Source: http://bloggerschizo.wordpress.com/2009/03/13/impaled/
Hails from Istanbul to California! Can we talk about the current status
of Impaled?
Ross: The current status of Impaled is in our pajamas answering an
interview and sipping some coffee. It doesn't get much more current than
that!
Jason: I am currently not wearing pajamas. Or clothes of any kind.
That's right, totally IN THE NUDE! Except for this fig leaf, which is
all I can afford in today's wintry economic climate.
How is the metal scene in your area these days?
Ross: It's good. We've got some good promoters who are working their
asses off to promote awesome local bands, like Hammers of Misfortune,
Saros, Havok, Thousands Will Die, Vötsek, and many more. We've also been
getting great traveling bands and tours through here lately, like
Corrupted / Asunder, Wolves in the Throne Room, Exhausted Prayer, and
many more. The metal scene is usually more interesting here, because
it's not just "metal heads" who enjoy it. There's lots of people who
cross boundaries into the metal genre, and lots of metal heads here are
willing to go see non-metal shows. I think this helps the health of the
scene, but it does seem to result in a lot more cross pollination i.e.
venereal disease.
When will we touch your next release? Do you make ready your concept?
Ross: The next Impaled release will be an epic EP, that we like to call
"stop gap measure." It'll include some unreleased material from the last
recording session, and is a cheap and easy way for us to say, "HEY!
We're still here! It takes us awhile to write a record, but seriously,
we're still here!"
Jason: In addition to that, we're writing and rehearsing new songs for
an upcoming LP, er, sometime in the future? Hard to say when everything
will be ready because we really did just start on it a month or so ago.
What can you say about your latest split album with Cephalic Carnage,
Exhumed and Retaliation?
Ross: Well, that was old material, but it was cool to see those old 7"
tracks re-released onto CD finally. I updated the artwork best I could,
and hopefully it's pleasing to the tigers who couldn't get that 7"
anymore since the old label folded.
Jason: I like how the green packaging is the opposite of the music,
meaning it's not "green" as in "new" given that it's old. Yep. Betcha no
one else thought of that before!
I know that Impaled is highly inspired by Carcass. How do you evaluating
that today's Carcass?
Ross: I haven't seen the Carcass of today, because I'm happy having seen
the Carcass of 17 years ago. From all accounts, they put on quite a good
show these days.
Jason: Yeah, a show so good that some people felt it was necessary to
see them instead of us when our tours crossed paths last fall.
CARCASS!!! *shakes fist begrudgingly in the air while screaming to the sky*
How is Willowtip Records/Candlelight treating to you? Are you open for a
longtime partnership?
Ross: Willowtip has been very supportive of us, constantly handing us
giant oversized bags with dollar signs on the outside of them. Granted,
the bags are not actually filled with money, but lots of good mutton.
The bags are greasy, but the mutton is fantastic. We will be working
with Willowtip in the future, unless Sony Records comes through with
that $2 million advance.
Jason: Sorry guys, I just ate all the mutton. *burp* Better call
Willowtip to get some more in here pronto or I'm bound to withdraw!
Are you guys able to make a living at music, or do you have day jobs
when you’re not on tour?
Ross: This is all I do. Impaled is so fucking successful I actually have
to use dollar bills as wallpaper, or else my house would be too full of
cash to actually live in.
Jason: Because Ross somehow steals all of my portion for his wallpaper
and lavish lifestyle, I am forced to be a professional musician in my
day job. I produce MIDI files for Yamaha keyboards and have been working
on the video game "Rock Band Unplugged" for the PSP due out sometime
this year.
Who are some of your favorite American metal bands?
Ross: I really like Ludicra (shameless self promotion) and Wolves in the
Throne Room (kind of shameless self promotion). The American scene owes
a great debt of gratitude to Weakling, a San Francisco based black metal
band that no longer exists, but created a dreadfully epic record that
has influenced most American black metal bands. At least, the ones who
don't sing about Satan. I'm not down with Satan. He's a jerk.
Jason: I am one of those it's-always-better-in-Europe type of pricks who
doesn't really have any favorite American bands. Therefore, I will offer
up that Engorged from the U.S. and Ghoul all the way in Creepsylvania
are doing some killer stuff and are definitely among my favorites. It's
merely a coincidence that I happen to be friends with them, but I also
have no scruples about promoting friends' bands.
What kind of music do you listen to for pleasure these days?
Ross: I listen to a lot of death metal. I've been spinning a band we
played with awhile ago, Call the Paramedics. Great hardcore / death
crossover. Other than metal, I listen to a lot of soundtracks. I really
am into Phillip Glass and Clint Mansell at the moment.
Jason: Lots of tango, especially Astor Piazzolla and Anibal Troilo, the
gypsy jazz of Django Reinhardt, the whatever-they're-doing-at-the-moment
of Secret Chiefs 3, and quite a bit of Cambodian rock & roll recorded
before the Khmer Rouge wiped everything creative out.
What do you think about people downloading music?
Ross: I think our CD sales are in the dumper. But at least people can't
download tee shirts... yet!
Jason: I am not entirely against downloading because it's never going to
be the same quality and quantity as a CD or vinyl medium, but it sure
does affect record sales of underground bands such as ourselves. I find
it amusing how it's always the millionaires who are in the news speaking
out against it when it can't possibly be affecting their ability to live
beyond the means of the average person. I put my own compositions on my
website jasonkocol.com for free download so I obviously feel a bit
differently about the whole thing.
What are your upcoming tour plans? Do you want play in Turkey?
Ross: I'd love to play in Turkey someday, but really it's up to a
promoter to book a tour through there. Realistically, it's impossible
for us to figure these things out on our own, as we're usually high
snorting ether.
Jason: Yeah, do you know any Turkish promoters? Any suggestions would be
welcome. If you get us there, we'll reward you by staying at your house
and eating all of your food. Sounds great, huh?
Thank you so much Jason! Anything else you’d like to add? All the best
to all of you.
Ross: Hey wait a second...
Jason: That's right, he picked me! I only wish to add, for Pete's sake,
stay fuck!
Hails from Istanbul to California! Can we talk about the current status
of Impaled?
Ross: The current status of Impaled is in our pajamas answering an
interview and sipping some coffee. It doesn't get much more current than
that!
Jason: I am currently not wearing pajamas. Or clothes of any kind.
That's right, totally IN THE NUDE! Except for this fig leaf, which is
all I can afford in today's wintry economic climate.
How is the metal scene in your area these days?
Ross: It's good. We've got some good promoters who are working their
asses off to promote awesome local bands, like Hammers of Misfortune,
Saros, Havok, Thousands Will Die, Vötsek, and many more. We've also been
getting great traveling bands and tours through here lately, like
Corrupted / Asunder, Wolves in the Throne Room, Exhausted Prayer, and
many more. The metal scene is usually more interesting here, because
it's not just "metal heads" who enjoy it. There's lots of people who
cross boundaries into the metal genre, and lots of metal heads here are
willing to go see non-metal shows. I think this helps the health of the
scene, but it does seem to result in a lot more cross pollination i.e.
venereal disease.
When will we touch your next release? Do you make ready your concept?
Ross: The next Impaled release will be an epic EP, that we like to call
"stop gap measure." It'll include some unreleased material from the last
recording session, and is a cheap and easy way for us to say, "HEY!
We're still here! It takes us awhile to write a record, but seriously,
we're still here!"
Jason: In addition to that, we're writing and rehearsing new songs for
an upcoming LP, er, sometime in the future? Hard to say when everything
will be ready because we really did just start on it a month or so ago.
What can you say about your latest split album with Cephalic Carnage,
Exhumed and Retaliation?
Ross: Well, that was old material, but it was cool to see those old 7"
tracks re-released onto CD finally. I updated the artwork best I could,
and hopefully it's pleasing to the tigers who couldn't get that 7"
anymore since the old label folded.
Jason: I like how the green packaging is the opposite of the music,
meaning it's not "green" as in "new" given that it's old. Yep. Betcha no
one else thought of that before!
I know that Impaled is highly inspired by Carcass. How do you evaluating
that today's Carcass?
Ross: I haven't seen the Carcass of today, because I'm happy having seen
the Carcass of 17 years ago. From all accounts, they put on quite a good
show these days.
Jason: Yeah, a show so good that some people felt it was necessary to
see them instead of us when our tours crossed paths last fall.
CARCASS!!! *shakes fist begrudgingly in the air while screaming to the sky*
How is Willowtip Records/Candlelight treating to you? Are you open for a
longtime partnership?
Ross: Willowtip has been very supportive of us, constantly handing us
giant oversized bags with dollar signs on the outside of them. Granted,
the bags are not actually filled with money, but lots of good mutton.
The bags are greasy, but the mutton is fantastic. We will be working
with Willowtip in the future, unless Sony Records comes through with
that $2 million advance.
Jason: Sorry guys, I just ate all the mutton. *burp* Better call
Willowtip to get some more in here pronto or I'm bound to withdraw!
Are you guys able to make a living at music, or do you have day jobs
when you’re not on tour?
Ross: This is all I do. Impaled is so fucking successful I actually have
to use dollar bills as wallpaper, or else my house would be too full of
cash to actually live in.
Jason: Because Ross somehow steals all of my portion for his wallpaper
and lavish lifestyle, I am forced to be a professional musician in my
day job. I produce MIDI files for Yamaha keyboards and have been working
on the video game "Rock Band Unplugged" for the PSP due out sometime
this year.
Who are some of your favorite American metal bands?
Ross: I really like Ludicra (shameless self promotion) and Wolves in the
Throne Room (kind of shameless self promotion). The American scene owes
a great debt of gratitude to Weakling, a San Francisco based black metal
band that no longer exists, but created a dreadfully epic record that
has influenced most American black metal bands. At least, the ones who
don't sing about Satan. I'm not down with Satan. He's a jerk.
Jason: I am one of those it's-always-better-in-Europe type of pricks who
doesn't really have any favorite American bands. Therefore, I will offer
up that Engorged from the U.S. and Ghoul all the way in Creepsylvania
are doing some killer stuff and are definitely among my favorites. It's
merely a coincidence that I happen to be friends with them, but I also
have no scruples about promoting friends' bands.
What kind of music do you listen to for pleasure these days?
Ross: I listen to a lot of death metal. I've been spinning a band we
played with awhile ago, Call the Paramedics. Great hardcore / death
crossover. Other than metal, I listen to a lot of soundtracks. I really
am into Phillip Glass and Clint Mansell at the moment.
Jason: Lots of tango, especially Astor Piazzolla and Anibal Troilo, the
gypsy jazz of Django Reinhardt, the whatever-they're-doing-at-the-moment
of Secret Chiefs 3, and quite a bit of Cambodian rock & roll recorded
before the Khmer Rouge wiped everything creative out.
What do you think about people downloading music?
Ross: I think our CD sales are in the dumper. But at least people can't
download tee shirts... yet!
Jason: I am not entirely against downloading because it's never going to
be the same quality and quantity as a CD or vinyl medium, but it sure
does affect record sales of underground bands such as ourselves. I find
it amusing how it's always the millionaires who are in the news speaking
out against it when it can't possibly be affecting their ability to live
beyond the means of the average person. I put my own compositions on my
website jasonkocol.com for free download so I obviously feel a bit
differently about the whole thing.
What are your upcoming tour plans? Do you want play in Turkey?
Ross: I'd love to play in Turkey someday, but really it's up to a
promoter to book a tour through there. Realistically, it's impossible
for us to figure these things out on our own, as we're usually high
snorting ether.
Jason: Yeah, do you know any Turkish promoters? Any suggestions would be
welcome. If you get us there, we'll reward you by staying at your house
and eating all of your food. Sounds great, huh?
Thank you so much Jason! Anything else you’d like to add? All the best
to all of you.
Ross: Hey wait a second...
Jason: That's right, he picked me! I only wish to add, for Pete's sake,
stay fuck!
