that they wouldn't have arranged for a quality recording to take place. The ensuing CD would have been theirs to release. But as far as I am concerned
they did not see the potential in it, or they would have done it. Actions speak louder than words.
I had heard chatter of a possible reunion with Stace to do a few shows. Were they just that: rumors?
I guess it was just a rumor. Stace and I almost got connected a few years back, but I was not very available at the time. I was too tied up with other businesses (ones that made me money). I
had young kids, etc. etc. It wasn't the best time to try and do anything. Stace has said some things about me in print that are inaccurate, although I would stop short of saying he is trying to
badmouth me. I like Stace and I think maybe his feelings were hurt when I didn't jump through hoops to connect with him. I would still be more than glad to see him again. He will always be
considered a friend. In fact, all the past and present RAZOR members are my friends. I could never dislike the guys who helped me create the pummeling sound.
Last we spoke, you were "working as an automotive engineer and traveling extensively throughout North America." Is that still how you are making ends meet?
New career. I own a couple of businesses: one is automotive related but the others are not. Interesting thing that happened to me about 9 years ago. I started to lose my vision. It has gotten
progressively worse over the years and is now at the point where I cannot recognize people unless they are less than 4 feet away from me. The condition I have is called Stargardt's Dystrophy.
The loss of eyesight put me into a position where I had to find other ways to earn money. Fortunately things have worked out.
I am sorry to hear about that! Is it progressive or has it been arrested? Is there any chance of your vision recovering, or would something like Lasik Surgery correct it?
It is progressive and has gotten worse each year since 1996. I am taking some supplements (Lutein) that have slowed down the progress. The condition is wide spread in the elderly. For them it
is called AMD (Age-related Macular Degeneration). Unfortunately at this time there is no cure. It is a form of blindness. I use magnifiers to read and I have special software to enable me to use
a computer that zooms text. I also destroyed my right thumb (picking hand) at a performance last year on July 24, 2004 at the Gates Of Hell 2004 Festival in Toronto (headlined by Anvil, Razor and Exciter).
 I blew out my tendons in the thumb and could not bend it until I had surgery on March 8,
2005. I had gone through months of unsuccessful physiotherapy and acupuncture. I was in constant pain and I was starting to believe that I may not be able to play guitar
like I once did. But, so far, I have been able to play and play just as intensely as ever. That is the main reason I have become so driven to do another Razor album - because I thought I may have lost the
chance.
Are you listening to much metal these days? If so, what?
Yes, listening to a ton of good heavy music. I guess I like the stuff that I grew up with, but I listen to their current output as
well. I keep up with Slayer, Raven, Exciter etc. I also stumble on other heavy acts. Venom made some good recordings a few years back. It is hard to keep in touch with what's new etc.
Usually someone tells me about something and I check it out. I have re-discovered many bands that were excellent, but that I did not pay enough attention to back when they were happening:
Nasty Savage, Excel (remind me of RAZOR on occasion). Agent Steel (fast songs are the ones that I like most).
Another long-running Canadian thrash band is ANNIHILATOR. Both you and Jeff Waters have very identifiable guitar styles and sounds. Do you have any opinion on ANNIHILATOR and
have you ever been in contact with Jeff?
I have never been in contact with Jeff. To be honest, I have one Annihilator CD which someone gave me over ten years ago. I listened to it once and thought the songs weren't bad, but it did
not really grab me I guess, or I would have kept it in the CD player. But I think he is a pretty good guitar player. If I came across it, I'd probably put it in the CD player again.
Was there ever a point in RAZOR's career where you managed to scratch out a living from the band?
Yes, best time was from 1985 to 88. At that time, we were pretty much a full time concern. After that, I started to go to University in anticipation of a career change (out of necessity. I
was not earning enough with RAZOR).
Do you go back and listen to your own albums?
I tend to listen to the RAZOR albums from 1988 forward (Violent Restitution to Decibels). The early recordings are good, but I feel the later ones are way superior. I understand the die hard RAZOR
fans affection for the classic period (1984 to 1987), but I way prefer the later stuff.
Which RAZOR album do you think most closely represents your "ultimate vision" for the band?
Well, I think you could choose anything since Violent Restitution and you'd be in the ballpark. Each recording represents where we were at that precise moment in time. As time progresses, you
evolve and the music has to change a bit, but the underlying principles can still be in place.
Which album is the farthest from it?
In the past I would have provided an answer, but as I get a bit older, I have to say that I recognize that every recording we made was relevant in terms of how we felt at the time. I'm getting good
with these answers. I should think about a career in politics maybe.
You've been at this for over 20 years now. Do you ever get the urge to play music besides thrash? Have you been involved in any non-metal projects?
I am a decent pianist. Hard to believe right? I can play a lot of different types of music. I may become involved in other projects,
not really sure right now. But I will keep writing RAZOR material for RAZOR fans. I wouldn't change the style of the music and try to pass it off as RAZOR. I always hated when other bands did that.
Final question, which I have to lift from the original interview, if you were to write a "Message from Dave" for a new album today, what would it say?
If I were to write a message on our next CD, it would say " To all dedicated fans of our band, to the people who have waited so long to hear another RAZOR recording... thank you for your loyalty.
Thank you for buying this, and I trust you will agree that we have delivered a recording that met your expectations and provided what you were waiting for. To those of you who are discovering
our sound for the first time... thank you for checking us out. If you like your music at the highest level of intensity, you will not be disappointed. If you need to blow off some steam and get some
aggression out of your system, you won't find a better band to do it with! Just ask our long time fans and they'll tell you about it.
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RELATED LINKS:
The Official RAZOR Site
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