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An Interview with ZooG and DestroyX of Angelspit
Posted: Saturday, July 12, 2008
By: Jacob H. Smith
Staff Writer/ New Releases Manager

2007 has been a banner year for Australian industrial act Angelspit. Besides the huge success of their debut full-length album, Krankhaus, the band also toured extensively in both Europe and North America, as well as remixing everyone from Emilie Autumn to KMFDM. After returning to Australia for even more touring, Angelspit is back again with more new material for the masses. For their new album, Blood Death Ivory, band founders ZooG and DestroyX employed the guitar work of George Bikos of The Crüxshadows for the onslaught. Taking the industry by storm with their unique designs as well as their chaotic sound, ZooG and DestroyX sit down with ReGen readers their new music, fashions, favorite musicians, and the possibility of another U.S. tour.

What were some of the new ideas and concepts you went for on Blood Death Ivory?

ZooG: Manipulation, deceit and destruction on an absolute scale. Our 'adventures' in 2007 definitely inspired Blood Death Ivory. We had the opportunity to see this huge goth community in eight countries. We are all so different, yet so similar. It is important that each of us understands that we are a part of a community, and our huge community is easily eroded by the negative actions of its members.

You've recently added a new member to your ensemble. How was it to have that new element there during the creative process on this album?

ZooG: We met George Bikos while he has playing guitars for The Crüxshadows; we really liked his punk sound and attitude. He kindly helped us with a song, and we were so impressed with his rockness that he ended up working on the entire album. We'd send him the basic tracks with very random directions, he'd destroy them and send them back to us. It was kind of like trans-Atlantic cyberpunk tennis—with guitars!!

What were some of your favorite experiences in Europe during your stay there?

ZooG: Food, food, and food. The people also rocked. I think if we ate the people it would have been perfect.

DestroyX: Checking out all of the art galleries, meeting new artists and watching our favourite bands. Oh, and meeting our favourite bands, too. ZooG met Alec Empire, and we also played a show with Front Line Assembly!

How popular are your sales on your handmade products in your online store, Surgeon-X?

ZooG: It's actually going really well for us. Since we've come back to Australia we've started making more handmade products. It's great doing that side of things, because we get more direct contact with our fans. It's also awesome that we can forge a new direction in many different mediums, not just music.

DestroyX: It has actually surprised me how popular our merchandise items are. It's nice to see our fans are supporting us in this way. It makes Angelspit more than just music; it's also part fashion label in that sense, too. Also what's cool is that people are making their own T-shirts with the T-shirt stencils we provide on our Web site, and it's encouraging people to be more DIY. We're also working currently on a whole range of T-shirts and more handmade accessories for the next coming months.

Your look and your sound are definitely a fusion of the underground fashion and music scenes. Do you feel that there needs to be more fusion with these two mediums?

ZooG: Art is everything. We wear it, listen to it, eat it, look at it, watch it. We need to feel confident to MAKE it and enjoy it! Clubs need to make provisions for people to feel safe to experiment with fashion. Flamboyancy is a good thing and should be encouraged.

DestroyX: Well, I don't necessarily think there needs to be a fusion in the sense that people that make music should also be making fashion, as not all musicians have a feel for fashion. However, for us it came quite naturally, because I've always been interested in fashion and making my own clothes. I think that music and fashion also go very well together, because when people go to listen to music, they also have to watch the band, so in that sense it's important that bands put an emphasis on their clothing, because it's an element that communicates something to the audience. For that reason, we spend a lot of time on our clothing, not only because we want the visuals to enhance the music, but also importantly because it's a whole lot of fun!

You release remixes on a regular basis for other acts in the music industry. What were some of the ones that were the most fun to work on?

ZooG: KMFDM! They are gods. Ego Likeness, Ayria and I:Scintilla also rock. Anyone who encourages us to push the boundries. We recently had a run-in with the lord Alec 'Jesus Fucking Christ' Empire, a.k.a. the guy from Atari Teenage Riot. That guy is a visionary. He rocks! When you are lucky enough to work with bands like these, you have the opportunity to grow as a musician.

Being a band on the level that you are at right now. What are some of the things that surprise you when you're on tour?

ZooG: People know the lyrics, and they pick up on it when we fuck them up live. But it's also brilliant to have the opportunity to positively influence people. We love listening to people talk about their own bands; we just want to encourage people. So many people complain about their 'scene.' I think the dark alternative is strong, diverse and growing, and we should encourage it to flourish.

DestroyX: I'd have to agree with ZooG here. It's trippy when people know the lyrics. When we played for the first time in London, we were greeted to a packed club full of people that knew all of our lyrics! I was so surprised that people even came to the show, let alone knew all of the lyrics. Other things that were surprising include driving on the wrong side of the road in Europe and the USA (in Australia we drive on the opposite side) and finding out how huge the dark alternative scene is all over the world. When we played at Wave Gotik Treffen, we couldn't believe how many people were there dressed in PVC and latex in 40 degree Celsius weather.

Are there any plans on another U.S. tour in the near future?

ZooG: We want to get over there so badly!

DestroyX: Most definitely. We're planning something awesomely evil for late 2008 or mid-2009! I loved every moment of our U.S. tour last time, except getting a throat infection before our debut show in Philadelphia (and the scary ER I had to go to).

Do you have any advice for other up and coming artists out there?

ZooG: Do not give up! You have something very important to say; you need to persist and be heard. Someone somewhere needs to hear what you have to say!

DestroyX: Hire a professional graphic designer to work out your visual identity and design all of the print and Web collateral. It gives you a professional edge that most bands don't have because they don't think it's important. Remember, first impressions really count.

If you were to start a false rumor about yourselves, what would it be?

ZooG: We are not alien royalty whose mission is to corrupt and eat people in influential positions.

DestroyX: Agreed, especially the cannibalism part.