LAMB OF GOD INTERVIEW
August 2002
*this took place over instant messenger, so ignore the spelling errors and stuff...



Ed Martin for Prophecy21.com: First off did you know the picture of u making the funny face is gonna be on the Prophecy21 License Plate Frames and what's it like knowing people are gonna be driving round with your face on there cars?
Chris Adler drummer for Lamb of God: I have no idea what pic you are referring to, but I've been know to give the lens a pretty goofy mug here and there. I'd probably wreck if I saw a few of them on a car in front of me.

P21: lol Hows everything going with work on the new album what process are you at now still writing or have u moved onto recording?
CA: I wish we were recording... we are still writing. We have about 8 songs that will make it onto the CD at this point. I'd like to have about 6 more, but realistically, the CD will probably contain less than 12 tracks. We are working very hard, the material is very challenging this time... much faster, more dynamic and chaotic. It's quite a challenge for all of us as we push ourselves to play things we didn't think we could. That in itself contributes to the time needed to perfect each song.
That and me learning how to spell...

P21: haha What band/bands would you like to tour with to support the new album when it gets to that point?
CA: thats hard to say because we've made so many friends along the way, but there are also a lot of bands that we would love to share the stage with. At this point, it's not often that we get to choose. Larger tours pick us up and bigger bands give us a shot. We will have more say about tours on this next CD and we will do our best to fill out a bill that kicks ass and leaves their makeup at home.

P21: What are some of your more memorable shows that you've played and some of your favorite places?
CA: The show that started the ball moving for us was the 98 Milwaukee Metafest. I've grown to dislike the Milwaukee Metalfest, but I'll never forget that first one in the Eagles Ballroom. I enjoy playing Harpo's in Detroit, House of Blues anywhere in the country. Still, the most memorable shows were 4 or 5 years ago when we would play basements or warehouses and you'd be covered in beer vomit and blood by the end of it only to jump back in the van and do it again the next night some 400 miles away. Those were the toughest times, but also the times that made this band what it is today.
Playing large venues is great, but there's something special about playing on the floor and dodging people to play your instruments.

P21: thats one of the things great about you guys your one of the few bands that still gets down and chills the fans before and after the show and randy is one of the few singers i see that still stage dives even after he lost his keys crowd surfing at riverfront rampage.
CA: this band has a lot of intensity and putting it up on a stage away from the people is like putting us in a cage. Sure, we're still that crazy animal that you came to see, but want to be part of the overall experience, not on display.
we are fans too, the only reason we're playing this stuff is cause no one else was gonna do it for us. We love this shit. If we can get into with everyone else, it's gonna be a better show for everyone there.

P21: that intensity seems to be something lots of bands are losing nowadays but you guys are prided on being called Pure American Metal and many are saying your the saviors of true heavy metal you were even placed on Revolvers list of the top 69 metal albums of all time that seems like something pretty big for a relatively new band to be on that list the likes of metallica slayer and pantera. What are your feelings on the nu-metal bands and the Linkin Parks out there calling themselves metal bands?
CA: It's none of my business what anyone calls anyone else. I'm far more interested in spending my energy on making the best music I can than talking shit on anyone else. We were flattered to be a part of the Revolver list. In my experience, and I don't really want to elaborate too much, but the thing that is setting us apart is that we care about our music and what it is we are offering for ourselves and other people to listen to.
Seems like a lot of bands forget about the music the further they get.

P21: Who are some of your biggest influences?
CA: Everyone in the band has a very diverse musical background... are you asking for me or for the band overall?

P21: you specifically
CA: tough one....
I started plying learning the first Aerosmith record... Joey Kramer. From there I went right to Gar Samuelson, Nick Menza, Vinnie Paul, Mickey Dee and Steve Shelton. Those are always the guys I fall back on. As far as more recent stuff, there are so may incredible drummers out there right now it's impossible to make a list. One thing I've never done since that first Aerosmith record is to copy anyone. I don't know a single cover song by any band. That's not to say I couldn't play a lot of stuff, but I want to work out my own path relying on what I love about everything else I have heard and listen to.

P21: And what bands have you been listening to while writing for this album?
CA: I've been spending most of the time listening to our own demo's. I listen to a lot of instrumental music. The Champs, The Tori, Loincloth, Spastik Ink, Disrythmia. Mass produced stuff.... Arch Enemy, Meshuggah, Death, Megadeth and Steely Dan.
that list will change tomorrow... it's always changing... I cant listen to an entire CD. 2 songs and I'm swapping it out. My attention span for music is ridiculous... that's why I'm so anal about the music we write, it has to be interesting and the drum parts have to be challenging and interesting. I want to be able listen to this stuff over and over and I'm going to be playing it over and over... it must kick ass, there is no other way.
I'd bludgeon myself to death if I had to play a power-ballad every night for the rest of my career.

P21: hahaha
CA: just saw my pics again on your site... classy, very classy.

P21: Your drumming is a very big part of the New American Gospel album not just something in the background that you barely notice like a lot of bands do nowadays just get a second rate drummer that can keep a beat and stick him in the back of the stage and not let him showcase his talents i've seen you guys perform The Art of Ruin twice now once as an instrumental cuz Randy wasn't there and your drumming seems pretty predominant a lot like the old school slayer like Reign In Blood where drums were very important will the rest of the new album feature you just as much?
CA: Yes and no. Mark and Will have stepped up immeasurably on the new material. When we recorded New American Gospel those 2 had only been playing together for several months. With time they have melded into a fucking riff monster and mark my words, you will see them getting a ton of props for their work on this CD. My drumming has stepped up as well and there isn't a song written for the new CD that I could have played 2 years ago. I foresee more of a guitar influenced CD, but the drums will still be right in your face. It's hard to speculate, but regardless of what you liked or caught your attention on New American Gospel, it will be there again, only better.

P21: Thats good to hear
CA: Ill say.
If we hadn't raised the bar, if we had not improved, we would have ceased to exist. We will not put out CD's because we have to or because we need to pay the electric bill. We will only put out CD's when we have, at least in our own minds, birthed something monumental.

P21: Thats something a lot of bands don't seem to do anymore too many bands seem to be getting trapped in multi record deals with a label and just putting out a couple albums that are like exactly the same
CA: Regardless of how many records you sign for, it doesn't mean you HAVE to put them all out. No one is going to drive you to a studio and put a gun to your head and make you record rehashed gunk.

P21: Any chance of a Lamb of God home video in the future?
CA: There are a lot of discussions about that exact thing going on right now... everything from a simple live concert, to a double DVD charting the history of the band back to '94 throughout the making of the new CD. Time will tell, but for now I need to keep my ass behind the kit. Once the recording is done, we'll see what happens.

P21: speaking of movies and DVDs what are some of your personal favorites
CA: man, this is some in depth reporting....

P21: lol if i'm taking up too much of your time i can wrap it up
CA: Being John Malcovich, Evil Dead II, Alien, Mr. Show, Office space.
no, not at all, fire away...
Larry Sanders cracks me up....

P21: yea he's definitely a funny guy
have u ever heard of stephen lynch? he's got some funny ass songs?

CA: The "A little bit special" guy?

P21: yup thats the guy
CA: yeah, good stuff... like Shat, Bad News and maybe even Wycked Scypter

P21: Have you caught the show Crank Yankers yet?
CA: oh yeah, Tracy Morgan is a genius.

P21: yeah definitely that show is right up there with the Simpsons. Back to the album are there any working titles or tentative release dates?
CA: April 2003, working titles include Swedish Ass F@%^, Blood Junkie and Art of Ruin.

P21: Cool. And lastly what everyone seems to want to know what's with the patch of hair on Randy's back?
CA: Dellmar the back brother. It's weirder than you think... I'm afraid to say any more than that.

P21: haha alrite
CA: I gotta role!

P21: alright thank you for your time man
CA: you bet, anytime. best of luck to Prophecy21