Out Of The Darkness with Cassetta
Photo Credit: Kelly Fifield – From Left to Right: Marc Motley, Kevin Fifield, Bill Galvin, Conor Eaton, Bob Bradley
Out Of The Darkness with Cassetta
Greater Los Angeles metallic hardcore band Cassetta has officially released their highly anticipated new EP, In Darkness Our Roots Will Rot, available now on all major streaming platforms. The four-track collection marks the band’s latest chapter, delivering a brutal blend of raw aggression and haunting introspection. Featuring current/ex members of Pressure Cracks, Scars of Tomorrow, and The Arson Choir, Cassetta is an explosive meeting of the minds presenting absolutely scorching, thought provoking reveries. Upcoming live dates include Programme Skate & Sound in Fullerton on August 16th and The Chop Shop on San Diego on September 13th. Highwire Daze recently interviewed front man Conor Eaton find out more about Cassetta and their intriguing In Darkness Our Roots Will Rot hardcore manifesto. Read on…
Introduce yourself, tell me what you do in Cassetta, and how long the band has been together.
I’m Conor and I sing in Cassetta. It’s been about 2 years since our first release.
Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there?
We are kinda sprawled out in the LA area. Kevin and I live in Long Beach, but most of us grew up in Orange County. We all grew up going to shows at Chain Reaction and Showcase Theatre. Back in the early 2000s, the scene was full of awesome bands—much like today. Hardcore is definitely having its time in the sun right now, and it’s awesome to see.
Is there any overall story or concept behind the album title In Darkness Our Roots Will Rot?
While the EP doesn’t stick to one specific narrative or plot, you can find common themes in each song. My lyrics tend to blend the topics of mental health and politics. Each song has its own meaning and purpose, which is up to the listener/reader to digest in their own way.
EP Artwork: Maciej Kamuda
Select two songs from In Darkness Our Roots Will Rot and what inspired the lyrics.
For example, the title track of the EP explores the dangers of not taking care of your mental health—the struggles of depression and self-pity through the pressures of the modern world.
Whereas “We Are The Wounds” is a song written about political prisoners and political activists who are silenced for speaking out.
There are personal lines littered into each song that will have vague context to the listener but very specific meaning to me as the writer.
Who produced and mixed In Darkness Our Roots Will Rot and what was it like working with them?
Kevin records all the tracks at his house or via our friend’s studio in Garden Grove. He helps out with prepping the tracks before we send them to Jeff Dunne for him to work his magic.
Jeff has worked on all of our releases so far. He is a friend of the band and has always been super easy to work with. His resume speaks for itself, but it’s obvious that the sound he’s able to create shines bright on this EP.
What could one expect from a live Cassetta show?
I think one of the best things about our band is that we are all really into this because we truly love it. We all have our own careers and families at this point, and we continue to write music and play shows because it has been such an integral part of all of our lives.
That passion is not hidden in our live shows. We hope to be as honest as possible in everything we do, and I think what you will see from our band is a relentless love for hardcore and a belief in the songs that we write.
If Cassetta could open for any band—either now or from the past—who would it be and why?
Utah Phillips.
There are two members from Scars of Tomorrow in Cassetta. How did they become involved, and did you ever see them live?
Bob and Kevin were in Scars of Tomorrow. I loved that band when I was younger and got to see them a lot in the early days. Rope Tied to the Trigger is a goated album.
Are you involved with any other current bands or projects outside of Cassetta?
I am not, but the other guys are in some different projects.
Marc does The Arson Choir, which is an epic math-core style band that I urge you to check out.
Bob is in a band called Fake Figures with Travis from Atreyu. Kevin and Bill are in Pressure Cracks, which is another fast hardcore band with a bunch of our old friends.
What’s up next for Cassetta?
We have an album’s worth of music, and I think the plan is to put together a full-length record (maybe sprinkle in a split or singles beforehand?) and play as many shows as possible.
Any final words of wisdom?
Fuck ICE. Free Palestine.
