Interview with 

A huge welcome back with the new album Unearthed, its been a very long time since the 1992 release Standing on the sun, what have you been up to between the records?

(Adam, bass)Thanks for the big reception!! It's great to finally have a new full length CD out. Believe me, we NEVER intended for it to take 8 years to get another album (well...CD) out! Well, a lot has happened and changed in the last
8 years. Not long after 'Standing' was released, we parted ways with Eric Little in the fall of '93. Over the next couple of years we had 3 or 4 drummers before finally hooking up with Ronnie Kalimon (x-Unorthodox, x-Iron Man) in November of '95. At that time we had been playing the same 15-20 songs for a number of years. We knew what we had with Ronnie was fresh and new. So for a while we didn't play out too much and just concentrated on writing new material.
"Unearthed' is the product of the four of us as a whole.

Before Standing on the sun came out you did numerous basement tapes along with the now classic demo Voyage that came out in 1991 but how was Internal Void formed originally can you fill us in on the very beginning of the band?
 

(Adam)Well, the four of us (Kelly, JD, Eric and myself) had already known each other for a few years. Actually, Kelly, Eric and I had been in a previous band together. In August of '87 we decided to get together and start something heavy, good and real. Not long after we got together, JD joined us on vocals. We played a lot locally. Mostly parties, they always paid the best HAHAHA. We cut a demo in '89, now known as the 'Smokestack' demo due its cover photo.
Then, in the fall of '90, we entered the studio to cut the 'Voyage' demo.

Am I right if I say that it was the Voyage demo that first gaved you a name in the underground doom scene?

(Adam)You're absolutely right! 'Voyage' got us national and international attention. And, of course, helped us land the deal with Hellhound.

The album Standing on the sun is nowdays regarded as a doom classic after so many years after the release what is your views on the album nowdays and how has the response been on the album over the years?

(Adam)'Standing' represents the peak of that line-up and that particular time in the life of Internal Void. Everything we had worked towards up until that time was captured on that album. One thing we can say, as a band, is that we've
always stood behind our material. I don't believe there is even one song we've ever written that we are ashamed or embarrassed by.

With the demos you did between the records how has the response been to them over the years?

(Adam)The response to our demos has always been good. Most of them were done in very small quantities. Also, with our frequent drummer changes (before hooking up with Ronnie) a couple of our demos were shelved rather quickly.

With every recording you have worked with Chris Kozlowski, do you regard Chris as the 5^th member of the band and how much input does he have on the sound that you have created over the years including this album?

(Adam)I really can't say enough about Chris. He's been with us since the very beginning. From our very first recording in '88 through 'Unearthed' in 2000. He's also largely responsible for our live sound. When Chris is behind the board, all you have to worry about is playin'! In the studio, I think the way he helped, at first, was capturing our live sound. Over the years we have gained confidence to try other methods and new ideas. Most important, he's not afraid to tell you that you screwed up or that you can do it better.

With this album Unearthed you finally found a recording contract with Southern Lord Recordings personally as as long time fan of the band I reckon this is the best thing that have happened to Internal Void so far what is your opinion?

(Adam)The deal with Southern Lord is great for us! It's definitely the best opportunity we've had to get our music to the masses. I know I don't have to tell you about our past label experiences (Hellhound). With Southern Lord everything is up front and honest. You can't say that about too many people in this business!

When I compare Unearthed to Standing on the sun there is quite a lot of differences musically its much more progressive more brutal and definitely more tripping material on this one, compare to Standing on the Sun on the production standpoint do you feel that you have found the definitive Internal Void sound on this album?

(JD, vocals)We are very pleased with this production. Chris has a method that I think he applies to everything he does musically. He tries to get a sound that is pure and raw using effects as an accent rather than pouring them into the mix
just because you can. Rock 'n' Roll sounds best loud and straight ahead. It took a while for us to learn this from him, but we came around.

Talk about the cover artwork on the album the picture looks like something that is taken from a church window from where came the idea for the artwork?

(Kelly, guitar)Well, I had got the idea from a couple of books on early Christian Art. There was some incredible works of art in this book. I was drawn to a stained glass theme and took some ideas from cathedral sculptures and I incorporated them into the design. The original piece of artwork (16" x 16" pastel) has a lot more art work to it, it didn't work well with the logo so I simplified it to just the circle and it worked out better.

On the album there is also a cover version of cult brittish band Stray and their track After the storm a brilliant cover I must add, from where came the idea to use this cover for the album and do you feel the cover is well suiting the rest of the material on the album?

(JD)'After the Storm' has been a staple of our live set for a while. When we went into the studio we decided to record it just to have it. Then we realized it's too good of a song for it not to be heard. We all love Stray and felt it had to be included. We sent it to Del and he really dug it. So that was all we needed to hear.

Talk about the title Unearthed is there any significant meaning behind the title?

(Kelly)Yeah somewhat. It just popped in the 'ol head one afternoon, and immediately it made sense. Well, mentioning that we haven't released a full length CD in 8 years, and I might add, we have never stopped writing or performing since 'Standing'. To me at least, it represents our CD being released and uncovering what we have been doing all this time. I also thought it worked well with the cover art.

Between Standing on the sun and this album you have also made a recording to a split single with Paul Chain that was supposed to have been released a while back can you fill us in on that split single what tracks is it going to be on the single and when is the single coming out?

(Adam)The split single is available now through Southern Lord and is available through the labels website. www.southernlord.com The Internal Void song is 'Window to Hell'. It was recorded back in '96. It's kind of a rough version/recording when compared to 'Unearthed'. I believe you'll see a new recording of it on the next I.V. disc!

The European Internal Void fans have never had the chance to see the band live yet even though you have had a good response from overhere over the years, will that be possible now after the release of this album?

(JD)We were all set to do a tour for 'Standing' in Europe, but the Hellhound guys never came through. We have received more mail and media coverage from Europe than anywhere else and we want to play there so bad we can taste it!! Southern Lord is really backing us so all signs point to YES!!

You have mostly played up and down the US eastcoast along with appearances at the Stoner hands of doom fest, are you planning some kind of a tour now, fill us in if there is some kind of touring plans?

(JD)Things are in the works for both European and States tours for 2001 (I still can't get used to writing the year that way!!) and we will keep you informed as soon as we know.

Internal Void has been around for years now and the name has become somehow legendary in the underground doom/heavy progressive scene, how do you feel when you see that and talk about the following you have built up over the years what is your views on the following?

(JD)The four of us have been fans of rock since age ten (or earlier!). So to have anyone come up to us and say how much they like our music is awesome!! Our local fans are dedicated and have been since the beginning. The response we've had on the road has always been good and we are thankful to all!!

Talk about the trademark you have as a band that has been a like a red line through all the releases so far J.D Williams haunting vocals, Kellys fuzzed out guitarwork backed up with a pumping rhythm section, what do you feel are the bands biggest strength?

(JD)I would have to say that our biggest strength is variety. We are influenced by so many different styles that by the time we've written two or three songs you've got two or three different types of music. Bands with variety have dimension and bands with dimension tend to survive.

Back to the album Unearthed spinning through the record there is a lot of new things coming up string arrangements, harmonica and brilliant percussion work was that planned before the recording or did it come while you were in the studio?

(Kelly)Alot of it was planned before hand. We did come up with alot of ideas during the recording sessions. Sometimes the best ideas are the ones you come up with in the studio. The instrumental 'Closure' is one that really evolved in the studio from one acoustic track to four guitars, bass guitar and percussion.

Finally about the future plans after the release of Unearthed what is next plans for Internal Void, fill us in on your next acitivities?

(JD)We are currently rehearsing and writing songs for the next disc. Also, some older songs written between 'Standing' and 'Unearthed' will return. Other than that and getting tour plans together for this year, the band in enjoying our local shows(more than we've done in a while!) and drinking a lot of good beer!

Thank you very much for answering my questions, all the best wishes with Unearthed and all the best wishes with Internal Void.

Thanks to you Gabriel, you've helped support us for a long time. TUNE IN, TUNE DOWN, TURN UP!!

For more info on Internal Void contact: P.O Box 4054 Frederick MD 21705 USA
Email: intrnlvoid@aol.com
Internal Voids official Website

Southern Lord Recordings P.O Box 291967 Los Angeles Ca 90029 USA
Email: southernlord@yahoo.com
Southern Lord Recordings Website