FIRST OFF: INTRODUCE US WITH HEROD. WHO ARE THE PERSONS
STANDING BEHIND THIS INTERESTING NAME?
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Herod is Mike - drums, Jesse -
guitar, Bryce - guitar, Jeremy - bass, Judah - vocals.
We have been a band for about 3 years in various incarnations.
The band has been busting our asses for years trying to
get some recognition. Things seem to be looking up as
of right now.
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WHERE DOES THE NAME HEROD COME
FROM AND WHAT IS ITS SIGNIFICANCE?
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Herod was the King of Judea during
the time of Christ. During the birth of Christ, Herod
attempted to kill Jesus. There are several Herod's in
the bible. The reason we chose the name is because we
like the dichotomy. In the bible, Herod is a tyrant, in
a history book, Herod was an influential leader.
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YOU GOT A NEW ALBUM THAT IS ABOUT
TO BE RELEASED ON LIFE FORCE RECORDS ON MAY 11TH . FOR
WHOM THE GODS WOULD DESTROY IS YOUR SECOND STUDIO FULL
LENGTH RECORDING. CAN YOU TELL US MORE OF YOUR IMPRESSION
ON YOUR NEW RECORD?
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If you love a more classic style
of metal, than this will be the record for you. It makes
me feel like it is the 1980's again. I think it is a very
accessible record. I hope it reaches across genres and
to many people.
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THE SOUND ON YOUR NEW ALBUM IS
HIGH QUALITY PRODUCTION. WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SUCH A
GOOD PRODUCTION? IN WHAT WAY DID PRODUCER STEER THE ALBUM?
DO YOU THINK HE CASTS HIS OWN SIGNATURE ON THE ALBUM?
IF SO, IN WHAT WAY?
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| Our friend Mike Hatalak from the
band It Dies Today recorded the record. I think Hatalak
paid a great deal of attention to tone. The guitars are
so clear. The band produced the record though. |
IN WHAT WAY DID YOU APPROACH
THIS ALBUM DIFFERENTLY THAN PREVIOUS RECORDS?
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With this record, we stopped giving
a shit what the hardcore scene thought of us. We all love
hardcore and I think we concentrated too much on pleasing
the hardcore scene rather than pleasing ourselves.
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THE RECORD TITLE CAN BE INTERPRETED
IN MANY WAYS, BUT IS THERE ANY SPECIAL MEANING YOU WANTED
WITH IT?
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We as a band feel that certain
people "Gods" are trying to keep us down. Lots
of people talk shit about us and try and ruin what we
have going on.
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YOUR PREVIOUS RECORDINGS WERE
RELEASED BY SMALLER AMERICAN RECORDING COMPANIES LIKE
SOUNDS OF REVOLUTION AND TOO DAMN HYPE. NOW YOU ARE ON
BIGGER LABEL. IT`S RELEASED ON LIFE FORCE RECORDS. WHERE
DOES THIS COOPERATION COME FROM?
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I have been buying Lifeforce Records
music for years. I knew Stefan ran a tight ship. He made
us a great offer and we couldn't pass it up. We as a band
couldn't be happier with the results.
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HOW IMPORTANT IS IT FOR A BAND
LIKE YOURSELVES TO ALWAYS DIG DEEPER AND MUSICALLY TAKE
A LEAP FORWARD WITH EVERY RELEASE.
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We have to dig deeper each time,
otherwise we will wind up being just another band that
goes away all too quickly. You have to push the envelope
every single time.
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I KNOW THAT IT IS SOMETIMES ANNOYING
AND DIFFICULT TO SPEAK ABOUT LABELS. BUT I THINK OUR LISTENERS
WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT`S YOUR VIEW ON WHAT KIND OF MUSIC
YOU PLAY. CAN YOU DEFINE IT IN SOME WAY?
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Herod is the best of everything
you love about metal. All styles and genres covering all
decades. We roll up all the best into one package.
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| IT IS VERY INTERESTING THAT
YOUR HISTORY AS MUSICIANS IS LIKE WITH HARD-CORE/PUNK
BACKGROUND. BUT THAN WITH HEROD YOU TURN BACK TO MORE
OLD-STYLISH HEAVY METAL STYLE? CAN YOU TELL US MORE OF
THIS MUSICAL CHANGE? |
I have been playing in bands for
18 years. The only bands of mine that ever got recognition
were hardcore bands. It doesn't mean that we are pulling
the metal thing out of our asses. All of us have been
in a million other bands and have played all the styles
out there. We all grew up with metal, and now we are playing
it because it feels right for us. We all still love hardcore,
we just wanted to take a break from playing it.
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HOW DO YOU PERCEIVE THE FACT
THAT EVERY BAND OUT THERE ALWAYS HAS TO BE PIGEONHOLED
AS PLAYING SOME GENRE. USUALLY, NO MATTER HOW MUCH EFFORT
THE BAND PUTS INTO IT, THEY ARE NEVER ABLE TO SHED OFF
THAT TAG COMPLETELY FOR YEARS TO COME. HOW DOES THIS REFLECT
ON HEROD, A BAND THAT ISN'T EASILY CATEGORISED AS THIS
OR THAT?
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Herod is always viewed as metal
core by hardcore kids and metal heads see us as a metal
band. Make no mistake, we are a metal band.
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| WHAT ARE THE GOALS OF HEROD?
WHAT DO YOU STILL WANT TO ACHIEVE AS A BAND? |
| Herod wants to be around for a
long time and reach a great deal of people. We want what
every musician wants, some recognition for our hard work. |
AT THE MOMENT YOU ARE ON EUROPE
TOUR PROMOTING YOUR NEW ALBUM. WHAT ARE THE EXPECTATIONS
AND WHAT AUDIENCE CAN EXPECT FROM YOU?
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| I don't know what to expect. The
European reviews are mixed. People aren't quite sure what
to make of us. We will kick ass in Europe. I just hope
the people feel the same way. We aren't playing what is
in style. People have to make up their own minds about
us rather than letting people tell them what to think
of us. |
| ANY CLOSING WORDS? WORD OF WISDOM
FOR LISTENERS OF BREAKING THE SILENCE RADIO SHOW IN SERBIA? |
Listen to more Herod! We are bringing
it back and we want to see your country while on tour!
Let us rock for you and you will see why we rule! Also,
listen to Breaking the Silence!!!!!! Thank you for the
support and the interview!
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POSTED on July 2004
Interviewed by Miroslav Mike Lazic
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