Tuesday, October 29, 2013

REVIEW: THE PUMPS PIN-UPS present LADIES OF THE DEAD

"Last Caress" by Aubrey Roemer. Intentional or not, I love Misfits references.

No contest, Halloween is the best holiday of the year, if not for the actual day-of celebration, for the multiple weeks of Halloween-related events we can all enjoy. Apart from Zombiecon, Ladies of the Dead, featuring the Pumps Pin-Ups performing spooky burlesque, has been my favorite event this season.

With Pumps (a casually awesome Brooklyn strip joint) decorated with gnarly cobwebs and macabre artwork, the Pinups performed a variety of songs, skits, and dance numbers, ranging from campy to genuinely creepy. Before detailing the performances I have to mention Aubrey Roemer’s amazing art, with photography of undead Pinups printed on old quilts. There’s a gentle, quiet eroticism in her print series, combining the calm of a midnight cemetery with the carnality of an old Jean Rollin film.

Once the show began, it was time for co-hosts Joey Nova, playing a Vincent Price-esque millionaire, and Heidi Glum (recently voted Washington DC’s top drag queen), playing his devilish wife, to really shine. Recreating the plot of House on Haunted Hill, picture Nova and Glum as Gomez and Morticia Addams, then remove the undying love. The plot: Survive the night in Pumps, receive a massive sum of money.

The performances that followed allowed the Pumps Pin-Ups to share their talents, assets, and eventually, exquisite deaths. It played like a Russian Roulette talent show, where fates are determined randomly, with tragically low chances of survival as the performers are poisoned, shot, stabbed, strangled, and harmed in numerous other ways that arouse creeps like me. Little by little, each performer closed in on the fortune promised by Nova, but the suspense was largely due to the crowd’s anticipation of clothing removal. Honestly, it took the crowd a little while to loosen up and it was sepulcher-silent for the first few numbers, so instead of a chronological review like usual, I’m going to focus on each performer that left a bloody handprint on my memory.

Sunny de la Vega, apart from warming the crowd up with graceful pole-dancing, also took part in the most unsettling song of the night, as one half of a wind-up toy dancing team with Alyssa Calypso. She seemed to levitate as she danced, and makes everything seem deceptively easy. She had a smile for everyone, and anyone who appreciates the pleasure of watching exceptional dancing and form had a smile for her too.

Speaking of Alyssa Calypso, she had the performance of the night with a werewolf-themed striptease and dance routine to a Lon Chaney-sampling dubstep song. The crowd howled as she revealed her werewolf-hair pasties and tail beneath her Red Riding Hood costume. It was funny, unfairly sexy, and received a huge ovation from my fellow lycanthrope lovers in the audience. Nova quipped at the song’s close, “Well, I guess someone got some tail.”

Spanx Sinatra, whose vocal talents light up every event, shared some impressive improvisational skills to match her pipes. Playing characters ranging from a gal mourning “her broke as fuck unemployed musician boyfriend” to a pouty deceased child to a lounge superstar, she showed dynamic range and a gift for tongue-in-cheek self-aware humor. She also nailed singing “The Truth,” giving it Prohibition-era class. You ever see mug shots of criminals back in the 20s? They look snazzy as fuck.

Scarlett la Rosa, apart from being the director of the show and the captain of the Pinups, also delivers memorable music performances at every event. Unfortunately her customized version of “Mack the Knife” occurred while the crowd was still sleepwalking in the beginning. Shame too, because that song is the one of my favorites and ranks as one of the coolest songs ever written. Still, her show design was fantastic and filled with old-Hollywood glamor and kitsch, along with doses of Rocky Horror mischief and sleaze.

Three other dancers that totally owned the stage were the lovely Sophie Von Z (performing a really fun marionette-inspired routine with supporting help from tattooed beauty Rose), Sinister Shabzz (who looks like nothing, including a zombie outbreak, could rattle her as she dances with focus and confidence), the awesome Ariel Wolf (dancing to Redbone’s “The Witch Queen of New Orleans” as a white-clad voodoo priestess torturing an anatomically-correct doll’s genitals), and Sandra, who is hands-down one of the most seductive dancers I’ve seen, and could inspire the dead to rise, in every meaning of the word.

I can’t forget Rocket Shippes, also a great MC, who spent the night playing Boris, a drunken, bearded Soviet sailor who sees the homicidal plot unfolding. One of my favorite moments of the night belonged to Boris, unsoberly bellowing/death metal growling “Only Fools Russian” to woo Heidi Glum. It was a demented, no-holds-barred performance that may have been fueled by vodka, but anyone who has seen Rocket perform before knows that a drunken bearded sailor is pretty much her spirit animal.

While the show certainly felt disjointed at times, with some delays and occasional screeches of feedback, there was a charming sense of lunacy abound, with great quips from Nova and Glum keeping the action moving, and silliness permeating the sensual, gothic proceedings. It was a night of surprises and clashing imagery, from the dangerous crypt setting contrasting with the warm, welcoming smiles of the bodice-wearing bartending tandem of Kat and Vanessa, to the soundtrack of screams and chainsaws melting into the soothing blues of a graveyard lounge club. Simply, and homicidally said: Aubrey Roemer and the Pumps Pin-Ups killed it again.

Follow the Pumps Pin-Ups over here on Facebook for future events: https://www.facebook.com/PumpsPinUps

And check out more of Aubrey Roemer’s amazing work here:  http://www.aubreyroemer.com/wp/

Friday, October 25, 2013

JIU-JITSU BRUNCH - HALLOWEEN ISSUE


Hey art lovers! A Halloween-themed issue of Jiu-Jitsu Brunch (the Kung Fu Breakfast supplemental series) just launched, unleashing horrors of all varieties on those brave enough to download it for FREE. Despite my infatuation with the undead, I’ve never written a proper zombie story. UNTIL NOW. My short story, “Molly,” is the featured fiction piece in the issue, and has absurd humor and splatter and all the reanimated creatures you could want in a four-page story.

The issue also shares a gorgeous front/back cover from Caitlin Anne,as well as work from Mister Growl-favorites Brittany Bindrim, Jay Kantor, and Jessica Towne. Sam Guss chips in some twisted, sexy-as-sin photography, and Kendra Lin’s “Halloween processional” is beautiful and seductive.

You can download the issue here (WARNING: ADULT CONTENT): http://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/646761

And check out Kung Fu Breakfast on Facebook. Like them, follow them, and comment on what pieces you enjoyed. It means a lot to the artists: https://www.facebook.com/KungFuBreakfast

Thursday, October 24, 2013

GUEST REVIEW: MAMMOTH GRINDER - UNDERWORLDS


Continuing our series of metal reviews by non-metal fans, Mister Growl welcomes back guest reviewer Shane Frasier, manager of Acquired Taste Bookings and creator of the Behemoth Music Festival (a series of concerts in Upstate New York that recently reached down into Brooklyn). He has also been a member of roughly seven thousand bands, ranging from hardcore punk (Daytime Soiree) to electronic/dance music (Mr. Owl) to eccentric insanity (The Lanky Mofos and The Bumblebees). He was nice enough to accept our invitation and review the new Mammoth Grinder album, Underworlds:

“You don't need much of an active imagination to guess what kind of music Mammoth Grinder is. It'd be funny, and yes, kind of unique, for them to be a jazz quartet, but no, these guys play a thrashy version of hardcore that demands you to throw down in a pit. But fitting the bill name-wise doesn't save one from ridicule, especially in the music world. Thankfully, I have little to gripe about with their new album, Underworlds.

Mammoth Grinder is fast-paced and destructive, but they stay just out of reach of the term “brutal” to save them from being bogged down by such associations. It's the kind of music I feel a psychopath would listen to to get pumped about hunting down some moronic teens in a horror film. While it mainly stays grounded in its fast-paced hardcore roots, it does try to stray often enough to not warrant it being considered bland.

"Wraparound Eyes" and "Paragon Pusher" really emphasize what these guys are trying to do here, sporting quick beats, growling vocals, and thrash-induced riffs that never overstay their welcome (but how could they at under 3 minutes anyways?). The guitar work on these songs takes center stage, with harmonizing parts that effortlessly blend together to create a wall of cacophony so great that I'm sure somewhere, in the vast ruins of space, some universe has been torn apart.

"Barricades" and "Roperide" work at a breakdown-like pace, chugging through with a sense of dread. They feel slightly metallic in their approach, but don't stay true to their tropes. "Barricades" really takes the cake out of these two, mainly because it’s so damn catchy. I've often found it's hard to make slower paced songs more memorable, mainly because, in these genres, they're more focused on being destructive more than anything. It’s nice to be reminded there are exceptions to the rule.

"Born In A Bag" and "Breeding" bring back the speed, displaying a punk attitude in the songs. I know, thrash and hardcore are pretty close siblings to punk in the music world, but really getting them to fit together is hard work. Others like "Moral Crux" deviate from the prominent fast-paced setting, relying on its intensity and slow-paced doom to instill wonder in the audience.

Underworlds is very solid, and while nothing is really different from anything I've heard before, it doesn't matter. Mammoth Grinder has set up an album that never finds a middle ground, opting to either go fast or slow. That black or white mentality might be a turn off to some people, but that's what kept me going with it. I’ve always wanted a variety of tempos and genre influences in each song, but for some reason, Mammoth Grinder wooed me away from that mentality. It's about time someone did.”
- Shane Frasier

(Editor’s note: This album is in my list of top albums for the year. I will be releasing a Top 50 list in December. - Mister Growl)

Many thanks to Shane for covering this release, and we seem to have some momentum with THREE positive guest reviews in a row from Mister Frasier. Note to self: Send Shane all crusty grind/punk/hardcore/d-beat releases we need reviewed.

Stream Underworlds over here at Bandcamp and buy it for a well-spent $6.66:  http://mammothgrinder.bandcamp.com/


Tuesday, October 15, 2013

REVIEW: GURT / LIMB - SPLIT ROAST


I don’t always review albums song by song, but when I do, it’s usually a Witch Hunter Records release. The newest album from the DIY label based in the UK is a truly collaborative effort from two filthy sludge bands with varying approaches to the subgenre. On this split EP, both bands include, in order, one new original song, a cover of their choosing, and a cover of a song by the other band sharing the split. I absolutely love this approach, as it invites some playful competition and camaraderie as well. Here are my thoughts on each song:

GURT

1) Sophisticate - Gurt start the hunting party with a throbbing rhythm and a thick, mucky sound that invokes Slabdragger and the bluesy flourishes and brawny chugging of late-career Pantera. Take old Chicago electric blues, channel it through an Orange amp, then dip it in hot tar and vulture feathers. The vocals from Growth/Gareth Kelly sound like the crusty howls of a swampland degenerate from a Cormac McCarthy novel.

2) Psycho Killer - Yep, a Talking Heads cover. There’s the initial, beard-growing bass tone from Spice/David Blakemore, then the novelty of hearing David Byrne’s voice replaced by the caustic roar of a gutter demon. Parts of the song feel a bit rigid (the fa-fa-fas don’t work quite as well as the ay-ay-ays, for those  familiar with the moments of non-lyrical vocals), but the last minute of sprawling, trippy rock is totally inspired, and Gurt own this song and make it their own monster.

3) Gift of the Sun - Covering the title track of the last Limb EP, Gurt extend the psychedelic rock with shades of Church of Misery’s quietest moments, and then rips a hole in the earth’s crust with a riff that could summon Cthulhu for its turn at the hookah. This song is seriously, supernaturally heavy.

LIMB

1) Plaguedoctor - Groovy sludge that’s closer to stoner metal with its hallucinogenic bounce, like Electric Wizard without the occult, just a perpetually loaded bong and a bathtub full of homemade swill. Great song, catchy as hell is hot. Rob Hoey’s vocals remind me of LG Petrov from Entombed, if his throat was shredded from acid tab paper cuts.

2) Son and Daughter - Covering a supremely heavy Queen song from their debut album, Limb explore gender roles with a strong, Sabbath stomp. I was expecting some harmonica to join the fray, as this song feels like it’s dressed up in a denim jacket with fringe. They cut the hacky synth effects that plague the original and trim it down to basics, resulting in awesome throwback heavy rock with raw-doggin’ attitude.

3) Soapfeast - Choosing a Gurt song from another split, the shared EP with Dopefight, Limb soak in the joys of profanity and all its unexpected combinations, as the vocals are the most diseased on the EP as they chant the mantra “you really don’t give a cunting fuck.” The song itself has a surprisingly low-key, smoke-a-spliff-in-the-van’s-back-seat energy, apart from one dangerously bombastic release of fury.

In summary, I had a blast with this entire release. Sludge is often considered one of the more misanthropic genres, riddled with tales of addiction and hatred and self-loathing. But on Split Roast, Gurt and Limb both scoop their sloppy, delicious gruel onto the listener’s plate and growl with a grin, “Eat up, you cunting fuck.” And that’s music to my ears.

Listen to Gurt and Limb over here, where Witch Hunter Records always makes the albums available as a “Name your price” download. Then buy the CD, which is made with a completely DIY mentality, and features artwork from the bands:  http://witchhunterrecords.bandcamp.com/album/split-roast

Add Gurt here on Facebook, and follow their swampy reign:  https://www.facebook.com/GURTsludge

And do the same for Limb, while convincing them to record the Queen epic “The Prophet’s Song” in the future:  https://www.facebook.com/LimbTheBand

Monday, October 14, 2013

INTERVIEW: DOCTOR DELIRIUM

My favorite. Photo credit: R. Van Zandt
Hey art lovers, I’ve been called a lot of things during my heinous existence, but I’ve never been called a Philistine. We’ve covered burlesque, poetry, painting, photography, and of course music from every unholy corner of the universe. But now I’m proud to interview the first featured model at Mister Growl, the “wonderfully bizarre” Doctor Delirium!

Mister Growl: For those unfamiliar, could you provide a history of your creative career?

Doctor Delirium: Well, my creative 'career' isn't too interesting, actually. I used to draw A LOT when I was little all the way up until I was seventeen, then all of the sudden it just didn't interest me anymore. I still wanted to be creative but use a different medium, so I took a cheap camera and began taking some photos with dark weird makeup on. Eventually I got a nice makeup kit and started putting on interesting designs and uploaded them to my Facebook. The responses from my friends and family were mostly "Oh, you should model!" I loved the idea, and even went to try out a modeling school in Boston, but never went. When I moved back to New York I began taking pictures again then uploaded them to Model Mayhem where I met a few photographers, and after a few photoshoots I'm now here!

Mister Growl: I'm the sort of guy who frustrates my girlfriend by thinking any dark color is black, so my understanding of fashion is pretty damn slim. That said, you seem to push aside fashion photography in favor of photography that's much more aesthetically challenging. What's your "artist statement" when it comes to modeling and photography?

Doctor Delirium: Don't get me wrong I'd love to get into fashion modeling for Gothic/Industrial attire but that would never be what I want to be known for.  Now I'm not from some high end family, in fact I'm married living in a small apartment, haha! So I use what I have, and I actually love that about myself. I love taking something simple and making it great. For instance, most of the stuff I used for makeup was dirt, mascara, eyeliner, black paint/latex and fake blood! Not to mention the very very talented photographers who have so much vision!

Photo credit: Doctor Delirium
 Mister Growl: It seems your work is heavily informed by horror imagery. What are some of your favorite horror films, or ones that have terrified you the most?

Doctor Delirium:  I usually don't watch horror movies and tend to stay away from them, but it doesn't mean I won't watch them at all. I'm more into supernatural films or older films with stop animation (i.e. The Thing). When I used to draw they had that horror imagery as well, but that was taken from influence of a lot of Jhonen Vasquez's work, who created Invader Zim and Johnny the Homicidal Maniac.  As silly as this sounds Dead Silence freaked me out the most because I HATE dolls with a passion. They freak me the hell out! Ugh!

Mister Growl: You've recently shared music from Necrophagist and Iron Maiden on your Doctor Delirium/Wonderfully Bizarre Facebook page. Has heavy metal informed your modeling and photography?

Doctor Delirium: Metal is more of a interest and a passion beside my modeling, but hey, I have wonderful fans and admirers because of that! I grew up listening to progressive metal with my brother and it grew when I married my husband. Metal is very diverse and maybe it has influenced me a bit, I'm not sure.

Mister Growl: Where else do you find inspiration for your projects?

Doctor Delirium:  A number of ways and places! Sometimes it's from other talented models and sometimes it's by watching an artistically done music video or it's just me randomly thinking of it and annoying a few photographers about it, haha.

Photo credit: Doctor Delirium
Mister Growl: What are the challenges faced when working with a photographer for the first time?

Doctor Delirium: I can't really think of a challenge, when I meet someone I'm very open and excited and try to be as friendly as I can.

Mister Growl: You also work extensively with your husband, who's a talented photographer. What sort of dynamic do you both have when it comes to the creative process?

Doctor Delirium: Sometimes I just have the ideas in my head and he grabs whatever camera he can find and goes to work. We take a few shots and exchange ideas before uploading and retouching. It's not too exciting!

Mister Growl: I recently handed in lists of my favorite all-time black metal albums and the top 2013 metal albums into Decibel Magazine. What are some of your favorite albums, and if you could model for any band's merchandise, who would you choose?

Doctor Delirium: If I could model for anyone's merchandise it would be for Cradle of Filth. Now I like their music, but it's mostly the artistic side of their videos and their albums I love. Dani himself seems like a very friendly and intelligent man, and I can respect that! For my favorite albums, I don't really have a favorite but one I have been listening to a lot lately is Dead End Kings by Katatonia. When listening to that I don't know whether to be happy or sad, it just has such a beautiful and mystical sound to it.

Photo credit: Nate Wood
Mister Growl: On your website you discuss your firm believe in collaboration during the creative process. What about collaboration do you find most rewarding?

Doctor Delirium: When collaborating on something that turns out great and I keep looking back at the photos in awe. It feels great to have a concept in your mind being brought to life!

Mister Growl: What's lined up for Doctor Delirium, and what would you like to achieve going forward?

Doctor Delirium: I'm not really sure how to answer that! I mean, I'd love recognition and to do so much more but mostly I just want to continue meeting artistic people and being creative. Sometimes I like not knowing so it's always a surprise, as corny as that sounds.

Photo credit: R. Van Zandt
Many thanks to Doctor Delirium for taking time to answer some questions and kindly allowing us to share her amazing work!

Check out her modeling portfolio, which I need to inform you includes NSFW material, unless your workplace embraces fantastic, nightmarish, erotic, and grimly original photography:  http://www.thewonderfullybizarre.com/

And for photographers/bands/labels looking to make their merch and promo material considerably more awesome, you can contact her with project details over here:  http://www.thewonderfullybizarre.com/#!contact/czpl

And add the Doctor over on Facebook to stay current with upcoming shoots and news:  https://www.facebook.com/thewonderfullybizarre


Monday, October 7, 2013

INTERVIEW: STALIN


The old “sex, drugs, and rock’n’roll” adage is weak-sauce for Bay Area transgressive rockers Stalin. Mix in body mods, heavy riffs, and devil-masked cocaine orgies and you’re on the right path to appreciating the hedonistic world of Stalin’s music, which would be Emperor Caligula’s main jam. I was able to recently catch up with the band and receive their thoughts on their new music video, the sex industry, and the joys of hate mail. Join the orgy below:

Mister Growl: For those unfamiliar with Stalin’s music, could you introduce the history of your band?

Stalin: The project started in 2011 with a group of very whimsical individuals that decided to give music a go. The original line up rented out a house to live in and rehearse, which unfortunately turned into a mix of a trash heap and party pad, although we managed to write 3 albums worth of material and are still in the process of releasing the first.

The idea behind the band is to simultaneously do whatever we want musically and otherwise without limitations or rules.

Mister Growl: I described your sound to a friend as “Peter Steele from Type O Negative fronting the Rollins Band and Antichrist Superstar-era Marilyn Manson,” but in a press release you referred to your band as “transgressive rock.” Does that mean you throw semen and feces into the audience, like GG Allin?

Stalin: That's an exceptionally complimentary description - why thank you sir. As for semen and feces being thrown at the audience -- that's not likely to occur anytime soon. We're romantics and that wouldn't exactly charm over our beautiful fan base. But, that's not to say that a Stalin show won't contain some unique entities that you might not see elsewhere. In fact, we'd assure that.

Mister Growl: You have a new video out for your song “California.” What was the production process like for that video?

Stalin: We shot the video in a day and a half with only a take or two per shot, so it was a bit rushed. It was also one of the more enjoyable creative things we've done - all of the sexual bits were shot early in the morning and the whole set devolved into the real deal by mid day due to having 30 Ciroc bottles on location, everyone on set was hammered and a few as well coked out of their minds and inhaling helium balloons. Yet, we managed to get some nice shots under a collectively hazy condition. People like "method acting," haha.

We can't wait to do more and have some amazingly enticing ideas to film. Making videos is arguably more fun than recording and mixing music in the studio. Two more on the way this year.

Mister Growl: I am a firm believer that movies/TV/music can corrupt God’s children and turn them into hedonistic demons. How many lives do you reckon you’ve destroyed by including profanity, drug use, promiscuity and sexual intercourse out of wedlock, Satanic/Pagan imagery, and provocative dancing in your video?

Stalin: Why capitalize the abrahamic "god?" He/it/she has the personality of an attention seeking teenager with a superiority complex and intensive jealousy, that's not very divine is it?

We can't comment on who and what we have influenced so far, but we have managed to aggravate quite a few hipsters and techies with the video and that's of course splendid. Those cunts are positively dead to identity.

Besides, you can't corrupt religious kids, they've been corrupted by 2,000+ year old racist, sexist, irrational, logically inept and ludicrous dogma from the jump. We feel bad for them and want to extend out a helping hand. It's all love...

Mister Growl: Was the “California” video just an excuse to kiss and fondle an impossibly hot tattooed gal, or is there another message as well?

Stalin: The video itself is a parody that few seem to spot outside of the Conspiracy Theorist realm, or those who watch a lot of Kesha and Lady Gaga material. Mainstream pop videos throw in more and more faux Illuminati material because it generates a lot of hits online from people that believe in power behind the throne and secret world orders and so on. So we took the basic elements and mixed in sarcastic product placement, the Baphomet, chifir induced rituals and then sexed it up more than they're willing to do in their prude teases.

So literally it's just taking the piss on mainstream music culture while throwing in some subtle anti-authoritarian overtones. We even put the plaque from the real Bohemian Club in it for our tin foil hat wearing friends.

Mister Growl: One of my favorite places I’ve visited in this country was The Lusty Lady in San Francisco, which tragically closed this past summer. What are your opinions of that legendary venue, and of the sex industry in general?

Stalin: Our bassist and one of our guitarists were thrown out of the Lusty Lady by a Tranny whose occupation was cleaning off cum stains from the walls and floor. They tried to get in a booth half priced for two and were in there laughing about the whole experience while other customers were "handling" themselves all business like. That's the only memory we have of that place.

The sex industry, as in porn and other outlets obviously has its place as a multi-billion dollar industry. The only people that denounce are social conservative types that detest it while enjoying it in the comfort of privacy and secrecy.

Not too many of those types in SF. Lots of freaks, creeps and people that can't afford rent amongst the new gen of liberal yuppies.

Mister Growl: There have been a series of disturbing violent incidents between fans involved with the San Francisco Giants/Los Angeles Dodgers rivalry. What do you think that sort of twisted fanaticism says about humanity?

Stalin: The irony is that the Raiders-Niners rivalry is calm and respectful. The more violent sport in the more violent areas having a calmer situation probably says that the slower sport that induces more boredom maybe is the culprit of twisted fanaticism and brings out the animal.

That idea could relate to the root of almost everything, or is just baseless pseudo-intellectualism.
The latter, definitely.

Mister Growl: On September 16th, 2013 you Tweeted the following: “Isn't it ever amusing that those who espouse "traditional moral values' have the worst closeted moral codes known to man? #prostitutechrist.” Why did you name our band Stalin, instead of Prostitute Christ?

Stalin: Just for you we'll rename a track on our next album 'Prostitute Christ'. We named it Stalin as jest, due to our anti-Authoritarian output it fits within the whole dark humor bit perfectly. We're totally down with Anonymous.

Mister Growl: As an East Coaster, I’m curious to hear how you’d describe the musical history and current scene in San Francisco.

Stalin: The history of it is fantastic, all the way up to when Silicon Valley drove up rent prices to make it the most expensive city to live in the United States. You had the 60s scene here that was very influential, you had the thrash movement in the 80s and as well a great alt-metal and alt-rock scene in the 90s. Janis Joplin, Metallica, Faith No More - significant acts.

Now it's nothing but beards, banjos and holding hands with a bit of electro pop. There's a gigantic market for that lifeless bilge and 20,000 different acts consisting of it.
Except for us.

Mister Growl: What have been your strangest and most rewarding experiences playing live?

Stalin: This project has yet to make its live debut, but in the near future expect us in a town near you. ;)

Mister Growl: You seem to be particularly proud of the hate mail the band’s received. What are your thoughts on that sort of antagonism, and what it says about the band’s music and image?

Stalin: We love it! But only when they put a lot of thought into their love letters or adoring compliments.

Mister Growl: What does the future hold for Stalin?

Stalin: Bringing the Stalin brand to wider and broader audience. Stay tuned if you like what we do, it's only going to get more fun.

Many thanks to Stalin for taking the time to answer these questions and share their new music. Go check out their website, watch the video for “California,” and listen to their music NOW:  http://www.stalin.org/