Bursting onto the scene with their brand new debut Regression, Theories have concocted some of the most vehement contortion of metal this year. Creating a genre straddling line between death metal influences, grindcore delivery and all out aggression. We spoke to drummer Joe Axler about the band’s first release with Metal Blade, what exactly it’s like to be young band in today’s day and age and THAT Cattle Decapitation tour that very almost lived up to its name!

What exactly is the new record about, thematically, lyrically, what is meant by the title Regression?

Joe: Simply put its about the decline of everything we know, state, country, nation, world, economics, industry, corporations. Everything, basically the decline that happens and resets the earth.

How was the recording process of the album, how does it feel to have your first release with a major record company?

Joe: It took us a while, we focused the first few years of Theories on writing and touring relentlessly. When it finally came time to record we did so slowly, the record took almost 2 years from starting tracking to seeing the light of day. Working with Metal Blade has been great, they have been nothing but helpful to us so far and we were definitely taken back to have a label of this size express interest in us.

How has Regression been received statside? Theories are slightly more underground in the UK, do you have a larger movement in the US?

Joe: It seems to be being received well, a majority of the reviews and feedback have been great. Honestly we didn’t know what to expect from this record, we really didn’t think about it, we have been so busy touring and with our everyday lives even during recording that we didn’t stop to think how it would be received, honestly we really didn’t care. I mean, it feels good that most of what we have heard has been positive, but we wrote these songs cause they’re what we wanted to play, if people like it, rad! if not, fuck em, we enjoy it.
As for the UK and the rest of europe, we need to get our asses out there!!

How was the mini tour with Cattle Decapitation at the beginning of the year, despite the stabbing of course!  

Joe: It was a lot of fun, I’ve been friends with those guys for a long time due to some of the old bands I’ve been in that have toured and played shows together before. Besides the fact that Cattle are absolutely incredible musicians and write amazing metal, they’re also great guys. We had a blast. The stabbing was definitely a first..

As there is such a melting pot of influences on the album, what exactly are some of the bands you’ve been listening to both recently and that you might cite as influences?

Joe: I don’t know if i wanna go into the name game, i kinda hate this question, we are influenced by everything we see and hear in our lives, even things we hate.

Are there any touring plans for the rest of the year? We have just heard about the excellent line up supporting Goatwhore, perhaps a UK appearance?

Joe: Yep, we have a 6 1/2 week run through the states and canada coming up real soon with Goatwhore, Ringworm, and Black Breath. Other than that we have a 2 week tour coming up in fall that we can’t say who its with yet cause it hasn’t been announced and a couple others were working out. As for europe, we just started working with a booker out there so hopefully soon!!….

How was it working with the Pig Destroyer main man that is Scott Hull along with producer Derek Moree?

Joe: It was great working with both of them, we did our demo with Derek so we were already pretty comfortable with him, he is excellent at what he does, made tracking run very smooth. Scott is a master of his craft, were glad we were able to work with him cause he has a way of dirtying up records which is the exact sound that we have live so it fit perfectly

Was it hard to acquire the attention of a major label? Is there anything you think personally attracted the label to the band?

Joe: It had a lot to do with our booker introducing us to them, and our performance at MDF.

As grind fans can be incredibly stubborn do they find it hard to give into the Theories sound? Could you use this genre spanning to perhaps boost your amount of appearances live, being billed with more diverse genres?

Joe: Like i said before, people who like us, great thanks, were stoked. People who don’t, we could care less, we do what we do and thats what were gonna keep doing. Tour wise, we are open to and have done tours with many different genres, thats how we like it, none of us are into only one certain style, we all like tons of music and bands, the more we get to share the road with the better!

With Theories being a young band, is it hard being a metaphorical young buck in today’s day and age particularly in the niche that is grindcore? Have there been any bands that have helped you along the way?

Joe; It hasn’t been hard, yea were a young band, but we don’t have the idea of “making it” were all old enough to know that we play music to have fun, tour and get outta town which is what were doing, not really concerned with the rest. Every band that has taken us out on tour has been a help to us, the list is long

Do you feel yourselves that what you are doing is different from usual grindcore bands? Was it intentional? 

Joe: I definitely don’t think were reinventing the wheel or starting something new. its 2015, everything has been done before, i feel like when people try to do something “new” it usually sounds like garbage. Were just making pissed of music and having fun doing it, kinda an oxymoron, haha.

What was the reason that made you get the band together?

Joe: Tour, the best thing about being in a band, getting to tour, leave town, see other places, play to as many people in as many new and different places as possible.

Theories’ brand new album Regression is out now via Metal Blade.