EMQ's

EMQ’s With FREQUENCY OVERLOAD

EMQ’s With FREQUENCY OVERLOAD

Hi everyone! Welcome to another EMQs interview, this time with USA Hardcore Crossover band, Frequency Overload. Huge thanks to their Vocalist, Mr Bush, for taking part.

What is your name, what do you play and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band?

I am Thomas Bush, aka Mr. Bush, vocalist for FREQUENCY OVERLOAD.  Just about three years ago guitarist Corey Scaefer, and Drummer Kevin Daily met at a basketball game that their sons were playing in.  Being the only two guys there with metal T-shirts on, they began talking.  The two exchanged numbers and decided to get together and jam.  I had recently purchased a PA system for my daughter and began to get the itch to get back into a band.  I went on facebook and posted in a group called, “Long Island Musicians Wanted.”  Kevin responded and I went down to investigate!  It was then I heard the few songs they had together for the first time.  Shortly after we acquired bassist Steve Little through the same facebook page.   

How did you come up with your band name?

One night at rehearsal as we were running out of time, we began kicking around band names.  Nothing really seemed to be right for us.  We are not another Death band, we don’t really have a genre, and nothing felt correct.  Then Steve our bassist said…”we can discuss this later, let’s overload these frequencies.”  And the name was Born!

What Country / Region are you from and what is the Metal / Rock scene like there?

FREQUENCY OVERLOAD hails from Long Island, New York, in the USA.  The New York Metal scene has always been good, and Long Island has had many successes.  From Twisted Sister to Suffocation the Long Island scene has always been diverse and strong.

What is your latest release? (Album, EP, Single, Video)

Our latest, and debut release, is “FATE ANTHROPIC”. This album means so much to me. As a band we came together quickly and cohesively. It is the first born child of FREQUENCY OVERLOAD! The release of this album was like planting a flag in the Metal world as if to say “yes we have all been around for years in different projects, but here we stand!”

Who have been your greatest influences?

For me personally I would say Pete Steele. The “Carnivore Retaliation” album really changed the way I thought about lyrical genius.  I have always been caught between just letting lyrics flow, or constructing the perfect story.  Biggest band influences were Megadeth, Whiplash, Destruction, Metallica…the list goes on.  I personally feel that we are influenced by everything we hear, and experience.

What first got you into music?

“The Lion Sleeps Tonight” was my first record. Granted it came on the back of a cereal box, and my sister had to cut it out for me, but it was MINE! That is my first recollection. Then my older brother Robert got me into Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and a lot of other 70’s Rock.  It was in the 80’s that I discovered Twisted Sister, and that catapulted quickly to Venom, and so on.  The heavier the better. I started singing in middle school.

If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?

For me, personally, I would like to collaborate with Dave Mustaine.  I just love his eclectic, quirky style.  And ofcourse he is amazing.  I could definitely get into that.  I saw Megadeth in 1985 at Lamour’s in Brooklyn and it changed my life.

If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?

I would have to go with Wacken Open Air.  It’s the biggest and I believe the more ears the better.  That would be a dream to look out at that sea of humanity and play!

What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?

I had a fan give me a pot pipe once.  They had made the pipe and it was poorly whittled, and it was used.  After packing it up…I realised it had the strange minty taste of angel dust.  Strange days back then.

If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?

Use music as therapy.  Lose yourself in a full album, first note to last.  We are missing the days when we would listen to both sides of a record, or a full cd.  Streaming has its benefits of course, and mixtapes, or playlists have always been a thing, but unplug yourself from the matrix and listen to a whole album.

If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?

I would bring back Pete Steele.  I have always had an affection for him.  Our mentor, and recording engineer for FATE ANTHROPIC, Joey Z from Life Of Agony, was tight with him.  Joey even played in Carnivore for a short, and much storied time period.

What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?

I enjoy the crowd’s energy.  It’s really therapeutic to give what you got and have the listeners give it back.  I hate moving my PA system.  Most of the places we play are clubs and it’s unnecessary, but when you do a self promoted Fest, Like our own Pappi-Palooza, it’s a drag.  Recently I found the perfect PA transport vehicle though, the officially FREQUENCY OVERLOAD Cadillac hearse!

If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?

Definitely and definitively the pay to play.  It’s kinda part of our world to see people believe in themself and say “put your money where your mouth is.”  So instead of Art, we get commerce.  Instead of passion, we get pennies.  I have long ago stopped being violent about it, but it is horrible.  I saw an article today where Charlie Benante of Anthrax was exposing it.  That’s the world we have.

Name one of your all-time favourite albums?

“Carnivore Retaliation”!

What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?

For me it’s vinyl.  The reason is, as stated above, it is a time to commit to an album in its entirety.  A time of therapeutic reflection, and unplugging from the drone making matrix.

What’s the best gig that you have played to date?

Recently we played here on Long Island, at the newly renovated Amityville Music Hall.  Our friend and mentor, Joey Z showed up, Skateboard Marketing sent representation, and we sold twice what our buy on was.  It was a great night!

If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?

There’s a chance I would be dead or in jail.  For many years I was an active alcoholic and addict.  Metal was the one thing that I always leaned on.  It has been therapy for me through self esteem building, as well as an outlet for rage.

Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?

Dinner party eh? I assume you mean Metal celebrities.  Dave Mustaine, Tattiana from Jinjer, Harley Flanagan from the Cro-Mags, Micheal Poulson from Volbeat, and Henry Rollins.

What’s next for the band?

We are currently recording our second album under the Metal Incorporated flag at SODEH RECORDS.  This will be the first album with input and pre-production ideas from the label.  The FATE ANTHROPIC is FREQUENCY OVERLOAD, left to our own devices! lol!  We are also eyeballing US Metal festivals for 2025 where we can strike hard and fast.

What Social Media / Website links do you use to get your music out to people?

Please join us on www.frequencyoverload.com

From there you can link out to all other places such as:
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/frequency-overload/1640040673
https://open.spotify.com/artist/5ENQmvhqRDwkp5IdF9U3Ia
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083998030368
https://www.instagram.com/frequencyoverload1

Time for a very British question now. As an alternative to the humble sandwich, is the correct name for a round piece of bread common in the UK either a Bap, a Barm (or Barm Cake), a Batch, a Bun, a Cob, a Muffin, a Roll, or a Tea Cake?

To my limited knowledge many of those are correct depending on location.  But I will put myself behind BAP, and throw caution to the wind!

Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?

To anyone reading this, join us at www.frequencyoverload.com , join the mailing list, and listen to the album.  We hope you will give a listen, a shout out, and email, whatever!  Never settle for less than Metal!

Disclaimer: This interview is solely the property of Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this interview unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.