Thrash N' Bang!!!

Interview with Bring The Knife at the Middle East Upstairs

By Jim Slimedog

Bring The Knife is a growling, fierce, werewolf of a metal band clamping its jaw on the mainstream of music drawing not only blood but guts and gory entrails in its teeth. Sounding like early Metallica playing death metal they bring the traditional into the current with a sense of humor thrown in to boot.

Led by Duncan Wilder Johnson, modern day Renaissance Headbanger who, amongst his many activities, he does spoken word, promotes shows and makes exercise videos. He’s joined by Pattie the Gimp on guitar one of the best shredders in town who when she makes her guitar squeal all squeal as well (well, maybe only me, I’m always so overwrought with emotion!) Rounded out by Zay Dohse on thundering bass and Eman Pacheco on precise pounding drums they leave total decimation in their wake. This interview took place at the Middle East in Cambridge Mass outside at a table on the night of their record release party.

Slimedog- We first saw you guys at the Punk vs Metal II (2) show which we thought was a great idea (3 metal bands and 3 punk bands alternating). How did that come about?

Duncan (Lead Vocals)- The first one was actually our very first show, it was 1/24/10. The way the band started was, I was in another band called Destruct-A-Thon, that band was going pretty strong and then everybody had enough. Destruct-A-Thon was supposed to play on 1/24/10 but we were going to do this October show before that date and that was going to be it (for the band). So this band (Bring The Knife) came about by me going, “Alright, we can start a band and play this show in three months or I can find another band to play it.”  So that’s how it began. And the punk versus metal thing, for me, it’s all one of the same. I grew up being into punk rock and being into hardcore and I didn’t think metal was very good because metal to me was like Cinderella, fuckin’ Trixster and shit. But then I heard Slayer and Black Sabbath and I was like, “Oh, wait a minute, there’s really good metal!” And then I found Sepultura, old Metallica. I’m very late to the party in the metal world. So for me I look at it as both guitar driven, aggressive music. The only thing that differentiates them is marketing, playing- one is really simple, one is really complicated. What do you guys think?

Zay (Bass)- Yeah, you come more from punk and hardcore. Pattie and I come from traditional heavy metal.

Eman (Drums)- I get all of that; I got two older brothers that grew up on eighties metal but also listen to lots of punk and hardcore. They influenced me with all of that.

Slimedog- I was going to ask next how you got started but I guess that’s been answered.

Pattie- I didn’t even let him breathe. When Destruct-A-Thon broke up, I didn’t even let him breathe. I just picked him right up. I gave him what, thirty minutes, to grieve your band that just broke up.

Duncan- Well, frankly you called me and I’m like, “Oh, Sean’s quitting, too?” and I’m, “Oh, he is? Fucking great.” (Laughter) I’m in a fucking parking lot of Staples! Thanks for telling me, I only live with the fucking kid!

Pattie- They all told me.

Slimedog- They told you and you weren’t in the band?

Pattie- I was filling in for the last two shows ‘cause their guitar player had left. So I called him (Duncan) thinking he knew. He did not. I was the bearer of the bad news. I could tell by the energy in the room they’d be breaking up. So I called Zay and said, “I’m gonna steal Duncan.” It wasn’t me though, I didn’t do it. I was just joking, but then it happened.

Slimedog- How would you describe your style?

Patty- It’s like a Reece’s peanut butter cup ‘cause I’m all metal, Zay is metal, Duncan and Eman have all the punk and hardcore. It mixes well.

Duncan- It’s just current metal but not the eyeliner metal, that stuff is whack.

Slimedog- What are your next plans?

Duncan- Next we’re going to figure out our drummer situation (this is, unfortunately, Eman’s last gig) then we’re going to play some shows. We’d like to tour ‘round America and we’d really like to go to Europe but that’s a little ways off.

(Next is a discussion about the two recently released videos of the band (which are excellent) and some discussion about Duncan’s own exercise program video which I saw briefly and thought might be a put on (it is a serious thing that he says helps him greatly in performing). This causes much laughter with his band mates.)

Slimedog- Your band mates are chortling!

Duncan- Chortling, yes- which is in the book “Jabberwocky” by Lewis Carroll, that’s the first time that word is used.

Zay- Aw, jeez. Next question. (Which causes more chortling amongst his band mates)

Slimedog- Well, I find that interesting. Who writes the music and lyrics?

Duncan- We all do, all of us together. I write the lyrics but we all write together. People bring in riffs and we all add and subtract. It’s all done collaboratively.

Slimedog- Any comments about where metal might be going?

Pattie- In the last year I haven’t heard any new bands that have knocked me out. There have been good records by bands I currently like. I’m waiting for the next big thing. There was a big lull in the nineties with metal, nothing was happening. There was shit hair metal, it was awful. Then all of a sudden (claps hands) Pantera came and saved the universe!

Zay- Sepultura.

Pattie- Pantera actually. I’M TALKING! (Laughter) So basically I’m waiting for the next Pantera to blow my socks off.

(What follows is a discussion about local metal bands they like which includes some bands we profile such as: Led To The Grave, Acaro, Motherboar, Death Ray Vision and Panzer Bastard.)

Pattie (to Duncan)- But you love Nickleback, what’s up with that?

Duncan- I DO NOT LIKE NICKLEBACK! I DO NOT LIKE NICKLEBACK! (Laughter)

Slimedog- Yes, so now that’s been confirmed, time for the serious questions. Who drinks the most in the band?

Pattie- I don’t drink at all, so that’s not me, I’m out.

Duncan to Eman- I guess that’s between you and me. It’s a toss-up.

Slimedog- Who’s most likely to become a serial killer in the band?

Pattie- That would be Pattie.

All- Yes.

Slimedog- And why?

Pattie- I’m really into violence. (Laughter) I’m a horror movie fanatic and I do study serial killers. But you’re okay. (As beads of perspiration start to form on Slimedog’s forehead.)

Slimedog- So you’re studying to become a serial killer? (He asks in a quavering voice)

Patty- I’m taking notes, you know, I’m not saying anything, I’m taking notes. I’m prone to fits of blind rage so it’s me.

At this point Slimedog says he’s late for an orthodontist appointment and scrambles out of harm’s way. As he looks over his shoulder he notices Duncan lying on the pavement with a fork protruding from his forehead while Pattie (partially restrained by Zay and Eman) is breaking dishes upon his prone body. Another close call for Slimedog missing serious harm again, but you shouldn’t miss Bring The Knife when they create their metal mayhem via cd, live gigs or video. To do so would be quite dangerous, indeed. You can check out their EP review here and their band profile here.