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Animosity - Leo Miller

05/04/06 || Global Domination

This review was written by ex-staffer/cocksmoker Lumberjack.

Animosity logo Animosity are a hard-charging, hard-partying death metal/hardcore band from San Francisco. The guys are young, having started the band when they were all about 14 years old, and intent on kicking ass and having a good time. They seem to be good at both.

GD: First off, thanks for agreeing to this interview. I’d offer you a beer, but you’re too far away and I’m thirsty. Your sound is a mixture of, among other things, death metal and hardcore. Yet, it doesn’t make me think of tools buying studded belts at Hot Topic and crying a lot. Care to shed some light on your writing process?

Leo: Probably because we aren’t those kind of tools. Frank just said he seriously credits every riff to weed…We just play what we like, and we don’t like corny shit.

How did you arrive at your band name? Many bands choose names early in their careers that later become irrelevant to their lyrical bent (Dying Fetus comes to mind, although it was fine for their early days as a band). Do you think “Animosity” will be a name you’ll gladly play under years from now?

Well, we made it obviously when we were really young and just thought it was a cool, tough, and angry-sounding name. At the time, really overly aggressive and violent bands were our main influences so it made perfect sense for us. Years later I find truth meaning in the name without being angry people at all. Basically, as you may see in our lyrics, I look around at our society and unfortunately often see a world of filth, greed, deceit and suffering. I wish it was not so… I consider myself to be a very positive guy but I cannot hide or mask the way I perceive the condition of our world. The name “animosity” represents the eternal hate and ugliness of our world and the way that we feel about it. It is a simple, easy, name so it works out fine.

Who did the artwork for “Empires”? That painting on the cover is very interesting. What was the inspiration for it?

Paul Romano did it… I think the main influence for him was the lyrics. I gave him a vague idea of what to do, but he is to credit for everything.

The lyrical subject matter of your songs is pretty serious stuff, yet the music is perfect for an alcohol-fueled mosh pit and you say on your website you love to party. Do you believe this balance is important, and does it reflect the personalities in the band?

We aren’t angry people. I am angry at the world for its ugly and disgusting ways, and that is what I write about in the songs, but in no way do I carry that around with me all day. When we are on stage we have one purpose and one purpose only…. to cause wild party. Fun is much better than depression so we try to focus on that.

What NES game did you take that noise from the opening of “Thieves” from?

It’s actually a part of the song ‘Thieves’ just slowed down and reversed…pretty cool

What are your thoughts about the relationship between the internet and underground music?

It helps out a lot, perhaps too much.

Are there any other up-and-coming bands from your area (or the rest of America) that you’re impressed with? If so, what about them piques your interest?

Set Your Goals, Alcatraz, First Blood, Embrace The End… all our local buddies. Other than that, people need to check out Lye By Mistake from St. Louis.

Death metal was extremely popular in Scandinavia in the 90’s, and thrash had a heyday in America (particularly near your home) during the 80s’. Can good metal ever regain the sort of notoriety it enjoyed then, or does something about becoming popular ruin it? Is the best music always underexposed?

No, these days metal is nearly pop music. The best music does not have to be unpopular, however all the bands I truly admire seem to be.

You guys are on tour with Six Feet Under as I write this. Do you have any funny road stories you want to share? (Chris Barnes eating groupies, etc)

Actually I have still not met Barnes. The most memorable moment would have to be when we saw the Native Americans kicking the shit out of Job for a Cowboy for having a name sensitive to their history. It was wild…. blood everywhere.

If you could tour with any one band currently playing, who would it be and why?

Three six Mafia… Wild party every night.

Alright, now that that shit’s out of the way, it’s time for the serious questions:

What’s your favorite beer? I’m not talkin’ your workhorse, here, but the one you drink because it tastes the best.

I don’t drink beer actually. I like Henry Wienhards Root Beer.

Ozzy once said that when he was playing with Black Sabbath, metal rarely attracted any decent-looking groupies. What’s it like today? Does kicking ass on the stage equate to getting ass behind it, or do you have to play cock-rock to pull that off?

At this point, a fine piece a rump and a nice bust is like the ringing in my ears… but Dan is a virgin.

As it stands, not one member of your band has a beard. How do you plan to rectify that? They stop itching when they get longer, you know. (No one on their website had one)

Not true motherfucker… See me. ( Note by The Lord: That’s not a beard, that’s a funny joke )

Who would you rather wake up next to after a long night of drinking: Bea Arthur or Sean Connery?

Dead.

Who’s the dude trying to talk shit at the end of “Shut it Down”? Who says “Your gonna get smacked up”? That’s a joke, right? Right?

It is actually not a joke and was completely serious. It is all good though.

That’s all I’ve got, and since I’m such a swell guy, I’ll let you close this thing. Thanks again for being a sport, come by and check out Global Domination at www.globaldomination.se, and if you ever play Birmingham (AL) or Atlanta, I’m fuckin’ there. Any parting words?

Birmingham is tight… we just played there 3 times in a week. We love that town. Parting words: Some say it is wise not to rock… kick them in the nads.

Keep fun ALIVE!
www.animositysf.com
www.myspace.com/animositysf

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