1. Can you tell us a little bit about the band for those that have never heard of you before?
FAUST: We're a grind/hardcore band from Boston, MA, USA that formed in 2009. Rusty and I have been playing together in various groups for some years now. The two of us decided we wanted to focus more on our roots in the hardcore/grind scene rather than more broad variants. So we started Crippling Fear. This didn't seem like a real band at all until George and Kris came on board a little further down the line. Since then, it's really taken on its own life and we've been focusing intently on it.
GEORGE: If I had to describe us, I would say we are a fast hardcore band, but it ranges from song to song. Lately we seem to have found a good sound that we’re going with.
2. How would you describe your musical sound?
RUSTY: Our aim is an old-school-hardcore-meets-old-school-grind sound
KRIS: Short, fast, heavy songs. Trim the fat!
3. What is the meaning behind the band's name?
FAUST: Crippling Fear was Rusty's brainchild as far as the name goes…
RUSTY: There is no specific meaning behind the name, other than there are a lot of things in life to be afraid of.
FAUST: To me, it represents the things in everyday life that prevent us from being our best and doing our best. We, as people, are all held back by the "What If..." nagging from the little things that frighten us every day, things like aging, sickness, or losing a loved one. So even though we could write songs about something like a murderer or monsters, the demons that are the most terrifying and ruin our lives are the demons that are actually real, things that can harm us.
4. How would you describe the lyrical content of the music?
FAUST: Rusty writes the bulk of the lyrics, but Kris, George, and I help. Our songs are about situations and people more so than politics or relationships.
RUSTY: There are a lot of things in life to be afraid of. You could say that is our prevaling lyrical theme, things in life that should scare people, whether it is being betrayed, having to pull the plug of a loved one, or old people sex.
5. What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and how would you descibe your stage performance?
KRIS: The four shows that we have played to date they've all been good. Our stage (or floor) performance has been energetic, which is exactly what we are going for. There is certainly an emphasis put on the live show and the performance. We're not a shoegaze band and nobody would want to sit through twelve minutes of that.
RUSTY: Our goal on stage is to be as energetic as possible. We want to leave it all out on the floor/stage/whatever every time we go out there.
6. Do you have any touring plans for the future?
FAUST: Absolutely, including this October for a little while down the East Coast. We're also looking to do a little bit of the UK in the next year, and Japan down the road. Anyone interested, get in touch: cripplingfear@find-vtag.com
7. Are there any side projects besides this band?
KRIS: Rusty (vocals) and Faust (Guitar) are also in HYEO (www.myspace.com/emptyorchestrama) as well as Fuck Everyone (www.myspace.com/tapedeckgrind) and we're pretty sure George and Kris are starting up a gypsy-folk troupe.
GEORGE: Nothing serious, but jamming with some friends.
8. How has your music been received so far from crust/grind fans worldwide?
FAUST: It seems to be going over well. It's so hard to know what individuals will like on a global level since each part of the globe is so different. We're always open to hearing what people have to say and willing to share our music with people anywhere in the world.
9. What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your music and what are you listening to nowadays?
RUSTY: Our influences [as a band] include Black Flag, Shitstorm, Infest, Napalm Death, Cursed, Spazz, Punch, Brutal Truth, Charles Bronson, and Mind Eraser, among others.
GEORGE: John Bonham (Led Zeppelin) and Ben Koller(Converge) have been big influences on my music. Currently I’ve been listening to a lot of Rage Against The Machine, Alice In Chains, Magrudergrind, Ceremony, COA, and Killing the Dream.
KRIS: Our influences are mostly old-school hardcore, grind and powerviolence bands. We're into Los Crudos, Negative Approach… All the good ones.
FAUST: Rusty got me into Cursed, though they broke up. Great band from Canada. I've been listening to a lot of Minor Threat...The Dead Kennedy's East Bay Ray definitely influenced my guitar playing, as well as Andy Gill from Gang of Four and Dinosaur Jr's J Mascis. As a band, we rocked Mind Eraser as an early influence. We just performed with Early Graves from San Francisco, CA, USA and they ripped it up, everyone should check them out.
10. How would you describe the underground scene in Massachusetts?
KRIS: There's a lot of good bands doing a lot of good things. Boston hardcore is well on the map and although there aren't many good venues for it, it certainly lives on in basements and 7" records.
GEORGE: It seems like it’s coming back. Three out of the four shows we played were DIY shows, which is always good to see.
11. What are some of your interests outside of music?
FAUST: I work at a coffee shop in Cambridge, somewhere in between MIT and Harvard University. It's a great place to visit if you're in the area. My passions in life are music, spending time with my wife, eating great food, and discussing "film".
KRIS: I am trying to learn at least one thing about everything that exists.
RUSTY: I am an avid sports fan, especially American Football, and I'm currently finishing my Bachelor's Degree in Information Systems Security. I graduate in December of this year.
GEORGE: Working, going to college, living life.
12. Any final words or thoughts?
FAUST: Be the change you want to see in the world.
KRIS: Whatever kind of band you are and wherever you are located we want to play with you. Check out our MySpace (www.myspace.com/cripplingfear) and Bandcamp (http://cripplingfear.bandcamp.com) and listen to Mind Eraser.
RUSTY: Thanks to whoever reads this interview! If you want to hear our demo, as well as our first ever live set, go to our Bandcamp!
GEORGE: Smoke trees.
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