Interviews

Tumor - Envy Online

AMEN is: Casey Chaos: Vocals, S. Mayo: Guitar, Paul Fig: Guitar, Tumor, John: Bass & Larkin - Drums

As far as punk rock goes, AMEN might just be today's closest thing. Their music might not be glossy, technically polished or complex, but it is an authentic expression of a lifestyle, with poetry and motion inspired by a forward looking present rather than a rapidly fading past.

Amen's music is exciting, and the bands intense commitment to their music is a refreshing change from hearing bands that so often, have it all picture perfect, and have forgotten the fundamental quality needed to make anything creative transcend the ordinary.

The ones who have lost "The element of risk." Amen's live shows have incited riots. On stage, they exist in a harsh domain fueled by rage; it takes over his body as if he's in a trance. Amen's sonic violence has garnered devoted fans worldwide. Where hardcore, metal, and punk have taken on a commercial tone and sold their souls over the past few years, Amen is an exorcism in the form of a car crash. Amen's sophomore effort We Have Come For Your Parents, released on Ross Robinson¹s I AM Recordings through Virgin Records, is an important album because it dares to take an uncensored ax to society. It's a verbal and musical attack on the American Dream. Art in its truest form is meant to remind people of who they are, and offer a mirror into the realms of their souls that they are afraid to look at. Amen ingests their disease because they wants to be free of it, the same disease that exists in all people. Art is the vaccine, not only for the creator, but for the audience as well. In a world where most people are afraid to look in the mirror ­ Amen tears off the mask.

Believe it..or not, Envy caught up with Tumor as he was gearing up for a show at Las Vegas's rock club, the Sanctuary.

Envy: How did you guys come up with the name "We have come for your parents" for the new record?

Tumor: It is a take off of the Dead Boys album "We have come for your children". We feel that most of the problems with the kids today starts with the parents. Kids aren't shooting up schools because Marilyn Manson says so.

Envy: Where did the name AMEN come from?

Tumor: We wanted a name that was the complete opposite of the band, but is universal. We are not a Christian rock band, and AMEN is a four-letter word. Which is good.

Envy: How has this part of your tour been going?

Tumor: It has been half decent. The attendance isn't great, but it is ok. We are out on the road with Nothingface now, and for two new bands, it has been decent. 

Envy: What kind of music have you been influenced by?

Tumor: Iggy & the Stooges, the truest form of punk rock. I grew up listening to KISS, the Ramones, Minor Threat, the Dead Kennedys and all the British Metal bands. I grew up on the East Coast in DC so I was into that scene.

Envy: How do you classify bands like Green Day, Blink 182 & Lit.

Tumor: Not to take away from their style, but it's pop. Punk isn¹t happy.

Envy: What are you listening to now?

Tumor: I am not listening to much heavy music at all. I listen to Massive Attack; I have a Jazz station programmed in my car, and a lot of the 1970 classic rock.

Envy: You guys played on the Tattoo the Earth summer festival this year, was it what you expected?

Tumor: It was good and bad. It was hot & sparsely populated. We played in some arenas that held 20,000 kids, but there were only 6,000 there. It didn't seem like they were promoted well in some cities. There were too many bands, you only got to play 15-20 minute sets, sometimes there would be 2 bands playing at the same time on the outer stages, which made it very confusing for the kids. But, we had lot of friends on that tour, so that was cool.

Envy: Who are some of the friends?

Tumor: HED (pe), Slayer, Slipknot & Hatebreed are some of them. We wound up hanging out with Hatebreed the most, they are our newest friends.

Envy: How do the kids react to your shows?

Tumor: In England the kids know what it is about, but here the kids are in shock, they all have a confused look on their face.

Envy: You guys were on Roadrunner Records for your 1st release, why the switch to Virgin?

Tumor: We were with Roadrunner for just about a year. Then the 2nd week into the album they yanked our tour support. So we got our lawyer to get us out of our contract, and 6 months later we were signed to Virgin.

Envy: Are you happy with being on Virgin so far?

Tumor: Yeah, we are very happy. They gave us total freedom to record this album. We even started recording it before the deal was official. They didn¹t even listen to the record until it was finished. They also put on us their "Special Projects" list.

Envy: Who is on that list?

Tumor: A Perfect Circle, (Smashing) Pumpkins, Lenny Kravitz.

Envy: When does the CD hit the stores?

Tumor: October 31st, Halloween!