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INTERVIEW: KILL II THIS 15/2/00

Can you tell us something about the history of Kill II This?

"The band was formed about 3 years ago. We originally had an American singer from New Jersey. We released an album called 'Another Cross II Bare' on a really, really small independent label. We toured with Annihilator, Skinlab and Megadeth. 'DV8', which is our last album that came out, was produced by Andy Sneap, who has produced Machinehead, Earthtone 9 and Exodus. With that album we toured with Bruce Dickinson, Soulfly, Entombed, Skinlab and My Ruin and we did some festivals, like the Dour Festival in Belgium. And we just finished recording the next album which is called 'Trinity (voodoo, vice and the virgin Mary)'. Burton C. Bell (Fear Factory) sings on the album and Tairrie B. (ex-Manhole, ex-Tura Satana, My Ruin) does some vocals on the album as well. Burton has got a great voice, he's very professional."

How would you describe your music?

"Our music is a big crossover of styles. It's metal-based, but there's a whole melting-pot of sounds. We take the best elements of different styles and use them in the music. We like all the heavy bands like Fear Factory, we love Korn, we love the likes of Slipknot and Machinehead. But we're a very song-based band. It's very heavy but there's a melody in there."

The lyrics are both written by Mark and Matt.

Is it easy for you (vocalist Matt) to sing lyrics that are written by someone else?

"Matt: My lyrical thoughts are very similar to Mark's, anyway, so it's not like I'm lying when I'm singing. It's like I believe what I'm singing. So it works really well."

Which record inspired you to form this band?

"Initially, years and years ago Thin Lizzy. And Ozzy Osbourne really inspired me."

Which upcoming, new bands are will be big this new millennium?

"I think One Minute Silence. They're good. They just finished their next album, it's gonna surprise the whole world. It's a good album. They're good friends of ours. Earthtone 9 are also gonna carry on. They're doing another album in March or April. And there's a band called Ultraspank. They work on a new album. They're first album was superb."

It's obvious that Kill II This are on their way to become popular, very popular, also outside the U.K. They're next album 'Trinity (voodoo, vice and the virgin Mary)', which is planned to be released later this year and which contains a cover of Frankie goes to Hollywood's 'Two tribes', will definitely help them to gain worldwide fans! (by Bart) 15.Feb.2000

- your new LP came out with much success: are you satisfied with the criticisms which it received?

Mark: Yes, it was very hard to follow upon " Deviate ", which had a very new sound and " Trinity " which is close to it, and it is for that that the English criticisms were not very good. But, in general, I am very content with the reviews: they were excellent in France...

- Are you also satisfied with this album or would like you to change something?

Mark: I am happy with it, but I would have liked to have more time for the album and its writing, the stress surrounding it was very hard to support, our label, the magazines and the group itself put much pressure to exceed " Deviate ". It was the objective: to do better than " Deviate " on the level of the sound, the production, the guitars, the voices: all this led to the great question: is this better than " Deviate "? I believe that " God on drugs " is better than any song on " Deviate ": there is more energy on " Trinity ", .We really took care not to repeat ourselves on this album, even in the acoustic parts of the song, it is completely different.

- What do you think of the legal battle around the Napster site and MP3 files with Metallica and the free downloading of music?

Mark: That relates to me, but a lawyer said to me that the musicians always profited from it, because with each downloading of a song they receive royalties inevitably. But for the moment, that does not occur, and to be honest, I do not know anything about it.

- Everyone knows that if you have a cassette and that you are fan, you will buy the album in the end, then there isn't a loss for the groups...

Mark: Yes, I agree completely.

- to retransmit concerts on Internet would interest you?

Mark: Yes, much; we're not yet there, but it would be great!

- Would you, like members of Pantera, Tool, Death Napalm, like to assemble side projects?

Mark: If the situation arises, yes, but now, Kill II this takes all my time, so not for the moment!

- In the rock scene, you do not have particular look, contrary to many current groups, like Marylin Manson, Slipknot, the groups of black metal...: do you think, as a fan and a musician, that the groups must resemble everyone to be closer to people and to enable them to be identified with them, or on the contrary to be very blazing like Ziggy Stardust, Alice Cooper, Rob Zombie, Manson...?

Mark: It depends on what you feel personally: Marylin is obviously very at ease with its image. I could not do it. We concentrate only on the music and the emotions, and not on a costume. Groups like Coal Chamber or Static-X have an incredible image, but the music does not follow, and it is the music which counts. Slipknot is different, they are incredible live, the album is brilliant, the image is secondary compared to the music. It was fantastic to tour with them.

- It is the third time that I see you in France in 2 years: do you like to play here?

Mark: It is super to play in France: the food is delicious, and people and the public at the concerts are brilliant, like yesterday in Lyon, where the kids jumped in all directions.

- What do you want to say about " Trinity "?

Mark: People ask us questions about the subtitle of the album and that relates to contradictions in life and the world in general; for example, if one examines the 20th century, technological progress is extraordinary, man goes to the moon and during this time, one the third of the world dies of hunger. There is a contradiction with the human race, because there is technology which should make life easier and more comfortable, whereas the 20th century was systematically cruelest and most fatal of the history: Hitler, PolPot, etc; this is what reflects in " Trinity " These contradictions in life, exist within the religions also, the principal message of Christianity is lost, the faith in God, the infinite love, eternity, all these contradictions are expressed in " God on drugs ", the man who turns his back on God.

- the next stage?

Mark: A video for " God on drugs ", some festivals in England and perhaps an American tour with Megadeth, promoting " Trinity ": The USA should be the next stage. Visible Noise is a very small label, one day we hope to be on an American label.