Brett: What do you think of the hardcore scene now, the way kids are, bands, messages? Do you feel that many kids are privileged with the many reunions, fests and other nuances that are popping up and what do you think about the “hype” bands? Adam: I think if you truly, truly love hardcore you hate 90% of it. In the past I’d say 99% but I’ve come to just accept some bands as not being my thing, but having some merit of their own at least. It’s not hard to pick out the wrong things in hardcore. Posers, backstabbers, fair-weather friends, dishonest people, “big cool guy” touring pass wearing dudes, generic bands. All those things tarnish what I think is, in it’s pure form, the strongest expression of self and music. I think a lot of bands don’t generally have a message. The big bands out there are just mindless mosh parts sewn together with catchy rhyming lyrics. I don’t need to name names, but compare your average hardstyle band with Die Young’s discography or a band like Hollow Earth and you’ll see who put more into their music. Reunions, well, I don’t get to see them because no one gives a fuck about playing Winnipeg. Actually, a reunited Angry Samoans were supposed to play here soon, I bet it’s going to be really bad. Fests are awesome, I love playing them and going to them again because being from the middle of no where when am I going to get the chance to see any of these bands? At the end of the day, I can only casually observe what most other bands are doing
because I concentrate on my own and don’t worry about what others do. Brett: Do you think that Crucified will ever play again and if so we can expect a Withdrawal / Crucified tour? Or would you be willing to do what Integrity did with Pulling Teeth in putting out the Integriteeth 7” and become Cruicifawal? I certainly hope they do. I think they will. They’re sitting on an amazing 7” that should be released eventually by Dave Heck’s record label. It’s so good that me and Mike Phillips from Escapist have joked about bootlegging it before he gets to put it out. When we do the LP release I’m going to do my best to get them to play it. They’re the best friends we have, as far as bands go. Nick and Phil are just great people. They contributed to Faith, Flesh & Blood and certainly inspire us as a band. If they were to officially call it quits, I don’t think Withdrawal would be too long for this world without them. I could go on forever about those guys and their music, I’ll just put it like this: Coldest Winter; Darkest Reaches of the Mind. The best metallic hardcore record of the past 10 years. Turn off whatever crap you’re listening to right now and get ahold of it. Brett: Any shout outs or anything? Adam: Anyone who enjoys what we do, it means a lot to us.