THE RETRIEVER September 7, 2004 Features 17 Exhibiting all of the finer points of Paul Iwancio metalcore: Marytr AD and Haste the Day strums up fun

Interview with Haste the Day After that brief interview with Martyr AD, I happened to run into Devin Chaulk, Jason Barnes and Mike Murphy of Haste the Day. They were more than happy to do an impromptu interview on Haste the Day’s background.

How did you start out as a band? Devin: Well, Brennan and I are brothers, and some of the guys knew each other from high school. We’ve always had our interest in music. Before we started out, some of the guys were in high school, and I was in college. We from PAUL IWANCIO, page 14 played at smaller venues back then. there is so much to recommend in Paul Iwancio What are your musical influences? the person; when one is only dealing with the enti- Jason: Anything from rock to hardcore. ty of Paul Iwancio the musician, that music can Devin: I guess I’d say Living Sacrifice, but become a little repetitive. Brennan listens to a whole lot of the softer stuff. All in all, though, Friday’s coffeehouse was a great way to spend a little time indulging in some- What would you classify yourselves as? thing that is an exercise purely in fun and loveli- Devin: Some sort of a melodic metal- ness. I think that Iwancio, in time, will become a core. We’re not all that dark; a lot of our music true artistic force, combining his already-present is a happier sort of rock. Our music is a whole open likeability with remarkable musical ability. Darla Mercado [Retriever Staff] lot of fun, and we think that our live show Spending money on his albums and especially on The penultimate band of the night: Martyr AD screamed and headbanged along with the audience. reflects that. We just want to have a good time. his concerts is money that is absolutely well spent. A whole lot of the metal-core out there tends Information on Paul Iwancio can be found at from MARTYR, page 14 believe that the church has taken God out of to have a darker feel to it. www.pauliwancio.com. On Saturday, September it. We once played in this community cen- 25th there will be a CD Release Party in broken bass pedal, so I told him, “Hey, get a ter/church, and the pastor got angry and start- Has living in Indianapolis influenced your Baltimore, at the Patterson Theatre. double bass pedal and join Martyr AD.” Then ed telling the kids not to mosh or dance music? Is there a large hardcore following there? we started getting offered chances to play at because he didn’t agree with it. First, he told us Devin: Indianapolis probably didn’t do bars, so I called Andy, whom we’ve known for that if the kids didn’t dance, he’d give them too much for us. They’re a lot more into the a long time, since we needed a singer. their money back. Then, he came out and told thrash hardcore. There’s a real respect for the Taking Back the kids to just leave because they weren’t old-school hardcore in Indianapolis. What were you doing before Martyr AD? going to get their money back. Charlie: Well... I tried college, but then I There has been an increase in the amount of Sunday stuns got out of that. Have you ever clashed with Haste the Day bands that are creating overtly political Andy: We have jobs aside from this, (who happen to be a hardcore Christian music. What do you make of this trend in though. When we’re not touring, I usually get band) because of your different perspec- the music? a temp job somewhere. tives? Mike: It’s really nothing new for music to We’ve always been respectful about their be political. I think that aspect has always been Do you have any favorite touring experiences? ideas. We’ve had shows where some kids there. We choose not to be a part of it though. Andy: (laughs) This one time in would want to see only Haste the Day, and We’re not taking any sides in what’s going on Indianapolis when we were on tour, we were they would wait outside until we were done today in politics. watching another band. Karl decided he was with our set. We respect that, though. going to try a stage dive. Right when he was What bands do you hope to tour with in the doing it, the crowd just shifted, and he fell Since there’s not only a married couple future? Would you ever consider doing Ozzfest? right on his face. At first we felt really bad (Joel and Tara are married), but also a pair Mike: Bleeding Through, Atreyu, and because he was just lying there, but we found of brothers in the band, you all must have Every Time I Die... out he was fine–so it was hilarious. a family-like bond with each other. Do you Devin: I wouldn’t be opposed to it, but also have your share of family-like clashes it’s not really something we’re pushing for. It’s How have you evolved since Disembodied? because of this? Are you all closer because really expensive to get on second stage, so it’s We’re definitely faster and more techni- of this bond? not a priority at the moment. We’d really like cal. We’ve even changed since our first record: Charlie: (laughs) Oh no. We’re not to be on the Warped Tour, though. We did Courtesy of alterbridge.com Back then, our songs were more like “fast part, brothers. This all started when a magazine did three shows on that tour this year. Rock Roots: Creed members re-emerge in Alter breakdown, fast part, end.” a story on us, and some lazy journalist decid- Bridge ed to just say that Joel and I are brothers just What do you enjoy about coming to Your bio on your website describes your because we have the same last name. No, we Baltimore? from ALTER BRIDGE, page 15 album, On Earth As it is in Hell, as one just have the same common last name. We’ve Mike: I like the sound here [at the that “Takes the emptiness, greed, and all known each other a long time, so we’re all Ottobar]. The crowd’s really good, too. We Tell All Your Friends they would remember deception of this world and turns it into a really close. like it when the kids treat each other with an album full of raw vocals and fast paced vitriolic mixture of aggression and rage.” respect. We love it when they react to our music and this record is no different. Explain your views on this “deception of You have a link to PETA’s (People for the music by dancing and by having a good time. Taking Back Sunday stays true to the sound the world.” How does this play into your Ethical Treatment of Animals) website on Sometimes they just start hitting innocent that many of us fell in love with; they just music? the band’s site. Are there any vegetarians in people, though, and that’s not okay. add a little more icing to the cake. Charlie: That’s a big influence on our the band? This album is polished to perfection; music. I have people in my family who are Tara: Four of us are vegetarians. We did What do you do when you’re not performing? some might think that the musical produc- very religious, and they have been taken some work with PETA a few months ago Devin: A whole lot of waiting–we drive tion detracts from the raw sound that TBS advantage of by the church. when we played in Virginia. They’re [PETA] for hours to get to a venue, then we take time stands upon, but that’s just not the case at Andy: I think religion’s one of the biggest sending a positive message, but we don’t push to set up. Once we’re done getting ready, we all. The mixes on songs like “Bonus Mosh things that’s wrong with the world–especially the values on anyone. Our beliefs in this don’t just wait until we come on. I tend to play on Pt. II” and “Set Phasers To Stun” are phe- when politicians pander to those who have really play any part in our music; it’s more of my GameBoy Advance a whole lot. nomenal; the guitar, drums, and bass flow conservative religious values. Whatever hap- a personal thing. Reach Darla Mercado, scribe extraordi- with the intense vocals perfectly. pened to the separation of church and state? I naire, at [email protected]. This album incorporates new elements such as a strings section on songs like “New American Classic.” These additions take the listener to an entirely new level of music that many bands of the screamo/indie-rock genre can only dream about. There are just too many good things to say about this album so I’ll leave ...Get free stuff. x51260. it at this…if you are a fan of Taking Back Sunday you better already have this CD; if you aren’t a fan or have never given them a try, pick up this album and prepare for an awesome listening experience.