Interview with Justin from Razor Sharp Daggar...
Red Light Grind:
Hey Justin how have you been doing? You have just released your first ep recently for this project how do you feel
about that release?
Justin:
I'm doing well, busy writing a new tracks for RxSxD as well as working on
the first full-length. I'm happy enough with the first EP 'Human Test
Subjects' but there's always room for improvement and changes. With the
second EP 'To Protect & Serve' some of those changes are evident, like a lot
less use of pitch-shifting on the vocals, a few "longer" tracks and a bit
more emphasis on the crust punk aspect (still keeping the grindcore of
course).
RLG:
Ah, i wasnt aware you had an ep before 'To protect and serve' . I really like both EPs.
The protect and serve ep has some memorable riffs that really made me want to bang my head.
Are there any main bands out there that you get influence from. What made you go for this specific 'crust punk' style?
Justin:
I hope the upcoming full-length release will have loads of memorable riffs
(I'm a fan of riffs and not a fan of bad solos, so I try to put a few cool
riffs in the tracks rather than bad solos). My main influences come from
(like most bands in the genre) Discharge, Doom, Agathocles, Extreme Noise
Terror, the awesome Brazilian grindcore band ROT, Crass and G.G. Allin.
I'm a big fan of crust and early punk so it seemed like a natural choice.
The original idea was to play straight up grindcore but the crust style
naturally found it's way in, so I continue to embrace it in the writing.
RLG:
You released this EP through the netlabel Torn Flesh Records, how has the promotion from them been?
Do you think RxSxD is being heard as much as it should? Have you worked with any other labels?
Justin:
Torn Flesh Records do a great job! I can't say enough good things about the
work they do. I've worked with TFR on various projects and it's always been
a pleasure. Torn Flesh Records has a big fan base of open minded music fans
who seem to be into all kinds of crazy underground noise haha. I'm
completely surprised by the amount of downloads/listens RxSxD has gotten, I
doubted there would be anyone interested in listening to my music...nice to
see I'm not the only one with a bad music taste haha.
I used my own small label to release a limited amount of Pro CD-Rs of the
'Human Test Subjects' EP but I haven't worked with any other labels in
regards to RxSxD. I will be looking for a label to release the full-length
as a proper CD and I'll continue to release free EPs through Torn Flesh
Records.
RLG:
You have your own label? Would you care to elaborate on it, do you have any other releases besides your own?
Justin:
My label, 'Dis-Organ-Ized Records' is a small Netlabel with around 12 free
download albums from various Death, Gore Grind, Porn Grind & Grindcore bands
and a few compilations which I've co-released with Torn Flesh Records. To be
honest, the label is on the back burner as most of my free time is taken up
with music projects. For the time being I'll use Dis-Organ-Ized records to
release RxSxD pro CD-Rs and possibly split albums I take part in.
RLG:
You record all your music by yourself. How do you accomplish this? Is there anyone elses help involved.
How do you get your recording done?
Justin:
I'd say it's all thanks to digital recording that I can record all the music myself. I take the 'Do-it-yourself' and
'one-man' band thing to the extreme as I try and do everything (recording, producing, mixing, art layout) myself so there
is no-one else involved, I prefer to work alone.
Obviously I use a drum machine as I'm not interested in learning to play drums but I do spend a lot of time trying to get
a somewhat authentic drum sound, as for the instruments once again it's all down to the ease of digital recording.
I can record all the guitar parts clean and add distortion and effects while mixing thanks to Amp emulators so I don't
have to hassle with mic'ing my guitar amps and use a crappy 15 euro mic for vocals so they really turnout a mess haha.
At the moment I'm spending more time with the mixing and mastering phase to try get a better sound (even though that
isn't always necessary for this type of music haha). So hopefully the next lot of recordings will have a "better" sound
but still keep the dirty 'grind' aspect.
RLG:
How's the writing coming for the full length? Anywhere near done or have a release date in mind?
Justin:
Most of the tracks are recorded and ready to start mixing. It'll have 18 tracks, around 24-25 min running time
and hopefully people will like it. I don't have a release date yet but I hope it'll be ready before the end of this year.
I want to release a free download EP with with a few of the tracks first as a preview/promo for the full-length.
RLG:
Now I know you have another project called Gore Obsessed. Are there any other projects out there that you're apart of?
Justin:
'Gore Obsessed' and 'Razor Sharp Daggar' are my "main bands",
I like to think of these as bands (at least studio bands) and not just projects. Projects seem to be one off albums or
seldom release albums or only have a short life span.
Besides GxOx and RxSxD, I have a two other projects:
SURGICAL INFECTION - Pathological Goregrind (in the vein of old Carcass, Lymphatic Phlegm,
Regurgitate and Dead Infection). I've released a 3 track demo and a Split CD with fellow Path-Goregrinders 'Hydropneumothorax'. I'm working on a 2nd split with 'Leptospirosis'.
COFFIN ROT - which is a Black/Death project inspired by primitive, unpolished early Black like Bathory, Venom, 'Death Crush' era Mayhem and bands like NunSlaughter, Zemial and Hellhammer.
I have a 3-way split with 'Blasphemation' & 'Proctophobic' which is available as a free download from Torn Flesh Records. There won't be many Coffin Rot releases as this is just a fun project.
Besides those which are all 'One-Man' projects I'm working with Eric from 'Blasphemation' on an as yet unnamed dirty Grind project which is heavily influenced by G.G. Allin (more in spirit than actual music). I'll be doing the music and he'll take care of the vocals and lyrics.
RLG:
It's good to see you're into so many bands/projects. Well we have been
talking for some time now it may have been a little short but time to end
this baby! Good luck with your next full length . Keep up the hard work!
The last lines are all yours Justin fire away.
Justin:
Thanks for the interview Nate and thanks to fellow grinders for their
support!
Keep an eye out for the RxSxD full-length it'll grind your mind!
Support the underground and support Red Light Grind 'zine!
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Interview has not been changed except for a few grammatical corrections.
