Interviews

Interviews: Vision of Disorder

Smother's interview with the band before the release
of the most anticipated heavy album of the year--Imprint.
Mr. Christopher Chats with guitarists Matt Baumbach and Mike Kennedy.



Smother: So, tell us everything you can about the new album.

Matt: The only thing I can say about the new album is that...for all the people who, on "Still" who said, "Oh we love you so much," then when the new record came out (s/t debut), it was a little bit over-produced which I agree with also, the new record is saying this is what VOD is all about. Basically, the people who love the sound of VOD live...we wanted to make that sound a reality on the record. So, we went in and basically just sat there and played as if it were a band practice and it came out sick! 75% of the vocals Tim did was playing live with us in the studio. It was the same as you just saw out there (they played 5 min. ago from this interview) except we were all sitting on stools. It's heavier...it's more melodic when the melodies come. You know how sometimes you have to listen to the songs on a record, like 12 times before you realize how and where a song's going? On this record, you hear a song once (smacks his hands together), you fucking nail it right there and you understand what the songs about.

Mike: It's just a straight up, harder record. Will knows all about the heaviness of the new record...

(some guy named Will tries to grab a beer quietly)
Will: The new VOD is going to kick you in the balls, in the ass, 'till your eyes pop out. If it don't...then you're a faggot sucker!

(they all laugh)

Matt: It's harder and smoother.

Smother: What made VOD decide to put out a 7"on Revelation before the new record?

Matt: We were talking about putting out a 7" before this new record, not just to show the people what was up with the new record but, well, there again, for all the people who thought the last record was overproduced and everything. We just wanted to show people what was up with the new sound, not that it's completely new, but just more to show people--this is the new VOD. We put "Clone" on the new 7" which is one of the hardest songs we ever wrote. Basically, what that song is about is just bands copying other bands. "Clone" is just a little taste of the new record.

Smother: I heard "By The River" from the new record. How did you guys hook up with Phil from Pantera for that song?

Matt: Ozzfest. Out of all of the "big" bands like--Pantera, Marilyn Manson, all of those bands like Black Sabbath and all--out of all of those bands, Phil was the only normal person out of all the established bands that took it to keeping it real. Well, not really "keeping it real" but he's really into helping other bands.

Mike: He's not a "rock star." He just took a liking to us.

Matt: We just kept on talking and all, then we asked him to do a song and he said, "Yeah." We wrote that song specifically for Phil. You hear a lot of other bands that have guest vocals and it's half-assed. We really wanted to concentrate on writing a song for Phil to do, not just go, Waaaaa!!!! It sort of battles back and forth between Phil and Tim. (Mike adds that he feels Tim held his own pretty well against him). I'm psyched about that song.

Smother: What are your tour plans after you get done with this round?

Mike: (jokingly): Metallica.

Matt: We're going to take some time off after this tour, then in September we go out with Sepultura for 5 weeks. The newly formed Sepultura, they have a new vocalist, by the way. Then after that we're probably going to try to go to Europe with whoever we can. We're hoping to tour with Fear Factory maybe. When the new album comes out we're just going to keep touring...2 years?...whatever it takes.

Smother: What do you think about all of the bands that have been breaking up lately? Strife, Downset...

Mike&Matt: Downset's back together.

Mike: Strife's nice guys.

Smother: What about the breakup of Faith No More?

Mike: Aw, man, that sucked!

Matt: Yeah, Faith No More is one of the few bands that everyone in VOD enjoys. Mike Patton's got a new band, did you hear about it? (he continues on a little more about Mike Patton's new project)

Smother: Have you thought about getting on any festivals like Ozzfest again?

Mike&Matt: We tried.

Matt: If you do Ozzfest one year, you really can't do another year unless you're like Coal Chamber and have Ozzy's wife as a manager. We were like the little fish in the big sea there.

Smother: What are some of the songs off of the new album about?

Matt: One of the songs "Imprint" is about that whole occurrence Tim went through when he got his face cut.

Mike: A lot of this record is about fake people. Fake that we've met on tour, in the industry. All of the shit that really just pisses us off about people. So many people think that we fucking are living on easy street, but we're not, man. We've gotten a lot of slack from the industry. And on top of that, we've got kids giving us shit too. We're right in middle, still struggling.

Matt: People are so into us live, but when they heard us on that record (the s/t debut), when I hear that record I want to throw up. This coming record is what VOD is all about.

Smother: Who did you actually get to produce "Imprint?"

Matt: Dave Sardy, my man! Same guy who did Helmet, Far. He's the guy who gave us the sound we were looking for, which is that hard, live type of sound.

Smother: Where did you record?

Matt: New York City. This record is really what we're about. Mike: With the last one, we were too busy concentrating unlike this one we were jamming out, it was sick, just feeling it. After we'd finish a track, we'd be like, "Ok, what's next?!" Matt: Our basics were done in 3 days. Our drummer was done in basically 11 hours, which for a record is phenomenal!

Smother: With that whole California sound, dropped down tuning and that whole deep tune thing going on right now, like Korn and bands like that...do you think that sound will fade away?

Mike: I don't think that it should go away. I just think that it needs to chill out and bands need to do their own thing, and not fucking worry about this fucking "deep sound" thing. We have a tuned down song on the album, but we just felt like going off with it.

Matt: I think the problem is that, uh, not that everyone's sounding alike, but I think there is definitely a West Coast sound going on. The best thing about the East Coast right now is that there really isn't an East Coast sound. I think we're representing a new sound for the EC right now.

Mike: There needs to be a more aggressive sound going on.

Matt: When "Vulgar Display Of Power" (Pantera, duh) came out, it was HARD, damn that's hard.

Mike: There's just so many bands calling themselves heavy, then they're playing like Korn with the hip-hop beats and all of that shit. It's good, but it's just not hard!

Matt: I think that people who still do like heavy, hard, extreme, music that's going to slap them across the face. I think "Imprint" is that record that will do that out of all of the people.

Mike: Our new record sounds primal, man. Like people hitting each other with clubs and shit.

Smother: So, what are some of the newer bands/albums you all are into?

Matt: I think every band on this tour (Will Haven, Both Worlds, Dayinthelife) is great, I like all of them. What else? (looks at Mike) One King Down. The new Madball is good.

Mike: Not a lot of good shit has been coming out lately.

Matt: But there's a lot of new sounding stuff coming out. That's what we want to represent is that new sound of heavy music on the East Coast. There's so much recognition on the West Coast of this band and that band, but we want to be that "recognition." Let's take it back to the way...like back when Sick Of It All came out back in their prime. Now it's all West Coast. I think to some degree, it's needed now.

Mike: All of these bands wanting to sound like Korn. I mean, I like Korn, they're a sick band, but..

Matt: ...too many bands are coming out sounding like Korn. Where's the originality in that?

Smother: As long as record companies keep signing bands with that sound, there's going to be bands milking that.

Matt: There's always going to be one band better than that and that's Korn. They're going to be the best at that W.C. sound. Korn and Deftones started all of that shit, man. Who gives a fuck, let's bring music back?!


More discussion goes on about bands copying each other and Mike gives his belief on why MTV won't play heavy music because of the sponsors who control it and Matt continues the same about MTV Raps being taken off the air along with Headbanger's Ball. Mike can and does go on about this for a good while and how heavy music is staying alive because of the passionate fans who buy the records and the big tours like Ozzfest keeping heavy music around.

Matt goes on to say that not many heavy albums coming out have a "punch" to them and includes Death Metal and how "it's fast, but it doesn't have any kick to it at all" and says the major quote of this interview that I will end with....

Matt: The new VOD record is heavier than Death Metal.

I don't doubt it.

Mr. Christopher