¤ T r u e   S t o r y ¤

True Story talks about the musicians life in this interview with VM Underground.

VMU: Hey guys. How are you doing?
True Story: Great...were just laying low and focusing on writing and developing.

VMU: Could you guys explain how the band was formed? And how long have you guys been together?
TS: Me(Brandon McCambridge-Vox) and Jeremy Guinn (guitar) wanted to do a straight up hardcore band in the winter of 2002. We put out a demo under the name 12gaugerage and after extensive lineup changes we ended with David Harvey on drums and Taylor Wright on guitar. We put out a newer demo and played some shows without a bassist until we found Chris Peralta from Matoe and The Mistake. Somewhere, not long after that in winter of 2003 we found Jason Sams to do DJ-ing.

VMU: I received your CD from the singer of Bloodshed on Earth and believe me I was blown away! Could you guys explain where you recorded the 4 song release and who produced?
TS: We recorded in a home studio called "Lunar Studios" in Huntington beach. Those guys did most of the production and are amazing at what they do. The best compliment we get a lot from people is that we sound like a big band and not just a local garage band, I really think we owe a lot to them for that.

VMU: The focus of VM Underground to explain behind the scenes of audio recording, live shows and gear. Could you explain the recording process? Was it done Digital/Computer or Analog and what programs did they use?
TS: Pro Tools I know was used but as for all the other stuff..haha im kinda in the dark. Learning all the recording processes and equipment is really interesting though.

VMU: Could you explain the gear you guys use for live shows and recording?
TS: guitar one : Peavy 5150 amplifier. CabineTS: Marshall JCM 900 4 x 12, Marshall 1960 Slant 4 x 12. Rackmount with: Sonic Maximizer, Furman Power Conditioner, Sabian Tuner, Hush Super noise suppressor, and a Gibson Les Paul guitar. Guitar two: Mesa Boogie Double Rectifier CabineTS: Carvin 4x12 Straight, Ampeg 4 x 12 Slant. Rackmount with Sonic Maximizer, Furman Power Conditioner, Korg tuner and noise suppressor. Schector guitars. Rane tt-54 mixer, Techniques 1200 turntable, Pioneer CdJ 1000,Pioneer EFX 500,BOSS Dr Sampler, Bass: Ampeg 8 x 10 cabinet, Ampeg SAT II pro amplifier rackmounted with a Furman Power Conditioner, and Korg tuner. Music man "Sting Ray" bass. Pearl Export kit with Zildjian 16 18 " fast crashes with a Sabian 20" china and Sabian 12" mini china, Ticco Torres signature maple snare, DW 5000 bass pedal, Iron Cobra hi hat 14 ", CB percussion hi hat 22", Zildjian ride, all sound percussion cymbal stands, Aquarian heads, and we have the kick triggered.

VMU: You guys have alot of energy going on in your CD. The song “Commit the Act” really drives me. Could you explain the lyrical content in your music?
TS: I’ve personally always have liked lyrics everyone can relate to. Politics are done to death and everything has been said. Im sure a lot of the things I sing about have been done to and my only excuse is that its just what I like to do. Commit the Act in particular is about people who keep getting hurt by the same person over and over again and just don’t have the will to walk away. I’ve been there and Im just hoping that anyone in that situation listens to that song and it can help.

VMU: What styles and bands influence you?
TS: It's funny you say that because every single song we have ever written (and not on purpose) sound nothing alike, really. Sure, there breakdowns and things like that...but even those are always different each song. I don’t want to throw out a really good riff just because it's "not our style" and I know a lot of bands do that. As for band influences there’s V.O.D.(new and old) Meshuggha, Slayer, Cave In (new and old haha)Slipknot, KillSwitch Engage, Alkaline Trio, SoilWork, 18 Visions, Linkin Park, Lamb Of God. STP, Pantera and just about anything with a strong groove and upbeat.

VMU: What were some of the worst experiences live and recording?
TS: We once played a show were we were 2nd head liners and the headlining band started a fight with the security guards. Oh man, the tension that night was already bad enough from an earlier fight that night and past issues with the bouncers there. So what happened was that a security guard started choking out one of the crowd members for something like stage diving and one of the guys in the band flipped.30 seconds later the whole entire crowd is outside yelling at the security, going back and forth. People started throwing rocks so the bouncers locked themselves inside until some hot blonde just walks up to the glass door and throws a brick through it. Cops everywhere and even helicopters...its was something.

VMU: How long did it take to record your release? And is this your 1st CD or is there another?
TS: The 4 song that’s out took about 2 days. We recently went back to do 3 more songs and spent 5 days. We're giving one song out over the internet called "Death&Rebirth". It should be up on the site NotPopular.com soon.

VMU: Do you guys prefer to play live or recording? And if recording what is comfortable for you home or studio?
TS: We love playing live. I mean its pretty much why you start a band. Me personally though, I love writing and recording. I love writing a song then bringing it to the studio and trying to get the best sound you can and add all these little things to make sound totally different just think it's so cool, but I’ve noticed a lot of local bands kinda skip that part or just aren’t into it. I have no idea why. I guess it's cause I listen to a lot of local hardcore bands and production isn’t very hardcore. I like the home studio atmosphere.

VMU: Could you explain briefly what other bands you guys been in?
TS: Me, Jeremy and Harvey were in a band called 12 Gauge Rage. Imagine 5 minute Hatebreed songs...actually don’t. Taylor was in Everything In Vain where he wrote all the music for the band. They sounded like a band that a guy in a cheesy metalcore band would look at them and say " man that’s a really cheesy metalcore band". Chris has been in the most....Within a Heartbeat, Matoe, The Mistake maybe more. He currently sings in a band called Elegy who have opened for us a few times in the past. Kinda rockin converge-ish, very good stuff. Harvey was also in another band called Cries For Vengeance...straight hardcore.

VMU: How do you guys feel about the mainstream music scene?
TS: I grew up in the hardcore scene but have always been a metalhead and I will admit it to anyone I love mainstream rock and you can hear a lot of that in our sound especially the newer stuff we’ve been writing. We use a very formal pop structure in the majority of our songs and aren’t afraid of having a mainstream sound. I’ve just always noticed that all my favorite bands growing up had that "big sound" behind them. Even in hardcore there was Converge with a big Slayer sound, Earth Crisis with there Sepeltura-ish sound and Vision of Disorder(which were NY hardcore then but if that old stuff came out today hardcore kids would call it NUmetal) that all had this bigger then life sound and were successful with it.

VMU: Would you guys ever sign a major label deal or indie? What would be your demands?
TS: Were up for anything. As for demands I would really like to be a priority band and not just another band that’s forgotten about like most labels like to do, even indie ones.

VMU: What cities have you guys toured and how many shows has True Story played?
TS: We haven’t played many, about a dozen. We have mostly been focusing on writing new and better material.

VMU: I how do you guys feel about the originality in the music scene today either it be hardcore, death metal or any style of music? Do you feel a lot of bands need help today?
TS: Death metal has been stagnant for years and years, but I think that’s how the crowd likes it so I don’t see any changes in the future(although I LOVE the new Cannibal Corpse).As for as hardcore goes, well what I’ve noticed is that its really starting to hit the mainstream like alternative rock did in the early nineties. Every single hardcore band with there own sound(emphases on "there own")is getting bigger by the day. You notice a lot more platinum selling band in the past few years are starting to feel comfortable screaming which is a hardcore staple. When death metal started bands like Morbid Angel were going gold and Slayer was like the biggest band selling millions, then it just disappeared. That might happen to hardcore it might not but it will be interesting to watch. As for bands that need help(including us) just remember its so easy to throw together 4 songs and say you have a band but if you really want people to listen it takes a lot more then that. You give what you get.

VMU: I totally believe you guys stay true to your sound, listening to your new song online was very brutal and mature, when is the next CD release coming out and where is that recorded?
TS: We have already recorded another demo but were not handing it out except that one song I mentioned earlier. We going back to do 4 more songs and a cover next time, hopefully early summer or before.

VMU: We recently placed you on our "Detached System: Complete" v.1 compilation album, how did it feel to be on a disk with different styles of music ranging from gothic metal, dance, alternative, film music and Christian Rapper Evangel?
TS: I like the fact is that you kinda have no idea what the next song is going to sound like. It was cool listening to the song before us then hearing us come in. It was a shock. There’s some interesting stuff on there.

VMU: Would you guys be interested in being on other compilations with the same vibe?
TS: Of course.

VMU: When are you guys going to play Southern CA dates?
TS: Nothing right now...but when we do well make people aware.

VMU: Do any of you guys have a home studio? If so what do they use?
TS: One day

VMU: How often do you guys practice?
TS: About twice a week 3 hours a night. Those number are going to go up thou.

VMU: If you guys had a chance to be endorsed who would it be and why?
TS: I have no idea. Whatever crazy guitar and drum equipment my guys want.

VMU: Go ahead and give a shout out to your hommies!
TS: HI HOMMIES

VMU: Thank you very much guys for the interview! What's in store for us for True Story and do you have any last words?
TS: Right now were just gonna disappear and then one day we’ll be everywhere.

VM Underground
March 31, 2004