INTERVIEWS WITH TOOLS OF THE TRADE
 
Tools Of The Trade
1. First of all, Tools of The Trade is one of the Carcass's song titles. Is TOTT another tribute to this band? Some brief history about TOTT please. As far as I know, before TOTT were formed... you are playing in some bands and so do Yus (drummer of TOTT). How about Alifoo? Are they still active in these bands?

Firstly, thanks a lot for this interview and support towards our effort and exertion. We appreciated it very much. Actually this band is not a tribute band for Carcass. As we know Tools of the Trade is one of the title song for Carcass in 'Smell and Wake up the Carcass' album. The reason why we chosen this name is just because a symbolic and the surreptitious meaning that we can simulate for our hallucination and vision in performing as a band. Band for us it's a part and tools to spread out messages through the music and as a compensated we got a feedback and support from audiences. From this point we can educate, learn and discover together about our lives, future to motivate each others. This is Tools of the Trade. 'What we give is what we get!'

All member except Aliffo plays in band before TOTT was formed.
Faizal aka Tiong play in - Reconstruct, Unveiled, Sickness
Yusmira - Unveiled (R.I.P)
 
2. You got a 4 way split release with another 3 grind core band - Negation, Fallen World and Eyesore which was released by Strain Noise Productions. What do you think about the band which shared with you in this split CD? The CD is called ‘Eastern Grind core Unleashed’. Do you consider your band as a grind core band?

For us Eastern Grind Unleashed is a big project and we are very thrilled and glad when we were invited from Mazmi of Stain Eyes Productions for this project. Those 3 band on this split are excellent and more experience compared to us in composition of songs, recordings and on stage performances. Its very honor for us to join this split. Yup. We are grindcore band!!!! Learn + Gain + Practice + Do it!!!!!!
 
3. You're occasionally using a movie sample... do you remember which movie did you sampled? What are your all time favorite movies? What are your current play list / favorites bands nowadays? What about lyrical influences? Are all the song based on something?

The sample taken from movie call ENOUGH. The movie is all about oppression from a husband + man + machoism + dickhead that try to abuse and kill her wife because of problems that they'd face. My favourites movies: Lord Of The ring (all); Forrest Gump; Pianist; Life; Brave Heart; Envy. My favorites musics: NASUM (Shift), CRYPTOPSY (And Then You’ll Beg), SUFFOCATION (Souls To Deny), PAROXYSM (Humanimality), CAEDERE, U2 (All), DEWA, TAKING BACK SUNDAY and MENTAL DEMISE.
 
4. You guys have covered some great songs from great bands during live shows e.g. Cryptopsy, Napalm Death, Nasum, From Ashes Rise etc. Who're the biggest influences in TOTT? How's been the response about playing cover songs so far? Any offended response towards you guys? Is it important to play covers in live shows? Will it reveal your music in TOTT?

For us the influence is not just come from the music .Its wrap by all combination from the music, lyrics, manifestation and it must connect with your soul. We can't simply say 'This band has influenced for my band!' when we listens into their records. Its just your eavesdrop to the records and interests and felt affection for the song. What I mean was for an influence, we must study, learn and know the way they compose musics and how their arrange the utensils to make and upbringing of the music. So the main influence for TOTT are: NASUM, CRYPTOPSY, NAPALM DEATH, SUFFOCATION, PIG DESTROYER, DOOM, NAUSEA, CARCASS and ENTOMBED.
 
5. You’re a very constant band, stylistically. Your grind style is basic and pure. Do you follow any band that sounds like what you’re playing now? How often do you guys practice in a week to build your muscle to grind? Do you love to play live? Which are the most memorable live shows you’ve ever played? Do you consider TOTT a good live band?

Good question difficult answer. Hehe! Okay, at the beginning we were quite lost in finding out our concept that we want to bring into our music. Basically it's grindcore but we want people to attract us differently with others. What I mean is the trademark. At this time we are 100% influenced by NASUM. I can’t say follow but what I can say we were influenced and effected by NASUM. Now we know that it's not easy to be as NASUM did. We should find our own music base and trademark. Wait for our new songs! More sick and brutal!!! We practice once a week and normally for 1 hour. Before we enter to practice in the studio, normally we will practice somewhere. We plan for our practice format, get some inputs or ideas from other members and roughly practising those songs that we’ll going to practice. We loves to play live and especially in front of grind head bangers! The best and memorable show for TOTT is Extreme Assault Festival 2004. Its our 1st performance and we grind the stage! We are not a good live band at this moment. A lot of improvements need to learn, know and practice. Let see after 2 years. Heheheeheh..
 
6. What else you guys do apart from playing in the bands? It should be great you're coming from the place where good bands existed e.g. Sickness (gore grind), Unveiled (death grind), Reconstruct (grind core), and 240 Noise Volts (grind noise) etc. that are still alive and kicking! How would you define your grind / metal scene in your city between these years and those years? What you have in your city?

Besides playing band we love to hang out together, play futsal (indoor game soccer), camping, watch some cool movie together, sleep and sleep and sleep and eat and eat. What I can see, in the last few years around 1993- 1998, a lot of band are very active and scene at this point a very lively, energy and occurrence. Now a days what I can define for scene here are very sick and devastate. I still can't find the answer why it was happen.Sicknees now is not an active band and Unveiled (RIP).Reconstruct still on and running. I don't know much about 240 Noise Volts. But still keep in touch with the members. We have new bands like A-Rose. They are a good friends but hard to find them here. Super active punk band. Nothing here. Just a small town. But we have some cool place to hang out and overnight. Also we have a good place to take a breakfast. Its call 'Roti Railway'. Too crowded. I need to go at the kitchen to take my order. Fuckkkkkkkkkkkkk !!!!!!
 
7. English is an international language!!! As I seen on your lyric sheet in the 4 way split CD, it is normal to compose lyrics in English. Everybody could do the same. Have you ever think to write some lyrics in Malay? Do you think it can give some nice particular sound to your songs?

We got a plan to write our song in Malay.But not too obvious. Maybe for 1 or 2 song only. Nothing special about it, we just want to present and let people know about our language. I think lyrics on Malay hard to give any good sound to our song. It's quite weird for us and for me to feel up the expression. But it's a good challenge. We should try!!!!!!!!
 
8. How important are the bands to the scene?

How important the band to the scene are depend how we convey the band to the scene and the support that we get from our scenester.We will try the best to compose a good song ,write a good lyrics and spread it out, sing it and shout it. We are belonging here!!!!
 
9. If you're given a chance to play live in some festivals oversea, which festivals would you play? Why? Do you think that we can do festivals like that in Malaysia? Could you please list and give comments on some festivals / shows that were held with great environment in Malaysia?

Our dreams is just want to play in Morbid Festival at Holland with Napalm Death,Suffocation and Cryoptopsy. Absolutely we all Malaysian can organize the good festival like that. What we need is a good plan, good budget, good team work and be professional. Only two. Impiety Paramount Evil lives in Music Garage and Extreme Assault Festival 2 in Petaling Jaya. Both of show and festival are organized very well and everything keeps on smoothly from the crowd, stage, equipment and bands.
 

10. Any final last words before we end up this interview?

Have some fun in your life.Be your self.Fuck Mawi,Thanks Kia for this interview.Keep on your good works and stay extreme and brutal………..
 
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