Azoth Interview:
Thank you Jason for this interview with me for my zine Corrupted Lyrics.
CL: Azoth, tell me a lil something about the name of your band for people who dont know what the meaning is.
Jason: It's a term from ancient alchemy, a type of metal. It's also the name of a warrior from a really cool episode of the Twilight Zone.
CL: Members of the band and their weapon of choice?
Jason:
Tanner White - Vocals
Jason Eikner - Guitar
Matt Raines - Guitar
Ryan Bowman - Bass
Andrew Moorhead - Keys/Piano
Kris - Drums
CL: I understand while back Azoth had a change in the line up. How hard was it to move on and away to start a new?
Jason : It was a little scary at first working with a different drummer, but within a few rehearsals we started to settle in and we realized that we hadn't made a mistake with our lineup change.
CL: Has the sound changed since the change of drummers?
Jason : Oh yes, Kris is used to playing extremely fast with Vesperian Sorrow, so our songs have sped up a little bit and some of the drum parts have become more intricate.
CL: I noticed on MySpace you had a nice choice of influences. Do you see Azoth sounding similar to those?
Jason : I think that from time to time you can hear all of those bands' influence in our music although we try not to wear our influences on our sleeves too much. I guess it's really up to the listener to draw comparisons.
CL: I love the song Star Whores. Do you guys have a favorite song?
Jason : Star Whores is also my favorite song from our last CD. Overall though I think my favorite Azoth is one from our upcoming album. The song is called "Third Circle of Heaven."
CL: I listened to the music and loved it and then started reading the lyrics and they are great. Who comes out with these brutal lyics?
Jason : Well thank you, Tanner writes all our lyrics, that's his main creative input in the band.
CL: Jason this one is for you. I read your blog about the old drummer and how you left the band as well. Is there any time now that you look back and think what would have happened if you didnt get back with Azoth?
Jason : I have thought about it a few times, but not very often. At the time relations in the band were pretty stressed for various reasons, the biggest one being our drummer situation. It's a time we try to forget, we've come a long way since then.
CL: Are you guys planning on coming to San Antonio anytime in the near future?
Jason : We would love to! We were actually supposed to play a few dates there last winter but had to pull out last minute because of some scheduling issues. Hopefully we can hit up San Antonio soon.
CL: I saw you guys play this past summer for the Extreme Texas Metal Fest III. That was the first time I've seen Azoth. I have to say you guys blew me away. Tell people who havnt seen any of your gigs what they are missing out on.
Jason : Well thanks again, that was a great show for us. I'd say people are defintely missing out on the chance to spot Tanner's weiner through the hole in his jeans. Seriously though, we try to put as much passion into our performances as possible.
CL: How long has Azoth been together and apart of the local scene?
Jason :We've been around in the scene in one form or another since 2003. We used to be called Bedlam and played shows under that name until November of 2005 when we changed our name to Azoth.
CL: This time next year where do you see Azoth?
Jason : Whoring out our new album to record label slime and tearing up every stage we come across.
CL: What would you say is the best thing or have you enjoyed the most about the Texas metal scene?
Jason :The comraderie of the fans and people involved in it. I also dig the extreme diversity there is in the scene. There are many bands in the scene that aren't really what I'm into, but that's the great thing is that there's so many different bands and types of fans that you can pretty much play whatever you want, however you want to and still gather up a decent following.
CL: I know you have recorded some songs and are posted on MySpace. But do you have any cds/demos available for your fans?
Jason : We don't have any hard copies to give people anymore, we've got the entire promo CD up on Myspace for everyone and we have been known to burn CDs on request, but we stopped pressing copies of the CD in anticipation for the full-length.
CL:Are you guys label shopping at this point, or are you going to come up with some more material and play more gigs first?
Jason: We've had some communication with some various labels over the past year and a half, but the talks haven't been serious. We want to get our album released independently before we start worrying about anything like that.
CL: I saw you have Azoth under Death Metal / Black Metal / Jazz. You can hear some of each come out? Was it hard coming up with music everyone can decide on?
Jason: It was actually pretty easy, it wasn't a conscious effort. It just kind of happened by getting the right people in the right place.
CL: When i saw you guys at the ETM Fest III, the crowd love you guys, is that the reaction at most your shows?
Jason : We've been lucky enough to have very positive reactions at all our shows. The ETM fest was definitely our warmest reception we've had so far though. It still gives me a stiffy.
CL: I already have an idea, but just for shits and giggles, whats your favorite place to play a gig at?
Jason : Well, if you had asked me this question this time last year my answer would have been The Backroom, but now that it's closed, Redrum has come a long way and has become the premier metal venue in Austin. I'll go with Redrum.
CL: Personally, do you have a favorite music artist that you would love to meet or play with?
Jason: I've already met them, but I would love to play with Watchtower.
CL: What are some of your favorite local bands that you have had the pleasure of sharing the stage with?
Jason: Definitely our brothers in Vesperian Sorrow, Vows In Ashes, and Exulcerate.
CL: If you can look back from when you first started Azoth, is this where you pictured Azoth being?
Jason: Not at all. I don't think I pictured Azoth really doing anything or having more than 10 people show up to our gigs.
CL: Have there been any embarrassing moments on stage that you would care to share?
Jason: Yeh, there were all the times that our songs got messed up onstage that led to the changing of our drummer.... but there was also one time when Tanner's mouth was running faster than his brain and he told our good buddy who was in the crowd that night, about to be shipped off to Iraq, to "Have fun in the army and try not to get killed or something."
CL: Any hopes for any tours in Texas or anywhere coming up?
Jason: We've been talking about the possibilities of doing a small tour this summer.
CL: 2007 is just around the corner, what are you plans for the next year?
Jason: New album out Spring 2007, plenty more Azoth shows to come in places that we haven't been before and with bands we haven't played with. We're looking forward to it.
CL: Anything youd like to say or throw in before we end this?
Jason: I'd like to thank you for the opportunity to do this interview and next time you come to one of our shows take more than two pictures!
CL: Yes, I would love to take more pics. I will have my shit together next time! Thanks ALOT for this interview, Ive been wanting to do this for some time now and finally got to. Cant wait to see you guys in the future!
Jason: Thank you!