War of Ages interview with Leroy
by Joe Toeben – 2009
What was the reason behind changing the band name from Point Zero?
We all worked at Walmart at the same time so that is where we made up the name Point Zero because of the clothing line. But we weren’t thinking serious, we were like like let’s rock out, practice and play a few shows in a garage. So by the time we started getting label interest we were like do we really want to be known as Point Zero the clothing line from Walmart?
So where does War of Ages come from?
Basically War of Ages is like the war within yourself. War of Ages is that one thing inside of you that constantly makes you fail, that can be from any kid of addiction, drugs, sex, alcohol. It’s something that controls you as a person.
You guys are sometimes citied as a Christian band. What does religion or Jesus mean to you and your bandmates?
Individually it’s something different for all of us. Each one of us has been has been affected differently by it. As for the band it’s a music business and that’s what we run it as. Obviously since I am a Christian it is going to shine through my music. Like I always say just because your plumber is a Christian doesn’t mean he is coming over to plumb for Jesus. A Christian D chord is no different than a secular D chord.
What did you think about working with Tim Lambesis on your latest album?
It was awesome. Tim’s a really great dude and he has a really good vision for music. This is this guy that has 3 albums under his belt and a lot of experience in the industry and we just asked him like what he could do for us. He grabbed us in there and was like boom boom boom boom, giving us these ideas. I wish he would have had a little bit more control of the producing part of things, but because of time he wasn’t able to so, on this new record we’re hoping that he will be able to have a lot more control over that.
Do you prefer the term hardcore or metalcore for your music?
A label is a label, we really don’t care. Christian, hardcore, metal, we just play music that we like. The albums sound the way we want them to sound. A breakdown is a breakdown, a solo is a solo, I write after the music is written. I write lyrics after so if I’m feeling pissed at this part I make it heavier or if a breakdown flows better here I put it there.
Who are War of Ages biggest influences?
For each of us it is different. I mean I lean towards the hardcore realm of things. The other guys like Slayer, Behemoth is a big one, Metallica and stuff like that.
What’s the craziest tour story you have?
Well we got to this show we were supposed to play and we drove up to the venue and this guy named Johnny was standing outside and as soon as we got out of the van he started yelling for us to get down because the cops and government were going to see him and some crazy shit like that. So we just got down and whatever and later we were just chilling with him and he starting talking to us and he started telling me that he knew my father who’s name was Leroy. Well my name is Leroy too but anyway the he said that he actually knew his father. He was telling us stories about how him and my grandpa flew all over New York in these big planes smoking big cigars and stuff and there was no way this guy knew my dad or grandpa. Anyways we went back a couple years later and actually found him in a bar and sat down and hung out with him and he introduced us to this lady he was with that he called his “bride” and her name was Buffalo Sally. It was just some crazy shit that happened haha.
