Interviews : Truth Corroded (Greg Damon) – 30/06/2008

MetalObsession.net: Can you please introduce Metal Obsession.net readers to yourself and the band.
Truth Corroded: My name is Greg Damon and I play bass and write lyrics for Truth Corroded. Mark Lennard (guitar/lyrics) Jason North (vocals) and myself are the three original members of the band with Corey Grieve (lead guitar) joining in 2003 and Liam Okninski (drums) joining in early 2007.

MO: Using 3 different band names, how would you describe Truth Corroded?
TC: If I had to name three bands that would describe Truth Corroded I would list Sepultura (Beneath The Remains – Chaos AD era) Testament and Lamb of God. I think these three bands represent a wide range of our influences that have shaped our sound in the past and present. It is hard to just list three, as the influence of other bands such as Kreator, Neurosis and Dark Angel can also be heard on the new album

MO: The band has released three album so far along with a number of smaller releases. How do you feel the band has developed since the first release?
TC: The band has faced numerous line-up changes since its inception. The original line-up featured four members and had a different sound and approach to the band that exists today- it was a different band in many respects. The band released a demo, an EP – ‘Fuel the Chain’ – and our first album – Begin – before coming to an end in mid-2002.

The band reformed as a five piece and underwent a process of transformation in late 2003-2004. The new line up aimed to reflect our roots, the sound of the bands and era that inspired us to become musicians, late 80’s/early 90’s thrash and death metal. The new line up released ‘Our Enemy Is The Weapon’ in 2005 (featuring Matt Barnett on drums) and ‘Upon The Warlords Crawl’ in March 2008.

The new album is our strongest album in terms of song writing and production. It reflects the sound we have sought since reforming in 2003. The album was recorded in Adelaide at Soundhouse and Slaughterhouse studio’s with Kyle Bloksgaard ( The Rivalry, Cry Murder ) and mixed and mastered by Jonas Kjellegren ( Carnal Forge, Scar Symmetry, The Absence ) in Sweden at Black Lounge Studio.

MO: The band has used a couple of different producers to master the last two albums – Alan Douches (Shadows Fall, Hatebreed), Jonas Kjellgren (Scar Symmetry, Carnal Forge). Were you happy with the results they produced?
TC: We were not satisfied with the outcome of our last album, ‘Our Enemy Is The Weapon’. We felt the songs were good but the recording itself was not at a standard that we were looking for. Alan Douches only mastered the album and was not involved in the recording.

We approached Jonas Kjellegren to mix and master our new recording ‘Upon The Warlords Crawl’. Jonas is the former vocalist of Carnal Forge and has recorded the bands past two albums. After hearing the new Carnal Forge album ‘Testify For My Victims’ we felt that he had the sound we were looking for. Jonas currently plays guitar with Scar Symetry and also recorded their debut album as well as the new album from an American thrash band The Absence. We are extremely pleased with the outcome. We wanted to work with an engineer from outside Australia and approached and had interest from a number of engineers, including Zeus and Tue Madsen.

MO: How has the reaction to your latest release – Chapter Upon The Warlords Crawl – been?
TC: So far the reaction has been very positive. The album has only just come out and we are still promoting it, but the industry and media response has been positive as well as the response from our peers and people who follow the band or have recently discovered us. For us it is an album we feel strongly represents what the band is about and delivers the sound we have sought to achieve since we reformed in 2003. The reaction from the live shows has been great as well, the new songs go down very well and incite a fair amount of banging and moshing which is great to see.

Read a review of ‘Upon The Warlords Crawl’ on Metal Obsession here.

MO: I believe members of the band also run a label (Truth Inc Records). How did this project come into being and how successful would you rate the venture so far?
TC: The label came about with the release of the bands last album ‘Our Enemy Is The Weapon’ and was established by myself (Greg Damon) with the assistance of Nik Tropiano from Chatterbox Records (who released our first album) and Mark Bolton from MGM. Jason (vocals) and myself now run the label and have since its inception had Lee Gardiner (vocalist with Double Dragon) come on board as our A&R and promotions representative. Our guitarist Mark will also shortly be handling A&R and promotions as well. As a venture it has done quite well and has established itself as a reputable label that now represents Double Dragon (SA), Black Like Vengeance (VIC), Closed Casket (SA), A Red Dawn (SA) and Lynchmada (QLD).

The label has had its biggest year this year with full length releases from Truth Corroded and the upcoming Double Dragon album, EP’s from A Red Dawn and Closed Casket and a full length release later this year from Lynchmada. We are also looking into several bands from Australia and overseas for releases late this year or early next.

MO: Any plans to expand the label and take more bands onto your roster?
TC: We are always looking at potential bands to add to the roster but there is only so much the label is able to take on as we are an independent label with limited resources. We have had to knock back some bands that we would have liked to have added to the roster but were unable to due to the schedule of releases we already had.

However, as the label grows and we earn more funds to invest back into the label we will be able to expand further as the label develops further. We are really looking to take the label as far as possible within our means and want to start making progress into new markets overseas. We are also available on I-Tunes so that has enabled our catalogue to be accessible to consumers outside Australia.

MO: What has the band in-store for the future? Any plans for a full Australian or International tour?
TC: The band are currently touring the east coast and aim to get to WA and TAS later this year. We are hoping to get back to Asia this year (we performed in Singapore last year) but are still in the process of seeing if it is possible. Our aim is to eventually organise to tour in Europe and we are currently networking to create possibilities.

MO: What hopes and/or expectations do you hold for the future for your music?
TC: I think it is best to take each day as it comes. We have been together long enough and have faced countless setbacks to know that it is necessary to keep in mind that anything is possible, whether that is positive or negative. Our next step is to open into the European market and eventually tour while also continuing to build our Australian and Asian profile.

MO: Aussie Metal scene seems to be growing and growing in size, could you let us in on some of your favourite Australian metal bands, and who to look out for in the future.
TC: I would encourage the reader to check out the bands on Truth Inc. Records (Truth Corroded, Double Dragon, A Red Dawn, Black Like Vengeance, Closed Casket and Lynchmada).

Other bands I would look out for would be: Dyscord, Synthesist, The Occularis Infernum, The Omen, Sword Toward Self, Black Asylum and State of Integrity. There are plenty of really good bands in SA (too many to list!) and deserve your support – so get out there and get your horns up for your homegrown!

We have played with many bands that are both established and up and coming all around Australia and could rival many of the bands that have found international recognition. However, while Australian metal/hard/emocore and hip hop has gained a strong following in Australia, metal continues to lack an equal amount of recognition, and that needs to change, Australian metal is equal to the dominant US/European metal market and needs support to see it develop and rival its overseas counterparts.

Our hope is that Truth Inc Records can be a label that grows to the recognition and level of labels such as Resist (hard/metalcore) and Obese (hip-hop) for the Australian metal scene.

MO: Finally, do you have any last words to the Metal Obsession readers?
TC: Support Australian metal and get out to a local show. Please take the time to have a listen to our new album ‘Upon The Warlords Crawl’ if you have not heard the band or have not heard our new material. Also check out the bands on Truth Inc Records and offer your feedback on our Myspace page.

Hope to see you at a show in your city or town some time soon!

MO: Thanks alot for your time!
TC: Thank you for your work and supporting Australian metal by creating Metal Obsession – horns to you!

Upcoming Truth Corroded Gigs

4th July 2008
Earth @ The Tote, Collingwood – Metal Obsession sponsored event!
w/ Truth Corroded (SA), Black Like Vengeance, Aphotic Dawn + 1 TBA
Tickets available at the door 8pm, $12.

5th July 2008
Double Dragon @ Fowlers Live, Adelaide (All Ages)
w/ Truth Corroded, Closed Casket, Skintilla, Union Buries Its Own and Fragmenta
Tickets available at the door 7pm.

13th Sept 2008
AGAINST THE GRAIN 4 @ Fowlers Live, Adelaide (All Ages)
w/ Psycroptic, Alchemist, Daysend, Double Dragon, Truth Corroded, The Ocularis Infernum, Dyscord +7
Tickets available at Venuetix & Moshtix.