TERROR Frontman Discusses New EP, Illegal Music Downloading

Mark Carras of RockMyMonkey.com recently conducted an interview with TERROR vocalist Scott Vogel. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow:

On releasing the group's new EP via Reaper Records:

"Well, there's a few reasons. First of all, he's one of my best friends. We've been signed to Trustkill Records, which is an independent label, but on a larger scale. We've put out three records with them. We've fulfilled our contract. We're free right now to sign with whatever label we want, which is kind of exciting. But we just wanted to put out an EP on, if anyone knows about Reaper Records, it's a tiny label. So we just wanted to do something kind of on a smaller scale. It's just kind of for fun. We recorded it in our drummer's studio. We just kind of did it going in with the vibe of just like kind of when the band started, without worrying about how great the distribution would be, or blah, blah, blah. We just put it out with our friend, and did it with a real positive attitude."

On being unique within the hardcore scene:

"I would definitely say our live show is a step above the energy and, I guess the madness that ensues at our live show is a step above most bands. Unique. I think TERROR is definitely a band that definitely holds on to the traditions of hardcore, and where it started, the sound, you know. We definitely respect and learn from a lot of the bands that started this. As where today a lot of bands that call themselves hardcore don't even know, I guess, what that means. But within that we also, there's definitely a metal sound to TERROR. We incorporate a lot of things from outside the hardcore scene. We're definitely not closed-minded. I think one thing that we can do that's unique is play to any sort of crowd. We've toured with BEHEMOTH. We've toured with… I could go through a whole list of bands we've toured with. But we go out there and play to any type of person anywhere at any time. We're not trying to fit into any certain mold. We'll always be a hardcore band, but you know, we definitely go against the grain in a lot of aspects. And I think there's… I don't know, I can't pinpoint where it is. But there's something about the band that all sorts of genres can take interest in."

Most personal song on the new EP, "Rhythm Against The Chaos":

"You know, it's hard for me to pick out one song. I'm really happy with the lyrics on the whole thing. I wouldn't write a song that I don't think is important to me personally. Or some of the songs we write are more reaching out, not so much personal, but definitely I think something that hardcore does that's different than all forms of music is if you don't have lyrics that are saying something then I don't think you're a hardcore band. You're just a rock band or something. So you know, I'll just take the first track, because it's the first track. The song is 'Rhythm Amongst The Chaos'. Basically what that's saying is a lot of people, like myself, that I meet in all forms of music growing up in this world, whether you're rich or poor, or live on the East Coast or the West Coast, or in Japan. A lot of the people I meet have a lot of hard things in their lives and a lot of confusion. And that song is just basically about finding music and traveling and finding all sorts of bands and what they're saying, and meeting people through music, and kind of finding a world underneath the ugly world we live in, and kind of finding music as an escape to get away from all the bullshit."

The cover song "Kick Back":

"You know, the reason we actually picked that is that at our first couple of shows, maybe our first three shows ever, we covered that song. And BREAKDOWN is a band, the band that wrote the song is a band that we really like. And getting Vinnie from JEDI MIND TRICKS who is a hip hop group out of Philadelphia that… The way we met them, is I'm not sure exactly how it started, but we did a track, a remix of one of their songs, maybe two years ago. And Vinnie is someone we like to hang out with. He's got kind of the same attitude we do. He definitely is really into a lot of the same music that we are. So to have him actually… he's never, as far as I know, he's never like screamed or sang to heavy music. He's an M.C., he's a rapper. To have him do it was really cool, and it came out amazingly. He needs to start a band. His voice came out amazing."

On downloading:

"It's kind of a fine line, where I'm torn between being in a band. I've definitely always been the type of person that you know, I've been in a lot of bands that put out demos, and just want people to hear the music I make. I never really got into this thinking I was going to be rich. But it's kind of scary that to take for instance this new EP. It's online available for download now, and it's not even out yet. I think it's cool that people can get our music so easily, especially in places like when we go to South America or Mexico and people really can't actually afford it, that they can download it and have our music. I think that's cool. But I think it's just wrong that you put so much hard work and a label pays, I don't know, ten, twenty, a hundred thousand dollars for a recording, and people just take it. I don't know. I think it's great that more people come out to our shows and know our songs, but I really wouldn't mind being compensated for all the hard work and time and effort that goes into writing a song. Another thing that I hate about it is, lyrics now, no one gets lyrics. When people download a record, they just have the music and they can kind of make out the lyrics, but no one reads lyrics anymore or pays attention. It's just watered down to music, and that to me is a horrible thing. I think it's going to come down to where bands, if they care, need to start like making photocopies of their lyrics and having them at their merch table, or posting them online and stuff like that, so people-music to me-I listen to all sorts of music. I listen to a lot of rap crap that has nothing to say. Not to say that there isn't hip hop that has a really lot of wonderful things to say, but a lot of crap. But you know the music that means the most to me is something that is saying something. So I think that's really getting lost with downloading."

Check out the entire interview in text and audio format at this location.