Wrench In The Works CT Hardcore

Who is Wrench In The Works? If you don’t know then you need to go pick up their newest album “Lost Art Of Heaping Coal”….OR….you can win a FREE COPY of their newest release on Facedown Records.  That’s right, courtesy of the band in conjunction with HXC Christian, we are giving away a FREE COPY of  “Lost Art Of Heaping Coal” in what we call it the Wrench In The Works Merry Christmas CD Giveaway.

Here is how the contest works.  You need to go to the HXC Christian website and register HERE or you can go to the forum and register.  Folks that are already registered are eligible and don’t need to do anything.  If you register on this site, you will occasionally receive emails about new interviews (we will not spam you!)  The winner will be randomly chosen at the conclusion of the contest.  The contest runs from now until Friday, December 19th.  This way we can get you your FREE COPY of “Lost Art Of Heaping Coal” to you before Christmas.  The CD will be sent via US Postal Service to the winner. Be sure to use a valid email address so we can contact you if you win.  Please only register once (we can tell if you register more than once).  If you have questions please email Josh at josh@ hxcchristian .com

Band Name: Wrench In The Works (WITW)
Music Style: Hardcore
Location (Home Base):

Q: When did Wrench In The Works form as a band? Where did the name come from?

A: Technically WITW started in 1997 as more of an experimental side band where we were not too concerned with the actual music.  In fact we really had no idea how to even tune our instruments it was more about making noise and going crazy.  Sets would often end with broken instruments, someone throwing them self into the drums, kicking each other off of 10 foot high stages, some what similar to a band like The Chariot does now but we were younger and a little stupider.  At the same time we were pursuing a secular band called Groundzero (which turned into emmanuel.7 after 9/11/01) and WITW sort of got lost in the dust of Groundzero.  In 2003 after many tours, records and spending a few years in music school, God shined light and called us back to our original calling which was Wrench In The Works. WITW from the start was a Christian band and to an extent we lost sight of what was important. Playing music is a gift and should be done to the glory of God and the coolest part is we can even use our music to minister to kids.  So for the past 5 or so years we have been only focusing on WITW and God has given us more blessings then we can even count.  The phrase Wrench In The Works is a metaphor, if you were to throw a wrench into the gears of a machine that machine would stop.  So our feelings is when Jesus came to this earth and died on the cross for our sins he threw a wrench in the works into this world.

Q: What does everyone in the band do when they are not playing?

A: Being home for only a few weeks at a time can make each break a little different.  Sometimes we only have a little over a week before we go back out, so there will be tons of band choirs to take care of, plus you wanna see your friends/family and get a lot of nice nights in your own bed.  But on a break like we have now which is about a month long, it changes things up.  It’s hard to keep a job although some of us are blessed to have work to go back home to, so we spend a lot of time practicing, working on our relationships with God, working on the band, reading, and trying to stay warm in CT.  Although it can be easy to get cabin fever especially at this time, everything is cold.

Q: Wrench In The Works is out of Connecticut, how is the hardcore scene there?

A: CTHC has always gone in waves and i am sure a lot of scenes do this.  We have been active members in CT for the past 15 years and like clockwork it will have a few good years with a good, consistent venue, lots of kids coming out, great bands and good times, then something happens, be it club shuts down, or something like that and the scene will sort of die down and shows get weak.  Ct does consistently produce great bands, right now a few to name are Crown of Kings, Living Hell, Hostage Calm, Signs of Hope, All Ships At Sea, The Risk Taken, and Unforgiven.  Plus the classics Hatebreed, Life In Your Way, 100 Demons, With Honor, Death Threat and tons others to name, so yeah we have a lot of CTHC pride!

Q: If you had to describe the sound of the band, how would you describe it?

A: Sort of like the sound of a demolition ball destroying a building.  Lately a lot of people have been comparing us to Converge and Zao, we don’t quite see the Converge comparison although we do feel that’s a compliment. I hear more of a Deadguy, Cave In, Botch influence.

Q: What bands or styles of music have influenced the band?

A: Our influences range from everything from Jazz and Country to bands such as Neurosis, His Hero Is Gone, Coalesce, Strongarm and Integrity.  We try to let the diversity of our influences take us in different directions of sound to create interesting and yet still brutal music.

Q: What bands have Wrench In The Works played with?

A: We have had the opportunity to tour with such bands as Life In Your Way, Once Nothing, Our Last Night, For Today, Means, Don The Reader and Saving Grace.  As far as bands we have played with we have had the pleasure to play with Hatebreed, The Chariot, P.O.D., Converge, Maylene and Sons of Disaster, The Acacia Strain, Darkest Hour, God Forbid, War of Ages and Sleeping Giant just to name a few.

Q: How has the band grown since signing with Facedown Records?

A: Signing with Facedown has given us the opportunity to tour more which has made us tighter as a live band.  We have also grown in the sense that we are adding another member, our friend Derek will be taking over bass duties and Darrell will become our full time front man which will definitely bring the intensity of our live set up quite a bit.  It’s also nice to have our music be readily available to kids who see us live, where before we were signed to Facedown when we would play shows if kids didn’t get the record it was a lot harder then going into to your local hot topic or FYE and picking it up.

Q: Tell us about your album “Lost Art Of Heaping Coals.” What tracks is the band most proud of? What were some of the challenges you faced while recording?

A: I would say we are proud of all the tracks on the recording, our friend Greg Thomas(Silver Bullet Studios, Shai Hulud, Kingdom of Sorrow, Ambitions) did a really good job of bringing together the intensity of the songs.  But i would say some stand outs on the record would be Dust Over Time Test, Faith As A Virus(which features Todd Mackey of with Honor), Death Letter and Lost Art of Heaping Coal(which features Josh Kellam of Life In Your Way).  The most challenging part was when we did a week of pre-production with Mike Schleibaum of Darkest Hour.  Anytime you have a fresh pair of eyes come in and look at something you’ve been working on things can become challenging but by the end of the week after some fussing, fighting  and everything else that comes with the creative process we came out with some really good jams.

Q: How does being a Christian influence the band and your songs?

A: Having a relationship with God through Christ Jesus is going to have an affect on everything in your life.  As far as it affecting the band it gives us a common bond, where as our focus is on glorifying God instead of ourselves when were on stage or hanging out with kids.  As for affecting the songs although our songs may be about several different themes the one thread that i think runs in all of them is the redemption found in Christ.

Q: I have found in interviewing a bunch of bands that Christian hardcore/punk/metal bands are pretty well accepted in the scene. Most bands have never been even come across other bands bad-mouthing them or anyone at shows singling them out for being Christian, has Wrench In The Works had similar experiences in the scene?

A: In our home state we’ve all been in the hardcore scene for some time now so i believe we have earned the respect of our peers where they wouldn’t bad mouth us at least not to our face.  As far as out on the road the response we get from most people seems to be that they respect the fact that we stand up for what we believe in, whether or not they agree with what we have to say.  There have been a few times were people make remarks but your gonna get people making remarks about your band no matter your signing about or saying on stage, it doesn’t bother us either way.

Q: Where in the bible does the band draw most of its influence?

A: The majority of our influence comes from the Psalms and the writings of St Paul.  None of us are huge Old Testament scholars which is something that  we have been trying to work on, but I would say we are definitely big fans of Paul and obviously the Gospels!

Wrench In The Works Video for “Dust Over Time”  (FYI, takes a few seconds before it the video starts)

Q: Do you consider the band a ministry?

A: The band is a ministry in the sense of whatever you do in your life you are suppose to do to the glory of God and at this moment it’s one of things we are trying to do towards that.

Q: Have you ever had kids/people come up to you after a show to talk about Jesus?

A: YEAH! Plenty of times, in fact that’s the type of thing that really gets us stoked, playing shows and rocking out are always awesome parts of being in a band.  But when we get to share what Jesus has done for us with people after our set or even better yet when people get to share with us  how the Lord is working in there life that’s really where the blessings of being in this band come into play.

Q: What shows do you have coming up? With whom are you playing? What bands have been the most fun to play with?

A: We only have 2 shows this month, one we are headlining in MD, our good friend Scott from Kobra Klutch productions is putting it on and he always does awesome shows.  The second show is in CT with Life In Your Way, With Honor, The Risk Taken and Our Final Say and that’s going to rule.  We are also leaving for a 6 week tour this January with Take it Back and The Great Commission which we are stoked for.  We generally have fun with all the bands we play with!

Q: What are the future plans for the band? Does anyone in the band have any side projects?

A: We are going to be touring pretty full time for the next year or so and eventually hitting the studio to record our next full length.  Nothing is set in stone right yet, we are just trying to let God have his hand and will in the direction of this band.

Q: If you can pass along a message to the scene, what would that be?

A: First off that God loves each and everyone of them.  And that each and every person should be about being them selves and standing for something.  What that something is were not a liberty to say for each person but finding out what that something is, is part of living your life.  Don’t settle for mediocrity.

Q: Feel free to give some shout outs, or pass along anything that you want to tell you fans, etc……

A: Wanna give a shout out to all the bands on Strikefirst and Facedown Records, we find inspiration in how on fire for God a lot of you guys are. Also a big shout to Facedown for being such amazing label and living people. We definitely want to say that everyone should go out a buy our record, we put a lot of heart and brutality into it and we want you guys to hear it.  Thanks to you for the interview, it’s much appreciated.

You can check out the band on their myspace page and listen to a few of their songs. You can purchase their album from Facedown Records.

Wrench In The Works is currently on tour with Take It Back and The Great Commission.  They also have one show coming up with Life In Your Way.  If they are swinging through your area, then by all means, go to the show.  These guys are great and awesome live.  Here are their upcoming tour dates: