{"id":1711,"date":"2014-02-27T05:50:43","date_gmt":"2014-02-27T05:50:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.modernfix.com.php72-4.lan3-1.websitetestlink.com\/?p=1711"},"modified":"2014-02-27T05:50:43","modified_gmt":"2014-02-27T05:50:43","slug":"madball","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/modernfix.com\/interviews-2\/madball\/","title":{"rendered":"Interview: Madball"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>
\n– interview by keith carmen<\/b><\/p>\n

\"\"
\nAt this point in music history, the term \u201chardcore\u201d holds about as much weight as describing yourself as \u201cpunk.\u201d Words that once struck fear and excitement into the hearts of young and old alike have lost their meaning through overuse and bad examples.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, although some are quick to, the blame can\u2019t be placed on any one person though. Seeing the passion, sincerity and weight behind such a term, it is inevitable that it will eventually work its way into mainstream culture. That pretty much explains how you see bands, companies and television shows misuse a word like \u201chardcore\u201d to describe their innocuous products and creations.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

However, there is one band who wants to make sure you don\u2019t forget what the term hardcore really means. Reformed after a four-year hiatus, New York hardcore veterans Madball (vocalist Freddy Cricien, guitarist Mitts, bassist Hoya Roc and drummer Rigg Ross) are back with a furious bang, releasing their EP “N.Y.H.C.” (Thorp Records). And as Mitts states, they\u2019re out not necessarily to reclaim a lost title\u2026more to ensure that its rightful meaning isn\u2019t forgotten.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cMadball is one of those bands that won\u2019t mince words about who we are or what kind of music we are,\u201d he says, taking a break from rehearsals. \u201cWe\u2019ve never hid behind any other labels like punk or rock. I don\u2019t think anyone\u2019s to judge about all of it\u2014we don\u2019t want to pick who\u2019s hardcore and who isn\u2019t\u2014but people should understand what that word really means. If (some bands) want to call (themselves hardcore) that\u2019s great, but we know who we are and what we\u2019re about.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

To that extent, the N.Y.H.C. EP is nothing less than one would expect from an old guard band like this. Monstrous guitar riffs and bone-rumbling bass lines collide in adrenaline-fuelled fury against thunderous drums. Over it all, you hear the embittered screams of personal torment and tragedy. In fewer words: aural testosterone. Looking towards some of today\u2019s more\u2026lyrically adventurous bands, Mitts notes that with one listen to the EP, it will be decidedly clear how fast Madball has stuck to their roots of private demons exorcised through aggressive music.
\n<\/strong>
\n\u201cTo (Madball), hardcore lyrics aren\u2019t about fantasy topics like metal. I\u2019m not putting it down\u2026I\u2019m just explaining the differences. Hardcore is about personal experiences and I don\u2019t foresee that changing. Sometimes bands may become more experimental about what they want to deliver through the lyrics, but to us it\u2019s about moments we really know a lot about\u2026personal things, you know?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Gearing up to write material for a full-length, Mitts feels that the EP has already stated the band\u2019s intentions: to stay true to their hardcore roots without becoming stagnant or dated. The fact that they\u2019ve managed to wade through internal woes and business wars (from living in the shadow of Cricien\u2019s older brother Roger Miret Agnostic Front\u2019s vocalist to imposing legal issues) only makes them stronger. Receiving heaps of accolades from press and fans alike, he hopes that this incarnation of the band might actually manage to break the black cloud hanging over them.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThis band has a lot of integrity. We haven\u2019t had the easiest time, but we wouldn\u2019t appreciate it if it did come so simply to us. Hardcore is about the shows and the live performance. A tremendous amount of it is about the give-back from the crowd. The best part of the day is to get up on the stage and play. We\u2019re lucky enough that people like our music and we want to keep that feeling. I think that this EP has given people a taste of what\u2019s to come from Madball. Hopefully that will carry on and people will appreciate it for a long time.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n