About the new record, EVEN leaving the band and all the HARDCORE things in life

13 days after EVAN announced he was leaving the band, we are talking to BILLY.

BIOHAZARD are set to release their brand new album in September through Nuclear Blast/Wizard.

It will be the first BIOHAZARD release recorded with the original line up for fourteen years.

an interview conducted by Alexander Boyadjiev and Vassil Varbanov

HELLO BILLY – HOW ARE YOU AND WHERE ARE YOU IN THE MOMENT?
Good man, how are you – I’m in Trier Germany.

SO OBVIOUSLY THE FIRST QUESTIONS WILL BE REGARDING THE DEPARTURE OF EVAN FROM BIOHAZARD, WHICH WAS ANNOUNCED FEW DAYS AGO. I DON’T KNOW IF IT’S OFFICIAL YET – HOW WOULD YOU COMMENT THIS?
Yes, it’s official – he made a decision and we made a decision to continue with the band. He got a lot of very crazy things going on in his life and he can’t continue with Biohazard anymore. I have a lot of respect for him, it’s a private thing and I respect his privacy. We’re just moving on.

SO THEN WHAT’S NEXT FOR BIOHAZARD – YOU WILL CONTINUE WITH SCOT ROBERTS AS A REPLACEMENT OR PERMANENT MEMBER? IS HE A PERMANENT REPLACEMENT?
Well, we found out this news suddenly from Evan and we had couple of shows booked in England – we played Download festival and we played Metal Hammer Awards on a boat, which was awesome.

But once we found out, after canceling shows for similar reasons earlier in March, we didn’t want to cancel these shows - we decided to continue and go on with Scot Roberts as a fill-in for Evan until we decide what we are going to do.

We just know that we will continue and we won’t bring Biohazard on tour until we’re not 100 % satisfied that it represents Biohazard fully. Right now when I get home from the tour I’ll be doing a press tour, then we’ll sort that out.

SO SPEAKING ABOUT THESE FESTIVALS – HOW WAS DOWNLOAD FOR YOU GUYS, WITH THE “NEW” LINE-UP?
Download was great – it was obviously a little weird, but we got over that quick and the next day we played on a boat which was off the hook, was awesome! Right on the Thames river in London, really awesome, show was great, there are videos online of it... so now we’re really excited about the new record.

SO WHAT’S UP WITH THE NEW RECORD, THAT EVERYBODY’S WAITING FOR SO LONG AND WHAT’S THE SITUATION NOW WHEN YOU HAVE THIS LINE-UP CHANGES? WHEN IT’S GONNA BE OUT AND WHEN YOU GONNA TOUR TO PROMOTE THE NEW RECORD?

(VASIL) HOLD ON – I BELIEVE IT DOESN’T MEAN ANYTHING WITH THE STUDIO RELEASE SINCE THE RECORD HAS BEEN RECORDED WITH EVAN AS FAR AS I KNOW... I MEAN THE STUDIO RELEASE FOR THE ALBUM IS ONE THING, BUT THE NEXT THINGS IS HOW DO YOU GUYS FEEL DOING SONGS WITH A GUY THAT HAS BEEN WITH YOU ... AND YOU HAVE ALWAYS SAID THAT BIOHAZARD IS A FAMILY EVEN IN OUR STUDIO OVER HERE AT TANGRA MEGA ROCK RADIO IN SOFIA BULGARIA, BUT I BELIEVE IT’S A FUCKIN BIG SHOCK FOR YOU?

The record comes out in September. It’s a fucking amazing Biohazard record that we made, has the original members, all 4 of us re-unified, writing, recording and finishing this record, and all 4 of us are very proud of it. I know that Even is also as proud of the record as I am, and he would love to tell you about it, but he made a choice not to be here, because of what’s going on in his personal life. That’s aside, we’re going to tour for the record and we have Even full blessing to continue with the band – it was just his personal choice to leave.

(VASIL)THE BIG NEWS SOMETHING LIKE 2,5 YEARS AGO WAS THE REUNION OF YOU GUYS BACK WITH BOBBY HAMBEL – WE WERE SO HAPPY TO SEE YOU GUYS THE ORIGINAL LINE-UP GETTING BACK TOGETHER. NOW OBVIOUSLY WHEN EVAN IS GETTING OUT, DOES BOBBY’S COMEBACK IS THE REASON FOR LOOSING EVAN OR IS AS YOU SAID STRICTLY PERSONAL REASONS THAT ARE BEHIND HIS LEAVING, OR HIS BUSINESS SHIT OR WHATEVER?

Well – there’s a saying “the truth is easy to remember”. And what I told you is the truth – Evan made a choice to leave because of things in his personal life. The only way we could possibly make this record as good as it is, is by getting along and all being unified. It was very similar to what was when we got back together.

The events that are going on in Even’s life are personal to him, but those caused him to leave the band. Having Bobby back in the band brought another missing element and having the ability to be away from each other when we broke up in 2003. I think being away from each other also brought in different elements - different excitement.

So when 4 of us got back together it was very similar to what was back in Brooklyn when we started. I can’t wait to play the record for people, I can’t wait for people to hear it and we all four were very excited to have the chance to make this record and change our history.

(VASIL) I HAVE A VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION FOR YOU – IT’S BEEN A VERY INTENSE YEAR, PERSONALLY FOR YOU BILLY – YOU GOT A MEMBER COMING BACK IN THE BAND AND NOW ANOTHER ONE IS LEAVING. PEOPLE IN YOUR COMMUNITY, IN YOUR CIRCLE OR YOUR BEST FRIENDS... SO WHEN YOU DRAW THE LINE TODAY – DO YOU FEEL LIKE BEING A HAPPY MAN OR NOT, NOW?

I am a very happy man – I’m happy for many reasons: a lot has to do with Biohazard... there were few things that I regret it – one thing that I regret it is about our career... I am happy because I have happy and healthy family and I’m happy to be here again, able to talk with people about something that is very big and important in my life. And that’s Biohazard!

IT’S GOOD TO HEAR THAT PEOPLE ARE HAPPY.
Yeah this is the thing – you guys are probably the only people that I’ve talked today that spent more time talking about what’s going on with those things than about the record, but what you’re forgetting is that I’m talking about a record that the original Biohazard made together. So that’s why I am happy.

Am I upset that Evan left? Yes of course – it wasn’t what I wanted and it wasn’t what I thought would happen, but life as you know changes very quick and in order to survive you have to adapt to the situation. And with Biohazard we’ve been to so many crazy situations – as a band and personally.

We are survivors, we will adapt to the situation and make a decision and stick to that decision. And that’s what we’ve always done. And Danny, Bobby and I love playing together, loved playing with Evan and continue going forward with Biohazard. Are things change? Yes. Are they different? No – the heart and soul of Biohazard is still there. And we will not come on tour unless we think that Biohazard would be fully represented and people would be happy with what we put together and with the change that would eventually be the new Biohazard.

But what we’re talking right now is about the new Biohazard album that was made by 4 of us and it’s fucking mind-blowing, it’s a great record. And I know when you guys here it you’ll be like “fuck yeah! That’s Biohazard – that’s the Biohazard I fell in love with!”. But it’s Biohazard now, it’s Biohazard 2011 and 4 of us are very proud and happy with this record!

SO LET’S GET BACK REALLY TO THE RECORD – GIVE US SOME DETAILS, LIKE HOW’S GONNA BE CALLED AND HOW MANY SONGS AND ALL OF THIS... BEST SONGS AND STUFF?
Haha – that’s what I love to hear. The record – we had a couple of titles and I was about to tell you the title but then we decided at a last minute, there was another title that we were thinking about so rather than tell you the title now and then change it next week, we decided to wait until next week and tell you the real title. The artwork is already done.

The real title actually – we were thinking about to call the record “Bulgaria fuckin rocks!” haha, but at last minute we were changing out mind, so we’ll see ... 

SO HOW MANY SONGS YOU GOT AND WHERE DID YOU RECORD THE RECORD?
We have 13 songs – we recorded the album with our producer Toby Wright, he has been recording Metallica, Alice In Chains, Slayer, Korn...

SO IT’S GONNA BE A BIG PRODUCTION I GUESS?
It’s fuckin’ass-ripping huge! The production is almost as big as out balls! I don’t know if that translates but it’s funny in English. We’re really excited about it. In the past – all our albums, when we were done making the record I would put on the new Slayer record, or new Sepultura and I would be like “oh my god – that sounds fuckin amazing” and then I would go back listening to my record, which I was excited about and it’s just always the production and the quality...

I love the songs but it’s the heaviness which I always felt a little short – I know it’s different types of music... but this record now, for a first time when I listen to it and I listen to the new Cavalera Conspiracy or the new Slayer or Metallica, I’m like “woah – our record sounds as powerful as the music for the first time!” 

WHAT MEMORIES DO YOU HAVE FROM THIS SHOW IN BULGARIA 2 YEARS AGO – DO YOU STILL REMEMBER IT?
That’s so crazy man – our world changed so much since we started touring. When people say to me - do you remember this, do you remember that... I don’t remember... well let me put it like this – I remember some shows more than others for various reasons. When people say do you remember this show when this happened then I am like yes!

At every show that we ever played when there was a one specific situation that happened and if somebody ask me about that specific situation I remember it. I don’t proud myself with my great memory, but I do proud myself on remembering specific details. For the show in Bulgaria – I do remember the show, but I also remember so many times people come to see us in other eastern European countries and say “when do you coming to Bulgaria?”.

So we always wanted to go there and for us to be there with Bobby was fucking awesome. It was a good time, it was great show and I can’t wait to go back there. The crowd was fucking off the hook – it was just insane!

I remember walking around and it was weird because there were these pylons and you couldn’t really see the crowd from where we were and when we walked on the stairs and when we walked on the stage it was this big huge hall that you couldn’t tell how crazy it was until you actually stood on the stage. Then I was like - holly shit! 

BILLY I GOT A SIDE QUESTION – YOU ARE FILLING GUITAR FOR BLOOD FOR BLOOD IN THE LAST YEAR OR SO – HOW WAS THAT FOR YOU?
It’s great! Rob – their singer and guitar-player can’t tour right now and I love playing with them. They kinda have a cool thing with 2 singers similar to Biohazard, but it’s different. I have a good time – I became really good friend with the guys. Actually I go home now for few days and then I go back on tour with them. And I can’t wait to bring that band too, to Bulgaria.

BECAUSE OF THE LABEL-POLICY – NO ONE WILL HAVE ANY PROMO-COPY OF YOUR NEW RECORD UNTIL IT’S OUT AND NO ONE WILL HEAR IT, SO PLEASE TELL US WHAT ARE YOUR PERSONAL FAVORITE SONGS.
That’s a hard question bro!

PLEASE DON’T TELL US – ALL SONGS ARE LIKE MY KIDS AND ALL OF THIS...
OK how about this: Through Suffering We’re Born or Decay

ALRIGHT – THANK YOU VERY MUCH – THAT WAS WHAT I WAS ASKING FOR!SO WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOU PERSONALLY?
For me it’s Biohazard – I’m here talking about the new record that we are all so excited for. When I go home I’ll continue working on everything to do with Biohazard and then we’ll sort out the situation as far as how we gonna tour and then we’ll be back on tour.

The record comes out September and we continue with Biohazard. We just looking forward on working on more music that we didn’t had the chance to finish for this record. And I can’t wait to bring it back to Bulgaria.

OK LAST QUESTION – WHAT DO YOU THINK WOULD BE THE SOONEST POSSIBLE CHANCE TO SEE BIOHAZARD LIVE IN EUROPE?
In the fall.

ANY LAST WORDS?
Thank you for your support all these years – I’m glad that people still remember Biohazard out there and we can’t wait to bring the band back!

rights Tangra Mega Rock