P.O.I. (Rot In Hell)
What are your top five albums that were released in 2011? (in order 1-5)
- I, Partridge: We need to talk about Alan,
- Integrity - The DestroyORR,
- My Dying Bride - The Barghest O' Whitby (not an album, but I don’t care),
- Leviathan - True Traitor., True Whore,
- Altar Of Plagues - Mammal.
What band did you discover in 2011 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?
Dispirit from SF. I was bereft when I discovered that Asunder had split (John Gossard later informed me they haven't split, they are just on hiatus), but Dispirit have filled an utterly miserable blackened hole in my soul this year. I also got really into Antony & the Johnsons this year; real soul music, so inspirational, in terms of my own song writing that is, rather than with regards aspirations for gender reassignment.
How will you remember 2011 (in terms of music)?
It's definitely oscillated wildly; the amazing sleepless Baltimore experience with Integ, and the Unbroken gig/backstage furnace in London were surreal and incredible. Nate and Boardy leaving RIH was a shocker, but the recruitment of Hans and James has been “a real fillip”, as they say in sports writing. RIH is now thrumming with vigour, vitality and the COS.
What can we look forward to from you in 2012?
Our very first tour and our first record with the new line up; we have around 10 dates lined up with INTEG in mainland Europe in February. I seriously would follow Dwid over the top, across the Somme and into oblivion, no questions asked. The new record will be released by the resurrected Dark Empire Recording Company of Cleveland; I'd say it's a mix of Integ (duh), Confront, My Dying Bride and Slayer. Hans is laying down the vocals at Chez Hellion any day now. We also have one or two other exciting things on forever's horizon, including a teenage dream realised, but they are, of course, under wraps for now.
What records are you looking forward to most in 2012?
I heard talk of a new FAUNA record; I really hope that's true.
What did you expect to be huge in 2011 which never made it?
I have low expectations of every aspect of existence and I’m invariably proved correct.