Josh: I really enjoyed the new album, let me give you a chance to let you say whatever you would like people to know about it.

Chvad: I’m really just relieved that people dig the record. Response overall has been really positive and I was definitely more than a little stressed out about that. I’ve released a lot of music and I certainly don’t mind criticism… that’s part of the package when you record and release material. I was worried about crapping all over a well-established and credible artistic gesture. That gesture being Paul’s work with Controlled Bleeding and his previous collaborators. I listened to Bleeding in High School and those records were a big deal to me. I didn’t want to be the new guy that ruined the band. Fortunately, that doesn’t seem to be the case.

Josh: As near as I could tell, you first started working with the legendary Paul Lemos and Tony Meola in 2011 how did you become part of the current lineup? What have you learned from their process and experience?

Chvad: We met sometime in 2011 at a show Paul and Tony were playing not far from where I live. I didn’t know they’d been playing so when my girlfriend mentioned they were we made it a priority to get to the show. After the show, we chatted a bit and that was that. We went to see them again at another gig shortly after that and we chatted a bit more and I don’t know who said what to whom but that ended with the idea that we should get together at a rehearsal space to see how things would work out. The first rehearsals were pretty nerve wrecking. Paul and Tony have known each other a long time and when people are friends that long they communicate in unique ways. I was just some idiot in a room with people that inspired him trying not to be a fanboy and well... trying to not be too much of an idiot. We ended up playing some shows that went well and kept stuff going from there. Paul has a real physical connection to his performances. A visceral transformation of sorts. That took some getting used to… that switch. The intensity can be a bit overwhelming. I’ve made aggressive music for years but always very predetermined and calculated. Paul’s approach is much more raw than that. It’s awesome energy to be around and witness. It’s also intimidating at first to collaborate with. Our friendship has strengthened a lot over the past few years and recording the record I think helped us to understand each other far better than when we started off in the rehearsal space. You hear that Paul? You no longer scare me!

Josh: What did you bring to the group and how did it add to or change what had to be a pretty well-established process?

Chvad: I think I bring, along Bazini (Mike Bazini), a degree of technical focus. Helping create sonic constructs for Paul’s combative playing style to reside in.