By: Rob Cavuoto
Reborn in Defiance is Biohazard’s highly anticipated new record by the band’s original lineup of, Evan Seinfeld, Billy Graziadei, Danny Schuler and Bobby Hambel. It’s first such recording in almost 18 years.
In 2008, the band announced that rehearsals had begun for a summer tour in support of their 20th anniversary and would start working on a new CD with producer Toby Wright. Unfortunately in June 2011, the band parted ways with lead vocalist and bassist, Evan Seinfeld and Scott Roberts who was in the band from 2002-2005 returned to replace him. The new album, Reborn in Defiance, was released with Evan on vocals worldwide on January 20, 2012, with the exception of North America through the Nuclear Blast label. I had the chance to sit with Billy Graziadei to talk about the new CD, Evans departure, and what we the future holds.
Biohazard
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Robert Cavuoto: I heard that Scott Roberts had gotten ill at the first show. I hope he is feeling better. Can you tell us more about what happened and give an update on his status?
Billy Graziadei: Scott is as hardcore as they get. Anyone else would have canceled the tour. Scott checked himself out of the hospital to play the first date of the European tour. After the show, he was rushed back to hospital, he joined back up with us the next night and kicked ass! He’s doing great, back to 100%. We are now on tour in the US but now Bobby has Pneumonia. Again, anyone else would has canceled the tour, there’s no stopping Biohazard, it’s stronger than anyone of us.
Robert: All four original member got back together to record Reborn in Defiance. Can you tell me how it came about?
Billy Graziadei: We did a reunion tour in 2008, got along great and spent a year and a half on tour. Began jamming some new ideas during sound checks, wrote a few songs and started playing them live. It all just flowed and we went along with it. We didn’t plan on doing anything more than just writing one song at a time. In the end, that focus ended up bringing out Reborn in Defiance. We worked with Producer and friend, Toby Wright (Metallica, Slayer, Korn, Alice in Chains) and he kept us focused and help bring the best out of us.
Robert: Did you have any sense while working on the CD that Evan was planning to leave?
Billy Graziadei: Not at all, it was a surprise from left field. I wish him well and hope he finds what’s he’s looking for. I have.
Robert: Had you known in advance that he was considering leaving, would you have still done the CD with him?
Billy Graziadei: Life deals you a hand of cards and you play them, no regrets, and no apologies, I’m proud to sing and play guitar for a band with integrity, heart and soul. We love what we do and I’ll die doing it.
Robert: How quickly was Scott able to get caught up on the new material to play live?
Billy Graziadei: Scott’s a trooper. Like I said, he actually re-joined the band so he isn’t new to our family. He played on our last official release called Means to an End back in 2003. He spent about four years touring with us so we’ve known him for years from his days with The Spudmonsters, Cro-Mags and Bloodclot.
Robert: Describe Reborn in Defiance in comparison to other Biohazard CDs. In your opinion how is it different? How is it the same?
Billy Graziadei: There are many parallels to our earlier albums. We spent a lot of time on the road playing around the world and playing some new songs. That live energy was always flowing through our veins. We’d tour for a few weeks then spend a few weeks in the studio writing and then go back out on the road. That live feeling is what I love about the band. On Urban Discipline and State of the World, we used to play those songs live too before we recorded them. I think that played a big role in bringing Reborn In Defiance to the level that it is.
Obviously our time apart from each other played a big part in the CD. I grew as a song writer, singer, etc with my other bands Suicide City and Endrah, as well as with producing a lot of bands in my studio. Danny and Scott did the same with their projects like Bloodclot, which rocked.
Robert: Tell us about the songwriting process for this CD. Who initiates the ideas, riffs, etc?
Billy Graziadei: There are no rules; inspiration strikes us all at different times and in different ways. Having my own studio helps me a lot.
Robert: You have a crushing guitar sound on the DD, how did you approach this with Toby?
Billy Graziadei: Toby helped me shed some pretty amazing new techniques as far as production goes. Especially with guitar sounds. We treated each song as something new and different. I didn’t set out to just get one guitar sound. The tone of everything had to fit the vibe of the song. I didn’t want the “cookie cutter” sound that’s common these days. It takes more time, energy, and focus to do it like this but the end result was worth it.
Robert: What is the reason for the new CD not being released in the US and are there any plans in the works?
Billy Graziadei: We WILL release the album in the US, just some political bullshit…music’s for you and me, not the fucking industry!
Robert: The new CD is dedicated to Peter Steele, can you tell us about your friendship and how he influenced the band?
Billy Graziadei: Evan was a roadie for Pete back in the day. We always respected him as a friend and incredibly talented musician, song writer and singer. He suggested to us that we use the Biohazard logo when we were kicking around a band name, but we decided to us the logo WITH the name, the opposite what Prince chose to do. [Laughing]
Robert: When you look back on your career from the early days, what the most important thing you have learned
Billy Graziadei: One word – Perseverance!
