Raining black arrows of extinction...

There is a rumor, a grimy rustling that stirs only a few times a year down the crumbling streets of Indianapolis. It is the building rumble of a band that simply cares not for the collective existence of humanity in its current condition. They are a band that only springs forth a few times yearly to anoint their followers with nihilistic live rituals. This band is Black Arrows of Filth and Impurity.

Their name alone sets the tone for the band, conjuring immediate images of all things negative doused with depravity. The members of the band, vocalist Dave Britts (Coffinworm, World Eater), drummer Dustin Boltjes (Demiricous, The Dream is Dead, Transgression), bassist Todd Manning (Coffinworm), and guitarist Tony McGuire (Coffinworm) assault anyone listening with their blend of experimental grind and death metal rooted firmly in hardcore punk.

Black Arrows of Filth and Impurity’s sound is potent, defiant, and filled with sonic dissonance. It is a visceral challenge to the listeners. It is music spawned from the musicians trying to challenge each other within the band. It is the unexpected that keeps the Black Arrows' annihilation machine rolling forward. If they clear a room along the way, then the listeners failed the challenge.

Coming together as equals, the member of Black Arrows of Filth and Impurity take their time when writing new material. In March 2009 their debut album (1984 (Eternal)), was rereleased on CD by Gilead Media. The Cracked Skull spoke to Tony McGuire about the inner workings of the band, their writing process, and the band’s future.

How long have Black Arrows been around, and how did you all get together? Was (is) there a central idea or aesthetic you’re trying to achieve? If there is a particular aesthetic then how close do you feel that you’re getting to it?

We’ve been playing together since sometime in 2003. I had known Dustin from going to shows, and then I answered an ad that he and Todd placed online looking for a guitarist. We got together in late 2003, and the rest is a sweet romantic poem that we have all lovingly crafted since. I don’t know if there is a specific aesthetic other than pushing things as far as we can musically while all keeping our sanity, which rarely happens while we are writing. As far as the lyrics go, Dave is pretty straight forward, so they are all self-explanatory. I guess, overall, we agree that the current state of humanity is one that needs to be extinguished, but that tends to be the norm with most grind bands past or present. The stuff we are working on now is going to be more concept-oriented, and I feel like we have been paying more attention to cohesion while writing the music. We do take our time while writing. I feel our new releases are actually going to delve deeper into the human experience, specifically the future of human experience. But then again that could all change.

There seems to be a political slant to the music. How much does local, national, and international politics influence the music?

I think we, as most bands of the hardcore/punk/grind variety, are products of our environment. I know it sounds cliché as fuck, but the things that we have all witnessed growing up in an environment like the Midwest come out in our music and especially Dave’s lyrics. We didn’t exactly grow up being fostered for our differences and unique outlooks on life, and modern day politics seems to try to keep these same ideas and status quo in place. We will hopefully be there to jab a rusty fork in its eye.

Is there a sense within the band that Black Arrows is always pushing for the most extreme reaches with the band’s music? The music is a continual onslaught. Any plans on slowing down or speeding up?

Honestly, we all just want to piss each other off when we are writing. We are always trying to do the unexpected. Anything to challenge ourselves while playing. Challenging the listener is definitely a plus. I’ve always kind of wanted to play in a band that clears the entire room out while we are playing. Maybe we need to get a show at the VFW? As far as speeding up or slowing down, that will just be decided as needed. Ideally, our fast shit will get faster and our slow shit with get slower.

Who are the main song writers within the band? Or do the songs come together as a collective group effort?

We come together pretty equally on all fronts. We’ve always said that if one of us quits the band then it’s over. I can’t imagine trying to write any of these songs with any other people than these three dudes. We all understand how each other thinks now when it comes to writing. It’s almost kind of scary. Todd, Dustin, and I write all the music together, and then Dave comes in and usually has ideas for structure and the overall feeling of the song. Then the lyrics are all Dave.

The record has been out for some time now, and released on CD by Gilead Media, but is there anything coming up recording and release wise?

If we can ever find the time to make it in the studio between all the other shit that we do, then we have more than enough unrecorded material to put out a pretty massive release or a couple of different things. The dates tend to keep getting pushed back, but hopefully we can make it in the studio this year.

In terms of Indy’s music scene, what are some of the bands you feel you have a kinship with or have similar views?

The Dream is Dead and World Eater, not just because we share members, but I feel like we are all sonically and lyrically raw as fuck. Plus, we tend to view society and politics in the same light. That’s not to say that there aren’t other bands around that we share these views with. There are so many awesome bands here that it’s silly. I could sit here for a good ten minutes listing bands that we feel a kinship with.

Black Arrows is a band that rarely plays out. Is there a specific reason for this or is it due more to conflicting schedules?

It’s more just because we all have too much other shit going on. Unfortunately, life tends to happen in the meantime. I wish I could devote everything to bands, as do all of us, but it doesn’t pay the bills. Plus, it seems that when a local band plays out all the time people tend to lose interest. This works in our favor because when we do have a chance to get out and play people will make an effort to come out since it doesn’t happen too often.

**Your next chance to see Black Arrows of Filth and Impurity comes at 2010’s Dudefest July 9 and 10.


www.myspace.come/blackarrowsoffilthimpurity
http://www.gileadmedia.net/
http://www.festdude.com/