1. Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?
Interview is with Greg Shaw, bass player, band manager.
We are about to do our first ever tour of Europe in support of ' Worship The Bled '. Truth Corroded will be supporting Krisiun , Malevolent Creation and Vital Remains on the Sounds of Extreme Tour from Jan 27 to Feb 19.
In April we released the album in Australia and toured across Australia, Japan and South East Asia. In September the album was released in Europe and officially in Japan.
On top of that we have recently also filmed a clip for the song ' Pride of Demise ' which will be available early next year. A live clip featuring footage from our April tour for the song ' Knives Of The Betrayed ' is currently online.
We are also starting the writing process for our next album.
2. How would you describe the musical sound of the new album and how it differs from previous releases?
It is a heavier and at times more extreme album. It is also more dynamic. Our sound is thrash, or extreme thrash, and I think this album has pushed the extremes to the point where some songs border on a death metal edge.
The album is also more dynamic in that Mark ( guitar ) and myself looked at what we had created with our last album ' Upon The Warlords Crawl ' and looked to expand the bands scope further, while maintaining our distinct sound.
3. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the new release explores?
The album ranges from the personal to the political with Worship The Bled. This is unlike our previous two albums which were almost all political.
Mark ( guitars ) and myself explored a range of subjects and topics on Worship The Bled. The album looks at fundamentalist religious beliefs ( Tear Out The Eyes Of Your God ) U.S political ideals behind the war on terror ( Pride Of Demise ) frail notions of personal power ( Hunt All Heroes ) through to songs such as Remnants and Scavengers, both of which were reactions to the Cormac McCarthy book ' The Road '.
4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the bands name?
Mark ( guitars ) came up with the name. It means that truth is subject to the designs of the powerful, or even the designs of the individual, to be shaped to what serves such interests. As such, it is corroded from its true form. The name is a declaration that to find the truth it requires seeing the true form, and find how it has been corroded, and why.
5. What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and how would you describe your stage performance?
Playing in Japan has always been incredible - likewise touring China. We have played two of our most intense shows ever in Guang Zhou, China - in 08 and 09.
Supporting Lamb Of God to a sold out venue in our home state of South Australia was huge. Supporting Behemoth in Beijing, China was also immense.
But for the founding members - three supports are very important, because they were with bands we grew up listening to - Sepultura, Death Angel and Forbidden.
When we perform we give it our all - and always look to make the best of any show - no matter how large or small. It is just great to be able to travel and play and for that we are very fortunate and grateful.
6. Do you have any touring plans for the future?
As stated above, we are about to tour Europe with Malevolent Creation, Krisiun and Vital Remains. We are then looking to return to Europe during the summer festival period - we are currently working on that.
If we can get back to Japan, and possibly China or South Korea late 2012, that will be killer also.
7. On a worldwide level how has your new album been recieved by extreme metal fans?
On a critical / media level the album has received really strong and positive reviews from Australia, the U.S and Europe. Our last album, Upon The Warlords Crawl likewise had really good reviews and it was the first time our music really reached out to foreign media - thanks to our publicist Alex, who has really helped develop our international profile. So it is really great to see that the new album has so far been received very well.
Extreme metal fans can identify with our music, particularly if they listen to bands that started out in the late 80's or early 90's U.S and European thrash and death metal movement - that is where our roots come from.
8. What direction do you see the music heading into on future releases?
I think we really expanded the dynamic further with Worship The Bled. While we aim to create an album that has the aggression of early Sepultura or Slayer, we also look to bring a level of heaviness and range that has been inspired by bands such as Neurosis or Cult Of Luna. To a point that has been achieved - I do not think we have gone as far as we want in expanding our boundaries with that element of our sound as yet, but the new album definitely has pushed a bit further to achieve that. So that will be one part of our sound that will develop on future releases.
But the other side to our future music is that the thrash sound is our identity - and that is the sound we will continue to develop - both in the context of the core influences that have shaped our sound, and as a continuing growth of Truth Corroded as a band. Both of these elements will continue to shape our future releases, and each album I believe will build on from the previous recording.
9. Are there any projects besides this band or is this a full time line-up?
This is a full time line up. Each new band member has been involved in previous bands that are no longer active, such as Closed Casket and A Red Dawn. Our new drummer Kieren also plays in an extreme death metal band, Five Finger Disintegrator.
Mark and myself have always had a side project called Wasted Gods that we talk about getting active. It is always a possibilty, as we both have a drive for grind in the vein of Nasum, Pig Destroyer, Napalm Death and Lock Up.
But Truth Corroded is a full time band for all of us, and demands alot of work.
10. What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
The main bands that have influenced our music are late 80's / early 90's thrash and death metal bands such as Sepultura, Slayer, Testament, Vio-lence, Dark Angel, Forbidden, Exhorder, Malevolent Creation, Obituary and Entombed. These bands form our roots - and the albums released between 1986 - 1993 had a major influence on our sound. Bands such as Testament, Kreator, Exodus, Forbidden and Death Angel continue to release incredible music - perhaps some of their best music - to this day, and that continues to inspire us.
Other bands that have been a major influence include first and foremost Neurosis - for the original band members of the band, Neurosis have been an immense inspiration since hearing Enemy Of The Sun. Other bands over the years include Gojira, Lamb Of God, Mastodon, Misery Index, Napalm Death, Behemoth, Decapitated, Machine Head ( selected albums ), Fear factory ( selected albums ), Cult Of Luna and Burnt By The Sun.
11. Outside of music what are some of your interests?
Each of us is different. Some of us have a common appreciation for movies, particularly Asian film - Korean, Japanese - and also particularly French film, movies that are challenging and confronting. Some band members are avid about English and European league soccer. I really appreciate food and wine of late - maybe too much haha, but also have an interest in martial arts. Politics is a constant interest, and an inspiration to Mark and myself lyrically and thematically. But one interest we all share in common - good beer !!! And one thing we all do far to well is drink good beer excessively after we play - so this tour in Europe will be fun but punishing haha.
12. Any final words or thought before we wrap up this interview?
If you are reading this interview - thank you, and please continue to support Hatred Means Warzine. If have not heard us - then please check us out and spread the word - visit www.truthcorroded.com or seek out our album Worship The Bled through Ultimhate Records in Europe and Japan. If you live in Europe, please get along and catch us on tour with Malevolent Creation and Krisiun Jan / Feb. Thanks !
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