AND CHRIST WEPT

Having already released a devastating CD in the shape of "Destroy Existence," this Seattle-based heavy industrial quartet once again looks set to stir your mind with yet another classic-in-the-making. Being a privileged guy and all, they supplied me with a couple of new tracks and I can safely say that out of all the unsigned industrial bands out there, And Christ Wept is one of the really few that really stands a decent chance of making it! Robert Riscassi supplies the answers...

Since the release of your debut full-length album "Destroy Existence" a couple of years back, I haven´t really seen much news about the band. Is there a new album lurking just behind the corner?
Hopefully, we just got some contractual stuff cleared up that tied our hands in ´96. We have been shopping our stuff around, so hopefully someone will pick us up.

You recently sent me a demo-cd with six new songs on them, some previously unreleased and some that have appeared on compilations. Undeniably ACW as it is, I still sense some movement from your debut album. Is this attributable to your new guitarist Chris Douglas and your new drummer Marty Aguilera, and where did these guys come from?
Chris Massey met Chris Douglas and we added him after Brad West quit to do his band FLESH MESSIAHS. Chris D. knew Martian from a previous band ,so we added him in as we were looking for a drummer for a while. I think our music progressed with time: if you heard every song we wrote since DESTROY EXISTENCE and now it would make sense. You will hear more of Chris and Martian as time goes on... but we have similar backgrounds, so don't expect something totally off the wall.

On "Destroy Existence", there´s a song called "Dead World". Is this in any way connected to the band with the same name, and do you share the same "obsessiveness" concerning death and de-humanization (your music and lyrics certainly point in that direction)?
I've never heard the band, so "no" to the first part. Dehumanization is a topic we use, but I don't think we are obsessive about it.

This album was originally a self-released effort, until it was licensed to VUZ Records in Germany. Having operated both on your own and being signed a label, what would you say are the advantages and disadvatages of being in each of these situations?
I don't have the time to write a book about this!

Would you in any way be willing to change your music in order to get a deal (as was the case with the album cover for your debut album)?
As for the cover art: When we first put out DESTROY EXISTENCE we had every kind of problem (the mastering people left a song off, the cover art was screwed up etc. etc.), so when the German goverment had a problem, we decided to take the time and redo it so we were happy. For the first part, I would honestly say it would depend on the changes and the contract. If they wanted to change the sound or ideolgy of the band, I would not.

Most labels dealing with electronic music seem to be obsessed with releasing as many compilations as they possibly can. Do you see a danger in that people are being taught to pick up these "greatest hits" collections and forget about the actual full-length albums that the bands release?
If the labels release quality products that's great, but if they just push the comps and do little to support the bands they have signed, that sucks!

One of the efforts to help the scene out has been the establishment of NEC (the Northwest Electro Coalition). Exactly what is this organization, and does it actually make a difference in any way?
The N.E.C is defunct. It started as a bunch of industrial bands pooling thier info and supporting each other, but as time went on the newer bands expected us to get stuff for them without doing it for themselves. So we let it die. The bands who first started it out still support each other and pass info on.

Most of the people out there seem to start up new side-projects more often than they brush their teeth, yet I haven´t heard about a single side-project coming from any of you guys. Are you trying to be anti-trendy or something?
I am doing a band called FOCKEWOLF with Mike Wimer of NOXIOUS EMOTIONS. I see this as a seperate entity that recieves as much time and effort as A.C.W. I also do another band called MURDERERS AMONG US, but that is on hold due to not finding the right singer. I have written 13 songs for FOCKEWOLF and 8 for MURDERERS AMONG US. Look for some realeases in early ´97.

How come you ended up playing music, instead of writing, painting or taking photographs... or just go out there randomly killing off people you just happened to come across?
At least for me, music has been something I've identified with since an early age. I do have other interests: I have a degree in fine art and I also like to write random ideas and some short stories, and would also like to do some short films in the future. Chris Massey likes to write short stories also, and Chris and Martian have other interests besides music. Doing music is what keeps us from going out killing people!

The world ends in 24 hours. What do you do?
Try to finish this interview! Go out and shoot a few people who deserve it. Drink the blood of a few female fiends who haven't given in to me yet, steal a space shuttle and watch the show... laugh my ass off and move to Mars!

Do you believe there´s still hope for mankind?
No! As I look out the window, some fat motherfucker is calling his wife a fucking whore for forgetting his favorite junk food while their two-year old watches how to be a good husband and parent. And I think if I only invented that disintegrator ray this morning like I wanted to... oh well, at least I can hope they don't breed again!

Given an unlimited amount of resources, how would you actually go around improving life on this planet and making earth live long and prosper?
Easy. Every one is subserviant to me! If you´re good, I'll be a rewarding master. If you´re bad... well, being tossed off a planet that rotates at 25,000 mph while travling through the gaxaly at 100,000 mph... you do the maths. It would not be fun. I suspect a a lot of stiff-suited conservatives would learn to fly!

Would improving your homepages on the world wide web be considered here... it does look a little outdated, I feel.
It was supposed to be done by a friend of ours, but he dissapeared. If anybody sees someone wearing an AND CHRIST WEPT shirt and complaining about not being able to get a decent cup of coffee, then call me! Hopefully this will be updated soon.

As mentioned earlier, you also have some demos and a single under your belt. What releases are still available, and how can one go about wasting their money on that stuff?
All the demos are out of print. DESTROY EXISTENCE is still avaible through VUZ, as is NEW FORMS OF ENTERTAINMENT vol.2 also through VUZ.

Define happiness...
Having the means to do several projects at the same time without having to deal with a day job. The human race dying at my feet! Seeing my music to cause someone´s head to implode...