Hell Within Interview

The Gauntlet: The band is slated to play The New England Metal & Hardcore Festival in April and it can be expected that a large number of fans will be turning out to see you being that you are from the region. Is the anticipation for this event beginning to build for the band?

Joe Martinez: Absolutely. We've been stoked about this from the minute we got the phone call to play. Scott Lee, who puts together the New England Hardcore and Metal Fest, really liked the new material and it's really cool to be able to work with him.


The Gauntlet: Do you feel that you are a band that has a strong visual presence? What type of show can fans expect to see at this performance?

Joe Martinez: I think we are. We're going to have a killer stage show. I mean it's tough to move around with the type of music that we play because there are technical parts that you'd rather be playing them correctly rather than jumping around and risking messing up. But we're definitely going to move around and get the crowd involved. I think the fans are going to intensify our stage show, because when we see them moving around, it drives us to almost ripping our instruments beyond recognition.


The Gauntlet: Performing at this event puts the band center stage in front of so many peers. Which of the other bands on this bill do you most enjoy?

Joe Martinez: I've heard of many of them but actually heard several. It's pretty tough to answer this because I want to name like twenty of them. But I'd really like to see God Forbid, Death Before Dishonor, Cannae, King Diamond, Unearth, Since the Flood and Hatebreed.


The Gauntlet: What was the studio experience like for the band this time around? Do you feel more comfortable in the recording studio?

Joe Martinez: The studio experience was much better this time around. We all felt much more comfortable tracking. When we were doing pre-production we ironed out everything that we needed to iron out so we wouldn't get "studio-rage." Hahaha, that's when you've been there for like 15 hours one day and you start seeing mirages. John Ellis is really easy to work with, because he gives you an honest opinion and from working with him in the past, it was like seeing an old friend again.


The Gauntlet: What do you feel that is single most important factor a band should take into consideration as they enter the recording studio?

Joe Martinez: I'd have to say that pre-production is the most important thing after practice. You want to make sure that you have the music as tight as possible before going into the studio. It makes recording easier than just jumping into the fire.


The Gauntlet: On "Asylum Of The Human Predator", the band displays a very aggressive sound. To what do you attribute the unique energy the band displays on record?

Joe Martinez: The aggressiveness, I think, came with the mixing. Zeuss did a spectacular job with the mix. He knew exactly how it was supposed to sound without us saying much. He gave the music that cutting-edge sound, that raw-yet-clearness. I guess that's why he's the almighty Zeuss. We're very happy with the thunderous results.


The Gauntlet: What is the greatest challenge that you feel the band has been able to overcome in order to get you where you are at this point in your career?

Joe Martinez: Getting someone to believe in us has been the greatest challenge. Honestly, with all the hard work we put into this band, I'm really glad that Lifeforce Records saw what they saw in us. It's reassuring to know that they were willing to get something going together.


The Gauntlet: Was it difficult for the band when you changed the name? Did you feel like the band was starting over in some ways?

Joe Martinez: It wasn't difficult at all. It was like shaving your head and letting your hair grow all over again. It took some time to get used to the new name, but it got comfortable in no time. Our music is the main reason why we changed the name. With the aggression and the energy captured on the cd, it was only fitting to have a name that matches the music.


The Gauntlet: What single song do you feel exemplifies the sonic message of Hell Within? (No, you can't say all of them)

Joe Martinez: Ha-ha-ha. "Bleeding Me Black" would be the one. That song defines our style. Technical, fast, and moshpit-worthy. It's also a fun song to play because you really feel the music when playing it live.


The Gauntlet: What track was the toughest to nail in the studio?

Joe Martinez: I'd have to say "Godspeed to Your Deathbed". You've got to really warm up and be ready to sprint out that song right from the get-go. It was fun though because we've never had a song like that, so doing something different for an intro was really cool.


The Gauntlet: Tell us about the DVD that will be included with the record. Why did you decide to release a CD/DVD package right off the bat?

Joe Martinez: We wanted to really show people the Hell Within experience with the DVD. It shows them our live capabilities, our die-hard fans who go all out at every show, and who we are as people. It includes live footage, studio shots, personal views on the cd, and a bunch of hijinks. People are definitely going to get the whole package with this combo. After watching the DVD, you're going to feel as if you've known us all along.


The Gauntlet: Which band member has the best sense of humor?

Joe Martinez: Ha-ha-ha. We all share laughs whenever we hang out or practice, it just comes naturally. We all have very good senses of humor. But I'll let you watch the DVD to determine who you think has the best sense of humor.


The Gauntlet: What types of things does the band enjoy outside of music?

Joe Martinez: We like to hang out, grab a pitcher of beer at the local watering hole, and shoot the breeze. I personally like to work out and boomerang (yes, they really do come back) when it's nice out, go to local hardcore shows, and drive around.

The Gauntlet: Who do you feel the one band is that metal would not be the same without and why?

Joe Martinez: Slayer. Metal would not be the same without them. Lyrically, I find them to be the best. Musically, they are everything that a metal band would dream of being. The way that the lyrics fit the music and how Tom Araya shouts out the words. It's amazing! It's like they're kicking your ass with the music and giving you a piece of their mind at the same time. The beginning of "Spirit in Black" gives me the image of a bloody medieval battle-scene with the crack of that first snare hit. They have a way of striking up the imagination with their music.

The Gauntlet: Tell us about some of your concert experiences in the past. Which have been the most memorable?

Joe Martinez: The Locobazooka festival in MA was really spectacular. Just meeting so many people at one time and having chaos break out in the pit of that magnitude is something I would love to see all the time. Also, we had some people we've never ever met before drive from the western butt-crack of Pennsylvania to a show in Boston. That made my week! The fact that there are fans that are so die-hard makes the concert experience a great one. Another good show was when we did a show in Ft. Myers, FL the whole floor broke out into a pit and I saw this guy with a cast and on crutches drop his crutches and dig into the pit. Unbelievable.

The Gauntlet: Do you have any surprises planned for the upcoming tour?

Joe Martinez: Well, if I told you, then it would it still be a surprise?

The Gauntlet: Lyrically, the band is very violent. Where does this come from?

Joe Martinez: Matt's cranium. It all comes from his cranium. Some of it comes from personal experiences and some of it comes from the news and how cruel and cold the world can be. I mean I can't say what any one song means, that's for the listener to decide; but a lot of the lyrics can have multiple interpretations.

The Gauntlet: What is it that you would like to say to those who have not yet had an opportunity to listen to the band?

Joe Martinez: I'd say go to www.hellwithin.com and listen for yourself. If you like what you hear, come to a show and check us out. We'll grab a beer with you after the set and you can tell us what you think.




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Tags:  Hell Within  , Joe Martinez, interviews

EF    March 23, 2005