Pulling Teeth guitarist Dom Romeo is also well known in the hardcore scene for running the top-notch A389 label, putting out Ringworm vinyl re-releases, Frightener and Trapped Under Ice, to name just a few. It is dedication to hardcore as a life, a purposeful existence highlighted by great music, and a calling that Dom (and his Pulling Teeth bandmates) live up to so well that they are a great contrast to fairweather scene kids. I wish they would come up to my neck of the woods in Upstate, NY and play a show with Slipfist, Innerdam and Facedown artists Wrench In The Works. Now THAT would be sick.

As it stands, it looks like Pulling Teeth are going to be a little less busy in 2010 on the live gig front. While the band plans on releasing their anticipated fourth record, currently in the works, they are focusing on family life this year and don't plan to tour much. Thankfully, they aren't breaking up, which would be a shame 'cuz I'd hate it (I still wish Modern Life Is War had stuck around a bit longer, while we're on the subject of good hardcore bands dissolving). It also turns out that Pulling Teeth might be kicking off 2010 with some of their best shows all year, with the start of January finding them serving as metal hero THOR's fucking back up band and then playing a regular Pulling Teeth set the next day on a bill with Integrity, Ringworm, Gehenna AND Starkweather for the 6th Anniversary of A389. Madness!

Ok. Let's do this. Here's my chat with Dom.

MORGAN Y. EVANS: How was your Christmas, man? You have lots of upside down crosses in your album art, so did you get coal in your stocking from Jesus? Wait, I'm getting things mixed up. Did you see that report on the news about the redneck who made a controversial lawn scene of Christ blasting Santa and Rudolph with a shotgun to remind people that Christmas is about the Lord?

DOM ROMEO: Actually for the first time in my entire life I wasn't back home with my family for the holidays. It was really weird. I did get to spend it with my girlfriend's family though, so it was pretty awesome. They stuffed me with so much food, that none of my clothes fit right. I guess I one-upped Jesus by not having a stocking at all, so he's stuck holding the coal. Maybe? This is dumb, what's the next question?

MYE: Let's talk about these insane January shows you have coming up. Your birthday show on January 8th is probably the most insane, though the next day with Integrity and Ringworm is no picnic either! Are you going to survive these cataclysmic events? Can you tell people about them and the venues? How the heck did you get metal legend THOR to allow Pulling Teeth to be his back up band? I just saw Zombie Nightmare on a netflix episode of Mystery Science Theatre 3000 recently and it rocked my world. I wanna be in a movie with Tia Carrere! And how did No Redeeming Social Value come to be on the bill? I haven't seen them since they played Irving with the Bad Brains in 2008.

DR: I've been a huge THOR fan ever since I was a kid. We used to rent Rock And Roll Nightmare from the local video store when we were kids and dream about being in a band that shacks up in the woods with babes to work on their record and conjure up the devil. He and I have crossed paths numerous times throughout life and at one time even collaborated on a split CD in the late 1990's with my old grind/hc band XCoalition Against ShaneX. Shane sucked, don't ask. Band ruled though. Anyways, I hit him up and asked him if he would be into playing a show for my 33rd birthday and he was totally stoked, thus making me totally stoked. Possibly more stoked than anyone I know. NRSV were probably the next in line for most stoked to play with THOR, and I knew Dean was a big fan so I hit them up and they were down. Also playing will be Slumlords and Deathammer. Next night I've managed to compile all of my favorite hardcore bands of all time minus Haymaker to be on the same show. Integrity, Ringworm, Gehenna, Starkweather. Those are the big four for me. Always have been. (Five if you count HM) I've attempted this to various degrees over the years, but this is the first time I've managed to get them all on one show. Actually it's the first time I think anyone has. I bet Brian Dingeldine circa 1998 is out there somewhere grinning ear to ear. Also on the bill will be Pullling Teeth, V Vegas and Seraphim who rule, by the way. If you haven't listened to them, do it. They just put a record out on A389.

MYE: The Pulling Teeth split 12" with Irons is due out next year and you guys have Rennie from the mighty Starkweather on the record! How'd the collaboration with him come about?

DR: Rennie is awesome and such a versatile and talented vocalist. We played with SW a few times and invited him down to sing on the song “Generals Of Dark Hymns”. It's bone chilling and he's got a great voice. Nailed it all on the first take!

MYE: You are going to release a 4th record, right? How will it build on what you've done with Martyr Immortal and Paranoid Delusions/Paradise Illusions and Vicious Skin? What can you tell us about the album?

DR: Fourth record has been in demo stages since the summer. Just like all the other records, it picks up where the one before it leaves off. Expect something familiar mixed with something more surprising. We've tapped into new things internally as a band we've never included until now. I can't wait to hear how it ends up sounding.

MYE: Was it a difficult decision for the band not to plan on any touring for Pulling Teeth in 2010? It's cool you are operating the band your own way and not forcing it into other people's expectations. Better to not tour if it isn't practical at the moment than to split up such a good hardcore band!

DR: That's nice of you to say, thanks. I'm actually looking forward to establishing somewhat of a better home life. I think we all are. I've got a baby on the way, Mike is getting married this year. Kuhns is in school. Mitch is getting down with the sickness and The X Beast is free to run wild and be tasted. I've spent a huge part of the past 15 years either riding in vans and sleeping on people's floors, I like the idea of making records with my best friends and just playing shows whenever we feel like it. That's kinda where we're at as a band right now.

MYE: Right on. How did you feel when you nailed the tones on "Bloodwolves" so well in the studio? That whole song and the guitar solo are so frenzied. You could get third degree burns listening to it but then there's the big melodic mid-section as well.

DR: I'm glad you like it. It's one of my favorite songs I've ever been involved with, and it turned out great. The big melodic section was actually a demo I sent to Keith Caputo (of Life Of Agony) in hopes that he would sing the guitar lead part as some sort of vocal part. He was cool enough to listen to it and talk to me about it, it just wasn't something he was into. It's a shame, I still hear him singing it in my head whenever that part comes up.

MYE: Yeah, that would've been awesome if he'd agreed. What are you proudest of in regards to the A389 label? How does it feel for it to be where it is today and where do you see it going in the future?

DR: Hands down the Pulling Teeth PDPI Hologram Record is the coolest thing I think A389 has ever done. I don't think it can be beat. As far as the label goes, I'll just continue to release records at a pace where I'm comfortable doing it, as long as there is music out there I think is worth releasing. Every time I think I ran out of new bands to like, something comes along and renews my faith. This time around it was a band from Tupelo, Mississippi called Seraphim and another from the L.A. area called The Love Below.

MYE: What else can you tell us about Seraphim, who are new to the A389 label? That "Broken Teeth" song is a real hard charger.

DR: Hard working dudes from Elvis's birthplace. Three piece band with awesome crushing riffs ala Baroness and Mastodon. The 7" was just their demo on vinyl. An introduction if you will. The new LP is going to slay.

MYE: I recently interviewed Before There Was Rosalyn, who are really nice dudes. They are a Christian metal band and their singer Carlos and I had a long talk about religion. He felt that because of the consistency of the Dead Sea Scrolls with many various translations of the Bible that came after them, that it was enough proof it is real (although a leap of faith is also vital). I was wondering what you thought about that and also if Pulling Teeth mind playing with bands of different beliefs despite your own values?

DR: If you want to go through life believing in fairy tales, you have every right to. It makes no difference to any of us.

MYE: What keeps you so motivated to stay involved to such a degree in the underground, especially since it is such a time and resource consuming passion? It gives back, but it also can be draining at times.

DR: I don't really have a choice, it's just the way it is. Part of the deal.