Joe/Cryptic Inscriptions: I want to thank you Rick for taking part in this interview for anyone who isn’t aware give a brief history behind the grind chaos that is Shitstorm?
Rick- Shitstorm began in 2004. Jon and I had just joined torche around the same time shitstorm started playing so we were never able to do too much. We were never trying to be a mysterious or reclusive band but we ended up with that reputation for a little while.
Joe/Cryptic Inscriptions: Do you feel like the name of the band fits with the music itself? Also where did the name originate from? Was there another name before this?
Rick- The name was actually taken from another project that my brother was doing with our friend Josh. It never materialized so we took the name. I'm not sure that the name fits our sound but some people have said so.
Joe/Cryptic Inscriptions: You guys have done a shit ton of sick splits with bands such as Sloth,Margrudergrind and recently Conga Fury, are you guys currently going to be working on a full length? Why did you decide to release a ton of splits and hold off on putting together a full length?
Rick- I think bands like us are better on 7"s or split LPs. I honestly don't need to listen to more than 10 or 15 minutes of the same grindcore band at a time. Were supposed to be working on an LP for RSR but the more we try and put together the material for it, we start to think twice about it. We go for an abrasive sound and I think a full LP would be overkill.
Joe/Cryptic Inscriptions: I feel like the theme of the recent split with Conga Fury has to do with third world countries, terrorism and drug trafficking. Was this the initial theme or was there another theme behind the album?
Rick- yeah that sounds right. I was reading the news compulsively for a while and it started to make me feel helpless and kind of paranoid. Our world is in a sad state right now.
Joe/Cryptic Inscriptions: You’re one of the few bands that do a good job live and on recordings. Do you guys feel that you do better in a live setting, on recording or both?
Rick- It's always different live than recorded. I don't know which is better but I prefer live because the sound is much more raw. Sometimes our recordings come out too clean for my personal taste, plus the energy is intense live.
Joe/Cryptic Inscriptions: I notice on some of the guitar lines it seems to be noise being made by pick slides and feedback mixed with riffs. Do you guys mix up elements of harsh noise and straight up grind? How’s the writing process done? Who writes the music and lyrics?
Rick- The writing process has been done many ways in the past but lately we write the music together. Dub and I write lyrics, he writes more than I do. As far as the guitars go, we do have parts where it's just pure noise and no riff. We save those parts to make the songs more intense where it has to count. Were definitely a grindcore band though, not a noisegrind band, and dont want to be either. There's too much of that going around, and not enough people writing good old school grindcore songs with memorable parts and good energy.
Joe/Cryptic Inscriptions: You also participate in a noise project called Nuclear II. Is this something you do alone or with someone else? Also what inspired you to start up this project?
Rick- Nuclear II started as Dub and I, we recorded some demos that were never released and then I moved to Gainesville and started doing it by myself. I just started doing it for fun with the hopes that I could travel alone in a small vehicle to tour. As time has passed, my desire to tour as N2 has dwindled quite a bit though.
Joe/Cryptic Inscriptions: You guys recently did a tour and played Maryland Death Fest? How was the experience and do you guys have any future tours in the works?
Rick- the experience was awesome for us. Lots of people who had no idea who we were got to see us. We also got to see lots of friends and some cool bands. Our next shows will be in September with Despise You and Magrudergrind in Georgia and Florida. Other than that, no real tour plans, but talks of a tour with D.O.C. from DC in early 2012.
Joe/Cryptic Inscriptions: You guys recently added bass player Eric Hernandez to the fold. Was this a recent decision or have you guys always wanted a bassist and couldn’t find one? Also how did this change the sound for the band?
Rick- Eric has been playing with us since late 2009 now. We also had another bass player in 2008 for a tour we did to Dudefest in Indianapolis. We've always wanted a bass player but needed to find someone who understands what bass in a grindcore band is supposed to sound like. Weve been lucky to find the dudes we've jammed with. Eric is the best bass player I know and also has a good idea of what were supposed to sound like.
Joe/Cryptic Inscriptions: Would you say that Shitstorm is the fury and rage of a protestor that is full of conviction or an angered mob seeking vengeance towards the rulers that enslave them?
Rick- I would say shitstorm is more like the anger and paranoia of an average person that can't deal with the stresses and bullshit that come along with modern living and peoples materialistic bullshit in this society we live in. That goes for punks and metalheads too, with their uniforms and collectable garbage. I just fuckin hate it. Were not protesters or preachers... We just simply choose not to participate in any of this shit. People can do what they want.
Joe/Cryptic Inscriptions: Thanks again for the interview Rick, any last words about the band and/or any upcoming recordings, shows, tours etc?
Rick-There will be new stuff in 2012 as well as some touring, hopefully west coast.
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