CaliAlive.com

CaliAlive.com:
How did the idea of Meltdown come about? Can you tell start off by telling us who is in the band and where you guys call home? Any members in previous bands prior to Meltdown?

Meltdown:
Meltdown was a name that I came up with for my previous band's demo (You Lose - Meltdown Demo 2005). Basically, the name is really open for art possibilities and we decided that was the only decent name we could come up with. The band consists of Brian Wilcox on guitar, George Mayorga on guitar, Matt Smith on Bass, Andy Rice on drums and me on vocals. Brian and I are the only original members, but this is the most solid lineup we have ever had. Andy has been the most recent addition. He is doing wonders for the band. For previous bands: Andy was in Sinking Ships, Physical Challenge; Brian was in Verse and is currently in Rampage. The rest of us just played in local bands - nothing too notable.

CaliAlive.com:
In 2006 you seemed to catch a whole lot of attention most notably on the east coast after playing a slew of shows and releasing the monster "Demo" 7'' EP/CDEP on Rock Vegas and Trash Art! I forget where I actually heard you guys for the first time, when I heard "Cashing In" and "Your Destruction," I absolutely lost it. Can you explain the lyrical content of these two songs? ("Cashing In" really hits at home with me. My daily life pretty much, with the line "sit back at night, wonder what it's like, to live the expected life. I don't measure up to what others want, I'll live life honest with myself, - fucking blueprint man.)

Meltdown:
That's awesome you feel those lyrics. Means a lot to me. Basically, "Cashing In" is written about people who use veganism, straightedge, or political awareness to make themselves out to be "more aware, more caring, more scene, more ...anything." I hate people who have a god complex. It's cool to be proud of what you are, but not to the point where you are telling people they are wrong for what they do. Basically, I am a ball-buster about being straight edge, but I don't expect anyone to ever change to what I THINK the "correct" lifestyle is. I'm more of a joker. I am always doing something "fucked up" in others eyes so I've come to terms that the only standard I really care about measuring up to is my own. You are never going to please everyone else, so don't even bother trying.

"Your Destruction" is written about this college I lived down the street from. I worked as a bouncer at a college bar. Every weekend, I saw the same stupid kids getting drunk, spending all thier parents money - with nothing to ever worry about. I was struggling and working as much possible to make ends meet with a car that was breaking down, gas prices that were off the charts, and horrible roommates. Basically, I was against the wall. I hated how it seemed like everyone else had everything and I had nothing. I hated those kids and wanted to see them fail at something. basically, thats the inspiration for "Your Destruction."

CaliAlive.com:
While the "Demo" 7" slays, I feel "Demolition" really progressed into something vicious, also catching notice of the hardcore world with it's pure onslaught throughout the five song pummeling EP. Do you consider "Demolition" to be a step up from the demo songs as far as writing more progressed jams? Or do both ep's still make you lose your shit when you play them till this day?

Meltdown:
I like all the songs on both of the recordings. My favorite song we play to date is "Iron Chains." Lyrics are something very real to me, so I enjoy playing them. The EP progressed lyrically and vocally. Brian was a mature writer before he wrote the demo, so its not like he was learning how to play his instrument better. I do think it progressed in more of a thrashy way. Hopefully the new EP and LP show the same progression and change and keeps kids interested in us.

CaliAlive.com:
To me it seems like over the past few years or so the metal/hardcore bands that have been landing on Deathwish Inc and other labels have been steamrolling and outright taking over in hardcore. With Meltdown, your band is like a pure blueprint of brutal metal/hardcore reminiscent of late great bands Integrity, Cro-Mags while blending a metal thrash sound almost similar to old Slayer, Anthrax even, and some old Metallica, which is sweet. Why do you think this sound has basically taken over for the better, but yet hasn't been played out like other bloated genres of hardcore? Do people just love the ultimate riffage that is displayed?

Meltdown:
I don't know man. People jock the fuck out of Integrity and Ringworm this year, but I'm sure next year people could love In My Eyes again. Personally, I would be stoked if our next album sounded like Lamb of God, later era Cro Mags, later era Life Of Agony, Leeway. We love what we are doing and I don't think we would have it any other way. The blueprint when we play live is simple: CHAOS. I don't think we could do that sounding like In Mye Eyes or Bold.

CaliAlive.com:
Most bands in my opinion that start out as a hardcore band over the past few years or so are blending that shitty pop-punk into their sound in order to appeal to the bigger audiences out there and mabye make some bucks while doing so. I hate to rip bands, never do to be honest but this shit irritates me to no end. How do you feel about this whole movement, pop punk sound basically being referred to as pop-punk hardcore? Can any good come out of this, or should this style not even be mentioned in the same breathe as hardcore?

Meltdown:
Ha, I don't really pay attention to that. I think making money is cool and Freddy Madball deserves as much money as he can get through Hazen Street. That's basically how I can answer that question.

CaliAlive.com:
What bands past or present have made an impact on you personally? What about Meltdown, did any one or two bands gear you to start doing Meltdown?

Meltdown:
Personally? Merauder, Madball, Earth Crisis, Crown of Thornz. Present day? I love Have Heart. All those past bands have gotten me through hard times and inspried me lyrically; shaped who I am as a person. Have Heart are some of my closest friends and guys that have always been awesome to me. When I moved to New England, Have Heart played my first show. No one knew them and they covered GB. It was incredible. I went to as many of thier shows as possible. I still love seeing them, because I think those guys epitomize what hardcore is and should be. They care more than any other bunch of guys.

CaliAlive.com:
If you could be in three old hardcore bands from any era, who would they be and why? (I think I know one of them.)

Meltdown:
Earth Crisis, The Path of Resistance, Madball. All those bands are real and stand for things I care about. Minus being vegan, EC and Path lyrically connect with me. They are hard workers and created something out of nothing. They were the true pioneers. Madball doesn't sugar coat anything and they have put out so many albums and have not changed thier sound all that much. Today, thats something to be proud of.

CaliAlive.com:
So you are the creator of Final Word Fanzine, sweet band by the way. How did Final Word come about and when did you start it? Why do you think the lack or drop off of fanzines have fallen over the years?

Meltdown:
I started Final Word Fanzine when I was in high school. 6,000 copies and 7 issues later, here we are. I am working on issue #8, but it is very slow going. Extremely slow going. I don't really know how to use a computer, so it takes me a long time to do anything. People are lazy. I would like to think I am not and try to blame it on touring alot. I will get it together this winter when I don't have a job. Look for that shit to drop this spring.

CaliAlive.com:
If you could hand out three records to somebody to give them an idea of what hardcore is about if they had little understanding of the music as a whole, what records would they be and most importantly why?

Meltdown:
Today?

Youth of Today "Break Down the Walls"
Earth Crisis "Destroy the Machines"
Have Heart "The Things We Carry"

That has three elements from three different time periods of that includes the staple topics of hardcore, straight edge and vegetarianism. Those bands cared and made something from nothing. They worked hard and reaped (and will reap) the benefits by going down in history as the best bands to ever play.

CaliAlive.com:
Meltdown is one of a handful of bands who literally make me lose my shit. When I play the demo in the car, a car accident is destined to happen. Thanks for that by the way. What are some current bands that make you want to destroy everything in site? (Merauder always does the job, Reign Supreme, Blacklisted, Living Hell are some right now....

Meltdown:
Merauder is great. Everything they have ever done. Life Of Agony, Leeway, Lamb of God, Youth of Today, Have Heart, Earth Crisis, Blacklisted, Trapped Under Ice, Violation, Mindpiece, Forfeit, Unholy, Mind Eraser, Cold World, Attitude. I love all of those bands.

CaliAlive.com:
The end of the year is near and Meltdown is embarking on an East Coast tour with War Hungry that ends sometime in the beginning of the new year. What are some cities your looking forward to on the tour? Real anxious to play certain spots more than others or not?

Meltdown:
Chattanooga, Tennessee is my spot. I am getting ready to go back to this place called the Pickle Barrel. I ordered a two pound burger the first time I was there and they made it for me. Place is sick. Girls are hot, kids are cool. Place is dope. I love Atlanta and Overdose, Florida is cool. I am psyched for Columbus and Cleveland. Romeo, Michigan was cool. Shouts to Tyrant.

CaliAlive.com:
You just returned from Europe a few weeks ago, how did that pan out? How does Europe differ from playing to crowds over there vs to people here in the states? What do you think is the biggest difference in the east coast scene here in the states vs the west coast if any? (Circle pits being our trademark, not being a hater but the east coast has better bands imo. Sorry guys....)

Meltdown:
Europe was awesome. No Turning Back was entirey responsible for this, so make sure to check them out. Europe made all this hard work, suffereing, and debt all worth it. We played 31 shows there and almost every one of them was great. We did the first half with just No Turning Back and did the second half with our friends in Strength For A Reason. We had great catering, and the kids were awesome and appreciative. We sold more stuff then we expected. It was insane. We can't wait to go back for the second time with Reign Supreme and Bitter End in May this next year. It will be seriously sick. Our best shows were in England, Austria, and Rosswein, DE. We played with some cool bands like Something Inside, Anchors Up, Get Fucking Dead, Strike First, New Morality, State of Mind and Built on Trust. Kids in Europe are more stoked you are there and the scenes are not as divided as they are here. People will mosh to Strength For a Reason and have a First Step shirt on. Its cool to see that and I think that Europe is more in tune with the way hardcore should be. West coast versus East Coast? I would say the circle pit thing. New England is very spoiled. I hate it.

CaliAlive.com:
After this tour we will beginning a brand new year in 2008. What can we expect from Meltdown in 08? Upcoming lp in the works, some west coast tour dates? Any plans for the summer upcoming?

Meltdown:
Well for the next month it is pretty quiet. We are playing a show this weekend and then not playing again until mid December. We record a new 7" before Christmas, play some local gigs, then go out with War Hungry for around 2 weeks. After that we take a little break and write the LP stuff. We go out with Reign Supreme for a week and then record the LP in late March or April. We hit the road full time from late May to late June in Europe with Reign Supreme and Bitter End. The summer will be a US tour and a Canadian tour till late August or early September. Andy Rice has really pulled everything together for us and its been awesome.

Thanks for taking the time man to hangout and do this interview. I really believe people, if not already will be hearing the destruction of what your band creates. I am really looking forward to future jams and some west coast shows. See ya.