Anyone who knows anything about (good) current, underground extreme music will know that A389 Records have been cranking out some of the most blisteringly good releases as of late. With so much of the contemporary metal and hardcore landscape awash with shit generic bands, A389 takes everything loud, fast, heavy and dark back to it’s raw, subterranean roots, boasting a roster which includes everything from adolescent headbangers Noisem to metallic hardcore stalwarts Integrity. Spurred on by founder and self-professed music nerd, Dom Romeo, the label has been producing quality records for the last ten years now. I had the honour of having a wee talk with Dom about such pressing matters as what he puts into running A389, the recent A389 Bash and his personal preference for posthumous partying…
So when did A389 Records start up and how did the idea for it come about? Did you have a singular vision of what ‘sound’ you wanted the label to have at first?
Not really, it first started as a vehicle to help my friends who were in bands that couldn’t really tour because of life responsibilities. Awesome hardcore bands like Everyday Dollars or Bring It On comprised of older dudes that had real jobs/families etc. Starting out I was interested in various styles of punk/hardcore but it wasn’t long before metal/ neofolk/shoegaze/whatever you can think of entered the fold. Good music is good music.
You just finished up with the A389 Bash which was a huge event. What was the organization process you followed for it? What sort of time frame did you give yourself to sort it all out?
I usually start out rolling ideas as soon as the bash is over. I’m actually on the fence on whether or not I’ll do another one since that was so perfect. But yeah now’s the time of year I start rounding up ideas. It’s pretty much the same formula every year: bands on the label, a couple must-see bands I’ve never booked, and dudes I’m friends with that I wanna hang with all weekend. That’s why you see a lot of the same bands play every year and a lot of the same people attending. It’s a great excuse for all of us to spend time together once a year now that everyone is older and free time becomes more and more sparse. By late summer it’s usually booked/locked down.
Dom getting air at the Bash. Taken from the A389 Facebook page.
The Bash had a huge lineup with all the best hardcore punk/metal has to offer right now with everything from Power Trip to Infest. What were your personal highlights of it?
Every single set was perfect. Getting to see Bloodlet for the first time in almost 20 years was pretty amazing for me. And seeing the ‘Systems Overload’ lineup of Integ was a dream come true. It was total Disney. Old friendships rekindled and the music sounding better than it ever has. I’m glad people witnessed a proper Haymaker set. And Full Of Hell / Noisem are the future lords of A389. I can seriously list every band that played. Not a single weak set.
You took the monumental task of reforming Systems Overload era Integrity. Within your own ability, what other bands would be on your hitlist to do a reunion show?
Only band I’d care to resurrect is Deadguy. Other than that I’m happy there are so many current bands both new and old that are still in this for the right reasons and making good music to back it up. I dream of having Ned’s Atomic Dustbin and Body Count play someday…or Lip Cream.
Taken from New Noise magazine.
Obviously times are hard for record labels these days, let alone one specialising in hardcore/metal. What have been some obstacles with setting up the label?
I’d say having to cater to a whole new generation of people I have trouble relating to is the biggest obstacle. When I was growing up people had a different attitude and work ethic towards getting stuff done. If bands if we wanted to tour we had to get jobs/pitch in money and buy a van. Ditto for merch and pressing our music. Nowadays the bar is set so low and people just set up a donation website and ask for handouts. People just steal/redistribute music online instead of paying for it and giving bands/labels the chance to recoup their money and create more records. Respect is out the window and disrespect is the new standard. It’s a lame way to exist. Thankfully not everyone falls into this category and the underground still continues to thrive. However I think we need more people and bands setting a good example. Work hard. Play hard. Love/Hate who and what you want but at the end of the day treat people how you want to be treated. Geez I officially sound like a grumpy old dad. I guess I may as well embrace my destiny.
You’ve been a part of some pretty fucking great hardcore bands (Pulling Teeth, Slumlords) in the past. Is there a musical project you’re currently working on again?
Thanks for the compliment. No bands at the moment, I did a stint in ILSA recently for a while but having kids, a day job and the label doesn’t leave time for much else. Hopefully someday. I miss playing.
Name 5 albums you think everyone should own.
The Beatles White Album
KISS Alive II
Integrity Systems Overload
Ringworm The Promise
Black Sabbath Master Of Reality
and Slayer Reign In Blood.
Sorry needed to make it six.
Who would you rather party with- Jeff Hanneman or Chuck Schuldiner?
Probably neither. I don’t like meeting people in bands I look up to.
Give me Tony W. Hare and a six pack any day.
Finally, What’s some bands you think are worth looking out for in 2014?
Any of the bands on A389. Even the ones that graduated to Relapse Records…
Other than our bands the only new record coming out I really care
about is Eyehategod.
SLANDER 