PHILM Frontman Talks 'Dimebash 2010', Upcoming Shows With HALFORD In New Audio Interview

On November 8, Aniruddh "Andrew" Bansal of Metal Assault conducted an interview with guitarist/vocalist Gerry Nestler (CIVIL DEFIANCE),of the Los Angeles-based experimental post-hardcore triumvirate PHILM. You can now listen to the chat using the audio player below.

PHILM — which also features in its ranks SLAYER drummer Dave Lombardo and bassist Pancho Tomaselli (WAR) — will open for HALFORD on the following shows:

Nov. 10 - Seattle, WA - The Showbox
Dec. 09 - Chicago, IL @ House Of Blues (WLUP Christmas Show)
Dec. 13 - Dallas, TX @ House of Blues
Dec. 15 - Denver, CO - Ogden Theater
Dec. 17 - Los Angeles, CA - Wiltern Theater
Dec. 18 - San Diego, CA - 4th & B
Dec. 19 - Anaheim, CA - The Grove of Anaheim

While there are elements of metal detected throughout PHILM's sound, the band manages to also incorporate such other styles as jazz, ambient, hardcore punk, experimental, and funk into its unpredictable, cacophony-heavy style. An obvious reason for this multi-genre amalgamation can be directly linked to the gentlemen that play alongside Lombardo in PHILM — Tomaselli is a long-time member of funk rockers WAR, and Nestler fronts prog metallists CIVIL DEFIANCE. Add it all up, and you get the wonderful world of PHILM.

As Lombardo himself explains, expect the unexpected from PHILM. "When people hear about my involvement in PHILM, they automatically assume that it will compare to SLAYER's sound," he says. "They couldn't be more different. PHILM's sound is almost bi-polar — very unexpected of something that I would be so passionate about, and be a part of. I have scaled down my drum set to a four-piece, reminiscent to the drummers of the late '60s that influenced me. Each song is unique in itself, I like to refer to it as 'rhythmic emotion.' It's almost like taking all the heavy songs of the 60's and bringing that era to a modern plateau, then blending them with the modern trance and psychedelic sounds of today. When I think of PHILM, that's where I go."

PHILM continues writing material, and has just completed a four-song demo at East West Studios.

With one fell swoop, PHILM shoots down the famous theory of "strength in numbers," as few rock bands in history comprised of only three members effortlessly manage to create such mammoth slabs of noise metal. Prepare yourself for the sonic onslaught of PHILM!

In a recent interview with AOL's Noisecreep, Nestler stated about PHILM's formation, "Dave and I first got together in 1997 to start an original band. We later regrouped between SLAYER's scheduled tour dates in late 2009, playing some upstairs jams at the Rainbow in Hollywood. We then decided to restart our band. Pancho had met Dave a few years back at one Dave's drum clinics and we decided to invite him in."

Regarding PHILM's sound, Nestler said, "The music of PHILM is channeled through the many different influences of drum and bass, expressionism, and underground that ranges via ancient and indigenous to street. There are many different things that Dave and I have been into that have contributed to the vision of PHILM. Pancho's highly skilled bass playing, chordal color and shape have helped expand the overall sound instrumentation and groove. Dave Lombardo's drumming goes without comparison, except that it might be said, to quote Pancho that 'it's like playing with the seven, not four, horses of the Apocalypse behind you.'"

For more information, visit the PHILMFacebook page.

Interview (Audio):