The Revenge of Ender

Sometimes success can be the biggest revenge of all.  For Ender, sheer determination and a belief in what they do has paid off big time, as the New Jersey hardcore band now finds themselves signed to no other than Eulogy Recordings!  There is still along way to go, including incessant touring and the upcoming release of their debut CD, which is appropriately titled This Is Revenge!  Detractors can make you strong, and the fans will make you even stronger – Ender realize this and that alone will take the band to the top.  Here is a recent interview we conducted with one of the Ender guys…

Introduce yourself, tell me what you do in Ender, and how long the band has been together.
My name is Danny Lavarco and I play the drums in the New Jersey band Ender. We have been a band since May 2009.

Where is the band based out of and what is the local music scene like there?
We’re from Bergen County, NJ. Metal and Hardcore is starting to become more and more popular here again. There were times where it was all pop-punk bands, which is cool too, but it’s great to start seeing more heavier bands around here.

Of course, the big news is your recent signing to Eulogy Recordings! How did you wind up on the label?
Yes! We just signed a deal with Eulogy, and were stoked to work twice as hard as we were working before the deal. Upon completion of recording our album, we started sending press kits out to labels. Eulogy was among those who contacted us back, and our interest for Eulogy grew stronger then some of the other labels that were interested.

Is there any story or concept behind the title of your upcoming CD This Is Revenge?
We have all been in previous bands prior to Ender. Throughout the years of being in those bands, a lot went down to where we were screwed over in a lot of situations. From having equipment stolen, back-stabbing, shit talking, etc, it just built up. This Is Revenge is our way of saying “fuck you” to all of those people, and the people who STILL continue to try and bring us down.

Your producer Weston Kleinknecht apparently worked with Run DMC. Did he have any good stories to tell you on DMC and what did you contribute to your overall recording process?
He has worked with DMC from Run DMC, on his solo stuff. We just hear that he worked hard in the studio and is a very genuine person, Wes (and Royce) put a lot of input in our songs. They had us do things we didn’t know how to do throughout the recording process. We tried every idea; some didn’t work, and some did. They definitely added something special to our record, and we thank them.

What is a live Ender show like for those of us who have yet to see you play?
There tends to be a lot of moshing going on, and when you are watching the stage, we display a high level of energy, and try to involve the crowd as much as we can. We’re definitely not one of those bands who are boring to watch live.

Have you guys ever played in the Los Angeles area or plan to do so in the future?
We have not yet, but definitely have plans to!

When did you play Warped Tour and what was the experience like?
Hot and sweaty, and it rained a lot. We used garbage bags as ponchos haha.

How did your first tour go “The Booty Shorts and V-Necks Tour” and what advice would you give another band about to go on tour for the very first time?
That tour went better then we expected. There was supposed to be 3 other bands with us on the tour, but last minute they all fell through, for their own reasons. We met a lot of great people every night, and had fun overall. Any band going on their first tour, I advise to promote your shows very well as much as you can. Make sure you have a job before you leave because you’re going to need to eat and pay for some gas. Oh, and make sure you have internet on your phone, because 13 hour drives can get very boring haha. Have fun.

Which city do you think has the best hardcore dancing and why?
So far it’s Indianapolis, Indiana. The only time I have seen a dude do a backflip off the stage into the crowd. That was nuts.

Have you ever attended any of the Hellfest shows or played one? If so, how did they go?
I really wish I have gone to one and/or played. I hope they bring Hellfest back someday.

What’s up next for Ender?
Were working on the release of This Is Revenge, at the same time, tours are in the works for us, so starting this summer we will be on tour a lot.

Do you have any messages for fans, or for people reading this who might want to check your band out for the first time?
I’d like to thank them, first and foremost. Come to an Ender show for the full experience. Pick up our record when it comes out. Thanks!

(Interview by Kenneth Morton)

Ender on Myspace