Sworn Vengeance - Interview

Hey, Breathing The Core fans, here we bring you another interview of the Metal/Hardcore band Sworn Vengeance from USA, so here you can see and give a like to his FACEBOOK PAGE. We have nothing more to say, so enjoy this interview!

1.Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or came out just like that?  

When we decided to end Downshift (the band Brian and I were in before SV), we just sat around with all the guys and started throwing band names out there to see what we all thought.  Brian came up with Sworn Vengeance out of some Integrity lyrics (either Mediator or No One, not sure which) and it just stuck.

2.Why did you want to play this genre?  

We love metal!!!  We are all a bunch of metal heads that have our musical roots in the Northern California Bay Area.  The bay has a lot of crossover with thrash, hip hop, metal, hardcore, punk, etc. and we would find ourselves going to a metal show and checking out hardcore bands, or going to a punk show and hearing a thrash band.  So we just started combining our metal roots with the hardcore scene that we all naturally gravitated towards to match the shows we found ourselves at.  This was back in 1998, so at the time, there wasn’t really a “metalcore” or “heavy 90’s hardcore” sound, it was more post-youth crew stuff here.  So we were one of the very few bands at the time that was playing the heavy style of hardcore in the Bay Area.  It took some time but eventually people came around, haha!

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?  

Brian (guitar) and I knew each other from our old band, Downshift.  Neil (guitar) and Brian went to school together, so Neil used to hang out with us and eventually he picked up a guitar and joined us.  Tony (drums) was in another local band and we needed him in a pinch when our old drummer couldn’t play a show and soon ended up joining us full time.  Jon (bass) and Keith (guitar) were much younger at the time and used to come to our shows.  Carl and Doug rounded out the band back then and went on to form First Blood as well as join Terror.  When we reformed in 2012, Jon (formerly of Light This City) hooked up with us.  Keith (formerly of Murder Practice) joined in 2014 right before our Mexico tour.

4. Each band member favourite band?  

Brian - Metallica   |  Jon - Judas Priest   |   Keith - Van Halen   |    Neil - Faith No More  |   Ryan - Carnal Forge   |   Tony - All Out War

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?  

I think a lot has to do with the period of time in which we are writing the music.  "My Friend Violence" was inspired mostly by our attempt to define ourselves and create a sound that no one was doing in our scene.  “Domination" took that a step further with the goal to make a really crushing, heavy, angry album that just blew people’s minds.  Now when we wrote "The Outstretched Arms of Damnation", a lot of bands started doing the heavy chug-chug thing.  So we wanted to write an album that contained harmonies, more metal influenced drumming and an expansion of lyrics that were not so much angry/hate-filled as they were depressing and isolated.  We really wanted to show more talent and expand our writing abilities with that one.  I don’t think it was what anyone was expecting when they heard it, honestly.  Fast forward 10 or so years to this last album, “…And With This Hammer of Vengeance”, and our inspiration was to create something short and to the point.  But something that hit you like a boxing glove made of bricks.  We wanted to get your attention again and we feel it is a nice blend of the heaviness of Domination, the musical expansion of OAD, and just a much more relaxed and confident style that allows us to get even more energetic on stage.

6. Where was your last gig?  

Our last gig was in San Jose, California back in June 2014 with Mastiff, Spinebreaker, Dead Ringer and Vitaform at a place called The Rock Shop.  We took the second half of 2014 off to get some stuff ready for this year.  2015 will find us on the East Coast, Mexico, and all over the West Coast of the US.

7. Where would you like to act?  

We are hoping to get to Europe in 2016.  Japan is a big one on our bucket list, same with Australia.  We would love to do some of the amazing hardcore and metal fests in the US and Europe as well!

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

All Out War, Ringworm, Fury of Five, Providence, St. Hood, Terror, Cro-Mags, Ultima Victima, Soldier…  the list is endless.  If they ever do a reunion show or tour, definitely Grimlock.  I am a huge Grimlock fan.

9. Whom not?  

Honestly, I can’t think of a band we wouldn’t want to play with.  We will share a stage with anyone.  We just love being able to play live in front of any crowd and having a good time.  And if we make a couple new fans, that is just awesome!

10. Any of you has ever suffered from stage fright? Any tip for beginners on how to beat that?  

I don’t know, I’m probably the wrong person to ask.  I cannot think of a time in which I have ever been nervous on stage, I just feel comfortable. That being said, everyone is human, everyone makes mistakes, screws up, trips and falls, forgets a word or note or just does something clumsy and stupid.  You aren’t the only one, so if it happens to you just recover, laugh it off and go back to having fun.  That is what this is all about: doing something you love and enjoy.  If you can’t laugh at yourself, you are taking life WAY too seriously.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?  

Slayer, Faith No More, The Haunted, Carcass, Iron Maiden, Cro-Mags, old Metallica, Pantera, Dead Kennedys, Anthrax, Bad Religion, Public Enemy, Testament, Integrity, Indecision…  we hear a band we like, we always take a little piece of them with us to the next recording or practice for inspiration.

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?  

I can’t think of anything weird, but what is humbling is autographs.  We are just a bunch of guys, same as anyone else.  We work for a living, have successes and failures, etc.  So when someone asks for an autograph, it is like “Really?  Me?  Isn’t there someone way cooler than me that you might want to ask?”  It is flattering and appreciated.

13. What do you think of your fans?

We don’t have fans.  We have family.  We love meeting people on the road, getting to know them, staying in touch with them, going back to their city and hanging out, getting food, joking around, having a good time.  Our SV family is what makes this all worthwhile.

14. What do you think of our site?  

Site is great!  Lots of awesome articles and some great bands.  I spent about an hour listening to some bands I hadn’t heard before and reading some articles.  Solid job!!!

15. Something to add?  

We appreciate you and everyone else taking an interest in us.  We wouldn’t be here without all of you, so we sincerely thank you for your ongoing support.  To anyone that comes to see us play:  walk up to any of us and introduce yourself.  Let’s go get some awesome food, hang out and show us around your city!  Add us on FB (fb.com/swornvengeance) and Twitter/Instagram (@swornvengeance) and check our site at www.swornvengeanceband.com.  Hopefully see you all soon!!!!