Feature by Andrew Haak - August, 2005
I feel like I've repeated myself a hundred times in describing Allegiance's sound. After all, I've been telling potential fans and writing about the group throughout the past couple of months. But here I go again. This California-based band wraps NYHC-flavored, metallic hardcore around their foundation in raging, traditional hardcore, and recently released their new full-length, Overlooked. The album, which is one of the most energetic summer offerings, is tightly packed with chunky, metallic grooves, blazing speeds and John Stark's enthusiastic vocals. For more insight into Allegiance, read the interview below that was conducted via e-mail with John Stark.
Andrew: Allegiance's new full-length, Overlooked, just hit stores this summer. It's been a couple of years since you released your self-titled record, so how, if at all, has the band and its sound changed since then?
John Stark: Allegiance as a band went through a few member changes, and we've finally settled on something that seems to mesh well together. All 5 members get along really well, and we're all finally settling down, it's great. The music has come together easier, we know how to write our music, we know our sound, and we know finally what we do best as a band. It's awesome.
Andrew: What were you guys doing to fill the time over the past couple of years -- touring, working, playing in other bands or anything else?
John: We've been touring, playing shows, writing music, I play in a band called Right On so that took up some time, four of us go to school full time, and all of us have jobs that we do so that took up our time as well. We just were waiting on a time to get this record out on Rivalry as smoothly as possible.
Andrew: When I listen to Overlooked, I notice a pretty strong Madball/NYHC vibe. What kinds of influences have caused you, and the rest of the band, to structure your music in such a way?
John: Allegiance has always had a strong powerful foundation, we like our music to convey a sense of intensity, and it just comes out in a way that people think sounds like NY-style hardcore. That's fine with us because we love those style bands, and are honored that people hear us that way. We were never like, "lets start a band like Madball," we said something like "Let's play fast, powerful, strong hardcore with intense vocals and a strong lyrical foundation." It just comes out this way.
Andrew: There are a lot of bands playing a similar form of metallic hardcore as Allegiance's, but yours seems more energetic and enthusiastic than most. How do you guys try and make your songs better than average?
John: Like I said, we just liked it to be fast paced and extremely powerful. When there's time for breaks there will be breaks, when there isn't, we play fast. If it feels that we're forcing something we usually throw it away, so everything just flows easily.
Andrew: On "Because Of You," which is actually dedicated to fellow hardcore band Champion, and "Wake Me When It's Over," I sense some frustration with hardcore music and bands. Can you elaborate at all on what causes these feelings for you? What problems do you see?
John: "Because Of You" was written to our friends in Champion, our first record came out on Anchor Records which is Aram's record label, our first tour was with Champion, we've toured three or so times with them. The first tour over two weeks I ever went on was with Champion. They are pretty much the whole reason I am still involved in and love hardcore. They are the reason that Allegiance is still a band, and I owe them much more than just this paragraph, and just a song on our record. On that same note, there are a few things that are wrong with this scene, and everyone knows it. I don't like watching fights; I don't like seeing young kids get shit because they are new to the scene. I don't like cliques within hardcore when there's a certain group of kids who are "cool" and they exclude or act superior, but I guess I'm just preaching to the choir, so just wake me when it's over.
Andrew: There are some really serious topics covered on Overlooked. The song that most prominently stands out to me is "Why Am I This Way," which tackles physical abuse and your experiences in seeing it happen. How does singing about such personal topics affect you; why do you choose to open up about something so personal for so many people?
John: Awesome question, this is by far the most personal my lyrics have ever gotten, and it was actually a huge relief to write this song. I love this song, and the lyrics give me goose bumps whenever I sing, read, or hear them. It's extremely therapeutic to write songs like this, and I have never done it because I was afraid of how I would react when we play it, and I do get emotional when we play it, I get goose bumps, I get really intense and I like it. I got a really nice complement when we played in San Francisco last, a young lady from out here said to me, she really appreciated this song, and it gave her chills when she listened to it. It meant a lot to me, I'm glad that it affected her in the way it affects me, and she sang every word at Sink With Cali so thanks Lynzi.
Andrew: The sound quality on the album is really nice; the guitars have a really thick crunch and the vocals are prominent but not overbearing. With whom did you guys record the album, and how was the experience?
John: We recorded at Castle Ultimate in Oakland, CA, with a guy named Zack Ohren. He does a lot of the bands in the area, and does them for a very fair price. The hardcore scene in the Bay area is in debt to this guy for a lot; he records at a fair price, and does a very professional job. If you push at him you can get your record to sound however you want, and he'll do it because he just wants to create a record that is the best of his ability and is something that you'd be proud of, and he loves penguins.
Andrew: Now that you're touring with Overlooked finished and available, how have crowds been reacting to the new material?
John: I hope they like it a lot, we put our hearts in the record and we hope that people will give it a shot. People always seem to want us to play songs we haven't practiced since recording, or didn't choose to play on tour, but that's even more flattering. I'm psyched on the reaction, so thank you.
Andrew: I know you guys are out on tour as I write this up, so who are you out with, and what kinds of interesting things have gone on thus far?
John: We were out on tour with Blue Monday and Go It Alone from Vancouver B.C. and the tour was awesome. These guys are some of our best friends, we understand them, and can relate to them. Blue Monday and Allegiance have had basically the same timeline as far as our bands go. We started about the same time, did demo's, a 7 inch, and now a full length basically at the same time. These two bands are like our lost brothers, and it was great to play, and hang out with these guys. We've had some great times. I'd say overall Brooklyn NY, on an apartment building roof playing to a backdrop of lower Manhattan, with everyone shirtless, and throwing water about, eating veggie chicken burgers was pretty much the highlight party of tour!!!
Andrew: I always ask this, and I'm not quite sure why. I'm just curious. When Allegiance is out on the road, at what restaurant do you guys prefer to stop and grab a bite to eat?
John: Hah, rad question. I would like to say that we like to stop at grocery stores so that everyone can pick out exactly what they want, and the meat eaters can get what they want and the vegetarian's can get their stuff, but I'd be lying if I said that's where we stopped the most, I'd have to go with Taco Bell. I'm grossed out every time we go there, and after we're done eating everyone gets the tight stomach and Taco Bell cold sweats, yet we still seem to stop there a bunch. I can blame that on our drummer Ike.
Andrew: What kinds of plans, if any, does the band have for the upcoming months?
John: We'll be playing around California and up to the Northwest for sure. We're looking to a place across the pond called Europe to accept us, and we'll probably be back around the U.S. next year so check with us.
Andrew: That covers what I was interested in asking. If you've got anything else you want to say, please go for it! Thanks for taking the time for this while you're out on the road!
John: Thank you for the interview, please check out Go It Alone and Blue Monday if you haven't (if you haven't you have to be living under a rock). Check out Rivalry Records, they've got some great shit lined up and some solid stuff already out, so give it a shot, you'll probably like it. Thanks a lot.
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