TRUTH CORRODED
Questions asked by Jon Wilde, added to Rock Realms 11th August 2010.
Australian extreme thrash act Truth Corroded have shared the stage with some of the biggest metal acts in the world. One listen to the tracks on their MySpace page will tell you why. These guys really are 'king loud! WIth a new album in the works, we thought it about time to find out more.
Bassist Greg Shaw answers questions.
Hi Greg. How and when did Truth Corroded form, and could you take us through the recent line-up changes?
Greg: Truth Corroded formed originally as a four piece and had a different sound to the band we are today. When that line up came to an end we reformed as a five piece in 2003 and returned to our thrash roots.
Our recent line up change saw the departure of the drummer on our last album Liam Okninski in April. The lead guitarist on our last album Corey Grieve was replaced by our touring lead guitarist Darren McLennan in late 2008.
When the band started, was there a definite sense of what music you were going to play, or has the TC sound evolved fairly organically over time?
Greg: When we first started as a four piece I do not think there was a definite sense at all. There was a range of influences, and often a compromise in the music we were writing. However, when we reformed as a five piece in 2003, we had a clear idea of the music we wanted to create. For the original remaining members, myself, Jason ( vocals ) and Mark ( guitar ), thrash was the form of heavy music that saw us take up instruments. It is the sound that we identify with and look to build upon.
Since the release of our past two albums, Our Enemy Is The Weapon in 2005 and Upon The Warlords Crawl in 2008, the Truth Corroded sound has evolved organically. Each album has set the course for the next, and each has been more extreme than the other, and that is what can be expected with our next album.
Who would you list as both your and the band’s influences, musical and otherwise?
Greg: Our influences are mostly bands from the late 80's / early 90's thrash era - Slayer, Testament, Dark Angel, Exodus, Kreator, Forbidden, Violence - and early 90's death metal bands such as Malevolent Creation, Morbid Angel, Pestilence and Entombed. Other bands have had a huge impact, particularly Sepultura, Napalm Death, Neurosis and more recently Gojira, Lamb Of God, Burnt By The Sun, Cult Of Luna, Behemoth and Misery Index.
Many of the bands that influenced and shaped our sound are probably releasing some of their best albums over the past few years - it is inspiring, and it is great to hear their influence in some of the new music we have discovered in recent times.
What is the musical scene like in Southern Australia? How has that affected the way you do things and the music you play?
Greg: The city we come from is very small, but for a small city it has a good scene - there are some great bands, some of which in the past have been successful both in Australia and abroad ( such as I Killed The Prom Queen ) It is recognised for offering some of Australia's best heavy music bands, but, as would be the problem in any scene, there are too many bands following the latest media / label driven movement and creating music that emulates high profile bands in order to be accepted in a scene.
However - there are some promising signs that go against the grain. What has been really inspiring has been that some of the younger audience at our local shows we have had in the past two to three years have identified with thrash and death metal bands that shaped our sound - and they identify our sound with those bands. Its great to look out from the stage and see them thrashing out to our music wearing the shirts of bands we grew up on. We play a sound that is true to what we want to hear - not falling into line with a sound that will find a trend popularity. So to see a young audience going against the grain in that respect and seeking out the bands that are the foundation of today's heavy music is great. And believe me, that goes against what many young heavy music followers are doing in Australia, both as bands and people who follow heavy music, it is common for far too many of them to embrace a movement and move onto the next in the space of months or a year or two.
How would you describe the sound of Truth Corroded to any fool who hadn’t heard you before?
Greg: Heavy - fast - confrontational. We use the term extreme thrash because I think it sits in between the line of thrash and death metal. Our aim is to build on the sound, and we look for a darker edge in the music we create.
You are currently recording your latest album “Worship The Bled”. Where are you in the schedule at the moment? Getting near to completion?
Greg: We are very near completion as far as tracking - drums, rhythm guitar, vocals and bass are completed, and lead guitar is all that is left. We have also added some other instrumentation to develop some of the songs. Kevin Talley from DAATH ( and who also has been with Misery Index, Chimaira, Dying Fetus, Black Dahlia Murder ) performed and recorded drums for the album, and once tracking is complete we will send it to Jonas Kjellgren from Scar Symmetry to mix and master in Sweden. We worked with Jonas on our last album ' Upon The Warlords Crawl ' and we were really happy he was able to do our new album. The process will be complete by mid - September.
Line-up changes aside, how has the creation of the record been? Pain in the arse or remarkably easy?
Greg: Haha - well - best put it as initially pain in the arse (actually, that's an understatement) followed by remarkably easy (and that too is an understatement) The drums were great, and Kevin really added an extra dimension to the songs we had written. Once we started recording guitars, everything fell into place and the recording has been really smooth. The songs have been further refined during tracking and some changes made that developed certain songs.
The line up change really fucked up our schedule - and I admit, the recording was going to be held off indefinitely. But things fell into place and I think we are recording an album that builds our sound to the next level.
Do you like the whole creative process or do you prefer getting out on the stage?
Greg: I enjoy both. Playing overseas is incredible - being on stage in China or Japan was an experience I think we are all grateful for - a few years ago I would never have thought that possible. And it is an experience of touring you want more of. But creating an album is a mixed experience - writing involves both excitement and tension, particularly if there is a difference of view in the direction of a song - but when the final product takes shape it is exciting - because you know it represents your band in the next level of the bands evolution, and it is inspiring, because as the album comes together your thoughts turn to what you want to create for your next album.
How does the new work compare to your back catalogue in terms of style and sound? Is this evolution or revolution?
Greg: Evolution. We are a band inspired by a sound that we aim to build upon - and someone from a similar musical background will identify with what we are trying to achieve, and from where our music has been inspired. For me, Metallica, Sepultura, Slayer, Neurosis, Meshuggah, Napalm Death or Machine Head are bands that were revolutions in the direction of the heavy music I listen to - to me, those bands created a sound that revolutionised the form. I think Truth Corroded has been a band that has embraced the revolution and sought to build on it.
In terms of the new album - the songs are a step on from the ' Warlords ' album - some are faster, others are heavier. There are more dimensions on ' Worship The Bled ' than on ' Warlords ' which was a more unrelenting thrash assault. The new album continues to push that part of our sound, but we have expanded on a heavier edge with the new songs. In this respect it is an evolution.
Talk us through the guests and what they’ve brought to the record...
Greg: The guests are Kevin Talley from DAATH and who has also played with bands such as Misery Index ( who are a big influence on us ), Dying Fetus, Devildriver and Chimaira. Kevin has been involved with some incredible bands - many of which have been a big influence on us. We sent Kevin the songs with a drum machine guide, and he interpreted the songs, added his own distinct style, and produced an incredible result. It also provided a new perspective that allowed us to develop some new ideas for the songs.
The other guest is Jonas Kjellgren from Scar Symmetry. We contacted Jonas to mix our last album ' Upon The Warlords Crawl ' as we liked his production on the Carnal Forge album ' Testify For My Victims '. Jonas really understands our sound, and is great to work with. We asked Jonas to not only mix and master our new album but to also contribute a solo.
Are you doing anything special (or using any special equipment) in the studio to make “Worship The Bled”, or are you quite a traditional recording band?
Greg: This album was very different in the process - it has been created in Australia, drums recorded in the U.S, tracked in Australia and finalised in Europe. Global metal!! As such the album relies on sending files of music across to the U.S and Europe - for us each album has been different, when we first started out we recorded our demo in analogue - each step in our recording experience has seen developments in how recording has been revolutionised.
Any stand out songs you can tell us about yet?
Greg: 'The Great Waste Of Flesh' is a stand out song - one of the heaviest we have ever written. 'Dragged Beneath' has an intense close that involves multiple layers and an added string section to capture a particular feel we were after. Album opener 'Knives Of The Betrayed' is our answer to the last album opener on 'Warlords' (Crown The Apocalypse - which is a straight for the throat thrasher ). The song has a death / black metal edge. The last song 'Summon Abyss' is huge and will feature our former lead guitarist Corey Grieve.
As you say, the album is being mixed and mastered all the way over in Sweden. What was behind the decision to do this work on the other side of the world?
Greg: Jonas is awesome. He provided a great sound to our last album and has been really supportive of what we do. Working with Jonas completes the Truth Corroded picture - and when it came to planning our new album, we contacted Jonas - we had no intention of looking at options - and we will work with him on our next album as well.
When is the album scheduled to come out?
Greg: At this stage we have not scheduled a release date. Once the recording is complete we will start working on the schedule and consult with some European, U.S and Japanese labels for a regional release. Me and the singer (Jason) run our own label in Australia (Truth Inc Records) that represents not only Truth Corroded but also several other Australian bands - so the album will be released in Australia through the Truth Inc Records label.
I think it will be an early 2011 release.
Are you planning a big tour on the back of the new release? Any chance we’ll see you in the UK?
Greg: We are - it is in the planning right now - and Europe / Japan is the aim following the Australian tour. We really want to get to the UK - but at this stage the tour is possibly Germany, France, Italy, Russia and Spain. But the UK is likely (we hope).
What is a TC gig like?
Greg: We are fortunate (as I mention above) that there is a younger audience embracing thrash in Australia - the energy they bring to a show is immense. Our songs inspire thrashing, slamming, diving and crowd surfing - depends on where we are playing - but the energy in the music forces a reaction. I think some of the most intense crowds we have performed to have been in China - cant wait to go back there! Japan also - the crowds are great and welcoming. The Thai crowds are great to party with - they hang out after a show and do countless pics, autographs and shots of whiskey! Cant wait to see what Europe will offer!
Any question you love being asked that I’ve missed? If so, what’s the answer?
Greg: Haha - no not at all - this was a very comprehensive interview. Thanks for your support!
What are you up to once you’ve finished answering these questions?
Greg: Are you hitting on me? Haha - cooking a curry actually (our publicist Alex will love that!)
Anything else you would like to mention?
Greg: If you are reading this interview and have not heard the band, then please check us out at http://www.truthcorroded.com/ and http://www.myspace.com/truthcorroded. Contact us if you like what you hear. And please continue to support Rock Realms - thanks for the support and chance to get our music out there.
Cheers and thrash from down under!
Thanks again to Greg for his time.
