Legacy Mag 2/03 1: Please first of all give us a short band history as I haven't heard of SOULLESS before! Jim Lippucci: We started this band around 1996. Soon there after we recorded a 10 song demo which we eventually released ourselves on CD. We passed the time playing gigs, trying to promote the CD, and looking for a label. We put out a 3 song demo in 2001 in an effort to get signed. WorldChaos eventually decided they would put out our next full length, and here we are… Wayne Richards: We formed in the Cleveland area in late 1996 in the spirit of the best of the old 80s thrash bands with some early 90s death metal tossed into the musical mix. 2: Is the name SOULLESS inspired by the classic "Soulless" album of Swedish death metal oldies Grave? JL: Not really but yes. WR: No…possibly….yes. WR: We sent them some of our stuff and they signed us. We have already received excellent support and promotion for the album from Worldchaos Production. A plethora of labels received our 3 song promo, but few labels were interested in putting out this record. Now that the record is out, a certain label has expressed interest in licensing the record here in the United States. 4. How about your influences? What bands inspired you for SOULLESS? Are Swedish bands a big influence of you? JL: I love Sodom, Kreator, Destruction, these bands made some of the best music ever. These days I can’t help but love all the pissed Swedish bands…Centinex, The Haunted, Carnal Forge…I have to wonder what’s going on in that corner of the globe… WR: Metallica, Slayer, Kreator, Sodom, Celtic Frost, Voi Vod, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Motorhead, Black Sabbath, Razor, Entombed, Dismember, At the Gates. The Swedes play the best metal. 5. I
would say that SOULLESS is definitely more Thrash as Death Metal? Do you
agree? Are you standing closer to the Thrash Metal scene or do you hate
it to be categorized? WR: We are definitely a thrash metal band. We draw some death metal influence as well, but primarily we rage with pounding thrash! 6. Where did you record "Agony's Lament"? Are you satisfied with the production? JL: We recorded the album at the Mars Studio in the desolate farmlands outside of our home town of Cleveland, Ohio. I think it is one of the best studios to record metal here in the US. We’ve known the engineer for a long time, and he has recorded many great metal bands. We were very happy with the production. Everything turned out more or less as we had hoped, although there was never enough chicken. Hopefully we’ll have a bigger budget for the next album. WR: We are absolutely overjoyed and thoroughly pleased with the outcome of this record. 7. What can you tell me about the lyrics - are they important in your concept? Please give me some insights about the topics you're dealing with. JL: The
lyrics I had written before we adopted the name Soulless were somewhat
grim, which inspired the name to some extent. The lyrics were, in turn,
very much inspired by the music which was desperate, angry and forlorn.
The lyrics cover many topics, from fears and emotions to reflections on
the sad state of man. I get angry at much in the world, from the actions
of the lost human filth around me, intoxicated by the numbing liquor that
is religion and Jerry Springer, to our own inability to treat our fellow
humans in a respectful, decent fashion. Sometimes I get a beer, and it
is very warm or smells like an ass… This also makes me very upset.
All of these things end up in the lyrics. JL: We
hail form Cleveland, Ohio which I suppose is in what they would call the
northeastern portion of the United States Midwest. Cleveland has a somewhat
large urban center which gives way to miles of cookie cutter suburban
homes which eventually converge onto wooded areas, smaller towns and even
some farms. There is a somewhat active scene here. You may have heard
of yesteryear thrashers Destructor or Purgatory. Now we spend time with
the likes of Nunslaughter, Somnus, Spawn of Satan, Manticore and Descend
to name a few. We try to play as many shows as possible…I’m
not sure how many we’ve played together… 9. How old are you guys, what are you doin beside the music? JL: I
am very old. I have a horrible job and make no money. Besides this band
I have no life. Next question. WR: As
long as we have a label that will give us the best promotion possible,
the financial support to continue putting out records and eventually tour
support, we will be pleased. Eventually we would love to tour Europe and
have some money come out of this band, but for now we will continue doing
what we can to promote “Agony’s Lament.” WR: This album is really our first step in becoming what we desire to become. It is a solid thrash album and we are pleased with the outcome. There is little that we could have improved upon to make this a better record, and based upon a majority of the responses we have gotten there is little room for improvement. We will continue making quality thrash records. 12. Did you already write new material? JL: Wayne seems to always be writing new material. When he’s not rockin’ out in one of Ohio’s many Coffee houses with his band Goosebread or heatin’ up the neanderthal nether regions of some cave bitches with prehistoric punishers Caveman, he’s right there with some rippin’ new thrash riffs and a twelve pack of inexpensive domestic ale. WR: I
like Bass Ale as well. We have two new songs and are presently working
on a third. We are still waiting on lyrics though. JL: I
don’t know much about the operations of WorldChaos, but I must say
they kick ass. They’re getting this shit out there. We hope to go
to Japan soon, but it’s very expensive...I think it’s very
likely. JL: That
would depend… if you’re thinking realistically probably Nunslaughter,
Centinex and King’s-Evil. That would kill the whole planet. If you’re
thinking like total fantasy kinda shit, then probably “Sabbath Bloody
Sabbath” era Sabbath, Iron Maiden and Judas Priest (pre-Ripper).
Everyone would hate us. JL: Fleshcrawl
is very cool. Very good old bands, Tankard, Vendetta, Exhumer, of course
Sodom, Kreator, Destruction… 16. What are your plans for 2003? JL: Many shows, in the US and overseas, beyond that I have no plans… WR: Soulless will Thrash in many places and spread the word of metal! 17. Any last words? JL: Please check out our site, www.soullessdomain.com and the WorldChaos site, www.world-chaos.com. Horns to the Heavens!!! WR: You’re in the right place if there’s some metal in your face. Thanks
for the interview and good luck with SOULLESS in the future. |