How has the response been on your new album “Appointment with Death” and what
kind of expectations do you have for it?
Lizzy Borden –
so far in doing
these interviews and seeing some reviews, it’s the best well-received Lizzy
Borden record we’ve done in 25 years. I’m amazed by this because we put the
same amount of work into all of our records, you just don’t know which one is
going to be the one that everyone unanimously loves, I’m very happy it’s
“Appointment
with Death”.
Seven years has
passed since your last album
‘Deal with the
Devil, why did it take so long for you to get this new one out, and don’t you
consider it a risk to take such a long break?
Lizzy Borden –
We recorded a Lizzy Borden record that we never released. We recorded two
Starwood records, one that has been released and one that will be released next
year. We toured a bit in between all of that, and spent good amount of time
working on and recording
“Appointment
with Death”.
If you should choose one song on the new album, which represents the essence of
Lizzy Borden, which one would that be…Personally I would pick the title track, a
song, which I think captures the essence of Lizzy Borden pretty well.
Lizzy Borden
– I think that was the original goal on appointment with death, that we
wanted to make a traditional Lizzy Borden record and capture the feeling from
1983 all the way through to deal with the devil and put it all on one record.
I think the
title track has elements of menace to society in it, and songs like ‘under your
skin’ and ‘the darker side’ have elements of ‘Master of disguise’ and something
like ‘live forever’ sounds like it could’ve been on visual Lies.
If you had to describe your music to a complete musical ignorant – what would
you tell him?
Lizzy Borden –
As far as I’m concerned I think what we do is called classic metal, but we have
so many different influences that have nothing to do with metal and probably
more to do with film scores than anything else.
How important is the lyrically side of Lizzy Borden – and what has inspired you
on this album?
Lizzy Borden
– to me it’s everything, the lyrical side, the melodies, are in my opinion
way more important than the music. That’s why we change the music around to
suit the melodies and the lyrics. Picking the bits and pieces that turn into
songs has everything to do with what I’m going to do lyrically and melodically.
If it’s not right for the concept or the lyrics even if it has a good riff, it
won’t make the record. The inspiration for this record is death.
Tell us a bit about the album art work; always room for some women on your
covers?
Lizzy Borden
– there’s always room for women in every aspect of what we do. I worked with
Ralis Khan on this cover. Ralis is a makeup artist and special effects wizard
and a huge fan of Lizzy Borden. We had a few different phone conversations about
what we wanted to try to convey with the cover and I knew that I was going to
play the angel of death and I wanted to represent that. Once he had all the
information, he went to town and created this masterpiece.
We’ve worked
with Alex Solca (our photographer) many times throughout the years, he knows us
so well, he knows exactly what our strengths are, and he is a true artist.
The production is very good, who produced and mixed the album?
Lizzy Borden
– thank you. I produced along with Joey Scott and Erik Rutan mixed.
Your name Lizzy Borden and a song like “Give’em the Axe” has their connection to
the famous axe murderess by the same name – why this connection and what has it
meant to have this name over the years?
Lizzy Borden
– it’s been a curse and a blessing. I stole the name and the axe and that’s
about it, I don’t really know anything about the famous axe murderer and I don’t
want to know. I took what I took and tried to make it my own.
What do you consider to be the biggest accomplishment for you and Lizzy Borden,
not necessarily sales wise?
Lizzy Borden
– that I went from a kid lying on my bed listening to music dreaming about
being a singer in a band and then transferring that into playing in front of
50,000 people or 35,000 people or even 20,000 people in some of the festivals
we’ve played over the years. In that respect the dream came true.
What are the strengths and where can Lizzy Borden improve?
Lizzy Borden
– I’m a better singer now than I ever was. Where we can improve? Write more
timeless songs, the kind of songs that stick around long after you’re gone.
What immediately tasks lay ahead of you, any touring plans?
Lizzy Borden
– we are confirmed for ‘bang your head’ next year in Germany and there are a
few other festivals we are negotiating with. There are a couple of tours that
we might jump on. Everything is in the works, but we most definitely will tour.
Name an album, person or event that has had a huge influence on your life … and
why?
Lizzy Borden
– Kiss - "Alive", Kiss was the first concert that I saw, and it just sucked
me in and never let me go and for the most part made me want to do what it is
that I do.
Give me your shot at some albums you’d rip for your iPod if you were to be sent
to the MIR space station tonight…
Lizzy Borden
– Kiss – “Alive”, Kiss – “Destroyer”, Alice Cooper – “Billion Dollar
Babies”, AC/DC – “Back in Black, Judas Priest – “Unleashed in the East”, any
Rammstein record.
Which album(s) have put a big smile on your face and has made you bang your head
in the past year?
Lizzy Borden
– my head has been so buried in “Appointment with Death” that I haven’t had
a chance, but my iPod awaits.
I thank you very much for participating in this interview and sharing this
information and your thoughts with us - these last lines are entirely for you.
Any final words you would like to round off with?
Lizzy Borden
– yes, download all you want but at least buy one copy of appointment with
death, that’s all I ask. See you all on the appointment with death to tour.
Metal forever!
Interviewed by Kenn Jensen. | 
