Pennsylvania Hardcore act Wisdom In Chains has been active for almost two decades now, constantly touring and recording, having seven full length albums to their name (an especially rare feat for a band in this specific sound). They blend various styles of music and are just as comfortable composing fast, short, angry Hardcore jams as they are writing mid tempo, melodic Street Punk anthems. One thing that makes them stand out is the lyrical content. Their songs deal with topics as varied as loss, personal growth, social justice issues such as class and poverty and always feel especially sincere and direct, whether the emotions conveyed are anger, sorrow, or strength. They also sing some of the most anthemic sing alongs heard in a Hardcore song in the last twenty years which leads to having bodies constantly piling on top of each other, sometimes to sing entire, long choruses at their highly energetic live shows. Really making me miss concerts right now!
Name five songs that you consider “perfect songs” and explain why or what they mean to you.
Wow, that’s a really hard question. I’m not sure there is a ”perfect song” out there to be honest, but some are perfect for the vibe of the moment perhaps. I’ll try and pick some.
Bled Out by DEFEATER – A great zone out song, strong build up, down, and back up again.
Tuesday’s Gone by LYNYRD SKYNYRD – Probably one of the best road trip songs of all time.
What a Wonderful World by LOUIS ARMSTRONG – A key track when you need to appreciate what’s going on around you.
Cumu E Sula la Strata by ANTONIO MARANGOLO & FRATELLI MANCUSO – This song is vocally incredible and perfect for certain occasions.
I’ll leave this at 4 songs, this question is really impossible to answer without days of thought.
Which music genre do you listen to the most? List your five favorite albums in that genre.
Most certainly Hardcore music. That’s what my band plays, my friends’ bands and my social life is basically based around it.
One Voice – AGNOSTIC FRONT
Outlaw Anthems – BLOOD FOR BLOOD
Hold it Down – MADBALL
Total Retaliation – TERROR
Nothing to Prove – H20
Your five favorite rappers of all time? Name one song that best exemplifies what makes them great.
I’ll give you two, NAS and VINNIE PAZ.
Rewind by Nas – Lyrically brilliant, clever concept.
Geometry of Business by Vinnie Paz – Incredible beat that Vinnie voices and lyrics make harder than the imaginable.
Five hardest riffs of all time?
One minute and thirty seven seconds into Angel of Death by SLAYER. I’ll just pick one riff.
What’s the album you’ve listened to the most in your life? Do you still listen to it?
Master of Puppets by METALLICA. Definitely.
What are some of your favorite song lyrics?
Time by PINK FLOYD
Do you have an absolute all time favorite band or musical artist? What makes them so special to you?
I would say, AGNOSTIC FRONT. They are the blue print for the music that I chose to be involved with. Well loved and respected after all these years.
What are your ten favourite albums of all time (all genres)?
Master of Puppets – METALLICA
One Voice – AGNOSTIC FRONT
Dark Side of the Moon – PINK FLOYD
Paranoid – BLACK SABBATH
Appetite for Destruction – GUNS N ROSES
October Rust – TYPE O NEGATIVE
Age of Quarrel – CRO MAGS
Illmatic – NAS
Hold it Down – MADBALL
Seasons in the Abyss – SLAYER
Do you remember the first time music had an impact on you?
Yes, very early in life. My Father’s Doo-Wop music, I loved it.
What were you listening to in elementary school? Then in high school? (Your favorite bands/records back then?) How much of that music is still a part of your playlists today?
A group called The MOONGLOWS, 1950’s Doo-Wop era. In high school, BLACK SABBATH. I still love it all, and consider Black Sabbath the world’s most important band.
How have your musical tastes evolved since?
Not so much really, things get added, but nothing gets deleted.
What beloved music do you share with your parents (or children if you have kids)?
That again would be the Doo-Wop music from the 1950’s. My Father loves that stuffed and he passed it down to me.
What are some of the most memorable shows you’ve ever seen?
June 11th 1994, BIOHAZARD’s record release party at the Roseland Ballroom in NYC. It was so great and important to HC music at the time.
What is the most impressive band you’ve toured with? Did you learn anything from them/by watching them?
So many, but SICK OF IT ALL is consistently impressive, they are always a machine, always give it their all, no excuses. So many lessons from Sick of it All, on and off stage.
What are some of your all-time favorite music books and/or zines, documentaries, biopics?
The Godfathers of Hardcore/AGNOSTIC FRONT documentary is awesome, I love that.
Do you have any unpopular music opinion that you would like to defend?
I believe that The BEATLES are extremely overrated, and a blue print for boy bands of the future. They are proof that marketing is more important than the music.
What are some up and coming artists that you would recommend?
CARRIED BY SIX is great.
Is there anything (new album, tour) you would like to promote?
We have a new split 7’ coming out on Fast Break Records with SHARP/SHOCK and we are working on a new album now.
No Comments