SOURCE – You used an Indiegogo.com campaign to fund the recording of The Final Cull. Looking back, what are thoughts on the crowdfunding experience? Do you think would do it again?
Steve Smyth (Guitar) – We did, and even though we didn’t hit the target we were after, we still feel this was a great thing on a few levels:
1. We were able to reach the fans, get their input on a few things related to the merchandise were ordering, and with the money we raised, not only get that merch for them, but also to put back into our stage show as well. So, as a result, it a plus for us.
2. We were given an advance with Scarlet Records, but in this day and age, and no offense meant to them either, the budget simply does not realistically cover all of the pre-and post production expenses a band needs to operate at our level, which is still in it’s building phases right now. We funded a large majority of this ourselves, and with the help of the label, were able to push the boat further out, and with the help of our dedicated and growing fanbase, push that boat out to sea and set sail finally, reaching places we hadn’t yet on tour, and more to come from here. We will certainly consider using this more in the future.
SOURCE – You just released The Final Cull recently, how has it been received?
Steve Smyth (Guitar) – This album has been very well received by fans and critics alike, and around the world. Fans have been telling us this is a huge leap forward from the first album, and they love it! Critics have been saying the same as well, so we’re happy. There’s a few bad reviews you get here and there, but honestly, I can tell when those folks have truly listened or haven’t. It’s a more focused record, and that’s in large part by the way it was recorded- live. I knew that from past experience, to truly get this band represented as it sounds live, and on the same page musically, we had to go through a live recording situation to solidify the sound of the band, which has changed slightly, but that’s because we have a new singer and bass player, Chris Hawkins and Stefano Selvatico, who stepped in last year, and immediately fit in with the direction of One Machine as well.
SOURCE – How does the sound of this album differ from The Distortion Of Lies And The Overdriven Truth?
Steve Smyth (Guitar) – Well, definitely the live element is presented, which is what One Machine sounds like when we play live, so that is there. I also co-wrote the songs with Chris Hawkins, in the respect that he wrote the majority of lyrics for the album, though I had a strong overall concept and ideas I wanted represented in them. I wanted songs. I wanted songs that were anthems. I wanted people to be able to sing along to these songs, or even shout them, you know?
I also got involved more and more in the area of writing vocal melodies, to give him a few ideas, or to help him develop the ones he already had. But he by and large came up with a lot of that on his own, and they were already very similar to what I was thinking, and we just gel very well together in writing. Jamie had a little bit of input on this album as well, bringing in a song or a riff here and there, and some arrangement ideas as well.
SOURCE – Unfortunately, my promotional download does not include the bonus tracks. What can you tell me about Black Sabbath cover?
Steve Smyth (Guitar) – We did a version of Computer God, from the Dehumanizer record, which is one of my favorite Sabbath/Dio era albums, as it was the rest of the guys! And knowing Chris’ voice as well as I got to know it in a short time, I knew he could more than pull this off, and do it great justice. We stayed as true as we could to the note with respect to the original version, but there is an element of the One Machine sound in this version as well. We’ve been playing this live all year, through The Distortion Of Lies tour to The Final Cull tour as well. It’s a 6:30 song, but it doesn’t feel like it at all, it has such awesome peaks and valleys in it, lots that bring you into that song, and the lyric content fit the theme of this album perfectly- the takeover of humankind by robotic technology. I just saw on the news the other day that China is now moving towards this plan with respect to machinery jobs there, replacing humans with robots. Crazy future, ahead, and I don’t think that’s a good thing.
SOURCE – One Machine has toured a few times. Is there a particular city that you really look forward to with each album cycle? Is there anywhere that the band hasn’t played yet that you would really like to visit?
Steve Smyth (Guitar) – Well so far, we have only been able to get over the UK and Europe on some levels, though we are aiming for more new territories next year, including North America and Asia, as well as Europe. We just landed the opening slot on Overkill’s tour in 2016, so we’ll be hitting the European market as well as the UK and Ireland one more time next year for sure. We’re also in talks about a few festivals on offer as well, so we’ll have to see what becomes of the results. We would love to get to South America and Brasil particular, and we are at work on that, so stay tuned!
SOURCE – Talking about the Bay area, do you think that there is community at the moment or is it something that everybody is sort of nostalgic about?
Steve Smyth (Guitar) – I think the Bay Area scene is still in existence, and there is a community there, amongst the older bands. You have a thrash metal scene that is nearing 30 years of existence and more for some of those bands, so it’s hard not to look at it with respect to nostalgia- there have been many legendary concerts, tours, shows, albums, and on, so there is a bit of that. I’m happy for all those guys still doing it, and still happy to keep it going, even in what has to be the hardest and worst time in history of the music business for everybody.
SOURCE – So what’s next for One Machine?
Steve Smyth (Guitar) – Touring! And we’re looking filling 2016 right now, with plans to be on the road most of next year, until we’re satisfied that this album has reached a lot more people than the first album, and that everyone gets to know One Machine, and what we are about, which is delivering high quality heavy metal directly to you! We won’t be looking at releasing anything new until 2017 at the earliest.
SOURCE – Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions, I truly appreciate it!
Steve Smyth (Guitar) – Thank you for the interview! And thank you to One Machine fans in Brasil and South America who are reading this! We appreciate your support, and we want to hear from you as well! Please follow us on our social media:
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