TEN OF SWORDS Interview

Pennsylvania is currently famous for its hard as fuck hc / beatdown bands – here is another one: TEN OF SWORDS (PA, USA).


First off we would like to thank Derek from TEN OF SWORDS for taking the time out to do this interview with us! So please introduce yourself and the band for the people who don`t know you yet.

Derek Kovacs- Guitar
Mike McGuire - Vocals
Christian BeBe - Drums
Marc Sproat - Bass


Please tell us something about your band name „TEN OF SOWRDS“. Is there a bigger meaning in relation to something special?

The Ten of Swords is actually a tarot card. It represents absolute destruction, being pinned down by a multitude of things or situations. The person lying on the ground, defeated and bleeding, may also represent a feeling of hopelessness and being trapped by emotions or mental anguish, since swords represent strife and the mind. We thought that this was a good representation of our attitudes toward daily frustrations with life in general.


TEN OF SWORDS was a side project first. Members of bands like ENEMYMIND, NO RETREAT, SANCTIFY HER DEATH and BUILT UPON FRUSTRATION allied and TEN OF SWORDS was born. What about the other bands right now? Perhaps a NO RETREAT re-union? ;-)

All of the bands you mentioned are done. A NO RETREAT reunion is unlikely.


What were your intentions, in starting a side project? What was your goal?

Mike from ENEMYMIND and I had always talked about doing a project. We were both in the same place at the same time with our bands. We both felt that we were doing everything and no-one else gave a shit and was just along for the ride. So to make a long story short we both just said fuck it, we're done with this and started TEN OF SWORDS. Our goal was to right some brutal stuff and incite some mosh but I think we came up with something better than we both planned.


TEN OF SWORDS is described as "speaking volumes to anyone into violent music". What do you think? Is this description 100% to the point?

Based on the reaction we've been getting at shows I think that is an accurate description. I've seen some of the most violent mosh I have ever witnessed at some TEN OF SWORDS shows.


Where do you see TEN OF SWORDS? Still in the underground or more in a common light?

Mike (vocals) and I are both in our 30's now. If we kept playing this long I don't know why we would stop anytime soon. It's safe to say that we will be around for awhile. Just because of the type of music we play and are interested in, I can never see TEN OF SWORDS in the mainstream. Our dedication lies here in the underground.


TEN OF SWORDS are signed to FFTC Rec. (Fight For The Cause Records). How came it to the collaboration?

It was easy working with FFTC Records because I own it. I started the label about 2 years ago. I've been in the game so long that through my experiences I've learned how to record, press CDs, do the design, promotion and just about everything else there is to do with the music business. I figured why not just do it myself? I am currently looking to expand my roster so I'd appreciate you guys over there spreading the word. I recently just signed a band from the American Midwest (NW Indiana/ Chicago area) called SILVERHAMMER. They are kind of a cross between INTEGRITY and CROWBAR and are getting some good hype already. Check them out at www.fftcrecords.com
I'm also talking to a few other artists but there is nothing in stone yet.


So TEN OF SWORDS exists since February of 2010, right? Till this day you released a 3 song demo and a 6 track EP called „Wages Of Sin”. This stuff was available as free download for the longest, but in the end of 2010 you pressed it on CD and your first physical release was born. This CD (Wages Of Sin) contains a mix of your previous releases. How is the feedback so far?

We have had nothing but complements. Even though we let the material leak out for free, we were finding out that everyone still wanted a physical copy of the CD so we decided to press it.


And actually the first pressing of ”Wages of Sin" is sold out, right? Or is there any chance to get a copy anywhere?

Yes, the first pressing went really fast. It sold out after only 3 shows. I just actually re-pressed it so it is available again at www.fftcrecords.com


Apart from the Unites States, in which country did you sell most of your CD`s and merch?

Hands down Japan. They have bought a ton of CDs and shirts from the beginning. There are some really excellent distros over there.


And what are your plans for the near future? Perhaps a new CD or a split CD?

We have a few new songs that we are getting ready to insert into the live set. I'm not sure that we are patient enough to wait for a full length to be released so we have been talking about a split lately. With who? We still do not know.


If you could have anyone do guest vocals on one of your next tracks, who would it be and why?

Tim Williams from VOD...just straight screaming though. I'm a big fan of having guest vocals that don't sound like the ones you have. Mike has a lower, almost death-metal like bark so having a screamer like that would set shit off in the right part. Plus I've always thought the guy's voice is sick. Some of that older VOD stuff is still my favorite shit out there.


Further TEN OF SWORDS are going to be a part of the “Iron Atrocity Vol. 1”-Sampler. This sampler will be made up of a lot of Pittsburgh metal and hardcore bands. Could you name some bands which will be featured?

I actually can't because they didn't tell us yet.


And what other bands, which won`t be on this compilation, should we check out?

You guys know most of the good bands from PA already. Ones you may not have heard of outside of the PA scene to check out are SILVERHAMMER, NO ZODIAC and NO HOLDS BARRED.


What about the hc scene in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania? Is there a good one or could it be better?

It has its ups and downs just like any other scene. Its been good for us since we started. Scenes can always be better and we keep doing what we can to bring new kids into it.


And what about the german hardcore scene? Does our scene has a good reputation in the US?

Don't know if you are aware, but Germany is known here as the 2nd biggest market in the world for music in general. Your hardcore scene is no exception. I've always had the impression that the German hardcore kids are some of the most loyal in the world.


You played the „Summer Of Hate 2010“ show. This was your first show, right? Please tell us something about this festival. How was the atmosphere, were there cool happenings and stuff like this?

Summer of Hate is becoming a really big yearly event. It was our first show. The vibe was cool and everyone got along for the most part. We were the first band to play on the main stage. We got a really good response from the crowd. It couldn't have been a better scenario for a first show.


What`s with “Summer Of Hate 2011”? Are you gonna play this show, too?

Yes, we thank those guys a ton for adding us to the bill again. This year is the "Mosh Olympics". They will be giving out gold, silver and bronze medals for different categories of mosh so as you can imagine, it will get interesting. Check the bill... BULLDOZE, COLD AS LIFE re-union... its one of the best shows of the year.


And a few weeks / months ago you played at the END OF HUMANITY re-union show. We`re glad of this. Hope they gonna play Germany one time. Or twice. Or thrice. What do you think about this re-union?

The last I heard, right after the show those guys were going through a few line-up changes so hopefully they can keep it together.


Ever thought to produce an official music video of one of your tracks?

Actually we will be starting to work on a video in the next month for "Ignorant Bliss". This will be the first experience any of us will have shooting a professional video so who knows how long it will take, but we are excited to do it...


Do you guys know some german HC-bands?

I've been checking out CIRCLE OF DEATH recently. I'm always looking for new things to listen to. If anyone in Germany has some suggestions about a band over there that we may have not heard, please go to the FFTC Records website and tell us about them.


And last but not least: BRAINSTORMING:

False friends?
Too Many.

Best hip hop artist?
Too hard to answer

Best hc release ever?
Way to hard to answer

Unicorns?
...are brutal.

Casting shows?
Vaporize your life.

Thanks for the interview and the interest!

For more info check and support:
www.fftcrecords.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ten-of-Swords/120085571347171
http://www.reverbnation.com/tenofswords2010
myspace.com/tenofswords2010