Feature by Andrew Haak - April, 2005
Dead Hearts is one of a growing number of bands mixing overt rock n' roll influences with upbeat, modern hardcore. Much like other bands who have successfully attempted the style, Dead Hearts makes aggressive, biting hardcore a lot more accessible through big, catchy riffs and head-nodding grooves. But that doesn't mean that Dead Hearts isn't in-your-face and outspoken; quite the opposite, in fact. The band recently signed a deal with Reflections Records, through which their next EP will see worldwide release. I talked with guitarist Jeremy through e-mail about their label changes, musical progression and EP on State Of Mind Recordings. It's all below.
Andrew: In the last couple of years, hardcore has seen a lot of bands fuse straightforward hardcore with obvious rock n' roll elements. Some of these tendencies surface in a bunch of Dead Hearts' songs. Why did you decide to play some songs in this style?
Jeremy: I listen to a lot of big guitar rock/street-sounding heavy metal, especially Thin Lizzy, Motorhead... Sometimes when I'm writing a song it just shines through. If you listen carefully you can hear a lot of a mid-90s hardcore overtones as well.
Andrew: It was recently announced that Dead Hearts will release their next effort through Europe's Reflections Records. Why did you guys decide to work out a deal with a European label instead of a U.S.- or North American-based label?
Jeremy: Well, Suzanne and Johan at Reflections have been friends of mine since they released the Sidearm EP for my old band, The Control, in 2001. They dug what they heard from Dead Hearts and got in touch immediately! This isn't going to be a European-only release, but a worldwide release promoted in the United States (and elsewhere) and pushed by a U.S. publicity company.
Andrew: What can listeners expect from Dead Hearts' upcoming album for the label?
Jeremy: Seven or eight new songs. A little more aggressive than the first EP... But in the same song-writing style.
Andrew: How has Dead Hearts progressed since the recording of the demo and three new songs, which ultimately came out in 2004 as a single MCD on State Of Mind Records?
Jeremy: I think we've gotten a little more aggressive. Kind of stepped things up a notch, so to speak. The new songs were written with a specific release in mind (the Reflections EP) whereas our previous songs were recorded with the intention of releasing but nothing committed, format- or label-wise.
Andrew: I've noticed that, in a number of your songs, the lyrics deal with city and urban life. It often comes across as somewhat negative or bitter. If you can speak for the band, what is it about the lifestyle that brings up this common theme?
Jeremy: It's more about the decline of Buffalo, NY, our hometown. Buffalo is the second largest city in New York State but it's dying slowly, it's a cold gray place: rusting where the Niagara River meets Lake Erie. I've seen a lot of people watch their dreams get crushed by this city. It seems like Buffalo just gets into your blood and poisons it with cynicism and bitterness. We have a subway that goes nowhere, we have a downtown area that has nothing of substance going on... Myself, I have a serious love/hate thing with this city, which is why it comes across in those lyrics.
Andrew: Now that you've experienced recording, playing live shows, and just being with the same guys for a while, what has been the best part of being in a hardcore band?
Jeremy: Playing shows is the best thing about hardcore. Hardcore is very much a live experience.
Andrew: When you guys are driving from city to city on tour, what is your favorite place to stop at and grab some quick food?
Jeremy: I always say Mexican. Taco Bell. But the other guys in the band would prefer anything but the Bell.
Andrew: A lot of hardcore bands end up disbanding after a release or two. Dead Hearts has made it past number one and release number two is on the horizon. Why is the band able to keep things together, and what do you think the future holds for the band?
Jeremy: Chemistry keeps bands together. If the chemistry goes bad, the band sours and usually spoils. Our chemistry seems to work really well musically and personality-wise and I think it will continue to do so. I think our future hold many, many more records and tours, but only time will tell.
Andrew: Before wrapping up, can you give readers a quick rundown of Dead Hearts' agenda for 2005?
Jeremy: Sure, our yet-untitled Reflections Records release is due out July 26th. We head out for a six-week U.S. tour from May 26 to July 3rd, I would suspect we'll head back out for all of August as well. We're planning on heading tour Europe by year's end as well as doing a split 7" and CD with a yet-unnamed band on State Of Mind Recordings (who released our first EP).
Andrew: Thanks for taking the time to respond to the questions. If there's anything else you'd like to mention or something I should've covered, feel free to let loose. Thanks again.
Jeremy: Thanks for the interview! Check out www.deadhearts.net and www.myspace.com/deadhearts.
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