God Is I is not only one of the most powerful statements of Rosado's notorious Brooklyn outfit, but it is definitely through and through one of the best hardcore or just plain heavy releases you'll hear this year. As mentioned, opener "Until" is just about as undeniable as it gets, though it can't compare with the rest of the record, which really shines with slick pop production and catchy seven part harmonies, (plus, I really love Merauder's new look with the matching sideways falling frosted bangs and tight jeans. It makes them look MUCH tougher). All jokes aside, God Is I is from top to bottom a monster, full of vicious metal riffing and a supreme focus between band members.

These guys don't have to prove anything, even with new members in the band, but have still come out the gate hungry and determined to bulldoze anything in their path that tries to (foolishly) stand in their way.

If you are a “hardcore” fan, you'd be a bumbling idiot to miss this release.

MORGAN Y. EVANS: Man, you guys are back in a big way on God Is I. The band sounds maybe angrier than ever or at least perhaps at the most self-assured. Merauder has always had a very distinct identity, but this one seems to sort of summarize the past but also really kick things up a notch while showing the new scene how it is done. How was the writing process or what did you want to accomplish going into making God Is I?

JORGE ROSADO (Vocals): Well we have no one psychical or special way of writing, but just like everyone else we do what we can according to da circumstances. And ours was just tryin' to get together as much as we could, cause everyone lives far from each other. Bobby lives in Vegas, Darian and Dave live in Albany which is about 4 hours from here and Drew is 2 hours from here…so it gets a lil’ stressful. But over all it was just 150% all focus!! We just wanted to put out the best product ever…which we haven’t!!! Let me explain…we’re pretty much new with each other and cause of da distance situation it keeps us from reaching our full potential!! But at da same time it's better cause da next record after this one will be even mo’ sicker!!! And our agenda was to let everyone know dat we're da illest motherfuckas out there!! And to save this fuckin' music, bro, 4 realz!! We started this motherfucka!! And everyone sounds da same. Da so called metalcore bands are really just death metal bands. Nothing's metalcore about their sound. Just because you wear army pants a black shirt and have short hair doesn’t make u metalcore! I don’t fuckin wear dat shit…just white t’s and Dickies with some shelltop Adidas…. Or some chucks, dat's gangsta! But seriously, nobody rides da middle like we do. Everyone’s too hardcore or death metal, no medium and da ones who do try to ride it try to sound like Pantera or have this old southern metal style dat labels sign and nobody listens to!! Fuck all dat!! NY is da pioneers of metal, hardcore, hip hop…. Whatever!!! Dat best stuff came from here. And we want everyone to who this!!! NY’s back!!! Were gonna make sure of this!!

DREW SMERDON (Bass): Like Jorge said we are from different areas but we all want this to work so we don’t mind doing the long distance thing for the band. This is where our heart and soul is. Today with the computer generation Darian and Dave are sending riffs and songs on the computer to all of us to check out and start getting ideas for when we get together to rehearse.

MYE: Like Sick Of It All, who come to mind, I think Merauder is really good at telling stories within the songs but people can make it fit their life. Like “Perdona Me” on the new album or “Gangsta”. I was wondering if you could talk a bit about those songs and what they mean to you.

DS: Jorge, that’s your department, playa!!!

JR: Well “Gangsta” all about me about growin up in da hood and embracing dat life style, being proud about it. Man, I’ve been thrown a lot of shit but I wouldn’t change anything about my past, bro, really. It made me who I am today and motherfuckas like me aren't made everyday…from what I’m seein’ these days! But “Perdona Me” is about being locked-up, writing to loved ones telling them dat you done this before; don’t worry about us cause we'll be ok, but in reality we’re never ok in there, dat’s why we make shanks and shit.

MYE: Jorge, you really have outdone yourself on the vocals on this one. This is one heavy bitch of an album. How did you get yourself in the right headspace to get the awesome takes? Also, could you explain the album title, which I'm sure will be controversial. It seems to be about self-empowerment.

JR: [laughing] Bro. Everyone knows how I do it!! I just smoke some great stuff and then I’m ready!! [laughing] And you're right about God Is I…It’s about believing in yourself, cause we are all God like creatures who are in control of our lives! So it's up to us to make it heaven or hell!! Believe me, homie, I know all about dat shit!!

MYE: Jorge, Drew, tell me how you guys met. Drew is a real old friend of mine from when his old band Unbalanced used to decimate and hold down shop in the Poughkeepsie hardcore scene. We became friends years ago after I covered a tribute show to one of Unbalanced's guitarists who sadly died (around 1999, I think it was) and Drew has always been one of the most real motherfuckers I've known in the underground scene. Drew, your bass tone and stage presence is sure to be a good fit for Merauder and the record sounds sick.

JR: [laughing] Who, Drewtality??? Well he knew Walter and he told Drew dat I was looking for people and got my number thrown him and then he called me up!! So he kind of found me.

DS: [laughing] I was a fan of Merauder for years. And when I heard they were looking for a bass player I had to make it happen. It took some time with Jorge but as soon as he knew we weren’t here to fuck around and to bring it to the next level... here we are now with a new album and tours later!!

MYE: You guys recently went to Japan, right? How was that tour experience for you?

JR: I’ve been there before in ‘99 but this time was even more crazier then last!! Kids waited for us and da crowds got way bigger for us which was great!! Thanks Japan!!

DS: It was my first time there and it was off the hook. I was blown away, brother. Much love and respect especially for our boyz in SAND.

MYE: Let's talk about the band's relationship with the Obituary camp and manager Frank Watkins. How did you end up working with him?

JR: You know Frank and me have been around each other for years just never really officially met, until recently. And then shortly later he became our manager. But he’s our boy and da rest of da Obituary crew are awesome!!! Plus I’ve always been a big fan! [laughing] Really!!

DS: Frank is the man!! He is no bullshit. We are so hyped on having him in our corner .He’s been doing this for a long time and he looks out for his bands. Its hard to find that these days. Especially for keeping us lunatics in check. [laughing]

MYE: “Built On Blood” is another killer track with a serious message and vibe. I like the picture it paints that behind everything we see everyday there is an uglier truth or sacrifices that have been made, in some cases noble but many others evil through history. Can you discuss this song? Also, how did you pick Mike from Inhuman for his cameo vocals?

JR: Well you pretty much hit it right on da nose!!! Yeah, but you're totally right, behind everything there’s some fucked up story to it!! We never had anyone do guest vocals ever, and I wanted to pick a band dat I liked dat doesn’t get da respect they deserve and someone from back in da days dat I knew, not just some publicity guest vocals from another bigger band!! We don’t owe those bands nothing!! We’ve been doing it by ourselves for da longest and everything we have we’ve earned it ourselves. So I don’t have to be nice to anyone if I don’t want to!! [laughing] And da very very few bands dat helped us know who they are… much respect to all of yah!!! But I like it like this!! It shows who gets recognized for talent or for ass kissing, which is big in da industry now!! Fuck dat! I’ll be nice but like I said I don’t owe nobody shit.

DS: Mike nailed what we were looking for in the song and his voice compliments Jorge’s. He asked Jorge what the song was about, grabbed a piece a paper and wrote lyrics right there on the spot. If any of you bastards are in Brooklyn go check out Mike's comic book shop The Brooklyn Monster Factory. “Kick ass”, Mike!!

MYE: That's cool, Drew. I didn't know he had a shop. So, I was in a huge lightning and thunderstorm Upstate last week and had just pulled onto the road when it hit. I'd just started the new album in my CD player and opening track “Until” was blasting. The storm was insane and I rolled the windows down and was screaming along while the wind and lightning and rain blasted. It was apocalyptic and one of the most adrenalized drives ever! So for that alone I gotta thank you guys for making such a heavy fucking record! I'll always remember that drive!

JR: [laughing] Dats great!!!! I did dat once listening to salsa, while wearin' Puerto Rican flag Speedo’s!! [laughing] Na’ just kiddin!!

DS: [laughing] Come on, I can't top that.

MYE: Let's talk about the changes you've seen in the scene since the band's inception. What do you think makes hard core still vital and able to survive the trends? You guys have an undeniably purer metal-core sound that the band pioneered.

JR: Well, it's because of da old bands dat keep da Hardcore traditions and pass it down to da Hardcore youth who usually keep it goin’ or add their own lil’ twist to it. But it’s still HC!! Its also about da way things get done around da music. Da independence of it! Da D. I. Y’s and da lil’ black and white zines etc… but dat's what makes hardcore a community more than others.

DS: As long as peeps still go out to shows or support the bands different scenes will come and go but the music will always be there.The economy sucks right now and nobody has money to do anything but we all need some kind of release, right????!

MYE: How did you know it was the right time to resurrect this newest version of Merauder?

JR: I don’t know bro. Really. Da truth is I never ended Merauder. We’ve been doin’ shows for years, just not as many. But I was just waiting on da rite line up to peruse da band mo’ seriously. It takes mo’ then music skills to be in Merauder!! It’s not for everyone. You need to have street quality and I’ll find out if you do!! Merauder’s a band you love to see but you’ll hate having a run in with us. Our rep speaks for itself but dat's not why we’re here!! We just wanna rock out with our fans and leave all dat streets shit in da streets! But what I really wanna say is dat we’re forever!! Past, present, and future! We’re unstoppable!! And were gonna prove it like we’ve always done and never gotten any credit for, but dat will change!! Merauder para siempre, para siempre Merauder!!! (Merauder forever, forever Merauder)……………peace and thanks homie!!!