Monday, May 9, 2011

OINK ART AND GLOP INK!

alright, so i've been wanting to feature two companies im a HUGE fan of and that I think are putting out the absolutely most deadly inks in the graffiti world.

Oink Art has been killing it for some time now and is now for one of the most vicious black inks on the market. flow running and thin its deal for any mop or pump action markers. Oink Ink offers its inks in a pretty cool colorway ranging from classic Black to Blue, Red, Green and a super pigmented Blue that was a big hit with me.

Oink Art Ltd was nice enough to send me 3 already filled markers of its classic ink. in the lineup i have:

-Black in a medium Mop.

-Violet in a skinny Mini Mop

- and Blue that is in a HUGE 4 ounce Monster Mop.

these markers feature a woven fiber nib that is tough and can run the block as long as you do, putting it to work catching tags and drips on anything from signs, glass, concrete and even tile without streaking. you heard that right. zero streaks.

the ink features a pigment that runs so deep. each with their own aesthetic and able to shine and show a badass gloss finish but still strong enough to stain anything you put in its path. this is IDEAL for writing your name.

all 3 inks i did a test run with. once showing a small dot and to show the markers width and a line without squeezing and with squeezing. this is deal because you can have total control of your markers feel, the amount of ink released or make your name nice and tight with no drips. the choice is yours!



first up was Violet. this ink just ran the course and did the damn thing. a gloss that was a bit hard to capture with a camera but still did the job. free slowing and dripped with ease. this ink is seriously vicious and has a purple haze that may be mistaken for black.


next was blue in the Monster Mop, the width of this marker was unreal and so tough and rigid. the size alone was intimidating and will do serious damage on the streets.



lastly was classic Black in a medium mop. this width i found for this marker was PERFECT and it ran perfect.


one thing i loved about this marker and ink combo was that the body of the marker was much thinner and was able to produce drips without even asking for them, for me thats a plus because you are saving ink and still throwing down a dope noticeable tag.


all in all the Oink Art line is ideal for any writer that is looking for a CLEAN and GLOSSY but also HARD STAINING ink that will add character to every tag you are able to catch. its almost like cheating! much respect to Oink and James in Texas for hooking it up and making their section of the review happen.


up next is GLOP INK from Phoenix Arizona. right from the get go im a fan of this ink because 1. its labels are very descriptive. 2. they offer a Indoor and Outdoor 1. one bottle is ALCOHOL based and they the other is OIL based. this is already fun and im stoked. check it.

so up first is Glop Ink's indoor blend of VIOLET. this color is absolutely sick and alcohol based. its free flowing and would work perfectly in a mop, pump marker or even a calligraphy pen for black booking.


its a super dark blend that also has a tough pigment, im a fan of drips so this ink gives me exactly what im looking for. the markers casing tends to be a bit more harder than usual but this isnt necessarily a bad thing. its features a woven fiber nip that is hard working and will tackle all surfaces and cap that screws on VERY tight. no mess.



second up is Glop Ink's BLACK. its a outdoor OIL based ink that means one thing. this ink is made to stand the test of the time and not only be hard staining but thick and hard flowing. this ink is more ideal for a heavier mop such as medium sized mop or a classic NYC mop.


right out of the box this ink was particularly special because it has a mixing ball in it. this is crazy because this can only mean one thing HEAVY PIGMENT. no streaks and hard lines. this black ink gives a "tar black" feel and is serious business. although the Black didn't drip I think its because of the mop i chose to use. its pigment was a bit heavy and left my letters looking a bit streaky but is still a awesome tone and pigment. it is without doubt that this ink in a heavier mop will do the job and is ideal for panels, signs, glass and street boxes.

all in all both companies represent something i support highly INDEPENDENT BUSINESS. and in this particular case, inks for WRITERS by WRITERS that know exactly what they want.

now only do i suggest you check out all the products reviewed here today but take a trip over to oinkartltd.com and glopinkstore.com and chose your poison. no matter what equipment and markers you choose, you will eb sure to be leaving a lasting impression, a impossible to buff and if you choose; a extremely drippy mess.

thanks!

NEWS:

I never do something like this and tell people whats coming up with but it will help us both remember. im not too sure how many of you actually check this page out, but i appreciate every single person who pays it a visit. with real life getting in the way things have slowed down a bit but im excited for these features and things to release on here:

-ink and marker review brought to you by Oink Art Ltd and Glop Ink of Phoenix Arizona.

-Xibalba Live @ Chain Reaction video.

-Black Breath Live @ Scion Rock Fest. entire set.

-Soul Search interview and feature on their new record from Triple B records.

-Focused Minds interview and feature. Midwest Hardcore.

- Broken Needle Live @ Fernando's House entire set.

a small look into whats going to come up. thanks for checking this out!

AMUSE

the team over at - http://www.fatcapsandchrome.com have teamed up with Oink Art LTD and Sabatoz to bring this short film feature on Chicago based AMUSE. this is one of the most well done videos i've seen, from live painting to editing and good jams. this video gives a true feel at how raw and secretive the graffiti world is and what it takes to make a name for yourself.

make sure to take a visit to http://www.fatcapsandchrome.com because they are doing some really awesome stuff with everything graffiti lated.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

STREET PROWL

Rotting Out. the words ring familiar in the ears of anyone involved in hardcore and punk in the last 5 years, Rotting Out is an unstoppable force of hardcore with blends of punk that blend with influences from Suicidal Tendencies to Pennywise and everywhere in between. fast, aggressive and extremely Los Angeles.

Rotting Out is especially unique and original because not only do they pay tribute to such classic and historic hardcore punk sounds from Los Angeles and Southern California in general but also add their own twist to things. Rotting Out has seen a few member changes but has steadily claimed its title as one of Southern California's heaviest hitters. conquering tours from across the entire US with such acts as Expire, Soul Search like this past summer, to smashing stages at legendary summer festivals as United Blood, Rainfest, Triple B Showcase and California's well known Sound and Fury Festival.

STREET PROWL is the bands first LP and its a 24 minute, circle pitting, headbanging, stage ripping, pit swinging crowd chanting anthem to a Los Angeles hardcore scene that is built for a triumph like Street Prowl.

the record starts with the albums title "Street Prowl" and from the first 30 seconds it takes you a journey of very fast paced guitar work and nonstop riffing, a deep bass tone that compliments the extremely fast and busy drum work.

Street Prowl does not take a break, with quick transitions and old school punk bass and drum work that makes you want to shred sidewalks on a skateboard. this is seriously riffed out, from begging to end.

Street Prowl's lyrics content covers everything from experience seen and felt from Los Angeles. this album speaks LA to me in a very serious way. what I really liked about Street Prowl is that no matter who you are, where you live or what you've experienced this record seems to make you feel the streets of Los Angeles and Southern California. gritty, raw and in your face. just like our reputation. dont cast Street Prowl out as your typical fast paced record that has no subtsnace, you feel every sentence of pain, fustration and pissed off youth in every track.


previously released to the public via internet and 6131records.com are the tracks: Laugh Now Die Later and S.B.T.S (Swallowed by The Streets) that are definitely some very serious stand out tracks with breaks that are unforgiving and make you want to put your fist through a wall.

California is known for its circle pits, raw live shows and some of the most insane stage dives known to the scene. Street Prowl paints a picture of a hardcore scene deeply rooted in pissed off youth that is REAL. you will get zero sugarcoating with this record.

a track that stands out like a sore thumb is a slower paced transitioned "Iron Jawed Angel" that is sets up as story about a rough up bringing in an abusive home, a mother that is providing for a family and is the victim of abuse. the break in this track calls out this father figure and makes me see a younger child in a family that has always wanted to tell their pain and what they gained from living in such a horrible situation.

so many tracks range from issues about past relationships that i personally relate to more than anything else on record. feeling betrayed, looked down on and not good enough. the track "Goddamn" did that for me. although these are my personal takes on the tracks, it may or not be the point thats pushed but what i really enjoy about a record with a intensity such as Street Prowl is that makes me FEEL what is being said. hardcore is a very strong rooted lifestyle of unity, a place to go where the rest of the world hasn't accepted you and somewhere to finally fit in. lyrical content in hardcore is as important as the raw sound follows. lyrics pave the way to feelings and experiences. Steet Prowl does just that.

Rotting Out will be playing Sound and Fury Festival 2011 and pre-orders for Street Prowl are up NOW.

all in all, this record is absolutely perfect to me, a perfect blend of fast paced punk, passion filled with storytelling and experiences everyone can relate to and a home grown California circle pit aesthetic that crowns Los Angeles as the home for real hardcore.

Like Rotting Out on Facebook: Here

and make sure to head over to 6131records and pre-order Street Prowl.

thanks for reading.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

EXPIRE

EXPIRE is a up and coming hardcore band from the Midwest that is a force to be reckoned with. they have NYHC blend of heaviness mixed with a groove that really adds to their aesthetic. with most tracks not even topping 2 minutes they are in your face, direct and real. this hardcore in its purest form. I got a chance to see what they are all about recently, check it out.

ATW: What's up guys? who am i speaking with and what do you do in EXPIRE?

Zach: My name's Zach and I play guitar in Expire.

ATW: You guys are relatively new, how did EXPIRE come to be?

Zach: In late summer '09 I was living in Chicago. I wanted to start a new band because my old band was coming to an end. I got a hold of our old bass player and our drummer Marcus andI started bussing up to Milwaukee to write and practice. Josh came into the picture after the demo was written, did his thing and that was that. We recorded the demo in late August of 2009 and played our first show in September.

ATW: Awesome. what do you feel that Midwest Hardcore is bringing to the table and people should pay attention to as of late?

Zach: Most bands from the Midwest have always been very greatful for what they have, big or small. I think that's something that's definitely lacking in hardcore right now. Aside from gas prices always rising, it's very easy to tour if you're organized and have the drive. The thing that I feel like sets Midwest bands apart in that is they don't take that for granted. On the coasts, you can play a week of shows and never be more than 6 hours from home where as in the Midwest, 4 hours is a short drive. Little things like that I feel really set it apart. Not to say that there aren't bands from the coasts that don't appreciate being able to tour and appreciate what they have. But more times than not, bands from around here have to work for every single thing that they have where as sometimes on the coasts I feel like that isn't the case.

ATW: In your opinion what were favorite time in hardcore so far? best shows? memories, your area or others, tours etc etc.

Zach: I've been going to shows since I was 14 and I can honestly say that I get more and more excited about hardcore everyday. So as far as my favorite time in hardcore? It would have to be today. And tomorrow, it will probably be tomorrow. Not going to lie, I have the worst memory in the world when it comes to shows haha. I can't remember half of the tours I've been on. All I can say is that everytime we play Cedar Falls IA, St. Louis MO or Ann Arbor MI, my mind gets blown.


ATW: I personally checked you guys out around almost a year and a half ago, Grim Rhythm shows a heavier but groovier aesthetic to your band, how was the reaction to that 7" and how is Suffer The Cycle different?

Zach: Suffer The Cycle is definitely still an Expire record. Anyone who's listened to us knows that not everyone of our songs are going to sound the same. We take bits and pieces from what we like, mold them together and throw our own spin on them. If you liked Grim Rhythm I don't think you will be disappointed.


ATW: What tours have you done? I saw you guys at sound and fury and i was absolutely blown away, not only was i stoked because i was familiar with you guys but i actually saw people, including my friends walk over to the area you guys were playing and say "wow, holy shit" or "who are these dudes?".

Zach: That's fucking great man, little things like you saying that are why I'm still so stoked on hardcore. Well our first show was actually the first day of our first tour, as complicated as that sounds haha. So we've pretty much been touring since we started. It's a lot harder for bands from our area to get recognized if they don't know how to work for it aka don't know how to tour, so we've been touring pretty consistently since we started.

ATW: Whats coming up for EXPIRE?

Zach: Well we leave Monday with Alpha & Omega and Take Offense which will be awesome. Both of those bands new LP's rip. After that we head out with Harm's Way and Venia for a few weeks then in June/July we have a full US tour set up with Minus, Soul Search and Twitching Tongues. We have a few more things in the works but nothing that's solid. Needless to say, we could not be more stoked about everything we have coming up.

ATW: Take this time to shout out some hardworking bands from your area that you think people should get into if they haven't already.

Zach: All the midwest hardcore bands who are working hard. Agress, Former Theives, Harm's Way, Bent Life, Iron Rain, Face Reality, Focused Minds and Homewrecker. Be on the look out for us on the road this year. Also a shout out to anyone with a dog, let us stay with you on tour so I can kick it with your pooch. Thanks for the interview Joe.

ATW: Thanks guys!

to check out everything related to EXPIRE you can:

like them on Facebook - Here

Or pick up something from them - Here

Fuck the Los Angeles City Ordinance.



a $2,000 dollar fine for what? for kids displaying an art form that was ALLOWED by this properties owner? the city of Los Angeles has its fucking head shoved so far up its ass. it is cultural tradition in so many cities in Southern California to pay tribute to art and show our roots. city ordinances like this are setting out to strip our culture and live in a white washed PAID FOR advertisement driven bullshit society.

in other words, unless you have enough money to buy a billboard, your expression is NOT valuable. fuck this way of thinking.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

The Hate Destroyer.

this woman touches my heart. coming from a country that has such a strong history of hate and genocide as known world wide by World War 2 and living on a planet where racism is still a very huge problem, i tip my hat to her. this is amazing.

THE HATE DESTROYER (Demo-version) from Fotogramma25 on Vimeo.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Digital Cameras: how to NOT document your work! DONT GET CAUGHT.


I thought i would share some information, something i have not seen anyone go into detail regarding on any of the blogs or forums in recent years. It concerns exif data. Exif data is a digital code your camera imprints into every photo you take, and sticks with it where ever it travels around the internet and among friends etc. Details such as time and date, are easily messed up by just not setting your time correctly, but what is hard to shift, and what can fuck you royally, is the serial number of the camera used to take the photo.You take a photo of a panel, and that ends up on the internet, with very simple software you can decode that photo to find the camera model, and serial number. Where do you think an internet search for other photos uploaded with that same serial number attached to it will lead? More than likely, your personal Facebook page, or blog, website or personal Flickr. If the shot is clearly a yard or night shot, that’s your door off the hinges at 7am, and probably the camera itself, within your room, and more than likely for most, some sort of literature that shows you like graffiti on trains. Pretty tech stuff, but this is 2011 and that’s a tiny part of the high tech shit they will use to track you down. So keep your flicks off the net, exif data is trashable, with techie software, but a simpler way to get rid of most of the data, if you must send it to someone, is to open the flick and print screen it and send that one.


pass this on!

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

DEAD WEIGHT

DEAD WEIGHT is a new and upcoming band from Seattle, Washington. although there has been a huge influx of bands lately that are reviving that NYHC heaviness and brand of hardcore in the same page as Agnostic Front and Warzone. DEAD WEIGHT is completely bringing a classic NYHC blend of hardcore and adding their own aesthetic. below is a interview i did with Chris of DEAD WEIGHT and it will fill you in on exactly what they are about, where they came from and where they plan to go. check it out!

ATW: alright so who am I speaking with? what do you do in the band?

Chris: My name is Chris, I sing.


ATW: what do you guys have released this far?

Chris: We have a demo that our friend Jesse with Mind Melt Enterprises, put out on his tape label. Check out his other releases at http://www.mindmelt.lifeyo.com/Home/


ATW: Shows? Tour Plans?

Chris: We just played our first show Jan 22nd, so we don't really have any tour plans per say. But we are really looking forward to coming down the coast someday soon... It's something we really want to do. But for right now we're just focusing on playing in the northwest.


ATW: you guy used to be in a few different bands if I'm correct, how is Dead Weight different? style wise and influence wise.

Chris: I played guitar in Champion, and Poverty Bay Saints. I also sang in a band about 11 years ago with Paul and Tory (Guitar and Bass in DW), called Guideline, which had an early Vision sort of vibe. Champion was a youth crew style band, and Poverty Bay Saints was an Oi! band. So Dead Weight is definitely different, but I've always loved old NYHC and have wanted to play in a band like this for years.
As for the other dudes, Paul was in Sinking Ships and Gone But Not Forgotten. Jake is in Ill Intent. Tory sang in Left With Nothing, Lahar, and Odd Rule. And our drummer Skiff? Well he's in about a million bands, including Owen Hart, Sojourner, and Sidetracked.


ATW: what are some current bands you think kids should be paying attention to?

Chris: Praise is probably my favorite current hc band. Andy is one of my favorite people in the world and when it heard it, it was so stoked because no matter what, I was going to make myself like his band, but it was so good it really blew me away. The lyrics are awesome and super personal, the vocals are really intense, the riffs are banging. I love that band. The new Terror (Keepers of the Faith) is probably my favorite record of last year. So stoked on where they went with that record. There are some tracks on that record that really speak to me. Grave Maker and Not Sorry, both from the Northwest, have put out some solid records. Cruel Hand, Take Offense, pretty much anything on REACT! records. Pressure Point is an Oi! band from Sacramento that everyone should be listening to because they are incredible.


ATW: personally my favorite time in hardcore is when bands like Champion, Verse, Go It Alone, Blue Monday etc were touring regularly, a time in 2000's hardcore i don't see ever being replaced. what do you think hardcore will be like in 10 years? considering so much has changed in 5-7 years?

Chris: You know? That era definitely had some cool things going on, but there were some really negative things going on in the scene too. Alot of senseless violence and stuff like that, which was really destructive to the scene. I think that every era has its good and bad. For me, the era right before that was one of my favorites, with bands like Carry On, American Nightmare, Right Brigade, Shark Attack, and No Warning all in their prime. That era had its problems too though. I think every kid has their own favorite era and I guarantee you there are tons of kids who will be looking back on this current era as their favorite time in hardcore, with memories of that special something that sparks that feeling inside them. As for what hardcore will be like in 10 years it will be the same as it is now, and it will be totally different. There will be fly by night fashions and styles, and kids will come and go, but for the most part the real core of HC kids will be doing what they are doing now, working hard to book shows, do zines or websites, play in bands, take pictures... Media changes, so the platform of ideas being shared will change and evolve, but the message and the ideas and the real aggression of the music will be the same, and that's what's important.


ATW: what bands made you want to pick up a mic and do vocals for this project?

Chris: Undertow and Mouthpiece were two bands that made me really want to sing in a band. John and Tim were both in their own ways so intense and passionate. Final Word is a current band from Montreal that gets me stoked to sing. Nick is a great frontman. He has alot of great things to say and he delivers them with such power. Even when he's speaking in French, I feel the need to clap after his speeches. I have no idea what he's saying, but the way he's saying it, you'd think it was the most important thing in the world. That's really important for hardcore, that sense of urgency. I think one of the most commonly missing aspects of the average hardcore band is urgency. And it's one of the most important things. As far as lyrics, every time I write a song I think of the words to "Dead Man's Band" by the Promise. It's a song about bands that write lyrics that don't really dig deep. These bands are just going through the motions, singing about nothing. Hardcore is about saying what's in your heart. So when I write lyrics, i think of that song and I really try to dig down deep. Sometimes those things aren't easy to put out there for everyone to dissect, but I feel like I owe it to this hardcore scene to step out of my comfort zone and communicate things that are sometimes difficult to communicate. There's another song by No Reply called "I Want Your Guts". Same idea, hardcore lyrics should be straight up guts being spilled. That's my goal every time I write a song.


ATW: I'm looking forward to seeing you guys as soon as possible and the demo absolutely rips. thanks for taking the time! any last words?

Chris: Thanks for the interview, and for taking the time to do such a cool hardcore blog. This scene definitely needs more people working on things like this to communicate and share ideas. When I was first getting into hardcore, I got all my information from zines. I didn't really know anyone in the scene, so I would pick up a zine and from there, check out different bands in that zine. Now with the internet, it's so much easier to share ideas and bands, but people still need to take the time to put them out there. So I'm stoked that people like you are willing to do that.
Also, if anyone wants to contact us email DeadWeightNW@gmail.com or follow on twitter @DeadWeightNW
Thanks Joe!

there you have it! DEAD WEIGHT will be a band you will want to pay attention to in 2011.

for everything DEAD WEIGHT related please visit: deadweightnw.bandcamp.com

keep your eyes and ears peeled! thanks for reading.

Monday, January 31, 2011

Egypt.

my heart goes out to the people of Egypt and the constant battle that they fight against oppression daily, for those around the world that battle a corrupt government that has interests in only individual political agenda and has no plans to help its own people.

sometimes the people that build a city, should tear it down if they are not given what they need.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Rotting Out Street Prowl Sessions Teaser.

amazingly done by my man Whobangin' check it!

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS.

i've been wanting to put something like this together for a while. I think their are way too many people that live in this county that have absolutely no diea what rights they are entitled to when being confronted/stopped/questioned by a police officer. with this being said, this is a repost and the information is not my own but after some research is very accurate for the most part.

I want to put together a zine and be able to make it FREE and it will basically be a handbook on how to deal with the police and knowing your rights before hand.

We as Americans should be able to defend ourselves and not be intimidated by police or bullied.

*Changed.

1 Give your full name, birth details, occupation, address and supply
your driver’s licence (if you have one). You do not have to answer any
further questions.


2 You do not have to go to the police station unless you have been arrested.


3 Ask the police officer – “Am I under arrest?” If he/she says
“no,” you are under no obligation to accompany the officer to the
police station except in the case of a drink driving charge.


4 If the officer says you are under arrest, you must accompany
him/her. If you do not go, you could be charged with resisting arrest.


What to do at the police station.


1. After you have given your name, age, occupation and address, you are under no obligation to answer any further questions.


2 At this point you should state clearly and firmly that you want
to speak to a lawyer before answering further police questions.


3 Ask to see a lawyer as soon as possible. The police must let you consult a lawyer.


Dangers in answering police questions.


You may unwittingly provide police with evidence that may convict you
later on. A criminal conviction can have very serious consequences.
Therefore it is better to wait and be advised by a lawyer before saying
anything. Don’t be afraid to keep silent. It is your right.

Man is MURDERED in his own home after no prior warning to cops breaking down door.

not a single warning. a man over 30 feet away with a sword, against pigs in full tactical gear with handguns and full riot gear is MURDERED in his own home.

this video is very graphic and unfortunately shows the death of this innocent man. view beware.

Innocent man caught in the middle of a foot pursuit is put into the hospital with brain damage from Police.


SEATTLE — Twenty months after he suffered catastrophic brain damage, the wife and family of a 31-year-old man severely injured during a run-in with police in downtown Seattle will have their day in court.
Christopher Harris was walking in Belltown on May 10, 2009, when he found himself caught in the middle of a foot pursuit.

Two King County deputy sheriffs told him to stop and he ran. When he slowed outside the Cinerama cinema, a deputy knocked him into a wall.

He hasn’t been the same since.

Unable to walk, talk or care for himself, his wife and family claim Harris was the victim of excessive force in the early morning incident, which was captured on a theater surveillance camera. Months after the incident, they filed a lawsuit on Harris’ behalf against; a jury trial in the matter is expected to begin Tuesday.

Below is the video:

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Police shoot wheelchair bound homeless man with shotgun.

how much longer are we going to allow these piece of shit police to bully and shoot people that hold you imminent threat to their safety and not use common sense? this is just one of so many cases going on.

the police murder and walk all the time. fuck the police.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

MILES APART.

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

MILES APART is a melodic/progressive/creative band from South Carolina that has a distinct sound and a heart filled brand of hardcore that i dont feel is being done at all in modern hardcore and punk. below is a inside look about what are they are all about and a in depth interview with Lukas of MILES APART.

ATW: who am i speaking with? what do you do musically?

Lukas: My name is Lukas and I sing in Miles Apart

ATW: alright so right off the bat, when i first got the demo, I was pulled into it so quickly because of the transitions and melody perfectly matched with just enough ammount of heaviness. what are some influences you guys share and describe a little better than i can why you guys sound so distinct.

Lukas: Well, honestly, the mixture of "heaviness" with the melodies and such is a pretty simple answer. Justin(originally on guitar, now plays drums), Matt (bass) and I started playing together about two years ago with some other guys and we were basically just playing really dumbed down hardcore with "pretty parts" over it. Eventually, after member changes we learned how to mesh the two ideas together, and to have impact in our music, and to be "heavy" without having to play chugs and riffs and shit like that. For the past year we've also had one guitarist (Mike, who's now no longer with us) that only listened to American Football, and 90's emo that wrote songs next to Randall (guitar), who has an undying love for Metallica and all that is "riff". So it's really a very natural thing for us, and hopefully our separate influences are different enough to not define us.

As far as sounding "distinct", that's not really for us to decide, I don't think. haha. We just write what we want to, and if people like it then that's just an added plus.

ATW: thats seriously awesome. most bands cant really mesh so many backgrounds together like that and make them work. haha, well its distinct to me because i hear influences from at least 5 different genres and styles and it blends perfectly. i meant to say EP earlier actually but, tell us about Transitions and some important key points you'd like to share. i just want to also mention that i dont think paying attention to lyrics and ideas was really huge in the last few years in hardcore/punk, i hope that changes in 2011.

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

Lukas: We wrote the first EP (Valueless) in about a month in the fall of 09, and then recorded it that winter. It took several really frustrating months of going back and forth with the people responsible for mastering it, before we finally got back the material, which, we ended up not even being happy with. During that time, we had already become sick of those songs and began planning out the next release. The song "Mattachine" on Transitions was originally on the Enough is Enough comp, so we had that song, which was already going in a new direction, to build on. By the time we had a couple of those songs written, we started moving in another direction completely, but decided that it'd be better to finish writing and recording those songs that to scrap them. So obviously it was a transitional period for us, musically and personally.

We were writing new music, because were already sick of the stuff we had written not even six months ago, and while writing this new music, we had began brainstorming what we could do next. This, i think, will become the standard for us, which could get confusing, and frustrating for people that try to keep up, but it's our process, and it's how we do things.

ATW: nice, and it fits well. one thing i've noticed being in a band is that its never good enough haha, sometimes you have to accept that it wont be perfect. at least thats how i am, i'll end up fixating on shit thats not even there and ruining something decent haha.

Lukas: It's obvious that, in hardcore, lyrically, things change all the time. In the 90's bands were "message driven" and played music to communicate more than just playing for fun, or as an outlet for personal aggression. Then bands like MLIW made it cool to be heartfelt underneath catchy, heavy music. It does bum me out when I hear a really cool band that ends up having somewhat stale, and uninteresting lyrics. I can't sit here and say that what I write is "good", because honestly that's not what something that I feel is important. I write what I feel and fortunately I have an outlet to which those feelings can be poured into.
Now, with bands like Touche Amore, or Pianos Become The Teeth, there are bands that are doing really cool things lyrically. You see wordplay and alliteration and imagery and everything else that I love about literature all mixed in with beautiful, really striking music.

ATW: i get really pysched on that stuff, it helps paints a picture and when paying close attention adds so much to the music, unfortunatly it isnt happening a lot. what are some future plans for Miles Apart?

Lukas: We've got about a month to write and fine-tune 5 new songs before we drive up to Baltimore and record them. We're going to be up there with our friend Michael York (of Pianos Become The Teeth) in his studio for a few days recording, hanging out and maybe playing a show. We just played our first show with a new guitarist also, so on top of being pressed for time to get our stuff ready, we have to teach our songs to a pair of brand new ears, so we've got our work cut out for us over the next month. Which is why we're not really planning any shows until after we get back home from the studio. Also, we have tapes coming out on Heart in Hand sometime in the near future

ATW: thats awesome, staying busy is always good. what are some bands you guys, or you personally have been jamming as of late?

Lukas: I can't speak for everyone, but personally, I've been jamming Seahaven so much lately. I've also been getting my mind blown by "The World Is A Beautiful Place and I Am No Longer Afraid To Die"'s demo and ep from this past year. Besides that I've been sticking to my usual prescription of Converge haha.
ALSO, I willfully take a late pass on this but The Motorcycle Industry has been playing in my car non stop this week. I've been kicking myself for never listening to them sooner.

ATW: nice! Seahaven has been a favorite of my mine for the last few months. well i think thats going to do it man, any last words? bands you think kids should be listening to?

Lukas: Last words? Hmm. Do everything by and for yourself. Practice sustainability. Start a band for no other reason than the fact that you want to write music that you want to hear. Play what you want to play, and if it's not fun, or if you're bored by it, then quit, and start over. Write a zine, or open up a venue. Let bands sleep on your floor. Quit being cool.

People need to be listening to and paying attention to South Carolina. Blacklines, Beggars, Loather, Rubrics, Numb Luck, Overlooked, False Light, EVA, Clever Words, Fountainhead, Is The Anchor, Kids in Masses, Hundredth, Everything is on Fire, and our best friends who are currently on tour, In Regret. Go see them on the east coast and help them out.

thanks Lukas!

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ROTTING OUT Live @ Chain Reaction January 2nd.

first time doing this video interview stuff and i thought it came out pretty cool. support Rotting Out to the fullest and stay tuned for more videos from this night that include, Soul Search, Creatures, Alpha & Omega and Bitter End.