Interview with Ryan Taylor by Jenn

How and when did Ciborium start?
Ciborium started basically a few years after I was out of my diapers. It's been over 5 years since the formation, back in my days in middle school. One day while opening my lunchbox I thought it would be cool to start a metal band. I think that's how it happened
What kind of diapers did you use?
I don't recall, I'll have to ask my mom and get back to you on that ASAP. For now, we'll just say Huggies.
You have just recorded your new CD. How did that go? How many songs are one it? Tell us about that
It went great. I've been waiting years and years to get that god forsaken CD recorded, and it's finally done. We ended up getting an amazing production from an engineer that nobody has ever heard of. We ended up keeping 7 songs for the CD once we were finally done. A few hits that can be found on the soundtrack of reading rainbow and Teletubbies include "In Vagina we Trust", and "Make them Die Slowly"
Are they going to be on The Box or MTV anytime soon?
Yes they are, Carson Daly called me up a few hours ago and said we are competing with Britney Spears and N'Sync next week on total request live. Please vote for us!
Where their any problems while in the studio?
Yeah, Shad had to take a shit once and I told him that the time he was on the toilet was very valuable because we were paying a lot of money per hour. Other than that, amazingly no problems.
:Did you have any demo's released previously?
We sure have, there are hundreds of copies of our "Abomination" demo floating around all over the place. I'm the only one left from the line-up on that recording. That demo was recorded in early 1998.
Are you selling them?
Yeah, they are still for sale
How is that different from what you are playing now? The style has changed quite a bit.
Oh yeah, it has changed like 100%. If you were to hear the demo and then hear the new line-up, you would not even know it's us. It was more of a death-core type sound back then, now it's a million mile an hour straight up death metal. I think the sound has also changed due to the guest appearances from Little Richard and Lionel Richie
What band would you compare yourself to back then? And now?
That's a good question. You're trying to stump me here. Back then, I couldn't think of anyone to compare us to. The new sound reminds me of stuff like Cryptopsy, Dying Fetus, yet keeping a good bit of an original sound. Oh yeah, and Wilson Phillips.
What is the scene like in MD?
The scene here fluctuates. There are many more bands to play local shows with these days. Bands like Tortured, Decapitate, Severed Head, Dying Fetus, etc. Sometimes show turnouts can be massive, other times they are less that great. I guess that's the way it goes just about anywhere
How many people average come to a metal show?
To give an example, on one Friday in March we played a show and about 125 people showed up. We played the next night about an hour away (still in MD) and only about 40 people were there.
Are they many places to play?
Not really, and I'm pissed that the best club in this state recently shut down. They were totally supportive of the metal scene, so I hope it doesn't hurt the overall scene in Maryland. There are shitty hole in the wall places like Hal Daddy's that rip bands off and talk shit about everyone.
What about VA? You are close to there. There is Twisters and Jaxx. Did every play there?
Yeah, we've played at Jaxx. Wasn't a very pleasant experience, but it was still a nice club with a nice sound. I've heard good things about Twisters in Richmond.
Why wasn't it a good experience?
The doorman was giving me shit for bringing my guitar in through the front door. I just told him to chill the fuck out and that we didn't need to use a backdoor like Metallica. He must like the concept of the backdoor, in other terms that is.
Okay, what was your favorite band or show you have had so far?
Well the show we just played with Dying Fetus and Malignancy was the most violent show I've ever witnessed. People were just slaying the whole time, it was great to see. It was cool to recently jam with Lividity, also. Those guys are killer to hang with.
Do you bring a lot of out of state bands out?
Yep, all the time. I think I've been involved with bringing it a large percent of out of state bands passing through in some way or another. If any band needs a show here, I'm the one to contact.
Who are some bands you have brought out?
Lividity, Malignancy, CorpseVomit, Fleshgrind, Entorturement, Disfigured, Internal Bleeding, etc.
Any show or band you have played with which was a bad experience?
Well as you probably know, we are some of the most down to earth people to get along with. 99% of the people or bands we interact with are totally cool with us. Unfortunately, just recently we had a little run into with a band that will remain nameless. I will say this though. The following items are related to this band: Finesse, Oil of Olay, just for men gel, and tight clothing.
Are you doing any big shows or tours any time soon?
Oh yeah. Not really a tour, but a lot of out of state shows including shows in Ohio, New York, and Illinois with Disinter, Mortal Decay, and Regurgitation
Have you gotten any killer CD's lately?
Yeah, i got an advance copy of the new Vomit Remnants and it shreds. I pretty much try to make sure any CD I get is killer. I'm expecting the new Britney Spears sometime soon. Haha.
Well kid oh, that is it for me, anything else you would like to add?
I would like to say that I'm bored and please write to us to keep me busy. Thanks a lot for the interview and the support. Are you bored? Are you tired? Are you going to visit again?
Who said that to you?
Biggie Jenn Matthews. Also, I'd like to add that I'm starting the "Buy Jenn a new sofa fund" - Please send any donations to the following address: Ciborium - PO Box 10296 - Parkville, MD 21234 (Jen: Box is closed, do not use this)
Thanks and please contribute to the fund, my futon is horrible
http://www.supremebrutality.com/fest/
http://www.myspace.com/marylanddeathfest