Theres a conflict taking place in the aggressive underground between bands and artists with real anger, hate and emotion and those content to believe fashion and clean, generally off-key singing can provoke critical thought and change in the world. And the truth is, the good guys are losing, their numbers are dwindling, and their resources are cut off. But no one fights harder than when their back is to a wall and with Kamikaze Missions, BSI rage like a trapped, wounded, vicious animal with nothing left to lose and retribution in their eyes. Following up their relentless While You Were Sleeping disc, Kamikaze Missions shows BSI just as fierce, rough and antagonistic, but musically, their distillation of marauding hardcore punk, metallic hardcore density and acrid commendations sees the dirge-like chaos expanded upon while incorporating restrained musical lulls, regrouping before each new offensive. But while maturity may be thrown around in descriptions, its still dangerous, frayed and genuine, recalling Canadian cutthroats Cursed at times, or Converge, circa Jane Doe (no surprise, as this was produced by Kurt Ballou). While the title may imply a sense of hopelessness for the cause, as long as bands are willing to rage against the commoditisation of music and beliefs, theres still hope.
Kamikaze Missions is a dark, relentless album. With hardcore becoming more and more about singing and haircuts, do you find yourselves ostracised or embraced? Ryan McKenny (vocals): "We've never fit into hardcore. The kids who like us are the ones looking for more than bullshit attitudes, self-important fashion shows and sucker-punch contests. When we say "fuck you," we mean it. Slowly, kids have come out of the woodwork, but I'm not holding my breath hoping to convert the idiots.
What were you able to accomplish with Kamikaze Missions that you were unable to do with past recordings? It gets our point across as a band and as individuals. It encompasses every ounce of rage, frustration and bitterness we've felt towards everything around us. We took our time recording. Lyrics weren't written hastily just to sell some bullshit catchphrases to the finger-pointers, and the music wasn't written to box us into a certain sound.
What's your current take on the underground and where do you think you fit in? My problem with the scene is that the kids stopped fighting the world and started fighting each other. Every show is a sucker-punch fest. The internet is full of shit-talking jerk-offs. What the fuck happened to the rage at the outside world and a passion for this music? What happened to combining the two and using it as a weapon for change?
(Trash Art)Kamikaze Missions is a dark, relentless album. With hardcore becoming more and more about singing and haircuts, do you find yourselves ostracised or embraced? Ryan McKenny (vocals): "We've never fit into hardcore. The kids who like us are the ones looking for more than bullshit attitudes, self-important fashion shows and sucker-punch contests. When we say "fuck you," we mean it. Slowly, kids have come out of the woodwork, but I'm not holding my breath hoping to convert the idiots.
What were you able to accomplish with Kamikaze Missions that you were unable to do with past recordings? It gets our point across as a band and as individuals. It encompasses every ounce of rage, frustration and bitterness we've felt towards everything around us. We took our time recording. Lyrics weren't written hastily just to sell some bullshit catchphrases to the finger-pointers, and the music wasn't written to box us into a certain sound.
What's your current take on the underground and where do you think you fit in? My problem with the scene is that the kids stopped fighting the world and started fighting each other. Every show is a sucker-punch fest. The internet is full of shit-talking jerk-offs. What the fuck happened to the rage at the outside world and a passion for this music? What happened to combining the two and using it as a weapon for change?
