Revere, Massachusetts’s grindcore stalwarts The Red Chord return during the season where things begin to wither and die with their new album “Fed Through The Teeth Machine” (out October 27^th). This is perfect for the band, as they have been going through a death and rebirth themselves after parting ways with guitarist Mike Keller and deciding to remain a one-guitar outfit.

Red Chord are a crushing, driving force that cuts right through the melodrama and semantics of metal in order to reduce everything to its sharpest edge. After recently reviewing their album I was fortunate enough to grab some time with frontman Guy Kozowyck to get the low down on the band, the future and the new album.

CRAVE ONLINE: Give me some back-story on The Red Chord and how you came to be.     –

GUY KOZOWYK: I wish I could say the beginnings of the band were more exciting. We were a bunch of guys scattered around Mass just trying to create music we liked. We played quite a bit regionally. In the summer of 2001, we took a crack at touring because two of our original drummer's bands (Backstabbers Incorporated and Hassan I Sabbah) had lengthy tours scheduled and they fell apart. We enjoyed the tour enough to keep at it and the band developed a buzz and label interest. I don't think any of us ever expected to be at it this far down the road. 

CRAVE ONLINE: I understand the name of the new album came from a TV show. Elaborate on that story.

GUY KOZOWYK: The title came from the show "How It's Made". The narrator just casually explains how things are made. The line "...next it's fed through the teeth machine..." caught one of my guys' attention and when we were collaborating on album titles, it really stood out. I like how it sounds like it could be so sinister and it has such gentle roots.  

CRAVE ONLINE: You’re quoted as saying you wrote the new album as vicious heavy because you’re “Bitter and have a lot to be pissed off about”. What are you pissed at and how has that effected your song writing?

GUY KOZOWYK: Honestly, 2009 has been a rough year for me, as it seems like it's been for most everybody else. It's like the ominous cloud of the economic crisis has just overshadowed and shit on everything else. You can't turn on the TV without being bummed out. And as far as music goes, the things that are succeeding...I don't even know. I guess I'm just getting too old to relate and it turns my stomach. I'm sure I liked some questionable stuff when I was 14, but kids these days...haha I feel like a dad saying this...I just don't understand what they're thinking.  

CRAVE ONLINE: So many bands that claim to be Grindcore are really just Death Metal. Why is the line between those genres so blurry and why do most bands get caught in that trap?

GUY KOZOWYK: I don't fully understand the distinction. I guess grindcore is more punk rock based. I consider us to have some grind influence, but I suppose lots of crusty punk purists would contest that. Death metal bands play stages for money. Grindcore bands play basements for beer. I dunno if that's accurate but that's what I've come away with. Definitely played too many shows for no money and no beer. 

CRAVE ONLINE: Where did true Grindcore begin in your opinion? –

GUY KOZOWYK: I suppose Napalm Death would be the roots of that entire scene. They definitely had a big influence on me when I was a kid.

CRAVE ONLINE: I understand Mike wrote more music on this album. How did that come about?

GUY KOZOWYK: Well, the fact that he is the only guitarist now weighed heavily on that. Greg (our bassist) wrote a few songs, too. Even before we downsized to the four piece, it was looking like Mike and Greg would be writing all the music.  

CRAVE ONLINE: There seems to be an abundance of stories on this album. How many of them mirrored real events, how many were made up and how does the band go about writing lyrics?  

GUY KOZOWYK: Everything I write mirrors something real to an extent. We aren't a political, religious or any easily labeled band. We all disagree on most anything, so keeping the fiction themes seems to work best for us. I can hide all of my extremist viewpoints under the guise of made up characters without incriminating anyone else in the band ha-ha.  

CRAVE ONLINE: Top 5 desert island records?

GUY KOZOWYK: Pantera- Far Beyond Driven,  Muse- Origins Of Symmetry,  Suffocation- Pierced From Within,  Queens Of The Stone Age- Lullabies To Paralyze, Helmet- Meantime.