MANIC DEPRESSIVE

The OXYGEN channel is really fucked up during the day. I got really intrigued by some of the shit they were showing. Shows like "SNAPPED" and "CAPTURED" really do a good job telling stories of women and men who decide to kill their spouses/families over money and shit.. FUCKED UP. Anyways, I always joke with Kendall when she gets mad at me.. I'll whisper.. "snaaaaapppeed.." she hates it.

This picture doesn't really mean anything, just looks hard.

sunday chillin'

Let's see... Well today (and this past week) have been great. I'll start from the top I guess. I quit my job at Aldino's because that place was really wearing me down mentally. All my stress really started to wear off on my home life and Kendall and I had been at each others' throats for the past 6 months. I have a new job at The Roaring Fork that I really enjoy. Needless to say my marriage is right back where it should be, which is a very relaxing feeling. Kendall decided to go to school this next semester which is also a huge relief, I'm not in the state of mind right now to do school so I am glad she stepped up. Evan is really beginning to develope his personality and it couldn't be cuter. Musically I have not been doing much, although I would like to. As soon as everyone gets back from Europe I would like to get the ball rolling with some projects....

1) 2nd BITTER END LP - I want this to be something that I can really be proud of, something that can potentially change the face of metal/hardcore. I have a ton of heavy riffs/ideas right now that need to see the light of day. It's really getting old trying to infuse other styles with my own. (nyhc, clevo, 90's, etc...) I want to do something I can call "my own."

2) Demo songs with James and possibly Reed. These guys will always have my respect as some of the best musicians at their age. So young, talented, and driven I just can't help but want to be a part of whatever they do musically. I know this stuff will be fresh and extremely melodic. These two have a knack for creating music that rips your heart out and screams at your soul.

I have been spending a ton of time with family lately and it's a good feeling. My in-laws are so loving and caring I couldn't have been luckier. My sister Bethany has been in town this past week and it's awesome to see her. Other than that not much is going on, just trying to make rent and trying be a good husband/father/son.

London Calling...

So all my friends (BITTER END) are leaving at 5:00 A.M. today to tour Europe for the next 3 weeks. Needless to say I am extremely jealous. When we started BITTER END we basically had 4 goals:

1. Put out a sweet 7". (Mind In Chains on Malfunction Records)

2. Go on tour. (BITTER END / IRON AGE East Coast tour '04)

3. Write an L.P. (Climate Of Fear on Deathwish/Malfunction Records)

4. Go to Europe. (BITTER END / MELTDOWN Euro tour '08)

It's really tough to not be in the position to go with them, I put a lot of effort into this band. However, when I had to dip out and take the backseat for the past year and a half these guys kept it going. They definitely deserve this. European Hardcore is really strong and has supported BITTER END since it's inception and I have a feeling they will do really well over there. If anybody is reading this from Europe, go check out one of these shows...

05/30: Saalfield, Germany @ Klubhaus w/ Meltdown, 50 Lions

05/31: Mol, Belgium @ Gompelhof w/ Meltdown, 50 Lions

06/01: Leeds, UK @ Rios w/ Meltdown

06/02: Newport, UK @ LePub w/ Meltdown, 50 Lions

06/03: Hull, UK @ Ringside w/ Meltdown, 50 Lions

06/04: Birmingham, UK @ The Newt w/ Meltdown, 50 Lions

06/05: Sheffield, UK @ Shakespere w/ Meltdown, 50 Lions

06/06: Colchester, UK @ Cambridge Arms w/ Meltdown, 50 Lions

06/07: London, UK @ 12 Bar w/ Meltdown, 50 Lions

06/08: Lahr, Germany @ Universal Dog w/ Meltdown, 50 Lions

06/09: Paris, France @ LeKlub w/ Meltdown, 50 Lions

06/10: Toulose, France @ Caravan Serail w/ Meltdown, 50 Lions

06/11: Madrid, Spain @ Barracudas w/ Meltdown, 50 Lions

06/12: Barcelona, Spain @ Casal de Roquetes w/ Meltdown, 50 Lions

06/13: Rome, Italy @ Traffice w/ Meltdown, 50 Lions

06/14: Luzern, Switzerland @ Sedel w/ Meltdown, 50 Lions

06/15: Nurnberg, Germany @ Kuntsverein w/ Meltdown, 50 Lions

06/16: Munich, Germany @ Feirwerk - Sunnyred w/ Meltdown, 50 Lions

06/17: Wien, Austria @ Arena w/ Meltdown, 50 Lions

06/18: Warsaw, Poland @ Radio Luxemburg w/ Meltdown, 50 Lions

06/19: Berlin, Germany @ Cassiopeia w/ Meltdown, 50 Lions

06/20: Hoogeveen, Netherlands @ Trash Fest w/ Meltdown, 50 Lions

06/21: Nordhausen, Germany @ Destille w/ Meltdown, 50 Lions

06/22: Lund, Sweden @ Hemgarden w/ Meltdown, 50 Lions

06/23: Munster, Germany @ Sputnik Cafe w/ Meltdown, 50 Lions

06/24: Gent, Belgium @ Frontline w/ Meltdown, 50 Lions

06/25: Hamburg, Germany @ Hafenklang w/ Meltdown, 50 Lions

06/26: Trier, Germany @ Ex-Haus w/ Meltdown, 50 Lions

06/27: Herne, Germany @ Pressure Fest w/ Meltdown, 50 Lions

06/28: Rosswein, Germany @ JH w/ Meltdown, 50 Lions

06/29: Hengelo, Netherlands @ Innocent w/ Bitter End, 50 Lions

BE interview I did

To start it off what is your name / position in the band?

-GRIFFIN MACKENZIE JARZOMBEK - Original member, Lead guitars and Vocals

Climate of fear has been out now for a little while and everyone seems to love it. What is your favorite part about the record?

-Personally I love the random spots of melody we incorporated into Climate of Fear simply because it was unexpected, check out the tracks Phantoms, Vigilance, and The Higher to see what I'm talking about. All of our influences were never afraid to interlace melody amidst the hard riffing or vocal attacks (Cro-Mags, Leeway, Biohazard, The Icemen, True Blue, etc...) in the past so why should a modern band like BITTER END be afraid to? Today's scene seemed to have create this atmosphere with more boundaries and limitations for bands then ever before. Somewhere along the lines the idea's which have carried hardcore like free-expression, acceptance, striving to be different, striving to be an individual, etc..., since it's inception in the early 80's, have been recently altered. Granted there is a general formula which can classify a band as "hardcore," that formula has since been changed from a state of mind which supports the music or vice versa, now, to a "hard mosh band" or "coolest rip off band." Know what I mean? Basically, in my opionion, kids today would rather just be able to mosh hard at the shows, than be able to buy a record and read the lyrics to really relate to the music and the state of mind X band is expressing, and that in turn is really affecting the bands that are coming out. BITTER END really tries to hold on to the roots and ideas of hardcore and I feel that THAT is the reason why we have been getting some attention.

It seems like most bands in hardcore today don't carry a thick political message, or have political lyrics. Mind in Chains doesn't really seem to have much of a political edge, where Climate of Fear is most certainly a political album. What influenced you to make these changes?

-I sort of answered this in the previous question, however I can probably elaborate. Hardcore doesn't call for every band to be politically aware, and that's what makes hardcore so different. In todays music, punk bands strive to be politically aware where as metal bands try to write the most brutal music. Hardcore can balance between the two and also mold itself into whatever genre it can, well atleast that's what I think it is capable of. Like I said earlier the hardcore audience in 2008 just wants to hear sweet breakdowns, unfortunately.
As sophmoric of a record it was, MIND IN CHAINS lyrically was focused more about personal struggles with being accepted into the outside world, breaking the social norms, and a general contempt for liars, cheaters, backstabbers, and FAKE people. As we became more aware of the depressing political state we live in (what semi-conscious human living in today's world couldn't?) along with our obsession with records like Sick of it All's JUST LOOK AROUND, and the Cro-Mags' AGE OF QUARREL, we were able to mix these emotions and obsessions with our progressing musicianship as a band. Thus giving us the confidence to make a record like CLIMATE OF FEAR.

You guys have a 7" coming out sometime soon on Deathwish / Malfunction. What can you tell us about that? Does it pick up where COF left off? Is it heavier? How many songs?

-This 7" due out on Deathwish / Malfunction is most definitely heavier than what we have done in the past. It doesn't have a 'theme' per-say like CLIMATE OF FEAR, but it still is BITTER END playing heavy hardcore. The riffs are definitely our style and the vocals/lyrics are as well. However, we wanted to play a little harder and a little faster than we had done on previous recordings. The 7" is an intro and 2 songs. We dig it. I have a feeling that our next LP is going to be BITTER END'S best work yet.

Band shirts and records are at high demand right now. Shirts can go for up to 100 bucks and records seem to surpass even that. What are your feelings on this new "rare merch" mindset?

-Rare merch can BE cool but unfortunately, atleast in my personal opionion, doesn't MAKE you cool. Wearing a sweet band shirt is supposed to make YOU feel good, not make others think your LykE, TOTalLy KeWl BrAH! Some people think they can buy their way into "coolness" by spending absurd amounts of money on rare merch, not the case tools! As far as money goes, the true collectors I have met spend certain amounts of money on shirts and records with out feeling the need to boast to the world how much they spent, other people think it necessary to tell everyone, I dont think that's too cool. Basically, I think collecting can be rad when kept in moderation, anything beyond that is fine (I understand some people are REALLY into it), but I just don't like hearing about it as if your going to get crazy 'scene points.' A good example of a humble merchman is my boy Chucky Edge. http://whatchedgewears.blogspot.com

Thanks for your time, any other comments? Shoutouts?

Check out the new 7", it should be out soon. Also, check out BITTER END on tour if you can. Vote in the upcoming election. Thanks for the interview.

Everyone I love is... dead.

"Hi Peter, are you happy to be here?"

".... ..... Im less miserable."

Cold World Review

I would like to state that I am only reviewing the songs posted on this Deathwish Audio Player.

ROACHES AND RATS

Sweet little intro with a low distortioned guitar palying behind a good beat. The next intro riff is similar to a bad 90's hardcore riff, but better? The part breaks and cuts into high-hats that transition the first verse, a classic CW move. the vocals kick in with pretty good intensity and sticking with his style Dan Mill's belts out the anthems of a life fucked up, which is cool. However the rhythm guitars kicked in with the same 1/2 level of distortion which bummed me out (especially for this LOA style), I wanna hear HARDcore bands play HARD, CRANK THE SHITTTT PLEAAAASSEEE!!! Immediately I noticed that the bass is much more dominant, however the tone is...different, in a good way though, sounds almost vintage, like an old fender bassman or some shit. They leave the verse with a very cro mags styled transition, you know, ring outs with drum fills... good idea with a pretty good follow through, the drums save the chords hit with the guitar, not too memorable. the next verse is straight AOQ style, good pace with constant chugging. The next riff threw me for a loop but its sorta growing on me, not enough distortion though haha. Very similar to a leeway or LOA style guitar break which leads into a very TRUE BLUE/WORLD COLLAPSE breakdown, basically just heavy crossover thrashing with hints of melody behind it.

all in all the song is alright, about a 5/10.

HOW DEEP

Starts with strumming and a classic CW beat. Lyrics are pretty sweet, same style of screaming about bein fucked up and needing to change the situation. However, Im starting to realize that Cold World doesn't like changing their recipe for verses. The guitars dont really resonate the way I like them to, but whatever. They do a good job on the next part by foreshadowing the fucking awesome vocals about to come. Good use of heavy palm mutes. CW is developing a knack for placing melodic vocals at the right time (the unexpected time), i dig it. The song ended at the wrong time though, they should have kept going with the chugs/singing. Oh yeah, I smell AutoTune "i dont know what to say"...... This guitar solo sounds familiar?

I dig this song, I like the chug part with the singing, sounds fresh. 6/10

TIME TO BREAK DOWN

Starts with a pretty thrashy True Blue/World Collapse styled breakdown riff. Not bad. Then hits you with a good choke while the guitars keep thrashing into a really tight fast part, HARD. I love verse's like these, nice and fast with a sweet crossover feel, Iron Age plays these riffs till their fingers bleed, literally. Coming out of the fast part they kick this this madball styled beat, it reminded me of Hold It Down when freddy screams, "SO BREAK IT DOWN ONE TIME!" But that doesnt quite happen here, instead CW takes the listener on a different journey. Like I said eailier they are really starting to blossom with this whole melody thing, for a second I felt like I was jamming some early seattle shit from the chords alex is strummin. Also good use of the ride cymbal. Then BAM!!!!! .. they hit you with some fucking crazy shit, AMAZING VOCAL PART OVER HARD RIFFING. This is probably one of the best parts they will ever write. The drums shine as well by cutting the beat in a very pantera fashion, 4th notes on the crashes, fucking sweet. To add to this they keep jamming the same riff and throw this awesome fucking solo over it, is that Alex? Perhaps Billy Biohazard??? it gives this whole merauder/SOB feel to it, sweeeeet.

Great song, good structure ... 9/10

This LP is definitely worth checking out, I wanna hear whats beyond these songs, I would also love to hear the stories from the studio as well, Ill inquire the next chance I get to hang with these guys. Check them out at Deathwish Inc. or the Cold World Myspace.