Interview: Unrestrained #17

A DEFINING MOMENT by Adrian "The Energizer" Bromley

The title of this story, which comes from one of the songs on Malefaction's debut, Crush the Dream, is an accurate comment on the current state of events within the band.

You see, way back in issue 9 of Unrestrained! I raved about the band's independent release Man Grows Cold, heralding it as one of the best independent records I had ever heard -- and I still believe that. Malefaction's dark-edged attack, saturated with bleak images of society and intensity only few bands can deliver, hit me hard. It made an impression on me, and so did the long-awaited disc, Crush the Dream.

Talking down the line from Manitoba is guitarist Clint to discuss the debut disc (which is being released by Winnipeg-based label G7 Welcoming Committee) and what inspires such ferocity within a band.

He begins, "Going into the making of this record, we wanted to make this truly fucking heavy record. Luckily G7 contacted us and wanted to put it out and fronted the bill for everything. It took us about five days to record the record. It went by in a blur, really, but the experience and end result is great in our minds."

Five days to record an album. That's a short amount of time, isn't it?

"Yeah, it is," the guitarist agrees. "Actually, it was more like seven days, really. It was a new studio and there were bugs to work out, so really it was a week. They had to fix patch boards and we had to wait around. It was a real pain in the ass to wait, but the studio work was fun.

"If it had been more than that amount of time in the studio, I don't know what we could have done," comments Clint, noting that many other bands take months to record albums. "We [the band is rounded out by singer Travis, bassist Mike, and drummer Cory] worked our asses off there, and I think being under pressure to get it done in such a short period of time brought out the best in us, really. We didn't even have time to go back and really listen to stuff and hear that it was okay. We'd play them back, sure, but we couldn't really over-analyze stuff. We had to assume it ended up the way it was intended to.

"I didn't even know what the album was going to sound like. It was a little frightening to hear songs as they were going along and not the full thing, but besides all that and worrying about it, it worked out fine."

Having hooked up with G7, a label that has a roster full of bands with political agendas (such as Propagandhi and Swallowing Shit), the question of where Malefaction's political views fit in with their music and personal views is bound to arise. Are they political?

"Defintely," states Clint. "Politics play a huge part in the band and who we are. It is pretty much of what we have always been about. We are just trying to bring attention to the complacency of the general public, especially in this country, who don't question their enviroment, especially questioning the political enviroment. Everyone thinks Canada is this neutral nation and such a great place to live, but if you look at some of the Americas and Quebec, our government is just as capable of doing shit that it will lambaste other governments for doing. But Canada is always seen as a cool place, and we have those Molson Canadian [beer] ads that say 'I am Canadian!' Politics is definitely a big part of the band, and we have always spoken about that."

Having never really expressed any interest in government activities or politics, I ask Clint how he deals with fans of the band that could care less about their political agenda and just want to hear the heavy music.

"With some people it is next to impossible to have them embrace what we are saying, but hopefully those people that like our music will take some time to read our lyrics and see what we are about," he says. "Maybe the lyrics will challenge them to think about things and then they can make their own decisions and maybe give things some thought that they would have never otherwise. Some people won't change, but any little that we can do helps."

Does the band bring pamphlets to their concerts?

"We don't bring stuff on the road with us. We have a couple of new t-shirts, though, that have a definite message to them. In our merchandise you can see it, but we know that politics isn't just what Malefaction is about. It is about creating heavy music as well."

On the topic of the band's music, he says, "I think we are a pretty good grinding metal band. Anyone who wants to have their head ripped off should definitely come and see us. We have a lot to offer to fans, and on many different levels."

Having been around for such a long period of time (since the early '90s) and having released numerous seven-inches, albums, and taken part in various tours over the years, does all that band-related activity get tiring after a while? How has the band managed to stay interested in what they do?

"I think we have developed quite a bit over the years since our start," Clint responds. "I think we have managed to evolve as a band at our own pace. We have never really been forced into any direction. Having G7 put out this record has been a great thing for us as well. The band before this record seemed to be just toiling away at doing things and not really getting anywhere. Now it seems like we are doing something right. Putting out all those releases and doing five North American tours helped spread the name, and it has gotten better over the years, but now it all seems to be falling into place. When the label contacted us initially to put out the record it was a definite confidence booster and inspiration to keep on going with the band."

How about being on a label roster? How has that changed Malefaction's perspective of things?

"We actually took a lot longer than we had planned with the record, but at least we got it out. It has been great. This is the first time we have ever spent so much money on a recording and we didn't have to pay for it out of our pockets first. They paid for it all up front. We were able to do this record properly as well for the first time," he says. "Before we used to cut corners, and that seemed to hurt the record in the end.

"I love being in a band and doing this for so long," he reveals. "This is me fulfilling a childhood dream, really. By being in this band, making records and touring is all i ever wanted to do as a kid. I am having fun doing this. It is a great experience. And like anything, things can get tedious. Studio work is tedious, as is time on the road, but it comes with what you want to do. It is a part of being in a band. This has been a great thing for me personally, and I have great satisfaction with what we have been able to do as a band.

"Right now at where we are with the band and what we have done to get to this point, it all seems worth it. Hopefully this record on G7 will reach more people than we have been able to reach in the past with our other releases. They have a pretty good track record with bands as well, so I'm hoping it rubs off on us. I think it will. We're pretty confident."

And confident they should be. Malefaction is a different band, playing a different type of music than what you generally find out there. There are no others quite like this band. They take it to their own limit and do what they want to do.

"I am glad that you said that and pointed that out. We have always tried to be that way and just be who we've wanted to be. We are all metal guys, who love metal, but haven't been afraid to drag influences (like hardcore and grind) from all over the place to make up the Malefaction sound."

He concludes, "I think we are pretty unique and don't sound like anyone else, but it is tough to keep that up and maintain that sound. Trust me, it has been a lot of hard work, but it has definitely been worth it."

***I'd just like to send a big thank you out to Travis for typing out this entire article when he had better things to do. Fuck, Travis rules.