UN: Modern Life is War is a fairly new band in the scene. Can you tell us about how you guys came together to form the band? Do you think that things have come along rather quickly for you guys?

Jeffery:We all grew up in the same hometown punk rock scene in Marshalltown, IA. So we've all known eachother for years. The other four guys got together and started playing and then asked me to sing and when I joined up we became Modern Life Is War and decided to put out our own 7" and tour the East Coast. We have been for 2 years now...so yes, things have come around pretty quickly...but I don't think it was an accident. We've toured all over the US and Canada pretty extensively...booking our own tours and going out on our own most of the time. Luckily a lot of kids really got behind us and gave us the support we needed to keep going.

UN: How did the deal with Martyr Records come about? I think you guys have a sound that fits in well with what people have come to expect from Martyr. Were any other labels interested in the band?

Jeffery:To be honest...not too many. We confirmed the deal with Martyr on our first tour...our 7" had just come out...nobody knew who the fuck we were. But we had been playing lots of shows with Holding On from Minneapolis..and then had recently recorded for a split 7" on Martyr...so they told him about us and we sent him a 7" ahead of time...he saw us live like 3 nights and was ready to back us 100%. We were ready to get cracking on the full length and didn't care about sitting on our ass waiting for some bigger label to notice us. I don't think our sound really fits in at Martyr too much at all...but I guess that's a matter of opinion. We're very grateful for all Steve has done for us.

UN: Just a quick question here, can you explain the meaning behind the band name? Any insight into why you guys chose such a unique and interesting name?

Jeffery:Our name just means that growing up in these spiritually empty times...there's a lot of pressure coming from all sides. We aren't given much room to find out who we really are and what we are here for. If that's something you want...and something you are chasing after you are going to be discouraged and decieved on your way there...so be ready. It's got no negative conotation to it...and it's not supposed to mean that I personally live a really rough life. I think of our band name as uplifting and empowering the individual.

UN: Do you find it a bit of a shock that people are calling My Love, My Way a destined to be classic hardcore album? Personally, I think it stands out like a sore thumb amongst hardcore albums these day. It has that urgency and a unique sound. You don't see much originality these days.

Jeffery:I find it very flattering...but I guess time will tell. I mean, that's what we wanted...that's what we want...it would be a lie if I said I didn't care about having a legacy..being remembered after we're gone. We never cared about being that hot band of the minute...we wanted to write a record that was unique and real and would stand the test of time. We may have been more popular if we had written some sick breakdowns and big mosh parts or something...but that's not our thing...and there are plenty of bands out there taking care of that. So we'll do our own thing and hope it resonates with certain people who will never forget us.

UN: I was curious to ask why you decided to record with Dean Baltulonis? I'm a huge fan of his production style and sound. Was it just a case of you guys being into the albums he's done and wanting to go for that style?

Jeffery:Yeah..we were liking what we were hearing coming out of Atomic. We knew that we wanted a really driving low-end to our record...because that's something the 7" really lacks...and the records coming out of there had that quality to them. That and the fact that Atomic has very reasonable rates and we were working on a small budget.

UN: Did you guys take a lot of time recording the album? It sounds polished and clean, yet still has that live sense of urgency. Was it important to have a live sound to the recording?

Jeffery:We took six days to record it. We got off to a really slow start and I think we were all pretty nervous. So at the end it was a huge rush. I did all my vocal tracks in a few hours...mostly 1 takes...a couple took 2. If it sounds urgent...that's because it was. I think we always have a really good guitar sound...even live. On top of that is that deep drum sound and the driving bassey low end. Looking back...we just kind of went in there knowing basically what we wanted...poured it out...had very little time to mix...got in the van and crossed our fingers. But yeah, we are very happy with the results.

UN: I'm definitely a fan of the look and the artwork found within the cd booklet. I was wondering if the pictures had anything to do with the concept of the album name, or if possibly the black and white photos just fit in with the look you guys were going for?

Jeffery:Chris Cannon did an excellent job with that didn't he? We were really thrilled. The aesthetic we were going for was that decaying old world look...something that looks very classic...like it's been there forever and it's going to be there forever. I wanted the artwork to depict time, direction, travel, and changing lives. I think the doorstep, graffitti walls, passports...It all works in with the sound and the lyrics...though doesn't necessarily have anything specifically to do with the title of the record.

UN: When listening to the album I was surprised to find that pretty much everything is mid-tempo. Are you guys not into the faster side of hardcore, or just feel that the fast stuff has been overdone? I like blazing stuff too, but the dark vibe running throughout some of the songs definitely benefits from the slower tempos.

Jeffery:We dig on fast hardcore bands. Bad Brains rule my school. Basically we found that we were most powerful and had the most fun playing mid tempo stuff...so we built our sound around that. But yeah, I think it helps make things darker and more epic. It's like watching a western when the showdown is about to happen...that pounding rythym that lets you know that shit is just about to go down.

UN: Lyrically the words tend to paint a pretty bleak outlook on life. Do you guys feel like despite how shitty the world can be there is always a silver lining? Hardcore has always been about staying positive, which I guess is sometimes hard to be when you have people like George W. Bush in the white house.

Jeffery:I hope I haven't painted too bleak an outlook. I think growing up in this age is really hard and confusing...and the sitcoms and the evening news..our parents..our schools...and MTV...they just don't speak to some of us. When you're culture is like this alien thing to you it makes you turn cold and if you don't have something you can latch onto you will just kind of fall through the cracks. Well Hardcore is something that many of us have latched onto at some point in our young lives to keep our heads above the water. I don't want to sugar-coat the shit that is going through my mind...everything else in this culture is sugar-coated...so if you want something cute you won't have to look very hard. I love my life and I'm grateful for all I have...I don't deserve it all. But I write the things I write because I think songs can make people feel less alone and motivated to go out and do great things for themselves and for the world. We all have a lot to live for...but along the way we need to find some truth and make real connections with people. That's what this band is about.

UN: Is there an ideal place you'd like to see Modern Life is War end up? So many of the best bands end up breaking up before they get to see their full potential. Hopefully that won't be the case for you guys.

Jeffery:At the very least...we want to write another LP and see as much of the world as we can. That's all I can really say. Thanks to everyone who has helped us so far...we owe you.