LINE OF SCRIMMAGE Interview

LINE OF SCRIMMAGE (NY, USA) is a five-piece tough guy hardcore band with a pissed-off voice, merciless and huge breakdowns which make the blood flow. Definitely.

These words are on your MySpace page:
“If you are looking for an epic biography your gunna be very dissapointed.”

So we don´t wanna ask you guys anything about the history of LINE OF SCRIMMAGE, but if you want to, tell us something ;-)

Haha..Sure. We started the band in 2005 with a completely different lineup. The music was more metal and it was all over the place. We release "Cinderblock Solution" and played tons of shows to support it. These days we hardly play old songs but if kids really request it we play one or two. After Cinderblock we did a series of demos in 2007 and the split with ENEMYMIND in 2009. After the 2009 record we decided to start writing for a full length. With the lineup changes, the music has changed but the core of the band is still there. The album will drop in the beginning of 2011.


“In American football a “line of scrimmage” is an imaginary transverse line crossing the football field across its narrower dimension, beyond which a team cannot cross until the next play has begun.”
That`s what Wikipedia says. Are you big football-fans?

Me (Kevin) personally I dont like sports at all. I watch boxing and MMA alot but I dont know shit about sports. The rest of the band is all about it. Sometimes they dont shut up about it but I love em' anyway. We named the band LINE OF SCRIMMAGE from the start and to me at least it kinda represents how everyone has that line in the sand, whether there a coward or not, where if you cross that line they will do what they need to survive. Our original guitarist, Josh, actually came up with the name. It kind of took its meaning afterwards for me.


In Germany, soccer is the most popular sport. Do you know any german soccer team?

I acually dont man, I dont keep up with all that. Maybe i oughta start.


Did you watch the FIFA world cup this year?

I was present when it was on and I must say it was intense.


The team of the USA was kicked out in the round of the last 16. Were you disappointed?

Honestly I was not. I dont get bummed with America loses in the olympics or soccer or whatever. So much talent around the world I cant expect us americans to take the crown everytime.


Let´s come back to your music: In 2007 and 2009 you guys released demos. Also in 2009 there was a split CD with “ENEMYMIND”. Are these CD´s still available?

The split with ENEMYMIND may be out of press. they had a lot of copies and I think sold out. We are looking into reprinting them down the line with some bonus songs and live shit because we feel we never pushed that split hard enough. There was a song „Genocide” on there we kind of forgot about so we`re trying to get back to that. None of the demos were printed just given away and downloaded. Perhaps one day we will release everything on demos on a disc that would awesome.


And 2007 LINE OF SCRIMMAGE released their first album “Cinderblock Solution” on ON THE ATTACK RECORDS. Please tell us about the collaboration. Was it a good or a bad experience?

OTA treated us well. Towards the end we had some differences and we had to part ways. Anyone who puts out records for bands should get some credit.


Did you still like your first CD?

Like I said Cinderblock is an era we would basicallly like to forget. I like some of the stuff on there but for the most part I`m pretty embaressed by some it. We feel we werent mature musically or basically at all as far as music and politics go. Now that we have been around and done a few tours we get a better sense of how things work which is why I think our new CD is a big step up.


In 2008 or 2009 – we didn`t know the exact date actually – there were rumours about a split CD with the german hardcore band FALLBRAWL. Is this project cancelled or are there any plans for 2011?

We were gunna put that out on warcity records because at the time we were on the label they were merging with ON THE ATTACK but that never came through. FALLBRAWL are good guys though and we would like to work with them in the future.


And now your next long-player will come in winter. It is called “Penance”. Can you give us a fix date for the release?

Its actuallty gunna be called “Denounced”. We changed the name because “Penance” the song has a completely different message then the rest of the album. We didnt want people to get the wrong idea because penance for the most part is a song against religion. January it will most likely release. The art is 90 percent done and the record is mixed and mastered.


Will it be more beatdown hardcore or will the metal influences be stronger?

I would say its alot more hardcore. Alot less slow and the metal parts are basically gone, the only metal we include in our songs comes from the influence of bands like MERAUDER and ALL OUT WAR. I respect any band who has done the beatdown thing but for us were tryin to move through that kinda music. I will say the music is very heavy but its not the same slowed down dragged out chug parts. We tried to make this record more groovy heavy instead of ignorant. But you can judge by the songs we have online. I am happy with the new style.


This album will be released on FILLED WITH HATE records. It´s one of the best german labels for hardcore. Are you proud to announce your next record on this label or don`t you care where it will be released?

FILLED WITH HATE has done alot of great records and we are stoked to be a part of it now. We think Axel does alot of bands in the US and we were lucky enough to get in touch and release this record. We cant wait!


These CD includes eight new tracks, right? Please tell us something about your new record. Are there big differences to your first release?

A huge difference. Some people dont even believe its the same band and sometimes I dont either. It has the same feel overall as far as heavy and NY style goes but its taking us to a new level. After some member changes we cut the more metal stuff out and wrote music we would want to hear. The old stuff was very rushed and this time we put out heads together and stuck to our roots.


Actually on your MySpace, fans can listen to two new tracks. “Spite My Face” and “Denounced”. Are these 2 tracks on the new CD?

Absolutely. “Denounced” is the title track. We also have a 3rd new song up on www.stereokiller.com/lineofscrimmage called “Nothing out of reach” with a guest spot from our friends in SUBURBAN SCUM.


Do you wanna upload any other new tracks in the near future?

When the cd drops we will maybe put up another but mainly we wanna push the full CD. We have 3 songs already and we saved some of the best for the CD.


Furthermore on your MySpace are these words:
“Were here strictly to spread the word about our music and some of our talented friends.“
Please tell us which bands we have to check out:

Thats easy… WORLD OF PAIN, SUBURBAN SCUM, INCENDIARY, LIFELESS, HAMMERHEAD, TEN OF SOWRDS, DOMESTIC WAR, LIFE OR DEATH, AGITATOR, WITHOUT REMORSE, VOW OF HATRED, TEN TON, TREASON, BROOKSITE, WOLVERINE, SICKER THAN MOST, BEG FOR. The list can go on forever.


And where can we get some merch of LINE OF SCRIMMAGE?

We are in the process of getting another merch design completed and then were gunna be printing some merch and putting it online. Longsleeves, shirts, hoodies. BEATDOWN HARDWEAR has our KZK designs on the site if you cant wait.


Last year we visited NY and NJ for 2 ½ weeks. Every day we did sight-seeing. It´s an amazing and incredible city. So many beautiful places and buildings. If people visit New York – tell us, what do you think, which places they HAVE to visit?

Brooklyn. Get pizza in Brooklyn. All our friends who tour through here always stop here to get pizza and party. I would suggest checking out Manhatten but I guess I take it for granted cause most of the time we keep it Brooklyn. Just dont drive there. Theres plenty of stuff to sell. The village is a great place to check out to find awesome music / bookstores and food. And do urself a favor and go to criff dog and get a spicy redneck.


Are there any cool shops for hardcore/metal?

Generation in the Village. They have everything. If it werent for that place I`d never of gotten into so much underground music. They have a rack of used cds and thats where you found the best stuff. They sell some good merch and also if you like records and 7 inch shit they have tons.


Any last words or shout outs?

Shout out to Axel from FILLED WITH HATE for doing this for us and all the europe bands we love to jam to.


And now: BRAINSTORMING:

Fashion in HC?
Depends where you go or what show your at. Usually: Shitty

sXe-Lifestyle?
Respectable. Our guitarist and tons of friends are.

New York Knicks?
My guitarist has season tickets and he gets his heart broken ever year.

Sex And The City?
Anyone one of those broads can get it besides the red head.

Filesharing?
Mixed feelings. It does alot of good for bands as far as spreading the word but its hard to eat on the road without selling ur cds sometimes. Especially when you owe a label X amount of dollars. I feel for bands who do this for a living, it sucks, but for a band like us its not that serious. Its not like we would go gold or platinum without music being downloaded for free.

Dogs or cats?
Dogs

A-Team or Knight Rider (TV series)?
Knightrider


Thank you guys for this great interview!


For further information check:
http://www.myspace.com/lineofscrimmagebk
or add them on Facebook!!!