Interview by Shannon Shumaker (Prelude Press)
Vile Assembly are creating music with a purpose. With the release of their new album, Fattened By The Horrors Of War, the Liverpool-based punk band not only make their voices heard, but open up a dialogue between themselves and listeners by touching on a wide array of subjects such as homelessness, corruption, mental illness, corporate criminals and countless more. While the album is a powerful listen from start to finish, it's the message that Vile Assembly truly cares about. These songs are meant to inspire and encourage listeners to get involved and fight for the things that matter, and Vile Assembly is serious about being the catalyst for that change.
Fattened By The Horrors Of War just marks the start of the year for Vile Assembly, as well. With the album out now, the band is showing no signs of slowing down, be it with their passion for protest and change or their upcoming live performances and promises of even more new music soon. Learn more about the band and Fattened By The Horrors Of War now below.
Can you tell us a little bit about Vile Assembly for anyone who might be hearing you for the first time?
Vile Assembly is the collaboration of three lifelong long friends, Mark Webb, Mark Wainwright and Paul Mason who are using their musical opinions to create songs that say what people are thinking in this world of theft and scandal from the upper echelons of this repulsive fame hungry money addicted society!
Last month, you released your new album, Fattened By The Horrors Of War. What did you set out to accomplish with this release when you first started working on it?
We wanted to create songs that echoed what was happening in the world. We wanted to let people know that all the world's working classes are feeling the same and that unite, we can change this unequal system and regain control leaving no one behind! ITS TIME FOR CHANGE!!!
You guys have a lot to say on this album - what were some subjects you knew that you needed to touch on when you were working on it?
Human devolution, homelessness, corruption, mental illness, corporate criminals, fear rearing religion. By highlighting these issues it gives hope that we can collectively join hands and search for the main things that matter to human: LOVE PEACE AND UNDERSTANDING!
One of your recent singles "Division Of Labour" is accompanied by a really powerful music video. What inspired the song and the visuals that go along with it?
Our Single "Division Of Labour" was inspired by how much money corporate companies make and how much work these thieves do. They create a Division Of Labour for the working classes and make sure that the division of money is in their favour. The labour on the other hand is done purely by the working classes. The video was filmed in London around some historical monuments to show that the Division Of Labour is not new, but has instead been around for centuries! It shows that the faceless people -- the corporate company owners who we never see are the real enemy -- the ones that hide behind the queen and country tag line which is just a mockery as none of the rich corporate thieves live in this country as to evade tax! The only reason why The Queen and her spoils live in this country is because they don't have to pay tax, we pay them our tax which is criminal!
Obviously, writing about anything political can be really polarizing, which hopefully causes quite a bit of discussion, so if someone who might have a different viewpoit than you comes across your music, what would you hope they take away from it?
If someone's viewpoint is different, then we are open for discussion. We recognise that we need to be better too and if someone can help us evolve to greater understanding, then we invite that. If someone's view point is the opposite of ours we also welcome them in to discuss. We can learn off everyone. It's easy to learn off someone who already has your viewpoint, but it's much more challenging from someone with the opposite viewpoint. would never discredit or discount someone's opposite belief -- we can still learn and it's ok to disagree too.
What sort of dialogue would you like to create with your music?
The dialogue we would like to create through music is a universal understanding of meaning that allows people who think this way to join together, knowing there are other people out there wanting to change this system. Whether it's through film or music or art or protest, there is a place for everyone in what could be a human changing revolution! It's TIME FOR CHANGE!!!
If you could change or better anything about the music industry, what would it be? Why?
I would rid it of the corporate companies who are still feeding their money-addicted lives off the back of natural creation! Music is individual, music is local, music is national, music is worldwide, music belongs to everyone; not those that can afford it and those that can afford to have it released. I want everyone to not just hear our music, but as much music as you can digest for free.
With Fattened By The Horrors Of War out now, do you have any plans to hit the road soon? Any upcoming shows?
Our intentions were to record album and release it. We didn't think we would get the kind of attention we are receiving. We are in negotiations for the festivals across Europe, travel to America in April to play some shows in the west coast LA, San Diego ect. and then we are back in May and supporting The Damned in Paris. Playing live was never really a goal unless people wanted to see us perform the songs live, and it seems that people want to see these songs performed live!!!
Do you have any other big plans for the rest of 2018?
We are recording the next album at the moment. We have about 50% of it completed and the rest of the songs are in progress, so we're enjoying the creating!!!
Thank you for taking the time to chat with us! Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Thanks for talking with us. If anyone is about to buy a copy copy the album Fattened By The Horrors Of War by Vile Assembly, instead of using your money to buy a copy, give the equivalent amount to someone in need (homeless, hungry, ect.) and take a picture of the person you are helping. Then contact me through @VileAssembly on Twitter -- we have left the DM open. Send the picture and I will send you a copy of the album direct! Keep On Keeping On!!!
For more information visit:
Our Official Twitter Our SoundCloudFor more information, images or interview requests contact Samantha Giannini at The PR Stable.
Tel: 07932 820952 email: sam@giannini.co.uk