Exclusive "ME"TAL 101 Interview w/Agoraphobic Nosebleed

When I finally put some time aside to listen to Agoraphobic Nosebleed's latest EP, Arc,  I sat dumbfounded for several minutes after the last track had been played. This EP gets under your skin and it stays with you. The lyrics are visceral and the theme of the album really punches you in the gut. Katherine Katz's voice demonstrates the horror and despair of losing someone due to a terminal illness. The sound is a departure from the grindcore elements of ANB. Their take on the very doom laden, stoner-sludge sound is serious and not for the faint of heart. This isn't your dad's "let's get stoned in the attic listening to b-sides of Blue Cheer" riff party. This sweats anger, loss and sadness through every pore. It is why I was compelled to check in with the band and ask a few questions about the perception of the band, their change in direction and thoughts on the current state of society being offended by everything. Thanks to the band for your music and time.

HMT: I've been along for the ride as a fan with ANB since the first time I saw you perform at the New England Metal and Hardcore fest in 2003. You ever get tired of fans and media questioning your decisions about not playing every fest or venue?

ANB--"No, not at all. It’s great that they’ve been interested. A lot better than if they didn’t care! But it’s awesome that you saw that performance. That was a rare one."

 HMT: Arc, is an amazing release and unlike any of the stoner/doom albums that seem to pop up daily. It feels really serious, dark and personal. Was this originally conceived as a solo album and does this signal a stylistic change in the future of the bands sound? Or is it a one off dictated by specific events (relationship between Katz and her mother) that needed to be written and recorded as a personal therapy?

ANB--"This record is one of a series of solo EPs that the band is doing. The style of each one will be a one-off."

 

GG ALLIN, SETH PUTNAM(AC), PHIL ANSELMO(PANTERA)

HMT: With all this business about Phil Anselmo recently, I immediately started thinking about the crazy antics of guys like GG Allin and Seth Putnam of AC. With everyone taking a side about controversies over what a celebrity should be able to say or do. Do you feel that people are looking for reasons to be offended because there is a lack of legitimate people with offending ideas?

ANB--"I think that some people are on hair-trigger alert about being offended, yes, but I’m not talking about this Phil Anselmo business when I say that. I don’t blame anybody for being offended about that, and I also don’t put it in the same category as GG or A.C. Celebrities should be free to speak their minds on important issues, because the press is more likely to take notice and report on it as opposed to the “man on the street.” Hopefully constructive conversations and national dialogues happen as a result."

HMT: Lastly, I want to thank you for your time and years of music. Where do you see Agoraphobic Nosebleed in another twenty years?

ANB--"I don’t know if we’ll be playing together or not in 20 years. I still want to be playing music at that time, but we in the band of course don’t plan that far ahead! We know what we’re going to be doing in another year or two, but that’s about it."

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To Check out Arc for yourself visit
Agoraphobic Nosebleed's Bandcamp - Click Here
Agoraphobic Nosebleed is
Scott Hull – guitar, drum programming
Jay Randall – vocals, electronics
Richard Johnson  – vocals, formerly bass guitar
Katherine Katz  – vocals
John Jarvis  – bass guitar