Interviews    Centrifuge
by Chris Barnes

It's my feeling that Ohio's centrifuge are on to something. Their dark, post-modern doom vibe reminds me of Cable breeding with Helmet, their bastard offspring taking on the depressive hypnotic vibes of 5ive. The whole experience is bleak, cold and massively heavy, yet offering some amazing innovation and genre bending. Centrifuge members Matt Servenack and Todd Fabian take a few moments to talk to Hellride.

Hellride Music: I guess the best way to start this off is to have you guys give us the Centerfugian history. How'd you guys meet, were you in previous bands, favorite animal, etc.

Matt Servenack: Rob (Craig, drums) and I met in '88 in high school through mutual friends. We quickly started jamming and getting crappy bands together until putting together a band called Strange Ways (named after the Kiss song). We played mostly covers (Zeppelin, Kiss, Van Halen, Sabbath) and a few originals. After high school ended we drifted apart for a good 9 years. In that time I met Todd through a girlfriend of mine. A short while after that Todd and I started jamming / writing material for a death metal project which never got off
the ground for two reasons: 1. couldn't find a drummer 2. I got married and
moved to New Orleans. About a year later I moved back to Ohio and a few months after that we started jamming together again. We quickly realized that there were absolutely no drummers in the area into extremely heavy metal. So a drum machine was brought in and that spawned Centrifuge (a much more industrial sounding Centrifuge than you hear now). We quickly wrote songs, played a few gigs (with the drum machine) and put together 2 self-produced demo cassettes in '96 and '97. Things again fell apart in '98 when our practice space was "broken into" and Todd took a job in Cleveland (about an hour and a half away).

About a year later Rob called me out of the blue and we started jamming again--mostly on some weed-influenced jam-based rock. Then in the summer of 2001 Todd and I decided to get Centrifuge back together, influenced by continued interest in the demos and an urge to play out. We decided to ditch the drum machine and asked Rob if he would be interested in filling the spot. Things have been going great ever since.

Todd Fabian: I don't like dogs or kids! Beer and chicken wings are an essential part a complete diet!

Hellride Music: Todd, thanks for the revelation. Take note, ladies. Let's talk a bit about your latest effort, Visions Old, Feelings Cold. To me, it's cold, dark almost doom metal, doom expressed in a completely modern way. How would you guys describe the Centrifuge sound? How would you like to be known to the music-loving public?

Matt: Potpourri metal? It really is a combination of all the different types of heavy music we listen to. From industrial to ambient, death to grind, stoner rock to space rock classic rock to metal. I would like to be known as "one heavy fucking band." Like our stickers say: "Industrial Strength Rock n Roll."

Hellride Music: That would cover it, with no controversy on my part at all. How would you compare your previous effort Taste of Grey to Visions... ?

Matt: Visions is definitely heavier. A few of the songs on Taste... were written when we were still using the drum machine so they have the industrial sound to them and a few of the others were the first things we
wrote as a band with a drummer so it's natural that they won't be as complex as what we're doing now.

Hellride Music: I can't find my copy of Taste of Grey to pull out, but it seems to me Visions... has markedly better production. Who produced Visions... and was the recording process any different or do I have my head up my ass?

Matt: When we did Taste... I think we were just excited to be in a recording studio. We pretty much went in there and recorded our parts and sat back and waited for the producer to do his thing, gave him our money and went on our way. We were just happy to come out of there with a CD in our hand. We really didn't put too much input into the whole process. Plus it was recorded by a guy who really didn't know what our sound was like or probably never really listened to our type of music. With Visions... we worked with Pete Drivere at a local studio called Ampreon Recorder. Pete also runs sound at a local bar that we already played at twice prior to recording the CD. So Pete already knew what our sound was like. He liked us and was totally into the recording. He didn't sleep while we were recording tracks. Plus we learned from the previous sessions and we knew we needed to speak up and give our opinions on things. Pete was cool about everything and listened to our suggestions. He talked us out of a few of them and they turned out to be for the best.

Todd: Nope! your heads not up your ass! I'd love to re-record the tracks on Taste.... When I listen to it, it just seems rushed! If you were hear those tunes live the tempo is noticeably slower. I'm not unhappy with the
way it sounds, but I think "Visions..." sounds MUCH better.

Hellride Music: How about in terms of writing? It seems Visions... is a darker beast than Taste... Was the writing process or general vibe of the band any different between the two recordings?

Matt: Like I said before, a few songs on Taste... were written years ago when the drum machine was a third of the band so they are a bit more industrial. Other than that we still follow a simple formula: write some
heavy riffs, piece them together, does it sound like a good song? If so add some vocals, TA-DA! A song is born.

Todd: Yep! "TA-DA"!

Hellride Music: Your music is dark, heavy and hypnotic. When you're playing live, do you ever get so wrapped up in the music that you lose track of time, the audience, etc.? Or is there a constant connection with the crowd?

Matt: I feel most comfortable when we're on stage looking at each other standing in a big triangle. It's just like practicing. I only look into the crowd to see how many heads are bobbing up and down or to get somebody to get me another beer. We do have 2 songs ("Want, Fear, Believe" and "Feed The High") that have parts in them that are total improv parts when we play them live. Todd keeps the bass line going and Rob and I are pretty much free to go where-ever we may roam. There have been a few times that a jam has gone to the 5 minute mark making the song around 12-13 minutes total. We have a few signals or quick riffs that we play that lets the rest of the band know "I'm ready to go back into the song now". Sometimes I look at Todd and he is so totally spaced out I wonder if I have to go over and kick him to let him know I'm done with my solo. We always play those songs last. I think the audience digs it but I usually don't care if they have all walked out by then. We're having fun. We did get cut off one time. I opened my eyes and the stage lights were off and the sound guy was walking towards us giving us the "cut it off --finger across the neck" sign.

Todd: I definitely zone out! I like to listen to what those guys are doing! As for a connection with the crowd, I think it's crowd specific. Sometimes I feel like they're really into it, other times I look out and it's like deer in headlights.

Hellride Music: Have any of you ever farted on stage mid-song and force the rest of the band to endure?

Matt: No, not on stage. But it's usually a weekly thing for Todd to let one loose during practice. It might not be a big deal to most but our practice space is not much bigger than your average walk-in closet. You add
90 degree Ohio heat with 100% humidity and the inability to open a window (neighbors) and things can get pretty ugly. Beer and chicken wings taste so good but are not friendly to the digestive system.

Todd: "weekly"???????????

Hellride Music: Tell us a bit about the heavy music scene in Ohio. It seems that state is responsible for some of the greatest heavy bands currently in the scene - You guys (of course!), the mighty Rubes, Abdullah, Sofa King Killer, Rebreather among others. Can you give us your thoughts on the Ohio scene? Who else should we be on the look out for?

Matt: The Ohio scene is probably just like everywhere else. Yeah, there are some great bands, like the ones your mentioned, but like everywhere else, "MTV Metal" reigns supreme. Nu-metal is EVERYWHERE. I stay home more than I go out just because there aren't enough bands playing around that I actually want to see or hear. It's a big deal when there are 2 or 3 really good bands playing together. I'd say maybe it happens once a month. Luckily we've been able to play with all the great bands you mentioned. And bands like The Rubes and Abdullah have actually taken the time to go out of their way to help us. It has helped greatly.

Todd: After the Sun and Bruhaha have also been cool to us! I'm a fan of Clock Eating Planet but I don't know if you'll ever get a chance to hear them! (been recording a demo for as long as I can remember).

Hellride Music: Can you give us an example of a band you played with that were total fucking dickheads and why?

Matt: The 2 nu-metal bands that we've played with and the (fucking) Gnomes.

Todd: the Gnomes (we usually play for five hours but since there are five other bands here we'll cut it back to four, and you all can play for 10 minutes).

Hellride Music: Cool. A lot of people don't answer that question. The "puss factor" is very high. Come to think of it, I probably wouldn't have answered it either. What are your goals for the future with Centrifuge? How can people contact you if they want more info?

Matt: Play gigs, write, record, repeat. If a label comes along and offers us a deal or a tour that would be super-cool but if not I'm sure we'll keep on doing our thang. E-mail us (centrifugemusic@aol.com) or check the website for updates. We will ship a CD anywhere so get in touch if you want one. If you're in a band in the Ohio area get in touch and let's get some gigs lined up.

Todd: Write, record, drink, repeat... (you can get a copy of "Visions..." from Hellride!)

Hellride Music: Thanks for the interview guys. Any last words you'd like to leave us with?

Todd & Matt:Thanks for the interview, the reviews and basically taking the time to help out all the bands in the underground.

Read the Hellride Music reviews of Visions Old, Feelings Cold and Taste of Grey

Purchase Visions Old, Feelings Cold at the Hellride Music Super Store

Listen to a Real Audio sample of Underneath

Visit the Centrifuge website at http://centrifugemusic.tripod.com

Copyright 2002 HellrideMusic.com
Interview by Chris Barnes 1/27/03