Evil Army
Thrash metal is for me probably the most tricky musical genre around, because under the same name you can get totally boring technical shit with disgusting high-pitched vocals that I really hate or great fast and aggressive, straightforward metal, that I definitely love. One thing that often helps me to recognize between those two is the word 'punk', so if I read a review of some new thrash metal band and they say "thrash metal with punk attitude" or something similar, I'll probably go for it. So let me tell you something, here's the interview with this band from Memphis that play fantastic thrash metal with some hcore/punk attitude. I talked to guitarist Rob Evil.
You and Michael are brothers, so tell me guys who of you brought home the very first thrash record and what was it? And did you both like it equaly?
The first record we ever owned was 'Appetite for Destruction' by Guns N' Roses. It wasn't a thrash album, but that was THE album that got us into music.
Whose idea it was to start a band? Was it clear from the begenning what kind of music you are going to play?
After we got better at playing our instruments we just decided to put a band together. Since the beginning we wanted to play metal. 
I know you like old Metallica and Slayer ... what about any hardcore/punk likes?
I've never been a punk or hardcore fan. I like a few songs here and there by a few hardcore bands, but that's about it.
Not even Misfits? I'd swear you are a huge Misfits fan.
I'm a big Misfits fan, but I don't consider them punk. They've got their own style. Nobody sounds like The Misfits. When I was 13 I was in a band and we kinda went for the "Earth A.D." sound.
Please tell me, have you ever read any review of your record that didn't say '...these guys sounds like early Metallica'? I didn’t, nor in mine, haha.
I've seen a lot of our record reviews that didn't compare us to Metallica. I've never even heard most of the bands that we get compared to.
Would you go to play support for Metallica if they do club tour with only their first three records on playlist? What would you tell them if you have a chance to talk face to face?
Hell yeah we'd open for them. Who wouldn't want to playing in front of 50,000 people?
Do you like german thrash of the 80s? I mean Kreator, Sodom, Living Death, Assassin .... ? In your song 'Realm of death' mainly, but partially in all others your voice sounds like youg Tom Angelripper of Sodom to me. Coincidence or waht? Or am I totally deaf?
I like 'Sentence of Death' by Destruction. I like some songs by Sodom, but I only like a few songs by Kreator and I've never heard of Living Death, Assassin. I don't think my vocals sound like Tom Angelripper's and I definitely didn't try to sound like anyone. I don't use a fake voice when I do vocals. Its just what I sound like when I yell my ass off.
Please explain me the idea of re-recording your Ep’s songs again for the full length? Why, didn’t you have enough of newer songs?
I wanted to re-record those songs because I knew we could make them sound more powerful. We're not the same band that we were when we recorded our first 7'. We had newer songs, but I didn't want our full length to have a shitload of songs on it.
You released your s/t LP on more or less punk label Get Revenge records than repressed it on total metal label Hells Hedbangers … please explain me what has happened, why you left GR and how you got into the contract with HH?
At the time Get Revenge was the only label we could find to put out our album. They're more of a hardcore label and I think they were expecting our full length to sound like our 7's, more raw and shorter songs. Our album is a thrash album and it makes more sense for it to be pushed to a metal audience, so that's where Hell's Headbangers comes in. I don't want to be limited to one certain crowd though, I want people of all styles of music to get into our shit.
Do you like bands released on Hells Headbangers records? More generally, do you like present metal? Can you name some bands?
I'm really picky about the bands I listen to and there's only a few, but I do like some bands on Hell's Headbangers. I like that there's a bunch of thrash bands out there playing real metal, but I can't stand the retro bullshit. You know, the bands that are doing it because they think its the cool thing to do. Fuck that shit. I was listening to Slayer in 3rd grade. I was raised on that shit. As far as bands out nowadays, I like the hell outta Toxic Holocaust and Sauron.
Do you like present Slayer?
I don't like their last few albums, but they still kick ass. They've been playing the same shit since they started, fast pissed off music.
You guys have no tattoos and good looking, trained bodies … any philosophy behind ths? Sorry, but doeasn’t go well with your music, haha..
We do have tattoos and I haven't worked out since I ruptured a disc in my neck 3 years ago, so I don't know where you get the idea I have a 'trained body'. Take it anyway you want, but that's the gayest question I've ever been asked in an interview. Where is it written that you have to have tattoos to be in a metal band? I guess I can't consider you metal since you're saying other dudes are 'good looking'.
Man, I even use to say they are kind and nice, I thought it's not allowed only in blackmetal interviews!? But shit, you disappointed me here, 'tattoos & metal' is unwritten law! Tattoo is devil's mark for good band, even you said you have it! But let's try it ... c'mon, name one GOOD metal band with no single tattooed member!?
Before Cliff Burton died he was the only one in Metallica with a tattoo. I got a tattoo when I was 16, but I never looked at it as a metal thing to do.
Let me ask you … what’s with Bones? On metal-archives web it says RIP, but can’t find any other info about this. Hope it’s just a bad joke …
Bones is still with us. I don't know where they got that from.
What about any new recordings … I know about the split 7’ with War Ripper, but don’t know if that is already out. Any further plans?
The split 7" isn't coming out. We're about to release a 2 song 7" on Hell's Headbangers Records. It should be out in a few months. We're in themiddle of making demos for our next full length. Hopefully it'll be out by this summer.
How do you guys having fun, if not playing, what's your idea of 'great fun'?
Playing music is damn near all I care to do. If not having band practice or playing a show, I'm always sitting in my room playing guitar and working on new songs. I write all the songs in Evil Army so it takes up a lot of my time.
Would you come to play in Slovakia for $200 once you are on EU tour? We have good booze, strange food, nice girls and crazy thrash fans.
Sounds good to me.
