L.H:
What made you guys get together to form SF9?
SF9:
Frustration solved with inspiration. In 1999 the future members of Stress
Factor 9 were happily releasing albums and touring in their respective
bands, but by 2003, a number of frustrating music biz things had lead
everyone to be jaded, bandless and enjoying personal hiatuses. Randy Rampage
and Ray Hartmann were again out of the constant unheaval known as Annihilator,
Stu Carruthers had told Lombardo that he declined to participate in the
next Grip Inc album, Kick's indie band Vertical After had suffered its
second suicide death after returning from a series of tour dates supporting
King's X, Frank's label deal in Singapore was getting sketchy for his
band Opposition Party.
Kick
and Randy and Stu were batting around the idea for the new band and Ray
was the absolute top pick, and fortunately was available. Ash (Strapping
Young Lad original member) helped get the band going but was unavailable
long term, and Dan Spitz had just gotten the call to reunite with Anthrax,
so he said he couldn't do it. Frank read online that we were putting something
together and contacted us with a really cool demo, and he was a perfect
fit.L.H:
Tell us a bit about your upcoming release “Brainwarp Mindspin”
Rampage:
Man!! We accidentally created a whole new genre we call "heavy (politically
oriented, melodic, punk, power pop, jazz fusion, thrash) metal" ...!!!?!?!?!
Whoa!!! Try and say that fast 5 times...But
seriously folks, I think it's a straight ahead heavy sound with many different
influences from everything that we've all experienced in our musical careers.
We sorta went at it with a no holds barred, nothings too weird attitude!!
Once
you've heard the whole thing you will see what I mean. I'm sure that someone
will come up with some silly category name to pigeonhole us into.
Ray:
I would describe our music as aggressive but not extreme. We try and keep
a solid song structure together. We're writing songs that are heavy and
have memorable parts.
Rampage:
Shaun Thingvold (producer: Fear Factory, Strapping young Lad, Lamb of
God) did a wicked job recording and mixing it !!! The overall sound is
very clear and clean without a lot of effects, which gives it a powerful
sound with wide EQ range (lots of screamin' highs and a big fat thumpy
bottom end.).
Every
song has its own overall sound and nuances but they fit together nicely
as a package!!
L.H:
Of the songs on the album, which are your favourites to play?
Kick:
We wrote them all with our enjoyment in mind, so they are all a blast.
When we played the song Pig Farm Willy in our hometown, it was a big thing
to watch the reactions, as the song is about Vancouver's most extreme
mass murderer who is still on trial.
L.H:
What/who has inspired you for this album, both musically and lyrically?
SF9:
Evile ?
Frank:
as far as i'm concerned im basically more of a punk guitarist than a guitar
god. Both me and Kick got very similiar 80's musical background - when
punk and metal 'crossovered'. And of course, Randy's long association
with DOA and the punk scene adds another snarling punk dimension to our
songs too. The rest is pure metal.
Kick:
Long before Metallica, the early demos of Gary Numan before he got into
keyboard (CD marketed with the title "the Plan") blazed a trail
for thrash guitar.
SF9:
Lyrically is all personal right from scratch
L.H:
You played a gig with Overkill last summer, how were you received by the
Overkill fans?
Rampage:
The kids loved it, Overkill plays straight metal without the cookie monster
stuff, so do we.
L.H:
You are playing another gig with Overkill in DC (13 Oct.) Are you looking
forward to playing with them again?
SF9:
It is ALWAYS cool to play with Bobby and DD again.
L.H:
Still on the subject of Overkill, you’ve previously toured with
them, do you have any interesting stories to share about being on the
road together?
Ray:
We had a lot of fun on that tour. The shows were great and it was good
to have Rampage out front once again - while it lasted. I was sleeping
when the now famous "bus incident" went down. I woke up and
Rampage was gone.
L.H:
I see you have added three dates to your site, supporting Armored Saint
in the UK and NL, are there plans for a full European tour?
SF9:
At first just the 9 days at the end of June including June 27 Sheffield,
28 Belfast, July 1 London, and some shows we are still confirming, likely
to include Brum. Unless something highly cool pops up during August or
autumn, then Spring of 2007 will more likely be a 3 or 4 week tour of
the continent.
