Def-Con-One showing up on the UK metal scene with drummer Antton (Venom), is a hard hitting hardcore/death band that hold nothing back when it comes to the music and lyrics. With there recent release of their album Blood Soaks the Floor, I got the chance to speak to Antton about the future and plans for Def-Con-One.

MSM: Thanks for taking the time to talk about your band Def-Con-One.

Antton: No problem man.

MSM: So, tell me about the history of Def-Con-One and its members?

Antton: Def-con-one has been together in one form or another for along time, we have had quite a few line up changes.

Me and Johnny have been in this from the beginning, we got Steve in on bass a few years back and grant has been in the band for about three years.

We have been concentrating on getting some killer tracks together.

MSM: What was your inspiration behind Blood Soaks the Floor?

Antton: Album titles are always a nightmare to come up with,

We wanted a title that would stick in your head.

It was gonna be called ten bullets after the track.

But grant shouts blood soaks the floor when the track stops and we all thought it sounded cool.

MSM: How do you feel about the over all production of this album?

Antton: We are all really pleased.

We recorded it all ourselves.

We bought a digital recorder so we could put some demos together and we were more than surprised with what came out.

Johnny does most of the engineering side of things. And we basically recorded all the kit and vocals in our rehearsal room, we just went in and played thru the tracks.

The guitars and bass were all done at Johnny’s using line 6 guitar ports.

MSM: Is there any particular track on there you would consider you favorite?

Antton: Hypocracy. We kinda came across this track by accident.

Me and Johnny were just jamming and we were all a bit like quick record that before we forget it. It’s a downer when you come up with something cool and by time you get to put it down its not quite the same, so it’s a mad panic to get a couple of mics plugged in to grab the essence of the track.

Then Steve started throwing ideas in and the way the vocals are brutal as fuck.

The track came together really quickly.

MSM: The cover art is awesome; whose idea was it?

Antton: Cheers I'm glad you like it.

It’s a bit of everyone’s I guess.

Covers are very important, I remember as a kid being so excited to see the new covers of my favorite bands.

And its got to make a great shirt as well.

We did a few different ideas with blood on stone and carpet etc.

Then we thought it would look cool soaking into bare floor boards.

MSM: Are you guys signed to a label?

Antton: No not yet, we are trying to get people to listen to it, it’s a bit of a nightmare getting people to take notice.

I think they must think because of my commitment to venom that this is just a side project, its not.

There are a lot of people doing more than one band; Cory Taylor & Jim Root do Stone Sour and Slipknot both to 100%

And Eric Singer is in Kiss and Alice Cooper.

MSM: Is Blood Soaks the Floor out for sale in the U.S.?

Antton: Not as yet, it is available from our MySpace page.

www.myspace.com/defcononehq

And we will ship it anywhere in the world.

We are thinking of putting a cd together with a couple of tracks on to give away to anyone that wants it because we think when they hear the two tracks they will want more.

MSM: How are you going about the distribution of Blood Soaks the Floor?

Antton: It’s only available thru the MySpace or gigs.

It would be great to get distribution but we are trying to get a label to pick the album up and they will deal with that, I hope.

MSM: Have you guys toured to support Def-Con-One and its new album, or do you have any plans on doing a full tour?

Antton: At this stage we are holding back until we get a label interested.

MSM: Are there any plans of touring America?

Antton: We would love to.

MSM: What can we expect at a live show from Def-Con-One?

Antton: Intense metal from start to finish.

We played a gig in our home town on the 1st of May and it was packed and it was fuckin heavy.

We are going to get some stuff up on you tube and our MySpace page so kids cane see it live.

MSM: Being the drummer of Venom and the drummer of this band would you consider Venom to be your main project, or Def-Con-One?

Antton: I love both bands, I would love to get def-con-one signed so we can get out and tour.

MSM: How has the fan reaction been to Blood Soaks the Floor?

Antton: So far awesome.

MSM: What has the media reaction been?

Antton: We haven’t had much but it has been positive.

MSM: After listening to the album I noticed there were no solos, why is that?

Antton: Hypocracy has a kind of squeely thing.

We think if a track sits alone then great. Sometimes you don’t need solos and I think some bands spoil a track by putting this mad bit in just to solo over. We like it heavy and in ya face,

We do a couple of covers live just to break it up a bit and Johnny does the solos in those tracks.

MSM: Do you find solos in metal to be played out, or do you think it makes a heavy metal song complete?

Antton: I think solos will always be a big part in metal but we feel happy without them.

You take Pantera. The undisputed kings of metal.

Dime is the best metal guitarist ever and some tracks have no solos and some tear ya face off.

MSM: What kind of kit are you using on the album?

Antton: Mapex Saturn. It’s awesome, I first heard these drums up close at a Greg bisonette clinic and they sounded great. The drums are made up from a mix of maple and walnut and they sound awesome, I love em.

2 x 24” by 20” bass drums and my toms are 14”&15” mounted toms and 16”&18” floor toms.

I used a Black Panther snare drum as well.

MSM: What did you guys do to come up with the guitar tone for this album?

Antton: Line 6 tone port. It is so versatile.

It’s great if you are in a big studio to spend days trying out amps to get a great tone but we were in our rehearsal room and it just wasn’t happening so Johnny and Steve bought these tone ports and they sounded great.

MSM: Are there any bands out there that helped in the inspiration of this album?

Antton: We all listen to bands like Pantera, Slipknot, Testament etc.

We wanted to make a heavy as fuck metal album.

MSM: Where can people find more information on your band, Def-Con-One?

Antton: www.myspace.com/defcononehq

MSM: Antton, thank you for the time; is there anything else you would like to add?

Antton: Thanks a lot man.

Anyone reading this can check out our MySpace page where you can hear some tracks and check us out for yourself
photos courtesy of Burn Black Promotions.