Interview with Circle of Fear, by Jen

So far, am I doing a good job at the Drummer Jim Fan Club?
Jim: You are doing a tremendous job my metal queen. It isn’t easy but you are serving me well.
Being from PA, who are some of the bands you get to play with?
Chris: Roughhouse and Divine Rapture.
Carl: Cannibal Corpse, Arch Enemy, Orcus and Deicide.
Matt: Local or national? National would be Vader, Dying Fetus.
Jim: We have gotten to play with Dark Funeral, Pissing Razors, Nile and Malicious Intent from here in NJ. Locally would be Ploy and Sapphic Ode.
Who are some of your favorites to play with?
Chris: Sapphic Ode is one of my favorites. Roughhouse as well.
Matt: Ploy is one of my favorites. Malevolent Creation as well.
Carl: I liked Chopcore, Deeds of Flesh and Malicious Internet as well.
Jim: I liked Scary German Guy, Hate Eternal, Dark Funeral and Ploy as well. These are all really cool bands.
Dave: Deicide, Cannibal Corpse, Vader and Arch Enemy.
Favorite place to play?
Matt: LAmours in NY.
Chris: LAmours and The Pirates Den.
Jim: Definitely LAmours. That place rules. Birch Hill is cool too.
Carl: LAmours!!!The Pirates Den and Birch Hill!!!
Dave: LAmours. No Fucking question!!
Any horror stories from playing? Everyone has one.
Chris: In every show I forget at least one verse or part so that sucks. LOL.
Carl: I broke a string at the pontiac for the Cd release show. That sucked!!
Dave: Having my Jackson stolen at LAmours. Someone will get some broken bones over that one.
Matt: I am the horror story.
How long has the band been together? What is the history behind COF?
Jim: We have been together for 4 years now. Our history started 10 years ago in a band called bloodbath with Dave and I. After some great years ago in a band called bloodbath with Dave and I. After some great shows we had some internal problems and I left. Fast forward 10 years and I saw Dave's ad in a music store and I called him and after so much time we were still on the same page and Circle of Fear was born.
You guys are getting ready to release your brand new CD. Tell us how that differs from releases in the past. Are you pleased with the new release? Anything you would have done differently?
Chris: I am fucking stoked about the release but there is always things that can be fixed.
Dave: I would have spent a lot more time with the recording and mixing if we could have afforded it. As far as being happy with it I am satisfied, I think it kicks ass.
Carl: Yes and No.
Matt: Definitely. I think it captures our intensity pretty well. When you are a live band like us, sometimes that can be lost on a CD, but I think this represents us pretty well.
Are you guys playing around with searching for a label? Anyone in particular you would like to get on and why?
Chris: I would like to be on Forever Underground and Necropolis would be cool. Anything underground.
Carl: Century Media and Relapse.
Jim: Sony and Def Jam. Just kidding. I would take Century Media over all else but anyone who would be willing to take a chance on Circle of Fear will be cool by us.
Dave: Any label that will give us the right support and not fuck us over. Metal Blade or Century Media would be awesome.
Matt: I think Metal Blade would be cool because I do like a lot of the bands on it. Necropolis as well.
With the new album coming out, are you guys going to do a tour to promote it?
Chris: We are doing everything we possibly can. Flyers, web sites and many shows coming up as well.
Who are some influences of the band?
Carl: I would have to say Megadeth, Death, Sepultura and that's about it for me.
Jim: I would have to say KISS, Dream Theater, Obituary and Carcass.
Chris: Nasty Savage, Exodus, Cradle of Filth, Dark Angel and Necrophagia.
Matt: My influences are Mega-Fucking-deth, all kinds of old school thrash, death metal and hardcore. See my bio on our web site for a complete list.
Anything you guys do before a show to get pumped up?
Dave: Usually listen to Death and I’m so amped before a show I don’t need to do anything to get myself more amped. If anything I think of a good pit!!
Carl: No not really.
Chris: Knowing we are getting ready to go on is enough for me.
Jim: I zone out and stay to myself for a few minutes but that’s about it. I try to keep my head clear.
Matt: Hang out with the crowd for a little bit and punch myself in the chest a few times and put on the mask.
For someone who never heard your music, how would you describe it?
Dave: If you mix Death and Arch Enemy with the strong 80's metal influence, you will have the carnage that makes me wanna go into a pit and tear people in two!! That describes our sound.
Chris: Aggressive and Intense.
Matt: The physical manifestation of the last thoughts to go through Ted Bundy's mind.
Jim: Its hard to say. It seems no one can describe us. Everyone has a different answer to this question so Ill leave it up to you Jenn.
Give me some opinions. Brock Lessnar.the next big thing? Hogan retiring? Rock and his big movie star head? Stone Cold back in the scene?
Jim: Brock is the Next big thing. Hogan sucks but he IS still the Hulkster, The Rock will remain a cool sumbitch, and That’s the bottom line, cause Stone Cold said so!!!
Anything else you would like to add?
Matt: Thank you for supporting non commercial metal.
Chris: Thank you Jenn for still being in the scene and Family of Freaks forever!!!
Jim: Jenn, thank you so much for this interview and support. Keep up the good work as Pres. of my fan club.
Dave: See ya in the Pit all you crazy fucks!! Till next time: Dark Thoughts and Bloody Dreams!!!
http://www.circleoffear.com