UN: Rwake has been around for quite sometime now actually, but have managed to stay fairly unknown. Do you think that being on a label like At a Loss will get the bands music out to more people? I think a lot of music fans know that they can count on At a Loss for heavy original bands.

CT(vocals): Very much so. The band has to work at it also. It's a two/way street. We just started touring in 2002. I mean we did a week and bunches of other outta state shows but that's not touring, so it's not peoples fault if they haven’t heard of us yet. Its our job to come to them, and give them the option of wanting to buy the CD or not. From now on that shouldn't be problem. We will tour as much as we can in the near future. Hopefully we can get on another big tour.

UN: “If You Walk...” is just a mind-blowing album. Would you agree that this is the most dynamic material yet from the band? It’s still incredibly heavy, but you guys manage to cover a lot of ground during the songs yet still remain consistent in style.

CT(vocals):I'm glad you like it. We just wanted the people that like us to be proud of what they purchased, and what they are listening to, and to like it better than the last release. Even though the last CD had a shittier production it had some all right songs, so I think those songs carried the weight of the CD, and made it possible for people to like. The new one is good all the way around. Songs and production. I think it could have used one more song, but we were trying to have it done by the Alabama Thunderpussy tour. I'm still pleased with it, and do think it is some of our best work to date. It's definitely our best recording ever. The next one will be elaborate with artwork, lyrics, and a plethora of tunes.

UN: For this style of music I would say that Rwake is extremely melodic. You guys also seem to keep things a bit more musical then a lot of bands playing the slower more dirgy style of music. Is it important for you guys to keep things interesting and not worry about being the heaviest band on earth all of the time?

CT(vocals):Well, it's actually very important in always striving to be the heaviest band on Earth all the time. If you're the heaviest band you can be everything else will fall into place as far as the way you sound. Being different is also important, but if you aren't heavy as fuck give up. We are always trying to keep the shit interesting, but keep it real also. I'm glad people think we are so different. We don't really try to be different from other bands we just try to write the music we like, and that what comes out. Thanks for noticing it.

UN: I was wondering if you could possibly elaborate on the album name a little bit. I’m assuming it’s a lyric or at least somewhat inspired by a lyric.

CT(vocals): This is an old Indians saying that Jeff's great grandma told him once. To me it stands for paying your dues. Working hard for what you believe. Not just because something is handed to you, but also because you love it and it's what needs to be done, because it's your life. And there is nothing else you can do. It just is. This is the way I feel about playing music. Nothing could take its place, and I would do whatever it takes to get this message across. I feel privileged to be able to play music, and to play live in front of folks as well.

UN: Rwake doesn’t seem to be a band that really tours much other then during the summer time. Is it safe to assume that you guys really don’t expect to make a living off of the band? I think that being on the road constantly would almost be a negative thing for the band as individuals. You are basically turning yourself into a product to try and sell every night.

CT(vocals):Our first tour was 45 days and we did everything, but the west coast. That was July/Aug 2002. No one knew us at all. We did get to open for Agnostic Front on that tour. We got to go on right before them. It was sick. It was our 1st time out so a lot of places weren't so hot. We went out next time in April 2003 for about 26 days doing the west coast. This tour was much better. Albuquerque, Seattle, San Francisco, Flag Staff, they fuckin' ruled. The 2nd one was better. That's not saying much cause the 1st one sucked. The 3rd one was Sept\Oct of 2003. 30 days, almost the whole US. That one was pretty good. Just real stressful from long drives. We played with YOB for the 1st time on this one. Also Blessing the Hogs both of those bands fucking rule. I also met Al Cisneros this time around. It was on his birthday and I smoked him out and just thanked him for everything he's done. I was tripping. Literally. So of course this made the moment all that more. Then right as we were about to begin playing he walked up to the stage and gave me a glow in the dark dope smoker long sleeve shirt!!! It was brand fucking new! Well, it wasn't new it had been left over from the archives. It wasn't a reprint. There were lyrics down the sleeves for gods sake. Jesus Christ what else can I say!?! He gave Kiffin a short sleeve one also. He is a killer motherfucker. I can't wait to hear hi new band OM. Then we went out the 4th time for 37 days from the end of May starting w/ the Emissions fest to the beginning of July w/ ATP. We would have hit April again but we were busy trying to get the CD out by the ATP tour, and of course that one ruled all hell, and has been our most successful one. By this time people had really heard of us, and we always played w/ a killer band (that being ATP). It was truly an honor to share the stage w/ them every night. Even after all that we still don't tour enough. It's not as bad as selling yourself every night, or not as bad as that sounds, or maybe it's not that bad if you like what you're selling?

UN: Do you think that heavy music in a sense has become very sterile? It seems like fewer and fewer bands are willing to take chances these days. Far too many bands are willing to just play what is safe.

CT(vocals):There is hope w/ Mastodon and High on Fire I think. Sometimes I think it's the labels (bigger ones) that are afraid to take a chance, and then when they do it sucks. Except w/ Watch Them Die and Yob. Those are the greatest bands out now on big metal labels. I think it is important to take chances. Come on playing it safe sucks. You'll get no fuckin fun out of that. Maybe later you can slow down on taking chances. I don't know I guess whatever works for you.

UN: Do you think that a band like Rwake attracts much more open minded fans? It seems like the people into the more experimental and noisier bands will take more chances then the people who only listen to one certain style of band.

CT(vocals): I feel we do well w/ all people in the underground scene as long as they have witnessed us. Metal heads usually like us, but so do punk kids just cause we aren't the average metal band. Since so many punk rockers play metal these days’ people will mistake us to have a punk background just because our metal is different. That is far from the truth. We all come from a hard rock/metal background. Were just rednecks. We like a lot of hard-core stuff, but most of us would be rather jamming country instead. I don't know how other bands do it we are just trying to make our own mark on metal.

UN: Would you consider Rwake to be a bleak band? I’ve read a lot of reviews that basically state that the band is suicide music and depressed, but honestly I think Rwake is much more upbeat. When I think of suicidal music I think of Evoken. Would you consider Rwake a band that is fueled by depression?

CT(vocals): I don't think we are bleak, but who am I? We strive to add something new to the metal archives. I definitely don't think we are a depressive band. We are more upbeat and hopeful just w/ a gloomy sound I think. I mean I write about sad shit sometimes, but I don't focus on that sort of shit at all.

UN: You guys recorded with Steve Austin in the past. Any chance that you guys will get him behind the boards again? After all there probably aren’t many people who understand this style of music more then him. Any possibilities of your recording with him seeing an official release?

CT(vocals): We will probably stick w/ Sanford on the next one for sure, but I would love to work w/ Steve again. He is a very righteous & serious metal motherfucker. I wish someone would release the previous one that he recorded (Absence due to projection). I've gotten a label interested in it hopefully, but you never know. Yes it would be the shit record with him now.

UN: Do you think that a lot of bands playing this style get unfairly compared to Neurosis? They obviously had a lot to do with the start of the sound and are possibly the most well known band in the genre, but the comparison shouldn’t just automatically slapped onto every band or album that plays heavy, slow music with melody.

CT(vocals):Even though there are those bands Neurosis still has such a one of a kind thing going on there. It is unfair, but it is what it is. You gotta think though not to say that Neurosis is any less original, but there is souls and enemy riffs and parts that just straight up favor the Melvin's, so to me it's just how you balance your own material with the stuff your influenced by good. Neurosis wasn't ripping off the Melvin's at all but using their influence (along w/ their own brilliant song writing) of them to help further the progression of their music after word is law. That's how I'd like to think we try and pull it off.

UN: Do you think that 2004 will show the Rwake name getting pushing further then it has been in the past? At a Loss seems to do everything they can to really push their bands and make an impact on the heavy music scene.

CT(vocals): I hope so. We are recording a cover of Nazareth's "sold my soul" in Sept. for Small Stone records Sucking the 70's II too compilation. Also an St.Vitus tribute CD should be getting released soon w/ us doing the Sloth on it. I just did an interview for Metal Maniacs that should be coming out in 2 or 3 months. Not to mention our name will be being thrown out to everyone due to At a Loss's hard ass work. That rules! We are not touring again until April, but then we are turning around and going back out in June. Both of those will be 2 and a half-week east coast tours. Then we'll do a west coast one in Oct.

CT(vocals):I just wanted to say thanks to all the metal heads that search for our interviews and other Rwake news on the Internet. Be on the look out for brothers and sisters.