I did this interview a bit different this time. I tracked down my pals in Cardiac Arrest and did the interview with the whole band. This might be a long fucker, but just read it and see what these death metal lunatics are up to. Look for a review of "Haven For The Insane" soon as well, I have it and it's a fucking instant classic album!
Interview By: Mike Abominator
1. HAILS, HAILS AND FUCKING HAILS FUCKERS! Well, where shall we start? Tell me the early forms of this beast of a band and when you guys all joined.
ADAM: The idea of the band really started in 1997, me and an old friend jamming in my basement and wanting to get a band started. Some name ideas came up but Cardiac Arrest is what really stuck out to us. Hence the name remained. We steam rolled through the adversaries of the tribulations and somehow I live to tell about it!!!
TOM: Adam can talk about all the early stuff…I joined in early 06 as the band was recording
Morgue Mutilations. I was ready to record with them, and I begged and pleaded to do so, but Adam and Jim just spit in my face and David kicked me in the nuts. I stuck around anyway. Honestly, they asked, and I was somewhat ready, but I didn’t want to be the new John Hand in case things didn’t work out…and if I have to explain that, you probably should not be reading this.
DAVID: I had been working with Jim on a project that sort of overlapped his admission into CA, and then fell apart shortly after that. I wasn't doing anything when Jim called me up, asked if I could play bass for a few shows they had coming up. Their guy had some kinda medical issue and couldn't commit. I could. I went into it only seriously enough to learn the songs, and play the shows. We finished up, and I expressed an interest in staying, and working with them. The other guy didn't. So I got the gig. We played out some more, finished writing Morgue Mutilations, and about that time we had Tom come in for second guitar. Everything just clicked after that.
JIM: I first heard of CA in 2003, as I met Adam and then-member Johnny Dove, while they were in a separate band, through a mutual friend. Fast forward to late 2004: I had just moved to Chicago, and I saw the “Beast Among Many” CA lineup live. When I heard that there were some problems with the drummer, I immediately called Adam. He opted to try to work things out with Ed, and I respected that. But, by late June/early July of 2005, I joined, and haven’t looked back.
2. The Chicago area scene seems pretty fucking brutal. How often do you guys play out and how is the response usually to your live massacres? It seems that you guys do play with quite a few of the major tours that come through there as well?
ADAM: We have our good shows in Chicago, but over all the scene is very saturated. Shows happening when other events are happening, it can really divide a crowd. We really just choose our battles so to speak on this ordeal.
TOM: Chicago to someone who is not from here always seems cool. However, it is pretty lame. We have a lot of great bands that are cool, but we also have a lot of bands that don’t get it. There are too many shows, too many promoters that step all over everyone, too many bands that will cater to said promoters, and too many cliques. We do alright live, but it seems like every time we set up a show, which we plan months in advance, 10 other shows will pop up for the same day. We have gotten a lot more picky about shows we play around here now. We have been lucky enough to be asked to open for some major tours that land here, and these were cool promoters that got it. In other words, none of that pay to play shit. We absolutely refuse to do that. We have not really been asked for awhile for anything major…It’s all about who you know and who you blow…and we don’t do that.
DAVID: The Chicago scene has always been strong. Sadly overlooked compared to New York, Florida, or the coasts in general. Early 90's and you had a couple clubs, and maybe 10 to 20 active bands. Now you have clubs and bands popping up like mushrooms. Promoters too. The bands are always good though. No one sounds like anyone else, and their are some gems out here that need to be discovered. Weve played with some big names, some up n' comers, and played before a band who geared their sound, and look, to get radio play. we have been fortunate enough to be given some opportunities, and we always try to capitalize. Most promoters are smart enough to not book the same band twice in a six month cycle as well, so we don't get overexposed. It's always fun. Always a learning experience.
JIM: Chicago is a weird scene. There are SO many bands… We’ve actually made it a point to play here as little as possible to ensure good turnouts. We do play a fair amount of larger shows, but by no means is it any sort of majority. We have a couple promoters we’re comfortable working with, and we like it that way. To put it simply, “Never pay to play!”
3. The ROTTING DEATH MASS MINI TOUR with Cardiac Arrest and Gravehill was quite a success. When the fuck are we doing that again over there? Or maybe a West Coast version next time?
ADAM: It was honestly some of the most fun I remember. Singing along to Manowar and Loudness was and is always a blast. All the dates just laying waste each night is what it's about. Good times and good friends!!! Max Ice til Death!!!!!
TOM: Yeah, those shows were a blast. Better than most shows we do around here. Anytime you guys want to come back, for sure…Summer time will be perfect since you guys will be in the area. Plan some extra days this time so we can actually go do some stuff. We would love to do a West Coast thing with you guys. Problem is, we are so beyond poor, it ain’t even funny…
DAVID: I thought we were supposed to do something awhile ago, but I don't know why. I want to get out that way sooner rather than later. I would love to play the northwest, and the southwest. I will play california for Gravehill or Phobia. Hollywood was just as gay in real life, as it is portrayed on the tele.Talk to the suits.
JIM: That was a fun, fun time that I will never forget. My favorite memories of that weekend was Bob buying that porn mag in Wisconsin – “No ma’am, just this cheese and porn, thank you.” (DROPPIN MASSIVE LOADS!), and singing Skid Row with him until 10AM. Although we have some timing restrictions with work, we’re game pretty much whenever, and, as for coming out to the west coast, it’s really a matter of money (isn’t everything?).
4. OK you guys have an album coming out! The new song sounds fucking great! What is this monster called? And who is putting it out?
ADAM: Thanks man!!! The new album is going to be entitled "Haven For The Insane", songs so heavy and so catchy it'll probably make you all go insane!!!! Who's putting it out? Well we have something lined up and secured but I can't say anything yet because it's not official. But in due time my friend!!!!! You'll see!!!!
TOM: Thanks! Glad you like what you heard so far. New album is called Haven for the Insane. Can’t say who’s putting it out yet…everything has to be official…
DAVID: Can we talk about the 4th album instead? We already have ten songs written for it, and it may be out by the time some people read this. heheh. HFTI was recorded over a year ago, and we have been antsy to get the thing out, but it seems the wait will have been worth it. The songs are probably faster, but we still slow it down on occasion. I just think were getting better as musicians, better as song writers. We have had excellent chemistry almost since day one. Things just clicked. Thank you for the kind words as well. I'm glad people dig what were doing.
JIM: Haven For the Insane should be out spring-ish. We’ve negotiated a deal with a larger label that you may be familiar with, but, since nothing is on paper, we aren’t able to say yet.
5. You all seem to be quite busy within the metal scene with other bands and dist companies etc... Tell me about these other projects.
ADAM: Well, I run an underground operation called Death Dealer Distro, I carry many great Death, Black, Thrash, Grind titles from many different bands from all over, and I also carry Vinyl releases, and Patches. Maybe getting the latest WHAM! Re-Issues too!!! HAHAHA!!!
TOM: My other band is called Severed. I’ve been doing that since 1995, after my first band dissolved in 93. We have had a few issues over the last couple of years, but all is great right now and are getting pretty productive and busy. If not for Severed, I would never have been in Cardiac. I am able to split duties pretty easily and the styles are pretty different. Severed is kind of like a grindy Abscess…that punked out death style…I also do a couple of other projects when time allows.
DAVID: Currently I only do CA full time. I would love to do some kinda Godflesh/Jesu flirts with Ahab, but makes love to Buddy Guy kinda thing. Bluesy, doom. Heavy like that 500 pound woman who couldn't escape the flood in New Orleans. Something like that. It would have to be the opposite of what I get out of CA creatively.
JIM: Aside from my brief stint in Anal Blast, the only other full-time band I have been involved with during my tenure with CA is Sallah. Sallah is a blackened, thrashy death metal outfit that pays homage to the movies that inspired metal nerds the world over. The first CD, “Fortune and Glory”, was a concept record about Indiana Jones. The next opus is shaping up to be an album that branches out into other movies, thematically based in hunting. Fun stuff. I also spend time producing at Polymorph Media Studios, where CA recorded both Cadaverous Presence and Haven for the Insane, with Kai Kaufmann.
6. Michigan Death Fest 2010! Gravehill is excited to play and to also have Cardiac Fucking Arrest on there! You guys have played before. How was it and what are your expectations for this years installment?
ADAM: I am very much looking forward to this year's Michigan Death Fest, we had a very good time last year, the people out there were very supportive. Metal Mom does a killer job with it. I'm expecting this year to be Michigan's most excellent show this year!!!
TOM: Michigan was cool last year for the most part. Metal Mom rules!!! A lot of the bands that played were awesome and we made a lot of friends. I think this year will steamroll over last year. It is in Detroit this year, so I think that may appeal to more people as it is a busier area. Great lineup too!!
DAVID: It should be a good time. We have a lot of old friends that are playing there so I look forward to it. I guess it's closer to Detroit this time. I think a death metal fest in a third world economy can only BE a good thing, right?
JIM: MDF was a lot of fun last year, but it was a test of endurance, to be sure. A long, long day, but it paid off. I think that this year’s show has even more potential to do well – this lineup is all killer, with no filler, as they say! Can’t wait to share the stage with you guys again!
7. Tell me about the HEART STOPPING DEATH ROT concept.
A: Uh, you die. Well other than the name of the demo from 2004, it surely goes well with the name....and you're dead!
Tom: That’s Adam’s territory…
DAVID: Your heart stops, you die, you disintegrate. That is the sound of our music.
JIM: Your heart stops, you die, you disintegrate. That is the sound of our music.
(Mike A.: Are you guys fucking robots? Adam has you guys brainwashed ey? hahaha).
8. You guys are all old timer/metal veterans. What are some of the best live bands and live shows that you have ever seen?
ADAM: Well, every time I've seen them Deceased have always crushed. Unleashed to me are one of the best Death Metal bands live. I'm totally with Jim on Extreme Noise Terror.
TOM: I’m showing my age here…Metallica and Ozzy in 86…Death and Dark Angel back in 88. Sepultura their first time here in 89…The first time Morbid Angel toured was memorable too…I’ve been to so many shows, it is hard for me to recall any details…
DAVID: My first concert was 1990. Gwar on Halloween in Chicago. Blew me mind. No particular show stands out, but more like moments. A band's set that moved me in a particular way. A new years eve in someones basement with Corpse Vomit and a band I can't remember. Seeing Rellik do a song with the old vocalist. Warhorse at the Double Door. Seeing Ozzy embarrass himself at a couple Ozzfests. Seeing Marylyn Manson get humiliated at another. Dysphoria at the Thirsty Whale. Bodybag in the mid nineties...I could think of more for another hour, and I am almost high enough to do it.
9. OK here is a shot out of a cannon: Oprah, Rosie Odonnel, and Bea Arthur, you gotta fuck one, marry one, kill one, GO!
ADAM: Meh....Bea Arthur shall be spared. Rosie O'Donnell and Oprah should just fucking DIE!!!! ARGH!!!!
TOM: Well first, I would open up a can of tuna and stuff it down my pants to attract Rosie O’Donnell…as she is sniffing around down there, and I am jiggling her fat rolls, I would bash her head in repeatedly with another can of tuna. Bea Arthur…Outstanding! Wish she was alive because her whisky soaked and too much cigarette smoking sounding voice is kind of sexy…I guess I can just settle on acting out Nekromantik with her. I’d marry Oprah because the bitch got money. Call me a mercenary.
DAVID: Ahhh this is easy. I would fuck Rosie cause she's younger, and white. I would not enjoy it though, and she wouldn't either. Bea Arthur would be the easy mercy killing. She's lived a rich, and viable life, but now she's punchline for shitty comics. Ahhh Oprah. Sweet Oprah. Oprah I thee wed your billions, embezzle millions, and buy an island with a well stocked fortress and watch the apocalypse on satelite teeve.
JIM: I’d marry Oprah for the money, kill Bea Arthur (even though she died in 2009, I can’t risk a Golden Girls zombie), and fuck Rosie O’Donnell (she’s the youngest, and I like lesbians, what can I say?)
10. It was kind of creepy, yet fucking funny, the timing of those Cardiac Arrest Michael Jackson shirts. I think I even saw the bulletin for them the night before he died? Or am I wrong? hahaha
ADAM: Well, we thought about this after the plastic pop-star passed away. So heance we had the limited edition T-Shirt. An extra 15 minutes of fame eh???
TOM: Wrong!! (Mike A.: OOOPS!) We thought about it after he died…We were at practice the day it was announced. And when we got home, people were commenting on My Space and Facebook saying thanks for killing that pedophile…So we thought we’d exploit it. We only did a limited run of those shirts. We have a few left so once they are gone, they are gone. We also were asked if we were going to do Brittany Murphy shirts. No dice…If you are a celeb and are despicable and do bad things, then die of cardiac arrest, we may do a shirt. But, I think it was a one time thing.
DAVID: I think we should have a whole line of hollywood celebrities dead of cardiac arrest. Is wrestling still popular? We could have dozens designs for all the dead pro wrestlers. MJ isn't going away anytime soon. I wanna do another design for that pedoweirdophile. I'll cash in on that freak, and I'm not even related to him. I don't know which makes me lower on the morality scale.
JIM: The thing is, that came about because of people flooding us on Farcebook and GheySpace when the initial reports came out. The fans spoke, and we listened.
11. What are all of your top metal albums of all time? Let's say top 10 you would take to hell with you?
ADAM: I'd go with these....
1. Dismember - Like an Everflowing Stream, 2. Manowar - Louder Than Hell, 3. Grave - You'll Never See, 4. Iron Maiden - Powerslave, 5. Sinister - Diabolical Summoning, 6. Unleashed - Shadows in the Deep, 7. Morbid Angel - Altars of Madness, 8. Death - SBG, 9. Motorhead - Orgasmatron, 10. Metalucifer - Heavy Metal Chainsaw
TOM: Sorry…I don’t do lists…10 is too much…I’ll give you four though…Death-Scream Bloody Gore, Autopsy-Severed Survival, Morbid Angel-Altars of Madness, Celtic Frost-Morbid Tales
DAVID: Napalm Death, Godflesh, Acid Bath, Aborym, Morgion, Ahab, Phobia, Early Carcass, Exhumed, General Surgery, Iron Maiden, early Strapping Young Lad, early Gwar. I don't like harps anyway.
JIM: Disrupt - Unrest, Napalm Death – Noise For Music’s Sake, Death – Leprosy, Sinister – Hate, Life of Agony – River Runs Red, Life of Agony – Ugly, Bloodbath – Resurrection Through Carnage, Morbid Angel – Covenant, Anthrax – We’ve Come for You All, Crowbar – Odd Fellow’s Rest.
Non-metal honorable mention: Queen – Queen, Queen – Innuendo, Vince DiCola – Artistic Transformation, Vince DiCola – Lighting Their Darkest Hour, Bad Religion – Generator.
12. You guys are all quite ripping musicians! Do you have any endorsements from companies? And how much free shit do you guys get from these organizations?
ADAM: I have an endorsement w/ Vader Cabinets and they fucking smoke!!! Free merch I do get, as well as the discount as an endorsee. Also got a guitar from a new Custom Guitar company called TM Custom Guitars. This V they made is HUGE!!!!
TOM: I don’t…unless of course Marshall, Gibson and Dunlop want to bother with me. I like what I use and I am not going to change the equipment I have for the sake of an endorsement. Besides, playing metal is not about endorsements.
DAVID: Well thanks, I think your a ripping interviewer!! I don't get anything free, and that makes me melancholy. I got a deal with Vader Cabinets, but I really need some kind of string endorsement. I beat mine senseless, and I'm spending a fortune on the .145 gauge alone. Having Ampeg give me a big, fat tube head would be better than my big, fat solid state I have now.
JIM: Thanks! I’m currently endorsed by Axis Percussion and Scorpion Sticks. I used to have a deal with Grindstix, until they stopped making them. I get well-taken care of by Scorpion and Axis, but I do a lot of promotional work for them, so it’s not like I sit on my ass and collect.
13. Name one song that you sit there and go " FUCK I WISH I WROTE THAT AND CARDIAC PLAYED IT!" I'm talking death metal, not gay shit like Elton John. Well, OK whatever song ya want!
ADAM: Pretty happy with what we play, but I know the thing you're talking about. I do get that question popping up from time to time when I listen to some killer DM releases. So kinda of a tough question to answer.
TOM: Eh, I’m happy playing our own stuff…
DAVID: Common People- Pulp I am stoned.
JIM: Anything by Disrupt, really, but if I had to choose one, it’d be “Religion is a Fraud”. Also, “Pleasure of Molestation” by Hypocrisy would be pretty cool (incidentally, that’s the first song Adam and I EVER jammed).
14. OK, your at the bar, you have have any combo of beer and hard stuff, what are you drinking?
ADAM: Don't drink so no comment.
TOM: Busch Light, Old Style, Pabst Blue Ribbon, and Jim Beam!!
DAVID: Sam Adams otherwise I pout. Or just sneak my own in. Rum n' coke, Red Headed Slut for a shot, or Jaeger, and cocaine in the bathroom (hahaha)
JIM: Stella Artois on tap, and smart bombs all around. Sorry, no Maxx Ice.
15. What are the plans for Cardiac Arrest in 2010 as far as touring and other possible releases? The goddamn Relapse split 7 inch with Gravehill/ Cardiac Arrest should be out eh?
ADAM: We're always open for the whole split thing. Hopefully some release ideas will come about. Sure the tour thing is tough, we can only do so much. But open to what prospecting ideas come along.
TOM: My plans are to just keep playing and getting drunk. We discuss all that kind of stuff as a group and as it comes up. There are always plans to do splits, but they always seem to fall through. Maybe I should just start my own damn label and just to splits only…As far as touring, we’ll see…It is not very easy for us to do, but if the right thing comes along, we’ll find a way.
DAVID: Things are only in the talking-we'll-see-what-happens phase. I think things are gonna get busy. As of Feb. it's too early know. I can't believe that split isn't out yet. I want the shirts out too. Putrid's art for the Fleshed Together shirt was nicely done. Hopefully they get all that out before 2012.
JIM: Aside from HFTI and the Relapse split, we have no definitive plans for any releases. If ENT or Phobia stepped up and asked, we have some songs we’d give up, I’m sure, for a split, though! As for tours, no plans, although there are some rumblings of a larger tour with some bands we’ve toured with in the past…
16. I love the horror movie tributes with your titles and lyrics. Obviously you maniacs are horror fans! Who writes the lyrics? What are your favorite horror movies? How did that Fangoria Magazine thing come about?
ADAM: I usually write lyrics based around some creepy horror movie cenarios, however I try not to pigeonwhole myself to a certain idea or whatever. As of lately I've been watching alot of late 70's italian sickos like City of the Living Dead and Cannibal Ferox. I alos just saw White Zombie for the first time too. Sometimes you just can't go wrong with the old Black and White classics!!!
TOM: As far as favorite movies goes, I am a big fan of the Euro films from the 70’s and 80’s. Namely the Italian stuff. Hard to make a list because my tastes change. The Fangoria thing was kind of cool. I have gotten to know James, who runs Fangoria Online. James is also local. Anyway, I went to the Fango con and like everytime I go out, I always bring CDs with me. So James and I got to talking and I gave him a disc. I told him he did not have to review it, I was just giving him one because he was cool. Low and behold, he reviewed it! Can’t hurt, huh?
DAVID: Growing up I watched the slasher flicks of the 70's and 80's. I loved them then. Not so much now. I like zombie flicks. Prefer slow moving, but the Dawn of the Dead remake was cool. I love sci fi and fantasy and like what they do with CGI for those types of films, but I don't like that in my horror flicks. Vampires are offically in the realm of gay little mental midgets. Sorry kids. They don't sparkle in the sun. They melt, explode, implode anything but fucking sparkle. And they don't go to high school. They should be monstrous,and Inhuman. Like 30 Days of Night. Most of the shit they churn out barely keeps me forgetting that I hate my day job.
JIM: Adam writes the majority of the stuff, and e do discuss concepts as a group. Usually, though, it falls to Adam. Tom writes a fairly large share of stuff, too. I wrote one set of lyrics, for “Make Them Dies Slowly”, which is my take on Cannibal Ferox and Cannibal Holocaust, from the cannibals’ perspective. My favorite horror flicks are Nightmare on Elm Street, the original Dawn of the Dead, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and then a tie between Last House on the Left and Cannibal Holocaust for shock value.
17. OK my Brothers! It has been brutal talking with you as you know I'm one of your biggest fans! I will see you soon and you fuckers rule and I hope all is infernal for you this year! Much love to you madmen!
ADAM: Thanks for the interview Mike!!! You and the Gravehill guys fucking rule and thanks to your zine for the opportunity!!! We look forward to terrorizing the general public in 2010!!!
TOM: Cheers and a million beers to ya bro!!
DAVID: Hope all goes well with you and yours. May you find shade, water, and plenty of fat bitches. Cheers!
JIM: Fuck you, Mike. Fuck you right in the ear. I’m sick as hell, and you have me doing this fucking interview, you bald fuck. Oh, yeah, love you and all that. Fucker.
Support my boys! And go hunt down "Haven For The Insane"! I'm telling you! The best album of 2010 so far!
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