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I N T E R V I E W
June 2004
IZEVL

Rock City News Chats with Izevl

Rock City: We are here with the "Super-Villain Enemy Combatants" of Hollywood known as Izevl. They're in recording for their debut EP, so we're going to find out a little more about what makes them tick

1. What type of band are you? (Descriptive)

Daemon Chadeau: Some have called us "futuristic speed-metal". But all and out we are a metal band, plain and simple. But to make it more complex, we're a sick and twisted combination of Slayer and Skinny Puppy, with a little bit of Genitorturers thrown in.
Shylo: Izevl is metal, with our own twisted style, sounds and sexy on-stage acts.
Benzevl: Hardcore Experi-Metal, I guess. You can't be a Country band with guitars like this. We always have that Heavy Metal feel with just heaps of other "sounds" surrounding it.

2. Tell us the brief history of your band. (Include when you started and some shows you've played)

Benzevl: After being in and trying to be in a band in band for so many years, it finally made me sick. I didn't even want to create for myself any more. I was left chasing the brainwashed, closed-minded, cookie cutter "this is what you are supposed to do" life that's crammed down our throats from the government. Screw that – I'm going to do what I want in music and how I want to do it. I really started to think about how and what I wanted to do musically. There were some interesting ideas but then, in a drug-induced craze, izevl hit me. March 2003, izevl played its first show, Izevl's Evil Carnival and since then we've played most of the clubs in Hollywood, traveled to Maryland for the Metal Mind Rage Festival, played the last show at Naga for Rebel Alliance (fucking awesome band HTTH's club), many Rock City events and have done some in store appearances. We even played in a head shop storefront window for several Saturdays on Sunset Blvd – talk about tens of thousands impressions there. Last year we won RCN's 2003 Best New Band award (the Rockie). Last week we played an awesome show with HTTH and the Peppermint Creeps for the P-Creeps video release of Lesbian.

3. Who are your musical and non-musical influences?

DC: Musically, my influences are Sisters of Mercy, Siouxsie & the Banshees, Iron Maiden, and Yes. Non-musically, I'd have to say both Edgar Allen Poe and The Count on Sesame Street.
Shylo: My musical influences are Bjork, Trent Reznor and Mike Patton. Non-musical would be Vivid girl Lola and my man!!
Benzevl: Musically some influences would include Steve Stevens, Skinny Puppy, Slayer and Faith No More with heavy emphasis on the Angel Dust era. There's also circuit bending that I'm totally into but that's kind of a mix between musical and non. Some of the non-musical would be porn, weed, jerking off and breaking things. Oddly enough that I mention this here and not necessarily an influence but someone that has had influence with me would be Mojo El Diablo!! Seriously, Mojo if you do get a chance to read this, I'd like to say thanks.

4. What are your dreams and goals?

Shylo: To be a rich and famous musician. DC: To become a rock star or die trying...
Benzevl: To be able to make a living by playing and entertaining people. I do this because I love to entertain people. I'm drawn to it like a crack-head to crack. I don't necessarily need to be mega-rich, I'd just like to live I do now. But then I'd also be lying if I said that I wouldn't like "the money". If I only played clubs the rest of my life and could still maintain my current lifestyle, I will die a very happy man!!

5. Who writes the songs, what are they about?

DC: Ben writes most of the material. Shylo has written most of the latest lyrics. My contributions have been the subsonic terror that I unleash known as my bass lines.
Benzevl: We all have some sort of say of what goes into a song. I provide influence, imagery and a path that a particular piece needs to head. Topic range varies greatly. Shylo: My first song writing with izevl was "Axis of Evl". It's about many things really, but mostly about someone that is power hungry, not very bright and wants to rule the world. Hmmm, maybe George Bush?

6. What's your opinion of George Bush?

Shylo: In my opinion he needs to get his head out of his dad's ass and go fight his own war since he started it anyway.
DC: I think he should be impeached and tried in front of a war crimes tribunal at The Hague.
Benzevl: Last year I had marched in a few of the war-protests locally. A guy from the Not In Our Name organization was having some car problems. I helped out and in return he gave me a button that says "Pinche Bush". Fucking Bush, need I really say more?

7. How do you promote your band and shows?

Benzevl: Shylo's boobs for starters!! Along with the standard networking, going to shows and really just being promotion whores, but many times at places that you would never expect. One thing that I never regret is advertising in Rock City News. I cannot express to every band out there, how beneficial RCN advertising has been. Oddly enough this wasn't a plug.
DC: I have this little thing known as Demons In Exile (HYPERLINK "http://demonsinexile.necrophiliacs.net"http://demonsinexile.necrophiliacs.net), an underground organization dedicated to the promotion and advancement of underground bands.

Shylo: Overall Chadeau gets most of the credit in this department.

8. Describe your show, visually and musically.

Shylo: Our shows are always unpredictable. One example is chicks (and dudes sometimes) getting whipped by me while tied to a wooden bondage cross, as I'm fucking screaming the songs. What's next? I guess you'll have to cum at a, I mean come to a show. Benzevl: A spaz-tastic residual nightmare of sex and violence. We have a whole stage show and shit, we just need people (crew) to help. Music will always be the main factor that drives the show.
DC: Our shows, both visually and musically, are like a terrorist attack in action. It's chaos for the eyes and ears.

9. What do you think about downloading music online?

DC: Go to our website, download "Axis of Evil", and then ask us that question again *smirks*.
Shylo: Yeah, what Chadeau said.
Benzevl: There are pros and cons to everything in life. For a new band like izevl, it's important as fans locally can "get to know ya", if they don't know you already. People from all over the world can also hear us now. I always flip-flop back and forth on this one. When we're no longer a new band and I rely on my music to eat, I might think different. I will always make sure that there are at least some clips of our music, if not complete songs available for download, no matter how "big" we get.

10. What's your outlook on the record industry today?
Benzevl: Something that needs to evolve as quickly as the world does today. The business model of the past is not going to work in the future. We're very DIY with everything and I personally would like people to look back at my career and say that I had something to do with changing the record industry. DC: My outlook can only be described in two words: William Hung. The no-talent bastard American Idol reject is a bad singer and has no rhythm in his body, yet he still gets a recording deal and get this, his record debuts in the top 30. I mean, what the hell is that all about? For us hard working musicians who have spent years perfecting our crafts only to see no-talent Karaoke-Idol hacks have their fame, if only for a little bit, just given to them? We're out to change that...

11. What's your claim to fame? (What's unique about your band)

DC: I think what's unique about our band is that you must always expect the unexpected with us. Rebel Alliance is a prime example of that. People are still talking about it to this day, and that was back in April.
Shylo: We're unique because were unpredictable. Also meeting and actually taking advice from people that have influenced us. HTTH definitely fits in this category.
Benzevl: 5 letters: i - z - e – v - l. With a name like that people should know we're unique. Most people can barely even say the name.

12. Tell us a story about a day in your life.

Benzevl: Drag my ass to work, usually late. After the first 9 corporate hrs of my day, I then truly wake up!! I get to do the izevl thang. From the music of izevl to the business of it and everything in between, I can't get enough. Sorry, I can't forget about the bongs and incredible sex!! DC: Read "The Darker Side of Rock City". You'll see...
Shylo: Wake and bake, workout and then make money while dancing at Snooky's. When Benzevl picks me up, we usually get something to eat and then go home to chill. We chat about our day, have some fucking hot sex (pun intended) and then nighty-night time.

13. What inspires you to do what you do?

Benzevl: The looks on peoples face when they hear or see us play. Also the negative criticism inspires me because then there's just one more person that I'll get the pleasure of wiping their fecal smile clean. Izevl in general inspires me.
DC: Hearing people talk about the scene back in the day. I'm only 23. I was too young to experience the Strip during the 80's. I feel like I'm living that life right now, but I seem to be only one within the handful of people who still live like that. I play music like it's the last day on Earth.
Shylo: Ben inspires me! Also a tremendous love for the music

14. What advice would you give to fellow bands?

DC: Just keep your heads up. There will be tough times, and if you give up, then the RIAA and the Karaoke Idols have won. You are the future of our scene, and all you have to do is to go out there and play and have fun doing it.
Shylo: There are so many people in this world that would die to do what we do. Don't take anything for granted and let the small shit slide. When it comes to you and the band, promote, play, promote and play. Benzevl: Don't be lazy!! If you really want to be in a band, then be IN a band. There is this pretty good band that I know that I wanted to start and breakout. Great music and cool guys, but after like a year and a half they still do not have a name or have even played a show. That is fucking lazy!!

15. What are some of your pet peeves?

DC: Dubya (and his war), snobby goths, and untalented bands that have their fame given to them.
Shylo: The fucking Slurpee lid when the straw rubs against the opening. I CANT STAND THAT! Benzevl: Boogers, bad breath and people with a major lack of hygiene were the first that popped in my head today. There are so many that I could have filled this interview with them all.

16. How does music affect you and the world around you?

Benzevl: Everything in my life has to do with music. What I'm doing, what I'm thinking about, how I'm dressing and so on. As I had stated in the history of the band, this is everything to me and for me.
DC: Dude...it affects my world because it is my world. Music is my life. I've tried many things in my life, and this is the only thing I've been good at. I look like a rocker, and dammit, I play like one. So, I'm going to live my life around music...whether it's playing my own or helping out other bands with theirs.
Shylo: Without music, we would all be so boring.

17. What's new in the recording of your music?

DC: Ummm, I would be new.
Shylo: Me too!! Benzevl: The music is much heavier. We are much more rude too. Not that we necessarily aim to be ruder or anything, it just seems to be evolving that way. Then again a lot of people find complete honesty being rude. Maybe I shouldn't say rude but should say we're much more honest. People can hear and even feel when you're faking it and we're obviously not. Yeah, Chadeau and Shylo are also new to the recording process, in which I couldn't be more satisfied. Both are incredible to work with.

18. What are the biggest obstacles for bands?

Shylo: Acceptance, trust and achievement.
DC: Finding decent places to play and draw decent crowds at the same time.
Benzevl: Themselves.

19. What's the best and worst thing about playing clubs?

Benzevl: For me the worst would have to be dealing with my gear right after we play. I give so much that I literally can't breathe right after a show. Sprint for 30 minutes and tell me how you feel. The best is the energy from the crowd and the adrenalin rush that hits me to make me do the things I just mentioned so then I'm back to my worst thing again.
DC: The crowds. They vary. Same thing applies to the sound systems and the promoters who run the clubs.
Shylo: BEST is playing of course. WORST, broken equipment and sounding like shit.

20. Tell us about your next shows and why we should be there.

Shylo: We'll be playing July 9th at The Studio Suite on my birthday!! This show will be known as "Shylo's Trash and Bash Birthday Event". Why shouldn't you be there? Like I said, my birthday and a show – trash ‘n' bash!! DC: We'll also be playing July 6th and August 3rd at The Foxx Club and going on about 10 PM both nights. Plus, we're in the process of booking many more shows in the future, teasing you along the way with new songs and other shit from our work-in-process album.
Benzevl: We also hope to be playing some additional great events coming up including the No Regrets Festival, the Vampire Bizarre, a Club Paranormal event, and hey if we're lucky, maybe even the 2004 Rock City News awards show the Rockies.

Rock City: Thank you for your insight and time. We'll look forward to hearing your music and seeing your next live shows.

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