Pyrexia doesn’t look for a hand out
interview with Chris on 24-03-2004
Please give us a short introduction of yourself?
Greetings ......thank for the interview. I ve been playing in PYREXIA since its inception in 1990...and plan to continue for as long as people will listen ...and probably even if they don’t....I love playing Death Metal ....its to me the most unappreciated form of music there is ...but the most satisfying to play and write.
How does it feel still making music after more than 10 years?
Its great .....we ve always gone through long periods between releases ....but the time between this release and our last was the longest. It feels great to finally have some new material out there....we can’t wait to release the actual full length later this year.
What do you consider as the highlight in the Pyrexia history? Why?
There are no real highlights .....I think we put out some solid releases over the years ...that for one reason or another never got the distribution or promotion that was needed to take PYREXIA to the level I think we should have achieved by now ....but that’s part of the motivation that keeps me writing and putting out albums ....I truly believe in our material ...and now that we have good distribution with this release ....I think we re finally gonna be able to reach enough people to really start to make a much bigger dent in the Metal scene.
What is the motivation for playing death metal? Never considered to play more commercial music?
The two are really different. I ll never stop playing Death Metal because like I was getting at before ....I love the style ...the complexity ...the feel of the breakdowns ...the agony in the vocals ...Its without question ..when done well ...my favorite type of music ...and I would never change the style of PYREXIA to anything but Death Metal ...but I do like to write and play all kinds of different music and I’m involved with several different projects that are by no means Death Metal. I have to feel any type of music to want to play it.
Did the bands history ever covered your expensives? Is it possible to make a living with Pyrexia? What do you do to keep alive?
Never brother ....haven’t made one dollar from PYREXIA ...in fact just the opposite ....cost me thousands over the years to keep it going ...but that’s not why I play Death Metal. The fact is though ...now with the program we have in motion ...the promotion and distribution ...as well as plans to tour constantly in 2004 ...anything is possible in the future.
Why did you started with Rex Records? Disappointed about labels attitude and their proposals?
Definitely ...the bigger labels look at Death Metal bands as none profitable ...it just doesn’t move the kind of numbers like a rap or country superstar....the smaller labels are pretty much half the time fans of Death Metal that decided to start a “Label” ...and they have no money to invest in your band or idea of the costs of a good production or promotion campaign...so I found it necessary to find someone who would distribute our releases rather then sign with a label ...Crash gave me that opportunity so I started Rex Records. No one is gonna believe in your band as much as you yourself do...now that PYREXIA is available in retail stores and I know exactly how many units are sold because I’m the one who presses them ...I’m willing to invest whatever it takes to make PYREXIA get the chance I think we deserve to showcase our music to the rest of the world. I think we have a lot to offer.
Is CBS a full length or a single with 8 bonus tracks?
“Cruelty Beyond Submission” is actually Three new songs with 8 re mastered older songs. It’s a way of us breaking back into the scene and to promote our new upcoming full length that will be released later this year. Letting people know to batten down the hatches ...that PYREXIA is back with new stronger material...the three new tracks are a taste of what’s to come, the older are to remind where we came from.
How will the new disc be? Will it cause some shockwaves in the scene?
So far the response to the new material has been 99% Amazing. We ve gotten a couple of dozen reviews by now as well as plenty of fan response and it’s been nothing but Incredible...other then a couple of insignificant haters ..that over the years have either decided they hate New York ..or PYREXIA for one reason or another ..but never because of our music. The biggest complaint is that people want more then just three new tracks. And that can only be a good thing ...there’s no question this release should cause a stir in the scene... and when the full length is released all questions of our ability to deliver another ultra aggressive , open face surgery type of release will be answered.
Did you notice the change of the UG in the last 10 years? What is your opinion about the UG scene today?
It goes up and down ...for a while there it was getting pretty dry. I think I see resurgence for Metal and Death Metal in the younger kids again ...which is what we need in order to get the kind of underground movement that was in action back in the early nineties.
How many boiled eggs can you eat in 2 minutes without puking?
Shit ....none.
Already plans to invade worldwide stages? Even some places you want to play as a favorite?
Hell yeah. We know we need to tour to gain any true recognition as a Force of Devastation...because our live show is everything. We ve never toured in the past mainly due to job interference...everyone in this line up is set to take to the road with a vengeance...we need to get overseas ASAP ...that’s where we need to start.
Why do you use the iron cross as a symbol? Do you share interest in world wars?
The Iron Cross is just a strong symbol we use that is more related to Motorcycle building and riding ...even though it was used in WWII as a symbol of hate...that is not why we ve used it ....we have no love of war or hate .....it’s just a cool looking logo.
What is your favorite tattoo and why? Do you also get some free inks from Zig?
I kinda like all my ink ....hard to choose....I haven’t gotten any work from Zig ...but shit ..I think the album cover would make some mean skin drilling.
Having some fascination for body manipulation or mutilation? And I don't mean breast enlargements!
Nah ....the only thing I’ve ever done is get inked.
How is your family situation? Having a wife and kids? Do they support you? Proud of their brutal dad?
No wife or kids.....most of my other family wants nothing to do with the music.
What is important to learn our children? Do you have some wise philosophy?
Yes. Work hard ....don’t look for a hand out. Take responsible for all your actions. Treat people with respect and you ll get the same in return.....and never stop believing in yourself.
Which movie is giving a good impression of NY?
Hmmm ....maybe Dog Day Afternoon.
Why are Americans so patriotic? All white Americans are immigrants! So there are no real white real Americans?
Its not about being white at all .What it is about is people coming to America and wanting to change and ruin the history of this country and what it was founded for. If I move to France ...I don’t expect France to be America ...and if I want to live there ...I need to adapt to France ...not expect France to Adapt to me. When my great grandfather immigrated to America from Italy ...he didn’t speak any English ....had no money , and knew no one. He worked hard to learn English ...get a job and make a life for himself and his family ...without trying to change America ....he came here to BE an American. His son ....my grandfather went to war to fight for this country. The people today , not all of them , but a lot of people that come to America today ..don’t come here to BE Americans....and work hard to fit in and make a life for themselves....they wanna suck our system dry of all the free resources like welfare and unemployment ...and they contribute nothing to society....and then badmouth our country for not making everything easy for them and providing for them....as well as not going through the process of immigration and sneaking into America in illegal ways then claiming to be legitimate citizens and expect to be given free medical and food support at the cost of taxpaying Americans. That is the problem.....the immigrants today are not the same as the immigrants of 50 – 100 years ago.
What is the strangest object that entered your rectum?
My rectum is an Exit only my friend.
Last rites?
Just wanna say thanks again for the interview and support. Be great for everyone to go out and pick up our new release “Cruelty Beyond Submission”. Visit our website www.PYREXIA.us. We look forward too seeing everyone on the road overseas and in America in 2004.
