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Hardcore, Metal, and Texas' Society's Finest
An Interview with Vocalist Joshua Ashworth
by Fake Train
Reformed and refocused, Society's Finest's fervent fusion of metal and hardcore is a commanding affair. While waiting in limbo as front man Joshua Ashworth shortly filled the vocal position in the much admired Zao, Society's Finest is back with a newfound love of playing. Joshua Ashworth discusses their new release Love, Murder, and a Three Letter Word on Hand Of Hope, their faith in G-O-D, the future sounds of Society's Finest, and of course, SpongeBob SquarePants.
Fake Train: Society's Finest have been going at it for awhile now, since '97, even through various lineup changes and a brief hiatus. What keeps the outfit motivated to continue playing?
Joshua: SpongeBob is a big influence, as is the fact that we love playing music, writing music and surprising ourselves from time to time. I mean seriously, SpongeBob has square pants though, and we're all fascinated by that.
How did you hook up with Hand Of Hope for your second full-length Love, Murder and a Three Letter Word? Even though your debut full-length The Journey, So Far, was released on Solid State, why the switch of labels, and the reasoning behind the decision?
We were at a different point in our lives, and we had fulfilled our obligations with Solid State. We wanted a label that believed in us, and had the same goals we did and Hand Of Hope had that
When do you guys plan on recording a full-length of newer material? And is the new material going to follow the same progression as the four more recently recorded tracks on Love, Murder...?
As of today, we're going in the studio in February. They are definitely going to be as metal as those, but expect a few changes. We have grown in the past, musically, and want to show it off. Expect it to be dark, slow, heavy, fast, even darker, and chaotic but with structure. I think everyone will be surprised.
What sparked the idea to name the release Love, Murder and a Three Letter Word, and how does the title tie in with the rest of the lyrical content on the release?
Well, the lyrics are all about love and murder, done and done. I wanted to express everything with a title that would open your eyes, so why not be blunt about it.
So, what is that mysterious three letter word? Any chance it starts with a G?
Now if I told you, then it wouldn't be such a mystery now would it? [Laughs]
Can you describe how the design layout and photography for the album came about, and how its significance relates with the music and lyrics on Love, Murder...? It definitely is a fresh approach compared to all the other metal/hardcore releases out there.
We just wanted something different. We were all tired of seeing the same ideas over and over, so I gave our friend Zach Bard control of it. It doesn't tie in with the lyrics at all, nor the music. It's all about being different.
Five tracks on Love, Murder... were recorded about five years ago. How do you feel about the songs now, and how would you say the newer tracks differentiate from the old?
Umm, the old ones are still fun to listen to they were all in all the first thing we did as a band. The newer ones are just freaking metal. It shows where we have progressed, and where we have experimented. The music is a total progression as are the lyrics.
From the beginning, there has always been a strong faith in God in Society's Finest's music, and in a way, creating this music to honor God. With the new formation of the Society's Finest, do you feel this initial faith of the band is still strongly present? In other words, does Society's Finest still kick it for the man upstairs?
We are all Christians, I think the faith is still there, and it will always be there. Obviously without our faith we wouldn't be here writing again, touring, or anything else. We just want to show people how God has blessed us, and share the talents he has given us with everyone else. But don't come to a Society's Finest show expecting James Baker on stage, we're all human, we all make mistakes, and we will always struggle.
You guys are on tour for a month with label mates GODS. How has the tour gone so far, and how has the audience reaction been towards both bands?
(GODS dropped off the tour 10 days into it) The shows we played were amazing, everyone in that band is amazing. Most of us are old friends so it was good seeing them and hanging out with them again. The crowd enjoyed them, I think everyone had fun at the shows, and we are totally excited to get back on the road with them in October.
Joshua, after filling in for Dan on vocals in Zao, what were you able to take away from your experience in the group, and how has that insight been a factor in the newly revised Society's Finest?
I took away an amazing experience, I got to see the world, I got to meet a ton of new people, and I think if anything it made me want to get back on the road and stay there. It was a total motivation on my part, and you can see that with all of us now.
Vocally, what kind of conditioning do you go through to keep your voice and throat healthy for those long periods of touring? And what metal vocalists have influenced your guttural delivery?
Green tea from Starbucks, Camel Lights, and Twizzlers. Jacob Bannon [Converge] is an amazing vocalist, Keith Buckley, James Hart (pre-Vanity), Ville Valo [HIM], Tiny Tim, Otis Redding, Barry White, and as you can probably tell, I love Tom Jones.
What do you want people to feel when they listen to Society's Finest?
I just hope people enjoy the music and if they get something spiritual or personal out of it, over all we just want everyone to enjoy themselves.
So, what have you guys been listening to lately?
The Sounds, Ima Robot, the new Converge [You Fail Me], this band that we heard about from South Carolina called Something About Vampires and Sluts, Brand New, HIM, Scarlet, Every Time I Die, A Life Once Lost, and lots of deep house and electronica...we're suckers for a good dance club.
What band or album really sparked your desire to play and create music?
Mötley Crüe's Shout at the Devil.
Why do you love music?
It's a soundtrack to a person's life, and as a musician or writer you get a feeling from creating music that is indescribable...the only thing to compare it to is an Orange Mocha Frappuccino from Starbucks.
What's the one moment or decision that you regret most in life?
That time I ordered a double instead of a Triple Grande Cappuccino from Starbucks, and not meeting the singer from The Sounds. On a serious note, I've always regretted the year 2003. There are just too many decisions and choices to regret. If you spend time regretting something then what's the point of learning.
Any final words?
The name Meatwad is funny, I honestly can't believe that SpongeBob has square pants, and we're on tour for the rest of our lives so come see us!
P.S. We love our girlfriends, and whenever the red cups come out at Starbucks then you know its winter.
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