Interview with Will Gould

Will Gould: Hey hows it going Tank, how are things with Energy right now?

Tank: Things are going good, we haven't been touring very much which always makes me happy and we've been writing some of our best material to date! 

WG: (1) You're just about to release a new EP titled 'Walk into the fire' what I've heard of the demo's so far has been quite a step in a new direction for the band.

Your last record 'Invasions of the mind' was also quite a progression on from the one before that 'punch the clock'. 

How important is the development of your sound to you? 

Is it a case of finding the right sound for your band, or do you hope to keep producing fresh different sounding records each time around?

T: I'd say we're just trying to keep it new and exciting each time around. If anyone thinks the title track is big departure in sound, they are in for quite a surprise with the other 2 tracks. The song "Let's Get Away" is possibly our most upbeat song to date, and "Angels At My Grave" is without a doubt our most interesting and different. I think the song "Walk Into The Fire" is the sound we've wanted all along fully realized. The E.P. was supposed to have 4 tracks on it but since AAMG clocks in at around 5 and a half minutes, we had to omit one of the songs because of time constraints.

WG: (2) If I'm not mistaken, you guys are recording this EP yourselves this time. What Influenced this decision? Have you tried to do anything differently production wise to 'Invasions..'? 

T: Yes, we recorded this E.P. ourselves and couldn't be happier with the result. We don't like how our last album was mixed and mastered, so we just said fuck it - we're doing it ourselves. No one can seem to understand what we want out of our recordings so we're hoping to just do everything ourselves from now on. The only thing different production wise is that we mixed and mastered it ourselves. That is a huge difference though. I don't think most people realize just how much that effects the final product.  

WG: (3) I know you guys have just recruited Mike from Children Of The Night on keys, how has this changed the dynamic of the band? Is this the solid line up now?

T: This just feels right. I've been writing songs with Mike for years now (even pre dating Energy) and I've known all along that he would have to join Energy at some point, it was just a matter of when. Mike and I work extremely well together as the primary songwriters for the band so this is most likely the way it's going to be from now on. We're not making that a rule within the band, but it's probably going to be the case.

WG: (4) Children Of The Night should also be releasing a record soon right? How long have you and Mike been playing in that band together for? when will that record be released? What's the story with that?

T: Mike and I first starting calling it "Children Of The Night" around the time that Energy was writing for Punch The Clock. We had the idea to blend our 2 favorite bands' sounds together (Beach Boys/Misfits) and see what happened. We plan on releasing a full length album EVENTUALLY, but we're not really sure when that will be. We're pretty busy with Energy and with our sound continuing to evolve, certain COTN songs are sounding more and more like they could become Energy songs. I've always been partial to the idea of just releasing an Energy album called "Children Of The Night"...

WG: (5) So growing up who were the bands you took main inspiration from in Energy and how have they changed from then to the latest EP?

T: I'd say our biggest influences from the start were The Misfits, A.F.I., Bad Religion, bands like that. With the addition of Mike and our interest in incorporating influences from other genres as well, we've been changing our sound quite a bit. Regarding the new songs: I can't even really cite one specific influence without it cheapening our songs. Just give them a listen and you'll understand.

WG: (6) You guys are often compared to AFI, while I'm not so sure I'd agree with that, it must be a pretty welcome comparison?

But do you think maybe that these days kids get too caught up in the aesthetic of a band before they've really listened to the music? 

What are your thoughts on the punk scene in general right now?

T: I don't want to say that the punk scene doesn't exist, because it always will in some way, but I feel as if the underground music scene is dominated by pop punk, hardcore, and terrible hybrids of the 2. As far as us being compared to A.F.I., PTC and IOTM are fast hardcore punk albums with a dark aesthetic. Since no one else is doing that right now, people just like to compare us to something they're familiar with. Since there are SO many bad pop punk bands ripping off bands that came before them and SO many hardcore bands just rehashing what's already been done with the genre time and time again, these flaws are overlooked completely. We are taking influence from bands that no one else is, so we're easier targets to these morons. Oh well.

WG: (7) I heard you mention in an interview previously how out of place you can feel at hardcore shows, due to the way you look. 

This sucks, but I cant help but empathise with how much of a contradiction this supposedly open minded, intelligent scene can seem sometimes.

Due to the sometimes stagnant nature of hardcore, do you think a band like Energy really fits in there? 

T: I feel that Energy fits in at hardcore shows more than at pop punk shows. From what I've gathered over the years is that at an average pop punk show everyone just wants happy, fun, corny singalongs and to have a good time with their friends....like a DUMBASS party full of idiots. At least at hardcore shows there are kids there that are angry about something and could possibly identify with depressing, angry, sad, abrasive, aggressive songs like ours. I don't quite feel that we fit in with each sub-genre though. Hopefully we can just find our own fan base and create our own "scene".

At this point the thought of anyone giving me shit for the way I look is hilarious. I'd rather fucking KILL myself than dress the way the average hardcore/pop punk kid does, so that's fine.

WG: (8) So you guys have been off the road for a good few months now, will you be back out to support the new EP? what do you all do when you're not on tour?

T: If a good tour comes our way then yes. If not, then some of us just flat out can't afford to go out and do another low paying tour. We've done so many tours that we shouldn't have done, and we're just fed up with it. Over the last few years we've been touring for like 200 plus days a year. So if you're reading this and are in a band that's more popular than Energy - TAKE US OUT!

When I'm home from tour I just hang out with my girlfriend, walk around town, and write music with Mike who lives up the street from me. I really don't have much of a social life, so that's all I do.

WG: (9) What bands do you rate right now? who is worth checking out?

T: I wish my friend Scott would just settle on a band name for his music so that I could promote them in interviews like this, but this kid Scott Abrams from my town of Stoughton is an unbelievable songwriter and is working on putting together a demo with Mike. I'll be sure to keep everyone posted online when he finally releases it. Other than that I just look forward to new releases by bands that I like that have been around for a while.

WG: (10) Thanks answering for your time Tank, any last words?

Thank you!