PAYBACK – Interview with Payback

Desolate rural communities separating trailer court homes to the one horse shacks blaring country music melodies or the extreme opposite mediocre metal music. Raising a barnyard of Deep South tunes Alabama's newest unsigned act Payback shares their favorite places to eat on tour while describing their angry monkey live show gigs. Frontman Burt discusses the groups plan for a future west coast tour along with the rest of the members adding their humorist sense to the interviewing process.

Wanted to say thank you for taking this time out of your busy schedule for allowing Metal Centre to conduct this interview.

Payback: We appreciate y'all letting us do this with ya!

Payback is currently touring the east coast: does the band find it difficult to have any downtime?

Aron (Guitar): We don't really have any downtime. This is our life.

Darrell (Bass) I think our downtime is when we are playing…that is what keeps us sane.

Any plans for a west coast tour?

Burt: (Vocals): Yes, we are going as far as Arizona in the next few months.

States beyond that are sure on the hit list!

How would you describe your sound?

Aron: My favorite thing to call it is energetic music, something you can move to if youre in a car or at a show.

Darrell: We have heard everything from grunge, hip-hop; metal…the list goes on and on.

Trent (Drums) (shakes head)

Burt: ……

Being new to the scene has the band ever thought of the seriousness of being on tour and the publicity that goes behind it?

Payback: Yup, it is scary…

Having the chance to listen to some of your current material I was taken back how Payback has not be snagged by a label yet? Any interests?

Aron: Have had interest but turned them down.

Darrell: It seemed they wanted us to get into something that would benefit only them.

How would you describe the energy of Payback's live gigs?

Trent: Damn

Arron: Angry monkeys (laughs)

Darrell: We really get into our music..I mean we actually like it, so it's like being at a show rather than playing a show. Sometimes we mosh on stage.

Favorite named artists that the group shared the stage with?

Aron: Liberty in Embers, The Storm Beneath,

Trent: Liberty in Embers, Lost Hands Found Fingers

Darrell: Phionexx Down, Anxiety

Burt: Awaiting Death

Payback was on the cover of Analog Music Technology: give me some info on that?

Darrell: We are actually endorsed by AMT North America. Those guys are awesome. I would suggest to anyone to at least try out their equipment. They picked us up a few months ago and again. I dunno, they are an awesome company.

Curious about mentioning of your equipment usage Whatever we can find at the pawnshop” Is this true? Rumor has it that Dimebag used to shop at local pawn shops when Pantera was on tour?

Aron: Absolutely true..pretty much most of my guitars,…our PA

equipment,…let's see..

Darrell: My freaking rig! Lol.

Trent: My drum set, my sticks..

Burt: Everything?

Where do you see the group in the upcoming year of 2007?

Payback: All over the USA and hopefully beyond. We are trying to set up more tours this year and recording…we will hit at least 75% of the USA this year. We just pray that God allows us to keep going..haha and give us the strength to do it.

What are the most difficult aspects of being in the group?

(All of Payback) Burt!!!

Aron: Joking about the Burt thing. No coming from a music scene..there is no where to play in our home area.

Darrell: We actually have to rent places and through shows….but it works out well.

Trent: Putting up with everyones cigarettes!!!

Give me some brief history how Payback came to?

Aron: I don't know how to answer that really.

Trent: It all started in a shed (slingblade sounding voice)

Aron: We actually have to rent places and through sows…but it works out well.

Trent: Putting up with everyones cigarettes!!!

Give me some brief history how Payback came to?

Aron: I don't know how to answer that really.

Trent: It all started in a shed (slingblade sounding voice)

Aron: We never knew one another before the band started…It just fell together.

Darrell: I just woke up and was in the group….seriously…hahaah

Burt: I'm in a band?

Does the group feel they have to push more in a sense where most new acts of today are extremely metal based?

Aron: I like playing with the other “metal” bands…but being the one band that sounds differently than those bands (that we have played with)…not knocking it…but being the one that has a remotely differently sound. But to answer the question we push as all the rest.

Darrell: I like to day I think we push harder than alot of the bands…we are trying our damnest to get by…Alabama is hard on any heavy band.

Trent: Yeah.

Current listening favorites?

Darrell: Liberty in Embers, Anxiety, Daath, Mellovine…ummm

Aron: Liberty in Embers, Soulfly, Endorphine, Sevendust

Trent: Fear Factory, Alice in Chains, Led Zepplin, AC/DC. Rush

Burt: Nirvana, Megadeth, Phoinexx Down…..

Explain more about Payback's demo release?

Darrell: Those songs…yeah. I love them…lol. it's a bit heavier than our older stuff… we are getting a bit more into the music…letting it be what it is instead of just sitting here and trying to force it out.

Aron: Energetic and fun to play. Great to see people moshing the first time they hear it!!!

Trent: Makes me want to tear someone's head off and flush it down the toilet.

Burt: The songs are awesome…they are just flowing together….

Favorite places to eat while on tour?

Darrell: Wendy's.

Aron: Taco Bell…That halfpounder…

Trent: Local Dumpster…

Burt: Mcdonalds.

Describe Payback in 4 words?

Aron: Freedom

Darrell: Damn

Burt: Crazy (we are)