BottomFeeder has been around since 2011, but it wasn’t until late 2014 you guys finally put out the debut full-length. Why such a long wait?
Pat:
I don’t really know, since I joined in 2013. I didn’t really pay attention to dates. They released two 7″ demo/EPs before I joined, so we wrote and rewrote a bunch of songs and threw em together for the record.
BottomFeeder is composed of members from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. Does having a tri-state line-up sometimes make it hard for the group to be on the same page, or not?
Pat:
Being scattered over the tri-state area is a giant pain in the ass. We don’t get in as much practice as we should, but we’re all competent enough musicians where we have our shit together for recordings and shows. Since both Len (guitars) and I live close enough we can get together and write new riffs and shit, then when a practice arises, iron out all the details.
When it comes to writing new material, what are the core fundamentals or beliefs within BottomFeeder (if any) that play a role in that stage?
Pat:
We just write what we want. We don’t cater to what people would want, we play and write for ourselves. If you like it, cool. If not, I don’t give a fuck. We’re not gonna lose sleep over it.
How about musical influences? There’s obviously a large range of bands and genres among the members. Who or what were some of them that really played a part in writing the material that wound up on Betrayals?
Pat:
We run the gamut of musical influences. Mainly for this one its the metallic hardcore we loved listening to from the late 90s mixed in with all sorts of heavier shit. Again its really a no rules to writing, but we definitely get a shitload of influence from bands like Turmoil, All Out War, Ringworm, Converge etc., etc. we don’t limit ourselves to that, but those just popped in my head just now.
What was the recording process like for Betrayals? Considering the members are in different areas, were multiple studios and technical staff used, or were you all able to get it done at the same location?
Pat:
We had Vince come up to NJ for a weekend to lay down the drums, after that was one, we got to work on guitars, bass and vocals. It didn’t take long to finalize everything so we were good to go in about 3 weeks with a mix we liked. Len handled all the recording at his studio and we just kicked out the jams.
I really like the artwork to Betrayals. Who did it, and what is the concept behind it?
Pat:
I did a search on deviant art and the dudes liked it the best out of the few we looked at. I don’t remember the dudes name, but if you pick up the record it has all the details in it. The art kinda fits the music, its fucked up and weird.
I read that you guys just wrapped up the last show of 2014 on Friday with a bunch of killer bands, including All Out War. How did it go for you guys, and what was it like getting to perform along side one of the band’s major influences (according to the Facebook post)?
Pat:
The all out war show was OK. We usually are the odd band out on most hardcore shows. So we just like going up there and playing loud and fast. Our singer Wren usually gives more detail on that, I just show up and make noise.
Does BottomFeeder have any tour dates lined up for 2015 yet? If so, where and when? Any shows you are especially excited to be taking part in?
Pat:
We don’t have any shows set up for 2015 yet and we can’t really tour due to job commitments and other bands that do tour.
Your EP II was issued through Get This Right Records, yet Betrayals seems to be a self-released recording (please correct me if I’m wrong on this). Why did the band go this route? Was that initial deal only for an EP and didn’t cover anything else?
Pat:
Get this right records dropped the ball, plain and simple. They’re still good dudes but we gave them this record back in june to release and they sat on it. So we said fuck it and put it out ourselves with help from Friends and Neighbors records. There’s really no contracts with Gtr or Friends and Neighbors. Its more friends helping friends and shit.
So where can fans go to get a copy of Betrayals other than a BottomFeeder show?
Pat:
You can contact us through our Stereokiller site, or through the Friends and Neighbors Records site.
