| Dawn/TheMetalWeb.com: When writing lyrics for the new release Empires, was it your intent to build upon that concept because it almost seems that it was a catalyst when writing for the rest of the album lyrically? Leo Miller: Well actually, we named the album after nearly all of the lyrics were written. I didn’t necessarily intend to have such a strong and thorough theme for the album; it just came out that way. I know this might sound kind of corny, but we play really aggressive music. Although I am not a very aggressive person, it is very difficult to express much more than anger and aggression in our songs. After all, I am screaming my head off. So, what I am trying to say is that I basically wrote Empires about what was pissing me off at the time. Although it came together as a theme pretty well, I was really not trying to write the entire album about a specific issue or concern, which is how it often looked to me. Everything that I say on Empires is something that I was truly and honestly feeling at the time I wrote it. Since it was all written within a given time period, there is a natural theme. I assure you, I really have a great life and I am a happy guy, but it is just very hard for me to express that part of me while growling along side brutally crushing music. In fact, I struggled a few times while writing lyrics because I actually wanted to make some positive feel good songs, it just didn’t make sense when put to the music. Dawn/TheMetalWeb.com: Generally speaking, how did you approach writing and recording for Empires versus its predecessor Shut It Down? Leo Miller: First, we approached Empires as an album. An album that had a lot of personal meaning for each of us and a very important large step for us. Contrastingly, we recorded Shut It Down when I was only 15 years old, had no label backing us, and had no real intention for the material. We actually sat on it for a year before it was released. In terms of the writing, we actually worked extremely hard on Empires. I don’t even know what Shut it Down is, it just came together. On Empires, we wanted to be able to stand behind every single second of the CD. Each riff received much more attention as opposed to the filler riffs on Shut it Down. Empires just crushes Shut it Down in every way. Dawn/TheMetalWeb.com: At the end of Shut It Down, there was a clip added to the track of a not so nice cell phone call that was received, can you tell us a little about why this was added to the track and who this particular person was? Leo Miller: We put it there because it sounds cool. We just liked it at the end of the CD. It was a message that I received from a friend of ours named Mike. I guess that is all I can really say about it. It actually is what it is. Dawn/TheMetalWeb.com: How was it that the band caught the eye of Brain Slagel from Metal Blade Records? Leo Miller: Well, I don’t know. We really actually hooked up with Guy from Black Market Activities who gets distribution through Metal Blade Records. I guess any connection we have with Brian Slagel would be attributed to our deal with BMA. If not, then I would assume that we caught his eye by playing all over the country and sending him demo tapes. (Laughs) Dawn/TheMetalWeb.com: The cover art gives a good representation of the album as far as the buildings on their backs “empires”, but who are the two half human half demons suppose to represent? Leo Miller: I never looked at it that way. They never looked like demons to me, but more like warring empires. Our visual artist for Empires, Paul Romano wanted to incorporate many aspects of a national conflict into the image. There are the buildings and landscapes, there are faceless humans, and there is violence and destruction,great stuff. I definitely never looked at them as demons. Dawn/TheMetalWeb.com: What do you consider the defining element to be that will set Animosity apart from the rest? Leo Miller: Hmm, well it is pretty hard to be set apart entirely from the rest. One thing that I notice is that to me it seems that every band these days is trying to be some huge Ozzfest success. It has gotten almost to the point where that is what bands are all about. Gladly, this does not set us apart from the rest, but from many. Rather than approaching corporate expectations or trendy sounds, we will continue to play what we like and that’s fast and aggressive. This is not to say that we are not trying to move up in rank, but more that our goals are simple: attempting to in someway change the face of music, and putting San Francisco on the map. Dawn/TheMetalWeb.com: I’ve go to tell you though I’ve read your ages I still can’t believe you’re all that young with the musicianship that you have collectively. Usually, you get that kind of playing ability through time. Are you finding that to be the response of most since the release of Empires and how does it feel to have the media call Animosity the next “Death”? That’s pretty amazing! Leo Miller: First of all, Death fucking rules! That is totally sweet. Skills definitely come with time, and although we are young, we have actually been playing longer than most current bands. We started jamming over five years ago, when I was 14. I think our age was a bigger deal when Shut it Down came out because now, I guess we look a little bit old. Before you could definitely tell that, we were some young bucks just by looking at us. Dawn/TheMetalWeb.com: Now that Animosity is under a decent label and has some financial backing, how was your first set of shows as opposed to before being signed and are there any tours coming up that you’re looking most forward to playing? Leo Miller: Well, since we signed with BMA we have been touring our asses off. We just got home from a 3-month tour, so we are currently taking a break. No future plans as of yet. The financial support of a label does not or has not really played into booking or really anything else for that matter in our case so far. However, we get unbelievable support from our label that others cannot offer. Guy has literally been amazing to us and has done way more for us than throwing money at us ever could have. Our shows have not really changed much as a result of the signing, but more as a result of touring a lot. Dawn/TheMetalWeb.com: Leo thanks for the interview. I was completely floored when I heard the band and am looking forward to covering a show when you guy’s hit my neck of the woods again. Animosity definitely gives the established heavy hitters a run for the money and I mean that sincerely. Good luck with everything. With that said, do you have any final words for The Metal Web!? Leo Miller: Thanks a lot. This has actually been one of my favorite interviews for some reason. Thank you. To all you people out there, keep slamming! OFFICIAL SITE "ANIMOSITY": http://www.animositysf.com HOME |
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