Interview with Project: Failing Flesh [ Thrash metal / Industrial / Dark Experimental ] USA

Metalthai.com >> Interview Index >> Project: Failing Flesh [Date of interview: February 23, 2008]
Project: Failing Flesh [ Thrash metal / Industrial / Dark Experimental : USA ] [Date of interview: February 23, 2008] [Click here to read the review of The Conjoined (CD, 2007) ]
Project: Failing Flesh are Eric Forrest : Vocals (ex-Voivod, E-Force), Tim Gutierrez - instruments and Kevin 131 - instruments, tasting the fuckin awesome of Experimental Thrash metal Now!

Hi there, can you give us a brief history of Project: Failing Flesh?
Tim Gutierrez: Hey Sorn. Sure. P:FF was started by Kevin and I sometime shortly after 2000. It was us messing around in the studio and that was it. But as the songs started to add up we thought they sounded pretty cool and decided to get more serious and maybe try to find a singer and get them released. After a few local guys didn't work out we contacted Eric and luckily he was up for it. We finished our first album "A Beautiful Sickness" in 2003 and printed up some copies on our own. Shortly after, Karmageddon Media (ex- Hammerheart) wanted to sign us so we went with them and the album was properly released in late 2004 (early 2005 in USA). Once that album came out we started working on new stuff. Those songs became our latest album "The Conjoined." In the meantime we had some problems with Karmageddon and decided to leave the label. We ended up signing with a label from Greece called Burning Star and they put this album out. Right now we have started working on album number three which will probably be titled "Count Back From Ten." But that is still a ways off.

How come of the name "Project: Failing Flesh"?
Tim Gutierrez: Mostly we thought it sounded cool and wasn't already taken or related to anything else. The name kind of did take on meaning though. To us it represents the failing of mankind like physically, socially, or mentally. So many of the lyrics and art tie into that somewhat.

How you guys can bring Eric come to join in Project: Failing Flesh? All of music have already completed before Eric was joined, right?
Tim Gutierrez: Yeah… for the first album we had it all done. Then when we hooked up with Eric we all worked up the lyrics and vocal patterns together. So even though the music was done his input is reflected.

Why you guys choose and invite Eric to join in the position of vocal?
Tim Gutierrez: Well, like in the earlier question, once the few local guys that we tried didn't seem to work we decided to think of guys whose vocals we already really liked and thought would fit the music we had. Both Kev and I are huge Voivod fans and we loved the albums Eric had done with them too. So we tracked down his info to see if he was interested in hearing the songs, etc to possibly see if he wanted to do it with us. It was definitely the right decision. He is a cool guy and great singer. Very pro. Plus we've all become cool friends even though we have an ocean separating us. We seem to all work together very well. Chalk it up to good old chemistry I guess.

And in "The Conjoined" album, Eric related of this album for the idea, wrote the lyrics, something like that?
Tim Gutierrez: The title came up before. But Eric and Kev and I all worked up the lyrics together again. He put in a ton of vocal lines and ideas. And since this was our second album we all were more comfortable with each others styles and methods and such so even cooler ideas came to the surface in my opinion.

Please compare between "A Beautiful Sickness" in 2005 and your new album "The Conjoined" in 2007.
Tim Gutierrez: They really aren't too different musically. There's a good bit of variety on both. Sonically we tried some different things so they wouldn't sound exactly the same. "The Conjoined" is probably more dense and takes a little longer to absorb just because there is quite a bit going on and different things you may not hear 'til a few listens in. I guess the overall denseness and production style makes it feel a bit heavier too. But we stand by both albums and are really proud of them.

You guys just like born in the era of Thrash metal and I wondered why you guys take some parts of experimental / industrial / dark / weird atmospheric into your songs?
Tim Gutierrez: We grew up in the thrash scene but listen to all kinds of different stuff so maybe that is why some of the other stuff is in there. We love metal but like elements of those other styles as well. So it just kind of reflects what we've heard and absorbed. Also we think music needs to move forward so we don't shun modern influences as long as they are not done for trendy reasons.

What's the band in kind of industrial / dark / weird atmospheric that you guys like, give me five names, Bro'?
Tim Gutierrez: Ok, hard to name just five but these are probably some of our top ones. Swans, Cop Shoot Cop, Godflesh, Meat Beat Manifesto, Sisters of Mercy.

How's the idea of "The Conjoined"'s cover? Who is create and what does it means of two dolls and one fly?
Tim Gutierrez: That was done by Martin Saavedra from Spina Studios over in Uruguay. It was mostly his idea. We just made suggestions since what he first came up with we already liked and was in line with our discussions before he started. The cover can mean whatever anyone wants it to. My personal take is that the the two bodies on the bottom, the real girl and the plastic baby are both sides of human personality. Like the real side vs. the side you show the public. Or what people think they know you as. Or it can symbolize each generation becoming more and more plastic and obsessed with material things. Then the fly on the torso simply kind of plays with our band name. A fly on a body. Since flies are usually found on decaying things and from the moment we are born our bodies start to decay. But I have a lot of other shit that I can read in there but would take too long to answer all here. Plus Martin and the other guys may have their own opinions on what it means.

How's about the USA metal scene? Do you have great bands to recommend during this time?
Tim Gutierrez: It's gotten very popular here again within the last couple years. But much of it isn't really that appealing to me personally or sounds like it's been done before. But, saying that, we still listen to tons of newer stuff plus all our old favorite bands. Some bands that have really spent a lot of time in my CD player over the last year or so are (they all aren't new though!)- Daath, OM, Dodheimsgard, Sahg, Divine Heresy, Melechesh, Celtic Frost, Mercyful Fate, etc.

Okay Man, thanks for your time, the last breath. Wanna say something to Metalthai's Readers, go ahead,Bro'!
Tim Gutierrez: Just many thanks to you Sorn and Metalthai for doing this with us and your support. If anyone is interested they can find more info and samples at http://www.projectfailingflesh.com or http://www.myspace.com/projectfailingflesh

Eric's other band E-Force has just put out a new one too called "Modified Poison" so if you are a fan of his surely check it out. "The Conjoined" is out now on Burning Star! Stay heavy everyone!!