A: Let's start with the Corporation$ EP, first, why an EP?
R: We chose an EP because the material we had was NOT Album material. The tunes on the EP are simply a reflection of what Carl and John were up to during the 7 years away with a couple of Old tunes re-recorded.
A: Why did you choose Copro as your label?
R: We chose Copro simply because they had Faith in "Cancer" and accepted what we offered
A:T ell us about the material in the EP, is this reminiscent of the "death shall rise" album, closer to the Black Faith album, or something new Altogether?
R: The material on the EP is NEW altogether, except for the 2 tracks from the vault. One of these old gem's was the Celtic Frost cover "Dethroned Emperor", we re-recorded this track in 2003 as it was a track Cancer used to always play live. Their is a concept on the EP all regarding the middle east, and these tracks fitted that concept. Cancer always progressed, each album is a progression from the one before it.
A: Regarding your influences when doing the album, I guess that Cancer was Influenced, at its beginning, by such bands as Death, Napalm Death and Obituary, what would you define as your current influences?
R: Life & Death, the 3 Crown's in Dawley, and those same bands.
A: How was the writing process done? Mainly by john and Carl? By all band Members?
R: The writing process is done by Carl and John. The Joys and Sorrows of life bore it. (have you seen how much petrol costs in the UK? )
A: Are there plans for a full-length release?
R: Yes, the writing for the album began even before the EP was released. We are hoping for a Dec 2004 release for this.
A: Are you doing any live shows right now? What live shows do you have planned?
R: We are playing at a Death Metal Festival in London on the 19th of June,Followed by gigs in Portugal, Spain and the Dog & Duck in Broseley.
A: And since the band had a strong following in Florida at the time, are you planning to visit the US again?
R: Contrary to belief, Florida was never that great. However...the Outhouse in Kansas, now that was great :)...Click your heels 3 times and Rock.
A: How did the re-formation of the band come to be, whose idea was it?
R: John and Carl met up down the pub. Got talking, both had some new ideas, so they got together, started working on them ideas, and some new tunes, and that was it.
A: Where you influenced by the comeback wave overtaking metal, by such bands as death angel and exodus?
R: Not at all, we didn’t even realize at the time we were getting back together. But its damn good to them old bands back :)
A: How did you and Adam come to be in the band, and what were you two doing before that?
R:I myself (Rob Engvikson) have been a long time friend of John, Carl and Bukey (Ian Buchanan the ex bass player), I also played guitars in "Nothing but Contempt" a short lived project put together by Mark "Barney" Greenway from Napalm Death, which Carl Stokes also played in, and I have my own solo Viking Metal project called "Asatru" ( www.asatru.co.uk ). Adam previously played bass in a band called "Assert". Carl Stokes was drummer in "Assert" for a short period during the 7 years break from "Cancer", thats how Carl knew Adam. When Carl and John put "Cancer" back together, they asked me to play guitars, and also asked Bukey to return, but Bukey was not interested in rejoining, so Carl asked Adam if he would be interested.
A: What is the response for the new EP as of now?
R: The EP, has had mixed reviews, some like it, some hate it. But we fully expected that. It isn’t something we expected all "Cancer"
To like. It has 2 "Remixes" on it, some people love ‘em, some hate ‘em. Some people love the 1st 3 tracks, but hate the remixes. :)
A: The band lyrics used to deal in death, horror, and horrible death, it seems, judging from the new EP's cover and its lyrics, that the current lyrical idea behind the band is more politically/society oriented, tell us about the band's current approach to its lyrics.
R: "Black Faith" was also like the new EP, in that it was more
Politically/Society orientated. However the new material for the upcoming full on slab of metal, is more Horror, Pain, Social Comment.
A: Cancer did one show in Tel Aviv some time ago, any chance of that happening again?
R: When the bullets stop flying, and the Tipton Taliban stop bombing, we would love to.
Alon Miasnikov
