So how are you guys doing?

Goolsby: Things are going swell, my man.

TB: Can't complain man, we spent nearly all summer on the road, and since March we've had the reissues of LFD and TOAS come out, the new record FIVE CELLARS BELOW and just recently the TERRIFYING TALE/DEATH BY JERSEY CD/DVD that just came out in early September. And, we're going back to Europe for a month at the end of October, so it's been a busy year!

Do you guys have any initial thoughts on your new album "Five Cellars Below"?

Goolsby: Some people like it some people don’t. Some people say is the best thing we’ve ever done, others say its not our sound. To those people I say that the sound you hear on Five Cellars Below is the sound we’ve been going for all along and if you don’t like us now you didn’t like us then you just didn’t know it yet. I’m not being a dick I’m just saying, people want to talk about the 'sound'. That makes about as much sense to me as a 'scene' does. This is our band. These songs came from the same heart that wrote the songs that defined our 'sound'. If you don’t like it, you don’t have to listen to it. I don’t think there has ever been a time I wrote a song crossing my fingers someone would like it. That’s generally because I don sit down with a cup of coffee, watch horror movies, and write songs. They write themselves so if the formula doesn’t suit your taste, then you’re just not dealing with the shit I’m dealing with in life right now, you know the things that shaped what befalls your ears. This sounds negative sure, but I’m really happy with the reception the album's received by and large. I really don’t give a shit either way. I realized a long time ago, that the shit that continually happens to me as a person is never gonna relent. So, one good thing that’ll come out of it is a continuance of the same source the music has always come from. If Joe Devilock in Manitoba doesn’t like it, I could care less as long as it gets me out of my personal mire. If Joe Devilock in Manitoba DOES like it, he’s my brother and he identifies with me. He understands my life. Chances are he had the same death/disease/karma package I’ve got hit with and his life is humble enough to understand those songs. Sometimes the zombies take a second seat to the knives in your back and the death on your doorstep. If that’s why you’re into us, you’re gonna hate us in time. All I know is ill still be there on stage sweating it up, and beating the shit out of myself and then driving that lonely road home. Sometimes I’ll sleep in the van sometimes on your couch. This I know because that is who I am and I’m lucky to know that. so do our songs. I’ll be out there simultaneously abusing and believing in myself and this band no matter what. But yeah, gist it up: we love our fans. Everyone else, what a cute doggie, it barks.

TB: My initial thoughts on it, to be perfectly honest, were "Wow, we've really turned a corner with this one, and I don't think all of our fans are going to like it" ha-ha! But you know what man? We created the best record we could and the record that we wanted to create, so that makes me happy. We took our time, got a GREAT production and mastering job this time out, which is something we've always needed in order to make the songs that much more, you know? If people don't like it, which has always been the case with us, you either love us or you hate us, that's fine. I'm not going to lose sleep over whether or not the kids who constantly want whoah oh oh and brains, brains, brains turn their backs on us. We're beyond that now. You have to evolve and try new things, and we did that bigger than ever on this new album, and I think it's going to be a big release for us.

How are the Corpse Corps receiving the new album?

TB: So far we've had a very good amount of positive feedback especially from our diehard fans, because, and I always say this, but I think they've grown with us and have learned to expect the curveballs each time we put something new out. I'm very appreciative of that, without a doubt. Here and there we've had the occasional person going "You guys have changed your sound too much" or "Where's the energy that you used to have?" or other stuff like that, but to those people I'd suggest they aren't really listening to the record. It's still me and Goolsby writing all the songs, it's still Blitzkid, it's still energetic, it's still ensconced with creepy imagery and our core sound we've always had.

Goolsby: The Corpse Corps. are the loyal. Not just the fan. Therefore, they love it and they know they are.

How did the American east coast tour go?

Goolsby: long, hot, disastrous. flawless, short, and beautiful.

TB: That was the biggest tour we've ever done to date, and I have to say, overall it was a definite success. We got to play some places we've never played before like Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Connecticut, we played with several great bands, we got to play CBGB's before it closed down, which was a dream come true for me. Every tour has it's ups and downs and this one was no exception, but we came away with alot of experience, a lot of new fans and selling more merch than we ever have, so I'd say the demand for Blitzkid is only going to get stronger due in part to that tour, and that's a good feeling.

Any good stories coming out of this tour?

TB: Well, I certainly won't tell you about the time Jesco chased Ryan of the Epidemic down the street in nothing but a towel in Columbus, OH. And I guess I can't really reveal that there was a Blitzkid vs. The Epidemic dodgeball/kickball day in Indiana. NOR will I tell you about our merch guy Zach, Goolsby and Jesco stripping down to their skivvies in Dayton, OH. while we played, and I guess I absolutely cannot tell you about me sporting two pairs of sunglasses, carrying a mixed drink in one hand, a beer in the other, and then losing $20 to J-Sin over a rousing battle of Guitar Hero at Cryptkeeper Five's house in Jersey the weekend of the Drop Dead Fest.

Goolsby:Peeing on someone’s face doesn’t always mean you hate them.

thoughts on the new Terrifying Tales/Death by Jersey Release?

Goolsby: I’m thankful Tales finally has gotten the release it deserves. It probably was one of the most innocent perfect times in the band. Inside and out. I think the songs reflect that...that and a lot of misfits. The DVD, I’m happy it’s available as well because it gives those who haven’t had the chance to see us a chance to see us. You hear that west coast? ha-ha, for real, we will be out there soon. Not to live. That LA move was a bogus idea. Nothing personal to the WC, I love it and I love it. Back on track, the DVD showcases just what a badass Paulie Lifeless is on Drums and it makes me all warm to watch. I love that guy. i love my band.

TB: That record has really stood the test of time and it's good to see it finally getting a proper release thanks to Mike and everyone at Cinema Sky. It sounds raw and stripped down still, but the levels are way better due to the remastering, and the new packaging on it is great. Same goes for the DVD, even though it's live and in a club, the sound quality is really good, and those guys did an amazing job putting together all of the graphics and things on the DVD. I think it's surely something any longtime fan of Blitzkid will want to pick up, because we have been hearing for years about releasing TALES properly, and now people can get it, so that makes me pretty stoked. Alot of people consider that our best album, so I'm glad it's available on a wide scale finally, especially for newer fans who may only know us from FCB, TOAS AND LFD. Now they can go back to the very first full length and check it out.

Do you have anything special planned for the up coming Euro tour?

TB: Trying not to get sick and trying to refrain from any overt alcoholism. Other than that, playing our hearts out every night.

Goolsby: Most likely ill shave my eyebrows off in Euro tour tradition. then ill be sure to eat my weight in doner kebaps and apfel schorle. Then ill sleep it all off on the nice comfy bus. Rock star alert! ha-ha. fuck you, I drove all summer. I’m kicking it.

What's next on the Blitzkid agenda?

TB:Well, after Europe, I think we're gonna take December off except for one or two shows, and then we're finally going to be hitting the west coast sometime in the new year with Los Angeles's More Than Never, as well as touring with the Automatons and our new buddies Mongrel. Then, once summer hits, I think we'll go back into the studio and record the follow up to CELLARS.

Goolsby: Start recording a new album in the spring of 2007. Yep, it’s ready. This shit never stops.

I've got to ask this for the legion of ghouls out there. Goolsby, can you tell us anything about what is up with Gorgeous Frankenstein?

TB:Take it away, bro.

Goolsby:No.

What do you guys do in your spare time when you're not tearing up the stage?

Goolsby: Tearing up myself in one bad decision or another. Be it not yielding on red or going somewhere I shouldn’t. Not anything you would think but a few that you would suspect. Yeah, I’m guilty of a little cliché. You know the sleeping in a coffin thing.

TB: This is a fun question, because people would be shocked to learn how boring we really are as people ha-ha! Usually I am either hanging out with friends, trying to write new songs, watching an unhealthy amount of pro wrestling, and reading comics.

Are you constantly writing music or do you take breaks and just write when it hits you?

TB: I'd say for myself I'm always trying to come up with new ideas, but sometimes it's good just to lay back and let inspiration hit, so a bit of both I guess.

Goolsby:This shit never stops. Micro-cassette recorder $25. Tape $2. Being able to sing a catchy new whoa oh oh and not forget it while sitting on the shitter, priceless.

What are some of your favorite foods?

Goolsby: Watermelon.

TB: Anything Mexican, Italian, or Chinese...and of course, you can never deny Taco Bell. That's the cheapest tour food there is.

What are you currently reading?

Goolsby:Toilers of the Sea. Victor Hugo.

TB:I'm not much of a reader as far as novels or anything like that go, but I am reading the Walking Dead and Goon comic graphic novels if those count.

Any final thoughts, comments or questions for me?

Goolsby:all the choir or heaven and furniture of earth, in a word all those bodies which compose the mighty frame of the world, have not any substance without the mind. So long are they not perceived by me, or do not exist in my mind, or that of any other created spirit, they must either have no existence at all, or else subsist in the mind of some eternal spirit. ...thank you Mr. Einstein. This is the quickest way to justify not caring and I’m all about it.

TB:Thank you for the interview, and thanks to all the fans for their continued support. Be sure and come out and see us when we hit your town, and pick up FIVE CELLARS BELOW. STAY SCARED!!!!!!!!!!!!

At a very crucial point while I was just finishing up an order of blood soaked (ketchup) fries Goolsby jumped up onto the counter and let out a half croon half howl to the sky. This scared the waitress nearly out of her skin. I’ve seen my fair share of monster behavior but this was just plain strange. TB got up and he and Gools left without saying another word. I relish my time talking with these gents. Until next time…