Andy Wounds (Abraxis / Clorox Bong)
What are your top five albums that were released in 2011? (in order 1-5)
- Pulling Teeth - Funeray
- Origin - Entity
- Integrity - Thee Destroy ORR
- Shining - VII
- Acephalix - Intermidable Night
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?
Honestly, without sounding like a jerk, my record collection doesn't get that much bigger every year. My time for hardcore and metal, was around the late 90s - 2000s, an during that time i went back to find out who is influenced by who. So, not much new stuff sticks to me. its usually an old band still producing stuff, like Integrity, Mindsnare, Agoraphobic nosebleed, Sunn 0))), Merzbow. So when I find a band thats similar to something I like, Sure i love it, but it doesn't stick like those first notes of my favourite bands played when I heard them. There was a lot of crustier stuff that influenced my productions and ideas for recording. Such as the new Craft album, for me they had a very clean sound compared to old NWBM but their latest was a lot grittier. Some Autechre music touched me, mainly because I tried to figure out MAX/MSP and found out how truly amazing they are as musicians. The last splits of Agrorapobic Nosebleed influenced my programming skills, almost to the point of stopping all together. Scott Hull is a master of guitar and production. Even some small bands from Australia like the band, IRE, influenced me.
How will you remember 2011 (in terms of music)?
In australia, noticed Integrity and Ringworm shirts springing up like mushrooms, only about 10 years late. A lot of good bands, not re-inventing the wheel, but still how can you reshape a perfect design.
For me, had a lot of good shows, I got to do a split with Pale Creation, found my way onto Grindcore Karaoke. So much happened music wise, its really hard to find a standout.
Also, A friend of mine passed away, Dillon from Lovers Grave, who I had toured with in my old band Wish for wings.
What can we look forward to from you in 2012?
This next year, Ill have a split on Midnight funeral which is already recorded. I don't have anything officially lined up other than that, but vie been culling down around 60 songs for a LP, and several splits and 7 inchs. Im coming to the states in 2012 also, which I've been looking forward to ever since I started making music. Clorox Bong will no doubt have a few releases on Grindcorekaroake, an depending on how my noise stuff turns out, I have been fortunate enough to get in contact with guys like Merzbow, Ideally releasing some noise stuff would be something pretty awesome for me. It seems like half of 2011 was a massive black hole but since changing my lifestyle around July, everything seemed to start working well, new opportunities, friends in places I'd never thought i'd make. 2012 will see Abraxis releasing as much as I possibly can. With my demo projects, making some kind of release further than my PC HDD, Which for me is pretty sweet.
What records are you looking forward to most in 2012?
Hopefully Australias best band Mindsnare do another LP. Integrity as always will bring out something mind-blowing, I don't know whats coming out really, Ideally a new Converge, Blood Duster and local bands, Signal the firing squad and Thy Art is murder.
What did you expect to be huge in 2011 which never made it?
There was a lot, its hard to pick one. I really thought the new Origin was the best death metal CD of the year, best of their career. The Integrity LP should have been bigger, considering the amount of bands playing heaps 'evil' hardcore (but with a fringe and dance moves). The latest Shining, man they are amazing some of the best guitar solos you will ever hear. An insane band I only JUST heard of, Alienation - I thought they were intense, also, Despite the fact they are on Victory now, the new Pathology should have been bigger. Its still heavy, also, Pulling Teeth should have opened for Lady Gaga or something, just so Dom could be seen by more people, he is amazing. Nine Covens swell. Actually, now that I have finished this, there were so many great albums and bands out this year, If I went so out of contact with the world this year i'd probably have heard a lot more great bands that ill find out about in 2012
