Interviews

Interviews: Monolith

Smother: It's been quite some time since I've talked to you guys. Looks like you're doing really well. Icon Records will be featuring another Monolith release. Was there a particular theme or concept that you were going after when you hit the studio?

Monolith: Well basically we looked at the current metal trends and did the opposite. We really try as hard as we can to sound like ourselves. We wanted to spend a lot more time on everything and not do the album in a weekend like we did with "Use Only As Directed".

Smother: If you had to compare the local scene with the more national heavy scene what would be the differences and similarities?

Monolith: There really is no differences between the local and national scene right now. There is a lot of great indie bands, but there is also a lot of god awful bands that are going for the same old sound and it is really getting old. Do everyone a favor, stay home and learn to play your instrument!

Smother: Are you guys still all about the government conspiracy and alien abductions?

Monolith: Well not really. I mean we are still very into Si-Fi, Star Wars, and things like that. But we really try not to incorporate it into our music anymore. We just grew out of that stage, but we are still a bunch of geeks.

Smother: What were your main influences going into to record your latest release?

Monolith: We weren't really listening to anything in particular, and we tend to be influenced more by what we don't like rather than what we listen to on a regular basis.

Smother: Although, it's quite clichéd now, what are your thoughts about what happened on 9-11? Do you think our government has had the right response both in the terrorist attacks and the subsequent anthrax letters?

Monolith: Next Question! No actually I am totally tired of everyone trying to make money off of this tragedy both in the marketing and business world along with the music industry. Please no more songs about 9-11. Make your money some other way dumbfucks!

Smother: As the year comes to an end, where do you guys see yourselves a year from now? Any special Monolith New Year's resolutions?

Monolith: Hopefully in good health, touring, gaining more fans and friends, writing better songs, selling albums, and working harder than we ever have in our careers.

Smother: Certainly drug and music culture has been entangled for some time. Do drugs or other more eclectic experiences play any sort of role in either the manufacture or performance of Monolith tunes?

Monolith: Smokin kind bud during practice, Yes. Before or during our live performances, defiantly not! We like to perform sober. Playing metal live is a drug within itself.

Smother: With that said, do you think the war against drugs is right? Or has it become more of an invasion into citizen's private lives?

Monolith: Marijuana should be legalized. There is nothing wrong with it, and almost everyone smokes it. If you do not realize this you need to wake the fuck up. Besides it is better for you than alcohol. Although a pint of Guinness never hurt anyone! Other hard drugs like coke, extacy, heroin, and others should not be legal. They really do fuck your body up and make you do absurd things that you would not do otherwise. They change your personality and the way that you view life in general. You just do not realize it until you have experienced it for yourself. Just read the lyrics to our song "Derailing". You'll get the picture.

Smother: How have tours like Ozzfest and bands like Slipkont, Mudvayne, Soulfly, and Pantera had an effect on Monolith both musically and otherwise?

Monolith: Ozzfest has really help bring the metal scene out of the underground and back into the mainstream. Sharon Osborne is an absolute genius. Metal music has never died, it just lives in the underground and always will. Rock and Roll will never die and either will metal. So all of you critics can just give up. Now Pantera we really like. Although they really need to lay off of the drinking before it kills them! We do cover Pantera songs from time to time. Now Soulfly is a different story. Max's "caveman metal" is really annoying and the new album really sucked worse than the old one. Talk about overuse of the first fret! And I have no idea why you always compare us to them. You must have never really listened to them. Trust me you are not missing out on much! Now Sepultura is fucking great. Well when Max was with them. Do us all a favor and get back together! Please! The original line up is where it is at. Just like Van Halen. Just get over the egos and get back together for music's sake. Now what really annoys us more than anything is the mask, face paint, number, gimmick bands. Their music might be really good but their marketing tool is so stupid. It is like the glam rock scene of the 80's. You have to have this glam freaky image in order to fit in. Everyone sounds the same and looks the same. It is really hurting the metal scene instead of helping it. Knock it off, Take the mask off!

Smother: If you had to chose between the worst hangover of your life on your wedding day or being piss drunk during the birth of your first child which would you choose?

Monolith: What kinda question is that!! Defiantly hung over on the wedding day. It means more to a woman then a man anyways.

Smother: Thanks for participating in this interview, good luck in the future and if you have anything to say to the readers of Smother please do so!

Monolith: Prepare for annihilation!

For more information on Monolith be sure to check out their website!