Jester: Several press entities have suggested a negative connotation in relation to the name of your band. In order to dispel these rumors, what is the true origin of the name Holocaust Theory?
James: The true meaning of the name Holocaust Theory is all about our views and ideas of a global holocaust. As one people, one race, not any specific race, but as a whole. It is based on how we feel regarding the path we lay. All the fucked up things we do to each other as well as our planet. We are all responsible for the actions of others.
Scott: James pretty much summed it up! It's all about how we feel about the future of humanity and society. And to say it once again to anyone who is wondering, WE ARE NOT NAZI'S!!!
Jester: How did you both become first involved in composing and writing music? How did that lead to the eventual formation of Holocaust Theory?
James: For me it started at an early age. In grade school I played drums for a year, then after that I played trumpet for the school band. A couple of years after that I got into Punk Rock and Death Metal. so I started playing guitar for a few years. That really never worked out. A couple of years after that, I met some guys who asked me to sing for their Rock band, so I said okay. That lasted a few years, it was pretty cool, but all things must change. Then I moved down here to California. Almost two years after that I met Scott and some other people. By then I was already involved with keyboards, drum machines, and things of that nature. We jammed for a while, then ironed out all the pieces and ended up with Scott and I. At that time we still had not come up with a name. We felt it was more important to work on the songs and find a name later. Then when we felt it was time, we found a name that described both how we felt. That is how we became Holocaust Theory!!
Scott: I got involved in writing music in junior high school. I took guitar lessons and continued with that through high school. I started getting into electronic music later and then I met James at a club in San Francisco in 1993. We hooked up and actually started jamming as a five piece band. The others quit and we started concentrating on our style and views. We are now Holocaust Theory.
Jester: How well did your first national tour go? How would you do things differently the next time?
Scott: It depends on if you are talking about the Noisex tour or the Exoskeleton tour. The Noisex tour went well except for some small conflicts with promoters but hey that's a tour for you. The bond between us and Noisex/Ant Zen was excellent and continues to grow as we work very closely with them. The Exoskeleton tour was great as well except for our conflicts with Imperative Reaction. They quit the tour in Albany, NY due to conflicts and personal issues and that was quite unprofessional in my opinion but fuck it! I Parasite took their place instead. Between us and Jugend Staat, it was great to bring power electronics across the country in a live format. It was a great time!
Jester: What does a live Holocaust Theory show look like?
James: Dimmed lights, smoke, a couple of keyboards, some processors, and two mentally ill guys expressing their theory.
Jester: Why the change from the dark ambience on "Proclaimed Visions" to the Power Noise on "Inception of Eradication"?
James: I don't necessarily feel theres a drastic change. We both are still into dark ambience (CMI Style) but I feel with inception of eradication, there is just a little bit more variety. Perhaps based on our mood during the time we recorded. When I listen to our stuff, I still hear the dark side of things mixed with the noisier side of us. I think it's a great mix, dark ambient soundscapes mixed with heavy power electronics and noise.
Jester: Parts one and two of 'Rain:The Six Phases of Holocaust' appear on "Proclaimed Visions" and parts five and six appear on your new album. What happened to parts three and four?
James: We both decided to cut out part three and four and save them for perhaps a two song single, or maybe a 7"
Scott: Yes, most likely a single or something to that nature. Limited edition of course!
Jester: While vocals are rare in your music, for those tracks that do contain vocals, you do not print the lyrics on your albums. Why?
James: Never really thought about it. I guess I never felt it was necessary.
Jester: What is your favorite Holocaust Theory track? Why that track?
James: I really don't have one favorite track. Some of the ones I really like would have to be, 'Darkness Dies', 'Troth Below', 'Visio', 'Cold Winters of Holocaust Theory', 'Spit of Life', 'Man vs Machine 2A & 3A', and 'Rain Phase 6'. This is based on the emotion and lyrics these songs give me, very meaningful.
Scott: I pretty much feel the same way. I really don't have a favorite track. If I had to pick one it would be 'CIG' because of the harsh military ambience it construes.
Jester: What is it like running both a record label as a business and trying to release and promote your music as an artist?
Scott: Interesting to say the least! Running the label is a complete business: taxes, licenses, all that stuff. Releasing and promoting our music is cool because we have complete control over the promotion, and marketing, not some other label that makes all the moves. That is the whole reason for doing Possessive Blindfold. To have complete control over your own music is the best. I wish more artists would do the DIY thing. It's just a matter of how much will and drive that artist has do such a thing.
Jester: What is your opinion on the burgeoning explosion of the Power Noise scene within the last year?
James: I think it's great, but not enough TNT to make the explosion even bigger. Just as long as people spend quality time writing quality noise, and it's really true to what they want to do. I think this is what the scene needs. Some real power confusion. You can almost hear us screaming through our music.
Scott: It's awesome! To see such an underground style reach the level it is now is so cool. Power electronics is the future of Industrial. It has the true feeling and harshness that true Industrial is meant to have. I my opinion, all the dance floor EBM and Synth-Pop stuff is dead and will die. People are burnt out on it and ready for something new and power electronics is it. Beware!
Jester: How did Possessive Blindfold arrange to have new releases mastered at ProDam studio by Eric Van Winterghem?
Scott: This was done by having Stefan Alt contact ProDam and telling Eric that I wanted him to master "Exoskeleton". I got a fax from Eric and he was all cool with it. So now I use ProDam for the really big productions. I master the stuff myself if it is really rushed and not a lot needs to be done to it.
Jester: What does the future hold for Holocaust Theory and Possessive Blindfold Recordings?
Scott: Well the future is bright! We are taking the rest of the year off to write stuff for our side projects, SaVaK and ZymOsiZ. We will begin writing new Holocaust Theory material in the first part of 1999. We will be playing a festival in Belgium in February with Suicide Commando, Pierrepoint, Noisex, Stin Scatzor, and more along with some shows in Germany as our side projects. There might be a remix release of tracks off "Proclaimed Visions" and "Inception of Eradication" in early 1999 as well. For Possessive Blindfold, we are working on "Exoskeleton Vol II" right now for a February release and as always we will continue to bring out the best in dark electronics. Watch for some real surprises in 1999!