Interview with bassist Mike Bolam. Conducted by DJ through email.
Who came up with the name Crucial Unit and what's it mean?
Ian and Justin came up with the name. It was supposed to be a joke. We
just wanted to pick a hardcore cliche for a name. So many bands have
the
word Crucial or Unit in their names: Crucial Youth, Impact Unit, Unit
Pride... We almost changed out name to Sacrachrist at one point,
because
we thought it was funny, but we ended up sticking with Crucial Unit.
How long has Crucial Unit been around?
Crucial Unit formed in October 1998. Our first show was the first ADD
fest, at chatham college.
What's new with the band?
Our split LP with Municipal Waste came out about a month ago. The
Moshzilla 7" just came in this week. They have copies up at Brave New
World and in the Big Idea Distro in roboto. We'll have them at shows,
too.
The Killed By Strunk collection CD (all our material with our last
drummer) will be out by the end of the month. The Rambo split 7" should
be
here in early may. We leave for tour May 21st for a month.
We are working on an LP now. We have 4 songs written. We hope to record
them in the fall, and have the LP out by next spring.
Excited about the upcoming tour?
We are really excited. It will be the first US tour any of us have been
on. I toured for a month when i was in fate of icarus, but we didn't
make
it to the west coast. This should be rad.
Any crazy or funny stories from the last tour?
Hmm...Nothing too crazy. The tour was great. The craziest show was in a
practice space in Portland Maine. It was about the size of someone's
bedroom and the kids went apeshit...we had a ton of fun at every show.
How did the Municipal Waste split come together?
Andy Wright, from +/- studios is friends with the people who run 6
weeks
records. He sent them our material. I got an email from Jeff from 6
weeks
asking if we wanted to do a Split LP with a band from Buffalo called
Not!
Long story short, Not! broke up before they ever got to record. We knew
of
Municipal Waste from their first 7". We all loved it, so we asked Jeff
if
they could be the B-side. The rest is history. We are playing a few
dates
with them on tour, including the last day, here in Pittsburgh.
Who writes the lyrics in the band?
Early on, Ian and Justin shared the lyric writing. Now, it is mostly
Justin. We come up with song titles, and he pens the words. It works
out
well.
The new artwork on MW split is fucking brutal! do you think you'll
ever make posters with it?
We might make some posters. We never really thought of that. We just
got
some stickers. We are gonna make some more t-shirts, and maybe some
backpatches and buttflaps. We have
also talked about getting mugs made with the design. Keep your eyes
peeled.
So i take it you guys dont like Victory Hardcore type stuff?
No...not really. It doesn't appeal to me in the least. They put out a
few
cool records, but the attitudes that go along with that stuff really
puts
me off. Most of the music is just metal played poorly by rich kids...
I think the only bands on victory that i can tolerate are Integrity and
early strife.
Out of all the shows you've played, do you have a favorite?
I don't have a favorite, but some stick out. The show in Maine that i
mentioned earlier. The Columbus show with Killed in Action and Strong
Intention. The New Years show in Philly with Rambo and Tragedy.
Pittsburgh on Halloween this past year. Pittsburgh with Rambo.
What was the craziest thing you've seen at a show?
Oh man...at one of our shows it was probably the giant pillow fight
that
broke out at the KIA/SI show in columbus. At a show in general, i have
no
idea. Maybe the Gordon Solie Motherfuckers show in Columbus where the
whole space got wrecked.
Favorite bands to play with?
Locally, Caustic Christ, Intense Youth, Free Barabas and Krooked Grind.
Otherwise, Killed in Action, The Awakening, Rambo, Koal Slaw, USV...
Who are some of your influences?
I assume you mean musically. Mostly Hardcore bands that have a real DIY
Ethic and play fast as hell. People that i'm frineds with, that i know
are
down for life. People over 30 who still love punk/hardcore.
So i hear you drink lots of Iced Tea? Ever get a kidney stone?
I never have. I worry about it sometimes. Hoss gets them occaisionally,
but it runs in his family. I don't really drink that much tea. It is
more
of a social thing. I try to drink a lot of water after i drink a bunch
of
tea.
I also hear your a beer nerd? How did ya get into that hobby?
I just started trying all kinds of different beers. I got into it. It
is
an expensive hobby. I could have bought a whole case of pabst for what
I've spent on a single beer. I still drink the cheap(er) stuff to get
drunk. I try to savor the good stuff.
Whatever happened to Sack Dragon?
Well...The singer left town. We practiced a few times without him, but
we
are all busy with other bands. We still talk about it occaisionally,
but i
have a feeling that project is dead. We'll see what happens.
You're pretty damn Metal, what is your:
Top 5 Metal bands?
Celtic Frost
Voivod
Kreator
Slayer
Possessed
Top 5 Metal albums?
Celtic Frost-To Megatherion
Voivod-Killing Technology
Kreator-Terrible Certainty
Slayer-Reign in Blood
Possessed-7 Churches
Top 5 Metal songs?
Slayer-Angel of Death
Voivod-Killing Technology
Celtic Frost-Procreation of the Wicked
Metallica-Creeping Death
Kreator-Endless Pain
What band got you into Metal?
I think the band that got me into metal was Anthrax. I heard them when
i
was in 6th grade. I was hooked. I quickly got into slayer and
metallica.
the rest is history
Favorite kind of Metal?
80's thrash/speed metal.
Do you consider the unit a Metal band? Cause you guys seem to get
more metal everytime i see yins.
I don't really consider us a metal band. We definitely have some metal
influences, but we are a hardcore band. We try to mix it up as much as
possible, blending the two, but we have more of a hardcore/punk
mentality.
Which do you prefer cds or vinyl?
I like Vinyl better. I like the bigger artwork. I jsut think it looks
cooler. If i have the option, i always go for the vinyl.
Favorite thing about hardcore?
The people, the community. I've met so many great people and have so
many
friends because of hardcore. And the Records!!!!
Least favorite thing about hardcore?
Just the stupid shit that goes on. The infighting and pettiness that
exists in some scenes.
Anything you'd like to add or close with?
Thanks for the interview DJ. Check out www.crucialunit.com for more
info
about our records, our show dates, or to download some songs.
Crucial Unit site
Over 70 Crucial Unit pics
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