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Interviews
Al: The new album does have a new lineup, Dave Bolch, and Paul Schlager stayed in LA where Tearabyte originated and went their separate ways not long after Doom Generation was released. I relocated and spent the next two years rebuilding the band. The music has also taken a different sound and style. Kevin and I have been playing since childhood and have always been very tight musically, and have played in bands before this (Decrepit Mind) With Embrace Oblivion we wanted to develop our own signature sound, and play in the styles of all the old bands we grew up listening to and blatantly defy the current nu-metal trends and I think we achieved this with the new CD. Kevin: That is a question Al should answer since I was not in the band for Doom Generation. Hellride Music: I mentioned in my review of Embrace... that you guys touch on a few styles, all of them metal and all of them old-school. Al, God bless you for not singing like you gargle with Draino. And from the band pics, none of you guys are wearing backward baseball caps, wallet chains or baggy pants. That's a plus too. When you guys look back, who are some of the people that have influenced Tearabyte in terms of sound, attitude, etc. and why? Al:
We are definitely METAL, and a mix of all of the good old school bands
but with our own twist as well. You hear the influences, but it's not
a carbon copy either. We feel we've taken it a step further. As for the
vocals, I can sing like all the cookie monster bands too, but then we'd
be chasing the trend and we wanted our own signature style like when you
hear any of the great old school bands in the first 5 seconds of vocals
you can tell who it is even if you never heard the song before. They all
had a unique quality about them that made them stand out. As far a clothes,
(I'm wearing the same ones I wore 15 years ago) we don't get ours at the
mall, and we don't hang out at the food court. Leather & Denim have
always been the best metal uniform. Kevin:
Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Megadeth, Metallica, Slayer, Nuclear Assault,
Overkill, Testament, Violence, Sacred Reich, Black Sabbath, were all big
influences. Hellride Music: You guys produced and mixed your own album....looking back on the writing, recording mixing and overall production of the album, are you happy with what came out of your efforts? Would you change anything? Al:
We're pretty happy with it, the only thing we would have done differently,
if it were possible, would have to been endorsed and had better quality
instruments, amps, drums. Since the recording we've acquired a lot of
Kevin: I was happy with it. I wish I had my new gear for it but, it came out pretty good. But, all in all I am very happy with it. It is the best thing I have ever done. Hellride Music: Al, you and your brother have been in and out of bands for many years... Knightmare, Decrepit Mind, punk project Flys on Shit, the amazing Prime Evil and various side projects. We both know that the music business sucks -what keeps you guys coming back? Al: I think you have the wrong Prime Evil. Our CD was never released nationally, we did however have great success playing around the LA area from 94' through 97'. Check out the Boneyard on our website www.tearabyte.net for info on all of our previous bands with free downloads (when they work). What makes us keep coming back? We do it cause we love it!! It's all about the love of the art. Our childhood dreams we never let go of regardless of the failures each new band we've joined or started is what keeps us going and gives us hope that someday it'll all be worth all of the suffering and frustration.....or we'll die trying! Kevin:
Actually, I left the biz for 5 years. When Al first move to Texas I was
married, and had not played in while. But, after a quick divorce I was
playing again. It took a little while to get our shit together but, I
think Hellride Music: From all your collective years in metal, what's the single most rock n' roll experience you've ever had? Any "Hammer of the Gods"-like hotel trashings or intercourse with multiple groupies? Al: For me it was the first time I banged a groupie in the dressing room back in 85 or 86 on new years eve in Boston. We opened up for Blue Oyster Cult that night and when they played "Godzilla", I gave her AL-Zilla! Kevin: I've never really had one of those moments. Although I was a roadie for Al's band at the Blue Oyster Cult show and all in all it was quite the party. But, I was not in the band so. Kev goes without. Hellride Music: Kevin and Al - Who can kick whose ass? Al: I don't know, we get along pretty good for brothers, I'd say we'd have to be a tag team and kick someone else's ass. Teamwork is what we, and all the SFW bands demonstrate, we're like brothers we stick together and fight for the common goal. Kevin: When we were younger Al always would win. But, it was quite the duel. We have not had an asskickin' fight in a very long time. Hellride Music: What's next for the band in 2002? Al: Rape, Plunder, Pillage, and Rape (we like rape). We're playing Metal Nation 2002 in Raleigh NC June 29th put on by Snakenet Metal Radio and Milwaukee Metalfest July 27th. Plans for a fall tour are in the works, check our website frequently for updates www.tearabyte.net Read the Hellride Music review of Embrace Oblivion
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Tearabyte
take one part Bay Area thrash throw it in a blender with some classic
metal and puree into a finely blended contoction of sonic mayhem. The
Mead brothers have been an underground metal fixture for years, playing
in bands such as Decrepit Minds, Knightmare, Flys on Shit, Prime Evil
and even a stint in GG Allin and the Scumfucks. That's a lotta rock n'
roll. Chris Barnes talks to the Mead brothers.