We recently reviewed the new EP by New York’s Xtinguish The Code, a fine slab of hardcore and metalcore the New York way, with lyrics that hit hard and take a clear stand. Thanks to David Brenner at Earsplit we got the chance to have a very interesting chat with the band’s frontman, Bernard Allen.
Hi, could you introduce yourselves to our readers?
Hello. I’m Bernard, frontman of Xtinguish The Code.
How did your latest album come about, and what do you expect from this release?
With this album we wanted to explore the grievances of the working class. We wanted to tell the story of someone who does everything right, works hard and is a good person, but keeps getting beaten down by things outside their control.
Your sound fuses hardcore and metal: how did that fusion happen, and what are your main influences?
The sound is a combination of all our influences. New York hardcore and metalcore. New York has always had a sound sitting halfway between those two genres. We take inspiration from bands like Leeway, Hatebreed, Irate District 9, etc.
Coming from New York, and specifically from the Bronx: over here in Europe we have a very simplistic, almost cinematic image of your neighbourhood. How would you describe it? What is it really like, and how much does it feed into your work?
We represent several different parts of New York, from Brooklyn to the Bronx to a little further upstate. I’d definitely say the New York attitude has influenced the band immensely. All our neighbourhoods, taken together, are pretty lively, loud and crowded, but also, in a strange way, very calming.
How has the current New York hardcore metal scene developed?
Luckily, heavy music across New York is going through some kind of renaissance. There are loads of killer new bands, and everyone seems more willing to put on shows that mix genres.
For you, is hardcore just music, or is it also a possible way of life?
For me it’s definitely a way of life. It’s shaped a lot of the direction my life has taken since I discovered hardcore music and the scene. Most of my best friends I met through this movement.
Your latest album is called “The Conflict”: is the conflict of the title the daily struggle, or does it stand for something else?
The conflict is exactly the daily struggle of the working person. People who get up every day to do right by their families and their fellow citizens, but who are constantly beaten down by the economy and by those who tip the scales in their own favour.
What are your future plans?
We plan on making as much brutal music as we can and to keep pushing a populist message, hoping to bring people together.
Thanks so much for the interview, and for the music!
Thank you for the opportunity to spread the word.
XTINGUISH THE CODE INTERVIEW.
- Hello, could you please introduce yourselves to our readers? -
Greetings. I’m Bernard, the frontman for Xtinguish The Code
- How did your latest album come about, and what do you expect from this release? -
With this album, we wanted to explore the grievances of the working class.
We wanted to create a story of an individual who does all the right things works hard and is a good person, that continues to be beaten down by things out of their control
- Your sound blends hardcore and metal, how did this fusion come about, and what are your main inspirations? -
The sound is a combination of all of our influences. New York hardcore and metalcore. New York has always had a sound that bordered both of those genres. We are inspired by bands like Leeway, Hatebreed, Irate District 9, etc..
- Coming from New York, specifically the Bronx. we have a very simplistic, almost cinematic image of your neighborhood here in Europe. How would you describe it? What is it really like in your neighborhood, and how much of it inspires your work? -
We represent multiple areas of New York from Brooklyn, the Bronx to slightly upstate. I would definitely say New York attitude has influenced the band immensely. All of our collective neighborhoods are pretty active, loud, and congested, but also in a weird way very calming.
-How has the current hardcore metal scene in New York developed?-
Luckily, throughout New York hard music has been seeing some sort of a renaissance. There’s a lot of killer new bands, and everybody seems more willing to do. Cross genre type shows.
- For you, is hardcore just music, or is it also a possible way of life? -
For me it’s definitely a way of life. It’s influenced much of the direction of how I have lived my life since discovering hardcore music and the scene. Most of my best friends were met through this movement.
- Your latest album is titled “The Conflict”,is the conflict in the title a daily challenge, or does it represent something else?
The conflict does represent the daily challenge of the working person. People who get up every day to do right by their families and their fellow citizens, but are constantly being beaten down by the economy and people who put their thumbs on the scales.
-What are your future plans? -
We plan on making as much brutal music as we can and to keep pumping a populist message to hopefully unite people.
Thank you so much for the interview, and for the music! Thank you for the opportunity to spread the word.
Bernard Allen