 |
BORN/DEAD:
An
Ideological Autopsy.
|
I
am becoming an anally retentive dude. I really want to turn Deaf
Sparrow into a place where bands can speak openly and eloquently
about their art. I am getting sick of musicians offering no
substantial answers to simple questions. Mysterious people are
overrated. People that speak their minds will never be. So Born/Dead’s
last album is excellent skull-bashing, cell-splitting,
ass-kicking, revolt-causing stuff. Got in touch with the band
and got the skinny and the fatty about the band and each song on
their new album The Final Collapse. Guess what?
Guitarist/vocalist Will has something to say. Read on and spread
the word….!
BORN/DEAD "The Final Collapse" An ideological autopsy –
It has been 8 years since Born/Dead initially started rehearsing
and playing gigs. Through that period of time the band has
evolved and devolved and re-emerged with a new outlook and,
hopefully, loftier goals and musical aspirations. The Final
Collapse was conceptualized partly as a retort to Jared
Diamond's book Collapse. In his writings J.D. articulates the
fundamental processes that a society undergoes before it
inevitably collapses. In every case he finds that human impact
on the environment and the availability of resources to sustain
independence are ultimately the cause of a collapse. He also
acknowledges that in almost every way our current society is in
the process of possibly the largest collapse in the history of
mankind and this could signal the end of life. In a simple way
we basically wanted to convey the theme of a total societal
collapse in a more direct and personal way. Other ideas that
went into making this record where the concepts of direct action
against the elite class and governmental forces, as well as some
more introspective themes. Here is a brief analysis of each
song:
1.
“Barricades”- This is essentially about the fact that society has
become so separated from humanity that people can't deal with
others and lock themselves in their houses in fear of each other
as a result. This leads to the destruction of community that has
in essence alienated us from nature.
2. “Years of Death” - A brief song about the aftermath of
collapse and the ignorance of man in seeing the signs of
devastation and yet blindly trudging forward.
3. “Nuance”- This song is about the large difference in an
aggressive and defensive military policy and the fact that the
public seems to view these divergent policies with little or no
regard for the implications it has for us as the world's
dominant power. These policies are the cause of our overwhelming
debt and ultimate demise.
4. “Final Collapse”- The title track explains in a more personal
way our feelings about how people believe the ridiculous lies
that are presented to them and, in doing so, cultivate an
inability to solve any of the problems presented by a global
economy and the fall of capitalism.
5. “Bomb Factory” - Named after an RAF safe house, this song is
about growing up in the Dark Ages of civilization with the
terror of war hanging on a madman's whim. It is this constant
state of fear that numbs you to the reality that society could
be different. It describes the endless wait of those opposed to
tyranny to rise up and burn the elite's source of power to the
ground. It is about armed resistance and the use of deadly force
to bring about revolutionary change. It's about a society ruled
by pigs.
6. “Anamnesis”- This song probably would more aptly be named The
Final Collapse because it seems in some ways to describe in
greater detail the factors that lead to the end. It is also
about the point of looking at one's surroundings and truly
realizing that you cannot change the events that are unfolding
before your eyes. It is about giving up hope for humanity which
is a feeling I think most anarchists and punks have had at one
time or another.
7. “Sirens” - A cover song, but the lyrics fit right in with the
theme of the record which is as much about repression of
opposing forces of capitalism as the collapse of society. To
avoid total annihilation we must build a new society built on
conscience and sustainability rather than on war, greed, and
degradation.
8. “Eulogy”- This song is about depression and despair of life –
the pressures that weigh you down and the feeling that the world
that surrounds you is not the one you belong in. It is about
relationships and deceit, but most of all it is about screaming
about it all and letting it be heard.
Books That
Inspired The Final Collapse
During the Course of writing this album we read a lot of books,
articles, and pamphlets about globalization, natural resources,
social struggles, and political agendas. Here is a list of a few
of those books:
Collapse-Jared Diamond
Televisionaries:The Red Army Faction Story- Tom
Vaugue
Savage Girls and Wild Boys: A History of Feral Children-Michael
Newton
The Prize:The Epic Quest for Oil, Money, and Power-Daniel
Yergin
Underworld:Mysterious Origins of Civilization-Graham
Hancock
Hard Times-Studs Terkel
The Swarm-Frank Schatzing
Guns, Germs, and Steal-Jared Diamond
Clandestines-The Pirates Journal of an Irish Exile-Ryan
Ramor
Chomsky on Anarchism- Noam Chomsky
Bash the Rich-Ian Bone
About the
Recording of The Final Collapse
The Final Collapse was recorded by our friend Greg
Wilkinson who runs a studio in Oakland called Ear Hammer. He has
recorded us in the past with varying degrees of success, and we
always enjoy working with him. The fact that we had more time to
prepare for this record than previous efforts led us to start
thinking more about the production and sound. We all agreed that
on the last few records we had maybe gone overboard with the
heavy sound and lost the definition of singing and drums, so we
decided to go with a more UK sound for this record with drums
and vocals at the forefront of the mix. This was also our first
time recording onto 2" reel to reel which we all agree gets a
way warmer sound than either 1" or digital.
The actual
recording barely took anytime at all due to the fact that Josh
was moving and didn't have any extra time to mess around in the
studio. We pretty much cut every song in one take and although
we think the speeds could be a bit more varied, the sense of
urgency is there. We have so many influences it would be
impossible to name which ones actually carried over into the
songs. We are all avid record collectors. When asked to name
names here is a list of records we think sound great and should
be replicated in form of quality of sound. We don't believe
bands should try to replicate both sound and style; we are not a
retro band and punk is not a retro movement.
G.B.H - Leathers, Bristles, Studs, and Acne LP
No Hope for the Kids - s/t LP
Discharge -Never Again 12"
Moskwa - Nidgy LP
The Boys - Sick on You EP
Sisters of Mercy - First, Last, and Always LP
Upright Citizen - Make the Future Mine and Yours LP
New Model Army - No Rest for the Wicked LP
Wire - Pink Flag LP
MySpace
|
