Interview — Throwdown

Mike SOS

Throwdown
By Mike SOS

Never at a loss for words, Throwdown’s very vocal vocalist Dave Peters sounds off on US summer tours, their new album and its obvious stylistic changes, and life playing as one of the extreme underground’s acts whose latest tour with Machine Head and Arch Enemy should introduce this California quartet to a whole new fanbase.

SKRATCH: How did you come up with the title for the new disc, VENOM AND TEARS?
DAVE: The title represents a dichotomy within the record. We've always written a lot of hate-driven and angry songs, and even the songs with an overall positive message carried that similar feel with the music. We came to realize that it's not really an honest representation of us as people if all the songs came off that way. We've got a lot of bones to pick, maybe more than the average person, but I doubt that even Rollins wakes up in the morning wanting to smash his french toast and punch cops. We wanted to cover more ground musically and lyrically, but keep the same heavy and aggressive feel to the songs that defines us in part. The two words in the title represent that line we decided to walk after having held back on it more in the past.

SKRATCH: This album is way different than previous offerings. What triggered the change in the band's overall sound? Are you concerned about a backlash from the hardcore community or your long-term fans?
DAVE: It's funny because it was such a natural evolution for us over the past two years that we really didn't even acknowledge it being all that different. It's thrashier and more technical, but we didn't pick up trumpets and go ska or anything. Everyone in the band agrees and is proud that it's several cuts above anything we've done before, but we never sat down together and made any conscious decision to "change the sound" so to speak. We never want to put out the same record twice. We have seen a handful of great bands try and chase something they did in the past or try and please everyone before themselves, and it breaks them because those are impossible tasks. For us, we knew that we had to get in the studio and write whatever the hell came to mind and not force any parameters on the process - not force anything at all. As far as backlashes, it wasn't something we got caught up in whatsoever. That's what prevented us from trying a number of things on VENDETTA in 2005. With respect to hardcore or the alleged community—that in my opinion exists much less today in spite of technology—it's a word that represents more than just a genre. It is about a message and sub-culture more than it is a riff or a solo. That's why everything from Bad Brains to Merauder to Ignite to Throwdown is "hardcore." We knew and still know that there are a number of hardcore kids that choose not to acknowledge that and would probably hate the record, but we really aren't worried about pleasing those people. As far as our long-time fans, I'd say the overwhelming majority of them that communicated their sentiments to us said that it's the best thing we've recorded. We were kind of surprised that the reception of this record was actually a LOT better than VENDETTA, which was a lot "safer" for us. I guess the bottom line is that you can never please everyone all the time, and nor should you try. Bands should take their music wherever they want and just see who follows them there. That's as "real" or "true" as you can get.

SKRATCH: Describe the recording process of VENOM AND TEARS versus previous albums.
DAVE: Well, this biggest difference this time around was how much time we allowed ourselves to invest in it all. With our last record, we got home from tour, threw all our material together in a month, drove straight to Massachusetts, recorded it in a month, then jumped right back out on tour. We're very satisfied with the end result still, but we also agreed that was no way to make a great record. It's just that we couldn't AFFORD to do it any other way before. Ask most any band, if you're not touring, you're not paying your bills. This time around we just insisted that we'd do whatever it took to make the record that we wanted to make. It took a lot more sacrifice this time around, but we think that the time and energy really shows in the songs.

SKRATCH: How would you describe Throwdown to someone who never heard you before?
DAVE: Like a T-Rex eating a minivan full of Myspace celebrities.

SKRATCH: Now that you've played all three of the summer fests in the US, which one has been the best for Throwdown and what are the best and worst points of each?
DAVE: They're all great for different reasons, but all shitty for the same reason: they're long and hot and drain your will to live at some point. I think the coolest thing about Ozzfest in 2004 aside from the INSANE line-up (Sabbath, Slayer, Black Label, Superjoint, Slipknot, Hatebreed, Lamb of God, Every Time I Die and just about every good heavy band we've ever met on the road), was that there were only two stages that didn't compete against one another. It had some focus that you inevitably lose on Warped when there are eight stages. But then again, that's what makes Warped unique and also cool in a way, is that there are SO many different bands you can go see. This year was killer for the Warped line-up as well and had bands that would probably otherwise not tour together, everything from Bad Religion to Killswitch Engage to Flogging Molly to Circa Survive. It was cool to be a part of that. Sure there were a lot of bands on there that sound like someone shoving a turd into your ear, unless you're prepubescent and still think MTV is the place to go to get music, but the aforementioned made up for that. As far as Sounds Of The Underground, the coolest thing about the year we did it was that it was the first, and that it had a more personal vibe than Ozzfest or Warped maybe did. Ozzfest slayed, but there were definitely fans of the fest that weren't necessarily fans of....ANY of the bands playing. They just went 'cause they felt like having long hair and an affinity for 12 dollar beer obligated them to be there. And the Warped counterpart might see their respective fest as a large outdoor mall boasting white studded belts and Sidekick accessories beyond their wildest dreams before they see it as a place to see a SHIT ton of bands for a pretty cheap ticket. SOTU was fresh, and while it was significantly smaller, it still had that cool festival vibe to it, but remained more...intimate than Ozzfest or Warped. Give it 10 years, I guess?

SKRATCH: When I'm not in Throwdown, I'm...
DAVE: Doing crossword puzzles and watching SNAKES ON A PLANE on OnDemand with my wife. Or eating at Taco Mesa. I'm always IN Throwdown, though. I wish I could go out to eat and not be in the band for that designated 90 minutes or however long I'm there...'cause nothing ruins a good burrito like a text from a Canadian drummer saying that he ate a plate of Ethiopian food and sharted on the way to the bathroom.

SKRATCH: What was the easiest song to record? Toughest? One you felt came out the best?
DAVE: Hmm, I guess the easiest overall for the new record was "Hellbent" because it was intended to be real simple and anthemic. We banged it out pretty quick if I remember. "I, Suicide" was pretty intense to record. I played some guitar on that and felt like my wrist was going to splinter somewhere right before the solo. The vocals came out pretty quick for that one, on the other hand. As far as one that came out best? I think we were most surprised how good "Godspeed" came out given just how different it was from the other songs and a little more left field in general for us, but when it came together we were all pretty wide-eyed over it.

SKRATCH: What sets Throwdown apart from other bands?
DAVE: It's so hard to answer this question without coming off like a total asshole. Good thing I am, though, huh? Sheesh, I dunno. We don't wear make-up? Too easy. You know, and I'm not saying that it separates us from ALL other bands, but certainly a lot of them—our relationship with our fans. We've never had any disillusions about the fact that without the fans you have nothing but a garage band. I don't care if you're in Metallica or you're paying to play the Galaxy Theatre on a Wednesday night. We appreciate the people that appreciate us, and if they're going to take the time out to write us an email or a hand-written letter or come up and say hello at a show, then we're going to reciprocate the best we can. We've always done our best to blur that line between the band and the people that listen to it and support it. You'd be pretty...shocked, disappointed, blown away, disgusted and everything in between at the way even bands smaller than ours can often disregard the very people that validate what they do. Again, we're not fucking Mother Theresa, and there are some bands that truly "get it"...but there are a lot more that we've met who don't.

SKRATCH: Do you prefer touring or recording and why?
DAVE: Oh, man, they both suck! Kidding! I prefer getting on stage every night and doing what I love for a living but not having to rot in a van and leave home for months to do it. I just wish Steve Jobs would step up his game and invent teleportation already. I'm sure the next iPhone will have it. Really, though, there are a million things in life that are harder than a crink in your neck from sleeping upright or a lump on your knuckle from punching a wall in a studio. We feel real fortunate to do both for a living. Tours are great because there is that immediate gratification from playing a song and have everyone go apeshit for it, but recording has a bigger payoff in a way. You only do it about once every couple years or so vs several months a year, and at the end you hold this trophy that reflects all your hard work...and you can listen to it over and over and over again. The trophy for touring is just getting home and hopefully remembering which drawer your socks go in and that your wife doesn't hate you.

SKRATCH: Who would you like to tour with that you haven't yet?
DAVE: Oh man, there are a TON of bands we haven't toured with that I'd love to. One of my all time faves is Tool. I don't really see us ever touring with them because they tend to take out artsier or "math-ier" bands than us, but I've loved that band since I was about 12 or 13 and wouldn't mind watching them every night. I'll tell you though, the ultimate tour for us would be if the Cavalera brothers got together and reunited Sepultura....for a world tour! I think I could handle that. That band has influenced me more than any other band as a musician and songwriter and I think I could die pretty satisfied if we came far enough to be able to tour with them. I actually interviewed Max recently for "Rebel Meets Rebel" in Revolver, and it was impressive what a down to earth dude he is for having influenced all brands of heavy music for the past couple decades or more. We toured with Soulfly but didn't have much a chance to shoot the breeze on the road, but he's as real as they come in my opinion.

SKRATCH: What are you currently listening to?
DAVE: Honestly, I haven't been listening to music much lately. I always kind of feel that way after a long summer tour, though. But when I do plug in the Ipod I've been gettin' down with some Michael Buble, a little HIM (no I don't have a 'heartagram' tattoo, but great band), Slayer "Christ Illusion", some QOTSA and this band Never Enough that Keith and Trevor from 18v (RIP) started up as a project with this other real talented dude that I don't know. It's real dark and industrial sounding and kinda reminds me of some Manson and NIN. I'm sure there will be Goth strippers all over the country going on stage to it once the full length comes out. It's that good!

SKRATCH: What does the rest of the year have in store for Throwdown and what can we expect in 2008?
DAVE: We're shooting a video for "Holy Roller," the opening track. Then we're heading out with Machine Head and Arch Enemy in about 10 days and then after that...shit. We try and buy Christmas presents for people and wait to see what goes down for the New Year, I guess. You'll probably know what we're doing before I do, though.

SKRATCH: What's you favorite Pantera song? Would you ever consider covering it?
DAVE: Jesus...yeah, make me pick ONE from about 60 or 70 that are FLAWLESS! You know, "Mouth For War" has a special place in my heart 'cause it's the first song I heard by them and is just so mean sounding, but I rediscovered the "Reinventing The Steel" record after not getting too deep into it for about a year or two and realized that it might very well be my favorite album by them. Or at least the one that I listen to most these days. I think I like "Revolution Is My Name" most overall 'cause it has a little bit of everything, but I wouldn't wanna try and cover it. It's pretty shredtastic, so unless we had a few months off tour to make it go down right, I wouldn't wanna botch it. We actually cover "New Level" now and then as a medley with one of our own songs, "Discipline", but if we were going to set out and cover a song, I think "Slaughtered" would be best suited. It's just the heaviest riff ever.

SKRATCH: Any final words?
DAVE: Nah, man. I think I've already said way more than anyone would ever want to hear out of me. Thanks for the interview, though.

http://www.myspace.com/throwdown

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