Interview with LD of Iconoclast Contra 2010

By Bradley Smith

Iconoclast Contra, what a strange name for a band.  What does this name mean for you and can you give me some insight to the formation of this force of heretic warfare?

For me Iconoclast Contra represents the concept of heresy and discontent overall about the things I am forced to deal with in day to day life. To me it is a way of dealing with the world and what I find to be flawed within it. In the stark definition of the word, an Iconoclast as we know is a destroyer of religious imagery, iconography and idols or basically someone who points out something that is conventional and accepted by the masses is based on superstition and is simply untrue. It is also a synonym for someone who goes against the grain and is not concerned with things that are universally accepted, fashionable or typical. You can also say maybe the Iconoclast is one who shares similar ideals to other individuals who are prone to misanthropy and nihilism and overall the people who feel the opposite or “wrong” way about things in the typical and normal sense that is generally accepted by the masses. Contra basically means opposition in a general broad term. You can use this in a philosophical context or a military one. Either way I think it is effective as a name that says we do not accept the religious and political climate that we have to endure on this planet as well as most people you meet in modern society today. We are vocal in our opposition towards organized religion and democracy and resolved in our actions of defiance against all current religious and political systems, even if they are not necessarily on a grand scale. To me the simple act of defiance and voice of discontent is very important and we encourage all destructive and harmful actions towards these institutions and its followers. As far as the history of our formation after some discussions and initial rehearsals, we all came together, Zodiac from Ibex Throne, myself, with R. Sodomizer and T. Hatefucker who came from other bands in Salt Lake City, Utah and we established Iconoclast Contra in June of 2007 for one simple ambition: to make ugly hateful metal and to piss a lot of motherfuckers off. I think we have done well in both regards personally.

Combat is the Voice of the Heathen is a barbaric statement of blackened death.  What lead you to such savage and violent style, what are your inspirations and why do you find this approach so effective for your philosophy?

As far as our style I suppose we just really wanted to play really thrashy and raw black/death metal. There was a kind of recognized goal within the group to where we felt it would be a good idea to not necessarily cater to any genre or “scene,” so to speak, we just wanted to play what sounded good to us. I think it is safe to say that we achieved this aim collectively. We all share similar musical tastes and everything clicked really well with us playing together. It’s like that old story of Led Zeppelin when they first got together and when the 4 of them played for the first time the room just exploded. That’s how I felt about this band. So the musical inspiration was easy to find once we started playing. We all have a very strong connection musically with old 80’s thrash, black, death metal as well as some stuff that came out of the early 1990’s. As far as inspiration that is not musical for us, well, one can look at no better source then the overall concept of humanity in general. As a species, humans are despicable and pretty much lacking noble and honorable intentions mostly. Power and greed is what drives most of us as a species. This is why war waged by governments and organized religion is part of our eternal existence. I think that for us in the group, we glorify and accept the despicable nature of human beings as it is and we know that it is a part of life, while on the opposite side, our so called “leaders” and people with power as well as your average every day person seem to assure everyone that they have good intentions and peaceful motivations. Bullshit! That alone in an artistic sense for us is plenty of inspiration. We also are a bunch of war enthusiasts, myself especially. I love to read war history and the motivations of the individual to kill or be killed. With that I am not always necessarily concerned about the ideological, philosophical or political reasons people kill, but the overall concept of murder, killing and war. We love the idea of murdering, death, destruction and chaos, be it for any reason on a small scale or a grand scale. If it’s someone or something that is religious that is being murdered or desecrated we of course enjoy that more I would gather. Interestingly enough the police shot someone the other day in Salt Lake City for being on a Mormon Temple ground for having a gun, when the police asked him to stop he ran away was shot and killed. They found a lot of ammunition, swords, and guns in his vehicle too. Stuff like that happens from time to time here in Salt Lake. Apparently he was pissed off at some birds or something. The guy was completely insane. Hahaha!

What happened to Ibex Throne?  Why did that project suffer such an untimely demise?  I mean it appeared as if Ibex Throne was getting stronger with each release.

The immediate answer is that things just seemed to not be going in a common direction anymore. Everyone eventually had different motivations for what they did musically and for me personally I didn’t identify with the directions others were going in. I found that eventually it wasn’t satisfying to me creatively to play with that group anymore. Of course when you are with the same group for 10 years or so, and you started out as teenagers and grew into adulthood people change, and sometimes you just do not get along the same way with the same people at a point you know? I found a lot of the limitations of being strictly a “black metal” band to be rather constricting as well. Nonetheless, we are all proud of the work we did together, but it was pretty much felt all around that we all wanted to move on to other musical endeavors. I still talk to all of those guys for the most part too, so it’s not a bad blood thing why the band ceased to be, although it is pretty much well known that a lot of us in the band differed ideologically and personally after some time. Musically, Zodiac and I still work together with Iconoclast Contra of course, as well as Gravecode Nebula and the other guys play in other bands. We all still gig out together with the other bands from time to time here in town too. Also, I am hoping if all goes well next year in 2011 both of the Ibex Throne albums will be released on LP versions finally with liner notes from myself and the others in the band as well as bonus tracks never before heard on each release. I think everyone is rather pleased about that as am I. It will be a really great package! I think we’ll try to get some more shirts made for the occasion too so people who missed em the first time around can get one. So, while the band is done pretty much for good the music and imagery of Ibex Throne will always live on for us in these manners.

When you were in Ibex Throne we did an interview and you said that you were against Empathy and Happiness.  Are you still against those concepts and do you mean that in a personal way or in an idealistic stance in regards to your art?  Surely you want to be happy as a person.

I guess what I was getting at is I am against blind empathy and happiness. Sort of how a religious person thinks they have it really together and think the world is great and that things are all happy and hunky dory when things really aren’t. I really do want to be content and a man of pure blissful disposition but I realize that it won’t happen and simply cannot be in this world. I will never feel fully content, happy, or positive for the rest of my life. I realize this and do the best I can to not go completely insane or lose grip or control of myself and start murdering people hahah. I suppose that may sound rather absurd, but it’s true sometimes as far as the way I feel or what I imagine! I do the best I can though to try a maintain a positive outlook on my existence and I think I suppose I have found a happy medium somehow, but ughh, there is so much that is just wrong as I see it, and it really just aggravates me! This has led to outbursts, and those have led to incarcerations and such hahah. I’ve found comfort in my ways I guess. I don’t really offer any solutions, just resolute opposition to things I am against. I think if I had my way and things were the way I wanted them to be currently I would eventually tire of it and rebel against that too haha!! Like I said though, and I reiterate, I am a pretty much overall a content person. I just don’t think the word “happy” in the traditional sense applies to me. I have a lot of great things and relationships with others I am very close to in life and I am grateful to them for that. Let’s just look at it this way: I may be full of piss and vinegar 75% of the time, but the other 25% I find ways to enjoy myself etc.

What an imposing album title for your debut.  How does combat translate to a heathen-ish voice?  With black metal being a philosophical war, how do you intend to win it? 

I think that combat, conflict, and the desire to compete with someone else is a very primal urge within humans that leads us into these situations we find ourselves in when dealing with people on a day to day basis. The heathen to us is someone who rejects convention within society and is not religious and is kind of like, loose cannon too ya know? You know what I mean by this when you hear someone refer to someone else as a “godless heathen?” That’s really what we mean by it. It’s not necessarily like a Pagan/Viking meaning which some people identify that with. So combat being the voice of these folks and us is the way we would rather communicate. I honestly don’t think the philosophical war will ever be won, and I don’t think it was intended to be won. I guess it’s just the fact I feel that there is myself, my comrades, and others who will forever be in opposition and intolerant to things they do not see eye to eye with and have nothing in common with that is most important and that is the voice of the heathen.

Another point, maybe a bit off topic, but I’d like to talk about the “scene.” I want to add about the so called “black metal scene” is that it is full of people barely functioning above a IQ level of mental retardation as is the case with most of the extreme metal community in general. I suppose you can liken it to the punk scene of the 70’s eventually becoming nothing but a PC and liberal breeding ground for a uniformed fashionista group of young kids donning uniforms and proclaiming that they are part of a rebellious and underground elite lifestyle when they in reality they are people that you should not go out of your way to piss on if they were aflame. I also doubt that most anyone on average within the extreme underground metal community could make any difference in the political and religious climate in our world. This is one reason why I do not wish to be associated with a large percentage of these idiots anymore either. I support the people who I think are intelligent and serious enough with what they do, but the list is dwindling by the day almost! Hahah. I think the philosophical war should be won by outspoken individuals who can prove their points without resorting to childish outbursts of hilarity (ie: 99.9% of black metal bands). I suppose I am still as outspoken as ever too? What do you think Brad? hahah.

With you being grounded in reality, is it frustrating to have such grand visions and dreams, especially in a world that is so full situations that go against your beliefs?  For instance, you wanting philosophical/religious freedom, yet people you are ideologically opposed to run the world.

Yeah and that’s pretty much kind of what I am getting at! I mean, you can tell over the years by speaking to me how I am using a lot of what I do with music as an outlet to vent my discontent because I don’t feel I have any other way to release the overall frustration I feel. Some people have suggested murder/suicide! Hahah! I suppose that is always an option someday too?! Seriously though, the vile seething hate and agonizing frustration comes from the fact I am so disgusted by what I have to endure with existence. Who knows where I will end up after this one but maybe those things will not be concerns anymore when I die and move on, wherever that may be.

Back to Ibex Throne for a second, your original singer killed himself.  How did that affect you, I mean feeling the touch of death at such close quarters?  And how hard was it to avoid publicizing an event like that in order to avoid black metal exploitation on a Mayhem-esque level?  Surely there were people who felt that you could use his death to your advantage.

It was pretty odd and a new thing to deal with; it happened when we were still teenagers and was more or less unexpected. We just decided the best thing to do would be to forge ahead because despite his action to end his life we think he wouldn’t want it to affect the band. They wanted us to play at his funeral even! Ya know, at the time it seemed like a bad idea but now that I look back I wish we had. How many people can say a black metal band played their funeral? His family was actually really disappointed that we didn’t. I don’t know hindsight I suppose. We did not want to use it as a selling point for the band because it was right when a lot of the Norwegian Black Metal exploits were reaching the American youth during that timeframe. I guess we thought it rather lame at that point, I mean it had already been done, and by Mayhem of all bands so after them doing that the whole shock value was lost. Plus we were having school shootings in the US a lot too and we didn’t want to be put in with that whole lot either. Of course there were other reasons like we just didn’t think it would be very respectful to his family and such. Plus, he was suffering from depression which is just a genetic predisposition for feeling like shit more or less. Unless people get some sort of counseling more often than not they lose it and end their lives. It happened with another very close friend of mine recently too, and it was pretty terrible for me to come to grips with it. Still is. It’s never easy to lose good comrades and important people too you know? I mean, especially if you are grounded in reality and if you actually value your friendships. Haha look, I’m not Euronymous, ya know? I’m pretty realistic and don’t believe in all that fantasy aspect of things too much. You know, a lot of people in that scene thought that he was a pretty big asshole when that suicide happened with Dead and how it was exploited too. There is that documentary Once Upon a Time in Norway and you can tell some of the fellow musicians thought that was very disrespectful. Then of course we all know how later on he was killed too so there ya go maybe? If you have common sense you cannot deny that it’s just kind of tacky too. So maybe that is not very black metal I know, but I think that was a rather mature decision for us to come to at the time to just let him “rest in peace.” Still do.

You have done session work in Krieg.  How did that come about and what all have you done with them?  Any other artists you have worked with and if you could pick any band to do session work with, who would it be?

I’ve helped Neill with a few live shows now, 4 or so. Mainly that had been done because his girlfriend suggested to him that I do it! Hahah, not just that of course because really me and Neill have been good comrades for several years now and I’ve always wanted to collaborate with him with something in one form or another. So playing live gigs with Krieg is a blast. I’ve always admired a lot of Krieg material so it was no problem when he asked me to help out with some live shows. It’s always a very rewarding experience. He takes what he does really seriously with his music, and comes from a unique place with his inspirations. I respect the concept of the music, and of course like how it sounds, very filthy and raw hateful metal. Plus we share a lot of the same taste in extreme music, Beherit, Darkthrone, Profanatica, etc. As far as others, there isn’t anyone else nope. Hmmm, another band I would perhaps like to do some session work with, hmmm, maybe Nocturnal Blood and more stuff with Krieg/Neill I suppose. I mainly think about doing my own music though before collaborating with others of course, but you asked so those came to mind.

The racial divide has been brought the forefront as of late because of the president of United States is black.  You have always been fairly outspoken in regards to racial issues, do you think that too much is made of his ethnic background and what are your thoughts on the constant wave of Mexican criminal migration into the USA?

To say I have been outspoken might be an understatement!! Hah! I just find everything pretty ridiculous overall when it comes to illegal immigration. I mean, America itself has been nothing but an immigration center of the world going strong on almost 236 years now as a nation right? I know that Italians and the Irish were not treated very well by the US citizens of that time when they had these huge pilgrimages into America. Criminals, well, shit, you take the poor tired and hungry I guess it’s more or less a given you have to take the fuck ups too! Italians especially had links to crime and look, they became very powerful in this country. So, it’s nothing new. To me it’s not a big concern necessarily as far as what I can do personally about it because I don’t see it subsiding anytime soon. On some levels I can say it aggravates me though that is for sure. Also, I always look at them as like breeding rats. Parasites. Fuck, not only that, but a bunch of Catholics to boot! (All of whom more or less do not believe in contraception by the way, so the “breed like fucking rats” thing comes in like I said haha!). I just find it really aggravating and highly annoying. Also, there is a shitty Mexican oompa loompa band that practices at the same rehearsal hall as us and they are just fucking terrible!! Oh sweet fucking hell, they suck, they never get better or sound better! Even after months and months of practice. They are really loud, annoying and shrill. I think someday as a prank I might report them to Homeland Security too, then I'm sure a few of them might get deported, and I wouldn't have to hear that fucking racket anymore. Haha!

To be fair though I don't want to pick on any one race, I'm an equal opportunity discriminator and hate monger! Ah shit, that was pretty funny actually. I honestly feel that I am mainly outspoken in the case that I put my own concerns of my own race before all others in a serious sense. That’s not fashionable in today’s society. You pretty much are labeled a Nazi. If that is the case, then fuck it, I don’t care. I see the black, brown, yellow, whatever power just as hypocritical. Honestly, I find that I do consider a lot of other races to be of sub-par cultural significance, value and doubt the overall intelligence as people too. Stereotypes etc. I mean all these ideas weren’t invented by me though were they? The fact I play the game just as well as everyone else, I only look like the worst enemy because I am white. So with that, it all comes from somewhere true as a basis too. This is as old as time debate I figure. I must say though just because I refuse to associate with most people of other races I don't necessarily think that other races should be eradicated from our planet just for these facts and points I’ve mused on. It’s not a hate thing for me necessarily.  Really, truth be told, there are plenty of white people who need to go too if that were the case. In fact, probably a greater number of whites than the other races need to go too hahah! Fuck peace and utopia, spread hate and intolerance! J

What are your upcoming plans for Iconoclast Contra?  Any new recordings or live performances that merit our attention?  Are you still active with Gravecode Nebula?

Yes, we are going to do a split with Ritual Combat on pic disc 7” this year sometime. Also our LP version release of our album is imminent. We have hooded sweatshirts and tshirts available too. You can write to me at hereticwarfare@gmail.com or check http://www.redlightslc.com our label’s site. No live shows planned yet but that can change soon. We played I think 3-4 shows last year. They were all great. I am pretty pleased that we have decided to limit a lot of our live performances. We don’t want to be seen as the band that plays everywhere all the time like Toxic Holocaust is coming here for like the 10^th time this year, hahah yawn!

 I am still active with Gravecode Nebula for sure. We are getting ready to record a new record this next year as well as release split 7” EP with Krieg on Baneful Genesis Records. I am also getting ready to take place in a new project this year as well with some Iconoclast Contra members. I’ll be singing and playing bass. It will be quite different musically than what we do with IC though. So it’s a new band and something else to do for now. Stay tuned for that though. In the near future, no matter what happens, I will always be here to make noise in one way or another!! (I hope that aggravates people!) Til death take me….

Now that the holiday season is upon us, what will you be doing to celebrate the Xtian terrorists usurpation of this pagan holiday?  Any special activities that you and your fellow Iconoclast Contra comrades will be undertaking?  Burn a church for me!  Heh heh

I never make a big celebration really outside of the traditional things, but that is pretty much for me non-religious or pagan really. I spend time eating a good meal and getting gifts, I call it “Give me a Present Day” haha. I also make fun of Jesus as much as possible and try to make it a difficult day for Christians. Other than that, I will be spending most of the holidays intoxicated of course too. We are having a pretty good New Year’s party where I live. I’m sure I will be listening to some good vinyl’s I got recently, ummm, picked up Teitanblood – Seven Chalices on DLP so I always enjoy putting that on, the new Profanatica record of course as well as Inquisition – Into The Infernal Regions of the Ancient Cult DLP, Kerasphorus – Cloven Hooves at the Holocaust Dawn 10”. Also, our new band will have our first rehearsal soon too; it’s called Wäcther der Lager. Hahah translate it and see what it means. I think it’s rather vitriolic. As always spread hate, intolerance and piss on love. Die fucking hard!! (The Mormon tabernacle burned down in Provo, Utah so you got your wish!)