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UKR 0001
EPICRISE 'Plexus 69' vs BALLGAG 'Tales of A Cornered Bitch' Split CD



19 Songs & 4-pages Full-Coloured Booklet with the Exclusive Caricature Artwork.

Cost: 35 Uah | 6.99 € | 9.99 USD
[P & P Not Included. Ask for it.]

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UKRAGH' PRODUCTIONS
Supported by



REVOLUTION MUSIC' Webzine
[Denmark, SØ, Aalborg]

Skrevet af Carsten | Dato 29-09-08 | REVOLUTION MUSIC' Webzine


BALLGAG - Interview
med: Vernon, Pissy, Mike

Revolution-Music: Hallo. First of I would like to congratulate you on your new album "Tales of A Cornered Bitch".
BALLGAG: Thanks.


Revolution-Music: Could you start out by introducing your self and tell us what part in the band you have?
Vern: Guitar and some vocals, bass on the recordings. since full time members are so scarce i write all the music. Though it'd be nice to collaborate.
Mike: I'm the bass player.
Pissy: My favorite color is green and I do vocals.


Revolution-Music: How and why did you come up with the name "BALLGAG"? Does it have any special meaning?
Vern: I don't really remember the exact circumstances under which it came up, but it was mainly chosen because its a firm name. A ballgag is a tool for sexual and social deviance, torture, and silence all parts modern day humanity.


Revolution-Music: How did you all come together, and became the band you are today?
Vern: Well we've all been friends for a pretty long time, writing music in several different styles together over the years. BALLGAG, started with one track back in 2005, which is now called "20 inch rimjobs". The original version was more of a joke. I did vocals, guitar, bass and programmed the drums. The style represented in the song stuck with me for a few months and i finally wrote some more songs and Pissy and Lyle (who at the time played in our other band ERZEBET) agreed to record the self titled ep with me during an ERZEBET recording session. We've since had several different drummers and just recently Mike joined to play bass. We're still having some drummer issues but hopefully that will be resolved soon.

Revolution-Music: This album is released trough UKRAGH' PRODUCTIONS, how did the contract get established, and how are they to work with?
Vern: We met Edward through the magic of the internet and myspace, which was a surprise to us. Edward is really good to work with, he keeps in very good contact and likes to stay informed on the events sorrounding the band. He's been very good at spreading out split around the world.


Revolution-Music: Why did you choose the title "Tales of A Cornered Bitch" for this record, does it have any special meaning?
Vern: Well this split deals with absurd sexual and social deviant imagery, there are no lyrics just song tiles, images and sound (with the exception of the song Messy Faggot, dealing with messy nauseating perverse randezvous throughout Pissy's life). The title has no special meaning, it's just awkward.


Revolution-Music: When you started working on this album, how long did the process take from the first step to the final product? Was it hard to write new material for this record or did it come naturally for you?
Vern: 4 of the songs came from our selftitled EP (rerecorded), and the other 7 we're written in about two months in early 2006. Writing new material isn't really hard. It's finding a drummer that can learn it at a reasonable pace and play it well consistently that has the time to jam. We recorded our half of the split in two days. So all in all about three months of solid preperation from start to finish.


Revolution-Music: Where did you record the album, and who produced it?
Vern: We recorded at Chasin' A Train Studios here in San Antonio. This local dude Joseph that plays in a local indie- ish band.


Revolution-Music: How was it to work with him?
Vern: He was cool, but I was never really happy with the recording process or final product. It was in a very old house so the acoustics were not very good.
Pissy: smooth


Revolution-Music: Are you trying to express something through your music?
Pissy: Self expression. Some defiance. I think that lyrics are limiting sometimes and i enjoy that people can sing/scream/growl/make noise in whatever way they want. Its liberating.
Vern: Yeah for me its all about absurdity. Not having lyrics allows us to scream and vent in whatever way we choose. There are very few places in the city where you can scream at people without drawing negative attention to yourself. We're not a political band or anything, but I'm sure I'm not the only one that is unhappy with humanity these days. Endless numbers of selfish, perverted, secretive, idiotic and devicive people. To me BALLGAG is a reflection of the abusrdity and nonsense in the world.


Revolution-Music: How has the album been received by the press, the critics and the fans so far?
Vern: Here in the US alot of people consider us too amoral to support, help out with shows, or even just communicate with us. We were trying to book a 20 day west coast/midwest tour in 2006 but it only ended up being 10 days because alot of bands, venues, and random people seem to think we're homophobes, misogynysts, and perverts and didn't want to allow us to play. People have come up to us asking about some of our lyrics, and they really don't believe us when we say we have no lyrics. They all swear they've read them or heard them. Who knows? People think such crazy things these days. One girl even claimed to have been offended because she saw some guy wearing one of our shirts at a show and didn't want us playing at her local venue. Strangely, we still have never printed the shirt design she saw.


Revolution-Music: What is your view on the group’s position in today’s music scene?
Vern: I really don't worry about scenes or scene heirarchies we've played with all sorts of random bands. As far as music in general.. It doesn't matter really.


Revolution-Music: How would you compare the material on "Tales of A Cornered Bitch" to your previous material?
Vern: More present. We haven't released that much material so differentiation is minimal.
Pissy: no matter how our new material turns out the evolution of our music feels good.


Revolution-Music: How would you define your style?
Vern: Like a thick bowl of chunky stir fried beasts.


Revolution-Music: What kind of stuff did you grow up listening to, and what kind new music do you listen to these days?
Vern: Up until i was 11 i only listened to Michael Jackson. That stopped being wild enough for me. So i got into Metal and eventually Death Metal, Grindcore and Progressive shit. I almost hate music these days. It's very hard to find good music. I've been listening to alot of GREY, WEEDEATER, PLF, and always DAHMER and electronic music like APHEX TWIN and SQUAREPUSHER. And of course, the obligatory Grindcore here and there.
Pissy: generic Metal, MORBID ANGEL, some CARCASS, MASTER. I love Grind and Black Metal.


Revolution-Music: Have any of these bands been source of inspiration for the album?
Vern: The energy and catchyness of DAHMER, FORNICATOR, and MACABRE.
Pissy: HAEMORRHAGE for me


Revolution-Music: In your time as musicians, what is your biggest musical achievement so far?
Pissy: playing shows with some of my favorite bands is great. mostly because of the pits.
Vern: yeah playing with people from all over the place rocks.


Revolution-Music: Could we expect any European tour and maybe se the band in action here in Denmark any time soon?
Vern: We were supposed to come to Europe this year, but we had some drummer troubles. Hopefully in 2009. I'm from Italy so i would love to get back there.


Revolution-Music: How did you think the music scene is in Europe, compared to the scene in the US?
Vern: I have no idea. It'd definitely seems more alive through the internet what with all the festivals you guys like to have.
Pissy: I would love to tear Europe up.


Revolution-Music: What would be the ultimate tour, festival or show for you to play at?
Vern: haha man. Start with Obscene Extreme and then leave immediately for a 3142 day tour with Madonna and Sting.


Revolution-Music: Do you have any breaking news with the bands?
Vern: My car is out of the shop. We're working on new material.


Revolution-Music: That’s all we’ve get this time, do you have anything that you'd like to add or say?
Vern: Thanks for the interview. Everyone else buy our split with EPICRISE!
Pissy: Keep it FUCKING SICK!


Revolution-Music: We would like to say thanks a lot for you’re time. And we wish all you guys all the luck in the future whatever it might bring. And thanks to UKRAGH' PRODUCTIONS for setting this interview up.


E-mail: vernon.friday[NOSPAM]@gmail.com (*Attn: Remove NOSPAM from e-mail address!)
Official WWW: myspace.com/ballgag

Thanks to: Carsten Brogaard / REVOLUTION MUSIC' Webzine [Denmark, SØ, Aalborg]
http://www.revolution-music.dk/intt.php?inid=300