IE: It has been about a year now since “Witness A Rebirth” came out breaking a long silence in between Strife recordings. Can you break down this past 12 months and tell us what Strife has accomplished in that time frame?

Andrew: We have really just been trying to stay as busy as possible, while not disrupting our normal lives outside of the band. The record came out last November. We followed that up with a limited 7” and T-shirt release with The Hundreds. We did record release shows on both the East Coast and West Coast. We have released videos for “Torn Apart” and “Carry The Torch.” We did a European Tour in April, and got to play Groezrock for the first time. In May we headed back to NY for the Black N Blue Bowl, sharing the stage with some of my favorite bands of all time… including Judge. We did a week long East Coast run in September, which ended at the annual East Coast Tsunami Fest. Then we headed back to California to play another show with Judge and the One Voice Fest in Woodland, Ca. We just played the For The Children Benefit show in Pomona in early December, and then we head back to Europe in January for the Persistence Tour. Stand out shows include: Groezrock, BNB Bowl, the Observatory show with Judge, playing with Cro Mags at the Key Club, and a big handful of our shows in Europe.

IE: Looking back at the last year would you say this past year has met or exceeded your expectations going into this “Rebirth” stage of the band? Were there any specific goals sorta speak when this started or was it more of a thing where you get the group back together and just see where it everything takes you?

Andrew: We had been touring fairly consistently for the few years leading up to the release of “Witness A Rebirth”. I think we just reached the point where we decided that if we were going to continue touring that we should write some new material. Material that reflected who we are as a band now, and material that we would be excited to get back out on the road and support. We didn't really have any expectations, we just wanted to write the best record that we could, and I really think that we accomplished that. We are going to continue pushing the record through 2014, and hopefully make it back to some places like South America, Japan, the UK, Australia, and even places in the US that we haven’t had a chance to visit.

IE: Do you think it is possible to replicate the fun and good times of the band’s earlier years from almost 20 years ago?

Andrew: I don't think we are trying to replicate anything from the past. I think that is also why we wanted to write a new record…we wanted to move forward as a band and create new memories. I think as a band, we are tighter and better than ever before. It will never be 1995 again, and I am ok with that. We just want to leave our mark on the hardcore scene, and spread a positive message.

IE: You guys went about 11 years between the “Angermeans” and “Witness” recordings. What was everyone up to in that time frame in regards to jobs, bands, and just life in general during that time?

Andrew: Everyone was just experiencing life really. I never stopped making music. I had a few projects that I was working on, I started focusing my energy into producing my own tracks, and I opened my own streetwear shop. I think everyone was pretty much doing their own thing and following their own path… This band always brings us back together, and that's another reason why we do it. 

IE: How easy or not easy was it to transform back into “Strife Mode” once “Witness” came out and the touring started, and everything that goes into being part of a serious band?

Andrew: We aren’t a full time touring band. We tour as much as we can, so it isn’t that hard to adjust. Fortunately, we are all in positions where we have a lot of flexibility with our jobs, so it isn’t that hard for us to get time off to tour as much as we do. We are lucky enough to be able to pick and choose the tours that we do, so we are all genuinely excited when we do get a chance to get back out on the road.

IE: The “Witness” recording was done in Brazil and you also had Iggor from Sepultura play drums on the new album as well. How important was it for you guys to get him on this recording considering you were flying a few thousand miles away to get it done? Were there any financial concerns flying down to Brazil to record as well?

Andrew: We have been friends with Iggor for a very long time. We toured Europe with them back in ‘96 while they were supporting “Roots”, and that was actually the last shows that they ever did with Max in the band. After that tour we would hang out whenever he was in town, and Iggor even played drums on “Overthrow” from “In this Defiance” when we recorded back in ‘97. Iggor asked me to drum tech for him for a Cavalera Conspiracy tour at the end of 2011. We hung out everyday on that tour and talked and played music. I was working on the new Strife album at the time, and played him some of the rough demos. He asked who was going to play drums, and I jokingly said that he was!

He said that he would do it, so we had to figure out a way to make it happen…

Iggor had a little bit of downtime in February of 2012, so we locked down and finished writing the songs so that we would be ready. There weren’t really any budget concerns…. I financed this record myself, and paid for everything out of my own pocket. I couldn't let a record label slow us down, or have anything create a hold up that could potentially make it not happen. We had a choice to fly Iggor out to LA and record here for a week, or go to Brazil and record there… Of course I chose Brazil! I flew down there with Nick Jett (who produced the record), and we recorded the drums tracks in about 4 or 5 nights. It was definitely an amazing and unforgettable experience. Iggor is a great friend and one of my all time favorite drummers, so it was great to be able to really work with him in this capacity. After the drums were finished, we flew back to LA and finished the record there.

IE: When I found hardcore music the recordings were hit or miss. Some of my favorite albums have flat out bad recordings but that is not the case these days for the most part. You had Nick Jett from Terror produce “Witness” and from his recent track record he is one of the best out there. David from Terror/Down To Nothing recently told us “get Nick a yellow Rockstar and some chicken wings and you will get a good record”. Care to comment on working with Nick Jett and if there was anything you could go back and change on that record a year later what would it be?

Andrew: Working with Nick was great. I have been friends with the Terror guys for years, and I really liked a lot of the recordings that Nick had done in the past. I knew that we really needed to work with someone that understands the way hardcore should sound and should be played, and Nick was a perfect fit. We had a blast hanging out and recording in Sao Paulo, and it was great working with him at his studio in LA. The vibe of the recording was so much more laid back and stress free than what our sessions were like in the past. I think he made everyone else in the band more comfortable and relaxed as well.

IE: This coming January you guys head over to Russia and The Ukraine (with Evergreen Terrace) for the first time as well as being part of the Persistence Tour over in Europe with Suicidal Tendencies and Terror. I see you guys (like most touring bands) use a booking agency. How hands on are you guys in regards to picking where you tour and what kinds of things are still left in your hands that you are responsible for as far as getting the shows.

Andrew: We are pretty much hands on with everything that we do. For a big tour like Persistence, we really don’t have a say about what goes on. M.A.D. (our European agent) just gave us the dates and we had to say yes or no! But going to Russia and the Ukraine was something that I had suggested to M.A.D., and they facilitated it. The Persistence Tour is only 10 shows, so I knew that we had potential to play a few more shows while we were there… We are all very excited to be playing Russia and the Ukraine for the first time ever! Other than that, every tour that we do we are pretty hands on… We work with promoters and bookers in the U.S. and other countries and pretty much set everything up ourselves. We do use an agent when we need to, but we really like to handle everything ourselves.

IE: When Strife is on the road and you have long drives in between cities who usually is the van DJ or who gets control of the music and what kind of things can we hear in that van?

Andrew: We let whoever is driving be in control of the music. Usually, long drives are handled by Rick or by Chad, but Todd takes his turn at the wheel as well. Everyone has different tastes in music, and we all show each other new bands that we like when we are on tour. You will always hear some hardcore and metal classics at some point though.

IE: From talking to some current touring bands I have heard some stories of major food chains like Chipotle and Chick Filet taking care of bands with free and cheap food just by them going in and saying they are a touring band although granted some have said they are touring Christian rock bands. You guys are on the road a lot and I wanted to ask if this is fact or fiction or something you are going to try now?

Andrew: I have heard that about Chipotle, but I haven’t tried it yet. I guess it’s worth a shot to get a free burrito!

IE: I have seen Strife play twice this year. Once at the BNB Bowl in NYC to a few thousand people and once in Amityville Long Island to maybe less than 100 people. In both cases you guys really went off as far as stage presence goes and I often like to ask bands what they do to get themselves prepared for the type of shows where there may be a low turnout on a weeknight/work night or just a crowd who isn’t very into it?

Andrew: We put the same energy into small shows as we do the bigger shows.  I think a lot of that comes from touring as much as we do, but it’s pretty common to see a fluctuation in attendance between shows. We realize that every person at every show paid to be there, and I feel it is our responsibility to play our best and give them the show they came to see.

IE: Just recently you played a few Cali shows with Judge as well as the One Voice Fest in Woodland, CA. Add in bands like Terror, Take Offense, and Rotting Out and it is obvious that California’s hardcore scene is thriving. What other positive things can you tell us about the current state of hardcore in California?

Andrew: We just played a great benefit show put on by SOS Booking at Alladin Jr in Pomona. SOS is a DIY agency run by Nate from Xilbalba, and they are pretty much responsible for the majority of the shows that have come through Southern California in the last 3 or so years. Bands like Nails, Twitching Tongues, Xilbalba, Soul Search, Downpresser, Over My Dead Body, Alpha Omega, and more donated their time and a few hundred kids showed up each night. Over 1,500 toys were donated and more than $3000 was raised. I think this is the testament to the power of hardcore as well as the strength of the California scene at the moment.

Every scene has its ups and downs. It is really up to the kids there to get involved and start bands, do zines, or book shows… this is what keeps kids and bands coming back. And most of all it’s important for kids to come out and pay for shows, buy shirts, and support every band that comes through.

IE: What would you say is the biggest difference between the hardcore scene of today to the one of the early 1990's when you guys were getting your start wit this band?

Andrew: I think the main difference is the lack of diversity now. There are all these different sub genres of punk and hardcore now, and most shows consist of bands that only fit within that sub genre. In the 90’s you would see bands like Insted playing with Bad Religion, Sick Of It All with Napalm Death, Strife with bands like Struggle and Still Life. In the past we have done shows with bands like Korn, Incubus, Sepultura, Voodoo Glow Skulls, Descendents, Pennywise, Guttermouth, The Aquabats, etc…. I think that is really the only way that the hardcore scene will continue to grow. I have met a bunch of kids that were introduced to hardcore because we played Descendents… And things like that really make a difference. 

IE: How long has Rick been growing that beard of his?

Andrew: Rick started growing his beard right when we played Sound and Fury… I think that was about 3 years ago. That thing is out of control!

IE: What can we expect out of Strife in 2014 after the Russia/Ukraine and Persistence Tours are over and when can we expect new music to be coming along from you guys?

Andrew: We have some stuff in the works for 2014, although nothing that I can officially announce at this time. We are definitely going to continue playing and tour as much as we can. We will be releasing a 3 song EP by summer with 3 additional songs from the “Witness A Rebirth” session. We kept a very special song in the vault, and we are excited to release it. We are hoping to do a special 20th anniversary pressing of “One Truth” as well… So keep an eye out!