Interview with Rabid 2007

By Bradley Smith

Being a fresh face of sorts can you provide some band history?  How did you guys come together and what were your initial goals and how have they developed since Rabid’s founding?

-We started around 2003 under the name "Consumed Flesh" as a Death/Goregrind band just writing music about B grade Horror films and Old horror comic books. Then later on we started more of a Thrash/hardcore punk influence in our music and totally took a U-turn and now play Thrash metal.

Your new Album Annihilation has been wrecking my CD player for awhile now, can you tell me what all went into the creation of this album and how do you feel about it now that you have had some separation from its birth?

- We feel proud in the music that we write even though Annihilation is our first full length release we sometimes listen to it and pick out what we could have done better on some of the tracks. We Try not to write music that is so mediocre but yet still give it that old school metal feel. We just feel that could've been more unique with Annihilation but still feel great about the tracks we wrote for it.

Your debut was released by Reaper Metal.  How did you come to sign to that label and does the fact that it is run by the main man behind Crucified Mortals have an part in influencing you to sign with that label?

-Actually Reaper Metal found us, it started out as Craig wanted to release our Demo, "Non stop Violence" that we put out by ourselves in 2005. We got talking to him alot more and he took great interest with us and wanted to release our full length. It's more or less and Honor because Reaper Metal doesn’t sign new bands, they release Classic Material by some of the undergrounds greats!

With the prevalence of black and death metal in the underground these days do you think it is hard to establish a thrash band? 

- No way! People have always loved Thrash metal. Even in Death metal bands you can hear the Thrash influence that comes out. Just pick up a guitar play a 100mph and wirte the best music you possibly can! we've played shows with tons of death metal bands, and their crowds love us! Its aggressive metal that makes the underground go 'round!

As a sort of insider how do you view of the current state of thrash in the world?  It seems to be making a sort of comeback but do you feel there is much worthwhile from this current crop of thrashers?

- I see that there isn’t really a HUGE comeback. Thrash has always been there, but its where it belongs, in the underground and not blown up by the media and crappy music TV. Plus we are probably all the same age as the kids out there listening to thrash so yes there is VERY much worthwhile!

Back in the 80s the Old thrash scene was really diverse and each area had their own unique sound.  Which scene do you feel was the best and why?  What were some of your favourite bands from that period?

-The scene that has the most influence on Us is got to be the German thrash metal scene. It just seems like the music was/is more in your face, it cuts through your ears like a hot knife in butter!  hahahaha! Sodom, Destruction, Kreator, Tankard, and Darkness are just some of the bands influence us alot

I notice you guys use a lot of War imagery in your lyrics as well as in the booklet.  How do you feel that metal and war/violence manage to go hand in hand together?  Why is metal and especially thrash such a violent musical style?

-I feel that aggressive metal is one of the best tools to express the way you feel about something. We use that war imagery to inform people on the horrors of war and how world leaders try to manipulate people to go into war.

Do you view Metal as a lifestyle with its own specific rules and boundaries?  What do you think defines the “metal lifestyle?”  I ask these questions because of the METAL oriented lyrics on Annihilation and I was always kind of fascinated by aesthetics so I wanted to get your perspective. 

-Hahahahaha! There aren’t any boundaries in music at all!  we wrote songs like Metal Fast Metal Loud, and Metal Massacre kinda as a joke.  It’s mostly about being real Bad ass and doing your own thing without anyone tearing you down.  I mean I could go onstage wearing Total MOD gear and still be "Metal" because of what’s in my Heart and Brain, not the Clothes on my back!

On a similar topic do you think certain metal genres are more METAL than others?  If so which ones do you think are the most metal and what makes them so?

-Of course the most metal genres has to be The NWOBHM!  you got Priest, Maiden, Motorhead (one of my all time favs!) Venom and the list goes on!  That genre is way more metal than what Limp Bizkit or whatever falls into, its a given!

One thing that has always dismayed me about going to metal shows these days is the pit.  It used to be a sort of fun mayhem with the circle pit but that whole practice seems to have died.  Why do you think that is?  Do you think it has anything to do with the bleed over of the hardcore scene into metal?

-I hate the new hardcore scene!!  Here in central N.Y. the hardcore scene has become so Elitist, it falls into a theme of Nazism in a scene. The music hardcore got butchered after the 80's.  Real hardcore is some of the best music i've listened to like D.R.I (another all time fav.!) Black Flag, Circle jerks, Adolescents, Reagan Youth and the list goes on!  At our shows we make everyone circle pit and who doesn’t gets hit go with explosion of kids flying around like mad!  I just think people don’t feel like getting beat up at a show or something I don’t know what’s wrong with the World today.  hahaha!

What’s next for Rabid?  When can we expect new recorded material to surface and can we expect any live performances soon?

- Yes we have a split coming out in the fall with The Lurking Corpses!  I don’t even know what genre they fall into, its like a Misfits, Mercyful Fate Death metal type band that writes about old Horror material!  Excellent band!  Be prepared for that!

 Final Words before we get Bushwhack attacked?

- Be on the look out for the Apocalyptic Slaughter Mosh of Rabid!!  and by our god damn cd!!!  or download it, or trade for booze whatever! hahaahaha!!  Thanks alot for the interview!