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FUNEROT:
This Washington State Quartet Just
Released
One of the Best Records
of the Year.
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Of
all the records I’ve heard so far this year, And Then You
Fucking Die, Man…by Funerot has offered the most satisfying
listening experience. Here is a band giving us fresh sounds,
concocting timeless original heavy music out of classic
elements. With several recordings in their back and a sound that
has evolved into what is surely one of the best records of the
year, I decided to contact the band to learn all I can about
them. On the other end is drummer Reuben W Storey. Don't be a
pussy; read on and
spread the word...
 - First of all, congratulations with the new record. I was
surprised by the quality and the sound you have achieved. Great
taste, I must say. Let’s start with a bit of history, because
this new recording was my introduction to your band but I was
surprised to realize that Funerot has been together since 2003.
I went back to some of your early recordings and the sound used
to be more brutal. How do you feel that the band has moved
stylistically/musically since the inception?
This band
started as a group of chuckle-headed miscreants in high school
that justified their drug use with a creative outlet. A fart
joke within a song on a record is more of an affirmation than
getting docked points on a test for the same joke being scrawled
in the margin. We learned how to play our instruments together
and grew into, for lack of a better term, adults together. The
progression is as simple as that, the transition from pubescence
to full-blown loserdom.
- So taking into account, let’s call it this process of
maturation, would you say that the motive of having the band is
different now? Is there a goal now, whereas before it might have
been just ‘having fun’?
I wouldn't say
there's a goal although we probably are more invested. Simply
on financial terms we are at the very least. The motivation
probably has changed but I don't know if it's changed in
gravity. Still simple light terms only now coupled with
longevity.
- It seems like most of your releases have come out through
different labels. Are you looking for a more permanent label
where you can release more than one record or do you like it
this way? Is it less trouble?
Yes, this is
true. Maybe we are hard to deal with, I don't know. We act
inspired by lofty and flighty ideas that rarely achieve
fruition. I admit I am usually the source of these ideas,
convincing my bandmates of my sincerity, but then questioning
their disappointment when I abandon the idea without regard when
all that is left is physical execution. Working with different
labels is troublesome but what can you do when you want records
out but have trouble committing?
- You talk
about lofty and flighty ideals. Are we talking about idealism or
are you talking about goals that may not be achieved? Would you
please care to elaborate?
Not idealism,
I'm referring to projects the band has undertaken that have been
dropped to the wayside. Don't really want to give specific
examples, I'm embarrassed enough admitting this much as is.
Fair?
- Going back to the subject of record labels. At this point in Funerot’s career, what do you expect from a label? What’s their
end of the bargain besides simply putting out the recording?
To tell you the
truth, I don't really know. Sell the records? I'm happy if the
label has sold out within 6 months. Since we haven't been able
to get it together enough to tour properly for any of our
records (our end of the deal) I can feel OK about it if the
label simply has no more stock after a fairly short amount of
time. Then, on to the next!
- I really like the recording of the new album. It is pretty
organic and somewhat minimal. Was this what you had in mind?
We like bands
that sound like records and records that sound like bands.
That's where our intention ceases. Sure, there was conscious
thought put toward turning the gain down on the amplifiers or
applying the concept that ‘less is more’ but those kind of
decisions were reached far before the songs were put to tape.
We wanted to make a record that sounded like we did at that time
as a band and in that I feel confident.
- That’s an interesting answer. Besides Thin Lizzy’s Live and
Dangerous (an album that’s rumoured to be about 75% recorded
in the studio) I don’t listen to live records mainly because I
think that the idea of an artist (musician) is only fully
realized in the studio and yeah live shows are great but the
music is rarely reproduced perfectly in that setting. Plus,there
are good nights and bad nights. As an artist what would you
recommend to the person that wants to listen to Funerot, would
you say 'go to a Funerot show or whould you ask them to get the
record?
I should
clarify, I'm not saying we wanted this to sound like a live
record. There are fundamental differences between seeing a band
live and listening to a record, and I have no interest in
bridging that gap. With a live show you have performance, right
in front of you. Here are real people playing music for me.
It's kind of a wild notion. It's really about an experience.
On the other side, a record has a more subtle approach, there
are layers to peel away. Get really deep inside. It's focus is
only an aural experience, one that can be repeated over and over
again so
aurally a
record is weighted. Both record and live are pretty vastly
different experiences, and I don't know if I could blindly
recommend either. I guess live there is a more overt sense of
humor
so maybe it's
more accessible?
- Tell us a little bit about the recording of And Then You
Fucking Die, Man. Where and how long? Who produced it? How
close is it to the ideal sound you had before the recording?
The LP was
recorded and mixed at High Command in Olympia, WA by Captain
Trips Ballsington in 3 days in May 2009. He has a basement
studio with a 4 track 1/2" reel-to-reel setup. There are some
cool rugs, a lava lamp, and a bunch of weird electronics with
cool blinking lights. I have no grasp on the technical aspects
of the recording but I think it sounds dope.
- There are some great influences at work in the music of Funerot.
I’ve had the chance of listening to some of your previous
recordings, and And Then You Fucking Die, Man sounds pretty
distant from your first recordings. When you were writing the
album, what was the mindset? Was there a plan to arrive to your
current sound?
We project what
we experience in life and human encounters. Funerot started as
a way to create interaction with the records we listened to but
since we were so young it usually resulted in plagiarism or
worse. I feel this record was written without intention, using
sources including the pantheon of rock music, but not limited to
solely that, as influences.
- So we can say that there were no other bands or references in
mind when you wrote this record. But you still like what you
like. Do you think that what Funerot offers now is a totally
original sound?
No direct bands
or references, but I think you misunderstood what I was saying.
I'm not sure if there are any truly original sounds but I can
say that I haven't heard a record that sounds like And Then
You Fucking Die, Man. I don't think it'll change anyone's
life but I do think it's unique in 2010.
- Compared to Invasion From the Death Invasion, the new
album is more melodic and more musical. Perhaps less crossover.
Would you agree? In which ways would you say the new record
improves/differs from Invasion From the Death Invasion?
To be honest I
don't feel qualified to answer that question. I don't even know
what crossover is, a buzzword used to lazily describe any sort
of assumed combination of apparently radical forms of music?
Like Hardcore and Heavy Metal? The two don't seem that much
different to me in execution, mostly in looking the part. This
should be fielded by a rock writer or a businessman.
- Well, yeah, I mean I don’t like tags myself but they are
useful, especially for a reviewer. As a huge music fan and a
lover of And Then You Fucking Die, Man and after having
gone back to your catalogue I just noticed that this time around
there were this great guitar harmonies that weren’t so present
before. To me (and to me the music is as much of the listener as
it is of the band) there was and is hardcore, but with this
record there is something much more, melodic and almost NWOBHM-informed
for a lack of a better term. Would you agree? I so, how did this
get into the music? Or are you too close to the music to tell?
Our taste is
music has broadened, I mean, it's kind of hard to avoid in the
modern age. I think we have a greater appreciation for rock
music in general and sure that has informed the way we listen,
write, and play music. I don't think this is a strange or
atypical progression. Seems most fast bands when confronted
with age respond with rock.
- Lyrically Funerot has always had these sci fi / horror themes
themes running through. Has that changed at all with the current
album?
You tell me,
man. There's a lyric sheet included with the LP. We've always
written about death, the result or key arch in any horror or
more gruesome science fiction story. We're not genre nerds
though, in fact, let's just blast genre in the fucking face and
split the world's creative output into two sections; one filed
under ‘DOPE’ and another under ‘BUNK.’ Beyond that the only
distinction I see necessary is division of format.
- What do you think you did different with And Then You Fucking
Die, Man that you didn’t do in previous recordings?
This was the
first time we had someone else in the room while we recorded.
This was also the first record we did using analog equipment.
We've always had a very, ahem, economical approach to recording
and would utilize the best equipment and experience according to
proximity and funds or lack thereof.
- So did
Captain Trips Ballsington had any say in the songs themselves?
Did he offer any opinion as far as how the songs should
go/structure?
If we ran into
a wall and asked for his advice he was more than willing to
supply us with options and/or opinions. He really just let us
make our own decisions. That's why working with him is really
great, you know he has an opinion but he won't lay it on you
unless he's prompted. He doesn't try to control the situation,
he knows he's not making the record.
- I really like the title of the new album. It kind sums up a lot
of things, but it's phrased in a light manner. Is it a line from
the lyrics? How did you pick this for a title and why?
The title was
derived from the lyrics of one of the more atypical songs. We
had a riff and built a verse out of it by just wyling out and
making crazy sounds while retaining a steady pace. Max then
wrote lyrics that were performed as more of a lyrical rant as
opposed to a melody that informs the chorus. It was chosen to
represent the album when we realized all the songs we had
written thus far dealt with death and dying. Since our approach
to music usually employs some aspect of humor it made sense to
present the record with a goofy title.
- What records are you listening to now?
Playlist for
4/15/2010 as of 2:00 PM PST:
Old & In The
Way - S/T LP
Ratt - Out
Of The Cellar MC
Whitesnake -
S/T MC
Willie D -
Going Out Like A Soldier MC
Blue Oyster
Cult - Cultasaurus Erectus LP
- What records inspired you to get into music?
My older cousin
gave me two cassettes when I was 8 or 9 Metallica - $5.98 EP and
Weird Al
Yankovic - Polka Party. Those two have informed my taste ever
since and
I'll still jam
them although I rarely play the cassette copies as they are
totally blown out. What really got Funerot going and my general
interest in underground music was Engorged - Death Metal Attack
II. Brilliant and hilarious lyrics, wild sounds, frantic
energy, youthful imagery... it just clicked. File under ‘DOPE.’
- Now that the new album is out, what are the plans for Funerot?
Touring…etc.
We had a short
west coast tour planned for early March but due to incompetence
we canceled. We've been writing new songs and will probably
record an EP in the coming months for a cassette only release.
Besides a few NW shows that is all that has been seriously
discussed.
- Speaking about styles, Where do you see Funerot going?
Whatever moves
us I suppose. I don't think any of us are interested in
censoring ourselves and with the stakes being as low as they are
I don't think anyone would be bat an eye, assuming they noticed.
- Reuben, you have another band called Christian Mistress. You
actually put out a demo last year. What can you tell us about
them? Where can I get a copy of it?
The demo has
been OOP since August 2009. We have a 7" single available from
me, contact information below, with an LP to be released in June
through 20 Buck Spin. Christian Mistress is an American Heavy
Metal band. Here's an esoteric interpretation of the sound:
‘Christian Mistress worship a basement shrine, the foundation
built of concrete and iron. Licks of scorched air stab through
the mossy walls as the structure above rains splintered rotten
wood. The old house is crumbling and those underneath show
little concern.
- Last words…
Thanks Hansel for the interest. We have
shirts, 7"s, and LPs available for direct order. Write for more
information:
metalforbreakfast@hotmail.com
Official Site
Read the Deaf Sparrow review of
And Then You Fucking Die, Man…here.
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