JUDAS THE DANCER Talk Post Pop Violence
Italians Judas The Dancer describe their music as “Post Pop Violence,” and that’s also the title of their upcoming EP which is planned to be released in September this year. The band has released three singles from the mentioned EP already. The newest single is for the song “Post Pop Violence.” In an interview for Rocking Charts Nic, Marco, and ghosts of Ronnie and Redone tell us about their musical journey.
Hey folks. How are you doing?
Nic: Busy times just gone. Now it’s time to think about Post Pop Violence!
Marco: Fucking good, as usual.
You are about to release an EP titled Post Pop Violence. How do you feel about the release?
Nic: I personally think (but the guys are with me I guess) we are ready to unleash this record to the world. It had been a long road and now it’s time.
Marco: I hate keeping things for myself, the necessary schedule that precedes a release. I just want it out; Christ, I love this piece of shit we’ve created! But we’ve got plenty of cool songs for a follow up, so I can’t wait to turn this loose.
How much of a challenge was to work on the EP?
Nic: Situations can be complicated sometimes. No challenges, but find out a new name and realize you have a new project, changing members… Those situations required time to find the right dimension again.
Marco: Making this EP wasn’t a big struggle at all, IMO. I felt we always enjoyed the composition, we had fun and we weren’t trying hard to craft a masterpiece. Instead, we wanted it to be eclectic but listenable, easy. Of course it turned out to be tons of work, it always is. But every choice we made came natural.
What other artists similar to your genre that are coming from Italy are you friends with?
Nic: I don’t think we have similar artists in Italy. Speaking of genre at least. We have bands similar to us in the “mood”, like Destrage or the Big Jazz Duo: guys who don’t take themselves too seriously and wanna have fun with people first of all.
Marco: Since I firmly believe POST POP VIOLENCE is the most ridiculous definition of a genre… and at the same time I am deeply persuaded it somehow FITS our music… well, I really don’t know. We’re friends with a lot of musicians and great bands, coming from much different worlds. If I could answer, when asked, what genre Judas The Dancer plays, I’d just say: “Music, man, what else can you play?”
What is your opinion about the current metal scene?
Nic: My personal opinion is that we are overwhelmed by breakdown-based-Djenty-supertech bands that most of the time have less than nothing to say. At the same time in the last two years Europe released few albums which are trying to change the rules like Leprous‘ Congregation, Agent Fresco‘s Destrier, Ihshan‘s Arktis. Maybe it’s time for something new. We all will see…
Marco: I obviously agree with Nic about the total chasm of contents in many bands’ music and the quite depressive scenario he portrayed, with due exceptions. Talking as a listener here, mark my words. However, who cares? We have Youtube! And Spotify (which distributes almost nothing to the artists, in case you were still living the illusion of benefiting them when you pay your monthly fee)! We can download CD’s and we don’t think it would be fair to buy the music we love! Because our favorite artists only live of the LOVE of creation and only long to share their hard work for free… which is somehow true, we lucky bastards 😉 So if we get shitty music (overall), maybe it’s a reflection of our shitty habits. Uh and Ihsahn wins it by the way.
Can you tell me something about your influences?
Nic: I was born with new metal (Korn, Limp Bizkit, Mudvayne) but I always tried and listen to everything possible. Nowadays I have 3 points I can’t live without: 1-prog/experimental 2-brutal 3-pop.
Marco: Born a classical musician (still a pivotal influence, one way or another), irrevocably drawn to metal, mainly prog. But I really like every kind of music, if it’s good. As a composer, I’ve always tried to cram in my songs any feeling, style, idea that tickled me… whether it was destined to be accepted or not. Who gives a fuck?
What are you listening to these days?
Nic: Ihshan – Arktis, Cult of Luna & Juliet Christmas – Mariner, Haken – Affinity, Beartooth – Aggressive. And yesterday I heard the new Norma Jean track and I was “HeyHeyHey! What?!“
Marco: Deafheaven – New Bermuda, Regarde les hommes tomber (both LPs), Tori Amos (everything), Architects – Here and Now, Haken – Affinity, Cattle Decapitation – Monolith of Inhumanity and of course I share with Nicolò both Cult of Luna and Ihsahn.
Your 5 favourite records of all the time?
Nic: Between The Buried And Me – Colors, Korn – Korn, King Crimson – Three of a Perfect Pair, Huey Lewis & the News – Fore!, Ihshan – Arktis (really, it shocked me).
Marco: Sleepytime Gorilla Museum – Of Natural History, Blind Guardian – Nightfall in Middle Earth, King Crimson – The fucking Court of the Crimson King of course, Death – The Sound of Perseverance, Captain Beefhart – Trout Mask Replica.
Can you tell me a little bit more about the gear you use to record Post Pop Violence?
Nic: For the bass I used a 5 string Cort gb95 and a 1971 Davoli lead 200 (tube head) on an Ampeg he4x12. We also recorded the bass in line, but no effects or pedals, just the sound of the bass.
Marco: BRBS EX-3 head (Italian boutique amplification, the finest I’ve ever tried), BRBS oversize 2×12 cab equipped with one Celestion V-30 and one Eminence Swamp Thang. Vgs Soulmaster 7 guitar with Evertune Bridge and Bare Knuckle Warpigs pickups. Dunlop strings. And if you’re really serious about prying into my pants (at your own risk, it’s sunny and hot here in Italy at the moment), I’ll add that I used Galli Picks exclusively.
Ghost of Ronnie: I used a Pearl Master Custom set, Sabian Cymbals, Vic Firth Sticks, Pearl Demon Drive double pedal.
Ghost of Redone: I used a wicked BRBS prototype head, a 2×12 BRBS cab with V-30 and G12-75 speakers, Fender Telecaster Jim Root with EMG pickups, D’addario Strings and Dunlop Tek Pick exclusively.
Besides the release of the EP, are there any other plans for the future?
Nic: We just started pre-producing the full length and we just have many ideas on it but first we are going to book a physical release party and some shows to promote the EP.
Marco: As he said. Meanwhile I’ll sit here, waiting for the forthcoming rain of gold following the sales of our EP… it is happening right?
Any words for the potential new fans?
Nic: Find us out at the following links:
http://judasthedancer.bandcamp.com/releases
https://www.facebook.com/Judasthedancer
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8_oW-PtjC8SFgEGGawdvlw
https://www.instagram.com/judasthedancer/
https://twitter.com/judas_dancer
If you like it, subscribe, follow or do whatever you want! We just want you all to have fun with us and join Post Pop Violence!
Marco: Live fast, on high, repentless, let it ride. So join Post Pop Violence!