For the two UltimateMetal posters who don’t know: tell us who you are, what band you’re in, and what you do in that band.
You mean there are two UMers who STILL don't know who I am? Hell...my name is Will Bozarth (yes, it’s not just some sexy name I go by...what’s more metal than “Bozarth”?) I’m in the band Distorted Mind. We currently play a unique brand of death metal that blends elements of doom, thrash, power...whatever we feel like doing at the moment. I play guitar and vocals for the time being.
Distorted Mind hails from New Jersey, correct? Do you get tired of the rest of the country ribbing NJ?
What could be more fun than tollbooth jokes? I don’t mind that the country is bashing us for our extreme amount of highways, pollution, people, tollbooths, anger, and weird accents. BUT! I will set the rumor straight. Only northern Jersey has weird accents. It’s a blend of New York and...SOMETHING. What really DOES suck about New Jersey is the lack of places a band can play. What rules about NJ is that there are so many amazing bands from here that nobody knows about.
Even though you guys are currently unsigned, the EP looks spectacular. The sound is great, the artwork is excellent, and a few big distributors carry it. In other words, Thin Air & Empty Shadows is quite the professional release. Many new bands aren’t able to tackle something like this and come out on top. How did you do it?
I knew deep down that, for our first release, I wanted it to be something special. It may sound professional, but everything was recorded in some jackass’s basement (he ditched us after 5 months of doing NOTHING for us). Got it mixed/mastered by an awesome guy named Jayson from up in Paramus (if you’re not from NJ, don’t even try to find it on a map. we have too many towns). We were stumped when it came to the artwork. Didn’t know what to do...then Martin from SPINA found us! Him and Victor do awesome work. We will definitely be getting all of our future stuff done by them. Got it manufactured at Pacific Music. They’re somewhere in western Canada. Great prices, but a little hard to communicate with. All in all, it was a great experience...
If you were to wake up one day, and one of your five senses were gone, which would you have it be? Remember, the five senses are as follows: sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste.
I can do without smell...but aren’t smell and taste linked somehow? Hold your nose, and you can’t taste anything. If they weren’t linked in some odd way, I’d get rid of smell. I need to see what my hands are doing and where I’m walking. I need to hear music. I need to touch mysel...my guitar. I need to taste Pepsi and steak.
Since the EP was unleashed Distorted Mind has undergone some line-up changes. Fill us in, if you would, on who’s currently in the band.
Let’s see...currently, we have myself on guitars/vocals, Ian McCann on the drums, and Dylan Jackson on bass. And no, he does not play Jacksons. We did have a 2nd guitarist for about three days, but he just didn’t learn the material. We slowly let him go.
What forums do you visit most often (UltimateMetal or otherwise)?
You can always find me on the Nevermore board. I hop on the Oak Knoll board, as well. They’re the label that is currently distributing us. I also frequent the Biomechanical and Winds forums...oh yeah, and the DISTORTED MIND FORUM! We have a forum on there...how cool is that? Not on UM: Steve Smyth, Necrophagist, Green Carnation.
Are bullet trains gentle to the environment?*
I don’t know. I’ve never ridden a bullet.
How important is packaging (artwork, layout, etc.) in a day in which almost everything is downloadable? Has the artwork alone ever influenced you to buy an album? Describe some instances when it paid off and when it didn’t…
Well, these days, packaging means nothing to most people. Guaranteed that most of the people on UM don’t even know what the artwork for half of the bands on their WinAmp playlist looks like. I can’t really say that artwork has influenced me...although, you can always tell a death metal band or black metal band. If you can’t read the logo, chances are it’s good!
Have you ever been involved with the pornographic movie industry? If not, would you like to be?
Nope, but when I was in the process of growing out my hair and facial hair, people said that I totally had a ‘70s porn star look going. I like to watch pornographic movies. Be in one...nah.
So what’s the next step for Distorted Mind? You’ve got a solid EP to your name, and are spreading the word it seems. Full-length on a label, perhaps?
I’d love to release a full-length on a label. I don’t know the chances of that happening, but it’s always good to hope. We are currently wrapping up material for our next release (which will be a full-length). We’re going to record some demos and send it off to some labels to see if they’d be interested in backing the project. If not, looks like we’ll be funding it ourselves and finding someone to help distribute it.
Don’t you think it’s funny that Canada doesn’t really ever do anything except breed astounding musicians?
That’s so true, man. They also breed astounding concerts. I attended the Day of the Equinox fest with Green Carnation, Agalloch, Novembers Doom, Woods of Ypres, and Deceased. AMAZING show. It was definitely worth the trip to Toronto.
Are there words to the piano song “Chopsticks”? I have a $50 bet riding on this one.*
No clue, but if there were, it would probably involve eating cats....meow.
On the UltimateMetal forums, you used to be known as dead6skin6mask6. Why the change to Will Bozarth?
Well, the name kinda got old. Slayer isn’t my favorite band anymore, and the 666 thing is a little overdone (a little? hahaha). Plus, what’s better than your real name? Well, if your real name sucks, you can always use someone else’s name...but if your name is cool, why not use that? “Bozarth” just says “rawr.” I guess another factor is that I’m promoting the band and the EP like crazy. In case someone wants to get in touch with me, I’d be easy to find.
All right. Europe (the whole continent) has unanimously agreed to foot the bill for bringing Distorted Mind to a one-day, European music festival in order to spur tourism. The airfare, lodging, food, among other things are provided by the Europeans. There are five band slots. Who are the openers? Who is the headliner? Where does Distorted Mind fit into the bill?
I’d say that we would open. The other four would have to be bands that have influenced us...yet very hard for us to see because we’re from the Tollbooth Capital. So in order of appearance:
Distorted Mind
Anathema
Morbid Angel
Dark Angel
My Dying Bride
How do we fit in? We kind of blend aspects from each of those bands into our music. Plus, it would be killer to see each of them live!
What’s your favorite verse from Numbers? By the way, Numbers is in the Bible.
“Thy own prophecies shalt not overcome those of thy neighbor. Forever seek in the divine truth of thyself. Never break from thy own mind and never accept one’s beliefs other than thine own.”
Works for me.
Has anything been left unsaid or uncovered? Take a moment to reflect on your life, and write your thoughts below. Don’t plug your band.
My life...well, I’m satisfied with the music I am currently writing and I am looking forward to expanding my musical education. Currently in a relationship that is quite awesome! Been with the same girl for over two years, and things are going great.
Okay, plug your band now.
Oak Knoll is currently distributing our EP worldwide and doing an excellent job. It can currently be found at The End, Oak Knoll (of course), Redstream, and Dark Symphonies. Check us out on the web (like you are right now) at DistortedMindMetal.com and MySpace/DistortedMind. We also have a show coming up on January 7 at The Saint in Asbury Park, NJ. That’s a Saturday. Try and make it!
* denotes questions borrowed from elsewhere. The other Unsigned Spotlights have borrowed questions as well.
UltimateMetal's Review of Distorted Mind - Thin Air & Empty Shadows
Official Distorted Mind Forum
Official Distorted Mind Website
