Toxic Holocaust interview with Joel Grind

MORBIDZINE: Hello Joel from Turkey!!! You accepted us and you're spending your time though your busy tempo, thanks!!! Finally, Joel spreaded the toxic hate of evilish Thrash Metal with "An Overdose of Death.." again, what have you been doing since the album was released?

JOEL GRIND: Thanks for the interview. Since the record has came out I have been touring, touring and more touring. We haven't stopped! It's great…keep me on the fucking road!

MORBIDZINE: Chaos world returned with wild and hungry dogs this time; nuclear wars, wastes, hellish atmosphere on earth again, what did you mean with cover artwork, we want to learn from Joel?

JOEL GRIND: You basically summed it up. Total annihilation. I wanted it to be basically radioactive wolves coming out of a factory/lab. It kinda ties into the song “In the name of Science”', '

MORBIDZINE: Two new factors; Jack Endino and Relapse Records.. Which things did you feel to change for Toxic Holocaust after signing with Relapse Records?

JOEL GRIND: Yeah, It deffinetly is a big step…but the result is still totally Toxic Holocaust. I wanted to maintain total control over art and the sound, which Relapse was the only label on that level that would let me. Working with Jack has been awesome…I used to live about 10 minutes away from his studio, so he was the obvious choice. He’s great, and he gave the record a heavy but raw production.

MORBIDZINE: Today's many new Thrash bands can be repetition of 80's bands but Toxic Holocaust has quite original, distinctive type of music, but have you ever compared with another band when people listened "Evil Never Dies"?

JOEL GRIND: People always say it’s very “German” sounding…like Kreator, Sodom etc. I can see that, but I definitely have my own thing going on. I’m influenced by that German shit, but I have almost more of a punk feel than that stuff.

MORBIDZINE: From early days till last album what do you think about your musical/lyrical developments or changes?

JOEL GRIND: I think my song writing got better, but it still sounds like TH. I wasn’t looking to make a total turn around or anything, Im happy doing what I do.

MORBIDZINE: In example; can we say "An Overdose Of Death" has more complex riffs when it's compared to previous albums?

JOEL GRIND: Not really, maybe a bit more complex structures…but in reality it’s still primitive and simple shit. Just the way I like it.

MORBIDZINE: As if "Hell On Earth" has more Crossover elements, more Punkish attitude compared to other albums, hasn't it?

JOEL GRIND: I think so, it stemmed from me listening to too much Exploited, English Dogs, GBH and Warfare. haha

MORBIDZINE: We've seen a solid bridge between Thrash Metal, Punk, Speed Metal, Death Metal and Black Metal genres on every Toxic album, well what do you think about to protect Old School sound in music?

JOEL GRIND: I write what I like to hear. I listen to all of those genres so I guess it just comes out. It’s not forced, Its just in my blood.

MORBIDZINE: While you're writing lyrics have you ever been inspired from movies of that kind? (In example, Mad Max) Or, have complete of themes been the result of products which only Joel has created in his own world?

JOEL GRIND: I get inspired by shit like that for sure, lots fof post apocalyptic movies or books, occult subjects, etc. Movies like Land of Doom, 2020: Texas Gladiators, Bronx Warriors. That kind of shit.

MORBIDZINE: There was a split with Bludwulf in the beginning of 2008. Bludwulf is quite interesting band which Toxic Holocaust's live members play in it, who did come up with this split?

JOEL GRIND: Relapse released it. I have talked with Bludwulf about this for a few years, it’s cool it actually finally happened.

MORBIDZINE: Toxic Holocaust made some splits with bands like Nocturnal, Bestial Mockery, Chainsaw Killer and others, which split is most important, specific release for Joel?

JOEL GRIND: Im looking forward to the new split I’m working on. I think it will be my favorite. It’s a split with Canadian band Inepsy. We are doing two of their songs, and they are doing two of ours. It’s gonna slay.

MORBIDZINE: Are you planning to release second album which consist of covers mostly like "Toxic Thrash Metal"?

JOEL GRIND: Shortly, will we see a "Volume 2"? No, deffiently not. Toxic Thrash Metal was basically a bootleg anyway.

MORBIDZINE: We want to learn if you will work with another musicians in future again or not?

JOEL GRIND: Probably so, I’ll always be the main force behind the band though.

MORBIDZINE:A big tour was with Municipal Waste, do you tell us special moments/events?

JOEL GRIND: Lot’s of boozing, lots of sleaziness and lots of big shows! It was a cool tour, lots of Thrashers stagediving and acting irresponsible!! Ha.

MORBIDZINE: Well, if putting an option isn't wrong for you; Thrashy Black Metal or Blacky Thrash Metal? Which of them do you feel closing to your mood?

JOEL GRIND: Ah neither man, just Toxic Heavy Metal. We are everything Metal.

MORBIDZINE: Did you like today's Celtic Frost before dissolved? What did you do when you listened "Monotheist" firstly?

JOEL GRIND: I wasn’t into it that much. I don’t like “chuggy” shit and I don’t like downtuned shit.

MORBIDZINE: What will you say about the reunion of bands like Onslaught, Possessed, At War, Piledriver, Hallows Eve etc..?

JOEL GRIND: We played with At War, they kicked major ass. Most bands reforming I don’t care for, they usually suck…especially when they record new albums…they are usually so out of touch that it sounds like a different band. One record that kicked my ass was the new Vulcano shit…amazing!

MORBIDZINE: You know Tom Fischer is making a project called Triptykon. If he reactivated Hellhammer again and decided to make an album, then what would be your ideas?

JOEL GRIND: No.

MORBIDZINE: Tiger Junkies is an interesting project with Abigail's Suzuki. How did you decide to form this project? Has it come from Joel's more Punkish Metal music desire?

JOEL GRIND: Yeah, Yasu and I both are into punk. We both wanted to do a band like this. Something different than our main bands.

MORBIDZINE: Could you tell us your inspirer D-Beat/Crust or Punk bands? For example, what does UK's Discharge or Japan's Doom mean for you?

JOEL GRIND: - I love this stuff, so raw with such a good feel. Makes me wanna break shit. Disclose, Final Bloodbath, Prophecy of Doom, Axegrinder…I could go on for hours.

MORBIDZINE: Will there be your new contributions to Barbatos in future?

JOEL GRIND: I haven’t been asked about it. I had fun doing the last CD though.

MORBIDZINE: 80's most characteristic, distinctive Thrash metal band or bands in U.S.A.? For instance; Extreme Thrashers Morbid Saint or another?

JOEL GRIND: If you want less known then yes Morbid Saint, also Torture rules.

MORBIDZINE: Do you like any band from Portland? Mayhem was a cult example from there, what do you think?

JOEL GRIND: Poison Idea, Whermacht, Wild Dogs! Lot’s of cool shit from the old days here. Active bands: Hellshock, Dog Soldier, Lebanon. Good scene here.

MORBIDZINE: Apart from music, Which drinkings do you like mostly in general? However when you visit different countries which materials do you like collecting as an important habit for you? (like LP, CD, t-shirt etc.)

JOEL GRIND: I drink beer and whiskey. I love bourbon style whiskey, Jim Beam is a personal favorite. I collect vinyl only. I don’t really like CD’s. I’m always hunting for new and old vinyl.

MORBIDZINE: I want to ask some movements to learn the meanings for you. German Thrash, Old School Black Metal, Brazilian Thrash, UK82, Florida Death Metal, Bay Area Thrash, Crossover, NWOBHM.. Could you describe each other of these scenes shortly?

JOEL GRIND: I like it all except Bay area thrash, that shit was terrible. Bands like Vio-lence are the worst!

MORBIDZINE: Now, same question about some persons. Lemmy Kilmister, Cronos, Tom Angelripper, Mille Petrozza, Jeff Becerra, Quorthon, Gezol, Tom Fischer, Alberto Contini. What's your ideas about the profiles of these men?

JOEL GRIND: A++

MORBIDZINE: If you found yourself suddenly in the nuclear hell world of which Toxic Holocaust albums told us, what would you do initially?

JOEL GRIND: Steal peoples record collections.

MORBIDZINE: Thanks again Joel by Morbidzine and all Turkish fans, we're waiting new killer stuff from you, could you want to send a last message to fans?

JOEL GRIND: Keep it Evil and see you on the road!