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INFERNO PRESS

05/2004 - POWER PACKER Interview:

1. Tell us about the new album, and how, if you think, it differs from the previous album.
Inferno... the new CD... where to begin? Well, for those who've picked up Virtuality, my last CD, it falls into similar sonic territory, though it's a more cohesive, organized project. For those who haven't, and my sales representatives tell me there's a few of you out there who haven't (check it out, I think you'll enjoy it), the musical ground I'm covering is a hybrid of progressive rock, electronic ambience and heavy metal, which basically falls under the descriptive category of progressive rock. I don't draw too much of a distinction between Virtuality and Inferno... Inferno is just an evolutionary step up the musical ladder. It features more of everything and I think if you listen to the CD's back to back, the clarification of what I'm trying to accomplish, my musical identity if you will, is quite apparent, and with that, I am quite satified. I just hope I can continue to forge a path without faltering... I don't think I'll be approximating any boy-band song structures and melodies in the near future...

2. Your music isn't exactly what I would consider "Metal". Do you find it surprising that the Metal community welcomes your music?
I would agree. It's certainly not metal in it's traditional neo-Black Sabbath form, and I don't really intend to portray it as such. That said, it does have elements of various sub-genre's of 'metal' including the use of the good ole crushing 7-string guitar and double bass drum in a few songs. I'm really hoping to approach the experimental and open-minded musical connoisseur as well as the heavy metal freak up to the challenge, and well, I certainly think the music on both Inferno and Virtuality, can appeal to anyone into modern progressive rock and metal. I'm sure the true metal cats out there treat electronics and heavy music as blasphemous and mutually exclusive, and I'm willing to take my lumps for the sake of breaching the mind of one out of every 5 dentists that listen to true metal music.

3. Where do all these musical ideas come from? I mean, there is a vast array of musical ideas in your music.
Yeah, you're right. I think that probably derives from my almost-schizophrenic music tastes which run the gamut from Fates Warning to Journey to Hall and Oates, through James Brown, Prince, Tower of Power, Ice T, Enya, Kitaro, Lorenna McKennit, Tori Amos and, *gasp*, Michael Jackson. Of course, in this music, you really can hear my funk influence, but believe me, I've got a hugely diverse collection of music. My tolerance for diversity in all aspects of life is scary, but personally rewarding.

4. I know you are very musically open, so I'm curious as to what's been in your disc player recently.
Let's see... Recently, I've been listening to the new Limp Biskit, Seal, 30 Seconds to Mars, Prince, Peter Gabriel and Tori Amos. The standards that are always circulating in my sound system are Fates Warning, Enchant, Earth Wind & Fire, Mordred, Linkin Park, Kitaro, Run DMC and This Picture. There's some other great independent musicians I've been digging like Divertigo, Echo Us, F5, Bryant Wilder, Prymary, Redemption and Soniq Theater who've been getting their share of my CD player as well.

5. Is the albums title in reference to anything?
It's drawing the parallels between war and the environmental desecration that we, not only as a country, but the human race, are perpetuating upon ourselves, and this planet. I'm not a pacifist, but I see too many similarities in the irresponsibility of our leaders towards a global world order that they are willing to sacrifice human lives and the global biosphere for the sake of empire-building, profit, wealth, and power. So... in conclusion, the short answer is yes.

6. You play all the instruments on the album. I'm interested to know; what do you consider yourself? A gutarist? A keyboardist? A drummer? A bassist?
I'm actually a guitarist... but I use the tools of being a studio musician and being somewhat adept at a small variety of instruments (definitely not of anything approaching virtuosity) to progress as a songwriter. That's my pride and joy, is song composition and arranging. Truly it's more rewarding for me to create a song with a variety of instruments, and tell a story, or express ideology, than become a single-facet virtuoso. I also don't have the time, inclination or ability to reach the pinnacle of any instrument anymore... but that's ok. I had my share of 8+ hour practice sessions on the guitar when I was younger.

7. Which instrument do you enjoy playing the most?
Well, that's a rough one. I really look at my work as a musician from a compositional standpoint, where the individual instruments aren't as important as the final song. The collective whole is bigger than the individual parts. That said, I still love guitar playing, and getting to perform a solo that makes a melodic statement over a musical arrangement is quite refreshing.

8. How do you go about writing your music? I mean, which instrument do you write your music with?
Mad libs, man, mad libs! I actually compose first and foremost on my keyboard workstation, which basically functions as a computer, sequencing drum parts with electronic instrumentation. The guitar and vocal embellishments are secondary, but just as integral in the final song. Lately, though, I have been going back to writing the initial song structure on guitar, which is quite a treat... you never know, taking that approach, my next CD could be electronic ambient thrash!

9. Do you have a favorite musical part in the album, and why?
"The World Fades to Gray" is the highlight of the CD to me on all levels... musically, lyrically, vocally, atmospherically, compostionally, ideologically and even to this day, everytime I hear it it just kicks my ass. Something special is infused in that song, and besides the fact it's the epic 11-minute tune, there's a certain energy I feel in that one.

10. At the end of 'Exile', your drumming kind of reminded me of Phil Collins (not sure why though). And your music at times reminds me of Genesis. Are you a fan of Genesis?
I think it's probably the tom work. I do like Genesis, mostly the latter day Collins-era. I don't know if I'd classify Genesis as an overt influence as say, uh... Rush, but I definitely like their approach to pop music with regards to instrumentation, atmosphere, and percussion.

11. Do you have a favorite song, and why?
Well... I think question number 9 answers that but I also happen to quite enjoy "Ghostland" and "Inferno"... I think it's the combination of vocal techniques Todd is applying to the tracks, and their intensity. Just strong songs that for me, approached something as close to what I originally envisioned they would sound like. Now if you mean favorite song from any OTHER band, well, then... that's a hard one. "One" by Fates Warning, "Goliath" by James Brown, "Beautiful Day" by U2, are certainly a good place to start.

12. Todd Corsa returns again to perform the vocals on the album. Do you think he is becoming an integral part of the band, or is it still just Todd helping a friend out with his musical endeavors?
Yes, Todd returns again, after a stint of pre-College football practice at San Dimas High School... just kidding. Yeah, Todd is my musical co-conspirator. Without his vocal prowess and melodic idea's, well... I would have to find another vocal and musical partner! I'd agree that his voice is an important part of the sound, vocal melodies are one area of music I am highlighting, and I am not one of the strongest vocalists in this room, or the world for that matter. I think Todd falls in that middle ground, between "musical necessity" and "sonic acquaintence"...heh heh. That said, this is his strongest musical performance to date, I just regret having to prevent him from applying his prodigious dance techniques during studio recording.

13. Again you have included pictures of nuclear and coal smokestacks. What's your fascination with this? Or are you trying to provoke a point, because I know you are very pro-environmental.
Well, I am fascinated of the contrast between smokestacks and powerplants, their physical presence and the environment... almost dominating the natural landscape. There is quite a powerful visceral presentation when you see a powerplant and the smoke plumes during a dramatic sunset on the river or lake. One can see the eerie, inherent beauty in these great monuments of chaos, which of course, forges a great dichotomy with my strong environmental paradigm. It makes for a powerful picture and one that creates an interesting image for debate. But yes, there's also the environmental statement that makes which is of course, what I am trying to bring across.

14. Are you ready for the coming election? Thoughts about it? Will the Green Party affect the outcome?
Well, this is arguably the most important election in my lifetime up to this point. I am ready, studded leather belt armed, guns blazing ready to vote with a bullet to paraphrase an old but still relevant, COC song. My thoughts is that I hope the young can be galvanized to participate in what is due constitutional process, and one of our most basic rights as citizens, and that is voting. Though I am a registered independent, I tend to support liberal ideology, much as the democratic party has moved to a more centrist, status-quo position. My thought is that ultimately, it is time for regime change, and we need strive for a political administration that will seek to benefit the american people and not an empire of corporate ceo's and their malicious money machine. Not that a Kerry administration would be political utopia, certainly not, but I definitely feel that the Bush corporation has been steering this country away from the principles that benefit the citizens, our world and our nation.

15. I am a Bush supporter (especially for the Iraq conflict), yet I doubt you think kindly of his policies. What are your thoughts on this, and do you think the Middle East will ever see peace?
First off, I don't think being a Bush supporter and supporting the war necessarilly go hand in hand. One can despise Hussein and his tactics and find solace in the fact that he is not in power yet be troubled by the process that got us there. But... well, this is a tough subject to breach. I don't profess to really have much of a grasp on Middle Eastern politics. That said, I feel the war games the US are playing are dangerous. The ideology we supposedly represent is being sold as democracy but ultimately, smells like imperialism. I don't see an end to the chaos in the near future, and I think alot of that is an after effect of an ineffectual and misguided foreign policy. I'm kind of looking forward to re-discovering the lost city of Atlantis so perhaps we can uncover an alternate source of bio-thermal energy and I can cut my recording bills for my next musical venture in half! lol...