Interview with God Forbid guitarist Doc Coyle
God Forbid has already torn the world asunder while on tour supporting their latest release Constitution Of Treason. Before entering the studio to record their next album the band has joined Hatebreed, Evergreen Terrace, Terror, The Acacia Strain and After The Burial on the Monsters Of Mayhem 2 tour. To find out where the band stands, and where they are heding with the next record, I sat down with guitarist Doc Coyle to get his honest and sometimes blunt views on the music industry, the political climate and the inner workings of his own band.
Anarchy Music: The official title of this tour is "Jagermeister Presents Ladies Night At The Monsters Of Mayhem 2 Tour". I don't know how you feel about this, but ladies, metal and Jager are three of my favorite things. So, is this going to be a party?
Doc Coyle: Well, some of the other guys on the tour were joking about how it's Monster Energy Drink and Jager Present Ladies Night and so far we haven't seen any of the three.
Anarchy: You just pray for hot Jager chicks?
Doc: Unfortunately, outside of maybe our band almost every single band here...maybe with the exception of Evergreen Terrace is just straight-up brutally heavy and kind of macho chest beating kind of music, so definitely the core is tough guys, so it doesn't exactly draw a vast amount of women but I've definitely seen the further south you go the more women tend to come out.
Anarchy: Anarchy: Oh yeah, here in the south we raise our chicks to like metal.
Doc: There's definitely been some lovely ladies out there for sure.
Anarchy: You guys sometimes get thrown onto bills like this, where you're THE metal band on a more hardcore bill. Do you feel like you have to adjust your set at all whe you do these tours?
Doc: I think that's the benefit of being a diverse band. We could almost play with anybody. We could play with a fuckin radio rock band. There are certain songs that we could play that are melodic enough where that would go over pretty well and then we could do a tour like this. Essentially, we have a core of songs that we play all the time and we might have put maybe one song in there that we haven't been playing just becuse it was a heavier tour. It's definitely a little weird. We did a European tour actually last fall it was kind of the same deal. It was more more of a metalcore tour, like As I Lay Dying and Unearth type bands and we didn't even really fit in with that. We are just a metal band. We're a heavy band that's metal, but we are metal, that's what we feel comfortable doing. But we've kind of always been involved in the hardcore scene one way or another. It's kind of cool to still do that stuff and get out to those people even though they may or may not buy into what we're doing.
Anarchy: You're pretty much taking the summer off to do a new record right?
Doc: That's the plan, unless something comes out of the woodwork where some huge bands asks us to go out or something crazy that you really can't say no to. The idea is to start working on the next record. We really want to take our time, not rush it and get something out just to get it out.
Anarchy: Since, you're not going to do it, what are your thoughts on the "free" Ozzfest?
Doc: More power to them. I think last year they struggled. I guess ticket sales weren't as good as they have been. Obviously, Ozzy is getting older. Every year could always be the last. Honestly I feel like the line-up is a bit weak overall, so you kind of get what you pay for. That's not to say that bands like Lamb Of God and Hatebreed aren't awesome, but it's not what you think of when you think Ozzfest. When we did it it was Judas Priest, Slayer and Slipknot, these massive, massive arena bands. It was a big deal.
Anarchy: Don't you think it's also kind of the fact that they followed Judas Priest with Iron Maiden and then Iron Maiden with Disturbed. Nothing against Disturbed or anything, but they just aren't on that level.
Doc: Also, it's Disturbed after touring straight for a year. They had already been to those cities three or four times on that record so I think a lot of their fans probably had seen them a few times and it wasn't special. Obviously having Judas Priest make their comeback tour was special. I don't know. Sharon Osbourne's complaining that she didn't make money last year but that's probably because ticket sales didn't do as well. Even System Of A Down, they had toured a ton too and that band on their own do 10,000 people a night. Own their own! Obviously something there wasn't clicking with that tour last year, i don't know.
Anarchy: This has nothing to do with anything except that i want to know...where did you get the nicknames? General Zod and Morpheus? Negrodamus?
Doc: Well, it's a joke. It's an elaborate joke. Basically a lot of people make the joke "oh, you're a black metal band ha ha ha" like real funny. Yeah, that shit's corny. "You're the best black metal band from New Jersey", and it's like whatever. Then we ended up on Ozzfest with Dimmu Borgir. They have these names like Vortex, Galder, Mustis, and all this crazy ass... Hellhammer. We just thought it was kind of funny. and thought that we should be the REAL black metal band. I don't know, the names just kind of slowly came together. The funnier it is, the better. What's even funnier than that is that people think we're serious! They actually think we're calling ourselves that. They're like "Morpheus!" and I'm like "ARE YOU ON SOMETHING?"
Anarchy: You kind of brushed past this, but we're a long way removed from Bad Brains, Kings X and Living Color. You still have people wondering why black guys aren't rapping?
Doc: No, not really. I think we're established enough, we're well known enough. People know who we are and it's not about that. It's about the fact that we're a good band. Trust me, there's a lot of theories from people in the industry and from our label that maybe we're not as popular because of our skin color and maybe there's a point there, I don't know. Its really hard to say. We go out, we do what we do and it;s cool. We're established enough, we have enough fans that even if people don't listen to our band then they still at least have an idea of who we re. At least in the grass-roots metal music scene.
Anarchy: You have said that you "wouldn't be surpised if the next record was a significant change". What does that mean. Where do you think it's going to go?
Doc: I've been thinking about it constantly. I think ideally I'd like something that's a cross between having songs that are even more cohesive and tigher and catchy... almost like heavy metal hits... paired next to elaborate, progressive, Opeth-ian type songs. We got a little progressive on the last album and i feel like we can take that further, but at the same time I still think we can write a standardly structured song better.You don't want to get too far inside your head and forget to write songs and hooks and the things that makes a mother fucker headbang to. at the end of the day it's not about sticking yourhead up your ass.
Anarchy: You can get so progressive that you loose the concept of a song.
Doc: Yeah, well I think some bands. Speaking of Opeth, they are masters at what they do and brilliant songwriters and way ahead of 90% of everyone. But I've been really into the new Machine Head album. That album is realyl progressive and has been really inspirational for me. Like i said, with our last album it's just gotten more progressive, more epic, more dynamic and that's part of our sound that I definitely want to explore.
Anarchy: Constitution Of Treason was such a leap over the previous records. Do you feel like you're having an equal period of growth now?
Doc: it's odd because we didn't discuss anything or make it to be this one thing. Honestly, even though you might say it's a huge leap, i still see it as a natural progression. If you listen to "Determination" and "Gone Forever" there's a stark difference between those records. That's what i can foresee happening where we take a left turn and do something a little different. We get bored really easily. Take Hatebreed. They have Hatebreed's sound and that's what they do, and they do it better than anybody. When you buy the record you know what you're going to get. To an extent we're like that but we're not like that. We're not like Slayer, Motorhead, these bands that kind of have that thing and they keep doing what they do very well consistantly. We're a band that's a little more exploratory and we're trying to change, we're trying to surprise people. If you do that it's probably not as good for your career. it's probably better to have a fanbase and stick with that. What we do is more risky. We've turned off some old fans, and gained some new ones as well, but it's definitely riskier I think.
Anarchy: I've heard you mention a few times about fights in the studio. When you guys are in the studio is there a lot of tension and pulling for what you want out of the band?
Doc: I think most of the fighting takes place in the rehearsal room, when we're putting the songs together. Especially between my brother and I because nine times out of ten we see things completely different. I always want to make something faster and more technical and more metal and he has a tendency to make things more simplified, slower, more straightforward so there's always going to be that rift. He also does a lot of the melodic vocals. A lot of that is his idea. Even though the rest of the band may not have had that intention, we're cool with it, obviously. There's always that pull from different sides. I think that in the actual studio though, not everyone is always there at the same time. It's really not as pressurized as that. There's not as many arguments in the studio because usually if I'm doing guitars then it's just me. it's not like everyone's there. Even though Dallas and myself coproduced the last couple of records so we've pretty much been there for every step. There's always been fights but I think that's healthy because if you believe in something, if you believe in the way something should sound, then you have to fight for it. Obviously, if you don't fight for it then you don't care about the song and you must not be passionate about it.
Anarchy: You don't have any update on the album at all right? You''ve just started on it right?
Doc: No, honestly we've just done a few rehearsals and I've been writing riffs on my own. I've got a bunch of riffs and a few song ideas. Definitely enough to get us started.
Anarchy: You do lyrics too right>
Doc: Some, not a whole lot, but I do some.
Anarchy: Well, if you can speak for the band itself then, Constitution Of Treason talks about greed in religion and the governement and the war... a couple of years later and NOW how do you feel about it? Nothing's really changed.
Doc: No, and nothing had really changed from the album before that where we had a couple of politicized songs, lyrically. At least now there's a bit more hope. we've got an election coming up. the biggest thing I'm noticing right now is just a lot of polarization as far as the left wing and right wing. People are taking sides and there is no middle ground. I think that's really scary ground. That whole "us against them" thing is bullshit and I think it's promoted too much in civilized culture, us against them.
Anarchy: Speaking for myself, I tend to think that those far left and right leaning ideologies are wrong and probably not even there but to benefit there own agendas and wallets. I tend to think that there really is a middle ground if everyone could get on the same page and stop focusing on the far fringes of the beliefs, which can get kind of crazy.
Doc: Honestly, yes and no. Obviously, I'm a Liberal and I think that the Liberal ideals are more pointed towards the common man, the working man, taking care of people, health care, making sure that your weakest oldest and sickest have the care that they need. What's crazy about that?
Anarchy: Nothing at all. I'm talking specifically of those people who kill people because of their political beliefs and the politicians that are more concerned with lining their own pockets. For instance on the Conservative side you have people who blow up abortion clinics. That's great that you think abortion is wrong and all, but you're crazy.
Doc: You know what, I think most Conservatives have families, they are affluent, they have something to protect. That brings out certain ideas. It's "I have this and I need to protect it, that's why I need a gun". "I need to make sure my taxes are low so I can keep my house". it's the two mentalities, the haves and the have-nots At the end of the day, if you are 100% down with protecting those who have it and fuck those who don't have it, then I think that's an evil way to fucking be. Unfortunately, I don't think people really talk about that. People only talk about issues. they talk about the actual mentalities behind what being a Liberal or wight wing might mean.
Anarchy: I almost get a sense through some of the lyrics that we are powerless to change things. Yes George Bush is an idiot and crazy, but he's probably just a puppet and is not really in control. Is Democracy dead in your opinion?
Doc: No, at the end of the day we still have it better off than other countries and that's what makes this system awesome. We have a constitution. Even European countries which are seemingly more fre in certain aspects , but our constitution does protect a lot of things. I think we're in danger of losing true, true Democracy. Unfortunately the far, far right is fascism. The idea is that they eventually want to transform, or they kind of are taking it so that one man makes all the decisions and controls the army and everything. I think that it's pretty scary. Honestly, my outlook at this point is pretty hopeless and it has less to do with politicians and more to do with the environment, i dont thinkwe're going to fix global warming. I think we'll probably lose half the population before we do. A lot of the people in power don't evenacknowledge it. they say "our scientists say it's okay".
Anarchy: But again, this isn't rank and file Conservatives and Liberals. It just seems like once you go up the chain, the politicans on both sides are benefitting from the opposing sides on all of these issues so they end up doing nothing.
Doc: Well, our system is a double-edged sword. it's great that we have capitalism and democracy where the lowest guy on the totem pole can earn his way to the top CEO of a company making millions of dollars, but there's no cap. It encourages greed. this ameoba mentality. When I say "ameoba" I mean that you have to spread it into everything that there is until there's nothing left.
Anarchy: I saw on the bands Myspace blog where Dallas had posted his opinions on the Michael Richards racism thing where he kind of came down the middle of yeah, there's racism but don't let other people's racism control you.
Doc: Honestly, I dont agree with what Dallas put on the Myspace page. I don't think it's a forum for his opinion anyway. I think he should have put that on his own blog or whatever. It does represent four other individuals. It's funny that and the whole Imus thing happened at the same period of time. That was obviously more apparent, but I think the most interesting thing about that is people acting like it doesn't happen, that white people don't say those words. Yeah they do. They just don't do it in the venues where they're not supposed to. Then they act like people aren't racist. People are, that's just the way it is..Hopefully over time it will get better. i don't know. I'm not trying to make everyone sing "Kumbaya" or whatever, but i think we should acknowledge it. I'm sick of people being appalled. Everyones offended. That's the thing that I really do actually hate about a lot of liberals is that everything's so PC. we've got to protect everybody's feelings. It's like get over it. Was I offended because fucking Michael Richards called some people niggers? No, i don't care. I don't know them, and I don't know him. He embarrassed himself. his career is probably ruined forever. I think that's punishment enough.
Anarchy: Lets jump around a bit with no segue at all. Do you still use the Dave Mustaine flying V?
Doc: Yeah, me and my brother both use it.
Anarchy: Are you a big Megadeth fan?
Doc: I am a big Mustaine fan but it was just that he had one of the guitars and I used it in the studio to record and I ended up liking it. It wasn't like "oh, igotta have the Mustaine guitar", but once I played it, I thought it was great and have used it ever since.
Anarchy: Are you still managing bands?
Doc: I'm actually not doing that anymore. I actually ended up working only about three months. The person I was working with ended up losing funding and couldn't afford to pay me. So, I'm kind of just focused on making the next record. i feel like I can definitely get involved with the industry in diffeent ways at any time.
Anarchy: Like when you're 50...
Doc: Well, hopefully not that...
Anarchy: Oh, you've got plenty of rock left in you man. stick around for awhile.
Doc: Exactly, I kind of feel like that I have a lot of music to get out of my system and put a lot of work into that and put a lot of focus on that,. just to get back on more artistic, fertile ground. Sometimes the businesss can fuck with your head a lot. you get wrapped up in thinking about money and shit like that becomes your motivating factor. I dont think it's good for creativity.
Anarchy: One last thing before I let you go...God Forbid is doing a DVD. It's got a live performance, and a documentary. What's in the documentary, drinking with the Jager girls?
Doc: We haven't shot it yet and that's something we actually have to work on when we get home. But no, it won't be what everyone does and basically be a third rate Pantera rip-off DVD.
Anarchy: They we're great when Pantera did it, but not so much the rip-offs...
Doc: They were really partying. Bands like us can't party like Pantera. They were rich and crazy and from fuckin Texas. I think it's going to be a fine line between showing the history and personalities of the band and not taking ourselves too seriously. So, it's going to be a bit funny and show a bit of the humor in the band.
Anarchy: We're going to see if Morpheus can beat General Zod in a fight?
Doc: (laughs) We'll see. i think I can take him, but i'm not positive. I'm just saying.
Anarchy: When is that coming out?
Doc: We're pushing for the fall. Honestly, if it doesn't come out this fall I'm gonna be fucking pissed. the idea was to get it out this year so we have something to give to people to say 'we're still here, we're still doing stuff".
Anarchy: And you don't want to piss off a guy in God Forbid, is that what you're saying?
Doc: I don't want to piss myself off. I'm going to be angry because if you have a goal, you want to make sure that you attain the goal and meet the deadlines.
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Thanks to Doc for taking the time to talk with us! For more info on God Forbid, check out God Forbis on Myspace and GodForbid1.com