1. Can you tell us a little bit about the band for those that have
never heard you before? Adam: We’re a 4 piece hardcore/punk band
called Heartless from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The band started in
2009 and since then we have released the Blank Pages and Broken Glass
demo tape, a split 7” with The Blind from Ireland, a self titled 7”
and we have an LP entitled “Hell Is Other People” coming out soon via
Southern Lord Records.
2. How would you describe your musical sound?
Adam: I would say that we play abrasive hardcore punk. Some songs go
and some songs are slow. There’s lots of blasting and D-beat’s thrown
into the mix. I think you could find elements of almost any style of
extreme music in Heartless.
3. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores
with the music?
Cory: Without really getting into specifics, most lyrics are depressed
and reactionary. Most of it is written in light of something that had
probably happened recently, or that still weighs on me. I like it that
way, because I think that clumsy, passionate overreaction fits well
with the music these guys write.
4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the bands name?
Tom: The band name actually came from the His Hero Is Gone song
HEADLESS/HEARTLESS off of Monuments. HHIG is probably one of the most
influential bands for us as far as where we take our cues from
especially in the early stuff. We actually used to cover Anthem of the
Undesirables and that band is in constant rotation in the van.
5. What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and
how would you describe your stage performance?
Tom: Man, we've played a lot of amazing shows in a lot of awesome
spaces with some of the most dedicated people in hardcore. It's hard
to think of specifics. I remember a show on our first tour in
Birmingham, Alabama that we hopped on last minute. Wes from Steel City
Booking let us jump on and has hooked us up with a show every time
we've been back since. I just remember when Legion played being
completely entranced in how intense they were. I don’t know why but
that show just sticks out.
Adam: Our live approach has always been to keep things short (our set
ranges from 15-20 minutes tops) while maintaining energy from the
first note to the last.
6. Do you have any touring plans for the new release?
Adam: We just finished booking a 25 day tour covering most of the US
with our buds Full of Hell. We’re going to tour as much as possible.
7. Are there any side projects besides this band or is this a full
time line-up?
Adam plays bass in Masakari and Tom has some more experimental more
folk projects that he’s been working on.
8. On a worldwide level how has your music been received by hardcore/grind fans?
Adam: To be honest, I’m not quite sure how well we are received on a
worldwide level, at least not yet. So far the reviews of our LP have
been great and Southern Lord putting out our LP has already done
wonders for us (hence this interview). We’ve just recently been
getting a great deal of feedback from people in Europe and some other
places around the world. Working with Greg and the rest of SL dudes
has been an awesome experience and has really helped get our name out
there.
9. What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your
music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
Tom: I think we take influence from a lot of different styles of heavy
music. I am particularly really stoked on what Texas has going on
right now with bands like Hatred Surge/Mammoth Grinder/Mindless.
Deconstruct from HS is probably one of the heavier records I own in
every way. The songs are super aggressive and the actual production is
unbelievable.
Adam: I feel that all of us have pretty eclectic tastes in music, but
punk, metal, and hardcore is what motivates us. This music and serves
as a great outlet for us.
10. What direction do you see your music heading into on future releases?
Rick: I don’t think we’re one of those bands that change drastically
with each release, but we try to take it up a notch each time. We
don’t really have a specific sound in mind when we write. We know when
we write something that isn’t “us” though.
11. Outside of music what are some of your interests?
Tom: We're all pretty into cycling/bikes. We go on Heartless night
rides as often as possible. 3/4 of us work with bikes for a living.
Music ends up taking most of our time/thoughts though. When were
sitting around hanging out the conversation usually ends up being
about how awesome some record is or what bands are coming through
Pittsburgh. Adam is a part of the Root of Evil Booking Collective so
he always has someone coming through and most of our friends we've
made through the Pittsburgh music scene. It's kind of hard to focus on
other things.
never heard you before? Adam: We’re a 4 piece hardcore/punk band
called Heartless from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The band started in
2009 and since then we have released the Blank Pages and Broken Glass
demo tape, a split 7” with The Blind from Ireland, a self titled 7”
and we have an LP entitled “Hell Is Other People” coming out soon via
Southern Lord Records.
2. How would you describe your musical sound?
Adam: I would say that we play abrasive hardcore punk. Some songs go
and some songs are slow. There’s lots of blasting and D-beat’s thrown
into the mix. I think you could find elements of almost any style of
extreme music in Heartless.
3. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores
with the music?
Cory: Without really getting into specifics, most lyrics are depressed
and reactionary. Most of it is written in light of something that had
probably happened recently, or that still weighs on me. I like it that
way, because I think that clumsy, passionate overreaction fits well
with the music these guys write.
4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the bands name?
Tom: The band name actually came from the His Hero Is Gone song
HEADLESS/HEARTLESS off of Monuments. HHIG is probably one of the most
influential bands for us as far as where we take our cues from
especially in the early stuff. We actually used to cover Anthem of the
Undesirables and that band is in constant rotation in the van.
5. What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and
how would you describe your stage performance?
Tom: Man, we've played a lot of amazing shows in a lot of awesome
spaces with some of the most dedicated people in hardcore. It's hard
to think of specifics. I remember a show on our first tour in
Birmingham, Alabama that we hopped on last minute. Wes from Steel City
Booking let us jump on and has hooked us up with a show every time
we've been back since. I just remember when Legion played being
completely entranced in how intense they were. I don’t know why but
that show just sticks out.
Adam: Our live approach has always been to keep things short (our set
ranges from 15-20 minutes tops) while maintaining energy from the
first note to the last.
6. Do you have any touring plans for the new release?
Adam: We just finished booking a 25 day tour covering most of the US
with our buds Full of Hell. We’re going to tour as much as possible.
7. Are there any side projects besides this band or is this a full
time line-up?
Adam plays bass in Masakari and Tom has some more experimental more
folk projects that he’s been working on.
8. On a worldwide level how has your music been received by hardcore/grind fans?
Adam: To be honest, I’m not quite sure how well we are received on a
worldwide level, at least not yet. So far the reviews of our LP have
been great and Southern Lord putting out our LP has already done
wonders for us (hence this interview). We’ve just recently been
getting a great deal of feedback from people in Europe and some other
places around the world. Working with Greg and the rest of SL dudes
has been an awesome experience and has really helped get our name out
there.
9. What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your
music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
Tom: I think we take influence from a lot of different styles of heavy
music. I am particularly really stoked on what Texas has going on
right now with bands like Hatred Surge/Mammoth Grinder/Mindless.
Deconstruct from HS is probably one of the heavier records I own in
every way. The songs are super aggressive and the actual production is
unbelievable.
Adam: I feel that all of us have pretty eclectic tastes in music, but
punk, metal, and hardcore is what motivates us. This music and serves
as a great outlet for us.
10. What direction do you see your music heading into on future releases?
Rick: I don’t think we’re one of those bands that change drastically
with each release, but we try to take it up a notch each time. We
don’t really have a specific sound in mind when we write. We know when
we write something that isn’t “us” though.
11. Outside of music what are some of your interests?
Tom: We're all pretty into cycling/bikes. We go on Heartless night
rides as often as possible. 3/4 of us work with bikes for a living.
Music ends up taking most of our time/thoughts though. When were
sitting around hanging out the conversation usually ends up being
about how awesome some record is or what bands are coming through
Pittsburgh. Adam is a part of the Root of Evil Booking Collective so
he always has someone coming through and most of our friends we've
made through the Pittsburgh music scene. It's kind of hard to focus on
other things.
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