Interviews
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Try to introduce your band. Jim Lippucci:
I sing Would you like
to describe your last album? What's the sense of life for you? Scared you the idea of death? JL: My life is very dumb. Because of that I am not so afraid of death WR: My life is
fabulous, I live for beer, metal & my buddies. Death will eventually
come, but I don’t dwell on it.
WR: Iron Maiden, Metallica, Slayer, Celtic Frost, Voi Vod, Kreator, Sodom, Destruction, Coroner, Entombed, At the Gates, etc… What does inspire your music? (porno and horror movies, marijuana...) JL: I am inspired by the stupidness of my life. Also, marijuana, Mescal and beer. WR: Being in a
metal band is the greatest feeling in the world, and just the thought
of continuing on as we have for the past 6 years inspires me to keep
on pumping out the thrashing tunes!!! JL: It’s cool WR: The US thrash scene isn’t all that great (Deceased is great), but a lot of great European bands still thrash like mad (Dismember, Centinex, Destruction, The Haunted are still kicking ass).
JL: We want to make great fucking thrash and remind everyone how great that shit can be WR: We are here to thrash and rage and kick as many asses as it takes to get our point across that metal still kills everything!!! Do you think the thrash metal is a real attitude or a style of life? JL: Metal is a lifestyle for those who love it WR: I suppose
if you’re into thrash you should probably drink beer and rage
a lot. It is a very comfortable and joyous lifestyle for me. Your
attitude doesn’t matter as long as your not too much of an asshole.
Just be cool and enjoy metal!!! JL: We are very happy with the record. WorldChaos fucking rules!! They are a great label WR: Worldchaos has done a lot to promote Soulless and bring us a step closer to where we want to be as a band. They have really been a fabulous outfit to be a part of and have done everything for us that they said they would. This is a rare thing in music, so we are very pleased to be where we are. We are very happy with the sound and outcome of “Agony’s Lament.”
WR: I deliver
pizza so I can have money to spend on beer & metal. And pay off
college loans and other repair bills for Jim’s house (AKA The
Metal Den). JL: hmmmmm…hmmmmm…not very much it seems…I’d better get busy…Oh wait, I invented the blast beat. WR: I invented
fire and tape trading, and sewers so you can actually get to the underground
area. JL: Extreme has become a cliché. It’s a word that I try to stay away from WR: Extreme was
a gay band with a hot guitar player. JL: They are all ragers, with much headbanging and drinking!!! WR: Our last show
at Annabelle’s in Akron, OH was quite the rager. Lots of good,
cheap draft beers and a quality metal showing by the Akron community
of thrashers! WR: If you don’t have the “Agony’s Lament” CD, You can get it from www.soullessdomain.com We also have lots of good merchandise to make you be as metal as you can be. |
Interview with
SOULLESS Brief interview done on Sunday, February 03, 2002 via email... Ok, I want to thank you guys for taking some time with this short interview. What has SOULLESS been up to lately as far as new stuff, promoting yourselves and in general ?
WR: We've sent the three song to many labels 'zines etc…played a few shows & have written great new material. I know this is old news that Jerry left the band but I was wondering why he left and how did you guys hook up with Jim Corrick ?
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Interview by Burt Wolf with guitarist Jim Corrick, vocalist Jim Lippucci & guitarist, backing vocalist & ball scratcher, Wayne Richards of the Cleveland, Ohio based band SOULLESS. Interview done March 10, 2002. SOULLESS INTERVIEW
3) Why was the
name Soulless chosen for the band? 4) Who or what
has been an influence on you creating your music?
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Soulless are a powerful band based in Cleveland, Ohio. After hearing their debut "Darkening of Days", I was impressed and decided to contact the band to hear their story. Singer Jim Lupucci and drummer Chris Dora got together to answer my questions. This is what they had to say... Justin Lambourne: What would you say Soulless is all about? Jim
Lippucci: We really just wanted to do something a little bit different
than the type of metal that's been coming out as of late. Sort of
combine the best of the new with a little of the style of old that
seems to have been forgotten by a lot of bands. We made a vow to ourselves
that when writing new material we would never dismiss a part because
it's too punk rock or too melodic or too death or anything. We write
what sounds good to us and stay away from any of the established metal
sub-genres (Black, death, grind etc.,) |
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1. Tell me about your first
band, Bloodsick and the scene where you are from Jim Lippucci: We started Bloodsick with the intent to play just simple back to the basics thrash. We really missed the style of metal that we grew up on and thought it would be cool do something a little bit like that. We all knew each other from years in the scene so it was pretty cool jamming together. We recorded a six song demo which was just actually finally released as a split with The Spawn of Satan. Eventually just about everyone involved lost interest and Chris and I decided to move in a new direction. Our scene here is pretty cool, a lot of cool bands and cool metal freaks around the area to drink beer and rage thrash with! Wayne Richards: I wasn't in Bloodsick, but our drummer Chris Dora (who was in Bloodsick) and I are in The Spawn of Satan, and all of the people in our circle of metal brethren have rehearsal spaces in the same building. We all came to know each other here and at shows and alcohol-fueled ragers in Cleveland. The Cleveland metal scene was built around excellent bands of the past like Destructor, Terror, Purgatory, Blood of Christ, Decrepit, Hemdale, Escalation Anger, From the Depths and many others. Current bands like Soulless, Nun Slaughter, Somnus and a few others are keeping the torch of Cleveland metal burning bright. 2. You released a 7"
with Nunslaughter - are they from your area? How did JL: At the time Nunslaughter was in the process of moving to Cleveland. We've known various members of Nunslaughter for years so it was pretty cool to do the record. They are definitely more raw and purely Satanic than Bloodsick…They're great. Bloodsick was more old style thrash, while Nunslaughter is more old school satanic death metal. WR: FACTOID: Nun Slaughter and Soulless (among others) share the same practice space (and occasionally the same women). 3. Tell me about the name
change to Soulless and how the band finally came JL: Various members wandered off and the sound was really changing, so it really wasn't the same band any more. We wanted to sort of start over plus I don't think we ever liked the name too much. Chris had the name Soulless in the back of his mind for a while and we thought it fit really well with the sound and lyrics of the new stuff we were writing. WR: It was not actually a name change. Yes, 3 members of Bloodsick went on to form Soulless, but the early Soulless material is completely different from Bloodsick. Different people were writing the songs and Jim actually sings completely different in Soulless than he did in Bloodsick. Soulless was a completely different band. Jerry (the original guitarist), Tony (original bassist), Chris and Jim had 4 or 5 songs written when I was approached by Chris, who played me the one of the first Soulless rehearsal tapes, and asked me if I would be interested in joining as the 2nd guitarist. At the time I was jamming down the hall with The Spawn of Satan, so I kind of knew these fellas. I liked Dora's sweatpants and the songs, so I joined Soulless immediately. 4. It seems that Soulless
is the perfect blend of the catchy riffs of early JL: Well, I don't know…that's sure pretty flattering…We really just wanted to make the music we wanted to hear, and I think we're all pretty happy with it. I think it's decent thrash…it's kinda pissed off so that's probably a pretty decent assessment… WR: Early 80s thrash and
early 90s death metal…yes, these are our major sources of inspiration.
We are heavily influenced by bands like Kreator, Slayer, Metallica,
Iron Maiden, Celtic Frost, Sodom, Exodus, Coroner, Destruction, Carcass,
Entombed, Dismember, Unleashed, Bolt Thrower, At the Gates, etc… JL: The response was pretty cool. It got some pretty good reviews and almost everything was positive. We really didn't spend too much time in the studio on that record. We really just wanted to get the songs down and get some kind of demo out. We were happy with the way it turned out so we just decided to go ahead and put it on CD with some decent packaging and stuff. We were a little surprised at some of the reviews we got, so it was really encouraging. WR: The Darkening of Days demo was well received in the underground (Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles named it best demo of 1999) and we were pleased with the vast majority of reviews we received. It was recorded quickly and not enough attention was stressed on certain areas of the process, but ultimately we accomplished our goal of recording a quality demo and getting our name out there. 6. Tell me about all of
the tribute Cds you appeared on and the songs you JL: Those recordings were cool because we were afforded a little bit of money to go into the studio while playing songs by our metal forbearers. It really helped us become very comfortable in the studio without blowing all of our own cash. It gave us some time to really look at and adjust our sound and playing and to be very critical and hurtful towards one another…We'd often be overheard to say… "That guitar sound is shit" "your gear is crap" "what makes you think you know how to sing / play / write…" I think the personal attacks laid the groundwork for various members' eventual departures from the band. It also helped Wayne a lot… he was still pretty young and I think he got nervous and frankly a little bit frightened…I think he was only 12 at the time…but he managed to pull it together. It was a very wonderful time that we remember fondly.
7. Tell me about the Soulless
3-song demo and how you came to sign with World JL: We couldn't be happier with WorldChaos!!!!! They've been very cool with everything and are really putting a lot into promoting this release. They're true underground warriors! King's Evil fucking rage, and it is definitely an honor to be associated with them. WR: The "Bleeding Darkness" 3 song promo was sent everywhere and again was well-received. Few good offers were made to us, so we went back to the studio (The Mars Recording Compound) to begin work on another self financed release. Almost half of the album was complete when we received interest from WorldChaos. They asked if we had anything else recorded…we sent them the rough, half-finished recordings which were to become "Agony's Lament" and they signed us. We could not have signed with a better label. It's obvious that WorldChaos puts out great metal (King's Evil, Terror Squad, Grim Force, etc.), and we are extremely happy to be part of the WorldChaos metal family and the first U.S. band on this killer label. 8. Tell me about the recording
of Agony's Lament and the great cover art and JL: We've been lucky enough to have a great studio nearby (Mars Recording) and we've been working with Bill Korecky, the engineer for years with various bands, so things went pretty well. It was really kind of strange…we got rid of our bass player at the same time we decided to go ahead and begin recording the new album on our own. Wayne was going to play bass, and we were going to concentrate on finding a new bass player after the record was done. Then we ended up hooking up with Dave Johnson, our present bass player. He stepped in, learned all of the material in a couple of weeks and really became a key component in the recording process. He definitely helped to solidify the lineup and bring the album together. We really lucked out on our cover art…our original artist let us down at the last minute, leaving us with a finished CD and no art. We were very fortunate to hook up with Matt Cavotta. He got everything done in a week and was really cool to work with. I think everyone in the band really likes it. WR: I would guess the entire recording process took about 20 full days spread out over the course of the Summer of 2002. Bill Korecky is amazing to work with and we always have many beers and laughs with him when we're recording at Mars. The studio is fantastic and Bill's expertise in engineering brings out the best in what Soulless wanted to do with this record. Matt's artwork was shockingly brilliant. We were turned on to him through a friend of ours who Matt had previously worked for (SOMNUS). The concept (from what I gather) is supposed to be a demon in a void, whose posture is being slightly altered by poles and hooks and such. After the concept was discussed, Matt had the art for us in a week. We find the artwork irresistible. 9. Agony's lament is 666
Fucking Skulls in the opinion of SOD magazine. Thank JL: Thank you for appreciating and supporting skull crushing thrash metal! WR: Visit Soulless at www.soullessdomain.com.
We appreciate the support and enthusiasm for metal Sounds of Death
has displayed over the years. We thank you immensely! Let thrash reign
supreme! |
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1 Hello guys, how are things going for Soulless these days? I suppose You're in full promotion of Your "Agony's Lament" just released..? Jim Lippucci (Vocals): Things are pretty cool. We're beginning to really get going on our end of promotion here in the US. We've got a lot of promos and press kits to send out and have a whole bunch of shirt designs being made right now…We're really stoked about the new album. Wayne Richards (Guitar)- Things are well…We're pushing our new album right now, playing some shows here and there and just having a ball with the whole damn thing! 2 It's been about half a year since Soulless got signed to Worldchaos Production... How is the cooperation going? Are You pleased with Worldchaos Production, "Agony's..." promotion, etc? JL: They're a great fucking label. They have really gotten behind the album. They've gotten us on some comps and hooked up some pretty cool interviews and shit like that. Plus they've been distributing tons of flyers and putting ads in 'zines. They put a ton of promos out there to…They're really professional and know how to get shit out there. WR- Worldchaos is an amazing label. They have been more than generous and have done everything they said they would do. They're really doing a good job of promoting the record and getting out it there for people to hear. Soulless is extremely pleased to be a part of the Worldchaos family of metal.
JL: It was a little surprising. From the stuff we'd heard that they put out, we thought Soulless would be a great fit on the label…but we never thought they'd actually be interested in us. When it happened we were blown away and totally honored. We had tried shopping our stuff to American labels, and even though our music kept getting good reviews, nobody really seemed interested. A couple of labels showed some interest, but for whatever reasons they had they decided against us. I sort of think that our music just isn't really the thing in the US right now, and they didn't think we'd sell enough records. There don't seem to be many American bands playing thrash. WR- We sent our promo to
a lot of labels that we thought would be into Soulless enough to get
the proper finances together to put out a quality metal release. Worldchaos
has some good thrash bands that we have some similarities with, so
we thought this label would be into our stuff. Turns out they are
into Soulless in Japan! They really like their thrash over there.
American labels don't give a shit about Thrash anymore. They are more
interested in releasing the next Korn clone/bullshit band to sell
to hundreds of thousands of angst-ridden retarded teenagers. Europe
and Asia are way more into metal than the United States. JL: We're really having a great time playing live these days. This lineup is awesome and I think we feel really comfortable together. We're pretty tight and have been lucky to have chances to play some pretty cool shows. WR- Our live show is always
a good thrashing fun time! We've been fortunate to play with some
of our favorite bands and you can rest assured we'll be playing many
more shows in support of the new record. JL: The Bloodsick demo's been sitting around for years and Jim Sadist (Nunslaughter, Spawn of Satan etc.) has been after me to get it out for a while. He pretty much hooked up the deal with some kids that just started up a new label/distro (Hell's Headbangers - www.hellsheadbangers.com). It's cool to see it out finally. When we formed Bloodsick, I hadn't been in a band for a couple of years. It was a chance to jam with some freaks that I'd always wanted to make metal with. It reminded me how great thrashing metal could be, and taught me the metal is the only path WR- Me too.
JL: We manage by playing thrash and forcing it down kid's throats. It seems every now and then some kid will wake up out of their generic chug riff induced stupor and feel the power that is thrash. WR- When you come to the realization that metal is all that you need, it's quite simple to continue on in the same fashion that you always have (which is basically just living a life filled with disappointment and metal being the primary source of joy.) Beer and chicks also really fuel the creative flames of the Thrashing process…mostly beer, though. 7 How would You describe Your new "Agony's Lament" comparing it with the earlier "The Darkening Of Days"? WR- "Agony's Lament" is far superior to our first recording in every way. It's a pissed-off, vicious and violent whirlwind of in-your-face thrashing metal to pound your head to. It's really a different band at this point. "The Darkening of Days" was recorded as a demo, the production was OK and the songs were good. "Agony's Lament" is what the Soulless lineup should have always been…this is a solid thrash record with excellent production and songs that annihilate the songs from our previous effort. Soulless is extremely pleased with the new album. JL: With WorldChaos' support we were really able to do everything the way we wanted it, from the production to the artwork and packaging. I think we're all pretty happy with the way everything turned out. The first CD was just sort of thrown together and there were many compromises that had to be made because of money and bullshit like that.
JL: A guy here in Cleveland by the name of Matt Cavotta (www.cavotta.com) did the artwork. He's done some other metal art work for Somnus, some friends of ours here in town. We had the album finished, yet the artist who agreed to do the artwork originally basically disappeared. I talked to Matt a couple of times by e-mail, and gave him some simple concepts. He pretty much then went ahead and did whatever he damned well pleased, and got the art done in less than a week! It turned out fucking great.
JL: I haven't seen it. No one really likes me all that much, so I have to go see movies alone or wait till they're on video. It's very depressing, going to a theatre by oneself…all the stupid happy people with their fucking stupid faces… WR- What is a "movie"? It's all going to end in a week? 10 What is Your opinion on the negotiations with all the countries involved with world religion terrorism... Holy war's and shit... all the time wasted, no clear solution, money spent on that would easily be spent on releasing every record on the wolrd! JL: Religion is very stupid. For some it is a positive, enlightening path in life, but for many it is a social and political yoke of oppression. Few people truly believe in or practice the main tenets of their faiths, and many follow blindly, doing as they are told because they are too lazy or stupid to find there own path. To often religion is used to frighten the poor and uneducated allowing deranged zealots and madmen to gain incredible power and wreak havoc on the lives of those who refuse to subscribe to their ludicrous beliefs. Yes, More metal!!!! WR- I'm really not interested in things that don't affect me personally. 11 What other bands/project are Soulless band members involved in? WR- I play guitar in: Caveman (Prehistoric Thrash), Spawn of Satan (Satanic Thrash) , All That Is Evil (Thrash), Goosebread (Acoustic Insanity). Chris Dora (Soulless drummer) is also in Caveman, Spawn of Satan and All That Is Evil.
JL: Well if you are speaking generally, outside of just the metal realm, I would have to decry the state of American radio and music in America as a whole. It's become this big ball of corporate crap, with no variety and a bunch of Nu Metal shit. Fuck all that. Also Metallica turning gay made me very sad. WR- I heard that Freddie Mercury was gay! That shocked me. The whole trend of this gay rapping over stupid chug riffs, and this is what people call metal now???!!! This cannot be good for the future of mankind. When I was growing up it was Iron Maiden, Metallica, AC/DC, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, etc…for the most part, bands that are still around today! Do you really think Disturbed or the 50 gay bands that sound just like them will be around in 20 years? Where is the uniqueness in a band's music? Where is the originality? It is a dismal time for music and it has been bad for a while. I do like metal, though. 13 Suffer The Fallen, Empty Deadness, Terror Of Twilight... Any special message to be found in Your lyrics? What would be the things that inspire You most? JL: Suffer the Fallen and Terror of Twilight are very much inspired by my anger at the destructive nature of organized religion and the manner in which people use religion to deny people of their self worth, their identities, their entire right to self determination…other songs are inspired by my inability to interact socially with anyone and my general disgust with most things human. WR- My riffs symbolize these same ideas. 14 What would be the bands that inspired You mostly in the song writing area? What bands/music are You guys into these days? WR- Metallica, Slayer, Iron Maiden, Sodom, Judas Priest, Exodus, Voi Vod, Celtic Frost, Razor, Entombed, Dismember, At the Gates, etc… Lately been into Centinex, Carnal Forge… JL: Sabbath, Maiden, Blue Oyster Cult, Kreator, Anything Wayne said, Trouble, Johnny Cash…I must give high praise to our Label mates, King's Evil, they fucking thrash. 15 Years ago, most of the music around was created under the influence of drugs'n alcohol abuse. These things seem to be changing for some time now... Would You agree with that? JL: If this is in fact changing then we are at least trying to do our bit to change this disturbing trend. We have been known to consume large quantities of alcohol, and I believe an altered brain is a happy brain. The kids mustn't be afraid of beer. They need to rage; it's the natural order of things. WR- I drink some beers to make the metal good.
JL: I've heard of a certain young Cardinal from Minsk who has been causing quite a stir in Rome. Not sure of his name…They say he'll really turn the papacy on its ear. WR- Someone's bunghole?
JL: People are lazy and fear change…they are desperate for anything to believe in to somehow paint a happy face on their meaningless existences…but what do I know? I can't even get a decent job or haircut. WR- I think it's what the church does offer that makes people shy away from it. The church offers the raping of your children, stealing your money, and waking you up at ten in the morning religiously, by knocking on your door loudly. 18 What would You tell all the narrow minded, blind christian lambs out there? JL: I would tell them "God is dead, Hail Satan! All Hail Adrian!" WR: That's mean, Jim. I would say, "It's too bad that you can't see, but you would make a tasty gyro." 19 Don't You guys get any frustrated, with all the world around watching G.W.B. and the US military trying to "heal the world"... how do You feel about all that..? JL: Let the world watch, I say! I'm sick of people criticizing the US for our policies. Our country has helped save the world from tyranny, liberated people all over the planet from dictators and war. We are known for our boundless charity and most great innovations of the past two centuries were brought about in America. Now we will use our superior technology and shear power to decimate any who threaten our way of existence. It seems the world finds blood distasteful these days, so once again it will be up to the Americans to do the dirty work. And once we're finished other countries will condemn and ridicule us, look down their noses at us…all the while enjoying the freedom and safety that we secure… WR- I'm really not interested in things that don't affect me personally, but I like beer and metal. 20 So, tell us what are Your plans for the nearest future, with a deal in You pocket & a release that's getting such a good response... JL: We just need to promote the fuck out of the new album…spread the word…play shows. I'm hoping that this will score us some chicks, especially chicks with beer and pot…We're starting to get some new material written and I'm thinking of learning to fence, just like Bruce Dickinson. WR- We plan to dominate for a while. You know, take over the reigns and deliver the goods this time around. The metal world is like a big piece of toast and Soulless is the sweet, delicious butter that must be spread generously to achieve thorough enjoyment and complete satisfaction. Thanks a lot for the interview!
Wish You best of luck with Soulless! Would you like to add anythink
to sum it all up? Lord Darnok & Diabolous.com |
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Transcending
the Mundane Jim Lippucci: Great. We were really happy with everything… Wayne Richards: It has been such a long time between releases, we are overjoyed to finally have a quality release on such a great label and receiving such a positive response from Thrashers everywhere! 2. Your cover has some painful imagery- have you ever felt extreme physical pain? JL: On the way back from Kentucky Wayne’s ass seemed to be causing everyone pain…My life is somewhat painful. WR: I had my ribs broken on a rafting trip (hurt like a SUMBITCH)…but I still have not been impaled…My hand was chopped off once (yes…extremely painful), but fortunately the doctors were able to reattach it. I have felt such pain… 3. You appeared on several tribute albums, do you feel that was a positive experience for the band? Are you a fan of tribute albums? JL: Sometimes I think they get a little overdone, but they can be pretty cool… WR: By doing those tribute albums, Soulless received enough funds to do the tributes as well as ample studio time to record the Bleeding Darkness promo without much money coming out of our pockets. Indeed, it was a positive experience…a lot of fun was had and a lot of beer was consumed. I still really only love one tribute album…The Slayer tribute with At the Gates, Dissection, Edge of Sanity, etc…. 4. Do you think World Chaos Production is an appropriate label for Soulless? Why? JL: Yes, they appear to enjoy thrash and we enjoy thrashing so it seems to work well… WR: This is our first proper release and it could not have been with a better label. Worldchaos is an excellent metal label. Bands like Terror Squad, Grim Force and King’s Evil are great Thrash bands that define what this label is. I think Soulless fits in well with Worldchaos’ plans to dominate the Thrash market. Worldchaos Production has done so much to spread the metal gospel of Soulless’ teachings to so many Thrashers that we could not have reached on our own. Worldchaos has brought Soulless to a new level in the metal realm and we are honored to be a part of this fine label. 5. Do you feel thrash is still a viable metal genre in today's scene? JL: It depends on what your definition of viable is I suppose. If you mean will it line the pockets of it’s purveyors with cash, probably not, but I suppose any music genre is viable as long as it has any amount of support. WR: If
you’re into metal it is not possible to live without Thrash.
20 years ago Thrash was at the forefront of the metal movement, and
any true metal freak still believes it is! THRASH TIL DEATH!!!! Go
listen to Kreator and tell me their not “viable” today. JL: I look forward to these releases with some trepidation…while it’s good to see people rejuvenating their thrash roots; let’s hope they don’t defile their good names by making inferior irrelevant music. WR: I
am really only looking forward to the Nuclear Assault…Yes, all
of these bands are way past their prime, but it doesn’t mean
they still can’t put out a decent record. But don’t expect
these new albums to be great, because they won’t be. People
hype up these reunited bands from the 80s and expect them to put out
a record that sounds like the shit they did 20 years ago. Some can
pull it off, but most do not. Perhaps some reunions are done for the
wrong reasons, but in the end it’s the band’s music that
speaks the loudest, not the band’s history or the hype surrounding
these new releases. AS far as the quintessential Thrash band, Early
Metallica is the greatest thrash band ever…they were so far
ahead of their time…brilliant musicians who wrote unforgettable
songs…the first three records are required for an individual’s
life to be worth living. JL: It really helped to get the name out for us and show people what we are capable of. WR: It was our first step as a band. Our first recording made us known in the metal underground and gave us a sense of where we stood among our peers. 8. Have you developed into a band you feel can make a difference in the US metal scene? JL: If by “difference” you mean completely ruin and embarrass, then probably…I’m sure we’ll piss some people off… WR: Without
question. When people hear Soulless they will know that Metal is alive
and well in the United States. In a country filled to the brim with
shit like _______ (fill in the blank with any band you hear a radio
station call “Nu-Metal”), people will truly know what
metal is when they hear Soulless. JL: Anger…disgust…disappointment…resentment…homicidal rage towards all things Earthly… WR: If you can combine beer and metal into an emotion…Perhaps Joy? 10. Did you get the Destruction albums without Schmier? Do you think Mike should have kept the band going during the mid nineties without him? JL: I’d rather not think about that. They fucking raged on this last US tour though… WR: The reason I don’t have those records is why Mike should have called it something else. When they played Milwaukee Metalfest a few years back as a 5 piece it was a travesty…completely disgusting and unbearable to watch. Destruction is not Destruction without Schmier. They are one of the bands that did it right when they reunited (and it feels so good). Destruction KILLS!!! 11. What is your opinion of Ozzy's success in the world of tv? JL: It is very stupid, but I watch his every move and try to be just like him… Where were these people in ’73? WR: Jim
worships Ozzy and loves him above all things…Ozzy has reduced
himself to a laughing stock. He is the reason for parents telling
their kids not to do drugs, ”You keep doing drugs and you’ll
end up just like that guy.” It is a great show, though. Hopefully
VH1 will counter MTV’s success with a fabulous little show called
The Dio’s. JL: Sabbath Bloody Sabbath…Spiral Architect, A National Acrobat seem to be good reasons…Rick Wakeman is brilliant. Some of Geezer’s best lyrics ever… WR: Sabbath Bloody Sabbath is necessary for a properly functioning existence. This showcases Ozzy’s best vocal performance and use of gorgeous vocal harmonies. Heaven and Hell showcases Tony Iommi’s best lead guitar work and a better vocalist. JL: Ozzy’s voice is so much a better match for the rumbling tumult of the Sabs…He was at his peak, and at his peak puts the Elf-like Dio very much to shame. 13. Final comments? WR: Rage with Soulless at www.soullessdomain.com and check out our new Thrashing album “Agony’s Lament!!!!!” thanks
for your time, please add anything we missed in the interview. Also
can you send over a photo as a jpeg or tif? Thanks-Brett |
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1. First off please introduce yourselves to the hordes reading? Jim
Lippucci: Jim, Vocals 2.
Tell us a bit about yourselves, cause you guys seem to have JL: We’ve been doing Soulless for about 6 or 7 years now WR: I’m a Capricorn who loves beer, bowling and metal… Yes, we have been around since late 96’ and we are still Thrashing! 3.
So why tell us thrash metal and not say death or black?? Is WR: We are a metal band… We do tend to Thrash, but we incorporate elements of death metal and some classic heavy metal harmony action. Primarily we are labeled a Thrash band because every tune thrashes. The only message we are putting out is that we are THRASH!!!! Many great bands (Metallica, Slayer, Kreator, Sodom, Celtic Frost, Voi Vod, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Motorhead, Black Sabbath, Razor, Entombed, At the Gates, etc…)push us to be as metal as is humanly possible. JL: We love thrash. 4.
How do you guys write your music, cause it seems to blend WR: Thank You. Some riffs are total Thrash riffs, and some are Swedish sounding. Technically, the Swedes play thrash riffs, but they sound different because they come from Sweden. A lot of inspiration comes from early Swedish Death Metal, and a lot comes from early Bay Area and German Thrash. Our influences are apparent in our music and our music is an extension of what we have been listening to for so many years. Riffs just come together somehow and form songs that draw inspiration from everywhere. But in the end, it’s metal. JL: Yes, you see, had the Swedes been from Germany than I doubt the riffs would sound Swedish. I don’t know much of this techno-geographical mumbo jumbo…I just add words when they’re done.
JL: I’m not sure…I think it has to do with the beer we drink and the fact that we love thrash. WR: Usually, riffs turn into a song and words are written later. The music defines the band, and we are a product of the metal that has come before us and has shaped us as musicians. Our identity is formed by what you hear on the record… JL: Wait, you lost me… 6.
You guys have only recently been signed by a major label so to JL: It does seem to be somewhat difficult. I’m not really sure what the American labels are looking for…I think most of them want to make money, which seems to be hard with thrash… WR:
Worldchaos Production is an up and coming metal label (far from a
major label) in the metal universe. We are not making money off of
this. It takes a lot of patience and saving money to get to where
you want to be as a band. You have no idea how many zines, radio stations
and labels we sent promos to, only to get a minimal response. It’s
all about being in the right place at the right time and knowing the
right people. We would record a new album every year if we had the
proper financial backing, but it takes a lot of money, time, and effort
to make a good record. American record labels are looking for the
next Korn clone to sell to the masses of retarded teenagers looking
for a reason to piss off their parents. JL: It’s just as stupid as everyone always says it is. WR: The music business is just looking for the next trend to make money. 8.
How did the deal with World Chaos come about and how have they JL: We had traded our first CD with WorldChaos (for Terror Squad, who also fucking rule!!) and along the way we sent them our new promo. We had just about given up trying to find a label, and began recording on our own with what little cash we could scrape up. WorldChaos really liked the promo, so we sent them the rough unmixed tracks with only about half the vocals recorded …no solos…and I think they sort of liked it. They are fucking great to us! WR: We have absolutely nothing to complain about. Worldchaos has followed through on everything they said they would and more. We could not be in a better situation right now. We had already spent $1500 of our own money on recording costs before Worldchaos wanted to put out the record. We were prepared to release a self-financed album. I was surprised we were offered a deal at all! 9.
What was recording Agony’s Lament like, was it like the album
JL: Sometimes Wayne’s ass would groan and emanate foul clouds of noxious vapor. That was agony…I also almost had a brain hemorrhage. It hurt for several weeks but is better now. WR: Leave me alone…it’s hereditary. For the most part, being in the studio is always awesome. Your music always sounds the best in the studio. 10. What do you guys think of the American Metal scene? JL: It’s not so bad, though it seems Europe is much more receptive to what we are doing… WR: I think it is quite weak compared to the European scene. 11.
Are there still a lot of thrash metal bands like yourselves in JL: It doesn’t seem so, although local metal legends Destructor have been doing shows here again. WR: I am unaware of any good thrash bands or any thrash revival. 12.
What are you guys listening to now anyways? What were your JL: I like the new Kreator, Arch Enemy, the Crown, King’s-Evil…I lose track of what year stuff comes out… WR: AC/DC, Iron Maiden, Centinex, Carnal Forge, Bloodbath… 13.
What band or bands started you guys off on that road of metal? JL: I found Sabbath and then Blue Oyster Cult and Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, then Metallica, Slayer, Trouble, Exodus, Kreator, Voi Vod…you can see where I’m going…hell probably… WR: Metallica, Slayer, Kreator, Sodom, Celtic Frost, Voi Vod, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Motorhead, Black Sabbath, Razor, Entombed, At the Gates. My Dad said only 3 of his sons could be successful, so I had to be the metal son. 14.
You guys have handled a lot of the admin stuff for your band JL: Every once in a while you get an e-mail or a letter from someone who just fucking loves your shit…so it tricks you into thinking your doing something right. Sometimes there is a lot of bullshit and hassle but metal drives us…quitting is never really an option. WR: Jim does everything except write riffs. That’s where I come in. Quitting is like committing suicide, you can’t live if you don’t have something to live for. Metal is what I live for. 15.
What are your plans for 2003 now that Agony’s Lament is out?
JL: I’m gonna throw back some suds and brush up on my Japanese and German… by brush up I mean start to learn how to speak…and by suds I mean beer preferably a moderately priced import or microbrew. WR: We do have some new material we’ve been working on. No tour is concrete, but we already have a few outstanding offers that will hopefully come to fruition in 2003. We will continue playing mainly East Coast shows promoting the record in the meantime. 16.
Thanks again for your time Soulless and a great album, any last JL: Check out our website, www.soullessdomain.com and www.world-chaos.com Horns up! WR: Let metal be your guide and keep a beer at your side! |
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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. |
| Mighty
Magazine # 16 http://www.mightymusic.dk/magazine.html Journalist: Michael H. Andersen Answers by band member: Jim Lippucci, Vocals and Wayne Richards, Guitar 1. I have been familiar with Soulless for a few years through some reviews I read in American magazines, but you never made much notice of yourself in Europe? Howcome? JL: We sent a
good number of CD’s to distros and zines worldwide and got some
good responses from all corners of the globe. It becomes very difficult
and expensive to promote heavily outside the U.S., but we do what
we can. 2. Now you signed with a Japanese record company, World Chaos Productions. What made you sign with them? Weren’t there any American companies interested? JL: We had a couple
of offers from some American labels, unfortunately those people decided
not to follow through with us for whatever reasons they may have had.
WorldChaos expressed their interest in us and then quickly followed
through with a tremendous amount of support and enthusiasm, no bullshit,
or hesitation. 3. Who will handle the distribution and promotion of your album in the US? I suppose your home market is the most important for you? JL: Right now
we’re unsure as to who will be distributing the album in the
US. Once the album is released WorldChaos will license the album in
different territories, so it’s sort of up to them. The US market
is not really all that important to us. Obviously we’d love
to see the release well received and distributed throughout the US,
but unfortunately I don’t feel our home market is all that receptive
to our style.
JL: I don’t
understand why this doesn’t ring a positive bell to your ears.
The tributes allowed us to have a budget to work in the studio and
even allowed us to record our newer material at no personal expense.
We were able to hammer out the promo that eventually helped us sign
to WCP at the same time we recorded the tributes. It was also a chance
to play songs that we love and grew up on, and have these recordings
nationally released! Overall it was a great experience. I love the
Ozzy tribute song. I grew up on Sabbath and Ozzy so it was very cool
to have someone allow us to do something like that.
WR: I would like
to think of “Agony’s Lament” as our first record
because this is what Soulless is now…the material is definitely
the strongest we have ever written. As the band has evolved from the
loss of our original guitarist and bassist, so has the sound of the
band (for the better, I might add). It took a while for the band to
get where it is now; for the band to be tight enough and have a lineup
of 5 people all going in the same direction… which brings us
to today…we sent out hundreds of promos to labels, zines, radio
stations, you name it. It takes time to find the right person to see
what your doing with your music and be willing to spend thousands
of dollars to release promote your product. 6. I am quite amazed about the energy you display on “Agony’s Lament” and the style you are playing. To me you don’t sound very American, but more like the new breed of the Scandinavian/European thrash/death scene. Which are your main inspirations and which bands are an honour for you to be compared with? JL: My inspiration
lies mainly in the bands that really defined the genre early on: bands
like Sodom, Kreator and Destruction. I am always honored to be compared
to these bands, as they are truly legends and pioneers of true thrashing
death metal. 7. Do you see Soulless competing with the biggest bands in the genre you play (The Haunted etc.), do you have what it takes? Are you ready to take out two months in your calendar, leave your jobs and family and go on tour? JL: I hate to
apply the term “compete” to metal. I’m sure we can
thrash and rage and drink as much as any band, and look forward to
the opportunity to do so. My job sucks and my family finds me highly
disgraceful and disgusting... I have no problem leaving either behind
for an extended period of time. 8. Which other American bands playing more or less the same genre as Soulless would you recommend? Do you have any soul mates musically from the States? JL: I can think
of no one outside of our circle playing our type of metal, there are
very few bands that come to mind. I dare say that Americans are afraid
of thrash. 9. I also feel you have some inspiration from the early thrash metal scene, both the European (Kreator, Destruction) and the American (especially Sadus and Athiest (vocalwise). Please comment on this. JL: Again I will
say that Kreator and Destruction are very influential to me. Early
thrash is what I love. It is the greatest music on this planet. 10. Do you know
anything about Denmark and the Danish metal scene? WR: If you like
thrash check us out at www.soullessdomain.com Keep an eye out for
Soulless’ “Agony’s Lament” on Worldchaos Production.
Let Metal be your guide and keep a Beer at your side. |
| Utter-Trash.net Covering the best underground entertainment in Northeast Ohio and Beyond “If it’s metal, it’s good. If there’s a fag rapping on it, it’s not metal. It’s gay.” That’s how Soulless guitarist Wayne Richards sees it, anyway. Although my bleeding heart liberal sensibilities would probably lead me to phrase it differently, I can’t argue with the sentiment. In some ways, Cleveland, Ohio’s Soulless (Jim Lippucci-vocals, Wayne Richards-Guitar, Chris Dora-Drums, Jim Corrick-guitar, Dave Johnson-Bass) are a refreshing throwback to the music I grew up on. Five guys in street clothes playing kick ass metal with no bullshit image. According to Wayne, “Soulless is a thrash band that combines elements of early 80s Bay Area and German thrash with early 90s Swedish death metal. Primary legends responsible for the Soulless sound are Slayer, Kreator, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Sodom, Exodus, Celtic Frost, Forbidden, Voi Vod, Entombed, Dismember, and At the Gates.” The result is a band that combines the musicianship and songwriting of classic metal with the heaviness and brutality of more contemporary artists, putting Soulless in the fine company of bands like In Flames, Witchery, and Arch Enemy. Below: Wayne Richards
and Chris Dora Formed from the ashes of the band Blood Sick, which included vocalist Jim Lippuci and drummer Chris Dora, Soulless originally came together in 1996. “Once we were the only two original members remaining in the band we decided to move in a slightly different direction and get a new name,” Jim said. Jim and Chris were joined by Wayne Richards and Jerry Kessler on guitars and Tony Daprano on bass, with this line-up making its live debut in 1997 and releasing their first CD, ‘The Darkening of Days’, in 1999. Since then, both Jerry and Tony have moved on and were replaced by Dave Johnson (bass) and Jim Corrick (guitar). Since forming, the band has become a regular fixture on the Cleveland metal scene, opening for bands like Incantation, Nile, Morbid Angel, and Dismember as well as playing on numerous local bills. They’ve also played shows in Indianapolis and Pittsburgh. Wayne fondly remembers the Indianapolis show, a benefit for guitarist James Murphy. “I ate 23 pieces of pizza after we played,” he claims. “Before the show, a bar across the street had free hot dogs. I had 4 of those. The local Indiana chicks were all over me. The gas expelled from my ass in the van was unreal on the way home.” He also shared another delightful story of life on the road, this one involving the band’s drummer. “One time on the way home from playing a show, Dora shit his pants in Parsippany, New Jersey. He wiped his ass with a sock and kept the undies (KISS boxers…obviously irreplaceable)!” This past spring the band recorded their second album, ‘Agony’s Lament’, which will be released on November 20th through the Japanese label World Chaos Productions. “World Chaos generally licenses their releases in different territories throughout the world. It usually takes a couple of months after the Japanese release for these deals to get rolling. We hope to have some major distribution in the US in three to six months,” Jim said. “We already have good distribution set to pounce on Japan and Europe, but the distribution in the States will depend on how well “Agony’s Lament” does overseas,” Wayne added. In the meantime, the CD should be available at the band’s live shows. I asked the guys to tell me a little about their songwriting. Whether the lyrics have any sort of message, or if they just try to find something that fits the mood of the music, and do they write as a band, or does everyone write individually. Jim answered simply, “yes.” Wayne, on the other hand, told me, “From what I gather, all of Jim’s lyrics are centered around his hot ex-girlfriend and all of their struggles to form a normal, long-lasting relationship built around a mutual respect for one another striving to gain peace, love and trust. Usually Corrick or I have some riffs which are developed into songs for Soulless, and much, much later Lippucci finally writes lyrics.” What lady could possibly resist such tender love ballads as “Abandoned to Bleed” or “Blissfully Damned”? Regarding the recording process, Jim said, “We recorded at Mars studio outside of Cleveland with Bill Korecky. We go into the studio very well prepared. We pretty much produced the album, but Bill always is there to provide us with a fresh opinion from outside of the group, which is very helpful.” Wayne adds, “I am sure we will never, ever record anywhere but MARS. We have a phenomenal relationship with Bill Korecky (who is a damn genius when it comes to engineering a metal record), which will never be severed because Soulless has gained that level of peace, love and trust with Bill. Bill does have his opinions, which frequently become the focus of turmoil for the band…but there are those rare occasions of joy when we get to completely shut him down.” Being the completely tactless bastard that I am, I also asked Jim about his prosthetic leg, and whether or not he was the “Six Million Dollar Man” of metal. Taking my morbid prying in stride, Jim said, “I lost my leg to a very rare bone disease at the age of nine. Fortunately I have had access to some of the most high tech prosthetics that our country has to offer. These are the limbs that you see people with actual drive and determination using to run marathons and climb mountains. I generally use mine to walk into and out of bars and frighten small children. The leg was actually a lot less then $6 million…I guess I am the $17,000 man of metal.” In a touching gesture of protectiveness, Wayne told me, “Leave him alone.” While Soulless love playing in their home town (“Cleveland is a great city for Metal,” says Wayne) they clearly have their sights set on taking things to the next level. “Soulless originally set out to get signed, a goal which we finally achieved. Our next goal is to eventually tour Europe (most importantly) and the United States. In a sense we’re just getting started, so hopefully we’ll be around for quite a while,” Wayne said. Finally, I asked Jim if he would be happy if the band merely attained cult status. “I don’t know…it doesn’t’ fit in with my lifestyle of debauchery and excess. I may actually start my own cult some day. I’ve always longed to be worshipped” Check out the
Soulless website at www.soullessdomain.com and the World Chaos website
at www.world-chaos.com. |