Thrash metal punks Toxic Holocaust has been around for nearly 15 years and through their time they have played countlessly while also write and record material for now five albums! Main man himself Joel Grind discusses the latest album and future plans.
1. Toxic Holocaust will have been a band for 15 years come next year - what run's through your mind?
Joel: I didn't even realize it until I did some recent interviews, that pointed that out. Honestly it's almost amazing that it's been that long - fifteen years it's gone by so fast. Looking at it I didn't really think it'd been that long.
2. How does it feel to be on album number five?
Joel: Uh it kinda feels awkward it's been such a big accomplishment to have done five of them,
It feels like an accomplishment for me, looking back at when I did the first record - having done five them is really an achievement for me.
3. What's your take on Chemistry of Consciousness as a whole?
Joel: In a way it's combining all of our stuff from our previous records into one - using all of the elements when making the songs not over thinking it, using a lot of catchy riffs and lyrics. I tend to over think things a lot so I just play what I want to hear.
4. Is it important for you to paint visual pictures with the songs?
Joel: Yeah it is actually, I like to visualize what is going on with all of the elements as well.
5. What would be the cinematic equivalent of Chemistry of Consciousness?
Joel: It's hard to say really I'd think Mad Men has a lot to do it but also that it's more of a documentary based record dealing with a lot of the issues we're dealing with right now.
6. Did you get the album you wanted? Is everything on there or were there some things that were just impossible to pull off?
Joel: I think it was pretty close to how I envisioned it - how it is now it's what I wanted it to be and sound on the last record. Musically it's more punk based than before I think now it's taken a heavier direction with this record.
7. Where is the new material headed?
Joel: That's a good question I haven't really thought that far ahead yet. I have a feeling that will be a crossover with this record to the next one. I'm sure a lot of the songs I wrote that didn't make it on this record will be put on that record.
8. You decided to return to the classic yellow Toxic Holocaust logo for this album's cover; will the classic logo remain or will the new logo still be present?
Joel: I don't know. A lot of people hated it or loved it. It wasn't a thing that went away forever it was still around just not on the album cover for our last record - the logo worked for this album cover due to all of the colors and our last one just being black and white. So only time will tell for the logo.
9. Aside from Toxic Holocaust you have done other projects from your self-titled, Tiger Junkies, and War Ripper will we ever see a tour or showcase of Joel Grind's works having all of those acts come together or would that be too much for you to handle?
Joel: A lot of people have asked me if I would do that stuff live and I don't wanna say yes or no - I think it would be fun if they crossed over together but I have always thought of keeping them separately. But I wouldn't mind doing it just don't know where or when.
10. A variety of bands have been playing or doing tours in anniversary celebration of certain albums and "Evil Never Dies" marks the big 10 - will you be doing anything for this release as far as playing it in its entirety?
Joel: I don't know it would be cool to play it in its entirety. It's funny because once we signed with Relapse everyone was drawn to us by our 2008 album "An Overdose of Death" not the first album. It would be fun to do it though.
11. Toxic Holocaust will be on tour through most of November. What can fans expect to hear? More new songs or old songs?
Joel: A combo of both. I don't like it when bands release a new record and just play the new stuff. We will definitely play a lot of the old stuff.
12. You released a live album in 2007 Only Deaf is Real only limited to 500 copies and a live DVD Brazillian Slaughter in 2008 - will you be recording a new LIVE CD or DVD or combo?
Joel: There is nothing planned yet. It usually starts off with a show and if it was good enough to be recorded for something but there is nothing really planned yet.
13. Would you ever consider releasing an all acoustic album or a few songs?Joel: No our music doesn't really go there. It would be funny to do though.
14. What are your plans for the upcoming holiday season?
Joel: Halloween night we're playing a show in Portland and then Thanksgiving be on tour and Christmas back in Portland and New Years onward just getting ready for more shows and touring.
15. Is there anything that you’d like to say to the Toxic Holocaust fans?
Joel: Just would like to thank them for being here for the past fifteen years - always supporting us in everything we do.
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