RAZORBACK RECORDS INTERVIEW

Interviewed by:

Aaron Mendiola

Answered by:

Billy Nocera

Spewed on:

December 2000

Hello Billy. Why did you decide to create Razorback Records? How did you get the label to be as great as it is now?

Jill and I started the label in November 1998. We both wanted to do a horror/gore inspired death/grind label. I was influenced by all my favorite bands: AUTOPSY, IMPETIGO, CARCASS, MORTICIAN, etc. and all my fave horror/gore/exploitation films. I don't know if we're "great" man, but I'm happy with what we're doing so far!

You have released some great CDs so far, and it looks like in 2001 you seem to be doing the same. Were all these bands happy to be working with Razorback? What do you offer to the bands you sign?

Seems like every band we've worked with has been happy, Engorged, Machetazo, etc. We offer every band free CD's and lots of good solid promotion/exposure in the international underground. We're not a huge label, but we do a lot for every band we work with and we really care about what we do and try to make the best releases we can.

ENGORGED seems to be your Basket Case child, but I guess it's because it was your first release, but you gave them a reputation to me, as did like Deicide did Roadrunner in my views. Your feelings?

Engorged got signed to Necropolis Records so they're not on Razorback anymore, but we're still great friends. They were the coolest guys to work with, no stuck-up bullshit rock star attitudes at all. We also had a lot in common with them as far as fave bands/movies go. They were a hard band to promote because they're not straight up death metal and not normal grindcore either, they're just a totally insane and original band and I'm glad they're on a bigger label now, they're gonna take over really soon, just wait and see.

The most recent release is an IMPETIGO tribute CD. A great fuckin idea! The bands on the disc, did you seek them out, or did they come to you? What about the appearance from Kam Lee?

Thanks man! I'm really proud of this release, as I took it very personally and seriously. About 95% of the bands Jill and I contacted, and the rest asked us about it. It was a hard CD to put together, but also a lot of fun to do as well. I saw that Kam Lee (death metal god!) was online so I emailed him and we've been pals ever since. I've been a huge fan of MASSACRE for years, so it was an honor to get him to write liner notes for the CD! Everyone check out Kam's new band KAULDRON!

The guys in the band were very surprised, honored, and very excited about the CD and that meant a lot to us. I've been writing to Mark Sawickis for years and he's always been the coolest guy ever in the underground metal scene. I was honored that they loved the way the CD came out, it's a good feeling when a band you worship turns out to be really cool people and not stuck up assholes.

Do you and Jill share equal amount in everything you guys do as a label? How is it working with her?

Working with Jill is the best, because not only is she my business partner but she's also my girlfriend! We both do our share of work and it works out well. Sometimes we get pretty busy and overwhelmed with everything, but this is our life so we do it no matter what happens.

I read that on your site, that you have a DVD player. Have you purchased any of the old gore flicks yet on DVD? I recently went to the Anchor Bay Website, and they released a $39.99 tin box set for the movie, "The Beyond", and also other great old flicks like Cannibal Holocaust, etc...all re-mastered, and uncut. How do you feel about all these classicks being re-released on DVD?

Dude...you hit the jackpot with this question. Horror/gore films on DVD is the best ever. I can't get enough of 'em. I've been into horror/gore films for years and when I started reading about DVD a few years ago, I knew it was gonna be the best format for films ever! THE BEYOND special edition DVD is one of the coolest DVD's out there right now. I also recommend the DVD editions of THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE, LET SLEEPING CORPSES LIE, CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD, THE THING ('82), CANNIBAL FEROX (Make Them Die Slowly) and many more cool ones! Anchor Bay is the best company doing horror DVD's ever!

Back to the label. Do you feel having a mail order is important to a label like yourselves? Do you make a lot of sales?

Most definitely....the mailorder is how we keep the label alive. It's cool to trade our releases with other labels all over the world. I like the fact that our stuff can get into other countries like Germany, Belgium, Japan, etc. We pretty much live off the label these days, so I would definitely say we're doing pretty good. We always keep our prices seriously fucking cheap, which is the best way because I personally hate paying 15-20 bucks for a death metal CD. Fuck that bullshit. We also get a lot of bulk wholesale orders as well which helps out a ton.

In 2001 we are to see new releases from Bodies Lay Broken, and Intense Hammer Rage. Do you have plans beyond those 2 releases yet?

Yes we do actually, we're gonna be doing the 2nd MACHETAZO CD and then an IMPALED/HAEMORRHAGE split CD with all new songs! That should be for late 2001/early 2002.

"I Spit on your Grave" was in my opinion a great zine that you and Jill worked on in the beginning. Why the end of the zine? For a while there it was a webzine. Any plans to bring it back?

Glad you liked it man.....basically there's no time to do the zine anymore. We're totally doing the label 100% and don't have time for any side projects. We did the zine for fun and to help get the name out of Razorback Records. We might be doing some exclusive new interviews for our site with some of our fave bands, but I'm not sure yet.

Thanks for the interview, it's totally appreciated. Keep up the good work with your webzine and band! If anybody wants Razorback info, just email me at wnocera@aol.com or check out our web site at http://www.razorbackrecords.com. All CD's are $10 each (USA). Take it easy.