Achilles Interview

Achilles is a hardcore band with the attitude of one but not exactly the same sound as you might hear in your head resembling to the common day hardcore band. They are a bad that infact is hardcore the way that particular band’s these days tend to stray from the all too common sound, band’s like Lords, Propagahndi, and Killing the Dream. This assortment differs from that familiar sound while still keeping in the realms of what is called hardcore.

This is a band that’s well aware of how they are approaching their own sound towards a genre that has much potential if you just hear the right bands. With the album “A Dark Horse” Achilles consists of a variety of genres that all share from each other in the same realm of heavy music and in return create something that might not be amazing or insanely original but it is something else, something more when there’s less.

TheHXC: Alot of good acts have been coming about in Rochester, what's
the "scene" like in Rochester?

Rory: I would like to think of Rochester as a melting pot of sorts. Right now there is no really good all ages venue, so that is taking it's toll. But, we are working on that at the moment. I think that's one great thing about hardcore/punk, we always have to fight to survive. We have to do the work in order for us to do our own shows, and I think Rochester is a place where that is a staple. Like any "scene" we have our ups and downs, and divides, but I think if you look past all of that crap, things are pretty great. It seems there are alot people that care and that are putting forth a genuine effort. We have a few small labels that are doing some great things. Triple Attack Records, Round Two Records, Luchador Records, and Punks Before Profits. We also have a very supportive Record store called Hell On Earth.

TheHXC: What are some bands in the Rochester area with potential?

Rory: I think most bands have "potential", whether they get past that is up to them. A few bands that are really great from Rochester would be Polar Bear Club, Marathon, I Object, Sulaco, Finisher, Destrux, and I’m sure there are others I’m leaving out. This is a very mixed list of bands from our area that will and have the ability to get out of Rochester, or already have.

TheHXC: Given the untraditional formula you guys play, would you call Achilles a hardcore band?

Rory: I personally would, because I think we have the mentality of a hardcore band. But at the end of the day it doesn't really matter. We are creating music that we want to create. That's what truly matters in my opinion. If we put ourselves in a box and let that box molds us I think that is selling ourselves short and I think alot of "hardcore" bands do that.

TheHXC: What are some of your current favorite bands out there right now?

Rory: Some bands that I have been listening to lately are. Seventh Generations, Look Back And Laugh, Mono, Killing the Dream, Breather Resist, Lords, Propaghandi, Engineer, Ed Gein and the list goes on.

TheHXC: Are there any upcoming tour plans for Achilles?

Rory: As of right now we do not have any plans to tour.

TheHXC: Where did the name of the album "A Dark Horse" spawns from?

Rory: "The Dark Horse" came from an idea I had one day. I just felt that in a general sense, we are the dark horse. Hardcore and punk are becoming these mainstream images and we are being used to be bought and sold. Regardless of that trend we will always be here, the roots, the ideas, and the values that are here, will remain. No matter how far things fall from the tree, we will hold on and be "The Dark Horse".

TheHXC: How do you feel "A Dark Horse" differs from past Achilles releases?

Rory: "The Dark Horse" is leaps and bounds better than anything we have done. This is our best musical release, our best recording, our best effort as band. The feeling of the record was captured in the recording, the recording itself was what we wanted out of this record. We really do not have very many complaints at all. Most bands I have been in you listen to old recordings and you cringe or laugh about how awful you were. This record has none of those attachments in my eyes.

TheHXC: The sound of Achilles seems like it could change in the same vein of the sound you guys have made for yourselves, do you see the band's sound shifting on the next album?

Rory: Who really knows. We have some new songs that we have written, I don't really see a plan to chnage our sound by any means. but at the same time we won't limit ourselves. We have some new stuff that we are really excited about that isn't exactly like our other songs in certain ways, but they are still us.

TheHXC: Are there anymore split projects in the works?

Rory: We do not have anymore split projects in the works as of right now. We don't rule that idea out, we just haven't come to that point yet.

TheHXC: Thanks for your time! Is there anything you would like to add?

Rory: Thanks for the interview. Thanks to Ryan and Hex records and all of our friends that have helped us and inspired us to do what we are able to do.