JJ : Co-Exist actually started out as a hardcore band in 1998 after the demise of Glasgow’s finest at the time ‘Confusion Corporation’. Charlie, Quzzy and Danny decided to make something a bit more violent sounding and after a few early demos the bands sound became a lot more grindcore influenced. Eventually, Paul Catten joined the band and done some crazy shit live and on the demos. The album was recorded and finished by early 2004 which is when I was asked to join the band on second guitar, later that year Dawson replaced Paul Catten who could no longer do the band full time. Dawson also had previously sang for ‘Confusion Corporation’ just before they split, therefore we knew he has a great voice and live presence. After sharing stages with bands like Stampin Ground, Nile, EyeHateGod, Medulla Nocte, Megadeath, Darkest Hour, DRI, Death Angel, Nasum and loads more we have slowly gained a reputation for being one of the most harsh sounding live bands in Scotland.

JJ : All things metal. Bands like Brutal Truth, Overkill, Voivod, Napalm Death, Fear Factory, Carnal Forge and Pig Destroyer are all big influences but really we take a bit from every style and put it together in a nasty way.

JJ : a violent onslaught that you don’t get a break from! With brutal vocals, fast as fuck solid drumming and crazy guitar riffs with dis-harmonies that will make you cringe. But also it has an edge because of its hardcore roots and the use of more old skool metal with simpler rhythms to give a really powerful live sound.

JJ : Basically, its about 48 minutes of non-stop grind violence, the vocals are really prominent and sound totally frantic, the guitar tone is sounds very harsh and uses almost every style of metal at some point. There is loads of blast beats, thrash sections, it all has a fast heavy pace about it and there is even some melodic guitar and vocal sections. Its not easy listening though!

JJ : Well over half the tunes were wrote specifically for the album and we also re-recorded some older demo tracks which work great live and sound even more horrible now.

JJ : The lyrics are talking about violent shit, real stuff that happens. Inspiration? None, we just write it and that’s it.

JJ : We have some other bands on the go but none sound like Co-Exist. Danny plays bass for Retribute Records death metal band ‘Man Must Die’, Quzzy plays for a beatdown/grind band called ‘Pigscum’ and I play in a death metal band called ‘Blob’. It’s a bazza.

JJ : My favourite is probably ‘A Secret Plan’. Its an older demo song that was re-recorded for the album and everytime I hear it whether its on cd or playing it live it gives me so much adrenaline I just want to jump into a wall or start kicking shit out everything. The vocals are amazing on it too. I also love ‘Surgeon Without License’ basically for the same reason, especially that end section where everything goes tits up!

JJ : Best bands for me are Pig Destroyer (Scott Hull is a ledgend), Pantera, Iron Monkey and Suffocation. Best albums ever are probably Suffocation’s ‘Effigy of the Forgotten’ and ‘Prowler in the Yard’ by Pig Destroyer.

JJ : Its sick as fuck and maybe a bit more lively than the UK’s and Americans but I would need to see for myself. Every city in the UK has so many great bands, the Glasgow scene alone is amazing at the moment with bands like Mendeed, Madman is Absolute, Man Must Die, Snowblood, Black Sun, Godplayer, Secondskin, The February Solution and loads more including us of course. The UK scene is amazing but all these European countries have so many great underground bands and apparently the crowds are totally mental. However, in general metal is everywhere, every city in every country has great bands, so its all good.

JJ : Too much stupid stuff happens when we are out on tour so I cant think of anything in particular, its just total nonsense 24 hours a day and we hardly sleep either. A band that I wont name were on tour with us a while ago and for the first few days they all behaved themselves and they were also straight edge…but by the end of the first week they were all out boozing every night with us and doing whatever else was about - their views on everything had totally changed, it was hilarious watching them on the last few days too….their lives ruined as soon as they met Co-Exist! Come out for a drink with us and you will see the carnage!

JJ : Well we have basically another full album wrote already, over 20 songs anyway, so we are getting them up to scratch and playing them at gigs. We also have some more tours lined up so really we just want to gig more and let as many people as possible hear our stuff. Whether they like us or not doesn’t matter but they wont forget the live show.

JJ : At the end of the day its all about fucking cows, having a barry and the necro ginger! 54 crew for life.

Thanks a lot!

JJ McGowan – Co-Exist guitarist