Interview submitted by Grant St. Louis and originally appeared in his zine
Straight to Hell
Rhode Island’s STRAIGHT TO HELL emerged from bands like ULCER and DROPDEAD.
After just thirteen minutes (give or take) of material, STH has already become
a favorite band of many. It’s no surprise, as they play blisteringly
fast Swedish– and US-inspired hardcore and write better lyrics than 95% of
the other hardcore bands out there.
Here’s an interview I did with vocalist Aaron Ulcer.
GSL: First off, how did STRAIGHT TO HELL get started?
What bands were you guys coming from when STH got going?
AU: I moved back to Rhode Island after living in Pittsburgh
for about 10 months. I was going to be a member of the band which is
now CAUSTIC CHRIST, but ended up bailing on Pittsburgh and coming back to
Providence. (That would have beefed up their “all star” roster even
more!) Anyways, I met Josh (our bassist) at a crappy record store in
the suburbs called Newbury Comics after I'd been back here about 2 weeks,
and asked him if he knew anyone who wanted to start a band. So we jammed
with DROPDEAD Brian on drums, me on bass and Josh on guitar. Then we
got Gorman to sing, who was playing guitar in local metalcore band ADVOCATE.
We switched up the lineup after about 7 months to maximize our potential.
GSL: It seems like every review I've seen for STRAIGHT TO HELL
records mentions that your sound is based in Scandinavian thrash and US hardcore.
What specific bands do you draw inspiration from?
A
U: Ha ha. That's pretty much it, only there's also a
heavy Japanese HC influence as well. Specific bands would be: '82 Boston
(SIEGE, SSD, NEGATIVE FX, DEEP WOUND, JERRY’S KIDS). Scandinavian stuff
like TERVEET KADET, RIISTEYT, ANTI CIMEX, MOB 47- and newer stuff like VICTIMS
and WOLFBRIGADE. Japanese stuff like BATARD, WARHEAD, DEATH SIDE, GUDON,
GAUZE and NIGHTMARE. Some old British "hard" punk like DISCHARGE (obviously),
MOTORHEAD, early CHAOS UK, early RIPCORD, and early RUDIMENTARY PENI.
Some other US faves include DR KNOW, GERMS, BLACK FLAG, POISON IDEA, AGNOSTIC
FRONT, BAD BRAINS and MIDDLE CLASS. I think that covers the essentials.
GSL: In the song "Why Should We Stop the War?," you point out
that hostile actions against the U.S. aren't very surprising. Do you
think that the title of the song and the lyrical proposal of "We'll never
have peace, so don't even try" will cause listeners to accuse you of not
following the "punk philosphy"?
AU: What is the "punk" philosophy regarding war? Dumb
skinheads who listen to Oi (sadly- a form of punk) would be for it.
Peace punks would naturally be against it. Stupid PC crusties would
probably pretend to be against it, then go home and listen to CD's like MAYHEM's
"Grand Declaration Of War", and DARKTHRONE (who have "Norwegian Aryan Black
Metal" printed on the back of one of their CD's (in Norwegian or course).
"Chaos" punks would be too busy drinking and buying clothes at Hot Topic.
Straight Edge kids would be too busy playing video games and shopping at
the Gap... Did I leave anyone out? The point is there IS
no unanimous "punk" philosophy regarding this war (or war in general).
Punk has become way too factionalized to have any universal philosophy at
this point. Personally, I'm against it, but I fear that Americans do
not understand anything but violence. So... I'm hoping that it turns
into another Vietnam, where there are many American casualties. That's
the only thing that will wake up our apathetic public. I wrote a song
about this for the new LP called "(This Time) I Hope We Lose". So,
I guess my view is a bit different than most people's, but I'm definitely
NOT pro-US corporate imperialism. As far as "We'll never have peace,
so don't even try"- it's kind of true isn't it? Humans are innately
evil and fucked up. I think it's too late to try and change our nature-
so hopefully aliens will come down here and give us all a wake up call (doubtful!)
If that doesn't happen I'm sure we'll destroy ourselves eventually.
GSL: Speaking of lyrics, overall your songs take a more jaded
than usual approach to the punk/hardcore scene (I'm thinking of "I Can't
Wait" especially). Is this a reaction to spending a large amount of
time in the scene or what?
AU: That song in particular is about kids here in Rhode Island
who talk all this "vegan and/or sXe" jive, only to completely drop out of
it in a year or two. That would pretty much describe the entire sXe
scene here, beginning with VERBAL ASSAULT in the early 80's, up until today.
For as much shit as sXe kids talk, they have the quickest turnaround rate
of any fraternity in HC or punk. The latest offenders of "vegan" lameness
are some militant PC crusty kids who listen exclusively to Norwegian nazi
BM bands. You're probably right about spending a lot of(TOO much) time
in the "scene" and becoming quite disillusioned with it. I've always
been jaded though. Even at my first show back in 1987 I was like
"Look at all these fucking morons". Over the years I've heard too much
hot talk and no follow through, or just straight up hypocrisy (like the black
metal thing...) I have a few "punk" friends, but I really don't exclusively
hang out with "punks" anymore. This disillusionment forced me to find
interests outside of punk, which both make me appreciate it MORE and less
at times... For all my negativity though- I'm STILL punk, and pretty
happy go lucky most of the time, so I must be doing SOMETHING right.
Actually I'd say the entire music scene here is fucking garbage-full of rock
stars, egomaniacs and shit talkers. We don't exist to perpetuate or
build our local scene- I'd be happy to see it completely fall apart, or at
least see it fall from the grasp of the overlords of this lame ass art/improv/noise
shit we have here. Our attitude and music is the exception here, NOT
the rule.
GSL: Okay, you guys are recording your first LP right now, right?
When's that coming out? And what kind of topics are you tackling with
the songs?
AU: The lyrical content has become even more negative than the
on the 7" releases (if you can believe that). A lot of the lyrics have
to do with things that went wrong in my life (such as growing up in an abusive/neglectful
family, alcohol abuse, insecurity, violence, being obsessive about lovers,
and more!) We also talk about how dumb punks and "extreme" political
people are, how I hope we lose this stupid war, and a few more songs about
how humans in general are evil and should die. However- the light at
the end of the tunnel is the last song which is quite positive- called "You
Can't Break Me" about how my undying will to survive and persevere in adverse
conditions can never be destroyed. Aw yeah.…
GSL: What else is in the future for STRAIGHT TO HELL?
Touring plans? More records?
AU: Hmmmm, we'd like to do a split LP- but since most contemporary
US HC sucks, and (sadly) many of the popular current Japcore bands stink
too- that's a tough call for sure... Maybe another 7"- and if the LP
comes out soon enough, a short two week tour of the east coast/midwest.
We shall see... We try not to plan too much, since we just do this
band for fun, and all have other things going on in our lives besides it.
Once it becomes a "serious commitment" it'll stop being fun, and I'll stop
doing it!
GSL: Any last comments?
AU: Those who walk in balance with the forces of nature need
not fear any force of man.
Contact STRAIGHT TO HELL:
PO Box 8511
Warwick, RI 02888
aaronulcer@hotmail.com
