by Morgan Y. Evans
LINKS:
While some artists have switched up their style significantly to follow the times (i.e.,: Coal Chamber into Devil Driver or the aforementioned 40 Below Summer into Black Market Hero), Nonpoint have managed to hang tough like their frequent tour mates Sevendust and expand things outward, widening the banner of what the band can be. Let's face it, Nonpoint were never very one dimensional in the first place, veering left and right musically and fronted by someone with pipes like Elias Soriano. It has allowed the band to naturally encompass a wide array of sounds within the heavy rock spectrum.
After parting ways with longtime label Bieler Bros. near the top of 2009, the band has been thinking hard about their future. While a full-length follow up to 2007's Vengeance is expected in the spring of 2010, fans can satiate their appetite a bit on the excellent new Nonpoint acoustic short player Cut The Cord, out now on the bands' own 954 Records. Personally, I think it is one of the best things they have ever done, with songs like "What A Day" and "Rabia" taking on a whole new dimension. Even the cover art blows away Vengeance, which had pretty dated, bad cartoon art of the band members (the same style that hampers the new, otherwise pretty rad Billy Club Sandwich album The Usual Suspects or that Korn used to have of themselves on their worst merch designs). But past-artistic aesthetics aside, Cut The Cord sees Nonpoint really loosening up and giving fans a chance to feel like they are in the same room with the band. Currently the band are at Racine, Wisconsin's Belle City Sound studio recording, with good friends' Chad Gray and Greg Tribbett of Mudvayne handling production duties. While you wait, Cut The Cord comes recommended and is more than just a stop-gap until they finish their next release. Like Jar Of Flies, it is a crucial release in the band's development that you'll be able to listen to again and again.
MORGAN Y. EVANS: What gave you the idea for the acoustic EP? It's interesting to hear your music in this way and might bring out the storytelling aspect of a song like "What A Day" for some people. Your song "Circles" this way almost sounds like it could be that band LIVE or something, which I mean as a compliment (not sure if you like them). The guitars on "Your Signs" sounds really full and resonant.
ELIAS SORIANO: During our change of leadership and label in our camp, I figured there would probably be a ton of down time while we figured out our new strategy and began the venture of writing a new record. So I approached the guys about putting something together to be released in the middle of our touring and media break. Though we talked about it with past labels, it never seemed to be what they wanted to do at the time. So as soon as we got control back in our hands we investigated the possibilities with our new camp and they immediately saw it as a great way to carry us over into the next record cycle.. The first three records were cleared legally so we made the decision to start with Vol 1.. Cut The Cord. So far it’s getting amazing reviews. I'm extremely proud of what we accomplished on our own for the first time.
MYE: Who came up with the idea for the cover art and the name Cut The Cord? That's a great name for an acoustic record. I can't believe no one used it before!
ES: Our bass player designed the artwork, and I forget who came up with the name. All of us bounced titles around. I think we came up with it during a rap session at practice. I just don't remember exactly who said it in the end, but one or all of us came up with it.
MYE: In addition to metal I've been listening to an old Tears For Fears cassette of Songs From The Big Chair and just bugging at how great all the melodies and general flow of that album was. Your band always stood out from the pack with strong use of melody in composition, even in heavier songs. I mean, Elias, just listen to your level of confidence on a song like "Shadows"! It shines through. How much time do you spend on picking track orders on CDs or on a "hook" or riff, or does it all sort of just happen easily?
ES: It depends really. If I'm excited about the music I'm singing over, or if the music the guys came up with is in a comfortable range for me to do whatever I want, then it's relatively easy to come up with something clever or catchy. If it's something I'm not digging it could take months for me to come up with something that I'm happy with. I'm my worst critic. But parts like the verses in "Shadow" are some of my favorite ways to sing, so the confidence will be there in those kind of Nonpoint songs.
MYE: Did you have a good Thanksgiving? I know you are working hard with Chad Gray & Greg Tribbett from Mudvayne on a full-length we all wanna hear. Did you manage to take a break long enough to eat? Also, what can you tell us about the direction for that forthcoming record? From watching some of the "studio updates" on your MySpace it seems like there's some real big riffs kicking around!
ES: Thanksgiving was cool for me. Spent it with my girlfriend's
family who live just a few hours away from the studio. Great food, good
fun, and happy to see my girl after a month away from home. As far as
the direction we're going for this record, it’s the same direction
we go, but where we had a small block 305 Chevy engine under the hood
last time, now we've got a:
582 Chevy
730 Horsepower
9.8 Block w/Splayed†4 Bolt Main†Caps†
Eagle 4340 4.375 Stroke†Steel Crank
Eagle 4340 6.535 H-Beam†Steel Connecting rods
J&E Forged Pistons†10.5:1 Compression
(Compression Height 1.060)
Plasma - Moly Rings
Cloyes Billet True Roller Timing Set†w/Torrington Bearing
Dart Pro 1 345†Aluminum Cylinder Heads 119cc†(400 cfm)
1.550 Roller Springs w/ Steel Retainers†and Screw in Studs
Comp Cams Custom Hydraulic Roller Camshaft
Duration @ 050 248/254, Lift 647/647
Hardened Seats for running Unleaded fuel
Hydraulic Roller Lifters
High Performance†pushrods (1-piece)
Comp Cams Pro Magnum†Rocker Rockers 1.7 ratio
Moroso Race Prepped†Oil pump†w/Tig Welded HD Pickup
Complete Fel-pro Gasket set
Cometic Multi Layered Steel Head Gasket
High Performance Harmonic Balancer†
Moroso†Stroker Street/Strip†Oil pan with Windage Tray
Timing cover with†Billet†Timing Pointer††
Polished Aluminum Valve Covers
Edelbrock Victor Series Intake Manifold
Holley 950cfm 4150†Carburetor
MSD Race Prepped High Energy Ignition Distributor w/ 53,000 volt coil
Pak
New Spark plugs gapped and installed
8mm High Temp Resistant Silicone Wires
New Chrome Thermostat Housing
14 Inch Chrome Air Cleaner
PCV and Breather Installed
New Braided†Fuel Lines and Gas Filter
Mini High Torque Starter
Ignition Timing Set, Carburetor fully adjusted
Hot Run tested and dialed In place
Internally Balanced ,
Blueprinted and Painted with High Temperature Enamel Paint
MYE: Sounds serious, buddy! Let's see... It's cool to hear "Victim" also in the acoustic format because it rings almost like a protest song. Strong stuff to think about, especially heading into the holiday season—there are so many things we need to improve on in society to enhance compassion and improve care on, of course the criminal justice system and schools as well. Shit, I was talking with some nurses about how nowadays sociopaths are put in mental hospitals right next to old people and mentally handicapped people who can often trigger their sociopathic tendencies, but there is no money to offer seperate care facilities. Many levels of victim-hood out there.
ES: Which is why I try to keep the message in my lyrics as positive as I can. Even when I'm telling our leaders and caretakers to go fuck themselves it's for the sake of the ones they hinder with their heartlessness and stupidity.
MYE: Were you tempted to cover "Wanted Dead Or Alive" for this EP? Is there a hidden B-side somewhere? Acoustic jams can lead to some funny tomfoolery sometimes. How'd you pick what songs would make it on this EP?
ELIAS: No Bon Jovi this time around. And as far as how we chose the songs we did, we had the first three records to choose from. We wanted to give our fans ones we knew they would love, but the others we wanted to completely surprise them with.
MYE: Yeah, it's a cool mix. Do you think in the current musical environment that with people being more singles oriented (and I don't mean more "swingers" out there but rather buying mp3s), that short player formats like the EP will surpass LPs? EPs still allow a band to pack a few songs or concepts together and aren't too long for the ADD generation (not that I hope people totally stop caring about hearing a full album experience!) Thoughts?
ES: It’s a trend that you can't stop. Technology and information is moving at light speed, so our attention spans are shorter. We all have less patience when it comes to mediocrity, partly because there are so many choices out there available just a click away. So all I can say is you can't hate progress, or you start to sound like an old man.
MYE: Ok, obviously you guys got a lot of mileage out of covering Phil Collins' "In The Air Tonight", which was on the Miami Vice movie soundtrack a few years back. I always have been impressed by his effortless ability to crank out incredible singles and always think people shouldn't hate on him because I really think he's a musical genius. Were you guys nervous covering that song at all? I mean, the original is so ingrained in people's brains.
ES: Well, going back to what I mentioned about our own music, I love the original version so no fear in covering it. The fear was more about how some of our fans would take it. It was years before the movie so I think when it came back into the forefront with MIAMI VICE, it made the doubters believers. I was always proud of it. Even though I was aware we had big shoes to fill with that one. It’s a classic. And yes, Phil Collins is a musical genius.
MYE: It's cool that you guys have done this acoustic thing as a way to show fans different sides of the band. It worked for Sevendust when they did Southside Double-Wide:Acousitic Live. Do you think the rockers among your fans are open minded enough for this?
ES: Definitely. Our fans, even when they aren't exactly sure what the hell we're doing sometimes, they still support us. Even when times are tough or no one else believes, they are there.
MYE: After many records and countless tours plus getting to play with great bands over the years like Filter and Skindred, do you think you're ever going to wanna stop this band? It must feel great to have loyal fans who really appreciate you guys.
ES: I'm definitely gonna do a solo or a side project eventually, but probably not anytime soon. There's a lot of music I want to write and things I'd like to accomplish that just wouldn't happen with Nonpoint. So if you're kinda asking if will I do Nonpoint forever? I don't know. It’s a struggle sometimes that is tougher than I'd like it to be when it comes to the writing process, or some of our image and business decisions. I'd like to see what I can come up with on my own someday. That’s not to say I'm not proud of what I've accomplished or I'm not looking forward to the years to come with our new record and future records. I just wanna see what I can do on my own when there are less opinions to win and a little more focus on the project as a whole. We tend to be on four different pages at times, or not on a page at all, which makes for a slow moving ship. But anyone in a band will tell you the same thing. But, before I hang it up, I'm interested to see what I can accomplish on my own.