RHODE KILL – AN INTERVIEW WITH KATE CARROLL
RHODE KILL is
James “Victor-Mortis” Adams – Lead Guitar/Vocals
Marco Leva – Drums
James Fague – Bass
Joshua McLaughlin – Guitar
I first saw Rhode Kill, a Rhode Island based original thrash metal band, at Club Roxx (renamed O’Connor’s Pub) in North Kingston when they played with the now defunct band, Dead Girls Don’t Say No. Two of Rhode Kill‘s members (Josh and Victor) were also members of DGDSN. Confession: I never much cared for thrash, death or black metal. There I said it!! To be honest, I usually can’t make out the lyrics. I sing, well, I sort of sing. I like to sing along when somebody else is singing, but if I only hear growling, screaming, hollering or snarling with no decipherable words, I’m usually out the door in a flash. So when my good buddy Adam asked me to go with him to Rhode Kill‘s gig and assured me that I would love it, I would skeptical to say the least. Glad I listened to him anyway.
I’d say that what sets Rhode Kill apart from many of the aforementioned genres of metal bands is that not only are their lyrics detectable but they are also really clever. Plus the musicians are amazingly talented. Seriously. In fact, to label them simply as “metal” doesn’t do them justice. RK is better described as dynamic/ high energy/ in your face punk metal with a bullet. But don’t take my word for it. Give them a listen. Check out their videos on ReverbNation and YouTube. Better yet, do yourself a favor and get to a post pandemic show. Then you’ll understand why I booked them for Rock ‘n Rhode Fest 2 where they slayed, why they were voted Motif Music Awards’ 2019 winners for best metal band and why I chose this particular band for my very first AMP interview.
KATE: Tell me about the birth of Rhode Kill. Who were the founding members, where did you meet, etc?
[MARCO] Rhode Kill started in a band room in Coventry back in 2004. We were playing with some other guys and we were just not clicking musically. Vic, Matt Chabot and myself would jam when the other guys weren’t there. We quickly had a few songs written. We needed a new location to play. Also, we needed a new bass player. Vic recommended Fague. We got together in a new space in Johnston. Vic and Fague previously played together for years. We only had two songs done at the time. We decided to bring in some of the older material that we just did our thing on. Quickly, we had a set list. While at the same time writing new material.
[VICTOR] Just like Marco said. Add that Fague and I started in ’87. Listen to “Unwelcome Bass” recorded by the great Joe Moody. It tells the whole story.
[JOSH] I didn’t join until 2013, so the others will have better input on Rhode Kill‘s birth. I know they started in 2005 because that’s what the logo says and that Sherm (James Adams), Marco, Fague and Matt Chabot were the original members. Sherm was playing bass in my old band, Dead Girls Don’t Say No, and we had talked about me playing a song with Rhode Kill for a party and then he said “why don’t you learn and play em all”. I was more than happy to oblige.
KATE: So Josh, you call James Adams, Sherm, but doesn’t everyone else call him Victor? I guess I’d agree that “Jimmy” wouldn’t be a good fit.
[JOSH] Sherm has many nicknames including the famous “Dildozer”, lol.
KATE: You’ve defined Rhode Kill as “VENOM meets FEAR with a dash of B.O.C.”. Any other influences?
[JOSH] Between the four of us, we have so many influences. I’m mostly a rhythm guy and try to add some beef to our songs with influences like Slayer, Soulfly, old school Metallica, Skinless, Fleshgod Apocalypse, etc.
[MARCO] We all listen to so many different styles of music. There are so many different elements to our music. We have metal, punk, rock and jam band kind of stuff with blues all in one. It’s hard to really put a label on it.
[FAGUE] Lots of early Metallica, Slayer and Sepultura. I’m personally a huge early Kiss fan. Led Zeppelin is probably me and James’ biggest influence. Marco is a huge Sepultura fan.
KATE: Any love-sick, sad bastard ballads in Rhode Kill‘s future? lol.
[MARCO] I don’t see any ballads in RK‘s future. We like to experiment. When we are just jamming in the room sometimes the most organic and raw sound will come out. Sometimes it sounds like RK. Other times it doesn’t. We like to explore the music and have fun with it.
[JOSH] Unlikely, lmao, not really our style. Although I am morbidly curious as how Sherm would sound singing a heartfelt love-sick, sad bastard ballad.
[VICTOR] I’m far to angry for that.
[FAGUE] We’re covering “Lick My Love Pump” by Spinal Tap. HaHaHa! That’s as close to a ballad you’ll ever get from us.
KATE: Speaking of songs, what inspires your lyrics? Which, by the way, are impressive.
[MARCO] I will let them speak on lyrics because that is not my area. Songs sometimes come creatively from a jam. We may do something we really like and stay on it for a bit and try to add things. Other times there is usually a riff floating around and we try to expand on that. Jam on it for awhile and see what comes from it. Pretty easy to tell which to keep and what to sack.
[JOSH] Most of our lyrics were written before I joined Rhode Kill, so I can’t speak for those. I’ve written them for two songs, “Our Time” and “Safe Space Massacre”. “Our Time” was inspired by the division I see being fueled by politics and the media. With “Safe Space Massacre” I try to put myself in the mind of a mass shooter, who in this song is constantly ridiculed and bullied for seeing and speaking about things differently than the popular majority. As far as songwriting goes, we usually jam on riffs that one of us has written. Other times we jam as a band and come up with riffs. Then it is the process of creating the format of the song. Outside of playing live, the process of creating a song from beginning to end is my favorite part of being a musician.
[VICTOR] Lyrics are usually inspired by the moment.
KATE: If Rhode Kill could open for any national act, dead or alive, who would it be?
[JOSH] Slayer
[VICTOR] Slayer
[MARCO] I know all the guys will have a different opinion on this but for me I would love to open for Soulfly. Just to share the stage with Max Cavalera (formerly of Sepultura) would be a highlight for me. He was such a huge influence on me musically and continues to be today.
[FAGUE] If I had a personal choice I would open for Clutch, Insane Clown Posse or Nashville Pussy. But that’s just me.
KATE: What is Rhode Kill‘s spirit animal and why?
[JOSH] I’ll go with the honey badger because musically we are aggressive, fearless, and not afraid to experiment and try anything.
[VICTOR] My own spirit animal would be Godzilla. Mean and angry, trampling over entire cities.
KATE: How does one get their hands on your music?
[VICTOR] We worked with the late great Joe Moody on our first CD and unfortunately after we sold out, we weren’t able to get the original recordings. More copies need to be pressed. But you can find Rhode Kill‘s videos on YouTube and some of our songs on ReverbNation.
KATE: So what’s next for Rhode Kill?
[VICTOR] Our second CD is being mixed right now. It’s looking good for us to get some performances and interview time on a couple of internet radio stations and TV shows in March. Of Course, the pandemic has been rough on everyone and we are so ready to get back out there and play for our fans once restrictions have been lifted.
Kate Carroll (AKA- “Rock ‘n Rhode Girl”) is the creator and administrator of the Facebook group, Rock ‘n Rhode. She is also an event organizer/coordinator of the annual Rock ‘n Rhode Fest which raises money and awareness for various Rhode Island area charities. She is a huge force in all things music in the Northeast corridor. This is Kate’s first submission for AMP and we know not the last. She is now a major part of the AMP family.
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To learn more about Rhode Kill, check out their website
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