Interview CATCH 22

When did CATCH 22 form and what bands inspired the members at the time?

T.J.: CATCH 22 WAS FORMED BY MYSELF IN LATE 92/EARLY 93. I WAS INSPIRED BY BANDS LIKE: KISS / OLD METALLICA / SAVATAGE / WRATHCHILD AMERICA / CRIMSON

GLORY / MAIDEN / PRIEST / ARMORED SAINT / DIO / KEEPER ERA HELLOWEEN / GRIM REAPER / ARTCH / MEGADETH / ANTHRAX / SLAYER...THE LIST WILL GO ON AND ON!

How do you describe the music of Catch 22, and do you assign it to any subgenres (thrash, crossover, metalcore)?

T.J.: CATCH 22 IS A DIVERSE POWER THRASH ONSLAUGHT!

How did the other band members meet and come together?

T.J.: WE COME FROM A SMALL TOWN SO YOU CROSS PATHS WITH ALL THE OTHER MUSICIANS. THEN ITS A PROCESS OF WEEDING OUT THE WEAK AND FINDING OUT WHO YOU GET ALONG WITH THE BEST AND STILL FITS THE BAND AND HAS THE DRIVE TO KEEP AT IT TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN.

Is CATCH 22 your current Metal band, or a Metal fusion? i ask because many Metal artists choose after an underground success to turn to the mainstream somewhat, mostly looking for new worlds to conquer.

T.J.: CATCH 22 WILL ALWAYS BE A METAL BAND.IT CAN BE NO OTHER WAY. METAL IS NOT SOMETHINNG I DO IT IS WHAT I AM AND SHALL ALWAYS BE. RAISE THE FIST OF THE METAL CHILD!!!!!!!!!

Hows then music composed in CATCH 22?

T.J.: I AM THE CHIEF SONG WRITER.I BRING MY SONGS TO BAND PRACTICE AND LET EVERYONE PUT THERE TOUCH ON IT. HAVE THERE SAY THEN WE MOLD IT TO 22 FORM.

Tell me the most important things about the new album please? Was it a self financed release?

T.J.: ALOT OF TIME AND EFFORT WHEN INTO AWAKEN. AND I THINK IT SHOWS. MOLTEN METAL PAID TO HAVE IT PRESSED.SO THAT WAS VERY COOL.THEY DID A FANTASTIC JOB. GO TO www.moltenmetalusa.com THE CATCH 22 WEBSITE IS: www.catch22metal.com

Do you conceive of songs as rhythms, or riff patterns, or abstract ideas or melodies? what has been for you normally the genesis of songwriting? T.J.: THERE IS NO SET FORMAT IT CAN COME TO ME IN ALL OF THE WAYS JUST MENTIONED. BUT WHEN IT HAPPENS YOU HAVE TO SEIZE THE MOMENT.

Do you think the Metal genre has been obsoleted?

T.J.: METAL MUSIC IS HAVING SOMEWHAT OF A RESURGENCE IN RECENT YEARS.AWAKEN-THE DREAM NEVER DIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Some would say, as wagner did, that music is a form of paint one uses to create art (narrative, descriptive or poetic works, normally in structure); others would say that music provides art within itself and has no correspondence to a more generalized "artisticness."

T.J.: MUSIC GIVES ME AN OUTLET TO EXPRESS ANYTHING I WANT TO. THAT IS WHAT MAKES IT SO SPECIAL. AND YOU DON'T GO TO JAIL FOR IT . FUCK YES!!

Metal is grouped into several waves, based on what worldview they had because of historical events current to the time of each wave. do you see a difference in the musical approach between bands of members born in approx. 1968, 1974, 1982 and 86?

T.J.: I THINK EVERONE HAS SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES ON HOW YOU APPROACH YOUR GENRE OF MUSIC. VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF LIFE DON'T LET IT GO STAIL!!!!!!!

Some musical thinkers claim to be able to visualize music as shapes or patterns, and from there conceptualize the song as an aesthetic object. how do you conceptualize sound, or is it a conscious process at all?

T.J.: MUSIC THEORY HAS PATTERNS AND SHAPES. BUT FIRST AND FOREMOST WHEN IT IS ALL SAID AND DONE YOU HAVE TO FEEL IT TO BELIEVE IT!!!!

What is the best part so far about being in Catch 22 since the very beginning?

T.J.: MEETING ALOT OF COOL PEOPLE ALONG THIS RIDE. THE FAITHFUL. HELPING TO RAISE THE METAL FLAG. I REFUSE TO LAY DOWN AND DIE. FOREVER TREAD YOUR OWN PATH. FUCK TRENDS YOU FAKE FUCKS.LONG LIVE THE METAL SPIRIT IN US!!!!

What future directions do you see opening for people wanting to create LOUD and HEAVY METAL music? do you think the ideals that make one wish to make such music have changed, or do you see the impetus as emotional?

T.J.: HEAVY METAL WILL ALWAYS HAVE AN UNDERGROUND FOLLOWING NO MATTER WHAT. BUT I CAN SEE SOME DOORS OPENING AS IT IS GAINING POPULARITY ONCE AGAIN! WHEN ITS IN THE BLOOD IT DOESN'T WASH AWAY!

What do you think will be the effect of mp3 files and file sharing in a music industry controlled by a few titans, but with many smaller labels and distros?

T.J.: IT'S A DOUBLE EDGED SWORD.BUT IF THEY LIKE YOUR MUSIC THEY WILL BUY IT. SUPPORT YOUR FAV BANDS. BUY THE CDS.AND HELP SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT THE NEW ACTS THAT ARE GOING TO HELP KEEP THE METAL FLAME BLAZING!

What can we expect from Catch 22 in the near future? What goals do you want to reach?

T.J.: CATCH 22 IS CURRENTLY SHOPPING FOR A RECORD DEAL AND PLAYING OUR ASSES OFF. WE WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE A LIVING OFF OUR MUSIC. IT TAKES TIME TO GET THERE.BUT YOU CAN NEVER LOSE SIGHT OF WHY YOU STARTED IN THE FIRST PLACE.THE LOVE OF METAL.IT'S IN THE BLOOD!!!!! GO GET OUR NEW CD AT MOLTEN METAL YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED. METAL FOREVER!!!!

Imagine, the band split up! How would you react in that situation? Say goodbye to Metal or just raising a brand new band right away?

T.J.: I AM NOT ONE TO LAY DOWN AND DIE.I LOVE THIS LINE-UP.I DONT FORESEE US SPLITTING. WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE AND THAT IS VERY HARD TO FIND IN THIS INDUSTRY. CATCH 22 WILL METAL ON!

I hope that Catch 22 can go on for many years and if you want something to say to our readers, shoot and thanx for your time anyway!

T.J.: GO TO www.catch22metal.com and www.moltenmetalusa.com

THANKS TO ALL WHO HAVE SUPPORTED US IN THE PAST AND CONTINUE TO DO SO! METAL FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!