Internal Nightmare are about to release their brand new E.P., ‘Segregation’. They have already been exposed to over 2 million people and are yet to have a CD available in your local music stores. For a band as brutal as Internal Nightmare that statistic is unheard of in this country. We recently got the chance to ask the vocalist behind all the brutality, Nathan Roberts, a few questions.
How did Internal Nightmare form?
We formed back in 2007, with a very different line-up and have changed personnel a few times (as any band does) – but it was Dirtbag striving to create something different and unique that has lead the band to where it is today. The actual formation happened quite gradually – Dani (bass) and myself joined a year or two ago and the band hasn’t looked back since
How was it recording Segregation? When and where will we be able to get a copy?
Recording was great – we went to Legion Studio Productions in Williamstown with producer/engineer Julian Renzo (who also did our 2009 promo cd) over a slightly spread-out period and just went to town!
Julian pushed us more than we could’ve hoped for and went to some pretty extreme measures to get the performance he wanted from us – and we honestly couldn’t be happier with the result – it just sounds crushing!
‘Segregation’ will be available via the links at www.internalnightmare.com – through most independent music retailers in Aus – at any of the bands upcoming shows and of course, via digital download at iTunes, Amazon.com and the like on June 25th
We’ll also be launching ‘Segregation’ in Melbourne at the East Brunswick Club on the same day – June 25th – w/Humonic, Contrive, Scar The Surface, Meticulous Despoilment (TAS) and Deliverance We Prey – check the website for full details
Who is responsible for you being in a band today?
For me personally, it’s a combination of friends and musical heroes that made me want to pursue performing – the first proper show I ever went to was Tool at Rod Laver Arena, back in ’01 on the Lateralus tour. I just remember going on my own and being completely mesmerized by the music and by Maynard’s performance – it was definitely life changing as a 16yr old!
And I’d definitely have to say that my friends Nick Gunn and Adam Densley are hugely responsible for where I’m at today, as well as Dirtbag for actually convincing me to audition for IN when I wasn’t sure whether I even wanted to play music anymore – so yeah, big thanks and props to all those guys!
Besides playing and creating music, what else interests you?
I’m actually right into cooking – that’s probably number one on my list!
Whenever I have time off, I try and cook something that my partner and housemates will enjoy – all the while, specifically catering to my tastes and gluttony, haha!
We’ve been eating spare ribs an awful lot lately, that’s all I can say!
Apart from that – I get into a lot of books, films, sleeping and spending time with the people that mean the most – just general activities I guess
I’m also a Type 1 Diabetic, which has been something that I’ll forever be interested in – obviously because it’s something that needs to be dealt with daily, but also because the history of the disease is just so full-on!
If you know nothing or little of Diabetes – do yourself a favor and have a look into it – you might understand a little bit more about us cookie-dodgers!
Who are your favourite Australian bands?
Well, this is always my favourite part of any interview, purely because there’s so much great talent in this country and I love to namedrop sick c*nts, haha!
I urge every single one of you out there to go check out the following Aussie artists:
Separatist, Jack The Stripper, Celebrity Morgue, Scar The Surface, Subjektive, Meticulous Despoilment, Lure The Sun, Lynchmada, Strict Vincent, Mindsnare, Alchemist, Earth, Contrive, Alarum, The Plague Black, Order Of Chaos, and Psycroptic and Parkway Drive, of course! And I’m currently really starting to dig A Million Dead Birds Laughing, Be’lakor and Ne Obliviscaris!
Support of Aussie metal is vital to ensure that it continues – with all the venues closing down in Melbourne recently, it’s really reinforced just how lucky we all are to be able to choose between multiple metal shows every weekend!
Too many ‘metalheads’ take the local scene for granted and only really want to support their friend’s bands – which is a shame, because there are 20 other local groups out there that are better than your mates band!
If you had to choose only 3 metal bands to show someone who had never heard metal music before, who would they be?
This one’s easy – Between The Buried and Me, Death and Internal Nightmare
How was it being on Spicks And Specks? And how did you manage to get that gig?
It was cool man, really cool! I don’t really know how to explain it apart from being extremely surreal! It’s really weird to stand on the set of a show that you watch regularly, let alone being filmed and finding out later that 2 million people saw it!
The opportunity came about purely by chance, as one of the writers had been trying to convince the producers to have some form of metal band perform on the show and we happened to be playing at a gig he attended during this time – he dug our performance and music, then he asked us to do it a few weeks later!
As far as I know, we’re the only ‘heavier’ band (apart from Unclechunk) to have made an appearance on S&S and we were, and still are, extremely proud that we were given the chance to represent Australian metal on a global scale!
What movie do you think Internal Nightmares’ music would best suit?
Definitely some form of horror or maybe even a light-hearted comedy romp about a group of high school buddies, trying to lose their virginity on prom night – with hilarious results! Either way, Rob Schneider should star in it!
Or you could simply check out the ‘Melbourne Metal Unleashed’ DVD available through StopTime Media and find out for yourself – it’s a compilation of Melbourne’s best metal and hardcore bands mixed with a gut-wrenching horror film!
It’s something that hasn’t really been done before (not in Australia, at least) and it’s a really entertaining watch – especially with the ridiculous amount of gore included!
What do you believe is the best Internal Nightmare song?
Awwwwwww c’mon man – they all rock! Haha!
But, if I have to choose, I can’t go past ‘Annexation’ – I think it’s a perfect example of where the band is at the moment – killer drums, intense riffs, rumbling low end and massive hooks!
‘Annexation’ actually appears on the EP and I think it’s a bit of a standout track – but I guess we’ll have to wait and see what the public opinion is on that!
Are there plans for a full length in the near future?
Yes, definitely! We’ll be taking the EP across the country in the coming months, forcing it down every throat we can find – then we’ll return to Melbourne, finish up writing the album and hopefully have it out around this time next year! But, I guess it all depends on how ‘Segregation’ is received….
‘Segregation’ will be available on June 25th, just go to the bands website www.internalnightmare.com to find out more. Internal Nightmare are one band not to be cast aside. So be sure to check them out before they come and destroy your town without warning.
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