I grew up listening to real punk, like The Misfits…. and when I became a Christian, I was kind of bummed when I could not really find any Christian bands that were Misfit like. Well, when I went to Cornerstone 2010, I caught a Grave Robber show and I was hooked. These guys have quite a stage show too that keeps getting better and better. The midnight show at Cornerstone 2011 involved Santa Claus, blood cannons, and sing alongs that kept me and the crowd entertained and begging for more. Shawn Browning runs the label, Rottweiler Records that Graver Robber is signed to. So, John Jackson hit up Shawn who introduced us to Wretched, lead singer for Grave Robber and the scariest guy in Christian punk! So, if you get a chance to catch these guys, you will not want to miss their show, trust us here at HXCChristian.com, you will be singing along and getting sprayed with fake blood and be loving every second of it!
OH, and, you can pick up Grave Robber’s new album “You’re All Gonna Die” at Rottweiler Records for $10.99 (worth every penny)!
Band: Grave Robber
Music Style: Punk
Location: The local crypt
Facebook Reverbnation
Questions for Shawn of Rottweiler Records
Q: Can you give a little time-line about starting up Rottweiler Records? When did the idea first come up, was anyone else involved?
A: Basically, I started the label alone when Grave Robber had left Retroactive and had also ended a business relationship with Hairball 8 Records. I was kinda bummed about our situation on tour with no label and no new product out, so I was just seeking God’s will. Was it time to call it quits? Suddenly, I realized that everything I needed to launch a label was right in front of my face!
Q: What about the name?
A: Rottweilers are seen as vicious attack dogs when in reality most of them are sweethearts. I own a very intimidating Rottweiler named Vader. He’s a wonderful, loyal, gentle, protective dog who loves my family and will go to any length to be close to us. He’s already shown he will do whatever he can to protect us, too. It’s just an amazing illustration of how God operates around a family, too. I’ve been very conscious about the Rottweiler roster being a family, too. I sorta feel like I don’t “sign” bands, I adopt them into a family that works together to promote each other and do kingdom business.
Q: What’s the experience of running a label been like so far?
A: It has its struggles, but anything worth doing does.
Q: Have there been any big surprises?
A: Yeah, I was surprised at how the market took a huge dump just as Rottweiler was launching. I knew it was getting bad, but I didn’t realize how bad! Much harder than I expected.
Q: Has there been anyone who’s been able and willing to give you advice?
A: Jason Dunn from Facedown has just been awesome with some pretty invaluable advice! So has Matt Hunt from Retroactive and Ryan Davis from Hairball 8. Regardless of ending business relationships, we are still very good friends. They’ve all said I could count on them for advice or any help they are able to give. That’s just how it is when you are all ultimately on the same team! We are all family!
Q: What would you say is the biggest challenge you’ve experienced so far with the label?
A: Money of course! There’s so much I want to do to get bands bigger exposure, but it requires money. Money comes from fan support. It’s only been less than a year, so I’m still optimistic.
Q: What direction do you see the label going in the future, what types of bands would be a good fit?
A: I foresee us always being a punk, metal, hardcore, goth, etc label. Basically bands who don’t fit into what’s popular, yet have a powerful presentation and a desire to minister. I am only interested in ministry bands who don’t sound “Christian”.
Q: Where do you see the music industry headed? More digital? Digital only?, Vinyl, cassette?
A: Digital for sure. People like their entire music collection in their pockets. I love vinyl and would like to see that become more viable, but for now it’s still kitschy and mainly for collectors or people who never grew out of their vinyl collections, like me. If I were able to, I’d skip CDs and sell vinyl with download cards inside. I understand how people love their CDs, though. It’ll be interesting in the next 5-10 years.
Q: How do see being a Christian impacting the business side of things with the label (any specific scripture you’d like to call out?)?
A: It’s everything. I won’t lie to an artist. I operate on biblical principals and approach every business decision through a lens of morality, not greed. Proverbs 11:1 says “The LORD abhors dishonest scales, but accurate weights are his delight.” I run Rottweiler Records as if Jesus himself were standing next to me, because He is with me! If I run things accurately and with scruples, The Lord will delight in my efforts as is clear in Proverbs 11:1. Bottom line I want to hear my Father say “well done”.
Q: Signing Soul Embraced is quite a feat for a label that is just getting started, can you tell us how that came about? What’s it like to work with those guys who are definitely veterans of the scene?
A: That was crazy!! I saw Rocky Gray on Facebook and asked him to check out Behold The Kingdom in the hopes he could produce them, tour with them, give an endorsement of them, or whatever. He came back moments later and said, “You have a label? Do you want to put out the next Soul Embraced CD?” I was in shock! Rocky is the real deal. Great guy, great heart and makes great metal! You really can’t get much better. I can’t wait to get this CD out!
Q: There’s been quite a bit of internet traffic/comments (perhaps even gossip?) about bands using the “Christian” label as simply a marketing ploy to get their foot in the door and then stating publicly in interviews that they never were a “Christian” band or even share the beliefs. Thoughts on this?
A: To be frank, I think that’s crap. The good thing is that in most cases when bands announce they never were Christians, that’s the swansong of their careers. No one likes a fake. Fake Christians are just as appalling to Christians as to non-believers. Most non-believers won’t have anything to do with those bands because they lied to their own people they claimed to be a part of. It’s a lose/lose situation for them because they are exposed as the charlatans they are. I do however think there are several ways to minister. One is being bold, and in your face, the other is to witness through lifestyle and relationships. I’ve gone back and forth over the years, but I’ve come to realize there’s room for both approaches and I respect both. As long as Christ followers across the board realize our commission to do ministry, works, and evangelism that is the outcome of our faith, I’m good!
Q: Anything else you’d like to add/mention?
A: Go like the Rottweiler Facebook page at www.facebook.com/rottweilerrecords After you do that, make sure you check out the bands on our roster thus far: Soul Embraced, Every Knees Shall Bow, FBS, Behold The Kingdom, and Grave Robber. Oh yeah, also check out the Rottweiler Records online store at www.rottweilerrecords.bigcartel.com
Questions for Wretched of Grave Robber
Q: Going back to the beginning, how did Grave Robber come together?
A: In 2003, three of the original members, myself included, were sitting in church while out pastor talked about Romans 6. Y’know? Being dead and all. We of course were completely immature and giggling about us being zombies because we are to consider ourselves dead. Immediately afterwards, we took communion, so here we are alive, yet dead and symbolically eating flesh and drinking blood. On top of that, we were all fans of The Misfits and we all wished there was a Christian band that sounded like them. After 2 years of prayer, voila, 2005 and our first rehearsal. The original lineup was Wretched, Carcass, De Muerte, Maggot and Nameless and the first song done was I, Zombie.
Q: Describe the songwriting process for GR. Do you start with a title, topic, riff, chorus, other? Does it involve going through catalogs of old horror flicks (kidding)?
A: All of the above. Seriously. Usually, it starts with a topic, but sometimes inspiration comes when ya least expect it. It’s funny how movie titles seem to lend themselves to spiritual subjects.
Q: “You’re All Gonna Die” comes out soon (available now on iTunes and CDbaby) and is the first CD with the addition of Grim on guitar. How has that changed the dynamic in GR both live and in the studio?
A: Well, obviously, we sound thicker and bigger. It’s nice because we can pull off some guitar parts live that we couldn’t before. Plus it’s more energy live. Grim is just someone we all felt we didn’t want to NOT have in the band.
Q: What’s it like being on Rottweiler Records? I hear the guy that runs the label is a genius but can be a bit of pain to work with (or is that unfounded rumor?)
A: He’s the worst. He’s a perfectionist and very demanding. It’s kinda weird because he’s only demanding of me. Out of everyone on the label, he treats me the worst. What a jerk.
Q: The last couple of years at the Cornerstone Festival, there’s been a showcase-type GR show that has gotten more elaborate each year. Do you see this trend continuing? Will it
Our good friend Micah from The Legacy Stage
eventually involve platform boots and fire breathing or maybe a guillotine?
A: Without a doubt! we are always trying to outdo ourselves. . . and Flatfoot 56!
Q: Speaking of Cornerstone, I’ve heard various reports about a big, bald-headed tattoo’d guy with an OT name that harasses you at Cstone? Any truth to those reports? Anythingyou’d like to say about this?
A: If you are talking about Micah, yeah he’s a pain in our decaying rumps.
Q: When thinking about how GR is received by audiences, do you see a marked difference between the reception in Christian venues versus secular ones?
A: Yes, Christian ones are more critical!! haha!! No, just kidding. Actually, we seriously don’t focus on that, we just do our thing and let the audience digest it all. Christian audiences usually have more of a preconceived idea about what Grave Robber does, but we have never once had a situation where we weren’t able to win over an audience. No matter how big or small. We just know we have the power of The Reanimator with us and in us, so that’s what we focus on!
Q: What has been the wildest thing you’ve seen/been part of at a GR show?
A: We play lots of secular clubs and bars. . . I don’t think it’d be appropriate to talk about the wildest thing that’s ever happened!! Crazy stuff always happens at Grave Robber shows. Stuff like equipment malfunctions, p.a. going down, people showing up in corpse paint, youth pastors showing up to talk to us about not leading kids astray, satanists being afraid to talk to us, bar owners showing porn on their tvs during our sets, burlesque shows being scheduled right before we go on, drugs and alcohol being present and available. I mean, you name it, we’ve dealt with it head on. You know what though, there’s nothing new here. Nothing we’ve never faced. Nothing new under the sun. We aren’t surprised when the world acts like the world. Again, we know who we are in Christ and we face it head on with the authority He gives us!!
Q: If you were setting up your ideal tour, what bands would you hit the road with and where would you like to play?
A: Rottweiler Records family bands for sure. If you are talking my ideal dream tour, it would be Alice Cooper headlining, then Megadeth, then W.A.S.P., then Grave Robber opening the show. All Christian artists!! And, speaking of tours, we are going out with Behold The Kingdom right after Thanksgiving!
Intro from Midnight Show at Cornerstone 2011 and “Fear No Evil”
Q: GR blends well with both punk and metal audiences, do you see any difference in how GR is received, both musically and with the message?
A: Not so much genre-wise. Punk purists are always gonna whine just as much as metal purists. We glean from both, so people either like what we do or they don’t. To some metal guys we aren’t heavy enough, for some punk guys we are too metal. By and large the overwhelming majority seems to like the combination.
Q: Getting to the message, what is your favorite scripture reference? Favorite OT character?
A: Romans 7:24 for obvious reasons. (Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? ESV) My favorite OT character would be The Spirit Of The Lord. Does that count?
Q: What do you see as the overriding message or mission of GR?
A: All human beings are all created for the purpose of rising from the dead so that we can die. . . to ourselves. We can find real life in The Truth. Jesus is The Way, The Truth, and The Life.
Q: Anything else you’d like to add/mention?
A: Visit us online at www.facebook.com/graverobberpunk
