Sick/Tired Interview

1.Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band since the recording and release of the new album?

We recorded the album on the day of my grandfather's wake. His last year on this Earth and his battle with Parkinsons Disease is what motivated by lyrical content and the atmosphere of the LP. After it was recorded we spent quite some time mixing and mastering the album, which at this time we had the great opportunity of playing Maryland Deathfest, and playing some great shows in town with bands like Test, Triac, Despise You, Bongripper..Our LP came out right when we went over to Europe for our tour with Corrupt Moral Altar. We are back home now and planning our next few shows to support this LP.

2.Recently you have released a new album, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording and also how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

I think this album contains some of our most darkest lyrical content. It is also our tightest sounding and most varied. Reviews already have said its a melting pot of musical styles which I agree with. We are mixing all of our influences of punk, thrash, doom, sludge, hardcore and incorporating it all into our sound without sacrificing our style of writing tight, 40 second songs. Its a nod to the older style of grind and the bands that came before us, while also trying to do something new.

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the newer music?

Self hatred, emotional castration, suicide, disease, government spying, mental anguish, fear of aging, what happens after death..those are some of the topics we have covered on the new album and what we are working on now.

4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Sick/Tired'?

That I can't answer..the boys in ST came up with the name and had been a band for several years before I joined..However I think the name fits perfectly with the lyrical content of the music.

5.On one of the tracks you had the guy behind Merzbow doing the harsh noise sounds, can you tell us a little bit more about his contribution to the recording?

It was pretty painless. I emailed him to see if he would be interested, and his response of yes came with the intro haha. I have spent the past ten years in an experimental noise project called Winters in Osaka, so I have had the opportunity to work with some of the finest noise musicians in the world. It was a complete honor to have him on this LP, as I have been a fan for over 15 years.

6.What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?

Some of the shows that come to mind would be our set at Go!Fest in Rome, Bloodshed Fest, opening for Nasum/Brutal Truth, opening for Despise You, and Maryland DeathFest. All those shows had incredible energy and I think we played very well. I have been told our stage show is full of energy. We usually play for 20-25 minutes with no stops, and try to cram in about 15-20 songs in that time frame. After the shows I feel like I have been hit by a semi truck, which means I gave it my all.

7.Do you have any touring or show plans for the new album?

If we were young bucks, we could tour relentlessly behind this album. However we all have ful ltime jobs, so a proper tour is hard for us to commit to. We will play local shows, and if possible try to play out of town ion weekends as much as we can. Obviously, I would love to be on the road behind this LP for six months if given the chance.

8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to the newer music by fans of grindcore and power violence?

It's been great. We hear a wide range of compliments and enthusiasm from people all over the globe. Gullio from Cripple Bastards recently told me that he thinks our new album sounds like a 90s grindcore album, with its intensity and song writing and that meant the world to me. I will always remember being 13 years old and discovering them through tape trading. But yeah, the feedback from our fans has been very humbling.

9.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

Not sure...our newest batch of songs have a 90s grindcore feel which bring Disrupt and Warsore to mind, but who knows what will happen after that. All I can say though is that what we write comes from a very honest and sincere place.

10.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

Unseen Terror, Heresy, Napalm Death, SOB, Warsore, Cripple Bastards, Ulcerrhoea, Rot, Agathocles..those bands continue to be my source of inspiration.

11.What are some of your non musical interests?

True crime books, 90s Japanese wrestling, Russian philosophy, traveling

12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

Thank you for the interview and thanks to everyone who continues to support us, and to all our new fans and to Dom and A389 for believing in us. Cheers!